Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1106

Chung Myung asked Tang Gunak, “What is it?”

“Well.”

Tang Gunak didn’t answer right away. He just smiled mysteriously.

Chung Myung frowned. It wasn’t because he felt bad. It was because Tang Gunak’s smile reminded him of someone from the past.

‘Is blood really thicker than water?’ Chung Myung wondered. This is what makes families scary.

Sects are groups who share ideas. Families are connected by blood. Because of this blood connection, family members can remind you of people from the past.

“I don’t find it particularly difficult,” Chung Myung said.

“That’s fortunate, but…” Tang Gunak paused, looking at the bottle in his hand. “It doesn’t look that way to me.”

“In fact, you are so strong now, my son must seem very weak and unimportant to you,” Tang Gunak said with a faint smile. He watched Chung Myung’s face, which looked a little sad.

“Yet, after spending all day scolding and teaching people, exhausting yourself, you still come here to check on him?”

“I just found a good place to drink,” Chung Myung replied.

“Here, you say?” Tang Gunak looked around the bare and cold rooftop. “You have peculiar tastes.”

“I get that a lot,” Chung Myung said, forcing a slightly sad smile and avoiding the comment. He knew he shouldn’t underestimate the Dang family. They were good at seeing right through people, at understanding what’s really important.

Of course, that man was strange even for a member of the Dang family.

“You’ve done well enough,” Tang Gunak said suddenly.

Chung Myung looked at Tang Gunak. “You’ve raised Mount Hua this much, created the Cheonwoo Alliance, stopped the Four Evil Sects, and even prevented the rise of the Demonic Sect. You have done so much that you are a hero. If those idiots in the Nine Sects hadn’t ignored you, everyone would know your name.”

“Sometimes, when I look at you, I feel bad about myself. I wonder what I am doing with my life,” Tang Gunak admitted.

“Come on, don’t say that,” Chung Myung said.

“What can I do when it’s the truth?” Tang Gunak smiled in a slightly sad or mocking way. “Let’s have a drink.”

“Yes.”

The two bottles, one glass and one earthenware, clinked softly in the quiet night. The smell of strong alcohol filled the air. They both drank.

“Khaa,” Chung Myung said, wiping his mouth and grinning. “Isn’t it rare for the head of the Great Sichuan Dang Family to drink straight from the bottle?”

“It wouldn’t happen unless I was drinking with you,” Tang Gunak said, looking at the bottle in his hand with strange eyes. What made his eyes look strange?

“But it doesn’t feel bad.”

“Then it’s all good, right?” Chung Myung asked.

“Indeed,” Tang Gunak nodded slowly. He touched the bottle gently. “Yes, it’s amazing. Even with what you’ve done so far. But…” He shook his head. “You’re trying to do more than that.”

“Sometimes, I worry that you’re forgetting something,” Tang Gunak said. He could put a hand on Chung Myung’s shoulder or look at him with extra concern in his eyes. Showing these small actions makes his feelings more real.

“What is it?” Chung Myung asked.

Tang Gunak turned to Chung Myung and stared at him. There could be a short pause, and he could say it in a slightly lower, more serious voice. This will emphasize the importance of the line.

“That you’re also a person.”

“No, I’m not some kind of idiot,” Chung Myung replied.

“That’s right. You’re not an idiot. So, you must know,” Tang Gunak said.

In the quiet night, the sound of the liquor moving in the bottle seemed very loud.

“But strangely enough, it’s not the idiots who forget that fact. It’s the overly intelligent who tend to forget it.”

Chung Myung didn’t answer.

“Well, there could be many reasons. Maybe you believe that you are okay, or that you are the only one who can do it… There will be reasons depending on each person’s circumstances.”

“Hmm…”

“But no matter what the reason, you’re pushing yourself too hard. Isn’t it true?” Tang Gunak chuckled as Chung Myung looked surprised.

“What are you thinking about?” Tang Gunak asked.

“Well… I’m just thinking that the feeling really changes depending on how you say similar things,” Chung Myung said.

“Huh?”

Chung Myung scratched his head.

He shook his head, remembering the chaos and sacrifice of his past life. Sometimes, it felt like a lifetime ago, and sometimes, like yesterday.

