Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 311

The Haiyue Inn was in Dengfeng village. Dengfeng was at the bottom of Mount Song, where the famous Shaolin Temple stood. The inn was very, very full. It was so crowded, it felt like it might burst!

Dengfeng was always a popular place for people visiting Shaolin.

Shaolin had rooms for many visitors, but some people wanted to see Shaolin without following all the strict rules. So, they stayed in the village at the bottom of Mount Song.

Now, the Great Martial Arts Tournament was starting, and Dengfeng’s inns were even more packed than usual. They were busier than ever!

“Food here! Luoyang Yan Cai and Dongpo pork!” someone shouted. “And hot rice wine! Hurry!”

“I want plain noodles and buckwheat noodles!”

“Yes, sir! Just a moment, please!”

Servers rushed between the tables. Sweat dripped from their faces as they carried trays piled high with food.

People sitting at the tables were talking excitedly about the tournament.

The most popular topic was the fast rise of Mount Hua.

“Who would have thought this would happen at the beginning?”

“Right. When the tournament started, we all thought Shaolin and Wudang would be the top fighters. Maybe the Namgung Clan too.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

The people talking nodded.

“But Shaolin only has one person left in the top eight, and Wudang too. The Namgung didn’t even keep anyone in the running.”

“Hee hee hee hee. They must all be nervous.”

People watched the famous fighting groups lose. This made them feel two things at once.

They were a little happy, but also a little worried.

These feelings were mixed together in the inn.

“If things keep going like this, will Mount Hua win the whole thing?”

“Eh. Really?”

“Don’t be so sure. That Divine Dragon of Mount Hua is too strong for someone his age. He’s like a monster.”

“Yes. Even the older fighters from other groups couldn’t beat Namgung Dowi so easily. It seems he really was the best young fighter in the world!”

“So, shouldn’t the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua win this time?”

Everyone was talking excitedly when a man suddenly spoke.

“No, he won’t win.”

The people at the table looked at the stout man who sounded so sure.

“Why do you think so?”

The man shrugged. “It’s simple. This is Shaolin.”

“…What do you mean?”

The man shrugged again. “You don’t think Shaolin is holding this tournament just to be nice, do you? If Shaolin didn’t think they could win, they wouldn’t have started it. Think about it. How embarrassing would it be to lose in your own home?”

“Hmm.”

“Now that you mention it…”

The stout man nodded. “Mount Hua is rising fast, but winning is different. Shaolin’s Hye-yeon will probably win.”

“Aren’t you too sure? You’re underestimating Mount Hua. We can’t judge Mount Hua only by this tournament, but their young fighters are the best, right?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

The stout man clicked his tongue. “You still don’t get it. I’m not underestimating Mount Hua. I’m just saying Shaolin won’t let themselves lose like this.”

“Hmm.”

“Of course, Mount Hua will become a great group. They have talented people and are getting good results. But Shaolin is Shaolin. They have so many talented people. Shaolin is like the North Star of the fighting world. No matter how good the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua is, he can’t beat Shaolin…”

Just then…

Bang!

The door burst open, and someone stormed in.

“What, what is it?”

“Who’s being so violent…? Oh? That person?”

The inn became silent. Everyone stared, wide-eyed.

‘The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?’

‘It’s the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua!’

‘Why is he here…?’

Everyone there had come to Shaolin to see the Great Martial Arts Tournament. They all knew who the most famous fighter was.

But…

‘Why is he so angry?’

‘He looks furious!’

‘Did he hear what we were saying?’

Chung Myung, the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, who had kicked the door open, looked around with a face full of rage.

Chung Myung’s eyes moved from left to right. People quickly looked away.

‘Don’t make eye contact!’

‘Pretend to sleep!’

Even people who didn’t care about Mount Hua knew the rumor about Chung Myung.

– The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua is a terrible person.

– Even Buddha would leave him.

– It’s best to stay away from him.

Usually, people don’t believe rumors about successful fighters… but everyone believed the rumors about Chung Myung.

Why?

Because they had seen him with their own eyes.

He was known for being cruel, so there were many witnesses.

The rumors about Chung Myung’s bad character were now widely known.

