Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 237

Chung Myung giggled, a high-pitched sound that echoed across the training ground.

Yoon Jong remained silent, his face burning.

Jo Gul choked back laughter, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably.

Yoon Jong still didn’t respond.

Chung Myung’s laughter rose again, even louder this time.

Yoon Jong finally looked up at the sky, his cheeks flushed red.

This is ridiculous, he thought, gritting his teeth. Why is the sky so clear and blue today of all days? It’s mocking me.

Chung Myung clapped his hands loudly, the sound sharp in the still air, then puffed out his chest and struck a dignified pose. He began to imitate Yoon Jong, exaggerating his voice. “I don’t know! Does there need to be a reason for a person to help another person?”

Jo Gul gasped dramatically, stepping forward and pretending to be utterly astonished. “I am simply doing as my heart leads me! That is my path!”

Chung Myung declared, striking a heroic stance.

Jo Gul exclaimed, eyes wide with mock surprise. “You have a path!?”

Chung Myung burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.

Jo Gul joined in, his giggles echoing Chung Myung’s booming laughter.

Chung Myung and Jo Gul were beside themselves with laughter. Yoon Jong looked at the sky with reddened eyes, secretly wiping them.

Those sly foxes.

Why did I do that?

I should have just glossed over it. Why on earth can’t I distinguish between what I should and shouldn’t say, and blurt out whatever comes to mind, only to suffer like this?

“A person of principle has emerged from Hwasan!”

“Chung Myung, since it’s Hwasan, people of principle are born here anyway.”

“Ah, that’s right. Then a true person of principle has emerged from Hwasan!”

“A person of principle alright! A fake person of principle!”

“Sasuk! This disciple is truly impressed!”

Chung Myung-ah.

Just hit me instead.

If you could just punch me instead of verbally assaulting me, this Senior Brother would be very grateful.

Yoon Jong, who wiped away the tears welling up in his eyes again, looked at Baek Cheon with desperate eyes. Baek Cheon, understanding the wish contained in that gaze, coughed slightly and turned to look at Chung Myung and Jo Gul.

“You two, stop it now!”

“Aww, spoilsport, Senior Brother!”

“Alright, alright, Senior Brother. We were just having a bit of fun.”

As the two who were gleefully teasing him subsided, Baek Cheon nodded gravely and said.

“A great person of principle has emerged from Hwasan, how can you make fun of him like that? You shouldn’t be teasing Yoon Jong, but rather emulating his path. Ptoo!”

Baek Cheon covered his mouth.

“Senior Brother.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I keep thinking about it. Phoo hoo hoo!”

As even Baek Cheon crumbled, Chung Myung didn’t miss the opportunity!

“That is my calling as a disciple of Hwasan!”

“Ah! I told you not to!”

“Hji Mleugeu! Hee hee hee hee!”

Chung Myung was beside himself with laughter. Looking at him laughing so hard that he was shedding tears, Yoon Jong was endlessly lost in thought about what path is and what life is.

Thud!

Baek Cheon, who put his hand on Yoon Jong’s shoulder, coughed a few times and opened his mouth.

“There’s no need to be ashamed.”

“You were great. It’s not that you were wrong. It’s that we are lacking.”

“That’s right. To think I have such a great Senior Brother! This Chung Myung is very heart-warmed! Senior Brother! From now on, I’ll trust only in Senior Brother.”

“Get lost!”

Baek Cheon rubbed his hands together and kicked Chung Myung, who was approaching, sending him flying far away.

“That devilish bastard.”

“Senior Brother also laughed.”

“I’m sorry.”

Baek Cheon covered his mouth to hold back the laughter that kept bursting out.

“Keueup. Keueup.”

“Hee hee hee hee.”

“Hehehehehehe.”

This is hell.

This is hell.

Looking at Yoon Jong, who was shuddering in despair and shame, Baek Cheon secretly wore a slightly apologetic expression.

In fact, Yoon Jong was truly great today. No matter how perfect the logic, it wouldn’t have been easy to persuade them when their emotions were so high.

But Yoon Jong persuaded them not with logic, but with his own path.

He really accomplished something big.

