Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 531

With a corpse stuck on his sword as a shield, Chung Myung pushed back the enemies.

“Sto-stop him!”

“Don’t fall back!”

The Demonic Cultists tried hard to stop Chung Myung, but they couldn’t do anything against his very strong power.

Boom!

Chung Myung shook his sword, throwing the corpse away. The Demonic Cultists scattered back.

Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique: Plum Blossom Bloom.

At the same time, sharp sword energy, like a snake, poured out towards them.

Scritch. Scritch. Scritch!

The Demonic Cultists were quickly covered in blood. Even as blood poured from their bodies, they tried to stop Chung Myung.

But it was impossible to stop Chung Myung with an injured body.

Wham!

Chung Myung cut off the head of the Demonic Cultist at the front. Then, he jumped into the air, stabbing the enemies around him.

Even in the middle of all this, he looked at the situation carefully.

His side was winning here. But in other places, the situation was starting to change. The Demonic Cultists had been pushed back at first, but now they were fighting back because they were more skilled.

“Heavenly Demon Reborn! Myriad Demons Submit!”

“Kill the non-believers, Raaah!”

Where the Ice Palace warriors and the Demonic Cultists fought, the Ice Palace disciples were being pushed back.

The open space was filling up with Demonic Cultists coming out of the cave.

But Chung Myung grinned, showing his teeth as he watched.

‘That’s right.’

They were clumsy. They knew what to do, but they didn’t know how to do it well. They probably hadn’t been in a real war before.

Bang!

Chung Myung used his inner power and jumped backward again. He could see that the front line was weak.

The people coming out of the cave were trying to fill the empty spaces, so the front, which should have been strong, was now very weak.

“Hae Yeon!”

“Yes, Master!”

Hae Yeon answered loudly from the back and moved quickly towards Chung Myung.

“Stand at the front and break through! Baek Cheon, Yoo Iseol! Support Hae Yeon on both sides!”

“Got it!”

Baek Cheon ran forward, and Yoo Iseol was already next to Hae Yeon, ready to fight, without saying anything.

Jo Gul, Yoon Jong, and Tang Soso found their places without being told.

Chung Myung, standing at the back, looked at Seol Sobaek and Han Yimyeong.

“I’m counting on you!”

“Yes!”

Seol Sobaek answered loudly. Han Yimyeong bit his lip and nodded.

The important thing was not to defeat the Demonic Cultists, but to stop the Heavenly Demon from coming back to life.

“Break through, Monk! And try not to get yourself killed!” Chung Myung yelled, a hint of a smirk in his voice.

“Amitabha!”

Hae Yeon shone with golden light and charged forward, like a golden ray of dawn.

The Mount Hua disciples in black uniforms roared and rushed in after him.

“Go forward without looking back! I’ll stop the attacks from behind!”

Chung Myung shouted and leaped forward.

Flarararak!

His sword moved like a soft sword, then shot out red plum blossom sword energy. The plum blossoms fell to the left and right of the Mount Hua disciples.

“Keuk!”

“Heeup!”

The Demonic Cultists who had invaded the Ice Palace knew about the plum blossom sword energy, but these ones had never faced Chung Myung before.

They were surprised when flower-shaped sword energy suddenly rained down.

Hae Yeon broke through the weak defense line at the front, as the enemies were busy blocking and dodging.

“Haaaah!”

Ooooooooooong!

With a sound like a giant bell, those who blocked Hae Yeon’s path were pushed back.

It felt like a crushing weight, as if a mountain had fallen on them, stealing their breath and strength.

“Kkeueueueuk⋯⋯.”

Their bodies cried out in pain. Blood came from their eyes, ears, mouths, and noses.

The Demonic Cultists did not give up, but this attack made many openings.

Yoo Iseol did not miss that moment.

Wham!

Yoo Iseol’s sword stabbed into the hearts of the Demonic Cultists who were crushed by the pressure.

Scritch!

The blood that poured out as their hearts split covered Yoo Iseol’s face. But she didn’t even blink, and stabbed her sword again. The way she cut down enemies with a cold focus was scary, but it also showed how skilled and reliable she was.

“You vile fiend!”

The Demonic Cultists’ claws flew towards Yoo Iseol.

“Younger sister!”

But Baek Cheon blocked them instead.

Scritch!

A fingernail grazed Yoo Iseol’s arm. She didn’t show any pain and cut off the enemy’s breath.

“Amitabha!”

