Return of the Mount Hua Sect (HTL 1634+)

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"Geol-ah!"

Yoon Jong, who had dashed into the village, twisted his face at the sight before him. He wanted to look away from the gruesome scene but couldn't, given his position.

"Where is that bastard?"

"Yoon Jong- ah! Over there!"

Someone from the Baek generation, who had spotted Jo Geol first, shouted and pointed. Seeing Jo Geol running far ahead, Yoon Jong exploded in anger.

"That damned brat!"

It felt like trying to rein in a wild horse that wouldn't listen. Both Baek Cheon and Cheong Myeong had managed to control him, but how on earth did they do it?

"He seems to be chasing after Evil Tyrant Alliance. What do you want to do?"

Yoon Jong bit his lower lip. Pursuing them was essential, but there was something just as important.

"Sasuk!"

"Huh?"

Baek Sang flinched and turned around at Yoon Jong's call.

"There might be survivors hiding inside the houses. They won't come out because they're terrified of us wielding swords. Please persuade them to move to a safer place. Take a few others with you."

"Ah, got it."

"And Soso! Treat the wounded! Hurry up!"

"Yes, Sahyung!"

"About ten of you, leave separately and put out the fire! If we're not careful, the people hiding inside could be in danger. Move immediately!"

"Understood!"

"Yes!"

Yoon Jong shouted, turning sharply in the other direction.

"And the rest, follow me! We're going after the enemy!"

Without waiting for a response, he sprinted toward the enemy.

'Don't overdo it, Geol-ah!'

He needed to support Jo Geol and Yoo Iseol immediately to ensure they weren't in danger.

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"Strategist! They're...!"

Ho Gamyeong silently turned around. His eyes were cold and devoid of emotion. He could see that the enemy had nearly caught up with the rear.

It was just two people, but...

'They're fast.'

Their speed was terrifying.

He hadn't heard much about Mount Hua's martial arts being particularly swift, but judging by their speed, they didn't seem to lag behind even the Beggars' Union or Kunlun.

Of course, they were still a distance away from Ho Gamyeong, but considering how quickly they had caught up to the rear, it was threatening.

"Ugh, What the heck...!"

The face of the one at the rear turned pale. The aura of the pursuers was no joke.

Those who have been through countless battles know from experience that it's not as difficult as one might think to fight against someone stronger than you.

You can use your numerical advantage, stall for time, or find countless other ways to deal with a stronger opponent.

But there's one situation where you can't stand up to a stronger opponent.

"Aa, aaaaagh!"

When that stronger opponent is coming at you from behind as you flee.

Swick!

A severed head flew into the air.

Its eyes tightly shut, seemingly aware of its fate, the head spun in the air before hitting the ground. It was a pitiful end, but considering the atrocities they had committed, it was almost a blessing.

"Where do you think you're running off to, you bastards!"

Slash!

Jo Geol's sword mercilessly cut through the bodies of his enemies. Blood and flesh splattered everywhere.

His sword, honed through countless real battles, had reached a level that ordinary members of Evil Tyrant Alliance couldn't handle. Facing such a sword head-on would cost you your life, but having it strike your back? The result was so obvious that even a child could guess.

Like a tiger's fangs chasing a flock of sheep, Jo Geol's sword mercilessly plunged into the enemies' backs.

"Aaaaah!"

Every time his sword quickly twisted and tore through them, screams erupted. When the legs of a Evil Tyrant Alliance member gave out, Jo Geol, showing no mercy, chopped off his head.

Slash!

Blood gushed like a fountain, but Jo Geol barely noticed. He was already leaping over that spot, moving forward.

"Strategist!"

"Hmm."

Ho Gamyeong, with a cold face, paused to think.

'Only two?'

He had wondered how they could have caught up so quickly; it turned out it was because there were only two of them. Who would have thought that just two people would dare to chase such a large group?

Those Mount Hua people never cease to defy expectations.

"Strategist! The damage is increasing!"

The logical response would be to stop the group and confront them, but that wasn't an option.

These weren't opponents you could deal with while on the run.

Ho Gamyeong looked beyond the struggling rear, further ahead.

'Mount Hua.'

