Chapter 1400

Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1400. Where I should be (5)

Editor: Hoamzz

Co-Translator: Xoxo

“Coming from the right!”

No sooner had Baek Cheon's voice erupted... no, even before that, Namgung Dowi had already flown through the air to Baek Cheon's right side.

"Oooooh!"

A dazzling white radiance burst forth.

Kwaaaaaang!

Sword energy poured down like a raging waterfall and crushed those who rushed toward them. Just watching was enough to make one’s knees tremble, yet despite their comrades being crushed right beside them, the Myriad Man Manor martial artists charged on without a moment’s hesitation.

"Ee- Eeek!"

Bewilderment clouded Namgung Dowi’s face. The enemies, disregarding their own bodies, rushed past him as if they couldn’t even see him and aimed their blades at Chung Myung who was being held by Baek Cheon.

“These sons of abeast

Namgung Dowi, filled with rage, swung his sword through the air once more. Yet even as their torsos were cleaved in two, the Myriad Man Manor martial artists did not stop swinging their blades.

At the moment Namgung Dowi's eyes bulged, Seol So-baek blocked the attacks flying toward Chung Myung.

"Euaaaaaaaaaap!"

Seol So-baek's sword, holding a pure white cold energy, pierced the enemy's neck. The Myriad Man Manor martial artists's flesh, eroded by the cold, was instantly covered in pale frost.

“Seol Sogungju!”

"I, I will block them! The front!"

Seol So-baek bit down hard and shot a desperate look at Namgung Dowi. Seeing the desperation in his eyes, Namgung Dowi nodded and turned his body.

The Myriad Man Manor martial artists were desperately rushing only toward Chung Myung.

It was a sight they had seen before, but the momentum was different this time. They seemed more like terrified people than those consumed by madness.

He understood.

'They're afraid too.'

They were terrified at the thought of Chung Myung surviving this ordeal, that he might regain consciousness, pick up his sword, and fight back once again.

What had they seen in Chung Myung that made them fear his survival more than their own deaths?

"Huaaaaaaa!"

With a beast-like roar, enemies pressed in from the opposite side.

Saaaaaak!

They were welcomed by Yoo Iseol, who had already turned around and was swinging her sword with ferocious intensity.

Sogok! Sogok! Sogok!

Wherever her sword grazed, red blood bloomed like flowers. But those with half-severed necks or entire thighs cut off did not stop their advance. As if they felt no pain at all.

Kaaang!

A sword swung by a Myriad Man Manor martial artist who was spilling his entrails was deflected before it could reach Chung Myung.

Eudeuk.

Baek Cheon's face twisted terribly from the impact.

He had blocked the attack flawlessly, but not even Baek Cheon could stop himself from shaking

Right now, Chung Myung could die from even a small shock.

"Block more thoroughly, damn it! Don't even let them swing their weapons!"

There was no response. No, there was no need for a response.

Because everyone already felt the same way. Even if it meant their own lives would be cut short, they would save Chung Myung. From the moment they had come to Gangnam, they had come here with that single purpose.

“Ooooooh!”

Hye Yeon's fist force spread widely, mercilessly shoving away those who charged forward. Tang Pae’s daggers slashed through the air like streaks of light.

“Yoon Jong-ah!”

“I know, Sasuk!”

Yoon Jong leaped into the air. He plunged into the midst of the enemies falling from above. His sword painted a large plum blossom shadow in the air.

'Chung Myung-ah!'

Even in that fleeting moment while cutting down the enemy and dropping back to the ground, Yoon Jong glanced over to see Chung Myung’s condition. His face was covered in dried blood, and the pale complexion visible beneath it was as lifeless as a corpse.

Eudeudeuk.

Yoon Jong bit his lip and spun his body. Sword energy gushed out in streams.

The enemies still continue to charge without end. The momentum of Five Swords had long since stalled. ust pushing back the enemies rushing toward Chung Myung were draining all their strength.

“This....”

Suddenly, a bitter laugh escaped Im Sobyeong's mouth.

"We've been completely caught."

He glanced around. What he was looking for was Ho Gamyeong, who should have been among the crowd. But Ho Gamyeong's figure was buried in the crowd and couldn't be seen.

