Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 320

Tang Soso leaped onto the dueling platform like the wind.

“Sago!” she called out.

Hye-yeon seemed not to notice as Tang Soso rushed to help Yoo Iseol.

“Are you alright?” Tang Soso asked.

“I’m fine,” Yoo Iseol replied with a nod, though with some difficulty.

She had sustained minor injuries, but nothing serious. However, if the standoff had continued much longer, she would have struggled to even remain conscious.

“I’ll help you,” Tang Soso offered.

“Please,” Yoo Iseol accepted.

Tang Soso supported Yoo Iseol as she rose to her feet. Yoo Iseol placed her arm around Tang Soso’s shoulder and moved with difficulty.

Just then, a hesitant voice broke the silence.

“…Um…”

Yoo Iseol turned. Hye-yeon stood behind her, his face flushed, his lips trembling slightly.

“H-How…” he began, the word barely a whisper.

He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to ask. *How?* How had she done it? Was he asking about her sword skill, how she had pierced his perfect defense? Or was it something deeper? Was he asking about her spirit, her refusal to yield even when defeat seemed certain?

Maybe it was both. He just couldn’t understand.

There was an enormous difference in skill between him and Yoo Iseol.

If they fought a hundred times, Hye-yeon would win all hundred, and most of those without suffering a single scratch.

Even if the first wound was a fluke, the second wound should never have happened.

And yet, this swordsman from Mount Hua, Yoo Iseol, had defied his common sense and left a wound on him.

If Yoo Iseol had just a little more strength left, that sword would surely have left a large and deep wound on him.

“How?” he repeated.

Yoo Iseol silently stared at Hye-yeon. After a moment, she opened her mouth with a pale face.

“It had to reach… I had to make it reach.”

“That’s all,” she said.

Hye-yeon’s eyes were wide with disbelief. He stared at Yoo Iseol, his face a mask of confusion.

Yoo Iseol, who was about to leave the dueling platform again without a word, turned back as if she thought that wasn’t enough.

“Aren’t you the same? Don’t you also fight with everything you have?”

Hye-yeon’s face hardened.

Yoo Iseol turned away, supported by Tang Soso, without another word.

The disciples who had been waiting for her below the dueling platform swarmed around her.

“Samae! Sago! Are you alright? We saw your ankle – are you hurt badly?” they asked with concern.

Yoo Iseol simply nodded, her face calm even as the others around her buzzed with worry.

“I’m fine,” she reassured them.

Baek Cheon said with a stiff face.

“Still, injuries should be treated in time. Go to the medical hall quickly. Soso, take your Sago with you.”

“Yes! Sasook!” Tang Soso nodded vigorously. Then Baek Cheon hesitated slightly and cleared his throat.

“And… it was excellent,” he said.

A small smile bloomed on Yoo Iseol’s lips. Everyone nodded as they saw her smile, which was rarely seen.

“I’ll be back,” she said softly.

“Alright,” Baek Cheon replied.

Tang Soso carefully supported Yoo Iseol and headed to the medical hall. And just in case, Baek Sang followed behind them.

Baek Cheon’s eyes sank heavily as he looked at Yoo Iseol’s retreating figure.

‘To swing one more time there,’ he thought.

He wasn’t sure. Could he have pushed himself that far? He honestly didn’t know.

This wasn’t a matter of martial prowess in the first place. This was a matter of will.

It was a question of whether one could maintain the will to win even in a situation where the whole body was crushed and consciousness was fading.

“Did everyone see that?” Chung Myung asked.

“Yes, Sasook,” the disciples replied.

“We saw it well,” another added.

The other disciples also nodded heavily, as if they each had felt something.

Hye-yeon’s skill was overwhelming. If they had faced him, they would have lost all motivation before even fighting.

But Yoo Iseol eventually broke through that overwhelming difference in skill and drew a sword across Hye-yeon’s body.

“In the end…” Chung Myung said.

Everyone turned their heads sharply as Chung Myung’s voice came from behind.

“Listen up! Progress isn’t about big changes all at once. It’s about pushing past that tiny bit extra, that last little step.”

“One tiny difference?” one of the disciples asked.

Chung Myung nodded.

“Surprisingly, anyone can do their best. What’s more important is whether you can swing one more time in an extreme situation where you squeeze out the last drop in your body.”

