Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1492

“What…?”

Had I misheard? Perhaps. Or perhaps not, it was impossible to tell.

From the old man’s murky, clouded eyes, no true intention could be understood.

“What did you say?”

Chung Myung was very frustrated. He felt like his chest would explode. His eyes flashed with anger. He pushed closer to the old man. He was almost yelling, almost demanding an answer from the confused old man.

But the old man’s eyes were like cloudy glass, staring at the ceiling without seeing anything. He showed no reaction to Chung Myung at all.

“What did you just say?!”

“Chung Myung?” Baek Cheon asked hesitantly, surprised by how strongly Chung Myung reacted.

Chung Myung bit his lip and glared at the old man, then took a deep breath. Slowly, the anger on his face faded. The old man remained as still as a mummy.

‘Is this the one who has been controlling the Beggars’ Sect from the shadows?’

The old man was barely awake. He looked more like a piece of wood than a living person – stiff, still, and lifeless. What could someone like that possibly do?

His confusion turned to anger. Just then, the Cheonsang Guild Leader spoke from behind.

“Step back.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader, who had followed them upstairs, walked forward and stood beside the bed where the old man lay.

“Is this the person you wanted to show me?”

“Yes, this is him.”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Being too sure of yourself will cause you trouble one day.”

“What?”

“You are amazing, but you don’t know everything in this world. Not history, not knowledge.”

Just as Chung Myung’s eyes showed doubt, a dark light began to gather at the fingertips of the Beggars’ Sect Leader. It was a dark energy that didn’t seem good or right. An energy that the leader of the true Beggars’ Sect should not have.

“You?”

Paaah!

The Cheonsang Guild Leader’s hand moved like a flash of light, hitting the old man’s body very quickly. He struck dozens of pressure points in the blink of an eye. It seemed cruel to do to an old man who was already so weak.

“What…?”

“What are you doing!”

“So, Soso! Quickly!”

As the Five Swords tried to stop him in alarm, the Cheonsang Guild Leader stopped them with a cold voice.

“Taoists try to live longer by training their bodies and minds.”

“What?”

“Of course, the main goal is reaching a higher level by understanding everything, but living longer by taking care of your body and improving yourself is also a goal of Taoists.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader slowly shook his head.

“But there are more ways to live longer than just training. If you are willing to make some sacrifices, there are many ways to extend your life.”

Of all the people there, only Chung Myung understood what the Cheonsang Guild Leader meant.

“…Turtle Breathing?”

“You know about it.”

Chung Myung looked back at the old man. The old man’s face, which had been blue and black as if he were about to die, was becoming healthy again.

“Ha, to think you’d do something so crazy.”

Chung Myung laughed weakly. Unable to hold back his frustration, Jo Gul asked.

“Chung Myung, what are you talking about? Turtle Breathing?”

“The Great Turtle Breathing Technique.”

“The Great Turtle Breathing Technique? Isn’t that a way to hold your breath when hiding?”

“It is.”

“Why are you talking about that now? Does it have to do with this?”

“…The Turtle Breathing Technique doesn’t just hide sound, it also slows down the body’s activity. It slows the heart, making the blood flow slowly. That’s why it’s also used to survive longer without food when trapped in a cave.”

Tang Soso understood right away and quickly nodded.

“Y-yes, that’s right. Reducing your energy use lowers the energy you need.”

“…This man is always using that Turtle Breathing Technique. He’s even stopped being aware of himself.”

“Excuse me?”

Tang Soso looked at the old man in disbelief.

“N-no. How could someone do that…?”

“I wondered why I couldn’t feel the person above me. It was strange.”

Chung Myung’s eyes were sharp as he stared at the old man.

“It’s not just normal Turtle Breathing. Skull Skill… and Supple Demon Skill? Those are forbidden techniques, from faraway lands! For a Beggars’ Sect member to even think of learning them… it’s unforgivable! He should be punished!”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader looked at him with admiration. Just by looking for a moment, Chung Myung had understood where the old man’s power came from.

“…As I’ve heard, you truly are a mysterious man.”

Chung Myung didn’t answer the Cheonsang Guild Leader. He only stared at the old man.

The old man’s body, which had been like a dried piece of wood, was slowly filling out. It wasn’t a big change, but it was clear that he was becoming more alive.

“Cough!”

Finally, the old man coughed, and his eyes became clear again. His wide eyes looked much more alive than before.

The Cheonsang Guild Leader cried out.

“Master!”

‘Master?’

The Mount Hua disciples looked at the old man again in shock.

