Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 544

Han Yi-myung’s face went white as he watched Cheong-myeong.

“Kraaah! This is good!” Cheong-myeong exclaimed.

Han Yi-myung’s face drained of color. ‘What kind of liquor is that…?’ he wondered.

It was Snow Dew Essence, a liquor that even the Ice Palace’s elite savored sparingly from small cups. Yet, Cheong-myeong was guzzling it straight from the bottle.

“Wow, this place makes good liquor. Another bottle!” Cheong-myeong called out.

But Han Yi-myung was even more shocked by Seol So-baek, the young Palace Lord, who was attending to Cheong-myeong like a servant, refilling his bottle with a smile.

‘Where is the Palace Lord’s pride?’ Han Yi-myung wondered, grateful that no other Ice Palace members were present to witness this embarrassing scene.

“Kheu. Good liquor,” Cheong-myeong said.

Watching Cheong-myeong empty bottle after bottle, Han Yi-myung questioned whether he was truly a Taoist. Beside him, Baek Ah, the fluffy white beast, devoured the meat.

“You’re eating all of mine?” Cheong-myeong glared, then relaxed. “Well… you did play a part this time.”

Hearing this, Baek Ah puffed out his little belly.

“Alright. Eat, eat,” Cheong-myeong relented. The two, one human and one beast, continued to empty the liquor and meat with gusto.

Jo-Geol turned to Baek Cheon and asked, “By the way, Martial Uncle, that guy is still a patient, right? Is it okay for him to drink so much?”

“Leave him be,” Baek Cheon replied.

“Is his condition better than we thought?” Jo-Geol inquired.

“No. He’ll probably die like that,” Baek Cheon stated.

Han Yi-myung shook his head, feeling lost. ‘I don’t know anymore,’ he thought. Cheong-myeong’s actions churned his stomach, and the Mount Hua disciples’ conversation made his mind go blank.

“Let’s see,” Cheong-myeong said, setting aside the liquor bottle and unfolding the Ice Palace’s list of assets.

Han Yi-myung squeezed his eyes shut, picturing Seol So-baek scolding the elders to compile the list. ‘Write down everything without leaving anything out! Everything! Do you understand?’

‘It’s all my fault,’ Han Yi-myung thought. Seol So-baek, once a well-behaved child, had become fierce and scolding. How much of that change was Han Yi-myung’s responsibility?

“Hehe. I’ve investigated everything,” Seol So-baek said.

“Kheu. The Palace Lord knows a thing or two. Very pleasing,” Cheong-myeong responded.

“Thank you, Taoist!” Seol So-baek exclaimed.

Han Yi-myung thought, ‘Cheong-myeong is a terrible influence. Seol So-baek is changing for the worse because of him.’

Cheong-myeong scrutinized the Ice Palace’s list of assets with care, his face becoming indifferent as he turned the pages.

“So-baek,” Cheong-myeong said.

“Call me Palace Lord! You tiger-striped rascal!” Seol So-baek retorted.

“He’s the one disgracing the sect!” Dong-ryong added.

“Don’t call me Dong-ryong!” Seol So-baek snapped.

“Martial Uncle, that’s not important right now,” Baek Cheon interjected.

“Ah, is that so?” Cheong-myeong looked at Seol So-baek with an indifferent face. “Did you guys live by digging up dirt?”

“No. I shouldn’t have said anything,” Cheong-myeong sighed, placing the booklet on the table.

This list was worse than Mount Hua’s when he first arrived, especially considering the number of people they had to support. It was only natural, he thought. What could they earn money from in this land of ice?

In the past, they traded with the Central Plains, but Seol Cheon-sang cut off that trade, leading to their financial deterioration.

Everything comes with a price. Cheong-myeong could take the entire foundation of the Northern Ice Palace for what he had done, but they barely had a foundation to begin with.

Cheong-myeong flipped through the booklet with a dazed look. “Twelve carriages, thirty-one dog sleds, and fifty dogs?”

“They say they’re excellent dogs,” Seol So-baek offered.

“I’m going crazy,” Cheong-myeong muttered, feeling like his soul was escaping. There was nothing to take, not even dust. He might as well donate his own supplies.

‘How am I supposed to run this in the future?’ Cheong-myeong wondered, looking at Seol So-baek with pity. Hyun Jong had experience and affection for Mount Hua, but this young one was different. How would he handle this terrible financial situation?

