Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 52

Hwang Jong-ui stopped. *Alone?* He looked around, expecting to see others from Mount Hua. But there was only this young Taoist priest.

The servant girl nodded, confirming his thought.

Hwang Jong-ui turned back to face the young Taoist priest. All sorts of thoughts ran through his head.

Was Mount Hua disregarding the Eunha Merchant Guild, a powerful trading company known across the land? Or was there some other reason for this?

Suddenly, a loud burst of laughter erupted from behind him.

“Now they’re resorting to all sorts of tricks! Young Guild Leader, didn’t I tell you? There’s no need to even meet with those from Mount Hua!” It was Gi Mok-seung.

Gi Mok-seung had followed Hwang Jong-ui to the entrance. He laughed loudly, his face showing he thought this was very funny. “What does that child know that they would send him? They want to get a foot in the door, but they’re too embarrassed to come themselves, so they send a child. Tsk tsk tsk. I may not like Mount Hua, but I heard the Mount Hua Sect Leader was a gentleman. To resort to such petty tricks…”

Hwang Jong-ui’s face hardened. It was obvious that Gi Mok-seung’s words were filled with animosity, but the situation forced him to consider them.

‘The Hyun Jong Jin-in of Mount Hua wouldn’t do such a thing, would he?’ The Hyun Jong he remembered was a man of gentlemanly bearing, despite being a Taoist priest. It didn’t seem likely that such a man would try to save face by sending only a child.

But wasn’t that the reality?

“Young Taoist, did you really come alone?”

“Yes.”

“…Mount Hua sent you alone?”

The young Taoist, Chung Myung, sighed deeply. ‘I’m getting this treatment because I’m young.’ There was a time when Chung Myung was Mount Hua, and Mount Hua was Chung Myung. ‘Ugh. Better to die than suffer.’

But he understood their reaction well enough. If a Taoist priest who hadn’t even reached adulthood came claiming to cure an illness that even the most renowned doctors couldn’t, it would be stranger if they believed him right away.

So, he needed to add a little something.

“Did you say you were the Young Guild Leader?”

“Y-yes, I am.”

“I am Chung Myung, a third-generation disciple of Mount Hua, a famous school of martial arts, like a very old and respected academy. I received the letter the Young Guild Leader sent to Mount Hua. I have an idea about the symptoms written in the letter, so I came to see you.”

“But to come here alone…”

“The matter was so urgent that I didn’t have the time to come with others. Isn’t the Elder in critical condition?”

That was true, but…

Hwang Jong-ui, who had been looking at Chung Myung with a face that showed he didn’t trust him at all, recalled a part of Chung Myung’s words and hardened his expression.

“Did you just say you had an idea about my father’s illness?”

“Yes, I did.”

Hwang Jong-ui clenched his fist without realizing it. ‘He’s the first to say such a thing.’ So many renowned doctors and experts had come and gone, but not a single one had discussed the symptoms before even seeing Hwang Dae-in.

‘Could it be?’

At that moment, he heard a snort from behind him.

“Hmph. That young one is already trying to trick us. How could a child know what the most renowned doctors in the world couldn’t figure out! Young Guild Leader, there’s no need to listen any further! Let’s go inside. There’s no need to waste time.”

“But…”

“Does the Young Guild Leader believe the words of that child?”

Hwang Jong-ui bit his lip slightly. Then, Chung Myung, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.

“Excuse me.”

“Huh?”

“Who are you to keep calling people ‘that guy’ since earlier?”

Gi Mok-seung stared at Chung Myung with a blank look.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Is there anyone else here besides you who keeps calling people ‘that guy’?”

“Hmph. Look at this impudent fellow. Is it possible that a disciple of Mount Hua can’t even distinguish the robes of Jongnam? I knew Mount Hua wasn’t a prestigious clan, but I didn’t know even the disciples were this foolish.”

