Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 54

“Ughhh!”

Gimokseung made a disgusted face as his breakfast was served.

He picked up his chopsticks, but ended up placing them back on the table with a clack, without having touched a single dish.

His disciples, who were serving him, quietly looked at Gimokseung.

“Do you not like the food?”

“Ugh.”

Gimokseung shook his head lightly.

“It’s not the food. I just feel uneasy.”

“Why do you feel uneasy? If we have done something wrong, please tell us clearly.”

“It is not your fault.”

Gimokseung, with a slightly irritated expression, pushed the breakfast away.

“That annoying person hanging around the trading company is making me lose my appetite.”

Lee Songbaek, a senior disciple from Jongnam, asked carefully, “Are you talking about the child from Hwasan?”

“Ahem.”

Gimokseung coughed, not saying yes or no. But everyone understood. The cough meant ‘yes’.

“Elder, I don’t understand. Why is it a problem that just one child arrived?”

“It’s not just that he’s a child,” Gimokseung said. “It’s that he’s a child *from Hwasan*.”

The disciples looked confused. They didn’t understand why being from Hwasan was a problem. They never understood why their leaders disliked Hwasan so much.

“Haven’t I told you many times? Hwasan and Jongnam cannot coexist.”

But Gimokseung felt differently. He grew up hearing stories from older Jongnam members about Hwasan. They told him how Hwasan had always caused trouble for Jongnam, and how Jongnam had struggled because Hwasan was always seen as better.

“It’s already annoying that a Hwasan child dared to come to Xi’an. But to make it worse, his name is the same as that Plum Blossom Sword! I hate that name so much!”

“⋯⋯.”

The disciples exchanged glances subtly.

‘Ah, that’s why he’s angry.’

‘Plum Blossom Sword has been dead for almost a hundred years, but people still talk about him.’

‘The Hwasan kids probably don’t even know the name Plum Blossom Sword. Why do we hear more about him than even our greatest leaders?’”

Plum Blossom Sword. Also known as Plum Blossom Sword Saint, Chung Myung. But Jongnam people never call him ‘Saint’. They would never use such a respectful word for someone they hate so much.

Lee Songbaek looked at the other disciples. Everyone could see that Gimokseung was obsessed, but he was still a Jongnam elder and their leader right now.

And as long as the topic of Hwasan did not come up, Gimokseung was a very normal and gentle person.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry?”

Gimokseung raised his eyebrows.

“That child is going around telling everyone that he will cure Lord Hwang.”

“Haha. Surely not…”

“It is said that there is improvement.”

“⋯⋯.”

Lee Songbaek closed his mouth.

Gimokseung didn’t say more, but Lee Songbaek was clever and understood what he meant. What if the child really cured Lord Hwang? ‘Everything will change.’ Lord Hwang was known to always repay kindness. If Hwasan saved his life, he would definitely help them in return.

‘We must stop it.’

Lee Songbaek, who quickly calculated the situation in his head, coughed lightly and opened his mouth.

“Elder, if that child is so annoying, shouldn’t we just make him leave?”

“You?”

Gimokseung’s eyes widened a little.

“Yes. It would be embarrassing if you, Elder, did something yourself. But we are senior disciples, right? What’s wrong with us senior Jongnam disciples testing our skills against a junior Hwasan disciple?”

“Hmm. Wouldn’t people say we are bullying a child?”

Lee Songbaek smiled gently.

“Everyone knows Hwasan and Jongnam have been practicing together for a long time. If we just happened to meet and practice fighting, and it got a bit too intense, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing.”

Gimokseung slowly nodded.

“Also, the Jonghwa Assembly is soon, so it would be even easier to explain.”

“I understand what you mean. But I still can’t allow it,” Gimokseung said firmly.

“Even so, he’s a junior disciple. It’s not right for Jongnam to attack a child or challenge him to a fight. What would other martial artists think if we bullied a child from a weak sect?”

Lee Songbaek almost laughed. Gimokseung was clearly the most worried about the child. Lee Songbaek found it funny that Gimokseung was pretending not to be. But disciples should understand what their leaders really want.

“So, I understand you don’t allow it, Elder. But if one of us makes a mistake, a small punishment would be okay, right?”

“Of course. I will punish anyone who hurts that child.”

“I understand.”

Gimokseung was a man who kept his word. So, the statement that he would surely punish them was likely true.

However, there was one thing.

It was clear that along with that punishment, an even greater reward would be given.

“Disciples should follow their leader’s orders. But shouldn’t disciples also try to make their leader feel better? We’ll handle things. Please don’t worry, Elder.”

“Ahem. Do what you think is best.”

“Yes, Elder. We will leave now.”

As Gimokseung nodded without answering, the disciples bowed deeply and left the room.

Gimokseung frowned slightly as he watched the scene.

‘Those children are taking Hwasan too lightly.’

He could understand.

When those children were born, Hwasan’s power had already declined significantly. In their minds, Hwasan was nothing more than a dying old tree that once held past glory.

