Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1132

People say you become like your friends. If that’s true, then the people in the Heavenly Union were the worst kind of friends to have.

“Uhm… S-Sir…”

“Today, I will kill them for sure.”

The five best fighters from Mount Hua, known as the Five Swords, marched towards the training grounds, their faces contorted with rage. Their eyes blazed with venom.

“I thought my mouth was going to freeze off.”

“No. Are you saying we burned down the pavilion? It was the Green Forest! So, the Green Forest should be kicked out. Why are we sleeping out in the cold?”

“Exactly! If they’re going to make us sleep outside, they should kick out those Ice Palace bastards. Those guys sleep in just their undergarments and still open all the windows and doors because they’re too hot!”

“Wow, they open the doors? If that’s the case, they should sleep outside!”

Baek Cheon cracked his neck from side to side.

Baek Cheon stopped walking suddenly. “Enough!” His voice was low and tight, like a stretched string about to snap. His eyes weren’t just angry; they were burning, like hot coals in a fire pit. “I don’t care about anyone else right now. But those Green Forest bandits… I’m going to make them pay today. Burning down a pavilion? Are they completely mad?” He clenched his fists, knuckles white. “What kind of lunatics do that?”

“This was probably ordered by that Green Forest King.”

“Green Forest King, nonsense. Just call him a bandit!”

Mount Hua already carried a deep-seated trauma regarding fire, especially fires in pavilions. Hadn’t they faced the risk of being completely burned to the ground thanks to the impartial nature of fire, as that rascal Cheong Myeong had said?

“They knew that and still set a fire? Are they even human?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes were bloodshot.

He had been plagued by nightmares all night because of Im So-byeong’s face as he cackled while watching the pavilion burn. His expression seemed to scream, ‘We’re not just trying to win a fight, we’re trying to piss off you Mount Hua bastards!’ which only made Baek Cheon’s stomach churn even more.

“Im So-byeong…”

While Baek Cheon was grinding his teeth, Jo Gul seemed to have a slightly different opinion.

“No, is now really the time to be talking about the Green Forest King? Aren’t the Tang Clan bastards more of a problem!”

Jo Gul rolled his eyes and launched into a tirade.

“I mean, those crazy bastards should have helped put out the fire when those thoughtless bandits set the pavilion ablaze. Instead, they threw poison bombs into the fire?”

“…”

“If it weren’t for that poison smoke, we could have put out the fire and saved the pavilion! Don’t you remember that Tang Clan bastard admiring the pink poison smoke billowing out, saying it was a spectacle?”

“It was quite a sight.”

“Almost like a plum blossom field.”

“Yeah, it was pretty.”

“Why are you agreeing, you crazy bastards!”

“… Geol, calm down. He’s still our granduncle.”

“Huh? Senior Brother? Why aren’t you hitting me today?”

“… It’s hard to understand, but I happen to be thinking the same thing as you.”

Yoon Jong shook his head and continued.

“… And aside from the poison smoke, we could have put out the fire before the pavilion burned down if the Beast Palace’s animals hadn’t been running wild like that. They’re supposed to be divine creatures, but they were running around with their tails on fire. What could we do about that? We’re not Baek Ah.”

“Speaking of Baek Ah, what happened to him? I haven’t seen him.”

“He desperately tried to control the animals and collapsed from exhaustion…”

“So, he’s sick in bed? Poor thing…”

“No. He’s mostly recovered from exhaustion, but Cheong Myeong heard that the animals were running wild and dragged him away.”

“… What does that have to do with anything?”

“He said Baek Ah is responsible for anything the animals do wrong.”

Everyone grimaced. From Baek Ah’s perspective, it was unfair. No matter how great he was, he was still just a ferret. What could he do when house-sized beasts were running around mad with their tails on fire?

It wasn’t a matter of ability but an unavoidable consequence of his inherent size. The problem was that Cheong Myeong wouldn’t accept such excuses.

“Amitabha. May he rest in peace…”

“He’s not dead yet!”

But Hae Yeon shook his head coldly.

“It is merely a futile attachment. How can one dragged away by a demon return alive? When we see him next, he will likely be a fine scarf.”

“… How did someone like that come out of the Buddhist community?”

“He was definitely shy and kind when we first met him.”

“Then it’s our fault.”

“That’s hard to deny, actually.”

Everyone felt guilty. It was like Mount Hua’s fault, their ‘original sin’, that Hae Yeon had become like this. In fact, just looking at Hae Yeon was enough to understand the animosity that the Dharma Sect held towards Mount Hua and the deeds they had committed as a result.