The main forces of Mount Hua were pursuing them. If they were delayed and lost time here, they'd catch up in no time. Facing Mount Hua with the forces they had here would be suicidal.

Mount Hua might not be the strongest sect under heaven (in the world), but from Ho Gamyeong's and Evil Tyrant Alliance's perspective, they were the ones they least wanted to face.

"Damn it! Why is it always like this...."

Curses spilled out of the mouths of his lieutenants. Whenever they tangled with Mount Hua, things always seemed to go wrong.

If they had moved just a moment earlier, they could have escaped without any losses. But that slight delay? Well, that's a matter of skill. And no one knows that better than those who deal with strategy.

"Strategist! Go on ahead! We'll hold them off!"

In the end, they resorted to the next best option.

"Strategist, you must return safely! Leave the rest to us."

But Ho Gamyeong, looking back at them, casually said,

"No need for that."

"Strategist!"

"Tell everyone to stop."

"Pardon?"

The lieutenants' eyes widened in shock at the incomprehensible order. However, Hogamyeong calmly stopped speaking, and only then did the lieutenants, startled, stop the fleeing people.

"All, All troops, stop!"

The terrified soldiers barely managed to reform ranks and aimed their weapons at the pursuers.

"Hah...."

Jo Geol, now covered in blood from head to toe, came to a stop. The trail of corpses and bloodstains extended along his path. It was truly a blood-soaked road.

He panted heavily and glanced back. Yoon Jong, leading the other senior disciples, was rapidly closing in.

If that's the case, there's no need to charge in recklessly. Simply stalling for time should be enough. Yoo Iseol seemed to think the same, as her shoulders, which had been tensed up, relaxed slightly.

Jo Geol sneered.

"So, you finally realized there's no point in running? Took you long enough, you dumb bastards."

"No. There's simply no need to run."

Ho Gamyeong calmly responded to Jo Geol's taunt.

".... What did you say?"

"Bring them out."

"Yes, Strategist!."

The lieutenants exchanged uncertain glances but followed the order.

'What are they doing?'

Jo Geol watched suspiciously as they moved, when suddenly, an enraged voice came from behind.

"What the hell are you doing, you bastard?!"

Yoon Jong, who had chased Jo Geol all the way here with his life on the line, grabbed his shoulder roughly.

"We caught them, didn't we?"

"Is that supposed to be an excuse?"

"Ah, let's discuss that later. We should deal with those bastards first."

Jo Geol raised his sword.

Yoon Jong let out a deep sigh. The irritation was unbearable, but Jo Geol was right. Moreover, there were many things that didn't add up.

'Why did they stop?'

Why did they wait quietly until the main force could catch up? There's no way those bastards were planning to fight fair and square.

"Th-That?"

"What?"

Several of the disciples of Mount Hua, who were scrutinizing the Evil Tyrant Alliance group with suspicion, widened their eyes in shock.

"Those crazy bastards...."

They hadn't seen any survivors in the village earlier, even though Jo Geol had arrived before they could finish their massacre.

Yoon Jong assumed that the terrified villagers must have been hiding, too scared to come out of their burning homes. There was no other explanation.

But at this moment, Yoon Jong realized, belatedly, that there was another possibility—a horrifying possibility that Cheong Myeong or Baekcheon would have immediately recognized.

"Aaahhhh!"

A group of people was being dragged out by the Evil Tyrant Alliance thieves. They were bleeding profusely from deep wounds on their arms and legs, barely able to move.

These... were ordinary people with no trace of martial arts training.

The moment Yoon Jong saw their terrified eyes, he clenched his fists with a growl.

"P-Please save us! Please! Please!"

Women, children, the elderly... all were vulnerable. And there were so many of them that they couldn't be counted on two hands.

The weapons of the Evil Tyrant Alliance thieves were now aimed at the necks of the captives. They threatened to end their fragile lives at any moment.

"We don't need to run. We're not the ones who should be running."

"You... you bastard..."

Jo Geol's eyes were bloodshot.

He wanted to carve up Ho Gamyeong's face, which was watching the situation without a hint of warmth. It was unbearable to witness a creature like that speak as if it were human. The fury was so intense that he felt his body might explode.

