Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1007

The wooden sword glowed with a fierce blue energy as it cut through the air.

“Sword!”

Wham!

“Because you swing it like that!”

Wham!

“You get hit!”

Wham!

“The head, you moron! The head! Your head is empty!”

Plop.

Pure white steam rose from the heads of the Namgung Family swordsmen, who collapsed, exhausted.

“Tsk,” Chung Myung clicked his tongue, watching them twitch and spasm, his face showing displeasure.

“All these bastards do is show off when they use a sword! Where did they learn to twirl their wrists like that? Are they trying to get themselves killed!”

Jo Gul, who had been watching with admiration, whispered to Baek Cheon, “What does that mean, Martial Uncle?”

Baek Cheon shrugged and explained in detail, “They can’t even control their basic sword moves, but they try fancy tricks. Learn the basics again… That’s what he means.”

Jo Gul, impressed by his excellent interpretation, nodded repeatedly.

“Back in my day… these kids! Swinging swords like they’re dancing! No basics! No foundation! Just showing off!”

Jo Gul asked again, “What about that?”

Baek Cheon smiled gently and replied, “Back in my day, I focused on real basics rather than flashy techniques. I’m worried that swordsmen today focus too much on appearance… That’s what he means.”

“…”

Chung Myung threw the wooden sword he was holding roughly onto the ground.

“From tomorrow, you lot will repeat everything. What kind of bastards are you? The more I dig, the more comes out! The higher-ups seemed better, but the lower ones are terrible! Very well, I’ll hammer you from head to toe!”

“…What about that?”

“Ahem. This one is a bit long,” Baek Cheon cleared his throat quietly and began.

“I originally respected the older members of the Namgung Family and admired their swordsmanship, but it seems the young swordsmen of Namgung have not properly learned from their elders. We are not family, but we both use swords. So, I will help you learn the basics… That’s what he means.”

“…Martial Uncle.”

“Hmm?”

Jo Gul opened his mouth with a somewhat uncomfortable expression. “…At this point, isn’t it more like interpreting the dream rather than the dream itself?”

“That’s really what it means…”

“…”

Jo Gul, looking back and forth between Chung Myung and Baek Cheon with distrustful eyes, shrugged and said, “…Listening to Martial Uncle, it sounds like some kind of excellent education is taking place, but why does it just look like he’s beating them up because he doesn’t like them?”

“Why else?”

“Yes?”

“Because that’s what’s happening.”

“…”

Baek Cheon and Jo Gul sighed at the same time and looked ahead. Chung Myung, standing alone among the Namgung Family swordsmen sprawled out on the ground, was yelling as if something kept bothering him.

“…Looking at that, my stomach hurts.”

“I had a nightmare yesterday.”

“I thought I’d feel good seeing others suffer.”

“…It’s chilling.”

Clearly, this sight was not good for mental health. Every time the Namgung Family swordsmen were beaten by that terrifying wooden sword, it felt as if the middle of his head throbbed for no reason.

“Hey, Martial Uncle.”

“Hmm?”

Yoon Jong scratched his cheek as if he had something to say. “I’m a little worried… Can the Namgung Family members accept this situation?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… We don’t have much, and we know we can’t get stronger without this method, so we followed along without much complaint, but those people have their pride.”

“Pride?”

Baek Cheon’s face tightened slightly. Yoon Jong, realizing his mistake, quickly shut his mouth. Jo Gul didn’t miss the opportunity to tease him.

“Hey, is Senior Brother insulting Martial Uncle right now?”

“Sh, be quiet, you!”

“Pride, huh…” Baek Cheon stared at the distant mountains.

“Yes… There was a time when I cared about such things.”

Yoon Jong quietly patted Baek Cheon’s shoulder. “Don’t cry.”

“…I’m not crying,” Baek Cheon said, wiping under his eyes slightly, composing himself and continued.

“At first, they’ll resist. The despair that comes when the belief of someone you thought was outstanding collapses is just as great.”

“Is that a personal experience?”

“Personal experience.”

“Ooh, so vivid.”

“…Shut up.”

When Baek Cheon’s forehead bulged with veins, the Five Swords all turned their heads and whistled.

He glared at them with a murderous look, then sighed deeply.

“But… they will eventually accept it.”

“…They’ll realize it’s the right thing to do.”

“No.”

“Yes? Then…?”

“Because they’ll get hit more if they don’t accept it.”

“…”

Everyone stared at Baek Cheon with blank eyes. But he shrugged as if he were saying something obvious.

“They have to accept it if it’s either accept it or die. What else can they do?”

Yoon Jong thought with a happy smile on his face, ‘This guy is the strangest.’

And the other Five Swords’ thoughts would not be much different.

The Namgung Family swordsmen returned to their lodgings and collapsed with a series of thuds. The room was small and stuffy, smelling of old straw and unwashed bodies. Dust motes danced in the weak light filtering through a single, grimy window.

“Ugh…” He was confident he could fall asleep instantly as soon as his head touched the ground. But the moment his body hit the floor, an enormous pain surged through his entire body.

“Arm… Aargh… My arm…”

“Ugh… Ba, back… My back feels like it’s breaking…”

“Uuuuuurgh…”

“D, don’t throw up here!”

It was utter chaos. Shouts and groans filled the room. Someone coughed, another person whimpered. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and pain.

Namgung Dan, who was stuck to the floor like a starfish, struggled to lift his head. “Ugh.” It felt as if his body was torn to pieces.

