Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1676. Isn't this what you wanted? (6)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Sasuk! The enemies are pushing their way up!”
Mu Jin, who had climbed onto White Face Rock, shouted urgently. The enemies who had rapidly pursued the retreating group did not stop and were advancing straight onto White Face Rock.
Mu Jin kicked off the ground and charged back toward them.
Kwadeuk!
Mu Jin’s sword ruthlessly lodged into the neck of the one chasing behind while spewing madness. Though there wasn't a shred of a Taoist's mercy, no one could blame that coldness at this moment.
“Attack! Don't allow them to climb up!"
"Yes!"
The Wudang swordsmen, who had been hastily retreating, reorganized their formation and confronted those scaling the rocks from all directions.
'We can stop it! No, we must stop it!'
Mu Jin bit his lips tightly.
The rapid retreat certainly opened a path for the enemies, but it brought one clear advantage. The raging flames that had burned like the middle of hell had not yet reached this place.
Moreover, this was a rocky terrain. In a place where not even a proper tree or blade of grass can be found, the fire attack they prepared loses its meaning.
Then what remains was just the martial arts possessed in one's body. In such a fight, Wudang would never lose.
"Scram! You Evil Sects bastards!"
"Aaaaargh!"
Sure enough, no sooner had Wudang reversed their stance than the bodies of those climbing the slope were pierced by the flying Pine-Patterned Ancient Swords. The swords filled with resentment and fury didn't allow even the enemy's counterattack.
Even considering that those currently climbing the slope were merely rash underlings unable to restrain their impatience, Wudang’s superiority was unmistakable.
“These dog-like bastards!”
At that moment, Mu Jin saw a Wudang disciple trying to advance toward the slope where enemies were climbing. Mu Jin gritted his teeth and flew like lightning to his side, grabbing and pulling his nape.
“Heok! Sa- Sasuk!”
“Stupid fool!”
Mu Jin shouted with a face full of anger.
"Don't let your emotions take over! Our goal isn't to kill them but to hold out for even one more moment! If we give this place up, Wudang is finished!"
Perhaps his resentful yet desperate voice reached them.
A solemn atmosphere hung over the Wudang Swordsmen's faces. Mu Jin was right. If they give up this place, it won't end with just their lives being cut off.
'Wudang.' The history of the sect called Wudang, which has continued for a long time, could end this very day.
The burden on their shoulders was far too heavy to indulge in petty emotions like revenge.
"Hold out! We defend this place until the very last person!"
"Yes!"
The very moment Mu Jin was about to grab his sword again.
"Sasuk! The cliff! White Face Rock!"
At those words, Mu Jin's head snapped around.
Forcing himself to overcome the temptation of the dazzling palm shadows that stole his gaze, he fixed his eyes on the cliff behind, and saw a single hand soaring up over the cliff.
'Ah....'
Mu Jin's eyes shook violently.
“Kuah....”
That rough hand firmly gripped the top of the cliff. Soon a man finally pulled his body atop the cliff.
“This fucking cliff!”
A Myriad Man Manor martial artist who had climbed onto White Face Rock ground his teeth audibly and drew the dao at his waist. At the same time, other Myriad Man Manor martial artists behind him started climbing up the cliff one by one.
‘N- No!’
Distant despair settled on Mu Jin's face.
They had to stop them. They had to prevent them from climbing this cliff.
“Kill them all!”
"Hyaaaaaaah!"
Myriad Man Manor martial artists who had climbed the cliff after repeated hardships charged with hatred and fury in both eyes.
“Keuk!”
“That won’t do.”
Kagang!
The sword Heo Gong urgently thrust out was simply blocked by the pale hand of Thousand-Faced Gentleman. Thousand-Faced Gentleman muttered.
"I thought that Plum Blossom Sword Demon bastard was the most arrogant in Righteous Sects, but... you're not far behind either. To dare look away with me before you."
Heo Gong ground his teeth loudly.
He was lacking. Strength.
He did not possess the strength to overcome this moment and save Wudang from crisis.
'Sect Leader! Just what...'
At this point, no matter how thoroughly they blocked this slope, there was no way to prevent the enemy from occupying White Face Rock. The enemy, possessing numerical superiority, would begin to overwhelm them.
"Outnumbered and outmatched."
Indeed, composure washed over Thousand-Faced Gentleman’s face.
"I acknowledge it. You did well enough in your own way. But that's all."
On the other hand, Heo Gong could do nothing but grind his teeth.
Was this really the end? After enduring that agonizing period of closed seclusion and forcing his own will through with his own hands, was this truly all there was to it?