If the Myriad Man Manor martial artists had tried to block their path, they might have been able to break through. But if the enemy aimed solely at Chung Myung, there was no sure way to stop them. It was always harder to protect one person than to take down a hundred.

Even in this chaos, they identified and thoroughly targeted Mount Hua’s weakness. That was what made Ho Gamyeong so terrifying.

‘We need to escape.’

Realistically speaking, survival should come first. They should leave this place even if it means abandoning Chung Myung. If that's impossible, they must run away even if it means Chung Myung receives some injuries.

Yes, that's right. That's the opinion a military advisor should naturally propose.

But just as he was about to speak, Baek Cheon’s back caught his eye. A resolute back without a hint of hesitation.

His mouth closed involuntarily.

'He must know.'

Yes, even without Im Sobyeong spelling it out, they all knew what had to be done to survive.

The madly charging enemies, attacks pouring continuously toward the unconscious Chung Myung.

If even one of them closed their eyes, if they pretended not to see and let those attacks through, they would be free. They could save their own lives.

But no one hesitated. As if they cannot bear to see Chung Myung die before their own lives were cut short, they're squeezing out the last drop of blood.

What could one possibly say to such people?

Im Sobyeong's gaze shifted to Chung Myung, cradled in Baek Cheon’s arms. This person who had repeatedly done stupid and reckless things. This person who never hesitated even once, despite clearly knowing it was wrong.

A snicker burst out of Im Sobyeong's mouth.

"...Military advisor or whatever..."

If they were going to discuss strategy, coming all the way here was a mistake.

‘This is why someone like me is useless in the end.’

Im Sobyeong stomped the ground and swept away those rushing Chung Myung with his fan.

‘Alright. You win, Ho Gamyeong.'

Defeat was always bitter. But this defeat didn’t sting as much as before. Though he didn’t want to admit it, it seems there are defeats in this world that are better than victories.

“Kill me first, you filthy bastards of Evil Sects!”

As Im Sobyeong swung his fan with a curse, blue fan energy poured forth.

Baek Cheon, watching his struggle, slowly scanned their surroundings.

It felt as if every direction, the whole world, was filled with enemies.

But Baek Cheon felt no fear. All he felt was pity.

'So this was the scene you saw.'

Fighting alone in a place like this, with what feelings did he swing his sword? With what feelings did he endure?

“You really do get on people’s nerves.”

The moment Baek Cheon snickered, a massive explosion erupted above his head. Black poison began to spread in all directions. Baek Cheon’s eyes grew bloodshot.

“Block it!”

"Ooooooooh!"

Hye Yeon immediately leaped into the air. His hands swelled into hundreds and thousands. The sight of the sky covered in golden palms was beyond description.

But the consecutive explosions of poisonous energy still forced their way even through Hye Yeon's fist force.

Kwaaaaaaang!

Namgung Dowi, who had leaped in an instant, unleashed his sword energy. A massive wave of sword energy wrapped around the poison and shot it into the sky.

Once! Twice! Again and again!

Sweat poured off him like rain, but Namgung Dowi never stopped, swinging until his dantian felt like it might burst.

'This life was borrowed anyway!'

His life was never his own to begin with. There was nothing to spare, nothing to regret.

Paaaaat!

Beneath his sword energy, Mount Hua's red plum blossoms bloomed in clusters.

Even though this was no place for plum blossoms, it was as if they were blooming on some barren mountain in the distant Shaanxi.

Kwaaaaang!

"Keuk!"

“Seol Sogungju!”

"Don't look back and fight! Look ahead!"

Seol So-baek shouted as if having a seizure at the concerned voice. Having blocked with his body the dao energy that was too late to deflect with his sword, his chest was split open and gushing blood.

But Seol So-baek didn’t even think about stopping the bleeding. He swung his sword again at the oncoming dao.

'This much won't kill me.'

Even ten more wounds like this wouldn’t kill him. But Chung Myung was different. Even a small injury right now could cost him his life. There's no room for complaining.

“Dieeeeeee!”

But as his movement slightly slowed from the wound, an enemy who didn't miss that moment leaped over him. Seol So-baek's eyes went wide at the sight of a stabbing thrust toward Chung Myung.

In that instant, someone’s arm shot in front of Chung Myung.

Kwadeuk!

Blood gushed out along with the sound of dao piercing the bone.

“Yoo Dojang!”

