Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 218

“Everyone, remember this,” Baek Cheon said. “We are not disciples of Mount Hua. We are merchants from the Peace Merchant Guild, here to buy Violet Cloud Grass.”

“Oh, you’re stating the obvious,” Chung Myung replied.

Baek Cheon continued, “Do not do anything that reveals we are disciples of Mount Hua. Secrecy is most important for this mission.”

“Did everyone understand?”

“So, no matter what happens, think carefully before you act! Think and think again!”

“Yes, think!”

Baek Cheon, finally losing his patience with Chung Myung’s constant interruptions, snapped, “You, you rascal! You! Not anyone else, you!”

Chung Myung widened his eyes. “Me?”

“Yes! Who else here would need to hear this! Who else but you causes trouble!”

“Tsk tsk. Even Honorable Uncle has strange prejudices. Have you ever seen me cause trouble?”

Baek Cheon sighed deeply. “…I should just keep my mouth shut.”

‘I have a bad feeling about this,’ Baek Cheon thought.

Getting here was a success, but the thought of entering Kunming with Chung Myung made Baek Cheon’s stomach feel tight with worry.

‘Not that I can leave him behind.’

If Chung Myung were someone who listened, Baek Cheon could try something, but even with his position as a Senior Disciple, controlling Chung Myung was impossible.

“Yu Sahyung,” Baek Cheon said.

“Yes, Sahyung,” Yu Yiseol replied.

“Stick close to Chung Myung and make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble!”

“Yes!” Yu Yiseol glared at Chung Myung with determined eyes.

Chung Myung opened his mouth with a dissatisfied look. “What do you all think of me? Do I look like someone who would cause trouble in a dangerous place like this?”

“Yes.”

“You definitely would.”

“It would be stranger if you didn’t.”

Chung Myung twisted in frustration, but his fellow disciples didn’t even blink.

‘At least Yu Sahyung cares a little, so it’ll be better,’ Baek Cheon thought.

But that wasn’t a real solution. Baek Cheon didn’t think Yu Yiseol could stop Chung Myung.

The best way was to quickly gather information about the Violet Cloud Grass before Chung Myung caused any trouble and escape Kunming.

Baek Cheon exchanged glances with Jo Gul and Yoon Jong.

They seemed to be thinking the same thing, their faces showing firm resolve.

“Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

The disciples of Mount Hua confidently entered Kunming. The entrance to Kunming was barely a gate at all; there was no one guarding the front, and hardly anyone coming or going.

With a slightly strange feeling, Baek Cheon passed through the gate with a quiet look.

“…What is this?”

“Why is it like this here?”

The inside of the gate was even worse. Everyone frowned at the unexpected sight.

“…Is there some kind of plague going around?”

“I don’t think so…?”

To describe it simply: the city had no life.

There were hardly any people on the street in front of them. Only a few, leaning against the walls in the corners, gasping for breath.

“…This is bad.”

Baek Cheon frowned and looked around.

A city with thriving business should be full of life. A city with money flowing through it couldn’t be quiet.

But Kunming, as they saw it now, was literally a dead city.

“Hmm.”

Even Chung Myung couldn’t hide his unease.

Then, Yoon Jong, who had been observing the sad sights, spoke. “The sights we saw coming here weren’t good either… But I at least thought Kunming would be different, but it seems even worse here.”

“…I see.”

Baek Cheon nodded silently.

Jo Gul, who was behind him, cautiously added. “I heard that Yunnan had been struggling because the tea business had stopped, but I didn’t know it was this bad.”

“Surely that’s not the only reason? I heard there was a drought; that’s probably a big factor.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Chung Myung scratched the back of his head. “Anyway, that’s not important now, so let’s quickly gather information about the Violet Cloud Grass.”

“Hmm. Alright.”

Baek Cheon agreed and nodded. “Let’s split up and ask about the Violet Cloud Grass, and meet back here when the sun sets.”

“Yes, Honorable Uncle.”

“Be careful.”

As the disciples scattered in an orderly fashion, Chung Myung looked ahead with a satisfied smile. “So, now we just have to ask about the Violet Cloud Grass, right!”