From the moment they had coaxed the genius martial monk who would lead the next generation of Shaolin into becoming a drunken monk who sought out fine liquor every night, the relationship between Mount Hua and Shaolin had become irreparable.

“Anyway, it was like hell.”

Baek Cheon shook his head as if utterly disgusted.

Bandits setting fire to the pavilion, and Mount Hua disciples screaming and running around like wild boars hit by lightning the moment they saw the fire.

And the Tang Clan disciples cackling as they threw poison bombs into the pavilion when the Mount Hua disciples desperately tried to put out the fire, and even the Beast Palace disciples sweating as they tried to catch the divine creatures running wild with their tails on fire.

It was the most chaotic scene imaginable. Even a god of chaos would think it was too much.

“… Come to think of it, where were the Ice Palace people then? The Ice Palace’s glacial energy would have helped put out the fire.”

“They ran away without looking back, saying it was too hot even to get near the fire.”

Baek Cheon’s tightly closed lips twitched.

‘Is there not a single sane person among them?’

It was a mystery. Were the gathered individuals all insane from the start, or did normal sects simply lose their minds upon entering the Heavenly Union?

“Anyway, I’m really going to kill them all.”

Everyone gritted their teeth.

“… I agree this time.”

“Me too.”

“Brother or not, I’m going to shove a large acupuncture needle right into the middle of his face!”

The disciples of Mount Hua, burning with fighting spirit, headed towards the training grounds. And there, sure enough, other sects were already entrenched.

“Aigoo.”

As the Five Swords appeared, Im So-byeong leisurely fanned himself. Even though he looked like a walking corpse who had grown even thinner these past few days, his attempt at composure only made him look like someone on the verge of death.

“I hope you all slept well last night, our esteemed Taoists.”

Grrr!

The sound of Mount Hua disciples grinding their teeth echoed like music. Im So-byeong chuckled at the sight.

Seeing the person who had set fire to their lodgings, a hellish fire blazed in the hearts of the Mount Hua disciples. It was a fire that would not be extinguished until they caught that bastard and burned him to death.

“Blah, blah, blah!”

“Haha! Sleepless nights… Cough! Cough! Cough! Slee… Cough… Kueeeeck!”

Im So-byeong coughed as if he were about to vomit his lungs out. Each cough sent red blood splattering in all directions, causing the surrounding bandits to step back with slightly queasy expressions.

“Cou… Cough. Slee… Sleepless…”

“… That guy looks like he’s going to die even if we leave him alone?”

“Should we just leave him? It feels like we’re just doing funeral preparations for nothing.”

“No way. He has to die by our hands. Make sure to beat him to death before he gets to die peacefully of natural causes.”

“Indeed, Sasuk. You truly deserve the second spot in Mount Hua’s personality ranking.”

“What? I’m second? What about Jo Gul?”

Baek Cheon couldn’t bring himself to argue that he was below third place.

Just then, several people approached, chuckling. It seemed that the Green Forest and Im So-byeong weren’t the only ones who wanted to mock Mount Hua’s misfortune yesterday.

“Aigoo, you came out wearing scorched and torn clothes. How unseemly.”

“It seems Mount Hua doesn’t have any money.”

“Well, all the remaining clothes burned up yesterday, so what can you do? Tsk tsk tsk. You should have been careful with fire, day and night.”

Baek Cheon glared fiercely at those who were laughing gleefully.

“Having fun watching the show?”

“And looking at people too, huh?”

Baek Cheon tilted his head, his hand instinctively gripping the sword at his hip.

“How unfortunate. I fear those eyes that so enjoyed the spectacle are about to become rather less functional, wouldn’t you say?”

“Goodness me. Are Taoists resorting to threats these days? Do try, if you think you can.”

“Think I can’t, do you?”

Long speeches were no longer necessary.

Hadn’t they already built up a relationship where they piled up animosity with warm punches and deepened grudges with gentle sword strokes? Now, they were in a relationship where they acted like they were close, but really they just wanted to fight…

They always said words are not as strong as actions for friendship. Now, they were showing their friendship by fighting, not by talking.

“Kill them all!”

“Dang it, today you will die!”

Quaaaang!

“Aaaaargh!”

At that very moment, someone soared into the blue sky at the speed of light.

“Wh-what is that?”

“Oh, Georae!”

“S-Senior Brother Jo Gul!”

The disciples of Mount Hua, witnessing Jo Gul spinning through the air and the red trail he painted in the sky, instinctively flinched. Even the disciples of other sects who had originally intended to strike Jo Gul were momentarily taken aback and stopped in their tracks.

‘What is going on?’

