Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 401

Swoosh!

The sword cut through the rain, looking very scary. The Black Cloud Unit members rushed forward, attacking Chung Myung like black birds.

Chung Myung watched them come closer with cold eyes. He made plum blossoms as red as blood appear from his sword.

Flowers in the Rain.

There are two ways to use the Plum Blossom Sword Art. One way is to stop an enemy without killing them. The other way is to kill. These two ways are very different.

The plum blossoms Chung Myung used at the martial arts tournament were pretty, but they were not like this. This sword art was only for killing. Each plum blossom was full of killing power.

The sword moved without mercy, and the swordsman using it in the rain seemed distant and uncaring.

“Hngh.”

A Black Cloud Unit member groaned as he charged towards Chung Myung. The Black Cloud Unit members were trained to not fear death. But now, even they felt scared.

They knew that if they went into those plum blossoms, they would be torn apart and turned into minced meat.

“Haaah!”

He shouted loudly. They were trained to not waste breath until they killed their enemy. But to fight the fear they felt now, they needed to do something they had never done before.

“Die!”

He put all his power into the sword, almost breaking it. The sharp sword went through the plum blossoms like an arrow.

Wham!

The power focused at one point crushed the plum blossoms. The plum blossoms that touched the sword shook and then broke apart.

One. Two. And three!

The plum blossoms that were blocking the Black Cloud Unit member’s way to Chung Myung fell apart one after another. The sword was still very strong.

‘This is it!’

No matter how strong someone is, it is hard to control so many sword energies at once.

So, breaking through the one point needed to attack should not be too hard…

That’s when it happened.

Swoosh.

The plum blossoms moved softly for a moment. And at the same time…

Whoosh!

As if blown by the wind, they all flew towards the Black Cloud Unit member.

‘Tch!’

I knew this would happen.

But even if the sword energy cuts me, I just need to stab him! I’ll give him my flesh to take his bone…

Slice.

The hand holding the sword was cut. The Black Cloud Unit member could see his fingers falling to the ground.

His hand hurt, but he gritted his teeth and tried to stab the sword in. No, he tried to stab it in.

But he was too greedy.

Slice!

A petal lightly touched his wrist. He felt a small sting, and then a red line appeared on his arm.

He thought he could handle this much.

But then.

Crack!

The red line seemed to get deeper, and then the wound opened quickly.

The Black Cloud Unit member’s eyes widened when he saw the bone in his arm.

Slice.

Petals cut through his thigh.

Slice. Slice.

His side was torn. Petals cut into his stomach. Blood shot out from his shoulder, and his ear was cut off.

“Uh…”

Only when his hand was cut off and flew into the air, his neck was half-cut, and his stomach was pierced by many petals, did the Black Cloud Unit member understand what was happening to him.

‘N-No way…’

Whoosh!

A wave of plum blossoms covered his body. Many petals tore through his flesh, cut his bones, and pierced his body.

Blood sprayed everywhere, cutting through the rain.

When the flowers stopped, all that was left was something that had been a person just moments before.

“Aaaargh! You devilish monster!”

One of the Black Cloud members screamed, his voice cracking with fear and rage as he saw his friend fall apart like torn meat. He charged forward, tears mixing with the rain on his face. But Chung Myung did not answer with words. Instead, a flash of blue steel emerged from the swirling red plum blossoms.

Thwack!

The sound of the sword hitting flesh and bone was sharp and brutal in the rain. The charging man’s eyes widened in shock as Chung Myung’s sword, fast as lightning, pierced his neck.

“Krrk…”

A strange groan came out as blood bubbled from his throat. Chung Myung watched the man struggle to live with chillingly cold eyes.

Just as he was about to take back his sword…

Clutch.

The man whose neck was pierced suddenly grabbed Chung Myung’s sword with both hands.

“Krrrk…”

His bloodshot eyes were full of anger.

He did not want to miss this chance. He forced his power into his hands, digging them into the sword. A horrible sound came as the blade scraped against bone.

