Chapter 815: Stick Out Your Neck, You Bastard! (5)

 

Crack! Ka-ka-ka-kak!

The friction between Chung Myung’s sword, charged with his energy, and Jang Il-so’s ring filled the air with a bone-chilling resonance.

Jang Il-so sneered, meeting Chung Myung’s deathly glare with a mocking grin.

“What a pity.”

"……."

Crunch.

Jang Il-so grasped Chung Myung’s Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword and, with a powerful swing, flung him aside. Chung Myung twisted in midair, landing stably atop the cliff.

“Hmmm.”

Jang Il-so casually dusted off his hand, looking lazily down at Chung Myung.

“Do you know?”

“...Know what?”

“There’s nothing uglier than an actor who doesn’t leave the stage once his role is done.”

Jang Il-so’s lips twisted into a crimson smirk.

“Your role should have ended by now. So why are you still clinging here so miserably?”

“Role?”

Chung Myung smirked back at Jang Il-so. Their laughter held a strange resemblance, their eyes alike in their derisive, scornful gaze.

“Oh, I know my role all too well. My role is to cut off your neck and feed it to the dogs.”

“Oh, dear, dear.”

Jang Il-so shook his head as if in exasperation.

“What a terrible actor. Such a terrible actor, indeed. Doesn’t even know what his role is. Such an actor ruins not only himself but the stage as well.”

Jang Il-so took a deliberate step forward.

“As tragic as it is, an actor like that has to be dragged offstage, forcibly if necessary.”

“Oh, really?”

Chung Myung spun his sword around in his hand, then gripped it firmly, baring his teeth in a sinister, snarling grin. He slowly spat out his words.

“It seems I’ve grown a lot more patient.”

“…….”

“Because here I am, putting up with some lowlife bastard running his mouth. Back in the day, I’d have shoved my sword down your throat before you even opened it.”

“Hahahahahahahaha!”

Jang Il-so burst into uproarious laughter.

It was an eerie sight, really.

Beneath them, a fierce battle raged along the cliffside. Disciples of various sects, representing the orthodox factions, struggled to avoid falling rocks and scalding oil raining down from above.

In some ways, it was as if the fate of the martial world itself was twisting before them.

But here, these two men were having a casual conversation as if they were completely detached from the chaos below, as if only the two of them existed in this world.

“How delightful. Truly delightful. You know, Hua Shan Divine Dragon? Or rather, Chung Myung of Mount Hua. I genuinely like you.”

“…….”

“That’s why it’s such a shame. Really, a shame. The people I like don’t tend to like me back. You’re no different, I assume?”

“Do I even need to answer that?”

“Of course, of course. Such a pity, really. So, then… well, there’s nothing to be done about it, is there?”

Jang Il-so covered his face with one large, pale hand, as if reluctant to reveal his expression to Chung Myung.

But the glint of madness peeking between his fingers made it all too easy to imagine the twisted smile hidden beneath. His murmuring drifted out from behind his hand.

“I’ll have no choice but to tear out that throat of yours.”

Chung Myung chuckled.

“I agree with you on that last point. Everything else, though, I wholeheartedly disagree with. Because I can’t stand the sight of you.”

Chung Myung stretched his sword forward, aiming it squarely at Jang Il-so.

“So I’ll kill you now, you damned bastard.”

“Hmmm.”

Jang Il-so lowered his hand. His face had returned to a pleasant, clean smile, and he tilted his head exaggeratedly.

“How odd. You’re quite clever, even disturbingly so at times. Someone like you should know it’s impossible to defeat me alone.”

Ka-ka-kak!

The rings covering Jang Il-so’s fingers scraped together with a menacing sound.

“So why, then, do you insist on inviting your own death?”

“What an idiot’s question.”

Chung Myung snickered, his gaze sharp as he looked Jang Il-so over.

“You know the answer better than anyone, don’t you?”

Chung Myung’s icy eyes met Jang Il-so’s relaxed gaze, intertwining in the air.

