Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 464

It wasn’t exactly surprising. They already knew the Demonic Sect was in the Northern Sea. Chung Myung had even seen dead bodies with strange, dark energy.

But hearing about the Demonic Sect from someone who lived here in the Northern Sea felt more real than just hearing stories.

“Did the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea draw in the Demonic Sect?”

“Amitabha. Amitabha. How could this be…?”

Hae Yeon chanted the Buddha’s name repeatedly.

Hae Yeon could not understand it.

“Don’t the people of the Northern Sea know what kind of place the Demonic Sect is? How could they engage in such wicked deeds?”

Hong Yi-myung sighed deeply at those words.

“It’s not as if the Northern Sea wouldn’t know of the Demonic Sect.”

“But how could people do such a thing?”

Chung Myung chuckled at Hae Yeon’s question.

“You are so naive, monk. You are talking nonsense again.”

“…”

“Because they are people, there’s nothing they can’t do. There’s no such thing as something absolutely impossible in this world.”

Even if it meant drawing in the Demonic Sect.

Especially when power was at stake. Using outside groups to fight for power was not rare.

Many rulers had chosen that path throughout history…

‘And most of them paid the price.’

Perhaps the Ice Palace would also end up like that.

“Anyway, so what happened?”

At Chung Myung’s question, Hong Yi-myung sighed softly and continued.

“What would I know in detail? All I know is that outsiders appeared in the Northern Sea that day, and the master of the Ice Palace changed within a few days.”

“Hmm.”

Baek Cheon’s face darkened.

‘This could become more difficult than I thought?’

Since traces of the Demonic Sect were found in the Northern Sea, he had assumed that the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea and the Demonic Sect were somehow intertwined. No matter how powerful the Demonic Sect was, they couldn’t ignore the influence of the Ice Palace in the Northern Sea.

But if Hong Yi-myung’s words were true, the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea and the Demonic Sect might be in league with each other, even more so than he had imagined.

The faces of the Mount Hua disciples all hardened. Baek Cheon subtly glanced at Chung Myung’s expression.

But Chung Myung, surprisingly, was sparkling with interest.

“So, no one knows the internal affairs of the Ice Palace right now.”

“Maybe ‘no one’ is too strong, but someone simple like me cannot know.”

Chung Myung nodded.

In fact, even if a major upheaval occurred in the imperial palace, ordinary people often remained unaware for years.

There was no way Hong Yi-myung, who lived in a remote part of the Northern Sea, would know the details of the Ice Palace’s internal affairs.

“Just…”

Hong Yi-myung frowned, his face becoming even more worried. “The feeling here in the Northern Sea has been really bad since that event. I’ve heard whispers, you know, about people just vanishing. And trading with the Central Plains? Completely stopped. Because of that, many people are starving. We can’t get any grain.”

“Hmm.”

“And after a few people who tried to trade with the Central Plains against the Ice Palace’s orders were executed as an example, no one dares to face the Central Plains people anymore.”

“Huh? Aren’t we people from the Central Plains too?”

Chung Myung asked with wide eyes, and Hong Yi-myung smiled bitterly.

“As I said, this place is quite remote even within the Northern Sea. Surely the Ice Palace wouldn’t bother with someone like me, stuck out in the remote corners?”

“I suppose.”

Chung Myung scratched his cheek and asked again.

“So, what happened to the previous Palace Lord?”

“How would I know that?”

“Hmm…”

“However, considering that several years have passed since the bloodbath, and no word has leaked out…”

“I see.”

Chung Myung could easily guess the words that Hong Yi-myung couldn’t bring himself to say. Chung Myung’s eyes, lost in thought for a moment, turned cold.

‘The Demonic Sect, a rebellion, and the Palace Lord has changed.’

It was a plausible story to hear.

The Demonic Sect, trying to evade the eyes of the Central Plains, colludes with that Seolcheon Sang or whatever his name is, seizes the Ice Palace, and establishes a new base in the Northern Sea.

But…

“Something’s odd.”

“Huh? What is it?”

At Baek Cheon’s question, Chung Myung answered in a low voice.

“No, it’s nothing.”

This was a bit different from the Demonic Sect’s methods that Chung Myung knew. Of course, Chung Myung didn’t know how the Demonic Sect without the Heavenly Demon would operate, so the word ‘odd’ might be meaningless…

‘Still, something feels wrong.’

In fact, it was useless to just sit here worrying, and it didn’t matter anyway.

The conclusion would be reached once they saw it with their own eyes.

As Chung Myung closed his mouth, Baek Cheon led the conversation.

“So, it seems it’s true that the Ice Palace is hostile to people from the Central Plains.”

