Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 527

Scritch!

The sound of Baek Cheon’s sword cutting through bone echoed in the snowy air. The cultist, shaking like a leaf, slowly fell onto the red-stained snow.

“‘The… Heavenly Demon… is back,’ the cultist gasped, his voice weak. ‘So many demons…'”

His dying words were cut short.

After making sure the last cultist was dead, Baek Cheon shook the blood from his sword and sheathed it.

Even if the opponent was a demon-like cultist, it was impossible to be indifferent to taking a life. This felt wrong, especially for someone who tried to live by Taoist principles.

He closed his eyes and offered a silent prayer for the deceased, and then he was about to turn around.

Thud!

“‘You filthy cultist scum!'”

Surprised by the loud, angry voice, Baek Cheon turned around.

The Ice Palace disciples were stabbing the corpses of the fallen cultists with their swords, showering them with curses.

Baek Cheon frowned, about to say something, but shook his head instead.

‘They wouldn’t listen anyway.’

Many Ice Palace disciples had died fighting to defeat the cultists. It would be impossible to persuade those who had witnessed the gruesome deaths of their comrades with mere words. He could only hope that their anger wouldn’t become too excessive.

“‘Martial Uncle.”

Just then, Yoon Jong, Jo Gul, Yoo Iseol, Tang Soso, and even Hae Yeon approached him.

Seeing their injuries here and there, he was reminded once again of how brutal this battle had been.

Yoon Jong, at the forefront, wiped the blood splattered on his face and spoke.

“‘It seems we’ve defeated all those who invaded.”

“‘Hmm.”

Baek Cheon nodded slightly, surveying the surroundings.

‘How dreadful.’

The once white snow of the Ice Palace was now a disturbing red with the blood of the Ice Palace disciples and the cultists. Most of the blood on the snow was from the Ice Palace disciples. Baek Cheon understood their anger.

“‘The Demonic Sect…'”

Baek Cheon bit his lip slightly and said.

“‘They were truly terrifying bastards.'”

“‘…I agree.'”

Yoon Jong, as well as Jo Gul, who rarely lost his energy, shook his head with an openly disgusted expression.

Who could deny it? Baek Cheon, too, was struggling to calm his trembling fingertips.

The Demonic Sect was different from any enemy Mount Hua had ever faced. Their evil felt heavy in the air, making Baek Cheon’s skin crawl. It was a cold, creeping dread that settled deep in his bones.

“‘…We underestimated the Demonic Sect.'”

Everyone realized it deeply through this incident.

Even after a hundred years, the Demonic Sect was still known as a name of fear and death.

“‘What would have happened if Chung Myung hadn’t been here…'”

Baek Cheon nodded silently at Yoon Jong’s words.

If Chung Myung hadn’t completely reversed the atmosphere, the sacrifices would have increased endlessly. No, perhaps the history of the Northern Ice Palace might have ended today.

He had accomplished something truly remarkable.

But at the same time, he couldn’t help but wonder.

‘How can that rascal do such a thing so nonchalantly? No, more than that, how did he know so much about the Demonic Sect?’

Baek Cheon thought he knew Chung Myung well, but now he wasn’t so sure. After this fight, he wondered if he really understood Chung Myung at all.

Baek Cheon’s gaze naturally turned towards the fortress.

Then, he met the eyes of Han Yi-myung and Yeo Sa-hon, who were approaching.

The two men, pale-faced, hesitated for a moment. They seemed unable to open their mouths easily. Baek Cheon understood their reaction. How could words come easily after experiencing something like this?

After a moment of hesitation, Han Yi-myung bowed deeply first.

“‘Your Grace… No, I am deeply grateful for the help of the Mount Hua Sect. The Northern Ice Palace has truly received a great favor.'”

It was a sincere greeting.

Baek Cheon’s gaze shifted slightly to Yeo Sa-hon, who was standing behind Han Yi-myung. Originally, Yeo Sa-hon was the one who should have said these words in this situation. But he kept his mouth shut and avoided eye contact.

“‘There’s no need to be grateful.'”

Baek Cheon lightly adjusted his disheveled sleeves and returned Han Yi-myung’s bow.

