Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1262. I won't let you go alive (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"A-mi-ta-bha!"
Majestic golden Buddha-light enveloped the surroundings.
"Euaaaaaak!"
"Aaaaaaargh!"
Though it appeared endlessly benevolent, the power contained within the Buddha-light was anything but gentle. Those struck by it felt its force to their very core, collapsing with wretched screams of pain.
Paaaaat!
"Kuaaaaak!"
Sweeping away the enemies charging at him with a single strike of his sword, Jo-Gol glanced over at Hye Yeon with a hint of surprise.
Hye Yeon, gritting his teeth harder than ever, unleashed a series of fierce attacks with his fists.
Just then, Yoon Jong snapped at Jo-Gol sharply.
"Don't get distracted, you stupid!"
“Seriously, isn’t Monk Hye Yeon unusually aggressive today?"
But Jo-Gol asked without letting up. Yoon Jong, mid-swing of his sword, spared a brief glance at Hye Yeon.
"He must be angry."
"Huh?"
"Until now, though we talked about Evil Sects and whatnot, we hadn't directly seen Evil Tyrant Alliance bastards tormenting commoners."
"...What do you..."
Jo-Gol, who was about to ask back, belatedly understood the meaning and nodded.
When Evil Tyrant Alliance took over Gangnam, chaos erupted in Gangbuk as well, with various Evil Sects running amok. But in truth, the ones wreaking havoc in Gangbuk weren’t Evil Tyrant Alliance themselves but those fleeing from Evil Tyrant Alliance.
In other words, they had never directly seen Evil Tyrant Alliance oppressing innocent people.
“But now, having personally seen people suffering on the way here, can you imagine how furious that must have made Monk Hye Yeon, with his temperament?”
"Ah..."
"Ahead! Keep your eyes forward, you idiot!"
"Whoa!"
Jo-Gol quickly twisted his body to dodge the incoming blade before launching lightning-fast sword strike.
Paaaaat!
"Aaaaaargh!"
The sword pierced mercilessly through a Ghost Platoon member's shoulder.
Myriad Man Manor’s Combat Platoon.'
This wasn't their first encounter. After all, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say their true combat experience began with fighting Myriad Man Manor's Red Serpent Sword Platoon.
Because of that, he could feel it vividly.
These martial artists were undoubtedly strong.
The speed of their blades, the force of their movements—every aspect justified the term 'Peak’. Each member of Ghost Platoon possessed skills that would surely earn recognition anywhere in the world.
And yet…
'They’re not hard to deal with!'
Paaaat!
Twelve consecutive plum blossom sword strikes launched forward turned the charging opponent's wrists and chest to rags. The Ghost Platoon member’s face contorted in pain. Jo-Gol stabbed the person in the chest with the last blow. Then he bit his lower lip lightly.
‘I’ve grown stronger.’
No, he wasn't the only one who had grown stronger.
"You, you damned wench!"
"Block her! Don't let that wench run wild!"
Looking toward the commotion, Jo-Gol once again saw Yoo Iseol leaping into the air, stepping on the chest of a Ghost Platoon member as she ascended.
A marvelous sight every time he witnessed it. To leap into the air like that meant exposing oneself to an enemy’s attacks with no defenses. Yet how did that reckless one fight so freely without sustaining injuries?
It was a miraculous technique that one couldn't dare attempt without being able to control one's body with paper-thin precision.
"I told you to stop jumping, Sago!"
When Yoo Iseol drew everyone's attention, Tang Soso would instantly strike at the enemy's openings.
Tang Soso was originally from Tang Family. The Tangs had spent hundreds of years studying how to throw hidden weapons at momentarily exposed enemy weaknesses. For someone born and raised in such a family, there was no way Tang Soso would miss an opening as wide as this.
"Haaaaaap!"
The sword energy unleashed by Tang Soso pierced through the ranks of the Ghost Platoon like the Tang clan's famed hidden weapons.
"Aagh!"
"Shit!"
