Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 423

The morning air in the training ground was still cool, the rising sun casting long shadows across the dusty ground. Disciples of the Ghostly Gate had gathered quickly, their usual morning practice interrupted. They buzzed with confusion, turning to Elder Ojangsong as he stepped forward.

“Elder! What in the heavens is happening?” one called out, his voice sharp with worry.

Ojangsong raised a hand, his face trying to appear calm, though a muscle twitched in his jaw. “There’s no need for such a fuss,” he said, but his voice was tighter than usual.

A younger disciple, bolder than the rest, stepped closer, his brow furrowed. “A race? You said a race?” He looked around at his fellow disciples, then back at Ojangsong, bewildered.

Another disciple scoffed, trying to hide his nervousness with bravado. “…Why? Are *we* the ones who look like we lack confidence?” He puffed out his chest, but his eyes darted nervously towards the small group of Mount Hua disciples standing silently on the edge of the training area.

Ojangsong nodded, seemingly pleased with their spirit. “Indeed. The disciples of the Ghostly Gate have footwork that is the best in the world.”

Ojangsong lightly waved his hand at the disciples’ complaints. “There’s no need for long explanations. You just need to beat them.”

He subtly turned his head to look at the disciples of Mount Hua, who were on one side. ‘Arrogant bastards…’ He slightly bit his lip.

“Did you say proof just now?” Ojangsong frowned as he looked at Chung Myung.

“Yes, proof.”

“You’re saying you’ll prove that training and work can coexist?”

“Yes. Exactly as you said.”

Ojangsong frowned and raised his voice. “Look here! You’re not going to tell me that carrying things around will naturally lead to training because you’ll be using your footwork a lot, are you?!”

“You know it well.”

“Huh?” Ojangsong stared at Chung Myung with a dumbfounded expression.

“Look here, young leader. Training has meaning when precise methods and guidance come together. How can simply using footwork on your own be considered training!”

“That’s not true,” Chung Myung grinned.

“That’s just an easy method for the person teaching. What’s important is a clear goal and the passion to push yourself to the limit.”

Ojangsong stared at Chung Myung, bewildered. “No… What does this little leader even know…”

“Oh Elder, watch your words. This little leader is the Mount Hua Divine Dragon Chung Myung, known as the greatest rising star in the world,” Dowoonchan said.

At Dowoonchan’s words, Ojangsong looked at Chung Myung with renewed interest. That this young Taoist, who didn’t seem to have any special energy around him, was the Mount Hua Divine Dragon…

“Ahem, is that so.” However, now that he knew the other party’s reputation, he couldn’t treat him as carelessly as before. He spoke in a slightly softened voice. “But even if you are the Mount Hua Divine Dragon, I cannot agree on this point. Especially when it comes to footwork, our Ghostly Gate has no need to seek guidance from any other sect in the world.”

“That’s the problem,” Chung Myung said. “The world is evolving and changing, you know. Just because you were famous a few hundred years ago doesn’t mean you’ll continue to be successful.”

“What are you saying…”

Chung Myung lightly struck the table with his palm. “This is also a matter of the martial world, so wouldn’t it be pointless to argue about who is right and who is wrong with words? There’s only one way to prove who is right in the martial world.”

At his words, Ojangsong narrowed his eyes. “Are you suggesting we compete in footwork?”

“That’s right,” Chung Myung grinned confidently. “Because that’s the fastest way.”

“Why would we bother…”

Chung Myung looked at Ojangsong and said firmly, “If we lose, we’ll return the Sect Leader’s Seal and leave the Ghostly Gate without another word.”

“But if we win, I want you to cooperate unconditionally with what the young Sect Leader is trying to do.”

Ojangsong groaned, contemplating for a moment. But he didn’t think for long.

“Are you scared?”

“What?” He glared at Chung Myung with wide eyes.

“What did you say just now?”

Chung Myung casually put his hands behind his head and whistled. “I didn’t say anything?”

“No. I just thought that someone who says the disciples of the Ghostly Gate are the fastest in the world doesn’t actually have any confidence.”

Ojangsong laughed. He couldn’t believe what he heard. His lips twisted unpleasantly. “I was trying to find a good way to avoid Mount Hua losing face, which would put the young Sect Leader in a difficult position, but you’re forcing me to do this!”

“Oh? Are you going to do it?”

“The Ghostly Gate does not avoid challenges. Alright, what kind of competition do you want?”

Finally hearing the answer he wanted, Chung Myung grinned and released his hands from behind his head. “The method is obvious. It would be most certain if I directly defeated you, Elder, but that’s a verification of skill, not a verification of training. So… it would be good for our senior brothers and the disciples of the Ghostly Gate to compete in footwork.”

“And you?”

“Why would I need to participate?”

Ojangsong said with a cold, sinking gaze, “The Mount Hua Divine Dragon, known as the best of Mount Hua, doesn’t need to step forward?”

