Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1005

The setting sun painted the sky in shades of angry red over the world beyond the Jang River.

This red light covered the Namgung Clan’s training area. The Namgung Clan swordsmen were lying all over the dusty ground. Swords and training dummies were scattered around them. It was very strange to see them like this. Usually, the Namgung Clan was known for being strong and perfectly organized. But today, anyone could see they were completely defeated.

Namgung Dowi’s eyes were wide but empty. He looked around at his fallen swordsmen, but it was like he wasn’t really seeing anything. His face was blank, showing no feeling at all. His retainers, his own men, all had the same shocked look on their faces.

*No surprise there,* he thought to himself.

Losing wasn’t the shocking part. Mount Hua was strong now. Everyone knew that. Even for the proud Namgung Clan, losing to Mount Hua wasn’t something to be deeply ashamed of. That’s just how things were now.

But it wasn’t just *losing* that had stunned them all into silence. It was *how* they had lost.

Not a single Namgung swordsman had won even once. Not even one!

If they were just fighters who didn’t care about honor, they might not be upset about losing a fight. But these were Namgung swordsmen. They knew what shame felt like.

‘This must be quite a shock.’

Even though the higher-ranking members were absent from training because of injuries, that didn’t make the defeat any less impactful. The Mount Hua disciples who had defeated them so decisively weren’t even older than they were.

And above all…

“Pfft!”

“⋯⋯.”

“Pffft⋯⋯.”

A vein throbbed on Namgung Dowi’s forehead.

Even though this situation was precisely what he had hoped for, the sight of Chung Myung’s round eyes crinkling with amusement ignited a fury deep within him.

“Ehehehehehehet!”

Finally, Baek Cheon, unable to bear it any longer, gently scolded Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Huh?”

“It is not right for a martial artist to make fun of those they defeated. Stop taunting them.”

“Oh, look at Dong-ryong showing mercy because he won.”

“That’s not it.”

“Yes, it is. I can see your lips twitching. Why don’t you just laugh and say, ‘The Namgung Clan are nothing special. I think the Jongnam guys are better’?

“⋯⋯.”

Namgung Dowi stared blankly at Baek Cheon.

‘Hey, Elder? Why aren’t you disagreeing with him and instead turning your head? Is there a reason why we shouldn’t see your expression right now?’

‘Elder?’

Chung Myung smirked and looked around at everyone.

“Well, it was a bit boring.”

“⋯⋯.”

“We won, so no one should complain, right?”

Of course, no one should complain. After all, this was a fair match, and the Namgung had accepted the challenge.

But people don’t always think so simply.

“Ho?”

Chung Myung turned to one person who was looking at him with dissatisfied eyes.

“Got something to say?”

“⋯⋯.”

Namgung Dan stared at Chung Myung with a sullen expression before speaking.

“It’s not so much a complaint as…”

“Hm?”

“I don’t understand why this happened.”

“Eh?”

Chung Myung blinked. Namgung Dan continued with a troubled expression.

“We have been training our best until now. Forgetting sleep and meals, pushing ourselves, overcoming the desire to rest. Because if we didn’t, we couldn’t become swordsmen of the Namgung Clan.”

“So?”

“But… why is there such a difference…”

Namgung Dan bit his lip.

He might have accepted it before experiencing the Plum Blossom Sword Formation. But after experiencing it, he couldn’t understand this situation even more.

“We have experienced how weak someone without power can become. I can confidently say that our will to win is stronger than anyone else’s.”

“⋯⋯.”

That’s why they gave their all in this match. It wasn’t just stubbornness. They knew it too. To make the Namgung Clan strong again, they had to work harder than anyone else.

Yet, they had been completely defeated, so they couldn’t help but feel upset.

“What exactly is wrong with us?”

Namgung Dan asked with strong emotion. Naturally, his voice grew louder. It was a sight that would touch the heart of any martial artist.

But Chung Myung’s reaction was completely indifferent.

“Whatever.”

He wiggled his ear with his finger and blew on it.

“⋯⋯.”

Namgung Dan, discouraged by the obvious indifference, lowered his head.

The Five Swordsmen looked at him with pity. They could have enjoyed it since they won, but they had felt this way many times before, so they felt sorry for him.

Then, Chung Myung flicked his finger.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“You, come out here.”

Namgung Dan walked towards Chung Myung.

“Come closer.”

“⋯⋯.”

Namgung Dan, standing right in front of Chung Myung, looked at him questioningly.

Chung Myung slightly raised his hand.

“I’m going to hit your head now.”

“Yes?”

“Block it.”

“⋯⋯.”

“I told you what I’m going to do, and you have the will to block it, so you can definitely block it, right? Isn’t that so?”

A spark flashed in Namgung Dan’s eyes.

‘He’s underestimating me too much!’

Even though Chung Myung was strong enough to defeat the Black Dragon King, it would be strange if he couldn’t block it when he knew where he would hit and how he would attack. He wasn’t going to use internal energy to stop him!

“Good…”

Boom!

Plop!

“Dan-ah!”

“Oh no! Namgung Dan!”

The Namgung Clan’s swordsmen behind him were horrified and rushed out. They quickly picked up Namgung Dan, who had collapsed with foam in his mouth.

