Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 428

The reception hall of the Sichuan Tang Family, a powerful family known for martial arts, was grand and imposing.

Tang Gun-ak looked at Tang So-so, his daughter. His face was hard to read. He seemed happy to see her, but also surprised, maybe even a little sad. It was a mix of feelings.

Tang So-so looked back at her father, her eyes shining brightly.

Tang Gun-ak closed his eyes for a moment.

‘It’s not wrong, though,’ he thought.

It really wasn’t wrong.

Tang So-so was now a proud disciple of Mount Hua, a famous school for martial artists, and a respectable martial artist. So, her current appearance was more natural for her.

But Tang Gun-ak still remembered his daughter as a delicate flower. He couldn’t help but find her current appearance a bit unfamiliar, even though he had seen her since she joined Mount Hua.

Her hair, once carefully styled, was now pulled back in two messy pigtails.

She wore loose martial attire that looked very comfortable, not like the fine silk dresses she used to wear in the Tang Family.

And her skin had a healthy, tanned glow, like sun-warmed honey!

‘It’s alright, isn’t it?’ he wondered.

Yes! It’s fine!

In fact, what did it matter? His daughter was healthy!

A warm smile spread across Tang Gun-ak’s face.

“You must have had a hard time coming all this way!”

“Not at all, Father!” Tang So-so replied energetically.

“You can speak a little quieter.”

“Yes!”

Tang Gun-ak’s unhappy look turned to Cheong-myeong. Cheong-myeong widened his eyes and tilted his head.

“What is it?”

This rascal turned my daughter into a bandit…

‘No, no. Bandit or not, it’s good if she’s healthy…’

As his thoughts clashed, the corners of Tang Gun-ak’s mouth twitched slightly. He couldn’t sort out his feelings at all!

“Well, yes. It’s good to have you home after so long.”

“Yes! I’m happy too.”

So-so, please speak as comfortably as you used to, just to your father.

Please.

Tang Gun-ak’s shoulders slumped with a sense of sorrow.

However, the shock Tang Gun-ak received was nothing compared to what Tang Pae received.

“So-so.”

“Yes?”

“That… uh… you’ve changed a lot.”

“Yes? I’m the same as always?”

Yes. If you say so, then it must be so.

Heh heh heh.

Tang Pae looked at Tang So-so with an awkward expression before turning his gaze away. Then, in an even more awkward voice, he spoke to Cheong-myeong.

“Have you been well, Cheong-myeong Dojang?”

“Yes!”

Tang Pae’s face was filled with embarrassment at the cheerful reply.

In the past, he had thrown a dagger at Cheong-myeong’s back during a sparring match with Tang Gun-ak. Because of that, he was pushed out of the position of Young Lord and was now competing with Tang Zhan.

Of course, he didn’t feel any anger towards Cheong-myeong because of that. It was something a martial artist should never do, and he only felt sorry towards Cheong-myeong.

And Tang Pae was now impressed with Cheong-myeong.

‘He’s so generous,’ he thought.

Cheong-myeong greeted him with a bright smile, as if he didn’t care about what happened. Tang Pae thought this showed Cheong-myeong’s generous character.

‘This must be the difference in character,’ he mused.

When they first met, Cheong-myeong was just one of the Taoists of Mount Hua. But now, he had become such a prominent figure that the term “the best of the younger generation” couldn’t fully describe him. Tang Pae was amazed by Cheong-myeong’s character. Tang Pae’s voice was extremely humble as he bowed his head in greeting.

“Thank you.”

“Yes? For what?”

“For forgiving my mistake…” He paused, took a deep breath, and spoke again. “I was foolish back then. Please forgive me for not having apologized properly.”

“Yes?” But Cheong-myeong tilted his head again, as if he didn’t understand.

Tang Pae felt a slight doubt. Then, Baek Cheon poked Cheong-myeong in the side and whispered into his ear.

“That’s the guy who stabbed you in the back before.”

“What? This bastard?” Cheong-myeong looked at Tang Pae with wide, white eyes, as if he had never been bright and cheerful.

Baek Cheon covered his face and sighed.

Cheong-myeong had barely seen Tang Pae. He only remembered being stabbed and falling down after briefly seeing Tang Pae, who had followed Tang Gun-ak. After that, Tang Pae was imprisoned, so there was even less chance of seeing him.

