Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1335. Just remember that name (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"They're coming!"
At those words, Yoon Jong immediately kicked the ground. A swarm of Evil Sects was rushing in, forming a black line on both sides.
'Shit! It's never ending!'
They had fought so fiercely to escape the gorge, but somehow the enemy numbers seemed to increase rather than decrease.
Of course, those rushing in now weren’t the elite of Evil Tyrant Alliance but a hastily gathered ragtag. In Kangho, these were people who would be lucky to be considered second-rate.
But even such people become burdensome in these numbers. Especially for those who had exhausted their internal strength and stamina in the gorge, they weren’t just a nuisance but a genuine threat.
“Yoon Jong! To the center!”
"Yes!"
Following Baek Cheon’s command, Yoon Jong adjusted his trajectory and plunged into the enemies’ still-forming encirclement.
The enemy's strength was their disgustingly overwhelming numbers. But their weakness also lay in those same numbers.
Yoon Jong targeted the point where the two forces met and swung his sword. As his blade descended, the energy it released split the charging enemies as if parting the sea.
Rushing through the forcibly created gap, Yoon Jong swung his sword once more. Sword energy spread in all directions.
Swaeaeaek!
"Aaagh!"
The enemies fell back spraying blood without even managing to strike once. A sword neither swift nor intense but perfectly timed was demonstrating its power in this moment.
A strange light briefly crossed Baek Cheon's eyes.
'It’s firm!'
Despite being utterly drained and forced to squeeze out the last remnants of his internal strength, Yoon Jong’s sword showed no sign of faltering.
Perhaps, this composure was what set Yoon Jong apart from Baek Cheon the most.
But that didn’t change the fact that Yoon Jong was still nearing his limit.
“Taaaaap!”
Baek Cheon flew in like a flying tiger and landed through the gap Yoon Jong had created. Simultaneously, his Plum Blossom Sword swung horizontally, instantly bisecting the charging Evil Sects martial artistsin one stroke.
“E- Euhh!”
Fear flickered in the eyes of Evil Sects martial artists. These weren't even trained Myriad Man Manor martial artists to begin with, and if not for sudden orders, they wouldn't have faced Mount Hua's disciples at all. They had only stood their ground out of fear of the repercussions of disobedience.
Baek Cheon had already seen and learned to exhaustion how to subdue these people with momentum and lead the flow of battle.
Kwang!
Baek Cheon firmly planted his shock step (진각) and spewed sword energy in all directions. Though it appeared dazzling and powerful, it was a hollow display with little internal strength behind it.
Righteous Sects teach that one shouldn't pursue such hollow sword energy. But there were moments when such unconventional methods could be remarkably effective.
“Euaaaaahhh!”
"Sp- Spare me!"
Even though the strikes carried no energy, those already backing away dropped flat on the ground with screams. Those charging from behind recoiled in fright and hastily retreated.
Baek Cheon's eyes lit up.
These enemies were too terrified to even consider charging forward. But if a moment came when they had no choice but to cross swords with all these people, even sword strikes swung in terror would become threats.
Thus, the best strategy was to avoid direct clashes and breakthrough as quickly as possible.
“Keep running, Yunjong!”
"Yes!"
Hainan Sect disciples ran along the path that Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon had opened.
Once a lake stagnates, it isn’t easy to move it. The Evil Sects martial artists who had their path forced open couldn't charge in actively and swung their swords while backing away.
“These bastards!”
But such a half-hearted attack couldn’t faze Hainan Sect disciples.
Swaeaeaek!
“Euaaaaahhhh!”
Not only was the opponent too weak, but Hainan Sect was a part of Ten Great Sects whose skills would be recognized anywhere in Kangho.
Moreover, Hainan Sect disciples had gained the experience and malice they lacked while coming from Hainan Island to this place. Therefore, attacks from hastily gathered Evil Sects martial artists couldn't possibly work.
But as always, the true terror of Evil Sects didn’t lie in the strength of their martial arts.
"They're coming again, ahead!"
“Uh....”
Baek Cheon's eyes twisted for a moment. This was because he caught sight of the enemies surging forward like an unrelenting wave.
Judging by their charging speed, their skills still seemed unimpressive, but their sheer momentum was intimidating. Overwhelming numbers tend to instill confidence.
Momentum is half the battle. Dealing with them half-heartedly would lead to being swept away instantly. And if that happened, even those who had been paralyzed by fear earlier would regain their courage and charge.
“To the right!”
“Sasuk! That will leave the others exposed!"
Baek Cheon hesitated for a moment. The words meant that diverting their path would leave the rest of Hainan Sect vulnerable to attack.
At that moment, a rage-filled voice came from behind.
“Fuck, don’t stop, keep running!”
“Nokrim King?”
"Don't stop! Stop and you'll be surrounded immediately! Don’t you understand what will happen then? I’ll handle the rear somehow, so move!"
"Understood! Yoon Jong, to the right!"
"Yes!"
Im Sobyeong’s words were a hundred times correct. This was open terrain. Unlike the gorge, they couldn’t make up for their lack of numbers with superior martial arts.
If this had been before they entered the gorge, they might have been able to break through even if surrounded. However, now that they were exhausted, it was impossible. Their stamina was utterly depleted, and with wounded comrades slowing them down, their mobility was less than half of what it had been.
Once surrounded, there would be no way to break free.
But even in that desperate situation, Baek Cheon and Yunjong were fully demonstrating their abilities.
“Sasuk! They’re coming from the left too!”
"Don't mind it! Just go forward!”
