Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 854

Tension showed on Baek Cheon’s face.

Across from him stood Chung Myung.

Usually, Chung Myung looked relaxed and a little annoyed when he faced Baek Cheon.

But not now.

A heavy pressure came from Chung Myung, who held his sword ready. His eyes were fixed on Baek Cheon, cold and serious.

‘Is he really serious?’

Baek Cheon steadied his quickening breath.

He didn’t think he could win, but he didn’t want to be defeated easily either.

Baek Cheon’s feet dug into the ground, trying to find purchase, and he loosened his grip on his sword slightly.

‘Give it my all!’

And then, Chung Myung moved.

Whoosh!

Before Baek Cheon could even react in surprise, he jumped into the air. It was the only way to avoid the sword energy that swept across the floor.

And in that instant.

Whoosh!

Chung Myung quickly jumped over the streaks of sword energy and attacked Baek Cheon. The sword, raised high, shone brightly in the sun.

Screeeech!

The sword came down in a single strike. Afraid the powerful sword would hit his head, Baek Cheon raised his sword and barely managed to block it above him.

But at that moment.

Just before the swords met, Chung Myung bent his wrist and pulled his sword inward.

‘What?’

In that moment, Baek Cheon saw his own sword miss Chung Myung, and Chung Myung’s sword handle coming straight for him like a hot brand.

Whoosh!

The sword handle flew towards his eyes, and soon the world seemed to darken.

Thud.

“⋯⋯.”

Tap.

Baek Cheon’s face was wet with cold sweat.

Chung Myung’s sword handle was right in front of his eyes. If he hadn’t stopped at the last moment…

Swish.

Baek Cheon watched Chung Myung put his sword away, then wiped sweat from his face with his sleeve. He bowed respectfully.

“⋯⋯I have learned well.”

“I have learned well.”

Chung Myung returned the greeting and looked at the other disciples who had been watching. Every Mount Hua disciple was around the area.

“Did you see it?”

“⋯⋯.”

“What did you feel?”

The Mount Hua disciples looked unsure. They had watched everything, but it was hard to say what they should have learned.

“That… uh… we still have a long way to go?”

Chung Myung chuckled.

“Well, that’s not wrong either.”

Chung Myung shrugged. “What I wanted to say is about the method.”

“Method?”

“Yes, method.”

Chung Myung nodded and looked at Baek Cheon. “I hate to say it myself, but your skill is outstanding. You can now be treated as a first-rate swordsman anywhere in the martial arts world.”

Baek Cheon had won against a Wudang disciple and helped fight Jang Il-so. The term ‘promising junior’ didn’t fit Baek Cheon anymore. Chung Myung’s praise was high praise.

“But is that strong?”

Chung Myung shook his head. “No, it’s not.”

It was hard to understand. Skilled, but not strong?

“There’s a key issue with traditional swordsmanship, especially in Taoist schools. For Taoists, the sword is to help understand the Tao. Fighting is not the only goal.”

Chung Myung drew his sword again.

“So, it’s not only about fighting.”

The sword was slowly drawn downwards.

“Of course, the Taoist sword also contains techniques to defeat the opponent. But it doesn’t exist solely for that purpose, like those heretics or demonic bastards. Basically, the Taoist sword is a means of cultivation.”

“Ah…”

Jo Gul nodded.

Thinking back to their practice earlier, Baek Cheon focused on the sword’s power, but Chung Myung used the plum blossom moves to distract and then attack Baek Cheon’s legs.

The same was true at the last moment when the swords clashed.

Baek Cheon had tried to compete fairly with the power of the swords, while Chung Myung had not met that power head-on and had instead aimed for Baek Cheon’s eyes with the sword hilt.

This was a technique not taught in Mount Hua.

“The real world is harsh.”

Chung Myung’s voice lowered.

Everyone knows the Mount Hua Sword is strong. But it can’t handle everything. No sword school teaches you how to fight someone who will grab your leg when you fall. Or someone who will stab you from behind, even if it means dying too.

Silence hung in the air.

The Mount Hua sword is made for training, not real battles.

Baek Cheon nodded slowly.