“‘As a disciple of Mount Hua, and as a martial artist pursuing righteousness, I have only done what I should do.'”

His voice was very confident, almost cold. It felt like he was creating distance.

Han Yi-myung looked at Baek Cheon, his eyes squeezed shut as if in pain.

Recalling the conversation they had about the Demonic Sect earlier today, he felt like hiding in a rat hole.

‘What if they had left before the Demonic Sect attacked?’

Han Yi-myung would probably never have seen the sun rise again. And the Ice Palace would certainly have suffered irreparable damage.

How could he express the feeling of being saved by those he had pushed away?

“‘…I can only apologize.'”

As Han Yi-myung repeatedly bowed his head, Yeo Sa-hon’s face flushed crimson, his jaw clenched tight. He was still a man of some conscience, so he couldn’t bring himself to say it, but he clearly didn’t like the situation where Han Yi-myung was bowing his head.

“‘I didn’t know the Demonic Sect was such a dangerous group. I thought I knew it in my head, but in reality, I knew nothing. Please blame my foolishness.'”

Baek Cheon started to say something, then closed his mouth.

Normally, he would have said something moderately humble, such as Mount Hua also not knowing the terror of the Demonic Sect. But thinking about what they had done to Chung Myung, he couldn’t bring himself to say those words.

Baek Cheon simply recited the Taoist name in a low voice.

‘It’s difficult.’

The fact that the anger he felt towards them hadn’t subsided easily, even as a Taoist, meant that he was still lacking in cultivation.

But he didn’t try to shake off his coldness.

“‘Even though the Ice Palace was very rude to you, I don’t know how to express my gratitude to the disciples of Mount Hua for taking up their swords for the Ice Palace.'”

Baek Cheon simply listened to Han Yi-myung’s words and quietly looked around.

The Ice Palace warriors surrounding them were looking at them with different eyes than before. Those who had looked at them with eyes mixed with caution and fear were now sending them gazes filled with subtle admiration and awe.

‘Only now…’

Baek Cheon felt the awkwardness and sighed.

He knew strength was important in the martial world. But people could still be surprisingly cold.

“‘…For now, let’s start with the cleanup.'”

In the end, unable to find the right words to say, he tried to wrap up the situation. At that moment, a quiet voice reached his ear.

“‘Senior Brother.'”

“‘Hmm?'”

“‘Over there.'”

Yoo Iseol gestured towards the fortress with her chin. The fortress gate was opening, and Chung Myung was walking out.

“‘Chung Myung…'”

Baek Cheon, who was about to shout, ‘Chung Myung, you’re safe!’, closed his mouth before he could even finish half the words.

It was because he saw Chung Myung dragging something in each hand.

‘People?’

No, are they corpses?

Whatever it was, it didn’t matter.

What mattered was not the identity of what Chung Myung was dragging, but his expression. Even Baek Cheon felt a chill from his face, it was so cold.

Thud. Thud.

Each time he slowly moved his feet, the Ice Palace warriors, feeling his powerful presence, hurriedly cleared the way to the left and right.

Drag drag drag.

He followed the path that had formed in a straight line, approaching the Mount Hua disciples.

And he threw the corpses he was holding in both hands at Yeo Sa-hon’s feet.

Plop! Plop!

Yeo Sa-hon, horrified, widened his eyes.

“‘W-What is this…'”

Two headless corpses lay sprawled on the ground.

“‘A-Aren’t these the Ice Palace elders?'”

He couldn’t identify them exactly because they were headless, but judging by their clothes, they were definitely Ice Palace elders.

What on earth had happened for him to drag the corpses of the Ice Palace elders with their heads cut off?

Yeo Sa-hon was speechless, his eyes darting between Chung Myung and the headless bodies. His face flushed crimson, his jaw clenched tight, anger rising within him.

“‘What on earth is this…!'”

He couldn’t hold back and tried to raise his voice, but Chung Myung’s eyes, flickering with terrifying murderous intent, shut his mouth.

“‘Heavenly Demon Reincarnation, Myriad Demons Return.'”