“This is crazy…”

“How… How are we supposed to do this?”

“Our bodies will break down before we even get stronger.”

Dissatisfied voices flowed from here and there. Each complaint was laced with pain and frustration. They weren’t just tired physically; their spirits were bruised. They were speaking quietly because they didn’t have the energy to get angry.

“What kind of training is this? It’s just bullying!”

“That’s right.”

“Why do we have to suffer like this!”

But as if humans can’t abandon their anger even when they’re half-dead, the swordsmen’s voices began to grow louder and louder.

“What will change if we do this? The Namgung Family has its own way!”

“If the Lord had seen this, would he have allowed it?”

“They treat us almost like servants. There is no law in Kangho that treats disciples of other sects like this!”

At that moment, a low voice was heard. “Everyone, calm down.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the speaker. It was Namgung Dowi, struggling to get up from the entrance. Those who saw him forced themselves to get up, biting their lips.

“Young Lord.”

“I know it’s hard. But this is something we have to overcome.”

Everyone’s faces twisted fiercely.

“…To be honest, I don’t know what good this training is doing.”

“No, the training might be helpful. But isn’t that guy’s attitude too arrogant and disrespectful?”

“Even the Lord didn’t treat us like that.”

“Everyone…”

“Young Lord.”

Namgung Dan stared at Namgung Dowi with dissatisfied eyes. “Can’t you speak up for us, Young Lord?”

“…Me?”

“Yes. We can endure the difficult training. What we really can’t stand is the humiliation.”

Namgung Dowi’s silence was heavy. Inside, he felt a coldness spreading. Was this what he was fighting for? These complaints about pride when they were so far from their goal?

Namgung Dowi stared at him without answering.

“You said we’re not being taught as disciples. You said we’re just learning what we lack through Hwasan. But, Young Lord,” Namgung Dan continued, as if he had no intention of backing down.

“No teacher treats their disciples like this.”

Namgung Dowi’s face became like stone, all warmth draining away. But the excited Namgung Dan didn’t notice the change.

“This isn’t just our problem. If rumors spread that the Namgung Family is being treated like this in Hwasan, Namgung’s reputation will fall to the ground. You must step up in times like these, Young Lord.”

“That’s right!”

“Hwasan wouldn’t be able to act like this if they didn’t look down on our Namgung.”

“If the Lord were here, would they have dared to be so too bold…?”

“Stop! Stop it!” A short but loud roar burst from Namgung Dowi’s mouth.

“No, Young Lord!”

“…Yo, Young Lord?”

The flustered Namgung swordsmen stared blankly at Namgung Dowi. Those who were about to pour out more complaints closed their mouths at the sight of his face, which had hardened like ice.

Namgung Dowi, who had been glaring at everyone silently for a long time, opened his mouth. “Reputation?”

“…”

“Humiliation?” Namgung Dowi laughed as if he was dumbfounded. It was a voice laced with bitter mockery.

“I see. I was the only one who didn’t know. I was the only one who didn’t know that Namgung still had the pride to feel humiliation and the standing to consider reputation. Everyone else knew.”

“…Young Lord.”

“I…” Namgung Dowi looked around at everyone and spat out the words.

“I thought I had left all those things behind in Plum Blossom Island.”

“…”

“I thought I had thrown it all away with those who died there.” The Namgung swordsmen lowered their heads.

Whether these words were right or wrong, who would dare to meet Namgung Dowi’s eyes in this situation?

“But… I was wrong. I was the only one who left it behind. I was the only one who vowed to somehow revive Namgung, even if it meant chewing mud, so that those who died there would not regret it.”

“Young Lord, that’s…”

“I hope you protect it,” Namgung Dowi cut him off with a cold voice before Namgung Dan could say anything.

“Your pride and reputation, that is. If what the people who died in Plum Blossom Island protected with their lives was really that, then shouldn’t you protect it at all costs?”

Namgung Dowi turned around as he finished speaking and went outside without waiting for any answer.

“…” A moment of silence followed. The remaining people stared blankly at the door he had stormed out of with bewildered eyes.

“…Why did you have to say such things…?”

“So you’re saying it’s my fault?”

Loud voices went back and forth, but it was only for a moment. Everyone fell into a deep silence.

Meanwhile, Namgung Dowi, who had come outside, stared at the distant sky. The night sky was a vast, inky blackness, pierced by a million stars. They weren’t just scattered; they seemed to spill across the darkness like glittering tears, a silent, overwhelming display of the universe’s grandeur. He would have admired the scenery in normal times, but unfortunately, he couldn’t feel any beauty now.

‘It’s difficult.’

It wasn’t easy. The road ahead was long, and there was much to do, but it seemed that not everyone felt the same way he did.

He thought that if he gave his all, they would accept it… Was it just a vain hope?

“Father…” Just as he was about to let out a long sigh, thinking of Namgung Hwang anew, it was then.

“Hmm?” Namgung Dowi, sensing something flying from behind, twisted his body violently. And he quickly reached out and snatched something flying towards his face.

“…A bottle of liquor?” What he caught was a white bottle of liquor. Namgung Dowi stared blankly at what was in his hand and then raised his head.

On the eaves of the building, a now familiar person was standing.

“D, Dojang?”

“Oh, it’s me.”

“What are you doing there?”

Chung Myung shrugged. “Well, never mind that. How about it?” Chung Myung lightly shook the bottle of liquor in his hand towards the bewildered Namgung Dowi.

“A drink?”

“…” Namgung Dowi slowly nodded his head.