Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 129

“W-what’s happening?” someone shouted.

Disciples had rushed inside quickly, but now they were suddenly flying back out even faster.

Twice as fast as they went in!

Without thinking, the Wudang disciples jumped forward to catch their friends who were being thrown out.

“Ugh!” one groaned as he landed hard.

“Augh… What hit me?” another asked, confused.

Fortunately, none of them seemed to be seriously hurt. They were thrown out very fast, so it was strange that they weren’t hurt badly.

“What happened?” someone asked.

“…I’m not sure. I thought I saw something hazy, and then…” one replied.

Jin Hyun’s face hardened.

‘They didn’t even see what hit them?’ he wondered.

That was hard to believe.

One person might miss it. People make mistakes. But for three people to miss an attack at the same time was impossible.

Unless the attacker was much more skilled than the disciples who had gone in…

‘The ones inside are disciples of Hwayeong and Mount Hua,’ Jin Hyun thought.

His mind raced, quickly finding a likely answer.

“They’ve set a trap. I don’t know how, but they have,” Jin Hyun said.

“Are you saying it wasn’t an attack?” one of the disciples asked.

“If that was a real attack, would they have gotten off with such minor injuries? They could have lost a limb or two,” Jin Hyun explained.

“Ah… Indeed, Senior Brother!” the disciple exclaimed.

Jin Hyun bit his lip slightly.

‘A formation? Or something else?’ he wondered.

He didn’t know the exact method, but it was clear that someone was using tricks. That must be why they wanted a battle instead of just a friendly fight.

“Using cheap tricks, are they?” Jin Hyun said.

Jin Hyun drew his sword and took two steps forward.

“Follow me inside. I’ll lead the way and break through, in case there are any traps,” he ordered.

“Yes, Senior Brother!” the disciples replied.

Jin Hyun stared at the firmly closed main gate of Hwayeong with tense eyes.

He didn’t know what was behind it. But being too careful could also lead them into a trap.

He took a deep breath, ready for anything.

“Let’s go!” Jin Hyun shouted.

Without waiting for a response, Jin Hyun charged forward and kicked the gate.

WHAM! The sound was like thunder. The wooden gate exploded into splinters, flying everywhere like broken teeth. Dust and wood filled the air.

Slowly, the dust began to settle. For a moment, everything was silent except for the ringing in their ears.

‘…No trap?’ Jin Hyun thought.

He had prepared himself for anything, but nothing happened. All he saw were the disciples of Mount Hua, standing far from the entrance, staring blankly at him.

“Why break down the gate? It wasn’t even locked. Honestly, kids these days have no manners,” Chung Myung said, clicking his tongue.

Yoon Jong wanted to argue about many things, but now was not the time. The enemy was in front of them.

Jin Hyun scanned them from left to right, then narrowed his brow. He looked down at them. ‘Is this all they have?’ he thought with a sneer.

“Is this all of you?” Jin Hyun asked.

“Huh?” Chung Myung replied without energy.

“Are you really going to fight us with just these few people? Are you brave or just stupid?” Jin Hyun asked.

Chung Myung turned to Yoon Jong with a blank look.

“What’s he saying?” Chung Myung asked.

“I don’t know. It feels familiar, though,” Yoon Jong replied.

Chung Myung chuckled and said, “Doesn’t he remind you of Baek Cheon, back in the day?”

Baek Cheon, who was standing next to him, ground his teeth, feeling unexpectedly attacked.

“…Don’t say that,” Baek Cheon mumbled.

Baek Cheon tried to say “Don’t say that,” but his words were mumbled and unclear because he was grinding his teeth in anger.

“Hey!” Baek Cheon exclaimed.

Baek Cheon’s ears burned red. He hated being reminded of his past arrogance.

But even Baek Cheon himself couldn’t deny that Jin Hyun’s words and actions were similar to his own from the past.

‘Those who don’t know that there’s always someone better become like that,’ Baek Cheon thought.

Baek Cheon had learned the truth after meeting Chung Myung… No, not metaphorically, but literally cracked open.

But no matter how much he had changed, it wasn’t pleasant to see his shameful past come to life before his eyes.

“…Let’s finish this quickly,” Baek Cheon said with a reddened face.

Yoon Jong and Jo Gol subtly turned their heads, trying to hide their laughter.

Jin Hyun watched the scene, his face showing confusion.

