Return of the Mount Hua Sect (HTL 1634+)

❀ ❀ ❀

Jang Ilso's gaze darkened.

The battlefront... it isn't particularly unfavorable. No, if anything, it could be said that things are in their favor. The morale has visibly risen with the Sun Palace Lord leading the charge.

Yet his mood did not lighten in the slightest. Instead, it sunk deeper, little by little. His focus was fixed on the Sun Palace Lord, or more precisely, the young righteous martial artists opposing him.

'...Ridiculous.'

Youngsters now stood against the Sun Palace Lord, replacing the arrogant elders who had always strutted around. Under different circumstances, Jang Ilso might have sneered and laughed at the sight. But not today. His lips didn't so much as twitch.

A sensation, hard to define, began crawling up from the tips of his toes. It was a filthy feeling, like countless insects swarming over his body.

'....Disgusting.'

Yes. That's the word. Jang Ilso found the scene disgusting.

'Why?'

He couldn't fully explain why, but he understood nonetheless.

Intuition [직관(直觀)]. A primal sense that transcended theory and calculation whispered to him. If an unanticipated defeat were to occur on this battlefield, it would start right there.

But intuition is intuition precisely because it can't be explained. He couldn't completely articulate the reasons for his thoughts and feelings. If he could provide evidence and reasoning, it would no longer be intuition but logic.

'No need to interpret it.'

After all, what mattered wasn't the analysis but the conclusion.

Jang Ilso's lips, which had remained still, finally moved again. One thing was certain: this seemingly favorable sight was slowly tightening a noose around his neck.

"Tsk."

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue, spitting out his displeasure.

"Gamyeong-ah."

"Yes, Ryeonju-nim?"

"Can you see it?"

"....Forgive me, but I'm not sure what you mean."

Ho Gamyeong had sensed Jang Ilso's unease but seemed completely unaware of the cause.

If that was the case, it meant that Jang Ilso alone felt this sense of unease—or rather, the 'crisis' cloaked in unease.

Was it simply because Jang Ilso's intuitions were exceptional?

"They're putting on quite a show, aren't they?"

"Are you referring to those young ones?"

"Young ones... Well."

Generally, the world is ruled by the old. Those who have perfected their martial arts and wield both power and strength, shaking the world as they see fit.

But such people rarely leave their mark on history. After all, it's only natural for the old to occupy those positions.

Jang Ilso knew of those who defied such norms.

Those who wield power beyond what they should have been capable of and draw admiration instead of authority. They shine brightly and are remembered because of it.

'Heroes...'

If this continues, and if they ultimately emerge victorious, they will become the heroes of this era. Today's battle will be their symbol.

"Ha."

Jang Ilso let out a brief snort.

"Those pigs…"

His voice, simmering with something like inner turmoil, echoed quietly.

Jang Ilso had no doubt. Those people hid their true nature behind the masks of cooperation and honor.

Not just them, but all humans are like that. When their most precious thing, usually their life, is threatened, humans finally take off the masks they were wearing.

Yet, the fact that they continued to wear their masks even in this situation....

"It's because the threat isn't enough."

There was no room for doubt.

"Gamyeong-ah."

"Yes."

"There's nothing we can do. Let's hurry up a bit."

Ho Gamyeong understood his command. Not through words but through his eyes.

"Understood."

That was enough.

He didn't question why he was rushing instead of following the original plan. His only duty was to obey and execute.

Jang Ilso fixed his gaze back on the battlefield, suppressing the discomfort crawling over him.

The chill in his eyes remained utterly devoid of warmth.

❀ ❀ ❀

"This is..."

Jo Geol frowned deeply.

Ahead, Tang Gunak and Hye Yeon's group were engaged in battle. Seeing those at the forefront facing the most dangerous enemies stirred his competitive spirit.

"Sahyung!"

Jo Geol called out to Yoon Jong again.

"What?"

"Are we just going to stay here like this?"

Jo Geol's voice was lower than before. His usual liveliness and playfulness had vanished, replaced by a heavy seriousness.

Yoon Jong noticed the change and silently turned to look at him. Despite Jo Geol's carefree nature, he was the junior Yoon Jong trusted most in Mount Hua.

Jo Geol spoke again.

"If we must stay here, at least send Sago and Soso ahead. We don't all need to be here."

A wise suggestion. Yoon Jong almost smiled in satisfaction but barely suppressed it at the last moment.

True, Jo Geol rarely took initiative, surrounded as he was by those who typically outshone him in wit. But he wasn't foolish by any means.

"We must keep an eye out for Thousand-Faced Manipulator's schemes. Who knows what that snake might pull?"

"Yes, you're right."

Yoon Jong hadn't planned to remain in the rear indefinitely. Now that true masters were stepping onto the field, the situation had shifted.

Still, there was a reason he remained where he was.

"But wait."

"Sahyung!"

"Don't worry. I'm not here to sit back and watch. I, too, am a swordman of Mount Hua."

For a Mount Hua swordsman, standing idly by is never an option. Watching others fight only spurs them to reclaim the front lines. Such is the natural duty of those who bear the plum blossom on their chest.

"No. Not yet. Just a little longer."

Jo Geol bit his lip in frustration. He couldn't understand what Yoon Jong was waiting for.

"Our opponent is Jang Ilso."

Yoon Jong wasn't as clever as Cheong Myeong or as wise as Baek Cheon. But he had something they didn't—patience. The ability to endure without acting rashly.

That patience could catch things others might overlook.

"Sahyung!"

Jo Geol finally shouted, unable to contain his frustration. Yoon Jong responded.

