Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 76

Baek Cheon’s bright smile was so perfect, it looked like it was straight out of a painting.

He wasn’t just handsome; he had a way of drawing people in.

Chung Myung thought, ‘I’ve felt this before with a few people.’

Like that weasel from the Namgung Clan and the bald guy from Shaolin. They all gave off this kind of special feeling.

In other words, ‘He’s really talented.’

Of course, Baek Cheon wasn’t as good as those guys, but in Mount Hua, which was full of average people, he seemed very special compared to everyone else. It was strange that someone so talented would come to this ruined and failing Mount Hua.

The problem was that this talented guy was now clinging to Chung Myung’s ankle.

“What are you talking about?”

First, he decided to deny it.

“You seem to know something?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Baek Cheon tilted his head, acting like he didn’t know, but he was just trying to tease Chung Myung.

“That’s strange. You seem familiar. When did you join the sect?”

Yoon Jong, who was standing next to Chung Myung, answered instead, “He joined while you were away from Mount Hua. You wouldn’t have seen him before.”

“Hmm, I see. Indeed.”

Baek Cheon smiled slightly.

“For someone you haven’t met, you seem quite close. It’s good to see the Grand Senior Brother looking after the youngest. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, Martial Uncle.”

Yoon Jong replied awkwardly. Baek Cheon nodded, as if he understood something from Yoon Jong’s response.

“I feel like I have a connection with you. It’s strange how familiar you seem, even though we just met. I have a feeling we’ll see each other often. What’s your name?”

“Chung Myung.”

“I am Baek Cheon. Please remember my name.”

Just then, a strong voice interrupted, “The Sect Leader is waiting. What’s all this talking about?”

“Ah, I apologize. Just a moment.”

Baek Cheon bowed politely to Un Geom and nodded to Chung Myung. Then, he turned and joined the others heading toward the training grounds.

Jo Gul watched and whispered to Chung Myung, “Have you ever met Martial Uncle Baek Cheon before?”

“Nope.”

Even if he had, Chung Myung didn’t remember it.

“Be careful. Martial Uncle Baek Cheon is the best of the Second Disciples. He’s incredibly amazing,”

“Amazing?”

“That’s right.”

Yoon Jong added, “He’s known as the Greatest Talent of Mount Hua. People say he’s the one who will bring Mount Hua back to its glory.”

“The Greatest Talent of Mount Hua?”

That sounded familiar. When was it… Ah, when Chung Myung was a kid, people used to say that a lot.

Though it soon changed to the Greatest Fool of Mount Hua.

“Wasn’t Jo Sahyung the Greatest Talent of Mount Hua?”

“What are you saying? Someone might hear you!”

Jo Gul’s face turned red, which was unusual for him.

“Martial Uncle Baek Cheon is someone I can’t even try to be like.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Being humble is good.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, Sahyung.”

Chung Myung watched Baek Cheon walk ahead with a strange look on his face.

‘He seems very special compared to the others here, eh?’

That was a nice way to put it.

But it wasn’t really a good thing.

A crane belongs with other cranes. A crane among crows is not natural.

And usually, ‘It means something is wrong.’

Chung Myung was curious as he watched Baek Cheon. Yoon Jong continued, “In fact, they say Martial Uncle Baek Cheon’s Taeul Mirigum is almost perfect. The elders have high hopes for him. They’re even thinking about choosing him to learn the Bokho Chungyang Sword, even though he’s young.”

“Hmm.”

It seemed that Mount Hua was focusing on him the most out of all the Second Disciples.

‘That’s really annoying.’

Chung Myung used to be like that too.

There was so much to learn. While others trained a little and then rested, Chung Myung had elders bothering him and martial uncles nagging him. Even the martial brother… No. The Sect Leader martial brother seemed perfect.

Well, it made sense.

A sect’s reputation was built over time, but whether a generation succeeded or failed often depended on one master.

Even a small sect could attract many new disciples if it had a famous master. But no matter how much history a great sect had, it would only attract flies if it didn’t have a master who was worthy of its name.

The only way for the failing Mount Hua to come back was to have a master that everyone respected. Just one. If that happened, things could change.

‘Of course, that would have been the case before I came.’

Now, not so much?

They had plenty of money anyway.

“The martial uncles really look like they’ve come out of a painting, don’t they?”

“I know, right? I wonder if I’ll ever be as good as them.”

“They’re so cool and strong.”

Chung Myung stared at them, speechless.

‘Are they blind? Can’t they see how weak they are?’

‘Cool’ was okay, at least. That was just a matter of taste. People liked different things, and Chung Myung didn’t force his opinions on others.

But ‘strong’ was different.

‘If they’re strong, then everyone in the Central Plains must be weak.’

“Sahyungs could beat most of the martial uncles, right?”

Jo Gul laughed as if Chung Myung was saying something ridiculous.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“…Oh, alright.”

Sahyung.

Sect Leader Sahyung.

I’m living while hearing these words. If you have any conscience, please come down and say something! Am I supposed to live with this unfairness?

Other immortals come to the mortal world and give advice. What do you lack that you can’t become an immortal and tell my story?

Huh?

Even if you become an immortal, you won’t take my side?

Bah!

While Chung Myung was arguing with his martial brothers, the Baek Ja disciples finished lining up.

“Huh?”

Then, someone came running from the main building, not the main gate, and joined the group.

Chung Myung narrowed his eyes.

‘That one was a Baek Ja disciple too.’

