Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 582

“Failure?”

Inside the rough stone walls of the mountain fortress, Go Hong’s eyes twisted cruelly.

At the same time, everyone in front of him trembled and bowed their heads.

People called Go Hong ‘Gwangwoo-do’ because of his temper. Usually, he was reasonable. But when angry, he became like a mad bull – wild and dangerous. That’s why they gave him that name.

“That Dongwoong failed?”

“I, I think so, Chaeju!”

Go Hong stared silently at the person reporting.

The face of Go Hori (Bitter Fox) Lee Jung-bang, who was lying flat on the ground, lost all color.

“He took the entire Yacha Clan and still failed? Then how much damage did you do to those guys? And what about that rat Im So-byeong?”

“That, that is⋯⋯.”

When Lee Jung-bang hesitated, Go Hong jumped up from his seat.

“Speak up right now before I tear your mouth apart!”

“Hiek! Yes! Yes! I will report! The, the damage to the Hwasan Sect seems to be nonexistent.”

“⋯⋯Nonexistent?”

“⋯⋯.”

Go Hong tilted his head slightly as if doubting his ears.

“The entire Yacha Clan went, and they couldn’t even inflict damage?”

“I’m sorry, but⋯⋯ yes⋯⋯.”

“Hoo-hoo-hoo.”

At the returning answer, Go Hong laughed as if he was dumbfounded.

“Am I dreaming right now?”

“⋯⋯.”

“Were the Yacha Clan guys weaker than I thought? Or are those Hwasan Sect guys much stronger than I heard?”

Lee Jung-bang quickly crouched down and answered.

“Hwa, Hwasan is not a sect that can be ignored. They have already defeated the Maninbang’s armed forces⋯⋯.”

ROAR! Before Lee Jung-bang could finish, the air exploded. The wooden chair behind him splintered, and dust flew up in a thick cloud. A heavy *thud* echoed as something slammed into the wall.

Cold sweat dripped down Lee Jung-bang’s face.

(Lee Jung-bang’s thought) *My heart is pounding like a drum. I have to be very careful what I say next.*

“So?”

“Chae, Chaeju⋯⋯.”

“Are you saying that I, who will rise to the position of Green Forest King, should be wary of those brats? A sect that can’t even be included in the Nine Sects?”

Lee Jung-bang couldn’t say anything.

Hwasan is not a member of the Nine Sects, but it is a sect that should never be ignored. But telling Go Hong that right now would be like asking to be killed.

“H, how dare they compare to Chaeju’s majesty! That is an utterly unfair statement!”

Lee Jung-bang lowered his posture as much as possible, but Go Hong’s face did not relax at all.

“You are all WORTHLESS!”

Go Hong, who jumped up from his seat, shouted so loudly that the mountain fortress seemed to explode.

“Get everyone ready! I will go myself!”

“Y, you must calm down, Chaeju!”

“Calm down? Do I look like I can calm down right now? I’ve been humiliated like this? What will the other leaders think of me? They’ll laugh! They’ll say I’m weak! I will never become the Green Forest King if they see me like this!”

It’s true that mountain fortresses, including Daebyeolchae, worked together to get rid of Nokchae. But they haven’t decided yet who will be the next Green Forest King.

Because discussing it would cause them to lose strength among themselves, and that would ultimately strengthen Im So-byeong’s rule.

But since Daebyeolchae was so greatly humiliated, everyone would surely seize on this and belittle him, saying that he was not qualified to be the Green Forest King.

“So you must calm down even more! If we face Hwasan as we are, wouldn’t we just be wasting our strength? If that happens, those other mountain fortress guys might get something bigger as an unexpected benefit.”

“⋯⋯An unexpected benefit⋯⋯ No, what do they get?”

“Who would like it if our strength is weakened? We’ve already taken damage, and if we waste our strength fighting those other mountain fortress guys, Daebyeolchae will be ruined! Those guys will take the opportunity to pounce like wolves! Please, consider this carefully!”

Go Hong’s face contorted.

“Why would I be at a loss when I personally defeat the Hwasan guys!”

At this point, Lee Jung-bang’s face also contorted horribly.

‘He can’t understand what I’m saying.’

If he had just a little bit of brains to support that innate divine power, he would have become the Green Forest King already.

“Im So-byeong and the Hwasan Sect will definitely be aiming for this place!”

“Are you telling me to wait quietly for that! Me?”

