Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 333

Beopjeong came back and took the coffin away again.

The smell of death stayed in the room, thick and unpleasant. The three men stood in silence, the air heavy between them.

“(He prayed silently).”

Beopjeong finished his silent prayer. He looked at Hyun Jong, his face serious. “Leader,” he said, his voice low, “you know that we have found signs of the evil group in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”

Chung Myung glanced at Hyun Jong.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The leaders shared this during a private meeting before the martial arts competition,” Beopjeong replied.

“Traces of the evil group, you say…” Chung Myung paused, thinking.

This was important.

But finding traces of the evil group and finding dark energy on a dead body were very different.

“Did Shaolin Temple know about this before other groups? And that’s why you acted quickly?” Chung Myung asked.

“So, you told your disciples to check the area again.”

“Yes. We started tracking the evil group with the Beggars’ Sect before the competition. But we lost contact with the investigator near the Northern Ice Palace. We found him dead… (He prayed silently).”

He must have found his disciple killed by evil arts.

Chung Myung frowned.

‘An evil group in the North Sea?’ he wondered.

No, it was too soon to decide.

He didn’t have enough information to be sure. He shouldn’t guess too fast. The evil group was dangerous.

“Finding traces of the evil group is very serious. We had a terrible war before. If we ignore this, it could mean another war. So, the Central Plains must check the North Sea and the Northern Ice Palace,” Beopjeong said.

“Hmm.” Hyun Jong nodded.

No one in the martial world could ignore the evil group.

Especially Mount Hua Sect. No group hated the evil sect more than they did.

“However…” Hyun Jong frowned and cleared his throat. “Finding the evil group is important. But why are you telling us this, Abbot?”

“Leader,” Beopjeong said firmly.

“As the Abbot of Shaolin, I want to ask Mount Hua Sect for a favor.”

He looked closely at Hyun Jong and Chung Myung. His eyes were dark, and it was hard to know what he thought.

Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy. “Will Mount Hua Sect check the North Sea for us?”

“…Pardon?” Hyun Jong’s eyes widened.

“…You mean the Northern Ice Palace?”

“Yes,” Beopjeong nodded slowly. He prayed quietly and continued, “I know this is hard. But only Mount Hua can do this.”

“However…” Hyun Jong hesitated. It was hard to answer.

“I think you overestimate Mount Hua Sect.”

“I don’t think so,” Beopjeong said, looking at Hyun Jong with deep, dark eyes.

“You know the Four Seas and the Nine Great Sects don’t get along. They are almost enemies.”

Hyun Jong sighed. It wasn’t exactly that they were enemies. The Four Seas just held a grudge against the Central Plains. But he didn’t need to say that now.

“The Four Seas hate everyone from the Central Plains, not just the Nine Great Sects. So, it’s been a hundred years since anyone from the Central Plains could enter the Four Seas.”

Chung Myung listened, his eyes narrowing.

Now he knew why Beopjeong had asked to see him. Beopjeong added, “But recently, one group has entered the Four Seas. They didn’t just visit. They became friends and started working with them.”

Hyun Jong’s eyes narrowed. “You mean the Southern Savage Beast Palace and our Mount Hua Sect.”

“Yes,” Beopjeong nodded strongly.

“Leader, I know it’s not easy. But Mount Hua is the only group in the Central Plains that has a good relationship with the Four Seas.”

Hyun Jong started to speak, but Beopjeong didn’t let him.

“Of course, the Northern Ice Palace and the Southern Savage Beast Palace are different. But they are both part of the Four Seas. If they are friends with the Southern Savage Beast Palace, they won’t hate Mount Hua. Only Mount Hua can enter the Northern Ice Palace without a fight.”

Beopjeong lowered his hands and bowed to Hyun Jong.

It wasn’t a Buddhist bow, but a human one.

“I beg you, Leader. Please decide for the good of the world.”

“Ummm,” Hyun Jong groaned.

Even though they didn’t get along, he couldn’t refuse the Abbot of Shaolin when he begged like this. And it was for the good of the world.

‘What should I do?’ he wondered.

Just as Hyun Jong was thinking, Chung Myung spoke firmly, “What about the traces of the evil group? Is that all?”

