Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1302. Is there a place to rest on this earth? (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Paaaat!
Ho Gamyeong's eyes remained indifferent as he moved swiftly forward.
The number of messenger birds flying from the front had drastically decreased for some time now.
‘They’re close.’
It didn’t mean that the number of enemies clashing with Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Hainan Sect had decreased.
It takes time to send messenger birds reporting situations when facing the enemy.
The fact that fewer birds were flying meant that the enemy had broken through those areas before the birds could even take off.
They were right up ahead.
‘They didn’t make it as far as I thought.’
The corner of Ho Gamyeong's mouth twisted faintly.
Should he say impressive?
Or should he say foolish?
Leading a group of greenhorns who had never even set foot outside Hainan Island and breaking through an encirclement at this speed was undeniably impressive.
'Even more so considering this isn't possible with mere strength.'
Leading troops and having strong martial arts were completely different domains.
This distinction felt even more significant from Ho Gamyeong's perspective.
Since Ho Gamyeong had reached his current position not through strength but through leadership and strategy.
Leading hundreds of people you've never worked with was never an easy task.
Yet Mount Hua was managing it seamlessly, despite their obvious lack of such experience.
'Well, nothing surprising anymore.'
Ho Gamyeong's eyes turned sharp and cold.
Now he was confident that he wouldn't be surprised no matter what Mount Hua or that Chung Myung did.
There was no need to anticipate or overthink his opponent’s next moves.
It was enough to keep matching their pace this swiftly.
And as a result, they now finally had Mount Hua within reach.
“Hurry!”
"Yes!"
It was time to step up the pursuit.
Ho Gamyeong and those following him indifferently leaped over the corpses of fallen Evil Tyrant Alliance members.
“Gruesome.”
“You’re only saying that now?”
"I'm not talking about the corpses."
Go Yang bared his teeth as he spoke.
"Can't you see? They were killed with single strikes precisely to vital points."
“…It looks messy?”
“Of course, it does. After killing them with a single stroke, they went out of their way to cut the tendons a few more times.”
Ho Gamyeong's face slightly hardened at the unexpected answer.
"Was it Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword? That’s unlike him. He’s not one to be unnecessarily cruel."
“If he were alone, he would’ve simply severed their vital points and moved on. This was done for those following behind. If someone they thought was finished rose and swung a sword, they might die before they could even react."
“….”
"Where could someone have experienced something like this? It's not something you can learn just by training. Judging by the way he wield his sword, it’s as if he has spent decades on the battlefield. No, even worse. Even vagrants who’ve lived their entire lives fighting on battlefield don’t go this far."
Go Yang spoke with a tone of fascination, baring his teeth in a wicked grin.
“If there’s truly a hell and someone had fought there for their entire life, they would wield a sword like this. Incredible. To think such a sword demon would emerge from Righteous Sects."
“Enough with the pointless chatter.”
"Kuk, kuk, kuk."
Go Yang laughed softly, his eyes taking on a strange gleam as he spoke.
"However..."
His gaze didn’t miss the scattered corpses of Hainan Sect disciples among the dead Evil Tyrant Alliance members.
Even soaked in blood, the sea-colored uniforms of Hainan Sect stood out clearly.
"The damage is quite clear."
"Of course."
“Not that it matters. They were nothing but insignificant brats anyway.”
Kwadeuk!
Without breaking his stride, Go Yang stepped directly onto the corpse of Hainan Sect disciple.
The corpse's head shattered and burst, spraying the thickening blood in all directions.
"Ugh..."
Someone following behind let out a suppressed groan.
Go Yang chuckled as if it was amusing and glanced back.
“Why? Feeling sorry now?”
“….”
"Even after betraying your sect, you still have feelings for them? That’s funny. From their perspective, the person they really want to kill is you rather than us.”
Yoo Gong bit his lip hard, remaining silent.
He couldn’t offer a retort because Go Yang’s words weren’t wrong.
"Don’t worry. You’ll be meeting your sahyungs soon enough. What a touching reunion it’ll be."
Yoo Gong shuddered violently at the thought alone.
It didn’t feel like an empty threat.
If things continued this way, he would soon face his sahyung.
And how would they look at him?
They had let him descend from the mountain without crippling his martial arts, so he could live a peaceful life. And yet, here he was, using that martial skill to chase them down.
He became the dog of Evil Tyrant Alliance who came to annihilate Hainan Sect.
He had no confidence. Death would be preferable to facing their gaze.
He could endure any criticism or humiliation, but he could not bear the gaze of Hainan Sect disciples looking at him.
"No. Seems we won't have to wait?"
At Go Yang’s sudden words, Yoo Gong flinched and snapped his head up.
Had they already caught up to Hainan Sect?
No, that wasn’t it.
It wasn’t the grim scenario where he encountered Hainan Sect disciples.
But in some sense, it was just as...
No, it was even worse.
"Ah…"
A breathless gasp escaped Yoo Gong’s lips.
"Still alive."
Amidst the blood-soaked plains and piles of corpses, a man was staggering to his feet.
His clothing was so caked in dried black blood that it was impossible to guess its original color.
But Yoo Gong could tell. That clothing's shape and back view were too familiar.
