Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 21

“Enough! How much longer will you delay this?”

“Even patience has its limits!”

“We have shown you great kindness already!”

Worry was written all over Hyun Jong’s face.

“I am aware, but…”

At that moment, the man at the very back of the group quietly stepped forward. As he did, the others fell silent and moved aside.

‘Is that the boss?’

Chung Myung’s eyes lit up with interest as he watched the man step forward.

He looked like a successful merchant. His face was plump, and his silk clothes were clearly very costly.

‘Rich man,’ Chung Myung thought to himself.

The man who had stepped forward opened his mouth. Chung Myung listened intently.

“Sect Leader, how are you?”

“I didn’t expect you to come here yourself, Master Gong.”

The man called Gong Luju wore a gentle smile.

“Sect Leader, I’m not happy to be here again, especially like this. I really didn’t want to climb Mount Hua again. But so many people insisted I come, I had no choice. Please understand.”

“I am truly sorry.”

Hyun Jong bowed his head slightly.

Then, Gong Luju’s gentle smile disappeared, and his voice became sharper.

“But Sect Leader, you must understand our feelings too. The day you promised to pay us was a long time ago.”

“Ahem.”

Gong Luju cleared his throat. He slightly raised one shoulder – a small movement, but to Chung Myung, it was the most arrogant thing he had ever seen.

“We’ve already given Mount Hua many chances because of your situation. If you keep breaking your word like this, we can’t be so easy on you anymore.”

Hyun Jong couldn’t speak.

His face tried to stay calm, but Chung Myung noticed a tiny muscle in his cheek jump.

Of course he was feeling it.

To be treated like this by someone he owed money to, right in front of his own disciples, was a humiliation no Mount Hua Sect Leader had ever suffered.

“The agreement says we should get paid extra for you breaking the contract, right now. But…” Gong Luju smiled and shook his head.

“We haven’t forgotten the good things Mount Hua has done for us. We don’t want to be too strict.”

“Master Gong, wait!”

“We’ve been waiting…”

“Ahem.”

The other merchants began to protest, but Gong Luju just cleared his throat, and they all fell silent instantly. They looked at him nervously.

“To forget kindness is no better than being a wild animal. Don’t only think about *your* kindness. Has anyone in Hwayeom not benefited from Mount Hua growing up? Remember what our ancestors did!”

“Ahem.”

“Exactly.”

Gong Luju smiled, acting like everyone understood him perfectly, and continued, “So, we’ll give you a bit more time. Seven days and nights from now. If you haven’t paid back the loan by then, we’ll take the things we agreed on in the contract.”

“M-Master Gong, please, just a moment…”

“Sect Leader.”

Gong Luju shook his head slowly.

“That’s all. I’m in the money business. This extra week is the biggest favor I can give you. If the payment isn’t here when I return in seven days, I will take Mount Hua’s buildings, as promised.”

“Gasp!”

Gong Luju turned around quickly. He saw Chung Myung with his hand clamped over his mouth.

“Excuse me for showing something so ugly in front of a young one.”

Gong Luju made a quick bow with his fist.

“That’s all for today, Sect Leader. I hope we can meet again when things are better. Goodbye then.”

When Gong Luju turned his back, the merchants with him turned as well. Before they left, they all turned their heads back to give Hyun Jong angry looks.

Hyun Jong watched them walk out of the mountain gate, holding their heads high. Then he slowly looked up and let out a sigh, “…Hoo.” It was a sigh that was both weak and hollow. That made it sound even sadder.

“Right,” Chung Myung began, sitting down, legs crossed, chin in hand. “This guy is a merchant from Hwayeom County?”

“Exactly.”

“Ugh.” Chung Myung’s head started to shake back and forth quickly. Seeing this, Do In-myung quietly moved further away.

‘I bet he’s going to cause trouble again. I need to disappear.’

The reason for this explanation was simple. Chung Myung, returning to the Hundred Plum Blossom Hall with a lot of energy, had gathered all the merchant children. He chose those who knew about Mount Hua, and Do In-myung was the last one who fit.

Now, Do In-myung was trying to remember and explain everything he knew, and even guessed, about Mount Hua to Chung Myung.

“Isn’t Hwayeom County the name of the village below Mount Hua?” Jo Gul, who was listening to Do In-myung’s words, asked.

“That’s right, Senior Brother. I remember seeing it when I went peddling with my father in the past.”

“So, you’re saying Mount Hua borrowed money from the merchants of Hwayeom County?”

“I’m not sure about that…”

Do In-myung scratched his head.

Even though it was about Mount Hua, it was impossible for the third-generation disciples to know such things in detail. At best, they could only guess based on the circumstances.

“That Gong Luju is the owner of the Taehwa Pavilion in Hwayeom County. It’s the largest tavern in Hwayeom, and I’ve heard that he’s involved in various businesses based on that. He’s the wealthiest merchant in Hwayeom.”

“Hmm.”

“So, if Mount Hua borrowed money, it seems like they would have borrowed it from that person…”

Thud.

“Huh?”

Jo Gul turned his head. Then, his face turned pale.

Chung Myung’s neck was bobbing like a broken wooden doll.

“Junior Brother! Get a grip! Junior Brother!”

“T-Taehwa Pavilion…”

“What’s wrong?”

Jo Gul was horrified to see Chung Myung, who was out of his mind with shock.

Of course, they wouldn’t be able to understand why Chung Myung was acting like this.

