Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1258. You'll figure it out (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"S- Sect Leader."
"…"
"What should we do?"
The anxious voice of a young disciple echoed, but Geum Yangbaek couldn’t provide an answer. He could only stare fixedly at Chung Myung's back as he stood alone before the Ghost Puppet platoon.
'What is he thinking?'
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make sense of it.
The enemy ahead was none other than the infamous Myriad Man Manor. Even though it was just one platoon, their force alone could instantly annihilate a minor sect and still have strength to spare.
And yet, before such opponents, Chung Myung had stepped out without any semblance of a plan or strategy. Moreover, the enemy's main force hadn't even gotten far.
"Sect Leader!"
The urgent voice snapped Geum Yangbaek out of his thoughts.
"W- What was the original plan again?"
"We were to rush to the shoreline the moment the signal was given and seize the ships."
Right. That was the original plan. But given the situation, a fundamental question arose.
"What exactly was this signal supposed to be?"
"…"
"Should we go out now?"
No one could answer.
In a situation like this, a signal was supposed to be something simple and obvious. Someone shouting and charging forward would naturally serve as a cue for everyone else to follow.
Nothing to deliberate about, nothing to think about.
But the scene unfolding before their eyes was nothing like they had expected. Who could have imagined that someone would stride nonchalantly toward a platoon of Myriad Man Manor as if out for a leisurely walk?
"W- Well..."
One of the elders hesitated before speaking in a cautious tone.
"Perhaps... we should observe a bit longer? The other Heavenly Comrade Alliance members haven't shown themselves yet either."
Geum Yangbaek offered no response either way, simply staring at Chung Myung.
‘Just what is this man……?’
It was both bewildering and terrifying.
While that irresponsible behavior was utterly baffling, he was also deeply afraid that this single small action might derail their entire plan.
"But…"
"Hm?"
"...Why are they acting like that?"
At those words, Geum Yangbaek narrowed his eyes and focused on the situation ahead.
'Come to think of it...'
Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung approached so slowly it could induce yawns. Naturally, the enemy must have seen him walking toward them by now.
The strange part begins right here.
Myriad Man Manor were bloodthirsty demons. They're the most savage demons of Guangdong, infamous even among Evil Sects.
So, if Geum Yangbaek knows anything about Myriad Man Manor, It was that they wouldn’t simply watch someone approach them with hostility without acting. Usually, they would have already pounced and torn them to shreds.
However…
'Why aren't they moving?'
Geum Yangbaek couldn't understand. No matter how wide he opened his eyes and watched, he couldn’t make sense of it.
He didn’t know what that lone, unassuming young man meant to the members of Myriad Man Manor.
Because he didn't know what weight the name ‘Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword’ carried for them.
⁂ ⁂ ⁂
"…Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword."
The leader of Ghost Platoon, the Lone Sword Ghost (독비검귀(獨譬劍鬼)), Beom Chung’s (범충(范充)) face froze.
'Why’s he here...'
Myriad Man Manor’s Ghost platoon.
The mere addition of ‘Myriad Man Manor’ before their unit name was enough to strike fear into the hearts of all under heaven.
The powerless commoners would naturally fear them as though they were death itself, and even the most powerful martial artists would lower their tails in front of the name Myriad Man Manor.
The Lone Sword Ghost Beom Chung was confident. The name Ghost platoon existed to instill fear, not to experience it.
But at this moment, Beom Chung was painfully aware that everything in the world is relative.
Who was Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword?
He’s the one who clashed directly with Jang Ilso of Evil Tyrant Alliance, and with sheer force, broke through water fortress’ defenses, performing a mythical feat.
Before that, he had destroyed their equals, Red Serpent Sword of Myriad Man Manor, and turned all the platoon that invaded Mount Hua into wandering souls, branding Myriad Man Manor with the rare mark of defeat.
And above all…
'The one who joined forces with Ryeonju to defeat Magyo.'
His mythical martial prowess displayed in Hangzhou was still spoken of by those who witnessed that hell-like battle.
Those who headed to Hangzhou with Jang Ilso then were people who would willingly throw themselves into hellfire out of loyalty to him alone. They were those who venerated Jang Ilso to the point of blind faith.
And here was someone who could draw from such people's lips the admission that he wasn't even a hair inferior to Ryeonju. Such a person was standing before their eyes now.
His blood ran cold, and every hair on his body stood on end.
Though he had never felt fear in the face of an enemy before, it was impossible to remain composed in front of the black martial attire and the red plum blossom pattern.
To those of Evil Sects, that uniform was equivalent to the garb of death itself.
Ironically, Beom Choong now understood what defenseless commoners must feel when they saw Ghost platoon.
'What should I do?'
Cold sweat seeped into his palms.
The once noisy and chaotic shore fell into a deathly silence. Only the sound of crashing waves filled the air.
Similarly, the members of Ghost platoon were holding their breath. It meant that these men who usually pounced like starved wolves, unable to hold back even for a moment before an enemy, were now cowering like rabbits before a tiger.