Chung Myung narrowed his brow slightly.

“Those who can do that become stronger. Sago will become stronger because of today’s duel.”

Chung Myung looked around at everyone.

“Can Sasooks do it?”

The Baek disciples all closed their mouths at Chung Myung’s words.

“Chung Myung, it sounds easy when you say it. It sounds like it’s just about willpower. But those who haven’t pushed themselves to the limit in normal times can’t overcome themselves at the last moment. Only Sago can do it. That person always pushes themselves to the limit,” Baek Cheon said.

Baek Cheon nodded.

“I understand what you mean,” he said.

“Now this competition is over,” Chung Myung said indifferently.

“What remains is what Sasooks and Sahyungs have gained from this competition. If you don’t push yourselves based on what you’ve gained here, there’s a limit to how far I can drag you.”

The faces of the Mount Hua disciples became more serious than ever.

Looking at those eyes, Chung Myung slyly curled up the corners of his lips.

‘Sago did a great job,’ he thought.

Until now, Mount Hua’s training had only been Chung Myung holding the leash and pulling them along.

But in order to advance to the realm of true ascension, they needed to strive on their own. Now they had risen to a place where they could no longer rise with physical effort alone.

The one sword that Yoo Iseol wielded against that Hye-yeon would have shown the disciples of Mount Hua a great deal.

‘It would have been much more interesting if it had been a little deeper,’ he mused.

He shouldn’t expect that much.

In fact, it was a miracle that Yoo Iseol had broken through Hye-yeon’s Immovable Great Power and wounded his body. Chung Myung didn’t expect this much. He just wanted her to show that she wouldn’t give up.

“How about it, you bald monks!” Chung Myung called out.

Chung Myung turned his head sharply and looked up at the platform.

Sure enough.

Beop Jeong was looking this way with a flustered face. Seeing that expression, it felt as if ten years of indigestion had gone down.

Beop Jeong also couldn’t have imagined a situation where Yoo Iseol, not Chung Myung, would wound Hye-yeon.

“Hee hee hee hee. Your head has become shiny?” Chung Myung teased.

“Chung Myung-ah,” Beop Jeong said.

“Ehehehehehet!” Chung Myung laughed.

“Chung Myung-ah,” Beop Jeong repeated.

“…Why?” Chung Myung asked.

“Go up. It’s your turn next.”

“Huh?”

Oh, right! My match.

Chung Myung looked a little embarrassed and quickly picked up his sword.

He had been so focused on Yiseol’s duel that he had forgotten he still had one match left.

Chung Myung mentally slapped himself. How could I be so careless? Even if it’s just this guy, I should be focused.

Even though his opponent was in the top four, Chung Myung realized he had underestimated him. This wasn’t right for a true martial artist.

“Hey, who was that guy I’m fighting again?”

One of the disciples scratched his head. “Uh… Moyeong… something?”

Another chimed in, “Moyeong… Ming? Myung?”

Chung Myung sighed dramatically. “You guys are hopeless! Just tell me to go fight already!”

“Ugh.”

Chung Myung shook his head and stepped onto the dueling platform.

Chung Myung stepped onto the platform. The air felt thick with tension, different from before. He could almost taste the anticipation in the crowd.

He glanced around and clicked his tongue. The surroundings were bustling with activity.

Well, of course.

The other people watching saw the last fight differently than the Hwasan disciples.

People who knew Hae Yeon’s martial art was the Unsurpassed Great Power were probably still very shocked.

Unsurpassed Great Power.

Among the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin, it was notoriously difficult, with only a handful of practitioners mastering it throughout Shaolin’s history.

Just seeing such a famous move would be enough to keep them excited.

Chung Myung thought people should be more impressed by Yiseol. She had broken through the Unsurpassed Great Power and even hurt Hae Yeon. But in the end, people only saw one thing: Hae Yeon won against the Hwasan swordsman using that powerful move.

I don’t like this.

By now, those gathered here would likely assume that Hae Yeon was the inevitable victor.

How many of the Seventy-Two Arts had he already displayed?

Moreover, he had even showcased the Unsurpassed Great Power, which could be classified as a high-level technique among the Seventy-Two Arts. Objectively speaking, it would be strange if he didn’t win.

