Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 597

Scritch!

“Keeeugh⋯⋯”

The last of the Bloodclad Warriors breathed his last.

Plop.

It was like a tolling bell, signaling the end of the long battle.

The moment the Bloodclad Warrior fell, the Mount Hua disciples gasped for breath, their shoulders relaxing.

“Don’t relax!”

Un Sword’s voice made everyone tense again.

“Even though some enemies are down, be careful. Some might still be waiting to attack. Don’t relax! Collect their weapons and clean up the battlefield!”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

Only after giving these last orders did Un Sword lower his bloodied sword.

‘They were difficult opponents.’

Most of the bandits had already fled, but the Bloodclad Warriors resisted fiercely to the last man. If the bandits had joined forces with them and counterattacked, they might have suffered terrible losses.

‘It’s thanks to that rascal.’

Un Sword looked at Chung Myung.

Thanks to Chung Myung stepping forward to draw their attention and break the bandits’ will to fight, they were able to end the battle with minimal damage.

“Sect Leader! The cleanup is complete!”

“Are there any survivors?”

“⋯⋯The poison has spread⋯⋯”

Un Sword nodded, already expecting the news.

Some Bloodclad Warriors hadn’t died but had lost consciousness due to their injuries. However, the poison in their bodies had already taken their lives.

‘Ruthless bastards.’

It was unbelievable they fought with poison in their own bodies. What kind of men were these?

Taking a deep breath, Un Sword spoke to Hyun Sang.

“Elder.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Sang nodded as if he understood. Then, he looked at the disciples who were still dealing with the aftermath of the battle.

‘Good faces.’

In previous battles, everyone would praise the victory as soon as it was certain. But now, the Mount Hua disciples looked like steadfast warriors.

It was acceptable to rejoice in victory, but not in the death of others. If anyone had boasted about this brutal victory, Hyun Sang would have rebuked them.

Fortunately, the Mount Hua disciples had not forgotten their duty as swordsmen, nor their duty as Taoists. Taoists are meant to be peaceful and disciplined.

‘Everyone⋯⋯’

“Aish, those bastards are disgustingly fast!”

“⋯⋯”

Chung Myung, who had been chasing after the bandits and hitting them in the back of the head, dusted off his hands and returned.

“I should have just killed them all.”

“⋯⋯”

Oh, of course⋯⋯

There was one rascal who had completely forgotten his duty as a Taoist. Yes, there was.

But well, that’s just how he is.

Hyun Sang nodded heavily and opened his mouth.

“Clean up the battlefield and quickly treat the injured!”

“Yes!”

As the order was given, everyone began to move quickly. Watching their busy movements, Hyun Sang suddenly looked up at the sky.

‘We won.’

The Mount Hua Sect’s historic first expedition in this generation ended with a great victory without major losses.

“Aaaargh! Ack! Aaaargh!”

“Why is this guy making such a fuss?”

“Aargh! Soso! It really hurts! Really! Ah, I think I’m going to die!”

“You got stabbed in the side and you’re complaining about pain while I’m bandaging you up?”

“I, it really hurts⋯⋯”

“Ah, can’t you be quiet? Should I rip the wound open wider!”

“⋯⋯”

While Tang Soso was treating the injured, the Mount Hua Five Swords were very nervous.

‘I must never get stabbed.’

‘Isn’t that not bandaging but binding a person with bandages?’

‘Will the blood even circulate?’

But even so, there was a deep sense of relief in their eyes.

There were those who were seriously injured, but thankfully, no one was in mortal danger. If even one person had died, this kind of atmosphere would have been impossible.

“W, we’re alive, so that’s good enough!”

“What did you say, you little punk?”

“⋯⋯”

Tang Soso glared fiercely at the disciple who was protesting.

“Are you all crazy? Do you think the injuries you sustained are ordinary? If you were normal people, you’d already be dead and buried! Chung Myung has been feeding you all sorts of miraculous elixirs, so you’re barely alive!”

She looked extremely angry, and those who had been grumbling all lowered their heads, startled.

“You’ve been eating special healing medicines, so you’re alive even with your sides torn to shreds like this! How dare you act like you’re doing so well?”

“So, Soso. Calm down a little.”

“I was wrong.”

“P, please calm your anger, Sister.”

“If you understand, shut up and lie down!”

“Yes!”

Tang Soso, who had successfully silenced them in an instant, picked up a large needle, longer than the palm of a person’s hand, and stabbed it deep into the patients’ bodies.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Quiet!”

At that moment, Hyun Sang, who had been cowering in the corner, cleared his throat, unable to ignore Un Sword’s gaze, and approached Tang Soso.

