Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 125

Malco.

It’s a rude word. It comes from how long the hats (called dogwans) that Taoist priests wear look like a horse’s nose.

Basically, it’s an insult.

It’s an insult that makes fun of Taoist priests.

Jin Hyun knew this insult existed, but he had never actually heard someone say it to his face.

That made sense.

In Wudang, no one would ever insult a Taoist priest. And when Jin Hyun traveled, he never heard it either. Who would be brave enough to insult someone from Wudang?

You’d have to be crazy to risk it.

Wudang was one of the most respected and powerful groups of martial artists in China, like Shaolin. There were many groups, but only Shaolin could compare to Wudang.

And someone dared to call a Wudang disciple a Malco?

‘Is he really crazy?’

That’s what Jin Hyun thought.

But the man didn’t seem crazy. He wasn’t acting weird, and his eyes were clear.

Actually, he was handsome.

He stood in a way that seemed too confident, and his face looked like he thought the world was annoying. It was irritating, but maybe that was just his personality.

“Who are you?”

“And if I told you? What then?”

Jin Hyun wondered if the man was really crazy.

A murmur started behind Jin Hyun, growing louder. He heard shuffling feet and voices, not quiet whispers, but louder, more excited tones.

“Excuse me. Just trying to get through,”

“Why are you all blocking the door?”

“Jogyeol, be quiet.”

Several people pushed past and entered Hwayeongmun.

‘Huh?’

Was this normal?

Even if they didn’t know the men blocking the door were from Wudang, you wouldn’t push past strong men with swords.

But they were pushing past the Wudang disciples like they were just annoying neighbors.

‘What is going on?’

Then…

“Father!”

The last person ran to Wi Rip-san, who looked very happy.

“Sohaeng!”

“Father! I have brought the Hwasan people!”

“Ah!”

Everyone heard that.

‘Hwasan?’

Jin Hyun’s face tightened with disbelief and a flicker of worry. So, these people were from Hwasan?

‘Now that I look closer…’

He noticed the plum blossom pattern on their chests.

The newcomers were so striking, their energy so strong, that Jin Hyun had almost missed the plum blossom symbols on their chests. It was like a sudden burst of color in a grey room.

“Ah, from Hwasan!”

Wi Rip-san’s voice was full of emotion, which annoyed Jin Hyun.

Especially because Jin Hyun was sure Hwasan would never help.

‘Wait, Hwasan?’

Jin Hyun looked at the newcomers.

A swordsman in white robes stood at the front, his eyes sharp and watchful, like a hawk ready to strike. A gentle-looking man and a sharp-looking man stood to his left and right, like assistants.

Then he saw a woman. Her beauty was striking, her eyes so bright and clear they made him catch his breath.

That was fine. So far, so good.

Then…

The swaggering man came into view.

‘What is that guy?’

Even though it wasn’t as strong as it used to be, Hwasan was still a prestigious martial arts group. How could someone like that come from such a place?

He was so different from the others.

“Are you from Hwasan?”

“Then would I be from Shaolin?”

Jin Hyun started to say something but stopped.

The man in white stepped forward and bowed to Wi Rip-san, not to Jin Hyun.

“Greetings, Hwayeongmun Master. The Sect Leader heard about the trouble here and sent us.”

“Ah… The Sect Leader.”

Wi Rip-san closed his eyes, looking relieved.

He felt very emotional.

He had sent Wi Sohaeng to Hwasan as a last hope, but he didn’t really expect them to come. What he said to Yeom Pyeong was just a way to escape the hopeless situation.

But Hwasan had really sent people.

Wi Rip-san trembled when he saw Baek Cheon bowing.

He had a powerful presence.

Even with Byeoljeolgeom Jin Hyun right there, he wasn’t any weaker.

“Then, does that mean you are the Hwasan Shin…?”

“No, I am not.”

Baek Cheon cut him off. Wi Rip-san noticed Baek Cheon’s face change slightly before he smiled again.

“I am Baek Cheon, a second-generation disciple of Hwasan.”

“Ah! Hwajeonggeom! I have heard a lot about you!”

They sent Hwajeonggeom!

Wi Rip-san was incredibly grateful to the Sect Leader.

‘Wait…’

Could it be that the Hwasan Shinryong didn’t come?

Just then…

“Krooooh!”

The strange man walked up to Wi Rip-san with an admiring look and grabbed his hand.

“Krooooh. You must be the Moon Master.”

“I’ve heard so much about you! For thirty years! You’ve been sending tribute money without stopping! Is that right?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Kroooooh!”

The man looked at Wi Rip-san, his eyes shining with emotion. He seemed truly touched.

Where did he come from?

“To think there was such a wonderful person. To steadily send money to a group that even a beggar would ignore. People say all the kind people in the world are dead, but here’s one alive.”

Wi Rip-san had a lot of experience.

He had protected Hwayeongmun for decades and met hundreds, maybe thousands, of people.

But he had never met anyone like this.

‘He’s a direct disciple of Hwasan. How can someone like this exist?’

Wi Rip-san gently pulled his hand away from the man and asked, “And who are you?”

“Ah, I’m Cheong-myeong,” the man said with a wide smile. “The Sect Leader sent me.”

“Cheong-myeong… from the Cheongja generation?” Wi Rip-san paused, his eyes widening slightly. “Wait a minute… Cheong-myeong?”

“That’s right! Cheong-myeong is fine!” He laughed, slapping Wi Rip-san on the shoulder, a little too hard. “What does it matter what you call me? You’re our important customer, after all!”

Cheong-myeong?

Cheong-myeong, you say?

Wi Rip-san’s eyes widened.

Wi Rip-san thought he knew only one person named Cheong-myeong in Mount Hua.

