Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1148

Silence.

It was unusual to see so many martial artists together in the training grounds. But seeing them all sitting still, focusing their energy, was even more amazing.

‘Fascinating.’

Tang Gunak watched the disciples practice their energy cultivation, feeling amazed again.

Someone who didn’t know martial arts might just think this was strange. But for those who did, it was something very important.

Usually, people practiced energy cultivation in secret, where no one could see them. Why? Because martial artists are most open to attack during this time.

Even someone strong enough to break rocks or jump across rivers could be hurt by a child’s kick while cultivating energy.

So, martial artists almost never showed their energy cultivation, not even to family. It was like a natural instinct for them to hide their weakness, like a mother animal protecting her babies.

But here, many people were practicing in the open, where everyone could watch.

‘Is it because they were told to do this?’

Probably not. If they were acting normally, they would have found quiet places for themselves and their elixirs, even if Tang Gunak or Chung Myung ordered them not to. At the very least, they would have gone back to their rooms to cultivate their energy.

The fact that they were practicing so openly in the training ground meant they didn’t see the others as threats anymore.

‘I don’t understand.’

Tang Gunak shook his head.

Trust was a strange thing.

Everyone knew it was important. Sect leaders wanted their disciples to trust each other. That’s why they made rules and tried to settle arguments fairly.

But trust was hard to find. People might act like they trusted each other, but when it really mattered, they often did different things.

‘If I had done this in the Tang family, would everyone really be able to cultivate their energy like this?’

He already knew the answer.

That was why he didn’t understand. All they had done was fight, play pranks, and team up to go against their leaders.

They had just fought and played pranks. There hadn’t been time for deep friendships. So why did they trust each other so much now?

Tang Gunak looked at Chung Myung.

He kept remembering that Chung Myung saw something he couldn’t. When would he finally see what Chung Myung saw?

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m feeling a bit out of sorts.”

“Oh?”

“…”

“Your personality has gotten a bit worse. Or, has it gotten better compared to the old days?”

“Ugh.”

Tang Gunak shook his head. If only Chung Myung’s temper could be fixed, he would be perfect.

‘But it’s a good thing.’

After a long journey, this scene seemed to show him that the ‘relationship’ Chung Myung had worked so hard to create within the Heavenly Union was finally starting to happen.

“But how did you make enough elixirs for all those kids?”

“Ugh. That’s….”

Chung Myung scratched his head.

“Actually, they aren’t real elixirs. Every elixir needs the right amount of ingredients. But we didn’t have enough, so I had to make them smaller. They will only be about one-fifth as strong as a real Jasodan.”

“One-fifth?”

“Well… maybe even less.”

“Didn’t you say you made this Jasodan better than before?”

“Yes. So, we can expect at least one-fifth of the effect.”

Chung Myung sighed.

“They need to eat well to fight well.”

“…You always do things that others can only dream of, and then you complain that it’s not good enough. You’re too hard on yourself.”

“It’s not that I’m hard on myself. It’s just that we’re in a tough situation. But we can’t just give up and die, can we?”

“That’s true.”

Most people focus on what they achieve. But Chung Myung only thought about how close he was to reaching his goals.

Watching him sometimes made Tang Gunak feel scared.

Tang Gunak was grateful that he hadn’t met Chung Myung as an enemy.

“Anyway….”

He sighed.

“This is great for the Union, but I can’t be completely happy about it.”

“Hmm? Why?”

“Even if it’s only one-fifth as strong, it’s still an elixir, right? And one-fifth of a Mount Hua Jasodan is as good as the secret elixirs of most sects….”

Tang Gunak groaned.

“Their inner strength and stamina will increase, and I have to control those guys.”

He had hoped the children would become closer and stronger because of the elixirs, but as the person in charge, he wasn’t so happy about it.

He was already tired from dealing with the children who hadn’t taken the elixirs. How was he supposed to handle the ones who had?

“Hey, don’t worry. I saved a special one for you, Clan Leader.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung reached into his pocket and pulled out a carefully wrapped elixir.

“I made the best one for you, Clan Leader, the Palace Lord, and So-baek.”

Tang Gunak stared at the elixir in Chung Myung’s hand. It was a real Jasodan, bigger than the ones given to the children.

“This….”

“Don’t even think about telling me to give it to the kids.”

“I might have said that in the past because I was proud, but I don’t care about pride right now.”

“I’ll give this to you, so take it tonight when you’re alone. Oh, I made smaller ones for the elders too.”

Chung Myung was very thoughtful.

“…Wait. One for me and the two Palace Lords? What about the Green Forest King…?”

“Shhh.”

Chung Myung looked around, put a finger to his lips, and whispered.

“Keep it safe and take it where no one can see you. Got it?”

“….”

“That greedy Demonic Sect guy will come running if he finds out.”

Tang Gunak turned and looked at Im So-byeong, who was cultivating his energy.

He looked strange, grinning as he cultivated his energy, happy to have received the elixir. Tang Gunak felt sorry for him.

‘Why did he have to be born in the Demonic Sect….’

Or, why did someone from the Demonic Sect have to meet Chung Myung….

Knowing that Chung Myung would always hate the Demonic Sect, Tang Gunak quietly hid the elixir in his pocket.

“…I understand.”

“Yes, hee hee.”

Chung Myung looked at the others who were cultivating their energy.

“It should be ending soon.”

He smiled slightly.

Oooooong.

Namgung Dowi, who had been deep in thought, pushed his energy to the top of his head. The energy rushed through his body like a dragon flying to the sky.

Koooong!

At the same time, he heard a loud ringing in his head.

Black, dirty blood came out of Namgung Dowi’s nose and mouth. It wasn’t an injury, but old waste and impurities leaving his body.

‘Again!’

Kwaaaaah!

The energy reached the top of his head again, causing a flash of light. The energy spread through his body, giving him unbelievable strength.

“Hoo….”

Namgung Dowi slowly opened his eyes and saw Chung Myung watching them with his hands behind his back.

‘It had to be now.’

The energy in his body told him that if he had taken the elixir before training, it wouldn’t have worked as well.

The elixir made him stronger. But there was something more important. When he took the elixir, he had a chance to use a great energy that he could never use normally.

How he used that chance was important.

Those who had fought and felt their limits knew how to use that energy.

‘I’ve passed one wall.’

Without the elixir, he didn’t know how much longer it would have taken. The elixir had helped him do it much faster. The new strength in his body felt amazing.

He stood up with confidence. His eyes were bright.

Soon after, Dang Pae also stood up. He looked much like Namgung Dowi.

Then another, and another.

One by one, they stood up. In less than half an hour, everyone had finished cultivating their energy and was standing in line.

They were all looking at Chung Myung.

They didn’t know what to say, but they knew who they should be looking at.

Chung Myung nodded.

They smiled confidently at his sharp look.

Chung Myung spoke.

“First of all….”

“….”

“Ugh!”

“…Huh?”

Chung Myung suddenly gagged, grabbed his nose, and stepped back.

“…Go wash up, please….”

Everyone looked at themselves. Waste was sticking to their bodies and clothes, turning them black.

“Oh….”

“Ugh. What is that smell?”

“Ugh!”

They smelled the terrible odor coming from their bodies and started to groan.

Tang Gunak covered his nose and shouted.

“…Go to the river! Now!”

“….”

“Hurry!”

Expecting something great, they ran to the Yangtze River with embarrassed faces.

For the next few days, people living near the Yangtze River got sick to their stomachs. Officials investigated to see if there was an epidemic.

The Yangtze River flowed on.