Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 153

The tunnel opened into another cave. This one was different. Unlike the dark tunnels before, this cave sparkled. Night-shining pearls were set into the walls again, but here they seemed brighter, like tiny stars.

“Doesn’t this feel a bit repetitive, Senior Brother?”

“Hmm, yes, it does. But…,” Baek Cheon glanced quickly at Hong Daekwang, “this cave with the pearls seems safe, as long as we are careful. Very careful.”

Hong Daekwang sighed quietly, watching Baek Cheon’s quick look.

“…People make mistakes sometimes.”

“I didn’t say anything, Great Hero,” Baek Cheon said innocently.

*‘Great Hero,’* Hong Daekwang thought, a little relieved. *‘At least they still call me that.’*

As they went deeper, Hong Daekwang noticed some strange things about the Mount Hua disciples.

First, unlike Chung Myung, who seemed lost in his own world, the others had good manners, like you’d expect from a famous group.

Sometimes, he saw hints of Chung Myung’s strange behavior in them too, but with Chung Myung standing right there, it was easy to miss.

*‘And they are so strong,’* Hong Daekwang thought again.

When they fought through the cave of Mara Vampire Bats, the Beggars’ Sect disciples got hurt, some badly, some not so badly. Poison from the bats got into their cuts, making it hard to move.

They weren’t going to die, but they had to slow down after leaving the cave. But the Mount Hua disciples weren’t hurt at all, even in that bat attack.

Was it just luck?

*‘No way.’*

Maybe luck once or twice. But not every time. It had to be skill.

“I want to ask you something, Hwajeong-geom.”

“Please, just call me Baek Cheon. That nickname is a bit silly,” Baek Cheon said, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Okay, Baek Cheon then. Baek Cheon Sohyeop.”

“Yes?”

“Are all the other Mount Hua disciples as skilled as you and your friends here?”

Baek Cheon paused, thinking for a moment before speaking.

“Probably not exactly the same. Yoon Jong and Jo Gul are the best of the younger disciples, and Yu Sasuk and I are among the best of the older ones. But that doesn’t mean the other Mount Hua disciples are much weaker than us.”

Baek Cheon glanced at Chung Myung as he spoke.

*‘They all trained hard because of that… Chung Myung. No one could be much worse than us after that kind of training.’*

“…I see,” Hong Daekwang said slowly.

Hong Daekwang’s face turned slightly serious.

He was a branch leader in the Luoyang branch of the Beggars’ Sect. Luoyang was one of the largest cities, so the beggars there were skilled.

The Beggars’ Sect focuses on quantity, not quality, so his followers weren’t as strong as elites from other groups. But they weren’t weak enough to be beaten everywhere.

But the Mount Hua disciples were better than the Luoyang beggars.

If the other Mount Hua disciples were as good, how strong was Mount Hua overall?

*‘And there’s that monster.’*

He couldn’t forget the sword he’d seen. He’d never seen such a great sword.

What if Chung Myung grew up and led Mount Hua, and the disciples supported him?

*‘It would be a true revival.’*

Mount Hua was a top sect. It declined because of damage in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and the Demon Sect’s last stand.

But if the disciples kept growing, Mount Hua could regain its glory, especially with Chung Myung’s momentum.

“Branch Leader…”

Hong Daekwang frowned at the struggling Beggars’ Sect disciples.

“Hwasan Shinryong, can we rest? I need to check on the disciples.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Hong Daekwang was surprised Chung Myung agreed so easily.

“What is it?”

“You’re agreeing too easily.”

“People are hurting, what else can I do?”

“…Thank you.”

Hong Daekwang looked at Chung Myung differently.

*‘Does he have the qualities of a Great Hero?’*

Great Heroes put people first. Chung Myung seemed unlikely, but he prioritized people.

*‘The more I see him, the less I understand him.’*

Hong Daekwang tilted his head and went to the Beggars’ Sect disciples.

Chung Myung narrowed his brows and looked ahead. He sensed something far away.

*‘Qi is spreading.’*

Killing intent was coming from a distance. A battle had started, or people were fighting something in a trap.

