Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1699
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
That sword burdened with such complicated circumstances was being unleashed here and now, for none other than but to save Mount Hua.
"Hyaaaaaaah!"
Jin Geumryong swung his sword with all his might.
Watching with a hardened expression, Isong Baek gave a small nod.
Pain remains. There were still unresolved conflicts. Perhaps it will remain so. As long as the names Southern Edge Sect and Mount Hua exist, the relationship between the two sects may never become close.
But even so, they were now fighting for Mount Hua.
“I guess that’ll be enough for now....”
"Yes?"
"I will go as well, Sogaju-nim."
"Wa- Wait a moment. It's dangerous with just you."
Isong Baek smiled bitterly at Namgung Dowi's earnest dissuasion.
He climbed this cliff alone without a plan himself, yet he worries first when others try to do the same. This person was certainly strange as well.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Sogaju-nim.”
"What?"
“It’s not just us.”
At those words, Namgung Dowi reflexively looked down.
Shivers instantly ran down his entire body. Dozens of people were climbing the blood-red cliff shrouded in darkness.
Their eyes shone brightly enough to be clearly visible even in the darkness.
"Ah...."
Namgung Dowi let out a groan-like sound as he widened his eyes. Isong Baek smiled faintly.
"Though a bit late, it doesn't mean our resolve is lacking."
“...Isong Sohyeop.”
"Then."
Taat!
With those words, Isong Baek left Namgung Dowi behind and soared upward.
"I'll help, Sahyung!”
“No need!”
“Hap!”
Isong Baek's majestic sword energy raced up the steep cliff.
The scattered snow-white sword energy and the deep, heavy sword energy spreading thickly as if taking root in the cliff blended together exquisitely.
Namgung Dowi stared blankly at the harmony of the two sword energies.
Their swords, methods, even the moment they stepped forward were all different. But... at the same time, they weren’t different.
Kagak!
Namgung Dowi gripped his sword with even more strength.
'I can't just stand by idly.'
He could still fight too.
Different yet not different. At least the thoughts of all who climbed here would be the same.
'That's enough for now.'
Namgung Dowi smiled softly. A fierce light bloomed again in his eyes as he kicked off the cliff with both legs and surged upward.
“Namgung’s sword is here too!”
His voice thundered out, echoing all the way to and beyond the summit of the towering cliff.
Jong Nigok unconsciously bit his lip hard.
He consciously avoided looking below, but even without visual confirmation, he knew how dangerous a place his son was climbing right now.
'It's madness.'
To do something like this, he must be out of his mind.
The problem was the fact that Jong Nigok was doing that very insane thing right now. Even though no one forced or ordered him to.
Swaeaeaek!
Divine Strategist Pung Yeong surged beside him with tremendous momentum.
It was an incredible lightness art that even Jong Nigok couldn't even dream of imitating. The lightness of Fengying Shenkai, once known as the greatest god in the world, was truly worthy of its reputation.
“I can’t lose!”
Encouraged by that speed, Jong Nigok kicked off the cliff face.
"Sect Leader Jong!"
Namgung Myeong’s loud shout was heard. But instead of looking back, Jong Nigok chose to kick off the cliff and climb higher.
'Why?'
He didn't know. Why he was doing this. Why he was insisting on an act that brought only loss.
He carries countless things on his shoulders.
Southern Edge Sect's future, Southern Edge Sect's future peers, and perhaps even the future of the world.
Even if the cliff collapses, someone must lead Heavenly Comrade Alliance. That was the most logical. And for Jong Nigok, who should be part of that, to risk his life here was an incredibly stupid act.
However....
He raised his head. He saw the scattered pure white sword energy and the two sword energies pushing forward with simple persistence.
"Those youngsters..."
Jong Nigok bit his lip tightly.
"It's still too early for you!"
Paat!
He rushed up the cliff face like the wind.
* * *
“Strategist!”
Ho Gamyeong's eyes were slightly distorted.
‘Heavenly Comrade Alliance….’
He could see people climbing the cliff. Even at a glance, their speed was unusual. It was enough to gauge their martial prowess.
'In the midst of that, they deployed each sect's best elites to the cliff?'
The main force of Heavenly Comrade Alliance was engaging Evil Tyrant Alliance forces below the cliff. With such significant combat power pulled away, casualties were bound to increase.
