Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 499

“Yes?”

Seol So-baek looked between Han I-myeong and Baek Cheon, confused. The room was cold and quiet. Ice crystals glittered on the walls, but they felt distant and unreal to Seol So-baek in this moment of confusion.

“I…” he started to say.

Baek Cheon watched Seol So-baek. He looked at Han I-myeong, a little annoyed. *You still haven’t explained?* his look seemed to say.

Han I-myeong smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He looked a little sad.

Baek Cheon’s serious face made Han I-myeong feel guilty. It was like he had done something bad.

He looked directly at the confused Seol So-baek and quietly began to speak.

“Young Master, you must know something is different.”

“…Yes. I’m not a fool. But Father…”

At the word ‘Father,’ Han I-myeong slowly shook his head.

“I am not your father.”

Seol So-baek jumped back a little. His eyes blinked fast.

Han I-myeong felt sorry for Seol So-baek, but he pushed those feelings away. He spoke again, his voice strong.

“Young Master, you are the son of the old Ice Palace Lord. I must be loyal to you. I had to pretend to be your father until now. But now, you need to take back what is yours.”

Seol So-baek could not believe it. His eyes were wide, and he couldn’t speak.

Yeo Sa-hon had been watching silently. He sighed and stepped forward to help Han I-myeong. Yeo Sa-hon’s voice was deep and steady, like the ancient ice of the palace he served.

“Young Master, you are the only one left in the Seol family. You are meant to lead the Northern Sea. It will be hard, but you must guide the Northern Sea.”

Seol So-baek stared blankly at Yeo Sa-hon.

It made sense that Seol So-baek was confused. A stranger said he was an important person from the Ice Palace and wanted him to do something big. It was too much for a young boy to understand right away.

“I, I…”

“Young Master.”

Yeo Sa-hon said firmly.

“Your father died unfairly. He would want this too.”

“Ah…”

“There are things you can choose to do, and things you *have* to do. It is your job to fix what is wrong in the Northern Sea and save the people.”

As he spoke, Yeo Sa-hon knelt on the spot.

“So, be strong. Only you can save the Northern Sea and free its people. The Northern Sea’s future is in your hands.”

Seol So-baek bit his lip without realizing it.

He knew all too well how difficult life was for the people of the Northern Sea. How much had he seen and felt while traveling through the Northern Sea with Han I-myeong?

But…

‘Me?’

The mere thought made his shoulders feel weighed down.

The words ‘son of the palace lord’ and ‘fate of the Northern Sea’ were just words to him. They didn’t feel real.

“Young Master.”

Han I-myeong began to speak again.

Meanwhile, Baek Cheon, feeling that the conversation was dragging on, sighed and turned his head to the side. And at that moment…

Flinch.

He flinched involuntarily and took a step back.

‘Why is he suddenly like this again?’

He saw Chung Myung’s face. Chung Myung looked very unhappy.

It didn’t seem too dangerous, but he was clearly very unhappy about something.

Baek Cheon understood what was happening. He quickly signaled to the Mount Hua disciples.

It was a signal to quickly stop Chung Myung if he tried to do something.

But unfortunately, his signal was a little too late.

“No, that…”

Chung Myung had been watching. He walked slowly towards Han I-myeong and Yeo Sa-hon. He looked at them like they were silly.

“What strange things are you saying to a kid who still looks like a baby?”

“…Yes?”

“Telling a kid so small he has to save the Northern Sea? That he’s the only one?”

Chung Myung’s eyes were angry.

“If the kid does all that, what are the adults doing? Huh? Adults?!”

“…”

“Anyway!”

Chung Myung raised his voice and waved at Seol So-baek.

“Come here. Here!”

“…”

“I said, come here!”

But Seol So-baek hesitated. He looked around nervously and didn’t come closer.

Chung Myung tilted his head, not understanding the reaction.

“Why is he like this?”

Baek Cheon smiled warmly at him.

‘Would you go if you were him, you little rascal?’

Think about what you did to him last time!

Chung Myung probably looked scarier than a bandit to Seol So-baek right now.

