Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1144

Hwang Jong-ui stepped into the room. Dust motes danced in the faint light filtering through a high window. The air was thick with unspoken tension. He saw a familiar scene.

Hyun Jong, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, sat in the center of the room. The elders of Mount Hua were around him. It was a common sight, even back at Mount Hua.

But something was wrong.

‘Who… is that?’ Hwang Jong-ui thought, blinking.

Against one wall, a massive figure was slumped. It looked like a giant, waterlogged cotton ball, all soft and shapeless, but somehow heavy and sad.

‘Wait… I know him.’ Then it hit him. ‘Ah!’

It was the Beast Palace Lord! Hwang Jong-ui remembered seeing him at the Heavenly Union ceremony. Back then, the Beast Palace Lord had been like a mountain of muscle and energy. Now… he was like this. A shiver ran down Hwang Jong-ui’s spine.

What on earth had happened to drain all the energy from that man, who looked like an iron tower? Seeing an ordinary person slumped over was entirely different from seeing someone like him in such a state.

Moreover, Hwang Jong-ui distinctly remembered the Beast Palace Lord as a very courteous man, despite his appearance…

‘How hard must it have been…’

Seeing the Beast Palace Lord like this was a shock. It reminded Hwang Jong-ui of something. Anyone who got involved with Mount Hua and the Plum Blossom Sword Saint was in for a hard time. Even powerful people like the Beast Palace Lord or the Lord of the Tang Family.

‘And I’m probably the same.’

What? Do I miss Mount Hua?

Come to think of it, had there ever been a time as peaceful as those few months when Mount Hua had vacated Shaanxi? It was said that when a person became addicted to alcohol, they began to think being drunk was normal. What was he thinking, missing these people?

“Oh, Union Lord!”

The leader of the demonic path… no, the Mount Hua Sect Leader, Hyun Jong, saw Hwang Jong-ui enter the room and rose from his seat, his face lighting up.

Without hesitation, Hyun Jong approached and clasped Hwang Jong-ui’s hands, a bright smile on his face.

“Union Lord, it has been far too long! Meeting you in this distant place fills me with boundless joy.”

“Yes… well… yes. Sect Leader, it is a pleasure to see you as well…”

Hyun Jong was the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, a respected figure. When someone like him showed such happiness, it was hard not to feel pleased. But Hwang Jong-ui’s heart felt heavy.

‘No, it’s not the Sect Leader’s fault.’

Even as he held Hyun Jong’s hands, Hwang Jong-ui quickly scanned the surroundings, searching for the one who was undoubtedly the cause of all this.

The root of all evil was, as always, smiling innocently as if none of this had anything to do with him.

“You’re later than I expected?”

It was certainly not the sort of thing one said to someone who had rushed all the way from distant Shaanxi, but Hwang Jong-ui didn’t take it to heart. He had been through too much to be bothered by such remarks.

“Have you been well?”

“What could possibly happen here? Of course, I’ve been well.”

“Ugh.”

“Ugh.”

No sooner had Chung Myung answered than sighs and groans erupted from all around. Hwang Jong-ui, fully aware of the reason for these reactions, simply shook his head.

“It seems…”

Hwang Jong-ui, who had been about to make a jest upon seeing Chung Myung’s relaxed attitude, suddenly tilted his head slightly.

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Hwang Jong-ui cautiously approached Chung Myung.

“Would you mind standing up for a moment?”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung, tilting his head, nonetheless stood up as instructed. As Hwang Jong-ui drew closer, Chung Myung recoiled slightly, wearing a sour expression.

“I don’t have those kinds of preferences…”

“You seem a bit taller, don’t you?”

“Really?!”

Chung Myung’s eyes widened at those words.

Hwang Jong-ui, having looked Chung Myung up and down carefully, nodded as if confirming his observation.

“It’s certain.”

“Oh?”

Chung Myung moved closer to Hwang Jong-ui, comparing their heights by running his hand across their heads. Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

“He does seem a bit taller.”

“…Am I still growing?”

“Kuh! So the heavens haven’t forsaken me after all! I thought I was done growing!”

This body was shorter than his previous one, which had been quite inconvenient. Fortunately, it seemed there was still a chance to grow taller.

“No wonder my swordsmanship has felt so smooth lately. Just you wait, Heavenly Demon brat!”

“…I think your preferences are a little strange?”

“When you get taller, your arms get longer, and longer arms are better for swordsmanship. Of course, too much isn’t good, but I’m a bit short right now. It’s better to be a little taller.”

Hwang Jong-ui shook his head. In any case, this man hadn’t changed from the first time he’d met him. It was quite remarkable how consistent a person could be.

“Ah, right. Did you bring it?”

“How could I not heed your words? Of course, I brought it.”

“Kuh. You’re the only one I can trust, Union Lord.”

“…I hope there’s at least a shred of sincerity in those words.”

“Hehe. I always speak with perfect sincerity. So, where is it?”

“Hey, you look happier to see the pot than me!”

“Hey, that’s not true. I just want to be sure, that’s all.”

Hwang Jong-ui chuckled at that.

“It’s a bit difficult to bring inside, so I left it in front of the door.”

“Oh!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Chung Myung’s eyes lit up, and he scurried to the door, flinging it wide open.

Those who had been wondering what he had asked them to bring that would cause him to react like that craned their necks to see the object placed before the door.

“A pot?”

“What is that?”

A pot sat before the door. It was dark and grimy, like it had been pulled from the depths of the earth itself. It looked heavy and cold, even from a distance. Those who saw it were puzzled. Among those in the room, only the people of Mount Hua knew what it was.

“It’s a Hancheol pot.”

“A Hancheol pot? Did you say Hancheol?”

