Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 706

Jin Yang-geon wasn’t stupid, not at all. He was actually quite clever – you had to be to even *think* about tricking the Gold Sword Bureau.

Panting, his side aching, he ran. Each breath burned in his chest, but he didn’t dare slow down. Even as he ran, his mind raced, calculating his chances. They were slim. Almost impossible, really.

He was lucky to escape them for now. But he knew they were skilled trackers and fighters. Even if he ran until he was exhausted, they would catch him within half a day.

Giving up on escape and hiding somewhere to wait might seem like an option, but that too would ultimately rely on luck.

He knew luck only goes so far.

He had been incredibly lucky to survive before, escaping death once already. He couldn’t rely on luck again. Only a fool would.

After all this thought, Jin Yang-geon finally gave up on fleeing. Instead, he found the only way he could survive and put it into action.

“Hmm.”

The leader of the Iron Helmet Clan, Hong Mo-ilseom (Red Spear Flash) Fan Song, looked at the pile of bills on the table with strange eyes.

“So… you’re giving me this and asking me to protect you?”

“Yes… yes, Clan Leader, exactly!”

“Haha! This rat-like bastard.”

Fan Song burst into hearty laughter and then abruptly stood up.

“Some unknown bastards have turned the Gold Sword Bureau upside down and are chasing you, so you want us to protect you from dying? You, who were just scheming against the Gold Sword Bureau until recently?”

Jin Yang-geon swallowed hard, his words slightly stuttering from nervousness.

“Y-yesterday’s enemy can become today’s ally, can’t they? If it helps both of us, why not work together?”

“Benefits, you say? Benefits? Yes, that’s true.”

Fan Song twisted his lips as he spoke.

“But it seems like I’ve already gotten enough benefits? The money is here, so why should I bother protecting you? I could just take this money and hand you over.”

Jin Yang-geon looked at Fan Song with trembling eyes.

‘Damn heretical bastards.’

But he had expected this situation to unfold.

“Drag him out!”

“This money isn’t all of it!”

“Hmm?”

The Iron Helmet Clan leader, who had turned away as if losing interest, quickly turned his head back to look at Jin Yang-geon.

“T-this money is only a part of it! If you protect me, I’ll tell you where the rest of the money is hidden.”

“This trickster thinks he can bargain with me? Doesn’t he know I could just hurt him until he tells me where it is?”

“W-would there really be a need to do that?”

“What?”

Jin Yang-geon wiped away the sweat that was flowing down his face and said,

“Those bastards will arrive soon. If you defeat them, I will naturally tell you where the money is. It’ll be faster for them to arrive than for me to talk under torture, so why bother going through all that trouble?”

“Huh.”

Fan Song let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded.

“You think you’re very important, but you’re missing the point. Even if I beat those guys, I can still hurt you badly. Do you really think you can bargain with someone like me?”

“No, Clan Leader!”

Jin Yang-geon quickly prostrated himself on the spot.

“I would never try to bargain with you, Clan Leader! I’m just a nobody trying to stay alive any way I can.”

“Hmm.”

Fan Song still frowned as if something was bothering him.

But then.

“Let’s hear it, Clan Leader.”

Another voice chimed in from the side. Fan Song immediately turned around and asked,

“Do you have something to say?”

“I don’t really care what you do with that bug, but… I am interested in those who are chasing him.”

“Those fellows? But this place is…”

“It’s strange.”

One of the men at the fancy table chuckled.

“But those people are always strange. They can show up anywhere, north or south, in the middle of the country. Nothing surprises me with them.”

“…Even so, from Shanxi to here is a bit…”

“You don’t believe me?”

Fan Song was startled and waved his hands.

“How could that be! How dare I doubt you.”

“Anyway…”

The man scratched his chin and said,

“If our guess is correct, we might catch an unexpected big fish.”

Then the man next to him opened his mouth.

“We can’t start anything without confirming if it’s what Lord Paegun wants.”

“That’s not right. We can just catch them and bring them here! Lord Paegun will deal with them.”

“…”

“Let’s wait and see for now. To see if a real big fish is coming.”

The man finished speaking and gestured with his chin.

“Clan Leader.”

“Yes!”

“Mobilize your men and prepare them.”

“Understood. But… what about the Gold Sword Bureau’s matter…”

“No need to worry.”

The man waved his hand as if telling him not to worry.

“We always keep our deals. But there’s an order to things.”

And he added in a slightly softened voice, as if to appease him.

“I understand your desire to clean up the Gold Sword Bureau now that it’s in chaos. But that chaos doesn’t really mean anything to us. As soon as things are settled, Nanchang will be yours.”

“Of course, I believe that!”

The Iron Helmet Clan leader repeatedly bowed with a bright expression. The man scratched his chin and fell into thought.

‘The Wasan Divine Dragon, huh…’

A hollow laugh escaped him.

‘For a big shot that Lord Paegun is interested in to appear in a place like this. It seems like I’m in luck.’

It was like he came looking for scraps and found a treasure. Now that he found something so valuable, he wasn’t going to let it go.

‘Let’s see. Is it really the Wasan Divine Dragon?’

A smile spread across the man’s lips.

“Let’s go.”

Chung Myung walked towards the large fortress in front of him at a pace that was neither slow nor fast.

Yoon Jong looked back at Baek Cheon with a hardened face.

“Sasuk, this is…”

“I know.”

Baek Cheon nodded slightly, understanding what he wanted to say.

This was a different matter than invading the Gold Sword Bureau.

They did not visit the Gold Sword Bureau as enemies. Of course, there were clashes due to minor misunderstandings, but that could be resolved somehow. If they explained the situation and provided appropriate compensation, the Gold Sword Bureau would not make a big issue out of it. There were no casualties.