His enthusiasm overflowed, his will burned brightly.

There was only one problem.

“…But how exactly are we supposed to ask?”

Yu Yiseol stared at Chung Myung with a blank expression.

Chung Myung put down the teacup he was holding. “This is definitely Yunnan tea.”

Even Chung Myung, who had no knowledge of tea, could tell. This tea’s aroma was definitely different from that of the Central Plains.

Regardless of whether it was better or worse, the feeling was distinctly different.

“The nobles would love this.”

Chung Myung smiled in a relaxed way.

But Yu Yiseol looked at Chung Myung with an unhappy look. “Violet Cloud Grass.”

Her short words and gaze meant, ‘Right now, the others are desperately searching for information about the Violet Cloud Grass, wandering around under this hot sun, but you are sitting here in a teahouse, drinking tea. Is this okay?’

But who was Chung Myung? He could easily avoid the pressure. “Should I go out then?”

“Should I wander around? Should I stir things up?”

Yu Yiseol looked conflicted.

She couldn’t stand seeing Chung Myung lazing around.

She absolutely couldn’t let Chung Myung cause trouble.

These two thoughts were fighting in her head.

Yu Yiseol, weighing which was more important, stared straight at Chung Myung as if she had made up her mind. “Shall I order you another cup of tea?”

Something felt a little sad.

Chung Myung chuckled and turned his head. Then, he gazed at the scenery of Kunming from the teahouse.

‘It’s going to ruin,’ he thought.

The city itself had no life. As far as he knew, this Kunming was like Chengdu in Sichuan. It meant that it was the central city of Yunnan.

For such a place to be so lifeless meant that the entire Yunnan was losing its vitality.

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘This city… it reminds me of Mount Hua before we started to rebuild. Empty, lifeless. We can’t let Mount Hua become like this again.’

“Tsk.”

Chung Myung lightly clicked his tongue and withdrew his gaze.

Yunnan was Yunnan, and Mount Hua was Mount Hua.

청명 saw they were in trouble, just like him. But he didn’t care about their problems.

“Hey, you!”

“Coming! Yes, sir!”

The teahouse owner, who had been watching him closely, hurried over to 청명.

“Can I get you anything else, honored guest?”

“Yeah, get me something to eat. Just a snack for now.”

“Of course! What would you like?”

“Something good. And another pot of cold tea.”

“Right away! Yes, sir!”

The teahouse owner smiled widely and turned to get the tea.

Then, 청명 called out again.

“Wait a minute.”

“Yes?”

The owner quickly turned back, bowing slightly. He was very eager to please.

Business in 곤명 was bad lately, and he hadn’t had many customers. Then, this kind man – no, this important guest – came in and ordered expensive tea. He had to be polite!

“I have a question about tea leaves. Do you know a herb called Jamokcho?”

“Hmm, Jamokcho?”

“Yes.”

The teahouse owner thought for a second, then shook his head.

“I know all the local teas and the ones we sell, but I’ve never heard of Jamokcho tea.”

“Okay. Then, do you know anyone who knows a lot about herbs for medicine?”

“Herbs for medicine… herbs for medicine…”

The teahouse owner nodded.

“Yes! I know a famous herb seller in 곤명.”

“Oh? Where is he?”

“Honored guest, you don’t need to go yourself! I can call him to come here.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Of course! But… it might take a little while for him to get here…”

청명 saw the owner hinting for more money. He smirked and put a silver coin on the table.

“Do you have any food too? Just something simple.”

“Yes! Of course!”

The teahouse owner grabbed the silver coin quickly. He bowed deeply, almost touching the floor.

“I’ll get your tea right now! Just a moment! And I’ll call the herb seller to come and help you right away!”

“…Okay.”

청명 chuckled. The teahouse owner was really excited about the money.

As the owner hurried to the kitchen, 유이설 looked at 청명, her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Was this your plan all along?”

“Why would I just walk around asking strangers? How would that help?”

청명 smirked.