“That’s right. You’ll have a hard time being welcomed if you go further inland. You might even experience something worse. I don’t know what business you have at the Ice Palace, but if it’s not urgent, you’d better turn back.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for now.”

Hong Yi-myung said bitterly, “…It seems you have no intention of turning back at all.”

Baek Cheon scratched the back of his head, looking slightly awkward.

“We didn’t come here for leisure either.”

“Then prepare yourselves well before you leave. It would be best to stay here tonight.”

“Thank you for the offer, but we can’t impose on you that much.”

As Baek Cheon politely declined, a strange light flickered in Hong Yi-myung’s eyes.

“You don’t know what you’re saying. The nights in the Northern Sea are several times harsher than the days. Even those who have lived in the Northern Sea their whole lives don’t leave their homes carelessly at night. It’s best to experience as few nights in the Northern Sea as possible.”

“Is, is that so?”

Hong Yi-myung nodded emphatically.

“Even if you are very strong, the cold wind at dawn can steal your body heat. You can freeze to death very quickly. I’ll give you the tent I used to use. You’ll need to fix it up a bit, so stay here until tomorrow.”

“…Then, I’ll take you up on your offer and stay a little longer.”

As Baek Cheon slowly nodded, Jo Gul asked quietly in his ear.

“Are you sure, Senior Brother?”

“It’s better to follow the words of a local. We should try to get rid of any risks before we leave, don’t you think?”

At those words, everyone eventually nodded silently. Once Baek Cheon decided, it was right to follow.

But Chung Myung was pouting, looking quite dissatisfied.

At that moment, Hong Yi-myung suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly got up.

“Forgive my forgetfulness. Wait a moment. I’ll bring out the meal.”

Baek Cheon said with a grateful expression.

“I feel like we’re imposing too much…”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not free, you know. Why are you acting so polite?”

Huh?

Are you going to charge us?

This guy is scary.

Baek Cheon’s smiling lips awkwardly stiffened.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a slow creak. The wooden door opened slowly, and a gust of cold wind blew in fiercely.

“Uwak!”

“Ack! It’s cold!”

Everyone shrank back from the cold and looked at the door with wary eyes. But the one who appeared as the door opened was, surprisingly, a small child.

“Are you back?”

“Yes, Father! But… I couldn’t get as much as I thought.”

The child, wrapped tightly in fur clothes, barely showing their face, waddled inside and plopped the sack they had been carrying on their shoulder down beside them.

“Who is this child?”

“My son.”

The skin visible under the fur hat was extremely white.

“…Your son?”

“That’s right.”

“Your son?”

“…Is there a problem?”

Hong Yimyung looked at Baek Cheon, then at Chung Myung. He tilted his head slightly. “You two don’t look alike at all,” he said kindly. “Are you sure you didn’t… perhaps find him somewhere along the road?” He chuckled softly.

The only thing father and son shared was pale skin. Hong Yimyung had a large nose, light brown hair, and a face with sharp angles. His son, standing beside him, was round-faced and looked like any cheerful child you might see in the Central Plains. They are from the Central Plains, referring to the fertile and well-known lands to the south.

*He is cute,* Hong Yimyung thought to himself, smiling at his son.

“Father, who are they?” Hong Jinbo asked, pointing at Baek Cheon and the others. “And who are these people with him?”

“These gentlemen are guests from the Central Plains,” Hong Yimyung explained.

“The Central Plains?” Hong Jinbo’s eyes widened with curiosity, like bright stars suddenly appearing. “Is that the warm, southern country I’ve heard about?”

Mount Hua was located in Shaanxi, which was relatively northern within the Central Plains, but by the standards of the Northern Sea, even that would be a warm southern country. Baek Cheon and the other Mount Hua disciples were once again reminded that everything in the world was relative.

“What is the Central Plains like?”

“Jinbo! Be polite and greet our guests.”

“Ah!”

At Hong Yimyung’s reminder, the child quickly bowed his head.

“Hello. My name is Hong Jinbo.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

Baek Cheon received Hong Jinbo’s greeting on behalf of the group.

“I must prepare a meal for our guests now, so you go and get ready as well.”

“Yes, Father!”

At Hong Jinbo’s spirited reply, the Mount Hua disciples each wore a pleased smile.

‘How nice.’

‘What a loving father and son. Though they don’t look alike at all.’

But unlike those who simply watched with warm smiles, a strange light flickered in Chung Myung’s eyes as he looked at Hong Jinbo.

‘Jinbo, is it…’

“There was no need to go to such lengths…”

“I was worried, so don’t mention it.”

