Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 534

Crack!

“Hmm?”

Hyun Jong’s gaze drifted to the teacup in his hand. A long crack had appeared in the cup, which had been perfectly fine just moments before. It was as if the delicately painted plum blossoms were being torn apart.

Hyun Jong was trying to stay calm, but now worry showed on his face.

This felt like a bad sign.

Of course, teacups could crack at any time, but for him, weighed down by worries, it was not something to be taken lightly.

“Ahem.”

Hyun Jong quietly set down the teacup and turned to look out the window. A chilling breeze seeped in through the gaps.

‘The Northern Sea must be much colder than this.’

He meant it was cold in more ways than just the weather.

“Sect Leader.”

Hyun Sang, who had been sharing tea with him, cautiously spoke.

“Are you worried about the disciples?”

“Hmm.”

Instead of answering, Hyun Jong slowly rose from his seat. He went to the window and opened it.

The cold wind rushed in, but he didn’t notice, his gaze fixed on the towering peaks of Mount Hua.

No.

He was staring at the ancient tree that grew at the very top of those peaks.

Hyun Jong knew that more than half of the newly sprouted plum blossoms would wither, unable to withstand Mount Hua’s bitter winter.

His lips slowly parted.

“The plum blossoms that endure the winter are all the more beautiful.”

He murmured quietly, his eyes half-closed.

“So maybe winter is a necessary test for blooming. But…”

Then, he turned to look at Hyun Sang and Hyun Young.

“Do the plum blossoms really want the test?”

“What do you mean…?”

Hyun Sang asked cautiously, and Hyun Jong quietly shook his head.

“The tree just needs to bloom. People find the flower beautiful, and they want the flower, having survived the harsh winter, to bloom even brighter.”

“…”

His gaze returned to the window.

“Maybe our desire for those disciples to overcome challenges and grow is just our own ambition.”

Doesn’t the right path look different depending on who you are?

The way an old master sees things might not be the same as the way those young disciples do.

It was normal for them to want Mount Hua to be strong again. But maybe the young disciples should have a different goal.

Wouldn’t they be happier just enjoying the present and living joyfully in Mount Hua?

Hyun Jong wondered if their own ambition was hurting the disciples.

“My heart is uneasy.”

The worry on his face deepened. Just then, Hyun Sang spoke quietly.

“Sect Leader, that’s your arrogance.”

Hyun Jong quietly turned to look at Hyun Sang.

“Wasn’t it you who didn’t stop those disciples? They chose to go to the Northern Sea on their own.”

“But…”

“Mount Hua isn’t just ours.”

Hyun Sang stated firmly.

“The reason you think that way is because you still believe we are leading Mount Hua and the disciples are helping us according to your will.”

At those words, Hyun Jong’s eyes twitched slightly.

“Mount Hua belongs to everyone in Mount Hua, Sect Leader.”

“…”

“You can’t decide what makes those young disciples happy. They are also disciples of Mount Hua and martial artists in their own right. They aren’t children in your arms anymore, Sect Leader.”

At Hyun Sang’s words, Hyun Jong nodded with a bitter expression.

“I know.”

He had already stopped thinking of them as children he needed to protect.

However…

“We shouldn’t try to judge those disciples with our limited understanding. Aren’t they already stronger fighters than we are?”

“That’s right. Yes, that’s right. I’m just…”

Before Hyun Jong could finish, Hyun Sang looked at Hyun Young, who was sitting next to him.

“You should say something too.”

“What am I supposed to say?”

Hyun Young snorted dismissively.

“Who can stop an old man from worrying? If we tell him everything, he’ll start worrying about the weather.”

“…”

“Just let him worry. Not everyone can stop worrying easily.”

“…You really know how to talk.”

Hyun Jong sighed softly.

‘The disciples chose the test…’

He was right.

It was obvious for Chung Myung, and the other disciples, including Baek Cheon, wanted to become stronger. No matter what he said, he couldn’t have stopped them from going to the Northern Sea.

However.

Even though they chose the test themselves, no one knew how hard that test would be. Hyun Jong could only hope that the test the disciples faced in the Northern Sea wouldn’t be too overwhelming.

‘I ask for nothing. So please, just come back safe.’

He repeated the words he had said many times in his heart. At the end of Hyun Jong’s gaze, the cracked teacup sat silently.

“Saaahyung!”

Tang Soso’s sharp scream echoed across the cold land of the Northern Sea.

The Mount Hua disciples watched Chung Myung get knocked back, blood flying. They would never forget this sight.

“Chu… Chung Myung!”

“Chung Myung Sijuuu!”

Of course, this wasn’t the first time they had seen Chung Myung get pushed back by an opponent. But everyone there felt it in their gut. This was not like anything they had seen before.

Jo Gul glared with bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth.

“That bastard! I’ll kill you!”

A violent sword energy erupted. In his eyes, as he charged towards the bishop, burned a malice and murderous intent that had never been seen before.

“Aaaargh!”

He screamed, a cry closer to a shriek than a battle cry, and swung his sword filled with venom.

Red plum blossoms.

Blood-red plum blossoms, blooming in the deepest darkness, scattered with a murderous intent that was hard to believe came from a righteous sword.

“This…!”

Yoon Jong, baring his teeth, leaped forward beside Jo Gul.

Yoon Jong would normally be stopping the agitated Jo Gul. But his sword was even more destructive and violent than Jo Gul’s.

“I’ll kill you!”

Seeing the plum blossoms filling his entire front, the bishop smiled gleefully.

“You fools!”

Paaaaaah!

Black magic poured from the Bishop’s hands, thick and dark like a storm cloud about to burst. It smelled like burnt metal and felt cold even from far away.