No one from Mount Hua had gone over there yet? The bewildered onlookers blinked, staring at the spot where Jo Gul had been. In that place, which should have been empty, stood another figure, one all too familiar.

“Chung… Myung?”

“The Sword Saint of Mount Hua?”

“But, why…?”

Pat pat pat.

The blood that Jo Gul sprayed into the air fell like a drizzle. Then, in the middle of the falling blood, a figure appeared. It was Chung Myung. He grinned, but it was not a happy smile. It was like a tiger showing its teeth. His eyes were cold, and his eyebrows twitched like he was trying to hold back a storm.

In that instant, Baek Cheon’s heart plummeted.

‘D-Danger….’

“Ch-Chung Myung! I don’t know what’s going on… b-but calm down….”

“Calm down?”

Chung Myung smiled even more brightly. Baek Cheon’s face turned white, and his hands felt cold and sweaty. He tried to smile, but it looked weak and shaky. At the same time, the quick-witted Yuisul quietly and cautiously retreated.

Chung Myung spoke.

“No, no. Martial Uncle, you seem to be misunderstanding something. It’s not like I came here with bad intentions.”

“I-Is that so?”

Any sane person would ask why Jo Gul had been sent flying, but at this moment, no one dared to voice such a question. No, who cares if Jo Gul lives or dies….

“I just wanted to ask something.”

“Huh? Wh-what?”

“Well…. I’ve been hearing strange rumors lately that Martial Uncles and Senior Brothers aren’t sparring but brawling. So, I just wanted to check. Is this a fight right now?”

Baek Cheon’s face turned blue. Whether Chung Myung was the cause of all this or not was irrelevant at this point.

“O-Of course not.”

“Surely not! Never! Who said that? Lies! We are best friends! Best, best friends!”

“It’s a spar, a spar! Just a friendly spar!”

Those who knew what kind of person Chung Myung was quickly coordinated their stories. The Tang family and Mount Hua, who had been cursing each other to death, now put their arms around each other’s shoulders like they had met the best of friends, and the Green Forest Bandits, sweating profusely, shook hands with the Namgung family.

It was a historic moment where enemies and different kinds of groups were now friends. But the truth hidden within was utterly horrifying.

“Oh, really? So, I misunderstood?”

“Y-Yes!”

“This is all for the sake of mutual betterment.”

“Not a single selfish motive, I assure you! Haha! Haha! Haha!”

“Indeed, Sir!”

Even Yoon Jong and Hae Yeon were busy making excuses, sweating buckets.

But when there are many people, there are bound to be those who lack awareness.

“No, why are you suddenly acting friendly? You damned bastards!”

“Who said we were being friendly with you! You barbarians!”

“What, you little punk?”

The heads of those belonging to the Four Great Clans of the Central Plains turned sharply. The Ice Palace and the Beast Palace, who had not understood the situation at all, were baring their teeth at each other and fighting again.

‘Shut up!’

‘Please, get a clue!’

‘I’m going to kill those bastards later!’

Everyone was unable to open their mouths, but at that moment…

“Ah, so you weren’t fighting. So, you’re all friends?”

“Y-Yes!”

“Of course!”

“Come now. We can’t live without each other now.”

Chung Myung nodded as if satisfied.

“Right. In the process of becoming friends, you fight and do things like that. As you fight, you build affection, right?”

“Of course!”

“Haha. We couldn’t be any closer.”

Dang Pae and Namgung Dowui desperately made up words. Then Chung Myung spoke.

“So, I’m a little disappointed.”

“……Yes?”

He grinned and smacked his lips.

“Now that I think about it, I’m in the same position, but everyone is getting close except for me. Isn’t that so?”

“Th-That’s not true!”

“We’re closest to the Head Disciple!”

“That’s not true at all, really!”

“Come now. Don’t just keep saying polite words like that. So, I’m going to join in and get to know you all better from now on.”

“B-Benefactor. Just a moment….”

Chung Myung cracked his neck from side to side with gusto.

“Thaaaat’s whaaaat I meaaaaan.”

Everyone there saw it.

The Sword Saint of Mount Hua. The greatest enemy of the Evil Sect Alliance who defeated the bishop of the Demonic Sect. From the eyes of this man with that great name, a ferocious light that even the demons could not emit was erupting.

Kuuung!

Chung Myung slammed his foot down on the floor, and with a cracking sound, spiderweb-like cracks appeared.

“Let’s all get to know each other, you bastards!”

He rolled his eyes back and charged forward.

“Hiiiiiiiek!”

Everyone scattered in utter chaos. As the frenzied tiger charged, the pitiful (?) sheep’s desperate screams began to fill the manor.