He was determined to not let go of Chung Myung’s sword, even if it meant dying.

“Die!”

“Haah!”

Two black streaks of light flew towards Chung Myung’s back.

But then, Chung Myung smirked.

Thunk!

Instead of pulling the sword out, he pushed it forward.

The man who was pulling on the sword looked horrified.

‘N-No…!’

Thunk!

Chung Myung showed his teeth and stabbed the sword all the way into the Black Cloud Unit member’s neck. The sword killed him instantly and then moved downwards with great force.

Swoosh!

Chung Myung quickly went through the body that had been split in half. Hot blood covered him, but he did not move.

After going through the Black Cloud Unit member’s body, he spun around and kicked the still-standing body at those who were attacking his back.

The body spun around, spraying blood everywhere.

“Ugh!”

Those who were rushing in were confused and changed direction.

Chung Myung did not miss this chance.

Wham!

He jumped off the ground quickly.

His sword shook as he closed the distance like lightning.

The plum blossoms appeared quickly and swept away those who had lost their balance, as if time had sped up.

“Aaaaargh!”

The man screamed as dozens of holes appeared on his body. Before Chung Myung could even pull his sword out, the man died.

Chung Myung’s movements never stopped.

His quick sword, like a ray of light, aimed for another’s neck, making a tearing sound.

“Heok!”

The Black Cloud Unit member was scared and did not even try to swing his sword. He raised both arms.

Thwack!

Chung Myung’s sword went through both arms and stabbed into the man’s neck. The Black Cloud Unit member turned pale and backed away.

But Chung Myung did not let him escape. He rushed in faster than the Black Cloud Unit member could retreat.

Chung Myung’s hair was wet and dark. Blood sprayed everywhere.

“Heot!”

The Black Cloud Unit member tripped on something as he backed away.

The Black Cloud Unit member fell to the ground and saw Chung Myung looking down at him.

His face was covered in blood, like a monster. But his eyes were very calm and cold. They seemed to look right through you.

“Hngh… Hngh…”

Chung Myung’s sword pierced his neck without any hesitation.

He tried to block it, but the sword slowly sliced through his arm and into his neck.

Scrrt.

“Grrrk…”

A strange sound came from his throat as his neck was cut. Blood filled his mouth.

“You shouldn’t have come here if you can’t handle blood.”

A cruel smile appeared on Chung Myung’s face.

“You little whelp.”

The Black Cloud Unit member stopped breathing, and his body went limp.

Thud.

He could still feel the sword cutting through bone in his fingers. This feeling used to mean nothing to him. Now, it was different.

“…Ptooey.”

Chung Myung spat out blood and wiped his face quickly. The rain mixed with the blood. He looked up at the remaining enemies.

The ground was muddy and red with blood. The rain washed over everything, but the smell stayed strong. He hated the smell of blood, but he also knew it well. *This is what I am now,* he thought grimly.

He looked at the remaining members of the Black Cloud Unit. They did not dare to get too close quickly. They watched him carefully, like wolves hunting.

But even though they looked like wolves, their eyes were not the same. The fierce look from before was gone. Now, they looked scared and unsure.

Chung Myung walked toward them, his sword hanging down.

“Ugh…”

The Black Cloud Unit member in front of him flinched and stepped back.

Fight such a monster?

You could risk your life to fight if you thought you could win. But… wasn’t this just a waste of life?

‘R-Run away…’ someone whispered.

*Crack!* Suddenly, a chilling sound cut through the air. The man who had stepped back looked down in shock. A black hand stuck out from his chest.

Blood poured from his mouth. He looked back with shaking eyes.

“Not so fast.”

Black Sea’s voice was like metal scraping on bone. It sent shivers down your spine.

Scrreeech.

A strange sound came from the hand in his chest. The Black Cloud Unit member twisted in pain, as if he couldn’t breathe. Black Sea’s eyes were like ice. He didn’t care at all about the man he had just killed.