What?

Those relaxed reactions?

‘Could there be another trap?’ he wondered.

But no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t see any formations or tricks. Besides, what kind of traps could they set up in this small manor?

And yet, they were acting so relaxed?

Jin Hyun’s face began to heat up.

‘These reckless fools!’ he thought.

He could knock them down without a word, but that wouldn’t relieve his anger. Jin Hyun opened his mouth.

“I don’t know where you get such confidence. Mount Hua has never once defeated Wudang. Do you really believe you can stand against us now?” Jin Hyun asked.

Chung Myung chuckled in disbelief.

“Who says we’ve never won? A hundred years ago, we were stronger than you,” Chung Myung said.

Though it wasn’t officially recognized.

“Ha? A hundred years ago?” Jin Hyun smirked.

“Yes, that’s right. That hundred years ago. The time of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint that you’re so proud of,” Jin Hyun said.

“Huh?” Chung Myung’s eyes widened slightly.

It felt strange to hear the words ‘Plum Blossom Sword Saint’ from that guy’s mouth. He hadn’t heard it much even in Mount Hua, but to hear it from a Wudang disciple…

“Are you aware that the Plum Blossom Sword Saint you’re so proud of was defeated by Wudang’s Supreme Sword Emperor?” Jin Hyun asked.

“What?” Baek Cheon shouted.

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Baek Cheon demanded.

“Haha. Nonsense, you say? The two of them fought in the past. The Supreme Sword Emperor hid the result to protect the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s honor,” Jin Hyun claimed.

“Th-that…” Baek Cheon stammered.

“It would be wise to remember that Mount Hua can never be a match for Wudang,” Jin Hyun said.

The faces of the Mount Hua disciples flushed red.

They could handle being ignored, but they couldn’t handle Mount Hua being ignored.

The name of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint was Mount Hua’s pride.

“How dare you speak so carelessly about him!” one disciple shouted.

“This is going too far!” another exclaimed.

“He is not someone you can speak of so lightly,” a third said.

“…I won’t forgive you,” a fourth declared.

Seeing his fellow disciples’ reactions, Chung Myung felt a strange sadness.

‘Show me that kind of respect, show me!’ he thought.

‘Hey, you guys! I’m the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, and you’re always making fun of me!’

‘Aigoo, damn it. I can’t even say it myself! Is there any place more unfair than this!’

But Chung Myung wasn’t particularly angry at Jin Hyun’s words. He was just a little surprised.

‘Wow, so this is how history gets twisted,’ he thought.

‘That Malco guy, who looked like he could fly to the heavens any minute, wanted to keep their fight a secret. I agreed because I was too lazy to argue,’ Chung Myung remembered.

What?

Who beat whom?

– Your wickedness has gone too far. As a fellow Taoist, I will show you the true path of a Taoist. Don’t blame my sword for being merciless, and think about the things you have done.

– …I, I admit that your abilities are better than mine. I know that my training is not good enough, and I will step down. No… I will step down. Ah, no, wait a minute!

– Stop hitting me! I’ve been hit enough! Is it okay for a Taoist to hit someone like this…? Ack! Aack! No, there’s no rule that says you can hit someone while they’re talking… Aaaaack!

– Brother! Save me!

“He was a good brother,” Chung Myung said.

I think he was older than me, though. But he called me brother first, so whatever.

“Huh?” Jin Hyun asked, confused.

“No. Nothing,” Chung Myung said, waving his hand.

After that, every time he went near Wudang, he would call him out and get money from him. Wuhan was a rich place with many expensive bars. He enjoyed renting the top floor of the most expensive bar with Wudang’s money and drinking the most expensive drinks.

Thinking about the Supreme Sword Emperor’s face as it rotted away each time, he felt happy memories of the past. Ah, those were good times.

No… This isn’t the time to be remembering the old days.

“Wow, so it becomes like this,” Chung Myung said.

No one knows, and there’s no proof, right?

Jin Hyun misunderstood Chung Myung’s reaction and scolded him with a sneer.

“Even Mount Hua, at its strongest a hundred years ago, couldn’t defeat Wudang. Don’t you think you’re being too arrogant to try and face us now? Your pride is nothing before Wudang’s…” Jin Hyun said.

“Hey. Stop talking and let’s fight! Huh?” Chung Myung interrupted.