“Ah, so you’re from Jongnam.” Chung Myung shrugged. “Well, you were talking as if you knew everything, so I thought you were a doctor. So, does that mean you have a way to cure Hwang Dae-in’s illness?”

“Hwang Dae-in is ill because he has defied the Dao. If we perform a rite to appease the wrath of the heavens, he can be cured cleanly.”

Chung Myung curled up the corners of his lips. “Oh. That could be true.”

Hwang Jong-ui’s face contorted. But Chung Myung’s next words were completely different from what Hwang Jong-ui had expected.

“Then we should quickly call the people from the Wudang or Kunlun sects.”

“…What?”

“Isn’t that your specialty?”

Gi Mok-seung said with a slightly flustered face. “T-there’s no need to go that far. Isn’t Jongnam here?”

“Come on. Everyone knows that Jongnam and Mount Hua are half-laymen in that regard. If you’re going to perform a rite, it’s better to have it done by proper Taoists. If it were me, I’d recommend Wudang. Wudang is the most respected in the Taoist world, after all.”

Hwang Jong-ui’s face went blank. ‘What is this guy?’

He even whispered into Hwang Jong-ui’s ear. “The Wudang Sect tends to value their reputation, so if you give them a decent donation, they’ll come right away. If you’re going to get it, you should get it from a good place. A good place. A place with good value for money.”

Gi Mok-seung, whose face had turned bright red, shouted.

“You dare! This brat is mocking his elders! Is that what your sect teaches you?”

“Ah, yes, yes. I’m sorry.” Chung Myung picked at his ear and blew on it.

It was blatant disrespect, but Gi Mok-seung could only tremble with a flushed face, unable to use his hands.

If a Jongnam elder couldn’t control his anger and beat a third-generation disciple of Mount Hua, it would be a disgrace that couldn’t be excused. It was something that everyone in the world would point fingers at.

He didn’t know if he was doing it knowingly, but he was definitely a guy who knew how to get on people’s nerves.

“Young Guild Leader, throw this guy out immediately!”

At Gi Mok-seung’s words, Hwang Jong-ui sighed. “Elder, this is not Jongnam, but the Eunha Merchant Guild. I will decide how to treat a guest who has come to the guild.”

“Can you say that after seeing me being humiliated by that child?”

Hwang Jong-ui ignored Gi Mok-seung and looked at Chung Myung. ‘He seems to have something to rely on.’ He wouldn’t be so confident if he had come to trick us without anything to back it up. But he was still suspicious.

“Young Taoist.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but…”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to trust me.”

“…Thank you for understanding. May I ask you a few questions first?” Hwang Jong-ui’s words had become shorter. Chung Myung also noticed this, but he understood the suspicion well enough, so he shrugged and moved on.

“Yes. As much as you want.”

Hwang Jong-ui swallowed hard and continued. “Young Taoist, you said earlier that you had an idea about my father’s illness. Could you perhaps tell me a little about that?”

“That’s hard to say.”

“Heheng!” As soon as Chung Myung finished speaking, Gi Mok-seung’s exaggerated snort was heard. Hwang Jong-ui also couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

“But I can tell you something else instead.”

“What is it?”

Chung Myung said with a confident face. “I heard that Hwang Dae-in often went on merchant trips. Is that right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then he must have stopped by the Ten Thousand Great Mountains on a merchant trip before he fell ill. Isn’t that right?” Chung Myung said as if declaring it.

Then Hwang Jong-ui opened his eyes wide and answered. “No, he didn’t?”

Chung Myung’s head tilted slightly to the side.

“Excuse me?”

“He’s never done that. My father has never gone on a merchant trip in that direction.”

“…Ah, is that so?” A look of embarrassment appeared on Chung Myung’s face. Before Hwang Jong-ui’s expression could become even more sullen, Chung Myung quickly continued.

“Then he must have been attacked on a previous merchant trip! Right? He must have experienced a crisis!”

“My father hasn’t been attacked in recent years. It was at least five years ago.”