“No! This is really trying to die! Why are you showing your face here? I’ll stab you in the back too…”

“He’s the Young Lord.”

“I guess that could happen. Hehe. Let’s forget the past and get along well in the future.”

Tang Pae’s back was drenched in cold sweat at the sudden change in attitude.

‘He’s got a big character in a different way,’ he thought.

Really, in a different way.

Tang Gun-ak, who had been watching, smiled with satisfaction.

‘Was it really a good thing to form an alliance with these guys?’

Uh…

He felt a slight sense of regret.

“Ahem.” Tang Gun-ak cleared his throat loudly, as if to shake off his regret.

“Anyway, you all must have had a really hard time coming here. Really… Yes, you really look like you’ve had a hard time.”

How hard must it have been for a person to pull a cart?

He couldn’t understand Cheong-myeong for making them do it, nor could he understand the disciples for doing as they were told.

“Yes. I heard you were coming, but what’s going on?”

“Huh? Didn’t you see?”

“See what?”

“The things loaded on the cart.”

“I saw something wrapped up tightly.”

“Ah. You haven’t been able to check it yet because it was wrapped up to protect it from the rain.”

“The letter I received said to get an explanation from you.”

“Ah. It’s nothing much. We’re going to make some swords, so we brought the materials.”

“Materials?”

“Yes. Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.”

“Ah. I was wondering what it was. Cold Iron… What? Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron?!” Tang Gun-ak screamed in astonishment.

“Is it really Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron? All of it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron isn’t something that grows out of the ground. Where did you get so much Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron?”

“It was buried in Mount Hua?”

The life instantly drained from Tang Gun-ak’s body.

It took longer than expected for him to regain his senses.

In the meantime, the outrageous statement ‘What were the Tang Family ancestors doing, settling in a land where not even Cold Iron grows?’ was heard, but the Tang Family members quietly ignored it.

“Here, Father, is some cold water.”

He groaned as he took the cup.

Dangjan gave the cold water to his father, Danggunaeok. Danggunaeok drank it quickly, all in one gulp.

“First, I need to confirm it myself. To see if it’s truly Hancheol.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

As Danggunaeok quickly moved his feet and left the reception hall, his family members and the disciples of Hwasan followed behind.

Almost running, Yoon Jong slyly asked Baek Cheon.

“But, Martial Uncle.”

“Hmm?”

“Is Millennium Hancheol that precious? I mean, I knew it was valuable, but the Clan Lord’s reaction is a bit much…”

“…What would I know?”

“…”

Yoon Jong nodded, even though he wasn’t sure he understood everything.

At that moment, Danggunaeok stopped walking, shook his head, and called for the Chief Manager.

“Chief Manager! Chief Manageeer!”

“Yes, Clan Lord!”

Dang Sangsoo rushed out in a fright. He knew that Danggunaeok rarely shouted like this unless it was a significant matter, so he couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Wh-What is the matter!”

“Where is the cart that Hwasan brought!”

“Ah, that cart?”

Dang Sangsoo answered like he didn’t understand why everyone was so excited.

“The wheel was broken, so I left it in front of the back workshop to be repaired.”

“What about the things loaded on it?”

“I brought them along with it…”

“Get out of the way!”

“Aaaaargh!”

Danggunaeok, nearly shoving aside Dang Sangsoo who was blocking his path, dashed towards the workshop with terrifying speed.

They rushed to the back workshop. It was a messy place, with tools scattered on workbenches and the smell of metal in the air. In the middle of it all sat the broken cart.

“T-The sackcloth…” Danggunaeok gasped, his breath catching in his throat.

“These… these awful people! Do they even know what they are doing, treating it like this! They are cursed!”

Eventually, he pulled out throwing needles from his sleeve and began throwing them wildly at the disciples of Hwasan.

“Hey, hey! Why is this old man suddenly acting like this?!”

Chung Myung was confused. Danggunaeok was acting like a completely different man. Chung Myung quickly drew his sword and deflected the flying needles.

He couldn’t help but find it absurd that not a single needle was flying towards Tang Soso amidst all this chaos.

Danggunaeok stared at the sackcloth. His face went pale, and his eyes widened in disbelief. Still seething with anger, Danggunaeok, with trembling hands, peeled off the cloth covering the cart.

