Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 201

They ran through the Tang Clan grounds.

“Young Master Chung Myung! Please stop!”

Tang Soso held her skirt and ran after Chung Myung. He didn’t look back, running as fast as he could.

“Just talk to me! Please! If we talk, you might change your mind! I’ll buy you sweet candies! Just stop!”

“Sweet candies, my foot!”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth, running quickly.

‘What am I doing?’

He was getting annoyed. He couldn’t hit her, but she wouldn’t leave him alone!

“Stop! Hey! Are you going to stop or not?”

Chung Myung ran into a pavilion and slammed the door.

He leaned against the door, watching outside.

‘She stopped.’

Tang Soso couldn’t come in here.

Chung Myung sighed deeply and turned around.

He looked up.

Tang Gun-ak was inside the pavilion. Their eyes met.

“You’ve come?” Tang Gun-ak asked slowly.

“Yes,” Chung Myung said.

A strange feeling was between them.

“Well… please sit down,” Tang Gun-ak said.

“Alright.”

Chung Myung sat across from Tang Gun-ak. Tang Gun-ak pushed a teapot towards him.

“Would you like tea?”

“No, thank you. I’m hot.”

“It’s cold tea.”

“Ah, okay.”

Chung Myung poured tea and drank it quickly.

“Ah.”

He put the cup down and looked at Tang Gun-ak.

“Everything’s fine, but…”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you trying to marry your daughter to me? Family is important, but are you being too obvious about wanting this marriage because of our clans?”

“Obvious?”

A vein popped out on Tang Gun-ak’s head.

“Huh?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

“Didn’t you tell her to do this?”

“I would never give my daughter to you!”

“…”

The air felt strange.

“Then why is she acting like this?”

“How would I know!”

Tang Gun-ak held his head.

He remembered his daughter saying, “I’ll take care of it! Just introduce us! Or do you want me to marry some old man? Just introduce us!”

“Ughhhh!”

Tang Gun-ak looked at Chung Myung.

He knew Chung Myung was a good match. Mount Hua was a good background, and Chung Myung was becoming the best martial artist. People said he even broke a chair at Mount Hua!

‘He’s strong now. In ten years, no one can beat him.’

But…

‘Do I want him as my son-in-law?’

Tang Gun-ak was a father.

He didn’t want his daughter to marry Chung Myung.

‘Over my dead body!’

He had raised his daughter carefully. He wanted her to marry a good person and be happy.

He had protected her from matchmakers and family elders.

But Chung Myung?

“No way!”

“But you introduced us!”

“Because she asked me to!”

“…”

Chung Myung was surprised.

“Am I that bad?”

He was getting angry.

Tang Gun-ak was cold.

“You are a great martial artist.”

“That’s right!”

“But you are not a good person.”

“…”

Chung Myung couldn’t argue. He had heard that before.

“Uh… well. Uh…”

It was true.

“A father wants his daughter to marry a good person, not just a strong one. As the Clan Lord, I had to introduce you. But as a father, I don’t want you to marry my daughter.”

“That’s hard to agree with.”

“It is difficult,” Tang Gun-ak said.

“That’s why I think you and Mount Hua will help me. Are you ready?”

“Of course.”

“Then let’s talk. What do you want from the Tang Clan?”

Chung Myung was here to negotiate.

Chung Myung’s smile disappeared. He looked at Tang Gun-ak.

“I think we should call my martial uncle.”

“That will make it more serious, but…”

Tang Gun-ak smiled.

“The real plans will be hidden.”

“Hmm.”

Chung Myung nodded.

‘He’s interesting.’

He was practical but cared about his reputation. He seemed cold but had some love for his family.

‘He’s not like Tang Bo.’

Tang Gun-ak had a big responsibility as the Tang Clan Lord. Tang Bo was only the Supreme Elder because he was good at martial arts.

“Well, fine. First.”

Chung Myung looked at Tang Gun-ak and began to speak.

“First, let’s be clear,” Chung Myung said, leaning forward slightly. “Does the Tang Clan want to join with Mount Hua?”

Tang Gun-ak smiled, a slow, knowing smile. “What I want is not Mount Hua itself, but *you*.”

Chung Myung raised an eyebrow. “But I *am* Mount Hua, aren’t I?”

“I know that,” Tang Gun-ak replied. “I just want you to admit it. If I can have you on my side, then yes, I will gladly make an alliance with Mount Hua.”

Tang Gun-ak smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Supporting Mount Hua wouldn’t be hard either. Don’t forget how highly the Tang Clan thinks of you.”

Chung Myung returned Tang Gun-ak’s smile, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“So, you’d support Mount Hua just for me?”

“It’s a big gesture, I admit. But worth it.”

“Haha. You really are the Clan Lord,” Chung Myung chuckled, a low, amused sound.

“What do you mean?” Tang Gun-ak asked, his voice a bit sharper.

“You’re good at telling falsehoods.”

Tang Gun-ak’s smile vanished. His eyes narrowed slightly.

“What do you mean?” he repeated, his voice harder now.

“Ah, don’t look at me like that. I’m not saying the Szechuan Tang Clan’s plan to ally with Mount Hua is fake. But, you know, acting like you’re doing us this huge favor is kind of annoying.”

