Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 530

“Gasp!”

Han Yi-myung gasped. He sucked in air, surprised.

Usually, in war, things were done in a certain way.

First, when enemies were found, leaders would plan what to do. They would think about the best ways to fight. Then, they would give speeches to make their soldiers brave.

It was normal to only start fighting seriously after all of this was done.

War was about killing.

Even strong fighters needed a little time to get ready in their minds before a fight that could mean life or death.

But Chung Myung didn’t care about any of these rules.

He gave no signal, no order. He just ran straight at the Demonic Cult. Han Yi-myung stared at Chung Myung’s back and his mind went empty with shock.

“What is happening?!”

He froze, unable to think, unsure what to do.

“Everyone!”

Seol So-baek, who had been watching the situation beside Han Yi-myung, shouted loudly in a clear voice.

“Attack! Don’t give them a chance to form ranks!”

When he heard Seol So-baek, Han Yi-myung suddenly understood. He stopped hesitating.

“Ranks!” he thought quickly.

His slow mind started working fast again.

The enemies were coming out of the cave. They were all bunched together in a small space.

If they got out and spread out, having more soldiers wouldn’t help them. They had learned this before!

“You idiot!”

Han Yi-myung bit his lip. He yelled as loud as he could.

“Attack! Now! Attack!”

The Mount Hua disciples were already running after Chung Myung, incredibly fast.

Chung Myung, in front, was hitting the Demonic Cult fighters who were still coming out of the cave. He smashed into them and sent them flying.

“Attack! Hurry, attack! Keep going like this!”

Han Yi-myung’s voice was angry and annoyed.

‘Damn.’

Han Yi-myung turned quickly. The Ice Palace disciples were just talking quietly, not understanding the sudden order to attack.

Even the leaders, who should have been telling them what to do, looked like they were having trouble with the confused Ice Palace disciples.

Why couldn’t the Ice Palace keep up with that speed?

Chung Myung usually spouted nonsense as if he were out of his mind. But once he entered the battlefield, even chasing after his tail was difficult.

‘Why?’

Suddenly, *Clang!*

Seol So-baek pulled his sword from his belt. His face was set, showing he was decided.

‘Huh?!’ Han Yi-myung thought, surprised.

“Everyone, charge!” Seol So-baek shouted.

Before anyone could stop him, he ran forward. Because the young Palace Lord was first, the Ice Palace disciples quickly followed without even thinking.

“Oooooh!”

“Follow the Palace Lord!”

“Defeat the Demonic Cult!”

Han Yi-myung stood still, like ice, watching Seol So-baek run and the Ice Palace disciples follow. His mind was blank.

There was no plan, no order. It was just a messy rush forward. But it felt different this time, stronger.

‘That boy… in such a short time…?’ Han Yi-myung thought, his eyes fixed on Seol So-baek’s back.

He was the son of the old Palace Lord.

But Han Yi-myung had raised him. He was like his own son. He could still clearly see the boy looking up at him, calling him “Father.”

That’s why this felt so strange. When did that little boy become a leader, leading everyone in the Ice Palace?

And so quickly.

Han Yi-myung bit his lip tightly and began to run forward with all his might.

‘I can’t lose either!’

He clenched his sword tightly, watching Chung Myung sweeping through the Demonic Cult at the very front, and Seol So-baek running straight towards him.

*Whoosh!* Chung Myung’s sword moved like lightning, cutting through the air.

*Slash!*

Right away, a Demonic Cult fighter with one arm twisted his face in anger, like a monster. He swung his other hand wildly.

But.

*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*

Before his hand could even touch Chung Myung, cuts appeared on his wrist, arm, and side. Red blood showed on the skin.

“Kkeueuk…”

The Demonic Cult fighter groaned. His energy was gone. He tried to crash into Chung Myung with his body. But Chung Myung’s sword was too fast.

*Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!*

So fast it looked like he had ten swords, all moving at once. The attacks went through the Demonic Cult fighter’s body. Holes appeared in his black clothes, and blood poured out.

*Thunk!*

The last stab went into the Demonic Cult fighter’s heart.

“Keuk…”

Even with the cold feeling of the sword in his heart, the Demonic Cult fighter didn’t give up.

He tried hard to grab Chung Myung’s neck, reaching with his arm that was hanging loose.

