Return of the Mount Hua Sect (HTL 1634+)

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Killing intent turns into anger, and anger becomes momentum.

The Red Dog, with bloodshot eyes, rushed toward Jo Geol in an instant, thrusting his sword downward. There were no shouts or curses laced with fury. Only a single strike devoted to thoroughly slaughtering the enemy.

It was a chilling slash, one that vividly demonstrated why those derisively called the 'Red Dogs' had become symbols of terror.

However, the opponent had more than enough ability to prove their reputation.

Clang!

A strike that could have cleaved a man in two was deflected effortlessly with a single flick of the sword. Shock momentarily flashed in Red Dog's bloodshot eyes.

Whoosh!

A swift counterattack came flying in, piercing straight through Red Dog's shoulder. If he hadn't twisted his body back in a split second, it would have been his heart that was skewered instead of his shoulder.

"Ugh..."

A muffled groan escaped Red Dog's lips, not out of pain. These were warriors who wouldn't so much as whimper even if their entire body was skinned alive.

This groan stemmed not from pain but from sheer astonishment.

"I warned you, didn't I?"

Jo Geol smirked as he pulled his sword out of Red Dog's shoulder.

"When you see a dog butcher, you run. Especially if you're just a mangy mutt."

"You..."

The Red Dog ground his teeth. But despite his seething anger, he hesitated to charge in again. Seeing this, Jo Geol sneered mockingly.

"What's wrong? Scared? Seems like even your master, Jang Ilso, isn't very good at raising dogs, huh?"

'The One Sword That Splits Light... Jo Geol.' [tl note: it's Jo Geol title, il-geom-bun-gwang, 일검분광.]

There are probably few who know Mount Hua as well as Red Dogs. As an enemy of Jang Ilso, Mount Hua had clashed with them many times. To Red Dogs, it was a group whose roots needed to be severed sooner or later.

Thus, he believed he thoroughly understood the skills of this man called The One Sword That Splits Light. Up until just moments ago.

One exchange was all it took to shatter that belief entirely.

'Just how much stronger has he become in the meantime...'

Slash!

Before the thought could finish forming, Jo Geol's sword unleashed a burst of radiant energy.

The Red Dog twisted his body with all his might but failed to completely evade it. The sword energy tore through his body, leaving bloody gashes in its wake.

Swish!

The sound of flesh being ripped apart was unmistakable. Yet there was no time to even feel pain. Losing focus for a single moment would give that snake-like sword a chance to strike his vital points.

Swish!

The red aura characteristic of Mount Hua's swordsmanship rained down like a red storm.

'Just one chance!'

The Red Dog gritted his teeth.

Just one chance. One strike would be enough.

Quick swords have no follow-up.

If he could break the chain of attacks with one strike, he could drive his blade into Jo Geol's body. Just once.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Flesh split open. Fingers were severed. His vision turned crimson as blood trickled from a cut above his eye, and a blade sliced into his thigh, severing a vein.

'Ju- just once!'

Thud!

A sword struck deep into his neck, tearing through it like a beast's jaws. Blood soaked his clothes in an instant.

"Guh..."

As he struggled to suppress a groan, Jo Geol's sword aimed directly for the center of his face.

Using every ounce of strength, Red Dog tilted his head back, and the blade barely grazed past him—or so he thought.

Suddenly, Jo Geol's sword twisted like a venomous snake, reversing direction to aim for his tilted face.

Screeech!

Dark crimson blood sprayed into the air, scattering across the cloudy sky like droplets.

Slash!

The sword that slashed across his face spun in the air and descended like lightning from above.

Sensing death, the Red Dog clenched his jaw.

But at that moment—

Clang!

A sword flew in and deflected Jo Geol's blade.

Time, which had slowed to a crawl, abruptly resumed its normal pace. Thrown off balance, the Red Dog collapsed to the ground.

"Huft... Ha...aagh"

Even breathing was excruciating. The relentless attacks had left him with no opportunity to catch his breath.

'This is...'

His entire body was drenched in sweat. If rescue hadn't come, he would have been pushed back without being able to make a single proper attack from the beginning to the end, and would have ended up with his neck cut off.

The gap in their abilities was overwhelming. Was The One Sword That Splits Light, Jo Geol always this strong?

".....Get up."

A cold voice from his companion snapped him back to reality. The Red Dog staggered to his feet.

Jo Geol rested his sword on his shoulder and whistled.

"Three people—or rather, three mutts. Am I a big deal now or something?"

Looking at the three Red Dogs warriors before him, Jo Geol smirked.

"But what should I do? Three won't be enough?"

Despite the absurd confidence and mockery in his tone, the three Red Dogs warriors didn't retort. It wasn't because they deemed him unworthy of a response. Deep down, they feared he might be right.

Though an enemy, they couldn't deny it. Jo Geol's swordsmanship had reached that level.

"You're strong."

"Well, strong enough to deal with three mutts, at least."

"But not everyone in Mount Hua is like you, are they?"

"....."

At this, Jo Geol's gaze sharpened slightly.

"No matter how much you struggle, your fellow disciples will all die. Watching them perish one by one, and then seeing you wail in despair before your own end—it'll be a sight to behold."

Jo Geol stood silent for a moment, his shoulders faintly trembling. Then he chuckled softly, his laughter growing louder.

"What's so funny?"

"Ah, nothing. I called you mutts to get under your skin, but now I realize I might've been insulting actual dogs. I should apologize to them."