But sadly for Seol So-baek, Chung Myung wasn’t the type to give up if he didn’t come.

Chung Myung strode towards him, grabbed his shoulder, and placed him in front of himself.

“What? The fate of the Northern Sea?”

“…”

Yeo Sa-hon and Han I-myeong’s faces became subtly awkward.

As expected, that young Taoist had a strange talent for turning people inside out with just a few words.

“You’re entrusting the fate of the Northern Sea to a kid the size of a mouse? What are you doing?”

“Listen, Taoist. The Seol family in the Northern Sea…”

Han I-myeong tried to argue, but Chung Myung wouldn’t listen.

“If the Seol family is so important, then *you* adults should fix things and give the Northern Sea to him. Why tell a kid he has to carry this heavy fate? Ugh!”

Chung Myung glared.

“Stop talking nonsense. If you have to entrust the fate to a kid this small, then the Northern Sea is already finished.”

Chung Myung’s last words were colder. Han I-myeong’s face became serious when he heard that cold tone.

“That’s a bit harsh…”

Just as Han I-myeong was about to say something, Yeo Sa-hon raised his hand to stop him.

“…The Taoist’s words are not wrong.”

Chung Myung stared intently at Yeo Sa-hon.

“Please understand, we said those things to make ourselves stronger. We are not going to hide behind Young Master Seol and let him do everything.”

Only then did Chung Myung nod. Then, he turned Seol So-baek to face him and squeezed his cheeks with both hands.

“You don’t have to do anything.”

“I, I…”

“Just show your face. We’ll take care of the rest.”

His voice was very sure.

The disciples of Mount Hua looked at him with strange eyes and whispered.

“That guy is being strangely kind?”

“I know, right? He’s not usually like this.”

“That bastard is a bit strange these days, Martial Uncle.”

“Yeah. Strange.”

But Han I-myeong and Yeo Sa-hon were shocked by their reactions.

‘Kind?’

‘That?’

Wasn’t it obvious that he was bullying him?

They couldn’t understand how these disciples of Mount Hua thought.

“Instead of trying to pass it on to a kid, you should do what needs to be done yourselves.”

Yeo Sa-hon nodded at Chung Myung’s words.

“Of course. We will give our lives in this battle without question,” Yeo Sahon said firmly.

“Don’t misunderstand me,” Chung Myung replied.

…

Then, Chung Myung spoke in a cold voice. Yeo Sahon jumped slightly and looked at him, surprised.

Chung Myung looked at him with a serious face and sighed.

“Sacrificing your life is not being responsible. Remember that. Winning is important, and you must survive. If you start something and die, you just give your duty to the people who come after you.”

Chung Myung slowly looked up. He stared at the sky above the Northern Sea. It was empty and gray, but Chung Myung kept looking.

After a quiet moment, he patted Seol Sobaek’s shoulder without looking down.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

A small smile appeared on Chung Myung’s lips.

“One foolish act is enough for now.”

No one can fully understand what another person does.

Seol Cheonsang was smart enough to know this simple truth. In the end, people only pretend to understand each other; it is impossible to truly know what is in someone else’s heart.

But…

‘This is different.’

Even so, there is a basic level of ‘reason’ that people expect.

But what he saw was beyond anything he could understand.

Whooooosh!

The wind in the communal space was colder than ice.

In the center, a white-haired old man was kneeling, his forehead touching the floor, showing deep respect.

This was not strange by itself.

People often show respect and faith to something. Even if the old man was showing faith to the giant Asura statue in front of him, that would not be very strange.

The truly strange thing was something else.

Seol Cheonsang could not understand how someone so important could obey another person so completely, especially someone who was not even alive.

‘What exactly is the Heavenly Demon?’

Heavenly Demon.

He had heard the name many times. Anyone in the Jianghu knew that name.

But no matter how strong the Heavenly Demon was, wasn’t he just a name from a hundred years ago?

How could someone show such complete respect to someone who died a hundred years ago? Even after becoming so powerful himself?

So, this was incredibly strange to see.

Just watching it made you feel very uneasy.

