Chapter 1834 – Return of The Mount Hua Sect

 

Chapter 1834. Should I Say It’s Nice to See You? (4) ❀ ❀ ❀

A brief silence fell over the battlefield.

The warriors of Mount Hua, who had been relentlessly pursuing Ho Gamyeong, and even the guards of the military advisor, who had risked their lives to protect him, all held their breath and stared at a single point.

Ho Gamyeong’s lower garments were gradually being soaked with blood.

Just by looking at how the blood oozed out uncontrollably, it was easy to guess that his wounds were severe. And since the meaning of such an injury was painfully clear, no one dared to speak.

In the silence, Ho Gamyeong also looked down at his leg. Through the torn fabric, a deep gash was visible, so deep that the bone could be seen.

“……”

It was a serious injury, but not necessarily a fatal one. This wound alone wouldn’t kill him, and it was still something that could be treated. On a battlefield where lives were lost like autumn leaves, it might be nothing more than a mere scratch.

But this wound meant something beyond what was visible.

“C-Commander…”

One of the guards called out to Ho Gamyeong in a trembling voice.

Ho Gamyeong let out a short sigh. It was no more than a faint breath, yet at this moment, it was clear to everyone’s ears.

He lifted himself up. Though his wounded leg faltered for a moment, he soon managed to stand fully upright.

And as he turned to look behind him—

Sshhk!

Hardly any of his guards remained.

Thud.

The warriors who had been clinging onto Yoon Jong collapsed onto the ground.

Ho Gamyeong gazed silently at the blood flowing from their necks. That blood, which had once been life, was now seeping into the earth, pooling carelessly. What was he seeing in that sight?

Yoon Jong found it strange.

‘Ho Gamyeong…’

Looking back, it was truly odd. Yoon Jong knew well—he knew how many had died because of Ho Gamyeong’s schemes, how much suffering he had caused.

After the infamous Great Demonic Cult Uprising, if one were to name those who had inflicted the greatest harm on the world, Ho Gamyeong would easily rank among the top five.

Yet, watching him like this, it didn’t feel that way at all.

His pale face, drained of blood, and his tall, slender frame made him seem more like a scholar than a warrior—much more so than Im Sobyeong, who actually claimed to be one.

Naturally, curiosity arose.

Why had such a person committed such cruel deeds? Why had someone like him followed a man like Jang Ilso?

“Cough.”

Ho Gamyeong let out a small cough, drawing everyone’s attention instantly.

Right now, he radiated a strange presence. Unlike before, when he had seemed like nothing more than Jang Ilso’s shadow.

His gaze slowly shifted, as if naturally falling on the place it was meant to. It was not Yoon Jong standing in front of him. Nor was it Yoo Iseol, whose eyes burned with icy killing intent behind him. Instead, his eyes rested on the figure concealed behind the name ‘Mount Hua.’

Ho Gamyeong murmured as if speaking to himself.

“…Come to think of it, we’ve never really had a proper conversation.”

“……”

“Even though we pride ourselves on knowing each other well. It’s a bit amusing.”

Thump. Thump.

Soft footsteps echoed.

As if by unspoken agreement, the disciples of Mount Hua instinctively stepped aside to make way for someone.

Cheong Myeong. Sliding his sword back into its scabbard, he slowly walked forward. Under normal circumstances, sheathing one’s weapon in a situation like this could mean many things. But here and now, it could only mean one.

“A conversation, huh…”

Cheong Myeong twisted his lips into a smirk.

“I didn’t realize we were in a position to casually exchange words.”

“We weren’t, until now. But now… does it really matter?”

Ho Gamyeong responded calmly.

Cheong Myeong silently stared at him. There was no lingering regret or attachment in Ho Gamyeong’s expression. He wasn’t stalling for time.

Cheong Myeong knew that look better than anyone. Yes, it was the face of someone who had accepted death.

“There was something I wanted to ask you.”

“……”

“I’ve been wondering about it for a long time. If this moment ever came, I wanted to ask. Though I never actually expected to have the chance.”

Sweat beaded on Ho Gamyeong’s forehead, whether from pain or the creeping chill of death. Yet, his expression remained unwaveringly calm.

“Go ahead.”

Ho Gamyeong locked eyes with Cheong Myeong and spoke.

“How does it feel?”

For a moment, Cheong Myeong didn’t understand.

But Ho Gamyeong immediately clarified.

“To kill me.”

Cheong Myeong didn’t answer right away, simply glaring at Ho Gamyeong instead.

Ho Gamyeong met that murderous gaze without flinching.

What was he thinking? What kind of thought process led him to ask such a question?

“No need to look at me like that. I’m genuinely curious.”

“…How do you think it feels?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

Ho Gamyeong slowly shook his head.

“But if you find even a little enjoyment in it, that would be nice. It would mean the one killing me understands my worth.”

“……”

“How is it? Do you enjoy it?”

“I did, up until a moment ago.”

Cheong Myeong bared his teeth.

“But not anymore. Now, I just feel disgusted. If your goal was to ruin my mood, congratulations—you succeeded.”

Ho Gamyeong chuckled faintly.

“Not a bad accomplishment.”

His face was growing visibly paler. Blood continued to flow out of his wound because he hadn’t even stopped the bleeding.

“Then let me ask you something in return.”

“Cheong Myeong…”

One of Mount Hua’s swordsmen, unable to comprehend why Cheong Myeong was engaging in conversation with such a villain, started to intervene.

It was unbearable to watch them exchange words so calmly. Ending Ho Gamyeong’s life and moving on to support their allies seemed like the obvious course of action.

But Yoon Jong reached out and stopped him.

“Sahyung?”

“Wait.”

Yoon Jong gave a short command and shook his head.

