Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 528

The Bishop stared with cold eyes at where the Law Enforcer’s right hand should be.

He had been looking at the Law Enforcer’s shoulder, where the skin was decaying in dark patches. Now, his eyes moved to the box the Law Enforcer held.

“Bishop,” the Law Enforcer said. His face was determined as he met the Bishop’s gaze.

“I failed to retrieve the Ice Essence taken by the Murim people, but fortunately, I found and recovered the Ice Essence hidden by Seolcheon.”

The Bishop’s eyebrows twitched.

He thought in silence for a moment, then slowly spoke.

“You lost half the Order.”

“…”

“You barely escaped with your life and came back.”

“…I am sorry.”

The Bishop, who had been watching the Law Enforcer bowing his head, slowly nodded.

“Very good.”

At the unexpected words, the Law Enforcer looked up sharply at the Bishop.

“There must have been problems you didn’t expect, but you still finished your task. You did very well.”

He then began to tremble, and as if overcome with emotion, he tightly shut his eyes.

With that one word from the Bishop, he felt as if he was being compensated for everything.

“Give me the Ice Essence.”

“…”

But even though the order had been given, the Law Enforcer did not move, still holding the Ice Essence box in his arms. He merely looked at the Bishop with resolute eyes.

At this, the Bishop slightly frowned.

“What are you doing?”

“Bishop.”

The Law Enforcer bowed his head deeply, showing he was serious.

“Please, Bishop, listen to my small request. I risked my life to get this Ice Essence.”

“…”

The Bishop’s face twisted as he understood the request. He glared at the Law Enforcer for a long time with displeased eyes, then slowly spoke.

“Don’t you know? Nothing is more important than His resurrection!”

His voice was cold and threatening. It sounded like he would kill the Law Enforcer instantly if he didn’t like the answer.

But the Law Enforcer stood still and faced the Bishop’s anger.

“That task can only be accomplished with you, Bishop.”

“…”

“The Heavenly Demon’s Rebirth, the Myriad Demons’ Embrace. Bishop, please don’t ignore the small request of those who uphold and continue that will.”

The Bishop, who had been looking down at the Law Enforcer with displeased eyes, eventually let out a low sigh.

“You faithless fool…”

He loosened his front.

The Law Enforcer, who had glanced up at his chest after he had completely taken off his top, bit his lip.

Blue-tinged ice, which felt dangerous rather than pure, covered his chest from left to right.

It was a bizarre sight that would shock anyone.

“Give it to me.”

“Yes.”

The Law Enforcer took out two Ice Essences from the box and politely held them out. But the Bishop took only one of the Ice Essences and placed it against the ice mass on his chest.

Crack!

The Ice Essence dug into the ice. At the same time, the white ice began to take on an increasingly blue tint.

He groaned softly, maybe from pain or the cold. But conversely, his pale complexion gradually began to regain its color.

“Is it done?”

At the Bishop’s question, the Law Enforcer gripped the Ice Essence remaining in his hand.

He still looked a little sad, but he knew he had to stop here.

He knelt down, put the Ice Essence he was holding back in, and then politely handed over the box.

“Here it is.”

The Bishop’s fingertips trembled slightly as he received it.

Passion swirled in his eyes as he checked the Ice Essences.

‘Finally….’

His hand gripped the box tightly.

Finally, the last condition for the resurrection ritual had been met. Soon, the world would witness the resurrection of the Heavenly Demon with its own two eyes.

But…

The Bishop, who looked as if he would run to perform the ritual at any moment, stood there as if rooted to the spot and looked at the Law Enforcer.

“Bishop.”

The Law Enforcer smiled with a pale face and said in a weak voice.

“The Heavenly Demon’s Rebirth, the Myriad Demons’ Embrace. The resurrection of the Heavenly Demon is the long-cherished desire and mission of all the Order.”

“…”

“But please do not forget that no desire is meaningful unless you, Bishop, are safe.”

“You faithless fool…”

Even at the angry rebuke, the Law Enforcer smiled instead.

“Heaven…ly… Demon… Rebirth. Myriad… Demons…”

His head slowly drooped down.

“Please… achieve… the great… plan…”

Thud.

And soon, all movement stopped completely. The Bishop, who had been quietly watching him as his breath stopped, slowly closed his eyes.

