Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 44

The dawn in the mountains feels different than on flat lands. The cold air and morning wetness made a cold feeling that went deep inside you. Trying to ignore this cold, the third-generation students left the White Blossom Hall and walked to the training area.

“Ugh, freezing!” someone groaned, rubbing their arms.

Another yawned, “Yeah, woke me up alright. But my body’s still asleep. Can’t shake this tiredness…”

“Should’ve warmed up properly,” a third voice said, a bit smugly.

“Warmed up? I was moving all night, you know!” the tired one answered back, sounding annoyed.

“Oh yeah?” the smug one replied, raising an eyebrow, “Doing what?”

The third-generation students talked as they picked up sandbags and stone pouches from a shed on the side of the training area.

“By the way, how long do we have to do this?”

“Who knows? Until he tells us to stop, probably?”

“Who?”

“Do you even need to ask?”

The students all thought of one person.

‘That monster.’

‘That jerk who should fall in the toilet and drown.’

Even though they were all third-generation students, Chung Myung had completely taken control of them.

The training was very hard, so some students tried to rebel sometimes. But that stopped after the last rebel was found stuck in the ceiling of the White Blossom Hall.

Even Jo Gul, who first wanted to rebel, and Yoon Jong, the older student, were doing the training without complaining. So, what chance did the others have of rebelling against Chung Myung?

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong were much better than the other third-generation students. No one even thought about being better than them. They thought Jo Gul and Yoon Jong were amazing, but there was someone even more amazing in the world.

“By the way, has that guy been acting a bit strange lately?”

“What do you mean?”

“He doesn’t seem well, and he hasn’t been coming to training.”

“…You’re right?”

At first, Chung Myung had worked hard in the early morning training, making the third-generation students suffer in different ways. But recently, he hadn’t been seen at all.

“Could that story be true?”

“What story?”

“The one about him having some kind of sickness inside him.”

“Eh! No way.”

“No, think about it. He’s getting thinner and more tired every day, and he keeps missing training because he’s not feeling well.”

“Hmm…”

“If he was usually lazy, I wouldn’t think much of it, but that’s not true. Isn’t it strange that someone who used to train three times harder than everyone else suddenly disappeared like that?”

“Now that you mention it, that sounds possible.”

The third-generation students listened and started to think.

“Then…”

Finally, someone said the words that shouldn’t be said.

“Does that mean we don’t have to train?”

The third-generation students’ faces became serious.

The truth was, things were different than when they had first started training. At first, they had come to the training area only because they had to, and every day was like hell.

But now, they were actually feeling themselves getting stronger through the training. It was new to them to improve their energy and study sword skills by moving their bodies, but it was working.

Their bodies had become stronger, and their sword skills had become better.

What could be better for a martial artist than to become stronger? Their bodies were tired, but they were starting to enjoy the training.

But when they heard those words, the desires they had been holding back started to appear.

‘We can’t skip it every time, but…’

‘No, maybe just once…’

‘Actually, the training is a bit too much, isn’t it? It might not be so bad to do less…’

Everyone thought the same thing.

‘If only Chung Myung wasn’t here!’

Even as they carried their training equipment and stood in the training area, they kept talking quietly. The early morning training, which they had thought was normal, became annoying as soon as they wanted to skip it.

This was going to happen, because they were all human.

“Look, he’s not here again today.”

“It really seems like something’s wrong with him?”

“Then isn’t it worth trying to skip training now?”

That last comment was the thing that made them decide.

There were three reasons why the third-generation students had followed Chung Myung without complaining until now.

First, they weren’t sure they could beat Chung Myung even if they all attacked him at once. Actually, it was because they couldn’t beat him.

Second, Chung Myung was protected by Un Geom, the master of the White Blossom Hall. If they had a problem they couldn’t solve, they had to ask the leaders for help. But what could they do when the leaders supported Chung Myung?

Third, Chung Myung was surprisingly fair. When it came to training, he pushed people hard, but he didn’t bully anyone or make them do personal favors just because he was in charge.

Because of that, life had become easier in some ways than when Jo Gul had been in charge of keeping the third-generation students in line.

But now, one of those three reasons was gone.

‘Isn’t it worth a try?’

‘He looked like skin and bones, right?’

‘If we all work together, we might be able to win?’

The third-generation students started to feel brave.

Jo Gul sighed as he watched the third-generation students talking and sharing their thoughts.

“Senior Brother.”

“Leave them alone.”

Yoon Jong chuckled.

“They’ll learn the truth soon enough.”

Just then…

Creak!

Everyone turned their heads. The doors of the White Blossom Hall were opening. All the third-generation students except for Chung Myung were gathered here. That meant that the only one left in the White Blossom Hall was Chung Myung.

So, the one coming out of the White Blossom Hall now was!

The doors opened wide.

The third-generation students closed their eyes and looked away.

“Ack! What is it!”

“It’s too bright!”

Those who carefully looked back at the door opened their eyes wide.

