Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 402

Cold rain fell on the cut on Chung Myung’s cheek. Pain, sharp and hot, shot through him. But he didn’t care about the pain. He only watched Heuksi.

Creak.

Heuksi moved his claw. It made a rough, scraping sound.

“…I cannot understand it.”

Heuksi tilted his head slightly.

“Even a little bit of this poison can kill an ox. Even if the cut was made, he should be dead by now… He can’t be immune to all poisons, can he?”

Three red lines showed on Chung Myung’s face. Enough time had passed for the poison from the claw to spread.

But the poison wasn’t working much.

Only the skin around the cut on his cheek was a little dark.

An ordinary person would be dead, their whole body black.

Strong fighters with great inner power can sometimes fight off poison. Inner strength is like a hidden power inside. Qi is the energy flowing through the body. If poison could easily beat strong fighters, the Black Cloud Unit wouldn’t be just another group in the Ten Thousand People Clan.

But Chung Myung was young.

He had amazing inner strength that didn’t match his young age. But he couldn’t have learned to use grandmaster skills in such a short time, right?

“The more I fight him, the more I don’t understand him. He’s like a puzzle.”

Heuksi touched the edge of his claw.

Even a small touch made blood come out. His finger, wrapped in a black cloth, was bleeding.

The tingling feeling showed the poison was working.

But it wasn’t working on Chung Myung…

“Well, no matter. If the poison isn’t working, I can just punch a hole in his stomach and shove it in directly.”

Heuksi smirked, and Chung Myung glared at him.

The poison from the cut was spreading. Burning it away with the Samadhi Fire was possible, but Chung Myung couldn’t do that while fighting. Samadhi Fire is like a special flame inside him.

Heuksi watched Chung Myung closely and wouldn’t miss a chance to stop him.

The Plum Blossom Sword Saint wouldn’t have even been touched by this poison, Chung Myung thought, a flash of his past self in his mind. But I am not him yet.

Chung Myung had grown stronger quickly since he was reborn. He was improving faster than he ever thought possible.

But who was the Plum Blossom Sword Saint?

He was the best swordsman from Mount Hua, who made his own sword style and became a grandmaster. Even the Heavenly Demon, who was very strong and caused chaos, respected the Plum Blossom Sword Saint as a swordsman.

Chung Myung was still far from reaching that perfect level.

He could feel the poison spreading from the cut on his face. He had to stop it from spreading further.

One.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Once he beat Heuksi, burning away the poison would be easy.

Chung Myung slowly moved toward Heuksi.

Scrape.

His sword scraped on the ground.

He started moving slowly, then suddenly dashed toward Heuksi like lightning.

He was close to Heuksi and swung his sword at his head.

Claaang!

Heuksi blocked Chung Myung’s Plum Blossom Sword with his claws.

When the sword and claw hit, the rain flew everywhere like tiny silver drops.

Clang clang clang!

Chung Myung’s angry eyes met Heuksi’s murderous eyes.

“Heuhut!”

Heuksi cried out and tightened his claws to break Chung Myung’s sword. He grabbed the sword like a bird catching prey.

Zzzzzing.

The Plum Blossom Sword screamed in the claws. Heuksi smiled.

“I won’t let go….”

Thwack!

Chung Myung kicked Heuksi in the stomach. Heuksi bent over.

But Heuksi didn’t loosen his grip on the sword.

Clang clang clang!

The claw slid down the sword. It missed the handle and aimed for Chung Myung’s arm.

Tap!

Chung Myung jumped back to create space.

But Heuksi followed him. He needed to be close because he had a short weapon.

Crack!

A strange sound came from the claw. A blade popped out.

Thwack!

The blade cut into Chung Myung’s arm, making five holes.

Chung Myung frowned, not expecting this.

But Chung Myung didn’t give up.

Thud!

He was too close to use his sword.

But Chung Myung could still fight. He punched Heuksi in the face.

Crack.

Heuksi’s face, wrapped in bandages, broke. His head snapped back.

Red blood bloomed on the black bandages like dark flowers in the rain. The rainwater dripped down his face, mixing with the blood.

Heuksi didn’t seem to feel pain. He pushed the claw deeper into Chung Myung’s arm.

Crack.

The claw went through Chung Myung’s arm.

“Keuheuh.”

Heuksi made a strange sound.

Chung Myung punched Heuksi in the jaw again, using his inner strength.

Boom!

Heuksi flew back like a cannonball. The claw was pulled out of Chung Myung’s arm.

….

Throb!