It was amazing he had lived this long, his body completely drained of energy. With only the will to meet him and deliver the Ice Essence, he had brought a body that should have died long ago to this place.

“You did very well.”

The Bishop, who muttered quietly, lightly waved his hand in the air.

Pure white flames erupted from the Law Enforcer’s body, licking upwards like hungry spirits. They were strangely silent, burning without crackle or smoke, leaving only a faint scent of ozone in the air.

The Bishop, who had been watching the scene for a moment, turned his body and moved his steps to the depths of the cave.

‘…The Murim are stronger than I thought.’

That Law Enforcer had used up all of his energy and barely managed to save his life and return.

It was absolutely impossible with those disorganized Ice Palace fools.

‘Murim.’

The Bishop inadvertently grabbed the ice covering his chest.

His face twisted like a demon.

‘Those betraying Murim bastards….’

If it weren’t for this wound, he would have left this place immediately and killed all those infidels who had defiled the sacred land where the Heavenly Demon would be resurrected.

This scar left by the terrible war that had taken everything from the Order made it impossible for him to leave the coldest land in the Northern Sea.

Throb.

The wound was terribly cold.

The Bishop’s face, with his lips tightly clenched, was filled with unavoidable resentment and anger.

When he closed his eyes, the image of that devilish man who had cut down the Heavenly Demon’s chest still vividly came to mind.

‘I should have died there.’

Because he had not died there, had he not witnessed that devil’s sword reaching the Heavenly Demon?

Even though a hundred years had passed, the sight was etched in his mind like a brand and still drove him into vivid pain.

But…

“The nightmare is over now.”

The Bishop, who had taken a firm step, soon reached the deepest part of the cave. He saw a large open space and a huge painting of Asura hanging on the wall.

An indescribable joy filled the Bishop’s face as he gripped the Ice Essence.

“The Heavenly Demon’s Rebirth, the Myriad Demons’ Embrace!”

Soon the world will know what true fear is.

The cold air of the cave seemed to hold its breath after the Law Enforcer’s death. Far away, in a warmer place, life continued, unaware of the dark rituals being planned.

“Here it is! I brought all the remaining Seolbingdan from the Ice Palace.”

“Eat them one by one. This stuff is really effective. Oh, I have one left too?”

“You can apply this to your wounds! It’s the best wound medicine you can get from the Ice Palace!”

“Oh. This smells good? It’s high-end, high-end!”

“Please make yourself at home until you depart! We will prepare the best meals too.”

“But is there no more alcohol?”

Baek Cheon smiled, happy to see Chung Myung joking around with Seol Sobaek.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Huh?”

“Weren’t we in a hurry?” Baek Cheon asked, his voice tight with worry.

“We are,” Chung Myung replied, but he didn’t sound like it. He took another long drink from his bottle.

“You don’t seem like it!” Baek Cheon snapped. “How can you be so calm? My insides are burning up with worry about the Heavenly Demon!”

“Well, maybe if you weren’t drinking like that,” Chung Myung said, pointing at Baek Cheon’s own bottle, “your insides wouldn’t be burning, you idiot!”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul quickly grabbed Baek Cheon’s arms to stop him from attacking Chung Myung.

“Aish, Martial Uncle. Please calm down. It’s not like this is the first time! Why do you act like this every time?”

“That’s why I’m like this! That’s why! How many times do I have to say it!”

“The Palace Lord is watching, you know.”

“Keeeueuung.”

Palace Lord?

That was even more of a problem!

Baek Cheon looked at Seol So-baek in complete confusion.

Last night, Baek Cheon said he would join the fight against the Demonic Sect. Since then, Seol So-baek has stayed very close to Chung Myung, like a student of Mount Hua.

Alright. Let’s say that’s fine. It could happen.

But…

“Don’t you have more booze?”

“I’m bringing it right now!”

“Keeuh. These guys make good liquor. Is it because they live in a cold place? The liquor is so fiery, it sticks right to my lips….”

“Ugh, you rotten bastard!”

“Kuweeeck!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Baek Cheon grabbed Jo Gul and threw him towards Chung Myung. But Chung Myung simply moved slightly to avoid Jo Gul.

Thud!

Jo Gul slammed into the wall and slid down to the floor.

