Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 257

Hyun Sang groaned, rubbing his tired eyes. *They say good luck and bad luck always arrive together,* he thought.

Hyun Sang was very aware of what that meant.

The good luck he had just found was wonderful. The lost martial arts of Mount Hua were back.

Not all the old martial arts had returned, but with what he had now, he could rebuild Mount Hua’s foundation.

Besides the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique from the illustrated book, more than twenty secret manuals had appeared.

He wasn’t tired even without sleep, or hungry even without food.

Just looking at the neatly arranged secret manuals made him very happy. No fine drink could excite him as much as this.

But these very secret manuals had also brought trouble.

“Plum Blossom Mountain Calculation… Upper level first!”

“Yes!”

The Mugak disciples quickly grabbed the Plum Blossom Mountain Calculation and hurried to the side.

“What does ‘Upper level’ mean?”

“Ten books!”

“Yes! We will start right away.”

“Do so.”

Just then, a Mugak disciple carefully watched Hyun Sang before speaking.

“But… Chief. Shouldn’t you rest a little? It’s been four days already.”

“Ugh. I’m not even halfway done! How can I rest? The Sect Leader is pushing me,” he replied.

“You’ll hurt yourself at this rate. I’ll talk to the Sect Leader.”

“No, it’s not just the Sect Leader. How can I sleep now?”

Seeing Hyun Sang’s bloodshot eyes, the Mugak disciple nodded.

The problem was simple.

They had gotten many secret manuals quickly. Now, they needed to check and sort these manuals.

Why was this needed?

Usually, famous groups have dozens, or even hundreds, of martial arts.

The Shaolin Temple’s Janggyeonggak is said to have nearly a thousand martial arts, including the Seventy-Two Supreme Arts.

But people can only do so much. Just having a thousand martial arts doesn’t mean you can learn them all.

So, each group makes a system of martial arts that disciples must learn as a base, and picks martial arts that can be learned together based on talent and skill.

Mount Hua also needed a system for the martial arts they had gotten this time. And Hyun Sang, the Mugak Chief in charge of all of Mount Hua’s martial arts, was the one to do it.

“Ugh. When will I ever finish all this?”

It wasn’t easy, of course.

Understanding the contents of so many secret manuals and reorganizing the system was hard. But the biggest problem was that these secret manuals were too advanced for Hyun Sang.

Each one was a new, higher-level martial art that Hyun Sang had never seen before.

Hyun Sang was already struggling to learn them. How could he tell which martial art was better or more basic? Was it even possible?

Hyun Sang rubbed his face roughly with both hands.

His bloodshot eyes glared at the remaining secret manuals.

Just then…

“How’s it going?”

Hyeon Young opened the Mugak door and looked at Hyun Sang as she came in.

“…Hard.”

“Goodness, you look terrible. You’ll turn your hair white again. Take a break.”

“Do I have time? Even the Sect Leader can’t sleep now.”

“Tsk tsk tsk tsk. That’s why I tell you to drop that useless pride.”

“Pride?”

Hyeon Young nodded at Hyun Sang’s question.

“Why are *you* stressing yourself out? Just get Chung Myung to handle it.”

“…Huh?”

Chung Myung?

Why was Chung Myung being brought up?

“Chung Myung, you say…?”

“Isn’t Chung Myung stronger than you?”

Hyun Sang closed his mouth.

Uh….

That was true, but… that’s….

It was hard to argue with that.

He had tried not to think about it, but wasn’t everyone in Mount Hua quietly agreeing that Chung Myung was the strongest?

“But, this is about sorting Mount Hua’s martial arts. So…”

“Sajung. Sajung. Stop talking such frustrating nonsense.”

“Huh?”

“You don’t know anything about these martial arts either, do you?”

“…”

“It’s about learning and understanding new martial arts. Will we old folks do well? Or will a smart young one? Don’t suffer and just go find Chung Myung.”

Watching Hyeon Young look for Chung Myung at every chance, Hyun Sang laughed weakly.

“Haha. It’s not like Chung Myung is magic; you look for that kid whenever something happens.”

“Don’t even compare him to something small. Would an illustrated book of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique appear if you just beat something small a hundred times?”

“…I guess not.”

Thinking about it, it was amazing.

Every time Chung Myung did something, Mount Hua grew unbelievably fast. Compared to just two and a half years ago, Mount Hua had changed so much.

“So, Sajung, don’t try to be a dragon and just go find that Chung Myung kid.”