“‘…'”

“‘That was their last will.'”

Han Yi-myung looked at Chung Myung with an incredulous expression.

“‘I thought they would be rotten to the core, but I never imagined that the elders of the Ice Palace would be the lackeys of the Demonic Sect.'”

Chung Myung spat out the words and gritted his teeth.

If it hadn’t been for them, they wouldn’t have missed the Law Enforcer. The unreleased anger poured out towards Yeo Sa-hon and Han Yi-myung.

“‘I-I can’t believe it!'”

Yeo Sa-hon stuttered and trembled.

“‘Even if they were subordinates of Seol Cheon-sang… Still, they are the dignified elders of the Northern Ice Palace! How could such people work with the Demonic Sect! There must be some misunderstanding…'”

“‘Keep talking.'”

Rage flared in Chung Myung’s eyes.

Chung Myung’s voice was like ice. “Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll shut you up.” He glared at Yeo Sahon, his eyes burning with anger.

Yeo Sahon stammered, backing away slightly. “T-that’s… very rude!”

Chung Myung laughed coldly. It was like he had heard the silliest joke ever. “You call yourself a dignified Elder of the Ice Palace?”

“So, what did that dignified Ice Palace do?” Chung Myung’s voice dropped, becoming even colder.

“You stupid fools…” He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.

Yeo Sahon stepped back quickly when he saw that. Everyone there had seen how strong Chung Myung was in a fight. They all knew what would happen if he drew his sword.

Yeo Sahon’s face turned pale, and he shouted wildly. “Are you going to attack the Ice Palace just because of something you are not sure about? Is this what Mount Hua wants?” His eyes darted to Baek Cheon, pleading silently for help.

Baek Cheon just stared back, his expression cold and unreadable.

“W-what is this!” Cornered, Yeo Sahon turned to the Ice Palace disciples.

“What are you all doing? Can’t you see these outsiders are hurting the Ice Palace Elders and asking for things that are not fair? Stop them now!”

“Elder!” Han Yi-myung could not stay quiet anymore. He shouted, his voice sharp. “Elder, be careful what you say! Before it’s too late!”

Yeo Sahon stepped back again, his face even paler. He looked terrified.

Chung Myung grinned at him, showing his teeth.

“No, keep talking nonsense.”

“…N-no way. T-they couldn’t have worked with the Demonic Sect!” The voice, strained and desperate, was filled with denial.

It was true that Seol Cheon-sang had joined hands with the Demonic Sect, but that was merely a ‘transaction’ where they kept their distance. Therefore, it was possible to cut ties with the Demonic Sect now that Seol Cheon-sang had been ousted.

But there was no excuse for the Ice Palace Elders protecting the Demonic Sect disciples and dying for them.

He had to say it wasn’t true. He couldn’t admit it. If they were involved with the Demonic Sect like that…

Suddenly, a shocking voice reached his ears.

“Elder, please step back.”

Yeo Sahon’s mouth dropped open, and he turned his head quickly. The Palace Lord of the Ice Palace, Seol So-baek, was walking towards them.

Her face was very pale, like she was still in shock from the war. But her lips were set in a firm line, like her father, the previous Palace Lord. It showed she was determined.

“Elder Yeo, you don’t need to deny it so strongly. I saw it myself.”

“P-Palace Lord?”

“I clearly saw them shielding the Demonic Sect disciples and attacking the Chung Myung disciples with my own two eyes.”

“Palace Lord!” Yeo Sahon roared at the top of his lungs.

“What are you saying! What did you see! Palace Lord, do you even know what you’re saying right now!” And he began to pour out words in a frenzy.

“Could it be that the Palace Lord saw wrong? It was all so confusing, you might have been shocked and…”

“Enough!” Seol So-baek bit her lip tightly and glared at Yeo Sahon.

“If you really think I am the Palace Lord, you can’t say that what I saw and heard with my own eyes, in front of everyone, is just my imagination!”

“P-Palace Lord…” Seol So-baek’s face had turned cold.

“Chung Myung once told me something. He said the Ice Palace is in this bad state not because of the Demonic Sect, but because of people like you.”

