Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 472

Jo Gul squinted at the frozen lake. The ice stretched out before them, a vast white sheet under the cold, grey sky. A bitter wind whipped across the surface, making Jo Gul shiver.

“What on earth is he doing now?” Jo Gul muttered, his breath clouding in the frigid air.

“How should I know?” Baek Cheon replied, his voice tight with impatience.

“I told him to get us some fish! Why is he acting so strange?” Jo Gul pointed towards Chung Myung.

Yoon Jong, who had been watching quietly, spoke calmly. “He *is* catching them.”

“……” Jo Gul stared, even more confused.

Chung Myung sat on a chair, holding a fishing rod. It was much bigger and stronger than a normal one, with a thick rope tied to the end that went down into the water.

“What fish would even bite that thing?” Jo Gul wondered.

“If the lake is this big, there might be one crazy fish in there. Like Chung Myung.”

“…You need to say something that makes sense,” Baek Cheon said.

Baek Cheon sighed.

“Still, he’s seen fishing before, so he’s copying it in a way that looks real.”

It looked like a fishing rod and line, right?

But Jo Gul didn’t agree. “Looks real? Sasuk, you’re being too nice to Chung Myung these days! If that looks real, then I look like Sasuk.”

Yoon Jong, who had been listening, looked at Jo Gul doubtfully. “Geol-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Your comparison is too much. It doesn’t make sense.”

“…”

“Use something that fits better.”

Jo Gul looked a little sad, but Yoon Jong didn’t comfort him.

“But what is he really doing?”

“Ugh. Let’s go see,” Baek Cheon said.

Baek Cheon walked quickly towards Chung Myung. Usually, he would ignore Chung Myung as much as possible, but this was too important. He went up to Chung Myung, who was humming.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Huh?”

“What are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m fishing.”

“Fishing?”

“You told me to catch fish, didn’t you?”

Baek Cheon frowned at Chung Myung’s casual answer.

“Hey! We’re in a hurry! What is this? Do you think you can catch fish like that!”

“Of course, I can. It’s fishing.”

“Even if they are fish, would they bite that thing?”

“Tsk tsk tsk tsk.”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue as Baek Cheon got frustrated. He shook his head and spoke like an old man. “Hey, kid, hey kid. If you can’t see the big picture, how will you survive?”

“…”

“Fishing is not something you rush. You have to wait, like you’re fishing for time itself. What you’re meant to catch will come.”

“That doesn’t make any sense…!”

Just then, Chung Myung’s fishing rod bent sharply.

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened as he saw the thick branch bending. “Wow! It’s a big one! I told you!”

Baek Cheon watched Chung Myung gripping the fishing rod, his face nervous. “…It’s actually catching something? With that thing?”

This was too much!

Even if they were fish, this was unbelievable!

“Eeeh-cha!”

Chung Myung stood with his legs apart, putting all his strength into pulling up the fishing rod.

The fishing rod was bending so much, it had to be a big catch.

‘Did he catch a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp?’ Baek Cheon wondered. A carp that has lived for ten thousand years and become a house-sized spirit is called a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp. Baek Cheon would have said that it didn’t exist, but he had seen a living Imoogi, so anything was possible.

And this guy might actually catch a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp…

Just then…

“Eura-cha!”

As Chung Myung pulled, the water rippled and bubbles rose.

Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gul watched the water, holding their breath.

Soon…

Blop.

“…Huh?”

Something round popped out of the water, like the sun rising from the sea.

“Eh?”

“Uh?”

They stared at the round, wet, and shiny thing.

“An octopus?!”

“Why an octopus in a place that isn’t the sea?”

“…Or is it a spirit beast?”

Before they could figure it out, Chung Myung pulled the fishing rod with all his might.

“Eeeh-cha!”

Then, they opened their mouths as wide as they could.

“Puaaaah!”

A familiar figure was hanging at the end of the line.

A round head and a yellow robe…

“H-Hae Yeon Monk!”

“Why is Hae Yeon Monk coming out of there…?”

“Is that crazy guy serious?”

Hae Yeon was holding the fishing line with one hand, pulling himself up, and holding a large net full of fish with the other.

Plop!

He fell onto the ice, holding the net, his body shaking. “C-Cold…” His lips and body were blue. The others panicked and rushed to help.

