Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 770

“C-Chief….”

“Uh-oh….”

The bandits watched the Black Fin Pike break in half and die. They couldn’t believe what they saw. Their eyes widened in disbelief.

They feared the Black Fin Pike because of his violent nature. But they also respected him as their chief because of his skills.

But now, the Black Fin Pike was dead, torn in two without even using his strength.

“Th-this….”

Despair filled the bandits.

Their chief was dead, and powerful enemies surrounded them. They felt utter defeat was inevitable.

‘I have to escape somehow….’

Im So-byeong, like a cunning fox, saw their hesitation.

“Fire!”

Arrows flew from the cliff again, like a sudden rain. It seemed they had brought more arrows while they waited, because there were so many.

“Fire! Fire more! Fill the ground with arrows!”

Im So-byeong chuckled happily.

For a military strategist, attacking the enemy without being attacked back is like finding a gold mine.

Im So-byeong didn’t want to waste this chance.

“Fire! Fire more! Good job! Turn them into mincemeat!”

Encouraged by Im So-byeong, the archers kept pulling their bowstrings until their arms ached. These were iron bows made for martial artists. Even strong people struggled to pull them, but the archers kept shooting.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Dodge! You’ll die!”

They knew they had to dodge, but how could they avoid the arrows pouring down like a rainstorm? Rain only makes you wet, but these arrows pierced their bodies.

“Cough!”

“Ugh!”

One bandit was hit in the neck and fell without even closing his eyes. The arrows quickly turned his body into a hedgehog.

“Eek!”

Fear crept into the eyes of the bandits as they swung their harpoons to block the arrows. At this rate, they would all die.

“Hahaha! These pathetic fools are scared… Ack! You idiots, can’t you shoot straight? I almost died…!”

Beon Chung dodged an arrow and glared at the cliff. But when he saw Im So-byeong, he flinched and lowered his head slightly.

“Ooh!”

Boom!

He shouted, knocking away the bandit in front of him.

“This is the order of the Green Forest King! Don’t let anyone live!”

“Yes!”

Just when the bandits were getting more excited and trying to kill everyone…

“Stooooop!”

A loud voice boomed. Everyone stopped and looked in surprise at the source of the voice, which was filled with inner strength.

“Tsk.”

Of course, it was Cheong-myeong.

He looked up at Im So-byeong on the cliff and shouted.

“Hey, stop shooting! They’re all going to die!”

“Shouldn’t we kill them all?”

Im So-byeong muttered, “Look at his personality.”

“…No, uh… no…. That’s….”

Im So-byeong’s face twisted in despair.

The Hwasan disciples saw his face and understood how he felt. They closed their eyes.

‘I don’t want to hear those words.’

‘Especially not from that guy.’

‘I’d rather be insulted.’

Cheong-myeong clicked his tongue and added, “It’s already over, why kill these precious slaves… No, precious lives!”

Im So-byeong was about to argue, but Cheong-myeong ignored him and looked at the bandits.

The bandits, wounded by the arrows, looked at Cheong-myeong with a mix of despair and hope.

“I’ll spare anyone who throws away their weapons and surrenders.”

“R-really?”

“Have you only been tricked your whole lives? I’m a Taoist, a Taoist!”

Baek Cheon covered his face, feeling miserable.

‘He’s only a Taoist when he needs to be, that damned bastard.’

He thought that the Primordial Celestial Lord and the Supreme Old Lord must not exist. If they did, they wouldn’t leave that devil alone.

“Not throwing away your harpoons? Huh! Should I stab you all with them!”

The bandits looked at Cheong-myeong with fear.

They were bandits, after all.

They had never heard of bandits surviving after being defeated. Bandits usually get their heads cut off as soon as they’re caught.

But….

‘Damn it, isn’t dying the same anyway?’

‘No, but still, isn’t it better to resist and die….’

‘What should I do?’

Just then…

“Amitabha.”

Hye-yeon put his palms together and said calmly, “I promise that anyone who throws away their weapons and surrenders will not be killed.”

The monk’s kind words made them trust him.

Besides…

“We are disciples of the Hwasan Sect. We also promise to spare your lives.”

When Baek Cheon spoke up, the bandits’ faces brightened. People judge credibility by appearance. Baek Cheon looked like he had everything, so his words were believable.

“I will surrender.”

“I surrender!”

“Please save me!”

Everyone threw away their weapons and surrendered.

But Cheong-myeong didn’t seem happy. Instead, he raged as if he was angry.

“Are you making fun of me? You didn’t even listen when I spoke! Hey, this won’t do. Pick up your harpoons again! Let’s all die today!”

“Stop him! Grab him!”

At Baek Cheon’s shout, Yu Yiseol and Tang Soso quickly grabbed Cheong-myeong.

Tang Soso held his waist, and Yu Yiseol tapped his head.

“Sect Brother! Please be patient! You promised!”

“Punishment.”

“No, those bastards!”

“I got it! I said I got it!”

“Punishment.”

