Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 386

“Huuuuuuuung.” A low, humming sound filled the air. Normally, a sound like this might be calming, like a gentle song. But here, in this tense moment, it made everyone uneasy.

“So, this is…”

A symbol, about as big as a child’s fist, glowed with a soft, green light from Chung Myung’s fingertip. It looked like jade, and the light seemed to pulse with different colors as it moved.

“That…” Gye-hyeong whispered, his eyes wide with worry. He took a shaky step towards Chung Myung. “Please! You must give it back…”

“Freeze.” Chung Myung’s voice was sharp.

Gye-hyeong twitched, stopping instantly.

“Back away.”

Gye-hyeong flinched and stumbled backwards.

“Sit.”

*Thump.* Gye-hyeong dropped to the ground.

“Hands…”

“Argh! You crazy bastard!” Baek Cheon roared, charging forward.

*Wham!* Baek Cheon suddenly charged, his foot slamming into Chung Myung’s side. Chung Myung flew through the air like a rag doll, spinning wildly before crashing to the ground. He landed hard, dust puffing up around him. Chung Myung sat up, frowning deeply. “Why!” he yelled.

Baek Cheon stood over him, chest heaving with anger. “Are you training a dog?! You son of a—! You can’t treat people like animals!”

Chung Myung grinned. “It’s fun.”

Baek Cheon growled, running a hand roughly through his hair. He turned to look at Gye-hyeong, who was still sitting on the ground.

*‘How did this happen?’* Baek Cheon thought, looking at Gye-hyeong. Gye-hyeong sat there, looking completely broken, like someone who had lost everything. It was hard not to feel sorry for him.

*Things can’t get much worse than this.*

The Sect Leader’s Seal, in the hands of that devilish Chung Myung.

This was a disaster beyond words.

The Hwasan disciples, who had helped cause this mess without knowing it, groaned with guilt.

“Heh heh heh heh.” Chung Myung chuckled, looking at the Sect Leader’s Seal in his hand, ignoring everyone else.

*‘What’s the big deal?’* he thought.

Sect Leader’s Seal.

It was funny that a small stone could mean so much power for a whole sect. But that’s how it was.

*‘It’s all because of people.’*

Sects had tests and judged people for years to choose a Sect Leader. But even after all that, sometimes the Sect Leader would go crazy when the person who could control them was gone. It happened a lot.

In a sect like Hwasan, maybe the older members could stop a crazy Sect Leader. But in most sects, especially smaller ones, the Sect Leader had too much power over everyone.

If that happened, the Sect Leader could do anything they wanted, with no one to stop them.

The Sect Leader’s Seal was made to stop this.

Usually, it was kept by the elders or in a safe place, so they could control the Sect Leader and stop them from going crazy with power.

*‘Good idea, in theory.’*

But people always find ways to use good things for bad reasons.

No matter why it was made, holding this Seal meant you had power over the sect and everyone in it. Power over life and death.

It was a ‘treasure’ of absolute power.

So, in the end, Sect Leaders ended up keeping it themselves.

And now, the Ghost Sect’s treasure was in Chung Myung’s hands.

“Tch.” Chung Myung clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Getting the Sect Leader’s Seal is good and all… but what kind of sect is this? It’s poorer than beggars! There’s nothing else in the warehouse worth any money?”

Hearing the clicking sound, Gye-hyeong looked at Chung Myung, his face completely crushed.

*‘That man is worth less than a beggar’s old shoe.’*

What?

After happily stealing their Sect Leader’s Seal, he’s complaining about money?

*‘Even the heavens are cruel.’*

What did the Ghost Sect do to deserve this?

They might act like ghosts, but really, they were one of the most righteous sects around.

The saying that doing good things gets you good rewards is a lie.

“So.”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung asked Gye-hyeong, flicking the Sect Leader’s Seal back and forth with one hand.

“Are you upset?”

“…”

“But you shouldn’t be upset,” Chung Myung said, as if he was giving wise advice. “Really, it’s your fault for leaving the Sect Leader’s Seal in a place like this and not taking care of it well. Come on, which sect leaves their Sect Leader’s Seal lying around like this?”

“Think about the Shaolin Sect. Their Sect Leader’s Seal, the Green Jade Buddha, never leaves the Shaolin Abbot’s hands. When he’s not holding it, it’s kept in the Dharma Cave, the deepest place in Shaolin, guarded by the Arhats of Shaolin.”

