Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 492

“This is ridiculous.”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth.

In both his past and present lives, those damned Demonic Sect people were never helpful.

No, it would be a relief if they were merely unhelpful.

“Ugh…”

He groaned from deep within, scratching his head roughly.

At the same time, anger flashed in Chung Myung’s eyes.

“Maybe I should just……”

Chung Myung’s gaze slowly moved towards the Ice Jade in his sleeve.

The Demonic Sect wanted the Ice Jade to revive the Heavenly Demon. Of course, Chung Myung didn’t believe those lunatics could actually resurrect the Heavenly Demon, but there was always a chance, however slim.

“Should I just smash them all?”

“What? The Ice Jades?!”

The Mount Hua disciples stared, eyes wide open and mouths dropped.

“Do you know how much we struggled to get these!”

“Our suffering now isn’t the problem! Damn it!”

“Wh-what about the Mixed Origin Pills? What about our promise to the Green Forest?”

“The Mixed Origin Pills and whatever else…”

Chung Myung clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

Of course, the promise to the Green Forest King was important. But compared to the terrible disaster of the Heavenly Demon’s revival, it was nothing.

The Green Forest wouldn’t let us betray them easily, but fighting the Green Forest was a hundred… no, a thousand times better than fighting the Heavenly Demon.

However.

“Ugh. Easier said than done.”

What if the Demonic Sect found out that all the Ice Jades were gone, making it impossible to revive the Heavenly Demon?

‘They’d go completely mad.’

It would be ideal if they lost their will, became despondent, and lost their spirit, but were they the type to do that? They would undoubtedly roll their eyes back and do everything they could to resist.

If those guys become extremely angry and violent, everything would be destroyed in the Northern Sea.

Because there wasn’t a single sane guy among the Demonic Sect.

Therefore, this was a method to consider only as a last resort.

Then what was the remaining option…

“In the end, it means we have to fight…”

Chung Myung groaned and tore at his hair.

“Those damned Demonic Sect people, they’re causing trouble again. Again! Even with the support of the Central Plains, we can’t handle the Demonic Sect. How are we supposed to fight them on our own!”

Not only that, but he was also rolling on the ground as if he was about to foam at the mouth.

“Aaaargh! Nothing ever goes right!”

At his wailing, the Mount Hua disciples sighed deeply.

Yoon Jong quietly asked Baek Cheon.

“Shouldn’t we stop him?”

“Him?”

“……”

“How?”

Yoon Jong glanced at the prisoners behind them and whispered again.

“……There are many eyes watching.”

“It seems there weren’t many eyes watching at the martial arts competition.”

“……”

Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung with a face that had given up on many things.

‘It’s fine if you’re struggling, just please come back to your senses after you’re done. I won’t ask for much.’

In fact, it was an understandable situation.

Even though Chung Myung’s nerves were very strong, the Demonic Sect was right next to him, eyes wide and bloodshot, and the thing they were looking for was in his sleeve. It would be stranger if he was acting normally.

‘First, I need to calm him down a bit…’

But just as Baek Cheon was about to speak, Chung Myung jumped up.

Startled, Baek Cheon quickly looked at his face.

It was an expression hard to describe.

Anger and annoyance, rage and resentment.

All those emotions seemed to mix together, and Chung Myung’s lips began to twitch.

“……Isn’t it?”

His eyes soon began to dart around anxiously.

“Damn it, when I think about it, has anything ever gone my way? If a mountain blocks me, I’ll grind it down, and if a river blocks me, I’ll twist it!”

At those energetic words, Baek Cheon smiled happily.

‘Good heavens. That’s a Taoist. That’s a Taoist.’

Chung Myung.

Do you even know what Wu Wei Zi Ran (無爲自然) means?

If the Supreme Old Lord saw you, he would be very shocked and upset.

But Chung Myung’s muttering continued.

“Right… You guys are going to revive here, is that what you’re saying?”

Not on my watch, you bastards!

His eyes began to blaze with fury.

“We’re both out of luck. Those Demonic Sect people will bitterly regret catching my eye!”

Seeing Chung Myung very angry, Yoon Jong whispered again.

“Sasuk. The situation seems to be getting worse?”

“Yoon Jong.”

“Yes.”

“Turning your head is Nirvana.”

“……What does that mean?”

“It means giving up is comfortable.”

“……Baek Cheon, that’s not how that saying is used……”

Hae Yeon, who was listening, quietly interjected, but no one paid much attention.

At that moment, Chung Myung turned his head sharply and looked at Yeo Sahon, the former First Elder of the Ice Palace.

“Hey you!”

“Yes?”

At the sudden call, Yeo Sahon flinched and answered.

“You’ve roughly understood what’s happening, right?”

