Chapter 1396
To where you should be. (1)
Ho Gamyeong’s face grew gradually darker by each passing moment.
Though he usually kept his emotions hidden, in the face of such carnage, it was inevitable.
All that could be seen were corpses strewn everywhere. From the scattered bodies to the ground soaked in crimson blood, it was a sight that could only be described as a “bloody path.”
‘Could one person really do all this?’
Before anger, a sense of awe crept in. This was not a sight that could be created solely through brute force.
Could there be anyone else in the world capable of creating such a scene besides Maehwa Geomgwi? Especially against Maninbang.
Seeing this scene, Ho Gamyeong finally understood why it had been so difficult to simply kill one person.
Even if it weren’t Ho Gamyeong, in such a situation, everyone would come to the same conclusion. That’s how shocking the scenes he witnessed were.
How many had to fall before one person could create such carnage? How many times did he have to swing his sword?
‘But even at that cost, he won’t escape unscathed.’
As long as he’s human… No, even if he’s not human but a monster, he can’t commit such atrocities and remain unharmed.
“Hurry.”
“Yes!”
Ho Gamyeong increased the pace of his strides. He stood at the brink of life and death. This time, he must absolutely sever his breath.
❀ ❀ ❀
“He was pushed back! Don’t let him escape!”
Swoosh!
There was no room for regret.
A sense of loss for the lost power? Compared to everything he had lost, everything he had to lose even though he didn’t want to, the things he had accumulated in his body were insignificant.
“Surround him! Don’t give him a chance to escape!”
Swoosh!
But if he had that power, he could have blocked the blade that sliced through his shoulder. He could have avoided the sword that pierced his side. He could have faced all these people with ease and while laughing mockingly.
If only he had focused solely on regaining his power after his return… No, if he had just prioritized himself a little more, he could still have been Geomjon here. He could have stood as a dignified and strong warrior.
So, is it regret?
Well…
Swoosh!
The sword extended like a serpent, piercing through the enemy’s throat without mercy.
An indescribable expression flashed across the face of the enemy who couldn’t believe their moment of death. Soon, crimson blood gushed out from their mouth.
G-gurgle…
The blunt weight settled at the end of the sword. The weight of an entire person.
It would have been as light as a feather under normal circumstances, but in this moment, it felt burdensome.
Was it exhaustion? Or perhaps the weight of life he felt was no longer the same as before.
“This… despicable..”
Feeling like Chung Myung might collapse any moment but still standing firm, the enemy hesitated, giving Chung Myung a chance to catch his breath.
The world blurred and cleared repeatedly.
How many foes had fallen? He couldn’t tell. He had long abandoned counting.
‘It’s hot…’
His body felt like a furnace. No, it felt as cold as endless ice. Perhaps both.
His inner strength had long been depleted, and the throbbing wounds were gnawing away at his flesh.
The price paid for killing so many might not be considered high, but its aftermath was undeniably crashing down on Chung Myung as a singular outcome.
His eyelids felt endlessly heavy. He scanned his surroundings with half-closed eyes. All he could see were enemies clad in red.
Once, such a sight had been all too familiar. Breathing within this atmosphere had felt natural. But now, why did such a scene feel unfamiliar? Was it because Chung Myung had weakened? Or…
Swoosh.
The lifeless body of an enemy slipped off his sword and fell to the ground. The weight he had been bearing disappeared, yet the sword still felt heavy. Too heavy to lift.
The world seemed to be losing its edge.
It felt like there were no allies left in the world, only enemies. But what was the reason he couldn’t turn away, couldn’t let go of what he had grasped so tightly?
Was there still some lingering regrets?
Those who have never truly felt understood by others often find themselves laughing at everything, even at themselves. It becomes a habit. It’s better to receive the gaze of an enemy’s doubtful eyes than to feel like an outsider looking at something strange. That’s a different kind of understanding.
Once again, he tried to twist up the corners of his mouth, but his face remained stiff. His lips couldn’t muster any semblance of mockery or intimidation.
‘Even the bravado is over…’
Laughter leaked out. It was not a laugh meant to threaten the enemy, but a laugh mixed with self-deprecation.
