Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 223

The sound of the horn spread far and wide throughout the Beast Palace.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Following that, the drums slowly began to pick up the rhythm. Soon, all sorts of instruments burst forth with sound, creating a lively melody.

Buried in that magnificent rhythm, Baek Cheon simply stared blankly into the air.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

To his left and right, Beast Palace members holding instruments were playing enthusiastically. And in the plaza where they had been standing like criminals just a moment ago, dancers in fluttering cloths were now performing.

Baek Cheon quietly looked down.

A feast of delicacies continued to pile up before his eyes. Each plate held bizarre dishes he had never heard of, showing off their appetizing forms. They were dishes he was seeing for the first time in his life, but their aroma and color…

…they seemed to be shouting proudly, ‘Try me! I’m delicious!’

He glanced around and saw that his fellow disciples were all just as confused and lost.

‘Of course.’

Baek Cheon, for one, didn’t know what was going on, so how could they possibly know anything?

Whether he knew their feelings or not, a hearty laugh burst out from beside them.

“Euhahahahahat! Eat a lot! Eat up! I don’t know if the food of Yunnan will suit your tastes, but!”

The Lord of the Beast Palace roared with laughter.

Each time he laughed, his booming voice vibrated their eardrums.

Baek Cheon, thinking that blood might flow from his ears, pressed his fingers firmly into them. Fortunately, no blood flowed.

“I’ve always wanted to visit Mount Hua. But I couldn’t leave because I am stuck here. And now, the disciples of Mount Hua, the descendants of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, have come to visit me in person! This is the happiest day I’ve had in recent times! Hey, bring the wine!”

“Yes, Palace Lord!”

“Bring out the Peach Blossom Fragrance! I must properly treat these guests!”

“Yes, Palace Lord!”

Several of the Beast Palace members standing nearby hurried away.

The Palace Lord chuckled and looked at the disciples of Mount Hua with a pleased expression. But the disciples of Mount Hua were feeling uncomfortable all over.

‘I’m too nervous to make eye contact.’

‘Why is everything here so big? Even the people are huge.’

‘Why is his head up there?’

Sitting next to him, they realized just how enormous the Lord of the Beast Palace was.

They had also developed strong bodies through Chung Myung’s training. But sitting next to the Lord of the Beast Palace, they felt like malnourished three-year-olds.

“Hehahahahahahahat!”

Seeing them acting so awkward, the Lord of the Beast Palace burst into hearty laughter once again. Seeing the muscles wriggling and pulsating every time he laughed, they couldn’t bring themselves to pick up their chopsticks.

“Is it really okay to eat all of this?”

Except for one.

“Of course! It’s all prepared for you!”

“Is that Peach Blossom Fragrance wine delicious?”

“It’s the best wine in Yunnan! It’s not usually given to outsiders. Only a small amount is brewed, so it’s only drunk by special people on special days! You’ll probably be able to taste the fragrance of heaven.”

“Hee hee hee!”

Chung Myung cackled as if he was about to die from joy. Then, he nonchalantly picked up his chopsticks and began to inhale the food at an incredible speed.

“Oh, this taste is quite unique? It’s unfamiliar, but it’s a taste that keeps drawing you in! Everyone, try it quickly!”

How can he eat that?

In this situation?

They thought they understood Chung Myung to some extent now. The disciples of Mount Hua realized how mistaken they had been.

He’s a guy who is impossible to understand in the first place.

In the meantime, the Peach Blossom Fragrance that the Lord of the Beast Palace had mentioned was brought out.

When five bottles of wine in pure white jade porcelain were placed down, the Lord of the Beast Palace glared fiercely.

“You fools! Didn’t I tell you to bring out the Peach Blossom Fragrance?”

“T-This is the Peach Blossom Fragrance, Palace Lord.”

“Bring it all out, all of it! Are you trying to embarrass me in front of the descendants of the Great Plum Blossom Sword Saint? Should I cut off your head and drink your blood to make you come to your senses?”

…Then you’ll die.

How can you come to your senses if you’re dead?

The Beast Palace member, terrified by the Palace Lord’s roar, repeatedly bowed.

“I’ll bring it all right away!”

“Immediately!”

“Yes, Palace Lord!”

The Lord of the Beast Palace, who had been displeased with the Palace member hurrying away, suddenly turned his head. A soft smile was already on his face.

“I’ve shown you a shameful sight. I hope the guests from the Central Plains won’t think too badly of the Beast Palace.”

“Oh, what are you saying? You’re giving us food and wine like this. Everyone here is a good person!”

“Hahahaha! How open-minded!”

“Hee hee hee!”

The disciples of Mount Hua stared at the two with dumbfounded faces.

‘Why do they get along so well?’