Yeo Sahon quickly nodded. In fact, he had no idea what was going on, but judging from that strong anger, he felt he had to answer.

“Originally, I was just going to get some information and leave, but the situation has changed.”

“……What do you mean by that?”

“So, the Demonic Sect people weren’t forced to leave the Central Plains and stuck here, but came here with a purpose. The purpose of reviving the Heavenly Demon!”

“……”

“Whether they succeed or fail, the Northern Sea will be destroyed. If they succeed, it’s obviously over, and if they fail, those people will go crazy.”

“No, how can you be sure…”

“The Demonic Sect is always like that.”

I know because I’ve been through it, you old man! Me!

Chung Myung glared fiercely.

“Mister!”

“……Yes?”

Yeo Sahon.

He was definitely an important person, with an important past and lots of experience. But now, he kept feeling like he was getting caught up in this young Taoist from Mount Hua.

“If we get out of here, can we find the Ice Palace again?”

“Di-did you say find the Ice Palace again?”

“Yes.”

Yeo Sahon looked at Chung Myung with a confused expression.

“How can we, who have lost our inner strength, find the Ice Palace again? We are under the Demonic Sect’s Geumje…”

“I can solve that for you.”

“……Yes?”

“That Geumje, I can undo it for you.”

Yeo Sahon’s eyes widened greatly.

“Wh-what did you say…”

“Ah, can’t you hear me clearly! I said I can undo that Geumje for you. I can help you get your power back.”

“How, how can you…”

“What do you mean, how?”

The person who knew the most about Demonic Arts in the world was naturally the Demonic Sect members. But aside from them, the person with the highest understanding of Demonic Arts was none other than Chung Myung.

Even when the Demonic Sect was at its strongest, no one knew more about Demonic Arts than him, except for Cheongjin. So why even mention it now?

And more than anything…

‘Why is it harder now?’

It must be because my skills are not as high as before!

Come to think of it, many things had changed for Chung Myung since he returned. But at least he didn’t say things like this out loud anymore.

Chung Myung felt a surge of frustration. *If I were the Plum Blossom Sword Saint of old,* he thought, *I would have shouted right in their faces, ‘You’re too weak to solve even this, you simpletons!’*

Yeo Sa-hon’s voice was full of doubt. “Is… is that truly possible?”

Chung Myung raised an eyebrow, a hint of impatience in his voice. “Have you been living in a dream? Do I seem like someone who makes things up?” He paused, watching Yeo Sa-hon’s hesitant silence. “Well? Why aren’t you answering?”

The Mount Hua disciples exchanged glances, nodding slightly as they watched Yeo Sa-hon struggle for words.

Just then, Chung Myung clapped his hands together, the sound sharp and decisive in the tense air.

“Enough with the chatter,” he said.

And he asked again in a serious voice, “Tell me. If we can find my inner strength and get out of here, can we gather the former Palace Lord’s forces and take on the Ice Palace?”

A deep line appeared between Yeo Sa-hon’s eyebrows, and his shoulders slumped slightly. Worry clouded his eyes.

“That won’t be easy,” Yeo Sa-hon said.

“Why? I heard the current Palace Lord has lost a lot of public support due to his tyranny. Aren’t there many who support us?” Chung Myung asked.

Yeo Sa-hon sighed deeply, the sound echoing in the cold, stone chamber.

“That’s true. But even so, neither the warriors of the Ice Palace nor the people of the Northern Sea will support us,” he explained.

“Why?” Chung Myung questioned.

“Because we are not of the Snow Clan,” Yeo Sa-hon replied.

Chung Myung frowned slightly and asked again, “The Snow Clan?”

“Yes. The leader of the Northern Sea has always been from the Snow Clan. Those who are not of the Snow Clan cannot gain the support of the Northern Sea people,” Yeo Sa-hon confirmed.

Chung Myung was shocked. His mouth dropped open.

“No, what on earth is that…” he muttered.

The disciples of Mount Hua couldn’t help but stiffen their faces as well.

“It really is a kingdom,” one said.

“I know, right? It doesn’t seem like a sect,” another added.

Even in families, only a few people become the head.

“Then, isn’t there another suitable Snow Clan member?” Baek Cheon asked.

Yeo Sa-hon shook his head.

“The Snow Clan has always had few descendants. The only one who carries on the Snow Clan’s lineage in the Northern Sea now is Seol Cheon-sang,” he explained.

“Ugh,” Chung Myung groaned.

Chung Myung scratched his head roughly, thinking that things were going terribly wrong.

“No, is there really no other way?” he asked.

If there had been another way, she would have tried it long ago. Yeo Sa-hon sighed deeply, as if he himself was frustrated.

