Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 541

“Augh! Why won’t this come out, damn it!”

Baek Cheon, cursing, gripped Chung Myung’s arm tightly and yanked.

“It shouldn’t be like this… Damn it, Jo Gul! Pull harder!”

“But, Sasuk, his arm is broken?”

“Does anyone look alright here? Does anyone?”

Jo Gul looked up at the sky. Baek Cheon’s eyes were wide and bloodshot.

‘For a moment, I thought he was Chung Myung.’

Sasuk, please don’t go too far. It scares me sometimes.

“Ugh… Unnngh!”

Pop!

With a final, loud ‘Pop!’, Chung Myung’s body was pulled free from the muddy earth. He landed with a heavy ‘Thud!’

Unable to withstand the recoil, Baek Cheon collapsed to the ground, groaning.

“No, how on earth did you get stuck like that… What is this, you little rascal?”

Baek Cheon shouted without thinking when he saw the huge bundle pulled out with Chung Myung.

‘Holding onto something like that, no wonder he couldn’t be pulled out!’ Baek Cheon thought.

“What do you think?”

Chung Myung chuckled, ignoring Baek Cheon, who looked like he would collapse. Then, he opened the bundle. It was wrapped in dirty, old cloth and looked very heavy.

“Those bad guys had a lot of good stuff hidden, didn’t they? If I left it there, it would be buried in the mountain and lost. So, I brought it to use for good. Heh, wise.”

Baek Cheon stared at him, speechless.

‘Did he really grab that while the cave was falling apart?’ Baek Cheon thought, shocked. ‘What is going on in his head?’

The bundle was wrapped in old, bloodstained cloth and looked very full.

“What is all this… Huh?”

Baek Cheon exclaimed in shock as he looked at what was inside.

“Good heavens, this is Ice Jade? How much is there?”

“Heh heh heh heh.”

Chung Myung grinned slyly and stuck out his belly. With every move he made, you could hear the sound of bones cracking.

“They saved it up carefully. There won’t be any Ice Jade from the Northern Sea for a while, so I have to take it all.”

“W-what are these things that look like liquor bottles?”

“Smells like Gongcheong Stone Marrow, doesn’t it?”

“G-Gongcheong… Gongcheong Stone Marrow?”

Baek Cheon’s mouth dropped open.

‘It really exists?’ Baek Cheon thought.

He had heard of Gongcheong Stone Marrow.

Ordinary elixirs, like Snow Ginseng or Humanoid Fleeceflower Root, will eventually die.

But because they are very strong, they don’t rot. Instead, they melt into liquid.

If they grow in soil in a forest, the liquid goes into the ground and back to nature. But if elixirs grow on cliffs, sometimes the liquid pools together in special places and becomes something more.

This liquid, made from the best part of the elixir, absorbing nature’s power and aging for hundreds of years, is Gongcheong Stone Marrow.

People say even one drop is better than any normal elixir. It’s the best elixir of all.

“All of this is Gongcheong Stone Marrow? All of it?”

‘Are you kidding me? Those crazy Demonic Sect guys!’ Baek Cheon thought.

Gongcheong Stone Marrow was an ancient elixir. Even a single drop could cause huge fights in the martial world. It was worth more than gold or jewels.

They had so much of this elixir, filling bottles like liquor bottles, and they were just stuck in this faraway place, digging in the dirt?

“They probably collected it to give to the Heavenly Demon when he comes back to life. The Heavenly Demon doesn’t really need elixirs, but what do those guys know?”

‘No, how does he know that?’

Baek Cheon stared at Chung Myung in disbelief. His mind was so confused, he felt like his head would burst.

Without time to think more, even more amazing items came out of the bundle. The bishop who collected all this, and Chung Myung who took it all, were very careful and detailed.

“Good heavens…”

Actually, when he thought about it, it wasn’t that strange.

Even though they hadn’t been in the Northern Sea for very long, the bishop said they had been planning to bring the Heavenly Demon back to life since he died.

Considering these people were strong enough to easily defeat any major group, and they had been collecting wealth for so long, maybe this was actually not that much.

“I thought I was just suffering for nothing, but I managed to get something useful in the end.”

Chung Myung chuckled, re-tying the bundle and putting it over his shoulder.

Just then,

“Chung Myung Dojang! Dojang!”

Seol So-baek climbed quickly over the pile of cave rocks and ran to Chung Myung.

“Oh? You’re alive…”

And without hesitation, he ran to Chung Myung and hugged him tightly around the waist.