“Leaving your Seal in a place with no guards, not taking care of it at all – you can’t be upset or blame anyone else when it gets stolen.”

“There… there were reasons,” Gye-hyeong mumbled weakly.

“Of course, there are always reasons,” Chung Myung said, waving his hand dismissively. “And now you need the Sect Leader’s Seal back, right?”

“That’s right.” Gye-hyeong nodded, his face blank, like he had given up completely.

“Well then.” Chung Myung held up the Seal and dangled it in front of Gye-hyeong’s face, like a toy. “What are you going to do?”

“Excuse me?” Gye-hyeong looked confused.

“I went through a lot of trouble to get this, you know. I can’t just give it back for free, can I?”

Gye-hyeong’s eyes widened. Hope flickered in his face.

*Give it back?*

Maybe this devilish man wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe he was going to return it!

But that hope burst like a bubble when Chung Myung spoke again.

“How much will you pay?”

“Pardon?” Gye-hyeong’s face fell.

“How much are you going to give me?” Chung Myung repeated, grinning.

Chung Myung pointed his chin towards the pit they had dug.

“Look at all the work we did digging this. They might look a little slow, but they’re actually a very good work crew.”

“Slow-witted, you say!” one of the disciples yelled.

“Look who’s calling *us* ugly!” another shouted back.

“With Baek Cheon here, how dare you say that with *that* face?”

The disciples started complaining loudly. Chung Myung just ignored them, letting their words go in one ear and out the other.

“Look,” Chung Myung said, putting on a serious face. “I’m a Taoist who serves the… uh… the Highest Heavenly Being. My good heart tells me it’s wrong to just steal another sect’s Sect Leader’s Seal.”

“Good heart? Is he really talking about having a good heart?” one disciple whispered in disbelief.

“Sajuk, there’s no way that’s true, right? You must have heard him wrong,” another said.

“Have they always been this crazy?” Baek Cheon muttered, shaking his head.

Chung Myung glared at his disciples, but they just puffed out their chests and yelled, “What? What are you going to do about it?”

*‘Ugh, these guys are getting too cocky,’* Chung Myung thought. *‘I’ll have to teach them a lesson later.’*

Anyway.

“So,” Chung Myung said, turning back to Gye-hyeong with a smile.

“How much will you pay? If it’s a fair price, I’ll let you have it back.”

“…Money?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s… It’s really embarrassing to say this, but…”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sure the Silent Night Sect is poorer than beggars right now.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung tilted his head, surprised by the unexpected words.

“Wait, that doesn’t make sense. A sect with the best movement technique in the world, the greatest stealth technique, is broke? They could make a fortune just by thieving!”

“We don’t do things like thieving!”

Gye-hyung shouted, as if he had been wronged.

“Even when the Silent Night Sect was strong, people blamed us. If anything went missing in the martial world, they pointed fingers at us. We are tired of being called thieves.”

“…Ah.”

That’s a sad story…

“Well, then don’t dress like that and act like you’re ghosts!”

“H-How can we help it? The martial art itself is like that!”

“If you keep flitting about like that, even Confucius would suspect you lot first!”

“I-It’s not fair!”

Gye-hyung thumped his chest, truly upset, as he protested.

“We’re living clean lives, I tell you! But because of this damned martial art, people say we control corpses, that we’re a sect of gathered ghosts!”

“…”

“Appearances aren’t everything!”

“…Not everyone will think that way.”

“But even you, just a moment ago, said we could make a fortune just by thieving!”

“Oh… Sorry.”

Chung Myung flinched and immediately apologized.

“…And the talk about being between justice and evil! Our Silent Night Sect has never harmed anyone. We’ve only ever helped! But people refuse to see us as righteous, no matter what.”

Gye-hyung’s shoulders slumped, his face looked like he was about to drink a bottle of booze.

“Cheer up.”

“Turns out they’re good people.”

“Chung Myung is the bad guy.”

“Shut up!”

Chung Myung snapped, then looked at Gye-hyung.

“Even so, does that make sense? Are you going to make money with just your movement skills?”

“Of course, our movement technique is the best in the world.”

“Right! So, use it…”

“But no one will give us work.”

“…”

“When we’re already being called thieves for just existing, who would ask us for a favor? It’s like trusting a cat with a fish.”

“…”

Strange.

Why are my eyes getting hot?

