Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1588. So who is it? (8)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Kwaaaaaaaah!
The two energies collided and the aftermath swept across all directions.
It was a battle worthy of giants dominating an era.
But those actually standing on that ground had no energy to spare for that.
“Keuaaaaaaah!”
A thrusting blade pierced someone’s heart.
“Sajeeeeeeeee!”
"You dog-like bastard!"
A person with whom one had shared joys and sorrows for decades collapses in a violent death. At that, rage-filled swords fly in from all over and turn the enemy into a porcupine.
Kwadeuk! Kwadeuk! Kwadeuk!
Someone pierced by more than ten swords at once vomited blood in gushes and collapsed on the spot.
Upon this land, there was not even the minimum leisure to mourn these countless sorrowful deaths.
“Dieeeeeeeeeee!”
“Amitabha!”
The charging Evil Sects member was struck by golden fist force and fell sprawling while spraying blood. The martial arts of Shaolin were truly worthy of their fame. They didn't retreat an inch, even while facing armed men with their bare hands.
But that didn't mean Shaolin's situation was good either.
"Keuk!"
“Heuhahahahat! Even the bodies of those lofty Shaolin monks can have blades stuck in them!"
“Step back!”
Kwang!
The Shaolin monk who had allowed a single strike clutched his shoulder while striking away the jeering Myriad Man Manor martial artists. He tried to retaliate with palms but his wounded shoulder failed him and left him staggered.
Bop Kye, seeing this, shouted loudly and gave instructions.
“Raise your internal strength and resist the poison!”
“Yes, Elder!”
He bit his lip tightly.
‘This is bad.’
Bleeding Shaolin disciples could be seen here and there. He didn't want to see it, but he could even see the figures of those who had fallen for good in the thick dust.
'It shouldn't have been like this. It shouldn’t have…’
Of course, no war could be won without sacrifice. Sacrifice was to be expected in victory.
But he never imagined such a huge sacrifice would follow. It far exceeded his expectations.
"Aaaaaaaak!"
At a terrible scream heard from somewhere, Bop Kye's fingertips began to tremble.
'Why...'
It was too much. They could have slowly surrounded the enemies and pushed them back.
But the enemy's military strength was not as formidable as expected, and with the impatience that Jang Ilso might flee at any moment, everyone had charged forward as if they had forgotten how to look back.
And now everyone was paying the price.
Kwadeudeuk!
“Keuaaaaaaaatgh!”
The loyal dogs of Jang Ilso are tearing into the disciples of Shaolin. Leaving the front where the elders and Bop Kye were positioned, they mainly attacked the clearly lagging rear. Like hungry beasts hunting in packs.
"Sahyung! The damage will be too great if we continue like this! We must take action even now!"
His saje's desperate cry shook Bop Kye’s eyes. The damage would be great at this rate? Naturally, Bop Kye understood this painfully well too.
But he couldn't move.
"Tell them to hold on!"
"Sahyung!"
"I said they must hold on!"
The formation was now stretched out like a nail.
The so-called wedge formation displays its greatest power when piercing and charging at the opponent, but the moment the charge stops, it was completely exposed to the offensive of those who have surrounded it on all sides.
In a word, it was a formation with no rear.
If asked whether it failed, it didn't. They had broken through the enemy and sent Bop Jeong to Jang Ilso as intended.
The problem was what came after.
A situation where three snakes were surrounded by a swarm of rats that had gathered like a cloud.
No matter how strong the snakes were, there was no way for them to shake off all the other rats that were biting their bodies while the rats in front were dying.
As the snake's sharp teeth bite the rats, the rats' teeth also chew the snake's tail to pieces.
"The rear! The rear disciples are collapsing, Sahyung!"
"I know!"
Bop Kye barked fiercely and clenched his teeth.
The situation had changed too much from what was initially thought...
'We can't retreat now!'
If they retreat here to save those being attacked from behind, it will be Bop Jeong itself that will be put in danger.
Only Righteous Sects were obsessed with the situation of the fight between leaders. Those filthy Evil Sects bastards would swarm at any opportunity to kill Bop Jeong and rescue Jang Ilso.
‘That is no different from losing everything.’
From not too great a distance, he had been clearly feeling the energies of those pressing him since earlier.
Especially, those called daeju who had been protecting Jang Ilso from the beginning were not people to be taken lightly.
