Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 974

No strategist can turn the tide of a battle once it’s collapsing. If they could, strategists throughout history would have figured out how to escape with the least amount of loss. It’s basic military knowledge.

But this is Kangho. Here, things that go beyond regular military planning matter.

Boom!

The Black Dragon King took a step forward.

It was just one step, but to everyone watching, it felt like the Black Dragon King was crushing the ground beneath him.

His presence was overwhelming and intimidating.

He showed everyone what it truly meant to be an ‘absolute master’.

The battlefield, which had been swirling like a stormy sea, suddenly froze.

The bandits, the Tang family, even the Mount Hua disciples could only stare, as if hypnotized, at the Black Dragon King walking across the blood-soaked land.

He looked like a god coming down from the sky. But the words that came out of his mouth were definitely not those of a god.

“…You brainless fools.”

The moment his angry voice rang out, the bandits all flinched.

Just by being there, an absolute master can change the whole battle.

Surochae was just a group of thugs before the Black Dragon King. But as soon as the Black Dragon King joined them, they became part of the powerful Shinju Opae group and a key part of the Janggang Suro Eighteen Forts, one of the Four Evil Alliances.

“Hmph!”

The Black Dragon King glanced at his men as if they were bugs, then turned his attention to Mount Hua.

“These little punks… they dare to…”

Thud!

He stomped his foot as if to crush the ground.

“Daring to cause trouble in front of me without any fear?”

He sounded like a common bully.

But the Black Dragon King proved that it’s not the tone of voice that makes words important, but the person speaking.

His voice was like a thunderclap, shaking the air and making their ears ring.

The Mount Hua swordsmen flinched and gripped their swords tightly as his crescent blade waved menacingly.

They couldn’t even hear what he was saying.

All they could feel was the terrifying aura coming from the Black Dragon King.

‘Black Dragon King.’

Yoon Jong gritted his teeth.

He had seen the Black Dragon King before. But he had been too focused on Jang Il-so and the Maninbang to really notice the Black Dragon King.

Now, seeing the Black Dragon King clearly, he felt… what was the word?

‘Crude.’

He felt an indescribable sense of something being wrong.

People who use swords usually have respect for the strong.

Those who train hard every day, climbing the steep mountain of martial arts, naturally respect those who are stronger than them.

Because they can imagine the effort and sweat it took to reach that level of skill. That’s why they secretly hope that absolute masters will have at least some dignity.

But…

‘No.’

The Black Dragon King was different.

He didn’t have even the smallest amount of dignity that absolute masters should have. He was just an intimidating figure, more like a thug who thought he could do anything with his power.

Yoon Jong realized something again.

How scary someone who ignores morals and laws can be.

He showed off his power without hesitation and easily intimidated others. That violent recklessness made Yoon Jong feel sick.

At the same time, he understood why that man could control so many bandits just by being there.

“So, you’ve been causing trouble, huh?”

The Black Dragon King sneered, shouting as if spitting fire.

“I’ll make you regret stepping foot on this island! I’ll tear you all apart and throw you to the fish!”

Grrr.

Baek Cheon, using his sword to support himself, stood up.

“Tuh!”

He spat out the blood in his mouth and glared at the Black Dragon King with murderous eyes.

“At least if you’re the leader of a sect…”

His voice was sharp.

“You should know how to protect those who follow you, you son of a bitch!”

Namgung Dowi risked everything to save his family, even though he was still just the young master. He didn’t even hesitate to jump into the river.

But the leader of Surochae was attacking his own men from behind?

Baek Cheon could never forgive that. He felt a burning anger.

He fought them because they were evil, and he helped the Namgung family because they were in danger. To be honest, he was angry at Jang Il-so, not the Black Dragon King.

But now that he had seen such an unfair thing, Baek Cheon could never forgive the Black Dragon King.

“Hahahahaha!”

The Black Dragon King laughed loudly and looked at Baek Cheon.

“Yes. There have been many like you. Guys who say righteous things in front of me.”

He spoke slowly, but his intense voice and energy still felt intimidating.

“What do you think happened to those guys?”

“This…”

Baek Cheon bit his lip, refusing to be pushed back by the Black Dragon King’s energy.

“They were all thrown into that river. That idiot with the Emperor Sword, or whatever it was, is the same.”

The Namgung family survivors glared at him with bloodshot eyes when he mentioned Namgung Hwang’s name. They were grinding their teeth. They looked like they wanted to attack the Black Dragon King right then and there.

But even with that anger, they couldn’t move. They knew that attacking the Black Dragon King in anger would be pointless and would only dishonor the last moments of their family head, who had tried to protect them.