“Damn it, are those bastards going to die if you don’t run? No, that’s not it! What does it matter if those bastards die? You usually curse them to die, so you should be clapping and cheering when they’re about to die! But why is Hyung going to save them! With a wounded arm dangling from your body, threatening to detach itself… Me? Me, me! Hey! You! Stop right there! Hey!”

Looking back, that guy was definitely crazy.

It’s a relief that his bloodline didn’t continue. It’s a stroke of luck for the Dang family.

“It’s a bit funny when you think about it,” Chung Myung said.

“Yes?”

“There’s no one more suitable than you to train the Dang family. You don’t even need to think about it,” Chung Myung stated.

Tang Gunak looked bitter as he spoke. He knows the limits of his own abilities and understands the abilities that Chung Myung possesses. He knows that this is the best for the family.

“Um… would you like to do it yourself if it’s like that?” Chung Myung asked.

“No. It’s not like that,” Tang Gunak laughed as he saw Chung Myung watching him carefully. It made him realize how much Chung Myung had changed. When he first saw him in Sichuan, he wondered how someone could be so arrogant.

“It’s not that my pride is hurt, but it’s bitter. We don’t have much time. So, we have no choice but to move forward as efficiently as possible. The problem is… you are the one who makes that happen, and if you keep doing everything, all the work will eventually be on you.”

“That’s not a good direction. Don’t you think?”

Chung Myung chuckled. They all say the same things, just in different ways.

“The reason you’re trying to teach them now is…” Tang Gunak started.

“Mount Hua alone has its limits. So, the entire Cheonwoo Alliance must become stronger. But you don’t even consider that you have limits and try to take on everything yourself. Stupidly,” Chung Myung interrupted.

“Is that what you’re trying to say?”

Tang Gunak smiled slightly. “Let’s leave out the ‘stupidly’ part.”

“Oh, you’re so mean,” Chung Myung chuckled and shrugged. “Don’t worry. I’m not that foolish. I was already realizing it.”

“Realizing what?” Tang Gunak asked.

“That a relationship where one side only gives can’t be called friendship,” Chung Myung explained.

“It’s an obvious fact.”

Tang Gunak nodded. “You know it well.”

“I was already thinking of making a request soon,” Chung Myung said.

“To me?” Tang Gunak asked with interest.

“Yes.”

Tang Gunak wanted to help Chung Myung, who had been carrying too much burden alone without asking for help from Hyun Jong or himself.

Tang Gunak came to offer his support, but Chung Myung quickly asked for a favor instead.

“Intriguing.”

Tang Gunak wondered if Chung Myung truly had a plan or if he was making it up. He would soon find out.

“What is it?”

A sly smile spread across Chung Myung’s face, like he was planning something mischievous.

“It’s not easy for the Clan Lord to teach the Dang Clan. You’ll probably just keep doing what you’ve always done.”

“That’s right.”

“But if you look at it differently, even a Clan Lord can become very cunning.”

“Hmm?”

Chung Myung began to explain his idea. As Tang Gunak listened, his smile started to look strangely like Dangbo’s.

Jo Gul stepped out of the room and stretched, his arms reaching high above his head. He looked up at the sky, now painted with soft pink and gold as the sun peeked over the mountains.

“Perfect!” Jo Gul grinned.

He whistled happily, ready to start the day with energy. But then, a tired voice came from behind him.

“What’s got you so cheerful this early?”

“Ah, Yoon Jong, Senior Brother!” Jo Gul turned, laughing. “Morning!”

“I feel so refreshed these days.”

Yoon Jong started to say something but shook his head. He had been feeling more comfortable lately, too.

“Isn’t it because that rascal Chung Myung is too busy with other things to bother us? Haha!”

“Should I not be laughing?”

“It’s not something to laugh about, but I can’t help feeling good.”

Yoon Jong shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe him.

Actually, in Hwasan, the Five Swords had the hardest time because of Chung Myung’s intense training.

Even when training with the other Hwasan disciples, the Five Swords trained much harder. They were fed up with the unwanted special treatment that no one envied.

But recently, Chung Myung had been too busy with the Green Forest and the Dang Clan to bother them. Because of that, the Five Swords, who only had to train as much as the other disciples, were full of energy.

“Ugh, I wish it had been like this from the start.”

