Chapter 1810 – Return of The Mount Hua Sect
He exhaled
sharply, forcing out breaths that had risen to the edge of his throat.
The heat
that surged out of him was almost too intense to believe it came from within
his body. It signified that his internal temperature had long since spiraled
out of his control.
‘Amitabha.’
How many
times had he chanted the Buddha’s name now?
He couldn’t
tell. But he clearly understood what it meant that his muttered chants had
grown more frequent.
“Hah!”
Once more, he
poured out his power with everything he had.
But even his
strength, which could sweep away mountains and sever rivers, could not shatter
that blazing sun. All he could do was push it back slightly and twist its
direction.
Kwaaaang!
The sun,
plunging into the ground, exploded, unleashing a searing heat that seemed to
cook flesh from all directions.
His vision
blurred. He felt as though the blood coursing through his veins was
evaporating. The relentless thirst that overtook him brought a sense of peril greater
than the pain.
Even though
he circulated his energy throughout his body to block the heat, he was in this
state. Without it, he would have long since been reduced to charred ashes.
‘Amitabha…’
A battle of
internal strength was like peering into the depths of a lake. You could only
guess at its true depth, enduring until your opponent’s reserves ran dry.
It was
grueling, yet it was a familiar type of fight. Hye Yeon had never once lost a
battle like this.
But now… he
sensed an unfamiliar defeat. His inner energy, once vast like a full lake, had
long since dried up. Yet his opponent, who had unleashed at least twice as much
energy as he had, showed no signs of exhaustion.
How could he
describe this feeling?
Yes, it was
like someone who had prided themselves on the vastness of their lake witnessing
the ocean for the first time and feeling overwhelmed.
But the
price for this realization of the world's enormity was far too steep to find
solace in.
“Aaaahhh!”
Lee Songbaek
stepped forward, striking away the fragments of tension hurtling toward them.
White smoke billowed from his scorched hand. As Hye Yeon watched Songbaek’s
burnt hand, a thought crossed his mind.
How is he
still holding a sword with hands like that?
Even in the
midst of this fierce battle, such a thought surfaced.
Kwaa!
Soon, Namgung
Dowi's sword energy poured out.
Yes, ‘poured
out’ was the perfect term. It wasn’t a torrent of sword energy rushing forward
like a mountain-breaking stream. It was sword energy imbued with inner power
yet lacked stability. Such an attack could never force the Sun Palace Lord to
retreat.
“Hmph.”
Sure enough,
the Sun Palace Lord lightly swept his hand downward. With a simple motion, he
effortlessly twisted the oncoming sword energy.
Kwaaaang!
The diverted
sword energy exploded in a grand display. No matter how strong the attack, it
meant nothing if it failed to strike the opponent. This scene illustrated that
truth vividly.
“Huff… huff…”
Namgung
Dowi’s shoulders heaved as he panted heavily.
His attack
had lost its edge. But he couldn’t be blamed. Covered in burns, it was a
miracle he was even standing.
If he fell,
everyone else would die. That single fact was likely the only thing keeping him
upright.
“How
pitiful.”
The Sun
Palace Lord clicked his tongue. His gaze pierced through the three of them as
if looking down at something groveling in the dirt.
In that
moment, Lee Songbaek realized something anew. The same words and actions could
hold entirely different meanings depending on who spoke them. Moreover, the
same person’s words and actions could change meaning depending on the
situation.
The Sun
Palace Lord’s gaze now seemed reasonable. It no longer seemed like mere
arrogance, as it had at the start.
No… it
wasn’t reasonable, but maybe Lee Songbaek had lost the strength to resist his
arrogance.
Suddenly,
something surged within him.
“Ridic…
ulous…”
As Lee Songbaek
strained to force out a voice that wouldn’t come, the Sun Palace Lord appeared
right before him.
Lee Songbaek’s
eyes widened as he instinctively swung his sword in a blur, reacting faster
than he could comprehend the situation. It was a testament to how disciplined a
swordsman he was.
But that was
all. The Sun Palace Lord was not an opponent who could be overcome with just
that.
Thud!
The Sun
Palace Lord’s knuckles lightly tapped the flat of Lee Songbaek’s blade. His
sword shot upward as though it had struck an iron wall.
In the next
instant, the Sun Palace Lord’s open palm slammed into Lee Songbaek’s chest.
Thud!
The impact
didn’t sound loud, but Songbaek felt as though he had been struck by a
mountain. He heard the sound of something shattering—not outside, but deep
within his own body.
A scorching
pain engulfed his entire being.
“Songbaek
siju!”
Hye Yeon
screamed involuntarily, his voice almost a shriek.
Songbaek’s
body flew back, coughing up blood as he did, the crimson droplets evaporating
before they even hit the ground. Every detail of the scene etched itself into Hye
Yeon’s vision.
Before the
sight could even fully disappear, the Sun Palace Lord appeared like a ghost in
front of the doubled-over Namgung Dowi, delivering a crushing blow to his chin.
Namgung Dowi
flew back without even a single scream, his body crumpling upon landing.
