Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1583. So who is it? (3)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Tatat! Tadadat!
Small feet hammered the ground without pause.
Kiiiii!
True to his name, Baek-ah became a streak of white lightning, advancing across the earth at fearsome speed. Leaping over rising rocks, nimbly avoiding great trees that blocked the path, without stopping.
Paat!
And some people followed behind.
Yoo Iseol running with a blank expression, Chung Myung with a hardened expression, and Jin Geumryong and Isong Baek with clear signs of exhaustion.
“Wa- Wait a moment…”
Isong Baek's face was drenched with sweat. His eyes clung to the backs of those ahead, but his mouth only spat out heavy and ragged breaths.
His heart felt ready to burst and his legs had no sensation. It was a forced march that would be taxing even in a normal state. To maintain such speed with an injured body was absurd.
Chung Myung had warned he would leave behind anyone who lagged, but Isong Baek had never imagined they would sprint at full power like this.
'Why?'
He couldn't help but have questions. What on earth was so urgent?
He understood the situation was urgent. But considering what he had heard, wasn't the outcome clear?
No matter how strong Myriad Man Manor and Black Ghost Fortress might be, their opponents were Shaolin, Peng Family, and Kongtong. In terms of pure military strength alone, Ten Great Sects' defeat was absurd.
And the battlefield they had clashed on was the vast plains of Hubei. If there were no terrain features for Jang Ilso to utilize, wouldn't the outcome be even more obvious?
‘Then why are we rushing to this extent?’
What did he think would happen?
“Dojang...”
The moment he reached out to call out Chung Myung, someone roughly struck his hand.
“Sa- Sahyung?”
It was Jin Geumryong.
He too looked equally struggling, but unlike Isong Baek, his eyes were filled with stubborn determination.
“If you’re going to whine, then just collapse!”
“...”
“We are Southern Edge Sect.”
Isong Baek bit his lip at the blade-like words.
He was right. It was one thing if there was only Chung Myung here, but Hye Yeon and Yoo Iseol who fought alongside them were also running.
The excuse that it was due to injury is just petty.
“I’ll follow even if it kills me.”
“Shut your mouth and run!”
"Yes!"
A firm resolve filled Isong Baek's face again.
Chung Myung, who would have normally given them a few glances as they struggled, was now keeping his gaze fixed solely on the front.
Udeudeuk.
Chung Myung bit his lip tight and cursed internally.
‘Stupid bastard!’
He had expected Bop Jeong to remain silent this time. But he never thought he would act so frantically without looking back.
"Siju."
Just then, Hye Yeon's rather serious voice brushed his ears.
“I tried not to ask, but…”
Even after bringing it up, Hye Yeon hesitated. Was it because it was awkward? Or was it because he was afraid to hear the answer?
"...What will be the outcome?"
It was a voice that seemed twisted and barely squeezed out. Chung Myung's face hardened even more.
"Still, the military strength... the military strength is certainly on Ten Great Sects' side..."
“War isn’t just about military strength.”
A chilling and dispassionate voice leaked from Chung Myung’s mouth.
Hye Yeon squeezed his eyes shut.
It was something he already knew. How could Hye Yeon not know?
If all wars in the world were decided solely by military strength, then the Tianyou Alliance should never have achieved a single victory until now.
Military strength was merely one of the factors that determined victory and defeat.
"Then..."
“I’m going ahead.”
"What?"
Paaaaat!
At that moment, Chung Myung shot forward like a beam of light.
“Sajil!”
Kiiiiiiii!
Yoo Iseol and Baek-ah called out to him in surprise, but Chung Myung became a black flash of lightning and dashed forward without even looking back.
Udeudeuk.
His front teeth dug into his lower lip.
'Evil Tyrant Alliance at a disadvantage?'
In terms of military strength, they were. And if they were to clash in a place like that, of course, they would have no chance of winning.
'How could that crazy bastard not know that?'
People seem to regard that bastard as some demon rampaging with madness, but in truth, Jang Ilso was a cold-blooded hunter calculated enough to remain silent for years to seize the moment he desired.
That bastard moved? And into land where he was at a disadvantage?
There must be something. Something that neither Chung Myung nor Beop Jeong could have imagined.
‘Damned monk bastard!’
Bop Jeong must clearly know this too, yet blinded by that petty ambition for glory, he walked straight into a death trap with his own feet.
'Faster!'
Paaaaat!
He drew up all his internal strength and charged. Toward the western land where ominously black clouds were billowing.
* * *
“Keuhah!”
His heart feels like it will burst.
Hot blood poured from all sides, and the death screams of lives being cut short struck his eardrums.