“Blankets! Quick, blankets!”

“Aaaah! Monk, are you alright!”

They grabbed blankets from the cart and ran to Hae Yeon. But Chung Myung shouted, “What are you doing with those blankets! Bring them here!”

“Wh-What are you going to do?”

“I told you to bring them so the fish don’t freeze!”

“Hey, you crazy guy! A person is freezing to death! Are the fish more important?”

“It’s okay. He won’t die.”

Chung Myung grabbed the blankets and wrapped the net. He put the net on the fur pelt on the cart and wrapped it up tightly. “Good!” Chung Myung looked at the fish with a happy expression.

“M-Monk! Stay with us!”

“B-Baek Cheon, Benefactor…”

“Yes! Monk.”

“I saw… I saw…”

“What?”

Hae Yeon smiled weakly, his face pale. He whispered, “The Goddess of Mercy is calling me…”

“Aaaah! Monk! Don’t die!”

“You’ll die if you follow her! Monk!”

They shook Hae Yeon, who was losing consciousness.

“Why was the Monk in there?”

Hae Yeon shivered and said, “T-To save people…”

“That demonic guy!”

“That devilish guy!”

They understood what had happened and turned to Chung Myung, angry. But Chung Myung looked back casually. “What’s the big deal? It’s just this much.”

“Hey, you fiend! Are you even human?”

“Ahem!”

Chung Myung interrupted. “A Buddhist should risk his life to save people! If you risk your life to save people dying from disease, what could be better! This is the true path of a Buddhist!”

“If only you couldn’t talk!”

“Enough.”

Chung Myung pointed to the cart. “Don’t let the fish freeze. Take them to the village quickly.”

“Ugh.”

They nodded and ran to the cart, looking unhappy. Saving the villagers was the priority.

As they grabbed the cart, Hae Yeon struggled to his feet and tried to follow. Chung Myung looked confused. “Where are you going?”

“Yes. I should help too.”

“Not you.”

“Pardon?”

Chung Myung pointed to the hole in the ice with his chin.

“Is this all we caught? It won’t be enough. We’ll need to fish more.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you catch them. Just hold the rope tight, and you’ll be fine. It all depends on you.”

“…”

“Now, get in.”

“…”

Perhaps…

Hye-yeon was starting to think that calling Chung Myung a devil was too kind. Devils, Hye-yeon thought, might be more predictable than this man.

Steam rose in the room.

The heat warmed his wet body, making steam rise from his clothes. The vapor floated around his head like a bright cloud.

“In the end…”

“May you find peace, Monk. We won’t forget you.”

“Amitabha. Amitabha…”

“…I’m not dead, everyone,”

Hye-yeon stared at the Mount Hua disciples, looking doubtful.

Sometimes, he couldn’t tell if these people were friends or enemies.

“It’s a wonder you’re still alive!”

“Why on earth would you do that? Saving people is important, but that was reckless!”

Baek Cheon, who had been listening, nodded in agreement.

“You mustn’t let Chung Myung talk you into these things. This isn’t the first time, is it?”

Hye-yeon spoke softly, looking a little sad.

“…I didn’t want to go in…”

“You didn’t?”

“…But Chung Myung said he’d use Baek-ah as bait to catch a really big fish, so I…”

Baek Cheon and the others stared, their mouths slightly open. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

One of the disciples muttered, “Is Chung Myung even human?”

Another shook his head. “How did such a troublemaker end up in our Mount Hua sect?”

A third disciple sighed, looking up at the ceiling. “Oh, heavens above!”

“Amitabha…. Still, it’s fortunate that it helped. How could I refuse to throw myself into saving lives?”

The Mount Hua disciples wiped their eyes.

There was a living Buddha right here, of all places.

But the fact that this living Buddha was next to a devil was the source of all their troubles.

Hye-yeon wiped the water from his head and asked.

“So, is there any improvement?”

“We don’t know yet.”

Baek Cheon frowned slightly and shook his head.

Tang Soso was feeding the patients the fish they had caught.

She mashed the raw fish into a porridge for those who were unconscious and gave thin slices to those who were awake. She sliced the meat as thinly as possible to make it easier to digest.

Although they had just started eating the raw fish, it would take time to see if it worked.

“Ugh. I’d feel better if I could at least help with the feeding.”