“Yes, I do. I do know. I asked a foolish question. It was my mistake. Rising up has always been about that, hasn’t it? It’s not about defeating those you can beat—it’s about dragging down those you can’t. Bite at their heels, stab them with poisoned daggers, pour oil over them if you must.”

A chilling voice oozed from Jang Il-so’s mouth.

“That’s how you climb. There is no other way.”

“You seem to understand well.”

Chung Myung thought, smiling to himself.

This is exactly why I despise Jang Il-so.

We understand each other so well, yet we couldn’t be more at odds. Liking someone who embodies both those qualities would be a strange feat indeed.

“It wouldn’t be so bad to become your mountain. So come on, let’s see what you’ve got.”

“First.”

“Hm?”

Chung Myung raised two fingers.

“Let me correct two things.”

“…….”

“One. Don’t talk so arrogantly about mountains or whatever. Trash like you could never stand as a mountain before me.”

“Haha, yes, yes!”

“And second.”

Chung Myung’s grin twisted.

“Who said I was alone?”

“…….”

In that moment, four figures leapt up from the edge of the cliff.

Thud!

Baek Cheon, Yu Yiseol, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gul landed beside Chung Myung, immediately assuming stances and aiming their killing intent squarely at Jang Il-so.

Crunch. Crunch.

Chung Myung cracked his neck from side to side.

“You wouldn’t understand, but every fight I’ve had up until now has been my fight alone. It’s had nothing to do with them.”

“…….”

“But you’re a different story. If I tried to take you on alone, these guys would probably bite at my back.”

“That won’t do.”

“We’ll kill him.”

“I’ll take that arm of yours.”

“I’ll drink your blood!”

Jang Il-so let out a hollow laugh as he eyed the disciples of Mount Hua baring their teeth at him.

“Turns out, I thought you were a tiger, but it seems you’re nothing more than a pack of dogs. Mustering up courage just because you’re grouped together, hm?”

The scathing mockery struck a nerve, but rather than anger, Chung Myung merely laughed.

“That suits me just fine.”

“Hmm?”

At the unexpected reaction, Jang Il-so’s eyes narrowed. Chung Myung grinned, baring his teeth.

“What death could suit you better than to be torn apart by dogs?”

“…….”

Jo Gul, grinning, joined in with a chuckle.

“Literal dog’s death, eh?”

“Even that’s a luxury.”

“I’m claiming his neck.”

With the disciples making bold claims as they faced down an opponent of such magnitude, Jang Il-so’s expression flickered for a brief moment.

‘They’re strange people.’

Jang Il-so’s presence was not just a product of his strength. No matter how renowned someone might be, they would naturally shrink back when confronted by him.

But these disciples, despite standing before him and feeling his full animosity, showed not a hint of retreat.

Arrogance?

No, even if it was arrogance, it was remarkable.

Shoving your head into the jaws of a tiger is not something just anyone can pull off.

“Mount Hua… it’s truly a unique sect.”

Jang Il-so glanced below the cliff. He had stalled for long enough.

“So, go on, try to take my head. Less talking, more action.”

“I was just about to!”

Chung Myung lunged forward.

“Baek Cheon! Yu Yiseol!”

“Got it!”

“Be careful. He’ll kill you in an instant!”

“Understood!”

“Brothers!”

“Right!”

“Don’t charge recklessly just because you see an opening! He’s a snake with ten heads. Jump in carelessly, and you’ll be bitten!”

“Got it!”

Even when they fought the archbishop, Chung Myung hadn’t needed to give such a warning. That alone implied he regarded Jang Il-so as an even greater threat.

Leading the disciples who had grown far stronger, Chung Myung still couldn’t guarantee victory.

The Five Swords were now poised, their bodies taut with tension.

In front of them stood Jang Il-so, the infamous Commander of the Defeated Army, within their reach rather than on an untouchable peak.

“Go! Tear him apart!”

Boom!

