Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 227

“A dragon lives in this pond?!” Chung Myung stared at the dark lake, his eyes wide. “What kind of crazy place is this?”

The Beast Palace Lord chuckled, shaking her head.

“Dragons are just stories, Chung Myung. That’s a Mukrin Blood Serpent.”

“Stories? But that sounds like a made-up monster too!”

“This one is real.” She nodded towards the still water. “Very real.”

A low growl echoed from the pond, a sound that vibrated in their chests. “Kreeeeeeeung.”

Chung Myung ran a hand through his hair, his bravado fading fast. “I was an idiot to think this place was nice.”

He wondered why people flocked to the dry, dusty wasteland, leaving this fertile land behind!

‘How can people live in a place like this!’

Tigers as big as houses padded around like playful kittens, their huge paws making the ground tremble slightly, and a dragon-like serpent lives in the pond!

What a cursed place!

But the Beast Palace Lord merely shrugged her broad shoulders nonchalantly.

“That creature is a Mukrin Blood Serpent. It’s a magical beast. Its scales are so strong, even swords and powerful masters can’t hurt it. It’s incredibly strong – just a flick of its tail can change the land. It’s a real monster.”

“Do, does that mean even you, Palace Lord, can’t handle it?”

“I don’t know. I’d have to fight it to find out, but as you know, I can’t enter that area. And since the Mukrin Blood Serpent doesn’t come out of there, there’s no real reason to encounter it.”

“⋯⋯.”

Oh, so… she’s saying she can’t guarantee she can win.

It was surprising to hear her sound so unsure, considering how strong she looked, but when you think about it, that Mukrin Blood Serpent is the Beast Palace Lord of the snake world.

First, I have to wonder if a creature that size can even be put in the snake category…

“Does the Beast Palace worship that thing, by any chance?”

“Worship?”

The Beast Palace Lord chuckled.

“Why would we worship some snake? Why would humans worship beasts?”

Uh…

Is it okay for the person sitting in the Beast Palace Lord’s seat to say something like that?

Baek’jeon, perched on the Beast Palace Lord’s shoulder, wagged its tail as if in agreement.

“The Mukrin Blood Serpent isn’t why the Beast Palace made Shindam a sacred ground. The Mukrin Blood Serpent took its place in the Beast Palace’s sacred ground.”

“Then… shouldn’t we, shouldn’t we get rid of it?”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t I say? The sacred ground is just a sacred ground. It’s only natural for beasts to live in that sacred ground. It’s just that the beast that took its place is a little unique.”

A little?

A litttttle?

I don’t think you understand the meaning of ‘a little’ right now?

“The Beast Palace disciples can’t enter Shindam anyway. And that thing doesn’t come out of Shindam. In other words, it’s like a neighbor we’ll never encounter. So why should we get rid of it?”

“⋯⋯I guess so.”

The Beast Palace Lord chuckled.

“Anyway, that thing attacks anything that comes into Shindam without discrimination. That’s the problem…”

Baek Cheon picked up the thread.

“To get the Zamu grass, we have to go into Shindam, and to do that, we have to face that serpent that is almost a dragon… no, that Mukrin Blood Serpent or whatever.”

“That’s right.”

The Beast Palace Lord nodded, as if pleased that he understood.

“That’s the minor problem we have.”

“⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung smiled brightly.

“Yes. Very minor. What’s so great about life and death? Life is just like dust anyway.”

“You’re a Taoist, you crazy bastard!”

“Then I’ll just add Boundless Life Buddha!”

Chung Myung shouted and pointed to one side of Shindam.

“If we go in there, we’re all going to die, so why are Taoist or Buddhist figures important now? Whether you’re a Taoist or a monk, you’re all just one bite! One bite! Everyone is equal before that mouth!”

In the middle of the beautiful green grass, a dark, gaping hole was torn in the earth. It looked like a giant mouth had bitten out a chunk of the land, leaving a terrifying blackness behind.

It was amazing that it was big enough to swallow that much in one bite, but the power that tore the ground like tofu in one strike was even more amazing.

‘Even the Tang Clan Lord probably couldn’t do that?’

Even the energy created by the Mount Hua elders wasn’t that powerful.

It couldn’t be compared to that of a master, but it had created a strike with that much power with just a light flick of its mouth.

Baek Cheon, who had been staring silently at the now-calm lake, said quite seriously.

“If it’s becoming a dragon, shouldn’t it be trying to be good and not kill people?”

“What dragon are you talking about! What kind of dream are you having!”

“There are snakes like that, so why wouldn’t there be dragons!”

“⋯⋯Huh?”

