Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 235

The vast training ground stretched out before the central palace.

Warriors from the Beast Palace stood in lines on the left and right. They were strong men with brown skin, standing very straight and still. Their faces looked hard, and it felt like there was a lot of pressure in the air.

Among these strong warriors, the Mount Hua disciples looked uncomfortable.

“What is all this about?”

“Chung Myung?”

The Mount Hua disciples had been brought here without any explanation. They looked at Chung Myung with questioning eyes.

Chung Myung simply shrugged and fanned his face with his white feather fan.

“Ah, it’s nothing much. It will be over soon, so just watch.”

“……”

When Chung Myung says ‘nothing much,’ it’s always something big.

Baek Cheon wished Chung Myung would explain things now instead of surprising them later, but his wish was not granted.

Before he could ask Chung Myung again, the guards at the front moved aside, and the Beast Palace Lord appeared.

“Hmm?”

Baek Cheon was a little surprised to see the Beast Palace Lord.

This was not the Beast Palace Lord he was used to seeing. He still walked with energy, but Baek Cheon now felt the heavy, strong presence he had sensed during their first meeting.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Beast Palace Lord came into the main hall with a very strong presence. He sat on a big chair on a raised platform and looked down at everyone.

The Beast Palace warriors knelt before him together.

“Long live the Beast Palace!”

“Beast Palace Eternal! Ten thousand years of glory!”

The Beast Palace Lord Maeng So acknowledged their greetings with hand gestures.

‘My legs are shaking.’

‘I can’t get used to this, no matter how many times I see it.’

The Mount Hua disciples shivered.

It was not common to see so many fighters shouting together in the Central Plains. Being in a scene like this, something usually only seen in the emperor’s palace, made them feel scared.

Then, the Beast Palace Lord, who had been looking down at them with a slightly arrogant look, spoke.

“Speak.”

His low voice echoed through the main hall.

“Why did you want to see me? Disciples of Mount Hua.”

Chung Myung stepped forward.

Then, he suddenly bowed down to the ground.

“Great Beast Palace Lord, I am a simple Taoist with a request. I beg you, please be kind and listen to my plea!”

The eyes of the Mount Hua disciples behind him widened.

‘What’s he saying?’

‘What is he saying? Is that crazy guy okay?’

‘Did he eat something bad? Why is he acting like this?’

This was the same Chung Myung who had stood confidently before the Tang Clan Lord, saying everything he should and shouldn’t have… No, saying all the things he shouldn’t and couldn’t say.

Was that Chung Myung really being so humble?

‘Something is definitely going on!’

Baek Cheon stared at the back of Chung Myung’s head, feeling suspicious and uneasy.

“A request.”

The Beast Palace Lord looked down at Chung Myung with serious eyes. He was no longer lighthearted.

He was truly the lord of the Beast Palace, a ruler of the Southern Barbarians.

“If you are a descendant of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, you have the right to ask me for something. Speak, then. Descendant of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, disciple of Mount Hua. I will listen to your request and decide whether to grant it.”

“I am grateful for your wise decision!”

Thud!

Chung Myung hit his head against the floor once.

“Why is he doing that?”

“How would I know? Just leave him be.”

Baek Cheon and Jo Gul whispered. They were struggling to understand what was happening.

Chung Myung continued, his voice loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear.

“I humbly ask the great Lord of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace to have mercy on us, who have come from far away, and allow us to trade with Yunnan!”

“What!”

The Beast Palace Lord jumped up from his seat.

He glared at Chung Myung with angry eyes, as if he wanted to tear him apart.

“Don’t you know that trade between the Beast Palace and the Central Plains is forbidden? Even if you are our guests, do you think you can break our old laws and be safe?”

The Beast Palace Lord’s voice, full of anger, echoed throughout the Beast Palace.

The Beast Palace warriors and the Mount Hua disciples shivered at his strong presence.

But Chung Myung hit his head against the floor again and raised his voice.

“Lord! Merchants from the Central Plains are already traveling to and from Yunnan!”

“Are you trying to insult the Beast Palace by saying that?”

“That is not my intention. Many people from the Central Plains are already coming to Yunnan. Wouldn’t it be better to follow your ancestors’ rules by only allowing one group to travel to and from Yunnan?”

“Hmph!”

The Beast Palace Lord snorted loudly.

The Beast Palace warriors quickly looked at each other. What Chung Myung said wasn’t wrong.

“We respect the Beast Palace more than anyone else in the Central Plains, and we can follow the laws of the Beast Palace.”

“How can you promise that?”

