Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 412

“What kind of mountain *is* this?” Do Woon-chan muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. He was the young master of the Ghost Gate and proud of his agile movements. He thought he was one of the best in the world at moving quickly and lightly. Falling wasn’t a worry, but this climb was something else entirely. The path was barely wider than his shoulders, cut sharply into the grey cliff face. Loose stones crunched under his boots, and the drop to his side was dizzyingly high.

“Ugh,” he grunted as his leg muscles burned. He pushed on, determined to reach the top without stopping. Finally, the path leveled out. Before him stood a grand mountain gate, made of dark, heavy wood. Beyond it, buildings with curved roofs were half-hidden in swirling white mist, making them look mysterious and ancient. *So, this is Mount Hua Sect,* he thought, a flicker of anticipation mixed with weariness.

“…Why is it on top of a mountain like this?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Everything was incomprehensible, but it wasn’t something Do Woon-chan had to understand. After all, he was just here to do his business and leave.

“Ahem!” He approached the mountain gate, walking forward firmly. The mountain gate of the sect, which was usually closed, was wide open as if inviting anyone to enter. And the person who should have been guarding the gate was nowhere to be seen, as if they had left their post.

“Is it okay to just go in like this?”

“Wouldn’t it be?”

“Hmm.” Do Woon-chan shook his head, completely confused, and moved his steps inside. *This is strange,* he thought. *Is this really the famous Mount Hua Sect everyone is talking about?*

“Is anyone there? I have business with the Mount Hua Sect…”

Wham!

Before he could finish speaking, a dark shape flew past him with a whoosh. It slammed into the wall right next to the mountain gate.

Rumble. The wall shook violently, raising dust.

‘What is it?’ Do Woon-chan reflexively turned his head to look at the ‘something’ that had destroyed the wall.

After a moment of silence, a hand suddenly popped out from under the rubble of the collapsed wall.

“Ack, you scared me!” Do Woon-chan jumped back, his heart hammering against his ribs. He blinked rapidly, trying to understand what he was seeing.

“A… person?”

“Ugh…” Something crawling out of the rubble… No, the person glared ahead with bloodshot eyes.

What is it? …Did I come to the wrong place? No? It was definitely written on the sign that it was the Mount Hua Sect?

“Aaaaargh!” The person who shook off the rubble and jumped out soon rushed forward, hair flying wildly.

“Dieee!”

Huh? Die? Did an enemy invade…

Wham! But, contrary to his momentum, he was bounced back at twice the speed he had charged in.

Wham! ‘He’s dead.’ Well, he deserves to die if he gets hit like that.

“Are you crazy! Charging in with your chest open like that?” At that moment, the most spiteful voice in the world pierced Do Woon-chan’s ears.

“Are these guys kidding me right now!” In the middle of the training ground, where dust was swirling, a shouting figure was roaring. The training ground was a mess of churned earth and scattered wooden swords. Dust hung in the air, thick enough to taste, and the shouts of the angry man echoed across the open space.

“So, you’ve swung a sword a little, huh? You’ve tasted the feeling, huh? Where do you get off being so cocky, huh? You wanna die! Doesn’t it hurt when you get hit by a sword? Huh? Doesn’t it hurt? Should I show you how much it hurts?”

Do Woon-chan’s mouth went dry. A knot of fear tightened in his stomach. *This isn’t right. This feels dangerous.*

Did a villain from the Demonic Sect invade? Is he fighting with the angry man from the Myriad Man Clan?

But then, he saw a man bravely rushing towards the shouting figure. A pure white uniform without a single speck of dust! A pure white heroic headband on his forehead! The resolute face beneath the heroic headband was as clear and handsome as Do Woon-chan had ever seen. Who would doubt that this man was the warrior representing Mount Hua?

“You son of a…!” The warrior representing Mount Hua charged at the shouting figure with a fierce momentum, wielding a sword…

‘But why is it a wooden sword?’ Huh?

“Die…!”

Bang! But soon, a black scabbard was embedded in the forehead of the charging warrior.

He seemed to have lost all strength to resist, frozen like a stone statue in his tracks, his charging speed rendered meaningless.

“Die?” The shouting figure rolled his eyes.

“I’ve been too lenient, and now you’ve become too arrogant! Oh, really? Let’s see you die!” The scabbard was swung enthusiastically.

“Waist! Waist! Waist! Waist! Head!”

Wham! Baek Cheon, having been hit four times in a row on his right side, and finally, his head being smashed neatly… No, his head, collapsed to the ground. His twitching, convulsing figure, lying face down, was heart-wrenching.

‘To fall to Jeong Sago.’ This shouldn’t be happening…

“Sasuk!”

“Sasukkk! Aaaaargh! You evil fiend!” The warriors of Mount Hua, shouting with resentment, began to rush towards the shouting figure all at once.

“Oh, really?” But the shouting figure’s sword smacked each of the rushing warriors.

“You guys!”

Wham! Wham!

“You’ve taken your livers out of your bellies!”

Wham! Wham! Wham!