Hae Yeon, with the help of Yoo Iseol and Baek Cheon, gathered his energy and used the Hundred Step Divine Fist.

Wham!

One more time!

Kwaham!

The Hundred Step Divine Fist hit the Demonic Cultists’ camp. Finally, they broke through the front of the cave.

“Follow me!”

Hae Yeon, who was usually calm, let out a loud shout and ran first. Yoon Jong, Jo Gul, and Tang Soso guarded his back.

The Mount Hua disciples charged into the cave quickly.

…except for one person.

“⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung, left alone at the back, stared at them with a blank look. Wait, are they leaving without me? Seriously?

“No⋯⋯.”

Shouldn’t you take people with you?

Hey, you guys?

Huh? Hey, you guys?

“Heh heh.”

Chung Myung, laughing, shook his head and ran towards the cave.

He cut down the Demonic Cultists and looked at Seol Sobaek.

Seol Sobaek nodded, as if to say he would defeat the remaining Demonic Cultists.

“Anyway, these youngsters.”

They grow up so fast.

Chung Myung, smirking, threw himself into the cave. His eyes grew cold, and then, blue flames seemed to flicker deep within them.

‘I won’t let you do as you please as long as I’m here.’

Rumble!

The cavern vibrated, the sound echoing like thunder in the tight space.

The Bishop’s eyebrows twitched at the energy from outside. His face began to change.

‘This is a grand plan we’ve been waiting a hundred years for.’

There’s really not much time left.

But the heavens are giving them trials. Maybe even the heavens fear the Heavenly Demon and are trying to stop him from coming back to life.

But it’s no use.

The desire for the Heavenly Demon’s return cannot be stopped. Soon, the heavens will fall and new demonic heavens will open.

It was then.

“Bishop!”

Someone rushed into the cavern.

“Non-believers have entered the Demonic Cave!”

The Bishop answered without turning around.

“Stop them.”

“We are trying our best! But the fighting skills of those who have entered are beyond expectations, so I don’t know if we can stop them until the end⋯⋯.”

“Stop them.”

“⋯⋯.”

The voice stopped at the Bishop’s chilling words.

“The time for the Heavenly Demon to come is near. Even if you die, do not let those filthy non-believers touch this sacred place.”

A terrible look appeared in the Demonic Cultist’s eyes.

“For the Heavenly Demon! Destroy the unbelievers! May the Demonic Way reign supreme!”

“Excellent.”

The Demonic Cultist, moved by the praise, rushed out with a determined face. A willingness to gladly sacrifice even death showed from his back.

The Bishop kept looking only at Asura. He chanted, “…The Heavenly Demon Reborn, Myriad Demons Submit.” The Bishop understood.

Letting them come this deep into the cave meant someone strong was with them. The cultists alone couldn’t win. Even if they slowed them down, they would still get through. But the Bishop had no other option. Protecting the cultists was not his main concern.

For the cultists, a world without the Heavenly Demon was worse than dying. They would give their lives if it meant the Heavenly Demon could live again.

“Heavenly Demon,” the Bishop prayed, “please remember the sacrifices of these cultists.”

It had been years of waiting. But the wait was almost over.

*Ba-dump!* A heartbeat, louder now, echoed in the Bishop’s chest.

“Yes… Yes…” the Bishop breathed.

Then, *Rumble!* The cave shook with a huge tremor from behind. A scream cut through the air, not far away.

*Rumble!* The shaking grew stronger, coming closer.

“The Heavenly Demon Reborn, Myriad Demons Submit,” the Bishop chanted. A cold blue light glowed in his eyes.

“Haaah!” *Crack!* Hye-yeon punched the cultist in the jaw. The bone broke instantly. The cultist twitched and fell.

*Wham!* Hye-yeon didn’t even look back at the cultist. He ran forward. The Mount Hua disciples quickly followed.

Then, suddenly…

A cultist lay on the floor, but he reached out and grabbed Baek Cheon’s leg.

Baek Cheon jumped back, surprised.

Even with his guts hanging out of his ripped stomach and his jaw broken, his eyes were red with blood as he held onto Baek Cheon’s leg.

His grip wasn’t strong with power, just a weak touch.

But the desperation in that touch made Baek Cheon shiver.

“…Heave…nly… De…mon…”

“…Sub…mit…”

*Snikt.* Baek Cheon cut the cultist’s neck. He couldn’t watch him die, so he looked away. Even as the cultist died, his hand stayed tight on Baek Cheon’s pants.

