Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1092

Under the sweeping curve of a bright red roof, Chung Myung stood alone. The vermilion tiles glowed in the soft moonlight. He held a bottle, its neck tilted towards his lips, but he wasn’t drinking. He was staring at the moon, his face like a mask, giving nothing away.

A little distance away, the others watched him – the Five Swords of Mount Hua. Even Tang Soso, who would normally be scolding anyone drinking liquor, especially a patient, just stood there. She couldn’t bring herself to go closer.

Tang Soso whispered, “What do you think he’s thinking?”

Baek Cheon shook his head slowly. “I don’t know.”

He sighed. “It’s impossible to guess what goes on in his head.”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul sighed together. The Mount Hua disciples watched Chung Myung, their feelings mixed.

Sahyung,

“What is it?”

Jo Gul carefully watched Yoon Jong’s face. “How does Chung Myung know all those things?” he asked.

He continued cautiously, “Isn’t it a bit strange? If Chung Myung comes from a place with a grudge against the Demonic Sect, it wouldn’t be strange for him to know some details about them…”

Jo Gul stopped talking and shut his mouth. He wanted to ask, ‘Doesn’t he know too much?’

But he couldn’t ask it. They quietly avoided talking about Chung Myung’s past.

It wasn’t forbidden, but everyone avoided the subject. They knew it would make everyone uncomfortable.

After the fight with the Demonic Sect, Jo Gul was confused by Chung Myung’s reaction to Lee Ju-gyo.

‘He seemed to know him.’

There were many possible reasons.

Maybe Chung Myung’s ancestor was a Mount Hua member who ran away before the battle with Cheonma. Maybe he knew Mount Hua’s martial arts but couldn’t return because he felt guilty, like Yoo Iseol’s father.

A great sect that had fallen. Many people had stories connected to it.

That’s why they avoided asking about Chung Myung’s past.

But now, Jo Gul was starting to think differently.

‘Even then… could he recognize a bishop from a hundred years ago? Would someone really pass on the appearances of bishops from a hundred years ago in such detail?’

It was impossible to know. But Chung Myung knew more about the Demonic Sect than he could have just heard about.

“Is it strange?”

“…Yes?”

Yoon Jong turned to Jo Gul, his eyes dark. “Why? Are you doubting Chung Myung now?”

“Ah, no, that’s…”

Yoon Jong frowned, his voice sharp. “Don’t talk nonsense. No matter how he knows it, Chung Myung is helping us. That’s a fact.”

“I know that…”

Jo Gul looked down, upset. He couldn’t argue with Yoon Jong.

‘It feels like yesterday that I was punched by him and stuck in the ceiling.’

Time had passed quickly.

Who would have thought Mount Hua would become like this back then?

“…Everything happened after he came to Mount Hua.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that right? If it weren’t for him, would we be worrying about the Jianghu’s future?”

Yoon Jong looked at Chung Myung with new eyes.

Without Chung Myung, Jo Gul would have returned to his family. Yoon Jong would have been alone at Mount Hua. Yoo Iseol would have stayed somehow, but Tang Soso wouldn’t have come, and Baek Cheon might have gone anywhere.

The Mount Hua sect might have collapsed, and everyone would have left.

“It all started when he came to Mount Hua.”

“…That’s right.”

Yoon Jong paused, thinking.

What was Chung Myung thinking back then?

Chung Myung wanted to make Mount Hua great again. How could he think that when he walked into that ruined sect?

“…I have no idea.”

Jo Gul smacked his lips.

Yoon Jong glanced back, looking uncomfortable.

“Um… Sasook.”

“Yes?”

“It’s strange for me to say this after telling Jo Gul to shut up… but I’ve had a plausible thought.”

Yoon Jong’s introduction was long and strange.

“What is it?”

“That… Chung Myung.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t want to talk about this again.

“The reason we’re suspicious of Chung Myung is because he knows too much about the Demonic Sect, right?”

“That’s… right?”

