Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1703
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Keuk!”
The face of Seop Ryang, an Elder of the Sun Palace, was horribly distorted.
‘Just what are these guys?’
His small pupils trembled faintly. This cannot be. This was impossible.
Originally, their martial art was the Scorching Yang Internal Art that burns people. As long as one was human, one was bound to feel repulsion and fear toward blazing flames.
Even those with unbreakable conviction, brutal killers, or any master would flinch before the heat of Scorching Yang Internal Art. By its very nature, even if one blocks the palm force itself, it was impossible to avoid all of the accompanying heat.
No matter how wildly one struggles, all that remains was a corpse roasted to a crisp. So they must retreat. That wasn’t just natural but a common-sense reaction.
But these maniac bastards were completely ignoring that common sense.
"Damn it! It's hooot!"
Along with the curse, a sword tip glowing red-hot flew toward Seop Ryang’s face. Though screams spilled from his mouth and his face was grotesquely contorted, the incoming sword strike itself was calm and composed.
'How could this be?'
He thought it would be enough to just block them.
If they just handled the already exhausted ones appropriately, the cliff would collapse on its own, and they just needed to escape through the path already prepared.
How did such an easy task end up like this?
"Aaaaah!"
They were even being pushed back. He could clearly feel the confusion around him. Especially those lacking experience were being chased by panic and were unable to bring out their full ability.
He had always mocked such situations, but now it was the Sun Palace being driven into that very situation.
‘Mount Hua’. Their momentum stiffened even the body of Seop Ryang.
“Move, you bastard!”
'Danger...'
Seeing the curly-haired youth charging with blazing eyes, Seop Ryang unconsciously retreated one step backward. He was intimidated by their momentum even before clashing in skill.
It was that very moment.
“You shameless fool!”
"Eek!"
Seop Ryang widened his eyes greatly.
He froze for a moment, then slowly turned around. What was visible at that moment wasn't the voice's owner, but a giant sun exploding as if to cover the world.
'N- No!'
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaang!
The raging fire that followed engulfed Seop Ryang. His body melted instantly and began to burn black.
“W-What!”
"Dodge!"
At the sudden eruption of terrifying heat, Yoon Jong hurriedly grabbed Jo-Gol. The two bodies tumbled together in a heap.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaah!"
A scream so painful it hurt just to hear froze the fierce battlefield for an instant. Within the blazing crimson flames, a blackened body thrashed and struggled as if dancing.
"That’s..."
It was a sight too horrifying to be described as merely 'terrifying.'
Shortly after flames subsided, Seop Ryang's body burned pitch black like charcoal finally collapsed with a thud.
Psssss.
Everyone watched blankly as a human body crumbled into ash. Then they shifted their gaze to the person walking out from behind the pile of ash that used to be Seop Ryang’s corpse.
"P- Palace Master-nim!"
"You pitiful wretches. Just how far do you intend to disgrace my dignity?"
Sun Palace Master Jin Pyeong spat out the words through gritted teeth as if enraged. His eyes flashed like flames.
“Mount Hua? To such mere trash!"
Lava-like Scorching Yang energy rose from the Sun Palace Master’s entire body.
“Come. I’ll send you to hell myself!”
The gatekeeper of the final gateway leading to the exit of hell let out a huge roar.
"P- Palace master?"
A dumbfounded voice came out of Jo-Gol's mouth.
"He seems to be the master of the Southern Sun Palace."
“That person?”
Jo-Gol, asking back as if in disbelief, soon distorted his face miserably.
“Isn’t this way too unfair? Our So-baek is so small and cute, so why’s that man…?”
"What nonsense are you saying! You idiot!"
Yoon Jong, who had rebuked Jo-Gol, now stared at the Sun Palace Master with a tense face. It was funny to think this after scolding Jo-Gol just a moment ago, but inwardly, he actually found his nonsense somewhat understandable.
‘He’s like a blazing sun.’
The heat emanating from the Sun Palace Master felt like it would burn even the hem of Yoon Jong's clothes from afar. Does Scorching Yang Internal Art exert this level of power when it reaches the peak?
Yoon Jong felt his body stiffening with tension.
In appearance, he merely looked like a middle-aged man of noble status. A person who seems to only enjoy a leisurely life in some palace.
In short, he wasn’t someone who overwhelmed others by appearance alone, like Black Dragon King.
Yet the immense and terrifying energy pouring from his body rendered that ordinary appearance meaningless.
‘Of all times…’
He couldn't help but sigh at the encroaching gloom.
They must open that path. To survive, absolutely.
But the wall blocking their way now was too high and thick. Moreover, they had to climb over a wall that was difficult to scale even normally, all while being chased by time.