“Did you do something great?” People soared into the air like fireworks. The sight of those dressed in pure white uniforms fluttering in the air was, well, um… like.

‘It’s like flowers blooming.’ Strangely beautiful? No, it shouldn’t be beautiful.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Those who had soared into the air fell to the ground one by one. Those lying on the ground were all twitching and convulsing slightly. What were they thinking? Were they scared? Resigned? Did they secretly admire Chung Myung even though he’s beating them?

‘…What on earth is going on?’

Do Woon-chan was a person with ears. He had heard the news that the Myriad Man Clan’s martial force had invaded Mount Hua while coming here. And he had heard countless times that Mount Hua had successfully repelled the Myriad Man Clan’s martial force.

Where else could one dream of such an achievement, if not in the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families, known as the prestigious families of the world?

Everyone was busy talking about Mount Hua. All the way here, they said that Mount Hua’s momentum was unusual, and that their return to the Nine Great Sects was not far off.

But… ‘Why are they getting beaten up so badly by one person?’ Everything that was happening before his eyes was beyond Do Woon-chan’s common sense.

“Die.” At that moment, a woman with her hair tied up caught his eye as she rushed towards the shouting figure with a low shout.

Oh, come on. Surely not. It can’t be…

Kroooom!

Invariably, the woman with the scabbard embedded in her forehead twitched and collapsed.

“These guys are all crazy!” The shouting figure, Chung Myung, rolled his eyes and shouted.

“Where are you putting useless strength into your sword! I’ve told you so many times that if your movements get bigger, you’ll create openings! You’re just talking about the basics, but you don’t follow them! I’ll just…!”

Do Woon-chan squeezed his eyes shut as he watched Chung Myung roar like a beast.

“That’s why, huh? Inexperienced guys don’t die in the first battle, they die in the second battle! The guys who think they know something are the first to die! Do you understand, you chicks!”

Hey. You look the youngest…

“Ugh…”

“Ughhh. I’m going to die.”

“…Please. Please, ghosts. Please…” It was then that the disciples of Mount Hua thought it would be a hundred times better to face the Myriad Man Clan.

“…What is this again?” The shouting figure’s gaze swiveled towards Do Woon-chan, who was standing in front of the mountain gate.

A sudden shout made Do Woon-chan jump. He had been staring blankly at the towering mountain gate, lost in his thoughts, when the rough voice startled him. He turned quickly and met the narrowed eyes of a man standing near the entrance, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Do Woon-chan instinctively ducked his head, pulling his neck in like a turtle.

“Hey! You there!” the man yelled again. “What is it?” He stepped closer, his gaze hard. “Who are you? And what business do you have at the Mount Hua Sect gate? Don’t tell me this is some kind of attack?”

“A, an attack?” Do Woon-chan’s eyes widened. Why is everything escalating so quickly…

“If it’s not an attack, what nerve do you have to waltz into another sect as you please? You, come here. Quickly.”

Do Woon-chan couldn’t bring himself to move, so the man began to approach, twitching the scabbard hanging from his shoulder.

“J, just a moment. I’m not that⋯⋯!”

The thought of demanding answers about the stolen Sect Leader’s Seal had long been tossed over the cliff. Reason? Logic? Those only mattered to someone who could understand words. He had lived long enough and been through enough. No, in fact, even without age and experience, one could tell that words wouldn’t work on this bloke in front of him.

“I, I’m⋯⋯.”

“Ah, I said come over here.”

Chung Myung sauntered up to him like a back-alley thug. Do Woon-chan seriously considered whether he should turn tail and run.

But then, just as Do Woon-chan thought about running, he heard footsteps pounding towards them.

“Master!” a voice called out.

Gye Hyeong, who had burst through the mountain gate in a hurry, stood between Do Woon-chan and Chung Myung.

“Oh? You?” Chung Myung asked.

“I, I’ve brought him! You told me to bring our Young Sect Leader! This person is the Young Sect Leader of our Yuryeong Sect.”

Chung Myung’s gaze flickered between Gye Hyeong and Do Woon-chan.

“Ah… Young Sect Leader?”

“Yes!” Gye Hyeong replied.

“This person?”

“That’s right!”

“Aha.”

Chung Myung nodded and strode towards Do Woon-chan.

“Eep!”

In fear of something flying at him, Do Woon-chan reflexively raised his hands in front of his chest and squeezed his eyes shut. But that hand was snatched away by Chung Myung’s hand.

“Oh my! You’ve come a long way!”

Do Woon-chan cautiously opened his eyes. He saw Chung Myung holding his hand, shaking it repeatedly, and smiling brightly.

“I’ve heard so much about you. Haha, you’re the Young Sect Leader of the Yuryeong Sect!”

He glanced at Gye Hyeong, but Gye Hyeong simply shook his head from side to side, as if to say he had never said such a thing.

“Come, come. Don’t be like this, let’s go inside.”

“⋯⋯A, inside?”

“Yes! You must go to the guest quarters.”

“⋯⋯G, guest quarters?”