The image of someone he knew well overlapped with that horrendous back.
"Aaah…."
It seemed the man had been struck down and lost consciousness, only to be spared by luck and awaken belatedly.
In the chaotic urgency of battle where comrades had to push forward against the enemy, no one would have stopped to check if the fallen were still breathing.
The man sensed the approaching figures and turned his head weakly.
His pupils seemed empty. His clouded eyes stared blankly at them as if not belonging to a living person.
“Jong Sajeeeeeeee!”
A scream-like shout erupted from Yoo Gong's throat. It felt like flames were rising in his chest.
He was alive.
Not one of the corpses they had seen on their way here.
Though he looked as if he might collapse and breathe his last at any moment, his Saje Jong Hyo was clearly alive.
"A- Are you alri…"
“Unlucky bastard.”
Seureureureung.
But at that moment, the sound of Go Yang drawing his sword thundered in Yoo Gong's ears.
“Wa- Wait!”
Swaeaeaek.
Go Yang drawn his sword and rushed forward to cut off Jong Hyo's head.
Sogeok!
The severed head soared into the air.
"Ah…."
Yoo Gong's eyes widened as far as they could go.
His trembling hands clawed at empty air, desperately reaching out to grasp something or even anything.
In that instant, Jong Hyo's eyes and Yoo Gong's eyes met midair.
Jong Hyo's eyes which held nothing and Yoo Gong's eyes filled with emotions beyond expression.
Thus the eyes of a hero who died fighting against the enemy met the eyes of a coward who had become a dog of his enemy to cling to life.
Yoo Gong could only watch helplessly as the faint light lingering in Jong Hyo’s dull eyes flickered out completely.
“Ugh…”
Yoo Gong's hands trembled violently.
Did he see me? Did he recognize me in that fading consciousness?
If he had—what had he thought? What did Jong Hyo feel?
Joy? Or disgust? Hope? Or rage?
Yoo Gong couldn’t know.
Because the one who could tell him was already dead.
Because that severed head was now rolling lifelessly through the filthy mud.
“Urk!”
A wave of nausea surged up from his stomach.
“Uweeeekkkekk!”
Yoo Gong clutched his stomach and repeatedly dry heaved.
But having not eaten for days, there was nothing left in his stomach to expel.
Only bitter water came up.
Yet the nausea didn't stop.
As if desperately trying to push out not what was in his stomach, but something disgusting clinging inside him.
"U- Urk..."
At that moment, someone running from behind kicked the bent-over Yoo Gong.
Kwaang!
Yoo Gong was sent flying and tumbled on the ground.
He rolled helplessly on earth soaked with enemy blood and his fellow disciples' blood.
“Keep running.”
“….”
“Or what? Should I kill you here and now?”
Yoo Gong clutched his trembling legs and struggled to rise.
He couldn’t die. He mustn’t die.
If he died here, there would truly be nothing left for him.
He would become nothing more than a pathetic fool who licked the boots of his enemies in a desperate bid to survive, only to lose his life anyway.
If he had already lost everything, if he couldn’t keep anything else, then at least he had to cling to this pathetic life.
Yoo Gong staggered to his feet and began running again.
No tears fell.
The only thing pooling inside him was an even stronger malice.
Go Yang smirked as if pleased.
'What truly makes people terrible isn't malice, but guilt.'
That was why traitors became more vicious and brutal.
As Yoo Gong ran with blood trickling from his torn lips, Ho Gamyeong spoke in a low voice.
"Seems you understand at last."
“….”
"There's only one way left for you to live normally now."
Yoo Gong turned his head and looked at Ho Gamyeong.
Ho Gamyeong spoke coldly.
Ho Gamyeong spoke coldly.
Yoo Gong's body flinched greatly.
A complicated light flickered in his eyes for a brief moment.
"Conscience is merely like lukewarm water. When you first dip your hand in, it's so hot you want to pull it out immediately, but if you endure that pain briefly, soon you feel nothing. Even if you submerge not just hand but your entire body."
When Yoo Gong didn’t reply, Ho Gamyeong glanced at him briefly before turning his head away.
Yoo Gong just ran with his head lowered.
'I have no regrets.'
Anyone would have made the same choice.
It was easy to spout words about righteousness, chivalrousness and other good things.
But who would really uphold that righteousness if it meant risking their own life and the lives of their family?
So he wasn't wrong.
So he wasn’t mistaken.
No, it doesn't matter even if he had mistaken.
No one goes through life making only the right choices.
This was just one more wrong choice.
So all he had to do was close his eyes and cover his ears.
Then he could live. Then he could save.
'Curse and resent me all you want!'
A bright blue malice rose in Yoo Gong's eyes.
Having come this far, there was no turning back.
Whatever he thought at first no longer mattered.
All that remained was surviving in this unstoppable current.
Yes. That was all.
That was the only thing he needed to focus on.
But... no matter how much he steeled himself and steadied his heart, it wouldn't fade.
The vacant and hazy eyes of Jong Hyo, those eyes as their light faded...
Even when Yoo Gong closed his eyes, even when he blocked his ears, even when he screamed until his throat was sore, those eyes remained etched into his mind, refusing to fade.
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Thank you for the Chapter """