Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 845

The sword moved fast, like light. It was also smooth and graceful. It was like the wind had become a sharp blade.

But the sword was dangerous not because of its speed or grace, but because of the strong killing intent it carried.

Clang!

The sword hit Chung Myung’s sword and bounced away. But the plum blossom sword changed direction smoothly, as if it expected that, and sent dozens of sword energies into the air.

Chung Myung frowned.

A sword is felt at the fingertips. But sword energy has left the fingertips. That’s why you can’t spar with archery, because you can’t control an arrow after it leaves the bow.

Using sword energy right away is like saying, “I will win no matter what, even if I hurt you badly.”

“What is this…?!”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth and swung his sword. He made dozens of sword shadows in the air, breaking the red sword energies one by one.

“What on earth are you trying to do?!”

Chung Myung was not angry about her killing intent or the cruel sword energy. What truly angered him was Yoo Iseol’s look, glaring at him from behind that sword energy.

That emotionless but disapproving look.

Whoosh!

Yoo Iseol jumped up from the ground.

Chung Myung’s face darkened. He had told her many times that jumping into the air was a bad habit. When you are in the air, you can’t move as freely as on the ground. There’s no need to limit your own movements.

Swish!

Yoo Iseol’s sword, swung in the air, created dozens of plum blossoms. Not too many, just enough to hide her body.

But just because there weren’t many didn’t mean they weren’t dangerous.

Each petal, fluttering in the air, was aimed at Chung Myung.

Whoosh!

From inside the petals, a sword with red sword energy shot out like a viper, ready to bite Chung Myung. Like a viper attacking someone from a plum tree branch full of blossoms!

The sword, flying without stopping, went straight for Chung Myung’s throat.

Clang!

Chung Myung angled his sword, pushing her blade to the side. At the same time, he jumped back, dodging the petals.

But Yoo Iseol didn’t want to let him go so easily.

Tap!

She kicked off the ground and chased Chung Myung, who was trying to get away. She gracefully slashed across the air as if painting orchids on white paper.

“Hmm.”

This time, Chung Myung’s sword touched the side of Yoo Iseol’s sword, pushing it slightly away. With just that small movement, he changed the sword’s path.

Whoosh!

Yoo Iseol’s sword barely missed Chung Myung’s head.

Because of that, Chung Myung’s foot hit her exposed side.

Thwack!

The hit hurt her deeply. But as soon as she was hit, Yoo Iseol leaned forward. This lessened the force of the blow. Then, she attacked again, swinging her sword down.

Chung Myung moved to the side.

Clang!

The sword, with great force, left a mark on the ground. Such a sword strike, always aimed at the opponent even while hurt, would never happen in a spar between fellow disciples.

“Haaah!”

Yoo Iseol shouted loudly, something she rarely did. At the same time, her sword sent out storm-like sword energy. The sword energy, carrying strong internal energy as if to destroy everything, rushed toward Chung Myung.

The red sword energy made by Yoo Iseol decorated the black night.

Crack!

Suddenly, strength filled Chung Myung’s hand, gripping the sword. A strong energy, different from before, filled his eyes.

Kwaaaang!

The sword energy couldn’t break through the fiercely swung Dark Plum Sword and was stopped. But then, Yoo Iseol’s sword shook violently in the air again.

The sword, blurred so it was hard to see, created red plum blossoms in the air. They quickly multiplied, turning into dozens of blossoms.

Plum Blossom Multiplication (梅花漸漸).

The plum blossoms made by Yoo Iseol scattered with the wind. The flower petals, flying like illusions, targeted Chung Myung’s whole body.

Deadly flowers.

This was the first time Chung Myung had seen the Plum Blossom Sword Technique coming at him with such killing intent. He smirked.

Whoosh.

He swung his sword once, adjusted his grip, and moved slowly.

And then.

Paaaaang!

His sword was drawn diagonally.

A red line appeared among the flower petals that were flying in with great force. The flower petals that touched the line broke apart, creating a large opening.

Bang!

Chung Myung kicked off the ground with great force and went into that opening like a ray of light.

Yoo Iseol, as if she expected this, rushed toward Chung Myung. She swung her sword at his neck with a speed that was too fast to see.

But this time, Chung Myung didn’t dodge or block that sword.

Kwaaaang!

Chung Myung’s sword, with great force, hit Yoo Iseol’s sword head-on. Red blood came out of Yoo Iseol’s mouth.

Thwack!

Chung Myung knocked her sword away and slammed his shoulder into her stomach. Yoo Iseol’s body flew and fell like a kicked stone.

Thud!

Looking at the fallen Yoo Iseol, Chung Myung took a breath and said quietly.

“The joke went too far.”

He couldn’t allow her to use killing intent and deadly moves against a fellow disciple. Of course, he knew that she couldn’t beat Chung Myung even if she did that, but it was still wrong.

Yoo Iseol used her sword to help herself stand up.

Her face, already pale in the moonlight, became even whiter. Red blood was flowing from the corner of her mouth.

“Joke…” Yoo Iseol whispered. Her face was blank again, showing no emotion. She looked closely at Chung Myung. Then, she asked softly, “How is it?”

