Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 721

Snake-like, evil eyes slowly looked around. Everyone who met his gaze quickly looked down. The air grew still.

Rustle.

Bright red shoes stepped on the tall grass. The sound of the grass breaking under his feet echoed in the silence.

“Oh, dear, oh, dear,” a voice sighed.

Jang Il-so shook his head gently. A soft jingle sound followed each movement. Small ornaments hanging from his clothes chimed like tiny bells. On his pure white robe, a golden dragon was sewn. It seemed to twist and move as he breathed.

He had arrived without warning. But from the moment he stood there, no one could look away. It was like he filled the space, pushing everyone else back.

The warriors from the Myriad Man House and the Five Swords were staring at him, frozen in place.

It was like a tiger had walked into a busy market and was now calmly strolling around.

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so sighed softly and walked to the Blood Demon, who was on the ground, coughing up blood. He looked down at the Blood Demon and quietly knelt.

“Are you alright?”

“Huff, cough! I, I am…”

“I’m sorry. I was in a bit of a hurry.”

Jang Il-so gently patted the Blood Demon’s back. The Blood Demon, who looked like he was dying, seemed to get better.

“Cough! Cough!”

“Now, vomit some more blood.”

“Uwaaaaargh!”

The Blood Demon spat out a mouthful of bright red blood, then looked up at Jang Il-so.

“Th-thank you, Chief.”

“Don’t say things like that. I should fix what I did. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it! Even if you took back the life you gave me, Chief, how could I hate you?”

“Thank you for understanding. I will remember you.”

“It’s my honor.”

Jang Il-so patted the Blood Demon’s shoulder, who was very grateful, and smiled kindly. Then, he slowly stood up.

Baek Cheon watched all of this and felt that something was very wrong.

Jang Il-so was the one who had attacked the Blood Demon.

The Blood Demon should have felt anger or betrayal towards Jang Il-so, who had attacked him for no reason, or at least confusion. But instead, he was acting like Jang Il-so was his greatest friend.

Jang Il-so had hurt him, then healed him. But the Blood Demon acted like he only remembered the healing, and was grateful for it.

‘Who is he really…?’

Even though he was seeing it happen, he could barely understand it.

Jang Il-so straightened up and looked at Ho Ga-myeong, who was biting his lip.

“Ga-myeong.”

“…Chief.”

“Tsk.”

Jang Il-so clicked his tongue, looking a little annoyed, and spoke in a scolding way.

“Why do you think I gave you the power to move troops without my permission?”

“I…”

“It’s because I thought you would understand what I wanted without a complicated process. Isn’t that right?”

Ho Ga-myeong bit his lip hard and lowered his head. Jang Il-so sighed loudly and frowned.

“But the person who knows me best is doing this. Ga-myeong, Ga-myeong. Why are you acting so foolishly? Why did you do this, huh?”

Ho Ga-myeong bit his lip tightly.

“Chief, I…”

“That’s enough.”

Before he could finish, Jang Il-so waved his hand as if he was annoyed.

“There must have been a reason. I won’t ask now.”

“…”

“I’ll listen to it later.”

Jang Il-so walked forward and stood in front of the Five Swords.

“I’m sorry. This friend of mine is too eager. He sometimes does things I don’t even ask him to do. If you want to blame someone for what happened, blame me. Leaders are responsible for their followers.”

Chung Myung stared coldly at Jang Il-so.

Jang Il-so’s calm gaze and Chung Myung’s icy stare met in the air.

Jang Il-so looked away first.

“Oh my, you’re going to eat me with your eyes. I’m a bit weak-hearted, so please look less angry. Otherwise…”

A bright smile appeared on Jang Il-so’s face.

“I might want to pluck them out. Huh?”

“You bastard…”

Chung Myung gripped his sword tighter.

Their relationship was terrible, worse than just bad.

Jang Il-so chuckled as he watched Chung Myung grind his teeth.

“Let me ask you something.”

“What.”

“What are you carrying on your shoulder? It looks quite precious.”

Chung Myung turned his head slightly. He looked at the clothes holding Cheongjin’s body and answered calmly.

“The soul of Hwasan.”

Jang Il-so acted doubtful and sneered, trying not to laugh.

“Soul?”

“…”

“Soul… Soul! Haha!”

Jang Il-so’s soft chuckle grew louder and louder.

“Haha… Hahahahaha! Ahahahahahaha! Really! That’s the soul of Hwasan, you say? Hahahahahaha!”

He leaned back and laughed loudly. The ornaments jingled noisily, mixing with his laughter like music.

Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly.

‘Damn it.’

He had fought many enemies. Some were too strong for them.

But even when facing despair, he had never felt like this. Even when fighting the bishop, he didn’t feel like a rat in a cage, his neck chilling at every move.

Jang Il-so was beyond understanding, not just in martial arts, but as a person.

‘A rat in a trap.’

The Blood Demons and Grey Demons must be the best of the Myriad Man House. They were already overwhelming, and now the Tyrant Jang Il-so had appeared.

Could they win?

No, impossible.

