Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 304

“Grrr.”

Namgung Dowi twitched.

Chung Myung, never one to ignore a spectacle, tapped Namgung Dowi’s backside with the sheath of his sword.

Of course, the fact that he was the one who caused it wasn’t important.

“Are you alright?” Chung Myung clicked his tongue. “See, why did you have to show off? Ah, of course, you’re a genius. You are a genius, aren’t you?”

A snicker escaped Chung Myung’s lips.

“You little brat. If I lined up all the geniuses I’ve seen, there would be so many! Genius? What’s so great that you have to flap your gums about it?”

Chung Myung’s sword tapped Namgung Dowi’s backside, growing more forceful with each tap.

“You’re nothing special, yet you dare to disrespect our kids… No, no. Jin Geum-ryong and Lee Song-baek aren’t our kids. Are you disrespecting them? Just because Dong-ryong sometimes gets hurt, you think he’s weak? Someone like you couldn’t even stand up to Dong-ryong! Ugh!”

Baek Cheon, hearing Chung Myung’s words, smiled.

‘I’ve never been beaten up, you little brat!’ He thought. ‘And don’t call me Dong-ryong! Everyone can hear you, you damn fool!’

“Wow, did you hear that? He’s thinking of his grand-uncle,” one of the disciples said.

“Yes, Grand-Uncle,” another replied.

“Shut your mouth. You might die,” Baek Cheon warned.

“…Yes.”

Baek Cheon calmed himself as he gazed at Chung Myung.

‘It feels kind of nice, in a way,’ he thought. He had been praising Namgung Dowi as a genius, but it seemed that, from Chung Myung’s perspective, being a genius wasn’t that great of a compliment.

Or perhaps it was a remark meant to provoke Baek Cheon.

‘Honestly, I can’t figure him out no matter how much I look at him.’ He felt like he was just being swayed by Chung Myung.

In any case, Baek Cheon didn’t feel too bad seeing Namgung Dowi struggling on the ground.

“Ugh…” Namgung Dowi staggered to his feet. With bloodshot eyes, he glared at Chung Myung with murderous intent. “You… You… You son of a bitch!”

Harsh words finally spilled out.

He could handle being beaten and falling. In a fight, getting hit is normal for a swordsman. Even if he lost arms or legs, or even his head, he thought he could accept it.

But he could not forgive being made to clutch his groin and roll around in front of so many people.

Unless he erased the memories of everyone who witnessed this, he couldn’t stop the rumors from spreading. This would be an unforgettable humiliation for him, the future head of the Namgung Clan.

Thinking that far ahead, his anger soared to the point where it felt like it was piercing through his head.

“I’ll kill you!” Namgung Dowi shouted, causing Chung Myung to chuckle.

“Are we getting a little upset now?”

“You… You son of a bitch!”

“Hee hee hee!” Chung Myung grinned and raised his sword. “That’s why you shouldn’t run your mouth carelessly.”

“Shut up!”

“Talent only matters when you’ve properly honed it. You can’t even beat Geum-ryong, let alone your grand-uncle. Yet you’re full of hot air, acting like you’re all that?” Chung Myung flicked his sword. “Come on. I’ll knock that shoulder of yours down nicely.”

“You…” Namgung Dowi, with bloodshot eyes, charged towards Chung Myung. Or, he tried to charge, but Chung Myung waved his sword wildly from side to side, stopping him.

“Ah. Wait, wait.”

“Hey, calm down before you charge in, alright? Don’t come crying later, saying you lost because you were too excited.”

Namgung Dowi gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. Anger surged, but Chung Myung’s words weren’t wrong. Charging at an enemy while agitated was the most forbidden thing for a swordsman, wasn’t it?

“Hoo!” Namgung Dowi calmed his mind with deep breaths and lowered his sword in a stable stance. “You’ll regret giving me time to regain my composure. I’ll thoroughly crush you!”

Chung Myung merely snickered at the murderous threat.

“Usually, people come to their senses after getting their heads cracked once, but it seems like it won’t work on you. Well… now that I think about it, your family was always like that.”

“What?”

“Never mind. It’s not something to say to you.” It was something to say to Namgung Cheon-myung, who was now dead and gone.

Chung Myung waved his hand dismissively, and Namgung Dowi glared at Chung Myung with murderous intent, pointing his sword at him. “Draw your sword.”

“Why are you ordering me around? I’ll chop your head off.” Chung Myung shook his sword in its sheath. “Try to make me.”

Namgung Dowi decided not to exchange words with Chung Myung any longer. He realized that there was nothing to gain from talking to that maniac. “I’ll show you what the Namgung sword is!”

Namgung Dowi’s sword began to emit an enormous aura. A bright white light suddenly burst from his sword, like a wave of cold fire. It grew bigger and bigger, swallowing the metal blade.

Namgung Dowi took a step forward with his sword lowered. At the same time, a great strength began to pressure Chung Myung.

“That, that’s!” Exclamations of astonishment flowed from the mouths of the sect leaders watching the duel from the platform.

“Imperial Sword Form!”

“Has he already mastered the Imperial Sword Form?”

The swordsmanship representing the Namgung Clan were the Iron Sword Twelve Forms and the Boundless Azure Sky Sword Art. But when discussing the best swordsmanship of the Namgung Clan, everyone would first mention this Imperial Sword Form.

The reason why that strongest sword didn’t become the representative sword of the Namgung Clan was that it was only passed down to the direct line of the Namgung Clan. It was a swordsmanship that was so difficult and required immense inner strength.