"Ugh..."
Just as Heo Gong was about to let out a shout filled with resentment.
“What are you doing!”
Paaaaat!
Someone passed by Heo Gong's side like lightning and blocked the way of Evil Tyrant Alliance martial artists rushing from the cliff.
Swaeaeaek!
The sword, swung with speed yet also with grace, drew a gentle curve toward Evil Tyrant Alliance martial artists rushing forward while screaming.
Sogeok! Sogeok!
Three heads soared into the air in a single breath. The swordsman who had broken the enemy's spear tip didn't stop there and shot sword energy toward those who had already densely climbed atop the cliff.
“Jin Hyeon!”
"Uwaaaaaaah!"
No words encouraging bravery, no boastful battle cry shouted. Just blocking the enemy with all available strength.
Mu Jin bit his lips hard at the sight.
'Right.'
Right, that young Sajil hasn't given up even a bit yet. Instead of giving up, he fights. Until the very end. That was what they resolved from the start.
"Split! Push every single one of those who have climbed onto the cliff back down below!"
"Yes!"
It was just as Mu Jin was about to scream again.
"They're coming again, Sasuk!"
"What?"
Mu Jin's head turned sharply again.
This time, he couldn't even make a sound. He saw a group of martial artists rushing toward them, crossing over the mountain ridge connected to the back of the cliff.
Their identity was unclear, but one thing was certain. They were not allies.
'When?'
If they had detoured since Wudang began holding this place, they absolutely couldn't have reached that far. Which means they had sent a separate unit there from when they started climbing the mountain.
Wasn't that strange! From the beginning? Did they anticipated all of Wudang's countermeasures?
Udeudeuk.
Mu Jin's nails dug into his palm until they bled.
'In the end, were we just Sun Wukong in the Buddha's palm?'
“Sasuk!”
Mu Jin gritted his teeth as he heard the urging voice.
"Gather! Fall back! Defend the center!"
"What? S- Sasuk!"
"Hurry!"
"Yes!"
At Mu Jin's command, those blocking the slope and those blocking the cliff simultaneously fell back in a flurry towards the rear.
"Deploy the Great Nine Palace Sword Formation (대구궁검진(大九宮劍陳))!"
The blood drained from the faces of the Wudang swordsmen.
The Great Nine Palace Sword Formation is a variation of the Nine Palace Sword Formation, a Wudang sword formation for fighting against larger number of enemies. Especially specialized for being deployed on a large scale like this, there could be no better choice for facing many opponents.
But even that depended on the situation.
If they unfold the Nine Palaces Sword Formation in the center right now, they will be exposing all four sides to the enemies charging up the cliff. In other words, it means cutting off their own retreat route.
"Sa- Sahyung!"
“There is no retreat!”
Mu Jin bit down hard on his lip and cut off the protest.
"If we are to die, it is here."
At this, those who were about to dissuade Mu Jin seemed to change their minds, each of their gazes turning resolute.
"Deploy the Nine Palace Sword Formation!"
“Make space!”
“Yes!”
They all knew it. Since things had come to this, retreat was impossible. Intentional or not, the enemy's net has already been cast, and if they try to flee, they will only become hunted prey and die.
“Mu Jin.”
“Sasuk....”
Heo Gong, who had retreated, approached him without lowering his guard against Thousand-Faced Gentleman.
"I'm sorry. I acted on my own..."
"No."
Heo Gong shook his head.
"Everyone knows this is the best course."
“....”
"Now let us prove it. What we couldn't do that day."
“Yes. Sasuk!”
Mu Jin steeled his resolve and raised his sword. How long can they hold out? Two hours? One hour?
It probably won't be that long.
“An hour, huh....”
A hollow laugh escaped Mu Jin's lips unconsciously. The fate of the once so illustrious Wudang now had only an hour left.
But there was no time to sink into sentiment. The enemy cared nothing for their resolve.
Kaaaaang!
“Aaaaaaaaagh!”
On White Face Rock that had lost its original white color and turned dark red, a bloody battle of killing and being killed began. Swords and swords clashed. Blood and death poured out.
“Keep your distance! Don’t get pushed back!”
“Die! You wicked Evil Sects bastard!”
“Sahyuuuuuung!”
In the thick chaos, Mu Jin raised his sword. He saw Jin Hyeon and Heo Gong fighting fiercely at the forefront.
"We don't fight to die."
Mu Jin tightly gripped the sword that had been with him like one body throughout.
“We will survive!”
Soon, he transformed into a beam of light and surged toward the enemy.
* * *
“Hurry! Faster!”