Groans erupted from all around. Though the strikes weren’t fatal, who could remain composed when sword energy pierced their body?
Seizing that moment of scattered attention, Yoo Iseol descended like a hawk targeting prey.
Sogok, sogok!
The sound of flesh being cut and tendons severed echoed chillingly.
Blood erupted in spurts amid anguished screams, but Yoo Iseol’s expression didn’t waver. Her sword strikes, like the bitter north wind and snow, unfolded without a single wasted motion.
'Strong.'
Jo-Gol gripped his sword tightly.
Of course, Yoo Iseol had always been strong. She had been the only one in Mount Hua who could rival Baek Cheon’s swordsmanship, so it was no surprise.
But what Jo-Gol was witnessing now wasn’t just her swordsmanship, but Yoo Iseol's boldness in facing multiple opponents without the slightest hesitation or discomfort.
Yoo Iseol always dove into the most dangerous spots without a hint of hesitation. Firmly believing that those behind her would protect her, and that boldness was instantly shaking up even powerful enemies like Myriad Man Manor's Ghost Platoon.
"…It wasn’t for nothing."
"Huh?"
"Nothing!"
Jo-Gol clenched his teeth as if to declare he wouldn’t lag behind and thrust his sword forward.
'She's like a ghost, I tell you.'
Seeing this scene, he finally understood. The identity of that strange anxiety that had remained in his heart since the fierce battle in Hangzhou.
"Taat!"
Yoon Jong surged forward, scattering petals of plum blossoms with his sword. The enemies charging from all directions faltered, their momentum broken.
Jo-Gol didn’t miss the opening, his eyes gleaming as he drove his sword forward. Like a venomous snake striking its prey, his blade pierced through an enemy's body with precision.
'This is it!'
The greatest shortfall of Mount Hua was its lack of disciples.
Because of this, they had trained by either launching combined attacks against the absolute powerhouse Chung Myung, or practicing coordinated attacks among themselves.
Until now, that had been enough. Mount Hua's enemies were either stronger individuals or foes that required united efforts to overcome.
But in Hangzhou, Jo-Gol felt it clearly.
What they needed to face now wasn't a single absolute powerhouse, or an enemy they needed to decide life or death with one-on-one combat, but rather forces with an absolute advantage in 'numbers'.
Yet the seamless coordination demonstrated by Yoo Iseol and Tang Soso showed Jo-Gol something vital. That ghost-like Chung Myung, as always, had recognized this fact first and had already prepared countermeasures.
'The Yangtze!'
The endless sparring between each sect in the Yangtze River. The battles were fought not as individuals but as collective forces of entire sects.
That process, which sometimes felt like a waste, was in fact never wasted at all. Without those battles, they wouldn’t have been able to handle the Ghost Platoon with such composure now.
What they thought was being done to strengthen other sects' abilities was actually also developing Mount Hua's capabilities simultaneously.
"Taaaaat!"
Namgung Dowi wasn't just playing around either.
Kwaaaaaang!
The white sword energy he unleashed turned the enemies rushing at him into bloody pulps in an instant.
Seeing that overwhelming display, a dejected voice escaped Jo-Gol's lips.
"...Should have been born in Namgung Family."
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting now!"
"…Or at least in Shaolin."
"You’re spacing out again!"
At Yoon Jong’s scolding, Jo-Gol poured his frustration into a rapid series of thrusts, sending out over ten strikes in quick succession.
It took him everything he had to take down one person, while those others could fell two or three with a single swing. How could he not feel resentful?
'This is why Shaolin and Namgung are!'
The leader of Ten Great Sects and the head of Five Great Family.
As if proving their reputations weren't earned by luck, those who would lead each sect's future were clearly demonstrating their power...
"Aaaahhh!"
Swaeaeaek! Swaeaeaek!
"Aaaah! Why are there so many of them!"
At that moment, Jo-Gol felt a pang of sympathy. Tang Pae was busily whirling his arms like a windmill, scattering hidden weapons to cover Namgung Dowi.