“We are the descendants of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, and the disciples of Mount Hua, who have lost their glory because the Central Plains has rejected us. If we, Mount Hua, cannot understand Yunnan, who from the Central Plains can?”

The Beast Palace Lord glared at Chung Myung with his large eyes.

“Even so, I cannot trust people from the Central Plains!”

“The Plum Blossom Sword Saint was also from the Central Plains!”

“Do you think you are as good as him?”

“Even if we are not as good as him, we can follow his example. If he wanted to protect Yunnan, then we, his descendants, must also protect Yunnan. Isn’t that the duty of Mount Hua, who respects the Plum Blossom Sword Saint as our ancestor and symbol?”

It was very eloquent.

Baek Cheon watched from behind with his mouth open.

‘I didn’t know that guy could talk so well?’

Chung Myung was always good at talking, but there was a big difference between being a smooth talker and being logically articulate.

And yet, Chung Myung was saying the words as if he had memorized them.

Anyone who didn’t know him would think he was a scholar, especially since he was wearing a scholar’s robe and holding a white feather fan.

‘Does this mean I still don’t know everything about that guy?’

It was at that moment, as Baek Cheon was looking at Chung Myung’s back with new eyes.

“So, we Mount Hua… Mount Hua… Uh? What’s next… Uh oh?”

“……”

The Beast Palace Lord’s face turned slightly pale.

‘Hey, you idiot! After memorizing it like that!’

‘Ah, wait a minute! I can forget sometimes!’

Chung Myung looked flustered and subtly lifted his sleeve, but he quickly regained his composure and began to speak again as if nothing had happened.

Baek Cheon noticed that moment with his sharp eyes.

‘There was definitely something in that sleeve just now.’

Something densely written on a white piece of paper…

That guy is cheating!

Of course! There’s no way he could have thought of that himself!

“So, please understand the sincerity of our Mount Hua, Lord! An alliance is just chance unless people make it real. If your ancestors had not wanted us to have this land, how could we have come here and met you, Lord?”

“Are you saying that my ancestors opened the way to Yunnan for you?”

“That is what I believe!”

“Hmm!”

The Beast Palace Lord closed his eyes with a serious look. Seeing his face, which seemed to be deep in thought, Chung Myung sighed softly.

‘This should be enough, right?’

Chung Myung and the Beast Palace Lord had already agreed on everything.

Although the trade was being resumed out of necessity, everything needed a procedure and a reason. And now, the two were creating that reason.

The Beast Palace Lord thought it would look better if Mount Hua asked humbly. This way, she could agree to their request, instead of her asking Chung Myung for help directly. This would make her seem more powerful.

Small things like this showed how much power the Beast Palace Lord had.

When the Mount Hua people (descendants of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint from the Central Plains) were very polite, it made the Beast Palace Lord look even more important to everyone watching.

The Beast Palace Lord opened her eyes, finally breaking the silence. She looked at her protectors and asked, “What do you think?”

The oldest protector spoke slowly. “Palace Lord,” he said, “what he says has some truth. But we must follow what our ancestors taught us.”

“These people are from the Plum Blossom Sword Saint’s family. Our ancestors were very thankful to him. Are you still saying no to them?”

“If the Plum Blossom Sword Saint himself was here, it would be different. But these are just his family members. We can’t treat them like him, especially since they are not even blood relatives.”

The Beast Palace Lord frowned. The protectors were arguing more strongly than she thought they would.

“Our ancestors’ teachings are most important!” one protector said firmly. “Palace Lord, we cannot agree to this.”

Another protector added, “Don’t forget how the Central Plains shamed us! The Beast Palace must not lose its pride.”

A third protector cried out, “Pride is more important than life!”

“Uphold our pride!” the protectors shouted together, kneeling down as one.

The Beast Palace Lord closed her eyes. *Even after all this, it’s not working?* she thought. She had planned this whole scene to change their minds, to soften these stubborn people. But nothing was changing. Even the palace students below seemed to agree with the protectors, though quietly. *Is the gap really this big?* The split between the Central Plains and Yunnan was too deep. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t bridge it.

Just as the Beast Palace Lord sighed heavily, Chung Myung spoke. “…Legacy?” He stood up from kneeling. He turned to the protectors, head tilted slightly, a dangerous look in his eyes.

*Oh no!* Baek Cheon thought, panicking. *This is bad!* Yoon Jong felt the same. *Stop him! Someone stop him before he says something terrible!*

Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong jumped up and ran towards Chung Myung.

But then, *BANG!* Chung Myung suddenly moved, shoving Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong back as they tried to grab him.

“Huh?” Baek Cheon gasped, stumbling back.

