Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 342

Even though Mount Hua was famous, the path leading up was surprisingly quiet.

A group of people arrived at the Mount Hua gate. The morning dew made everything look fresh and wet.

“Hoo! Hoo!”

“Ugh. Maybe it’s been too long, but this climb is really hard!”

…Indeed. That is Mount Hua.

Everyone wiped the sweat from their foreheads and glanced down.

Clouds floated halfway down the steep cliffs. It was a view you hardly ever saw, except at Mount Hua.

“Didn’t we used to climb this mountain several times a day?”

“Heh heh. Did we ever?”

“Yes. We used to climb up and down the mountain many times, supposedly for training.”

“Ah, yes. We did.”

Their voices sounded a little sad as they remembered the past.

They looked at each other with fond eyes and then turned their gaze towards the mountain gate.

“To think I’m returning to Mount Hua after so many years since I left in my youth.”

…Senior Brother.

“Let’s go in. We should stop by the ancestral shrine to ask for forgiveness. It would be even better if Master were still alive to give us a stern lecture.”

The old man at the front moved towards the mountain gate with a bitter expression. The others followed him towards the wide-open gate.

“Look, they’ve rebuilt the mountain gate!”

“Yes, it really does! The rumors about Mount Hua getting rich must be true.”

“Hahaha. It seems that way. Good fortune for Mount Hua.”

The old man chuckled, a big, booming laugh that echoed in the quiet morning air, and stepped confidently through the mountain gate.

But he stopped so suddenly it was like hitting a wall. His mouth dropped open, and his eyes went wide.

“Good… Good heavens!” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

“Whoa…” another old man breathed, stepping closer. “What in the world…?”

The others crowded behind, pushing to see. They all went silent, their eyes darting around, taking it all in.

It was… unbelievable.

The place in front of them was completely different from the Mount Hua they remembered.

“Where… where are all the broken-down buildings?” one of them finally asked, his voice hushed.

“Looks like they rebuilt more than half the place!” another exclaimed, pointing at a gleaming new roof.

“And look at the ground!” said a third, bending down to touch the smooth stones. “Bluestone! Imagine how much money it cost to pave all this!”

“H-How did Mount Hua become like *this*?” someone whispered, his voice full of wonder and confusion.

Everyone couldn’t hide their excitement. A buzz of excited chatter filled the air as they all tried to understand the amazing change.

The last time they saw Mount Hua, it was a place barely holding on, desperately repairing buildings that looked like they would collapse at any moment.

Most of the buildings were too old to be used, and even the intact ones were riddled with leaks and eaten by insects. Yet, the buildings were too weak, and there was no money to do anything about it.

But now…

‘How could this be?’

The newly built and old buildings were in harmony.

Before, Mount Hua looked like a sect that was falling apart. But now, it felt full of energy and strength.

The old man was so surprised he quietly said a prayer to the heavens.

“Indeed… It’s a new feeling, Senior Brother.”

“Yes. It is.”

The old man nodded, his face full of emotions.

That’s right. This is what a Taoist temple should be like.

As much as the buildings have been newly changed, the disciples of Mount Hua are even more…

It was at that moment.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Gonna die from the morning, seriously!”

“Can’t someone catch that guy? What are the ghosts doing!”

“Hey. Isn’t that what you say to Chung Myung?”

“What’s the difference?”

A loud shout… No, a scream began to reach their ears.

“Huh?”

Looking towards the source of the sound, a group of young men in black uniforms were running very fast.

“Uh…?”

The urgency on their faces, the tightly clenched lips, and the streaming sweat showed how hard they were running.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

Some lost their balance and tumbled, but none of the runners helped those who fell. They simply leaped over them, hurrying on their way.

And.

A man who had been lightly jogging behind the sprinting disciples approached the one who had fallen and kicked him without hesitation.

“Aaaaargh!”

The kicked man flew through the air and landed in the middle of the running group.