Chung Myung said quietly, “…I see…”

*Crack!*

The sword in his heart twisted, without pity.

“Cough!”

Blood shot out of the Demonic Cult fighter’s mouth, like a fountain spraying up.

“There must be something really important in there. They want it so badly.”

“…Cheonma…Jae…”

*Whoosh!*

Chung Myung, his face showing nothing, moved forward. He swung the sword still stuck in the fighter’s heart, ripping off the top part of his body and throwing it away.

Blood flew up and then fell on Chung Myung like rain. If someone didn’t know what was happening, they might think Chung Myung was one of the Demonic Cult.

He was so cruel and showed no mercy.

But this scary sight made the enemy lose heart and made his own people braver.

“Keep pushing!” Baek Cheon yelled, moving forward into the Demonic Cult fighters. The plum blossom energy from his sword was stronger and more deadly than ever before, rushing at the enemies.

“Amitabha!” Hae Yeon shouted.

His fists moved just as powerfully.

Buddhist light came from his fists and smashed into the Demonic Cult fighters who were trying to block Baek Cheon’s sword energy.

*BOOM!*

A huge explosion. The Demonic Cult fighters coughed up blood and flew back. The attack was so strong it would have crushed their insides.

Hae Yeon stared hard ahead, his big eyes fierce. He bit his lip tightly.

‘If I don’t do this, who will?’ Hae Yeon thought.

As a Buddhist monk, killing was wrong. He always tried to fight without killing anyone.

But now, he knew that was just being too proud.

“Get back!” someone yelled, just as a wave of golden light erupted. A loud, booming sound echoed through the valley.

Hye-yeon glowed brightly with golden light. Using his special Shaolin power, he gritted his teeth and unleashed a crashing waterfall of golden energy upon the Demonic Cultists.

The ground turned gold under the bright light. It was like the light of Buddha himself.

‘I can’t just hide and let others fight for me,’ Hye-yeon thought. ‘If I don’t fight, someone else will have to do even more killing.’

He looked at Cheong-myeong, covered in blood, fighting at the front. ‘It’s wrong to let him do all the dirty work.’

“A-mi-ta-bul!”

Hye-yeon, chanting the Buddha’s name so loudly it echoed through the mountain, stretched both hands forward with great force. The energies of his Shaolin power poured towards the Demonic Cultists like a ray of light piercing through the darkness.

Koooooooom!

An enormous roar erupted. Those struck by the Supreme Great Power spewed blood and tumbled away.

The entire valley trembled and shook as if an earthquake had struck from that tremendous power.

“Wow, seriously! Shaolin is amazing! Maybe I should have joined them!” Jo-geol exclaimed.

Yun-jong smacked him on the arm. “Shut up and pay attention, Jo-geol!”

“Ow! Hey, Senior Brother! Look at that! Did you see that power? Unbelievable!” Jo-geol pointed, then yelped as Yun-jong’s sword nearly hit him. “Hey! Are you even allowed to try and chop your junior brother?!”

“Yes, especially when he’s being an idiot! Just focus!” Yun-jong snapped.

Jo-geol, dodging Yun-jong’s sword with a snicker, leaped high above the heads of the Demonic Cultists, his eyes shining with excitement.

Whirr! Whirr! Whirr!

Dozens of bright sword flashes filled the air above the Demonic Cultists, like a sudden storm of blades.

“Aaaah!”

“You bastard!”

One Demonic Cultist wielded a darkly tainted hand menacingly towards Jo-geol’s lower body.

But the hand he swung was blocked by a sword tip that suddenly appeared before it could reach Jo-geol.

Clang!

Yun-jong blocked the attack aimed at Jo-geol with his sword. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp as he attacked back. “I told you to be careful!”

“Yeah, yeah, but these guys are asking for it,” Jo-geol muttered.

“Remember who we’re fighting,” Yun-jong said sternly. “Demonic Cult.”

“I know, I know!” Jo-geol replied.

After a moment of silence, Yun-jong smirked, a grim look on his face. “Fine,” he said, almost like he was joking, but not really. “Let’s really give it to them then!”

And with gritted teeth, he began to fiercely fight, supporting Jo-geol from behind.

Cheong-myeong watched them, a small smile playing on his lips.

