Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1649

Baek Cheon, who had been blankly watching Chung Myung’s rampage, belatedly snapped back to his senses.

“We have to stop him! Quickly!”

“Uh……”

“What are you doing, you bastards! We need to stop him……”

“Sasuk.”

“Huh?”

“It’s too late, isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon looked at the scene before him again.

“Ah.”

It was already too late. That statement was certainly correct. The worst he could imagine… no, perhaps an unimaginable, terrible sight was unfolding.

*Thwack!*

Chung Myung’s foot shot out like lightning, slamming into the face of a Moyong Sect swordsman with a sickening crack.

“Gwaaaack!”

The man flew through the air with a sound like a pig being slaughtered and crashed into the middle of the onlookers. Silence fell. Everyone held their breath, afraid to be next. Perhaps their minds couldn’t comprehend the situation, as they all stood there dumbfounded.

At that moment, Chung Myung spotted a trembling beggar.

“And this worthless beggar!” Chung Myung roared, his eyes blazing.

“C-Chongsa! I didn’t say a word, I swear!” the beggar stammered, his face pale with terror.

“You useless worm! No sense at all! You deserve to die!” Chung Myung spat.

*Wham!*

Faster than anyone could react, Chung Myung snatched the wooden club from the beggar’s trembling hands. He swung it down with brutal force, the sound echoing like a bone cracking. The club crashed against the beggar’s head. The beggar crumpled to the ground, his body twitching like a broken puppet, a silent scream trapped in his throat.

“What? Maeng Gyu?” Chung Myung’s eyes, wild and dangerous, scanned the crowd like a hawk searching for prey.

“I haven’t seen a single bastard ask for Maeng Gyu since I got here, what? According to Maeng Gyu? Do you even know what your Maeng Gyu is?”

“……”

“Oh, alright. Just one of you, come forward. If there’s just one bastard who knows what’s written in Maeng Gyu, I’ll just let it go. Just one person, come forward. Right now.”

“That……”

Even those who had been silently condoning the events of the day were now horrified, exchanging nervous glances. No one dared to step forward and claim to fully understand Maeng Gyu – the rules of their alliance.

It was only natural.

The Cheonwoo Alliance had never properly established anything like a Maeng Gyu. In the first place, the very people who should be creating Maeng Gyu were doing nothing, so where would they have seen the non-existent Maeng Gyu to claim its righteousness?

“No one?”

Chung Myung pressed, and everyone flinched in silence. Chung Myung’s eyes, which had seemed to calm down for a moment, rolled again.

“Oh, alright. Then I guess you know why you deserve to be beaten!”

*Thwack!*

Another person soared into the air.

“H-Heeeek!”

“Come here! Come here, you bastard! Where are you running off to!”

“C-Chongsa! I-If you do this……”

“If I do this, what? What are you going to do about it?”

Chung Myung began to rampage like a mad dog, sweeping through everything around him.

Namgoong Dowi’s eyes darted back and forth, his hands shaking slightly. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, and cold sweat dripped down his face.

“Shouldn’t we really stop him?”

“……Now you ask?”

“B-But still……”

Jo Gul calmly stroked his chin and muttered as if talking about another world.

“It’s a scene I used to see a lot… back in Hwasan, when Chung Myung was angry.”

“……That’s right.”

“It’s been a bit rare lately, hasn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong were not only letting it go but even seemed peaceful. The flustered Namgoong Dowi now sought out Baek Cheon.

“J-Jangmun Daeri! We have to stop him somehow……”

“Hmm.”

Baek Cheon hummed, a worried frown on his face. He knew Chung Myung could be like this, but was it going too far? He then nodded.

“I’ve been thinking about it……”

“Yes?”

“If it’s before it happens, it’s right to stop it…… but if it’s already happened, wouldn’t it be better to be thorough?”

“……Yes?”

“He must have a reason. He’s not a child.”

“T-That’s nonsense……”

“Aaaaaaargh!”

Just then, a man who had been struck squarely in the chin by Chung Myung’s foot soared into the air with a scream.

“He’s really beating them up nicely. I feel refreshed.”