Chung Myung walked out. It was definitely Chung Myung.

But the Chung Myung they saw was not the Chung Myung they had seen until yesterday. It was Chung Myung, but…

‘Why is he so bright?’

‘His face is shining!’

‘Did he find some magic plant or something?’

The third-generation students couldn’t believe their eyes.

Just yesterday, he had been so thin that he looked like he could fall over and die at any moment, right? But now, Chung Myung looked healthy and almost shining.

‘Well, that’s it.’

‘It’s all over. I should just train.’

‘I must have been dreaming.’

The third-generation students knew that their dreams were gone.

“Ahem.”

Chung Myung walked to the training area and stood in front of the third-generation students. He spoke in a serious voice.

“My fellow students.”

“…”

“I feel sorry for all of you. I haven’t been able to watch over your training because I haven’t been feeling well. I feel responsible for this.”

“…Ah, no.”

“It’s alright. It happens!”

“We’re fine! We’re really fine!”

Those who felt that something strange was happening shouted desperately. But Chung Myung shook his head with a serious look.

“No. Even though I wasn’t here, you have all been training hard, and I haven’t lived up to your expectations. This is my fault as the instructor.”

The atmosphere was becoming strange.

‘This can’t be happening?’

‘Is that really what that jerk is saying?’

This couldn’t be good…

“However!”

“…”

Chung Myung announced with a determined look.

“We can’t change the past, but we can make up for it! If our training wasn’t enough, then we just need to train more!”

“That jerk…”

“Fry him and kill him…”

“Just kill me. Please!”

Small curses came from everywhere, but Chung Myung didn’t pay attention.

“I hope you will all remember that the future of Mount Hua depends on you and train with all your heart. Now, first of all.”

Chung Myung pointed up with his chin. Everyone looked up.

They saw the tall Lotus Peak.

“Go.”

“First come, first served. The last half to arrive will have to go again.”

“Aren’t you going?”

At that moment, someone ran out like lightning. The third-generation students were surprised to see who was running towards Lotus Peak so fast.

“Senior Disciple?”

It was Yoon Jong.

The senior student among the third-generation students was running towards Lotus Peak as fast as he could. Someone quickly followed him.

It was Jo Gul.

“No, Senior Brother! Where’s your loyalty!”

“Hey, run! Quickly!”

“If you’re late, you have to go again! Run!”

Only then did the other third-generation students realize what was happening and start running towards Lotus Peak in a hurry.

“No! How could he become like that overnight!”

“How should I know?”

“Senior Brother! You said it was worth a try earlier!”

“A smart person knows when to change their mind! Now is not the time!”

“A smart person! You talker!”

“What, you wanna fight?”

“Senior Brother! Senior Brother! We’re falling behind! Run, Senior Brother!”

The third-generation students climbed Lotus Peak as fast as they could. Chung Myung’s training didn’t stop just because time passed. They couldn’t even eat until they finished the task. If they climbed Lotus Peak twice and finished the task, they would have to crawl on their hands and knees that day.

So, everyone was running as hard as they could!

“Even bad luck is against us! Why isn’t it taking that thing away!”

“It looks like bad luck is about to be caught!”

Everyone ran and ran, feeling like they were going to cry. They didn’t know what tricks he had used, but now that Chung Myung had gotten better, there was no hope for them.

That was the moment when the first try at rebelling was stopped before it even started.

Chung Myung chuckled as he watched the third-generation students climbing Lotus Peak with all their might.

“Such cute little things.”

They dared to dream of rebelling.

His senses, which had become stronger, had heard every word of their conversation even inside the White Blossom Hall.

“Well, good.”

The old Chung Myung had been like that too.

People who always listen and obey have their limits. Mount Hua might like those kinds of people, but not Chung Myung. He was naturally rebellious.

But!

There is nothing worse than someone who complains without having the skills to prove themselves. A martial artist needs skill to have the right to speak their mind.

“I’ll give you that skill.”

Chung Myung smiled.

It was important for him to get back his old martial power, but even if he became strong, he couldn’t bring back the glory of Mount Hua from the past. A group is not changed by the power of one person.

Thousands of years of martial history.

Many people have become the best in the world through their own strength. But while their fame might be passed down, their children don’t leave their names on the world.

In the end, for a group to continue its traditions and become well-known, everyone in the group must be strong.

Shaolin is called the greatest group in the world not because it has the best martial artist. Even groups that have the best martial artist can’t beat Shaolin in fights between different schools.

Even Mount Hua at its best was not as strong as Shaolin.

‘It’s not the same this time.’

Chung Myung’s eyes shone.

In the past, he had to follow what his teachers and older students did, but this time, he could rebuild Mount Hua from the beginning in his own way. It would be hard, but the result would be better than in the past.

Of course, the Sect Leader might not like that Mount Hua.

“If you’re not happy, try coming back to life.”

Chung Myung chuckled and shouted.

“The last one to arrive gets no dinner today!”

It was a terrible thing to do.