"…The future of Tang Family doesn't look very bright."
"Focus, you piece of shit!"
Just as Yoon Jong was about to step forward with an explosive shout.
Paaaaat!
A piercing whistle rang out from behind, accompanied by an intense surge of energy.
Both men instinctively snapped their heads. A profusion of vivid red plum blossoms filled their view.
Majestic sword energy that momentarily stunned even those who used the same sword. At the center of it, Baek Cheon, the acting sect leader of Mount Hua, was charging at full force. Following close behind him were the warriors of Hainan Sect, doggedly keeping pace.
In that moment, the same light flickered in Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong's eyes.
"Sahyung!"
"Yes!"
The two broke through the formation simultaneously and surged forward side by side.
"Y- You bastards!"
As if they had planned it all along, they reached the enemy's proximity and split to the left and right, scattering crimson plum blossom sword energy.
"Blo- Block him!"
"This damn dog!"
The solid formation of the Ghost Platoon wavered for a brief moment, tilting left and right. And in that instant—
"Breakthrough!"
With the disciples of Hainan Sect at his back, Baek Cheon darted forward while exploiting the small gap and swinging his sword.
Paaaaang!
Baek Cheon widened the opening created by Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong with a concise strike, ignoring the blades flying at him as he stamped forward with a battle step.
"Where do you—!"
"Don't make me laugh, you bastards!"
Gwak Hwanso and Lee Jayang, desperately keeping pace, intercepted the incoming blades aimed at Baek Cheon.
Then!
Paaaaaat!
Trusting in his allies behind him, Baek Cheon thrust his sword forward. From its tip burst forth crimson petals, scattering across the battlefield. Red plum blossoms bloomed on the white sand that evoked snow-covered Mount Hua peaks.
Sararararak!
The plum tree appeared like an illusion for a moment before fading away. But the petals didn't disappear, instead swirling everywhere on the southern sea wind.
To some, breathtakingly beautiful.
To others, overwhelmingly powerful.
And to some eyes, supremely dangerous!
"Uaaagh!"
"Th- This is!"
"Ack!"
Baek Cheon's Consecutive Cascade of Plum Blossom (낙매분분(落梅紛紛)) erupts from the middle of their formation.
The technique was so threatening that even the battle-hardened Ghost Platoon members instinctively leaped back, abandoning their positions.
As the path opened, Baek Cheon shouted loud enough for all to hear.
"Seize the ship! Onward!"
"Understood!"
Led by Baek Cheon, Hainan Sect's disciples became one mass like dragons swimming against rapids and pierce through the red wall formed by the Ghost Platoon.
Paaaaat!
Cutting down an opponent in his path with a single stroke, Baek Cheon propelled himself off the ground and leapt high. The large Myriad Man Manor ship moored at the shore lay ahead.
"Onward!"
"Understood!"
Gwak Hwanso and Lee Jayang sprang forth. They swung Hainan Sect's wave-like swords at those who stood in their way. Their faces were etched with unwavering determination.
Kagang!
As swords clashed and created a fleeting opening, Baek Cheon used Gwak Hwanso’s shoulder as a springboard to launch himself into the air.
"Uh?"
"What!"
Startled by the sudden shadow cast over them, the Ghost Platoon members instinctively looked up. What they saw was a swordsman with his silhouette against the blazing sun descending upon them.
"Taaaaat!"
Baek Cheon let out a fierce battle cry as he swung his sword downward. A crescent-shaped slash of sword energy cleaved through the scorching Hainan air, streaking toward its target.
Kagagagang!
The thick mooring ropes anchoring Myriad Man Manor ship snapped in a single blow.
Baek Cheon spun in midair before landing lightly, immediately turning and slicing open the back of a Ghost Platoon member with a clean stroke.
Despite the chaos of the battlefield, Baek Cheon’s radiant smile stood out as he whispered:
"You should feel what it's like to have something stolen too."
Whether his words reached their ears or not was of little concern to him.
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