But Beom Chung didn’t feel even the slightest bit of anger or the urge to scold them. How could he blame anyone when the leader himself was struggling to conceal his own confusion?
'Signal...'
As he swallowed dryly and instinctively began to glance around, he suddenly froze. His teeth sank into his lip until it bled.
'What am I doing?'
The enemy was alone.
Of course, he didn’t know how many might be hiding behind him, but at the moment, only Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword had revealed himself before them.
But why was he so afraid that he instinctively sought the signal flare to alert the main force? How could the leader of Ghost platoon of Myriad Man Manor, with all its fearsome reputation, fail to handle a single individual and think of calling for reinforcements?
This was an unbearable humiliation for Beom Chung, who had been a martial artist of notorious repute in Guangdong and had taken immense pride as the leader of Ghost platoon personally appointed by Jang Ilso.
"Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword."
A dry voice forced its way out of his lips, and Chung Myung responded with delight.
"Oh?"
A smirk crept across his lips.
"Looks like I’ve become pretty famous. People recognize me right away now without needing an explanation."
"…"
"Should I call this fortunate? Until now, it's been annoying having to explain myself even to insignificant lowlife whelps."
"...Why are you here?"
Chung Myung shrugs.
"What? If this place is good enough for Evil Sects scum, why wouldn’t it be good enough for me?"
"…"
"Anyway, that's not important right now."
Chung Myung glanced slightly behind him.
At that moment, Beom Choong’s body involuntarily flinched.
For an opponent standing so close to him to turn his back—this was an insult so brazen that even the word audacious would fail to capture its essence. And yet, though Beom Chung’s hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly in anger, he couldn’t bring himself to draw it. His fingers only tightened around the hilt with frustration.
"Hmm."
When Chung Myung turned his head back, a low nasal sound escaped his lips.
"Can't let the distance get too wide."
The moment Chung Myung raised his gaze while muttering, Beom Chung saw it.
Chung Myung’s eyes, sunken so cold it sent chills down one's spine.
It might have been because of that gaze. No, it might be because Chung Myung’s white teeth, visible between his twisted lips, appeared so eerily frightening for a moment.
Whatever the reason, Beom Chung involuntarily took a step back. And that brought about a result far beyond his intent.
The battle signal of Ghost platoon was always the same. A step back from their leader was the cue to strike. Always and everywhere.
The reason this motion could serve as a signal was quite simple. Ghost platoon would never retreat in the face of an enemy. Particularly not in a situation where the daeju, Beom Chung, stood toe-to-toe with an opponent, it was impossible for Ghost platoon to even imagine that he would fall back due to the momentum.
Upon seeing their leader step back, one of them charged toward Chung Myung as if it were the natural thing to do. It was the result of grueling training, honed to the extreme. His body moved on its own, heedless of the situation.
"Don't—"
Only then did Beom Chung realize what he had done. But it was too late to stop the man already dashing forward at full speed.
"Dieeeeee!"
With an ear-splitting battle cry, the blade that had been raised toward Hainan's blue sky came down with overwhelming ferocity.
And at that moment.
Paaaaaaaah!
A streak of sword light (검광(劍光)), faster than lightning, flashed and cleanly severed the wrist holding the blade.
Sogok.
"Gah…"
A guttural groan followed the sickening sound. The sword light, withdrawn faster than it had struck, lashed out again. And precisely severed the remaining wrist.
Sogok!
The saber fell from his now-limp hand, tumbling to the ground. But before that blade could even soar into the air, the consecutive streaks of sword light began to carve through the man's body.
Sogok! Sogok! Sogok! Sogok!
"Keu... Kuaaaaaah!"
The man’s agonized screams shattered the heavy silence that had settled over the beach.
"AAAAAAAAAGH!"
The sword splits skin and tears through twisting the muscle. The excruciating pain left him with no choice but to wail uncontrollably.
The man whose tendons had been severed throughout his body in an instant collapsed where he stood. Whether from unbearable pain or sheer disbelief at what had just happened to him, his convulsions continued unabated.
Tak.
And at that moment, Chung Myung's Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword touched the kneeling man's neck.
Gazing coldly down at his opponent, Chung Myung's lips curled into a faint smile as he spoke in a low, biting tone.
"Not enough."
Sogok!
Paaaaah!
A fountain of hot blood spurted from the man's cleanly split neck. Dark red blood sprayed and stained the white sand.
Thud.
The man's body collapsed lifelessly.
Chung Myung, watching the corpse with dispassionate eyes, slowly shifted his gaze. Toward Ghost Platoon who were staring at him almost absentmindedly.
"…This much noise isn’t enough for them to hear."
Chung Myung spoke sharply, baring his teeth. His killing intent enveloped Ghost Platoon like a freezing north wind.
"Scream louder. Maybe then you might survive?"
For a brief moment, his eyes gleamed with a chilling light. He then launched himself at the platoon with blinding speed. In one breath, he dove into their battle formation.
Chung Myung's Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword drew a bright arc like the sun at its zenith.
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