Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 561

Words can have many meanings. The meaning changes depending on how and when you say them. So, you must be careful when you speak.

But sadly, there was someone who always seemed to twist words, even when you spoke clearly.

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed, and he glared.

“Did you just say the young ones are weak and disgusting?”

Is this guy deaf?

We all heard the same thing. How did he understand it like that?

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Then what?”

“The difference between the younger students and those who went to the Northern Sea…”

“Exactly! That’s what I’m saying!”

“No, you idiot! No! Just because we are stronger, it doesn’t mean they are weak.”

“Ah, so you think Sajuk is amazing?

Haha, our Dong-ryong has grown up. Now he even brags about himself!”

Baek Cheon made a choked sound.

“Oh… my stomach…”

He grabbed his stomach and stumbled back. *His face isn’t just pale, it’s completely white.* *No wonder he looks like he’s about to fall over.* Yoon Jong and Jo Gul felt sorry for Baek Cheon.

Chung Myung scoffed and crossed his legs.

“Well… actually, it’s not that weird.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s just time.”

He said something quiet that no one understood. Then, he rested his chin on his hand and started thinking.

The others waited for him to think, but sadly, Jo Gul was never good at being patient.

“What are you saying? Don’t just think in your head! Tell us! Use words!”

Chung Myung’s cheek twitched, showing he was annoyed. But Jo Gul didn’t care about Chung Myung’s look and just asked again.

“Why?”

“…Never mind.”

*Why bother talking? He never listens anyway.*

“That’s why I don’t get it.”

Jo Gul frowned. He couldn’t understand how there could be such a big difference, even if they had different experiences.

“I looked into it again, and it seems like they trained hard. Un-geom Sajukjo wouldn’t let his students be lazy, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Also, the Sajuks are training all the time to try and beat us… But they’re not getting better.”

Chung Myung said this quickly, looking like he didn’t care.

“Why? Does Jo Gul Sahyung want to show off a little too?”

“That’s not it, you idiot!”

Jo Gul yelled back, feeling unfairly accused.

“You know this is a serious problem.”

Chung Myung laughed a little at Jo Gul’s serious tone.

It was clear why they were talking to him like this, instead of just saying the younger students needed to train harder. They had changed. Before, training was just about making themselves stronger. Pushing themselves harder and harder.

But after what happened with the Man-in-bang and in the Northern Ice Palace, they all knew that just training themselves wasn’t enough. To be honest, it was the same in the Northern Sea. They struggled because the First Elder wasn’t good, but if the Northern Ice Palace hadn’t been there, Chung Myung and the others couldn’t have stopped the Demonic Sect, no matter what.

Maybe the Heavenly Demon wouldn’t have come back to life, but they might have had to watch the Demonic Sect destroy the Northern Sea after they were done with it. Or they would have run away back to the Central Plains.

Chung Myung shrugged at his friends’ worried faces. Then Baek Cheon spoke quietly.

“Chung Myung.”

“Yeah?”

“What did you mean by ‘it’s time’?”

“Just what I said. It’s time for the next step.”

“The next step?”

“Real fighting.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes got a little wider at Chung Myung’s words.

“Real fighting?”

Chung Myung nodded a little.

“It’s just like Jo Gul Sahyung said. You guys didn’t do any special training in the Northern Sea.”

“That’s right.”

Yoon Jong added, looking a bit annoyed.

“I almost broke my back pulling those carts.”

“If pulling carts made you strong, then every ox would be a master! Oxen would rule the world!”

“But there’s only one reason why you are so much stronger. Have you fought for your life, or not?”

Baek Cheon asked, still not sure he understood.

“But doesn’t Hwasan have practice fights that are almost like real fights?”

“With wooden swords?”

“There’s nothing more to say. Sajuk has done both. If you practiced fighting like that a thousand times, would you learn as much as you did from fighting that one Jogyo?”

“No way,” Baek Cheon said quickly, like it was obvious.

People who haven’t been through it can’t even imagine it. The Jogyo they had only heard about and the Jogyo they actually fought were completely different. Like night and day.

How could they explain the killing feeling that felt like it could rip you apart, and the pressure that felt like it would crush you?

Baek Cheon remembered that time and said seriously.

“People who haven’t felt it just don’t understand.”

“Exactly,” Chung Myung agreed, nodding.