So, everyone quickly looked away.

Chung Myung glanced around with bloodshot eyes, and everyone flinched.

“A seat!”

Chung Myung flew to a free seat in the corner.

“Server!”

“Y-y-y-yes! Coming!”

“Here, here! First, meat! Any meat dish! And alcohol! What kind of alcohol do you have?”

“We have all kinds!”

“Then give me five bottles of baijiu now!”

“Yes! Just a moment!”

“Alcohol first!”

“Yes!”

The server hurried away. Chung Myung slumped into his chair and sighed.

“Seriously, why are there so many people in this small village!”

Just then, the door opened again, and a few more people came in.

“How many times do I have to tell you to open doors with your hands, not your feet? You idiot!”

“Just give up, Sahyung. He wouldn’t be himself if he changed.”

“Noodles. Noodles. Noodles.”

“…Samae. I’ll order noodles for you, so please calm down.”

“Noodles!”

Baek Cheon covered his face.

‘There isn’t a single normal person here.’

Jo Gul smiled. “At least we found a place to sit. Why are there so many people here…”

“Yes, thank goodness! Another full place and that one would have exploded!”

Chung Myung was ready to forget the food and just start drinking, but Baek Cheon calmed him down and checked the shops first. When Baek Cheon finally looked at the tavern, he stopped. So many people were waiting outside! He hadn’t expected such a crowd.

Each time they were told ‘Full!’ at another tavern, Chung Myung’s eyes seemed to get redder and angrier. Baek Cheon felt like he was watching a volcano about to erupt!

Baek Cheon pulled out a chair and sat heavily in the space Chung Myung had grabbed. He sighed, feeling relieved they finally had a table, but also a little guilty that he’d made them search so long when Chung Myung was clearly starving (and thirsty!).

Soon, the other disciples of Mount Hua followed him, taking their seats.

A waiter rushed to their table with a bottle of liquor. Before the waiter could even step back, Chung Myung’s hand shot out, grabbed the bottle, ripped off the cap, and he tilted it up to drink.

Glug, glug, glug.

Everyone smiled contentedly as they watched his Adam’s apple bob rhythmically.

“How can he be so like a horse?”

“He’s perfect as a bandit, a bandit. Didn’t he choose the wrong mountain? He should have gone to a mountain with a bandit camp. He must have mistakenly come to Mount Hua.”

“Actually, Mount Hua isn’t that different from a den of thieves these days…”

“Jo Gul.”

“Yes?”

“There are things in this world that, even if true, should not be spoken aloud.”

“…I was careless.”

Baek Cheon, having issued a stern warning, sighed once more.

“KRAAAH!” Chung Myung slammed the empty bottle on the table. It landed with a loud BANG!

Normally, people would cheer for someone drinking so happily. But this was a Taoist monk! It was strange, but honestly, no one really cared. The tavern was noisy and crowded, and everyone was busy with their own food and drinks.

Those who glanced furtively at the table where the Mount Hua disciples sat began to mutter quietly among themselves.

“Aren’t those people there disciples of Mount Hua?”

“Indeed. The one in the center is the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, and the one sitting across from him is the Sword of Flowing Fragrance, Baek Cheon.”

“And aren’t the others all those who achieved good results in this tournament? That young lady is Yiseol, the second-generation disciple who advanced to the Top Eight, and next to her is Jo Gul, who, despite being a third-generation disciple, also made it to the Top Eight.”

“Ooh. Looking at them like this, aren’t they all impressive?”

The Mount Hua disciples’ ears perked up. Yoon Jong’s mouth twitched, and Jo Gul tried to hide a smile. Even Baek Cheon’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“To see the future leaders of Mount Hua gathered in one place. It’s like opening my eyes to a new world.”

“Not just leading Mount Hua. Aren’t they the ones who will lead the future of the Jianghu?”

“Indeed, their spirit is extraordinary.”

Baek Cheon cleared his throat softly.

His face was slightly flushed, uncharacteristically.

‘Embarrassing.’

It was only natural.

As a martial artist of Mount Hua, when had he ever received praise from someone so close?

