Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 595

Martial artists are truly strange people.

Even when they know an enemy is trying to hurt them badly, they get completely focused on the fight.

They don’t look away. But their minds are not on the enemy right in front of them. They are thinking about the bigger battle far away.

The disciples of Mount Hua and the Bloodclad Warriors were the same.

However, the Bloodclad Warriors were the first to notice a change.

“What is this?”

“What are these bastards doing?”

When did it start?

Clang!

A sword attack was blocked. This happened often during the fight, but something felt different.

Those fighting with swords could feel it. The force from the other swords felt different than before.

“What has changed?”

Before, the Mount Hua disciples had fought like wild beasts, or angry wildcats.

But their wild sword fighting was becoming stronger. Not slower, but more solid.

“Is this even possible during a fight?”

Swords always change. If your skills stay the same, your sword will change as you live.

But could a sword change so much in a short time, from the start of this battle until now?

It seemed impossible.

Swish!

The Bloodclad Warrior gritted his teeth and pushed his sword faster. But the Mount Hua disciples, who used to focus only on speed and swing their swords wildly, now blocked the attacks with short, careful movements.

It was like they were copying Chung Myung’s sword, the way he was fighting Go Hong ahead of them.

“These damn bastards!”

Of course, they were not as good. Chung Myung’s sword was amazing.

But even if they were not as skilled, their swords were starting to become like Chung Myung’s.

“Are they using us to practice?”

The Bloodclad Warrior’s face twisted terribly.

Was that what was happening?

Even now, they were learning from his sword. They changed their fighting style as soon as they saw something better.

“What kind of guys are these!”

Goosebumps popped up all over the Bloodclad Warrior’s body.

Martial arts are something you build over time.

Even though these guys were young, they had spent years building their skills through hard training.

Martial artists depend on that base. It is hard to change that base, even for masters who are changing their own skills.

But they were doing it so easily?

“No. That’s not it.”

This was not about logic. It was about trust. They believed that this direction was right and that this change would help them.

“These crazy bastards.”

The leader trusted that those behind him would learn from his sword. And those following him accepted the lessons without question, improving even during the fight.

What other group in the world could do something so crazy?

Clang!

No matter how hard they attacked, it did not work.

Before, they could break through the defenses and cut the Mount Hua disciples. But now, it was like hitting an iron wall. They could not get through, even once.

Just as Chung Myung was blocking Go Hong’s strong attacks, the Mount Hua disciples were blocking the Bloodclad Warriors’ swords with strong defense.

And then…

Swish!

A sword shot out and cut the side of a confused Bloodclad Warrior.

“Kuh!”

It felt like the sword had become twice as fast.

But the Bloodclad Warrior knew it wasn’t just speed.

Good defense leads to good offense.

Because they could defend well, they could now find better chances to attack.

He knew it in his head, but he could not accept it. How could he understand that the enemy’s skills had doubled during the fight!

“These damn bastards!”

He shouted and swung his sword wildly, but the response was different than before.

The Mount Hua disciples, who used to shout back even louder, now easily blocked his sword and stared at him with steady eyes.

That gaze started to weigh on the Bloodclad Warriors.

Their eyes showed no doubt. Only those who were sure of their path could have such eyes.

The Bloodclad Warriors’ swords became weaker.

“Lower.”

“Stay balanced.”

“Don’t be fooled by showiness and speed.”

Raging would not help.

Why had they forgotten?

A sword is only useful when it is balanced. It should be showy when attacking, but strong when defending.

They had been happy with their success and had forgotten the true meaning of Mount Hua’s swordplay, even though they had heard it many times.

A single sword strike taught them more than a thousand words. The Mount Hua disciples looked at Chung Myung’s sword with great care.

Thud!

Baek Cheon stomped his foot, shaking the ground.

He swung his sword powerfully, blocking the enemy swords. Then, with a flick of his wrist, his sword moved like a ghost, fast and light. Suddenly, it seemed to bloom with countless plum blossoms, red and deadly, surrounding the Bloodclad Warrior like a whirlwind of petals.

“Aaaaargh!”

Defend strongly, attack sharply.

“This is it!”

Something he could not understand was now within his reach.

To move forward, you must remember the basics. Everyone should know this simple fact. But not everyone can do it, and that is what makes martial arts special.

“Who did you think you were trying to teach!”

A wave of shame washed over Baek Cheon. *How could I have been so arrogant?* he thought, his face burning. *I am still learning too.*

Swish!