Every time Cheong-myeong growled and tried to charge forward, the bandits backed away.

Baek Cheon shook his head at the chaos.

“Uncle, shouldn’t we start organizing things?”

“…I should.”

Baek Cheon sighed and muttered to himself.

‘It’s a scene I see all the time.’

He realized how hard it was to deal with this situation consistently.

The bandits knelt in a line, tied up with thick ropes like animals being led to market.

Ropes wouldn’t stop martial artists, but it was different when they were surrounded by bandits with sharp weapons.

“Ha….”

“Tsk.”

The bandits looked at them with dissatisfied faces and clicked their tongues. They looked ready to cut off their heads if they had permission.

The captured bandits were scared. Their legs were numb, and they couldn’t even lift their heads.

“What are you going to do with these guys?”

Im So-byeong clicked his tongue, looking annoyed. Baek Cheon chuckled.

“We can’t kill them all. That’s not right.”

“It’s easy. We can just throw them over the Yangtze River while they’re tied up.”

Im So-byeong pointed to the Yangtze River, and Baek Cheon shuddered. He thought Im So-byeong might actually do it.

He seemed like a sly scholar, but he was the Green Forest King.

“Cheong-myeong must have a plan.”

“Hmm.”

Just then…

“There isn’t!”

“There’s only money and treasure in the warehouse! I don’t see any people.”

“Yes! Only treasures….”

“Ehehe!”

Im So-byeong and Baek Cheon looked at Cheong-myeong with strange eyes.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Cheong-myeong coughed.

“There’s just grain and money piled up like mountains….”

“Giggle!”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Baek Cheon stared at Cheong-myeong with dead eyes and muttered, “Is he that happy….”

“Even though he has a lot of money.”

“Hey, shut up! So, money… Ahem! Money and treasure… There’s only grain! Rare treasures and exotic herbs! All kinds of medicinal ingredients and spiritual pills!”

“…There’s nothing like that, you bastard.”

“Hey!”

Cheong-myeong turned away, angry for no reason. He pushed the bandits aside and walked into their group.

He grabbed the collar of the bandit who was bowing the lowest.

“Look at this bastard bowing his head?”

“H-Heek!”

“Why? You think I wouldn’t notice? Do you think my eyes are just peepholes, you bastard?”

“P-Please save me!”

“Come out!”

He dragged the bandit out and threw him to the ground.

“Aaargh!”

Jo Seung screamed and looked up at Cheong-myeong with fear.

Wham!

Cheong-myeong punched the ground next to Jo Seung’s face, leaving a deep footprint. If he had hit his face, it would have been terrible.

Cheong-myeong grabbed Jo Seung’s collar again, lifted him up, and shouted, “What did you do to the people, you bastard?”

“P-Please save me, Great Hero! I didn’t do anything…!”

“This bastard isn’t making any sense?”

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!

Cheong-myeong slapped Jo Seung’s cheeks.

“Wake up, you bastard! Wake up! Haven’t you heard that you can live if you wake up, even if you’re bitten by a tiger? Huh?”

Baek Cheon closed his eyes. ‘It’s better to be bitten by a tiger than by you. You won’t spare me even if I wake up….’

Jo Seung cried, his cheeks swollen.

“I-I don’t know.”

“What? Speak properly, you bastard?”

Jo Seung started getting hit again. Baek Cheon turned away. Im So-byeong clapped and muttered, “Wow… He hits hard. Bandits should learn from that. Tsk tsk tsk. Losing to a Taoist in this area is a disgrace to bandit pride.”

‘…Is he making fun of me?’ Baek Cheon glared.

Slaaaap!

“Tell me properly. What did you say?”

“I, I don’t know!”

Jo Seung cried.

“We have never captured people. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll say anything, so please save me!”

“You don’t know?”

“Yes! I swear I’ve never done anything like that!”

“Then what’s that ship for? Why did you bring it?”

“Th-That’s because those people resisted. I was going to bring them to the base first… I was going to release the civilians! If we were really trafficking people, would we have been able to do business until now? We can’t do things like that carelessly!”

“…You’re saying you’re not?”

“Yes!”

Cheong-myeong tilted his head.

“Really?”

“I-If I’m lying, you can kill me! I swear it’s true!”

“Oh… Is that what you’re saying?”

Cheong-myeong let go of his collar and slowly turned his head.

Baek Cheon avoided Cheong-myeong’s gaze and looked at the mountains, wishing he could disappear.

“Uncle.”

“….”

“They say they’re not here?”

“….”

A suffocating silence fell between them.

“Then….”

“….”

“Why the hell were we fighting to the death here?”

“…Cheong-myeong.”

“Huh?”

“…Just hit me instead.”

“…”

Baek Cheon sighed. He looked at Cheong-myeong, then at the tied-up bandits, then back at the mountains. *Sometimes*, he thought, *being a Taoist was more trouble than it was worth.* It was the first time since leaving Hwasan that Baek Cheon had the thought of wanting to disappear completely.