Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 485

“You want to mine the Ice Essence yourself?”

Seol Cheon-sang looked at Cheong-myeong, surprised and a little worried.

He had wondered why Cheong-myeong wanted to meet so early. Now, Cheong-myeong was suddenly saying strange things.

“Yes.”

Cheong-myeong nodded calmly.

Seol Cheon-sang narrowed his eyes. “Tell me, do you even know how to mine Ice Essence?” he asked.

“I don’t. That’s why I want to go and find out,” Cheong-myeong replied.

Seol Cheon-sang stared at Cheong-myeong, speechless.

This Daoist from the Central Plains knew how to annoy people with every word he spoke. None of Cheong-myeong’s words were rude, but Seol Cheon-sang still felt annoyed.

‘He’s a troublesome person,’ Seol Cheon-sang thought.

Seol Cheon-sang wanted them to stay quiet, return to the Central Plains, and say that everything was fine at the Ice Palace. The more they caused a stir, the more complicated things would become.

However…

Seol Cheon-sang looked at Cheong-myeong with a strange look before speaking quietly. “Ice Essence is, as the name says, the essence where the energy of extreme Yin gathers. It looks like a jewel, but it’s not a jewel or a mineral.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve seen Ice Essence before.”

He had seen Ice Essence when he used it to make the Mixed Origin Pill.

However, Seol Cheon-sang shook his head, as if that wasn’t the answer he wanted.

“No. I don’t think you understand,” he said.

“Pardon?” Cheong-myeong asked.

“The important thing is that Ice Essence is created where the energy of extreme Yin gathers. The place where you find Ice Essence is the coldest place in the Northern Sea.”

He lowered his voice slightly, trying to intimidate Cheong-myeong. “And it’s not just the cold you have to overcome to mine Ice Essence.”

“…”

“Since you are a martial artist, you might think you can easily find the energy of extreme Yin by using your own energy. But if it were that easy, why would the Ice Palace have so much trouble mining Ice Essence?”

Seol Cheon-sang looked at the Mount Hua disciples. “The frozen ground itself gives off extreme Yin energy. It’s impossible to find the essence of extreme Yin with your energy in a place full of extreme Yin. You have to dig and dig, without knowing where it might be. Ice Essence is something you find by luck.”

The Mount Hua disciples stared, mouths open.

They had never thought that mining Ice Essence would be so hard.

“And you still want to mine the Ice Essence yourselves? Even though I offered to give it to you if you waited here?” Seol Cheon-sang asked.

But Cheong-myeong grinned at his warning and nodded.

“Yes.”

“…”

Seol Cheon-sang frowned at the calm answer.

“Why?” he asked.

“It seems like we’d be waiting forever,” Cheong-myeong said, shrugging.

“The Ice Essence output is down, so it’s harder to find, right? That means we don’t know when we’ll find any. So, if we help, wouldn’t we find it faster?”

Cheong-myeong smiled smoothly. “And waiting here, just being treated as guests, doesn’t suit me.”

Seol Cheon-sang listened quietly, then laughed softly.

He looked closely at Cheong-myeong, trying to see his real intentions. Then, he spoke.

“Do as you please,” he said.

“Thank you,” Cheong-myeong replied.

Seol Cheon-sang smiled kindly, answering more quickly than expected.

“As your host, I should really tell you not to go. But it’s not polite to stop a guest from doing what they want.”

“Yes. It’s better for us this way too,” Cheong-myeong said straightforwardly.

Seol Cheon-sang shook his head, watching Cheong-myeong’s reply. He truly was a hard to understand person.

As the conversation ended, Baek Cheon stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

“Thank you for agreeing to our request,” he said.

“It’s nothing. It’s not a big deal,” Seol Cheon-sang replied.

“However, I think it was wrong for us to make such a request. We were pushy because we were impatient, so I hope you understand,” Baek Cheon added.

Seol Cheon-sang looked at Baek Cheon again, impressed by his respectful greeting.

‘He has a good attitude,’ Seol Cheon-sang thought.