Was his breath getting shorter because his internal energy was depleting? Or because of his racing heart? Or perhaps because his head felt like it would explode?
"Ughaaaaa!"
A dao that struck through the air severed another person's neck.
He had heard it countless times in his life. That a person’s life is more precious than anything. That it was weighty, something that could not be exchanged for any value in the world.
But at least not here. The world they had known and the laws they had followed within it did not exist.
Only one law holds in this place. The absolute law that if you do not kill, you will be killed.
“Huuk! Huuk!”
He turned his bloodshot eyes and searched for his next prey.
The more his blade was dyed red with enemy blood, the greater the glory he would receive. He had no choice but to endlessly seek sacrificial lambs who would add one more drop to that glory.
It was at that moment that his crazed gaze stopped.
“Pae… gun?”
It was an unbelievable sight.
The one who had long driven everyone into the pit of despair. And who had unwittingly become the purpose of this mad battlefield.
The leader of Evil Tyrant Alliance, Paegun Jang Ilso.
He was running toward them of his own accord. With blue Flame Enhanced Energy (염강(炎鋼)) of his exclusive martial art, Blue Flame Killing Enhanced Energy (청염살강(靑炎殺鋼)), blazing in both hands.
At first, they denied it. Then they doubted.
But the moment all doubt was cleared away, the blood of everyone who had witnessed that sight began to boil hotter than ever before.
There he was. The one who will grant glory that cannot be exchanged for anything, just by cutting his head!
“...Jang Ilso.”
Someone's voice, flowing out like a groan, spread across the battlefield. It was heard with a unique clarity even amidst the terrible noise.
“Jang Ilsooooooooo!”
That sound quickly became a howl.
Those filled with hatred, those holding grudges, those lost in greed, those intoxicated by burning Righteousness, those embracing petty superiority...
All of them began advancing toward Jang Ilso as if thirsting for him. Pushing aside and dragging down anyone in their way, friend or foe alike.
“Wha- What are you guys doing?”
The flow of the battlefield changed rapidly.
This was so extreme that even Jongni Hyeong at the forefront was taken aback. He couldn’t help but be flustered as the swordsmen who had been following him steadfastly suddenly began to run wild like fire moths drawn to a flame.
“Calm down! This is, dammit. I said, calm down!”
Jongni Hyeong shouted desperately, but it was already too late. In the battlefield that had become a scene of carnage, his voice was buried without a trace. It was to the point where he could barely hear his own shouts.
"Eek...!"
Jongni Hyeong grabbed the shoulder of a disciple who was trying to get ahead and threw him down. But he only had two hands. He could not stop all those disciples this way.
He stared blankly at the flushed face of a disciple who ran past him. No, the disciple even looked thoroughly intoxicated.
Jongni Hyeong’s face grew increasingly ashen.
'Th- This...'
No one was listening. His words weren't getting through.
"Don't break the formatiooonnnnn!"
He roared and scanned around frantically.
And only then did realization strike.
Kongtong's formation had originally taken an arrow-like shape to pierce through the enemy. But in this situation, there was no way his commands could reach everyone, and even that formation had long since drifted away.
When had it become twisted like this? When he pushed forward? When he failed to look back?
A chilling sensation ran down his spine as his hair stood on end. But the momentary chill was soon blown away by a shout that was heard.
“Cut his throat! He’s just some Evil Sects scum at best!”
“Move aside! I'll cut him!"
"Aaaaak!"
Jongni Hyeong's mouth slowly fell open.
He had clearly thought that he too, not Bop Jeong, could behead Jang Ilso.
But that meant others could just as easily sever Jang Ilso's head as well.
Just as Jongni Hyeong had collapsed the pre-arranged formation, others too could ignore his commands and target Jang Ilso.
Because they were all the same people... as Jongni Hyeong.
Martial artists often willingly stake even their lives for petty fame. Could such people withstand that terrible temptation?
“Do- Don’t get caught in that bastard’s scheme!”
Jongni Hyeong was now screaming at his disciples.
Of course, they couldn't hear.
Everyone had seen and heard. How their sect leader had already broken the pre-arranged plan and was being swept away by desire.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. An opportunity that won't come twice in a lifetime.
It was an opportunity that, originally, would never have been given to them, should not have been given to them.
If not for a situation like this, they too would have known their place and lived with restraint.
But what about now?
Their opponents were nothing more than a ragtag band of Evil Sects scum who aren't even obstacles.
Then wouldn't it be possible for someone other than the sect leader to reach Jang Ilso? Taking advantage of the chaos, could they inflict wounds on his body, even behead him?
