Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 519

Seol So-baek quickly hid his sweaty hands in his sleeves. He was still trembling, and he hated it. He felt like a scared child, but he couldn’t stop shaking.

What he was seeing felt unreal, like a nightmare far away. But it was right there, in front of him. It was too much. Too terrible for a boy his age to understand.

‘The Demonic Sect.’

The words echoed in his mind, Chung Myung’s words. Only those words, clear and sharp, cut through his fear.

“You need to look closely, So-baek,” Chung Myung had said. “See who is really in the North Sea. See what you are truly facing.”

What had he been looking at all this time?

Everyone celebrated their victory over Seol Cheon-sang and taking back the North Sea. But Seol So-baek knew the real problem was still there.

Seol So-baek wiped his face with his cold fingertips.

Thinking about the conversation in the palace hall, he didn’t dare to face the Mount Hua disciples.

How pathetic must Chung Myung think the Ice Palace was?

They didn’t realize the danger. It was like they were standing right in front of a sharp knife and didn’t even know it. These demons were present in the North Sea, yet they felt no sense of crisis.

“Hoo. Hoo…”

Seol So-baek’s breathing became heavy. His face turned red, and he struggled to breathe out.

Then, someone put a hand on his shoulder.

“Ah…”

He looked up quickly, feeling a cool energy from his shoulder. Tang Soso was there, looking worried.

“You don’t have to watch,” she said.

“…Ah, no.”

Seol So-baek shook his head and bit his lip. He glanced at Chung Myung, who was using his energy, and then spoke with a determined look.

“I have to see it myself. That’s what Chung Myung said.”

He walked to the window, even though he was trembling.

Thud.

Thud.

It was strange. In all the chaos, one person’s quiet footsteps sounded so loud.

The battlefield was a terrible soundscape of screams. People were running away, and others were dying. It should have been impossible to hear those soft footsteps.

But everyone could see and hear him clearly, even in the chaos.

He walked across the battlefield like he was taking a stroll. He reached the place where the Ice Palace and the Demonic Sect met and lightly waved his hand.

“Fall back.”

“Yes!”

The Demonic Sect warriors, who had been killing the Ice Palace disciples without mercy, immediately stopped and stood behind the man.

“…”

The Ice Palace disciples who saw this turned even paler.

It was a crazy order.

The Demonic Sect was winning the battle. Stopping the fight now made no sense.

But no one laughed.

Because everyone knew this wasn’t a foolish act.

It was an order given with the confidence that he could destroy everyone there at any moment.

And…

‘Those fiends, with just a single word…’

The warriors who had been rampaging like mad beasts obeyed his order as if they were well-trained soldiers.

Seeing this unbelievable sight, everyone had to understand.

They understood what the Demonic Sect truly meant. This was the sect that had turned the Central Plains into a sea of corpses and plunged the world into hell.

Those who were running away stopped. Those who were about to die took a breath.

A deathly silence fell over the Ice Palace, where so many people were gathered. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The Law Enforcer of the Demonic Sect stood at the front, looking at the Ice Palace disciples.

He saw their faces, filled with terror and helplessness, and a twisted smile appeared on his lips.

“I got a little excited having those filthy infidels in front of me. I must apologize to the Hierarch,” he said.

The Law Enforcer remembered his duty.

His job wasn’t to punish the North Sea Ice Palace. He could destroy those pests whenever he wanted.

He only had one mission: to get the Ice Jade and return as quickly as possible.

Wasting time with the Ice Palace trash would be disloyal to the Hierarch and the Great Heavenly Demon.

“Listen,” he said.

His voice was eerie and chilling.

“The loyal servant of the Great One wants the Ice Jade.”

Everyone who heard those words felt different emotions.

Some hoped they might not die. Others were disgusted and scared by the phrase ‘loyal servant of the Great One.’

Some were shocked by the words ‘Ice Jade.’ And those who knew about the Demonic Sect finally understood the true danger they were in.

Confusion spread through the Ice Palace.

“So, I ask,” the Law Enforcer said slowly.

“Where are the Central Plains bastards who took the Ice Jade?”

“…”

Central Plains?

When they heard ‘Central Plains,’ everyone’s faces changed.

So, they were here to find the Central Plains people? Not to attack the Ice Palace?

Before they could think clearly, the Law Enforcer spoke coldly.

“Hand over the Central Plains bastards. Then, I will leave. But if you don’t hand them over, not a single ant will survive in the Ice Palace today.”

At those words, almost half the people looked in one direction.

It was Elder Yeo Sa-hon, watching from the back.

“…”

He trembled, feeling everyone staring at him.

The Law Enforcer looked at him.

“Are you the Palace Lord?”

“…”

The Law Enforcer frowned, seeing Yeo Sa-hon frozen and unable to speak.

‘A rat-like bastard.’

He could tell this man wasn’t qualified to be the Palace Lord. Seol Cheon-sang was pathetic too, but at least he had some false courage.

“Answer me. Are you the Palace Lord?”

“I, I am not the Palace Lord. I am…”

The Law Enforcer’s face twisted slightly at Yeo Sa-hon’s reply.