Even if just two of them joined the battle, Bop Jeong’s life would be in jeopardy. Bop Kye could not move a single step from this position.
“Hold on! Hold on no matter what!”
"Sahyung!"
"Bangjang will soon strike down that demon! Then it all ends! We need only hold on until then!"
Blood vessels stood out in Bop Kye's eyes as he surveyed the battlefield.
Disciples were falling with screams in the rear, yet they couldn't fight or help. Who on earth created this hellish situation?
The eyes of the law-abiding man surveying the battlefield were bloodshot.
The sacrifice was certainly great. But that was merely a sacrifice. The momentum for victory had not yet been broken. Their side still held superior strength. The moment Jang Ilso fell, everything would flow according to their plan again.
"Bangjang! Bangjang will surely accomplish it!"
He knew. He knew how great a person Bop Jeong was!
Having watched over him his entire life, Bop Kye absolutely could not fail to know.
He believed. He still believed.
Bop Jeong would surely strike down Jang Ilso and bring all the glory to Shaolin.
So he could not yet retreat...
It was then.
“Sa- Sahyung!”
“Did I not say to hold on? Can you not hear me?”
"That's not it, Sahyung! There! Look over there!"
"What?"
Bop Kye snapped his head toward where his saje pointed.
Soon, his not-so-large eyes bulged as if they might tear apart at any moment.
* * *
Kwagak!
Hand entangled with hand.
Bop Jeong's hand, channeled with terrifying internal strength, tried to grasp Jang Ilso's remaining hand like a roaring azure dragon (창룡(蒼龍)).
However, Jang Ilso slipped away from Bop Jeong's Capturing Hand (금나수(擒拿手)) as if he had become a loach.
"This…!"
Killing intent rose from Bop Jeong's eyes. Jang Ilso watched his reaction and sneered.
"Hmm. You seem a bit impatient. My, my. One who practices cultivation should be a bit more relaxed. Don’t you think?”
“Shut up!”
Bop Jeong’s three lightning-fast fists surged toward Jang Ilso’s head.
Swift and intense, thus utterly merciless fists were filled only with killing intent to burst Jang Ilso's head.
Paat! Paat! Paat!
Jang Ilso twisted his head and evaded the three punches Bop Jeong had thrown.
Of course, since the distance was excessively close, perfect evasion was difficult even for him. The fist force grazed past, splitting the flesh of the upper part of his ear and spilling blood.
Bop Jeong bit his lower lip hard.
'Why?'
This person's condition was clearly precarious. Though he had put up a good fight in his own way, it was all too obvious who had seized the upper hand in this fight.
Surely a man who had survived countless battles would recognize that.
So where does that person's leisure come from? Had he perhaps mastered life and death and no longer harbored attachment to life?
No, that can't be.
Bop Jeong could see it clearly. The gleam in Jang Ilso's demon-like eyes. Those eyes tangled with extreme desire and strong attachment to life!
Jang Ilso was one who clung to life more than anyone. So how can he still show such leisure? Even in a situation where the end was growing certain.
Bop Jeong would never let this person go, nor let him survive. No matter what happened, he would surely do so. Jang Ilso must know that too. So it could be nothing more than the last struggle of a cornered man.
Yet more than his vicious fists or that impossibly resilient body, it was this unreadable composure that gnawed at Bop Jeong’s mind and gradually made him anxious.
“Paeguuuuun!”
Hundred Step Divine Fist unfolds within arm's reach.
A Divine Fist (신권(神拳)) that completely abandoned its original power but perfectly preserved its speed pierced through the blazing blue flames (창염(蒼炎)) and struck Jang Ilso's chest.
Kwaaaaang!
Jang Ilso gushed blood from his mouth and was pushed back. His body was bent backward from the shock.
“Ooooooooooooh!”
As if he would absolutely not let go of the advantage once seized, Bop Jeong surged again toward the retreating Jang Ilso.
Just knock him down. If he can just fell this man, everything will end!
Then he could finally obtain it. He could reclaim it.
All the glory he had lost. All the glory that should rightfully have been his!
He could dispel the concerns of those who had sent him doubtful gazes, and once again hang the name of Shaolin on the Northern Star (북두(北斗)) of Kangho.
This man! If only he could fell this man!
“Jang Ilsooooooooo!”
It blazed. The blue flames. Feeding on everything Bop Jeong poured out, they blazed fiercely. All of it appeared infinitely brilliant to Bop Jeong's eyes.