“It’s a pot made of Myriad Year Hancheol. Come to think of it, we had it stored with the Eunha Merchant Guild.”

At those words, the eyes of those who were not from Mount Hua widened.

What on earth were they thinking, making a pot out of precious Myriad Year Hancheol? It wasn’t as if they were swimming in money.

“No way!”

In particular, Tang Gun-ak rushed out to examine the pot. Then, with a look of utter bewilderment, he muttered.

“It’s real Myriad Year Hancheol… Didn’t those Mount Hua bastards make all their swords out of Hancheol last time…? Does Mount Hua have a Hancheol mine or something? Now they’re even making pots…”

Hyun Jong, watching the dazed Tang Gun-ak, whispered to Chung Myung.

“Didn’t the Tang Family Lord know about this?”

“Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever told him. Well, there was no real reason to.”

“That’s true.”

“Then why were you so late?”

Hwang Jong-ui gave a wry smile at Chung Myung’s question.

“Is that an ordinary object? If Mount Hua were carrying it, there wouldn’t be much of a problem, but if we were to be robbed while transporting it, wouldn’t that be a big issue? It took some time to find warriors to escort it.”

“Ah… I didn’t think of that. If I had, I would have sent some idle bandits to bring it back.”

“…”

Hwang Jong-ui gave up trying to understand. The things that happened in the Heavenly Union had long since escaped his comprehension.

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work.”

“Ugh.”

At that moment, Maeng So, staggering to his feet, looked at the pot outside the door and let out a hollow laugh.

“Why did you ask for that to be brought here?”

“It has its uses.”

“Uses?”

“The kids seem a bit weak lately.”

“Whose fault is that?!”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“They say you give the disease and then the cure. I gave them the disease, so now I have to give them the cure.”

“…That’s not how the saying is used.”

“Hey. I know Central Plains sayings better than the Palace Lord. I’m sure that’s how it’s used, right?”

The Beast Palace Lord’s massive head drooped downwards. Everyone felt sorry for him, but no one dared to defend him. Everyone knew that arguing with Chung Myung was a waste of breath.

“But what cure?”

“I have the ingredients, but I forgot to bring the pot. Now that the pot is here, I need to give the kids some tonic.”

At those words, Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung with admiration.

Indeed, he had been wondering if he should try to dissuade the disciples, who seemed to be having a hard time lately.

“I see. That’s a good idea.”

Just as Hyun Jong was about to nod, Maeng So hurriedly asked, his face filled with dismay.

“W-wait a moment! Who are you giving what to?”

“The kids, the tonic.”

“To whom?”

“I’m giving it to the kids, okay? Palace Lord, your mind must be failing you. You can’t even understand what I’m saying.”

Maeng So stared blankly at Chung Myung, his face incredulous.

“…Are you talking about the Mount Hua disciples?”

“No, I’m going to give it to everyone. Everyone here.”

At those words, Maeng So’s eyes wavered.

“Even the Beast Palace?”

“Of course. The Beast Palace and the Ice Palace brought the most important ingredients. How could I leave them out? A person has to have a conscience.”

Maeng So’s mouth snapped shut. He closed his mouth as if contemplating for a long time, then opened it with a heavy voice.

“…It doesn’t make sense.”

“Huh?”

“The value of the ingredients and the completed elixir cannot even be compared. Even though we brought the ingredients, no one would think it’s a fair trade to receive the elixir in return.”

“…”

“And you’re saying you’ll give it away for free?”

This was too much. It was true that the Heavenly Union had announced that it would treat the Union members and affiliated sects without discrimination, but no one really thought that was possible.

Even Maeng So, one of the key figures in the Heavenly Union, didn’t truly expect such a thing. But now, Chung Myung seemed to be genuinely planning to do the impossible?

At Maeng So’s bewildered voice, Chung Myung chuckled.

“There’s no compensation? What are you talking about?”

“…Huh?”

A wicked smile spread across Chung Myung’s face.

“Even if you use an ox, you have to feed it well to make it work, and even if you ride a horse, you have to feed it carrots to make it go where you want, right?”

“…”

“Even mere beasts are like that, so shouldn’t people be fed even better to make them work like oxen and horses?”

“…”

“These bastards have been complaining about being tired lately. Let’s see if they still complain after I shove an elixir down their throats. If they have even a shred of conscience, they’ll work without complaint. Hee hee hee!”

Maeng So shuddered. Chung Myung, seeing his expression, nodded as if understanding.

“Don’t worry. I’ll give one to each of the Sect Leaders and Elders too.”

“U-us too?”

“You all seem to be having a hard time dealing with the kids lately. How are you going to handle the kids running wild after eating the elixir? You’re all getting old, so your energy must be running low.”

“…”

“The elders need to eat well too, so they can deal with the oxen and horses… no, the energetic young ones more easily, right? I’m giving it to you all with that in mind. All with that in mind.”

…These were certainly good words. How could the words of giving away such a precious elixir for free be bad?

But everyone here knew well that those words could become bad depending on the situation and who was saying them.

“You have to eat well and grow strong. If I feed them one of these, they won’t be able to complain about being tired for at least a few months!”

As Chung Myung’s eyes gleamed brighter, Maeng So subtly scooted his bottom away.

“I, I don’t think I need to eat it…”

“Eat it.”

“No, really, I’m fine…”

“Eat it.”

“…Yes.”

A satisfied and proud smile spread across Chung Myung’s face as he looked at the pot outside the door.

“Once I feed them the Jasodan, I can push them even harder than now, right? I was feeling frustrated anyway, and this came at just the right time. Hee hee hee!”

Everyone who heard those words turned ashen. A dark cloud was gathering over the manor where the Heavenly Union was staying.