The distance
at which fists and feet could reach—just moments ago, the three of them had
stood together to hold back the Sun Palace Lord at this range. Now, that very
distance was threatening their lives.
“You…!”
Overwhelmed
by surging rage, Hye Yeon lunged toward the Sun Palace Lord.
Kuuung!
Suddenly, an
invisible pressure crushed down on him.
“Guh…”
A groan
escaped Hye Yeon’s lips as he struggled under the weight. It felt as though he
were carrying a mountain on his back.
Oppression
through inner power. Under normal circumstances, Hye Yeon would never have
succumbed to such a technique.
But now, he
didn’t even have a shred of energy left to resist.
“Kuh…”
His knees
threatened to buckle, and the hand he placed on the ground trembled violently.
Even raising his head to look forward was a monumental effort.
“Answer me,
young monk.”
The Sun
Palace Lord’s leisurely voice reached Hye Yeon’s ears as he struggled
desperately.
“Did I seem
arrogant to you?”
Hye Yeon
couldn’t answer. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he simply
couldn’t.
Arrogance,
if it means an excessively confident attitude, who truly was arrogant? Was it
the Sun Palace Lord, who looked down on them, or these three who dared to stand
against him?
The answer
was evident in the outcome.
No matter
the attitude, once victory is claimed, the Sun Palace Lord’s arrogance can no
longer be considered arrogance. Conversely, no matter the intent, once defeat
is accepted, all the actions of the three amounted to arrogance.
This
undeniable truth pierced Hye Yeon like a dagger, sinking into his skin.
Step.
A pair of
shoes entered Hye Yeon’s line of sight. Finely crafted and luxurious, they were
the silk shoes of the Sun Palace Lord. To Hye Yeon, they seemed to mock him
silently.
“When you
meet Buddha in the afterlife, tell him that your sin was not knowing your
place.”
Hye Yeon
clenched his eyes shut.
‘What should
I have done…?’
He had
longed to be stronger. To remain unshaken. To grow resilient enough to overcome
all the pains of life.
But such
desires were mere wishes—unfulfilled in this lifetime. That lack would take
away what he sought to protect. That loss would become another torment, binding
him in agony.
‘Everything…’
“Stop… what?”
At that
moment, Hye Yeon felt his body suddenly lighten as though it were floating.
Of course,
he quickly realized it was an illusion. The liberation he felt came from the
oppressive force that had been crushing him abruptly dissipating.
But why?
Hye Yeon
urgently raised his gaze and saw it—a massive tiger [daeho, 대호(大虎)] engulfing the Sun Palace Lord.
It was a
sight so unbelievable that he doubted his eyes. It seemed utterly unreal. In
his shattered state, he might have thought it a hallucination conjured by his
mind before death.
Roaarrr!
Yet, the
tiger’s thunderous roar shook Hye Yeon’s ears, proving this was no mere
illusion. The great beast clamped its jaws onto the Sun Palace Lord’s raised
arm, refusing to let go.
“What… what
is this?”
For a brief
moment, the Sun Palace Lord seemed more bewildered than enraged.
He swung the
arm trapped in the tiger’s jaws a few times, regaining his composure too late
before striking the tiger’s flank with a powerful blow.
Kwaang!
The tiger
was sent flying in an instant.
“…What is….”
The Sun
Palace Lord stared blankly at his arm. Between the tattered remains of his
garment, the puncture wounds left by the beast’s fangs were clearly visible.
A deep sense
of disbelief flickered across his face as he murmured.
“I didn’t
even sense it approaching.”
“It’s not
that strange, is it?”
A voice
interjected. The Sun Palace Lord turned toward it sharply. There, approaching
him, was a man.
“After all,
it’s common knowledge that beasts are better at concealing their presence than
humans.”
The man was
large—taller by a head than the Sun Palace Lord, who was no small figure. His
shoulders were broad as mountains, radiating an imposing aura.
The Sun
Palace Lord’s expression hardened.
“...Namman
Beast Palace Lord?”
“Call me
Maeng So.”
Thud.
Maeng So’s
footsteps halted in front of Hye Yeon, as though forming a barrier to protect
him.
“L-Lord of
the Palace?”
“You’ve been
through enough.”
Maeng So
briefly glanced at Hye Yeon, meeting his gaze with a casual grin.
“The beasts
got spooked by the sheer number of troops. Took a bit of time to calm them
down. Hope you’ll forgive the delay.”
“Forgive…
What does that…?”
“Why so
timid? Take it as my apology.”
Thud.
Maeng So
chuckled heartily and lightly tapped Hye Yeon’s shoulder. However, with hands
like iron lids, the sudden impact caused Hye Yeon to collapse onto the ground
with a loud thud.
“Huh?”
“…..”
Maeng So
scratched his head awkwardly as he looked down at the fallen Hye Yeon, his face
pressed into the dirt.
“Well… uh,
sorry about that. Didn’t realize you were that exhausted.”
“…..”
“Ahem.
Anyway, don’t worry about a thing. I’ll handle this.”
Turning away
from Hye Yeon, Maeng So faced the Sun Palace Lord, standing firm.