“You are not the Palace Lord?”

Then why was that bastard standing at the back?

The Law Enforcer shook his head, looking displeased.

“It doesn’t matter. Hand over the Central Plains bastards. If you refuse, be prepared.”

Yeo Sa-hon’s breathing quickened.

Everyone was staring at him. Yeo Sa-hon knew what they wanted.

‘Where is the Palace Lord?’

Many thoughts flashed through his mind.

“D-Does returning mean…?”

“Exactly what it says.”

“Then the Ice Palace will not…?”

“This fool dares to…”

The Law Enforcer suddenly became angry and showed his teeth. Yeo Sa-hon flinched and closed his mouth.

“The Demonic Sect doesn’t negotiate with the likes of you. Do I have to rip your mouth apart for you to understand?”

“…”

“Decide. This is your last chance.”

Yeo Sa-hon was covered in sweat.

‘What am I supposed to decide?’

He only had one choice.

Even though the Mount Hua people had helped the Ice Palace, he couldn’t let the Ice Palace be destroyed to protect them, could he?

“Th-That…”

Yeo Sa-hon was about to speak.

“No, Elder!”

A strong voice stopped him.

“…”

Yeo Sa-hon turned around, his face sweaty. Han Yi-myeong was walking towards them with a serious face.

“Don’t lose your reason,” Han Yi-myeong said.

“H-Han Commander…”

“Escaping this isn’t the end. Have you forgotten why they want the Ice Jade?”

“…”

“It’s clear now. We can’t let them have it.”

Han Yi-myeong spoke firmly, but he was regretting his choices.

‘It is too late to realize.’

He wanted to beg the Mount Hua disciples for forgiveness, bowing his head to the ground.

Living in the North Sea, he didn’t know what the Demonic Sect was like. The Mount Hua disciples had warned them, but they didn’t listen.

Now they were paying the price.

“We should have listened to them,” he muttered.

“…”

“If the Heavenly Demon comes back, it won’t end here. Do you know why he was called the Heavenly Demon?”

“B-But…”

“We have to protect it,” Han Yi-myeong shouted, his eyes bloodshot.

“No matter the cost!”

Yeo Sa-hon stared at him, confused.

“B-But, if everyone dies, isn’t it all over?”

“If the Heavenly Demon comes back, everyone will die anyway. Do you think they’ll leave us alone then, now that they have no reason to keep us alive?”

“…”

“Don’t forget why the Demonic Sect is the Demonic Sect. We forgot what we shouldn’t have, and we’re paying the price for joining hands with those we shouldn’t have.”

It was Seol Cheon-sang’s fault at first. But now that they had taken over the Ice Palace, it was their responsibility to fix this problem.

And they were also responsible for ignoring the Mount Hua disciples’ warnings.

“I, I…”

It was a mistake.

Yeo Sa-hon, confused and lost, looked towards the Mount Hua disciples.

The Law Enforcer saw him.

He followed Yeo Sa-hon’s gaze.

His eyes stopped on one of the windows in the castle. He could see the people inside.

They wore different clothes from the Ice Palace warriors.

He didn’t need to ask.

Their eyes and expressions were different. They weren’t scared like the others. They were glaring at him, angry and ready to fight.

The Law Enforcer smiled strangely.

“It’s over there,” he said.

His eyes showed joy and madness.

“Get the Ice Jade. Don’t kill them until you have it.”

“What should we do after?”

“Do as you please.”

The Demonic Sect warriors ran across the snowy field like black streaks of light.

Han Yi-myeong shouted, his voice cracking.

“Stop them! Don’t let them through!”

Baek Cheon’s eyes were cold.

“Hyung,” Yoo Iseol said.

“I know,” Baek Cheon replied.

His eyes hardened.

“Jo Gul, Yoon Jong!”

“Yes!”

“Protect Chung Myung. Don’t let anyone touch him!”

“Yes!”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul ran to Chung Myung, guarding him, and drew their swords.

“Soso!”

“Yes, Sasook!”

“Protect the Palace Lord.”

“Yes, don’t worry!”

Baek Cheon turned to Hae Yeon.

“Monk, I need your help,” he said calmly.

“Amitabha. I will fight believing in you,” Hae Yeon said, his eyes calm.

“Thank you.”

Baek Cheon lowered his head slightly and called out to Yoo Iseol.

“Samae!”

“Yes.”

Clang.

He drew his sword and asked, “Are you afraid?”

“…”

Yoo Iseol shook her head.

“The ancestors of Mount Hua didn’t just fight them. They risked their lives to strike at the enemy. As their descendants…”

Baek Cheon smiled.

“We can’t be shameful. Let’s remind them that Mount Hua is the place that destroyed the Demonic Sect!”

“Yes, Hyung!” Yoo Iseol answered loudly and gripped her sword.

“They’re coming!”

“Yes!”

Baek Cheon felt them coming closer and glanced back.

Chung Myung was still sitting in a lotus position.

‘There’s no need to rush.’

He would protect him until he was ready.

Even if it cost him his life!