Even though he didn’t think much of the Mount Hua disciples, he admired Baek Cheon’s way of acting.

He was humble but still dignified. It wasn’t just his words or politeness, but the attitude of a martial artist who was confident and followed his own path.

On the other hand…

“By the way,” Cheong-myeong said, poking his head out again. Seol Cheon-sang’s brow twitched.

‘They’re definitely from the same sect,’ he thought.

They learned the same things and lived the same lives, so how could they be so different?

And why was *that* one the Mount Hua Divine Dragon, not this one?

Cheong-myeong didn’t notice Seol Cheon-sang’s expression and casually said what he wanted.

“Then, we can buy what we mine, right?” he asked.

“Ice Essence, you mean?” Seol Cheon-sang asked.

“Yes. Since you said you’d give it to us anyway. You also said we probably wouldn’t mine it properly, so it should be fine for us to buy what we mine, right?”

Then, he covered his mouth with his hand and whispered, “It would be even better if you gave it to us for half price, since we’re the ones mining it.”

Seol Cheon-sang laughed in disbelief.

“So be it,” he said.

“He he. Thank you,” Cheong-myeong said, grinning and stepping back.

“I will tell someone to guide you to the Ice Essence mine. You will leave this afternoon, so rest until then,” Seol Cheon-sang said.

“Thank you for your help,” the Mount Hua disciples said, bowing deeply and leaving.

After they left, one of the elders who had been watching carefully stepped forward. “Palace Lord, are you sure it’s okay to send them to the Ice Essence mine?” he asked.

“Leave them be,” Seol Cheon-sang said, waving his hand.

“The mine isn’t a place we want outsiders to see, but it’s better to have those youngsters stuck in the mine than causing trouble all over the Ice Palace.”

“But if they take a lot of Ice Essence…” The elder looked around carefully, then stopped talking.

He wanted to say that Ice Essence was scarce in the Northern Sea right now, but he couldn’t say that in front of others. It would remind them of why Ice Essence was scarce.

Seol Cheon-sang understood what the elder meant. “What can those young pups do to mine Ice Essence?” he asked.

He smiled slightly. “Young people are often reckless. They haven’t experienced the hard parts of life, so everything seems easy. But reality is not so kind.”

He tilted his head. “They are talented young people who have been successful in the Central Plains, so they must not be afraid of anything. But the Northern Sea is a place where only the disciplined survive. It might be good for those youngsters to learn that.”

Seol Cheon-sang smiled, looking up at the ceiling.

He smiled because he didn’t know that one of those youngsters had already experienced too much of the hard parts of life.

“That side?”

“…”

“Well, if it’s fate, it’s fate?”

Songwon stood still, a muscle jumping in his forehead. ‘Why me?’ he thought. Everyone knew the Ice Palace was full of strong fighters. Even here, people knew Songwon was skilled. That’s why he was head of security so young.

So why did he have to guide these kids? He had agreed to help them *inside* the Ice Palace. But going to the Ice Crystal Mine with them? No. ‘What is the Palace Lord thinking?’ Orders were orders. Songwon couldn’t say no. And…

“Looks like you have nothing to do?” Chung Myung said. Songwon stayed silent. *If it wasn’t for this annoying guy,* Songwon thought, *I wouldn’t feel so angry.*

“Let’s go,” Songwon said, ignoring Chung Myung. The Mount Hua disciples watched Songwon ignore Chung Myung and were impressed. It was hard to ignore Chung Myung’s insults. Many people in the Central Plains had tried and failed. But this Ice Palace warrior was doing it!

*Smart,* one disciple thought. *He’s not easy to trick,* thought another. *We can trust him,* a third one decided. Songwon felt the Mount Hua disciples looking at him with bright eyes. He was confused and stepped back a little. *These Central Plains warriors are strange,* he thought. *At least the traders from the Central Plains are normal…*

“This way,” Songwon said. He walked around the back of the Ice Palace, and the Mount Hua disciples followed.

“Where are we going?” Baek Cheon asked. “Aren’t we going to the mine?” another disciple added. “We should go out the front gate then. Why are we going around back?” Baek Cheon asked again.