He felt like turning around and running away right now, Sect Leader’s Seal or whatever. ‘What kind of sect is this?’ Even the Demonic Sect wouldn’t beat people up like this without looking back.

Do Woon-chan was flustered and didn’t know what to do. He looked at Gye Hyeong, who conveyed his meaning with his eyes. ‘I told you.’

No… I thought you were just making excuses because you were embarrassed about failing the mission. Did I really think such a person existed in the world?

“Come on, this way. Just come this way.”

Chung Myung led Do Woon-chan inside, practically dragging him along. Do Woon-chan looked back repeatedly with sad eyes, his eyes as wide and mournful as a cow being led to slaughter.

“⋯⋯See, I told you so.”

Gye Hyeong looked at Do Woon-chan with pitiful eyes. Just then, Chung Myung turned around sharply and said.

“Someone go get the Sect Leader… No, why isn’t anyone standing up! Everyone’s slacking off!”

You beat them all up.

You!

Yoon Jong, who was lying on the floor barely breathing, groaned and opened his mouth with difficulty.

“⋯⋯Senior Master.”

“⋯⋯.”

Baek Cheon didn’t answer, but Yoon Jong, thinking he was listening, asked.

“Are you alive, Senior Master?”

“⋯⋯Dead.”

“⋯⋯Yes.”

The floor of the training hall was being soaked with the tears of the Mount Hua disciples.

“⋯⋯Gye Hyeong.”

“⋯⋯Yes, Young Sect Leader.”

“You crazy bastard!”

Do Woon-chan rushed at Gye Hyeong and grabbed him by the neck.

“What were you thinking, bringing me here! What!”

“Gack! Cough! L, let go of this… Cough! Let go!”

“What were you thinking!”

Gye Hyeong, who barely managed to pry off Do Woon-chan’s hands, coughed and shouted.

“That’s what I told you!”

“How could I believe that, how!”

Do Woon-chan clutched his head in anguish. He hadn’t come with any particular grand plan, but now he was starting to worry. He had believed that if he showed his face appropriately and questioned the sect’s propriety, the Mount Hua Sect, being a Taoist sect, would have no choice but to hand over the Sect Leader’s Seal, the symbol of his sect’s authority.

But the Mount Hua he had seen with his own eyes didn’t seem to be a place where propriety or anything else mattered. He’d be lucky if he didn’t get a sword shoved in his mouth for even mentioning propriety.

“Why did they even call us?”

But there was no time to ponder that question. The door to the guest quarters burst open, and a group of people entered. Do Woon-chan stood up abruptly when he saw the Taoist at the very front, who was around the age of transitioning from middle age to old age.

The Taoist looked at him, smiled somewhat awkwardly, and opened his mouth.

“I have committed the discourtesy of making a guest wait. Please forgive this humble Taoist’s fault.”

“Ah, no. But…”

The Taoist smiled gently.

“I am Hyun Jong, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.”

“I, I greet the Sect Leader!”

Do Woon-chan bowed his head deeply. Inwardly, he was quite flustered. ‘The Sect Leader is coming out of the blue?’ Of course, he was also the Young Sect Leader of a sect. But what kind of sect was Mount Hua now? Wasn’t it the most famous sect in the Central Plains after repelling the Ten Thousand People Clan? For the Sect Leader of such a place to greet him personally. It was something to be moved by, but Do Woon-chan strangely felt more and more uneasy.

“Please, sit down.”

“Ah, yes! Yes! Sect Leader!”

Do Woon-chan, dazed, sat down, and Hyun Jong sat across from him. The people of Mount Hua sat in long rows to his left and right. Hyun Jong paused for a moment before speaking. His cheeks, which had been wearing a benevolent smile, were twitching subtly.

“You’ve come to find the Sect Leader’s Seal?”

“Th, that’s right.”

“The Sect Leader’s Seal?”

Hyun Jong closed his mouth again. Sparks were flying from his eyes. Do Woon-chan, not knowing the reason for the inexplicable anger, sat blankly. At that moment, he saw an old man and Chung Myung, who were sitting to Hyun Jong’s left, slowly backing away.

It was then that the anger, which seemed to be growing, exploded.

“Aish! You crazy bastards!”

Hyun Jong took off his shoes and threw them at the two.

“Now you’re even stealing the Sect Leader’s Seal from another sect and using it for blackmail? Are you even Taoists, you brats! Why? Why don’t you just start a bandit gang while you’re at it! And! You’re only telling me about it now! Come here! Why aren’t you coming here!”

It wasn’t enough to vent his anger by shouting, so Hyun Jong jumped up and ran towards Chung Myung and Hyeon Young. Then, the people around him quickly grabbed him and held on.

“Sect Leader! You must restrain yourself!”

“There’s a guest! Sect Leader! Please, maintain your dignity⋯⋯!”

“I’m so angry, I am! Aish!”

Hyun Jong shouting and Chung Myung and Hyeon Young being pushed further and further into the corner. Do Woon-chan, who had been watching all of this, smiled serenely, as if he had reached enlightenment. ‘I don’t know anymore. Where is this place?’

Hehe.

Hehehehe.