'We need to find another way...'
As Yoon Jong sank into anguish, someone suddenly surged up over his head.
"Sago!"
He shouted instinctively in shock.
When he hesitates, Yoo Iseol acts. Her body rushed fiercely toward the Sun Palace Master like a hawk.
“It’s reckless, Sago! Now...”
“Ami-ta-bha!”
And at that moment, a great lion's roar erupted beside Jo-Gol.
Taaaaang!
Along with an impact like a giant whip being cracked, Hye Yeon’s Hundred Step Divine Fist flew toward the Sun Palace Master at terrifying speed. Its focus was on speed rather than power. It was a singular fist (일권(一拳)) filled with the intent to support Yoo Iseol.
From the front, the Hundred Step Divine Fist unleashed by Shaolin's thousand-year talent flew in, and from above, Mount Hua's most lethal blade aimed for the throat.
A situation where anyone would feel threatened.
But Sun Palace Master didn't even twitch an eyebrow.
"Trivial tricks!"
Hwaaaaaaak!
Before long, immense Scorching Yang Energy explosively from the Sun Palace Master’s two hands.
'That's?'
Yoon Jong widened his eyes greatly.
Palm force spewed from Sun Palace Master's both hands was turning beyond orange to golden. Soon, it surged like waves and completely covered his front.
Wooooooong!
The power of the Hundred Step Divine Fist couldn’t pierce that heat and was scattered. And Yoo Iseol, who had swung her sword with all her might toward the flying palm force, was unable to overcome the recoil force and was thrown backward.
"Sago!"
Tak.
Yoo Iseol landed with one knee touching the ground, and blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
“Sagp! Are you all right?”
"...Fine."
Having merely exchanged a single sword strike, the ends of her hair were singed, and blood had flowed back up into her mouth.
Literally, with just a single blow.
"Unbelievable... amount of internal strength."
"Ugh..."
Yoon Jong's eyes trembled faintly.
'Is that truly possible?'
Everyone they had faced until now wasn't easy.
The power in Black Dragon King’s single blade was strong beyond their daring imagination, and Thousand-Faced Gentleman’s speed was so great that it was impossible to follow with the naked eye.
Jang Ilso made everyone shrink as a human being, and the sword of the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, whom they had only glimpsed, gave them goosebumps just by recalling it.
But this was different from that kind of 'strength'.
How immense must one's internal strength be to occupy such a space with a single surge of palm force? That's literally an absolute shield. A burning shield that incinerates to death all who approach.
Hye Yeon spoke as if groaning.
"I heard the masters of the Southern Sun Palace... have been royalty for generations. With royal authority and palace master's authority, they monopolize Linyi's countless elixirs."
Jo-Gol spun around to look at Hye Yeon as if asking what kind of nonsense that was.
"No, does eating elixirs like rice make that? Didn't Chung Myung say elixirs don't have much effect beyond a certain level?"
"Perhaps that's true. Generally speaking.”
"What?"
“If the water exceeds the vessel, it naturally overflows. But... that person is royalty, destined to rise to the position of Sun Palace Master from birth. Naturally, he would have made the vessel itself first.”
"This damn world. I should have been born into a rich family too."
"...You shouldn't say such things, you bastard."
"What about you, Monk? Aren't you someone cherished by the rich Shaolin too?”
"I, I was originally a street orphan..."
"Yes, sorry. Anyway, always only I'm the bad guy, only me."
Yoon Jong was just about to smack the back of his head when he couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Get away!”
At Yoo Iseol's short cry, everyone launched their bodies in all directions. Almost simultaneously, the golden palm force slammed into the spot where they had been.
Wooooooong!
There was no explosion. The flying palm force didn't shatter its surroundings but melted them. The ground where they had been standing moments ago, struck by palm force, dyed crimson then soon burned pitch black.
"...Good heavens."
Jo-Gol's mouth hung open in astonishment.
The ground charred in that brief moment. If a person were struck by that kind of heat, what would happen? Even if one wrapped the body in internal strength, could a human body made of flesh and blood truly withstand that?
“You lot seem to know nothing of manners.”
The Sun Palace Master frowned and glared at them.
"Daring to exchange banter before me."
His gaze was arrogant to the point of being akin to one looking down from the heavens.
But absurd enough, to Jo-Gol's eyes, that arrogance didn't seem excessive. No, it looked perfectly natural.
“Damn, the fact that I’m even thinking this means I really am a commoner. Slave mentality down to the bone…”
"What nonsense are you babbling about, you punk!"
“Grrrr.”
Jo-Gol let out a groan.
