Chapter 1118: I've Already Prepared Everything For That! (Chapter 3)

"Uryaaaah!"

Baek Cheon swiftly parried the flying knife in one go.

The knives were coated with a potent poison that could induce a state of unconsciousness with just a graze. However, the force imbued in the knives couldn't overcome the power contained in Baek Cheon's sword, which sent them soaring high into the sky.

"...I get the rough idea."

"That's right."

Baek Cheon tightly gripped his sword, looking at the figures before him.

"So, this training... it's not just about adapting, is it?"

He had learned this while fighting the Tang Family, Namgung, and Nokrim. Despite engaging in intense battles, their practical experience was still lacking. To be precise, they had ample experience in one-on-one combat, but their experience in group battles was severely lacking. Especially when various groups with different styles came together to fight, he found himself unable to fully demonstrate his skills.

Perhaps Chung Myung already saw this. So, he made them undergo this training.

And this time too, Chung Myung's scheme had a clear effect. The more they fought, the more rapidly they understood how to handle chaotic situations. It was like the body understood and moved before the mind could grasp it.

Yeah, okay. That was good. The problem was...

'It's not just us going through this, is it?'

Those martial artists were not only gaining experience in group battles but were also absorbing practical experience through this training. They were growing stronger and sharper day by day.

'How did people watching us feel all this time?'

Witnessing these individuals grow right in front of him was a very different experience. Especially when facing their growth while clashing swords, emotions surged. Watching someone grow was both gratifying and alarming. The determination not to be overtaken flared up involuntarily.

This was undoubtedly a good thing.

...As long as it was just their 'skills' that were growing.

"But... this is a bit..."

Baek Cheon looked somewhat grim as he observed the approaching figures.

Tang Pae, grasping throwing knives in both hands with a smug smile, could be easily understood. After all, for the Tang Family, this training was created to defeat Mount Hua.

However...

"Hmm."

It was somewhat awkward, but unavoidable. Namgung Dowi, who walked towards him with a sword in hand...

"Hehehehe...."

And Im Sobyeong, approaching with a face that clearly said, 'You're caught now,' wasn't the situation a bit different?

"Excuse me...."

Baek Cheon quietly raised his hand and addressed the approaching individuals with a subtle remark.

"Something... it seems like the meaning of this training is fading a little…?"

"Huh?"

"...Wasn't this supposed to be a melee battle?"

"Hahaha."

The one responding to that statement was none other than Im Sobyeong.

"Oh, it seems our Baek Cheon Dojang might be having some misunderstandings."

"What?"

"...Does this still look like training? Huh?"

Watching Im Sobyeong openly growl, Baek Cheon shivered.

"Well, I mean... when you think about it, isn't it still training?"

But Tang Pae's opinion differed from this lowly Evil Sect guy's. Indeed, the scion of the prestigious Sichuan Tang Family... 

" 'Training' is something that the Mount Hua Sect enjoys alone."

"..."

No, no. Tang Pae was colder. After all... when you think about it, he probably harbored more ill feelings...

"Let's enjoy that fun together... but you seem narrow-minded, Baek Cheon Dojang."

"...

"…So, were you the one who poisoned the rice we ate yesterday?"

"Hahaha. Didn't Mount Hua teach us not to shy away from any means and methods when facing enemies?"

"But still, that's a bit..."

Namgung Dowi, who had been silently listening, spoke up.

"Don't misunderstand, Baek Cheon Dojang. There's no ill will."

"..."

"It's just a strategic judgment. It's foolish to keep repeating wars where Mount Hua keeps winning, is it? It's not like we're repeating the stupidity of engaging in losing battles. Don't you agree?"

Yes, Namgung Sogaju. Of course, you're right.

But for that statement to sound convincing, maybe you should move that restless sword a bit to the side before speaking... the way that the keeps sword twitching seems to indicate an irrepressible desire to stab my throat..Am I mistaken?

"It must have been fun until now."

"Winning and going back must have been a refreshing feeling."

"It wouldn't be bad to slowly taste the bitter taste of defeat. We've experienced it enough to become stronger. This is all done with Mount Hua in mind."

"Spitting on the ground and..."

"Hahaha. Just a joke."

Nangong Dowi shook while cutting off Baek Cheon's words.

"With Mount Hua, there should be no problem facing all three of us at the same time."

"No problem?"

"Ah, there might be. Because it's none other than Mount Hua."

"...Is that the problem? Hello?"

Baek Cheon backed away, sweating profusely. As he did, other Mount Hua disciples who surrounded him also stepped back, gripping their swords tightly.

However, with three sides surrounded and the rear blocked by the manor, where could they go? After all, wasn't this battlefield a place where strategic retreats didn't exist from the beginning?

"I now finally understand the deep teachings of Chung Myung Dojang."

"To win, you have to hit the head first, right?"

"And here, the head is Mount Hua?"

The eyes of the three leaders of each sect were filled with madness. Although they were maintaining their dignity in their words, there was no mercy in their eyes. Their determination to strike down Mount Hua at any moment was burning like wildfire.

Baek Cheon let out a bitter laugh.

"…These bastards."

It was good that their skills were improving. Mount Hua could also ignite their enthusiasm by watching them. However...