“Tsk.”

The kicker swept back his falling hair and tightened his slightly loosened hairband.

“Hmm?”

He belatedly discovered them standing at the mountain gate and slightly frowned. Then, he slightly bowed towards them, clasping his hands in front.

“What brings you to Mount Hua so early in the morning?”

Those who saw this couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

A figure full of confidence.

A young man with the very image of a hero who would lead the era.

‘With people like this, Mount Hua will regain its name.’

‘Excellent.’

The old man nodded with satisfaction.

Of course, the bizarre behavior he had just shown was a bit questionable, but if one looked at it positively, couldn’t it be seen as spurring on training?

Looking at this confident appearance, admirable demeanor, and bright eyes, it seemed he knew who this person was.

“Yes. You must be the one who has been making a name for himself throughout the world recently.”

“…Yes?”

“No need to be modest. Aren’t you the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, Chung Myung?”

“…No, I’m not.”

“Huh?”

“I am Baek Cheon, a second-generation disciple of Mount Hua.”

“…Huh?”

The old man stared at Baek Cheon with a blank look.

Judging from the twitching around his eyes and the subtle twisting of his lips, it seemed he really wasn’t Chung Myung.

“Ah… Forgive my mistake. Then, the Hwajung Sword?”

“Yes.”

“…”

The old man covered his mouth with his fist and coughed lowly.

“Th-That’s right. Hwajung Sword Baek Cheon. I’ve heard many rumors about you.”

“…Thank you.”

His eyes aren’t very kind.

A slightly awkward atmosphere flowed.

Baek Cheon cleared his throat slightly and opened his mouth.

“But who are you, and what brings you to visit Mount Hua so early in the morning?”

“Ah, yes. I should tell you the purpose first.”

The old man smiled.

“Is Hyun Jong inside?”

“…”

The moment he heard those words, Baek Cheon’s face hardened. He stared intently at the old man with a slightly angry expression.

He was angry that someone dared to come to Mount Hua and call the sect leader’s name as if he were a subordinate, but if the other person was of a status that allowed it, he couldn’t act rashly.

“Excuse me, but may I ask who you are?”

“It’s a bit difficult to tell you, young one. So go and bring Hyun Jong. Then you will know everything.”

The morning air was cold as Baek Cheon watched the old man and his guards. Sunlight shone on the training grounds of Mount Hua. He looked at the old man and the men standing behind him, then spoke clearly.

“I understand what you are saying. But it breaks the rules of Mount Hua. Visitors must say who they are to enter the main sect. Because of this rule, they cannot meet the Sect Leader without introducing themselves.”

“Hahaha. Yes, yes, that’s right.”

Even though Baek Cheon’s words were firm, the old man chuckled, looking happy.

“You are correct. But that rule is for people from outside Mount Hua. I am not an outsider, so I don’t have to follow it.”

“Sorry?” Baek Cheon asked, confused.

The old man shook his head slowly.

“I don’t have time to talk to you for long here. Go and get Hyun Jong. Or any elder will do.”

Baek Cheon didn’t know how to handle this.

Just then, he heard a welcome voice.

“What is the matter?”

“Ah, Elder!”

Baek Cheon turned around, looking relieved.

It was Hyun Young.

He walked towards them, looking curious.

“These people are refusing to say who they are, but they want to meet the Sect Leader.”

“Who dares to be so rude? Who are these people?”

Hyun Young looked at the men, looking annoyed.

“I don’t think I’ve ever se—”

He stopped talking suddenly.

His face became very serious.

Baek Cheon watched him carefully and was surprised. He had seen Hyun Young angry many times, but he had never looked so serious.

The old man smiled gently.

“It has been a while.”

Hyun Young stared at the old man without answering.

The corners of his eyes twitched slightly.

After staring at the old man for a long time, he spoke as if spitting out the words.

“What shameful reason brings you back to Mount Hua?”