Then, metal covered in old grime finally revealed its form. At first glance, it looked like good metal. But now, covered in dirt, it was hard to even tell what it was.

However, Danggunaeok knew exactly what this metal was.

“Hoo… Hoo!”

After taking several deep breaths, he touched the surface of the metal. A cold chill rushed through his fingertips. His eyes widened.

“I-It’s right. It’s real Hancheol!”

And it wasn’t just Hancheol. It was the best Hancheol anyone could find.

Danggunaeok hurriedly removed all the cloths. Then, with eyes mixed with astonishment and excitement, he looked at the Hancheol and breathed heavily.

“So, so much Millennium Hancheol…”

“Hehe. Right?”

Danggunaeok turned his head sharply towards Chung Myung, his eyes wide. Chung Myung asked, slightly flinching.

“Wait… it *is* Hancheol, right? It has to be?”

“…You, you…!”

Danggunaeok grabbed Chung Myung and threw him away.

“Do you even know what this is! It’s worth a hundred times its weight in gold! No, even more! It’s priceless! People would pay anything for this!”

Chung Myung, who had been thrown away, returned to his spot as if nothing had happened and tilted his head.

“Really? Is it that much? It didn’t seem that expensive before.”

“No, what era are you talking about? The price of Millennium Hancheol has skyrocketed for a hundred years already. Hancheol has become extinct since the war with the Demonic Sect!”

“Ah, I see.”

Then that makes a bit of sense…

“You couldn’t even get this much if you sold all of Hwasan! And you’re just wrapping it in cloth and putting it on a cart? Are you crazy!?”

“Well, it’s just a lump of metal.”

Danggunaeok felt so shocked he almost fell over and had to lean on the cart at the sight of Chung Myung pouting.

A lump of metal?

A lump of metaaaal?

If one of the Dang Clan members had uttered such words, he would have stuffed charcoal into their mouth and sewn it shut.

But the other party was a swordsman who didn’t even know how precious Hancheol was.

‘Don’t expect anything.’

Right. What good would it do to get angry? This fellow was originally like that.

“Hoo, alright… So why did you carry this Hancheol all the way here?”

“To make swords.”

“…Swords?”

“Yes, Plum Blossom Swords.”

“…”

Danggunaeok’s eyes twitched.

“You’re making swords with this?”

“Yes.”

His face, which had calmed down for a moment, flushed red again.

But soon, he regained the composure befitting the Clan Lord of the Dang Family.

‘No, no. Don’t get excited yet.’

After taking a deep breath, he looked straight at Chung Myung and asked.

“Are you perhaps planning to make a sacred artifact for the sect?”

“No. I’m just making Plum Blossom Swords. To give to my Senior Brothers.”

“…Are you crazy?”

“Huh?”

Danggunaeok, unable to hold back any longer, spat out harsh words, fire blazing from his mouth.

“Why? You might as well make swords out of gold and carry them around. No, gold would be better! If you make swords out of this, one sword could buy an entire manor, since when has Hwasan become such a wealthy sect?!”

“Hehe. You seem to not know.”

“…Huh?”

Chung Myung puffed out his chest.

“I have quite a bit of money.”

“…”

Danggunaeok eventually collapsed on the spot.

Even if he combined all the shouts he had made in his life, it wouldn’t amount to what he had shouted today.

“…He really isn’t in his right mind.”

Danggunaeok knew Chung Myung was a bit crazy, but he thought he was at least partly sensible.

“Can you make them?”

“…”

“I brought it here because I thought the Dang Family could make them, but if you can’t, I’ll look somewhere else.”

Danggunaeok thought quickly. He calmed himself down, stood up straight, and nodded seriously.

“Of course, we can make them. With the Sichuan Dang Family’s smithing skills, making Millennium Hancheol swords is not a difficult task.”

“Oh! Then…”

“But there’s a condition.”

“Yes?”

Danggunaeok’s eyes gleamed.

“Could you spare some of that Hancheol?”

“…”

“I won’t ask for much, just a little. What are friends for! Haha!”

Tang Soso, who had been blankly watching the situation from behind, quietly turned her head.

Her father, whom she had always been proud of… strangely, today, she felt a little ashamed.