If he was the master of the Beggars’ Sect Leader, did that mean this weak old man was the Supreme Elder of the Beggars’ Sect?

“…Water…”

“Yes, Master!”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader gave the old man a water bottle he had ready. The old man took the water bottle with a slightly shaking hand and brought it to his lips.

He seemed comfortable, as if he had done this many times before. The old man slowly took several sips of water and took a long breath.

A strong medicinal smell spread around them.

Tang Soso said quietly, looking pale.

“He’s crazy… He’s using Turtle Breathing so much that he can’t even wake up on his own. That’s like hibernating…”

If something happened to the Cheonsang Guild Leader, the old man would die in this dark, secret room, never waking up.

Who would risk that? It was very strange.

Tang Soso’s question was answered by the old man, with an answer she didn’t expect.

“Me…”

“Yes.”

Before the words to wake him could finish, the Cheonsang Guild Leader helped the old man sit up. Leaning against the wall, the old man coughed a few times and said weakly.

“…Am I awake… again…? How long this time? Another stolen breath…”

“I am sorry, Master. There was no other way.”

“…It is done.”

The old man slowly shook his head. His eyes, now clearer, looked at Chung Myung.

“Seeing the Mount Hua people here, I understand. Yes. It has come to this…”

Chung Myung’s lips twisted.

“For a man who was supposedly unconscious, you know us well. And we’re even wearing the Jongnam Sect uniforms.”

At those words, the old man’s lips twitched slightly. He had probably smiled.

“Because I have heard about you many times…”

“…”

“The story of the Sword Saint of Mount Hua and Mount Hua itself, I have heard it so clearly, so often.”

Chung Myung chuckled.

“I don’t know if I should be happy or not. I guess it means you were watching us closely.”

“Perhaps… Cough! Cough!”

Even this short conversation seemed to be too much for him, as the old man coughed several times.

“Master!”

“Stand back.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader tried to support him and lay him down again, but the old man pushed him away. He composed himself so well that it was hard to believe he was the same old man who had been lying down just moments ago. Even just watching him, it was clear this old man was not normal.

As if nothing had happened, the old man said calmly.

“To have come all this way… I see. You have come to kill me.”

Chung Myung frowned. The way he spoke, as if he had known this would happen, bothered him.

“If I had to, that’s what I would have done.”

“…”

“But it doesn’t seem like I need to? You’re already dying, even without me doing anything. Aren’t you?”

The old man didn’t answer. He didn’t need to deny it.

“What reason to stay does an old man who should have died long ago have that he’s doing this? Just breathing isn’t living, is it? Have you never felt disgusted with yourself?”

“Chung Myung!”

“You crazy bastard! He’s the Supreme Elder of the Beggars’ Sect!”

“Watch your mouth!”

The Five Swords, surprised, tried to stop him, but the old man raised a hand to silence them. Baek Cheon looked ashamed and said.

“Su, Supreme Elder, I apologize. That guy…”

“…Stop.”

“Yes?”

“Do not… interfere.”

Baek Cheon closed his mouth. The power in the old man’s eyes and energy was very different from when he spoke to Chung Myung.

He was still a white-haired old man who looked too weak to catch a fly. But the respect he showed was so great that it felt strange even to Baek Cheon, who had known many masters.

It was power not from fighting skills, but from living a long life. It was the power from being old and experienced.

“Repulsive, you say…”

The old man nodded.

“Indeed. It is natural for people to die when they are old. To fight this is a sin. I am sorry for showing this to a Taoist.”

“Don’t change the subject. I didn’t come here to hear obvious things. Answer me. What have you been doing? What tricks have you been up to in this dark room?”

“…Sword Saint of Mount Hua.”

The old man’s voice was empty.

“What are you curious about…? Why I have made the Beggars’ Sect like this? Or why I am still alive?”

“It’s the same answer, isn’t it?”

Chung Myung showed his teeth.

“Answer me. What does the Beggars’ Sect gain from this?”

Without answering, the old man slowly turned his head and looked at the Cheonsang Guild Leader. Just as Chung Myung was getting impatient, the old man spoke without turning his head.

“That child calls me master… but I am not his teacher.”

“…Not his teacher?”

What did that mean? Was that even important now? What was important was…

“Sword Saint of Mount Hua.”

The old man turned his shaking head and faced Chung Myung. His eyes were watery and full of regret.

“I am over one hundred years old. Do you know what that means?”

“What?”

“I am…”

The old man’s eyes showed many emotions for a moment.

Despair, regret, sorrow, and pain.

“I am… a survivor of that terrible war with the Demonic Sect.”

Chung Myung’s face froze.