Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 175

In this world, there are many powerful groups, including the Mount Hua Sect, which is striving to regain its strength. Other significant powers include the Five Outer Palaces, influential groups located outside the central lands. Long ago, a terrible war, known as the Demonic Sect’s Bloodstorm, caused widespread devastation and changed the course of history.

“What? Is there anything in the world that can’t be done! If it can’t be done, you make it happen!”

Chung Myung’s outburst caused Hwang Mun-yak to look troubled. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he listened to Chung Myung’s outburst.

If anyone else had spoken like that, Hwang Mun-yak might have been displeased. However, he owed Chung Myung a great debt.

“Little Taoist, please calm down,” Hwang Mun-yak said carefully.

“Calm down? How can I possibly…!”

“Hold him down,” Hyun Jong commanded quietly.

Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong quickly grabbed Chung Myung and held him back.

“Ughhh,” Chung Myung groaned.

Hyun Jong glanced at Hwang Mun-yak and asked carefully, his voice filled with concern, “Is it perhaps because of the Ice Crystal?”

The Ice Crystal is very rare. It comes from the deepest and most dangerous parts of the Northern Sea. It is very hard to get and needed for the Primordial Pill. Moreover, the Northern Sea Ice Palace controls it, making it difficult to obtain even with money.

Hwang Mun-yak smiled sadly.

“It is true that getting the Ice Crystal is very difficult, but with the Silver Sea Merchant Guild’s ability, we can get it without any trouble.”

“Then?” Hyun Jong asked.

“The item we cannot obtain is not the Ice Crystal. It is this Violet Wood Herb.”

“Hmm?” Hyun Jong tilted his head.

He had asked for the Violet Wood Herb, but he hadn’t paid much attention to it because it didn’t seem particularly special.

“Is it a very precious item? Extremely expensive, perhaps?” Hyun Jong inquired.

“Not at all. The Violet Wood Herb is rare and only grows in specific places, but its effects are not significant. It can’t really be called a medicinal herb,” Hwang Mun-yak explained.

“Then why?” Hyun Jong asked, confused.

Hwang Mun-yak sighed deeply. “The Sect Leader is, of course, aware of the Five Outer Palaces.”

“Of course,” Hyun Jong replied.

The Five Outer Palaces are five powerful groups located on the edges of the central lands. Each one is as strong as the Nine Great Sects in the Central Plains, so they are grouped together.

They are the Southern Sea Sun Palace, the Northern Sea Ice Palace, the Potala Palace, the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, and the Mara Blood Palace.

“The problem is with the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace,” Hwang Mun-yak said.

Hyun Jong blinked, wondering what the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace had done.

As if understanding his question, Hwang Mun-yak began to explain, “This Violet Wood Herb is a wild grass that grows in the deep valleys of Yunnan. It used to be easy to get. There weren’t merchants who traded it, so you had to go to Yunnan, but that was all. But now, the path to the Violet Wood Herb is completely blocked.”

“The path is blocked? I don’t understand. Do you mean we cannot go there at all?” Hyun Jong asked, confused.

“The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace is blocking the path. They are blocking not only the path to the Violet Wood Herb but also preventing people from the Central Plains from passing through their territory.”

“No, how can a sect block a road? Does that even make sense?” Hyun Jong asked, surprised.

Hwang Mun-yak smiled bitterly. “The Southern Barbarian Lands are a place where our common sense doesn’t apply. The martial sects and armed groups there rule like kings. The nation cannot control them.”

Hyun Jong frowned. What Hwang Mun-yak said wasn’t unbelievable. The Potala Palace and the Northern Sea Ice Palace ruled like royalty in their areas.

It wouldn’t be strange if the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace did the same.

“Why are they blocking the road?” Hyun Jong asked.

“Since the Demonic Sect’s Bloodstorm, the relationship between the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace and the Central Plains has become bad. When the Demonic Sect attacked, they asked for help from the Central Plains, but the Central Plains did not help because they didn’t want to waste their strength on outer regions.”

“Tsk,” Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

‘They got their asses kicked later for that,’ Chung Myung thought.

Because when the Demonic Sect conquered the lower regions and marched north, there was no one to help them.

“Because of that, after the Demonic Sect was stopped, the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace stopped talking to the people of the Central Plains. Now, they are not even allowing people to pass through,” Hwang Mun-yak said with a sigh.

