Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 98

The difference between them was clear from the start.

Jin Geum-ryong had been called a prodigy since he was young. Baek Cheon knew many people, but Jin Geum-ryong deserved the title of ‘genius’ the most.

Baek Cheon had lost before.

Baek Cheon had never beaten Jin Geum-ryong, not at the last Hwajong Assembly, nor any time before that. He only knew the bitterness of complete defeat.

But…

‘I thought I would have gotten closer to him.’

He had tried so hard.

Chung Myung had said his efforts weren’t enough, but Baek Cheon had trained hard, pushing himself to the limit. He was sure he had trained at least twice as much as Jin Geum-ryong.

So, he believed that even if he couldn’t win, he would have at least narrowed the gap.

But reality is always worse than you imagine.

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Jin Geum-ryong’s sword hit Baek Cheon’s ankle. Baek Cheon stumbled, trying to keep his balance and gritting his teeth.

If it had been a real sword, his ankle would have been cut off. It was only a wooden sword, so it wasn’t that bad.

But because it wasn’t a real sword, he couldn’t even accept losing.

‘Why can’t I even reach him?’

Why!

I tried so hard!

Thwack!

Jin Geum-ryong’s sword struck Baek Cheon’s other thigh.

The hit felt like it would break his bones. His mind went blank for a moment, but he didn’t even groan or scream. Instead, he slammed his wooden sword into the ground and used the force to jump forward.

“Aaaargh!”

His sword came down, aimed at Jin Geum-ryong’s head. It was a simple strike, nothing fancy. But it was fast and sharp.

“Slow.”

Jin Geum-ryong simply stepped to the side and twisted his body, completely stopping Baek Cheon’s attack.

Thwack!

Jin Geum-ryong’s sword hit Baek Cheon’s left shoulder.

His skin tore, and blood spurted out.

“Ugh.”

One more hit would end the fight. But Jin Geum-ryong stepped back instead.

Then, with a very arrogant look, he looked down at Baek Cheon.

“Ugh…”

Baek Cheon used one hand to push himself up, somehow standing again.

…

His eyes were bloodshot.

His eyes were filled with pain, but he hadn’t lost his will to fight. He glared at Jin Geum-ryong.

“Oh?”

Jin Geum-ryong looked at Baek Cheon as if surprised.

“A guy who can barely stand still still wants to fight.”

Jin Geum-ryong raised his sword and pointed it at Baek Cheon.

“But that’s all you have. You’ll never even touch my clothes.”

“…Why?”

“You’re really slow. I’ve told you so many times.”

Jin Geum-ryong looked around and said,

“It means Mount Hua is far behind Jongnam. Mount Hua’s skills can’t compare to Jongnam’s. Not in a hundred years! Not in a thousand years!”

It was a very arrogant statement.

But no one could argue with Jin Geum-ryong. Even the Mount Hua disciples, who heard his arrogant words, could only bite their lips, unable to shout in anger.

Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly as he watched.

‘How much more must we take?’

Who would understand his position? A second-generation disciple dared to say such arrogant things in front of the leader of a sect, but he couldn’t even punish him.

‘Ancestors.’

Forgive my sins.

But Jin Geum-ryong didn’t stop being arrogant.

He smiled at Baek Cheon.

“If you want to catch up to me, leave Mount Hua now. There’s no future here. All that’s left for a ruined sect is to be laughed at.”

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth.

“I am… a disciple of Mount Hua.”

“Great. That’s how a man should be. However…”

Jin Geum-ryong raised his sword and charged at Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon tried to block the sword, but his arms wouldn’t move.

Thwack! Thwack thwack thwack!

Like hitting a large drum, Baek Cheon was hit more than ten times and finally collapsed.

Thud.

Jin Geum-ryong looked at the unconscious Baek Cheon, twisted his lips, and smiled.

“I wasn’t planning to be easy on you. Ah, I guess I should have said that sooner?”

With a bitter smile, Jin Geum-ryong picked up his wooden sword. He stepped over Baek Cheon and walked back to his camp.

Defeat.

It was a complete defeat, with nothing to compare it to.

“Senior Brother!”

“Sasuk!”

The Mount Hua disciples rushed onto the training ground.

“S-Sasuk!”

“Don’t touch him!”

…

Baek Sang carefully held the unconscious Baek Cheon and lowered his head. Then, with a twisted face, he shouted.

“This is too much!”

Jin Geum-ryong turned his head and looked at Baek Sang.

“What’s too much?”

“This is sparring! There’s no rule that says you can hurt your opponent this badly in sparring!”

“Sparring… So, isn’t it lucky that it ended here?”

“…What?”

Jin Geum-ryong smiled mockingly.

“If I had a real sword, what do you think would have happened to him?”

…

“He’s alive because it was sparring. Right?”

“How can you be so cruel…”

“Don’t be angry.”

…

Jin Geum-ryong chuckled and said,

“I was surprised too. I didn’t think he was so weak. I thought he could at least block a little. I’m sorry about that.”

