Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1345. I’ll go save you (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
On a moonless night near the end of its cycle, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains were engulfed in such darkness that it was impossible to distinguish even an inch ahead.
Within those treacherous mountains, eyes like will-o'-wisps glowed abundantly.
Step.
The martial artists of Myriad Man Manor, gripping their dao, scanned their surroundings with eyes brimming with killing intent and malice.
Rustle.
"Who's there!"
At the faint sound from the side, one of the martial artists swung his blade without a moment's hesitation. The dao energy surged toward the source of the sound.
Kwagak!
The martial artist who had unleashed his dao rushed to the spot, only to find a rabbit writhing on the ground with a severed head. His face contorted.
“...Fuck.”
“Tsk. tsk. Quite the hunter we have here."
The man reacted sharply to the mocking voice behind him.
“Watch your mouth.”
“Don’t waste your energy and just keep a good watch around."
The man angrily kicked the rabbit's still warm corpse away in a fit of anger and sheathed his dao back. Then he stared at the sword-like mountains revealed in the darkness. The mountain rose as if piercing the heavens—a sight so overwhelming that it truly evoked the word ‘mountain formation’ and heavens defying. (하늘을 찌르는 듯한 산세(山勢), 과연 역천(逆天)의 땅이라는 말이 절로 나오는 광경이다/The land that defies the heavens.)
'How ominous.'
The man scanned his surroundings with uneasy eyes.
The thick darkness had descended, making everything deathly quiet. For some, it might seem like an image of tranquility, but to those present in this place, it was nothing short of foreboding.
They were cautious even about making any sound, especially to those who carried memories of the past buried in this land.
Just as the man stepped forward with an annoyed look on his face.
“Ugh.”
A dull pain shot through his foot. Looking down, he saw a spearhead jutting out from beneath his foot. It was so old that it was almost entirely corroded and falling apart.
If he were to dig around the spearhead, , its owner’s skeletal remains would likely be lying buried beneath.
“Damn.”
The spear’s shape resembled those used by Evil Sects rather than Righteous Sects. The man frowned slightly. He didn’t feel pity for the nameless, long-dead Evil Sects people, but the sight nevertheless left a foul taste in his mouth.
“Are you hurt?”
“No. You think this rusty piece of crap could cut me?”
Udeuk.
After stomping and breaking the protruding spearhead, the man kicked aside the thick overgrown bushes nearby.
Sure enough, swords typically used by Righteous Sects lay scattered around.
If this were an ordinary battlefield, the nearby villagers would have already scavenged these weapons long ago. They would have either sold them or melted them down to make farming tools.
But this was the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. A land of death that even common folk with no connection to Kangho were reluctant to approach.
As a result, the traces of past wars remained perfectly preserved.
"Makes me sick."
“Stop with the pointless thoughts and keep watch. If we let them slip away, our heads will roll."
The man glared once at the one speaking these truthful words, spat on the ground, and continued walking.
“Damn it, can't even get a moment's rest.”
“Don’t even say that out loud. Can't you read the atmosphere?"
“Damn.”
Since it wasn't wrong this time either, the man just cursed under his breath.
"Just how many died anyway?"
“Hell if I know… The Blood Sword Platoon was annihilated, and countless others who weren’t part of it have also died. If you count the small fry who tried to block their path, you could pile the bodies high enough to make a mountain.”
“...Serves them right.”
This must be the first time in Myriad Man Manor's history that capturing merely two hundred people had resulted in such massive casualties. It was understandable that even that the ever-composed Advisor's eyes had turned wild, having suffered so many losses yet still failing to completely eliminate the enemy.
If they let those people escape now, it wouldn't end with just one or two heads rolling. That was why they had to find traces of them by any means necessary.
"Could they have already escaped the great mountains?"
“Don’t talk nonsense. At best, they’re hiding in a cave somewhere. But I’ve never heard of a cave stretching for hundreds of li.”
“I guess so?”
Which meant the enemy was still lurking somewhere.
Perhaps right beneath his feet. That Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword who had decimated Go Yang and the Blood Sword Platoon.
"…Then that means Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword could jump out at us any moment?"
“Hey, dammit! Shut your damn mouth with that bad omen!”
His comrade, who had been calmly responding until now, had his face twisted horribly.
The man fell silent, momentarily overwhelmed by that intensity.
It was laughable when you think about it. Here they were, desperately searching for Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword’s trail. Yet at the same time, they were hoping that Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword would never appear before them.
Because they were terrified.
Everyone had clearly witnessed how that man fought. So no one wanted to cross blades with that demon who seemed more evil than the actual Evil Sects themselves.
“...Besides, Mount Hua Ghost Sword is human, right? How could he already be up and about after being injured that badly?"
"Y- You're right?"
“It wouldn’t be strange if he died. No, no, he must have died. Definitely.”
That voice held neither strength nor conviction.
They desperately hoped Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword was dead, yet a part of them was gripped by the terrifying certainty that he wasn’t.
"But Plum Blossom Ghost Sword? What's with that?"
“You don’t know? They’ve started calling Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword that.”
“...What the hell…”
"Let’s be honest, does a title like 'Chivalrous Sword' or whatever suit that madman? That name’s already spread throughout our sect."
The man nodded.
