Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 405

“Ow, ow, ow, ow!” Chung Myung yelled loudly, making a fuss. “Seriously! Why are you wrapping this bandage so painfully!”

“…It would be best if you just shut your mouth, Sahyung. Before I sew it shut for you,” Tang Soso said, her voice sharp.

“…Yes,” Chung Myung quickly agreed, shutting his mouth. Tang Soso’s eyes looked dangerous.

*Squeeze.*

“Ugh…”

Tang Soso put healing cream on the wound and wrapped the bandage. Her touch was firm and showed she was annoyed.

“Sahyung,” she said.

“Yeah?” Chung Myung replied.

“I know you can clean out poisons a bit. But do you know that if the sword wound on your chest had gone in just a little deeper, it would have been really dangerous?” Her voice was serious.

Chung Myung shrugged. “The trick is to not get hit in the first place.”

Tang Soso started to unwrap the bandage she had just finished on his arm.

“…What’s wrong?” Chung Myung asked, confused.

“It feels loose. I’m going to wrap it again,” she said, her face calm but her eyes hinting at anger.

“…” Chung Myung sighed deeply after she finished. He felt like he had paid for speaking too much again. He leaned back in his chair, very tired.

Tang Soso glared at him, still annoyed. “What if you actually die doing that, Sahyung?”

“Ah, seriously nagging,” Chung Myung said, looking away. It was like being nagged as both a younger sister and a doctor. It was really annoying.

However, Tang Soso, who was about to say more, suddenly stopped talking.

Chung Myung looked down slightly. Tang Soso’s fist, clenched tightly under her sleeve, was shaking a little.

Chung Myung lowered his eyes and changed the subject. “How are the others?”

“None of the Sahyung or Sasook are in critical condition. Some are hurt, but they will live. It’s a miracle,” she said.

“No. It’s skill,” Chung Myung shook his head. “You don’t get lucky without skill. This shows our training has been useful.”

“Yes,” Tang Soso nodded slowly. Her voice was more troubled than before. “…But Jangro-nim is not doing so well…”

Chung Myung’s eyes twitched. “Hyun Sang Jangro-nim?”

“Yes. The poison was very strong. We cleaned it out, but we were late in treating him… There might be problems later.”

Chung Myung nodded, his face heavy.

“And…” Tang Soso bit her lip, then spoke slowly. “I don’t know if Gwanju-nim will live through tonight…”

Chung Myung closed his eyes for a moment without a word.

Then he opened his eyes and stood up. He put his hand on Tang Soso’s head. “It’s not your fault.”

“…Sahyung…”

“Don’t blame yourself like that. The bad guys did this. Why are you blaming yourself?”

“But…” Tang Soso bit her lip tightly. Her face was pained, like she was holding back tears.

*‘I was arrogant,’* she thought.

She had been so confident in her medical skills. She learned medicine in the Dang family, after all. She was sure she was skilled enough for anything at Mount Hua.

But after this fight, she felt deep despair.

*‘If I was just a little more skilled…’*

Un Geom would not be dying.

All she could do was try her best to keep Un Geom alive, even though he was very close to dying.

“Sasook-jo will be fine. He’s not someone who will be taken down by a small injury like that,” Chung Myung said firmly.

“…Sahyung.”

“Believe it,” His voice was softer than usual, all teasing gone.

Tang Soso nodded slowly.

Chung Myung patted her shoulder once and turned away. “And for now, get some rest. You need energy to take care of patients.”

“…Why are you talking like you’re finished? You shouldn’t overdo it either, Sahyung! If your wound gets worse, you’ll really be stuck in bed for a month. Are you listening?”

“Alright, alright,” He waved his hand, like he was tired of her nagging, and went outside.

Tang Soso watched him leave and sighed deeply.

“What about those guys?” Chung Myung asked Baek Cheon, who was sitting nearby.

“They’re all locked up,” Baek Cheon replied, looking unhappy.

He didn’t like seeing Chung Myung, covered in bandages, walking around like everything was normal.

“Why? What?” Chung Myung asked.

“…Aren’t you ashamed to be walking around like that?” Baek Cheon said, gesturing to Chung Myung’s bandages.

“Look who’s talking,” Chung Myung pointed out. Baek Cheon was also wrapped in bandages. Yado’s wound was not light.