“Martial arts are tricky, and some things you can’t just learn by thinking about them. Even if I used a real sword and fought you like it was a real fight, you’d still know, deep down, that you were safe.”

“You mean, we know you won’t really kill us?”

“Well… yeah. Should I have pretended to really try to kill you?”

“…Please don’t.”

*That’s even scarier than Jogyo.*

“Hmm. So, you’re saying we haven’t had enough real fights?”

Baek Cheon nodded, like he was starting to understand. *Thinking about it…* *Actually, when you think about it, most Hwasan students, except for us, have barely had any real fights, not even proper practice fights.*

At the Hwajong Tournament, almost everyone except for some older students and Chung Myung got beaten easily, without even showing their real skills. And even at the Mount Hua Sect’s Rising Stars Contest, only a few people fought as practice opponents.

They had at least had some real fighting during the Man-in-bang problem, but you couldn’t say they were used to real fights after just that one time.

“But does real fighting really change things that much?”

“It’s like playing a game for money.”

“…Huh?”

Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung like he was crazy.

“When you practice, you can see all the right moves. You can use all your skills perfectly. But what if you bet all your money on the game?”

“…Your hands will shake.”

“But your life is worth more than all the money in the world.”

Chung Myung said seriously.

“People who have played that money game a few times will get much better, very quickly. It’s not just about using your skills well.”

“Hmm.”

Jo Gul, who had been listening quietly, asked Yoon Jong.

“So, climbing a cliff with no rope isn’t enough?”

“There’s a safety net under that too.”

Jo Gul sighed and nodded slowly.

Anyway, everyone understood now. They had felt it themselves, so they just knew the difference.

“It’s really different.”

“Yeah, so different.”

Chung Myung kept talking like he didn’t care.

“That’s why the sect sends students out into the world when they are ready. If just training was the answer to everything, then people who only trained hard in the sect would be stronger than those who travel around and become famous in the martial world. But that’s not how it is.”

“So, it’s about going out into the martial world.”

“Exactly.”

“But that’s weird… I went out into the martial world before, but I don’t remember getting much stronger then.”

“…Sajuk.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m saying you need to be ready! Ready!”

“You need to make good wine and let it age to get the best flavor! If you just bury cheap wine, it will just go bad! Back then, Sajuk, you weren’t even worth a penny. I’d have to pay someone to take you away!”

“Ugh…”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong quietly held onto Baek Cheon, who was shaking.

“Please calm down, Sajuk.”

“It’s not like I’m being ignored for the first time.”

“That’s why you’re acting like this, because it’s not the first time, you idiot!”

“Why are you getting angry at me…?”

Jo Gul sulked and pouted, feeling unfairly scolded.

“Anyway!” Baek Cheon said, trying to regain control. He looked at Chung Myung.

“To make everyone better,” he said, “they need real experience.”

“That’s right.”

“…Practical experience comes with risks.”

Chung Myung’s voice lowered slightly. “It’s better to be ready now than to be too late when danger comes.”

Everyone there understood what he meant by ‘unavoidable thing’: The Demonic Sect.

What if, despite their efforts to protect their fellow disciples within Mount Hua, the day arrived when they had to face the Demonic Sect? Could those who had never known real combat possibly withstand the murderous intent of such an enemy? It seemed impossible.

“I understand,” Baek Cheon nodded.

“I’ll talk to the Sect Leader about this separately.”

“Alright.”

Seeing Baek Cheon’s determined face, Jo Gul felt a little worried and clenched his fist.

“But, Senior Brother.”

“Hmm?”

“Does gaining practical experience mean all the junior and senior disciples will go out into the *Jianghu* (the world of martial artists and adventure)?”

“That’s right.”

“…Will it be alright?”

Yoon Jong looked nervous too. This was not something to take lightly.

Their skills were one thing, but weren’t their fellow disciples known for their strong character, no matter where they went? If such a group went out into the *Jianghu*, wouldn’t something big happen?

“But even if it’s practical experience, who will we fight?” Jo Gul asked. “It’s not like we’re going to storm the *Maninbang* (a group of evil bandits).”

“Why worry?” Chung Myung said. “Just find a mountain fortress and raid it.”

“Shhh! You idiot!” Jo Gul hissed. “The Green Forest King is here, he might hear us…”

“I heard you.”