This meant they were venturing to save Mount Hua even while accepting losses to their own sects.
And even to a place where their own lives could be endangered.
'No. Not ‘if unlucky.’'
They wouldn't be stupid enough not to calculate that the probability of not blocking the coming explosion was higher than the probability of blocking it.
So they’re literally climbing that cliff risking their lives.
Ho Gamyeong bit his lip.
Was this situation causing significant disruption to his current strategy?
No, not at all. Looking at it differently, it might even be a good opportunity to send even those elite forces climbing the cliff straight to hell.
But even so, Ho Gamyeong was having a hard time suppressing his bewilderment.
'Those bastards...'
Because they began moving completely beyond Ho Gamyeong's expectations.
What kind of people were Righteous Sects bastards?
They were those who thought nothing of another sect’s annihilation if it was for their own benefit. In some ways, Righteous Sects was even more treacherous and vicious than Evil Sects which openly attacked each other.
No need to look far. What solidified Evil Tyrant Alliance’s victory in the battle of Hubei was precisely the division caused by the subtle friction and competition between Righteous Sects.
Yet now, those cunning bastards were climbing the cliff even at the risk of their own lives. Why on earth?
"Strategist, countermeasures..."
“Quiet.”
"Strategist."
"I said be quiet!"
Ho Gamyeong suddenly erupted in a furious roar. The adjutants went pale and hurriedly shut their mouths.
Udeudeuk.
Ho Gamyeong gritted his teeth and glared at the cliff. His always cold eyes were distorted.
'Nothing has changed.'
The situation still favors his side.
‘There is no way we can lose even without Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword. No, such a thing must never happen.’
Victory was needed. And an overwhelming victory at that.
That was the only thing he could offer Jang Ilso, who had moved according to his plan. If he can't achieve this, Ho Gamyeong as Evil Tyrant Alliance's strategist would be no different from losing his value of existence.
"Mount Hua?"
"Still no other movements!"
"...But they will soon realize."
If a major battle erupted on the cliff, no matter how chaotic, they couldn't possibly fail to notice.
"Tell the Sun Palace. Tell them to detonate the explosives."
“Strategist! Preparations aren't yet..."
“It doesn’t matter.”
Ho Gamyeong's eyes sank coldly.
"The net already has a hole, waiting for all the fish to escape is foolish. Even catching half isn't a loss. If lucky, might be able to catch them all."
"But then the Sun Palace warriors too..."
“That is the Sun Palace Master’s concern.”
Ho Gamyeong cut off the adjutant's words coldly.
“Pass the command.”
“Yes, Strategist!”
Realizing that Ho Gamyeong’s mind was firmly made up, the adjutants rushed out using lightness arts without a word. Ho Gamyeong didn't even glance at them, fixing his gaze solely on the cliff.
'Where did it go wrong?'
His palms were soaked with cold sweat.
Even the alliance of Shaolin and Ten Great Sects had not strayed from his and Jang Ilso’s prediction. No, that wasn't particularly remarkable. After all, wars weren’t lost because one failed to predict, but because one cannot stop it even while knowing.
The only existence that has strayed from that predicted trajectory was Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
'And its core should naturally be Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.'
But since this was happening even without Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, should he accept that Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword wasn't the core of Heavenly Comrade Alliance?
Or not...?
Ho Gamyeong shook his head while tightly biting his lips.
That can't be. That was impossible.
Yet the reason Ho Gamyeong couldn't easily accept this situation was that everything unfolding now felt as if Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword were present there.
What if Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword were there?
He would likely have climbed that cliff the moment the first explosion occurred. Recklessly, without a plan, like a madman.
That bewildering, utterly irrational sight is exactly what they were showing now. And not just one, but many of them simultaneously.
Ho Gamyeong's eyes became slightly bloodshot.
‘I must kill them all here.’
His heart pounded unpleasantly. Even he couldn't accurately explain the substance of the crisis he feels now. By his usual convictions, any force that thinks and moves like Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword was a place that deserves to perish immediately.
But the moment he caught a glimpse of another possibility, Ho Gamyeong grew more anxious than ever.
The two words 'instinct' and 'premonition' he hates most were sending warnings toward him ceaselessly right now.
Ho Gamyeong shouted as if telling himself.
“There can be no failure! Bury them all beneath the cliff!”
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