But the place they were heading to now was none other than the Iron Helmet Clan. The domain of the heretics.

There was no way that things would end well by invading the main base of the heretics like this. In all likelihood, blood would be shed.

Then, could they alone handle this situation?

“Even if they are from the Demonic Sect, we shouldn’t just attack without a reason. At least…”

“I know, Yoon Jong-ah.”

Yoon Jong closed his mouth. Baek Cheon stared intently at Chung Myung’s back before sighing softly.

“I know, but I can’t stop him.”

“…”

“Let’s go. If I can’t stop him, I should at least support him. I don’t know why that rascal is acting like this, but there must be a good reason.”

Yoon Jong looked at Chung Myung’s back with worried eyes. He was indeed quite different from his usual self, not joking or complaining, leading them with a fiery spirit against the enemy.

‘He’s unfamiliar.’

Ever since he injured his shoulder a little while ago, Chung Myung had been acting distant.

He spoke to them like normal, but something felt wrong, like he was a different person. Maybe that’s why this situation felt so worrying.

“Let’s go.”

“Martial Uncle…”

Baek Cheon didn’t look back anymore. He simply looked at Chung Myung’s back and said in a firm voice.

“It’s not really faith if you only believe after you understand everything and decide who is right or wrong.”

“…”

“If you can’t trust that rascal, trust me.”

“……I understand.”

Yoon Jong nodded. Then, Jo Gul and Yoo Iseol stepped forward, as if they were already prepared. Even Tang Soso, who had knocked out the Taehaeng Three Swords and tied them up securely, stepped forward, and Baek Cheon followed Chung Myung directly.

Meanwhile, Chung Myung approached the large main gate and stood there. The guards who were guarding the gate watched Chung Myung with cold eyes.

“What do you want?”

“Just now.”

“……Just now? What does that mean?”

Chung Myung, who had been looking down, raised his eyes slightly and looked at them. At that moment, the guards flinched and involuntarily stepped back.

‘What kind of eyes are those…?’

They were warriors of the Iron Helmet Fortress. In the Demonic Sect, status is ultimately acquired by fighting and winning. Those belonging to the Iron Helmet Fortress had fought many battles and committed a considerable number of murders. Therefore, they could instinctively know just how dangerous the owner of those eyes was.

“A guy who ran away must have entered here. Is that right?”

There was no answer. Only their eyes changed slightly. The corners of Chung Myung’s lips curled up.

“Then that’s enough. That’s all I needed to know.”

Kwaaaaaaang!

The massive iron gate exploded inwards, and those guarding the gate were splattered with blood and knocked away.

Thud. Thud.

Chung Myung, who had caused such a commotion, nonchalantly walked inside as if nothing had happened.

As the dust began to settle, Chung Myung saw the warriors of the Iron Helmet Fortress lined up and waiting, as if they had expected him to come. They stood in rows, like iron statues waiting for a storm. Their spears were held high, points glinting in the dim light. Their faces were grim, ready for battle.

Just in time, the Five Swords who followed behind him stood supporting his back. Chung Myung’s lips quietly opened.

“I’m warning you.”

“…”

“Hand over the guy who came here a little while ago. Then I’ll go back.”

Chung Myung’s cold eyes scanned everyone.

“If not…”

Swish.

The Plum Blossom Sword slowly emerged from its scabbard. The sword light flowing from the blade was truly chilling.

“I’ll have no choice but to see blood.”

Overwhelmed by his unbelievable presence, the warriors who were lined up like soldiers involuntarily held their breath. The number of people gathered here was roughly over three hundred. More than three hundred people were now suppressed by the force of a single person, unable to even breathe properly.

Bang!

At that moment, the main building behind the central plaza opened roughly, and Beon Song, the Iron Helmet Fortress Lord, walked out.

“Who do these guys think they are, coming in here like this?!”

Chung Myung’s gaze slowly turned to Beon Song.

“Fortress Lord?”

“That’s right! I am Beon Song, Fortress Lord here! Who are you?!”

“I think a rat crawled in here?”

Beon Song smirked as if he found it ridiculous.

“Well, all I see are six weaklings!”

Seeing that they were not going to hand him over obediently, Chung Myung’s eyes darkened.

“Is that so?”

Paaah!

In an instant, a crescent-shaped red sword aura was emitted from the tip of Chung Myung’s sword and flew towards Beon Song.

Horrified by the tremendous speed, Beon Song hurriedly raised his spear.

Kagaagaagaak!

The moment the spear filled with internal energy collided with the sword aura, the sword aura shook, scraping against his spear.

Crack. Crack!

The wrist holding the spear twisted as if it would break. Beon Song screamed and twisted the spear.

“Heuaaaah!”

Kagaagak!

Finally, the direction of the sword aura was diverted towards the main building, splitting everything it touched and soaring into the sky. Beon Song, whose face was instantly covered in sweat, looked at Chung Myung with a pale face.

“What, what are you doing! Kill them! Kill them all!”

“Yes!”

The Iron Helmet Fortress warriors roared and charged towards Chung Myung and the Hwasan Five Swords all at once. Chung Myung, gripping his sword, glared coldly at those rushing towards him.

Paaah!

His sword flashed like lightning, emitting a blood-red sword aura. Before those rushing in could even react, the sword aura pierced through them, and blood spurted in all directions.

Plop. Plop.

Those who fell convulsed, spilling blood. It was only a single move. The momentum of those trying to rush in subsided as if cold water had been poured on them.

“I’m not in the mood for games today.”

Chung Myung, with his sword hanging down, took a step forward.

“Anyone who blocks me from now on will die. There will be no more warnings.”

The air in the Iron Helmet Fortress began to cool down more than ever.