Namgoong Dowi was speechless at Baek Cheon’s reaction, which seemed to have stopped thinking altogether.

‘These crazy Hwasan bastards…….’

How could they react like this to this sight? No one in their right mind could do that.

“It’s a scene of a Chongsa (Master Brother) of the Han Maeng beating Maengdo. Isn’t this something that should never happen, anywhere, anytime?”

“Well, I don’t think that’s something someone who was yelling for people who opposed the Maeng to come out with swords should be saying?”

“M-My position is a bit different……”

Namgoong Dowi’s voice trailed off a little, as if he felt guilty.

“What’s so new about this? Was it okay when the Third Generation Disciple was going around smashing the heads of the Second Generation Disciples?”

“……What about a Hwasan bastard beating up Namgoong Sect people?”

“It’s fortunate if it’s just Namgoong Sect people. He even drew on the head of Venerable Hae Yeon, who was from the Shaolin. Actually, this is a very mild reaction from Chung Myung’s perspective.”

……Namgoong Dowi blinked.

‘Now that I think about it.’

Chung Myung was ‘that’ kind of person. It was only now that it occurred to him again. He had been so busy trying to act serious these days that he had forgotten for a moment…….

“No, still…… I don’t think he should go this far.”

“Young Lord. Think about it carefully. He’s always been like this. It would be stranger if that bastard only did things he was allowed to do.”

“Uh…….”

Hearing that, it seemed to make sense again? The bewildered Namgoong Dowi nodded in agreement.

But not everyone was as convinced as Namgoong Dowi.

“W-What is the meaning of this?”

Jegal Yeon, who had been kicked around by Chung Myung, got up and screamed. Chung Myung, who was busy grabbing the collar of another unlucky person and punching them, simply glanced at Jegal Yeon.

“What’s that again?”

“A Chongsa of the Il Maeng using violence! Is this allowed?”

“Yeah.”

“……Yes?”

“It is.”

Jegal Yeon’s mouth dropped open.

“I-It is! What kind of nonsense is that? Who decides that?”

“Me.”

“……Yes?”

Jegal Yeon’s face, which had been about to retort sharply, suddenly went blank. Chung Myung said again, indifferently.

“I decide. Why? But this bastard is making me angry?”

Chung Myung grabbed the person he was shaking and threw him towards Jegal Yeon. Jegal Yeon was startled and dodged him without thinking.

Thud.

The thrown man landed pathetically on the ground, and Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, that disloyal bastard. He couldn’t even catch him.”

“N-No. You’re the one who threw the person……”

“I’m the Chongsa, you bastard. So I decide, or do you want to decide?”

Jegal Yeon’s mouth closed again. Looking around, it seemed that no one would step forward to defend him.

Perhaps it was only natural.

If the opponent only had arguments, one could argue against them; if they only had authority, one could resist; if they only had power, everyone could cooperate and fight together. But it was daunting to oppose someone who possessed arguments, authority, and power all in one.

However, Jegal Yeon couldn’t easily back down now.

“C-Chongsa… please… are you really saying you can just do whatever you want?”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do? Is there something wrong with that?”

Chung Myung strode towards Jegal Yeon. Jegal Yeon flinched and unconsciously stepped back.

“The Cheonwoo Alliance is a union of orthodox sects. How can a superior arbitrarily set a rule that allows them to beat their subordinates as they please!”

Chung Myung snorted at Jegal Yeon’s words.

“This bastard is talking nonsense. I’m not some back-alley black society thug, how can such a rule even be said?”

“T-That’s right! Then you should know that what you’re doing now is an abuse of power and a wrongful act……!”

“Bullshit.”

Chung Myung chuckled before even hearing the other person finish.

“This bastard is really running his mouth. Hey, am I beating you up because I don’t like you?”

“Then there’s another reason?”

“Insubordination.”

“……Yes?”

“Insubordination to the Budangju. What other reason could there be?”

“H-How can it be insubordination!”

Jegal Yeon’s gaze turned to Hae Yeon for a moment. Hae Yeon’s face was frozen pale. Jegal Yeon distorted his face and shouted.