All five struck the ground simultaneously, the mad hounds of Mount Hua rushing toward the beast before them.

Their target was a monster so colossal that calling it a tiger seemed an understatement. Without a moment’s hesitation, they leapt in.

Chung Myung’s sword streaked forward, a direct line to Jang Il-so.

It was a lightning-fast, straightforward strike with no embellishments, pure speed and swiftness.

The sword sliced through the air, hurtling toward Jang Il-so’s throat with deadly precision.

Clang!

Jang Il-so deflected the strike effortlessly, a broad smile stretching across his face as he countered, aiming a powerful blow at Chung Myung’s head. But instead of blocking or retreating, Chung Myung dove further into Jang Il-so’s range.

At that moment, two additional swords wedged themselves between Chung Myung’s head and Jang Il-so’s descending hand.

Boom!

Baek Cheon and Yu Yiseol’s swords had intervened to block Jang Il-so’s strike. Without a moment’s hesitation, as if expecting this, Chung Myung lunged forward, driving his sword in a flurry straight at Jang Il-so’s chest.

Slash!

Sword energy rained down like a storm.

“Hm?”

Jang Il-so let out a short breath as he leaped back.

Ka-ka-ka-kak!

In the blink of an eye, Jang Il-so’s hand and Chung Myung’s sword clashed dozens of times in the air. Even Baek Cheon and Yu Yiseol couldn’t follow the rapid exchange, barely able to perceive the blur of motion.

Swish! Slash!

Jang Il-so’s shoulder cloth was sliced open, and a chunk of flesh tore from Chung Myung’s side in return.

At that moment, Yoon Jong and Jo Gul charged forward from behind Chung Myung, thrusting their swords under his arms.

Jo Gul’s rapid attack unleashed dozens of slashes, while Yoon Jong’s controlled movements intercepted Jang Il-so’s palm aimed at Chung Myung.

Whish!

Baek Cheon and Yu Yiseol didn’t stand idle either.

Without even exchanging glances, they moved in unison as one.

Baek Cheon kept his stance low, sweeping in along the ground while Yu Yiseol leaped overhead, hurtling down toward Jang Il-so.

Above and below.

The brilliant red of Plum Blossom Sword energy spread around them like drops of blood, engulfing Jang Il-so.

Jang Il-so’s gaze shifted.

“Foolish!”

A dark indigo aura began to form in both his hands, then surged up like a fierce flame.

Crack!

The incoming plum blossom energy shattered instantly against Jang Il-so’s aura. He fixed his gaze on Yu Yiseol, soaring through the air like a falcon.

Just as he was about to unleash his attack, Chung Myung launched himself up, driving a knee toward Jang Il-so’s head.

Crash!

Jang Il-so’s wrist blocked Chung Myung’s knee. Twisting his hand, Jang Il-so attempted to strike Chung Myung with ten waves of concentrated energy.

Boom! Crash! Boom! Crash!

Jang Il-so’s energy and Chung Myung’s sword clashed repeatedly, each impact forcing Chung Myung further and further back.

At that moment, Jo Gul and Yoon Jong caught hold of Chung Myung’s back, planting their feet firmly on the ground.

Boom!

Scrape!

Chung Myung’s sword dug into the ground, leaving deep gouges but successfully stopping him from falling off the cliff.

Yu Yiseol landed in front of Chung Myung, exuding a fierce aura like a wildcat, while Baek Cheon positioned himself right behind her, aiming his sword at Jang Il-so to shield Chung Myung.

“…Ha.”

Jang Il-so couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

Drip.

A thin line of blood trickled down his pale cheek.

Jang Il-so raised a finger to the blood on his face, smearing it over his lips.

“Quite impressive….”

Jang Il-so’s lips, stained a deep crimson from his own blood, parted to reveal his gleaming white teeth.

“Very impressive, Mount Hua.”

In that moment, an overwhelming pressure descended upon the Five Swords, crushing their shoulders like the weight of a mountain.