Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 105

Jin Geum-ryong stared at Chung Myung, eyes wide and confused.

‘What nonsense is this kid talking about?’

A fight?

Between the younger and older students of Hwasan? One fight after another?

Is he serious about this?

“This…”

Jin Geum-ryong gritted his teeth.

“They are really insulting Jongnam,” Jin Geum-ryong thought. “Only someone who thinks Jongnam’s older students are worthless would suggest this!”

“Even if Hwasan’s younger students won, why have classes at all? Classes are there because it’s hard to move up just with normal skill. If the difference between classes isn’t kept clear, the sect’s order will break down. That’s why important groups have classes and set times for taking in new students, right?”

“No matter how strong Hwasan’s younger students are, it’s only within their own group. A fight between older and younger students is unheard of. Just getting this offer is shameful.”

“That annoying kid!”

Jin Geum-ryong was about to answer back angrily, but Sama Seung grabbed his arm.

“Elder, wait.”

“Calm down.”

“But…”

Sama Seung’s expression became serious.

“Our good name is already ruined,” Sama Seung said. “If we say no now, just to look like we are strong, people will think we are cowards running away because we are scared.”

Jin Geum-ryong bit his lip.

He knew it was true. That kid seemed like he could easily spread rumors. If it was a nice offer, they could say no. But how could they refuse such a clear insult?

This was an offer they could not say yes to, and could not say no to.

Sama Seung looked up at Chung Myung.

“You said your name is Chung Myung?”

“Yes. You didn’t seem to remember it before, but you do now.”

“I heard your offer. But I don’t think you are important enough to make an offer to Jongnam for Hwasan, are you?”

“Then ask the Sect Leader yourself. It’s not hard, right?”

“This…”

That kid knew how to make people angry even with a simple answer.

“I am talking about your manners,” Sama Seung said. “There is a right way to do things. Is this how Hwasan teaches you?”

It was a small but smart attack. When unsure, attack with age and respect. It was an old trick that always worked.

“I don’t think Hwasan teaches that,” Chung Myung said. “I haven’t been a student for long, so I haven’t learned everything yet. I grew up without parents, so please understand I have some faults.”

“Uh…”

Why is he talking about parents now?

What does that make me look like?

While Sama Seung was speechless and trying to find words, Chung Myung looked at Hwang Mun-yak and asked.

“What do you think?”

“Ah, yes, it sounds good, but why ask us?”

“Besides Hwasan and Jongnam, you are the only other group here. We need a fair decision.”

*And we also need to make this a big event.*

By getting the important people from Shaanxi involved, Jongnam could not say no because of their good name. Running away from a fight because they were afraid would be a terrible shame for a martial arts group.

Hwang Mun-yak cleared his throat. He looked back at the important guests and asked,

“What do you think?”

“Well, even if it’s not completely fair, we would love to see more of this fun fight!”

“Yes, I want to see it too! How well can those younger Hwasan students fight against Jongnam’s older students? I am really looking forward to it.”

Hwang Mun-yak nodded.

Of course they would agree. More ways to compare skills is always good. If Hwasan’s younger students fought against Jongnam’s older students, they could clearly see how strong everyone was.

“We are really looking forward to the match, young Taoist.”

Chung Myung nodded.

“So it looks like we just need permission from both sides! Sect Leader! What do you say, Sect Leader?”

Hyun Jong stared at Chung Myung, completely surprised.

“What on earth is that kid trying to do?”

While Hyun Jong was confused, Un-geom spoke quietly.

“Please allow it, Sect Leader.”

“Allow it? You want me to allow this crazy thing?”

“He is a smart kid.”

“⋯⋯”

Un-geom spoke firmly.

“He does go too far sometimes, but I have never felt he was foolish when talking to him. Actually, I felt like he was making me feel like he’s smarter than me. Didn’t you also say you felt something special about that kid?”

“That’s true, but…”

Yes, there was something about Chung Myung.

Like an old man in a child’s body.

“There’s no way a kid like that doesn’t know what we are worried about. He must have a plan, so please allow it. More than anything…”

Un-geom took a deep breath and smiled slightly.

“What do we lose if we lose now? We have nothing to lose.”

Hyun Jong looked closely at Un-geom.

The strong belief in his eyes.

Hyun Jong, seeing the looks of the other elders, nodded firmly.

*If all of this is part of that kid’s plan, like Un-geom said.*

It might be worth giving him more responsibility.

Hyun Jong wondered if he was asking too much of a child, but Hwasan had nothing to lose anyway.

Even if they were badly beaten in the fight, they wouldn’t lose even half of what they had already gained.

Hyun Jong, having made his decision firmly, spoke in a loud voice.

“Hwasan agrees!”

Right away, shouts came from the audience.

“Oh! Now Jongnam can’t back down!”

“We are seeing a really interesting show today! I have to tell everyone about what I saw today. To think something like this would happen when I just came to see the Jongnam kids.”