Beopjeong looked at Chung Myung, surprised. The boy, who had been against Shaolin, was now against the evil group as soon as he heard the words ‘evil group.’

“We don’t know for sure yet. But the one who left such strong dark energy must be very skilled in evil arts,” Beopjeong said.

Chung Myung tapped his cheek. ‘Well, it’s not that great,’ he thought.

But it was still important.

Someone skilled in evil arts was in the North Sea.

Maybe the evil group was using the broken relationship between the Central Plains and the North Sea.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” Chung Myung asked.

“The worst is that the evil group has taken over the Northern Ice Palace. Then, they will move south from the north to the Central Plains.”

“Hmm.” Chung Myung narrowed his eyes.

It was possible. However…

“Yes. I understand,” he said.

He stretched lazily.

Then, with his usual bright eyes, he looked at Hyun Jong and Beopjeong. “If you’re done talking, can I leave?”

“…Hmm?” Beopjeong looked up, surprised.

Leave?

“Young Head, the story isn’t over yet,” Beopjeong said.

“Yes. I know,” Chung Myung said, picking at his ear.

“I understand. The evil group is in the North Sea, and you want Mount Hua to check it out. People from the Central Plains can’t enter the Four Seas, but Mount Hua has entered the Southern Savage Beast Palace and made friends there?”

“That’s right. That’s what I’m saying.”

“But,” Chung Myung said, blowing on his fingers, “why should we?”

“…” Beopjeong looked blank, as if he was shocked.

“…Why, you ask? Didn’t you say the evil group has appeared?”

“Come on. I heard that too. What I mean is, why does Mount Hua have to go just because the Demonic Sect has appeared? There’s Shaolin, Wudang, and countless other sects. Why Mount Hua of all places?”

“Didn’t I already explain that?”

“Ah, because you have experience?”

Chung Myung smirked, a look that said, “Are you serious?”

“Have you tried it?”

“Hmm?”

Chung Myung looked at Beop Jeong with tired eyes and said:

“We at Mount Hua weren’t special when we became friends with the Beast Palace. It just… happened.”

“⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung continued, “We tried, and it worked. Shaolin can try too. Anyone can do things if they really try. Shaolin is strong, they can do it!”

Beop Jeong’s mouth dropped open without him realizing it.

‘What on earth is this guy talking about?’ he wondered.

“Ef, effort?”

“Yes. Compared to a Shaolin that makes an effort, Mount Hua is nothing. I’m afraid things will go wrong if we step in on this important matter. So I think it’s better for us to just go back to Shaanxi and watch Shaolin handle things and clap. Isn’t that right, Sect Leader?”

Hyun Jong looked back and forth between Chung Myung and Beop Jeong with a slightly embarrassed face, but only for a moment. Hyun Jong’s face quickly regained its usual calmness.

“Yes, you are right, Abbot,” Hyun Jong said.

Beop Jeong tried his best to appear calm as he spoke to the two of them, but he couldn’t hide even the sigh mixed in his words.

“It is for the sake of the world,” Beop Jeong said.

“Yes, I know. It was like that before too. Wasn’t it?”

Chung Myung’s words dug into Beop Jeong’s heart, and Beop Jeong couldn’t argue against those words.

“Okay, I should go now. No more time to waste. The Ice Palace is a place where people live too, so if we’re lucky, we’ll be able to communicate. Then.”

“Wait.”

As Chung Myung half-rose, Beop Jeong resolutely raised his hand to stop him.

“Please wait a moment,” Beop Jeong said. His eyes looked quite serious.

Without another word, Chung Myung sat back down. Beop Jeong nodded slightly and quietly chanted a Buddhist prayer.

“I know. No, I understand. Sect Leader, Shaolin is not qualified to say that they will repay Mount Hua for its merits in the future. So I fully understand the reactions of the Sect Leader and the young Taoist priest.”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion.

‘What trick is this baldy trying to pull now?’ he wondered.

Frankly, it’s time to back down. Even if he’s trying to appear calm, there’s no way Beop Jeong has a good impression of Mount Hua.

But he’s continuing the conversation here?

