Return of the Mount Hua Sect (HTL 1634+)

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Cheong Myeong's gaze turned cold.

Despite this chilling look, Thousand Faced Manipulator no longer felt the same fear as before.

He's strong. That's undeniable.

But not as strong as the rumors say. And, Thousand Faced Manipulator was certain, he will not be able to maintain his current strength.

Thousand Faced Manipulator subtly licked his lips. The familiar sensation of his lips and the awkward touch of his trembling jaw brushed against each other.

'The reinforcements... should be here soon enough.'

This place was, quite literally, the Dragon Pond Cave. Once reinforcements arrived, no matter how skilled Dam Yeohae might be, escaping this place alive would be impossible. Leaving now was the wise choice.

Even knowing this, Thousand Faced Manipulator hesitated.

Which would happen first—the arrival of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's reinforcements, or the time when Sword Demon's secret is revealed?

No one could be sure. However…

"Sometimes in life..."

A faint, white energy began to wrap around Thousand Faced Manipulator's hands.

"There are times when you have to gamble!"

Brak!

Thousand Faced Manipulator slammed his foot into the ground.

Whoooosh!

The energy surging from his hands swept around like a violent snowstorm. The surroundings turned white in an instant, as though the biting cold winds of the North Sea had blown in.

Keukeuk.

Within that vast whiteness, there was one solitary figure clad in black.

Cheong Myeong, who had been holding his sword loosely at his side, now raised it. Without a hint of hesitation, he faced the blizzard of energy rushing toward him.

His black eyes, contrasting with the pale light, soon twisted in a harsh expression.

Wheeeing.

The tip of his sword trembled slightly, and then countless blossoms began to bloom.

It was a bizarre yet magnificent sight—plum blossoms blooming amidst the snowstorm.

It was a spectacle so grand, only two people in the world could witness it. And for these two alone, it was almost too magnificent.

Fwoosh!

The plum blossoms, which scattered in all directions, collided with the storm of energy which like snowflakes.

Kwaang! Kakakang!

At the same time, a loud noise and a crashing sound erupted. It was a noise that could never be made by the collision of petals and snowflakes.

It sounded like massive chunks of metal were being crushed or as if a gigantic beast from a nightmare was roaring.

Thousand Faced Manipulator's eyes turned bloodshot.

'What a monster…!'

Even the changes Thousand Faced Manipulator himself was causing were beyond his control.

Yet, this Plum Blossom Sword Demon was flawlessly countering every bit of energy Thousand Faced Manipulator had unleashed, leaving nothing unchecked.

He couldn't tell if the feeling welling up in his chest was shock or awe.

It was laughable even to talk about pride at this point.

As a martial artist, and the Plum Blossom Sword Demon as a swordsman, there was no longer any room to argue who stood above whom—this scene alone made that clear.

Thousand Faced Manipulator had seen countless powerful figures and experienced various levels of mastery, but the sword of this swordsman was so high that it defied explanation.

But perhaps because of that…

"Take this!"

Thousand Faced Manipulator gathered all of his inner strength and unleashed a powerful surge of energy.

That swordsmanship definitely close to miraculous. Maintaining it would undoubtedly consume an immense amount of mental and internal energy.

Kwaaaaaaaah!

The swirling snowstorm built up and rushed toward Cheong Myeong like an avalanche. A realm where change piles up and sublimates into heaviness.

Thousand Faced Manipulator, Dam Yeohae. It was a level of craftsmanship that not only matched but even surpassed the reputation of being called the best of the Evil Sect.

Kwaaaaaaaah!

As expected, the endlessly blooming red petals begin to falter. Just as the winter plum blossoms, which bloom without losing their life even in the bitter cold of snowy mountains, cannot withstand the weight of the constantly falling snow and eventually break.

The blooming flower buds were collapsing, unable to overcome the pressure of the accumulated energy.

"Uaaaah!"

Thousand Faced Manipulator let out a metallic scream.

There was no victory in a battle of changes [byun] and illusions [hwan]. He had already confirmed that. However, if it becomes a battle of internal energy, he might actually be able to take control. He's seizing that possibility right now.

His dantian screamed in agony. Yet, despite blood flowing from his mouth, Dam Yeohae stubbornly unleashed his qi.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Perhaps a chance that would never come again.

Plum Blossom Sword Demon, Cheong Myeong. If he can just kill that Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, the weight of the war will shift more than 80% towards Evil Tyrant Alliance. Then it will be a great achievement...

Suddenly, his hand froze.

'That...'

It happened just as Dam Yeohae hesitated—or perhaps even a moment before.

Wheeeing.

The plum blossoms, which had been struggling against the avalanche of energy, disappeared in an instant. As if everything Dam Yeohae had seen so far had been an illusion.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

He's not blocking it?

Unless he intended to commit suicide, what on earth is he thinking by doing such a thing? Had he finally lost his mind...?

"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Just as Dam Yeohae was about to squeeze out the last of his strength—

Shudder.

His entire body was consumed by goosebumps. It was a warning from his very instincts—something he had never experienced before. A primal alarm from deep within his soul.

At first, it was just a tiny red dot, like a drop of blood on a sheet of white rice paper in the overwhelmingly white world. It was an extremely subtle change.

But that red dot quickly transformed into something Thousand Faced Manipulator had never seen before, overtaking the white energy.

Kwaaaaaaaaaa!

The intensely red energy surged over and engulfed his qi, flooding in with a deafening roar that seemed as if it would burst his eardrums

Kakakakakakak!

The red torrent rushed toward him. This was another form of death.

"U, ugh!"

Thousand Faced Manipulator, realizing that nothing could stop this force, threw his body to the side with all his might.