Chung Myung asked, “But why do you look so unhappy?”

“…What?” Baek Cheon frowned.

“You don’t look happy at all? I heard you beat that Maninbang leader named Yado or something. Wow, our Sasook is a master now?”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Baek Cheon frowned.

“If we fought fairly, I would lose every time. I only won because of luck and how things happened around us. I only won because of luck and how things happened around us.” He really believed it.

“Luck is also a skill,” Chung Myung said.

“…That’s just obvious comfort…”

“Hey, don’t be arrogant, Sasook,” Chung Myung’s serious voice cut through Baek Cheon’s words.

“…”

Chung Myung stared at him and said, “You always say you’ll win with skill. That just means you only fight weaker people.”

“…That’s…” Baek Cheon started to say something but stopped. He realized Chung Myung was right.

Then Chung Myung’s face softened a little. “Still, you can say you won by luck because you fought someone stronger than you without fear. There’s no shame in that. Right?”

Baek Cheon nodded.

Listening to Chung Myung, he felt a bit better.

*Tap.* Chung Myung lightly tapped Baek Cheon’s shoulder.

“But if you die fighting, you can’t say it was luck then!”

Baek Cheon’s eyebrows twitched. “You were doing so well, and then you say that! You have to curse me, you bastard!”

Chung Myung chuckled and then smiled quietly. He squeezed Baek Cheon’s shoulder tightly. “Stand tall, Sasook.”

“…”

“Anyway, you beat those Maninbang guys or whatever, just with Mount Hua’s power. You wouldn’t have even imagined that before, right?”

“…”

“Sasook and Sahyung too. Everyone did well.”

“Did you eat something bad?” Baek Cheon asked, surprised.

“Seriously, even when I give you a compliment,” Chung Myung frowned and stood up. “Anyway, be a little happier. You did something great. I’m giving you a real compliment this time, okay?”

Chung Myung waved his hand and walked away.

Jo Gul, watching them, tilted his head, confused. “Why is he acting like that?”

Yoon Jong added quickly, “He’s right, isn’t he? It’s strange for Chung Myung to say nice things.”

Jo Gul nodded, “Well, we did fight well, didn’t we? Maybe he noticed.”

“That’s true,” Yoon Jong agreed.

Baek Cheon watched them, his eyes becoming narrow. *‘What is that rascal thinking?’* he wondered.

After a fight, things always take longer to fix than the fight itself.

It took a whole day to find all the injured people, see how bad the damage was, and start fixing things.

Disciples who were not hurt ran to Hwaeum town to get medicine for the wounded. The Medical Hall was very busy, with people rushing around all day and night.

Only when night came again, after a long day, did Mount Hua start to become quiet again.

Late that night…

*Creak!* The door to the Medical Hall opened slowly.

Everyone in the Medical Hall was asleep, even those who worked there, tired from helping the injured all day. Someone opened the door very carefully, trying not to make any noise.

He stepped inside quietly, walking past the sleeping patients. He reached the room at the very back and stopped for a moment before pushing the door open. He looked down at the man lying on the bed.

He didn’t look stern now, not like when he watched over the disciples training. Un-geom’s face was pale, like white paper, and there were dark circles under his eyes.

Chung Myung felt his heart drop. *‘Martial Uncle,’* he thought sadly.

Bandages covered Un-geom’s chest and stomach.

His right arm, the arm he used for everything, was gone, cut off at the shoulder. The white bandage around the missing arm burned in Chung Myung’s sight, like a hot iron on his skin.

Un-geom’s breaths were shallow and fast, barely there. It seemed like he could stop breathing at any moment.

Un-geom was fighting a terrible battle, a fight for his life. And no one could help him win it.

A cold feeling went through Chung Myung. The gentle face he had shown everyone earlier was gone. Now, his face was hard and cold.

“Martial Uncle,” Chung Myung whispered, saying Un-geom’s name as if to remember it forever.

He watched his martial uncle for a long time. Then, Chung Myung turned and left the Medical Hall.

*Thump.* He closed the door gently. He looked up at the dark sky. *‘Sect Leader,’* he thought.

*I can’t do it. I just can’t.*

He stood still for a moment, then his face became determined. He started walking quickly towards the main gate, ready to use his fast movement technique to run away, when…

“Well, well, what’s this? A thief in the night?”