“Find him? Did Chung Myung go somewhere?”

“I can’t find this kid. Ugh…. Where did he go? I even made carp for him.”

…Stop feeding him so much.

He’s going to start rolling around.

Sararak.

The hem of his clothes fluttered in the gentle breeze.

Chung Myung was lying on the roof of the Baekma Hall, taking a comfortable break for the first time in a while.

‘Ah, this feels like living.’

He had been too busy lately. He hadn’t rested since leaving the Plum Blossom Cave after his training. From Namyeong to Seoseo, Sichuan, and Yunnan. He had almost traveled across the entire Central Plains.

‘I’ve done everything I need to do now.’

He had filled their inner strength with Jasodan, given them martial arts to learn, and encouraged Baek Cheon and the others to train on their own.

He had reached the first goal he set when he returned to Mount Hua.

‘So, should I relax for a while?’

Training isn’t always about pushing yourself. Sometimes, rest is better than too much training.

Just for a month…. No, just relaxing for fifteen days….

“Huh?”

Just then, Chung Myung saw a stranger entering the mountain gate.

He wasn’t a disciple of Mount Hua.

“A beggar?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

Why was there a beggar in Mount Hua…? No, wait. Did he look familiar?

“Hwasan Divine Dragon!”

The beggar, who had just seen Chung Myung lying on the roof, rushed over.

His eyesight is good.

Papap!

Using his lightness skill, the beggar jumped onto the roof, confirmed Chung Myung’s face, frowned, and shouted.

“You rascal! How could you do this to me?”

“…Who are you?”

The beggar’s face turned red, almost black.

“It’s me, you rascal! Hong Daekwang!”

“Oh…. So…?”

When Chung Myung still looked confused, Hong Daekwang thumped his chest as if he was annoyed.

“I’m Hong Daekwang, the Branch Leader of the Beggars’ Union’s Luo Yang Branch! Did you lose your mind after going to Yunnan?”

“Ah. Beggar Ahjussi?”

“Yes! Beggar Ajeossi…. Don’t call me that, you rascal!”

Chung Myung looked at Hong Daekwang with a happy expression.

He had become friends with Hong Daekwang in the Sword Tomb.

“But why are you here, Ahjussi?”

“Haven’t you heard?”

Chung Myung stared at Hong Daegwang, his eyes narrowed. Hong Daegwang shifted nervously.

“What is it?” Chung Myung finally asked, his voice sharp.

“Well,” Hong Daegwang began, clearing his throat. “Looks like the Sect Leader didn’t tell you. Remember when you asked me to put a branch office in Hwaeum?”

“I asked you to put some beggars there. Just a few people. Not a whole office.”

“If we put some beggars there, that *is* a branch office. What’s so fancy about our branches? We put up a small hut, a beggar sits inside – branch office!”

Chung Myung paused, considering. “Hmm, true. So?”

“I’m here as the leader of the Hwaeum branch of the Beggars’ Union.”

“…Really?” Chung Myung asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

“Really!” Hong Daegwang exclaimed, puffing out his chest. “You brat! You have no idea how much effort this took!”

Hong Daegwang protested, but Chung Myung just scowled, his eyebrows furrowed like thunderclouds.

Seeing Chung Myung’s unhappy face, Hong Daegwang’s frustration boiled over.

“You *should* be happy! This is a big deal!”

“No… well, really… a beggar is a beggar.”

“I’m not just *any* beggar! I’m the hope of the Beggars’ Union, I tell you!”

“The Beggars’ Union must be really short on talent.”

“Ugh.”

Hong Daegwang’s fist trembled.

‘I can’t even punch him.’

Far from punching him, he’d be lucky not to get beaten up instead.

Hong Daegwang was a respected figure in the Beggars’ Union, but against this… *force of nature*, his influence meant nothing. Hadn’t Chung Myung fought a powerful elder from Mount Hua in the dangerous Sword Tomb?

“Wait,” Hong Daegwang said, suddenly serious. “Is it true? The rumor going around… that you beat a Dang Family elder? It sounds crazy, even the Beggars’ Union is checking if it’s real.”

“Ah, that.” Chung Myung said casually. Hong Daegwang leaned forward.

“Yes! Is it true?”

Chung Myung looked at him, still a bit grumpy, and held out his hand.

“…What?” Hong Daegwang asked, confused.