"Let's find out."

Ho Gamyeong remained utterly unfazed by the glare of pure hatred directed at him. He reached out and grabbed a woman by the nape of her neck.

"If you don't back off, they'll all die."

"You...."

"I promise. If you retreat, there will be no more bloodshed today. I can't say the same for tomorrow, but at least today, these people will live."

A faint smirk played on Ho Gamyeong's lips.

"If you truly care about these people, you know what to do."

"Shut..."

Clash!

The horrific sound echoed, and silence fell over the scene.

Everyone's eyes widened.

A sharp blade had pierced through the chest of the woman Ho Gamyeong was holding. She stared blankly into the air, frozen in place, before her body went limp.

"I'm serious."

"You son of a bitch!"

Jo Geol, unable to hold back any longer, tried to rush forward, but Yoon Jong desperately held him down.

"Calm down, damn it!"

"Sahyung! That bastard! Sahyung! Aaagh!"

Thud.

Ho Gamyeong casually tossed aside the lifeless woman and grabbed another hostage. His expression remained unchanged.

This time, it was a very young girl, so frightened she couldn't even cry, only letting out weak sobs.

In that moment, Jo Geol's mind went blank, yet fear also gripped him.

What if he charged in now and the girl died?

How could he ever bear that responsibility?

"It seems you misunderstand. This isn't a negotiation. It's an order. Back off, or everyone here dies."

Ho Gamyeong's eyes darkened.

"Since we've known each other for some time, let me give you some advice: backing off might not be a bad idea. If you could kill me in exchange for the lives of a few dozen civilians, it would be a good deal for you."

"You…."

"No one will ever know. Isn't that right?"

Stab!

"Aaaaahhh!"

Ho Gamyeong's dagger drove into the child's arm.

"It hurts, doesn't it? Tell me, who do you blame more right now? Me? Or those fools over there clinging to their useless pride?"

The child couldn't respond, too paralyzed by fear.

"I promise. If they just back off, you'll all live. I won't touch a single hair on your head."

"..."

"If you die here despite this promise, it won't be my fault."

At that moment, Jo Geol saw it.

The resentment filling the eyes of the villagers and the captives. The Mount Hua sect, who had come to save them, was now the target of their anger.

"You, you...."

But it wasn't their fault. It was that wretched bastard who had made it this way. That heartless demon.

How could anyone be so cruel?

Jo Geol stared at Ho Gamyeong in a daze.

There was a time when he had thought that perhaps they were not so different, that they were just people like him. He wanted to rip out the tongue that had uttered such words.

"It seems you still don't get it."

Slash! Slash!

In an instant, two more heads rolled to the ground.

"Stop! You bastard! Stop!"

"I don't waste time on idle threats. Make a decision. Back off, kill me, or...."

Ho Gamyeong's voice was so calm it felt unnatural.

"….distract yourself just long enough to escape the guilt you'll have to face."

"You..."

Yoon Jong, who had been biting his lip hard enough to draw blood, finally spoke.

".... I will kill you. I swear."

"Feel free."

Yoon Jong gritted his teeth and turned his head.

"Go."

"Sahyung!"

"You must release the hostages. If you want your bodies to remain intact."

"Now that I've gotten what I wanted, I have no reason to bother."

"Get lost."

Yoon Jong glared at Ho Gamyeong with murderous intent. A moment later, a mocking grin spread across Ho Gamyeong's face.

"My respects to your noble cause."

With these words, Ho Gamyeong turned away.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Strategist."

The Evil Tyrant Alliance slowly moved away from them, showing no signs of haste, almost as if they were mocking them.

The disciples of Mount Hua could only stand and watch, as if they had turned to stone.

"Ugh..."

They had been thoroughly defeated, utterly humiliated.

"....I'll kill him. I swear."

It was the moment when everyone from Mount Hua engraved the name of Ho Gamyeong, the Poisonous Heart Rakshasa, into their hearts.

[tl note: 독심나찰(毒心羅刹) is Ho Gamyeong title. Can be translated as the Malicious Demon, the Cruel Heart Demon, Poisonous Heart Rakshasa).