“The merchant guilds are losing a lot of money. Yunnan tea is very famous in the Central Plains. This tea was one of the biggest sources of income for the merchants of Sichuan and Shaanxi, but with the trade route to Yunnan blocked, they are losing a lot of money.”

“In other words…” Baek Cheon said, summarizing the situation.

“They are so strong that merchants have to give up their profits,” Baek Cheon concluded.

“That is correct,” Hwang Mun-yak confirmed.

Hyun Jong’s face became even more serious. He thought he had found a way for Mount Hua to become stronger, but he had run into a problem.

“Chief of the Medical Hall,” Hyun Jong called.

“Yes, Sect Leader,” Un-gak, the Chief of the Medical Hall, lowered his head.

“What do you think? Even if there is no Violet Wood Herb, can we make the Violet Origin Pill?” Hyun Jong asked.

“Sect Leader…” Un-gak swallowed hard and sighed.

“Making pills is not just about mixing ingredients. When all the ingredients are perfectly mixed, they create a special effect. If even one ingredient is missing, it is difficult to get even one-tenth of the original effect,” Un-gak explained.

“Hmm,” Hyun Jong hummed.

“If we cannot prepare a perfect elixir, it would be better to eat the ingredients raw. Without the Violet Wood Herb, we cannot make the Violet Origin Pill,” Un-gak stated firmly.

Everyone’s face darkened.

It was then that a chilling voice echoed through the room. It was Chung Myung.

“So…”

“Those Southern Barbarian Beast Palace bastards aren’t handing over the ingredients to make my Violet Origin Pill?” Chung Myung asked, his voice dangerously low.

Chung Myung’s face turned red with anger.

“What! Are those bastards trying to die!” Chung Myung shouted.

“Hold him!” Hyun Jong ordered.

“Yes!” Those around him quickly rushed in and pinned him down.

“Let go! Won’t you let go? Are these bastards crazy! What’s the big deal? They’re making a fuss about not handing over a few sprigs of grass?” Chung Myung yelled, struggling.

“C-Calm down. They say those guys are blocking the road. What can we do!” someone exclaimed.

“Block? Block the road? If we fight them and win, they will move! Let’s see if they still block the road even after their heads are smashed!” Chung Myung’s eyes rolled back in anger.

“Uraaaaaah!” Chung Myung blew away those who were holding him down and jumped to his feet!

Hyun Jong flinched at the sight of Chung Myung’s burning eyes.

“Sect Leader!” someone cried out.

“Ah, why,” Hyun Jong sighed, wondering what Chung Myung was going to do this time.

“I’m going to Yunnan!” Chung Myung declared.

“I will smash those bastards and bring back the Violet Wood Herb,” Chung Myung said, his voice full of determination.

Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong grabbed Chung Myung in horror.

“You rascal! It’s the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace! The Five Outer Palaces, I tell you!” Baek Cheon exclaimed.

“If you mess with them, even ten heads wouldn’t be enough!” But Chung Myung was as calm as could be.

“Why would I worry about my head? Those jerks should be worrying about theirs!”

“…”

Wow, that kind of makes sense. It’s actually convincing.

Just then, Jo Gul, who had been quietly watching everything, spoke in a low voice.

“Guild Leader.”

“Hmm?”

“If Yunnan prohibits people from the main lands from entering, can’t we hire people from other regions? Like people from the Western Regions? Aren’t people who aren’t from the main lands allowed into Yunnan?”

“Oh?” Hwang Mun-yak’s eyes widened.

“Wow, Jo Gul, that’s smart!”

“That senior brother of mine is pretty good at using his head sometimes.”

“…”

Jo Gul wanted to retort that they were all being rather thoughtless, but he decided to keep his mouth shut for now.

Just then, Hwang Mun-yak shook his head with a grave expression.

“We’ve tried that sort of thing before, but… it all ended in failure. The people from the Western Regions who trade in Yunnan have to swear that they won’t take these goods out to the main lands. It’s not that there aren’t any who sell them, but it’s a risky business that could cost them their heads, so they’re not eager to get involved.”

“…I see.”

“Moreover,” Hwang Mun-yak sighed deeply.

“This Jamokcho is located deep within Yunnan, right next to the territory of a powerful group in the south, the Southern Savage Palace. Even people from the Western Regions are forbidden from entering that area, so we can’t get our hands on it that way. In fact, even people from Yunnan who aren’t part of the Savage Palace are forbidden from entering.”