Listening to this feels like hearing the story of Mount Hua when it was falling apart. I’m getting strangely emotional.

“So, you’re broke?”

“…We don’t even have enough money to die with. We were a poor sect to begin with, but recently there was a bit of a problem in the process of choosing a new sect leader. The previous sect leader suddenly passed away without clearly deciding between the two successors.”

“A war broke out, then.”

“…It wasn’t big enough to call it a war, but… Anyway, there was a big fight. That fight has only just ended.”

“So, you came to retrieve the Sect Leader’s Seal?”

“Yes. If the Sect Leader’s Seal appears before the result is out, other problems could arise.”

“Hmmmm.”

Chung Myung looked at Gye-hyung with a slightly complicated expression.

“You’re not lying, are you?”

“I’m telling the truth. We’re a sect that tries to keep its agreements. The only wrong I’ve done recently is that I was so hungry I snuck a few pieces of meat from the kitchen here…”

“…I’ll forgive you.”

“Thank you.”

Chung Myung smacked his lips.

‘We can’t be broke.’

I thought I’d landed a good deal, but at this rate, it’s just going to be hard work?

Besides, there’s something about oppressing those blokes…

‘They’re strangely innocent.’

When you think about it, that bloke hasn’t done anything seriously wrong. He just pretended to be a ghost. He didn’t attack the Mount Hua or Hwayeong Sect disciples who were traveling alone, did he?

Of course, he did rush at Chung Myung, but… well… he didn’t even manage to land a hit and just got thoroughly beaten, so it’s hard to call that a wrongdoing.

In the end…

‘This is just a pretty peach with a rotten core. Looks good on the outside, but not very valuable inside’

Chung Myung smacked his lips as he looked at the Sect Leader’s Seal.

What good is a Sect Leader’s Seal from a broke sect?

It’s not like they’re strong either. After fighting them, they were hopeless except for their movement and footwork. No wonder the sect is broke…

“Wait.”

Chung Myung suddenly snapped his head up and looked at Gye-hyung.

Gye-hyung flinched as he saw Chung Myung’s eyes blazing. “Ah, hot!” he muttered, shrinking back.

“You don’t not want to make money, do you?”

“Of course not. Who in the world doesn’t like money? No matter how important martial arts are, you need money to put food on the table to even learn them. You know that well, don’t you, young master?”

“Hoo…”

Chung Myung nodded, his mind racing.

A sect with the greatest movement technique in the world is living in poverty because they have no way to make money?

A satisfied smile spread across Chung Myung’s face.

“Hey.”

“…Yes?”

“How long will it take to bring your sect leader here?”

“…To be precise, the position of sect leader of the Silent Night Sect is currently vacant. A new sect leader will be elected once the Sect Leader’s Seal is retrieved.”

“Yeah, I got it, I got it. So, how long will it take for that new sect leader to get here?”

“Well…”

Gye-hyung seemed to think for a moment before quickly answering.

“It won’t take more than ten days at the latest.”

“Good!”

Chung Myung nodded strongly.

“Tell that person to come here in person if they want the Sect Leader’s Seal back. And you come with them.”

“…D-Young master! I’ll be beaten to death if I go back like this!”

“It’s alright, it’s alright. Just tell them this one thing, and you won’t be beaten to death.”

“…One thing?”

Chung Myung nodded vigorously.

“Tell them I’ll help them make a fortune, so let’s work together on one thing.”

“…Make a fortune… you say?”

“Of course. Not just money. A fortune.”

Chung Myung chuckled as he looked at Gye-hyung, who still looked clueless.

Those who have never had anything are bound to go crazy for money. Wasn’t Chung Myung exactly like that?

‘It was about time to expand the business anyway.’

– Delivery available throughout the Central Plains within ten days. We’ll get it there like ghosts. –

This will work!

It’s bound to work!

The Sect Leader’s Seal, which had looked like just a slightly pretty stone until just now, now looked like a gold ingot.

“Silent Night Express. Hee hee hee hee. This could be really good. Ehehehehe!”

The disciples of Mount Hua trembled with anxiety as they watched Chung Myung, who was beside himself with joy.

‘What is he planning to do again?’

‘Please, let’s live like normal people, Chung Myung.’

Wasn’t it always Baek Cheon and his group who cleaned up after Chung Myung’s messes?

Everyone sighed deeply, sensing that the hard work was about to begin again.