“He knows too much about the war a hundred years ago. So, maybe…”

Yoon Jong paused, and everyone waited.

“Maybe what?”

Yoon Jong glanced at Chung Myung and said quickly, “Chung Myung… what the heck… could he be from the Demonic Sect?”

Silence.

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened, and the others stared in shock.

Baek Cheon stammered, “N, no… no… you idiot. D, don’t talk nonsense…”

Then, someone clapped loudly. “Wow… that actually makes sense!”

“…All the mysteries are solved.”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon looked around, confused. His junior brothers and sisters were nodding, realizing something.

“Thinking about it, the Demonic Sect suits him better than the Orthodox Sect.”

“…Then it makes sense that he knows so much about the Demonic Sect.”

“And his personality.”

“That’s right, Sahyung! His personality too!”

“N, no…”

Cold sweat dripped down Baek Cheon’s forehead.

This was absurd, ridiculous, and plausible! No! What am I thinking!

“D, don’t talk nonsense! Who hates the Demonic Sect more than Chung Myung? He’s terrified of them!”

“Look, Sasook.”

Jo Gul clicked his tongue. “You grew up too sheltered.”

“It’s annoying when you say that.”

“…Let’s skip that.”

Jo Gul pointed at Baek Cheon. “Which sect do you hate the most?”

“Jongnam.”

The answer came quickly. Jo Gul nodded. “See?”

“Where are you originally from?”

“…Jongnam.”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Wow… I can’t argue with that.

“People who turn their backs are scarier. If he was a Demonic Sect member and ran away because he was angry, it makes sense. That crazy personality, that ridiculous martial arts.”

Yoon Jong nodded seriously. “Even if it were someone else, he might think, ‘I hate the Demonic Sect, so I’ll go to Mount Hua, which they hate the most, and revive it.’ He might do that.”

Baek Cheon closed his mouth.

Baek Cheon had rushed to Mount Hua because he was angry with Jin Geum-ryong and Jongnam. He couldn’t say it wasn’t possible.

If he did, they would say, ‘Oh? So you did something even a Demonic Sect bastard wouldn’t do?’

“…No, stop with the nonsense.”

“There’s a possibility!”

“It’s not just a possibility, it’s high.”

“Confirmed.”

Baek Cheon rubbed his head. He didn’t know if they were serious or joking. His head was throbbing.

He sighed. “Anyway… if he has something to say, he’ll tell us. He always says what’s necessary.”

“That’s true.”

“He knows about the Demonic Sect, but he hasn’t told us. You know why, right?”

“…Yes.”

Everyone nodded. They knew. If they had known the Demonic Sect’s power three years ago, they would have been broken.

Even now, they were shocked by the difference in power. It would have been worse back then.

Chung Myung was still staring at the moon. Baek Cheon glanced at him and said calmly, “He thinks we can handle all the facts now.”

“…”

“So let’s wait. If we need to know, he will tell us.”

“Yes, Sasook.”

Yoon Jong nodded and lowered his voice. “I don’t know if I’m the only one thinking this.”

“Thinking what?”

“Did you understand the conversations between the sect leader and Chung Myung earlier?”

Baek Cheon didn’t answer. Yoon Jong scratched his head. “It ended ambiguously… I don’t know how it ended. If you understood, could you tell me?”

“Um… that’s…”

Baek Cheon looked uncomfortable.

He didn’t understand the last conversation. He wasn’t sure what ‘do as the Cheonwoo Alliance has been doing’ really meant.

“Honestly, I don’t really…”

“I’ll explain it!”

“Aoh, jeez! You scared me!”

Baek Cheon jumped back.

Im Sobyung appeared, fanning himself.

“Hehehehe.”

“…”

“Hehehehe.”

Im Sobyung covered his mouth with his fan and laughed.

“…Why are you doing this?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m just happy.”

Im Sobyung shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. Chung Myung will unify the Jianghu with the Cheonwoo Alliance.”

“Ah, that’s what it was… What, you crazy bastard?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened in shock.