"Bu- But the gap with the rear has widened too much now. If we're not careful, we'll be cut in two!"
"Nokrim King will hold them off!"
"But now..."
“Go! I’m watching over it!"
"Yes!"
Yoon Jong forcibly suppressed the anxious thoughts swirling in his mind.
In terms of the ability to grasp the overall battle situation and respond coolly, Yoon Jong might even surpass Baek Cheon. After all, Baek Cheon tends to be swayed by emotions at times.
However, what Yoon Jong could never dare emulate was Baek Cheon’s decisiveness. Yoon Jong trusted that decisiveness. He believed in it completely, confident that Baek Cheon would always make the right call.
However, not everyone trusted Baek Cheon as Yoon Jong did.
"Acting Sect Leader!"
When an order came back instead of an answer, Namgung Dowi's face twisted violently.
"The disciples from the rear haven't arrived yet! We must slow down!"
Baek Cheon bit his lip. He then spoke firmly.
“If you have the strength to spare, help Yoon Jong clear the way forward, Sogaju.”
When an order came back instead of an answer, Namgung Dowi's face grew distorted.
“Don’t you understand what I’m saying, Acting Sect Leader? Chung Myung Dojang has fallen behind!”
“I know.”
“You know? Is that something to say when you know? Just what are you thinking? Are you planning to abandon Chung Myung as bait and run away? Have you lost your mind?”
At that moment, Baek Cheon's hand shot out like lightning and roughly grabbed Namgung Dowi's collar.
Baek Cheon’s eyes burned with killing intent as he glared sharply at Namgung Dowi. Namgung Dowi looked at such Baek Cheon in shock.
Baek Cheon growled through gritted teeth.
“And if we go back to save him, then what?”
“…Acting Sect Leader?”
"What comes after that?"
The veins on Baek Cheon’s clenched jaw bulged visibly.
"Are you suggesting we die here together amicably? Should we pat ourselves on the back for saving him, only to lie down and die with smiles on our faces?”
When Namgung Dowi couldn’t respond, Baek Cheon let go of his hand with a shove.
It was a deeply rude gesture, but instead of retaliating, Namgung Dowi glared at Baek Cheon with cold eyes.
“You’re saying we should save ourselves? Because you’re not willing to die with him?"
Baek Cheon turned away as if refusing to deal with him further.
“...If you have the strength to bark, swing your sword.”
“Acting Sect Leader!”
Baek Cheon turned again at Namgung Dowi's shout. The resentment he had been suppressing and enduring burst forth all at once.
"What do you know to speak so carelessly! Do you think I don’t want to run back there more than anyone else, you son of a beast!”
Namgung Do-wi flinched at Baek Cheon's scream.
It wasn’t the overwhelming force but the raw emotion in Baek Cheon’s voice that struck Namgung Dowi like a hammer.
Baek Cheon's hands trembled as if struggling to suppress the surge of emotions that had burst forth.
“...Support the front line, Sogaju.”
Baek Cheon said with great difficulty and cast his gaze somewhere far off. Blood seeped from his tightly bitten lips, forming a thin line as it dripped down.
They were there.
That damned Chung Myung, Samae, and that bastard Jo-Gol.
He wants to kick the ground and run there right now. To turn everyone’s path around and save them immediately.
But he couldn’t.
The one who would despise that decision the most was Chung Myung himself. That man would rather die than let others perish because of him.
'There's no such thing as dying together amicably. Right?'
Baek Cheon clenched his fist as he silently posed a question he couldn’t hear the answer of.
Even with a sword pressed to his throat, giving up was not an option. There was only one thing to think about now. A way for everyone here to survive.
That was what he had learned from Chung Myung so far.
And for that, all that was needed was one thing.
"...They will definitely come back!”
Baek Cheon shouted through gritted teeth. His words caused Yoon Jong’s shoulders to tremble faintly as he swung his sword. Baek Cheon felt he knew what expression he must be wearing without even looking.
“Because that damn Jo-Gol went in my place.”
Baek Cheon spoke with conviction... No, with the utmost desperation.
“There isn’t a single bastard behind us who’s less capable than me. If it’s them, they’ll come back!”
His bloodshot eyes burned with determination as he ground his teeth.
"So we won't create a result where they die because we couldn't open the path! Understood?"
Paaaaat!
Yoon Jong, as if to affirm the words, immediately cut down the enemies rushing toward him. As if to say that he too believed those words without needing them spoken.
Namgung Dowi, who had been staring at Baek Cheon with a conflicted expression, eventually nodded. Without further argument, he tightened his grip on his sword and stepped forward.
Baek Cheon closed his eyes for a moment.
'You bastard.'
There was no tunring back. Even if everyone here turned around to save Chung Myung, he alone could not do so. Because Chung Myung would never accept such a choice.
Even if this decision turned out to be a mistake, and he had to face Chung Myung in the depths of hell, he could endure being called a fool. But he didn’t want to hear the question, ‘Why didn’t you trust me?’
Baek Cheon forcibly blocked his gaze that kept trying to turn backward.
What he had to do now wasn’t to doubt but simply to believe.
Stupidly and stubbornly.
The path that had been widened was narrowed again, filled with waves of Evil Sects martial artists surging toward them. The moment he judged that Namgung Dowi and Yoon Jong couldn't handle them alone, Baek Cheon's foot struck the ground.
A cascade of crimson sword energy rained down upon Evil Tyrant Alliance forces.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
Amid the scattering storm of sword energy, Baek Cheon’s fierce eyes shone with unyielding resolve.
'You better come, you damned bastard.'
He'll listen to all the curses he has then.
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