Chung Myung looked at the hole in his arm. Poison, he thought angrily. This is annoying.

Black blood poured from the holes. The poison spread, and his arm tingled.

He used his inner strength to stop the poison and moved his fingers. He could still move his hand.

He bit his lip and calmed down.

He wouldn’t have been surprised by any weapon in the past.

He wondered if he was weaker than before or if he had become too relaxed.

He tried to stop the bleeding, but he had lost a lot of blood. His vision was blurry.

Heuksi stood up.

“Heueugh.”

He touched his face. His lips were bloody. He twisted his neck like a ghost.

“Keureuk!”

He tore off the bandage around his mouth. Pieces of his tongue and teeth fell down.

“…If I hadn’t weakened him first, he would have cut off my neck.”

He spoke unclearly because his tongue was cut, but his eyes were still scary.

Chung Myung didn’t want to talk to him.

Whoosh!

He jumped forward like an arrow.

The sword trembled and created streaks of red plum blossoms.

Plum Blossom Shadow River.

The plum blossoms grew and turned into a river. The river of plum blossoms covered everything.

Heuksi was shocked.

‘Can someone make this with a sword?’

He had fought many strong people. But he had never seen anything like this.

A river of plum blossoms flowed toward him in the rain.

It was beautiful and powerful.

But it was also deadly. The river of plum blossoms would destroy everything in its path.

Heuksi bent his knees and put his claw on the ground. He stared at the river with bloodshot eyes.

“Hup!”

Heuksi jumped forward.

The river of plum blossoms would only get bigger. If he tried to avoid it, he would be swept away.

The only way was forward!

He lowered his body and raised his claw. He put all his inner strength into the claw. He spun and created a claw shadow.

He attacked the plum blossoms like a wounded animal.

Then, a black shadow went into the river of plum blossoms. Heuksi screamed and moved forward.

But the river of plum blossoms was strong.

It surged.

Even when attacked and pushed back, the plum blossoms kept coming, like a wave that never stops.

Just like you can’t stop a river with your hands, the Black Sea’s power couldn’t change the flow of plum blossoms.

One.

“KRAAAH!”

A fierce cry, like an angry animal, came from the Black Sea.

Suddenly, he smashed his weapon into the ground, pushing himself up and forward. A dark shape leaped over the river of plum blossoms and hurtled towards Chung Myung.

He was taking a risk.

“Rip! Rip! Rip! Rip!”

The plum blossoms slashed at the Black Sea’s legs as he moved through them. Blood sprayed out as dozens of cuts appeared instantly. It was worse than cuts; his legs were being ripped apart.

The pain was like being cut again and again on his legs, all at once.

The Black Sea’s mouth opened wide, a dark hole of pain. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

But the Black Sea’s body didn’t stop. Instead, it charged towards Chung Myung with the same speed as when it first leaped.

The Black Sea’s eyes, gleaming with murderous intent, spat out a blue light.

As if betting everything on this one move, terrifying inner strength was drawn forth. Blood poured from his nose as if a dam had burst, unable to withstand the excessive pressure, and bloody tears streamed from his eyes, where every blood vessel had ruptured.

“Heuaaaah!”

Power exploded from the weapons in his hands.

With his ruined legs, and his hands now like sharp claws, the Black Sea looked like a hunting bird diving down.

The Black Sea bore down on Chung Myung.

Chung Myung’s eyes, which had been blooming with plum blossoms, instantly turned cold.

“Die, raaah!”

His clawed hands, spread wide, tried to grab Chung Myung tightly.

Chung Myung, taking a lower stance, lightly jumped back.

Right then.

Bang!

The bandages on the Black Sea’s back ripped open, and four more weapons appeared from behind him.

These new weapons swung in wide circles, blocking Chung Myung from moving back, and then aimed to stab him in the back.

But Chung Myung’s eyes still showed no agitation.

Having his retreat cut off, he took a step forward. After slightly twisting away from the point his enemy was aiming for, he quickly stabbed his sword into the Black Sea’s body again and again.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Even with wounds appearing on his body, the Black Sea didn’t stop.

He kept moving forward. He used his long weapons, which were bigger than a person’s body, to block Chung Myung from moving.

“Kuk!”

If he stayed there, those weapons would rip him apart.

Chung Myung charged into the Black Sea’s arms.

Thunk!

Chung Myung stabbed his plum blossom sword into the Black Sea’s stomach. He knew that against these long weapons, his shorter sword was a disadvantage.

He needed to get close to avoid the power of those weapons.