Even Chung Myung couldn’t face Jang Il-so alone. If Chung Myung was held back, they couldn’t handle the Myriad Man House elites. They would be defeated quickly.

If that happened, Chung Myung would have to face Jang Il-so and all of them alone. It meant certain defeat.

Then…

Baek Cheon stared at Jang Il-so, who was laughing wildly, and whispered softly.

“Chung Myung.”

“Hmm?”

“When the fight starts, I’ll jump out, so you run away.”

Chung Myung turned his head, looking blank.

“…What are you saying?”

“I’m serious. You have to live.”

Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung with a serious face.

“You must return to Hwasan alive. And you have to deliver this secret manual.”

Chung Myung stared at him, then smiled in disbelief.

“Dong-ryong has really grown up. He even says things like that now.”

“I’m not kidding, you bastard.”

“Yeah. I’m not kidding either.”

“…”

Chung Myung’s lips curled up coldly.

“Especially now.”

“Why are you so stubborn…!”

“That’s why.”

“…”

“I regret it too much if I think too much. And…”

Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon with cold eyes.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I’m going to die. No one’s going to die.”

“…”

“They’re the ones who are going to die.”

Chung Myung glared at Jang Il-so and the members of the Myriad Man House.

“It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. If they block me, I’ll break through. That’s all.”

As soon as Chung Myung finished speaking, Yu Yiseol drew her sword. She stepped forward and stood next to Chung Myung.

“Anyone.”

“Yes, anyone.”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong also drew their swords and stood to his left and right.

“Well, the Myriad Man House is familiar.”

“I can open the way.”

Dang So-so put her hand into her clothes and stood close to Chung Myung’s back.

“I’ll use poison. Don’t approach the highly poisonous side.”

Her eyes were frosty.

Baek Cheon bit his lip as he watched his disciples, who were ahead of him.

They must know the situation is desperate. But none of them were complaining or afraid of death.

‘You fools.’

Swish.

Baek Cheon hardened his heart and drew his sword.

“Move.”

He pushed between Yu Yiseol and Yoon Jong, stood at the front, and pointed his sword forward.

He released a fierce energy. The members of the Myriad Man House responded by pointing their weapons and releasing their own energy. They looked like beasts ready to attack.

It was a tense situation, ready to explode.

But then.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Jang Il-so covered his face with one hand, as if hiding his laughter. He laughed for a long time, then spread his other arm wide.

With that gesture, the energy of the Myriad Man House members disappeared.

“Open the way.”

At Jang Il-so’s command, the Myriad Man House members looked doubtful and embarrassed. But when Jang Il-so spoke again, their doubts disappeared.

“Do I need to say it twice?”

The effect was immediate. The members of the Myriad Man House stepped back and opened a path to the left and right.

“Ch, Chief!”

Ho Ga-myeong cried out, but Jang Il-so didn’t react. His mouth, under the hand covering his face, opened slightly, showing his white teeth.

He looked like a smiling wolf.

“Don’t forget. Hwasan Divine Dragon.”

“…”

The eyes between his fingers showed a fierce, blue madness.

“You owe me one. The calculation must be accurate.”

Chung Myung glared at Jang Il-so with sharp eyes.

“You’re doing as you please.”

“Even though I look like this, my calculations are quite accurate.”

Whoosh!

Chung Myung shook his sword once.

He raised the sword and slowly put the blade back in its sheath.

Swish.

“I don’t like trading with a con man, but…”

Clack!

The sound of the sword entering the sheath echoed.

Chung Myung looked straight at Jang Il-so.

“This is the only time.”

“I appreciate that.”

Chung Myung glanced back.

“Let’s go.”

The Five Swords looked at Chung Myung, confused. They weren’t sure if they could trust Jang Il-so.

If they broke their formation and were attacked while passing through the opened path, the situation would be worse.

“I’m not an idiot. Let’s go.”

Chung Myung calmly took the lead and walked forward.

“Uh…”

The Five Swords put away their swords and hurried after him.

Chung Myung walked towards Jang Il-so without hesitation. Chung Myung’s cold eyes and Jang Il-so’s deep eyes met in the air.

As their shoulders brushed, Chung Myung said quietly.

“One debt.”

“…”

“I remembered it clearly.”

Chung Myung walked through the members of the Myriad Man House without looking back. They glared at him, but he ignored them.

The disciples of Hwasan followed him, on guard.

Baek Cheon looked back after escaping the Myriad Man House. Sweat dripped from his chin. He hadn’t swung his sword, but he felt drained.

Everyone sighed softly.

“They’re not chasing us?”

“…Are they really letting us go like this?”

“What is that guy thinking?”

He kept looking back, confused.

“Chung Myung.”

“…First of all…”

Chung Myung shook his head before Baek Cheon could speak. He gripped the clothes holding the remains tightly.

“To Hwasan.”

“…Okay.”

Chung Myung glanced back before hurrying away. He saw the members of the Myriad Man House staring at them.

Chung Myung bit his lip, looked away, and ran forward.

‘Tyrant Jang Il-so.’

He remembered that name.