It wasn’t out of respect for a dying man. Ho Gamyeong didn’t deserve such a thing. But Yoon Jong, too, had questions. And he had a feeling that Cheong Myeong would ask them for him.

“Why did you do all this?”

Cheong Myeong asked.

Ho Gamyeong simply stared at him in silence. Cheong Myeong’s gaze sharpened, as if he could cut him down at any moment.

“You’re not so foolish that you didn’t realize this would put your life in danger.”

Ho Gamyeong shook his head.

“That’s just hindsight. You were the anomaly. No one pursued me except Mount Hua. If anything, it shows how easily everyone was blinded by Ryeonju’s shadow.”

“Do you still have lingering regrets? Seeing you mumbling things even you don’t believe yourself.”

“…….”

“Even if others didn’t know, you must have. You knew that once things came to this, I would inevitably come to kill you.”

Cheong Myeong sharply questioned Ho Gamyeong, who smiled faintly.

“Why did you do it? Was saving Jang Ilso’s life so important to you? Enough to throw away your own life so foolishly?”

Ho Gamyeong slowly lifted his head and cast his gaze toward the distant sky. No, it wasn’t the sky he was looking at. Perhaps…

“….Well. I don’t know.”

“……”

It was an answer spoken with great difficulty after a long silence. A silence filled with countless meanings. And for that reason, Cheong Myeong could understand the response.

“I thought I knew… but now, I don’t.”

Hearing Ho Gamyeong’s voice, Cheong Myeong thought.

Perhaps Ho Gamyeong had never been someone who could affirm or be certain of his own life. Maybe he simply couldn’t turn back after taking that first step forward.

Regret? No, regret alone couldn’t fully describe it.

It was more like the sorrow that brushes past those who reach the end of their lives. That would be a more fitting way to put it. And Cheong Myeong could understand that feeling.

“But… there is one thing I think I do understand.”

Ho Gamyeong closed his eyes.

“Ryeonju repeatedly told me… that the one who understands him best is none other than the Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”

“……”

“Now, I know what that feels like. It’s truly strange to be understood by someone you’ve never even spoken to before. And… it’s not such a bad feeling.”

Cheong Myeong watched Ho Gamyeong in silence for a long moment before placing his hand on his sword. A sword that had been sheathed once being drawn again could only mean one thing.

But at that moment, Ho Gamyeong spoke.

“But there’s one thing I need to correct.”

A strange glint flickered in Ho Gamyeong’s eyes as he stared at Cheong Myeong. A chill ran down Cheong Myeong’s spine.

“It’s true that I took the risk. But… you misunderstood my purpose.”

“What are you saying?”

“Someone like you… did you really believe that?”

“…What?”

“Did you really think… that I risked my life just to help Ryeonju escape?”

A flicker of doubt crossed Cheong Myeong’s face. Then, his eyes gradually widened. His hands began to tremble.

Ho Gamyeong slowly glanced around before letting out a small laugh.

“Haven’t you come too far, Plum Blossom Sword Demon?”

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“Uraaahhhhhhh!”

Crack!

A lightning-fast sword strike buried itself in the enemy’s neck.

“Keukkk.”

But the sensation was completely different from usual. The opponent’s muscles clung to the blade like tenacious vines. It felt alien, as though he were cutting through something other than human flesh.

“Get the hell out of my way!”

Crunch!

In the end, Jo Geol forcefully twisted his sword and yanked it free, immediately launching another attack.

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

He stabbed the cultist’s body over and over. Blackened holes were mercilessly torn open. Yet, hardly any blood flowed, making it seem eerie and hollow.

“Ugh… uh…”

Even as he collapsed, barely conscious, the cultist desperately clung to Jo Geol’s leg.

“Damn it!”

Crunch!

Jo Geol stomped down on the gripping hand and leaped over the cultist’s body.

“Finish him off!”

“Yes, Sahyung!”

The Mount Hua swordsmen who had followed Jo Geol moved swiftly. Trusting his Sajes to handle the rest, Jo Geol dashed up the mountain at full speed.

‘Damn it! I’ve wasted too much time!’

Setting aside the differences in martial skill, these cultists were hard to take down quickly. That meant they were experts at stalling for time.

‘I’m late! I’m late! Damn it, I’m too late!’

Pushing himself to his absolute limits, Jo Geol sprinted. If this went on, all of Wudang’s injured warriors would be slaughtered by the enemy.

He had to stop that. No matter what.

Jo Geol vaulted over a large hill and his eyes widened in shock. The burning Wudang buildings came into view.

The halls had burned so fiercely that they were now white-hot, reduced to embers. But Jo Geol’s focus was drawn to the warriors still fighting below.

‘They’re still fighting!’

That meant there were survivors. Relief and exhilaration spread across Jo Geol’s face.

Bam!

Kicking off the ground once more, he propelled himself forward. As he neared, the identities of the warriors came into focus.

Heo Do! Heo Do-jinin was there. He was locked in a desperate battle against three blood cultists.

Without realizing it, Jo Geol shouted with all his might.

“Sect Leader!!”

Startled, Heo Do glanced around and looked at Jo Geol.

However, upon recognizing the reinforcements who had come to help Wudang, Heo Do’s face twisted in despair.

Jo Geol was taken aback.

‘Why?’

At that moment, barely dodging an enemy’s sword, Heo Do screamed something desperately.

‘Go… back?’

Jo Geol read his lips and his eyes widened in shock. A deep sense of foreboding gripped his entire body.

‘Why are they the only ones here?’

Instinctively, Jo Geol turned to look behind him. He scanned the battlefield spread out in the distance.

A shiver ran down Jo Geol’s spine as he looked at the battlefield where nothing had changed yet.

‘No way…?’

He clenched his fist without realizing it.

Next Chapter

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