The inky black magic spread quickly, pushing away the plum blossoms. They made plum blossoms with all their strength. But even these could not break through the Bishop’s magic.

The black magic was like a wall. It felt like all hope was gone when they looked at it.

Just blocking them was not enough. The magic beat like a heart and started to wrap around Jo Gul and Yoon Jong.

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong looked around, eyes wide with fear. The black magic filled everything they could see.

“Get back!”

Baek Cheon moved like lightning, jumping in front of Jo Gul and Yoon Jong.

Paaah!

His sword turned into many swords. Soon, dozens, then hundreds of plum blossoms appeared, making a huge wall of petals in front of them.

Twenty-Four Hand Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Plum Blossom Shower. His sword moved so fast it looked like a shower of plum blossoms.

Kaga-ga-ga-gak!

Baek Cheon’s plum blossom sword energy hit the Bishop’s magic. It sounded like hundreds of iron pieces hitting and grinding against each other.

Plum petals flew everywhere, and Baek Cheon’s strong iron sword screamed as it twisted. It bent like soft metal in a fire, almost breaking.

“Kkeueuk…”

The power was so strong it felt like it would crush him. Blood started to burst from the tips of Baek Cheon’s fingers.

It was as if he were carrying a mountain. But he put more strength into his bloody fingertips.

At that moment.

“Amitabha!” Hae Yeon shouted a Buddhist prayer.

With a rough shout, Hae Yeon’s Buddhist light flew towards the wall of plum blossoms and hit it hard.

“Oooooooooh!”

Once! Again! And again!

Hae Yeon helped Baek Cheon by using three Hundred Step Divine Fists in a row. Then, he put his opposite hand on his side in a half-lotus position.

Gooooooooh!

Hae Yeon slowly moved his hand from his side. At the same time, a fist with scary power came from his fist.

Seventy-Two Supreme Arts of Shaolin, Arhat Divine Fist!

Hae Yeon usually looked kind when he used his martial arts. But now, his face showed no kindness. His face, twisted like a demon’s, was full of the desire to crush his enemy.

Hae Yeon’s fist power added to Baek Cheon’s sword energy, and the strong magic weakened for a moment.

“Uaaaargh!”

“You son of a bitch!”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul did not step back. Instead, they charged forward, using their sword energy.

“Ho?”

The Bishop’s eyes shone with interest.

These young men, barely twenty years old, showed skills that surprised him.

Look.

Even though it was four against one, his power could not push forward.

‘Even if they are young, this is still a dangerous land.’

This is why this land is dangerous.

Even the one who coughed up blood after being hit by his power had made him feel a chill. And the others he had ignored were also strong.

However.

“They are still just gnats!”

His eyes flashed with a bloody light. He used even more power to sweep away those in front of him.

“All die…!”

But then.

Sseut!

A swordsman in black clothes jumped over the dangerous space where energies crashed, like a ghost. She flew straight towards the Bishop.

When he saw the swordsman’s cold eyes, even the strong Bishop had to stop.

Paaah!

Yoo Iseol jumped forward and used a scary sword energy against the Bishop. At the same time, Dang So So moved to the other side and threw her knives with all her strength, like a waterfall.

Shwaaaaaa!

Strong sword energy and knives flew from left and right.

Scary power and plum blossom sword energy pushed from the front.

It seemed impossible to avoid the attacks from all directions.

‘I’ve got him….’

But then, the Bishop put both hands in front of his stomach. The black magic that had been flowing out changed direction and quickly gathered into his hands.

“Insignificant things!”

The magic in his hands spun fast and then exploded in all directions.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

A huge explosion of magic covered the sky and the earth.

“Uaaaaaargh!”

“Aaaaaargh!”

The Mount Hua disciples screamed and were thrown back like cannonballs, hitting the ground.

Rumble!

The magic turned over the earth and shook the mountains. Cliffs broke and fell apart.

It was a truly scary power.

How could such power, which could change the land, be called human power?

“Cough!”

Baek Cheon coughed up blood as he fell to the ground. He stared at the Bishop in shock.

Like a tornado, the magic around the Bishop’s body rose higher and higher.

It was a sight he could not believe. It was like a giant black dragon rising to the sky.

The Bishop’s eyes glowed with a bloody light in the whirlwind. He opened his mouth.

“You filthy infidels are running wild without knowing your place.”

His voice echoed through the valley like a tyrant’s command. It was full of a force that seemed to crush the heart.

“I will not let a single one of you leave here alive! Not a single one!”

The black vortex he had made grew even thicker. Broken rocks were swept up, spinning and rising into the air.

Faced with such unbelievable events, anyone would lose their will to fight.

“You’re first!”

The Bishop looked past the Mount Hua disciples and Hae Yeon, who were struggling to stand, towards Cheong Myeong.

Magic was taking over his mind, making him lose his sense. But even then, his gut feeling told him who was the biggest threat.

The Bishop was about to use his magic to end Cheong Myeong’s life, but he suddenly stopped.

“Hmm?”

Baek Cheon, who had somehow stood up, was walking towards them, using his sword to help him. He blocked the path between Cheong Myeong and the Bishop.

His face was so pale he looked like he would fall at any moment.

His eyes met the Bishop’s, which were full of rage.

He could not find any strength in the hand holding his sword.

The blood flowing up his throat did not stop.

But Baek Cheon’s eyes did not show any fear.

And.

Behind him, the Mount Hua disciples stepped forward and stood as if it was the most natural thing to do.

The Bishop’s deadly eyes looked at them.

“Hey, old man.”

Baek Cheon stared ahead with a pale face and grinned, showing his teeth.

“You can’t lay a finger on that kid before you kill me.”

The sound of swords scraping against the ground echoed behind him, as if answering his voice.