Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 150

Hong Daeguang stepped into the corridor, blinking. It was surprisingly bright after the dark stone chamber. He looked up. Soft light glowed from the ceiling.

“Look up there,” he said to Chung Myung. “He used noctilucent pearls to light this place.”

Chung Myung was already staring upwards, a strange glint in his eyes. “Pearls…” he murmured.

Hong Daeguang frowned. “This tomb wasn’t meant for visitors, I think. But using so many pearls… the person who built this must have been incredibly rich. If it was Yakseon, it makes sense. They say his treasures were worth thousands of gold – including his *Hondon*.”

*Crunch. Crunch.*

The sound made Hong Daeguang turn around. “What’s that noise?”

His eyes widened.

Chung Myung was hanging from the ceiling like a spider, yanking noctilucent pearls from their settings with both hands.

“What, what are you doing, Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?”

“Can’t you see? I’m earning money.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Hong Daeguang, his insides burning with frustration, pointed at Chung Myung. He was supposed to lead the way and have them follow him, but what was he doing?

“Is *that* what you are worried about right now? We are in danger!”

“This is worth so much money! Isn’t it because you don’t take things like this that you live like a beggar?”

“Do you think I’m a beggar because I don’t have money?”

“Then why else?”

Huh?

…Well, he was right. He was a beggar because he didn’t have money.

Chung Myung, having extracted the noctilucent pearls, stuffed them into his chest. His chest was now full and round, showing he had stuffed all the pearls inside.

“Good for you, making so much money.”

“You have to save to live well. Think of how many mouths there are to feed in Mount Hua.”

“Right.”

Hong Daeguang shook his head. The more he knew this guy, the less he understood him.

“Isn’t it possible that the Wudang have already obtained the Hondon ahead of us?”

“I don’t think so.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because they’re still going.”

Hong Daeguang’s face instantly hardened.

‘He can sense where the Wudang are?’

Hong Daeguang couldn’t feel anything. He had a vague sense that there was a group ahead, but it was just a faint feeling, not certain.

But now, Chung Myung spoke as if he clearly felt the presence of those who had gone ahead.

‘How keen must his senses be to make that possible?’

Hong Daeguang looked at Chung Myung with new eyes. Since meeting this young fellow, it had been nothing but surprises.

“Still, isn’t it true that they will arrive first?”

“That’s right.”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“That way, it’ll be a bit easier for us.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll know when you get there. Oops! There’s a noctilucent pearl here too!”

Hong Daeguang covered his face, watching Chung Myung kick off the ground again towards the ceiling.

‘Can I really trust this bastard?’

It might be a gamble with his life on the line. Hong Daeguang regretted making such a hasty decision.

“By the way, doesn’t this corridor seem to be getting narrower?”

Baek Cheon nodded at Yoon Jong’s words.

“It seems so to me too.”

When they first came out of the door, the width was enough for five grown men to walk side by side, but now it had narrowed to the point where only three grown men could barely pass shoulder to shoulder.

“I don’t think there was a need to make it like this on purpose.”

Baek Cheon frowned.

But their questions soon disappeared. Because a more important problem had arisen.

“Wait!”

“This?”

The group’s faces hardened at once.

‘The scent of blood?’

A strong smell of blood began to waft from ahead.

“Chung Myung-ah!”

“Hmm. Shall we go?”

Chung Myung rushed ahead. The disciples of Mount Hua and the Beggars Union all increased their speed, following Chung Myung. Before long, they were able to confront the identity of the reeking stench of blood.

“This.”

Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong shut their mouths tightly as they looked at the corpses visible beyond the towering Chung Myung. Several people were lying on the floor, bleeding.

Of particular note was that the blood flowing from their mouths was not red, but almost black.

“Poison? Is there anyone among those who went ahead who uses poison?”

Hong Daeguang said with a hardened expression.

The first place that comes to mind when you think of poison is the Tang Clan, but there are plenty of others in Gangho who use poison.

“No. It’s a trap.”

“Huh? A trap?”

“Look.”

Hong Daeguang narrowed his eyes and scrutinized the corpse that Chung Myung pointed to.

“Ah?”

Tiny needles, not easily visible unless you looked closely, were densely embedded in the corpse. It looked like they had been hit from all directions, not just one.

‘Did they shoot out from the wall?’

Goosebumps rose on his skin.

At first glance, no one would have thought that there would be traps installed here. Only by focusing and looking carefully could one notice that there were countless tiny holes in the wall.

This meant that if Hong Daeguang had passed through here first, he would have been helpless.