Thanks to him, Hwasan was able to properly solidify its friendship with Yunnan. Compared to that, obtaining the monopoly on Yunnan tea seems trivial.

Solidifying friendship with Naman Beast Palace, one of the Seoe Palace, was truly amazing.

I’m gaining a lot of unexpected things on this trip to Yunnan.

Beast Palace aside, they also formed an alliance with the Tang family. They have laid the foundation to connect with the most powerful forces in the west of the Central Plains.

And above all.

“You’re taking good care of the Violet Cloud Grass, right?”

“Look at that.”

Baek Cheon glanced over. Chung Myung was wrapped tightly around the Violet Cloud Grass sack. It seemed impossible to touch the Violet Cloud Grass without killing Chung Myung first.

At this point, it seems safer than the Imperial Palace vault.

“I think so too.”

Baek Cheon chuckled and cleared his throat slightly.

“Everyone, gather around.”

“Yes! Senior Brother.”

Jo Gul, Yoon Jong, Chung Myung, and Yiseol gathered around Baek Cheon.

“First of all, it might be a little early to say this, but everyone has worked hard.”

“It’s nothing, Senior Brother.”

“But it’s too early to rest assured. Our goal is not just to obtain the Violet Cloud Grass, but to bring it safely back to Hwasan.”

“And one more thing!”

Chung Myung said firmly.

“To bring it back fast! I’m itching to get back to Hwasan already!”

“That’s right!”

Baek Cheon nodded.

“Everyone knows how hard it has been so far. But let’s take our rest after we return to Hwasan.”

“That’s the obvious thing to do, Senior Brother!”

“Okay. Then, first of all, we need to meet up with the Hwapyeong Merchant Guild again.”

“Huh? Why them?”

At Chung Myung’s words, Baek Cheon frowned slightly.

“Isn’t that how we’ll get out of Yunnan?”

“Why bother? We can just buy a carriage. And we have horses.”

“Huh? Horses.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened slightly.

“Ah.”

Unbeknownst to them, the Hwapyeong Merchant Guild was having their own troubles.

“I’m so, so hungry, Branch Leader.”

“I’m really going to die like this.”

“We can’t even beg. The people here are too heartless.”

“My stomach is so empty it’s growling louder than a wild dog! There’s no tree bark left to peel and eat anymore.”

Bang Yo, the Branch Leader of the Hwapyeong Merchant Guild, sighed deeply at the outpouring of complaints. He and his men were in dire straits, far away from the laughing disciples.

Several days had already passed since Chung Myung had suppressed their inner strength and left. Left in a distant foreign land without a shred of inner strength, they could do nothing but kill time.

“What can we do? There’s no other way.”

“How about we try robbing someone again?”

“What kind of robbery can we do without inner strength?”

“Just because we don’t have inner strength doesn’t mean we’ll lose to ordinary people, will we?”

“Who’s going to deal with the aftermath?”

Bang Yo said with tearful eyes.

“If rumors suddenly spread that bandits have appeared in Kunming, we’ll naturally be the first suspects… Do you think you can handle that devilish bastard?”

The moment they heard the words ‘devilish bastard,’ everyone thought of one person.

“He’s the kind of person even dogs would avoid.”

“Worse than a bandit!”

Just thinking about him made them groan.

They were bandits.

Bandits are robbers. They are usually people without morals who can’t live normal lives.

Anyone with a little sense would not become a bandit, even if things were very bad. And if they had to rob someone for a short time, they wouldn’t want to be bandits forever.

Simply put, the people who become bandits are not quite right in the head.

Even for bandits like them, Chung Myung was too much. They wondered what the heavens were thinking when they created someone like him.

“…So, what do we do?”

“What do you mean? We have no choice but to wait here!”

“What if we starve to death?”

“That’s better than being beaten to death.”

“Ugh…”

The bandits sighed deeply. How did they end up meeting such a devil and suffering like this?

“That’s rubbish. He would happily beat us to death with a smile if he had a good reason.”

“How could someone so young become like that?”

One of the bandits, looking tearful, spoke to Bang Yao.

“But what are we going to do? Is there any chance we’ll be released?”