Chung Myung clicked his tongue as he watched.

“Why are you throwing the kid around like that? If he did something wrong, you should use words. You can’t just resort to violence, Martial Uncle.”

“Hic… S-Scar….”

“Please calm down, Martial Uncle. You’ll reopen your wound if you keep this up.”

“…Stop chugging liquor, you imbecile!”

Seol So-baek was sweating as he watched the lodging turn into a mess.

He couldn’t believe that these were the same people who had been pushing the Demonic Sect into a corner.

‘The people of Mount Hua can’t all be like this, right?’ Seol So-baek hoped.

“Amitabha. Baek Cheon, please calm yourself.”

“…Venerable Monk.”

Hye-yeon, who had been silent, spoke with a gentle smile.

“I understand your eagerness, but we can’t solve this by rushing. It will take a full day to treat the injured and prepare those who are left for the fight against the Demonic Sect.”

Baek Cheon sighed deeply, feeling frustrated.

“I know that, but….”

He was anxious. More than anxious.

The resurrection of the Heavenly Demon.

Who didn’t know the weight of those words?

But he felt it more strongly now than a few days ago. There were two reasons.

First, he realized how strong and insane the Demonic Sect was, and how terrifying the Heavenly Demon they worshipped would be.

And secondly…

‘If those lunatics are plotting something in the name of the Heavenly Demon, it can’t be just a pipe dream.’ A dead man returning to life.

At first, he doubted it was even possible.

But now he was sure. Seeing those lunatics running wild, they must have found a way.

So how could he stay calm?

“If we waste time, it might become irreversible! Shouldn’t we hurry?”

Baek Cheon asked seriously, and Chung Myung put down his bottle and shrugged.

“We should hurry.”

“Yes!”

“But we don’t get to decide that.”

“…Huh?”

Chung Myung looked at Seol So-baek.

“It took this much to catch one Law Enforcer and defeat a few Demonic Sect disciples. And they say there’s even a bishop there?”

“…”

“Of course, that guy might not be a proper bishop, but even so, the position of bishop in the Demonic Sect carries a lot of weight. An average guy can’t even call himself a bishop. He’s probably… a monster.”

A heavy silence fell among the Mount Hua disciples. They felt a chill and held their breath, looking at Chung Myung.

Had Chung Myung ever praised someone so highly? Wasn’t he the one who looked down on most of the world?

Even the Abbot of Shaolin hadn’t received such praise from Chung Myung.

“If we charge in without preparation, we’ll be destroyed. So calm down, Martial Uncle. You have to be calm, especially in times of crisis.”

Baek Cheon’s shoulders slumped.

Chung Myung chuckled and tossed the Seolbingdan that Seol So-baek had brought to each of the Mount Hua disciples.

“Eat it and circulate your energy. You’ll have to fight again when you open your eyes.”

“…Understood.”

Having calmed their anxious hearts, they put the Seolbingdan in their mouths and sat cross-legged. As Hye-yeon entered meditation, the room fell silent.

Chung Myung quietly watched them.

When had they grown so much? Those little chicks had grown enough to lead other sects.

‘Is this what they call ‘proud’?’

Chung Myung scratched his head and said to Seol So-baek.

“You should get some sleep too.”

“I’m alright.”

“I know you haven’t slept since yesterday. You have to fight again soon, so don’t be stubborn and get some sleep. Taking care of your body is also important for a leader.”

“…Yes.”

Seol So-baek agreed and took a spot in the corner. He quickly fell asleep.

Listening to Seol So-baek’s soft breathing, Chung Myung looked at everyone with sad eyes. He saw their young faces, tired and determined, and felt a pang of guilt for the burden they carried.

‘If I had been a little stronger, this wouldn’t have happened.’

His inner strength had become a little stronger after eating the Seolbingdan. But he hadn’t fully connected his past feelings to his current body.

If it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have missed the Law Enforcer.

‘I need to get stronger.’

He needed to regain his original martial power quickly. So that no one would get hurt, so that no one would be scarred.

‘Resurrection?’

What a joke.

Chung Myung clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

‘I’ll make sure they can never say those words again. I’ll end it properly.’

He closed his eyes.

He didn’t need to circulate his energy to deal with this level of internal injury.

How much time had passed?