“Are you alright?”

“Does he look dead?”

“I heard a bell ringing in his head!”

Chung Myung watched the scene and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk tsk.”

His eyes were full of disdain as he looked at everyone. Sharp words poured from his mouth.

“Will?”

“⋯⋯.”

“You crazy people are talking nonsense. Hey, you idiots! Who would fight without risking their lives!”

“⋯⋯.”

“Even the Demonic Sect has will! Who doesn’t have will? What? Did you think that if you try hard, the enemy will get scared and give up?”

The swordsmen, speechless, lowered their heads.

“Will is only important when training. Flexing your eyes doesn’t make your sword stronger. That’s something you should do regularly.”

“⋯⋯.”

“And you guys have been wasting that regular time.”

At that moment, Namgung Dowi raised his hand. Chung Myung quickly turned his head.

“Why… No, why?”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“Hehe. How could I…”

“I think I’d be more comfortable with that too.”

“Ahem. Well, if you insist.”

Chung Myung shrugged and asked again.

“So, why?”

“It’s because I don’t understand, Elder. It may sound ridiculous for us to say this after such a result, but Namgung’s training is not easy. We really did try our best.”

“Well, I guess so.”

Chung Myung nodded as if agreeing.

“But why do you say that we have been wasting our regular time…”

“Because it’s true.”

“Yes?”

Chung Myung smirked.

“Can you say that someone who uses a sword is working hard if they practice punching all day?”

“No.”

“What you guys have been doing is like that.”

In fact, this isn’t entirely the Namgung Clan’s fault.

Why is Mount Hua strong?

It’s very simple. Chung Myung sticks to each and every disciple and pushes them very hard. Then, is this something only Chung Myung can do?

‘No.’

Even if it’s not someone who has reached Chung Myung’s level, anyone who has reached the top of a clan can certainly turn those clumsy people into proper swordsmen.

“It’s because your leaders didn’t show you the right way.”

Namgung Dowi’s face stiffened.

“I find that hard to accept. Our Clan Lord cared for us more than anyone else.”

“I know.”

“But why…”

“You don’t seem to understand. Caring and teaching are completely different.”

Namgung Dowi looked at Chung Myung with a clueless expression.

“Namgung Hwang… No, the previous Clan Lord’s best way to care for you would have been to become stronger himself.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Namgung Dowi’s face show a hint of understanding.

Why didn’t Namgung Hwang properly train them?

It’s simple. Rather than spending time training those who aren’t very skilled, it’s much more helpful for the Namgung Clan for him to become stronger.

And this isn’t just the Namgung Clan. Every clan in the world does things similarly.

That’s how much power a single strong master gives to a clan.

Isn’t that the case with Mount Hua as well? No matter how strong Baek Cheon becomes, no matter how strong Yui-seol becomes, even if the disciples of Mount Hua are stronger than they are now, they will never be as respected as they are now without Chung Myung.

“But…”

Namgung Dowi still didn’t understand. Then how can famous families continue to exist?

As if understanding that, Chung Myung answered clearly.

“You don’t seem to understand, but there’s no need to put in the effort to teach you.”

“Yes?”

“Just gather them all together and teach them roughly, and they’ll improve on their own.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Namgung is a clan, but most of them are collateral relatives (family members who are not the main line). How many of those collateral relatives have joined and then returned to their families?”

“Well…”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“Right. You call those who join but fail to win the competition and return collateral relatives, and those who are not from the clan are called sokga (people from outside the clan). Those who fail become sokga and use their power outside the clan, and those who win the competition go up. That’s how a famous family works.”

“⋯⋯.”

Then how do the younger disciples grow?

‘There’s no need to make them grow.’

Around famous families, people gather like clouds. Then, there are bound to be those who are talented enough to do the work. Those talented people will naturally rise to the top.

The old Mount Hua was the same. Wasn’t Chung Myung also someone who rose to the top in that way?

“Then… is Mount Hua different?”

The moment those words came out, Chung Myung flinched. And after a while, he rubbed his eyes slightly.

“Different?”

“⋯⋯.”

Namgung Dowi was greatly embarrassed.

‘Uh… Is that tears?’

“Did you ask if it’s different? Different? Are you asking if Mount Hua is different now? Mount Hua?”

“Hey, hey. He’s broken again.”

“Sasuk. Try to stop him.”

“⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung wiped his eyes and muttered.

“Yeah… He wouldn’t know because he’s a leader who has disciples joining just by staying still. He wouldn’t know how a poor clan feels when they have to use even someone like Jo-geol.”

“No, why are you bringing me up again!”

“Jo-geol, be quiet.”

“I agree with that statement.”

“Hoo!”

Chung Myung took a deep breath. Barely managing to calm himself, he looked at Namgung Dowi and Namgung Dan, and the Namgung Clan’s swordsmen behind them, and said.

“There’s no need to understand.”

“⋯⋯.”

“You’ll find out if you experience it. You’re all in a position where you can’t afford to have anyone leave now, right?”

Chung Myung grinned.

“So just leave it to me. I’ll take care of it very well. Very well.”

“⋯⋯.”

It was the moment when the gates of hell opened for the Namgung Clan.