Thinking about Seol So-baek’s future struggles made his eyes feel wet.

“This is enough,” Cheong-myeong said.

“Yes? Is there nothing you like there?” Seol So-baek asked.

“No… it’s not that. Anyway, that’s enough for now,” Cheong-myeong replied.

“I’ll check one more time to see if there’s anything missing,” Seol So-baek offered.

“No, I said it’s enough,” Cheong-myeong insisted, waving his hand and sweating. The Mount Hua disciples tilted their heads.

“Why is that bastard acting like that, Martial Uncle?” Jo-Geol asked.

“Who knows? Maybe he’s not satisfied and wants to eat something bigger?” Baek Cheon speculated.

“Ah. That must be it. I thought he was giving up on taking from the Ice Palace because he was worried about it,” Jo-Geol said.

“Haha. That’s the funniest story I’ve heard in years,” Baek Cheon chuckled.

A blue vein popped out on Cheong-myeong’s forehead. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything,’ he thought.

Cheong-myeong looked at Han Yi-myung. “Mister. No, Chief Han,” he said.

“Yes, Taoist,” Han Yi-myung responded.

“So, what are you going to do now? What are you going to eat now? From what I see, you’re all going to starve to death,” Cheong-myeong asked.

A bitter smile crossed Han Yi-myung’s lips. He knew Cheong-myeong was right. Seol So-baek might not fully grasp the implications of the list, but Han Yi-myung, as the former chief, clearly saw the Ice Palace’s horrific financial state.

“I was already worried. I never imagined that Seol Cheon-sang would ruin the Ice Palace to this extent… The Ice Palace is not just a simple sect,” Han Yi-myung lamented.

The Ice Palace was the most important group in the Northern Sea. They were also the rulers of this area, so they had to take care of everyone living there, not just their own followers.

Because of the terrible acts of the Demonic Sect and a bad man named Seolcheon Sang, the people of the Northern Sea were starving. They had just enough food to last until winter, but everyone knew it would run out before they could grow new crops in the spring. People were weak and the markets were empty.

Han Yi-myung paused before speaking.

“The people of the Northern Sea have high hopes for you as the new Palace Lord. But if you can’t solve the food problem, they will quickly become disappointed.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Food’s the most important thing right now.”

“That’s why I’m saying this…”

“Yes?”

With a determined look, Han Yi-myung looked at Chung Myung and said,

“I want to start trading again between the Central Plains and the Northern Sea. It was stopped before.”

Chung Myung nodded calmly. It was the best choice for now.

However…

“But do you have anything to sell? It looks like there’s nothing left.”

“…That’s the biggest problem…”

Han Yi-myung looked completely hopeless and sighed.

‘Seolcheon Sang, that jerk! I wish I could chew him up and spit him out!’

Being the Palace Lord wasn’t just about being strong in fighting. Especially not at the Ice Palace. Anyone who didn’t understand money should never be the Palace Lord.

Wasn’t that why Seolcheon Sang, even though he was better at fighting than the previous Palace Lords, never became the Palace Lord?

“…So, I need to ask you for a favor.”

“A favor?”

“Yes.”

Han Yi-myung took a deep breath and began to speak.

“I know it’s a big ask, but could we maybe borrow some food from Mount Hua?”

“Hoo?”

Chung Myung’s eyes, which had been dull, suddenly sparkled as if he had found something interesting.

“Right now, we have nothing in storage, so we can’t offer anything. But later, we can harvest Ice Crystals again and collect more Hancheol. If we can trade other special things from the Northern Sea, we can pay you back quickly.”

“I suppose so.”

“So… if you could lend us enough food to get through this year, we will do our best to pay you back as soon as possible.”

After he finished speaking, Han Yi-myung lowered his head deeply.

They had already received many favors from Mount Hua. Asking to borrow food was truly embarrassing, even to him.

But right now, the Ice Palace had nowhere else to go but Mount Hua. They had stopped trade with the Central Plains on their own, cutting off all connections with trading partners. Their friends in other places were also struggling, though not as much as the Ice Palace.

As Han Yi-myung waited nervously for an answer, Chung Myung’s clear voice was very clear.

“Hey, that’s not right.”

“…”

He sighed softly, looking sad. He was about to apologize for asking for something impossible.

But then, he heard something he didn’t expect.