Now that he thought about it?

Chung Myung, lost for words, sighed deeply.

The scenery, which had seemed beautiful even though it was a little scary until just now, now looked like the entrance to the underworld.

“⋯⋯I knew things were going too well. There’s no way that could happen in my life! Kreeeeung.”

Chung Myung scratched his head vigorously.

He thought things were going well in the Beast Palace, that he would be well-treated in Yunnan, and that he could graze comfortably and return, but he had encountered an unexpected obstacle.

“How are we going to catch that thing?”

“How else would we catch it!”

Chung Myung glared at Yoon Jong, rolling his eyes.

“It’s just a beast, no matter what. If we hit it hard enough, it’ll die someday!”

“Chung Myung-ah.”

Baek Cheon smiled gently.

“I have always respected your opinion, but I think you should reconsider this time.”

You’ll really die, you idiot.

“It’s okay! It’s not like that thing doesn’t have a head. Most things in the world can be solved by breaking its head.”

“⋯⋯Sometimes I’m surprised that you’re a Taoist.”

As if he didn’t care about Baek Cheon’s thoughts, Chung Myung stared at the lake with a determined look.

He looked like he was about to run into the lake any minute.

Then the Beast Palace Lord looked at him with a worried face.

“I shouldn’t be saying this since I brought you here… but are you going to be okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m a little stronger than you think.”

“Yes. That puts my mind at ease. I’ll make sure to hold a proper memorial service for you.”

“⋯⋯.”

Is anyone underestimating me?

I was the Plum Blossom Sword Saint! The Plum Blossom Sword Saint!

Chung Myung gritted his teeth.

“If some insignificant creature doesn’t recognize a person and attacks, it’ll end up as snake soup! I think Kunming’s food situation isn’t great anyway, so if we catch that thing, we can eat for three or four days.”

“⋯⋯That’s quite a solution.”

“Alright! I’ll go⋯⋯”

“Ah, just a moment!”

Baek Cheon’s shout made Chung Myung stop.

“Why?!”

“Palace Lord, do you know where that Violet Cloud Grass is, right?”

The Wild Beast Palace Lord pointed to one side. “It’s not difficult. That grass with the white flowers over there is the divine herb.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

“Listen carefully, Chung Myung. It’s not important to catch the snake. If that grass gets damaged during the fight, everything is ruined.”

“I understand!”

Chung Myung nodded, acting like this advice was valuable.

Creak!

The famed sword he received from the Tang family was drawn. He swung the sword a few times, testing its weight. His eyes gleamed.

“Even if it’s strong, it’s just a small creature! I’m going!”

He leaped towards Sindam.

“Wow⋯⋯.”

“Will he be alright?”

The disciples of Mount Hua watched with worried eyes. Everyone watching knew Chung Myung was brave, or maybe just crazy, to charge at that snake.

But this time, that madness was particularly worrying.

Sashay.

Chung Myung landed on the shore of the lake. He jumped towards the lake with energy, but when he landed, he moved very quietly. He looked like a thief sneaking over a wall.

Whoosh!

Chung Myung quickly turned his head to scan the water’s surface.

‘Good. It’s not coming, is it?’

Chung Myung’s feet began to move stealthily.

‘Alright, let’s think carefully. My mission isn’t to beat up the snake, but to retrieve the Violet Cloud Grass.’

Once I secure the Violet Cloud Grass, I can beat up the snake or boil it into snake soup.

Chung Myung cautiously began to move towards the Violet Cloud Grass.

‘First, I need to pluck this and⋯⋯’

That’s when it happened.

Sssssss.

A strange sound reached his ears. A low, chilling sound that made his heart pound.

“⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung slowly turned his head. He saw something huge rising above the lake.

Its scales shimmered like oil in rainbow colors. The black tongue flicked between its tightly closed jaws, making anyone who saw it shudder. Its eyes, like burning coals, were fixed on Chung Myung.

“Oh⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung scratched the back of his head, embarrassed, like someone caught stealing. Okay, maybe this is a *little* bigger than I thought.

Chung Myung smiled lightly. They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, so first, he’d try to talk with a smiling face.

“Could I at least take the flower before we talk?”

Whaaaam!

“Eeeeeek!”

KABOOOOM!

The Mooklyn Blood Serpent charged, biting down on the spot where Chung Myung had been standing.

“I’m out of my mind, trying to talk to a snake!”

Chung Myung barely dodged the attack by leaping away. He gritted his teeth and charged towards the black body.

‘Full of openings!’

