Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 410

“Ehehehe! Sasuk! Please accept my cup!”

“Alright, you rascal!”

The drinking party was in full swing.

Usually, they would eat and drink moderately in the dining hall during feasts. But today was special. Bonfires blazed across the training ground, and food and drinks were spread out.

At first, the disciples were shy. But soon, they were drunk. They sat in small groups, laughing loudly and drinking fast.

Hong Daekwang watched the scene and chuckled. *They are like a band of happy bandits,* he thought. They were so loud and carefree; it was hard to believe they were from a respected martial arts school.

Liquor flowed from jugs, and meat sizzled and browned over the flames, dripping with fat.

It was quite a scene.

Those who were drunk were chattering and enjoying themselves.

Hong Daekwang shook his head, a smile on his face.

‘It’s a very unique place.’

It might seem chaotic to others. But Hong Daekwang liked this side of them. The faces of those drinking and talking were so bright, enough to make anyone feel better.

Such a sight was rare, even in the small shacks of the Beggars’ Sect. But Hwasan, with more people, had a family-like atmosphere.

“Sahyung! A fly will land in your cup!”

“Aigo! Our monk should have a drink too!”

“Amitabha. This humble monk…”

“Come on! Down the hatch!”

“Kuhm, kuhm. Then just one cup…”

A pure atmosphere draws people in.

Before they knew it, Hae Yeon and the Beggars’ Sect members were mingling with the Hwasan disciples, sharing drinks.

Hong Daekwang wanted to join them, to forget his worries and gulp down drinks.

But one person was suffering…

“Where do you think you’re going!”

“Not a chance!”

“Try drinking! I’ll drain the alcohol from your stomach.”

“…”

Chung Myung’s hand, reaching for a bottle, was pulled back by Baek Cheon, Jo Gul, and Tang Soso.

“No… please?” Chung Myung whined, his face like a kicked puppy. *It’s so unfair!* he thought, watching everyone else laugh and drink. “Everyone else is having fun. Why only me…?”

“Are you crazy?” Baek Cheon’s voice was sharp.

Jo Gul rolled his eyes. “Look at him! Trying to look sad again. Don’t fall for it!”

Tang Soso stepped closer, arms crossed. “Exactly! Who told you to get so injured in the first place? No one else is as hurt as you are, Sahyung!”

Chung Myung knew he couldn’t argue with Baek Cheon and Jo Gul for long. But Tang Soso… she was like a fierce guard dog protecting a bone. Even the great Chung Myung found it hard to argue when she put on her ‘medical hall expert’ face.

“Everyone, go and drink… Go and play. Why are you stuck to me like leeches, not letting me rest…?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. If we leave you alone, you’ll drink a whole jar.”

“Alcohol is forbidden! Don’t even dream about it!”

Baek Cheon and Tang Soso glared.

Chung Myung looked up with mournful eyes.

‘Now even these youngsters are watching me.’

“Hehehe. Chung Myung was here.”

Hyun Young approached with a smile.

Seeing his chance, Chung Myung put on a tearful face. “Elder! These three are…”

“Baek Cheon.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“If Chung Myung drinks any alcohol, it’s your fault.”

“That will never happen.”

“Tsk tsk. Take care of yourself. Sigh.”

Hyun Young clicked his tongue and turned away. Chung Myung muttered, “Did you come to tease me?”

“Hey! How dare you speak to the Elder like that!”

“Shut up!”

Chung Myung sighed.

‘These guys are really full of themselves.’

In the past, they would avoid his gaze, but now they poke him when he glares.

But what could he do? Chung Myung raised them.

Chung Myung looked around to soothe his sadness.

“By the way…”

Yoon Jong cautiously looked around and spoke. “I’m a little uneasy. Is it okay to drink like this?”

“Why?”

“The Myriad Man House hasn’t been completely resolved.”

Chung Myung was about to speak.

“That’s not right,” Baek Cheon said. “It’s normal to give soldiers alcohol and meat after a battle to boost morale.”