“…” Jin Hyun was speechless.

Chung Myung sighed deeply.

“No. Why does it matter who won a hundred years ago? Is someone from a hundred years ago going to cheer you on? They’re all dead! If you like old people so much, why are you a Taoist instead of a Wudang… Ah, you are Wudang,” Chung Myung realized.

Is that why?

“…How dare you!” Jin Hyun shouted.

“Anyway, that’s why old-fashioned people are…” Chung Myung continued.

Even if it was his past being twisted, Chung Myung wasn’t particularly angry.

‘What’s so important about that? I got beaten by the Heavenly Demon anyway,’ he thought.

What’s important is now.

And…

‘Only those with power can do that,’ Chung Myung thought.

If Mount Hua was stronger than Wudang now, the Wudang bastards wouldn’t dare to say such things. If Mount Hua was much stronger than Wudang now, even if they claimed that the Plum Blossom Sword Saint was stronger than Zhang Sanfeng, there wouldn’t be much argument.

History, money, the right to speak—everything belongs to the strong.

Chung Myung wasn’t unhappy about that.

‘I’m strong!’ he thought.

It’s all mine, so what.

That was a problem that could be solved after Mount Hua beat up Wudang. Well, it didn’t really matter if it wasn’t solved. All he had to do was make sure that the current Chung Myung was even more famous than the Plum Blossom Sword Saint of the past.

“Do you really need to see blood to…” Jin Hyun started to say.

“Young Master Wi! Young Master Wi!” Chung Myung interrupted, calling for Wi Sohaeng.

Wi Sohaeng, who had been watching from the back, looked confused.

“Yes?” Wi Sohaeng asked.

“Did you do everything I asked you to do?” Chung Myung asked.

“The rumors? W-well, I’ve spread the word to those in Nanyang, at least,” Wi Sohaeng replied.

“Good job. Alright, let’s get started!” Chung Myung said, drawing his sword.

The Wudang disciples flinched and stepped back slightly. It was so sudden…

As Chung Myung’s sword moved, sword energy burst from its tip.

But the sword energy wasn’t aimed at the Wudang disciples. Chung Myung’s sword energy repeatedly slashed at the walls of Hwayeong.

Rumble!

In an instant, the walls of Hwayeong collapsed.

“W-what are you doing?” Wi Lipsan asked, eyes wide. Why was that bastard tearing down someone else’s walls?

“Ah…” Wi Lipsan understood Chung Myung’s plan when he saw what was beyond the broken walls. A crowd of people from Nanyang had gathered. They were packed together, their faces eager and excited to see what would happen.

“I’ve always liked making things bigger,” Chung Myung said with a grin.

Their goal wasn’t just to help Hwayeong. They had to make more people see Mount Hua defeat Wudang.

That was how they would build Mount Hua’s reputation in the future.

“…This is a bit overwhelming,” Baek Cheon said.

Chung Myung chuckled at Baek Cheon’s words.

“You told me to do it properly,” Chung Myung replied.

“That’s true,” Baek Cheon admitted.

“Then there’s only one thing left,” Chung Myung said, looking at the Wudang disciples.

“Senior brothers. How many can you handle?” Chung Myung asked.

“…Hmm. Two,” one senior brother replied.

“I think I can do three?” another offered.

“Then that’s five,” Chung Myung said.

Chung Myung stroked his chin.

“Yoo Iseol can take four, and Baek Cheon can take that one,” Chung Myung decided.

“Then what about you?” someone asked.

“Me?” Chung Myung asked.

“…No,” the person said.

There are eyes watching, so please control yourself.

“Then go! Master! Iseol! Senior brothers!” Chung Myung shouted.

“Haa…” one disciple sighed.

“Ugh,” another groaned.

“Oh my!” a third exclaimed.

The disciples of Mount Hua sighed deeply and walked forward.

“It feels like things are going backwards,” Baek Cheon said.

A cold light flickered in Baek Cheon’s eyes.

“If you’re a disciple of Wudang, you’ll have plenty of chances to show your skills. Let’s go, everyone. Show them the sword of Mount Hua!” Baek Cheon declared.

“Yes, Master!” the disciples replied.

“Yes, Senior Brother!” another echoed.

Then, a blunt voice was heard from behind.

“Why is the reaction different when I do it?” Chung Myung complained.

Please, just shut your mouth, you bastard…