“How would I know!”

“Lord Vice Chief, if that guy comes back, we’ll suffer and be beaten to death. Wouldn’t it be better to run away now…?”

“How can we live without any strength!”

“Even so, if we can get back to Sichuan, couldn’t we do something?”

“Sichuan? Did you say Sichuan?”

“Yes. We still have our territory there, so…”

“Have I ever seen such a fool!” Bang Yao roared.

“How many enemies have we made in Sichuan! If people find out we’ve lost our strength and become normal people, do you think we’ll survive? A hundred people will pick up axes and chase us to kill us!”

“But if we ask the mountain stronghold for protection…”

“Do you think they will protect us? The Chief would cut off a man’s arm and throw him to the tigers just because he couldn’t hold a spear. Do you think he would protect us after we’ve lost our strength?”

Everyone went silent.

Bang Yao clicked his tongue, annoyed, as he looked at his men.

“Enough. The best thing to do is to stay here and endure it. Do you think that guy let us go for no reason? He’s probably hoping we cause trouble so he can beat us to death.”

“You know him well.”

“Of course. It’s obvious. It’s easy to guess what that wicked guy is thinking.”

“He doesn’t seem that wicked to me.”

“What are you talking about! I’ve never seen such a wicked person in my life. Bandits are kinder! I’ve never been proud of my job, but that guy has made me feel proud for once.”

“Hoo. That’s a good thing, then.”

“Yes. It’s a very good… Huh?”

Bang Yao cautiously turned his head. He looked at his men, who were now pale with fear. Bang Yao knew something was wrong, and his own face turned white.

Finally, he turned his head and saw Chung Myung, smiling widely.

The world seemed to freeze. Bang Yao, sweating, trembled and opened his mouth, looking like he had seen a ghost.

“O-oh, when did you get here…?”

“Just now.”

“Then, did you hear what I just said…?”

“Yes, I did.”

Bang Yao’s face turned dark, as if he were dying. Looking at Chung Myung’s gentle smile made him feel like he was going to have a heart attack.

“T-that wasn’t what I really meant, it’s…”

“It’s alright. It’s alright.” Chung Myung reached out and patted Bang Yao’s shoulder.

“We all make mistakes. Even the king gets criticized, so it’s not a big deal.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“I said it’s alright.” Chung Myung smiled.

“I’m not that harsh. Believe it or not, I’m a Taoist. I understand everything. It happens.”

Taoist? This guy was a Taoist?

‘What a load of rubbish! There’s no Taoist like you!’

Bang Yao glared without meaning to. Seeing his angry look, Chung Myung smiled even more.

“Do you know why a Taoist is a Taoist?”

“W-well, I don’t know.”

“A Taoist must be able to forgive even when they hear bad things. That’s what my senior brother taught me. So, I’ve brought you all a gift.”

“Yes?”

Chung Myung went to the back and came back with an armful of something. He dumped it in front of Bang Yao with a thud.

“…What’s this?” Bang Yao tilted his head.

Chung Myung had brought hay.

Unless it was cold, what was the use of hay in this hot place?

Chung Myung smiled at the confused Bang Yao.

“As you can see, it’s hay.”

“I can see that, but why…?”

“When it comes to gifts, nothing is better than something to eat.”

“…Yes?”

“Eat.”

Bang Yao stared blankly at Chung Myung. Eat? Hay?

“H-how can a person eat this…?”

“Person?” Chung Myung narrowed his eyes, then slowly widened them.

A dangerous look appeared in his dark eyes.

“Is there a person here? Not a horse?”

“Think carefully.”

“Yes?”

“A horse can do that. It’s strange to be angry at a horse for gossiping. But if it’s a person…”

Crack!

The pillar Chung Myung was holding crumbled.

“You’ll have to pay for talking!”

“Are you going to eat and talk? Or not eat and be human?”

The answer came right away.

“We’ll eat it!”

“We love hay!”

“Thank you! We appreciate you thinking of us so much!”

Chung Myung smiled again.

“Right? Eat a lot.”

“Yes!”

Tears streamed down the faces of the bandits as they grabbed the hay. It was the price for meeting someone they should never have met.