*‘No need to rush in.’*

If they waited, those guys would clear the path. He’d sent the strong ones in for that reason.

They wanted to enter the Sword Tomb, and Chung Myung wanted to go easily.

There could be more traps. If monsters kept appearing, even Chung Myung would get tired.

Chung Myung knew to conserve energy in such places.

The group rested against the walls, wary of traps.

“Aigo.”

Yoon Jong sighed and said sadly,

“Ten lives wouldn’t be enough here.”

“Such exaggeration.”

Chung Myung chuckled, and Yoon Jong looked up.

*‘He’s used to this.’*

Even brave people would be nervous in this situation.

Walking in the dark, with traps everywhere, was exhausting. They had to be tense.

But Chung Myung was calm.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“What did I do to be tired? It’s just the beginning.”

“…The beginning?”

“If someone like Yakseon, or Talgeommuheun, really made a trap, it wouldn’t end here. Unless there was nothing at all.”

Yoon Jong frowned.

He focused on ‘set out to.’

“Talgeommuheun, so Yakseon, why would he create this place?”

“Huh?”

“If he wanted to leave the Honwon Dan, he could just leave it. Why make traps and endanger people?”

“How would I know?”

Chung Myung chuckled.

Yoon Jong continued,

“I didn’t think about it, but it’s strange. Yakseon was a sage who treated patients and made elixirs. That’s why he’s called Yakseon.”

“That’s right.”

“But Yakseon is also Talgeommuheun, and I don’t know why Talgeommuheun would make this tomb.”

“No need to understand.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung chuckled and said,

“I know one thing about people.”

“What’s that?”

“You can never predict them.”

“…”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“Even people you know well can surprise you. How can we know what someone from two hundred years ago thought? We just need to take what we can and leave. Their intentions don’t matter.”

It was realistic.

But it was also cold.

Chung Myung said that, but Yoon Jong thought Yakseon had a reason for this tomb.

*‘What is Yakseon trying to say to those who enter?’*

Chung Myung glanced at him and said,

“That’s not it.”

“Huh?”

“The beginning isn’t here. Ask why Yakseon became Talgeommuheun.”

“…Ah.”

Yoon Jong was surprised.

He hadn’t thought of that.

Yakson had a school of elixir-making. He was famous without being Talgeommuheun.

Why wear a mask and take up a sword?

Yoon Jong looked at Chung Myung.

Chung Myung seemed to be guessing something. He was young, but wise.

“What?”

“I was wondering if you were guessing something.”

Chung Myung chuckled.

“What does that matter?”

“Huh?”

“If Yakseon had other plans, would he have left the Honwon Dan and stepped back?”

“…Probably not.”

“Then that’s it. I don’t care about the past. The elixir-making method for the Honwon Dan might be here.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll get it no matter what!”

Yoon Jong sighed at Chung Myung’s burning eyes.

*‘It’s good he’s simple.’*

He envied Chung Myung’s personality. He didn’t worry.

*‘Even if it seems that way.’*

Yu Yiseol gave Chung Myung water. He took it and asked Hong Daekwang,

“Hey, beggar uncle! Almost done?”

“The antidote is working.”

“You brought an antidote for paralysis poison?”

“For paralysis powder. You never know. It seems to be working.”

“Hoo.”

Chung Myung looked at Hong Daekwang.

“What! I’m the strategist of the Beggars’ Sect!”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

“Tsk.”

Hong Daekwang shook his head. This guy wouldn’t care.

“Let’s go if you’re detoxified.”

“How far does this Sword Tomb go? We’ve come far.”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“The cave is curved, so it’s not that far.”

“…Is that so?”

“There’s a limit to underground space. We’ll see the end soon.”

“Hmm. Okay. I understand.”

The group got up. Chung Myung watched with a subtle expression.

It was true they’d see the end soon.

But others would be there too.

*‘Malicious.’*

Chung Myung smiled at the thought of Yakseon.

“Shall we see what you’ve prepared?”

Chung Myung gave a wicked smile.