“Euh?” Yoon Jong was just as surprised. They stared at Chung Myung, confused. They knew Chung Myung always ignored them when he wanted to say something. He would push them away, even if they tried to hold him back. But this time felt different. This time, it was like he used force, not just his usual stubbornness.

“Chung Myung-ah,” Baek Cheon said, his voice worried. But Chung Myung didn’t even look at him. His eyes were fixed on the protectors.

“Did you just say… legacy?” His voice was low and serious.

“What legacy are you talking about?”

The oldest protector stepped forward, his face hard, glaring at Chung Myung. “Our ancestors ordered us to never speak to people from the Central Plains. Anyone who breaks this rule must die.”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed. “Then everyone here should just die right now.”

“What?!” the protectors exclaimed, shocked.

“What about us?” one sputtered.

Chung Myung continued, ignoring them. “And what about the Hwapyeong Merchant Guild in Kunming? Central Plains people are walking around Yunnan freely! What are you doing about that? Shouldn’t you all be offering your heads for punishment?”

The protector’s face went red with anger. But Chung Myung said something slightly different.

“Oh, I understand,” Chung Myung said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “It’s about making a living, right? But you only use ‘making a living’ as an excuse when it suits you.”

“Are you insulting the Beast Palace?!” the protector roared.

“No,” Chung Myung said sharply. “I’m insulting *you*, not the Beast Palace. Don’t hide behind the Beast Palace.”

“Guards… someone, stop him!” the protector yelled, losing his composure.

“Upholding the legacy?” Chung Myung repeated, his voice sharp. “Is that *all* your ancestors taught you? Just to follow old rules?” His words hit hard. The protector’s face showed confusion for a moment.

“…What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice softer now.

“Didn’t your ancestors also teach you to take care of the people of Yunnan?” Chung Myung pressed. The protector fell silent.

“Was there no such teaching?” Chung Myung asked, looking at the Beast Palace Lord. She sighed. “No,” she said. “Of course, there was. It’s only right that they would teach that.”

“Then,” Chung Myung said, turning back to the protectors, his voice rising again. “Which legacy is more important?” Silence fell again.

Chung Myung looked at everyone, his voice loud. “Your ancestors would be so proud of you right now!” he said sarcastically. “They’d be clapping for you, seeing how well you follow their rules, even if it means the people of Yunnan are starving! Think about it! If you were them, would you be happy if your children did this? If it were me, I’d be furious!”

The Beast Palace students’ faces flushed red.

“But… our ancestors…” one mumbled.

Chung Myung cut him off. “Only people who can’t think for themselves always talk about ‘ancestors’! Did your ancestors want you to just copy them blindly? No parent wants their child to be a puppet with no brain!”

Chung Myung suddenly reached behind him. “Huh?” Yoon Jong blinked, confused. He had been listening to Chung Myung, a bit lost in the argument. Suddenly, Chung Myung grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. Yoon Jong stumbled and found himself standing next to Chung Myung, staring up at him blankly.

“This man,” Chung Myung announced, pointing at Yoon Jong, “Yoon Jong here! As soon as he got to Kunming, he sold everything he owned! Even his sword! All to help the people of Yunnan!”

Yoon Jong groaned quietly. *Oh no, not this again,* he thought. *Stop it, you jerk.*

“So, I ask you!” Chung Myung said, his voice almost a snarl. “Who do you think your kind ancestors, who only cared about Yunnan, would think is helping the people more? My friend here, who gave away everything to feed the hungry? Or you, who ignore people dying just to follow one old rule?” Silence. No one dared to speak.

Chung Myung gritted his teeth. *Legacy, my foot,* he thought angrily. How could these people, who had never seen their group destroyed, understand what a real legacy meant? He had watched his own group fall apart. He just couldn’t understand these stubborn people. A legacy is just a legacy. It’s something to learn from, not a rule that can never be broken. The world changes so fast. How long will they hold onto these old, useless words?

Chung Myung glared at the Beast Palace students. “I’m done talking,” he said, his voice rough. “This is a waste of time. Let’s go!” He turned and walked away quickly.

Just as Chung Myung turned to leave, a voice called out, “Wait.”

Chung Myung stopped, a vein pulsing on his forehead, and turned back. The Beast Palace Lord cleared her throat. She looked directly at Yoon Jong.

“You are Yoon Jong, right?” she asked.

“Yes,” Yoon Jong replied, his face tight with nerves.

“There’s something I want to ask you,” the Beast Palace Lord said, her eyes steady on him. Yoon Jong nodded, his body tense.