Chapter 1325: If That's A Human, That Is (Part 5)

"Urrachaaaahhh!"

Jo Gol pierced through the approaching enemies one after another. His momentum showed no signs of waning, or rather, it became even sharper than before. However, his expression was gradually hardening.

"Heuk! Heuk!"

Almost there.

The end of this damn canyon finally came into view. Just a little more, and...

Gasping for breath after piercing the throat of an oncoming enemy, Jo Gol's face was already drenched in sweat, and his hand holding the sword began to tremble slightly.

'It's already...'

It felt like his energy was depleted.

Logically, it didn't make sense.

The nature of his swordsmanship focused on thrusting, and due to that, Jo Gol's consumption of internal energy was relatively small. In a fight like this, he should be able to endure without getting tired even after three days and nights of repetition.

But something illogical had already happened and couldn't be denied.

Not just internal energy. Everything that filled him was rapidly running out. He had barely started a proper fight, and yet...

'Why is it like this...'

Everything was depleting rapidly.

Not just physical strength, internal energy, but even the mental strength he once thought would not be surpassed by anyone.

Witnessing Jo Gol's exhausted state, Yoon Jong rushed forward menacingly. Even Yoon Jong's appearance was damp with sweat.

Observing this, Jo Gol casually threw his sword into the air, brushing off the sweat that had soaked his hands.

He realized anew. Fighting at the forefront, leading the way, was a task accompanied by a profound pressure.

'Don't cry! We're only three here!' [...he was about to cry? ༼☯﹏☯༽ ]

Yoon Jong and Baek Cheon must be under pressure too. However, Jo Gol couldn't afford to show weakness now. And if someone had to the most endure pressure, it would be Baek Cheon...

Instinctively looking back at Baek Cheon, Jo Gol was momentarily surprised. He expected Baek Cheon to be eyeing the opportunity to charge forward at the front, but instead, Baek Cheon was looking at something in the distance.

"Sasuk?"

Jo Gol called out with a puzzled voice, but Baek Cheon seemed not to hear, just staring endlessly into the distance.

"Tch!"

Chung Myung, who spat out blood from his mouth, glared at the approaching Goyang.

'What a mess.'

His body was in a terrible state, almost to the point of being completely unruly.

- Damn it! Do you think you think damaged body parts can just be replaced like a broken cart? Hyung-nim, if you keep acting like this, you'll die soon.

'Whether it's then or now, those Tang Family guys are...'

Doctors are all the same. They just talk the same nonsense.

If you're injured, rest. The human body doesn't magically recover conveniently.

'Who doesn't know that?'

If he could rest, he would have rested. The problem was he couldn't rest.

Chung Myung had become stronger. In just a few years, he had caught up with more than half of his past state.

He accumulated strength from the level of an ant's tears to the point where it didn't feel lacking, and his swordsmanship became so familiar to this body that it approached perfection.

But that didn't mean he had fully recovered his past state.

The most lacking thing was internal energy.

In his past life, he accumulated internal energy for almost seventy years. [(⊙_⊙)] However, in this life, he had barely had ten years to accumulate internal energy.

Even with the help of the newly created Cultivation Pill, how could he overcome the gap with such a young Dantian?

This journey of breaking through the front line from Southern Island to here was a challenging path that would leave even the past Chung Myung breathless. But he endured it with an immature body and insufficient internal energy. It wasn't not surprising that his body was losing its taste.

Only defeating the enemies. Even for that one thing, he cut off attention to everything else.

Of course, there was also the option to step back to heal injuries and catch his breath. Even if he made that choice, he might have reached this point.

Now, the Five Swords could confidently present themselves to the old Mount Hua bastards, and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's Sogaju guys had done their part.

So, it wasn't necessary for Chung Myung to push himself. If they had led well, they would have reached this place.

Instead, at least thirty of Southern Island's disciples might have died.

'Thirty.'

A smile suddenly appeared on Chung Myung's lips.

It wasn't even funny.

Did anyone know better than Chung Myung how insignificant human life was, and how futile it was to save those few lives in the whirlpool of war?

If it were the past Chung Myung, he would have thoroughly considered his own body rather than saving those thirty lives.

If he collapsed, not thirty, but many more would die. It wasn't a cold judgment but a rational decision.

Yes, definitely. But...

- You'll know someday too.

'It would have been better if it wasn't now, Sect Leader Sahyung.'

A smirk kept slipping out. Despite knowing it wasn't the right time.

'What does Southern Island know?'

In the end, it had to be admitted.

He changed Mount Hua. He raised the collapsing Mount Hua back on the rock and instilled courage (雄心) in the disciples who were soaked in a sense of defeat.

It was a thorough return to the past for Chung Myung.

It was about reproducing the beloved Mount Hua, which still seemed to be within reach in his memory.

To become Chung Myung. To become the Plum Blossom Sword Saint of Mount Hua.

But now, it must be acknowledged. The person who changed the most during that process was not Mount Hua or those Five Swords bastards, but Chung Myung himself.

