Chapter 1875 – Return of The Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1875. Simple, isn’t it? (5) ❀ ❀ ❀

“….That’s how it happened.”

“Oh my god.…”

Yoon Jong couldn’t close his mouth from the shock.

“That’s the explanation?”

“Then what else should there be?”

“No… maybe you found some miraculous elixir somewhere, or a dragon descended from the heavens to help Sasuk, or something…”

“What nonsense. You crazy idiot. Why would a dragon get involved in something a person did? At least say something that makes sense. If the Sect Leader and Jin Geumryong, who had collapsed from exhaustion, heard you, they would've kicked you right in the jaw.”

At Baek Sang’s scolding, Yoon Jong awkwardly nodded, licking his lips.

Even as he said it, he knew it made no sense. It was just that the situation was so bewildering, he ended up saying things like that.

“Not that… Is that really how a full body transformation happens?” [hwan-gol-tal-tae, 환골탈태]

“How would I know?”

“What?”

Baek Sang glanced back at Baek Cheon. At the tip of Baek Cheon’s sword, a crimson aura shimmered fiercely.

“I just glossed over it like that, but truthfully, we have no way of knowing if that’s a full body transformation or not. Let’s be real, do any of us even know exactly what a full body transformation actually is?”

“…No, I suppose not.”

Not just them—hardly anyone in the entire martial world would be able to explain it properly. That’s how rare an occurrence it is.

“Then what can we do? It already happened. All we can do is witness it. The important thing is that the sahyung’s body has recovered. And now, with that momentum, he’s going wild out there. And that’s giving us a chance. Right?”

“…Yes.”

Baek Sang grinned.

“Isn’t that enough for now?”

Yoon Jong nodded.

Maybe because he was from Mount Hua’s administration hall, Baek Sang was definitely practical. And that practicality was helping Yoon Jong’s confused mind come into focus.

“So in conclusion, Sasuk’s behaviour isn’t some brief moment of regained strength before death, right?”

“Huh? Regained strength?”

“I understand.”

Baek Sang tilted his head at the unfamiliar term, but Yoon Jong didn’t respond—instead, he kicked off the ground without hesitation.

“Hey? Yoon Jong?”

Watching Yoon Jong sprint past enemies and rush toward Baek Cheon, Baek Sang muttered absentmindedly.

“…Hey! You’re supposed to protect me, you bastard!”

Baek Cheon’s sword cleaved through the air.

Fwoooosh!

Sword energy scattered in all directions—like snowflakes falling from the sky.

‘Hyung.’

Suddenly, Jin Geumryong’s face surfaced in Baek Cheon’s mind.

In the past, whenever he thought of Jin Geumryong, Baek Cheon’s heart would be filled with competitiveness and resentment. But now… those feelings no longer stirred.

Not because he believed he had surpassed Jin Geumryong.

‘I just wasn’t honest with myself.’

He didn’t truly want to defeat Jin Geumryong. What he wanted… was Jin Geumryong’s recognition.

Baek Cheon simply hadn’t been able to acknowledge that desire within himself.

‘I’m always late.’

It would have been nice if he could have been a little more honest with himself.

“Hyahhh!”

Red Dogs’s saber came flying down toward the top of his head.

Mount Hua’s sword style focuses heavily on offense. Baek Cheon had often felt the limitations that came with that. Someone like Cheong Myeong or Jo Geol could push the sword’s power to its utmost limit, but by his own judgment, Baek Cheon didn’t possess that level of innate sword talent. [geomjae, 검재(劍才)]

That was the cold, honest truth.

So then, what was he to do?

‘Just accept it. Just as it is.’

Shhhk.

Baek Cheon’s sword traced a gentle circle and deflected the incoming saber. The profound insight passed down from Heo Do had melted into his sword, granting it a softness unique to Baek Cheon alone. [myoli, 묘리 (妙理)]

There’s no need to stubbornly cling to what one cannot do. Surely, there’s something only he can do.

Right now, Baek Cheon stands here. Upon the foundation built by Mount Hua and Hyeon Jong, with Cheong Myeong raising the pillars, and the teachings of countless others forming the branches. Not one of those things was achieved by Baek Cheon alone. And yet—

Fwaaah!