‘Wait, maybe I’m wrong.’

He quickly looked at Wi So-haeng. Wi So-haeng saw him looking and nodded slowly, with a strange look on his face.

‘Is it true?’

Then, could this local thug before his eyes possibly be…?

“Cheong-myeong?”

Wi Rip-san wasn’t the only one with doubts, it seemed. Jin Hyun watched the Mount Hua disciples quietly. He was a little confused and spoke softly.

Cheong-myeong tilted his head slightly.

“…Then, could it be that you are the Cheong-myeong known as the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?”

“Mount Hua what-now? I don’t know about that, but I am Cheong-myeong, alright?”

“You?”

Jin Hyun glared at Cheong-myeong, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Cheong-myeong’s gaze instantly turned askew.

“What? Do I need to get a certificate or something?”

Jin Hyun was speechless.

Then, as if losing interest, he turned his gaze from Jin Hyun and smiled brightly at Wi Rip-san again. The difference in attitude was so stark it was absurd.

“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of it from now on. The Sect Leader said Hwayeong Gate is the best among the secular families.”

That’s right.

Because Hwayeong Gate is almost the only secular family left.

Cheong-myeong smiled and turned around. Then, he tilted his head, looking at Baek Cheon.

“What are you doing, Martial Uncle?”

“…Is it over?”

“Yes.”

Baek Cheon sighed and looked at Jin Hyun.

“I am Baek Cheon of Mount Hua.”

“I am Jin Hyun of the Wudang Sect.”

“I came because there was a problem between secular families. It seems you were speaking directly with the Hwayeong Gate Lord. From now on, you may speak through me.”

“So, Mount Hua is going to get involved?”

“Is there a reason why we shouldn’t?”

Jin Hyun narrowed his eyes at Baek Cheon’s words.

‘How dare they.’

A sect that had completely fallen and is now barely making a name for itself dares to interfere in the affairs of the Wudang Sect?

This was unacceptable.

Besides…

Jin Hyun’s gaze flickered towards Cheong-myeong.

‘That guy is the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?’

Unbelievable.

Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, Cheong-myeong.

The rising star of Mount Hua who suddenly made a name for himself throughout the world two years ago.

Jin Hyun had heard the name until his ears were sore. And there was a reason why he remembered that name so clearly.

Wudang’s Sword Dragon, Jin Hyun.

And Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon, Cheong-myeong.

The world bound those four with two others, calling them the Six Dragons. In the current Jianghu, the Six Dragons were a name symbolizing the future leaders of the world.

He had no interest in the gossips of those who spoke of Six Dragons or Three Dragons. The only thing he was interested in was the fact that the evaluation of Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon, Cheong-myeong, among the Six Dragons, was higher than that of Jin Hyun.

‘That kind of guy is stronger than me?’

Nonsense.

Of course, that evaluation took age into account. It was likely an evaluation filled with the expectation that Cheong-myeong would become stronger than Jin Hyun when he reached Jin Hyun’s age.

But Jin Hyun could not accept even that evaluation.

And…

‘The Sect Leader’s words were correct.’

– Perhaps disciples of Mount Hua will come to Nanyang. And if the disciples of Mount Hua come, then surely Cheong-myeong, called the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, will be among them. If that happens, make it clear to the world that a disciple of Mount Hua cannot dare to be mentioned before a disciple of Wudang.

Jin Hyun curled up the corner of his lips.

“Then, in what way do you intend to interfere?”

Jin Hyun raised his chin slightly and looked down at Baek Cheon, his eyes narrowed as if looking at something unpleasant.

He was more concerned about this man than Cheong-myeong, the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua. The aura he had been subtly emitting since a while ago was no joke.

‘The reputation of the Hwajung Sword was not just for show.’

Unlike the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua.

“It would be best if we could resolve this with a pleasant conversation…”

Baek Cheon smiled.

“But it doesn’t seem like you have any intention of doing so?”

“Haha. It’s a misunderstanding. It would be wonderful if we could resolve this through conversation. But since the differences in our positions cannot be narrowed, the conversation is simply futile.”

“Isn’t that the same thing in the end?”

As Baek Cheon pressed him with a slightly sharp tone, a bitter smile appeared on Jin Hyun’s lips.

“Then what? Would you like to have a martial arts contest? We will not refuse.”

“The Wudang Sect’s methods are quite rougher than I thought.”

“Rather than rough, it’s more efficient. There’s no need to waste each other’s time…”

That was when it happened.

“Ah, you’re dragging this out terribly.”

Baek Cheon and Jin Hyun turned their heads simultaneously. Both of them looked at Cheong-myeong, who had spoken.

But their expressions were completely different.

Baek Cheon was thinking, ‘Please, just stay still. You blasted fool!’

He was showing off the divine skill of conveying those words with just his expression, while undisguised anger bloomed on Jin Hyun’s face.

As far as he knew, Cheong-myeong was one generation lower than him. Yet, he was daring to utter such nonsense towards Jin Hyun, who was of a higher generation.

“Does Mount Hua not know etiquette?”

“Etiquette?”

Cheong-myeong smirked.

“What a load of bull.”

“You!”

“You barge into another sect and tell them to get lost if they don’t want to die, and now you’re talking about etiquette? It seems your etiquette only comes out when you need it?”

Jin Hyun bit his lip tightly.

But it was difficult to refute immediately. Jin Hyun also knew that those words were not entirely wrong.

“What’s there to talk about? You guys do what you want.”

“What does that mean?”

“You said you’re going to attack in three hours, right?”

Cheong-myeong’s lips curled up.

“It would be best to come prepared to have your heads smashed. I’m warning you in advance.”

The color drained from Jin Hyun’s face.

Soon, a terrifying rage began to bloom on his pale face.