Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 36

“You, you little punk?” the masked man hissed. Gong Mun-yeon wasn’t taking him lightly, even if this masked fighter seemed weak. A true fighter always respects their enemy, no matter how small they seem.

Gong Mun-yeon had seen how easily this masked man defeated the guards. He knew he couldn’t relax. But still… something felt strange.

He watched closely. *Thwack!* Gong Mun-yeon’s fist, powered up with all his strength, stopped suddenly. It hit something hard near his chest – the end of a sword scabbard! Before he could hit the scabbard, it was gone. His power, ready to explode outwards, twisted inside him, lost and confused.

“Gah!”

He felt a painful jolt as his energy went the wrong way.

“You little pest!” Gong Mun-yeon yelled, launching a powerful Whirlwind Kick. But the masked man was already gone.

“Slowpoke,” the masked man’s voice whispered from behind.

“Gasp!” Gong Mun-yeon spun around, throwing a wild punch. Again, the same thing happened. *Thwack!*

“Ugh!” He tried to channel his energy, like a cannon firing from his core, through his body and into his fist. But it was like the cannon was blocked just as it fired. *Bang!* A sound like an explosion ripped through his insides. His shoulder blade felt like it was bursting.

He cried out, “Eek!” It happened again and again.

“Aaaaargh!”

Gathering all his strength, he launched another kick. But the masked man barely moved. Just a small step back, like he was swatting away a fly that bothered him. Gong Mun-yeon’s foot whipped past the masked man’s chest. The fabric of his dark clothes rippled in the air, but his foot didn’t even graze him.

*What is going on?* Gong Mun-yeon’s mind raced. *Is he incredibly fast? No. Is he incredibly strong? No.* He didn’t seem fast or strong at all. Normally, Gong Mun-yeon could easily beat ten men like this masked man. But now? He couldn’t even touch him. He felt like a child trying to fight a grown master. He was using all his power, but it was useless.

He focused all his energy into a punch aimed at the masked man’s face. A direct hit would be devastating. But he couldn’t even touch him. The masked man just tilted his head slowly, like he was avoiding a child’s clumsy wave. His attack was completely useless.

*How is this even possible?* Gong Mun-yeon thought, his heart pounding.

*Not just speed. But… faster than fast.* It wasn’t blinding speed that you couldn’t see. It was like he moved in slow motion, but always in the exact right way, at the perfect time, and just the right distance. Every movement was perfect, nothing wasted. This was the ultimate skill every fighter dreamed of. But facing it now, Gong Mun-yeon felt only despair.

It was like fighting a ghost.

He was fighting a person, but it felt like fighting nothing at all. He could see the masked man, but he couldn’t touch him, not even a little. If the masked man was just too fast to see, he would understand and give up. But it was always *just* missing, by a hair’s breadth, making him feel sick with frustration and rage.

*This guy is a monster.* If he was just dodging, it wouldn’t be so terrifying. But it was more than that. *He’s reading my mind!* Before Gong Mun-yeon’s fist was even fully out, the masked man knew where it would land. He was blocking Gong Mun-yeon’s power before it could even strike, turning it back against him. It wasn’t just about being soft and yielding. It was an amazing mix of speed and knowing what would happen next. Gong Mun-yeon had no idea how powerful this man truly was.

*’This was a mistake from the beginning.’* Monsters were monsters because you couldn’t guess what they would do. If he had known such a monster was here in Mount Hua, he would have stayed far away.

But then…

“Ugh…” The masked man, who had been moving like a phantom, suddenly grabbed his side and bent over, groaning.

“Ouch! My stupid body! Cramp! I’ve got a cramp!”

“……”

The masked man panted, rubbing his waist. *A monster… with a cramp?* It was ridiculous. A master this skilled, exhausted by just moving around? It made no sense. But it was happening. The masked man’s chest heaved, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Gong Mun-yeon could see sweat beading on his mask and soaking the fabric around his neck. He looked like he was about to collapse. And yet, he had dodged every single attack. Gong Mun-yeon’s frustration turned to disbelief.

“Ugh,” the masked man groaned, straightening up. “Tsk, tsk. I wanted to have a bit more fun, but I’m too tired. No energy left.”

Gong Mun-yeon’s face was tight with fear and anger. He’d been fighting for only a few minutes, but he hadn’t even touched the masked man. Gong Mun-yeon knew he was strong, one of the best in Mount Hua. But this old man, this stranger, was playing with him.

“Why haven’t I heard of you before?” Gong Mun-yeon demanded. “Someone like you should be famous.”

“What would you understand even if I told you?” the masked man snapped back, twirling his sword. “Big talkers always live in their own little worlds. Do I have to answer just because you ask?”

