Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 178

Hyun Jong glared at Chung Myung, his eyes like sharp stones, and his face tight with anger.

But Chung Myung, even under that sharp gaze, looked as happy as a well-fed puppy.

“Ehehe.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Cough. Khm. Ehehe!”

“⋯⋯.”

Hyun Jong had led Mount Hua through many hard times. He always stayed calm. But now, even his calm was breaking.

‘If only I could just smack him upside the head. That’s all I ask,’ Hyun Jong thought, clenching his fists. He knew he shouldn’t think like this as a Sect Leader, but Chung Myung really tested his patience.

Oh, heavens! Why did you send such a creature to Mount Hua? What have I done to deserve this!

People say good luck and bad luck come together. Chung Myung was like that saying in person. Mount Hua’s greatest blessing was also its greatest headache.

“Khm. Sect Leader. Thank… Khuhuhm!” Chung Myung lowered his head, rubbing his chest and trying not to laugh.

Watching him, anger flared in Hyun Jong’s chest like a sudden fire.

‘It’s not because I’m stingy! Not because I’m stingy!’ he thought.

It felt like outright robbery! He would have given it willingly, but to have it snatched away like this, right from the Sect Leader’s hands!

“(Groans)”

Hyun Young gave Hyun Jong a look, noticing his discomfort.

“Sect Leader,” Hyun Young said.

“I know, I know!” Hyun Jong said, venting his frustration on Hyun Young. He gritted his teeth and spoke to Chung Myung.

“It won’t be an easy task.”

“(Chuckles). Don’t worry, Sect Leader! We have the Hongwon Dan, what’s there to worry about?”

“⋯⋯.”

Is that little rascal doing this on purpose?

‘Just one smack to the head! Just one!’

But that was a dream that could not be realized.

“Khuhm.” Realizing he was too agitated, Hyun Jong sighed heavily and cleared his throat loudly.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

Sensing the Sect Leader’s voice had become serious, Chung Myung straightened up.

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“I feel uneasy constantly giving you difficult tasks.”

Chung Myung looked at Hyun Jong and smiled slightly.

“Sect Leader, isn’t that just how things are?”

That’s just how things are… Hyun Jong felt drained and couldn’t help but laugh.

Sometimes Chung Myung would annoy him, and sometimes he would do unbelievable things. But Hyun Jong couldn’t hate him because of this subtly detached attitude.

At times, Chung Myung seemed incredibly childish, not befitting his age. But at other times, he seemed older than Hyun Jong himself.

‘His strangeness still hasn’t disappeared,’ Hyun Jong thought.

How could so many different sides exist within one person?

Hyun Jong chuckled dryly and continued, “Yes, you’re right. That’s just how things are. But I can’t help but feel sorry.”

“Don’t worry. Aside from the distance being a bit far, there won’t be any problems.”

“The Saeoeo Palace is known to be very private and strange. But the Nammaan Beast Palace, part of Saeoeo, is even wilder. People say their rules are so different, the normal laws don’t even matter there.”

“It’s alright.” Chung Myung smiled happily.

“Is there another way?”

“Hehe. You know.” Chung Myung casually touched the sword at his waist.

“⋯⋯.”

Well… that’s true. That has been the answer to many things since ancient times.

But this is the Taoist sect…

Hyun Jong squeezed his eyes shut. If he was going to stick to the Tao, he shouldn’t have sent Chung Myung out in the first place.

Sensing Hyun Jong’s feelings, Baek Cheon stepped forward in front of Chung Myung.

“Sect Leader, please don’t worry too much,” Baek Cheon said.

“Oh.”

Looking at Baek Cheon after seeing Chung Myung, it felt like the pain was melting away like snow in the spring sun.

“Even though it’s the Nammaan Beast Palace, they aren’t people who can’t communicate. I will try my best to resolve things through talking. If we are sincere, they will also…”

“Cut off our heads and hang them on poles.”

“Yes, how wonderful… I’m talking, you imbecile!”

“You have to say something that makes sense! If everything could be resolved through talking, why would wars even happen!”

“Wars happen because of people like you! If everyone was like you, the world would be chaos!”

“Should I turn Mount Hua into a living hell today?”

“⋯⋯.”

Hyun Jong shook his head, watching Baek Cheon and Chung Myung bickering.

That one’s a lost cause too.

The serious Baek Cheon of the past had long been tainted by Chung Myung and disappeared.

‘At this rate, the future of Mount Hua…’

It seems bright, yet it also seems dark… It’s nothing but confusing.

“Khm. In any case, I will try my best to stop this guy from running wild, so please trust us,” Baek Cheon said.

Hyun Jong nodded heavily.

“Baek Cheon, listen.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“From now on, you will act for me. What you say in Nammaan will be my words, and your will shall be the will of Mount Hua.”

He was giving him full authority.

Knowing the weight of those words, Baek Cheon sighed without realizing it.

“It’s too heavy, Sect Leader,” Baek Cheon’s voice was quiet, but his eyes were firm. He understood the weight of the Sect Leader’s trust, and he would not fail.

“You can do it.” Hyun Jong smiled slightly.

Experience is like that. Fear comes before anything you haven’t done before. Only by facing that fear and doing things one by one can you truly grow.

“Then, I will be off.”

“I wish you success.”

Baek Cheon bowed deeply. Then, the others bowed towards Hyun Jong and left one by one.

The group was the same as those who had gone to Nanyoung: Baek Cheon, Chung Myung, Yoon Jong, Jo Gul, and Yoo Iseol.

In other words, these were the people Mount Hua’s leaders trusted the most. Of course, Chung Myung didn’t quite fit the word ‘trust.’

Watching them leave, Hyun Sang spoke with a slightly worried tone.

“Shouldn’t we go with them?”