He taught them, polished them, and finally, Chung Myung learned from them.

The value of a human was not determined by strength. Even those whom Chung Myung ridiculed as extremely foolish for living their lives desperately. Even those who were used as expendable pawns in war and were discarded afterward.

Insignificant lives. Lives that ended merely as numbers.

Each of those seemingly insignificant lives had their own meaning. Even those disregarded as useless had unique significance and value to someone.

Chung Myung wanted to protect Sect Leader Sahyung.

He wanted to save the damn Tang Bo guy, see that damn Cheon Jin safely return to Mount Hua.

He wanted to somehow send all the people of Mount Hua back.

If he could, he wouldn't hesitate to do anything. Anything.

But now he knew. He had learned.

When viewed with the gaze of a mighty force like Kangho, these insignificant mere numbers...are to someone a Cheon Mun, a Tang Bo, a Cheon Jin.

Someone will want to protect them as desperately as Chung Myung did back then. Someone will have to live their whole life in pain because of their deaths.

Thirty. Although just a number, Chung Myung could no longer consider it insignificant.

He would rather not have known.

'Are you going to laugh at me?'

Chung Myung suddenly wondered.

How would Cheon Jin react if he heard these words?

Would he mock them for saying something absurd?

Or would he be amazed and laughed, saying Chung Myung had become a true Taoist?

It was impossible to know.

Because Cheon Jin was already dead.

"Sajil..."

Yoo Iseol's voice came from behind.

There was a subtle concern in it.

No, the concern was so palpable that one could feel it even without paying attention.

Concern in Yoo Iseol's voice.

'It doesn't suit her.'

But what was even more unsuitable is that the one who made Yoo Iseol's voice sound concerned was Chung Myung himself.

Chung Myung lightly turned the Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword he was holding.

Throb.

The pain in his legs was terrible. His inner energy had been depleted long ago. Even though he tried to gather inner energy while running, there was a limit.

The wounds he had managed to staunch between his run would reopen and bleed profusely again as he moved.

But still… Chung Myung lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Shall I go first?"

When Chung Myung slightly leaned forward, Goyang unintentionally stepped back. His momentum had significantly waned.

Goyang's eyes narrowed, and he scrutinized Chung Myung's condition several times.

'What's going on?'

He had already reached his limit. No, he should have already reached it. Even if he was a top-notch expert, his injuries all over his body would make it difficult to move.

And in reality, it would be worse than what's visible. The poison applied to his sword would linger in his body, continually stirring up his insides.

However, Chung Myung's momentum showed no signs of weakening. On the contrary, it became even more terrifying than at the beginning. Just facing him made the blood curdle, and the feeling of the skin tearing was palpable.

'He's bluffing.'

Goyang bit his lips.

Ho Gakmyung had already said it. As he approached his limit, he would show off to hide his condition. So there was no need to be fooled by those words and actions. Like teasing a wounded beast, he casually…

Paaah!

But at that moment, Chung Myung's figure disappeared, only to reappear in front of Goyang like a ghost. Goyang panicked and raised his sword.

Kwaah!

In a moment, the sword he hastily raised prevented the Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword from flying away. However, instead of bouncing back, it rushed at a faster speed toward Goyang's neck.

Goyang, who felt the sword almost touching his neck, desperately twisted his neck.

Kwadeuk!

Although he narrowly avoided being pierced through his neck, he couldn't escape being cut. The Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword, which had dug about half an inch to the side of his neck, narrowly passed by the carotid artery.

Goyang retreated, gasping for breath, avoiding the intense pain.

For a moment. Just a moment. If his reaction had been a little slower, his neck would have been pierced without a doubt. Realizing that he had dipped his foot in hell but managed to escape, Goyang's face turned pale.

But Goyang had fought in numerous battles.

Even in the midst of that, his eyes were fixed precisely on Chung Myung. Chung Myung's leg was slightly bent, and there was tension in the hand holding the sword.

'He's coming!'

Goyang regained his senses, adjusting his posture while pulling all the inner energy he had left into the ground.

Paaah!

Chung Myung slammed into the ground. Goyang's hands, holding the sword, were overloaded with force.

'If I just block…'

However, eventually, Goyang's mind turned blank. Chung Myung, who had slammed into the ground, moved at a rapid pace.

Not heading straight for Goyang, but backwards.

'What…?'

Chung Myung, who had thrown himself backward, showed an obvious sneer.

Goyang realized that he had been thoroughly played. However, Chung Myung was already rushing along the wide-open canyon with Yoo Iseol, dragging Tang Pae with him.

"Follow him! Right now!"

"Yes!"

The Blood Sword members, who were dumbfounded by the unexpected situation, rushed toward Chung Myung. Seeing them pass by, Goyang clicked his tongue.

"This damn piece of shit...!"

It was momentary, but regardless, the fact that he had thoroughly played in the opponent's palm had torn Goyang's pride to shreds.

"Aaah!"

Yelling like a convulsion, he immediately started chasing after Chung Myung with all his strength, who was running to the end of the canyon.