Udeudeuk!
A flame-shaped enhanced energy shot out and crushed Bop Jeong’s shoulder before cutting his advancing ankle. But Bop Jeong's eyes were fixed only on Jang Ilso, that Jang Ilso wrapped in flames.
“You baastaaaaard!”
Bop Jeong’s fist shot forth fearsomely.
It was a simple thrust, hard to even call a martial art anymore. Though it carried fearsome internal strength, it was nothing more than a punch that contained none of Shaolin's martial art principles (무리(武理)).
And in that instant.
Kuuuuuung!
Jang Ilso, who had been staggering as if he had exhausted his strength, suddenly grabbed Bop Jeong’s fist. With power distinctly different from before.
'What?'
Bop Jeong’s eyes flew wide open.
Jang Ilso's head, which had been thrown all the way back, slowly returned to its place.
A chill ran down his spine.
Bop Jeong's shoulders unconsciously shrank.
The eyes of Jang Ilso that he faced had sunk coldly without any trace of heat. Like the eyes of a beast holding its breath and searching for prey in the bushes. It was as if the bewitching gaze that had been boiling with greed until now had all been a lie.
“Pae…”
“Hmm.”
In an instant, a gentle nasal tone burrowed into his ears. Goosebumps rose all over Bop Jeong’s back.
'What….'
Jang Ilso, who had been staring intently at Bop Jeong, slowly raised the corners of his mouth. A radiant smile spread across his previously expressionless face.
“You did well… beyond my expectations.”
Though speaking to Bop Jeong, Jang Ilso's gaze was directed somewhere beyond Bop Jeong. Somewhere still distant from this place.
Bop Jeong unconsciously turned his gaze toward where Jang Ilso was looking.
Moments later, Bop Jeong's mouth slowly fell open.
On the dark night plain, a massive dust cloud that should only rage in the middle of a desert was approaching.
Its intent was truly clear and evident.
From within the dust cloud that was approaching at a tremendous speed, a massive group revealed itself.
Bop Jeong's trained eyesight perfectly discerned their identity even in this darkness.
“Hao Sect…!”
Hao Sect, which had not shown itself until now, was now jumping into this battlefield. At the most perfect moment.
Udeudeuk.
Bop Jeong gritted his teeth.
Even if he knew, it was still painful.
But it was still too early to jump to the conclusion that the situation had worsened. Even if Hao Sect joined, the advantage would still be theirs...
"Mo- More are coming!"
At that moment, an unbelievable shout reached Bop Jeong's ears.
'More? More, you say?'
What on earth does that…
Bop Jeong's gaze reflexively turned to the opposite side. Not to the west where Hao Sect was advancing, but to the east.
And then he was met with an unbelievable sight.
In this deep night, a great sun seemed to rise above the horizon.
No, not the sun. It was a red flag grandly embroidered with a blazing sun.
“The… the sun?”
There was only one sect in the world that took that sun as its symbol.
'Southern Sea Sun Palace!'
Without doubt. That banner belonged to the Southern Sea Sun Palace.
The Southern Sea Sun Palace, one of the Five Outer Palaces that had not involved itself in worldly affairs, was now baring its teeth toward this battlefield.
Why were they here? Why were they, who should be in that distant place, here? Were they friend? Or were they enemy?
Bop Jeong felt his hair standing on end.
Only then could he see it all at a glance. The formation ruined to a mess and those entangled that they could hardly display their power. And even the forces of Hao Sect and Sun Palace army charging while encircling them.
What's more, Bop Jeong had been lured far to the front line by Jang Ilso.
It was none other than Bop Jeong himself who had created all this spectacle, like a moth rushing to a flame, oblivious to its burning wings.
Unknowingly, that blue fire was burning not just him but everyone.
Before Bop Jeong could fall completely into despair, Jang Ilso’s mouth opened. A voice like a whisper chillingly burrowed into Bop Jeong's ears.
“Isn’t it fun?”
When Bop Jeong turned around, Jang Ilso was smiling even more brightly than before. Like a devil burning brightly in the darkness.
“You should smile. Don’t just get angry like that, hm? Hahahahahat! Hahahahahahahahahat!”
The laughter stabbed Bop Jeong's heart like a sharpened knife.
The twisted flames burned bizarrely, engulfing everyone including Bop Jeong. They were even burning Jang Ilso himself.
Feeding on endless madness and desire.
|Note
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