Baek Cheon stared blankly at the cart before scratching his head.

They had slept warmly at Hong Yimyung’s house all night. It was the first time in a while that they had slept without shivering from the cold, and they felt completely refreshed.

But Hong Yimyung didn’t stop there; he even covered their cart with a large tent.

“I thought it would be better to sleep in the cargo hold than to put up a makeshift tent. It will be much better if you can just avoid the wind.”

“I don’t know how to thank you enough.”

Baek Cheon thanked him again and again, looking a little embarrassed.

He had met many people while traveling here and there in the Central Plains, but this was the first time he had met someone who gave so freely without expecting anything in return.

Hong Yimyung smiled gently at the overwhelmed Baek Cheon.

“The Northern Sea is a hard place. The land is bare, and the wind never stops.”

Yoon Jong nodded his head vigorously upon hearing those words.

“I have learned a great deal.”

“You’re too kind! Haha.”

Their attire had also changed significantly from when they first arrived.

Instead of the sheepskin clothes and leather they wore when they first came to the Northern Sea, they now wore animal fur that they had purchased from Hong Yimyung. The fur clothing that covered even their heads felt awkward, but it was definitely much more bearable than before, as the wind no longer entered their ears and heads.

“Be careful. The Northern Sea is a much more frightening place than you think.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Baek Cheon expressed his gratitude with a deep bow.

“But where did Chung Myung go again?”

“Huh? He was just here…”

It was at that moment.

“Aaargh, it’s cold…”

The door burst open, and a large, round figure appeared from inside.

The Mount Hua disciples, upon seeing the sight, were speechless and gaped.

Chung Myung, who had become almost a single lump from wearing so many layers of clothing, waddled out the door.

Thwack!

“Huh?”

No, he tried to. His body, puffed up from the clothes, failed to pass through the small door and became stuck, resulting in frustration.

“W-Why is this happening!”

He flailed his short legs forward, but once his body was stuck, it didn’t seem to come out easily.

“Ugh! Sahyung! Pull me out!”

Baek Cheon wanted to disappear. Why did Chung Myung always do things like this in front of kind people?

Baek Cheon, who had been watching the scene, slowly lowered his head.

‘How embarrassing.’

‘Please, Chung Myung.’

At that moment, Yu Yiseol sighed deeply and strode towards the door. She grabbed Chung Myung’s head and pulled him out.

Finally, with a *thump*, Chung Myung emerged from the door and steadied his stubby limbs before climbing onto the cart with the tent.

“Ugh. It’s still cold.”

“What are you doing? Why aren’t we leaving?”

Baek Cheon looked weakly at Hong Yimyung and said in a weary voice.

“I apologize.”

“He’s quite a unique fellow. You must have a lot of hardship.”

“Yes.”

If it were just a lot of hardship, I wouldn’t say anything.

In any case, they loaded the various items that Hong Yimyung had provided onto the cart with Chung Myung. Then, they stood spiritedly in front of the cart.

“Then, we will be on our way now.”

“Just follow the lake. It’s a long journey, so don’t exhaust yourselves too much. The cold of the Northern Sea tends to torment those who are weary.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

At that moment, a disgruntled voice came from inside the cart.

“Ah, let’s go!”

“That damn bastard, really!”

“I’m going to set the cart on fire!”

Hong Jinbo watched the Mount Hua disciples bickering and crowding behind the cart, and muttered quietly to his father.

“They’re really strange people. Are all people from the Central Plains like that?”

“Not all of them are.”

Hong Yimyung made an excuse for the honor of the Central Plains people who were working hard in the distance.

“Thank you. I will stop by on the way back…”

It was at that moment, as he was about to say his final farewell.

“Baek Cheon Siju.”

Hae Yeon, who had been standing silently in front of the cart, abruptly cut off Baek Cheon and called out to him. His face looked more urgent than ever, and Baek Cheon asked with a slight tension.

“What is it? Monk?”

“Someone is approaching from the front at a rapid pace.”

“Hmm?”

Baek Cheon narrowed his eyes and looked ahead.

Indeed.

Faint figures could be seen through the snowstorm. The figures, which appeared as small dots, rapidly increased in size and quickly approached them. It was a terrifying speed.

“Who is it?”

“Judging by the speed, they are definitely not civilians.”

“Prepare for anything, just in case!”

“Yes!”

As Baek Cheon’s command fell, everyone answered quickly and gathered their energy. As silence fell momentarily, the fierce wind howled.

The smiles disappeared from their faces. Baek Cheon’s hand tightened on his sword. The only sound was the howling wind, which now seemed colder and sharper.

Tension began to spread in an instant.