Jo Gul nodded slightly, as if he understood.

Hwang Mun-yak’s eyes gleamed as he looked at him. ‘Jo Gul has a knack for business,’ he thought.

And then there was Chung Myung, who had more than just business sense. He had a sharp tongue and a fierce spirit.

“Then it’s decided!” Chung Myung said, grinding his teeth.

“We’re going to Yunnan! We’ll tell those jerks to hand over the Jamokcho right now!”

“…It’s the Savage Palace, remember?” someone mumbled.

Chung Myung puffed out his chest. “So what if it’s the Savage Palace? I’m from Mount Hua!”

“…”

Looking at Chung Myung puffing out his chest, Hyun Jong’s heart was filled with a mix of emotions. He felt proud to see such overflowing pride in the sect, but also dumbfounded at how reckless he was.

But the conclusion was already as good as made. ‘We must obtain the Jamokcho,’ he thought.

To have obtained the recipe for the amazing medicine, the Honwon Pill, only to be left twiddling our thumbs for lack of ingredients, was simply unacceptable. This was something that had to be achieved, even if it meant using all of Mount Hua’s strength.

Hyun Jong, having made up his mind, looked at Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

“Can you do it?” Hyun Jong’s face was as serious as could be.

“This is an extremely dangerous task. But it is also a necessary one. So I must ask you. Can you obtain the Jamokcho and return safely, without getting hurt?”

Chung Myung curled up the corners of his lips into a grin.

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes.”

“I am Chung Myung.”

“…”

Hyun Jong’s eyes trembled. The moment he heard those words, his heart overflowed with trust.

‘Yes. That kid is Chung Myung,’ he thought. If Mount Hua couldn’t trust Chung Myung, who could they trust? That kid was the one leading Mount Hua forward. Of course, they should trust and have faith…

“Don’t worry! I’ll smash those jerks’ heads in and bring back the Jamokcho! Seriously, they need to act reasonably! Did we ask them to hand over gold, or to give up their throne? We’re just taking a few weeds! Are they trying to die? I’ll stuff their mouths with weeds and set them on fire!”

“…”

Trust, my foot… How did such a thing end up in the Taoist sect?

Hyun Jong, calming his trembling face, turned his head with difficulty.

“Hyun Young.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Prepare the children as quickly as possible.”

“Sect Leader?” Hyun Young’s eyes flickered slightly. But Hyun Jong said firmly.

“I will send Chung Myung to Yunnan.”

“Understood!” And looking quietly at Chung Myung, he said.

“You must succeed.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll move the entire Jamokcho field over here!”

“…”

Hyun Jong felt a strange sense of guilt towards the people of Yunnan.

“Ahem!” Just then, Hyun Young, who was still standing in his place, subtly gave Hyun Jong a look. Hyun Jong, understanding the gesture, quietly rose from his seat.

“Well, then, I’ll be off for a bit.”

Hyun Young and Hyun Jong quickly left the room and moved as far away from the main hall as possible. Hyun Jong spoke first.

“What is it?”

Hyun Young frowned slightly and said.

“Are you planning to send the children to such a dangerous place again?”

“I know it would be good to have someone to lead them. But as you know, when those children are left to their own devices, they often get into trouble…”

“It’s not about that.”

“…Huh?”

Hyun Young opened his mouth with a very displeased expression.

“If you’re sending the kids to such a dangerous place, shouldn’t you at least have some countermeasures! Let’s give them that.”

“That?”

“The Honwon Pill! The Honwon Pill!”

“…”

Hyun Jong flinched.

“Ah, no. There’s no guarantee that we’ll get the Jamokcho, so we should save this Honwon Pill…”

“Sect Leader, when did you become such a thief?”

“Th-thief?”

“Is that what Mount Hua is now? Chung Myung brought it back, so isn’t it Chung Myung’s? And the others who helped bring it back! What are you trying to hoard it for now! What if the kids get hurt!” Hyun Young’s eyes blazed.

He looked ready to rip Hyun Jong’s head off if the children came back injured.

“Feed it to the kids. That Honwon Pill.”

“…”

“Now!”

“…”

“Immediately!”

Ah, alright, alright. Just feed it to them! Feed them!