Seol So-baek let out a furious cry and cut down the Myriad Man Manor martial artist, severing his head. But Yoo Iseol didn't even glance in that direction as she continued cutting down others.

The internal strength they had squeezed out and the concentration they had pushed to their limits were now reaching bottom. But despite clearly realizing their limits, no one lost their will.

"Keuk!"

A dao imbued with blue energy descended toward Tang Pae’s face, whose shoulder had been pierced. Just as he squeezed his eyes shut, a steel fan that shot out from behind violently struck down the falling dao.

"Pull yourself together!"

“Nokrim King!”

Im Sobyeong gritted his teeth and swung his fan. His usually neat topknot was long gone, and his face was an absolute mess.

But they fight nonetheless. Until the very last moment.

"Dieeeeeee!"

Sensing the faltering momentum, the Myriad Man Manor martial artists pushed even harder. From a distance that even the dao could not reach, blue energy shot out in streams and flew towards Chung Myung.

"No way! You bastards!"

Kwang!

Jo-Gol spat out a mouthful of blood from the impact.

But he struck down all the flying dao without showing a single sign of pain. Each clash of sword and dao sent shockwaves through his body, and his consciousness grew distant. Yet amid this, his sword never stopped.

Kwaaaang!

At that moment, someone’s first force struck Jo-Gol. His body was flung backward like a cannonball.

“Jo-Gol!”

Grrrrrk!

Barely managing to thrust his sword into the ground, Jo-Gol didn't fall and stubbornly brought his body to a halt. He spat up more blood and turned his head with difficulty. There he saw Chung Myung laying unconscious.

"You sure sleep well, you punk..."

Jo-Gol chuckled.

“Gol! Fall back first..."

"Euaaaaa!"

Jo-Gol brushed aside Baek Cheon’s persuasion and ran forward again. Baek Cheon bit his lip and used all his might to strike down the spear flying towards Chung Myung.

Kaang!

At the same time, Baek Cheon turned his body around. Hiding behind the spear were two stealth throwing knives that buried themselves into his back. Excruciating pain spread through him. Yet even then, Baek Cheon pushed more energy into Chung Myung's body.

Overwhelmingly numbered.

A bitter laugh slipped past Baek Cheon’s lips.

How would the world speak of them?

Heroes who died upholding loyalty until the very end? Or would they call them chivalrous martial artists who perished standing against Evil Sects for Chivalrousness?

'It doesn't matter either way.'

Because they’re neither.

They were just idiots who couldn't control their temper and ran all the way here. They’re idiots who threw away their lives without protecting the world, their sect, or anything else.

But...

“Idiots are fine enough.”

The laughter kept spilling out.

If they had only pursued rationality and done what was logically right, they would never have picked up a sword in the first place. At least Baekcheon wouldn’t have. Right now, he was where he wanted to be. And he was facing the ending he had chosen for himself.

So how could there be any regret?

This feeling... though he hasn't looked into everyone's hearts, they must all feel the same.

Kwadeuk!

The dao embedded in Yoon Jong's waist slid out. But Yoon Jong didn’t even groan and stabbed his sword into the back of the enemy who tried to push past him. His eyes were filled with nothing but desperation.

Baek Cheon called out silently in his heart.

'Yoon Jong-ah.'

“Aaaah!”

Tang Soso, covered in blood from wounds in who knows where, screamed while stabbing at the enemies. Each time her disheveled hair flew, icy blue light poured from her eyes.

'Soso.'

Kwadeuk! Kwadeuk!

Jo-Gol, whose leg had been cut, stomped the ground and repeatedly thrust his sword into the enemy's instep even while dao energy was exploding against his back.

'Jo-Gol.'

Kwang!

Yoo Iseol blocked an incoming fist force only to be pushed back. The blood she vomited spilled across her chest. The arm not holding her sword twitched and then fell limply. It seemed her arm would no longer move as she wished.

'ISeol-ah.'

They weren’t the only ones.

Kuuuung!

“Monk!”

"Ooooooooh!"

Hye Yeon rampaged like an Asura. The man who had always been reluctant to kill was now pouring every last bit of his strength into stopping the enemies, abandoning all restraint.

'Hye Yeon.'

Kwaaaaang!

Namgung Dowi was sent sprawling in a spray of blood. Seol So-baek hurriedly threw his body to block with his back the dao energy pouring down on him.