“We were merely discussing the Budangju’s instructions because we judged them to be unreasonable! How can that be insubordination…….”

“Yeah, that’s insubordination.”

“Yes? Why…….”

“Why?”

The smile completely disappeared from Chung Myung’s face, which had been grinning until now.

Crack!

And in an instant, Chung Myung closed the distance and grabbed Jegal Yeon’s neck.

“Ke…….”

“You seem to be misunderstanding something,” Chung Myung said, looking down at him with cold eyes that sent a shiver down his spine. Jegal Yeon, who had his neck grabbed, couldn’t even resist, let alone answer. He could only tremble all over.

“Do you know what wartime is?”

“…….”

“Judging by the fact that you seem to have read some military books, you know very well what wartime is and what insubordination is. Recite it with your own mouth. What should someone who is not a Jang (長) do in wartime?”

“Ke…….”

Jegal Yeon’s eyes trembled finely.

“In wartime, the chaos caused by disagreements is more fatal than the small advantages they create, and that’s why there are separate wartime rules. You moronic bastard.”

Chung Myung’s murderous intent pierced through Jegal Yeon.

“Why? Are you upset that a young man is sitting on your head and giving you instructions? Do you think you’re much more right and great? Do you want to feel relieved that others prioritize and follow your words more?”

“T-That’s…….”

“Then prove your abilities on the battlefield, you bastard. Don’t just run your well-spoken mouth.”

Thump!

Chung Myung threw Jegal Yeon away carelessly.

“Cough! Hack!”

Jegal Yeon coughed as if he would vomit out his lungs, clutching his neck. Chung Myung, who looked down at him as if he were a bug, now glared at everyone as if scanning them. Those who had been frightened quickly averted their gaze.

“It’s the same for all of you. Did you think you could create a suitable atmosphere among yourselves and play around with a young one?”

“C-Chongsa……. It’s not like that…….”

“Even those who say they didn’t, at least thought it might be a little easier if they did this, right? Isn’t that so?”

There was no answer.

It was true that no one had actively defended Hae Yeon, and it was difficult to deny that Chung Myung’s words were also included in the reason.

Chung Myung coldly rebuked.

“Don’t be mistaken.”

“…….”

“The reason why the Maeng created a Dang and appointed a Dangju and Budangju wasn’t to listen to your complaints. It was to create a Dang that works properly, even if it means cutting off the heads of those who don’t listen.”

This time, Chung Myung’s gaze turned to the gathered Budangjus. The Budangjus flinched and lowered their heads.

“The coddling ends here.”

“…….”

“From now on, anyone who disobeys the Budangju and Dangju will be punished, regardless of the reason. Remember that clearly. There are no more sects anymore. That means…….”

Chung Myung’s voice was like the growl of a ferocious beast.

“There’s no place to recklessly protect you from the things you do anymore. Becoming a Maengdo means that the Maeng will now decide if you get good things or bad things based on what you do.”

That voice penetrated everyone’s ears very clearly and chillingly. Even the martial artists from other Dangs who had gathered to watch the situation flinched.

“If there’s anyone who wants to test whether this is just a threat or real, go ahead. It would be easier for me if I had an example. I’ll clearly prove that this Maeng’s Chongsa isn’t someone who utters empty words.”

As soon as Chung Myung finished speaking, a heavy silence fell, thick and suffocating, like a blanket of fear smothering the air. Everyone was at a loss, only looking at their toes, when……

“What’s going on?”

A man approached, pushing through the crowd.

The crowd parted to the left and right, and soon the man revealed himself. In an instant, the faces of the instigators, including Jegal Yeon, turned pale.

Step.

It was Dok Wang, Tang Gunak. His face was like stone. His eyes were dark and cold, promising trouble. He, who led the Dang with Budangju Hae Yeon, stared at everyone with a cold face and slowly opened his mouth.

“I’d like someone to explain. About what happened here.”

A voice like a blade fell over everyone’s heads.

“Without missing a single detail, everything.”

Those who realized the spreading anger of Dok Wang closed their eyes in resignation.