“……”

The masked man pointed his sword at Gong Mun-yeon. “*I* should be asking the questions. For a *tavern owner*, you’re a surprisingly good fighter. Why would someone with your skills waste their life running a tavern in Hwayeom?”

“……Is it against the law for a strong fighter to own a tavern?” Gong Mun-yeon retorted, trying to sound confident.

“No law,” the masked man said. “But it’s suspicious when a tavern owner with your skills gets greedy and starts causing trouble. You could make money in a hundred better ways than serving drinks to drunks. So why a tavern?” Behind the mask, Chung Myung’s lips curled into a slight smile.

“What are you even talking about…” Gong Mun-yeon started to say.

“Enough!” Chung Myung cut him off. “I know the story. No conspiracy, no tricks. You’re just an innocent tavern owner caught in the wrong place. You did it all yourself, right?”

“……Y-yes,” Gong Mun-yeon stammered.

“Exactly!” Chung Myung nodded, too enthusiastically. “That’s what they all say. And usually, people like you only confess when they’re almost dead. But honestly, your little crime isn’t worth killing you over. I’d love to tear you apart to get the truth, but that’s too much trouble.” Chung Myung nodded to himself again.

“So, here’s the question. Guess what I do now?”

“……How am I supposed to know?” Gong Mun-yeon said, his voice shaking.

“I beat you.”

Gong Mun-yeon’s eyes went wide.

“What?”

“I beat you,” Chung Myung repeated, tilting his head. “If I waste time trying to make you talk, I’ll just get annoyed. So, we’ll keep it simple. You don’t talk. I beat you until I’m bored, even if you still don’t talk.”

“……”

“If you decide to talk, just raise your hand. But think fast. The beating you’ve already had doesn’t count.”

“This is insane!”

“Yep,” Chung Myung grinned, his eyes glinting behind the mask. “Insanity is my specialty. Ready or not, here I come!” Chung Myung charged forward.

Chung Myung moved so fast it was like teleportation. Gong Mun-yeon stumbled back. The masked man wasn’t glowing with power, or using any fancy sword moves. He just ran forward, legs pumping, like a normal person. But Gong Mun-yeon was still terrified and retreated. Of course, he wasn’t fast enough.

Chung Myung’s scabbard swung towards Gong Mun-yeon’s knee. Too late to dodge! Gong Mun-yeon threw his arm down, channeling his energy to block his leg. *Wham!* But the scabbard slammed into his shoulder instead.

“Ugh!” He gasped, pain shooting through him. *Shoulder?* He’d been aiming for his leg! No time to think. The scabbard, still stinging his shoulder, swung again, aiming for his head.

This time, Gong Mun-yeon braced himself, blocking above his head. *Thud!* His vision went blurry for a moment, the world fading to black and then back again. He couldn’t breathe. His neck felt like it was snapping.

“Kuh-ugh!” Chung Myung’s scabbard had rammed into his neck. Not the sharp blade, but the blunt, heavy scabbard, like a metal club, smashing into his throat. The pain was unbearable. Tears streamed down his face, and his body shook.

*Whack! Whack!* Chung Myung kept hitting him. Shoulder, head, side. He was just swinging wildly now, like beating a stray dog. But even with these clumsy swings, Gong Mun-yeon couldn’t dodge. Every block was wrong. If he protected his shoulder, the scabbard hit his side. If he pulled back his side, it hit his head. Gong Mun-yeon was a mess, his clothes ripped, his body aching. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with horror.

*D-death…* The raw, cold fear of death flooded him.

He blinked, his vision clearing, and looked up. His eyes met the masked man’s. And in that instant, Gong Mun-yeon understood. Those eyes. He’d seen eyes like that before. Eyes that held no feeling, no mercy. Eyes that belonged to one kind of person. A killer. This man had killed many times. Killing Gong Mun-yeon would be nothing to him, like swatting a fly. He knew, with chilling certainty, that if that sword came out of its scabbard, he would die.

*No!* He didn’t want to die. Not here!

Just then, Chung Myung’s sword slid from its scabbard. It flashed downwards, a streak of lightning aimed at Gong Mun-yeon’s head.

“Aaaaargh!” Desperate, Gong Mun-yeon’s hand glowed with blue energy. He thrust it out, a bolt of power, towards Chung Myung. *Wham!* His hand hit empty air. Chung Myung was gone. Gong Mun-yeon looked around wildly. Chung Myung was already far away, leaning casually on one leg, sliding his sword back into its scabbard.

Chung Myung spoke, his voice calm. “Supreme God Hand, huh?”

“……”

“You… you little punk.” Gong Mun-yeon’s face drained of color as he realized what he’d done. “Are you from the Jongnam Sect?” His face twisted in horror.