“Look, even if I’m a beggar and getting free food is my usual thing, information costs money, right? You didn’t give me this news for free, did you? Fair is fair.”

“You little thief! Are you trying to get money from a beggar?” Hong Daegwang sputtered.

“Funny, isn’t it?” Chung Myung grinned. “Sometimes I’m a beggar, sometimes I sell information. Pick one, mister. Don’t try to change the rules when it suits you.”

“Ugh.”

Hong Daegwang groaned and took out a gourd from his waist, handing it to Chung Myung.

“Here.”

“What’s this?”

“Can’t you tell? It’s alcohol!”

“I prefer money.”

“You won’t find any even if you try to drink yourself to death! If you’re going to ask for money every time you get information from the Beggars’ Union, I’ll just take it back!”

“Ehh. Who said I would? Hee hee.”

Chung Myung grinned, and Hong Daegwang smacked his lips.

‘That sly fox.’

His face looks so young, but does he have an old man living inside him? Why is he so slippery?

“It’s not something you were drinking, right?”

“It’s new, new!”

“I’ll enjoy it.”

Chung Myung immediately opened the bottle and gulped it down. He drank it so coolly and sweetly that everyone who watched him swallowed hard.

“Kuh! Good.”

“Ugh. A Taoist priest…”

Hong Daegwang smacked his lips and quickly continued.

“You’ve had your drink, so tell me if it’s true. Is it true?”

“Well, I did beat up one old geezer.”

“…It’s true. Good heavens.”

Hong Daegwang stared at Chung Myung in astonishment.

‘Just what kind of monster is this guy?’

He thought he was a monster when he fought equally with the Mount Hua elder in the Sword Tomb, but now he’s gone even further and won against the Dang Family elder.

If Hong Daegwang hadn’t seen Chung Myung with his own eyes, he would have slapped the beggar who brought him this information.

‘Since I saw it, I have no choice but to believe it.’

No, more than anything, his nonchalant attitude is even more absurd. It’s as if beating the Dang Family elder is nothing to him.

‘No, maybe it really is nothing to him.’

Hong Daegwang was at a loss as to how to report this situation to his superiors.

Then Chung Myung said, sounding bored.

“Okay, okay, but why are you really here?”

“Ah! Right!” Hong Daegwang remembered why he came and puffed up his chest.

“You should be grateful! I’ve brought you important news.”

“Huh?” Chung Myung asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Mount Hua will hear about this soon, but…” Hong Daegwang began dramatically.

“Hey, stop dragging it out! Just tell me!” Chung Myung snapped.

“Ugh,” Hong Daegwang thought, annoyed. *He’s got no charm at all.* He sighed and blurted out, “Shaolin has moved!”

“…So what?”

“I said Shaolin has moved!”

“So what?”

“…”

Chung Myung was looking at him with an even more sulky face than before. Hong Daegwang blinked in disbelief.

“Uh… Shaolin, who had been quiet all this time, has moved, you know?”

Does this brat not know what it means for Shaolin to move?

Just as Hong Daegwang was about to add more, Chung Myung said indifferently.

“Looks like they found something to scavenge.”

“Huh?”

“Those monks are always like that. They usually act all dignified and pretend to be solemn, but when they find something to scavenge, they tear their robes and rush over.”

“…”

Hong Daegwang’s eyes trembled.

He’s probably the only one in the world who talks about Shaolin like that.

“So, how have they ‘moved’?” Chung Myung asked, a flicker of interest in his eyes.

“…They’re planning a tournament.”

“Huh? A tournament?” Chung Myung repeated, now paying attention. Hong Daegwang nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes! A big martial arts competition! They’re sending invitations from Mount Song!”

“What’s being held?”

Chung Myung’s eyes, which had been calm until now, changed in an instant.

“Ma, martial arts…”

“Martial arts tournament?”

“Ye, yes.”

“So, a martial arts competition?”

“That’s right.”

“…A martial arts competition that all of the Nine Great Sects participate in?”

“Since it’s a martial arts competition held by Shaolin, of course…”

Suddenly, Chung Myung lunged forward and grabbed Hong Daegwang by the front of his robes. Hong Daegwang gasped, stumbling back.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“Invitation,” Chung Myung hissed, his eyes blazing with intensity.

“…Huh?”

“Where. Is. The invitation?” Chung Myung repeated, each word sharp.

“Where is the invitation that lets us join this martial arts tournament thing!” *Yes!* Chung Myung thought wildly. *This is it! I’m going to win this!*