But at that moment.

Grasp.

Suddenly, the Black Sea grabbed Chung Myung, his thin, bony arms wrapping around him.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Then, the four weapons from behind didn’t hit Chung Myung. Instead, they stabbed through the Black Sea’s own arms, trapping Chung Myung like a vise.

Chung Myung raised his head with wide eyes.

The Black Sea was smiling, blood streaming from his mouth.

The Black Sea’s arms around Chung Myung became harder and harder, like stone. Chung Myung tried to push away with all his strength, but he was trapped, as if held by iron chains.

“Kuk!”

Chung Myung stabbed harder with his plum blossom sword. The Black Sea’s stomach tore open, and blood and guts spilled out. But even then, his stone-hard arms didn’t loosen.

“Not gonna work, kukuk.”

Even as blood poured from his mouth, the Black Sea laughed, sounding happy and crazy. And he shouted.

“Now! Kill him!”

Paaaaah!

Like an explosion from the ground, a black shape shot up behind Chung Myung.

The last member of the Black Sea Squad, who had been hidden underground, launched himself like a cannonball at Chung Myung’s back when the Black Sea shouted.

Swaaaaaaek!

Chung Myung quickly turned his head and saw a thin sword, aimed right at his heart. It was black, with a blue glow around it.

“Die!”

Chung Myung’s eyes flashed blue for a moment.

Thwack!

Without a second thought, Chung Myung ducked his head and bit into the Black Sea’s neck. He ripped away a piece of flesh, and blood gushed out like a fountain from the wound.

“Keuk.”

Because the Black Sea loosened his grip for a moment, Chung Myung slammed his shoulder into the Black Sea’s chest.

Boom!

The Black Sea’s chest cracked inwards, giving Chung Myung just enough room to move his sword.

Chwaaaaaaak!

Chung Myung’s sword moved so fast it was a blur, and the Black Sea’s arms were cut off.

He pushed the Black Sea’s body away, spun around, and faced the other attacker who was still flying towards him.

The Black Sea Squad member’s eyes went wide with shock.

‘Ah, no….’

Chwaaaaaaak!

With one quick, clean strike, Chung Myung cut the attacker down.

Plop.

The body fell in two pieces, lifeless.

“…Hoo, haa.”

Chung Myung breathed heavily, holding his bleeding arm. He walked over to the Black Sea, who lay on the ground.

Thud.

He stood over the Black Sea, whose arms and legs were gone. Chung Myung raised his sword, pointing it at the Black Sea’s throat.

“…You should not have come to Mount Hua.”

The light in the Black Sea’s eyes faded fast.

But before it went out, Chung Myung saw not fear, but confusion.

“…Why?”

Even as he spoke, blood gurgled out of his mouth.

“…Why didn’t the ambush come….”

It was then.

Just then, *thud!* Three heads landed on the ground, rolling towards them.

The Black Sea turned his trembling head and looked at the rolling heads.

“…Looking for them.”

It was a woman’s voice.

Yoo Iseol stepped out of the trees, her uniform covered in blood. She was limping.

“…Accident? Why an accident….”

Yoo Iseol looked at Chung Myung, her face showing nothing. She didn’t answer, just nodded towards the Black Sea.

Chung Myung nodded and looked back at the Black Sea. Their eyes met – Chung Myung’s hard and unforgiving, the Black Sea’s filled with hate.

Thunk.

Chung Myung’s sword pierced the Black Sea’s neck.

His thin body twitched and then went still. His eyes stayed open, full of confusion and fear until the end.

Chung Myung pulled his sword out, wiped it clean, and turned to Yoo Iseol.

“…Why did you bother coming again?”

“Because it’s an accident.”

In the pouring rain, Yoo Iseol quietly looked at Chung Myung and said.

“An accident is making sure you’re safe, Chung Myung.”

“…….”

Chung Myung, who had been staring at her, sighed.

“The wound? There must have been poison?”

“This poison is different from the others.”

“……Okay.”

It seemed they had sent not just the Black Sea Squad, but other attackers too.

If they planned for more attackers, even if the Black Sea Squad failed, these enemies were truly dangerous.

If that ambush had come while he was dealing with the Black Sea, the situation would have been much more difficult.

Chung Myung looked down at the Black Sea’s body, now still and lifeless. Then he looked up.

“Let’s go back. We need to clean up Mount Hua.”

“Okay.”

Chung Myung and Yoo Iseol walked back towards Mount Hua together, neither one going ahead of the other.