Thump.

Chung Myung, who suddenly seemed to regain his energy, jumped up from his seat and glared at Do In-myung with terrifying eyes.

“Eek?”

Then, he rushed at Do In-myung with lightning speed and grabbed him by the collar.

“Is it true that the guy from before is the owner of the Taehwa Pavilion?”

“T-That’s what I’m saying.”

“The owner of the Taehwa Pavilion lent money to Mount Hua and is trying to confiscate Mount Hua’s buildings?”

“C-Calm down, Junior Brother!”

“Calm down? You’re telling me to calm down now?”

Hey, you guys! Do I look like I can calm down right now?

Chung Myung released Do In-myung’s collar and scratched and tore at his hair.

“Junior Brother, what’s wrong?”

Chung Myung couldn’t answer Yoon Jong’s question at all. The reason was simple.

Because he couldn’t explain it.

Because!

‘The Taehwa Pavilion is Mount Hua’s! Crazy!’

Just because they are Taoists doesn’t mean they only eat grass. Small and medium-sized sects may be able to sustain themselves to some extent with the money they receive from pilgrims, but it is impossible for a large sect like Mount Hua to maintain itself with that alone.

In the first place, swordsmen and warriors are only interested in becoming stronger themselves, and they are the type who don’t contribute a single penny to the sect’s finances.

To feed such freeloaders as a group, a huge amount of money is needed. Therefore, Mount Hua had several businesses in Hwayeom County. One of those businesses is the Taehwa Pavilion.

But the owner of that Taehwa Pavilion is lending money to Mount Hua and trying to confiscate Mount Hua’s buildings with that debt?

It doesn’t make sense.

Yes… The fact that it doesn’t make sense means that something went wrong somewhere!

“…Senior Brother Jo Gul.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung gestured silently. Jo Gul approached Chung Myung with a puzzled look. Chung Myung whispered something to Jo Gul so that only he could hear, and Jo Gul looked at him with wide eyes.

“That?”

“Can you get it?”

Jo Gul stuttered slightly.

“N-No. I can get it, but…”

“Then bring it quickly.”

“…Really?”

“Do I look like I’m joking right now? Senior Brother?”

“I-I’ll get it.”

Jo Gul left the room with a slightly nervous face.

‘What is he trying to do?’

Yoon Jong tilted his head as he watched him. Jo Gul’s reaction was unusual.

But there was no need to think too deeply. Before even half a quarter of an hour had passed, Jo Gul returned with something in his hand.

He handed what he was holding to Chung Myung with a subtle expression.

‘Cloth?’

No, is it clothing? But why would he suddenly bring something like that in this situation?

Chung Myung, who had received the clothes that Jo Gul had handed him, threw off the robe he was wearing without a moment’s hesitation.

“Huh?”

Then, he quickly began to put on the clothes that Jo Gul had brought.

Black clothes that clung tightly to his body…

“W-What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to ask.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung answered nonchalantly.

“The older teachers will never tell me the real answer anyway. They’ll probably just tell me to mind my own business.”

*Of course they would, you idiot!* Yoon Jong thought in his head. *That’s the sensible thing to do!*

“So, I’m going to ask them directly!”

“W-Wait a minute!”

Cold sweat began to flow from Yoon Jong’s forehead.

The things that Chung Myung had done so far had happened within Mount Hua. Therefore, even though there were many potential problems, it was possible to somehow manage the situation. But the thing he was about to do now wouldn’t end with just Mount Hua’s affairs.

‘I-I have to stop him.’

If he was lucky, it might end with just getting some information…

‘Yeah right!’

Chung Myung is, so to speak, someone who has no reverse gear. He could tell just from what he had seen so far. This guy is definitely going to cause an accident! He could bet his life on it.

And if this guy goes down the mountain and causes an accident, the aftermath will be uncontrollable.

If he can’t stop him here, Yoon Jong is also responsible. If the elders of the sect find out about the whole story of this guy’s accident, Yoon Jong, as the senior disciple, won’t be safe either.

But how should he stop him?

If he could stop him with a few words, he would have already done it.

Yoon Jong opened his mouth, sweating profusely.

“W-What are you trying to do?”

“I’m going to ask directly, I told you?”

“What if they don’t answer?”

“They don’t answer?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

“That’s usually never happened. Everyone usually begs me to stop and says they’ll answer?”

What do you mean stop, you crazy bastard!

Yoon Jong racked his brains with all his might.

“Y-You’re a Taoist, right?”

“Huh?”

“Yeah, you’re a Taoist. You’re a disciple of Mount Hua!”

He didn’t know why, but Chung Myung seemed to have some pride in pursuing the Tao and being a disciple of Mount Hua. So, if he stimulated that part well?

“A Taoist shouldn’t do such things! Otherwise, there’s no difference between you and the Black Daoists!”

Then, Chung Myung nodded deeply.

“That’s definitely true. A Taoist shouldn’t do such things.”

It seemed like this move had worked. Yoon Jong’s face brightened with a glimmer of hope.

“Y-Yes, that’s right!”

“But Senior Brother! Listen carefully!”

“Huh?”

“There’s a saying in Buddhism! Kill the Buddha if you meet the Buddha, and kill the patriarch if you meet the patriarch!”

“…”

“So! In order to achieve true Tao!”

Chung Myung finally put on the black mask he was holding in his hand. Then, he shouted so confidently.

“Sometimes you have to break the Tao!”