“Shame, you say?”

The old man shook his head.

“They say even the most ambitious young man becomes an old man. As an old man, I am missing my home.”

“Home?”

Hyun Young’s face twisted.

“How dare you call Mount Hua your home?”

The old man’s face also became serious at the rude tone.

“Hyun Young.”

“Do not speak to me as if I am below you.”

“Your connection to Mount Hua was cut off a long time ago. What do you hope to find by returning here? Leave. I have done my duty by not punishing you.”

“I must meet Hyun Jong.”

“The Sect Leader is not free!”

Hyun Young finally raised his voice in anger.

“What are you doing!”

“Yes?”

“Throw these people out now! And get rid of them completely!”

“Elder…”

Baek Cheon hesitated, looking stiff.

The Mount Hua disciples heard the noise and stopped training. They carefully walked closer to see what was happening.

“What’s going on?”

“Who knows?”

“Elder Hyun Young seems very angry.”

Hyun Young’s angry voice echoed clearly to those who were coming closer, looking confused.

“I don’t know what your reasons are for returning here, but as long as I am here, you will not get what you want!”

“…I understand how you feel.”

“How dare you speak so light—”

“But you must not forget one thing either. This is not something you can decide. Isn’t that right?”

Hyun Young pressed his lips together tightly. The old man smiled knowingly and said.

“Call Hyun Jong. If he tells me to leave, I will leave without saying a word.”

Hyun Young bit his lip.

He really didn’t want them to meet the Sect Leader.

“I don’t know what you mean. If you don’t leave now, I will use force—”

That was when it happened.

“What is going on?”

Hyun Young’s face twisted when he heard the voice from behind. He quickly turned his head and saw Hyun Jong walking towards them with his hands behind his back.

‘Why now…’

Before Hyun Young could do anything, Hyun Jong looked at the old man.

Hyun Jong walked closer and looked at the old man for a long time before bowing his head slightly.

“It has been a while, Senior Brother.”

“…Yes. It has been a long time.”

As the old man spoke gently, Hyun Young shouted again.

“Sect Leader! How can you call those who left the sect ‘Senior Brother’! These people have already been removed from Mount Hua’s records! That title is not right!”

Hyun Jong looked at Hyun Young and nodded calmly.

“I see.”

“But I can’t think of a good way to call them, so please don’t blame me.”

“Sect Leader…”

Hyun Jong looked at the old man calmly.

Hyun Dang.

His senior brother and the former head disciple of the Hyun generation.

If he had not left Mount Hua on his own, Hyun Dang, not Hyun Jong, would be the current Sect Leader.

“…So, Senior Brother has come too.”

“It has been a while.”

Hyun Beop, who was standing next to Hyun Dang, smiled and nodded.

Hyun Jong looked at his disciples. They were all staring at them, looking stiff.

“…Let’s go inside first. The morning air is cold. It would be better to talk inside.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

Hyun Jong slowly turned around. Hyun Young, looking unhappy, followed behind him. Hyun Dang’s group began to walk with relaxed faces.

As they finally moved away, the Mount Hua disciples rushed to Baek Cheon.

“Master Uncle!”

“Senior Brother, what is going on?”

“…I don’t know either…”

Baek Cheon stopped talking and closed his mouth.

He saw them heading towards the Sect Leader’s residence.

‘What is this?’

The Sect Leader had called that old man ‘Senior Brother.’ That meant they were the Hyun generation who had left Mount Hua in the past.

“Baek Sang.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

“…It seems a big disturbance is about to happen, so make sure to control the disciples. From now on, the Baek and Cheong generation disciples of Mount Hua cannot go near the Sect Leader’s residence. If a place is chosen for them to stay, do not even go close to it. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Senior Brother. I will control them as you say.”

Baek Cheon nodded seriously.

‘I don’t know.’

Baek Cheon didn’t know if Chung Myung’s absence was a good thing or a bad thing.