Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 194

Tang Gunak walked towards Chung Myung, and you could feel a strong power coming from him. Even people watching, like his sons Dang Pae and Dang Jan, felt the pressure.

But Chung Myung was right in front of Tang Gunak and his power. He just stood there, looking calm and not reacting at all.

But someone else was surprised.

Four figures burst out of the main hall, moving so fast they were almost blurs of white and blue.

Baek Cheon, wearing white martial robes, quickly stepped in front of Chung Myung and bowed deeply to Tang Gunak.

“Greetings to the Head of the Sichuan Dang Family. I am Baek Cheon, a disciple of Mount Hua.”

Tang Gunak stopped walking.

But his hand stayed inside his sleeve.

“The Flowing Cloud Sword.”

“It is an honor that you recognize me. I should have shown respect when I arrived in Chengdu, but I was foolish and lacked manners. I deeply apologize.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Gunak thought, ‘This one has better manners than Chung Myung.’ He nodded slowly.

The other Mount Hua disciples forced smiles.

‘Does that madman not know who he should and shouldn’t be messing with?’

‘Good heavens, to the Head of the Dang Family, of all people.’

‘I knew he was crazy, but I never imagined he was this insane.’

They thought, ‘We are going to die because of someone else’s crazy actions!’

Who was Tang Gunak?

Wasn’t he the infamous Poison King?

Although the title of Poison King was usually given to the head of the Sichuan Dang Family, Tang Gunak was worthy of that title.

There were many masters in the world, but everyone respected the head of the Dang Family. Even if Hyun Jong, the leader of Mount Hua, were there, he would have to show respect to Tang Gunak.

And yet, this reckless fool!

Baek Cheon swallowed hard.

This was on another level.

Baek Cheon had met the leaders of the Wudang Sect and seen their swordsmanship, but the power coming from Tang Gunak made their skills seem weak.

‘This is an absolute master!’

Just standing near him made it hard to breathe.

He couldn’t say it out loud, but he had never felt this kind of power from the leaders of Mount Hua. Tang Gunak was much stronger than anyone he knew.

“I am sorry for my younger brother’s rudeness,” Baek Cheon said. “If he needs to be punished, please punish me instead.”

“You?”

“Yes!” Baek Cheon said firmly.

“I am responsible for these children. So…”

“Get out of the way!” Chung Myung suddenly grabbed Baek Cheon and yanked him back.

Baek Cheon stumbled, surprised. “Hey! What are you doing? This is serious!”

“No, no, you’re wrong!” Chung Myung grinned.

“Huh?” Baek Cheon was completely confused.

Chung Myung smirked and said.

“From the start, that old man didn’t care about you, Sahyung. He came to see me from the beginning.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Forget it,” Chung Myung said, sighing. He looked at Tang Gunak.

Tang Gunak had been directing his killing intent at him since he entered the inner garden. He had been trying to endure it, but he couldn’t stand by when he was being threatened.

“More importantly, take a good look. That man is the real deal.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened.

He had never heard Chung Myung say such a thing. Even Chung Myung, who was known for his recklessness, acknowledged Tang Gunak as a powerful figure.

“Oof!”

Chung Myung shook off Baek Cheon’s hand and walked forward.

“What’s your business?”

“…Business?”

“Yes. If you came to find someone, you must have a reason.”

Tang Gunak’s smile grew.

“I’ll ask you one thing.”

“As much as you want.”

“Do you think anyone can be so rude to me and still live?”

It was a statement that froze everyone’s souls. But Chung Myung remained calm.

“Yes.”

“…What?”

“There probably is. Wouldn’t there be at least one person?”

“…”

“Or I could be the first.”

Tang Gunak’s cold face suddenly became blank.

‘What is this kid?’

He had been pressing down on Chung Myung with his killing intent for some time now. Any ordinary person would be pale and trembling by now.

Even his son, Dang Pae, would faint if he felt this much killing intent.

But Chung Myung was enduring it calmly, as if he were used to such killing intent. He really seemed completely unaffected.

‘Where did this amazing kid come from?’

What was even more perplexing was that Chung Myung did not appear particularly strong.

