Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 540

The cultist gasped as the sword went deeper into his chest. His face turned pale white with shock. He was dying, each breath a painful struggle. His eyes were unfocused, but he still tried to speak, muttering a spell.

“The… Heavenly… Demon… Rebirth…”

“…He… He will… punish you all…”

An Ice Palace warrior, his face grim with disgust at the cultist’s words, twisted the sword in the dying man’s chest, silencing the spell. With a final gurgle, the cultist breathed his last and fell to the ground.

“These evil creatures.”

The last of the cultists guarding the cave had fallen. But the faces of the Ice Palace warriors were far from bright. The damage they had sustained was also horrific.

Usually, when they are losing badly, enemies give up. But these cultists were different. They did not lose their will, not even the last one. They fought fiercely until their last breath.

They resisted so fiercely that the Ice Palace warriors, who were pushing forward, turned pale.

The Ice Palace warrior slowly pulled out his sword and looked back.

The once beautiful valley was ruined. The white snow was gone, and the ground was torn up, showing the red earth underneath. The blood shed by the Ice Palace warriors and the cultists flowed over it, forming streams. It was a truly terrible sight.

They had paid a tremendous price and suffered damage, but the Ice Palace warriors had succeeded in killing all the remaining cultists with their own hands.

The warrior, his face drained, turned back and saw the disciples of Mount Hua staggering to their feet.

The warrior looked at the Mount Hua disciples. *If they hadn’t been here,* he thought, *we would all be dead.* He felt a deep sense of gratitude.

He was about to approach them and express his gratitude when—

Rumble!

The mountain range began to shake violently.

‘What?’

The bewildered warrior hurriedly turned towards the cave. The tremor grew rapidly, and soon the very ground he stood on began to shake so violently that he could barely stand.

Rumble!

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on one place: the entrance to the cave, as the entire mountain shook. Could that cave really withstand such a violent shaking of the mountain? It was clear that the ceiling inside the cave was gradually collapsing.

‘Ah, those who went inside haven’t come out yet!’

The eyes of the Ice Palace warriors widened in alarm.

“Oh, no…”

And at that very moment, a group of people emerged from the rapidly collapsing cave.

“Ch-, Chief!”

The warrior, seeing the figures desperately escaping the cave, cried out without realizing it. Several warriors, including Han Yi-myung, who was holding Seol So-baek, quickly leaped out of the collapsing cave.

Rumble!

With only a hair’s breadth to spare, the cave completely collapsed, and massive boulders came crashing down.

Rumble!

A thick cloud of grey dust exploded outwards, choking the air and making it hard to see.

“Th-, thank goodness…”

The warrior, who had been sighing in relief, suddenly stopped speaking and closed his mouth. On closer inspection, the number of people who had come out was less than half the number who had gone in.

‘What about the others?’

It was obvious what happened.

He bit his lip slightly and rushed towards the Palace Lord and Han Yi-myung.

“Ch-, Chief… No, Palace Lord! Are you alright?”

Seol So-baek, covered in dust, turned around with a blank look on his face. He stared at the cave, which had collapsed beyond recognition, and muttered.

“…Chung Myung Dojang.”

The speed of the collapse was too fast. He was too busy trying to escape, let alone rescue Chung Myung who was inside. He wailed and struggled, but in the end, he had no choice but to be forcibly dragged out by Han Yi-myung.

“Ch-, Chung Myung Dojang!”

As Seol So-baek tried to run back towards the collapsed cave, Han Yi-myung reached out and firmly grabbed him.

“Stop, Palace Lord! There may be more falling rocks. It’s too dangerous!”

“But Dojang is! Chung Myung Dojang is still inside!”

Han Yi-myung sighed deeply. Did he not know? But this was something that could not be helped by human power. And it wasn’t as if he felt any better about it. Why wouldn’t he want to save him? But from his point of view, saving Seol So-baek was the priority. Blood oozed from his tightly bitten lips.

‘Dojang saved the Northern Sea.’

Considering the sudden earthquake, the collapse of the mountain, and after the shaking stopped, it was clear what had happened inside.

Perhaps Chung Myung had prevented the resurrection of the Heavenly Demon…

Han Yi-myung squeezed his eyes shut.

‘How can I ever repay this debt?’

And how could he ever face the disciples of Mount Hua?

Many Ice Palace warriors had also sacrificed themselves inside that cave. Some had failed to escape in time while fighting off the Ice Gangshi as they fled the cave. But they were people of the Northern Sea, and it was only natural for them to risk their lives for the Northern Sea.