“Yes. So isn’t that a better condition?”

“It seems our Ghostly Gate has been greatly underestimated. Very well. I accept that challenge. But!” Ojangsong slammed the table once and shouted.

“If you lose this match, quietly put down the Sect Leader’s Seal and retreat. If Mount Hua prides itself on being righteous, you won’t break your promise.”

“Righteous or not, I’m someone who always keeps my word,” Chung Myung said, telling a lie that would make the disciples of Mount Hua foam at the mouth and rush at him.

“I feel like I’ve been tricked somehow.”

“Yes?”

“No. It’s nothing.” Ojangsong shook his head. He felt a slight sense of being manipulated by the young leader’s eloquence, but that didn’t matter. Because this match was absolutely advantageous for them anyway.

“Akso.”

“Yes, Elder!”

Ojangsong looked at Akso with serious eyes. “The honor of the Ghostly Gate is at stake in this match. You must win.”

“Don’t worry, Elder!” Akso answered confidently, subtly turning his gaze. He saw the disciples of Mount Hua half-sprawled in a corner of the training ground. Seeing their lack of any tension made him feel inexplicably angry.

‘So you’re a successful sect, huh?’ Of course, the Ghostly Gate was a small sect that couldn’t be compared to Mount Hua. Moreover, Mount Hua was arguably the most famous sect in the world right now.

‘But that doesn’t mean you can look down on people…’

It was at that moment that Akso heard a barrage of criticism and resentment pouring out from the Mount Hua disciples.

“Why do we have to, you bastard!”

“Why don’t you run, you! Why do we have to clean up the mess you made!”

“I don’t want to.”

“Amitabha. Please go die, benefactor.”

Akso flinched at the barrage of criticism and resentment that poured out like lightning from the Mount Hua disciples. ‘What is this?’ They were ganging up on one person, snarling like wolves.

“Chung Myung.”

Baek Cheon opened his mouth with a face that was boiling over. “From the beginning, wasn’t this supposed to be a business trip for good relations?”

“That’s right.”

“Then why are you making trouble again! Why, again!”

“Ah, you can’t reason with him!” Baek Cheon clutched his chest.

“You’re the one who can’t reason! You!”

“I agree.”

It seemed that public opinion was not very favorable. But Chung Myung wasn’t one to care about such things. “I was trying to resolve things peacefully if possible?”

“But!”

“But that old man said that their footwork is far superior, so there’s no need to listen to Mount Hua.”

“What?” Baek Cheon slightly hardened his face and widened his eyes. Chung Myung seized the opportunity to gently scratch at his pride. “Can you stand hearing those words?”

“You probably provoked them first.”

“Huh?” Baek Cheon frowned, looking annoyed at Chung Myung. *Why is it always him?* he thought.

“They started it? Really? You must have done something to make them angry.” Baek Cheon’s voice was doubtful.

Chung Myung just blinked, looking innocent, but no one believed him.

“Ak So seemed nice enough,” Yoon Jong said, scratching his head. “Would he really start a fight for no reason?”

“Chung Myung lies every time he opens his mouth!” Yu Yiseol said sharply, her eyes narrowed at Chung Myung.

“Think of all the trouble he’s caused!” Jo Gul added, pointing a finger. “I’d believe the Spirit Gate guys before I believe you!”

Chung Myung looked truly hurt. He stammered, then argued loudly, “I’m telling you the truth! Why don’t you believe me…?”

“Enough!” Baek Cheon said firmly, cutting him off.

“Just give it up, Chung Myung!” Tang Soso added, crossing her arms.

Chung Myung went quiet, looking frustrated.

It was maddening, but there was no way to prove it.

“Anyway, it’s true.”

Then Baek Cheon, looking annoyed, scratched his head and looked at the disciples of the Spirit Gate. They were bouncing on their toes, their eyes bright with excitement. They looked eager to start.

He sighed deeply and spoke quietly. “Knowing this guy, he probably caused it. But now it’s happened, and the honor of Mount Hua is at stake. Mount Hua and Spirit Gate were two well-known groups of martial artists, like rival schools competing to be the best. The honor of Mount Hua is their school’s good name and reputation.”

“Then he should do it himself! Why is he backing out?”

“Exactly!”

Thinking about it, Baek Cheon glared at Chung Myung, looking angry again. Chung Myung just shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips, like he didn’t care what they thought, and answered back quickly.

“Things won’t work out if I step in. And this isn’t about who’s faster.”

“Whatever.”

“I’d like to shut that mouth of yours!”

Under the angry stares, Chung Myung wondered if his fellow disciples were acting like children.

“Anyway,” Baek Cheon said firmly, having calmed down. “However it started, we have to win this fight.”

“That’s right!” Tang Soso clenched her fist.

“My father said so too. Even if we’re in the wrong, just win! Then the mistake will be covered up.”

“No. That’s going too far.”

Wow, I didn’t expect the Lord of the Dang Family to be so extreme.