“See, he heard us… Huh?”

Baek Cheon jumped and slowly turned his head. In the small window high on the wall, two familiar eyes stared back. It was Im So-byeong!

“I heard you,” Im So-byeong said, his voice muffled by the wall.

Baek Cheon swallowed hard. *Oh no.* What should he do now? He cleared his throat, trying to sound calm.

“Well… even if there’s a window, eavesdropping on other people’s conversations isn’t very…”

“Why are you asking bandits about morality?” Im So-byeong retorted. “If I cared about that, I would have taken the civil service exam.”

That’s true, Baek Cheon thought. There’s nothing wrong with that statement. But wasn’t Im So-byeong switching between being a gentleman and a bandit as he pleased? How convenient!

Im So-byeong kicked the door open and stormed into the room, shouting at Chung Myung. “Hey! I was wondering where the person preparing the elixir had disappeared to! What? Raiding a mountain fortress?”

“Ahem. Rushing won’t make it faster! It takes time to prepare!” Chung Myung said.

“Then at least start boiling it before you talk!” Im So-byeong coughed violently. “Cough! Cough! Ehehehehehe! Achoo! Ugh. My, my chest…”

Looking at Im So-byeong, whose face had turned blue, Baek Cheon said awkwardly, “…That doesn’t seem like acting. Could you really have the Three Yin Severed Meridians?”

“Nah. I took a quick look, and it’s fake,” Chung Myung said.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. It’s not three yin, it’s gone a bit further. About three and a half yin severed meridians? He’s faking being very sick, but he’s not *that* sick.”

That’s a terribly long name, Baek Cheon thought.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Huh?”

“Make him an elixir quickly before he becomes a corpse.”

“Tsk. It’s such a pain,” Chung Myung said, glancing at Im So-byeong.

“Well… I’ll make you an elixir.”

“Yes! Yes! Please! Please, I beg you! Why else would I abandon my mountain fortress and come here?”

“So, about that.”

“…Yes?”

“Do you happen to have any spare mountain fortresses? Somewhere where it’s okay to beat them all up and bury them because they don’t listen?”

“Hey, you!”

“How can you say such nonsense to the Green Forest King!”

“There are things you should and shouldn’t say!” The disciples of Mount Hua were horrified and tried to stop him. But Im So-byeong didn’t react as violently as they feared.

Rather…

“Oh… I do have one,” Im So-byeong said.

“Huh?”

He has one? Why does he have that?

“Will you take care of it?”

“Wait a minute,” Baek Cheon asked in horror.

“Is that really okay! You’re the Green Forest King, but you’re going to raid a mountain fortress?”

“Well, they’re just bandits,” Im So-byeong shrugged. “I am the Green Forest King, leader of bandits in the mountains!”

“Yes. They’re just bandits. It’s not like the world will end if a few of them die,” Chung Myung added.

Baek Cheon’s face went pale, and his lips trembled. *These bastards are crazy.* Why do a Taoist and a bandit get along so well!

“It’s a win-win situation. We get rid of something troublesome!” Chung Myung grinned.

“We get to train our kids, right?”

“No. We make money.”

“Huh? Money?”

Chung Myung smiled, looking utterly detestable, and looked at Im So-byeong. “How much are you going to pay?”

Im So-byeong’s face gradually turned white.

“Money?”

“Yes.”

“…You already took all my assets back then, and you didn’t even give me the elixir you promised in return, and now you’re asking for more money?”

“That’s different from this. Hehe,” Chung Myung said with a bright, detestable smile.

“Isn’t that what a deal is all about?”

Im So-byeong silently brought his hand to his mouth.

Glug.

“Huh?”

“Oh my!”

Even though he hadn’t coughed, blood like black pudding started flowing from Im So-byeong’s mouth.

“Are, are you alright?!”

“Is he dying?”

Im So-byeong, his face as pale as could be, quietly said as he tried to stop the blood flowing from his mouth. “I…”

“You?”

“…I’ll curse you. You damned Mount Hua bastards.”

Plop.

Leaving those words behind, Im So-byeong collapsed, convulsing like a patient. Baek Cheon said powerlessly, “…Go and call Soso.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“And tell her to bring my stomach medicine on the way.”

“…Yes, Uncle.”

Baek Cheon had come to feel a strange sense of camaraderie with Im So-byeong.