“Aaaargh! You little bastard! My wound! My wound! Aaaargh!”

Chung Myung kicked Seol So-baek away without a moment’s hesitation.

“Aargh!”

Seol So-baek tumbled all the way back down the mountainside he had climbed. Baek Cheon laughed hollowly.

‘It almost felt a little touching.’

That couldn’t be.

Chung Myung grumbled, unable to even touch his wound.

“That crazy bastard. It hurts like hell.”

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Huh?”

“You shouldn’t kick the Palace Lord like that.”

“Palace Lord, my foot.”

Chung Myung shook his hand in annoyance and began to trudge down.

“Um… Chung Myung Dojang.”

“What?”

Chung Myung turned his head sharply and glared at Han Yi-myeong. He had barely managed to open his mouth after being silent the whole time, and Han Yi-myeong flinched at the look.

“A-are you alright….”

“Just in case, don’t even think about eyeing this! I went through hell to get it! Just try to touch it. The Northern Ice Palace will be burned to the ground that day.”

I’m not taking it, you bastard! I’m not taking it!

Han Yi-myeong squeezed his eyes shut.

‘The hero who saved the Northern Sea is this kind of person…’

He felt uneasy in a different way than when he thought he was dead.

But Han Yi-myeong, who had started to speak, stopped for a moment.

He saw Chung Myung’s uniform, covered in blood. He looked down and saw blood on the ground where Chung Myung had walked.

‘…Dojang.’

He could see how hard this man had fought.

‘Yes, his attitude doesn’t matter,’ Han Yi-myeong thought. ‘This is the man who defeated the Demonic Sect and saved the Northern Sea.’

Han Yi-myeong decided to remember this.

“Wow. I really thought I was going to die. I almost died this time. Those damn Demonic Sect guys. I was too nice when I killed them. Ugh, damn it!”

No. Maybe he could forget it a little.

“…..Geez.”

“⋯⋯.”

“You look… really terrible.”

The Mount Hua disciples looked at each other and chuckled. Chung Myung laughed.

“I never thought I’d see the day when Dongryong looked so ugly.”

“Don’t call me Dongryong when other people are around.”

“If I can’t call Dongryong, Dongryong, then what should I call him?”

“Mmphhhmph.”

Baek Cheon spoke through gritted teeth, groaning because of the pain in his face.

His nose was broken and bent to the side, and his face was so swollen he was hard to recognize. But even looking like that, he seemed relieved.

“Well, well? What happened to Sago’s face?”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue, looking at Yu Yiseol. Her face was like Baek Cheon’s, but even worse.

“It’s alright.”

“That would be just fine.”

And it wasn’t just those two.

Not a single disciple of Mount Hua, nor even Hye-yeon, was unscathed.

“Still, everyone… Mum! You startled me!”

Chung Myung looked surprised at Yoon Jong’s puffy cheeks and asked, “Sasuk, what happened to your face? It looks swollen, but not from the fight.”

“⋯⋯.”

Jo Gul whistled and subtly looked away.

Chung Myung let out a hollow laugh.

“⋯⋯.The Sect is in a fine state.”

They were all bruised and looked terrible.

“Everyone…..”

Chung Myung started to say something, then chuckled. Somehow, he couldn’t say what he wanted to.

“Ah, well, everyone⋯⋯….”

It was then.

“Elder!”

Seol So-baek, having cleared the area, led the remaining Ice Palace warriors towards them.

“Huh? Why are they coming?”

“Are the Ice Palace warriors coming back to get revenge for you kicking them?” Yoon Jong asked.

“Let them try,” Chung Myung replied.

“…..Chung Myung-ah, you are a Taoist.”

“Exactly. I didn’t say I’d kill them.”

“….Excellent.”

“No need to say it twice.”

The approaching warriors of the Ice Palace weren’t in much better shape either. The injuries they sustained in the fierce battle with the Demonic Sect were severe, their bodies stained with blood here and there.

But unlike when they first arrived, their eyes were now filled with confidence.

‘They’ve all gained the faces of warriors.’

Chung Myung watched them and smiled quietly.

It had been a terrible war, but the Northern Sea would gain much from it.

“Elder.”

Seol So-baek, standing at the center, took a deep breath as he looked at Chung Myung.

Then, he clasped his hands together in a respectful bow, lowering his head deeply.

“As the Palace Lord of the Northern Ice Palace, and as one of the people of the Northern Sea, I sincerely thank the Mount Hua Sect for your help!”

Chung Myung quietly gazed at Seol So-baek.