“Yakseon, who was known for helping people, would set up such cruel traps?”

Hong Daeguang realized that he had been greatly mistaken about something.

Of course, this was the Sword Tomb.

But Hong Daeguang was one of the people who knew that the identity of Talgeommuheun was Yakseon. He never thought that Yakseon, who had dedicated his life to humanity and justice, would install such cruel traps in his own tomb.

“If he didn’t intend to do this, he wouldn’t have built a tomb in such a deep place.”

“That’s true, but still.”

Hong Daeguang looked back and forth between the wall and the corpse as if he was still uneasy.

‘Maybe coming here will cause more problems than it solves.’

Even as Hong Daeguang hesitated slightly, Chung Myung began to walk forward without a care.

“Che, Chung Myung-ah.”

“Why?”

It was the disciples of Mount Hua who were embarrassed by Chung Myung’s nonchalant gaze.

‘There’s a corpse.’

They were people who lived in Gangho, but it was the first time they had seen a corpse so close and so exposed.

Even Baek Cheon, who had occasionally seen corpses while traveling in Gangho, couldn’t help but feel a subtle unease.

But for Chung Myung, it was just a common occurrence.

In his past life, he had seen corpses until he was sick of them while fighting the Demonic Sect. Wasn’t it a daily routine to eat in places littered with corpses after each battle?

So there was no need to make a fuss over seeing a few corpses now.

“Staying here will only increase the chances of getting poisoned, so let’s go for now. And don’t touch anything around you unnecessarily. It’s dangerous.”

“Ah, okay.”

Baek Cheon swallowed hard and hurried to follow Chung Myung.

Even so, he couldn’t take his eyes off the corpses lying on the floor.

‘This is Gangho.’

It suddenly felt real.

They were now in a place where they were not protected by the name of Mount Hua. If they made a mistake, their heads would be cut off.

Baek Cheon, having renewed his resolve, followed closely behind Chung Myung.

And he carefully stepped over the corpses and moved forward.

“Will there be many of these traps installed?”

“I don’t know.”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“I don’t know what kind of person this Yakseon is, but one thing is certain.”

“What is it?”

“This isn’t just a treasure trove.”

Chung Myung wore a meaningful expression.

There was no need to install such traps if he was simply hiding divine weapons or using it as a tomb. The intention of the person who created this tomb was hidden here.

‘The level of danger will vary depending on what that intention is.’

It was at that moment that Chung Myung became slightly more cautious.

“Oh? That?”

Hong Daeguang suddenly pointed to the ceiling.

“That noctilucent pearl is different from the ones we’ve seen so far?”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung looked up.

Indeed.

Chung Myung had only seen blue night-shining pearls before. But the one Hong Daeguang pointed to was red.

“Looks expensive,” Hong Daeguang said.

Before Chung Myung could respond, Hong Daeguang jumped up and grabbed the red night-shining pearl from the ceiling.

Thud!

Landing on the ground, Hong Daeguang turned the night-shining pearl around, looking at it with wonder.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a red night-shining pearl before. This could be a real treasure…”

“…What do you think you’re doing?” Chung Myung asked.

“Huh?”

Hong Daeguang grinned at Chung Myung, thinking he was being clever.

“You told me to grab anything worth money if I didn’t want to live like a beggar. You don’t expect all the night-shining pearls to be yours, do you? Surely, I can take just one…”

“I…” Chung Myung started.

Chung Myung rolled his eyes, feeling annoyed. *Why does this beggar never listen?*

“Didn’t I tell you not to touch strange things carelessly?”

“Eh?” Hong Daeguang looked around, a little embarrassed.

“No, it’s nothing serious…”

That’s when it happened.

Rumble.

It was a small sound, heavy and dull, but not loud.

“Uh…” Hong Daeguang mumbled.

Rumble.

The sound grew a little louder. Cold sweat started to form on Hong Daeguang’s forehead. He was scared and wanted to survive.

“N-no…”

Rumble!

The sound was now very close. Everyone looked towards where the sound was coming from, the corridor they had come through.

A great noise surged from that place. At the same time, the ground vibrated and began to shake.

“Hoo.” Chung Myung took a short breath and grinned.

“What are you doing?” Chung Myung asked.

“Huh?” Hong Daeguang responded.

“Run! Unless you want to die!” Chung Myung shouted.

With those words, Chung Myung dashed forward with lightning speed. The Mount Hua disciples understood at once. They ran after him without saying anything, running as fast as they could.