“What are you bastards doing! Kill him! He’s reached his limit!”
“E-eeek!”
Someone lunged with a spear in a frenzy. Instinctively, he intercepted the spear with his sword.
Clang!
The sharp sound of metal grinding against metal and the sickening sound of flesh being pierced echoed almost simultaneously. It wasn’t just the air, but the flesh itself, that carried the chilling sensation of the blade piercing through.
At the moment of impact, the one repelled was the Dark Plum Sword meticulously crafted by Tangga, which had cut down countless enemies and had never once betrayed Chung Myung’s will.
In truth, the spear technique itself wasn’t particularly remarkable, but his weakened sword couldn’t block even a simple attack.
“Oh…”
Paaaaaaa!
Chung Myung gritted his teeth and swung his sword again like a thunderbolt. The enemy who had momentarily faltered at his unexpected success was now beheaded swiftly.
Chung Myunf’s knees buckled.
The sword felt infinitely powerless, his reactions slowing with each passing moment.
It seemed as if everything accumulated within his body was now flowing out.
“Cough…”
With each cough, blood mixed with it. Yet, despite the body swaying as if about to collapse, it somehow managed to regain balance.
“Cough! Cough!”
An eerie fervor began to flicker in the eyes of the enemies who had been unable to approach Chung Myung. The end of Maehwa Geomgwi that had been elusive for so long was now laid bare before them. Perhaps… perhaps they could achieve the feat of severing the beast’s neck with their own hands.
It was undeniably perilous, yet also a fatally tempting prospect. There was hardly anyone here who could remain unwavering in the face of such a temptation.
The enemies swallowed dryly.
They cautiously extended their feet towards Chung Myung, while the circle surrounding him began to gradually, ever so slightly, shrink.
With a sharp sound, Chung Myung grabbed the spear lodged above his heart with his left hand. He exerted force to pull the spear out, but the hooked spearhead was firmly embedded in the flesh and wouldn’t budge easily.
Thud.
Finally, without hesitation, he shattered the spear, spitting out the blood accumulated in his mouth.
In his narrowed field of vision, there was nothing but enemies. The entire world seemed to be filled with adversaries. Enemies, enemies, enemies, and more enemies.
‘…Just tear them apart.’
Cut down and topple them. And then forge a path. Just as he has done countless times before. That’s how he can open the way.
‘But what comes after that?’
There will be more enemies, of course. Even if he defeats them, new enemies will appear afterward.
Strike, and strike again, and then cut down some more…
What’s left at the end of it all?
“Ah…”
Whether it’s laughter, a groan, or a sob, a sound emerged from his lips. Nothing will change. It has always been this way.
He never overestimated his own strength. He never foolishly believed he would always come back alive from any fight. Despite engaging in fights where death could come at any moment, he somehow managed to keep surviving. He didn’t particularly yearn to stay alive, yet he did.
It’s not surprising that his luck ran out here. It’s the conclusion everyone faced. Chung Myung, too, was destined to face this conclusion. Slowly but surely, with grim clarity.
Struggling to support himself with his sword, Chung Myung forcibly lifted his crumbling body.
“D-Die!”
Before his opponent could extend his blade, Chung Myung’s sword moved a step faster. The energy emitted from the tip of his sword struck the opponent’s chest mercilessly.
“Cough…”
The enemy staggered briefly from the strike, but that was all. Despite being wounded, he didn’t collapse and held his ground.
Even the energy from the sword now lacked its former strength. It couldn’t penetrate even the fragile human body perfectly.
Regret? None. There’s nothing to regret.
In the past, he saved the world but lost everything he shouldn’t have.
But this time is different.
‘…I protected it.’
It should have been done sooner… Yes, it should have been done like this from the beginning.
Surviving alone and witnessing the death of everyone is an experience he never wanted to endure again. Chung Myung never wanted to face the agony of crumbling alone in a world where nothing remains.
Even if everyone ridicules it as foolish and childish behavior, this was the only path Chung Myung could choose from the start.
‘Sahyeong…’
He wouldn’t know. How far the mission he entrusted to Chung Myung drove him.