“Um⋯⋯ Soso.”

“Yes, Elder!”

The faces of everyone were horribly distorted by Tang Soso’s instantly changed expression and tone. In the stirring atmosphere, Soso glared and mouthed.

‘Why? What?’

“⋯⋯It’s nothing.”

Tang Soso, who had excellently suppressed them with her eyes, smiled again and spoke to Hyun Sang.

“Did you call me?”

“⋯⋯Th, that’s right. How are the children doing?”

“Some are quite seriously injured, but if the wounds don’t get infected, there shouldn’t be any major problems. Some will need to rest for a few months⋯⋯”

Tang Soso shook her head.

“Everyone has been eating so many elixirs that their recovery is too fast. Some of the senior brothers are already growing new flesh. They’ll all be able to recover and get up in about half a month.”

“That’s a great relief.”

Hyun Sang let out a deep sigh of relief.

He had sometimes felt dissatisfied with Chung Myung feeding the children too many elixirs. He was worried that excessive internal strength, inappropriate for their level, would disrupt the balance between their swordsmanship and internal strength.

But now that the situation had turned out like this, he felt like punching his past self for having been dissatisfied even for a moment.

What did balance or anything else matter? They had to be alive first to even think about balance or anything else.

“Hoo. Alright, you’ve suffered a bit.”

“Yes, Elder! Don’t worry!”

Tang Soso smiled brightly and began to work quickly and firmly with the bandages and needles, her movements efficient and focused.

“E, Elder!”

“Elder. It hurts too much⋯⋯”

Hyun Sang turned away coldly without even giving them a glance.

“Senior Brother.”

“Hmm?”

Hyun Young approached him.

“Shouldn’t we chase after the escaped bandits? They’re such violent fellows, they might cause trouble again.”

“Euuuum.”

Hyun Sang frowned and groaned.

All the Bloodclad Warriors had been dealt with, but more than half of the Green Forest Bandits had escaped. Chung Myung had chased after them, belatedly knocking out many of them, but it was impossible for even Chung Myung to catch all the Green Forest Bandits who had scattered in all directions.

“That’s what we should do, but⋯⋯”

Hyun Sang, who had been contemplating, scanned the disciples gathered around the injured and shook his head.

“Chasing them could be too risky. We might lose more people. Also, to chase those who have scattered, we would have to scatter as well. I don’t want to risk any further danger. Above all, the safety of the disciples is the most important thing.”

“Hmm. You are right, Elder.”

Even Hyun Young, who always liked to argue, nodded in agreement.

“Now that we’ve done this much, shouldn’t the Green Forest King take care of the remaining problems?”

Everyone looked toward the inner part of the mountain fortress, where Im So-byeong was.

“Green Forest King!”

“We knew you would come and save us!”

“You must have gone through so much hardship!”

Im So-byeong, the Green Forest King, had freed the Green Forest members who were locked up in the fortress jail. He gently comforted the sobbing people, patting their shoulders and asking about their families.

“I know you have all been through so much,” Im So-byeong said, his voice soft but strong.

An older man stepped forward, tears streaming down his face. “Green Forest King! We are the ones who failed! We should have protected you better. We only hoped you were alive, but to see you return like this… it is more than we could have dreamed of!”

Im So-byeong nodded slowly, his expression heavy with the weight of what had happened. His eyebrows were drawn together, and he looked older than before.

If Go Hong had killed them all, the situation would have been hopeless. But even though their bodies were hurt, Go Hong didn’t seem to want to kill them. Their lives and ability to move weren’t badly affected.

‘Still, Go Hong wasn’t completely thoughtless.’

These people were in charge of managing the Green Forest, and they were needed to run the Green Forest well. With them, it wouldn’t be too hard to rebuild the Green Forest.

“I know everyone is happy, but we don’t have much time. We need to figure out what happened while we were gone.”

“Yes!”

“We will start right away.”

They understood him without needing a long explanation. After things were sorted out, Im So-byeong turned around.

He quickly went to Hyun Sang, Hyun Young, and Chung Myung, who was squatting, and knelt down in front of them.

“Gasp!”

“Huh?”

Hyun Sang was shocked and quickly tried to help him up. But Im So-byeong stayed down, bowing deeply and hitting his head on the ground.

“The grace of Mount Hua is as vast as the sea.”

“Why are you doing this! You are a noble person, you shouldn’t kneel like this!” Hyun Sang’s face turned red with embarrassment as he tried to help Im So-byeong up.

“I have nothing to offer. Please, let me show my gratitude.”

