Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1143

“Is this it?” Hwang Jong-ui asked, his eyes fixed on the manor ahead. Its tall stone walls were covered in green ivy, making it look both old and strong. The heavy wooden gates were firmly shut.

“Yes, Chieftain,” replied the Chief Manager. “Mount Hua Sect is staying here, I believe.”

Hwang Jong-ui let out a long breath. “We’re finally here. It was a very long journey.” He stretched his back, feeling the stiffness from the travel.

“You didn’t have to come yourself, Chieftain.”

“Don’t be silly.”

Hwang Jong-ui shook his head firmly.

“Mount Hua isn’t just a friend to the Eunha Commerce Guild, they’re our biggest client. Even with a good relationship and trade, neglecting them could ruin everything.”

“Ah…”

“Besides, is Mount Hua the only reason? The Bukhae Ice Palace and Nammaan Beast Palace, our other big clients, are here too. With so many important clients in one place, how could I stay away? I’d come even if it was the Western Regions instead of the Yangtze River!”

“You’re absolutely right.”

The Chief Manager nodded, admiration on his face.

After Hwang Mun-yak died, Hwang Jong-ui had a hard time. But lately, he has led the Guild very well, even better than Hwang Mun-yak did.

Everyone in the Guild said that if he kept going, the Eunha Commerce Guild would become the best in the world under Hwang Jong-ui.

“Father always said trust and people are what matter to a merchant. I’m just following his advice.”

Hwang Jong-ui, who had been staring at the manor, smiled gently.

“And… I also wanted to see the Mount Hua people. Seeing them gives me strength when I’m tired. They’re so full of life, aren’t they?”

“Hahaha! They’re too lively! With Mount Hua gone, Shaanxi feels quieter.”

“You can say that again.”

Hwang Jong-ui smiled wryly.

‘You don’t notice when a seat is filled, but you notice when it’s empty.’

‘Mount Hua has become that important in Shaanxi in just a few years.’

It was obvious how important Mount Hua had become.

Before Mount Hua returned, the Jongnam Sect was Shaanxi’s main sect. When Jongnam closed itself off, many worried.

But Mount Hua filled the void so well that it overflowed. Now, they’re not just in Shaanxi, but all over the Central Plains and beyond.

Just Mount Hua leaving made Shaanxi feel empty.

“I’m excited to see them too.”

“Who isn’t?”

Hwang Jong-ui chuckled and pointed to the manor’s gate.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes, Chieftain.”

Hwang Jong-ui walked towards the manor.

“Looks like no one’s guarding the gate?”

“Is it needed? Mount Hua, the Tang Family, and two of the Saeoe Ogung are here. No one would be reckless.”

“True.”

“Let’s go in. They won’t mind us opening the door.”

“Yes.”

The Chief Manager opened the gate. Hwang Jong-ui smiled as he entered.

‘It feels like being at Mount Hua.’

Even here, you could feel the calm of the Taoist sect mixed with Chung Myung’s energy. It must be like this wherever Mount Hua is.

“Who’s that?”

Hwang Jong-ui saw someone ahead and was happy. It felt good to see someone he liked so soon.

“Jo Gul! Disciple Jo Gul!”

Mount Hua’s disciples wore the same uniform, making it hard to tell them apart from behind. But Jo Gul’s curly hair made him easy to spot.

Hwang Jong-ui walked up to Jo Gul, smiling.

“It’s been a while, Disciple Jo Gul… Oh my!”

Jo Gul turned and Hwang Jong-ui stepped back, horrified.

“J-Jo Gul?”

“Ah…”

Jo Gul recognized Hwang Jong-ui and bowed.

“Young Chieftain… Chieftain, you’re here.”

“Are you sick?”

“…Yes?”

“What’s wrong with your face?”

Jo Gul touched his face.

“…It’s a little rough.”

A little rough?

Hwang Jong-ui stared at Jo Gul, speechless.

‘He looks worse than a dead person.’

His skin was pale and rough, and the dark circles under his eyes were deep.

He looked worse than a dead person. No amount of makeup could make someone look this bad.

“What happened?”

“What happened…”

Then, a voice came from the side.

“Aren’t you Chieftain?”

Hwang Jong-ui turned sharply.

“…Who?”

“It’s me, Yoon Jong.”

“Y-Yoon Jong?”

Hwang Jong-ui blinked.

Yoon Jong looked as bad as Jo Gul. Maybe even worse.

“Did the Four Evil Sects attack?”

Yoon Jong chuckled sadly.

“The Four Evil Sects? If it was them, it wouldn’t be so bad. We could just defeat them.”

“…”

“The problem is someone in Mount Hua is worse than the Four Evil Sects.”

“Chung Myung?”

Who else could make someone look like this?

But Yoon Jong and Jo Gul shook their heads.

“Chung Myung is better.”

“At least Chung Myung is still normal.”

“…Yes?”

They shook their heads, not answering.

Hwang Jong-ui was confused.

“You brats! I told you to go to the training hall! Why are you wasting time here!”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul flinched at the angry voice. Their faces twisted in pain.

Hwang Jong-ui turned to see who was shouting.

“Disciple Baek Cheon?”

“Oh, Chieftain.”

Baek Cheon bowed respectfully.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes… Disciple Baek Cheon.”

“Did you just arrive?”

“Yes.”

“It must have been a long trip. You worked hard. The Sect Leader will be happy to see you.”

Baek Cheon looked normal, unlike the others.

No, he seemed to be glowing.

‘Was Baek Cheon the only one not training?’ No, he wouldn’t skip training.