Chung Myung froze. He heard a voice from ahead.

“That’s right. Sneaking around like that in the dark, he must be a thief.”

“Look at that! He’s even carrying a sword!”

Chung Myung’s face turned cold and angry.

Baek Cheon stepped out from behind the main gate. Jo Gul and Yoon Jong jumped down from the wall beside him.

They stood in front of Chung Myung, blocking his way.

“Where do you think you’re going, Chung Myung?” Baek Cheon asked, his eyes hard.

“You’ve been acting strange all afternoon. You’re not usually nice and encouraging. I knew something was up. What is it? Are you planning to attack the Ten Thousand People Clan all by yourself or something crazy?”

Chung Myung just stared at Baek Cheon. His voice was low and dangerous when he finally spoke. “Move.”

“……Rude as always,” Baek Cheon said. He touched the handle of his sword. “I can’t let you go.”

“You’re annoying, yes, but you’re still our martial brother. I can’t just watch you do something stupid.”

Chung Myung’s jaw tightened. He glared at Baek Cheon. “I said, move out of my way.”

“If you really want to go, you’ll have to fight past me,” Baek Cheon said, drawing his sword a little.

“Me too!” Jo Gul shouted.

“We won’t let you go,” Yoon Jong added.

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong stood beside Baek Cheon. Then, Yoo Iseol stepped out from behind the gate and stood behind Baek Cheon, silent as always.

Chung Myung sighed quietly. “Well, well. You have gotten braver, haven’t you? Trying to stop me.”

“We’re not children anymore,” Baek Cheon said.

“But you still don’t know your place,” Chung Myung said, his hand tightening on his sword. It looked like he might draw it any second. “You think the four of you can stop me?”

“You’ve said that before,” Baek Cheon smiled slightly. “But sometimes, a martial artist has to stand his ground, even if he knows he can’t win.”

“Come on, rude martial brother. Let me teach you some respect today.”

Just as Chung Myung was about to draw his sword, ready to fight, a deep voice cut through the night.

“Stop this.”

It was a low, powerful voice from the side.

“……Sect Leader,” Baek Cheon said, surprised.

Baek Cheon quickly put his sword back in its sheath and bowed deeply. “We greet the Sect Leader.”

Usually, Hyun Jong would have smiled kindly and accepted their greeting. But now, his face was hard and cold. There was no kindness in his eyes at all. He looked very angry.

“Baek Cheon,” Hyun Jong said, his voice stern.

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Take the others back to the White Blossom Hall. Now.”

“But… Sect Leader!” Baek Cheon started to protest.

“Go back,” Hyun Jong said firmly.

“……Yes, Sect Leader.” Baek Cheon bowed again, then turned and walked away, the others following him silently. Hyun Jong watched them go, making sure they obeyed. Then, he turned to Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung.”

“……Yes.”

“You will come with me.”

Chung Myung didn’t answer right away. Hyun Jong’s eyebrows drew together in anger. “Did you not hear me?”

“……Yes, Sect Leader,” Chung Myung said quietly.

“Follow me. Now.” Hyun Jong turned and walked quickly away.

Chung Myung sighed and watched him go. Then, he followed.

Hyun Jong didn’t go to his own rooms. He walked out of the main gate and towards Nagan Peak, the highest peak of Mount Hua. It was a long walk uphill, and neither of them spoke a single word.

Finally, they reached Nagan Peak. Hyun Jong stood at the very edge of the rocky cliff, looking out over Mount Hua. The mountain was dark below them, hidden in the night. The wind whispered around them.

Chung Myung stood quietly behind him.

“Chung Myung,” Hyun Jong said, his voice softer now.

“Yes.”

“What am I to you?”

Chung Myung was surprised by the question. He hesitated, not wanting to answer.

*What is he?* Chung Myung thought. *What is the Sect Leader to me?*

Many thoughts went through his mind, but in the end, there was only one answer he could give.

“You are the Sect Leader,” Chung Myung said. It was the obvious answer.

“Do you really think that’s all?” Hyun Jong asked.

“……Yes.”

Hyun Jong turned to face Chung Myung. “Then let me ask you this,” he said, his face serious.

Chung Myung felt his own face become serious. Hyun Jong’s eyes were cold and intense.