“R-run! Run, you beggars! Faster!” Hong Daeguang shouted. The Beggar Union members, who had no idea what was going on, started running as if their tails were on fire.

They soon found out why they had to run.

Rumble!

The cave was collapsing. The entire ceiling, starting from the far end. Earth and rocks poured down like a muddy waterfall.

“Eeeeeek!” Hong Daeguang screamed, putting all his strength into his legs.

If I get swept away by that, I’ll die! I definitely won’t survive!

“Aaaargh! Run, you beggars! Run for your lives! You’ll die! You’ll die! Aaaaargh!”

“This is why I try not to associate with beggar bastards!” Chung Myung snapped, even as he ran.

“I told you not to touch it, and you just had to touch it and cause this mess! And you’re supposed to be someone who’s been around the block in the Jianghu!”

Of course, Hong Daeguang had nothing to say.

“Aaaargh! It’s collapsing! It’s collapsing here too!”

“Run, you beggar bastards! You’ll die if you fall behind!”

“Aigo! What am I doing here because I met the wrong branch leader!”

The Beggar Union members became very angry. The one who had caused all this simply hung his head and ran for his life.

‘Did I know?’

Even the heavens are unfair.

Nothing happened when that fool was pulling them out like crazy. But the one time he touched something, it caused this mess. Does that even make sense?

But there was no time to resent the heavens. The ceiling was collapsing quickly, catching up to them.

To make matters worse, the path was getting narrower, so they had to run in a single line.

Chung Myung, fuming, dropped back to the rear.

“Don’t look back, just run!”

“Mount Hua Divine…” Hong Daeguang started.

Wham!

Hong Daeguang, who was about to look back, fixed his gaze forward with tears in his eyes as Chung Myung kicked him in the backside.

‘I deserved that.’

Why did I try to look back when he told me not to?

Why am I like this? I wasn’t like this on the ground.

Rumble! Rumble!

The sound of the ceiling collapsing seemed to be right behind them. Even the dirt and dust tickled the back of their heads.

“Aaaaargh! We’re all going to die! Ruuuuun!”

Hong Daeguang screamed and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Sometimes he slipped and fell onto his hands and knees, then got up and ran again.

“There’s light!”

“Get out of here! You bastards!”

Everyone could see the end. Those in front used their last strength and their special running skills to get out faster.

“Aaaaargh!”

As those in front leaped out, Hong Daeguang threw himself into the light.

And.

Rumble!

The pouring earth grazed the tips of his feet as he fell forward.

Thud!

Hong Daeguang, who had fallen to the ground, reflexively turned his body around.

‘I made it!’

He didn’t know exactly where he had ended up, but at least this place didn’t seem to be collapsing. The collapse was only up to the corridor.

But…

“Chung Myung!” Hong Daeguang shouted.

“Damn it!”

Hong Daeguang jumped to his feet.

The fact that the earth had grazed his feet meant that he was the last person to escape from the corridor.

“Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”

Hong Daeguang turned around in horror. As expected, there was no one behind him. It meant that Chung Myung had not escaped the corridor and was buried in the earth.

Hong Daeguang’s eyes trembled as if they had been hit by an earthquake.

No matter how talented he was, it was impossible to survive being buried under that much earth.

“Because of me…” Hong Daeguang trembled slightly with guilt.

To think that a young swordsman who should have become a pillar of the Jianghu would lose his life in a place like this because of his mistake. He felt terrible.

“Mount Hua…”

That’s when it happened.

Kraaaash!

Suddenly, the front exploded with a loud noise, and dust scattered everywhere.

“Chung Myung!” Hong Daeguang shouted.

“Damn it! I was worried! You bastard!”

Hong Daeguang’s face lit up.

‘He’s alive!’

Of course. There’s no way the Mount Hua Divine Dragon would die in a place like this!

He was so happy that he wanted to run over and hug him right away.

But that joy soon vanished.

“…Where did the beggar go?”

Where the dust had settled, Chung Myung, covered in dust from head to toe, rolled his eyes with a face that looked like he was about to kill someone.

And from his twisted lips, after he quickly found Hong Daeguang, the sound of gnashing teeth flowed out.

Hong Daeguang’s face turned pale.

“N-no, Mount Hua Divine Dragon. This is…”

“You must have a lot to say,” Chung Myung said.

“…What?” Hong Daeguang asked.

“If everything could be solved with words, there wouldn’t be wars in the world!”

“…”

“Let’s start with a beating.”

Chung Myung, completely out of his mind, charged at Hong Daeguang with the face of a Yaksha.