"Being this dirty is crossing the line!"

"Crush them!"

"Squash them!"

"Today, we've got you! Mount Hua bastards!"

In an instant, the allied forces of the Tang Family, Namgung, and Nokrim attacked Mount Hua. The faces of Mount Hua's disciples turned pale as they saw these forces rushing towards them.

"Here they come!"

"Damn bastards!"

"Hey! Stop them, stop them!"

"Ah! Stop spraying poison!"

Mount Hua resisted fiercely, but the three sects, determined to completely crush Mount Hua this time, rushed in without looking back.

"Step on them!"

"This is the revenge of the comrades who died by your swords!"

"I didn't kill him, this bastard!"

"What do you know!"

Amidst the chaos, there was a trace of sorrow in Baek Cheon's heart.

Chung Myung... He said this was the Mount Hua-ification of the entire Central Plains, but wasn't this the clearing out of the entire Central Plains?

I don't really know if this is okay. Huh? Chung Myung...

Meanwhile, on another corner of the training ground.

Chung Myung, watching the training ground that vividly showed the ruthless reality of the unruly Kangho, threw a bean into his mouth.

"They're having fun."

Kids grow up by fighting, after all.

"Are you okay with this?"

"What do you mean?"

"It seems like Mount Hua is getting beaten up?"

At Tang Gunak's words, Chung Myung chuckled.

"Those bastards have been getting a bit full of air in their lungs lately, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to take this opportunity to take the air out of them."

"Haha."

Tang Gunak laughed loudly and looked at Chung Myung.

"Haha. Funny joke..."

But he couldn't finish his sentence. It was because Chung Myung wasn't laughing at all.

"…Isn't this a joke?"

"..."

"Ahem."

Tang Gunak cleared his throat lightly. Although it was for a moment, he had underestimated Chung Myung a little.

Chung Myung spoke with a harsh voice.

"These kids think they're tough these days."

"They think they're tough..."

Tang Gunak tasted the bitterness.

Right now, Mount Hua was facing Tang Family, Namgung, and Nokrim at the same time. Of course, they were being pushed back, and the three forces were not the complete strength of each sect, but it was important that they were dealing with them.

If he called even them kids, where on earth were those who are not kids in the Central Plains?

"Your standards seem excessively high."

"The standards in the Central Plains seem excessively low."

"That may be true."

As if he had finished saying what he wanted to say, Tang Gunak, who was looking back at the training ground again, opened his mouth again without turning his gaze.

"Are you okay with this?"

It was the same question, but this time the meaning was different. And Chung Myung nodded, as if understanding what it meant.

"It's not something to save."

"But the Self-Cultivation Pill is not an elixir that can be easily wastes. If used in Mount Hua, it might have a greater effect."

"If everyone gets stronger by eating up Self-Cultivation Pills, the emperor would be the strongest in the world. Or perhaps the merchants would be the strongest."

"That's a good point, but..."

Harmony was important.

There were limits to the benefits that could be obtained with the Self-Cultivation Pill. Generally, if you didn't take the Self-Cultivation Pill, your level of martial arts would be higher than your internal strength. That's why taking the Self-Cultivation Pill makes your martial arts rise significantly.

However, after possessing a certain amount of internal strength, the Self-Cultivation Pill is useless. If it weren't for this, each sect would have given the Self-Cultivation Pill to the highest-ranking member of the sect, not the latecomers.

"The guys from Mount Hua have already eaten so much that it's not meaningful now."

"That's also true. Yes, that's true. But..."

Tang Gunak turned his gaze and looked at Chung Myung straight.

"Are they the last of Mount Hua's disciples?"

At that, Chung Myung also closed his mouth. Tang Gunak, who sighed deeply, laid out his words as if he had made up his mind.

"As you know, ice crystals and purple wood grass are not infinite. The production of ice crystals in the North Sea has dropped dramatically now. And since you've been digging them up so hard, it's probably right to assume that only a very small amount will be available in the future. Otherwise, you will use low-quality ice crystals."

"Hmm..."

"The same goes for the purple wood grass. In the past, purple wood grass wasn't a hard-to-get item. But now, isn't it only grown in certain places in Yunnan? It's becoming less and less self-sufficient as time goes by, and it's even impossible to cultivate."

"Hmm."

Chung Myung scratched his head. This statement was also not wrong. Considering the situation in the North Sea and Yunnan, it was clear that the use of the Self-Cultivation Pill as a weapon would surely become limited.

"Maybe this will be the last batch of Self-Cultivation Pills you make. But are you going to give these precious Self-Cultivation Pills to them? Not the future of Mount Hua?"

"..."

"There is no way Sect Leader doesn't know this fact. And the disciples will find out soon too. This is not an issue to judge so easily."

Tang Gunak said with a firm face.

"If you use the Self-Cultivation Pill well, Mount Hua can firmly establish its glory not only in the next generation but maybe even in the generation after that. But if you use a Self-Cultivation Pill like this, there will be no elixir left for future generations to achieve the glory of Mount Hua. Are you really confident that you will not regret that decision?"

While listening to the story, Chung Myung didn't say anything. He just made an expression that made it hard to guess his inner thoughts.