“Heh…”

It was a heartwarming scene. After so much fear and pain, seeing their leader kneel in gratitude brought tears to the eyes of many Green Forest members.

It would have continued that way if not for a voice that interrupted.

“Nothing to offer?” Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed slightly, though his smile stayed wide.

“……”

“……”

Chung Myung was glaring at Im So-byeong with a twisted face. Im So-byeong trembled at the fierce gaze.

“…No, that’s not what I meant. Chung Myung, I don’t have ten lives, so would I ever break my promise?”

Chung Myung grinned and scratched his head innocently, as if he had never glared menacingly. “Hehe. Right?”

“I was worried you might think you are too important now that you are the Green Forest King again. That would be too bothersome, wouldn’t it?”

“Bothersome as in…?”

Instead of answering directly, Chung Myung subtly pointed his chin towards Beon Chung.

“He’s a bit unstable.”

“……”

Im So-byeong glanced back and forth between Beon Chung and Chung Myung with a slightly horrified look. Im So-byeong’s smile wavered slightly.

‘If I die, that bastard will become the Green Forest King.’

He would get rid of him and put Beon Chung in the Green Forest King’s seat.

Of course, it was nonsense, but when had that man ever done anything that made sense?

“That will never! Never! Ever happen!”

“Hey, why are you like this? Between us. Ah, I believe you. I really do believe you!”

No.

His eyes didn’t believe it at all.

His eyes.

Im So-byeong stood up and sighed softly.

“I will announce the collapse of the Great Outpost and declare that I have regained my position. It will take at least two weeks to a month to get everything in the Green Forest working again.”

“Hmm.”

“Once that time has passed, the promise will surely be kept.”

Chung Myung nodded silently.

“Okay, I understand.”

“Yes. Then, I have a lot to do…”

“Yes.”

Watching Im So-byeong walk away towards the Green Forest members again, Chung Myung rested his chin on his hand.

“Hmm.”

It seemed the mountain fortress was slowly being cleaned up. The stone walls were rough and cold, and the air still smelled of smoke from the earlier battle.

‘I gained a lot.’

First, they had achieved victory. And they had experienced those who were willing to fight to the death. There could be no more valuable experience for his disciples.

They might be bewildered now, but eventually, this victory would remain in their hearts, creating a confidence that could not be exchanged for anything.

‘And I gained some fame as well.’

The results of this battle would likely shake the world in a few days.

After the Mount Hua Tournament, the name of Mount Hua would be on everyone’s lips again for the first time in a while. Moreover, this time it was an achievement of ‘Mount Hua’ that could not be dismissed as the work of junior disciples.

Considering that, it could be said that they had achieved the best possible outcome, but…

“Chung Myung.”

“Yes?”

Hyun Young said, his voice serious. “Do you have any idea who those Blood-Clad Warriors were? They were very strange.”

At Hyun Young’s question, Chung Myung frowned slightly.

“Well, there are so many guys like that.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Hyun Young nodded with a complicated expression, as if he agreed.

Right.

Those bastards are bothering me.

Hyun Young seemed to be thinking the same thing as Chung Myung. Perhaps this battle was a little different from what Mount Hua had thought.

He couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but something…

“Chung Myung.”

“Hmm?”

“Just a moment.”

At that moment, Baek Cheon beckoned to Chung Myung. Chung Myung tilted his head and obediently got up from his seat.

Baek Cheon, who had taken him to a corner, opened his mouth with a serious face.

“This is just my thought.”

“Yeah?”

Baek Cheon frowned. “The energy of those wearing blood-red… It feels familiar, like I’ve experienced it before.” He shivered slightly, as if remembering something unpleasant.

“…Huh?”

“It’s not exactly the same, but you know how there’s a certain feeling.”

Chung Myung stared at Baek Cheon with slightly renewed interest.

“Martial Uncle.”

“Yeah?”

“For now, let’s keep the guess as a guess.”

“……”

“Because nothing is certain yet.”

Baek Cheon, who was watching his expression, nodded silently.

“Okay. I understand what you mean.”

“Hmm.”

The corpses of the Blood-Clad Warriors were now piled up on one side. Chung Myung said in a low voice.

“It’s just a guess, anyway.”

“Huh?”

“No, nothing.”

Chung Myung’s eyes darkened as he turned his back on Baek Cheon and walked away.

‘It seems Martial Uncle has caught on.’

The corners of Chung Myung’s lips twisted.

‘Right. No matter how much you hide your identity, you can’t hide the smell.’

His eyes turned towards somewhere beyond the mountain, as if he could see someone who was in an invisible place.