Chung Myung looked to the side and said, “Sounds like dogs barking.”

“…What did you just call me?” Baek Cheon asked, annoyed.

“No, I mean, listen. It really sounds like dogs barking,” Chung Myung said.

“Huh?” Baek Cheon had been angry, but now he looked confused. He listened. *Woof! Woof!*

“…Huh? It *is* barking,” Baek Cheon said, surprised. Why were dogs barking? They soon found out. *Woof! Woof woof!*

Behind the palace was a wide snowy area. There were many big sleds, each big enough for two or three people. Dogs were tied to the sleds.

“…Dogs?” one disciple asked.

“Dog sleds,” Songwon explained. “When there is a lot of snow, horses and cows can’t move easily. Dog sleds are fastest.”

“Oh…” The disciples looked at the dogs. They were amazing, not like any dogs in the Central Plains. They had thick, shaggy fur and sharp, bright eyes.

“Wow, cool!” Jo Gul said, excited. He went to touch a dog. But *SNAP!* Suddenly, a dog bit Jo Gul’s hand hard. Jo Gul yelled and jumped back, surprised and hurt.

Songwon laughed quietly, seeing Jo Gul’s shocked face. “Be careful,” Songwon said. “They look like dogs, but they have wolf blood in them. They are almost like wolves.”

“…” Jo Gul rubbed his hand. “If you don’t move, they won’t do anything,” Songwon added.

“Stay still?” Chung Myung laughed a little. “They are just dogs.”

“…Pointless bragging…” Songwon muttered. Before Songwon could say anything else, Chung Myung walked towards the growling dogs. The dogs on the sleds stood up and showed their teeth at Chung Myung.

Songwon watched, smiling to himself. *He won’t get hurt badly,* Songwon thought, *but he will be embarrassed.*”

Then, something happened that surprised everyone. *Peek.* Chung Myung’s robe moved a little. A small, white ferret poked its head out. *Screeeech!* It made a loud, sharp noise that didn’t fit its cute face. It even showed its tiny teeth.

“…Heh heh.” Songwon laughed, not believing what he was seeing. But then, something amazing happened. *Yelp! Squeal!* Songwon’s eyes opened wide. The dogs that were just growling at Chung Myung now put their tails between their legs and looked terrified. They started shaking.

Some were so scared they even peed on the snow. “No way… What is that thing…?” Songwon whispered. *Wolf-dogs afraid of a ferret?* *How is that possible?*

“Hey! What’s wrong with you dogs!” “Get yourselves together, you mutts!” The dog drivers were confused and pulled on the dogs’ ropes. But the dogs were still scared, even with their owners touching them.

*Thud.* Then, the ferret, Baek Ah, jumped out of Chung Myung’s robe and landed softly on the ground. He looked at the dogs with a cold stare. The dogs flinched and hid their tails even more, shaking with fear.

“What in the world is wrong with these mutts…?” one driver said. These were not normal dogs. This ferret was so strong it could fight even a huge lake monster. Even if the dogs were real wolves, it would be the same.

*Tap!* Baek Ah seemed to think the dogs were silly. He tapped the ground once with his paw. Then, he turned and stood tall, looking proudly at Chung Myung.

“What?” Chung Myung asked.

“…” But Chung Myung didn’t react much. Baek Ah looked sad, then climbed back up Chung Myung’s leg and went back into his robe.”

Songwon had watched everything. He looked at the Mount Hua disciples, his confusion clear in his eyes. But they looked calm, like nothing strange had happened.

“Are we leaving now?” one disciple asked.

“…Yes, we should go,” Songwon said. He pointed to the sleds, looking annoyed. “Get on.” The Mount Hua disciples got into groups and climbed onto the sleds. Songwon got on the front sled.

“Please take care of us!” Chung Myung said, smiling brightly. Seeing Chung Myung’s smile made Songwon feel even more irritated. *Let’s see how long you keep smiling,* Songwon thought, clenching his jaw. He started the sled.”