"What do you think Jang Ilso will use as his weapon?"

"What does it matter? That bastard uses everything as his Go stones. Anything can be his weapon!"

Yoon Jong nodded. It was a sharp answer, especially for Jo Geol. But it wasn't the answer Yoon Jong sought.

"Go stones.… Wrong."

"Huh?"

"This is no game of Go. Strictly speaking.... it's more like chess."

"What?"

In Go, all the pieces on the board have the same value. But in chess, each piece has different significance based on its role.

"Jang Ilso may use everything on the board he's set up, but when the moment is critical, he has something specific in mind to strike with."

"And what's that?"

Yoon Jong pressed his lips together and focused intently ahead, his gaze sharp with wariness, not hostility, as if anticipating something to move.

Finally, his eyes caught what he had been waiting for.

"It's coming."

"Huh? What is...?"

Jo Geol trailed off, falling silent as his gaze caught the same sight. Amid the chaos of the battlefield, a group was moving covertly.

It was impossible for him not to recognize them. Perhaps others might have been oblivious, but not the disciples of Mount Hua. For them, these figures were emblematic of an entire philosophy—one steeped in blood and terror.

"At least change your clothes. They don't even bother to disguise themselves. Bold bastards."

Jo Geol muttered, though he understood why. Their pride wouldn't let them hide.

Just as the disciples of Mount Hua could never erase the plum blossom emblem etched on their hearts, these intruders couldn't discard the symbols they bore so brazenly.

"Sahyung!"

"Yes, I see them."

Among Jang Ilso's many weapons, these were his sharpest blades, his deadliest tools—the ones who had previously confronted Mount Hua so fiercely.

Yoon Jong bit his lip hard, suppressing his emotions.

"It's the Red Dogs." [Honggyeon, 홍견]

As if on cue, a distinct group stormed into the battlefield, their presence like a storm of chaos.

Their uniforms bore a stark white-and-red emblem, resembling a tiger streaked with blood. A sigil that inspired pride among some and dread in others.

"Kiiill!"

"Raaahhh!"

The Red Dogs sword cut the Heavenly Comrade Alliance sword in two.

Each one of them was an elite fighter, deadly and precise. Ordinary alliance members stood no chance.

"Wha- what the heck?!"

"These filthy things!"

"Raaaahh!"

After the great battle in Hubei, the Red Dogs, who had lacked a stage to unleash themselves, were utterly starved.

They were prepared to die for Jang Ilso. No, rather, they lived only for that very purpose.

And now, at last, the order had come down. The time of holding back their blade-sharp killing intent, honed to perfection, had ended. Like an overflowing dam, their pent-up ferocity and bloodlust poured out explosively.

They tore into the Heavenly Comrade Alliance warriors before them, savaging them without mercy, ripping and shredding them apart with all their might.

"Aaaargh!"

The problem wasn't just their skill—it was their feral, overwhelming aura that paralyzed anyone who faced them.

Hesitation was fatal. The moment their opponents faltered, the Red Dogs pounced, tearing through their defenses and breaking their formation.

Yoon Jong's eyes gleamed with determination.

If it were Cheong Myeong, he would have charged headlong into the fray, tearing through the Red Dogs single-handedly to protect Mount Hua from their fangs.

If it were Baek Cheon, he would have led Mount Hua's disciples into battle, fighting at the forefront and shedding the most blood to protect at least one more person, his sajes and sajils.

Then... what about Yoon Jong?

Soon, Yoon Jong let out a powerful shout, loud enough to surprise those who knew his usual calm demeanor.

"Jo Geol!"

"Yes!"

"Lead the disciples to the front! Stop them!"

"Sahyung! They are spread out everywhere!"

"Then we'll spread out too!"

"What? But if we..."

Jo Geol hesitated, his eyes wide in disbelief, but Yoon Jong's firm, unwavering gaze silenced him.

"Trust them."

"....."

"They are swordsmen of Mount Hua, just as much as you are. Don't think you have to carry it all alone."

Yoon Jong's gaze, filled with trust, bore down on Jo Geol. Feeling the weight of that trust, Jo Geol instinctively nodded.

"Yes, Sahyung!"

"Go!"

Jo Geol raised his sword and let out a booming cry.

"Mount Huaaaaaaa!"

The ringing shout drew the attention of the scattered disciples, and as Jo Geol glanced around, he saw it in their eyes—no fear, only steadfast resolve and an eager determination.

'That's more like it!'

The contagious energy filled Jo Geol as well. With his sword aimed forward, he bellowed.

"Let's go! Time to kick Jang Ilso's mongrels back to their kennels!"

"Ooh!"

"Charge!"

"Watch out, I'm the Sasuk who is leading this charge, you bastard! This damn sect never knows discipline!"

"Shut up and fight!"

The Mount Hua disciples, scattered across the battlefield, surged forward as one, a flurry of black lines streaking toward the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's defenders.

"Uwaaaah!"

As one of the Red Dogs' swords fell toward a trembling ally, it was intercepted by a shimmering plum blossom sword.

Clang!

The Red Dog staggered backward, his body rattled by a powerful kick to his chest.

"Who the hell...!"

"Keep your tail down, you rabid mutt."

In his ears, a mocking voice filled with derision rang out. Soon, his field of vision was filled with the sight of a black martial uniform. On its chest was an emblem resembling a plum blossom, like drops of blood.

"....Mount Hua?"

"Good guess. But today, let's switch it up a little...."

Jo Geol smirked.

"How about we call us the dog butcher? Sound good?"

The Red Dogs' eyes burned with bloodlust.