‘Perhaps it’s because they’re young, but they’re changing every day,’ Cheong-myeong thought.

The change in them since they came to the Northern Sea was huge. Experiencing life-or-death battles one after another, their swords had become sharper, and they were much more determined and brave.

It felt wrong to still think of them as beginners.

Yoo I-seol moved like lightning, her sword a blur. Tang Soso was right behind her, quick and precise, making sure no enemy could get past.

Tang Soso watched Yoo I-seol’s back, ready to block any attack that Yoo I-seol missed. They fought together perfectly, like one person with two swords.

“These wicked enemies!”

The Demonic Cultists’ eyes turned towards the impressive feats of the Hwasan disciples and Hye-yeon.

However.

“Not allowed.”

Paaaaat!

Cheong-myeong’s sword sliced off the head of a Demonic Cultist directly in front of him. As blood splattered everywhere, the gazes that had been directed elsewhere all returned to Cheong-myeong.

Cheong-myeong grinned, a dangerous look in his eyes.

“I almost felt left out, you know?”

He gripped his sword backwards and charged forward, fighting like a wild, bloodthirsty wolf. He moved so fast, it was hard to see him, only the flash of his sword and the spray of blood.

At the same time, the Ice Palace warriors, having overtaken Seol So-baek, surged forward like a white wave, slamming into the Demonic Cultists.

“Crush them!”

“We have far more numbers! Do not retreat!”

“If we don’t beat these enemies, the Northern Sea is lost! Don’t let any of them escape!”

They fought with incredible energy, like they had nothing to lose. They had already experienced one victory. Of course, they had suffered terrible damage, and they had accomplished almost nothing on their own, but victory was still victory.

Moreover, the Demonic Cultists they had to face now were fewer in number than before. So there was no reason why they couldn’t do it again. Above all, Cheong-myeong, who was crushing the enemy at the forefront, was still going strong, wasn’t he?

“Show them the power of the Ice Palace!”

“Oooooooooh!”

Numbers themselves were a force. The Demonic Cultists, narrowly positioned at the front of the cave, were quickly surrounded by the Ice Palace warriors. As the already narrow formation became even narrower, it became difficult to exert their full strength.

A chilling murderous intent flowed from Cheong-myeong’s eyes as he watched the scene.

‘They’re not very skilled,’ Cheong-myeong thought. The more he fought, the clearer it became. They were still cruel and vicious, but they weren’t as strong as before. Their fighting skills and plans were really bad.

‘It’s all because of the Heavenly Demon.’ He realized. Without him, the Demonic Cult was just a group of crazy people. They were scary because they were so obsessed, but there were many groups like that in the martial world.

But if the Heavenly Demon came back, they would become the most dangerous killers, and the whole martial world would be in danger. People who believe in a living god are fearless.

These Demonic Cultists were still human, but if the Heavenly Demon returns, they will become something else entirely.

‘Therefore…!’

Paaaaat!

Cheong-myeong’s sword sliced through the Demonic Cultists blocking his path.

“Get out of the way.”

It’s inside.

Judging from their actions, something was definitely happening inside.

“Die!”

Just then, a Demonic Cultist rushed at him with his eyes rolled back. Cheong-myeong thrust his sword deep into the hand and bared his teeth.

Shhhhk!

The Dark Plum Blossom Sword, piercing through the hand, advanced and tore the arm open.

“Kuaaaah!”

Even the Demonic Cultist could not withstand the immense pain and screamed a terrible scream that was hard to bear.

Paaaat!

Cheong-myeong, showing mercy by cutting his throat to reduce his suffering, advanced quickly towards the cave with eyes burning with cold fury.

“Move.”

The blood of the Demonic Cultists streamed down his face. Only his eyes shone with a white murderous intent on his blood-covered face.

“Move! Now! Or you will all die right here, right now.” His voice was low and dangerous.

Whoosh.

Cheong-myeong, quickly rotating his sword, surged forward. He firmly plunged his sword into the heart of one of the Demonic Cultists. And then, lifting the convulsing body like a shield, he pushed his way into the cave.

“Haaaah!”

Seeing Cheong-myeong pushing in relentlessly, the Demonic Cultists, their eyes bloodshot, greeted him with inhuman screams.