Wiping away a bead of sweat, Baek Cheon cleared his throat. “An apology is an apology, and a contest is a contest. Either way, we can’t let anyone say Mount Hua is worse than the Spirit Gate!”

“Of course!”

“Absolutely.”

“Let’s go!”

Baek Cheon led the disciples of Mount Hua towards the center of the training ground.

Ak So also led his disciples to the center of the training ground. The two groups began to face each other.

Ak So, standing across from Baek Cheon, tilted his head as if something bothered him, and then spoke in an unhappy tone. “You look awfully like a sissy.”

“Better than looking like you just crawled out from under a rock, eh?”

Ak So’s silly comment didn’t work. He got angry and gritted his teeth.

“I hope your legs are as flexible as your mouth.”

“They’re stiff, but good enough for the likes of you.”

“Silence!” Elder Oh Jangsong, with fire in his eyes, stepped forward and shouted.

“You all know the situation, so I won’t explain it. The contest is simple. Do you see the tree on that mountain over there?”

“Mountain?”

“What mountain?” The disciples of Mount Hua looked around for a mountain nearby.

A faint shape was visible far away, hidden behind thick fog that hung in the air after yesterday’s rain. It made everything look gray and damp.

“Over there?”

“Are you talking about that?”

It wasn’t easy to see because of the fog. No, it was a mountain so far away that it wouldn’t have been easy to see even without the fog.

“Are you talking about that mountain, Elder?”

“That’s right.” Oh Jangsong nodded casually.

The disciples of Mount Hua looked at Oh Jangsong, as if to say, ‘What kind of person is this?’

“Why? Does it seem hard? If it’s too hard, you can give up now.”

But Oh Jangsong didn’t know how to deal with the disciples of Mount Hua.

“Difficult? At Mount Hua, we eat and take a stroll that far.”

“I thought a race would involve going far, but it’s just a short crawl.” The disciples of Mount Hua glared at the distant mountain, looking angry.

“The side that touches the tree on that mountain and returns here first wins.”

“Then who will confirm that we touched it?”

“The Beggars’ Sect’s Great Hero Hong has kindly agreed to help.”

Ah.

Hong Daegwang?

“No wonder he was cursing non-stop this morning while heading somewhere.” Baek Cheon felt sorry for Hong Daegwang, who had been caught up in this for no reason.

“Any questions?”

“No.” It was a simple method that didn’t need any more questions.

The problem was…

‘I don’t feel motivated.’ Baek Cheon sighed deeply. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand what they were doing.

“So, five of you?”

“Yes.” He answered and glanced back. Jo Gul, Yoon Jong, Yu Yiseol, and Tang Soso were standing behind him.

“Let’s not drag this out. We’ll start now!”

“Yes.” They all got ready. Next to them, the disciples of the Spirit Gate also got ready with relaxed expressions.

Chung Myung smiled brightly and cheered innocently. “Mount Hua, win!”

“Just shut up for a bit!”

“I’m really going to kill you! Really!”

“I’ll cut you.”

“That guy, really, ugh!” It was a moment of warm affection between fellow disciples.

Baek Cheon sighed and focused his energy into his legs. He had to win first.

“Start!” With Oh Jangsong’s signal, ten martial artists shot forward like arrows.

As Baek Cheon quickly ran out of the Spirit Gate and onto the mountain path, Ak So sneakily stayed close to him.

“Hey, pretty boy.”

‘His breathing?’ To speak so calmly while running this fast. They were definitely strong opponents.

“What?”

“Did you listen to the rules?”

“Isn’t it just touching the tree and coming back?”

“That’s why you’re all just bookworms.” Ak So shrugged and reached into his waist.

‘Huh?’

And then…

Whoosh! At the same time as pulling out his hand, something flew towards Baek Cheon’s feet.

A long string with small weights at both ends quickly wrapped around both of Baek Cheon’s ankles.

“Oh!” Baek Cheon, unable to keep running with both legs tied, fell forward. Unfortunately, it was onto a path that had turned into a mud pit because of the rain last night.

Plop!

The muddy water fell onto his back. With his face buried in the mud, he didn’t move, looking like a dead man. Watching this, Ak So sneered.

“There was no rule against fighting. Take your time. Haha! Haha!” He was moving away so quickly that the last of his laughter was barely audible.

And at that moment…

Crack! Crunch!

Baek Cheon’s hand, gripping the mud tightly, lifted up as if being torn apart. The mud in his hand clumped together and flowed down.

Slowly. Very slowly, he lifted his head and wiped the mud from his face with one hand. Then he looked at Ak So, who was disappearing into the distance.

Finally, a voice colder than the eternal snow of the Northern Sea leaked from his mouth.

“I’m going to kill you all, you bastards.” Baek Cheon, now fully motivated, began to sprint like a beast with bloodshot eyes. The mud was thick and sticky, and the air smelled damp after the rain.