Indeed, rather than the dignified title of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, Plum Blossom Demon Sword suited Chung Myung far better. No, in fact, even the title Plum Blossom Demon Sword wasn't enough.
"Plum Blossom Demon Sword, my ass. Blood Flower Demon Sword (혈화마검(血花魔劍)) sounds better.”
“...But he’s still a part of Righteous Sects.”
“To hell with Righteous Sects. What part of that man looks righteous to you? Even Magyo isn’t that cruel."
“That’s true.”
“No, Magyo is much more vicious.”
"What are you saying? Even Magyo cultists..."
The man about to retort suddenly clamped his mouth. He realized that voice had come from behind him.
Ttok. Ttok.
The sound of something thick and viscous dripping reached his ears, freezing his entire body in place. Simultaneously, a smell he was all too familiar with but one he never wished to encounter at this moment assaulted his nose.
The smell of blood.
The man's shoulders began to twitch minutely. He wanted to look away. He didn’t want to turn his head. He didn’t want to confirm that the horrific scenario playing out in his mind was indeed reality.
But in urgent situations, humans follow instinct rather than their mind's commands. His body was already turning around to confirm who stood behind him.
The black-clothed figure seemed to melt into this pitch-black night. The only things clearly visible were the blood-soaked blade and those gleaming eyes radiating a chilling blue light.
Yet even so, the man knew all too well who this suddenly appeared person was.
“Mo- Mount Hua....”
Sogok.
Before he could even finish, a searing pain spread from his neck. The cold sensation that severed his cervical vertebrae and vocal cords in one stroke quickly passed through his neck.
Swiiik.
Air wheezed out of his neck. Unable to even scream, the man toppled backward. Before his vision faded entirely, he caught sight of his comrade’s head flying into the air.
The red blood shooting skyward looked like a blooming crimson flower. Seeing the cold gleam of eyes through that spray, the man had one final thought.
‘As I thought… the title is wrong…’
The unfinished thought disappeared as the man’s lifeless body went cold.
Sogok.
Chung Myung dealt with another Myriad Man Manor martial artist and plunged his sword into the lifeless body’s chest.
Puuk!
Red blood soaked the sword as it pierced the heart. With the red blood masking the sword’s gleam, Chung Myung vanished into the darkness once more. It was a stealthy movement without even the sound of moving through air, yet supremely swift.
Seueueuut.
Flowing like black water through the darkness, Chung Myung slipped behind a group of Myriad Man Manor martial artists who were moving forward while maintaining their guard.
“What....”
Sogok!
Blood gushed out in quick succession from half-severed necks They didn’t even have time to scream. They just convulsed and collapsed forward.
"Kkeurk..."
They probably wouldn't know how they died even in their final breath.
Chung Myung's eyes were cold beyond description.
'Not yet?'
It was about time they found out…
“Wh- Who’s there!”
At the voice that finally came, the corner of Chung Myung's mouth curved upward. In the distance, Myriad Man Manor martial artists were staring at him with panicked faces.
Chung Myung immediately kicked off the ground and closed the long gap in an instant. Then he struck off the neck of the one standing at the front.
Kwagak!
The sound of bones shattering echoed as the martial artist’s head flew into the air. The martial artist’s face who hadn't even had time to close his eyes was briefly revealed in the faint, pale moonlight before falling.
"Heuk!"
Sogok!
After consecutively striking off the enemies' heads, Chung Myung's sword touched the neck of the last remaining one.
Tuk!
The man with the signal horn in his mouth froze in place. His terrified eyes quivered violently as if shaken by an earthquake. If he were to tense his stomach muscles to blow the horn now, that sharp sword would split his neck without hesitation.
Those ice-blue eyes visible in the darkness glared at him as if monitoring his every move.
The man's entire body was drenched in sweat that had poured out in an instant. Then, Chung Myung spoke curtly.
"Blow it."
The command made no sense. But there was no need to rack his brains over it. As he hesitated, Chung Myung's sword began to dig into his skin.
“Can't you hear me?”
Seusuk.
As the blade's edge split the thin skin and began slicing into his neck with a horrific sensation, the man's legs gave out completely.
“Blow.”
There was no room for thought. He couldn’t afford to. Shaking violently, the man clenched the horn in his hand and forced air through it with all his might.
Piiiiiiiiiik!
The sharp, high-pitched whistle pierced the stillness of the night. Chung Myung's lips twisted into a sinister grin.
“There we go.”
Sogok!
The man's body collapsed, but the horn had clearly announced the presence of someone here to everyone.
“This way!”
Shouts were heard as chaos erupted in all directions. Chung Myung's lips twisted into a chilling smile.
❀ ❀ ❀
“The horn sounded!”
"Run! It's that way!"
"Yes!"
Everyone reacted to the sound and sprinted toward the source of the noise.
"Hurry!"
The underbrush trampled by the frenzied crowd slowly began to lift itself back up after the chaos passed. As the noise faded into the distance and the surroundings returned to silence.
From beneath a large tree trunk standing conspicuously to one side, a group carefully revealed themselves.
Baek Cheon, who emerged first, surveyed the surroundings with tense eyes before nodding and signaling.
"Let's go."
A group of a hundred quietly emerged. Like a single body, they began running toward the north that Myriad Man Manor martial artists had left empty, holding their breath.
|Note
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