It was a great achievement and glory, so much so that one could be blinded by the mere imagination of it.
There's no rule that the one seizing this opportunity must be the sect leader!
It keeps dazzling my eyes. The blood-red robe, the surging flames.
In the eyes of moths already blinded, no other sight entered. They could only see the red robe fluttering with painful vividness, and other competitors scrambling desperately to reach him.
'M- Me too…!'
“Me! I’ll do it!”
“Get out of the way!”
“Hahahahahahahahat!”
Jang Ilso's loud laughter fueled that burning desire. Makes it spread, makes it burn even more intensely.
“Jang Il Soooooooooooo!”
This wasn't happening only to Kongtong.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop!”
Peng Ye, too, was unable to control Peng Family members who had lost their reason and were running wild.
Hebei Peng Family, who surpassed even Evil Sects in their pursuit of the path of domination. Madness filled their eyes completely. It was a desire they themselves couldn't control. How could the commands of a patriarch with weak authority possibly control them?
The end of their wedge formation twisted arbitrarily. The spearhead that had been piercing through staggering enemies split into dozens of streams, tangling into an indescribable form.
The blade of someone who has broken through that chaos finally flies toward Jang Ilso.
“Your head is mi—!”
Whiiiiing!
It was fearsome speed. The sharp blue blade went straight for Jang Ilso’s pale neck.
Kwang!
But at that moment, the head of the person who swung the sword exploded. Brain matter and red blood burst up like fireworks.
“Hmm.”
The surroundings instantly fell silent.
Everyone saw clearly. The sight of Jang Ilso, who had so effortlessly pushed someone into death, frowning.
He muttered.
"That hurts."
Then he showed his palm. A shallow wound had formed from blocking the opponent's blade.
Drip.
A drop of blood flowing down his white finger fell to the ground.
Jang Ilso slowly raised his hand, looked at the wound, and then licked away the flowing blood with his tongue. It was a truly oppressive and horrifying sight.
But the only thought that came to the minds of all who saw this was one.
He bleeds. He gets wounded.
Even an ordinary Peng Family blade made that giant bleed.
Didn't that mean that their swords, their blades too, could pierce that man’s neck!
“Heuaaaaaaaaaah!”
A storm incomparable to anything before now began to rage.
“I said calm down! You fools…!”
“Sect Leadeeeeer!”
Just then, someone grabbed Jongni Hyeong's shoulder. It was an elder of Kongtong.
“What are you doing, Sect Leader?”
“Do- Don’t you see…”
“Don’t spout nonsense! Calm down? What calm down! Do you think Shaolin or Peng Family will stay still while we're calming down?"
Jongni Hyeong's eyes trembled violently.
"Go, now! That man’s neck must be taken by our Kongtong! We cannot yield it to anyone!”
The startled Jongni Hyeong turned his head and saw it.
Even while he desperately struggled to calm Kongtong, the martial artists of Peng Family and Shaolin were advancing toward that Jang Ilso.
“N- No. If this keeps up, the formation…”
“How frustrating!”
Unable to contain his impatience any longer, the elder burst into anger.
"What does any of that matter! This is ultimately a war to sever that bastard's head! If everyone dies but we kill that person, we win! If everyone lives but that person escapes, we lose!"
“I, I...”
"Step aside! Then I'll go myself!"
The elder pushed Jongni Hyeong aside and ran forward. Jongni Hyeong just stared blankly at the sight.
“Uwaaaaaaah! Jang Ilso!”
“Dieeeeeeeee!”
Dozens of swords, hundreds of blades flew toward Jang Ilso. Jang Ilso smiled.
"My, my."
And that moment.
Hwaaaaaaaaak!
The blue Flame Enhanced Energy (염강(炎鋼)/Prev. Reinforced Energy) surrounding Jang Ilso raged wildly, sweeping away those pouring toward him all at once.
“Uaaaagh!”
Though it looked like blue flames, it was all ultimately condensed enhanced energy (염강(炎鋼) /literally Strong Energy or Powerful Energy). Those swept up were literally torn to pieces helplessly and flung away.
“This much won’t do.”
"Ah..."
Jang Ilso seized the face of one who had frozen stiff before him, and with a bright smile, clenched his grip.
Crunch!
It was as if a red flower were blooming in his palm.
“Don’t worry.”
A sinister light bloomed in Jang Ilso's eyes.
“I will make this head more valuable. Just as you all wish.”
Fluttering his red robes, Jang Ilso charged forward again.
Loud laughter echoed across the battlefield.
Here and there, red flowers began to bloom. Flowers of greed, fed by blood and desire.
|Note
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