A flower bloomed from the tip of Baek Cheon’s sword.

It blossomed fully, then scattered into countless petals. True to Mount Hua’s sword style, it was dazzling—but within that beauty lay strength and softness alike.

It was a sword completed by the hands of many.

There was no need to forcefully create something “his own”. All he had to do was accept it. Accept that all of these people had shaped Baek Cheon, and that all of them lived within this sword.

“Graaaaagh!”

The enemies could no longer withstand it and were pushed back, retreating in droves.

At that moment, a familiar voice called out from behind Baek Cheon.

“Sasuk!”

“Yoon Jong-ah!”

“Yes, Sasuk!”

Yoon Jong had flown across the battlefield and now stood beside Baek Cheon, sword in hand.

“That…”

Baek Cheon opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again. There was so much he wanted to say, he didn’t even know where to begin.

Sensing this, Yoon Jong spoke first.

“We can talk about the past later.”

“…Right. You’re right.”

Yoon Jong sharply turned his head and locked eyes with Baek Cheon.

“More importantly, please give instructions quickly, Deputy Sect Leader.”

“…Instructions?”

“Yes. If the Great Sect Leader brought you back, then surely your position is restored as well, isn’t it?”

“So please give us orders, Sasuk. I’m still not ready to lead.”

Baek Cheon’s lips twitched slightly. He stared at Yoon Jong for a moment, then firmly shook his head.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re already my equal. No, when it comes to leading others, you’re better than me, Yoon Jong-ah.”

Yoon Jong’s pupils trembled faintly.

“That’s not true, Sasuk. I…”

“What’s difficult for you is just as difficult for me. Honestly, it’s difficult for everyone. That’s only natural. What matters is who can handle it better.”

Baek Cheon firmly gripped Yoon Jong’s strong shoulder.

“I believe you’re the right person for that.”

To see people as they are, and accept them as they are, that was what Baek Cheon had always wanted others to do for him. And now, it was what he needed to do for others.

“You can do it, right? Yoon Jong.”

“…It’s always like this with you.”

Yoon Jong let out a deep sigh.

“Then what will you do, Sasuk?”

“I have something I need to do.”

Baek Cheon answered without hesitation and turned his gaze toward a certain direction.

“I’ve got to go kick that damn bastard’s ass.”

Yoon Jong turned his head to follow Baek Cheon’s gaze. At the end of that line of sight was a very familiar figure. Small, yet always dependable, his back now shaking with exhaustion.

“…It won’t be easy.”

“Still gotta do it.”

At Baek Cheon’s words, Yoon Jong nodded. If that was the case, even Yoon Jong couldn’t push any other role onto him. After all, not just anyone could break through the Red Dogs and the black-clad warriors radiating killing intent and blocking the path.

“Then go. I’ll take care of things here.”

“Will you be alright alone?”

“Alone?”

“….”

“They’re all right here. Everyone.”

Baek Cheon spoke without even looking back. Yoon Jong, hearing those words, unconsciously clenched his fist. For some reason, his chest stirred with emotion.

“I believe in you, Sasuk.”

“Yeah.”

In the past, Baek Cheon might have just nodded and left it at that. But the Baek Cheon of now added one more line.

“I believe in you too.”

“….”

Yoon Jong stared at Baek Cheon for a moment, then kicked off the ground and dashed forward. Only then did Baek Cheon glance at his back and smile faintly.

He couldn’t be sure if his feelings had truly been conveyed. Yoon Jong wasn’t him—he didn’t know if Yoon Jong desired the same things he did.

But Baek Cheon believed this was right.

He wanted to express it. Not just to Yoon Jong, but to everyone in Mount Hua.

How much he believed in them. How much he recognized them. The feelings he had once desperately longed for—feelings he only gained after reaching Mount Hua—he wanted to share with them all.

Baek Cheon’s gaze locked onto a single point.

Before all else…

‘I should’ve told you first.’

That lonely back was burned into his eyes.

He hadn’t known. Or maybe… he had known and just ignored it. If he was honest… Yeah, he didn’t want to admit it.

That Cheong Myeong could be lonely too.

That maybe, Cheong Myeong, just like Baek Cheon, was someone endlessly searching for where he belonged.

Cheong Myeong is standing over there right now, facing Jang Ilso alone.