“We’re not strangers, and it’s just food. Why would we lend it or not? We have plenty to spare, so I’ll just give it to you!”

Han Yi-myung quickly looked up.

“Yes?”

“I said I’ll just give it to you. We had food to spare anyway.”

“The amount of food needed to feed all the people of the Northern Sea until next year… that’s not a small amount…”

Not a small amount was an understatement. It was a huge amount.

And they weren’t just lending it, but giving it away for free?

Han Yi-myung looked around, confused and unsure of what to do. Chung Myung shrugged and puffed out his chest.

“You don’t understand, but I have quite a bit of money.”

“…”

“Ah, don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t have any secret reasons. The Northern Sea and Mount Hua are friends now, right?”

“O-Of course, Sect Leader!”

Tears filled Han Yi-myung’s eyes as he quickly answered.

He couldn’t say it, but he hadn’t slept well since finding out about the Northern Sea’s money problems.

If things continued like this, wouldn’t they have to watch many people starve to death?

But now, they were offering to give them all the food they needed without asking for anything in return!

‘I misunderstood Sect Leader Chung Myung.’

Thinking about it, Chung Myung was never a bad person.

He might be rough in his words and actions, but wasn’t he the one who led them, drove out Seolcheon Sang, stood at the front, fought against the Demonic Sect, and saved the Northern Sea from trouble?

Just based on those things, there couldn’t be a better hero than him.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, Sect Leader.”

Han Yi-myung jumped up and bowed down deeply.

“Ehey! Why are you doing this!”

Chung Myung also quickly got up and helped Han Yi-myung to his feet.

“It’s not a big deal, so why are you acting like this! Isn’t it normal for friends to help each other when they’re having a hard time?”

“…That’s right. That’s right, Sect Leader.”

Han Yi-myung wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve.

‘I misunderstood this very good person…’

Chung Myung casually put his arm around Han Yi-myung’s shoulder as he stood up, smiling quietly. And then he said,

“So, about that…”

“Yes?”

“We’re friends now, right?”

“Of course! If the Ice Palace and Mount Hua aren’t friends, who could be? The friendship between the two groups will last forever.”

“That’s right. That’s right. Of course, it should be that way.”

Seeing Han Yi-myung’s excited response, Chung Myung smiled brightly.

“But… Chief Manager.”

“Yes.”

“Being friends is about helping each other, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So, if my friend opens a small restaurant that sells drinks in my neighborhood, how would my friend feel if I went to drink somewhere else?”

“…Well, of course, they would feel bad…”

“Right?”

“Y-Yes. But why are you saying this…”

Chung Myung showed his real intentions with a dazzling smile.

“No, it’s nothing much. Mount Hua is running a trading company, you see? We’re transporting things as part of running the company. Anyway, what I mean is, we’re focusing on the business of buying and selling goods…”

“…”

“If my friend trades with another trading company, I think I would be a little sad. We’re friends, after all. We’re friends.”

“…”

Han Yi-myung’s face, which had been full of emotion, became stiff. His cheeks started to twitch.

“S-So, you mean…”

“Hehe. It’s not a big deal, is it? You’re going to trade anyway, right? It would be good for both of us if you traded with us. It would only cause problems for the Northern Sea if other people got involved and made things complicated. Don’t you think?”

“S-So, you’re asking for only trading rights… You’re asking for exclusive rights?”

“Eyy, saying it like that makes it sound too harsh. Let’s just say that friends should trade with each other first. It’s not like we’re going to cheat you, so wouldn’t it be easier for everyone this way?”

“…”

“Don’t you think?”

“…”

“Don’t. You. Think. So?”

The feeling of his voice, saying each word clearly, being hammered into his head was overwhelming. Seeing Chung Myung glaring with fiery eyes, Han Yi-myung quickly nodded. Cold sweat ran down his back.

“Y-Yes… Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Hahaha! You understand me well, Chief Manager Han!”

Chung Myung patted him on the shoulder and laughed loudly.

“Friends can’t be thinking about profit and loss! I’ll tell the Sect Leader to send you as much food as you need!”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there a problem?”

“That… Haha… No, I was just wondering.”

“Yes?”

“The exclusive… No, I mean, how long will friends trade with each other first…”

“Hey, that’s an easy question.”

Chung Myung smiled brightly at the careful question.

“Until I die.”