Yoo… What was it? Anyway, Yoo something.

Because they had a strange connection, he couldn’t help but pay attention. He wondered if she had been causing trouble in just one day.

As Chung Myung frowned and looked at Yoo Iseol, Jo Gul smiled slyly.

“Now that I think about it, you’re seeing Yoo Sago for the first time.”

“Her?”

“Yeah. Yoo Iseol Sago. Once you see her, you can’t look away. She’s too beautiful.”

“Grand Senior Brother.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have any Sichuan pepper powder or cinnamon powder?”

“Why?”

“I need to put some in my ears. Hearing those words from you makes my ears feel greasy.”

He couldn’t be any cheesier than this.

Yoon Jong nodded eagerly.

“It’s been a while since we agreed on something. I’ll give you some if I find it.”

“Thanks.”

Jo Gul frowned.

“Did I say anything wrong? Not many people know Yoo Sago. But after a few trips, she’ll definitely be known as the most beautiful woman in Shaanxi, you know?”

Chung Myung sighed as Jo Gul kept talking.

“This sect has the Greatest Talent of Mount Hua and the most beautiful woman in Shaanxi. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think we ruled the entire Shaanxi region.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it?”

Jo Gul pointed at Yoo Iseol.

“Honestly, she’s pretty, right?”

“Ha…”

Before Chung Myung could answer, Jo Gul interrupted, “But don’t even dream about it. Yoo Sago likes Martial Uncle Baek Cheon.”

“…Sahyung.”

“Yeah?”

Chung Myung sighed deeply.

“If you spent the time you waste on other people’s love lives practicing your sword, wouldn’t you be making a name for yourself by now?”

“You don’t have to stab me so painfully.”

“Never mind.”

Chung Myung looked at Jo Gul with pity and turned away.

Now that he thought about it, she said she was a troublemaker, and she seemed to be one. Chung Myung stared silently at Yoo Iseol, who was standing in the group.

When all the Baek Ja disciples had lined up, the Sect Leader smiled warmly at them.

“You’ve all worked hard. Was the training difficult?”

Baek Cheon spoke for the Baek Ja disciples, “Sect Leader, it wasn’t difficult at all. We know that our training was possible because of the sect’s support. How could we say it was ‘difficult’?”

“Were there any results?”

Baek Cheon smiled.

“We’ve only realized that the path of the sword is endless. But we’ve improved so much that we’re much better than we were before the training.”

“That’s good news.”

Hyun Jong turned to Hyun Young.

“Pavilion Lord Jae Kyung.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“The disciples of Mount Hua have returned after their hard training. Shouldn’t we have a feast to celebrate their hard work?”

“What did they do to deserve a fe… No, nothing. Of course, we should.”

Hyun Jong looked at Hyun Young strangely.

‘My martial brother seems a bit strange lately.’

To be exact, he had been saying strange things more often since the Eunha Merchant Guild incident. Hyun Jong couldn’t tell if his personality had changed or if he had been holding back for too long because of their financial problems and had finally snapped.

“We’ve already prepared the dining hall. It will be enough to help them relax.”

“I see.”

Hyun Jong looked at the Baek Ja disciples and said, “There are many things I want to say, but it wouldn’t be good to keep you all waiting. Unless there’s something important to say, let’s finish here.”

“…Sect Leader. Excuse me for asking, but can I ask one question?”

Hyun Jong clearly wanted to finish quickly, but Baek Cheon didn’t seem to feel the same way.

“Ask away.”

“The scenery seems to have changed a lot since I was last here. I’m curious about what happened.”

“Good things have happened. Because of them, we were able to fix the outside.”

It was a kind but firm answer. After hearing this, it was hard to ask what those ‘good’ things were.

“You probably have many questions, but there will be plenty of time to hear the stories later.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Unam.”

“Yes.”

Unam, who was guarding Hyun Jong, stood respectfully.

“Help the disciples relax after their hard work.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong nodded and turned to the side.

“Chung Myung-ah!”

Chung Myung’s face twisted slightly.

‘Why does that old man keep singling me out?’

Today didn’t seem special either.

“Yes! Sect Leader!”

Chung Myung walked out from the Third Disciples with a clumsy walk.

“Come to my place for a while. I have something to tell you.”

“Again?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened as he watched from the side.

‘Again… Again?’

Again to the Sect Leader?

Baek Cheon wondered if he had heard wrong. But he was sure he hadn’t. All the Second Disciples looked just as surprised as he did.

But what he didn’t understand was that everyone except the Second Disciples didn’t seem to care much.

They should be yelling at the guy who was being so rude to the Sect Leader!

Even the Sect Leader was just smiling.

“Will you come if I get you some sweets?”

“Keueung. Yes, I understand. I’ll go now.”

Hyun Jong led Chung Myung to his place, looking pleased.

Baek Cheon, who had been watching silently, turned to Un Geom, confused.

“Martial Uncle, just what is that child…”

“Hmm.”

Un Geom smiled kindly.

“It’s better for you to just ignore it.”

“Yes?”

“Especially for you.”

Un Geom shrugged and turned away.

“Unpack your things and come to the dining hall. Don’t be late.”

“…Yes.”

Baek Cheon felt the unease he had been feeling growing stronger.

‘Something seems different about Mount Hua.’

It could be because he felt awkward after being away for so long. But there was one thing.

Baek Cheon looked at the Sect Leader and Chung Myung walking away.

“Hmm.”

He narrowed his eyes, showing that he didn’t like something.