Baek Cheon had only one task now—to tell him.

The Red Dogs warriors, who had been ready to rush to Jang Ilso’s side, now stood their ground to block Baek Cheon instead.

Even from the pressure they exuded, it was clear. They weren’t going to make way for him easily. A fierce will and determination radiated from them. They would never allow Baek Cheon to reach Jang Ilso.

Regardless of right or wrong, Baek Cheon had to acknowledge their loyalty to Jang Ilso.

It wasn’t going to be easy. Regardless of strength or skill, fighting those who put everything on the line was always a grueling ordeal.

“But still… I am a sasuk, after all…”

Baek Cheon’s eyes turned gravely serious.

“I can’t just leave it all to that brat and stand here watching.”

“This bastard…”

“So I’m going to break through. Watch out, because I’m strong now.”

Grit.

Gripping his sword tightly, Baek Cheon let out a rough breath. Then shot forward like an arrow.

‘I’m coming. Wait for me.’

He had to deliver it, to him.

“CHEONG MYEONG-AAAAAAHH!”

Baek Cheon’s roar shook the world.

❀ ❀ ❀

Clang!

Fist and sword collided violently.

“Hahahahahaha!”

The raging blue flame devoured the blooming red petals whole. As if declaring that no matter how dazzling or beautiful, nothing mattered before the burning hellfire.

Crack.

The tightly compressed energy could no longer hold and began to distort. It took the form of flames, thus that martial art earning the name Flame Steel. [yeomgang, 염강 (炎鋼)]

The Blue Flame Crushing Technique that struck Cheong Myeong’s chest crushed his bones, living up to its name. [cheong-yeomsalgang, 청염살강(靑炎殺罡)]

Spurt.

Dark red blood gushed out from Cheong Myeong’s mouth. But before it could even hit the ground, it turned into red mist from the heat radiating between the two fighters.

An overwhelming pressure bore down on his entire body.

The blood vessels in his eyes burst repeatedly, and his fingertips—having absorbed shock after shock—had long since begun to break apart and lose their shape.

Cheong Myeong gritted his teeth hard.

‘Paegun, huh? Damn fitting name!’

Despite being known as the strongest in the unorthodox sect, Jang Ilso’s martial arts followed orthodox principles to a bizarre degree. Even before his reinforced fists made contact, the pressure felt like a mountain was bearing down. This overwhelming-force style was closer to Shaolin’s than to any unorthodox technique.

Crack! Crack! Craaack!

Every muscle in his body screamed. His whole body twisted, bones ready to snap.

Kwang!

Yet Cheong Myeong stepped forward and swung his sword even harder. Because he knew, if he retreated even a single step, that pressure would crush him entirely.

KAAAAANG!

Fist and sword collided again.

From Jang Ilso’s hand, a blazing blue flame shot up—soaring as if to pierce the heavens.

Cheong Myeong halted Jang Ilso’s fist and twisted his sword with a powerful swing.

‘Cut!’

As long as this sword was in his hand, there was nothing he couldn’t cut. Whether it was a superhuman from evil sect, a martial art master that transcended human limits, or even an invisible pressure, he would cut through it all!

FWAAAASH!

The moment Cheong Myeong’s sword slashed down, the crushing pressure that had been weighing down his entire body vanished in an instant. No, it had been cut.

“HAAAH!”

With a shout, Cheong Myeong’s sword tore through the world, and came slicing straight down at Jang Ilso.

But what entered Cheong Myeong’s vision next… was a slow, twisted smirk curling at Jang Ilso’s lips.

“So that was it.”

Shhh—

Jang Ilso’s fist sliced through space, flying toward Cheong Myeong’s face.

‘Fast....?’

It was a speed that defied comprehension.

Had Jang Ilso been hiding his real strength all along?

‘No.…’

Cheong Myeong realized it immediately. It wasn’t that Jang Ilso had gotten faster… It was that he himself had become too slow.

KWAAAAANG!

Jang Ilso’s fist crashed into Cheong Myeong’s face.

“CHEONG MYEONG-AAAAAAAHH!!!”

As Cheong Myeong flew helplessly through the air like a kite with its string cut, a desperate scream echoed across the battlefield.

Next Chapter

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