It was nothing compared to the one who had led them in this distant land, saved the Northern Sea from the clutches of the Demonic Sect, and then given his life.

“You must gather yourself. Chung Myung Dojang would not want the Palace Lord to simply wallow in sorrow.”

Seol So-baek bit his lip tightly and stared at the collapsed cave. Seeing the expression on his face, as if he was about to burst into tears at any moment, Han Yi-myung couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.

Han Yi-myung staggered to his feet. As the Chief of the Ice Palace, he had a duty to fulfill. He looked with heavy eyes at the disciples of Mount Hua, who were still lying on the ground, unable to get up.

“Sasuk,” Han Yi-myung asked, his voice hoarse, “Are you… are you alright?”

Baek Cheon groaned from the ground. “…Dead. Pretty sure I’m dead.”

“…I thought so.”

Baek Cheon, his face buried in the ground, twitched slightly.

‘I really feel like I’m going to die.’

This wasn’t just difficult or anything. He literally couldn’t move a finger. But he couldn’t stay like this forever.

“Ugh…”

Baek Cheon was the first to move, squeezing out all his remaining strength. And he finally began to get up.

Crack. Crack.

His broken bones screamed, and the slightly healed wounds burst open again, and blood flowed down.

“Ugh…”

His teeth were clenched from the pain that felt like his whole body was breaking. But Baek Cheon somehow managed to get up.

“Is everyone alright?”

Even though his own condition was terrible, Baek Cheon first checked on the condition of his disciples. But no one answered him properly.

“I… I’m getting sleepy…”

“S-, Senior Brother. Get a grip… Get a grip. You’ll freeze to death if you sleep here!”

“Mumble… plum blossoms… are they… falling?”

“Is this guy really crazy?”

Jo Gul, who was relatively okay, slapped Yoon Jong hard on the cheek.

“Wake up, Senior Brother!”

Jo Gul, ah.

Baek Cheon felt his anger rising. *If this keeps up,* he thought, *I’ll be killed by them before the cold even gets to me.*

“…Amitabha.” Hye-yeon spoke softly. He looked very sad and weak as he trembled and sat up. He saw his body was covered in black marks. He remembered the terrible fight and felt scared again.

Baek Cheon walked slowly, because he was hurt, to where Tang Soso and Yoo Iseol were. Tang Soso was also hurt, but she was helping Yoo Iseol.

“How are they?” Baek Cheon asked.

“…Luckily, they are not bleeding too much, so they will live. But they are very shocked,” Tang Soso said.

“That’s enough,” Baek Cheon said, stopping her from saying more.

“Sago! Don’t get up yet!” Tang Soso said.

“I’m fine,” Yoo Iseol said, trying to stand up even though she was weak. Baek Cheon gently but strongly pushed her shoulder back down.

“…Sahyung?” Yoo Iseol asked, surprised.

“Don’t push yourself too hard,” Baek Cheon said softly. Yoo Iseol looked at Baek Cheon’s face, which was bruised and cut. She finally relaxed and lay back down.

Baek Cheon sighed quietly and said, “If you don’t take care of your injuries now, they will hurt you for a long time. It will make it harder for you to train in martial arts later. Listen to Soso, little sister.”

“…Yes, Sahyung,” Yoo Iseol replied.

Baek Cheon sighed again as he looked at Yoo Iseol’s face, which was puffy and swollen. *It’s bad,* he thought, looking at her injuries. *We were very lucky to survive.*

Just then, Han I-myung walked unsteadily towards them. “Are you all alright… No, that’s a stupid question,” he said, seeing their injuries. Han I-myung looked around at all the hurt Hwasan disciples and shook his head sadly. *I feel ashamed,* he thought. *We in the Ice Palace also lost people, but we didn’t fight as hard as they did.* He remembered the terrible fight with the Cult Leader and his body shook just thinking about it. *Will I ever see a fight like that again?*

Han I-myung put his hands together in front of him and bowed deeply to Baek Cheon, showing he was very serious.

“And…” His shoulders started to shake as he lowered his head even more. “I don’t know how to say how sorry I am. I can’t even imagine how you must be feeling right now…” He spoke slowly and then stopped, as if he couldn’t find the right words. After a moment, he continued, his voice shaking. “The Northern Sea will never forget what Dojang Chung Myung did for us. We will remember him as a hero who saved the Northern Sea, and tell his story to everyone for years to come.”

