Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 529

Soldiers in white uniforms marched ahead. Watching the white soldiers move together across the white ground made people feel respect.

But the Mount Hua disciples, running at the front, felt uneasy. They looked back at the Northern Ice Palace warriors behind them and felt something was wrong.

“Sasuk.”

“Hmm.”

Baek Cheon nodded to Yoon Jong’s quiet call.

*Thought:* ‘They have no spirit.’

They were going to fight the Demonic Sect. Everyone should be excited and full of energy. But from behind them, they felt a quiet confusion and worry. It was strange because their steps were strong and steady.

“…This is not good.”

Seol So-baek had ordered Yeo Sa-hon to step down as First Elder. Because Yeo Sa-hon had done good things in the past, he was still an Elder, but he could not speak for them anymore.

Now, the Ice Palace was led by young Seol So-baek, but Han Yi-myeong was helping him. Han Yi-myeong used to be the Chief Manager for the old Palace Lord. He was good, but not as respected or famous as Yeo Sa-hon.

They were about to fight a very dangerous enemy. Having a leader who is not respected is never good.

Jo Gul looked back and whispered to Yoon Jong.

“Isn’t it weird, Sahyung?”

“What are you talking about?”

Yoon Jong turned his head a little. He looked at Jo Gul with distrust, like he would punish him for saying something stupid.

“Is it because Elder Yeo Sa-hon left that everyone feels down?”

“Maybe.”

“Then why didn’t they argue when he was forced to leave the First Elder position?”

“…”

“They didn’t complain when he was pushed out, but now they are worried because he’s gone. I don’t get it.”

Yoon Jong smiled sadly.

Jo Gul’s words were smart, which was unusual for him.

Yoon Jong didn’t answer, and Baek Cheon spoke instead.

“It’s because they don’t feel responsible.”

“…Responsible?”

Baek Cheon nodded slowly.

In Mount Hua, if this happened, everyone would say what they think. And they would have to deal with what happens because of what they said.

Yoon Jong agreed.

“Yeah, isn’t that normal?”

“…Well, now that I think about it, maybe not. In Mount Hua, we even get blamed for things we didn’t do! We always have to fix the problems that idiot makes!”

Huh?

He thought about it, and it was true…

“Ahem!”

Baek Cheon cleared his throat and continued seriously.

“But here, it’s different. They just follow orders from above. So even if they complain, they don’t have to be responsible.”

“…Is that wrong?”

Baek Cheon shook his head at Jo Gul’s question.

“Who are we to say what’s right or wrong? We are from the Central Plains, it’s too much for us to judge the ways of the Northern Sea. We just need to watch and see for ourselves.”

“I understand, Sasuk.”

Jo Gul still looked unhappy, but he nodded.

*Thought:* ‘Still, making a young kid the Palace Lord…’

Even if he is the Palace Lord, they just obey.

It looks like loyalty at first. But it means they are putting all the blame for the Ice Palace’s problems on Seol So-baek.

Jo Gul was very unhappy about that.

Seol So-baek was on Han Yi-myeong’s back as they ran. Han Yi-myeong must have taught Seol So-baek fighting skills when they lived away from people, but it was still hard for a young child.

But the child was holding on without complaining.

“Sahyung.”

“What is it now?”

“…Why are you angry before I even say anything?”

“Fine, just tell me.”

“Ah, never mind. Forget it.”

“You little…!”

Yoon Jong glared. Jo Gul flinched and backed away.

“Ah, no. I was just thinking it’s not easy to take in students. That kid…”

“Palace Lord, you idiot! Palace Lord!”

“…Yes. Seeing the Palace Lord makes me think that.”

Dang So-so, who heard them talking, chuckled.

“Just hearing Jo Gul Sahyung say that makes this trip to the Northern Sea worth it.”

“I agree, So-so.”

Baek Cheon looked at his friends and laughed quietly.

*Thought:* ‘These guys, really.’

This is how the Mount Hua disciples relaxed when they were stressed. More silly talk meant they were more nervous.

It made sense.

Even Baek Cheon felt his muscles getting tight. Even Yoo I-seol looked a bit stiffer than usual.

Fear of fighting and fear of the Demonic Sect.

Everyone felt the pressure, except for one person who seemed relaxed.

“Augh! I’m freezing! How much longer until we get there? Why is it so far! Are we even going the right way?”

“…”

Cheong-myeong, wrapped in bear fur, yelled loudly.

It was amazing he could be so angry while shaking from the cold.

*Thought:* ‘Does that guy have three times more courage than everyone else?’

Everyone else was too nervous to talk, but he was angry about being cold. Was he brave, or just didn’t understand?

And…

“Kiiiiiiiek!”

Baek Ah poked his head out from Cheong-myeong’s chest, shivering and crying like it was also cold.

It was ridiculous.

*Thought:* ‘Where did that thing come from again?’

It wasn’t even there when they were fighting!

Seriously!

Baek Cheon sighed and spoke.

“…Cheong-myeong.”

“What?”

Cheong-myeong turned his head quickly.

“It looks like everyone’s spirit is low. Will we be okay?”

“Spirit?”

He looked back and smirked.

“Don’t worry. They’ll fight if they don’t want to die.”

“…That’s short for sure.”

Baek Cheon knew again that asking Cheong-myeong for advice was pointless.

The cold snow hit his face hard.

Baek Cheon squinted and kept walking. Then he asked Han Yi-myeong.

“Are we still far?”

The man carrying Seol So-baek answered, his voice much more tense than before.

“Do you see those mountains in the distance?” Han Yi-myeong asked, pointing.

Baek Cheon nodded, his eyes already fixed on the dark shapes on the horizon.