“Dogs who don’t know how scary the world is bark as they please. Come on, you bratty Taoist. I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

Tang Gunak frowned slightly.

‘This isn’t good.’

To be honest, their situation wasn’t good. They had jumped onto this island and were now surrounded.

If they had kept their momentum going, it would have been different, but now that they had stopped because of the Black Dragon King, all that was left was a desperate fight.

There was only one way to get back on track.

‘Should I step forward?’

Mount Hua was already carrying a heavy burden. They had become surprisingly strong, but facing the Black Dragon King alone was another matter.

Especially in a battle like this where they couldn’t afford to lose.

What were his chances of winning?

He didn’t know.

The result of a fight between those who had reached a certain level could only be known by fighting. All you could gain was either glory or death.

Tang Gunak made up his mind. His martial arts were not yet perfect. Because of the Tang family’s martial arts, which were weak in one-on-one fights, a battle with someone like the Black Dragon King would be difficult.

But now was the time for him to step forward. The head of the Great Sichuan Tang Family couldn’t back down in this situation.

He was about to step forward when he heard a voice.

“Ah, these days, these little brats….”

Tang Gunak quickly turned his head.

Chung Myung was slowly stepping forward, a sword glowing blue over his shoulder.

“The Sword Saint of Mount Hua.”

“I’ve been wondering for a while now.”

He walked casually and stood in front of Baek Cheon.

“Why do they all talk so much? Things that aren’t even important?”

“Che, Chung Myung-ah.”

“⋯⋯.”

Baek Cheon stared at Chung Myung’s back, speechless.

Who would dare to say such a thing to the Black Dragon King’s face? Not even the Buddhist monk of Shaolin or Jang Il-so of the Four Evil Alliances could say that.

‘But this guy can do it.’

Because it’s Chung Myung.

Yes, because it’s Chung Myung.

It seemed that even the Black Dragon King had heard of this guy.

The Black Dragon King stared at Chung Myung and said,

“That’s a face I remember. Yes, you’re definitely that Sword Saint of Mount Hua.”

“Oh, I know you too. You’re that Black Dragon King.”

“⋯⋯.”

The Black Dragon King seemed speechless for a moment, then burst out laughing.

“Hahahahaha!”

After laughing for a while, he shook his head, then suddenly changed his expression and twisted his face.

“Brat. Hiding your fear with lies isn’t a bad idea, but it won’t work on me. But don’t worry. Once your head is cut off and thrown into that river, you can hide your piss-soaked pants.”

The Black Dragon King growled. Then Chung Myung chuckled.

“The world has become a really good place.”

“⋯⋯What?”

“An evil bastard is talking big in front of me, too.”

The Black Dragon King looked confused.

After becoming the leader of Surochae and being called the Black Dragon King… No, even before that.

Had anyone ever said such a thing to him, even once?

“This….”

The Black Dragon King’s eyes began to gleam with anger.

“This… You don’t know your place, do you? You think you’re a big deal just because you hung out with that Mr. Jang Il-so in the Janggang.”

“You shouldn’t talk about other people’s embarrassing pasts. I still kick my blanket at night when I think about that time, you bastard.”

“⋯⋯What did you say?”

Crack. Crack.

Chung Myung twisted his neck from side to side. He seemed annoyed to be reminded of a bad memory.

“The more I think about it, the less I can stand it.”

Then he chuckled as if he was being ridiculous.

“The sight of things that aren’t even important causing trouble, too.”

“⋯⋯.”

“And me having to watch that sight, too.”

Chung Myung showed his teeth.

Mount Hua had proven how strong they had become today on this Janggang River. The world would hear about it from everyone.

So, now it was Chung Myung’s turn to show what he had achieved over the past three years.

“The jokes end here.”

The Black Dragon King showed his anger and took heavy steps towards Chung Myung. Black energy flowed like ink from his crescent blade.

“It doesn’t matter if you all attack me at once. I’ll show you why they call me the Black Dragon King!”

Suddenly, an enormous force exploded from his body.

Everyone’s faces turned pale. The bandits couldn’t even lift their heads because of the pressure, and they ran away.

Whether he had dignity or not, he was definitely strong. It was like he was the embodiment of power.

Everyone was terrified.

Except for one person.

“Are all evil bastards stupid? They can’t understand what I’m saying.”

Chung Myung casually flicked the sword over his shoulder, facing the Black Dragon King.

“It might be too much for an evil bastard, but I’ll give you a lesson.”

His lips twisted, showing sharp fangs like a wolf.

“Know that it’s an honor, you brat.”

Chung Myung slowly lowered his sword and pointed it at the Black Dragon King, who was giving off a terrifying aura.