“Is that so?”

Chung Myung smirked. Let them think Hae Yeon is the star. They’re in for a surprise.

“I am Moyeong Myeong of the Moyeong Clan.”

“Huh?”

The opponent, who had already taken his place on the opposite side, shouted with a slightly piqued tone.

He seemed to have noticed that Chung Myung wasn’t paying attention to him.

“Ah. Sorry, sorry.”

This wasn’t proper etiquette.

Chung Myung wasn’t known for being polite, but he knew he had to show some respect when everyone was watching.

“I’m Chung Myung of Hwasan.”

Chung Myung drew his sword and let it hang loosely.

Moyeong Myeong, who had drawn his sword at the same time, stared at him. You could clearly see the tension in his eyes.

However, even though the two had drawn their swords, most people were still looking at the Shaolin monks, not the fight.

“Hmm.”

Chung Myung curled up the corners of his lips.

Then, he glanced at the head monk on the platform. He could see a little unhappiness on the head monk’s face, which was very serious.

Greedy monk, isn’t he?

The head monk wanted Hae Yeon to get all the attention. But Hae Yeon getting hurt probably made him unhappy.

He undoubtedly wanted a more overwhelming victory.

Chung Myung chuckled.

Well, fine.

Hae Yeon receiving the attention of the masses wasn’t such a bad thing for him either. And the fact that everyone believed Shaolin would win wasn’t so bad either.

“Prepare yourself!”

Moyeong Myeong shouted loudly.

Then, he dashed towards Chung Myung with great speed, brandishing his sword.

Whoosh!

There couldn’t be anyone with lacking skills among those who had reached the top four.

Moyeong Myeong roared and his sword flashed forward. A wave of pure white energy, like a crashing wave of light, erupted from his blade, filling the platform with its blinding power.

The crowd held its breath. Everyone expected a long, intense fight. But Chung Myung had other plans.

And at that moment.

“You’re far off.”

Chung Myung charged towards the sword aura pouring down on him.

Whoosh.

His body seemed to blur, and then he slipped through the wave of sword aura, brushing past Moyeong Myeong.

A snap like dry wood breaking echoed across the silent arena. It was a sound so quick, so precise, it was almost missed.

Moyeong Myeong froze in the stance he had been in while wielding his sword.

Thud.

Chung Myung retrieved his sword and slid it back into its scabbard.

A small smile played on Chung Myung’s lips. Perfect. Just as planned.

At the same time, Moyeong Myeong’s body collapsed to the floor.

Plop.

There wasn’t a single wound on his body, but Moyeong Myeong had already lost consciousness before collapsing.

Moyeong Myeong collapsed, and Chung Myung stood alone.

Silence descended like a heavy blanket. It was a silence so complete, you could hear the rustle of robes and the faint, distant sounds of the outside world suddenly seemed loud.

One sword.

It was just one sword.

The Hwasan disciples stared, mouths open in shock and then bursting into cheers.

At that shocking sight, those who had been unable to focus belatedly turned their horrified gazes towards the dueling platform.

“One sword?”

“Good heavens⋯⋯.”

This was the top four of the Mount Heaven Martial Arts Tournament.

How could such an absurd result be possible?

Under the astonished gaze of the entire audience, Chung Myung slowly looked up at the platform. More precisely, at Beopjeong, who was there.

He could clearly see the shock in Beopjeong’s eyes, which never lost their composure.

“Victory?”

What a joke.

“Shaolin or whatever. Ruining other people’s moods is my specialty.”

That plan you made, I’ll ruin it completely.

Wouldn’t you be curious to see what kind of expression will cover that face then?

This isn’t a bad personality.

– Is that so?

Ah, don’t keep popping up only at times like this, you old man!

Chung Myung chuckled and stepped down from the dueling platform.

Beopjeong’s eyes were dark with thought as he watched Chung Myung walk away.

The Mount Heaven Martial Arts Tournament.

That long, long tournament was to be concluded with a final between Shaolin and Hwasan.

Shaolin, which had been called the North Star of the Jianghu for hundreds of years.

Hwasan, which had miraculously revived even after being expelled from the Nine Sects.

This tournament, with so much history and meaning, now had only one fight left.