“Ah…”

“People fight wars. Everyone was holding back, but they faced death for the first time. They got blood on their swords. It would be strange if they weren’t shaken.”

“That’s right.” Yoon Jong nodded.

“Alcohol can’t fix everything, but it can help. The Sect Leader would want that. Right, Chung Myung?”

“Uh… That right?”

‘Sasuk, you’re doing a good job. If you do it all, what am I supposed to say?’

One cannot be indifferent after killing. It was necessary, but it could hurt those not used to it.

Many suffer from the shock of their first kill.

Some were hurting inside, even if they didn’t say it.

Chung Myung watched the Hwasan disciples. “And it’s not good to be too tense. If we’re not fighting the Myriad Man House now, we need to relax.”

“I think so too.”

Hyun Jong made a good choice. He had never been on a battlefield.

Hyun Jong, Un Geom, Baek Cheon, and his group were doing better than Chung Myung thought.

“Actually, it’s enough to have a feast. We defeated the Myriad Man House.”

Everyone nodded. But another voice cut in.

“It’s not just that.”

Hong Daekwang grinned and sat down. “The people of Hwasan don’t realize how great their achievements are. Be happier and stand tall.”

The Hwasan disciples flushed. Hearing it from an outsider made it real.

The Myriad Man House.

A few years ago, they couldn’t imagine Hwasan being compared to the Myriad Man House, one of the Five Great Evils.

If it were the old Hwasan, they would have run if even one of the Myriad Man House’s Dae came.

But now, they repelled three Dae.

The saying ‘sea change’ applies here.

“Of course,” Hong Daekwang said. “Paegun Jang Ilso, the Lord of the Myriad Man House, won’t back down.”

“…”

“He built the Myriad Man House into one of the Five Great Evils. He is obsessed with his interests and always seeks revenge. This means…”

Hong Daekwang looked around. “Hwasan will keep fighting the Myriad Man House.”

This was heavy news in the world of martial arts. But the disciples of Mount Hua, hearing this, remained surprisingly calm.

Hong Daeguang tilted his head, surprised by their reaction, and asked,

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“Why would we be?”

“Huh?”

Jo Gul grinned.

“Isn’t that what the martial arts world is like? You make enemies as you get stronger. Even the Shaolin Temple has people who are wary of them, so we can’t get along with everyone.”

“Hoh?”

Hong Daeguang looked at Jo Gul with new interest.

Baek Cheon, who had been listening, added,

“That’s right. The name ‘Maninbang’ sounds scary, but as Mount Hua stands for the good and right way of martial arts and grows stronger, we were bound to clash with them sooner or later. We shouldn’t underestimate them, but we don’t need to be afraid.”

Hong Daeguang blinked, surprised by their calm. He let out a short, surprised laugh. “Hoh?”

He thought, ‘Mount Hua really has gathered good talent.’

At the same time, he wondered, ‘When they grow up and lead Mount Hua, what kind of group will they create?’

“Good words. Will you give me a drink too?”

Jo Gul poured the bottle into Hong Daeguang’s waiting glass. Seeing this, Baek Cheon added,

“Chung Myung, don’t even think about it… Huh?”

Baek Cheon blinked and looked around quickly.

“Wh-where did that Chung Myung rascal go?”

“H-huh.”

“Is he a ghost? He was here just a moment ago.”

“S-Senior Uncle! A few bottles of alcohol are missing too!”

“Ugh.”

Baek Cheon held his head.

“Hey, no! I said it was my job to watch him! Find him quickly!”

“Why do we have to if it’s your job?”

“Do you want to die today?”

Hong Daeguang smiled as he watched Baek Cheon argue with the younger disciples over small things.

‘So much for heroes,’ Hong Daeguang chuckled quietly to himself.

“Ugh-cha!”

Chung Myung, who had slipped away from the party, climbed to the top of Yeonhwa Peak.

“Ugh. It’s awfully steep.”

Why does this place never get easier, no matter how many times I climb it?