“Baekdam is hidden deep inside them,” Han Yi-myeong continued. “The White Pond. They say it’s frozen all year round. Coldest spot in the whole North Sea, some claim.”

Han Yi-myeong nodded, his face serious.

“We interrogated the one delivering the Ice Crystal. He said the Demonic Cultists are hiding there.”

Baek Cheon’s face hardened.

If they kept going this fast, they would reach the mountains in less than one hour.

He quickly looked at Seol So-baek, who Han Yi-myeong was carrying on his back.

The child’s lips were blue from the cold wind. He stared straight ahead. His face was full of determination.

Watching him, Baek Cheon felt strangely amused.

‘The hope of the North Sea, huh?’

Baek Cheon suddenly thought of Hyun Jong. He imagined Hyun Jong must have looked at him with a similar expression.

Even if the previous generation failed, there is always hope if the next one is strong. If Seol So-baek doesn’t give up, the North Sea will have a new spring one day.

But to make that happen…

‘We have to defeat those Demonic Cult bastards.’

Anxiety left Baek Cheon’s eyes, replaced by determination. Baek Cheon’s voice BOOMED, full of new strength.

“Not much further! Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

Encouraged by Baek Cheon’s voice, the Mount Hua disciples ran even faster.

❀ ❀ ❀

“High Priest!”

A Demonic Cultist in black clothes rushed to the High Priest, who was sitting with his legs crossed. He bowed down to the ground.

“Reporting! The Ice Palace and the people from the Central Plains are coming here fast. We don’t know exactly how many, but it looks like at least three hundred.”

Even though the message was urgent, the High Priest did not move.

He just sat there, eyes closed, looking at the statue of Asura in front of him.

The cultist didn’t dare say anything else.

Even though he was burning with impatience, he had to wait.

After some time, the High Priest spoke slowly.

“…Did you say they are from the Central Plains?”

“Yes! That’s right, High Priest!”

“Stop them.”

The High Priest slowly opened his eyes.

A chilling red light seemed to pour out of them, like hot blood in the freezing air. His red eyes and blank face looked strange together, making people feel like their souls would freeze.

“The ritual is almost done. Three hours… No, two hours at most!”

The High Priest stared straight ahead, not blinking. He looked like he was afraid to look away, as if something bad would happen.

Under the Asura statue, strange patterns had been drawn. They looked like they were drawn with ink, but anyone who looked closely would see they were drawn with human blood.

In the middle of the patterns, Ice Crystals were placed in circles that twisted around each other. Pure white cold air flowed along the patterns and into the black shadow behind the Asura statue.

It was a strange and deeply scary sight.

The High Priest stared at the scene and spoke as if he was chewing his words.

“Stop them no matter what. Even if you have to die! If we fail and the plan is ruined, a hundred years of waiting will be wasted. That must never happen.”

“Yes!”

“The sky of the Demonic Path will open. Welcome even death with joy!”

Thud!

The Demonic Cultist CRASHED his forehead against the cold stone floor, looking very moved.

“The Heavenly Demon is Reborn! All Demons Obey!”

He quickly turned and ran out.

The High Priest didn’t turn his head. It was like everything depended on what was happening in front of him.

He slowly bowed down to the floor, showing all the respect he could.

“The Heavenly Demon Reborn, All Demons Obey.”

Ba-dump.

The quiet heartbeat of someone echoed in the cold room.

It wasn’t the High Priest’s heartbeat.

“Heavenly Demon. Oh, Great Heavenly Demon…”

Tears ran down the High Priest’s face. The drops froze before they fell, breaking into pieces on his chin.

“We have waited so long, Heavenly Demon. Oh, Sky of Demise. Accept the wishes of this unimportant person, be reborn on this land, and punish this sinner.”

Ba-dump.

The heartbeat became a little faster.

Whooooosh!

The freezing wind mixed with the cold air from the Ice Crystal and rushed into the coldest place.

The cloth with the picture of Asura fluttered, showing a little of what was behind it.

A person sat straight up, wearing pure white robes.

The cloth didn’t lift all the way, so only the bottom part was visible. But the long black hair covering the white robes and the pale hands on the knees could be seen.

“The Heavenly Demon Reborn! All Demons Obey!”

Red light burst from the High Priest’s eyes.

“Punish the non-believers who are stained with sin, and judge the betrayers who have failed to believe in the Heavenly Demon’s rebirth! Heavenly Demon! The one who will rule the world!”

His screams filled the room.

❀ ❀ ❀

“Is this the place?”

They arrived at Baekdam. It was not just a pond, but a wide lake, completely frozen over. The ice was a blinding white under the grey sky, stretching out like a giant, cold blanket.

From the entrance of a large cave at the end of the lake, warriors in familiar clothes appeared.

“Demonic Cult!”

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

“They always hide in places like this.”

Chung Myung smirked and stepped forward.

“Senior Brothers.”

Shhhhk.

Chung Myung slowly drew his sword.

“Do you feel it?”

“…Feel what?”

Chung Myung smirked. Chung Myung stopped walking and sniffed the air, like a hunting dog catching a scent. “Senior Brothers,” he said, his eyes narrowing.

“Something’s going on inside that cave. Something very creepy. We’ve come to the right place.”

“…”

Baek Cheon narrowed his eyes and looked at the cave. But he still didn’t feel anything special.

He only felt the Demonic Cultists’ strong will, full of a venomous energy close to hate.

“…It does feel unusual.”

“It’ll be different from before. If you let your guard down, even for a second, you’ll die.”

“I understand.”

“Then…”

A chilling blue light shone from Chung Myung’s eyes.

“Let’s go see what they are up to.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he shot forward like a ray of light.