Baek Cheon had to pull the hand off. He gritted his teeth and ran after the others.

‘They are so stubborn.’

The cultists were like animals protecting their young, ignoring danger to stop them. Even Baek Cheon, who thought he understood the cultists a little, was shocked by their desperation.

‘What is the Heavenly Demon to them?’ This crazy devotion.

Baek Cheon just couldn’t understand it.

Even if you are religious, even if you have something you care about more than yourself, how could you throw away your life so easily?

Could the Heavenly Demon, someone they’ve never even seen, really be worth dying for?

‘I just don’t get it.’

A strong feeling of disgust went through him. Now he understood why the Demonic Sect and the Central Plains hated each other so much and fought for so long.

‘They are still people, but…’

What is going on here?

“Stop thinking,” a low voice said behind him.

“You can think later.”

“…Right,” Baek Cheon said. He agreed with Chung Myung and focused his energy on running faster.

“Martial Uncle! Up ahead!”

“I see it!”

Gritting his teeth, he glared ahead. He could see a faint light coming from the end of the cave.

‘It’s there!’

He knew it. Something was happening right there.

“Let’s go!” Baek Cheon yelled, trying to calm his shaking heart. He ran even faster, so fast the cave walls seemed to blur.

They burst into a large cavern.

“W-what?”

“…What is this?” The Mount Hua disciples were shocked by what they saw.

A huge cloth hung in front of them, covering the whole wall. On it was a picture of Asura.

The scary feeling coming from it was something they had never felt before. Even people who had faced death many times felt afraid.

And then…

They looked at the Asura picture first, but then their eyes stopped on something else in front of it.

An old man.

Everyone stared at the back of the old man. He was sitting with his legs crossed in the big cavern, all alone.

If you didn’t notice he was a bit big, he just looked like an old man. White hair held up with a pin, wearing a faded red robe.

He looked like a normal old man.

But…

‘What is that feeling…?’ Baek Cheon bit his lip.

A terrible, dark energy seemed to creep up his legs. He felt so sick he wanted to rip his skin off.

He had only seen the old man’s back. But he felt like he was in huge danger, like he was about to be eaten by a monster.

‘That guy is…’

The Mount Hua disciples held their breath without thinking.

The Bishop. The leader of the Demonic Sect survivors.

They could feel it, even without talking or fighting.

This man was much stronger than any Demonic Sect member they had fought before.

No. He was stronger than any enemy they had ever faced.

He felt even more powerful than the Abbot of Shaolin, Beop Jeong. Hye-yeon’s pale face showed they were right.

Just as everyone was stunned by the Bishop’s power, he spoke.

“The Heavenly Demon Reborn, Myriad Demons Submit.”

The old man unfolded his legs and slowly bowed down to the floor.

He bowed completely flat.

Without looking at them, the old man showed deep respect to the Asura picture. Then, very slowly, he stood up.

And only then did he slowly turn his body and look at them.

Eerie.

Just by making eye contact, the disciples of Mount Hua flinched without realizing it.

“…You shouldn’t have come here.”

Cold blue light flashed in his eyes.

“You have sinned by coming into this holy place where the Heavenly Demon will be reborn. Even your lives won’t be enough to pay for it.”

Cold sweat appeared on his forehead and dripped down his chin.

Fight?

Fight this person?

Everyone’s minds went blank for a moment.

“Looks like this old man has lived too long and gone crazy. What are you trying to bring back?” Chung Myung’s casual voice came from behind them.

He walked forward, looking bored, and stared right at the Bishop.

“You’re wrong about something…”

*Shhhhk.*

And with a smirk, he drew his sword and aimed it at the Bishop.

“That’s something you need my permission for.”

“Hahaha…” A low laugh started in the Bishop’s throat.

It grew louder and louder, until it was a crazy, deafening roar.

“Kyahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!” The Bishop’s mad laughter filled the cavern, so loud it felt like the cave would explode.

Black demonic energy poured out of the Bishop’s body like black water. The Mount Hua disciples quickly grabbed their swords, as if a monster had appeared.

“Not a single hair will be left on your bodies! You dirty unbelievers!”

The Bishop’s demonic power rushed through the cavern like a storm.

A hundred years ago, this Bishop of the Demonic Sect was the Heavenly Demon’s follower. He destroyed everything in the world.

Now, that power was starting again, right here.