“Hwasan is still Hwasan. Why else was Hwasan called a famous group for so long? They might have good times and bad times, but they will never fall apart.”

Hwang Mun-yak smiled sadly as he heard the words of the important guests who had changed their minds.

*They are like bats,* he thought.

But that’s how business people are, and how most people are. Isn’t it normal for people to want to make connections with those who are strong and might become even stronger?

It seemed Hwasan was now seen as a group good to do business with.

*Then… how will Jongnam react?*

If it was Hwang Mun-yak, he would never accept this offer. Because it was an offer where they get nothing. But if Hwang Mun-yak was in Sama Seung’s place?

*He would have to accept.*

Unlike business people, martial artists have one thing they can’t give up, even if they lose everything else.

Their pride.

A martial artist could never stand to hear that they ran away like cowards after getting a challenge. So, of course…

“In that case, Jongnam will also agree!”

Yes!

That’s what he would say!

Hwang Mun-yak looked at the two groups, becoming more and more interested in what would happen next.

Yoon Jong, looking very scared, ran onto the stage. He quickly grabbed Chung Myung and pulled him away.

“What’s wrong?”

Chung Myung frowned and asked, but Yoon Jong pulled him to a corner and whispered.

“You madman! What are you trying to do?”

“What?”

“How can we beat the older students! They are Jongnam’s older students! Jin Geum-ryong, I’m talking about! People say he is the most skilled fighter in Shaanxi.”

“Oh? Really?”

“So, are you saying we can beat him too? Are we that strong?”

“Hey.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you think people should be fair?”

“…”

“I helped them, and now they are attacking me! What? Beat who?”

“Ah, no… I was just asking. Just in case.”

He had hoped a little bit. Just a tiny bit.

“Don’t even think about it. We can never win.”

Especially against Jin Geum-ryong.

Maybe Jo Gul could do something against other older students? Hmm… But even that would be hard. And when Jin Geum-ryong fights, Hwasan’s younger students will be easily defeated.

What Chung Myung taught them works against people of the same age, but if their skills are too different, there’s no chance.

“Th, then what are you going to do?”

Chung Myung grinned.

“The plan is simple, so…”

“It’s a gauntlet match!”

Sama Seung said firmly. *(A gauntlet match is where one person fights many opponents in a row.)*

“It’s clear what those kids are trying to do. They want to win by having one person fight many times. They want nine younger students to fight one after another to make us tired, and then have the last one win for sure.”

Sama Seung quickly understood the trick in Chung Myung’s words.

The winner keeps fighting.

That means whoever wins can’t stop fighting. If they keep winning, they have to keep fighting and get more and more tired.

“That kid probably thought Geum-ryong would be the first fighter.”

Jin Geum-ryong fights first. Hwasan’s nine younger students make Jin Geum-ryong tired. Then, Chung Myung fights last and beats the tired Jin Geum-ryong.

Nine losses and one win.

But that one win is worth more than nine losses. If Jin Geum-ryong, Jongnam’s future star, is beaten by Hwasan’s younger students, it would be a big surprise to everyone in the martial arts world in Shaanxi.

Sama Seung gritted his teeth.

“Clever kid.”

Sama Seung turned to Jin Geum-ryong.

“You know what you need to do, right?”

Jin Geum-ryong nodded.

“Just don’t lose. Ten if there are ten. Twenty if there are twenty. I will fight as many as it takes.”

“No.”

“…Yes?”

Sama Seung shook his head.

“We don’t need to fall into their trap.”

Jin Geum-ryong looked unhappy.

“But…”

“What good is it if you fight and beat ten of them? People will only say you had to fight Hwasan’s younger students yourself.”

Jin Geum-ryong bit his lip hard.

He knew it was true. This unfair fight could be seen in many ways.

“You will be the captain.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

“The first fighter will be…”

Sama Seung turned and pointed to one person.

“You go, Yoo Baek.”

“Yes, Elder! I won’t let you down!”

“You don’t have to beat everyone. If you get too tired, just stop. You must never let them see you lose. Do you understand?”

“Yes!”

Sama Seung gritted his teeth.

It would be great if Yoo Baek beat everyone, but even if he didn’t, stopping after beating two would be good.

*Then Jong Seo-han as the second fighter? Geum-ryong can’t go first, so Jong Seo-han is best. That Lee Song-baek has been too confident lately…*

“Uh oh?”

Just then, he heard surprised gasps from around him. Sama Seung quickly looked up.

“…Wh, what?”

And Sama Seung saw it.

Chung Myung, who had been pulled to the side of the stage, was walking out confidently with a wooden sword over his shoulder.

“Plans don’t matter. I am the plan.”

Chung Myung smirked and lowered his sword.

“I will make today a day you will never forget, Jongnam.”

It was a calm but powerful promise.