Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 206

“Are you still far away?”

“Make it faster! Faster!”

“What about the Kung Pao Chicken? I told you to make it a while ago, what’s going on? Where’s Head Chef Bu!”

The chefs of the Sichuan Tang Family were working very hard and fast.

“Didn’t they say there were only five people? This looks like more than twenty servings. Why are they asking us to make more?”

“Don’t even mention it. Apparently, one person is eating almost all of it!”

“All of it?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“Heh heh. Is he eating like he’s got a hungry ghost inside him?”

The chefs’ hands began to move even faster.

Among those busy chefs, one person walked in easily.

Chefs in tall white hats saw the new person walk in. Quickly, they piled steaming plates of food and bottles of strong-smelling drink onto a wooden tray. The kitchen was hot and noisy, filled with the sizzle of cooking and shouts.

“Quickly! Carry it before it gets cold!”

“Yes!”

The person, who had lowered their head to hide their face, took the tray of food and quickly moved away.

He slipped out of the kitchen, glanced around, and then reached into his inner pocket.

He took out one large bottle and one small bottle, checked them, and his eyes gleamed coldly.

He remembered, ‘I heard he likes alcohol.’

He sprinkled the powder from the small bottle evenly over the Kung Pao Chicken, then poured the liquid from the other bottle into the liquor bottle.

Then, with a face as if nothing had happened, he picked up the tray and began to walk calmly.

Arriving at the quarters of the Mount Hua disciples, he cleared his throat slightly and entered.

“Oh! He’s here!”

“…You’re here again?”

“I don’t know if it’s amazing that you eat all this, or that the Tang Family gives you all this.”

On the table in the center of the inner room, empty dishes were scattered about.

The man placed the food he had brought in front of Chung Myung. Then, he gathered the empty dishes.

“Kuh. Shall we start again, then?”

Chung Myung whistled and picked up his chopsticks. Seeing this, Baek Cheon frowned deeply.

“Seriously? You’re eating *again*?”

“Well, they’re giving it to me, so I have to eat it.”

“Are you possessed by a gluttonous ghost? Hey, you! You have a sparring match this afternoon! How can you make your body so heavy like this?”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

“Mount Hua also has good food, doesn’t it? Why are you acting like you’ve been starving…”

“Sasuk.”

“Hm?”

“That’s rice.”

“Then what is this?”

“This is cuisine.”

“……”

It was a subtle remark, but Baek Cheon understood Chung Myung’s words perfectly. No matter how generously they poured meat and used good ingredients, the food from the Mount Hua kitchen could not be compared to the food here.

Wasn’t it cuisine made by the best chefs in Sichuan, a region famous for its spicy food?

“Kuh. Just one bite…”

Chung Myung tilted his head at that moment.

“Huh?”

His gaze snapped to one side.

“Kuh! What is it? This deadly scent?”

Chung Myung’s eyes locked onto the newly brought liquor bottle. An incredible aroma was seeping out of the opened bottle.

Without hesitation, Chung Myung reached out and poured the liquor into his mouth.

“Kaaaah!”

“…Sounds like someone’s dying.”

“Is it that good?”

Chung Myung stared at the liquor bottle with wide eyes.

“Wow, what is this? This is real premium liquor.”

Baek Cheon cautiously approached Chung Myung.

“Then, let me have a sip…”

“Hey! What are you doing, trying to touch your Sajil’s liquor! No manners!”

“…Is he crazy?”

The state of the sect is turning upside down.

Turning upside down.

“Kuh. This Kung Pao Chicken is almost art, art! I want to take all the chefs here to Mount Hua.”

“Hire them for the Mount Hua kitchen?”

“No. For my personal use.”

“……”

Oh, Primordial Celestial Lord.

Why did you send such a thing to Mount Hua?

The man watched Chung Myung drink the liquor and eat the food, then quietly left the room with the empty dishes.

Glug, glug, glug.

Chung Myung wiped his mouth with his sleeve and chuckled as he looked at the liquor bottle.

Then, as if he had eaten enough, he leaned back in his chair.

“Ah, I overate.”

“See? I told you to eat moderately.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. This much is nothing.”

Jo Gul frowned slightly as he looked at the table.

“There’s quite a bit left. It’s a waste, I should finish it…”

Tap!

Chung Myung’s chopsticks were as fast as lightning, hitting Jo Gul’s chopsticks.

“……”

“That’s mine. Sahyung, eat something else.”

“…Huh?”

Chung Myung grinned.

“This is food prepared by the Tang Family for me.”

Jo Gul tilted his head at the incomprehensible words.

❀ ❀ ❀

The news that the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua and Tang Hak would be sparring spread quickly throughout the Tang Family.

“That Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?”

“Was Tang Hak Gongja that skilled?”

“Hey. What are you talking about! Tang Hak Gongja isn’t the Lord’s son, but his skills are the best among the Tang Family’s young martial artists, aren’t they?”

“That’s true, but… Still, it’s the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua. Didn’t the Lord also suffer a setback in a sparring match with the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua before?”