The Bishop, still with his head on the floor, began to slowly crawl backward.

…

It was almost funny to watch.

But no one watching could even smile. It wasn’t because the Bishop was scary. It was because the deep sincerity in every movement was disturbing.

Ssssh. Ssssh.

The sound of the Bishop’s clothes scraping against the floor was clear in the silent wind.

Soon, the Bishop, having left the communal space, slowly stood up. Without wiping the blood from his forehead, he turned to Seol Cheonsang.

Seol Cheonsang quickly looked down.

“…I greet the Bishop.”

As soon as he felt the cold eyes on him, sweat poured down his body.

The Bishop stared at Seol Cheonsang with a chilling gaze and slowly spoke.

“Palace Lord.”

“Yes! Your Eminence, Bishop.”

“I told you to bring the Ice Essence.”

Seol Cheonsang bit his lip, keeping his head down.

‘Those damn fools…’

Who knew that the Hwasan people would beat the Ice Palace warriors and steal all the Ice Essence from the mine?

“Your Eminence, Bishop. Something unexpected happened. They freed the prisoners. Who would have thought they could break free…”

“Palace Lord.”

Seol Cheonsang jumped at the cold voice and shrank back.

“…”

“I told you to bring the Ice Essence.”

Seol Cheonsang trembled.

“The only reason I used my priests to help you, a simple unbeliever, was for that one thing. If you can’t even do that, why should I keep you, a dirty unbeliever, alive?”

Thud!

Seol Cheonsang fell to his knees.

It wasn’t his choice. The Bishop’s power was forcing him down.

It was a terrible power that he couldn’t resist.

“Your Eminence, Bishop! Please give me another chance! I will! I will risk my life to get the Ice Essence back!”

“You still don’t understand, you worm.”

The Bishop’s face twisted, becoming sharp and cruel, like a demon mask.

“We have waited a hundred years for this moment.”

“I, I…”

“If our important plan to bring him back is stopped because you could not get the Ice Essence, your life will not be enough to make up for it. Even if all the snow in the Northern Sea turns red with blood, our anger will not go away.”

Seol Cheonsang’s body shook.

These were not empty words. He knew these people would do what they said.

“Two days.”

The Bishop spoke coldly.

“If you fail to get the Ice Essence back in two days, I will act myself. If I cannot do the ceremony because of this, even if you get the Ice Essence back, you will still be punished.”

“Th-there will never be such a thing.”

Seol Cheonsang swallowed hard and bowed his head.

The Bishop glanced at him with cold eyes and returned to the communal space. He slowly knelt again.

“Heavenly Demon Reincarnation, Myriad Demons Embrace.”

He looked at the Asura statue and chanted, as if Seol Cheonsang wasn’t there.

Seol Cheonsang, watching him carefully, moved away from the Bishop, cowering.

“Heavenly Demon Reincarnation, Myriad Demons Embrace.”

The Bishop repeated the mantra endlessly.

The cold wind shook the huge cloth with the Asura on it.

A figure appeared through the cloth. The Bishop stared at it with longing.

“Heavenly Demon Reincarnation, Myriad Demons Embrace.”

The evil seed was starting to grow right here.

Seol Cheonsang, having left the communal space, quickly wiped his face with shaking hands.

Sweat covered his hands and fell to the ground.

‘The Demonic Sect…’

He knew from the start that he shouldn’t have involved these people. He had chosen to do it himself.

But every time he faced the Bishop, Seol Cheonsang wondered if he had made a terrible mistake.

Maybe he had not just made a deal with the devil, but had become a sacrifice on the devil’s altar?

But…

‘There’s no turning back now.’

Seol Cheonsang’s eyes were bloodshot.

He could only work with them or die miserably. He didn’t want to die.

Leaving the demon’s den, he looked at the elders waiting and gritted his teeth.

“…Mobilize all the Ice Palace forces to find the fools who took the Ice Essence.”

“Yes!”

“Find them! Find them no matter what! I will tear them apart and kill them!”

Seol Cheonsang’s roar echoed across the Northern Sea.

The blizzard had stopped.