The three Red Dogs warriors' expressions twisted in anger.

"You bastard..."

"Still don't get it, huh? We're always stronger than you think. That's always the case."

Instinctively, their heads shifted ever so slightly, as if they wanted to confirm what was happening elsewhere.

"And one more thing."

Jo Geol pointed his sword at them, grinning.

"It's true not everyone in Mount Hua is like me. But here's the thing—you got the conclusion wrong. There's no one in Mount Hua weaker than me."

For a moment, Jo Geol tilted his head in mock contemplation.

Wait, is there one? Jo Geol calmly tilted his head and muttered. All three Red Dogs gritted their teeth.

"You arrogant bastard, your mouth's sharper than your sword...."

Whoosh!

Before Red Dog's words could even be completed, Jo Geol's sword energy poured out toward them. A flawless strike, combining both speed and precision. 

Chaaaang!

Instinctively, the three Red Dogs swung their blades to deflect the sword energy, but the next strike had already reached right in front of their throats.

"Ugh!"

All three Red Dogs were forced to retreat, sliding backward.

Jo Geol watched it all with calm, sunken eyes. Despite being in the midst of a fierce battle, he felt no excitement or adrenaline setting his heart ablaze. Instead, unlike before, he was simply observing his enemies with composure.

Not once did he feel the possibility of defeat.

He could sense it in himself. His sword had changed. The culmination of countless times of crossing life-and-death thresholds had now manifested at the tip of his blade.

This slight sense of composure was what created the phenomenon.

He had always felt the need for something yet had been unable to express it until now. And now, he seemed to understand the reason. Though he had always taken pride in leading at the front, perhaps that had been an arrogance stemming from a lack of trust in those behind him.

There was no need to anxiously look around or check his back. Whether it was Yoon Jong, Baek Cheon, Yoo Iseol, Cheong Myeong, or even Soso and Hye Yeon, it didn't matter.

The disciples of Mount Hua were all strong. Jo Geol did not need to protect them.

For the first time, he felt this sense of ease. Perhaps it was better described as a newfound 'mindfulness' that sharpened his entire being.

When his consciousness focused entirely on his opponents, himself, and his sword, a different kind of energy began to imbue his strikes.

Swoooosh!

A sword that was fast enough, but by comparison to his usual quick strikes, seemed slightly lacking, grazed his enemy's side.

'This guy…!'

For a brief moment, a faint excitement flashed in Red Dogs's eyes.

Quick strikes were inherently difficult to maintain. Seeing Jo Geol falter, they assumed he had reached his limit and explosively surged forward, intent on cutting him down in one swift move.

But in that very instant—

Shiverrr!

A chillingly familiar slicing sound reached their ears.

Shudder!

They knew. What horrifying scenes unfolded after this faint and delicate sound. For those who bore the name of evil, this sound was more terrifying than even the wails of vengeful ghosts.

The three Red Dogs instinctively turned their gaze. Turning one's attention away from an opponent during a battle was unthinkable, but at that moment, their very instincts screamed that something was happening behind them.

And as they turned, they saw it. Dozens of plum blossoms rushing toward them.

'The sword strike that passed us… came from behind?'

The blossoms bloomed all at once and scattered, robbing Red Dogs's mind of any thoughts of resistance.

Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!

Countless sword energies, transformed into petals, enveloped the Red Dogs. Their bodies were carved with dozens of wounds, one after another.

Each cut wasn't fatal on its own, but as the wounds multiplied, the path to escape death vanished entirely.

The brutally ravaged Red Dogs trembled where they stood.

One of them tried to speak, but all that spilled from his mouth was dark red blood. Only the terror reflected in his eyes conveyed his desperate emotions.

Thud. Thud.

Finally, the three figures—now merely corpses—collapsed to the ground.

A single sword technique had claimed the lives of all three Red Dogs.

A brief silence fell over the battlefield. Jo Geol stared blankly at the scene before him, then down at his sword.

'What did I... just do?'

He had grown stronger. But the Red Dogs were undoubtedly formidable foes. They weren't opponents he should have defeated so easily. The answer lay in the technique he had just performed.

Though it was his own sword technique, he couldn't comprehend what had transpired. It was a technique of Mount Hua, yet it wasn't. It was a move he had never learned, nor could he recall.

'This….'

He tried to replicate it, but the memory eluded him. Only a faint sensation lingered, teasing his fingertips.

Boom!

A loud noise nearby jolted Jo Geol back to reality.

"Damn it! Curse it all!"

Jo Geol scratched his curly hair, his face twisted in frustration.

It felt as though this had happened before! Why do clues to enlightenment always come only at moments like this?

"Ughhhh."

But he let out a long sigh, pushing his regrets aside.

'Now's not the time.'

He had to let it go.

If he had executed the move once, there would come a time when he could do it again. For now, it wasn't the lost sensation he needed to pursue but the enemies still surging toward him.

'Even so…'

He definitely felt like he could grasp something more clearly.

At the same time, a strong conviction welled up. If he could make this sensation his own, he was certain he would reach a realm unlike anything before.

Though the road ahead would undoubtedly be long and arduous.

"I never expected it to be easy, anyway."

Swinging his sword wide, Jo Geol let go of his lingering regrets along with the blood droplets on his blade.

"Jo Geol of Mount Hua is here, you bastards!"

He bellowed loud enough for his voice to echo across the battlefield, charging forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.

His firm confidence carried through his powerful voice, reverberating louder than ever amidst the chaos of the battlefield.