They had seen Chung Myung talking to people from other sects several times, but this was the first time they had seen him getting along so well, as if he had met an old friend.

“Now, have a drink!”

The Lord of the Beast Palace held up the Peach Blossom Fragrance. The large bottle, which another person would have to hold with both hands, looked like a child’s toy in the hands of the Lord of the Beast Palace.

It was a sight that made them understand why he had been angry at seeing only five bottles of wine.

Glug, glug, glug.

He filled the cups of all the disciples of Mount Hua with Peach Blossom Fragrance.

In that instant, an indescribably refreshing fragrance pierced their noses.

“Haha. Go ahead and try it.”

The disciples of Mount Hua lightly bowed their heads in gratitude and then gulped down the wine.

And everyone’s eyes widened.

“Wow…”

“Good heavens!”

An unbelievable fragrance spread richly in their mouths.

“Is it alright?”

“…The name Peach Blossom Fragrance is most appropriate.”

“Euhahahahaha! This young friend is good with words! You know how to make a person feel good!”

The Lord of the Beast Palace stretched out his arm and patted Baek Cheon on the back.

“Gulp! Gukk!”

Baek Cheon’s body twisted like an octopus on a grill.

It was a friendly pat, but from the receiving end, it felt like his insides were about to burst out of his mouth.

“Hahahaha! Will there ever be another day as pleasant as this? That I would meet the descendants of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.”

Jo Gul, who had been listening to the Lord of the Beast Palace, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Um, but…”

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry to ask, but… is the Plum Blossom Sword Saint famous in Yunnan?”

“What?”

A bright blue light suddenly flashed from the eyes of the Lord of the Beast Palace, who had been smiling so happily.

“In Yunnan, you say! What are you talking about! Isn’t the Plum Blossom Sword Saint naturally a hero of the world?”

“…Yes?”

Jo Gul asked back, bewildered, and the Lord of the Beast Palace retorted as if he couldn’t understand.

“No, then doesn’t the Central Plains honor the Five Heroes Who Repelled the Demonic Sect?”

“The Five Heroes Who Repelled the Demonic Sect? That’s the first time I’ve heard of them…”

“What!”

Finally, a tremendous roar erupted from the Palace Lord’s mouth. Everyone was horrified and covered their ears.

“Why doesn’t the Central Plains talk about the Five Heroes Who Repelled the Demonic Sect! If it weren’t for them, Yunnan and the Central Plains would all be groaning under the feet of that cruel Demonic Sect! Are the Central Plains people so ignorant of gratitude and morality!”

He shouted as if he was truly consumed by anger. The disciples of Mount Hua froze like stones at his momentum.

It was an enormous, truly mountain-like force. At that moment, Chung Myung, who was still savoring the wine, said with a playful grin.

“Ahem. Why are you getting angry at the children?”

“Hmm? Oh, right, right. I shouldn’t be angry at the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s family!”

The Beast Palace Lord chuckled again, a deep booming sound, and then his face became serious.

“Are you telling me you really don’t know who the Five Demon Slayers are?”

“No.”

“You really don’t know about the Five Demon Slayers? The heroes who did the most in the war against the Demonic Sect? How did you even hear we *won* against them then?”

“…Everyone in the Central Plains joined forces…”

“Joined forces? Ha! More like they all got beaten up! Those cowardly fools!”

“Whoa, whoa. Calm down.”

“Hmm, that’s right. It’s not your fault.”

Baek Cheon squeezed his eyes shut. There was Chung Myung, and then there were *other* people like Chung Myung. The problem? Both kinds were here, together. *Is this hell?* he wondered. It certainly felt close.

The Beast Palace Lord thought for a moment and then clicked his tongue.

“The Five Demon Slayers are the five heroes who did the most amazing things in that terrible war against the Demonic Sect. One of them is your ancestor, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, and another is his close friend, the Dark Lord Dangbo of the Sichuan Tang Family. And the remaining three are…”

The Beast Palace Lord frowned, about to say something.

“No need to know.”

“Yes?”

What was that all of a sudden?

“The ‘Five Demon Slayers’ thing? That was just made up by jealous people in the martial world, the Jianghu. They were jealous of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s amazing achievements. They just pushed in some average fighters who weren’t even close to his level. So, you only need to remember one thing!”

The Beast Palace Lord said proudly.

“The Plum Blossom Sword Saint defeated the Demonic Sect!”

Goosebumps prickled the skin of the Mount Hua disciples. Some even shivered, despite the warm air.

They never imagined they would hear such words anywhere but Mount Hua. Actually, they hadn’t even heard such words *in* Mount Hua itself.

Just as overwhelming emotion was about to surge…

“Ahem!”