“Let’s go this way. I will take you to the Sect Leader,” Baek Cheon said with a warm smile.

“Ah… Yes,” Hwang Jong-yi replied.

“Just a moment,” Baek Cheon added, still smiling at Hwang Jong-yi. Then, quietly, he looked over at Yoon Jong and Jo Gul.

His smile vanished. Looking at the two younger disciples, his face became stern. Hwang Jong-yi blinked, noticing the sudden change. It was a little strange.

“It’s training time! What are you doing here!” Baek Cheon’s voice was sharp.

“…We were just about to go,” Yoon Jong mumbled, shrinking back.

“We… uh… we just saw the Branch Leader… for a second,” Jo Gul added, also looking scared.

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul looked like mice in front of a cat. Baek Cheon’s eyes showed he was not happy. He frowned deeply.

“Go quickly. I will take the Branch Leader.”

“Yes!”

The two bowed quickly to Baek Cheon and Hwang Jong-yi. Then they hurried towards the training grounds.

“Why is he acting like this? He was complaining with us just a little while ago!”

“How would I know…?”

“I’d rather have Chung Myung. Ugh! I can’t do anything when someone with such a high rank rolls their eyes like that.”

“Shhh. He’ll hear you.”

“The kids are all dying. Why are we the only ones doing extra training? I’m already exhausted.”

“…Let’s just go without complaining. Quickly.”

“Ugh.”

Sweat beaded on the back of Hwang Jong-yi’s neck as he watched the two running towards the training grounds.

Turning his head, feeling a bit uncomfortable, he saw Baek Cheon still smiling pleasantly.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

‘This man is more than just polite,’ he thought. ‘He’s actually quite scary.’

Walking through the manor with Baek Cheon, Hwang Jong-yi cautiously spoke.

“Are all the other sect members here too?”

“Yes. Afternoon training just ended, so they are either resting or have gone to eat.”

“Ah.”

Hwang Jong-yi nodded.

“Mount Hua is very different. It must be hard to train more than other groups when everyone is here.”

“Ah, it’s not like that.”

“Yes? You just said that only Mount Hua was training while the other groups were resting…”

“Ah, that’s…”

Baek Cheon scratched his head.

“There they are. You’ll understand when you see them.”

“Yes?”

At Baek Cheon’s words, Hwang Jong-yi looked up and saw the scene in front of him.

In the space between the large manors, people covered in dirt were sprawled out everywhere.

‘Is this a beggar’s den?’

No, not a beggar’s den, but… a group of defeated soldiers?

It looked like soldiers who had been badly beaten and barely survived were lying flat on the ground.

Hwang Jong-yi shivered as he looked at those foaming at the mouth with their heads buried in the dirt at the very front.

“They, they look like they are from the Green Forest.”

“No, they aren’t.”

“Yes? Green clothes…”

Hwang Jong-yi stopped talking.

He thought they were from the Green Forest because of their green clothes. He thought only the Green Forest would act so without manners and lie flat like that.

But then he saw it.

The inscription Dang (當) engraved on the chests of those sprawled out.

“They are from the Tang family.”

“…”

The Tang family? These people?

Hwang Jong-yi blinked and looked at those lying flat on the dirt, acting without manners, with a new perspective.

‘No matter how I look at it, they look like beggars?’

Not just any beggars, but beggars who haven’t eaten for two weeks.

When did the Tang family become like the Beggars’ Sect?

“Wa, water please…”

“A, are you alright?”

“De, death… death…”

“Death? You’re asking for death?”

“Dying…”

“…”

Hwang Jong-yi looked confused. Baek Cheon looked at Hwang Jong-yi and said it like it was normal.

“Don’t mind them. It happens every day.”

No, you crazy man!

This shouldn’t be happening every day! Is this even a place where people live?

“Th, those people in white… no, yellow clothes?”

“They are from the Namgung family. Hmm. The Namgung are in good condition today.”

“…”

Ah, those people?

The Azure Sky Namgung Clan? The most upright prestigious family in the world, the Azure Sky Namgung Clan?

Hwang Jong-yi shivered. It looked like a village with a sickness. He stopped trying to understand when he saw Im So-byeong hanging on the wall like dried squid.

‘Let’s not think strangely.’

Aren’t these the things that always happen where Chung Myung is?

It is foolish to judge the place where he is with common sense. So, stay calm…

“This is the place. Hmm?”

Baek Cheon, who had arrived at the Sect Leader’s residence, frowned.

“Excuse me, please get up.”

He left Hwang Jong-yi and approached the person sprawled out on the wall in front of the Sect Leader’s residence, tapping their shoulder.

‘That person is… Huh? I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere?’

“Tang family head. You can’t sleep here. Please get up…”

“Why is the Tang family head there!”

Hwang Jong-yi’s voice burst out.

Why is the head of the Tang family sprawled out in front of someone else’s residence like a neighborhood beggar! Why!

“Ugh, hmm. Is that Baek Cheon, disciple?”

“Yes, family head.”

“…I was going to see the Alliance Leader and was just resting for a moment, but it seems I fell asleep.”

“Instead of that, you should go to your residence and rest a bit.”

“Oh, is that the Branch Leader of the Eunha Merchant Guild?”

“H, have you been well, family head?”

“Do I look well?”

“…”

Hwang Jong-yi lowered his head deeply upon hearing the strangely sharp voice.

“Let’s go inside.”

“…Yes.”

Tang Gun-ak took the lead and entered the residence.

Hwang Jong-yi, seeing this, sighed deeply enough for the ground to sink.

‘I shouldn’t have come…’

Hwang Jong-yi really understood he was in Mount Hua now.