“Hmm.” Tang Gun-ak studied Chung Myung.

“You seem too young to get it,” Tang Gun-ak said. “You’re strong, but it’s still just potential. A young tiger might not grow into a strong tiger.”

“That’s true.”

Chung Myung was different, but Tang Gun-ak couldn’t help thinking that way.

“So, Mount Hua can’t talk to the Tang Clan as equals. Even if you become the best, it’s the same. You alone can’t make Mount Hua equal to other sects.”

“Of course, it makes sense to think that way.”

“So, why should I treat you as equals? Why?”

Chung Myung chuckled softly.

“Why are you acting like this, Clan Lord Tang? Negotiations aren’t between equals. They’re between people who need something.”

“Hmm?” Tang Gun-ak looked surprised.

“It’s not Mount Hua that wants the Tang Clan. It’s the Tang Clan that wants Mount Hua.”

Tang Gun-ak frowned, wondering what Chung Myung knew.

Chung Myung stood up suddenly. He ripped the large map from the wall with a loud tear.

“Hmm?” Tang Gun-ak watched, surprised.

Chung Myung brought the map to the table and pointed. “Here’s the Tang Clan.”

“I have eyes, you know.”

“Below is the Emei Sect.”

“…” Tang Gun-ak’s expression changed.

“Above is the Qingcheng Sect. To the right, Wudang, and above that, Jongnam. Oh, and the Jeomchang Sect down there, but forget them. They don’t matter.”

Tang Gun-ak’s expression changed completely. He looked like a Clan Lord now, not just a friendly man.

“Now you’re serious?” Tang Gun-ak asked, his voice sharper now.

But Chung Myung remained easygoing, unfazed by the Clan Lord’s aura.

‘The Clan Lord of the Tang Clan can’t be careless,’ Chung Myung thought.

Chung Myung didn’t think Tang Gun-ak was faking. Like Tang Bo, he might just be a cheerful person.

But the Clan Lord of the Szechuan Tang Clan couldn’t be someone who acted without thinking.

Tang Gun-ak’s goal was clear: practicality.

If there was nothing to gain, he wouldn’t have been so nice, even if he liked Chung Myung.

“What do you want to say?” Tang Gun-ak asked, his eyes narrowed.

“Isn’t it strange?” Chung Myung asked, tilting his head.

“What is?”

“You’re surrounded. By the Nine Great Sects, who are as strong as or stronger than the Tang Clan. And all the beggars in Szechuan…” Chung Myung shivered. “I can’t even breathe.”

Tang Gun-ak regained his composure a little.

“You’re wrong. The main family and the Nine Great Sects are on good terms. We’re allies.”

“Yes, that must be true,” Chung Myung said with a shrug.

“Until the Demonic Sect was destroyed.”

A sharp glint flashed in Tang Gun-ak’s eyes.

Chung Myung noticed and continued, watching Tang Gun-ak carefully.

“When there’s a common enemy, they work together. But when the enemy’s gone? They split up based on what they want and find new enemies. Even if those enemies were once their friends.”

“You…” Tang Gun-ak’s voice was low.

“The other families don’t have this problem. The Namgung, Peng, and Moryong families are in the east. They can help each other. But the Tang Clan?”

“…Is in the west,” Tang Gun-ak finished, his face grim.

“Yes. And the Nine Great Sects control the paths to the other families. So, no matter what anyone says, the Tang Clan is alone. Right?”

Tang Gun-ak didn’t answer, unsure whether Chung Myung had read his mind or if he was shocked by Chung Myung’s words.

Tang Gun-ak let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful.

“Go on,” he said finally.

“The Tang Clan is surrounded.”

“…” Tang Gun-ak remained silent.

“Being the boss of a region sounds good. But it means you’re nothing outside that region. Those bosses will eventually look here,” Chung Myung said, pointing to the center of the Central Plains.

“Right?”

“…” Tang Gun-ak didn’t respond.

“Even if they don’t, it doesn’t matter. Being surrounded and pressured by the Nine Great Sects isn’t what the Tang Clan wants. That’s why the Tang Clan needs a friend. A friend to keep those sects in check. And oh? Look here…”

Chung Myung pointed to Shanxi, behind the Jongnam and Wudang Sects.

“There’s Mount Hua?”

“…” Tang Gun-ak’s face was unreadable.

“Hee hee. What a coincidence. Why is Mount Hua here? In the perfect spot to keep Wudang and Jongnam in check? How strange,” Chung Myung said, a playful glint in his eyes.

Tang Gun-ak’s face stiffened at Chung Myung’s joke.

‘How much does this brat know?’ Tang Gun-ak wondered.

Chung Myung smiled brightly at Tang Gun-ak’s expression.

“Hey, don’t be so tense. It’s not a big deal.”

“Can I ask something?” Tang Gun-ak asked, his voice carefully neutral.

“Sure.”

“When did you start thinking about this?”

“Hmm. Maybe…” Chung Myung shrugged.

“Around the time you heard we arrived in Szechuan, Clan Lord Tang?”

“…” Tang Gun-ak realized something.

‘I completely misjudged him,’ he thought.

He’s not just a strong simpleton.