“Chaeju! Think about it. Aren’t the other fortresses already in place on the way to this place?”

“Hmm?”

“So, they will naturally waste their strength passing through that place. Then, we can just swallow the weakened guys.”

“Fool! What if another fortress catches Im So-byeong first? We’ll be left behind! It’s like watching someone else get the prize while we do all the work!”

“But Chaeju, you are not just watching. You are stronger and faster. You can take the prize from *them* if they get it first!”

Go Hong finally showed a slight sign of contemplation.

“So⋯⋯.”

“Yes! Chaeju. When the other fortress guys fight those guys and their strength weakens, we can just sweep them all away! Then no one will be able to oppose Chaeju rising to the position of Green Forest King.”

“That’s how it works! Haha! Indeed, my strategist!”

Praise poured out, but Lee Jung-bang bowed his head and secretly sighed.

‘What will become of the Green Forest⋯⋯.’

Already bound to Daebyeolchae, he had no other way but to follow Go Hong.

But it was too obvious what would happen if that Go Hong rose to the position of Green Forest King and ruled the Green Forest. It was clear without having to think about it for long. This was no different from driving the Green Forest to its death.

‘If only Im So-byeong was healthy.’

He would have become the perfect Green Forest King.

He felt regret, but what could he do? The Green Forest is a place ruled by the strong.

“Then, as you say, I will endure it once. But if things don’t go as you say, you’ll have to be prepared for your head to roll around Hyungsan!”

“Yes! Chaeju.”

Meanwhile, far away in the Hwasan Sect…

“Hmm.” *Whack!* “Heeeuuuum.” *Gooook, gook!* Baek Cheon’s eyes twitched as rough hands patted and poked at his clothes. He stayed still for a moment, then his eyes began to tremble.

Baek Cheon’s white robes were already perfectly clean and smooth, as always.

Looking at his fellow disciples who had been clinging to him since earlier, giving him a makeover with their rough hands, Baek Cheon tightly closed his eyes.

“⋯⋯Please stop it.”

“No can do. Chungmyung told us to make you look smooth and flawless.”

“Are you trying to polish him into a prize-winning stallion?”

“What? A stallion? Am I turning into a horse now?” Baek Cheon asked, annoyed.

Chungmyung grinned. “Just stand still, you’re ruining the image.”

“Think about it, Martial Uncle.”

“About what?”

“How did you feel when you saw Jongnam in the past?”

“What do you mean, how did I feel?”

“Just tell me how you felt, without any resentment.”

“Well⋯⋯.”

They were handsome, cool⋯⋯ To be honest, they looked so good that I was envious.

Chungmyung, who read the answer from Baek Cheon’s expression, asked again.

“Do you know why that is?”

“Huh?”

“Because the one standing at the front is Jin Geum-ryong.”

“……”

“Imagine some hulking, misshapen brute pretending to be the senior disciple of Jongnam, shoving his face forward. Who would think that was impressive?”

“……”

Baek Cheon felt he should argue. As a Taoist, someone who follows a peaceful and thoughtful way of life, he believed in respect. But when he imagined what Chung Myung described, he couldn’t find the right words.

“People who’ve never held a sword in their lives, what do they know if we’re great or just idiots? Unless we’re going to dance around with swords like madmen, the first impression has to be amazing! So, just be quiet and stay still.”

Baek Cheon bit his lip, his eyes stinging. He blinked hard, trying to push back the tears that threatened to spill.

He understood what Chung Myung was saying.

‘But there’s a time and place for everything!’ he thought.

Going on an expedition to fight bandits, and he’s talking about primping and preening? Is this bloke mad?

Just then, Lim Sobyeong, who had been quietly approaching, clapped his hands.

“Hahaha. Very good indeed. Indeed, the Baek Cheon disciple is a man of unsurpassed beauty, lacking not a single grain of perfection.”

“Hey, half-beggar.”

“……Me?”

“You go to the very back. No, better yet, bury yourself somewhere in the middle where you can’t be seen at all.”

“……”

“Who told you to show that face that looks like you haven’t had a bite of gruel in days to anyone? Can’t you just disappear?”

At Chung Myung’s harsh words, Lim Sobyeong drooped his shoulders and burrowed into the ranks of the Hwasan disciples. Watching this, Heuk Yaho and Beon Chung swallowed their tears.