The closer the distance, the more clearly the sight of burning Mount Wudang entered their eyes.
Mid-slope? No, it had already spread beyond that.
Absurd, but the sight of burning Wudang was clearly conveying Wudang's current situation even without any particular communication.
The moment those flames reached the upper reaches of Wudang, the name Wudang would vanish from Kangho.
“Too late! Hurry, hurry up...!”
"No, it's not too late yet! Come to your senses, Gol-ah!"
“We’re late, Sahyung!”
"We're all at our limit! If we push our speed any more, even if we arrive, we won't be able to fight!"
"Guh...!"
Jo-Gol gritted his teeth.
‘Please, just hold on a little longer.’
They can do it. If only they could run like this! Wudang's strength wasn't weak. Didn't Mount Hua already experience it?
This time, they would save people from the hands of those damned Evil Tyrant Alliance bastards. This time, definitely...
"Hm...?"
Just then, Jo-Gol discovered something and flinched. Right now over there... something in front...
"...Huh?"
Jo-Gol's face instantly turned as pale as a blank sheet of paper.
"From above, huff! A defensive formation! Huff! Huff! They've built one it seems!"
Im Sobyeong, who had already taken off his robe and held it in one hand regardless of dignity, shouted while wiping the sweat flowing down his face.
"Probably found suitable terrain and went into a last stand! The situation has reached that point... Haah, I'm dying! Since it's gone that far, they won't be able to hold out long!"
“Do you think we’re late?”
"Damn it! Aigoo! How could Wudang fall so easily? Even a rotten fish is still a fish. It’s Wudang, so they’ll manage somehow!”
Chung Myung nodded briefly. His thoughts were the same. At this rate, they could enter the mountain before Wudang is annihilated.
It was when Chung Myung was silent as if lost in thought.
"Haah, I'm dying... Aah!"
Im Sobyeong was flung backward and rolled on the ground.
"Wh- What! Damn it!"
He jumped up and looked ahead. It turned out he had bumped into the back of the person running in front of him because they had stopped in their tracks.
“Why all of a sudden... Hm?”
Im Sobyeong, about to voice his irritation, shut his mouth. Unbeknownst to him, everyone ahead of them had stopped.
Im Sobyeong's face hardened coldly.
That everyone stopped means they can't advance further. It also means something happened at the front.
But what was strange was the fact that no shouts, screams, or sounds of weapon could be heard.
Then it means the front stopped on their own feet, but what reason could there be for that?
“General?”
Chung Myung walked silently toward the front. Heavenly Comrade Alliance members, sensing his presence, silently stepped aside to the left and right, opening a path.
Silence settled. Chung Myung walked down that long path toward the front. With heavy steps, as if the frantic haste of moments ago was a lie.
Countless gazes focused on him.
And Chung Myung sensed it. While those standing in the rear looked like they didn't know what was going on, the closer he got to the front, the more everyone’s eyes were trembling, soaked in bewilderment.
Then, the moment he saw the eyes of those running at the very front, people he knew best, Chung Myung understood everything.
Because what dwelt in their eyes was closer to confusion beyond bewilderment. There weren't many things that could fluster them this much.
Jo-Gol, Yoon Jong, Hye Yeon, Baek Cheon, and even Namgung Dowi.
Those who had been staring at Chung Myung slowly opened the path. Finally, the reason revealed itself before Chung Myung's eyes.
Enemy, Evil Tyrant Alliance.
But not a large army. It was never a number that could dare to block those gathered here.
The number of enemies did not matter. What mattered was the one standing before them.
“...How long has it been?”
A splendid table, incongruous in the desolate scenery, was abruptly placed there. The man seated before it slowly raised a liquor bottle to show, then tilted it slowly.
Trickle, trickle, trickle.
Strange.
Though thousands existed in this place, the sound of liquor filling the cup could be heard clearly.
Tak.
When the cup was full, he set the bottle down and smiled faintly at Chung Myung who walked out of the crowd.
"Why the face?"
That smile gradually became eerily bewitching.
"Isn't this the situation you hoped for?"
Paegun Jang Ilso. The identity of the one blocking Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
"I've prepared good liquor. Enough to satisfy you.”
A beautiful and eerie smile dug into the hearts of everyone standing there. Along with an indescribable sense of terror.
Consider supporting me by subscribing on Patreon for 5$. The Patreon membership for Mount Hua and Infinite Mage is the same. The benefit:
Advance chapters of Mount Hua : 76
Advance chapters of Magic Realm Convenience Store Worker : 144 Chapters
Advance chapters of Got a Gallery in the Wild : 10
Comments Box