The disciples of the Nine Great Sects were bound to receive gazes of admiration and envy wherever they went, but the disciples of Mount Hua had never had such an experience.

At Shaolin, the cheers were for their martial arts skills in a competition. This was different. This was praise just for *being* from Mount Hua, for who they were becoming. It felt much more personal, and yes, embarrassing.

“The Sword of Flowing Fragrance is truly a peerless beauty.”

“Isn’t Yiseol’s swordsmanship also truly beautiful? I don’t think I’ve ever seen such beauty in my life!”

“The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua is also quite excellent at that level.”

Baek Cheon lowered his head, embarrassed.

‘I can hear everything, you lot.’

They were speaking quietly among themselves, but there was no way the Mount Hua disciples couldn’t hear them. Jo Gul and Yoon Jong were also blushing, looking awkward, while only Yiseol maintained a calm expression.

Huh? Chung Myung?

Chung Myung was now chugging his second bottle… Chung Myung?

“I don’t know who the one next to them is, but the other five have already started to be called the Five Swords.”

“The Five Swords?”

“The Mount Hua Five Swords? Or the Plum Blossom Five Swords? Anyway, they say that the five—led by the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, Baek Cheon, Yiseol, Jo Gul, and Yoon Jong—are called the best of Mount Hua’s younger generation.”

“It feels like the Three Swords of Wudang.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Five Swords?

Baek Cheon, who had been listening quietly, blinked.

‘What is this? I’ve never even heard of it?’

Often, the person themselves doesn’t realize their own fame. Thanks to their great performance in the tournament, the reputation of the Mount Hua disciples was increasing at a tremendous rate, even at this very moment.

“But isn’t it a bit strange to call them the Five Swords?”

“Hmm? What is?”

“There are three who made it to the Top Eight, but they’re calling them the Five Swords.”

“…Well, that’s not quite right. The Sword of Flowing Fragrance, Baek Cheon, did forfeit due to injury, but they say he’s one of the most skilled among Mount Hua’s younger generation. And Yoon Jong… well, wasn’t his opponent, his opponent?”

“Now that I hear it, that’s true.”

“Anyway, don’t argue with me. Logic doesn’t work with titles that have already started to spread. Soon, they’ll all get nicknames that make sense one by one.”

The corners of Yoon Jong and Jo Gul’s mouths began to twitch.

‘Nicknames, huh.’

It was a strange, unsettling feeling.

To gain a nickname meant that the person was being talked about in the Jianghu. In other words, Jo Gul and Yoon Jong were now people who could confidently present themselves in the Jianghu.

“Do you like it?”

Chung Myung asked, and the two cleared their throats.

“W-well, it’s nice.”

“I guess it’s just something that happens.”

“…You’re really happy, aren’t you?”

“Ahem.”

Chung Myung chuckled at the sight.

‘You still have a long way to go, you guys.’

Considering what they had accomplished, it was rather late for their fame to be spreading. Once the tournament was over, their reputation would likely spread throughout the entire Jianghu.

Just then, the waiter brought the food. Chung Myung nodded at the sight.

“Let’s fill our bellies first. Waiter! Five more bottles of white liquor here!”

“Stop drinking, you rascal!”

“You ordered five bottles and you’ve already downed three by yourself?!”

“Are you trying to drink all the liquor in the world yourself?”

“A cup. A cup. Give me a cup too. A cup.”

The noisy chatter of the Mount Hua disciples and the clinking of bottles filled the air. Then, CREEAK. The tavern door opened…

A group of people entered.

Baek Cheon glanced up as the door creaked open. His eyes narrowed slightly. *Beggars’ Sect.* He recognized their patched clothes and the way they carried themselves – a mix of humility and something else… something watchful.

The Beggars’ Sect was a sect of beggars.

They usually made a living by begging, but when there were events like this, they would often pay and use the tavern.

Of course, the tavern wouldn’t be too happy about it, but they couldn’t kick out paying customers.

“A seat…”

The beggars of the Beggars’ Sect, who had come inside, looked around for a seat.

Baek Cheon tried to lose interest and focus on the food again.

“Huh?”

But then, one of the beggars who had been looking around widened his eyes and strode forward.

“Chosama?”