Though his head was bowed, his figure exuded dignity. He was the image of a man who had risen above a crisis.

Chung Myung took a step back, and Baek Cheon, understanding his intention, stepped forward to accept Seol So-baek’s greeting.

“We have only done what was right. Please, Palace Lord, do not concern yourself.”

It was a truly courteous reply.

Seol So-baek raised his head and looked at the disciples of Mount Hua. His eyes, filled with fervent light, shone resolutely.

“The Northern Sea will remember Mount Hua. I will never forget what you have done for us. The Northern Sea will always be in your debt.”

That was enough.

The disciples of Mount Hua smiled faintly. Of course, with their faces battered and bruised, it wasn’t exactly a pleasant smile, but to Seol So-baek, it looked incredibly admirable.

“Before that⋯⋯..”

“Yes, Elder!”

As Chung Myung opened his mouth, Seol So-baek stared at him with an exceptionally eager face.

“Recover the bodies first.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Surviving a difficult war is a most joyous thing. But as a Palace Lord, you must first take care of those who have died. There will be plenty of time for self-congratulation later.”

At Chung Myung’s words, Seol So-baek quickly nodded.

“Yes, Elder.”

“That’s right.”

Chung Myung, as if finding him commendable, patted Seol So-baek’s head before shaking his own with a groan.

“Ugh. Then call me when it’s done. I don’t even have the strength to stand. Aigo, I’m dying. Ugh.”

And without paying the slightest attention to anyone else’s gaze, he plopped down on the spot and lay flat on his back.

Neither Baek Cheon nor anyone else tried to stop Chung Myung.

“⋯⋯.Then I will too⋯⋯..”

“My legs won’t hold me.”

“Amitabha⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯.I’m dying. Truly dying.”

“S-Something, even if it’s just clothes to lie on⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

Far from stopping him, they followed Chung Myung and sat down on the floor one by one.

Seol So-baek was a little taken aback as he watched the disciples of Mount Hua, who had cast aside all pretense and were sprawled out haphazardly. Then, Chung Myung, still lying down, peeked open his eyes and asked.

“What are you doing?”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

Startled, Seol So-baek quickly began giving instructions to the Ice Palace warriors. The Ice Palace warriors moved swiftly without complaint. They were all exhausted and looked as if they would collapse at any moment, but they could not refuse the task of recovering their comrades’ bodies.

Everyone moved busily, clearing the valley.

“It seems impossible to recover the bodies inside the cave.”

“⋯⋯It can’t be helped.”

Han Yi-myeong looked towards the cave with mournful eyes.

‘Elder Yeo.’

Of course, one couldn’t say that he was right.

But he fought for the Northern Sea until his last moment, and he died for the Northern Sea.

He may have had many shortcomings, but wasn’t that enough?

‘Do not worry.’

The Northern Sea will be different now. Everyone has learned much from them.

“It’s almost done, Palace Lord.”

“We will need to bring carts to move the bodies.”

“Please hurry.”

“Yes!”

Seol So-baek and Han Yi-myeong took the lead and directed the work, and the cleanup was quickly completed.

There was still a little work left to be done, but it couldn’t be done with the personnel and tools available here.

Seol So-baek, having roughly finished, gave his last instructions to the people and turned around.

“Elder! So, shall we head back to the Ice Palace now…?”

But as he turned towards Chung Myung, he stopped speaking.

Chung Myung and the Mount Hua disciples were already slumped on the ground, fast asleep, leaning against each other’s backs.

“⋯⋯.”

It would be more accurate to say they had fainted rather than fallen asleep, but for that, their expressions were too peaceful.

“Elder⋯⋯.”

Han Yi-myeong stopped Seol So-baek by grabbing his shoulder.

“Aren’t they the heroes who saved the Northern Sea? Let them rest a little until we bring the sleds.”

At those words, Seol So-baek quietly nodded.

Peace had settled on the faces of the disheveled disciples of Mount Hua.

“⋯⋯.They have good faces.”

“Indeed.”

A faint smile touched the corners of Seol So-baek’s lips as he listened to the soft breaths coming from the disciples of Mount Hua.

‘Rest well.’

The Northern Sea would remember.

Those who came from the distant Central Plains and risked their lives to fight without asking for any reward.

Kee!

Baek Ah, perched on Chung Myung’s shoulder, stretched out its back and looked at the distant sky. Its black eyes twinkled.

It felt as if the scent of Mount Hua’s plum blossoms was spreading on a wind that had somehow become a little warmer.

Far, far away.