“Palace Master-nim! They are trivial and base creatures. Not worth Your Majesty dealing with personally.”
“We fear your precious jade body might be damaged! Please step back!"
"We'll handle this place."
The protectors, having rushed over in a panic, begged and pleaded as if ready to prostrate flat before the Sun Palace Master. But all they received in return were cold stares and contempt.
"What would you do?"
"Pa- Palace Master-nim."
“You pathetic fools beyond measure. How much more must you humiliate me to be satisfied!"
As the Sun Palace Master’s wrath poured out, the protectors turned pale.
They served at the Sun Palace Master's side, so they knew all too well. For Sun Palace Master Jin Pyeong to be this enraged was rare.
In fact, from the Sun Palace Master’s perspective, it was fully understandable.
Had this been Linyi, he would never have suffered humiliation at the hands of a mere lowborn like Jang Ilso. Not only would he not receive orders from the lowborn Jang Ilso, but he would certainly never have to bow his head.
But what if he fails to properly accomplish even this task?
He couldn't even begin to imagine the magnitude of insult and shame he would suffer from Jang Ilso. Sun Palace Master, born standing only above others, could absolutely not accept such a situation.
Therefore, even if he had to step forward personally, he had to ensure the success of this mission... no, this proposal. For Linyi, for the Sun Palace, and furthermore, for himself!
His golden robes began to flutter violently as if struck by a typhoon.
"Step back. Unless you too want to die as well!"
Terrified by the formidable heat spewing out, the protectors scuttled back to the left and right. Staying near him would turn even them into charred lumps.
Sun Palace Master stepped toward Mount Hua with entire body wrapped in tremendous Scorching Yang Energy. It wasn't enough to just block them; he was overflowing with killing intent, as if he intended to burn them all to death personally.
"Vulgar lot. Ill-mannered... and presumptuous beyond belief!"
Mount Hua's swordsmen unconsciously stepped back hesitantly.
The heat was so terrible that just facing it felt as if their souls were being stolen. Even knowing they shouldn't retreat, instinctive fear and repulsion seized them by the nape of their necks.
They knew they had to advance and open a path to survive. But if that path was covered by hellish flames, could they really leap forward without hesitation?
Jo-Gol gritted his teeth so hard the muscles in his jaw bulged.
"What should we do, Sahyung?"
"Do I look like..."
"Thinking is your job, Sahyung! How are we supposed to deal with a bastard like that?!"
Instead of answering, Yoon Jong bit his lower lip.
"There's no way?"
"There is, of course."
There was a way to fight any opponent. That bastard Chung Myung taught them that fact. However...
“What is it?”
"Internal strength isn't infinite. It gets consumed no matter what. No matter how great his reserves are, there’s no way he can keep releasing palm force on that scale endlessly.”
“So?”
“So normally… we would have to drag it into a battle of attrition.”
“...I’m going crazy, really.”
Jo Geul's face instantly darkened completely.
There wasn't a single thing wrong with Yoon Jong’s words. That truly was the most reliable approach.
But Mount Hua's current situation didn't allow for stalling time. On the contrary, time was of the essence.
There was a weakness, but they couldn't exploit it. Doesn't the world call such existence invincible (무적(無敵))?
Jo-Gol clenched his fists until the blood drained from them and thought urgently.
'No, no. I must somehow do something!'
He was now Mount Hua's vanguard captain. No matter how difficult or painful it was, he had to open the path. That was his role, his reason for being.
But no method comes to mind at all.
The moment they clashed, they would turn into charcoal. His entire body will burn away. Just what can be done against such an enemy?
'Rather...'
Jump off that cliff instead? Wouldn’t that have a better chance than facing him?
Of course, he knows. As long as the path they opened, the path they must open again going back was endlessly long too.
But compared to beating against that despairing wall...
It was the very moment Jo-Gol hesitated and was about to turn his head back.
'Uh?'
A certain sight caught his eye.
One person stood facing the searing heat that felt like it would parch and burn his entire body upon mere contact. The back of that person blocking the Sun Palace Master was firm without a single inch of wavering.
That person’s low voice reached the ears of Jo-Gol, who had frozen in place.
“Whether it be a thorny path or a pit of fire… I solidified my resolve a long time ago.”
"Sa..."
"What's important is whether it can be carried through..."
Mount Hua's Plum Blossom Sword aimed at Sun Palace Master.
The moment the sword heated by heat aimed at his face, Sun Palace Master greatly twitched his eyebrows.
“...Who are you?”
“Baek Cheon.”
“Sa- Sasuk!”
Amid the heat that seemed capable of melting flesh, Baek Cheon's eyes were settled infinitely cold.
“I am the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua.”
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