But Gimokseung knew the truth. He knew how powerful Hwasan had been at its peak. Even though Jongnam was now famous as the best sword sect, the older Jongnam members he remembered from his childhood were just as skilled as the current ones. In some ways, they were even better.

Even the Jongnam from back then couldn’t compete with Hwasan. If Hwasan hadn’t become weaker because of the Demonic Sect’s attack, Jongnam would still not be stronger than Hwasan today.

‘We can never return to those days.’

A resolute look appeared on Gimokseung’s face.

“Because that child has left Hwasan and come all this way, it seems Hwasan is starting to become active again outside their sect.”

He thought he had destroyed them completely, so they could never recover. But it seemed he had underestimated how much strength Hwasan still had.

“I need to talk to the sect leader about this as soon as possible.”

A cruel look flashed in Gimokseung’s eyes, something unexpected for a Taoist.

“Are you being too worried, Senior Brother?”

“He’s always like this when Hwasan is mentioned, right?”

“Still, it’s too much to worry about just a small child. Even if Hwasan was once one of the best sects, now it’s just a small, ruined sect, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Even if the old Hwasan came back, they still couldn’t beat Jongnam now.”

Lee Songbaek smiled gently.

“You are very confident, which is good. But I agree with the Elder. We shouldn’t underestimate the old Hwasan. Even now, Jongnam is still a little weaker than Hwasan was back then.”

“Senior Brother!”

“However, the past is just the past. In the end, the one who survives is the strongest.”

Only then did everyone nod.

Go Hwi, another senior disciple of Jongnam, asked carefully, “Senior Brother, what are you going to do with that child?”

“Shouldn’t we just calm him down and send him away?”

Lee Songbaek almost laughed again. He didn’t want to bully a child, but Elder Gimokseung was so upset, and it was also a problem to let the child stay.

Gimokseung would never hurt the child himself, but it would look bad if a Jongnam elder was seen fighting with a child.

“But why would Hwasan send that child alone? If he were from Jongnam, he wouldn’t be allowed to leave the sect alone, would he?”

“Every sect is different. There must be a reason.”

“Hmm. It’s clear that Hwasan is not doing very well.”

“How would we know what other sects are doing?”

Lee Songbaek stopped the pointless talk. “We just need to do our job. Don’t forget, our job now is to take care of the Elder.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

“I understand.”

Lee Songbaek nodded quietly.

“Then how should we get that child’s attention…”

“Wait a moment, Senior Brother. Look over there.”

“Huh?”

At one person’s words, everyone’s head turned to one side.

“Isn’t that child…?”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“He’s coming this way?”

“Hmm.”

Lee Songbaek let out a hollow laugh.

He was wondering how to get the Hwasan child’s attention, but then, the child was coming right to them!

“What should we do? Now?”

“No need to wait.”

Lee Songbaek stepped towards Chung Myung, who was walking closer, and bowed slightly in greeting.

“Hello,” Lee Songbaek said.

“Huh?”

Chung Myung tilted his head, looking at Lee Songbaek and the other disciples.

Before Chung Myung could speak, Lee Songbaek spoke first.

“I am Lee Songbaek from Jongnam. It’s good to meet a Hwasan disciple.”

“Ah, yes. Hello,” Chung Myung replied casually.

Lee Songbaek kept smiling kindly as he asked, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to Lord Hwang. To check if he’s better.”

“Ah. I see.”

Lee Songbaek almost laughed. ‘This child is bold.’ Lord Hwang was someone even Gimokseung and the best doctors couldn’t cure. It was hard to believe a child could do anything. But hearing him confidently say he was treating Lord Hwang, Lee Songbaek thought he was quite cheeky.

“If you have time, would you like to talk for a bit?”

“Yeah, sure. What is it?”

“Haha. It’s nothing important. Hwasan and Jongnam have been practicing together and helping each other for a long time, right? Even now, Hwasan and Jongnam often have events to practice fighting together. Did you know that?”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know. I haven’t been at Hwasan for very long.”

“I thought so,” Lee Songbaek smiled wider. ‘If he knew about our history, he wouldn’t be so arrogant.’ Even when I said ‘Jongnam’, the child didn’t change his expression. If he had ever been to the Jonghwa Assembly, he wouldn’t be so calm.

“Seeing Hwasan’s sword skills is very helpful for practice. How about it? Would you show me some of Hwasan’s famous sword techniques?” Lee Songbaek smiled slightly. He was sure the child would say no, but he had other plans to trap him…

“Ah, so,” At that moment, Chung Myung tilted his head slightly.

“You want to fight?”

“⋯⋯.”

Lee Songbaek cleared his throat.

“It’s not that I want to fight, but rather training or sparring…”

“That’s wanting to fight.”

Lee Songbaek’s eyes glazed over.

What is this guy?

Receiving that dazed gaze, Chung Myung grinned.

“I’m always up for a fight. Just don’t regret it later.”

It was a calm declaration.