“That’s why I told you that we need to borrow the power of the Central Plains. Due to the nature of the Northern Sea, nothing can be done without the blood of the Snow Clan. If there were even a son of the former Palace Lord who escaped during the disaster…”

At that moment, Jo Gul opened his mouth.

“The son of the former Palace Lord?” he asked.

“That’s right,” Yeo Sa-hon confirmed.

The disciples of Mount Hua looked at each other.

“That… are you talking about that Seol So-baek guy?” one asked.

“I think so?” another replied.

Yeo Sa-hon’s head shot up. He widened his eyes as if they would tear, and asked in a trembling voice, “H-How do you know that…?”

“We met him,” Chung Myung answered nonchalantly.

“He was with someone named Han Yi-myung,” Chung Myung added.

“H-Han, the Chief Manager?” Yeo Sa-hon asked, all sorts of emotions swirling on his face as he gaped.

Although his body was trapped here, how much effort had he put into hearing their news?

But he hadn’t been able to confirm their safety for years. And now, to hear the news of Seol So-baek, whom he had been so eagerly waiting for, from these people…

He asked in a hurried voice, “W-Where are they now?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know where they went after that,” Chung Myung replied indifferently.

The hope that had risen on Yeo Sa-hon’s face rapidly faded.

“Ah… If only we knew their whereabouts, the situation might change…” he lamented.

“Really?” Chung Myung asked.

“Yes. Young Master Seol is the direct heir of the Snow Clan. Those who follow the former Palace Lord will not hesitate to support him. If we can find Young Master Seol’s whereabouts… the situation could change,” Yeo Sa-hon explained.

“Hee-eum,” Chung Myung said, curling up the corners of his lips.

“So, if we find that brat Seol So-baek, we can gather the external forces and the former Palace Lord faction within the Ice Palace?” he confirmed.

“That’s right. But how can we find him in this vast Northern Sea?” Yeo Sa-hon asked.

Chung Myung smiled contentedly.

“I’ve been feeding a lazy good-for-nothing, and now it’s time for him to be useful!” Chung Myung declared.

“Pardon?” Yeo Sa-hon asked, confused.

Chung Myung tapped his chest.

“Hey, come out,” he called.

“Kieeik?”

Then, a small ball of white fur peeked out from inside his clothes. His black eyes, round and shiny as polished stones, blinked sleepily.

Chung Myung grabbed Baek Ah’s waist and pulled him out.

“You remember that brat, right?” he asked.

Baek Ah, held in Chung Myung’s hand, nodded repeatedly.

“Can you find him?” Chung Myung asked.

“I told you to remember the scent. Can you find him?” Chung Myung pressed.

Large beads of sweat popped out on Baek Ah’s forehead, like tiny raindrops on white fur.

Baek Cheon whispered to Jo Gul as he looked at the weasel.

“Geol, do animals usually sweat?” he asked.

“Well, I don’t think dogs do. I wonder about weasels…” Jo Gul replied.

“I guess they do. Maybe it’s because he’s a spirit beast,” Baek Cheon concluded.

Chung Myung asked again, “Why? Can’t you find him?”

“Kiee!”

If Baek Ah could talk, Chung Myung was sure he’d be saying, *Are you completely mad? The whole Northern Sea? Just with a smell? I’m a weasel, not a bloodhound!*

“Can’t find him?” Chung Myung repeated.

Sweat continued to flow down the back of Baek Ah’s head.

“Really?” Chung Myung’s eyes began to gleam with madness. Eventually, Baek Ah nodded very quickly.

“Kieeik! Kiiee! Kiee!”

“That’s right. That’s how it should be,” Chung Myung said contentedly, placing Baek Ah on the floor.

“Well, then it’s simple,” he said.

He turned his head sharply and looked at the disciples of Mount Hua and Hye-yeon.

“I usually don’t interfere in other sects’ affairs, but the situation is what it is, so I can’t help it,” Chung Myung stated.

“What are you planning to do?” one of the disciples asked.

“What do you think?” Chung Myung grinned.

“We’re going to kick the butts of those Demonic Sect bastards!” he declared.

“Isn’t our force insufficient?” another disciple asked.

“Insufficient? What’s insufficient? The Ice Palace is full of manpower!” Chung Myung exclaimed.

“You, you… don’t tell me?”

“That’s right,” Chung Myung confirmed.

A blue light flickered in Chung Myung’s eyes.

“We’ll find that Seol So-baek kid and use him well to turn the Ice Palace warriors to our side! And we’ll lead the Ice Palace to wipe out all those Demonic Sect bastards!” he announced.

Chung Myung, who had explained in a strong voice, smiled brightly.

“Simple, right?” he asked.

“Uh… very simple,” one of the disciples replied.

Dying seems a little easier, but other than that, it’s all good.

Rotten…