He understood now. Fighting Jang Il-so, he felt it clearly. He felt helpless against someone so full of hate, someone who would do anything, even die, just to hurt you.

You can’t face the Ten Thousand People Clan or the Four Evil Sects with that.

And… the Demonic Sect, which they would have to fight in the future, was the same.

Long ago, Mount Hua used their training sword style in fights. Even at the start of the war with the Demonic Sect.

But as the war went on, and they fought more and more, their sword style slowly changed. They needed to live. They needed to win. So, their swords became more about fighting and less about tradition.

If more of those old warriors had lived, the Mount Hua sword might be very different today. But sadly, or maybe luckily, that changed sword style was lost.

Then⋯⋯.

Yoon Jong opened his mouth, his face stiff.

Are you saying we have to learn that now?

Chung Myung’s face became serious when he heard that.

He’s scared.

That’s what Yoo Iseol meant.

This new sword style wasn’t really the Mount Hua sword. It was Chung Myung’s own sword, made in many real fights. It was a dangerous, untested style. Even if they taught it to future students, it might change what Mount Hua was all about.

That’s why Chung Myung had been unsure.

He had fixed some small problems in the Plum Blossom Sword style, things he had noticed. He taught them these fixes, but they were just basic things. He hadn’t taught them a sword style filled with killing intent, meant only to destroy enemies.

The old Mount Hua sword style was like that on purpose. The past leaders wanted to keep their students on the right path. They knew that even a little bit of killing intent in their swords could damage the good spirit of Mount Hua.

But now, Chung Myung was doing the opposite.

Chung Myung had worked so hard to bring back the good spirit of Mount Hua. Now, he was doing something that could hurt it.

Chung Myung bit his lip and said nothing. Then, after a long time, he slowly nodded.

Yes. We have to learn it.

But he had no choice.

If they could all become masters in three years, he wouldn’t need to teach them this dangerous sword style. If they had more time, he could slowly guide them on the true Mount Hua path for years.

But things had changed too much.

The war was coming faster than he thought. They couldn’t escape it.

Then, there was only one thing Chung Myung had to do.

‘Not to repeat the same thing.’

Mistakes can always be fixed. Even if the spirit gets weak, it can become strong again.

If they survive.

If there are people to keep the will of Mount Hua alive, then Mount Hua will find its way back to greatness. Like water always finds its path.

Chung Myung didn’t need to teach Mount Hua some deep secret he didn’t even understand himself.

He just needed to stop his friends from dying. He needed to help even one more of his fellow students survive.

Practical swordsmanship⋯⋯.

Baek Cheon said with a strange smile.

That sounds fun!

Chung Myung said seriously.

Don’t take it lightly. Practical swordsmanship is called that for a reason. You can’t learn it just by practicing with a sword. You’ll probably wish you were just stabbed on a battlefield instead.

Then it will be even more fun!

Baek Cheon raised his sword.

No need to talk anymore. I’m ready. Let’s just start practicing now, okay?

Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon without speaking.

Baek Cheon had just lost badly. He must have been terrified when the sword came right at his eyes. Chung Myung had done that on purpose.

But now, Baek Cheon’s eyes showed no fear at all.

⋯⋯.

The corners of Chung Myung’s lips curled up slightly.

‘Maybe I was worried for nothing.’

He understood again.

They weren’t like him.

Even if Chung Myung had learned a dark, dangerous sword style to survive, they didn’t have to be the same.

They were more like true monks than Chung Myung. They followed the right path better than he did.

He was wrong to worry so much about making a bad choice for Mount Hua. It was arrogant of him to think that way.

The future of Mount Hua was up to all of them, not just him.

So, what should I do?

⋯⋯Well, it’s simple.

Chung Myung chuckled at Baek Cheon’s question.

Just die about a hundred times today.

⋯⋯.

Then you’ll swing your sword desperately even if you want to live.

He scraped the floor with his sword, and Chung Myung glared at Baek Cheon with a devilish face.

It’s easy to talk with your mouth. Shall we see if you can put it into practice with your body?

Try it, you bastard.

Just don’t piss your pants!

Chung Myung rushed in, showing violent killing intent.

A small smile stayed on his lips.