“What?” Chung Myung asked, confused. *What does she mean, ‘How is it?’ Is she asking about her sword? Or… about herself?*

“Me,” Yoo Iseol repeated, her voice barely louder than a breath.

Chung Myung sighed. He still didn’t fully understand, but he tried to answer honestly. “…Your sword is light, yes. But if you get stronger to fix that, it’s amazing. Honestly, you’re better than anyone else your age. It’s incredible.”

“How is it?”

But she asked the same question again, her eyes fixed on him. It was like she hadn’t even heard his praise.

Chung Myung frowned slightly and looked at Yoo Iseol. Since he didn’t answer, Yoo Iseol spoke first.

“Weak.”

“…”

“Terribly.”

Chung Myung bit his lip at her calm voice.

He could tell that these weren’t just words spoken out of pride.

“I said it, we are your sword.”

He seemed to have said those words when fighting Jang Ilso.

“Really? We are?”

“…”

Yoo Iseol shook her head.

“You fought better, even more so when we weren’t there. At that time, we were just in the way. Annoying… You had to protect us even while fighting.”

“Sago.”

“Isn’t it?”

Yoo Iseol’s eyes, staring straight at Chung Myung, were dark.

“In this fight, I couldn’t do anything.”

“That’s because…”

It was a battle that wasn’t right for Sago’s level yet.

But Chung Myung couldn’t say those words, because he knew how humiliating they would sound to a swordmaster.

Besides…

“Sago is getting stronger quickly enough. Too quickly.”

This was Chung Myung’s true feeling, without any lies or hiding anything.

They were already stronger than the Plum Blossom Sword Saint was at that age. Compared to the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, who had to find his own way, they had a much better start.

It’s just that they can’t show their full strength because they can’t use all their power.

But Yoo Iseol didn’t accept it easily.

“It’s not enough.”

“Hey, wanting too much too fast isn’t healthy, you know?”

Yoo Iseol stared intently at Chung Myung.

Chung Myung sighed as he met her gaze. Even though they had been together for a long time, Chung Myung still found it hard to guess what this emotionless Sago was thinking.

“Then when will I get stronger?”

“…”

“In the distant future? Relaxing in the Hwasan you created while bleeding and suffering?”

Chung Myung was silent, as if his lips were frozen.

Sreung.

Yoo Iseol took her sword and put it back in its scabbard.

“That’s meaningless.”

“…”

“A famous sword that can’t be used when needed is worse than a dull knife that is used when it’s needed. That’s just a showpiece.”

Yoo Iseol looked at Chung Myung with a blank face and asked.

“Why are you scared?”

“Scared?”

“Why don’t you teach us?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I…”

“You didn’t teach us the sword techniques.”

Chung Myung frowned.

“What are you talking about? The Plum Blossom Sword Technique, the Plum Blossom Sword Style…”

“Then.”

Yoo Iseol cut off Chung Myung’s words, as if she didn’t want to hear the obvious.

“Why are the swords you use and the swords we use different?”

“…”

Chung Myung closed his mouth, because he knew that Yoo Iseol was right.

“I learned how to fight, how not to lose hope, how to face it, but…” She slowly shook her head. “Not the sword.”

“…”

Chung Myung knew what she meant.

Even if it’s the same Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Chung Myung’s sword and their swords are different. His sword is one that he has learned and made his own in real fights. So, it is more deadly and cruel.

But their sword technique is connected to the original form of Hwasan’s Plum Blossom Sword Technique, even though they have made it more practical.

That’s why Chung Myung didn’t change the direction of the sword technique even while pushing them hard.

“You never gave us what you had.”

“…It’s not that I didn’t give it.”

“I want to bloom plum blossoms.”

“…”

“Not picture-like plum blossoms, but living plum blossoms.”

Yoo Iseol looked at the distant night sky. After looking at the night sky, she stared at Chung Myung again with clear eyes.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Why you’re scared.”

Chung Myung’s eyes turned fierce.

Seeing Chung Myung’s reaction, Yoo Iseol sighed.

“We are just us. I don’t know what you want from us.”

“…”

Chung Myung was silent for a moment. Then, just as he was about to say something, Yoo Iseol spoke first.

“Sorry.”

She apologized to Chung Myung and lowered her head slightly.

“People have their own reasons. I know, I do too.”

“…”

“…But if you don’t help me, I’ll do it alone. I don’t want to be a famous sword that shines alone after the war is over. That’s a worthless showpiece. What I want is a real sword. A real sword that is needed, even if the blade is chipped and cracked.”

Her voice showed a strong will.

“Next time, things will be different. I’ll protect you, because I’m your Sago.”

With those words, Yoo Iseol turned and walked away from Chung Myung without looking back.

A complex look flashed across Chung Myung’s face as he stared at her back.

For a long time, he stared silently in the direction she had gone, then bit his lip.

“…Scared?”

Me?

He laughed weakly. No, he tried to laugh weakly.

But no matter how hard he tried, no laughter came out.

Even when he looked up at the sky, Cheong Mun didn’t let him hear his voice today.

Only the sound of the river flowing and the low sound of insects could be heard.