Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1140

The next day.

Chung Myung stretched his shoulders with a big movement.

“Well then, shall we give them another good thrashing today?”

Chung Myung was full of energy, but Tang Gunak and Maeng So didn’t look as happy. They looked very tired.

“…Don’t you ever get tired?”

“Tired?”

Chung Myung looked at Tang Gunak and Maeng So. You could see the tiredness on their faces.

Of course, they would become serious martial artists when they were in the training ground, but here, they could relax and not pretend to be strong.

“Come on. How can you be tired already after doing so little?”

“Ugh…”

“Getting old is tough.”

Maeng So and Tang Gunak shook their heads.

Even without Chung Myung’s amazing martial arts, they couldn’t keep up with his endless energy.

“We’re just training kids. You’re not going to complain already, are you?”

Chung Myung’s joke made the two men shake their heads again.

“Once isn’t a big deal… but when it keeps going two or three times, it’s not easy to get up in the morning.”

“People don’t fully recover just by circulating their energy and sleeping, do they?”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

“When a war starts, there will be times when you have to fight without rest for not just three or four days, but a month or two. Are you going to say the same thing then?”

Chung Myung turned his head slightly.

“It seems the elders are all thinking the same thing. If a war breaks out and you say, ‘I’m too old to fight as long as you guys, so I’m going to rest in the back,’ your food will be taken away. If you don’t want to become useless old men, you all better endure, even if you die.”

“Ugh…”

“Ugh…”

The elders groaned. They felt bad, but they couldn’t argue with him.

“It shouldn’t even be that hard. What’s with all the moaning?”

Tang Gunak gave a bitter smile.

‘Not hard, he says…’

In some ways, it was true. Fighting them wasn’t that hard. Unless they had to hide their weakness while also holding them back.

‘Besides… they’re definitely improving each time.’

It was clear that they were learning how to fight them, both physically and mentally.

“It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

Maeng So spoke.

“They may not have much experience fighting people like us in groups, but we also don’t have much experience using our martial arts against so many enemies.”

Everyone nodded.

“To be honest, who would have this kind of experience? Even if each sect trains to fight multiple opponents, the number is usually not more than five. We need to adapt as well.”

Maeng So’s voice was weaker than normal, but Chung Myung interrupted him.

“Then we should adapt.”

He sounded cold, as if he didn’t need to listen to Maeng So at all.

“If there’s something to adapt to, we just need to adapt. You don’t really think the Demonic Sect or the Evil Alliance will avoid you and only target them, do you?”

“Well, that’s…”

When Maeng So hesitated, Tang Gunak’s eyes suddenly became sharp.

“…Do you think we’ll be in this kind of situation often in the future?”

“It’s not about how often. The important thing is that this kind of situation is likely to happen.”

Chung Myung added to that.

“The weaker side has to do something.”

…”

“If you keep acting arrogantly, sitting in the back, and thinking that the underlings should handle the underlings, and we only need to aim for the enemy’s leaders, all the kids will die before we even meet the enemy’s leaders.”

Tang Gunak, Maeng So, and the elders’ faces became serious.

“Then those who can make up for the lacking forces will have to do so. If a real war breaks out, you won’t be able to stand back and watch. Absolutely not.”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You can choose one of two things. Either you watch the kids dying in front of you and say you’re waiting for the right moment, or you fight in the very front, getting your hands dirty.”

“Hmm…”

“Which one will you choose?”

The elders started to say something, but Chung Myung stopped them.

“Ah, it’s okay. If I ask like this, everyone will say they’ll fight on the front lines anyway. But not many people actually do that. Most of them get scared and run, and those who are motivated rush in without knowing their limits and die first.”

“…Huh.”

“So, get used to it this time. Get used to fighting a large number of opponents.”

Tang Gunak gave a bitter smile.

“I always feel this, but you ask for too much.”

“Everyone at Mount Hua does this.”

“…That’s why it’s so frustrating.”

Tang Gunak shook his head.

To train them while also improving himself was too much to ask. But how could he refuse and say he couldn’t do it while hoping his disciples would grow?

“There’s no place in the world that does this kind of training.”

“That’s why they’re all like that.”

“…”

“It’s not just a problem between sects. Strangely enough, even people who start as low-ranking disciples can’t understand their subordinates once they take higher positions. They promise they won’t be like that, but later they say things like, ‘You don’t understand because you don’t know,’ or ‘Looking back, I understand,’ and so on.”

Tang Gunak cleared his throat. He felt a little guilty.

“If they don’t understand, you can just tell them. If you understood first, you can explain it so they can understand together. But if you don’t do that and just say they’ll understand later… isn’t that just saying it’s easier for you?”

“…That’s right.”