Then that means he still has a hidden card.

“When you break trust, you should offer something to make up for it before asking for help. That’s the right way to do things, but I haven’t done it right,” Beop Jeong explained.

“Compensation?”

“That’s right.”

“Hoo.”

Chung Myung smirked. Up until now, it was just nonsense, but if the word ‘compensation’ is mentioned, there’s room to consider it as just gibberish.

“So what is that compensation?”

“Beop Gye.”

Beop Jeong called out without a moment’s delay, and the door opened again and Beop Gye came inside.

‘That person is very busy,’ Chung Myung thought.

He brought in a coffin earlier, and now…

“Huh?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

It’s a matter of sending Mount Hua’s disciples all the way to the Northern Sea. In that case, unless the compensation is extraordinary, the conversation itself won’t even be established. But what Beop Gye is holding in his hand looked too small and shabby to be compensation.

A box.

The long box wasn’t that big. Even if it was filled with gold, it wouldn’t even come close to the compensation Chung Myung was thinking of.

“Here it is, Abbot,” Beop Gye said.

“Hmm.”

Beop Jeong took the box that Beop Gye handed him and quietly placed it on the tea table in front of him.

“Then.”

Beop Gye made a half-bow and went outside, as if he wasn’t even qualified to see the box being opened.

Seeing his respectful way, it was even harder to guess. Chung Myung stared intently at the box.

‘What on earth is it?’

Up until now, their actions hadn’t deviated much from Chung Myung’s expectations. Obvious words and actions. But at this moment, it was difficult to interpret even for Chung Myung.

What on earth is in that box?

“The compensation is this,” Beop Jeong announced.

“That box?”

“To be exact, it’s the item inside the box.”

“⋯⋯Not money, but an item.”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed once again.

Hyun Jong, realizing that he was thinking hard, cautiously asked for him.

“Abbot, please don’t tease us too much and show us what’s inside that box.”

“Of course, I will.”

Beop Jeong gripped the lid of the box. Then, instead of opening the lid right away, he gave a meaningful smile.

“If this item is the price, the Sect Leader will surely accept this offer. Because it’s such a profitable deal.”

“⋯⋯.”

Before Hyun Jong could even answer, Beop Jeong flung the box open.

‘What is it?’

Hyun Jong frowned as he looked at the item.

There was no dazzling light or amazing item.

Inside the box, nestled on deep red silk, lay a sword in its scabbard. The wood of the scabbard was dark with age, like old tree bark, and felt worn smooth by time.

‘What’s written on it?’

Words were carved into the scabbard in a fancy, swirling style, but they were hard to read because time had worn them away.

“Abbot, what on earth is this sword⋯⋯.”

It was then.

“Huh?”

Chung Myung made a dumbfounded sound and flinched.

‘Huh?’

At the same time, Hyun Jong also flinched. It was the first time he had seen Chung Myung so flustered and surprised.

Chung Myung blinked and stared blankly at the sword placed in the box. Then, as if he was dumbfounded, he muttered.

“Ah, no⋯⋯. Why is this crawling out from here?”

Hyun Jong could only tilt his head.

What on earth is this sword that makes this child so flustered?

At that moment, Beop Jeong quietly reached out and picked up the sword and slowly drew it from its scabbard.

Hyun Jong unknowingly covered his eyes with his hand at that moment.

Unlike the old-looking scabbard, a light as bright as a summer sun poured out from the revealed blade. If one were to see this light, no one could deny that this sword was a magical sword.

Beop Jeong stared intently at the two of them and smiled gently.

“The name of this sword is Zixia (紫霞).”

‘Indeed,’ Chung Myung thought, his eyes sinking deeply in an instant.

And Hyun Jong, who heard the name, also hardened his face. The abbot added as he looked at those faces.

“Zixia Divine Sword (紫霞神劍). It is a holy item symbolizing the Mount Hua Sect. It is the beloved sword of Daehyeon Sword (大賢劍) Chung Mun, who was the Sect Leader of Mount Hua in the past.”

“Ah⋯⋯. Ahh⋯⋯.”

Hyun Jong’s eyes were wide with excitement, and they shook like leaves in a strong wind.