“Now I understand what those words mean. People who run away even when the enemy is right there! People who are too busy hiding their mistakes to think about what they did wrong! People who ignore danger just to stay safe right now!”

Seol So-baek’s voice was loud in the quiet air. It sounded like she was crying, or maybe screaming.

“Is this what the Ice Palace has become?”

Han Yi-myung’s eyes were tightly shut, and he trembled.

Before the Demonic Sect attacked, he would have said it wasn’t true and argued against it. He would have made excuses at least.

But what he had seen today was almost the same. They had forgotten what the Ice Palace was really about. They had given up the important things, just enjoying the peace.

Seol So-baek turned to Chung Myung and looked him directly in the eyes.

“Chung Myung disciple.”

“You said they were trying to get the Ice Jade and plan to bring back the Heavenly Demon?”

“That’s right.”

Seol So-baek nodded at Chung Myung’s short answer.

“As the Palace Lord of the Ice Palace, I will lead the North Sea Ice Palace to fight and defeat the Demonic Sect.” And she slowly knelt down in front of Chung Myung. People started whispering to each other, like a fire spreading quickly.

“P-Palace Lord!”

“What on earth!”

“Silence!” But with one shout from Seol So-baek, the surroundings fell silent again. Seol So-baek glared at everyone. Her face was unusually angry for someone so young. She looked back at Chung Myung and said.

“…But the Ice Palace is not strong enough alone. Please, lend us the strength of Mount Hua. For the Ice Palace… no, for the North Sea, we must defeat them. Whatever they are planning, if things go on like this, the North Sea will soon be covered in blood. So please, help the North Sea! Please!” She bowed her head as if she would slam her forehead against the floor at any moment. No, she was about to.

But her body was soon floating in the air.

“…” Before she knew it, Chung Myung had grabbed her by the back of her collar and lifted her into the air.

“C-Chung Myung disciple?”

“When adults don’t act like adults should, children get hurt.”

Chung Myung gently placed Seol So-baek on the ground and raised his head to glance at the distant sky.

‘What a mess.’ He felt sick inside.

It wasn’t just because he had missed the Law Enforcer, or because he had seen how bad the Ice Palace had become.

It was because he felt like he was seeing again how the young Mount Hua disciples, who had lost their leaders, had faced the Demonic Sect’s attack.

Maybe Mount Hua back then had also begged for help like Seol So-baek. They had asked the people they trusted, the people they believed in completely. They must have had hope and faith in their hearts.

But at that time, no one in the world extended a hand to Mount Hua. No one.

“…Don’t bow your head.”

“Yes?” Chung Myung clenched his fist tightly.

“I was going to do it anyway, even if you didn’t ask me like this.” Chung Myung turned his head and looked at Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon chewed on his lip as if he was about to say something, but in the end, he just sighed.

“…Alright, you crazy guy.”

When he said yes, the Mount Hua disciples understood what Chung Myung was feeling, and their eyes became bright with determination.

“To be honest, I don’t feel good about just leaving,” Yoon Jong said firmly. “It feels wrong to run away.”

Jo Gul chuckled and added, “We should wipe them out.”

“Our Senior Brother said the Demonic Sect are people we must destroy!”

“…So-so. You don’t have to explain it, I understand.”

“Amitabha,” Hae Yeon said, saying a Buddhist prayer, and nodded.

“I knew Chung Myung would say that,” he said, smiling slightly. He looked at Chung Myung, his eyes full of trust.

He knew. In a way, it was a foolish and stupid thing to do. If they were to die fighting the Demonic Sect in this distant North Sea land, who in the world would praise their deaths?

Even if they were to leave this way, no one would be able to criticize them.

No, logically speaking, it was right to head back to the Central Plains immediately. Everyone here was well aware of that fact.

But. No one tried to do that ‘right thing.’

“I accept the request from the Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.” Baek Cheon said, his face firm. “Mount Hua, and Shaolin, will join in fighting the Demonic Sect.”

They chose to act not based on logic or what was best for them, but on what their hearts told them was right. This is what people call chivalry – being brave and doing what is right, even when it’s hard.