The Sun
Palace Lord, who had been silently watching the scene, furrowed his brow.
“Namman
Beast Palace Lord.”
“Come to
think of it, have we met before?”
“Not in this
generation.”
“Then it
must have been the previous palace lord. You people all look the same with your
flashy garments. Doesn’t it bother you to lug those around all the time?”
As Maeng So
scratched his rough jawline, the Sun Palace Lord gritted his teeth.
“Why does
the Beast Palace stand in my way?”
Maeng So
tilted his head, puzzled by the question.
“What do you
mean?”
“Have you
forgotten the persecution your kind has endured, being labeled as barbarians
beyond civilization’s borders?”
“…..”
“No matter
how much the Central Plains changes its face, the deep-rooted disdain they
harbor for you won’t vanish. You of all people should know this better than
anyone.”
“Hmm.”
Maeng So
seemed amused, locking eyes with the Sun Palace Lord before smirking.
“Even if
that’s true, isn’t it a bit rich coming from you—someone taking orders from
Jang Ilso?”
“Don’t
misunderstand me. I’m merely using him.”
The Sun
Palace Lord’s voice wavered slightly as though struck at his core.
“What I want
is for the Central Plains to never again look down on us. I’ll etch fear and
awe of us deeply into their bones. Jang Ilso is just a tool for that purpose.”
“Hmm.”
“You know it
too, don’t you? Now is the perfect chance to repay all the disdain we’ve
suffered.”
Maeng So
nodded vigorously.
“Indeed. I understand
what you mean. We have certainly suffered a lot. There have been many times
when we have felt wronged.”
“Right. Then
even now...”
“But that’s it.”
“...What did
you say?”
Maeng So
laughed heartily, in a way that almost made him look foolish.
“Isn't it
absurd? To repay disdain with blood. We don’t calculate things that way.”
“.....”
“Blood for
blood, death for death. And disdain? We repay that with disdain.”
The Sun
Palace Lord clenched his teeth, frustrated by the lack of reason.
“Even so,
that doesn't justify the Beast Palace standing in my way.”
“Turns out
you're dumber than I thought.”
“What?”
“I said
you're dumb. Are you deaf too?”
Maeng So
mimicked cleaning his ear with a thick finger.
“You
insolent...”
Fury ignited
in the Sun Palace Lord as he bellowed, his face on the verge of exploding.
“How dare
you, with the audacity of a bear, spout such nonsense!”
“Bears are
smarter than you. At least a bear wouldn’t think that everything in the world
needs a reason.”
“.....”
“I stand
here simply because I want to stand here. What more reason do I need?”
“...You want
to stand here?”
“Exactly.”
Maeng So
nodded vigorously and grinned.
“It’s quite
fun here, after all.”
Finally, the
Sun Palace Lord abandoned all attempts at persuasion. He realized that this was
not someone with whom reason would prevail.
“Since you
and I share the same outsider status, I considered showing you mercy. But it
seems you're nothing more than a lowly barbarian after all.”
At the Sun
Palace Lord’s words, Maeng So shook his head.
“You're the
one who’s hopeless.”
There are
times when it happens. People who don’t resent discrimination itself but
instead resent not being in a position to discriminate.
To Maeng So,
the Sun Palace Lord was precisely such a person.
“I’ll
commend your courage in
blocking my path as a lowly barbarian. But the price for that courage will be
your death.”
“Huft.”
Maeng So
exhaled briefly, about to reply.
“Die!”
But the Sun
Palace Lord gave him no chance, releasing a torrent of power in an instant. The
blazing white Solar Palm Force shot straight toward Maeng So in a single, swift
motion.
The Sun
Palace Lord was convinced. That single strike would incinerate this absurd man
to ashes.
Yet at that
moment—
“Hmph!”
With a short
intake of breath, Maeng So’s upper arm swelled to nearly twice its size. The
grotesque transformation made the Sun Palace Lord's eyes widen in shock.
“Hiyaaaahhhh!”
Maeng So’s
fist collided with the oncoming surge of energy.
Kwaaaaang!
A tremendous
explosion erupted just in front of Maeng So. A storm of searing heat swept
across the battlefield. No mortal being of flesh and bone could withstand such
an inferno. They shouldn’t have been able to.
But—
“Whew.
That’s pretty hot.”
Thud.
Maeng So
stepped forward into the blazing storm of heat.
Thud.
Thud.
Not only did
he endure the firestorm, but he began walking through it with utter composure.
“You...”
The Sun
Palace Lord’s eyes widened to the point of tearing.
“How... how
is this possible?”
“Looks like
your predecessor didn’t teach you much.”
“.....”
“Well, now’s
as good a time as any for you to learn. Why the Sun Palace, despite its
overwhelming power, has never managed to advance into the Central Plains.”
Crack.
The sound of
Maeng So’s joints cracking echoed from his entire body.
“Then again,
I suppose it doesn’t matter. You won’t be able to pass this knowledge on to
anyone.”
Maeng So’s
long hair began to flutter in the heat, like the mane of a lion roaring at its
prey.
❀ ❀ ❀
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