“So, it’s not just them who need to change.”

Just as Tang Gunak was about to say something, Maeng So scratched his head hard.

“I’ve heard enough nagging. Let’s go quickly. I’d rather fight them than be scolded by you.”

“Yes, sir!”

Chung Myung didn’t complain.

In fact, considering their positions and ages, they shouldn’t be listening to Chung Myung’s nagging. It was amazing that they were listening to Chung Myung, who was just a third-generation disciple of Mount Hua, without getting annoyed.

Chung Myung knew this, so he didn’t push it too far.

‘Ugh. There’s too much to worry about.’

In the past, he could just say, ‘Why are you asking? Shut up and do as I say!’ and no one would complain to his face. Now, he had to be as nice as possible so he wouldn’t upset people.

‘Sasuk. This is how I live.’

– Do you know how I felt when I had to avoid saying directly what I meant so I wouldn’t upset you?

‘Hey. That’s different.’

– That rotten…

Chung Myung shook his head and went to the training ground.

‘I wonder if it will be the same today?’

The fastest way to change someone is to point out the problem and tell them. But sometimes that doesn’t work.

This wasn’t something he could tell them to do; it was something they had to feel themselves.

‘It won’t be that easy.’

He needed patience. The same patience that Cheong Mun had, waiting even though he knew Chung Myung wouldn’t change easily.

“Hoo.”

Chung Myung took a deep breath.

He couldn’t be impatient. ‘The more urgent, the more you should turn back’ was a saying Chung Myung hated, but now he had to remember these words well.

If he forced them because they weren’t changing fast enough, it would fall apart when Chung Myung wasn’t there. If he couldn’t protect everyone, he had to make everyone able to protect themselves.

Even if it took a long time, he had to do it if there was no other way.

“Alright.”

Chung Myung nodded and turned the corner, walking confidently into the training ground.

“Well, is everyone ready to be beaten up again… Huh?”

He stopped as he entered the training ground. Chung Myung tilted his head.

“Oh ho?”

The scene was very different from usual.

Before, each sect had been gathering and waiting separately. But now, there was a clear formation that anyone could see.

The Beast Palace was at the front, with the Namgung behind them. The Tang Family was ready to attack from the back, and the Ice Palace and Mount Hua were drawing their swords from the left and right, like wings.

It was just a basic formation, but it was clear they had prepared something.

“Hmm?”

“Oho…”

Maeng So and Tang Gunak watched with interest.

Chung Myung covered his mouth with his fist. He didn’t want to smile without realizing it.

‘They’re faster than I thought.’

He had expected Baek Cheon and the Five Swords, including Im So-byeong, wouldn’t just keep getting beaten. But he thought it would take at least ten more days.

‘Children always grow faster than their parents think. I’m just a person after all.’

Everyone was improving every day. It only felt slow because he was always watching them closely.

Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon, who had a confident smile. Then he looked at Im So-byeong, who was behind the Tang Family.

After seeing Im So-byeong shrug, he lowered his hand.

“Looks like they’ve done something.”

He didn’t compliment them. Instead, he sneered.

“Will that change anything?”

“Who knows?”

Baek Cheon replied, accepting Chung Myung’s challenge.

“Who knows what will change? Maybe a knife will be stuck in that mouth that talks so much.”

Namgung Dowi politely added.

“You may be unexpectedly defeated.”

Dangpae didn’t back down either.

“Even if everything else fails, you won’t avoid getting poisoned! That goes for you too, Clan Lord!”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung looked at everyone with a strange expression, and Im So-byeong, who was waving a fan, raised his voice.

“As I always say!”

His voice was loud.

“Winning or losing doesn’t matter right now. First, we just need to hit that annoying face!”

“Oh!”

“Damn it! Then I can sleep well tonight!”

“Please! Please! Pleeease!”

Im So-byeong pointed his fan at Chung Myung.

“If you’re so confident, why don’t you attack?”

“Confident?”

“Or why are you backing down like that? Are you scared?”

“Ah… is that so?”

Chung Myung chuckled and grabbed his sword.

Screeeech.

The Dark Plum Sword slowly came out of its scabbard. Everyone watched nervously.

“You seem quite confident…”

Tang Gunak and Maeng So stood to Chung Myung’s left and right. The elders followed behind them, chuckling.

“It’s just going to be a longer beating. I’ll show you how big the difference in level is, you bastards!”

Seeing Chung Myung charging at them with his sword, Im So-byeong shouted loudly.

“Crush him!”

“Kill him!”

“Justice will prevail! Evil villains!”

Everyone rushed forward, their eyes burning with determination.

Chung Myung lowered his stance and bowed his head slightly. A faint smile crossed his lips, hidden from their view.