“Huh? Then that’s not good? Oh, what is it?”

Hwang Jong-ui’s eyes narrowed.

“Really? That can’t be?” He could hear Gi Mok-seung’s low laughter from behind him.

“That’s strange. Then where did he get hit?”

‘What do you mean ‘get hit,’ you crazy bastard!’ ‘Is this guy out of his mind?’ It was the moment when the faint expectations he had for Chung Myung disappeared cleanly. Hwang Jong-ui’s eyes turned cold.

Chung Myung said hastily. “N-no, wait a minute. I’m serious! I can cure it.”

“…Young Taoist.” Hwang Jong-ui sighed deeply.

And Gi Mok-seung seized the moment and jumped in. “Didn’t I tell you there was no need to see him? Mount Hua is originally a sect of ruffians who deceive people. You can guess that just by looking at their blade-like formation.”

“Please refrain from excessive remarks, Elder.” Hwang Jong-ui, who had stopped Gi Mok-seung, looked at Chung Myung and opened his mouth. “I understand your enthusiasm, Young Taoist, but my father’s illness is so deep that it would be best not to let an unskilled person see him, or it could worsen. I hope you understand my position. Please convey my thanks to the Sect Leader of Mount Hua for his concern…”

“The body turns red and hot, but the whole body is cold. When you press it with your hand, the red color turns slightly white before quickly turning red again. Until he loses consciousness, he feels a chill as if he’s in an ice cave, and not only his forehead but also the back of his neck and the crown of his head are filled with black energy!”

“Should I go on?” Chung Myung grinned.

“H-how did you know that?” Hwang Jong-ui’s eyes widened as much as they could. On the other hand, Chung Myung’s face became as confident as it could be.

“Ah… I’m a little thirsty after coming such a long way.”

“What are you doing! Bring cold water immediately! No, bring ice water! Right now!” The servant girl couldn’t even answer and ran inside with all her might. Hwang Jong-ui’s gaze and attitude toward Chung Myung changed immediately.

“It’s not like you to be standing out here, come inside.”

“Haha, look who the important person is.”

“Quickly! Quickly!” Chung Myung puffed out his chest and followed Hwang Jong-ui inside. Gi Mok-seung, who had been watching this situation with a blank look, shouted urgently.

“Young Guild Leader! Those are just typical symptoms of those afflicted by Yin energy! Knowing that doesn’t change anything!”

Hwang Jong-ui narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying that those afflicted by Yin energy have black energy gathering at the crown of their head and the back of their neck? Why haven’t you been able to cure my father until now if you know so well?”

“…That’s…”

“This is a matter for the Eunha Merchant Guild. I will no longer allow unnecessary interference. If you interfere any further, we will formally protest to Jongnam as well.”

“Ugh.” Gi Mok-seung sighed and took a step back.

In his eyes, he saw Chung Myung’s face, his cheeks puffed up as he tried to hold back his laughter.

“That, that… that guy!” Gi Mok-seung felt his whole body heat up. He felt like he was going crazy with anger, but what could he do? As Hwang Jong-ui said, this was not Jongnam, but the Eunha Merchant Guild. No matter how much Gi Mok-seung was an elder of Jongnam, he couldn’t act as he pleased even in the Eunha Merchant Guild.

“You bastard! If you fail to cure Hwang Dae-in properly, I will make you pay the price!” Shouting at Hwang Jong-ui and Chung Myung, who didn’t stop walking, was all he could do.

As they got a little further away, Hwang Jong-ui said with a bitter smile. “I’m sorry, Young Taoist. For some reason, the people of Jongnam can’t control their excitement whenever the story of Mount Hua comes up.”

“It’s okay.”

“Ah, thank you for understanding…”

“Who can I blame? It’s all my fault.”

“…Yes?” Chung Myung shrugged. ‘Should I have beaten them less?’ It was the moment when the perpetrator of a hundred years ago felt guilt towards the victim of a hundred years later.