He won’t understand. Those who have died cannot know anything.
Chung Mun would never know what it felt like to be the only one left at the end of everyone’s death.
Now, Chung Myung must admit… He wasn’t as remarkable or as strong as everyone thought he was.
Paaaat!
A barrage of sword energies flew towards him.
Before consciousness could react, Chung Myung’s sword sliced through the air. The instincts engraved in his body didn’t forsake him until the very end.
Crash!
The sword energies shattered into pieces. Fragments pierced through the enemies, and lodged into Chung Myung’s exhausted body.
“Gulp!”
A bitter flow of blood kept oozing out relentlessly. It felt like all the blood inside had already dried up, which was truly bizarre.
Struggling, Chung Myung lifted his head to see the day breaking. The crimson sky of dawn gazed down at him. Just like the unforgettable sky of that day.
It was like the last memory of Hwasan he remembered.
On that day, as his Sahyeongs died, what they wanted most was for Hwasan to bloom plum blossoms again… then what he wished for most at that moment was to save even one more person through his death…
Isn’t Cung Myung done with his role now?
He achieved what he set out to do. What his Sahyeong desired has been fulfilled. Of course, they were unreliable, pitiful, and incredibly stupid brats… But still, they were good people.
So, isn’t that enough?
They’ll overcome this. Even if he’s not there.
No matter how cold the wind blows, they’ll endure and keep going. They’ll continue what those who fell in the past tried so hard to protect, and they’ll strengthen their resolve.
‘Will they resent me?’
They will. Because they’re those kinds of people. They’ll get angry, curse, and… cry again.
But soon, he will be forgotten.
Just like how he forgot about Chung Mun and embraced a new life with new people. Laughing and chatting at the new Hwasan instead of the old one.
His absence will make everyone sad for a while, but eventually, it will be forgotten. Just like new skin grows over a wound and grass eventually grows on dried-up land.
He felt a bit… just a tiny bit… resentful.
“What are you waiting for! Kill him! Kill him right now! He’s reached his limit!”
The enemies charged.
His vision blurred, his arms no longer moved. His senses dulled. To defeat someone now, he was too pitiful and small.
Swish!
Blood flowed down the Dark Plum Sword, staining his fingertips.
It felt like he had cut the enemy, but he couldn’t tell. His legs wouldn’t obey.
But he had to cut down one more.
The life he severed would make those who survived a little safer. So one more! Just one more person…
Swish.
‘Sect Leader Sahyeong.’
Would he smile? Would he come back and praise him for what he had accomplished?
Maybe he would start nagging. He always did. There was no need to push himself so hard, he might even scold him.
Chung Myung hoped he would.
‘I did my best, Sect Leader Sahyeong.’
So… So please, just… Just think of me a little…
Think of me a little less poorly.
Finally, his knees buckled.
The ground seemed to rise up. The world spun so dizzyingly that he couldn’t tell where he was.
A different death, unlike the one before, was approaching him.
It was okay. Because he left it behind.
Somewhere in distant Shaanxi, somewhere on mount Hwa where plum blossoms bloomed, in the hearts of those who would weep, and on the tip of the sword that had not yet fully matured, he had left enough behind to be remembered.
So, even if this was the end, there would be no more regrets. But…
“Cut off his breath!”
“He’s exhausted! Cut his throat!”
But still… But still…
Clang!
A flying blade collided with the suddenly rising sword.
Chung Myung, kicking the ground heavily, leaped into the midst of the enemies. The fiercely pouring sword energy cut through the enemies gruesomely.
“Ah…”
Chung Myung’s mouth opened, and soon, a beastly roar burst out.
“Ah… Aaaaaah!”
He wanted to live.
The forcefully unleashed sword energy cleaved through those who had nothing but malice.
His muscles tore, his bones shattered, but he swung the sword again and again.
He wanted to live.
“Aaaaaah!”
He wanted to live to laugh again. He wanted to live to return to Hwasan.
The place he departed from. The place he must return to.
Where everyone is waiting for him.
“Aaaaaah!”
Chung Myung’s scream, as he leaped through the rising blades, echoed through the forest with a resounding roar.
He wanted to live.
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