Baek Sang bit his lip until it bled.

A complete defeat.

And mockery that went too far.

His heart was breaking, and his blood was boiling. He wanted to drag that guy out and tear him apart.

But Baek Sang couldn’t do anything.

“Take Senior Brother to the medical hall! Now!”

“Yes!”

As the younger disciples carried Baek Cheon away, Baek Sang drew his wooden sword.

“Let’s see how good that Jongnam sword is!”

“Of course. Seo Han.”

“Yes! Senior Brother!”

“Fight him.”

“Understood!”

Jong Seo-han smirked and stepped onto the training ground.

Baek Sang gripped his wooden sword so hard it might break as he watched Jong Seo-han walk out.

The sparring ground was becoming more intense, but the spectators were friendly.

“Truly excellent.”

“Baek Cheon was stronger than I thought. But Jin Geum-ryong is even better than expected.”

“He deserves to be called the best talent in Shaanxi. And Jongnam, with a disciple like him, deserves to be the best sect in Shaanxi, don’t you think?”

“Indeed. Haha!”

Hwang Mun-yak’s face hardened.

‘That’s how merchants are.’

Is this hatred of one’s own kind?

One person was being carried away, badly hurt, but no one cared. Even after seeing the harsh actions in the sparring match, no one blamed them.

It seemed normal to them.

They only cared about Jin Geum-ryong and Jongnam’s power and how to use money to their advantage.

Hwang Mun-yak was no different, but he was disgusted by them.

‘This defeat is too sad.’

Baek Cheon and Jin Geum-ryong.

They represented Mount Hua and Jongnam, but the result was so one-sided it was embarrassing.

Baek Cheon couldn’t even touch Jin Geum-ryong’s clothes.

If the Hwajong Assembly continued like this, Mount Hua wouldn’t be able to regain its reputation, no matter what.

No, it would probably get worse. No one would respect Mount Hua.

No matter how much money Hwang Mun-yak spent, it wouldn’t change anything. It was a death sentence.

‘Little Taoist, what are you thinking?’

He confidently gathered people and started this, so I thought he had a plan. But now, I’m starting to doubt it.

‘Did I think too highly of Little Taoist?’

Hwang Mun-yak stared at Chung Myung.

“…Is Sasuk okay?”

“He’s not okay.”

“Is he badly hurt?”

“He’s badly hurt.”

…

Yoon Jong was angry at Chung Myung’s uncaring reaction and said,

“Even if you don’t like him, he’s still your Sasuk. He lost badly, and you don’t care?”

“Calm down, Sahyung.”

“You!”

“I said calm down.”

Yoon Jong opened his eyes at Chung Myung’s low voice. It was different from his usual reaction.

“Did you think he would win?”

…

Yoon Jong bit his lip.

He didn’t expect him to win. But… he thought he would at least do better. Baek Cheon is a talented disciple who carries Mount Hua’s hopes.

Yoon Jong was upset because Baek Cheon was defeated so badly.

‘Is Jongnam that much better?’

The Nine Great Sects were famous, but the Mount Hua disciples didn’t think they were that great. They used to be one of the Nine Great Sects.

Even though they had fallen, they believed they could compete with those sects again if they worked hard and got lucky.

But the Nine Great Sects were much stronger than they thought.

Chung Myung chuckled.

“If you could achieve anything by trying hard, everyone would be a master. It’s not just about trying hard, it’s about how you try hard.”

…

“Look. Watch closely. All the second-generation disciples will lose.”

“All of them?”

“No one will win. Well, there’s one person, but… he’s not going to fight.”

Yoon Jong’s face hardened.

The second-generation disciples had 2 draws and 8 losses at the last Hwajong Assembly.

It was a terrible result.

So, you’re saying they won’t even draw this time?

“…So, we’re losing like this.”

So badly.

But then, Chung Myung opened his eyes wide and looked at Yoon Jong.

“Lose? Who’s losing?”

“Huh? Did you just say…”

“I’m talking about the second-generation disciples!”

…

Chung Myung rolled his eyes.

“Are those Jongnam guys going to win and leave Mount Hua? Who said they could? Not while I’m here!”

…

“So, warm up. We need to do something big.”

“No, that…”

Just then…

“Aaaargh!”

Yoon Jong turned his head. He saw Baek Sang lying on the ground.

Jong Seo-han kicked Baek Sang.

“Still want to fight?”

“Ugh…”

“All you do is talk.”

Jong Seo-han looked at the Mount Hua disciples and smirked.

Chung Myung opened his mouth.

“Hey, what’s that guy doing?”

“Grab him!”

The third-generation disciples rushed in and held Chung Myung.

Jong Seo-han laughed in disbelief.

“I’m seeing everything. This sect is strange.”

“Oh ho?”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed.

“Let’s see how long you keep smiling.”

I’ve got my eye on you.

It’s too late to regret it now!