Usually, you can tell how strong someone is just by looking at them. But Chung Myung was different. It was hard to guess his strength, unless he was so skilled that he looked completely ordinary.

In other words…

“Either he is weak and has no power.”

Or…

“He is incredibly strong and hides it well.”

Everyone was confused by Tang Gunak’s quiet words.

Only Chung Myung understood their meaning.

“Are you going to find out?”

“I intend to. But before that, there is something I want to ask.”

“Yes, ask away.”

“Do you think I won’t kill you?”

“Yes.”

“…Why? Do you think Mount Hua can protect you? Even from the Dang Family?”

Suddenly, Chung Myung’s face darkened, and he sighed deeply.

“This damn sect… This damn sect! Protection my foot.”

I am Mount Hua’s protection, you fool! Me!

What protection is Mount Hua giving me! My back is breaking!

Chung Myung, wiping his slightly stinging eyes, cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“I shouldn’t say this myself, but I have to trust Mount Hua… Actually, never mind.”

Chung Myung waved his hand.

“Anyway, it’s not like that.”

“Then?”

“What I trust is not Mount Hua, but the Dang Family.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Chung Myung looked directly at Tang Gunak and said.

“I’ve heard the Sichuan Dang Family will do anything to help their family. Is that true?”

“Maybe,” Tang Gunak answered, not really agreeing.

It must be true.

Because I heard it directly from that damned bastard.

– Our family would not hesitate to sell the country for profit. I’m also a Dang, but I can’t stand this family. It’s not a joke; if I become an obstacle to the family, they will think it’s natural to kill me. What? Can they kill me? How could those guys kill me? I am the Dark Lord!

“So, there’s no way you’d kill me.”

Tang Gunak narrowed his brows.

“The reason?”

“Because I will become the strongest person in the world, and I will make Mount Hua the strongest group in the world.”

Even Tang Gunak was surprised by that absurd declaration.

“You’re saying that’s a reason?”

“Of course. If you kill me here, it’s just eliminating a future enemy, but if you make me your friend, you’ll have the future strongest person in the world as your friend. Isn’t it obvious which is more beneficial? The Dang Family can’t become the best group in the world without me anyway.”

“…”

Tang Gunak stared silently at Chung Myung.

‘This is uncanny.’

Chung Myung’s words showed he understood exactly what Tang Gunak was planning.

Tang Gunak’s own sons didn’t know why he came himself. But this young person, Chung Myung, understood his plans quickly, even though they had never met.

“You may be right. No, you are right. You are excessively clever.”

“Hee hee. If you praise me like that, I’ll get a little embarrassed.”

Chung Myung scratched the back of his head, grinning foolishly.

“As you say, if you are to become the greatest under heaven, the Dang Family will accept you as a friend. Friends are meant to look after each other. The Dang Family will spare nothing it can offer you.”

“Kheeuh. I’ll gratefully accept it.”

“However.”

A coldness settled in Tang Gunak’s eyes.

“That is only if you prove that you will become the greatest under heaven. If not, you will die here for mocking the Dang Family.”

Baek Cheon’s face turned ashen, all color draining away. Words from the head of the Dang Family were heavy, like stones. Even if Tang Gunak hadn’t meant every word with his heart, he could not take them back now. If Chung Myung failed this test, Baek Cheon knew, the Dang Family would not hesitate. They would find a way to kill him, right here, in this place. A cold dread settled in Baek Cheon’s stomach.

“Well, you’re stating the obvious.”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“Are you confident?”

“Well, it goes without saying.”

Chung Myung glanced at his martial brothers.

“From now on, don’t even blink. Just watch.”

“Chung Myung-ah!”

“Will you be alright?”

“What, are they really going to kill me?”

“They said they would.”

“…Er… Eh. Am I really going to die?”

It was impossible to believe. Impossible!

Leaving his martial brothers behind, Chung Myung strode forward.

“Martial Uncle…”

“Shouldn’t we stop him?”

Baek Cheon was also at a loss.

Did he not trust Chung Myung?

‘I do.’

Even if he didn’t know that rascal’s personality, how could he not acknowledge his skill? Baek Cheon trusted and believed in Chung Myung more than anyone else in the world.

But his opponent was Tang Gunak.