“Kuh… Kuh-ugh…”

Thud.

Black Sea pulled his hand from the chest and didn’t even look at the man who had fallen. He only looked at Chung Myung.

His mouth, covered in bandages, slowly opened.

“Attack together. Charge in. Hold him down.”

The Black Cloud Unit members’ eyes flashed with a cold, deadly light.

If they couldn’t escape, the only way to live was to kill that monster.

“Haaah!”

It was more like a scream than a battle cry.

The Black Cloud Unit members, with bloodshot eyes, charged at Chung Myung.

Seeing their desperate attack, Chung Myung slowly stood ready.

Three in front. Two behind. And one above.

He wasn’t sure if that was all of them. Even if it was, it would be foolish to fight them all at once.

Chung Myung moved his feet. He slid across the ground like a ghost toward the one coming from the front.

Why the one in front?

Because his feet were the slowest. Because he was the most afraid.

A battle wasn’t a friendly fight. If the enemy showed weakness, you had to attack it. If you worried about the enemy, you would be the one to die.

And Chung Myung followed this rule.

“Ah…”

The Black Cloud Unit member saw Chung Myung flying toward him before he could even surround him. His eyes widened in shock.

“Aaaaargh!”

He screamed and pushed forward with his rapier.

The rapier was very sharp for attacking. But it was not a good weapon for blocking attacks.

And Chung Myung knew that.

Wham!

Chung Myung’s sword came down with great power. The rapier broke in two with a sharp sound.

Chung Myung’s sword hit the Black Cloud Unit member in front of him.

The sword cut through his shoulder, breaking the collarbone, and then cut through his upper body.

But then.

Crack!

Just as the sword cut through his stomach, something burst out from the Black Cloud Unit member’s chest and lunged at Chung Myung’s face.

Even Chung Myung felt fear at that moment.

“Kuh!”

He twisted his body before he could see what it was. The object barely missed his face, leaving three cuts on his cheek.

And at the same time.

Kaaaa-BOOM!

The body of the Black Cloud Unit member in front of him exploded, sending pieces of flesh everywhere. Bones and flesh flew at Chung Myung like bullets.

“Aaaaargh!”

The Black Cloud Unit members attacked Chung Myung.

Chung Myung gritted his teeth and swung his sword quickly.

The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Plum Blossom Bloom (梅花漸漸), swept away those attacking him in a storm of petals.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Aaargh!”

The desperate screams echoed through Mount Hua.

The Plum Blossom Sword Technique, used with deadly intent, turned those who attacked into pieces of flesh. But because it was used in a hurry, it was not as precise as usual.

So, Chung Myung had to pay a price.

Scrrt.

He quickly cut off some flesh from his own leg.

Chung Myung, having cut off several parts of his body, stared ahead with half-opened eyes.

Black Sea was slowly coming closer. His eyes, visible through the bandages, shone even darker.

“I can’t understand it… I can’t understand it. His movements are like someone who has fought in many battles.”

Scrreeech.

A strange sound came from Black Sea’s claws whenever they moved.

“…You.”

Veins stood out on Chung Myung’s face. And his eyes were bloodshot.

Black Sea’s claw had cut his face. The man had hidden himself and attacked Chung Myung by stabbing through his own man’s back.

“Made you angry?” Black Sea asked, tilting his head. “Why? He’s just going to rot anyway. He should be happy he even scratched you.”

At Black Sea’s words, the Plum Blossom Sword in Chung Myung’s hand shook.

Of course, he knew that those words weren’t wrong. Anything could be used in a battle where people killed and were killed.

But…

But why did he feel like his blood was boiling?

Black Sea raised his long claws and walked toward Chung Myung silently.

“Don’t worry. I don’t kill people easily. I’ll make you scream like you never have before.”

Chung Myung smiled coldly, his face still angry.

“You talk too much for someone who’s about to lose.”

Soon, the Plum Blossom Sword glowed with a bright blue light.