“Sorry, what?” Baek Cheon asked, looking confused. Han I-myung’s face became even sadder.

“…Dojang Chung Myung… he didn’t get out of the cave alive.”

“……”

“I am really… really sorry. He…”

“Oh, is that it?” Baek Cheon said, sounding like he didn’t care. Han I-myung was very surprised by this reaction and slowly looked up. *Is he in shock? Does he not understand what I’m saying?* he wondered.

Just then, Jo Gul asked Baek Cheon, “Hey, what did he say? What about Chung Myung?”

“It sounds like they think Chung Myung was squashed by rocks and died?” Baek Cheon said.

“Ha…” Jo Gul wiped his dirty face and laughed a little. “If Chung Myung could die from something like that, he wouldn’t have bothered coming here in the first place.”

“Exactly,” Baek Cheon agreed.

Han I-myung stared at them, his eyes wide open. It wasn’t just Baek Cheon and Jo Gul who were acting so relaxed.

“Amitabha… Chung Myung Siju is the kind of person who would come back from the dead even if you threw him into hell. If he could die from being buried under a mountain, he would have died a hundred times already,” Hye-yeon said calmly.

“Ah… Plum blossoms…” Yoon Jong mumbled weakly.

“Hey! Is this guy trying to die for real? Sahyung! Wake up! Sahyung!” Jo Gul shouted, slapping Yoon Jong’s face hard a couple of times. *Slap! Slap!*

“Geol-ah, you’ll kill Yoon Jong if you hit him that hard!” Tang Soso said.

“No, but he keeps falling asleep! Soso, Sago is hurt too, but you need to check on this guy. He keeps trying to die!” Jo Gul explained.

Han I-myung’s mouth dropped open as he watched this strange scene. *What is going on here…?* he thought. Just as he was trying to understand, Baek Cheon laughed softly and said, “Chief Han.”

“…Yes?” Han I-myung replied, still confused.

“Do you know what Chung Myung is really good at, besides fighting?” Baek Cheon asked.

“… Cheating people?” Han I-myung guessed hesitantly.

“Ah, or maybe… threatening people?” Jo Gul added.

“……” Han I-myung thought about it. *Well… that’s actually true.* He couldn’t argue with that.

“Well, yes, those things too, but not exactly,” Baek Cheon said, trying not to laugh. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again and continued, “Do you know the two things Chung Myung is *really, really* good at, besides fighting, making people suffer, ordering Sasook around, taking money, being rude, and making everyone angry with his insults?”

*Wait… should you really say someone is ‘good at’ all those bad things?* Han I-myung wondered.

“Climbing rocks and digging in the dirt,” Baek Cheon said simply.

“…..What?” Han I-myung was even more confused now. This was not the time for jokes! But even more strangely, all the Hwasan disciples and Hye-yeon nodded their heads seriously, as if they completely agreed.

“He’s like a monster, a real monster,” Jo Gul said.

“Amitabha, that is very true,” Hye-yeon agreed.

“Pl, Plum blossoms…” Yoon Jong whispered weakly again.

“Stop saying that, old man!” Tang Soso said, annoyed. Baek Cheon watched Han I-myung, who looked completely lost, and smiled slyly. He looked towards the middle of the fallen mountain. Han I-myung looked in the same direction.

“What I mean is, that guy…” Baek Cheon started to say. *Right then*, as if Chung Myung was listening, the middle of the mountain, which was now just a pile of dirt and rocks, started to shake a little. *‘Huh?’* Han I-myung couldn’t believe his eyes and opened his mouth wide without realizing it.

“He’s the kind of person who would climb out of his own grave! He won’t die from just that. Never!” Baek Cheon said confidently.

*Shake! Shake! Whoosh!* Suddenly, a bright red hand burst out from the pile of dirt and rocks. Han I-myung’s eyes opened so wide they looked like they would fall out of his head.

“Th, th…” he stammered. *Grope. Grope.* The hand moved around, feeling for something. Then, with a *bang!*, dirt and rocks flew everywhere.

“Ptooey! Cough! Cough!” Chung Myung pulled his head out of the hole.

“Ugh! I really thought I was going to die! Sasuk! Where’s Sasuk?! Sasuk! Hurry up and dig me out! Don’t just lie there!”

Baek Cheon, who had been talking so proudly just a moment ago, smiled slightly as he watched Chung Myung. “It would have been nice if he had died,” Baek Cheon said quietly. But he knew that was never going to happen. Sadly.