Tang Pae, his leg pierced by a spear, collapsed but still managed to throw hidden weapons, and Im Sobyeong, having discarded his broken fan, now wildly spews internal strength with both hands.

'Everyone...'

Baek Cheon's face was beyond pale and almost blue. Black blood streamed from the corners of his lips. The backlash from forcibly drawing out his energy was taking its toll. A ripping pain kept welling up from his dantian. Even so, he never stopped channeling energy into Chung Myung.

"...How's that, you damn rascal."

Baek Cheon twisted his blood-soaked lips and smiled faintly.

“They’re all doing this just to protect you. So… don’t you ever act lonely again. Don’t go running off like you can handle everything on your own.”

They couldn’t protect him.

Their strength wasn’t enough. They couldn’t save him.

But....

“Don't worry.”

His hand holding Chung Myung's shoulder tightened.

"We can at least die together."

Baek Cheon chuckled and poured every last bit of his remaining energy into Chung Myung. Those who had been knocked away came crashing to the ground in front of him, spraying blood.

Baek Cheon looked down at his battered comrades. The enemies, perhaps sensing their limits too, slightly eased their momentum as they slowly narrowed the encirclement.

"I'm sorry."

For some reason, those words slipped out.

"Bullshit."

Jo-Gol gritted his teeth.

“Don’t apologize, Sasuk. This was my choice.”

"It wasn't even something Sasuk ordered in the first place."

"Arrogant."

"I always thought you were kind of a jerk."

The blood-soaked Mount Hua disciples hurled their words one by one.

Instead of getting angry, Baek Cheon gave a slight laugh.

"Right. Let’s get an apology from this punk.”

"We definitely should."

"I'll beat him like a dog. I'll beat him until he dies."

“...Go to hell.”

"But still, to Dojang..."

Even those who weren’t Mount Hua disciples threw in a curse of their own. Yet, there was no regret in their eyes. All that remained was the determination to fight to the very end and die.

'Not bad.'

Baek Cheon smiled.

This wasn’t the death he had imagined. But… this wasn’t so bad. A hundred times… no, a thousand times better than dying comfortably and cowardly. At least he could be proud of himself.

There was just one regret…

Baek Cheon closed his eyes slightly. He buried the lingering guilt in his heart. Then he snapped them open and shouted firmly.

"Till the end we are disciples of Mount Hua. Die with dignity!"

"Yes!"

As if his words were a signal, the enemies charged forward with screams.

"Ooooooooh!"

The blades of the Myriad Man Manor martial artists poured down like a waterfall at once. An attack that was impossible to block. Baek Cheon's eyes widened.

He would watch clearly. Right up to their very last moments. That was his final duty.

But at that moment he saw… a streak of green light.

Kwadeudeudeudeuk!

With a sound that seemed to tear eardrums whole, the charging enemies were flung back as if hit by a runaway cart. The dao energy pouring down with terrifying momentum was torn and crushed.

'...What?'

A bewildered Baek Cheon stared blankly at the scene. What on earth just happened....

"…It seems we’re not completely too late."

The gazes of Baek Cheon and everyone else turned simultaneously to one place.

In the distance stood a familiar figure.

“Ah....”

Why was that person there? Was this a dream?

Standing with a dignified, unwavering posture, his cold face overflowed with rage like a freezing gust of wind.

Then someone else appeared beside him.

“Ah....”

“Ahhh....”

The disciples of Mount Hua collapsed where they stood at the sight.

White hair, black uniform, plum blossom engraved on his chest, and.... the refined anger in his stern prayer.

His gaze fell on Baek Cheon in the center. The moment their eyes met, strength drained from Baek Cheon's entire body.

This was neither a dreamnor an illusion.

“I command Mount Hua’s disciples!"

"Sect Leadeeeeeeer!"

A cry that was almost a wail came from Baek Cheon’s mouth.

“Annihilate the enemy!”

The sword in Hyun Jong’s hand rose high, then pointed straight ahead.

"Save the disciples of Mount Hua!"

“We obey!”

Un Gum and Hyun Sang charged forward in the lead. Behind them, the black-robed disciples of Mount Hua surged forward, their faces filled with rage that threatened to explode.

On the barren land of Gangnam, red plum blossoms seemed to bloom like a dream.

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