His sword pierced the heart of the Bloodclad Warrior.

People are led by example, not by words. They are taught by the sword, not by logic.

That was what Chung Myung was showing them.

Whether the other Five Swords felt the same as Baek Cheon, they were wielding their swords with more focus.

“Now…!”

Baek Cheon flew like lightning toward the Bloodclad Warriors, who were confused.

“You are no match for us!”

The disciples of Mount Hua, filled with care and determination, answered with their swords.

Kaaaaaah!

In the middle of the raging storm of sword energy, Chung Myung stood still.

Even with many ideas and meanings, a sword is still just a sword. Swinging, stabbing, and blocking are all there is to it.

Kaaaaaah!

The sword moved in a straight line, easily blocking the Broadsword that was falling like lightning toward his head.

Clang!

Then, with a sharp sound, the Broadsword bounced away quickly.

It flew back toward Chung Myung’s side, but he blocked it with his sword. When Go Hong quickly stabbed again, Chung Myung pushed it back with a sword that moved like lightning.

Chung Myung blocked all of Go Hong’s wild Broadsword attacks with only the smallest movements, without wasting any energy.

“Kuh….”

Sweat poured down Go Hong’s body like rain. His dantian hurt as if it were being stabbed with needles, and his heart felt like it would explode.

He kept attacking without stopping to breathe, which was using up all his energy.

But he could not stop.

If he stopped, he would lose. He would be too tired to attack again.

So, he had to win with these attacks, no matter what.

He tasted blood in his mouth, and blood vessels burst because of the pressure. His blood was flowing twice as fast as usual.

Blood poured from his nose, but it dried up before it could reach the floor because of the wind and heat from the Broadsword.

“Fall… Please fall! Fall!”

But no matter how hard he swung his Broadsword, Chung Myung stood his ground, blocking the attacks with a scary look.

Goosebumps ran across Go Hong’s body.

He felt fear and respect.

“Why!”

His muscles started to tear.

“Why won’t you fall!”

His knees weakened, and the Broadsword felt heavy.

“Why!!!”

Go Hong put all his strength into one last attack.

Had he ever attacked so well before? His mind, body, and energy became one. After a moment of silence, a storm of sword energy swirled around his Broadsword.

“Haaah!”

He attacked with everything he had, trying to cut Chung Myung in half.

And then…

Chung Myung’s calm aura changed completely.

Hwaaa!

A deadly intent filled the air. Chung Myung smiled strangely and charged toward Go Hong’s Broadsword attack.

Woooong!

The Dark Plum Blossom Sword cried out as if it understood his will, and red plum blossoms started to bloom.

“What?”

The Broadsword, with enough energy to split the earth, fell into the forest of plum blossoms.

Crack crack crack!

The petals were crushed by the Broadsword. It seemed impossible for the plum blossom sword energy to stop Go Hong’s powerful attack.

But…

New plum blossoms bloomed to replace the crushed ones.

Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Plum Blossoms Bloom.

No matter how strong Go Hong’s Broadsword was, he could not crush all the plum blossoms that were blooming.

The sword energy, stronger than steel, began to wear down the Broadsword. The Broadsword, which could have destroyed a mountain, lost its power and became trapped among the plum blossoms.

Swish!

The plum blossoms wrapped around Go Hong’s sword.

Claaang!

The Broadsword broke in half, and the blade flew into the air.

Swish!

Chung Myung appeared like a ghost among the plum blossoms. He moved toward Go Hong’s chest with a cold look.

Thwack!

A terrible sound echoed.

Go Hong looked down at his chest. A white sword was stuck in his heart. He was lucky he could not see the blade sticking out of his back.

“Cough!”

Thud.

His body swayed.

Each step he took pulled the sword out, and blood poured out.

“This… This can’t be….”

Blood flowed from his mouth. When Go Hong tried to speak, blood poured out.

“This, this can’t be… He… He was no match for me in Mount Hua….”

Go Hong could not finish his words.

He opened and closed his mouth, but he could not speak.

Chung Myung watched quietly and then walked toward him. Go Hong’s voice was weak.

“…I….”

Swish.

Thwack!

Go Hong’s head flew into the air. His body fell to the ground like a dead tree.

Koooong!

Chung Myung stared at Go Hong and said quietly.

“Talent is wasted on those who don’t try hard.”

He learned that lesson with his life.