“You need to ask the people who live here to solve problems in this place. A kind person might help if you ask nicely, but someone who gets paid will help even more, right?”

유이설 nodded slowly.

“Smart.”

“…”

“Too smart for your own good.”

“Just drink your tea.”

청명 took a sip of his tea.

유이설 watched him, seeing him in a new way.

It was a small thing, but it showed something important.

Many people thought 청명 was just a fighter who didn’t think much.

*‘He seems like he just acts without thinking.’*

But 유이설 was starting to see that wasn’t true at all.

Looking closely, she realized 청명 thought more deeply than any of the other 화산 disciples. Even when he seemed to rush into things, it was always after thinking it through carefully.

*‘That’s how he’s become so strong.’*

“Aren’t you going to drink?”

청명’s words brought her back. 유이설 picked up her teacup.

She still felt bad for the others suffering in the heat, so she took a slow sip of the tea.

조걸 sighed.

He had been asking everyone about Jamokcho, but it was strange – no one in 곤명 had heard of it.

It used to be sold by traders in 사천, so someone should know it. But nobody did. It was very odd.

*‘Maybe I should have asked more people in 사천?’*

He had thought finding Jamokcho would be easy once they got to 운남, since it grew there. But he was wrong. He had been too hopeful.

What could he do now? He had to keep searching and find the information himself.

“But even if I keep searching…”

조걸 frowned.

Looking around 곤명 more closely, he saw things were worse than he first thought. Most of the shops were closed. The people he saw looked hungry and sad, with no spark in their eyes.

Some even grabbed his arm, begging for food.

It was hard to get any real information in a place like this.

*‘I need to think of a different way…’*

Just then,

“Huh?”

조걸 stopped and looked to the side.

“Senior Brother?”

He saw 윤종 standing up ahead.

It wasn’t really surprising. 곤명 was big, but they were both walking around the same areas, so they were bound to meet.

But it wasn’t just seeing 윤종 that was strange. It was *how* he looked.

A group of small children were all around him.

조걸 frowned and walked closer.

“Senior Brother, what’s going on?”

“…Oh? Jo, 조걸, is that you?”

윤종 turned to 조걸, looking a little embarrassed.

“Why are you with all these kids…? Wait, what’s that?”

조걸 looked closer.

윤종 was holding a bag of rice and some dumplings, each as big as his fist.

“…Senior Brother?”

“I know, I know we don’t have time for this. We need to find information about Jamokcho. But… ha…”

윤종 looked down at the children, his face red with embarrassment. He started giving out the dumplings. The children were watching his hands, their mouths watering. They all pushed forward, trying to grab the food.

“Give me one!”

“Me too!”

“My little brother is hungry! Please, one more!”

윤종 bit his lip.

“I’ll buy more when these are gone, so calm down! You’ll get hurt if you push!”

He gave out the dumplings with one hand, and gently pushed back the children who were too close with the other, trying to keep them safe.

The children, their clothes dirty and faces smudged, all stared up at 윤종 with big, hopeful eyes.

When he gave out the last dumpling, the children just looked at him, their eyes empty again.

“Eat this now and take it home to your families. I’ll get more food soon, so come back here later!”

The children nodded quickly and ran away without saying anything.

조걸 watched all of this, his brow furrowed.

“…They should at least say thank you.”

윤종 turned to him, his face suddenly serious.

“They can’t afford to think about that.”

“…What?”

“You need to eat before you can think about being polite. How can kids who are starving think about saying thank you? They might have younger brothers and sisters at home who are even hungrier. Their parents might be sick or even dead. Don’t judge them so quickly!”

“…Okay, Senior Brother. I understand. Sorry.”

조걸 stepped back a little, surprised by how angry 윤종 sounded. He had known 윤종 for years, but he had never seen him this upset.

*‘Maybe…’*

Just then, they heard shouts.

“No! It’s not true! I didn’t do it!”

“You thief! You stole from me! Get over here! I’ll make you regret it!”

“I didn’t steal anything! Ow! Stop! It hurts!”

윤종 and 조걸’s faces went hard at once.

They both ran towards the sound of the shouting.