He wanted to help, but the villagers were so wary of outsiders that he couldn’t get close to them.

He had to listen to Tang Soso, who said that staying still and not causing trouble was the best way to help.

“Soso is suffering so much…”

“Indeed.”

Everyone sighed together.

Just then, the door opened, and Tang Soso came in. Dark circles like bruises shadowed her eyes, making them look deep-set and tired. She moved slowly, as if each step was heavy.

“Soso!”

“Are you alright?”

Tang Soso nodded slowly.

“Yes. I’m fine, Martial Uncle.”

“How are the patients?”

“I’ve fed them all for now. If it really is a disease that makes people withdraw, they’ll get better soon. That kind of disease usually responds quickly to treatment.”

“Is that so?”

Baek Cheon looked a little worried.

That meant that if she was wrong, they would know very soon.

‘I’m reaching my limit…’

No matter how skilled Tang Soso was, she couldn’t treat a disease without knowing what caused it. Plus, she had to treat so many people alone.

But Baek Cheon hid his feelings and said,

“Alright. Get some rest for now.”

“I came to get something. Just a little more…”

Just then, Chung Myung, who had been crouching in front of the brazier like a dead man, suddenly stood up and quickly walked over to her.

“Martial Brother?”

He grabbed Tang Soso’s hand and held it up in front of his eyes. She stared at him, looking confused.

“Tsk.”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue and frowned as he looked at Tang Soso’s fingertips.

They were tinged with red. And if you looked closer, there was a hint of dark blue in the redness.

It was an early sign of frostbite.

“Didn’t you know?”

“…”

“You’re going around using needles without gloves. Well done.”

“…”

Chung Myung gently grabbed Tang Soso’s wrist and began to fill it with energy.

“Ah…”

Tang Soso flinched as a warm yet cool feeling flowed through her wrist. Chung Myung’s bright energy completely covered her hand, circled it several times, and then returned to him.

“Rest.”

“…”

“If the patients don’t improve, we’ll have to start all over again. You’re not going to say you’re too tired to do it then, are you?”

“Of course not.”

Tang Soso looked straight at Chung Myung with determined eyes. Chung Myung nodded.

“Alright. Then rest. That’s right.”

“…”

Tang Soso didn’t argue and quietly went to the brazier.

As soon as she covered herself with the blanket Chung Myung had brought and laid her head on the floor, she fell asleep instantly. It was almost as if she had fainted.

“…Should we move her to a bed…”

“Leave her.”

Chung Myung stopped Baek Cheon.

“It’s better for her to get even a little more sleep.”

Chung Myung, having given up his spot in front of the brazier, found a place to sit with his back against the wall. Then, he took Baek-ah, who had been quietly in his arms, and placed him on the floor.

“Go over there and cover her.”

Baek-ah’s black eyes gleamed, and he quickly nodded a couple of times before running to Tang Soso and sitting on her hand.

“…So, what should we do now?”

“What else?”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“We have to wait. We should see some improvement by tomorrow morning.”

“Hmm.”

“So, everyone should get some sleep. If there’s no improvement, tomorrow will be hell.”

At those words, everyone nodded and found a place to lie down. Soon, the sound of regular breathing could be heard from all directions. They were all exhausted.

Chung Myung quietly watched them and chuckled to himself.

It was a truly difficult problem.

If he thought about the safety of Mount Hua, he couldn’t waste time here.

But if he thought about the duty of Mount Hua, he couldn’t leave the villagers behind.

‘It’s not easy, Martial Brother.’

Cheong Mun must have felt like this all the time.

Even the smallest things that seemed insignificant to Chung Myung, he would worry about. Because one of his choices could change the future of Mount Hua.

Chung Myung quietly closed his eyes, thinking once again about how great Cheong Mun was as a sect leader.

“Umm…”

The Mount Hua disciples, who had been sleeping like the dead, opened their eyes and raised their heads.

“…Is it morning?”

“Where’s Soso?”

“She’s still sleeping.”

The Mount Hua disciples checked on Tang Soso and then looked out the window. The blizzard from the night before had stopped, and bright sunlight streamed through the cracks.

“How are the patients…”

Just then…

Bang!

The door was thrown open, and people with pale faces rushed inside.

“You, you have to come and see!”

It was an urgent voice. In that instant, the Mount Hua disciples tensed.