The Poison King, Tang Gunak.

The absolute master of the Dang Family, who had made his name known throughout the world even before Chung Myung was born, and the head of the Dang Family.

Would Chung Myung’s skills work against such a person?

No, it wouldn’t.

“Th-That…”

Just as Baek Cheon was about to step forward, someone gently tugged at his clothes.

He turned to see Yiseol quietly shaking her head.

“Samae?”

“He’s the type to run away by any means if he’s not confident.”

“…”

Ah.

Baek Cheon nodded involuntarily.

Now that he thought about it, it was true.

That rascal’s ultimate goal wasn’t to become the greatest under heaven. It was to make Mount Hua the greatest sect under heaven. For that, he wouldn’t hesitate to jump into the mud, and he would endure any humiliation.

Which meant he was the type to throw away all pretense and run away rather than fight a battle he couldn’t win.

Since such a guy was stepping forward on his own, shouldn’t he trust him?

Baek Cheon stared at Chung Myung’s back with uneasy eyes.

That not-so-large back seemed incredibly broad. But even that back couldn’t completely reassure Baek Cheon.

‘Please.’

Baek Cheon prayed inwardly, his hand lightly resting on the hilt of his sword.

What if Chung Myung was really in danger?

‘I won’t hesitate.’

Even if his opponent was the head of the Dang Family. Mount Hua would never abandon its disciples.

Chung Myung, who had stepped forward, looked at Tang Gunak and opened his mouth.

“But can I ask you just one thing?”

“I will allow that much.”

“My older martial brother, Joggeol, did the fighting. So why are you interested in *me*?”

Tang Gunak smirked.

Then, he said in a voice so small that others couldn’t hear.

“You said you needed the twelfth hidden blade, didn’t you?”

“…Huh?”

“I am interested in that.”

Oh, I didn’t expect this…?

Soon, Chung Myung’s face contorted.

‘No, is this guy serious?’

– Taoist Hyungnim! Keuh, please keep it to yourself. Other guys think I only use eleven hidden blades, but the truth is, I have a hidden twelfth blade. Keuheuh, this is a really big secret… Yes? The one I used on Hyungnim last time that got completely destroyed? Aish, why are you bringing that up? It hurts my pride!

‘Pride, my foot!’

Was it a real secret?

No, why was this crazy guy talking about a family secret like he was hiding money in his pillowcase?

Sahyung! Jangmun Sahyung!

If that bastard is there, please beat him up a little!

Chung Myung, who had been briefly flustered, tried to smooth things over with an awkward smile.

“That was just a wild guess.”

“That guess is important.”

Chung Myung’s heart sank.

‘Is this old man here to destroy everything I care about?’

To kill Chung Myung, who knew the family’s secrets?

Eii…

No way, right?

Anxiety slowly began to fill Chung Myung’s heart, which had been calm and composed.

“The proof is simple.”

Tang Gunak smiled.

“Ten seconds. If you can withstand my ten seconds, I will acknowledge you as the greatest under heaven of the next generation.”

Ah.

Ten seconds?

All he had to do was avoid the Poison King’s attacks ten times?

Hahahaha.

“No! Is this old man really trying to kill someone! Do you really want to spend ten seconds on a green junior?”

Chung Myung shouted.

Of course, he wasn’t really a junior, but still.

“It has to be at least that much.”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth at Tang Gunak’s nonchalant reply.

‘Alright. Let’s do it, shall we?’

If he could withstand Tang Gunak’s ten seconds, he would naturally be the greatest under heaven of the next generation. If someone could do that, they wouldn’t even be called a promising talent.

Not just the greatest promising talent under heaven, but the greatest promising talent of all time wouldn’t be able to do it! You damned old geezer!

Chung Myung groaned, glaring at Tang Gunak with fire in his eyes.

“Okay. But don’t forget what you promised.”

“Promise?”

“The promise that friends look after each other. You said you’d do everything you could, right?”

“Of course.”

“You better be prepared.”

Chung Myung said, grinding his teeth.

“Because I’m going to tear down the Dang Family’s pillars.”

“If you can!”

Oh, really?

Does he think I’m joking?

Heh heh.

He’ll regret it.