“That’s because the Lord was holding back. Surely he wouldn’t use lethal moves against a young Mount Hua Taoist?”

Everyone had different thoughts and opinions, but they all wanted to see this sparring match. Therefore, the central training ground of the Sichuan Tang Family, a respected martial arts school, where the sparring match was to be held, was crowded with family members from the morning. The crowd was excited and whispering, eager to see the fight.

Tang Hak felt his heart pound in his chest. His hands were a little sweaty as he watched the crowd gathering.

“Hoo.”

Tang Hak took a deep breath to calm his trembling heart and clenched his fist inside his sleeve.

It was then.

“There’s no need to be nervous.”

Tang Hak turned his head sharply.

His grandfather, and the head of the Elder Council, Tang Woe, was walking towards him.

“Greetings, Head of the Council.”

“There’s no need to strain yourself unnecessarily. Call me grandfather.”

“Yes! Grandfather.”

Tang Woe smiled quietly.

“Do you have confidence?”

“It’s not that I haven’t been working hard, but… the opponent is the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, who is called the greatest of the younger generation. Frankly, I’m not sure if I can win.”

“Tsk tsk tsk. You worthless fellow. Are you scared of a child who is ten years younger than you?”

“It’s not that I don’t have confidence, but…”

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yes?”

Tang Woe gave a bitter smile.

“Surely I wouldn’t send you, my only grandson, to your death? The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua will be staggering around like a drugged chicken, so don’t waste time and beat him down.”

“How could that be…”

“Dan!”

Tang Woe’s eyes flashed sharply as he whispered.

“Don’t let him live.”

Tang Hak, understanding Tang Woe’s words, slowly nodded. Soon, the corners of his mouth twisted into a cruel smile.

“I understand what you mean. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he can never open his mouth again.”

“That’s right. A man must be ruthless when necessary.”

The two grandsons looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

“If this goes well, you will rise to the position of Young Lord. Then the position of Lord will naturally pass to you.”

“I don’t know how to repay Grandfather’s grace.”

“Your becoming the Lord is the repayment. Then my resentment will be resolved.”

Tang Woe turned his head slightly and looked at the people gathered in the training ground.

“Do you see them?”

“Yes.”

“All those people are members of the Tang Family. Even among brothers, conflicts arise, so how can so many people live like one family?”

“……”

“What a true Lord must possess is not a heart that cherishes his family. He must be cold and calculating, only seeing the benefits of the Tang Family. Remember my words.”

“Yes! Grandfather.”

Tang Woe stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.

‘This is it.’

He had received a report from his subordinate confirming that Chung Myung had consumed the Thousand Days Brew, a strong poison that makes people weak.

‘No matter how talented he is, he won’t be able to handle Tang Hak in a state of Thousand Days Brew intoxication.’

The Tang family was famous for its special poisons, and Cheonilchwi was one of the deadliest. It was strange because it came in two parts: a powder and a liquid. Alone, they were harmless.

But when they mixed inside someone’s body, they turned into a powerful poison.

Cheonilchwi made people feel confused and dizzy, like they were very drunk. It also made it hard for them to use their martial arts skills.

‘This poison is perfect for a martial arts contest like this,’ he thought.

The Tang Elder turned his head with a strange smile.

The Tang Elder frowned as he looked at the Tang family head sitting opposite him.

‘That family head!’ he thought angrily. ‘Even if he should be supporting Cheong-myeong, why is he sitting with the Mount Hua people? It’s not right!’

‘The future of the Tang family cannot be entrusted to someone like that.’

Once today was over, the Tang family would be reorganized in his and Tang Hak’s name.

Just then, the Mount Hua disciples appeared at the edge of the courtyard, walking slowly towards the stage.

“They’re here,” someone whispered, the word spreading quickly through the crowd.

“Mount Hua! It’s the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua!” another voice called out, a mix of excitement and nervousness in their tone.

The gathered Tang family members held their breath, their eyes fixed on the approaching figures. They were caught in a strange silence, unsure how to react. They couldn’t jeer, not with Tang Gun-ak standing calmly amongst the Mount Hua group. But they couldn’t cheer either, not when Mount Hua was here to challenge Tang Hak.

A few awkward, loud voices broke the silence, calling out random greetings and encouragements, sounding lost and confused in the tense atmosphere.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes! Grandfather!”

“Good. You mustn’t lose your momentum. Go out there right away!”

“Yes!”

Tang Hak leaped onto the stage, confidently straightened his shoulders, and looked at the disciples of Mount Hua.

‘This is the place where I become the Young Family Head.’

He had to show an exceedingly solemn appearance!

“Hey, Divine Dragon of Mount Hua! Come on out! Today, everyone will see that the Tang family’s martial arts are better than yours when I beat you!”

“Woooaaah!”

“That’s right!”

Blood is thicker than water, after all.

At those confident words, the Tang family members cheered. Some were subtly looking at Tang Gun-ak, but Tang Gun-ak showed no reaction to the cheers.

And the disciples of Mount Hua… Huh? What are they doing?