Baek Cheon tilted his head.

What was it?

Why was that guy sticking out his belly? Good heavens? What was with that proud expression?

The other disciples, not noticing Chung Myung’s change, kept their gaze fixed on the Beast Palace Lord and asked.

“The Plum Blossom Sword Saint, you say?”

“Are you telling me you really didn’t know?”

“I heard that he was one of the best martial artists in the world and that he played a great role in the war against the Demonic Sect. But to that extent…?”

“What! One of the best martial artists in the world? You foolish bastard!”

The Beast Palace Lord glared.

“What crazy fool would talk about the Plum Blossom Sword Saint like that?! He was the best in the world back then! The Demonic Sect? They’d run just hearing his name! How dare you say such things?”

“Ahem!”

Chung Myung. Your neck is going to break. But why do you keep doing that?

“Everyone in the world was saved by him! Even our Yunnan was the same! When the Demonic Sect’s cruel claws reached out to Yunnan, those damned Central Plains people completely changed their friendly attitude and turned a blind eye to us. Because of that, we were about to be destroyed completely! But thanks to the Plum Blossom Sword Saint striking them from behind, the Demonic Sect members in Yunnan retreated to the Central Plains!”

“Ah…”

Baek Cheon nodded repeatedly.

Hearing that story, he could understand both the hostile attitude towards the Central Plains people and the friendly attitude towards the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.

“That’s not all! When the Demonic Sect bastards created a separate unit to completely wipe out Yunnan, the great Plum Blossom Sword Saint even rushed all the way to Sichuan and destroyed them all! He protected our Yunnan!”

“Ooh!”

“If it weren’t for him, the Beast Palace would have been destroyed! So how could he not be our savior? For a saint like him to come from those untrustworthy Central Plains people… it was like a dragon rising from a muddy ditch!”

“Ah, so that’s why…”

“Yes! That’s why our Beast Palace built a shrine to the Plum Blossom Sword Saint and holds a memorial service for him every year. To not know gratitude is worse than being a bug! He cherished our Yunnan so much, how could we forget his boundless kindness?”

As the Beast Palace Lord continued to praise him, Chung Myung smiled, a small, pleased smile.

‘I don’t know what he’s talking about at all.’

He just fought if he had to fight here, and if they said there were Demonic Sect guys over there, he just ran over and beat them up.

What?

Cherished Yunnan?

‘Well… if you say so, then that’s how it is, I guess.’

It seemed like there was a serious misunderstanding, but there was no need to correct it, right?

“Even when he protected Yunnan, the Central Plains bastards opposed him coming all the way to Sichuan! Ugh. If he didn’t have a heart that loved the people of Yunnan, how could he have come despite that opposition?”

As if overwhelmed by intense emotion just by speaking, the Beast Palace Lord wiped his eyes, an action that didn’t quite suit his large frame.

Exclamations also burst from the mouths of the Mount Hua disciples.

“Ah… such a thing happened.”

“Indeed, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint!”

Only Chung Myung tilted his head.

‘What is he talking about?’

I never did such a thing…

Ah?

– Taoist Brother! Those bastards have appeared in Sichuan!

– Let’s go! Let’s go smash their heads in!

– But the command is telling us not to go?

– Really? Then we have to go even more! Who do these rude bastards think they are, ordering us around! Let’s go!

– Yes!

Oh…

Oh… so that’s how it’s remembered?

Heh heh heh heh.

Indeed, one must live with a kind heart.

The Beast Palace Lord laughed heartily.

“He is, of course, a person to be respected as a saint, but he is also a person to be respected greatly as a martial artist! His sword reached the realm of the heavens, making even those evil Demonic Sect tremble. His amazing achievements are so impressive that I dare not list them all.”

“Ahem!”

Baek Cheon turned his head to look at Chung Myung with a sulky face.

“The Plum Blossom Sword Saint!”

“Giggle!”

“Was truly amazing!”

“Tee hee!”

“We must not forget his kindness!”

“Hee hee hee.”

Are they crazy?

No, they were already crazy, but now it seems they’ve completely lost it?

Chung Myung twisted his body whenever praise for the Plum Blossom Sword Saint came out.

“So, of course, we’ll treat you descendants of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint like royalty! You’re the only Central Plains people welcome here in Yunnan! So relax, enjoy yourselves! Yunnan is happy to have you!”

The Beast Palace Lord shouted loudly.

“What are you doing! Everyone, eat and drink! I permit it! Distinguished guests have arrived!”

“Yes, Palace Lord!”

Watching the hall become lively, Chung Myung smiled happily.

‘Wow. There were people who recognized me like this.’

Indeed, you have to live kindly.

Isn’t that right, Sect Leader?

Hee hee hee!