No matter how spiritual it is, it’s still just a beast. The Mooklyn Blood Serpent’s biggest weakness was its massive size. There are so many places to strike that I could hit them all even with my eyes closed!

“Euraaaah!!”

Chung Myung poured an insane amount of internal energy into his sword and struck the area near the Mooklyn Blood Serpent’s neck.

Clang!

“Huh?”

Clang? Not even Kaaang, but Clang?

What is this sound⋯⋯.

Chung Myung cautiously raised his sword.

“⋯⋯Eh?”

The sword was broken in two. Cleanly, exactly in half.

Despite being imbued with aura, it had collided with the Mooklyn Blood Serpent’s scales and snapped.

Whirr.

The upper part of the broken sword spun like a top, soaring into the air before falling next to Chung Myung and embedding itself in the ground.

Thud.

Oh my, it went in deep.

It cuts the ground well, at least.

“Hehe.”

Chung Myung smiled as he looked at the broken sword.

– This sword has been passed down as a treasure in the Tang family. I give it to you as a token of my friendship, so use it well.

“This sword is useless!”

They’re trying to trick me with a broken sword! And they’re not even sorry! This thing couldn’t cut butter, let alone a snake!

Chung Myung looked worried. He slowly lifted his head.

Ssssssssss.

The Murky Blood Serpent looked down. It moved its head from side to side, like it was getting ready to attack.

‘I used to do that when I was angry.’ Chung Myung thought, looking at the snake. ‘You’re not very friendly either, are you?’

Chung Myung said, nervously. ‘But… maybe we can trade swords? Or… maybe we don’t have to fight?’

“ROAR!”

“Oh no!” Chung Myung shouted. The water splashed as the Murky Blood Serpent rushed at him. It was so fast for such a big creature! It attacked like a snake biting its prey. Its mouth was huge and black, like a dark hole.

He put all his power into the broken sword, hitting the serpent’s head again and again. “Die! Die! Die! Break! Why won’t you break?!” CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! Each hit just made a dull clang sound. Even with all his power, the sword couldn’t even scratch the snake’s scales. They were too hard.

Chung Myung was shocked. ‘Is this even real?’ His face went white. ‘My sword skills are useless if this sword can’t even make a mark!’ he thought. ‘It’s like trying to fight a knight with just a stick! What can I do?’

THUMP!

‘Huh?’ Chung Myung felt the serpent move under him. Suddenly, he was thrown up a little bit.

SNAP!

‘What?’ Chung Myung looked down. The Murky Blood Serpent had bitten his ankle! ‘Wait… is it… smiling?’ he thought, feeling a chill. ‘No, it can’t be.’

Then, the serpent started shaking its body hard, back and forth. WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! It smashed Chung Myung on the ground again and again! Left, right, left, right! “AAAAARGH!” Chung Myung screamed as he hit the ground over and over.

Then, the serpent opened its mouth and threw Chung Myung up! “Huh?” WHOOSH! Chung Myung saw it then – the serpent’s tail, which had been in the water, was now rushing towards him, incredibly fast. “Okay, that’s too much,” he thought. WHUMP! The tail hit him hard, and Chung Myung flew through the air like a cannonball.

SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! He bounced on the water like a flat stone, all the way to the edge of the lake. He even bounced a few more times on the ground before finally stopping.

Thump!

“…Is he… dead?”

“No, he can’t be. But… maybe he is?”

“Don’t say that! He’s not dead.”

“Well… we should go check, just in case.”

When they saw him, they quickly closed their eyes and started praying. “He’s gone.” “Do we even need to dig a grave?” “May his soul rest in peace.” All they could see were two legs kicking weakly in the air. The rest of him was stuck in the ground, head first. ‘Yeah,’ someone thought, ‘he should definitely be dead.’

“Ptooey!” Suddenly, dirt flew everywhere, and Chung Myung jumped to his feet! “…He’s still alive?!” someone said in shock. “Even death doesn’t want him,” another one joked. Chung Myung was covered in dirt, his eyes rolling back, and blood running from his nose.

“That snake is going to pay!” Chung Myung yelled. He couldn’t believe he’d been beaten so badly by just a snake. Completely losing his temper, Chung Myung roared, “That snake! I’ll do anything to catch it and make it into soup!”

“But what can you do?” someone asked. “Your sword didn’t work.”

“And your power didn’t even scratch it. How will you catch it?”

“My power didn’t scratch it?” Chung Myung’s eyes got wide. He shouted, “If it doesn’t work, we’ll find a way to make it work! Anything is possible!” ‘Yes, yes,’ someone thought, ‘but first, maybe wipe your nose, Chung Myung.’”