The Imperial Sword Form, which couldn’t even be started before mastering the Iron Sword Twelve Forms and the Boundless Azure Sky Sword Art, was now unfolding in Namgung Dowi’s hands. A strong power came from his body.

The Imperial Sword Form was, as the name suggested, the sword of an emperor. It was a sword that forced the opponent with the power and pressure it gave off. It was said that, upon reaching the extreme, one could kill a person with just the force of will.

As if proving that the rumors weren’t exaggerated, the power coming from Namgung Dowi was indeed tremendous. People watching gasped and stumbled back. They felt like a heavy weight was pressing on them, just from the power of his sword. Even the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect had to gather their energy to resist.

Namgung Dowi took another step. The doubled force crushed Chung Myung’s entire body. Feeling the pressure pressing down on his body, Chung Myung sighed deeply. “Seriously, these youngsters!”

Then, he gripped his sword and walked towards Namgung Dowi.

Namgung Dowi was astonished and widened his eyes. ‘He’s coming closer?’ He was approaching while taking this force with his entire body? And as if it was nothing?

Namgung Dowi gritted his teeth and took another step forward. The energy he emitted also grew stronger. But Chung Myung, as if the force was nothing, nonchalantly approached him. “I’ll give you a lesson on behalf of one of your ancestors, so take it gratefully.”

“Wh-What?”

“Fundamentals! You little brat! Fundamentals!” Chung Myung’s sword was swung down in its sheath.

Namgung Dowi scoffed and raised his sword. ‘That fool is using the same trick again! I won’t fall for it this time!’ But Chung Myung’s sword simply struck his sword.

Then, a sharp SNAP! Two sounds cut through the air at once. Namgung Dowi blinked, confused. Chung Myung’s sword was still pushing against his. Slowly, he looked down at his own wrist. It hung loose, like a broken doll’s arm. *Dangle.* No strength. No feeling.

‘Why is it like that?’ Uh… That, uh… That shouldn’t be like that? It shouldn’t break after just one hit. That…

“These youngsters!” Bang!

Chung Myung began to mercilessly strike down with his sword. “Putting on airs!” Bang! Once again. “Back in my day, it wasn’t like this! Back in my day!” Bang! “How dare someone who hasn’t even built up their lower body talk about the Imperial Sword Form!” Bang!

“Grrr.” Namgung Dowi eventually groaned and staggered. He couldn’t properly block Chung Myung’s sword with his broken wrist. Thanks to that, Chung Myung’s sword had already struck his shoulder four times.

“Take the strength out of your shoulders? Want me to rip them off?!” Chung Myung glared.

At that moment, a loud voice boomed in their ears. “Dowi! What on earth are you doing!” Namgung Hwang, who was on the platform, couldn’t bear it any longer and jumped up from his seat, shouting.

Hearing that shout, Namgung Dowi’s eyes widened. He quickly grabbed his sword with both hands and began to swing it. An enormous aura enveloped his sword. At the same time, a formidable force…

Chung Myung’s sword was embedded in his ankle.

“Does this brat swing a sword while an adult is talking?”

Um… This is the arena, you know? If you don’t swing a sword here, then where…

“These days, the fundamentals are just not there!” Chung Myung took a step back and gripped his sword tightly. “Since your brain can’t understand it even if I tell you, you can just get beaten with your body. Then you’ll understand!”

Baek Cheon, who was watching the scene, squeezed his eyes shut. He felt a sense of déjà vu. He seemed to have heard those words in the past… And after hearing those words?

“Here I come!” Chung Myung charged towards Namgung Dowi.

Namgung Dowi reflexively swung his sword, but the Imperial Sword Form, which couldn’t overwhelm the opponent with force, was just a half-baked sword, worse than the Iron Sword Twelve Forms.

“Lower body!” Thwack! Chung Myung’s sword struck Namgung Dowi’s thigh.

“Guh!” A groan of pain escaped from Namgung Dowi’s mouth.

“Lower body! Lower body! Lower body! Lower body!” Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

“You little brat! I hit you four times, and you can’t block even once? Did you leave your brain somewhere else?”

Namgung Dowi retreated mindlessly from the pouring pain and harsh words. ‘Wh-What speed…’ He couldn’t even see the sword. How was he supposed to block this?

“How dare you retreat? Who told you to?” Chung Myung growled and drove Namgung Dowi back, striking mercilessly. “Side! Shoulder! Ankle! Why are there so many openings! Back to the wrist!”

Namgung Dowi, allowing the sword to hit his side and shoulder, quickly tried to retreat. But Chung Myung’s sword swiftly and accurately struck his retreating wrist. Clang! Namgung Dowi’s Azure Sky Sword spun around and soared into the air.

At the same time, Namgung Dowi’s body was exposed to Chung Myung without any defense. All the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect stood up from their seats. What was about to happen began to unfold clearly in their minds.

Baek Cheon opened his mouth as if groaning. “Head…”

A cheerful shout pierced their ears. “Head! Head! Head! Head! Head!” Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Chung Myung’s sword sheath crashed down on Namgung Dowi’s head five times. Namgung Dowi’s eyes, twitching and convulsing from the attack, lost focus.

“Ah, right!” Bang! Another blow fell on Namgung Dowi’s head as he lost consciousness. “The rule is to say it five times and hit it six times.”

‘Why?’ Namgung Dowi, unable to understand Chung Myung’s last words, lost consciousness with deep questions.

Chung Myung, looking at Namgung Dowi who had fallen to the ground, clicked his tongue and said with regret. “Ah, I was going to knock his shoulder down! I need to get rid of this head obsession.”