The eyes of the crowd turned to the disciples of Mount Hua. Even though they had clearly heard Tang Hak’s words, they were standing in a circle, seemingly busy whispering something among themselves.

“Really?”

“Is it okay to do that?”

“…No, that…”

“It’s alright, it’s alright.”

“…If you’re really okay with it.”

After a lot of whispering and arguing quietly, one person finally stepped forward.

People exclaimed in admiration as they watched the person climb onto the martial arts stage without hesitation.

“That person is the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua! The greatest late-stage disciple under the heavens!”

“Indeed, a tremendous aura… Huh?”

“The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua was a woman?”

Everyone’s face was dyed with bewilderment.

The one climbing onto the martial arts stage was a female disciple of Mount Hua. Cheong-myeong’s fame had not yet spread greatly to Sichuan, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t know that the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua was a man.

“Didn’t he say he was going to face the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?”

“Why a woman?”

“No! Is this woman saying she’s going to face Young Master Tang Hak? There’s a limit to how much you can disregard the Tang family!”

The crowd began to buzz.

But no matter how angry they were, they couldn’t be as angry as Tang Hak.

Tang Hak, his face twisted with rage, let out a thunderous roar.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

He glared at Yoo Iseol, who had climbed onto the martial arts stage, and spat out the words.

“I clearly decided to face the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua. Who are you to dare climb onto the martial arts stage?”

“Yoo Iseol of Mount Hua.”

“Are you deaf? Where is the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?”

Only then did one of the disciples of Mount Hua, who had been gathered together, trudge forward.

“That would be me?”

Cheong-myeong looked very annoyed. Tang Hak couldn’t hide his embarrassment at the sight.

“You’re the one who should be facing me?”

“Ah, well, that’s how it is, so let’s just do it this way.”

“What do you mean ‘that’s how it is’!”

“Tsk.”

Cheong-myeong patted his bulging stomach.

“I overate, so I have indigestion.”

“…Overate? Are you saying that a martial artist overate?”

“The Tang family’s food was incredibly delicious, though.”

It was absurd. No, it was beyond absurd; it was ridiculous.

What was even more absurd in this situation was that next to that Divine Dragon of Mount Hua,

‘That’s true.’

Tang Gun-ak was muttering and nodding his head.

“Does Mount Hua not know shame?”

“Goodness, you’re saying strange things. Who is it that doesn’t know shame?”

“What did you say?”

Cheong-myeong smirked.

“You’re going to face me?”

“…That’s right.”

“With what qualifications?”

Tang Hak’s eyes wavered.

“I’m still the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, you know!”

Cheong-myeong stuck out his stomach.

Bulging. Bulging. Just how much did he eat… No, that’s not important right now.

“Are you really bragging about how famous you are? A true martial artist doesn’t need to boast!”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Then are you saying that you’d be okay if the Tang family was treated like some five-person family stuck in a corner?”

No, that wasn’t right.

This was the Sichuan Tang family.

“How do you think I got this fame? I got it by swinging my sword like crazy and running around barefoot until I was sweating. And what? A martial arts contest? And some nobody I’ve never even heard of is going to have a martial arts contest with me?”

Cheong-myeong made a strange expression. An expression filled with both mockery and ridicule.

“Don’t try to be funny. You need to be someone important to challenge me. Otherwise, the Tang family should just put up a sign saying, ‘Anyone can challenge us!'”

Tang Hak, unable to find any words to defend himself, closed his mouth, and Cheong-myeong grumbled.

“These people must think I won my title by luck! Now everyone, even people nobody has ever heard of, wants to fight me and act like they are great martial artists.”

Tang Hak’s face twisted miserably.

Cheong-myeong clicked his tongue and pointed at Yoo Iseol with his chin.

“Don’t worry. I’m generous, so if you can beat my senior sister, then maybe I’ll fight you. Actually, even then, it’s too much trouble…”

Cheong-myeong grinned.

“If you beat her, I’ll just say you won against me too!”

Tang Hak’s face turned blue.

“Are you telling me to fight a woman?”

“…Whoa.”

Cheong-myeong’s eyes widened. And then, they trembled.

“If you want to die, there are easier ways! You don’t need to try and get yourself killed by fighting me.”

“What?”

That was the moment.

“Are you finished?”

Tang Hak’s head snapped around.

Screeeech.

Yoo Iseol’s sword was slowly drawn.

“If you’re done, let’s do it now. The fight.”

Tang Hak’s face was red with anger, and he was shaking.

“You… You shameless things!”

That was the moment.

Whoosh!

Tang Hak slowly lowered his head.

The sleeves of his robe were cut off and fluttered to the floor.

“Too much talking.”

At Yoo Iseol’s quiet words, Tang Hak gritted his teeth.

“…You. Don’t even think about leaving the martial arts stage alive.”

The tension that had swelled up in an instant enveloped the training hall.

In this situation, only one person muttered something different.

“Samae. Saying there’s too much talking isn’t something we should be saying…”

“Huh? What did you say, Sasook?”

“No… Nothing.”

It was Baek Cheon who subtly turned his head.