Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 101

Hyun-young stared blankly at the arena, tilting his head in confusion.

What in the world is going on?

As the Head of the Finance Pavilion, Hyun-young was known for his sharp mind and understanding of money. Since he joined Hwasan, everyone saw him as perfect for leading the Finance Pavilion. However, this focus on finances meant he didn’t spend as much time on martial arts.

Because of this, he wasn’t as skilled in fighting as the other members of the Hyun generation.

So, Hyun-young struggled to understand what he was seeing. Chung Myung had beaten the Third-Class Disciples of Jongnam. And he had won easily.

How significant was this victory?

No, Head Disciple, that is…

Hyun-young turned to Hyun Jong, wanting to hear his thoughts, but he was taken aback.

Hyun Jong’s face was like stone, a look Hyun-young had never witnessed in all his years serving him. His eyes were wide and unblinking, as if he’d seen a ghost. His mouth hung open, so wide you could probably toss a plum into it. Hyun Sang beside him mirrored the Head Disciple’s shock, his jaw slack.

Should I be this surprised too? Hyun-young wondered, feeling a strange pang of being left out of some important secret.

Uh…

Uh?

Hyun Jong’s eyes darted around wildly, like he was trying to make sense of something impossible. Finally, in a voice that sounded like it came from far away, he whispered, “This… no… this cannot be real. This… this is…”

The dazed muttering continued. Unable to watch any longer, Hyun-young gently tugged at his sleeve.

“Head Disciple, people are watching us. Please, calm down.”

Only then did Hyun Jong shut his mouth. The cracking sound of his jaw as he forced it closed suggested he was truly shocked.

“No, that child…”

Hyun Jong barely managed to regain his composure, but Hyun Sang couldn’t. He raised a trembling hand, pointed at Chung Myung, and muttered.

“He… he shouldn’t be this strong. It’s impossible! He was supposed to lose.”

Hyun-young finally snapped in annoyance.

“How can you say that when our disciple fought so well! It sounds like you wanted him to lose!”

It’s just… it doesn’t make sense.

Hyun Sang scrubbed his face with both hands, his expression lost and confused. Then he asked, still dazed, “How long has that child been a disciple?”

“Not even six months.”

“And in those six months, he beat a Jongnam disciple? So easily?”

Ah…

Thinking about it that way, it really doesn’t make sense.

“Un-geom! Where is Un-geom?”

“Here, Head Disciple.”

Un-geom, who had remained calmer than the others, bowed respectfully.

“When that child joined Hwasan, had he learned any other martial arts?”

“No. There was no sign that Chung Myung had learned any martial arts before.”

“So, he really reached this level in just half a year?”

“Yes.”

Hyun Jong looked back at Un-geom in disbelief.

“He’s a genius, indeed…”

Un-geom said it as if it were nothing.

“Perhaps even that word isn’t enough for him. He doesn’t show his full abilities easily, so even I haven’t figured out how strong he really is.”

“Heh.”

Hyun Jong exclaimed in admiration, while Hyun Sang muttered to himself.

“I thought geniuses and amazing talents only existed in other sects. This is crazy… It’s like searching for old clothes in the attic and finding a chest full of gold.”

Hyun Jong, too, seemed greatly shocked.

“I just thought he was a lucky charm…”

His words reflected what everyone else was thinking. Chung Myung had already done so much for Hwasan. They didn’t think he needed to be talented in martial arts too. Chung Myung was only human, and it felt greedy to ask for more.

But to think he was also incredibly talented in martial arts? Enough to easily defeat the Third-Class Disciples of Jongnam?

While everyone was still in shock, Hyun-young quickly finished his calculations.

“In any case, we won one match. Isn’t that enough to save face?”

Hyun Jong and Hyun Sang blankly turned their heads. Then, with faces showing both anger and disbelief, they glared at Hyun-young.

Feeling a bit silly, Hyun-young cleared his throat.

“That’s just how it is. For now.”

“Good grief…”

“This is why you need to learn martial arts properly, whether you’re in the Finance Pavilion or not. You’re the only one talking nonsense.”

Hyun-young looked utterly wronged at Hyun Sang’s scolding. Hyun Jong simply chuckled and looked at Chung Myung in the distance.

Saving face, is it?

Could it be that simple?

Maybe… The result of today’s Hwajong Tournament might not matter at all. Right now, Hwasan might have found a talent who will lead them for the next hundred years.

It seems the child from Hwasan has won.

Hmm, yes. That’s true, but…

Wasn’t it a bit too one-sided?

Heh, something unexpected has happened.

Hwang Mun-yak listened with pleasure to the reactions around him.

Of course, he had to do at least this much!

Hwang Mun-yak didn’t know exactly how strong Chung Myung was. He hadn’t woken up until after the Silver Sea Merchant Guild incident.

He had heard that Chung Myung had been hit by Lee Song-baek and even coughed up blood, but he didn’t believe it. There was no way Chung Myung would really be hurt. Surely, it was just an act to find the culprit?

For Hwang Mun-yak, Chung Myung’s martial ability was a mystery. But he was confident because he knew Chung Myung wouldn’t fight a losing battle.

He couldn’t say he knew Chung Myung very well, but he was the one who had helped the Silver Sea Merchant Guild become one of the Ten Great Merchant Guilds of Shaanxi because he was good at spotting talent. To him, Chung Myung’s confident look meant he was sure he would win.

Of course, the victory was more violent and overwhelming than Hwang Mun-yak had expected.

That’s right. He doesn’t fight losing battles, that’s what it means.