“Hmm.” Hyun Jong also sighed softly, as if Hyun Sang’s words bothered him.

“The last trip to Namyang was just for the kids. But this time, it’s different. Sending them to such a dangerous place alone is too risky. Please, let me go with them. I will…”

“Hey, Elder Brother. Don’t interfere where you shouldn’t.”

Hyun Sang turned to Hyeon Young, looking annoyed.

Hyeon Young looked calm, but also a bit sulky.

“Why would it be better if we went with them?”

“Come on, we are the elders!”

Hyeon Young scoffed.

“What have we done as elders? We’ve only ruined Mount Hua and let it get so bad that our signboard was almost taken down, right?”

“Ahem.”

Hyun Sang coughed loudly, his face turning red.

Hyeon Young clicked his tongue.

“Old people always worry about young people. They think young people can’t be trusted. But if we try to control everything, we stop them from growing.”

“Since when have you trusted the children so much?”

“I don’t trust them. How can I trust those brats?”

“Then?”

Hyeon Young chuckled at Hyun Sang’s question.

“I don’t trust them, but I know they’re better than me.”

Hyun Sang went quiet.

Just then, Hyun Jong, who had been listening, nodded slowly.

“It’s like holding a child close.”

But when you let them go, all you can do is worry and watch from afar.

But keeping a child in your arms doesn’t help them grow. Sometimes, they need to face tough times and get hurt to learn.

“The immortals of Mount Hua will protect those children.”

Hyun Jong didn’t know that the one who used to cause trouble for those immortals was among the children.

A little later…

“We have a guest! Disciples of Mount Hua, be kind and offer them cool water!”

“Huh?”

Hyeon Young sighed, rubbing his temples. Mount Hua was still in chaos after recent events. Suddenly, a loud voice boomed from the main gate, making him jump. He turned his head sharply.

‘A guest?’

What kind of guest could it be? Was anyone supposed to visit today?

Since there were no gatekeepers, Hyeon Young went to the main gate himself and threw open the doors.

‘A beggar?’

A beggar was squatting outside the gate.

“Goodness! This mountain is so rough and steep! I thought I was going to die climbing up here.”

“Who are you?”

“Ah!”

The beggar jumped up.

“I am Hong Daekwang of the Beggars’ Sect!”

The beggar put his hands together in a formal greeting, and Hyeon Young awkwardly did the same.

“F, first, some cold water!”

“…”

“Ahhhhh!”

Hong Daekwang finished the water, looked up, and smiled.

“Thank you for the warm welcome! I am Hong Daekwang, head of the Luoyang branch of the Beggars’ Sect.”

“Haha. I am Hyun Jong, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.”

“Please forgive me for coming without telling you.”

Hong Daekwang bowed deeply. Hyun Jong waved his hands, embarrassed.

“Why are you doing this? Please, get up.”

As he spoke, he realized his position had changed.

Judging by the knots on his belt, Hong Daekwang was definitely a Seven-Knot Beggar. (In the Beggars’ Sect, they use knots on their belts to show their rank.)

Ten knots are for the Sect Leader.

Nine knots are for retired Sect Leaders or elders.

Eight knots are for elders.

Seven knots are for branch leaders or key members.

Hong Daekwang, a Seven-Knot Beggar, was a key member of the Beggars’ Sect and could become the next Sect Leader. It was hard to imagine him bowing so deeply.

“But why are you here?”

“Haha. It’s just that I’ve been made head of the new Beggars’ Sect branch in Namyang.”

“Ah, in Namyang?”

Hyun Jong looked surprised, and Hong Daekwang asked, even more surprised,

“Didn’t the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua tell you?”

“…That child is a bit of a handful.”

“Hmm. That’s true. That’s possible.”

Hong Daekwang thought of Chung Myung and nodded. Chung Myung could do anything.

“Anyway, since we’re opening a branch in Namyang, I came to greet Mount Hua, which is like the master of Namyang.”

“That’s good news.”

Hyun Jong smiled. The Beggars’ Sect opening a branch nearby meant they would gather information from Mount Hua, but the sects welcomed it.

They could get more information and become better friends with the Beggars’ Sect.

“So, I’ll be visiting often. Ah, and Chung Myung asked us to station beggars in Namyang. If you need to tell anything to Namyang, we can deliver it.”

“…Would you do that?”

“Haha. Of course, Sect Leader. We’ll do anything to build a good relationship with Mount Hua. If you need any information, just ask. I’ll give you as much as I can.”

“I’m very grateful.”

Hong Daekwang wiped his nose.

‘The Sect Leader seems normal.’

It was good that Mount Hua didn’t just have crazy people like Chung Myung. He had been worried climbing the mountain.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“We should be saying that.”

They exchanged friendly words.

Then, Hong Daekwang suddenly remembered something.

“By the way… where did the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua go? We’ve been through a lot, but he’s not even here.”

“Ah… the children had some business and went on a trip.”

“A trip? They just got back.”

Hong Daekwang tilted his head.

“When will they be back?”

“Well… Yunnan is far away.”

“Y, Yunnan? They went to Yunnan? Ah, no! Why did he call me here and then go to that faraway place! What am I supposed to do?”

“…”

Why was he complaining here?

“H, how can this be! I did everything he asked, and I even brought the beggars! But the one who ordered the work went to Yunnan! When did they leave?”

“Just now…”

“Aaaaargh! Divine Dragon of Mount Hua! You damned bastard!”

Hong Daekwang rushed out.

The door slammed shut, and Hyun Jong’s bangs fluttered again.

Hyun Jong stared at the closed door and laughed.

“Hehehehe.”

Why were all the people Chung Myung brought like this?

Hyun Jong felt like another headache had been added to Mount Hua.