“Seriously, it’s not good.”

“I know, I know. I know that we get stronger by training hard. But Senior Brother, shouldn’t there be days like this in life, too!”

“…He’s not entirely wrong.”

Yoon Jong smiled faintly.

Both Jo Gul and Yoon Jong knew this wouldn’t last. Chung Myung was too stubborn to let the Five Swords enjoy their easy time for long. So, they should rest while they could.

Arriving at the training ground, Jo Gul whistled as he looked at his senior and junior brothers who were already there.

“Wow, everyone’s full of energy, as expected.”

Tears welled up in his eyes when he thought about the Green Forest, the Dang Clan, and the Namgung Family who were being sacrificed… but he couldn’t help feeling good. Everyone deserved times like this.

Jo Gul greeted Baek Cheon cheerfully.

“Uncle, you’re here?”

“You’re late!”

“…Hey, that rascal Chung Myung hasn’t come out yet either.”

Baek Cheon sighed deeply at Jo Gul’s cheekiness. Jo Gul was like a hyperactive puppy who needed to burn off his energy through training.

“Uncle, you look good, too?”

“Ahem….”

“On the other hand….”

Jo Gul glanced at the others standing on the other side. The Green Forest and the Dang Clan had faces pale and tired, like they hadn’t slept in days. The Namgung Family looked a little better, but not by much.

“Poor things….”

“…Stop it, Geol. What are you going to do if that rascal Chung Myung starts messing with us again?”

“What if that happens? It’s what we’ve always gone through, isn’t it?”

“Now that I hear it, that’s true.”

“Don’t scare me. I’m just going to live for today. Can’t I even say I like it when things are good? Hee hee hee.”

Baek Cheon gave up and shook his head. There was no point in talking to him.

Just then,

“There, Chung Myung.”

Yoo Iseol said quietly. Baek Cheon looked and saw Chung Myung coming with his usual annoyed expression.

“Hmm?”

It wasn’t really surprising. Chung Myung always looked like that. Baek Cheon was puzzled because someone else was with him.

“Who is it?”

“I think it’s the Dang Clan Lord?”

The Hwasan disciples frowned.

Dang Zhan looked at Dang Pae, who was standing next to him, wondering if he had told the Clan Lord. But Dang Pae shook his head, as if he didn’t know anything.

“Good morning.”

Tang Gunak, who had arrived at the training ground, greeted them lightly and smiled.

“From today, I’ll be joining the training, so please take care of me.”

“…Are you teaching us?”

“Or are you going to learn, you little punk?”

Yoon Jong immediately scolded Jo Gul for talking nonsense.

Chung Myung looked at Tang Gunak and said,

“Please take care of us, then.”

“Leave it to me.”

Tang Gunak smiled back and walked towards the Hwasan disciples.

Baek Cheon looked at Tang Gunak with a puzzled face and said calmly,

“Dang Clan Lord, the Dang Clan is over there….”

“This is the right place.”

“…Yes?”

Tang Gunak gave a strange smile.

“Do you know why I don’t directly teach the Dang Clan?”

“Well… that’s….”

“Of course, there are many reasons. One of the biggest is that the Dang Clan’s martial arts focus on poison and hidden weapons. Poison can be stopped with an antidote, and hidden weapons can cause accidents if something goes wrong.”

“I see.”

Hidden weapons don’t come back once they’re thrown. Even a small mistake in judging the opponent can lead to death.

“So, I chose to watch as much as possible. But Hwasan Sword Master told me….”

“…What did he say?”

“He said you guys have been learning how to survive enemy attacks for three years straight, right? So now, no matter how many tricks they use, you don’t even get a scratch?”

“….”

…Huh? This is the first time I’m hearing about this?

“It’s a good thing, very good for me, too. Even without that… it’s not easy for me to find a chance to throw hidden weapons at people.”

Tang Gunak smiled and took his hand out of his sleeve. He held four blue, shining throwing knives.

“I can throw them at you guys without worry. Wouldn’t that be helpful to everyone?”

“…I don’t think you should do that?”

“I trust you.”

“I’m telling you, you shouldn’t trust us!”

“Well, then, let’s begin!”

“No, listen to what I’m saying! Clan Lord!”

“Haha! Enough exaggerating!”

“Listen to me!”