And at that moment, he saw it.

The swordsman, already waiting for him in the direction he had leaped. Eyes cold enough to freeze his soul.

Fwoosh!

In a single step, Thousand Faced Manipulator retreated more than ten feet.

His entire body was drenched in cold sweat. Unable to control his trembling gaze, he stared ahead. And when he saw the figure standing alone in the distance, his mouth fell open, and he began to pant heavily.

"Huff, huff…"

His jaw hung open, and his chest heaved loudly.

The Thousand Faced Manipulator's gaze lowered slightly.

Something small had fallen on the ground, just ahead of where Cheong Myeong was standing. It was both familiar and horrifyingly unfamiliar.

"….."

Without a word, the Thousand Faced Manipulator raised his left hand.

It was gone.

The pinky and ring fingers of his left hand, which always provided firm support for his techniques, were missing. Where his fingers should have been, they were severed from the bottom, pouring out hot blood.

Instead of staunching the blood flow, the Thousand Faced Manipulator gripped his lower abdomen with his bleeding hand.

Squelch.

Blood gushed out from the split in his clothing. If he removed his hand, his abdomen would split open, and his intestines would spill out.

In a split second, during that brief exchange, Cheong Myeong had sliced off two of his fingers and slashed open his abdomen in a single stroke.

Had the cut gone even just two, no, one more inch deeper, he would already be in the afterlife.

"....You."

The Thousand Faced Manipulator looked back at Cheong Myeong with a shocked expression.

Cheong Myeong, pale and ghostly, was dripping black, dead blood from his mouth.

The Thousand Faced Manipulator bit his lip.

No matter how serious the wounds he suffered may seem, they are ultimately just external injuries, nothing more than a torn skin. However that Plum Blossom Sword Demon was bleeding dead blood, suffering from internal injuries.

At this moment, perhaps the Thousand Faced Manipulator held the advantage. Not because his wounds were lighter, but because Cheong Myeong's internal damage was severe.

But...

At that moment, Cheong Myeong spoke.

"Weaker... I suppose that's not entirely wrong."

"....."

"But so what?"

A faint, mocking smile appeared at the corners of Cheong Myeong's mouth. The sight of his bloodstained lips curving into a grin sent a chill down even the spine of the Thousand Faced Manipulator.

"So what can someone like you do about it?"

The Thousand Faced Manipulator couldn't bring himself to charge at Cheong Myeong.

Perhaps Cheong Myeong's words were nothing more than a bluff. It was possible that just a light attack from the Thousand Faced Manipulator would finish off the internally wounded Plum Blossom Sword Demon.

Just one strike of his strength.

But despite knowing all of this, he couldn't bring himself to extend his hand. He didn't even dare to take a step forward, as if a pitch-black river of the underworld flowed right before him.

Sweat dripped down the Thousand Faced Manipulator's chin.

The only reason he hadn't turned and fled immediately was the last bit of pride still holding on despite his injuries.

"Indeed... that's probably true."

The Thousand Faced Manipulator's face twisted in a grotesque grimace.

"But, what do you think? I don't know about you, but are the others the same? Will you, who have become weak, be able to protect others like you have been doing so far?"

Cheong Myeong silently glared at the Thousand Faced Manipulator. The Thousand Faced Manipulator, filled with stubbornness, stared back at Chung Myung with equal intensity.

"I will watch closely with my own eyes. And I'll return to laugh in your face after I've taken everything from you."

After a brief silence.

Poof.

The Thousand Faced Manipulator's figure vanished like a puff of smoke.

Cheong Myeong stared wordlessly at the spot where he had disappeared. He stood there for a long while before suddenly doubling over like a shrimp.

"Ugh."

Cheong Myeong quickly covered his mouth with his hand.

"Uweeeeeeek!"

Black blood poured out from between his spread fingers. After vomiting several times, he clenched his black-stained fist.

Whatever emotions were contained in that slightly trembling fist, only Cheong Myeong could know.

After bending over for a long time, Cheong Myeong slowly lifted his head and looked up at the night sky. It was still a dark night, with no sign of dawn. The stars, as always, offered no words of solace.

How long had he been standing there?

"....What?"

Cheong Myeong's head turned. Through the darkness and solitude, someone was slowly approaching.

A look of suspicion grew in Cheong Myeong's usually indifferent eyes.

"You... who are you?"

In contrast to Cheong Myeong's eyes that had sunk like an abyss, two deep and profound eyes were glimmered faintly.

"Om mani padme hum."

"....."

"I've wanted to meet you, siju."

With a devout expression and clasped hands, Dalai Lama bowed his head slightly toward Cheong Myeong.

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Baek Cheon's eyes shook uncontrollably.

"Now... what did you just say...?"

His breath came in gasps, and his vision grew dark. It felt like he was falling off a thousand-foot cliff, all alone.

"Who... did you say you were?"

Did he say he was the sect leader of Diancang Sect, whom they had abandoned?

"Ha ha."

The man who had introduced himself as Jin Songwon let out a suppressed laugh.

"Why? Feeling guilty all of a sudden?"

"I….."

Jin Songwon glared at Baek Cheon with eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Or are you just shocked that those who should have been dead have returned? Mount Hua's deputy sect leader, Baek Cheon?"

Baek Cheon tightly closed his eyes.

If they were truly who they claimed to be, then it all made sense. The hatred, the resentment they harbored against him.

But before all that, he had to hear it.

"Please tell me."

".... What?"

"I need to know."

Baek Cheon met Jin Songwon's gaze with a determined expression.

"What happened at Diancang? Why are you here now? I need to know everything."

It was time to face all the reality.