Then, was this Hwajong Tournament also Chung Myung’s fight? If Chung Myung thought so, the outcome might be different from what everyone expected.

“Hwasan has talent, indeed.”

“Considering his age, he’s remarkable. No, no. Remarkable isn’t enough.”

“You can’t beat a Jongnam disciple by chance. And it was clear that there was a big difference in skill, wasn’t there? For him to fight as the first one in such a match, that child must be talented even among the Third-Class Disciples of Jongnam, yet it was so one-sided.”

The compliments from the important people sounded like beautiful music to Hwang Mun-yak’s ears.

However, Hwang Mun-yak noticed the excitement in their voices, even though they spoke calmly. It was hard to praise Chung Myung openly because Jongnam was there, but everyone had seen that Chung Myung was a great find.

Don’t even think about it. He’s the fish I caught.

With just this one match, Chung Myung had gotten more attention than Jin Geum-ryong. No matter how the Hwajong Tournament ended, Chung Myung’s name would be on everyone’s lips in Shaanxi for a while.

Hwang Mun-yak smiled and glanced at Chung Myung’s back as he returned to his seat.

“But this is just one victory. If the other Third-Class Disciples all lose, people will just think that child was special.”

“That’s certainly how it will be seen.”

Hwang Mun-yak narrowed his eyes as he watched the Third-Class Disciples welcome Chung Myung, as if he found it interesting.

Now, show me what you’ve got, Chung Myung Dojang!

Indeed.

Will it end with a single surprise?

Or will Hwasan’s counterattack begin?

Chung Myung returned to his seat looking like a cat that had just eaten and was now relaxing in the sun.

The irritated look was gone, replaced by a refreshed expression, as if all his problems had disappeared.

To beat someone up and feel so refreshed!

Even a demon wouldn’t do that.

But the others were happy too. Finally, they said what they had been holding back.

“Chung Myung! Well done!”

“You should have stomped on him more!”

“It feels like ten years of indigestion has been relieved!”

Yoon Jong smiled as he watched his fellow disciples cheering.

And they call themselves Taoists.

If they had been in this situation before Chung Myung arrived, they would have worried about whether he had been too violent, or whether a Taoist should beat people up like that.

But now, Chung Myung had influenced them, and they were ready to celebrate.

Even Yoon Jong couldn’t help but smile.

“Chung Myung, you’ve worked hard.”

“Well, I just went out for a little fun.”

It was an annoying thing to say, but at that moment, it seemed confident and justified.

I knew he was strong, but…

To think he would beat a Jongnam disciple so badly that they couldn’t even move.

It was the first time he had felt sorry for a Jongnam disciple. Hwasan was always the one pitied, not the one giving it.

Yoon Jong realized once again that anyone involved with Chung Myung, no matter their age or gender, became someone to pity.

“Chung Myung, you’ve worked hard!”

“You were really amazing! Excellent!”

Even the Second-Class Disciples, who didn’t have a good relationship with Chung Myung, were gathering around him and cheering.

Well, the happiest people right now were not the Third-Class Disciples or the Head Disciple, but the Second-Class Disciples. Chung Myung had completely avenged the humiliation they had suffered.

The Jongnam’s taunts during the match had been so annoying that they were about to lose their temper. But Chung Myung had beaten the Jongnam disciple so easily, like a cool drink on a hot day, so how could they not like him?

Personal feelings aside, they were even happier that Chung Myung had at least partly restored Hwasan’s honor, which had fallen after the previous match.

He deserves to be arrogant.

If you have the skill, you can be arrogant.

He might be a good guy if you get to know him.

Chung Myung, enjoying the cheers, turned to Yoon Jong with a shrug.

“Senior Brother!”

His voice was determined. Yoon Jong, understanding what he meant, nodded firmly.

It’s my turn.

Chung Myung had done his part well… no, too well. Now, Yoon Jong and the other senior and junior brothers had to take over.

I am prepared…

“What are you staring at like an idiot? Go out there already.”

Ah, this bastard always has to ruin the moment!

Alright.

What’s the point of saying anything? It’ll only make me frustrated.

Still, there was something he wanted to say.

“Do you have any advice or anything? Like, what are Jongnam’s martial arts like?”

“Could you even use it if I told you?”

“Just go out there. If you see their heads, just smack them.”

I understand, for now.

Yoon Jong walked towards the arena, looking dazed. Seeing the gazes of those around him, Yoon Jong’s expression changed slightly.

The atmosphere has definitely changed.

Hwasan had been gloomy. But thanks to Chung Myung’s perfect victory, the atmosphere had changed a lot.

Now, everyone expected the Third-Class Disciples to be different.

Making that expectation a reality was Yoon Jong’s job.

Hoo.

He tried not to be nervous, but it wasn’t working. He wouldn’t have cared if he wasn’t expected to do well, but now everyone was relying on him because of Chung Myung’s performance.

And if Yoon Jong were to lose…

It was then.

“Senior Brother!”

Chung Myung called out to Yoon Jong from behind. Yoon Jong turned around, his face stiff.

Surely, even you have a conscience and will offer a word of encouragement…

“If you lose, you’re dead.”

Ah. I forgot for a moment that that guy is Chung Myung.

It’s my fault. It’s my fault.

Yoon Jong sighed deeply and hardened his face again. Then, he drew his sword and took his stance. He stared directly at the Jongnam disciples.

And he raised his sword, pointing it at Jongnam.

“Yoon Jong, a Third-Class Disciple of the Great Hwasan, requests a sparring match with Jongnam!”

The wind began to blow towards Hwasan.