‘Oh, Green Forest King,’ they thought, feeling sorry for the famous bandit leader.

‘These utterly outrageous blokes.’

Where in the world would the Green Forest King receive such treatment? Even though he was half-exiled now, he was still someone who had lived as the Green Forest King.

But Chung Myung’s sparks flew towards them as well.

“Hey, you lot too.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t go around showing those grim faces that upset people. Go to the middle and bow quietly.”

“……Yes, Brother.”

“Understood.”

Having cleared away all the ugly ones, Chung Myung looked around at the remaining people, then frowned.

“Hey! Baldy!”

“Don’t do that, you little rascal!”

“Have you no shame! How can you do that to Venerable Hae Yeon!”

“This isn’t right, this isn’t!”

“Keueung.”

Hae Yeon’s face… no, his entire head turned red. Chung Myung stared at his shining head with great displeasure, then nodded as if he couldn’t help it.

“Tsk, can’t be helped. You stay somewhere near the front.”

“……Thank you, Benefactor.”

Hae Yeon gave a half-bow, as if it was a relief that he wouldn’t have to hide in the back.

Hyun Sang, unable to watch any longer, cautiously asked Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Do you really have to go this far?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Chung Myung looked towards the door. Just then, the door opened slightly, and Yu Yiseol entered.

“It seems everyone is gathered.”

Chung Myung nodded neatly and turned to look at everyone.

“Everyone, straighten your shoulders and head out.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll find out now. What kind of attention we’ll be getting from now on. All the senior brothers need to get used to it.”

But those who hadn’t yet grasped the situation whispered with indifferent faces.

“What’s he saying?”

“Just ignore him. It’s not like he only says nonsense once or twice.”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue as if to say, ‘What do you lot know?’ Then he strode towards the door.

“Alright, let’s go!”

The door was flung wide open.

Light poured in, revealing the scene outside the door. Baek Cheon, at the head of the group, widened his eyes slightly.

‘What is this?’

The streets outside the door were packed with people. Standing shoulder to shoulder, as if they would be crushed to death at any moment, they cheered and shouted.

“They are the heroes of Hwasan!”

“The Hwasan Sect is going to subjugate the bandits!”

“Waaaaaaa!”

The cheers were deafening. Chung Myung said nonchalantly.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go.”

“……Alright.”

Baek Cheon took a small breath and began to move his feet. Behind him, the disciples of Hwasan followed. All of them looked dumbfounded.

Of course, it wasn’t as if they hadn’t expected it at all.

They had already stopped the bandits once, so they expected to receive some friendly attention. But they never imagined that people would gather in such numbers to cheer them on.

The disciples of Hwasan, having emerged onto the main street, walked towards the city gates through a path packed with people on both sides.

“Crush those bandits!”

“Don’t get hurt!”

“Long live the Hwasan Sect!”

With every step they took, cheers, support, and concern followed. The disciples of Hwasan whispered amongst themselves with bewildered faces.

“Woah, is it always like this?”

“I don’t know. How would I know? This is my first time experiencing this.”

“Do all the other sects receive cheers like this?”

“Tsk.”

Just then, Chung Myung turned to look at those who were whispering and frowned deeply.

“S-Sorry……”

“Shoulders!”

“Huh?”

“Straighten your shoulders!”

At the stern command, the disciples of Hwasan straightened their shoulders without realizing it.

“They’re cheering for what the senior brothers have done. Accept it with your shoulders held high. You’ll be experiencing this countless times in the future.”

Hearing Chung Myung’s words, their shoulders began to fill with more and more strength.

Awkward but confident expressions.

Chung Myung chuckled.

‘They must be feeling proud,’ he thought.

In the past, Hwasan had faced such scenes as a matter of course. The moment word spread that the Hwasan Sect disciples had come to Xi’an, people would flock to them like clouds.

But for them, it was unfamiliar and awkward beyond words.

‘But they need to get used to it now.’

This was one of the many things Hwasan had lost.

Lost fame and lost reputation.

Chung Myung was now planning to regain Hwasan’s reputation.

‘First, those bandit bastards.’

His gaze turned towards Hengshan, visible in the distance.

“Regaining it won’t be enough.”

I will make Hwasan’s fame resound throughout the entire Central Plains! Even more than in the past!

Right, Sect Leader?

– For once, you’re saying something right.

What nonsense. I only ever say what’s right.

Hee hee hee hee.