Chung Myung grumbled and walked towards the edge. Night had fallen completely. The wind whispered around Yeonhwa Peak, carrying the scent of pine and cold mountain air. Above, the stars were bright in the clear, dark sky. Looking down, Mount Hua was a sea of shadows, with only a few scattered lights twinkling.

“Tsk.”

Chung Myung stepped back, sat on the ground, and took out a bottle of alcohol and two glasses from his chest.

He had sneaked out, but it had been a good time.

Good enough to make him want to chat and have fun with them.

But he didn’t want to drink there tonight. He had someone else he needed to drink with.

“Have a drink.”

Glug, glug, glug.

Chung Myung filled the glass across from him with alcohol. He spoke softly, as if Cheong Mun was really there.

“It’s been a long time since I poured a drink for Sect Leader Sajyong.”

They didn’t drink together often.

Because Sect Leader Sajyong would nag him all night long whenever they drank.

Glug, glug, glug.

He filled his own glass.

He usually liked to drink straight from the bottle, but today he wanted to feel like he was drinking with Cheong Mun.

Chung Myung drank the alcohol in one gulp.

“Krooh!”

The strong Hwaju burned as it went down, warming him from the inside.

“Sajyong.”

Chung Myung put down his glass and smiled at the sight of Mount Hua below Yeonhwa Peak.

Cheong Mun wasn’t across from him. But it was okay. Sect Leader Sajyong was like Mount Hua. Just looking at Mount Hua made him feel like Cheong Mun was sitting in front of him.

“The kids have grown up a lot.”

Chung Myung chuckled.

“I was worried, but I was being nosy. Everyone is doing better than I thought.”

Hyun Jong, the sect leader, and the elders too.

The senior disciples, the middle-level disciples, and the junior disciples.

They had grown so much since Chung Myung first came to Mount Hua.

“It felt strange? Maybe that’s why Sect Leader Sajyong kept telling me to take disciples. Watching the kids grow up, it’s kind of… rewarding and ticklish.”

Chung Myung laughed to himself.

“Ah, I know. It’s not time to be sentimental. There’s still a long way to go. I know that, but…”

Glug, glug, glug.

Chung Myung poured more alcohol and drank it in one gulp.

“It was just like that. You know, that feeling. If Sajyong was here, he would be happy to see this. He would smile, saying our descendants are doing well. I just kept thinking that.”

There was no one to share his joy.

No one to share his complicated feelings.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m having fun. I’m not lonely. There are guys who can’t leave me alone. They’re probably looking for me.”

Just…

Chung Myung looked at the dark sky, reached out, and grabbed Cheong Mun’s glass.

“Have a drink.”

Chung Myung sprinkled the alcohol towards Mount Hua, grinned, and refilled the glass.

After a moment, Chung Myung said quietly,

“A long time ago.”

A dark light filled his eyes.

“I’m sorry for saying you were frustrating. Now that I’ve done it, it’s not as easy as I thought. I guess Sajyong had a headache dealing with my messes. Haha. Funny, right?”

He was learning something new even after living his whole life.

Chung Myung flopped on the ground.

He drank straight from the bottle, wiped his mouth, and smiled faintly.

“Sajyong thought I would run off to Maninbang, right?”

He would have done that before.

He would have run without looking back.

But the current Chung Myung could no longer be the Plum Blossom Sword Saint of the past.

“You know, it’s like this. I could run wild because Sajyong was there. But now I feel like things won’t work out if I’m not here… I can’t act like I used to. I can’t do it.”

Chung Myung looked up at the sky with a strange look.

But he wasn’t sad or frustrated. He looked proud.

“Sajyong. It’s a little different from Mount Hua when you were here, but…”

He asked, looking at the sky,

“It’s pretty good now, right?”

I hope you say so.

Even though it’s an answer I can’t hear.

“Praise the kids. They’re working hard. It’s enough to pay for their meals, but that’s something. I was surprised this time, you know?”

So.

So…

Chung Myung closed his eyes.

– You’re doing well, you rascal.