Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 548

“…Yoon Jong-ah.”

“Yes, Sasook.”

“I’m quite sure I told you to return most of the gifts.”

“You did.”

“Then what is all this?”

“Well, that’s…”

The Mount Hua disciples gathered early to load the cart. They were very surprised. The cart was piled high with luggage, like a mountain.

“Was it even possible to pile it up this much?”

“Can the cart even handle that?”

“It’ll manage. After all, it’s made of strong black metal, isn’t it?”

“…Still, this seems a bit excessive, doesn’t it?”

The luggage was taller than a person. It looked very different from what a cart should look like.

“They even took out the tent we worked hard to set up.”

Baek Cheon turned to Yoon Jong with a blank expression.

“…What happened here?”

“I definitely returned them.”

“And?”

“…Do you really need to ask? Cheong Myeong said, why would he return the gifts he received with such effort? He even asked if I caught the rich man’s disease from hanging around with Jo Gul…”

“Why am I suddenly being targeted…”

Jo Gul, unfairly targeted, pouted and protested, but no one listened.

“…That crazy bastard, really.”

Baek Cheon sighed deeply. This was why he had told them to return the gifts quickly, before Cheong Myeong saw them.

“So, where is that Cheong Myeong?”

“Who knows? He took his luggage and left as soon as the sun rose.”

“He made such a fuss about freezing to death that we even set up a tent for him. What’s he planning to do, climbing on top of luggage piled so high? It’ll be twice as cold up there…”

It was at that moment.

‘Huh?’

Baek Cheon noticed a small gap between the neatly stacked luggage.

“Could it be…?”

He rushed to the cart and thrust his hand into the gap without hesitation.

He felt something round inside. Baek Cheon frowned, grabbed it, and pulled it out quickly.

“Get out of there, you little rascal!”

“Ah, my head! My head!”

“Is this rascal a weasel? Did he dig a burrow in the luggage in advance?”

“Ah, it hurts!”

“Squeak!”

The weasel-like human and the human-like weasel protested at the same time.

Baek Cheon, having pulled Cheong Myeong out of the burrow, sighed deeply.

“A Taoist priest so greedy!”

“What! Why! Is there a law that says Taoist priests have to starve? I didn’t steal it; why should I refuse what they’re offering!”

“That’s right. Can’t argue with that. Because you stashed away what you stole separately!”

“…”

“Use your head a little. How are we supposed to take all this to Shanxi Province! I’ll die pulling this cart before I even get to fight the Demonic Sect!”

“Hehe, come on, Senior Disciple, don’t say strange things like that. When did you start saying you’d train harder in the future?”

“…Th-that’s a story for when I’m training.”

“What?”

Cheong Myeong glared fiercely.

“You have to make everyday life into training! When will you get stronger if you set aside separate time for training?! Tsk! That’s why these youngsters are like this!”

Ah…

I really wish he would die.

What is the grim reaper doing? Why isn’t he taking this rascal away?

Whether Baek Cheon frowned or not, Cheong Myeong’s words continued.

“And you know, you shouldn’t refuse gifts in the first place. The Ice Palace specially prepared this; how disappointed would they be if you refused? It’s not like I’m doing this out of greed…”

“Cheong Myeong-ah.”

“Huh?”

“Please, just shut up…”

“…”

Their bickering stopped because a group of people was approaching them.

“Is the preparation finished?”

“Palace Lord.”

Baek Cheon nodded, looking at Seol So-baek and Han I-myeong approaching.

“Yes… We’ve roughly finished, but what’s with all these gifts…”

“The people of Hwasan helped the Northern Sea so much. We never forget kindness. If we were to send you away empty-handed, everyone here would point fingers at me. We can’t be negligent in our hospitality.”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul whispered quietly after hearing those words.

“He learned well.”

“…Too well, that’s the problem.”

As that thought occurred to them, they wondered why they didn’t consider the person who had to carry this luggage a long way!

“Still, this seems a bit excessive…”

Baek Cheon carefully opened his mouth, trying to reduce the luggage even a little, but Seol So-baek clasped his hands first.

“Therefore, I beg you, Baek Cheon, don’t say no to our gift. It’s from our hearts.”

“…”

Baek Cheon stared blankly at Seol So-baek, then glanced at Cheong Myeong. They looked at each other, and Cheong Myeong looked at the distant sky and whistled.

‘They planned this.’

They planned it.

How long have these people known each other to be so in sync?

Cheong Myeong was one thing, but Seol So-baek followed Cheong Myeong so perfectly, even though people usually don’t like him. He was no ordinary human either.

However, with Seol So-baek, the Palace Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, saying this, Baek Cheon only had one thing to say.

“…I am grateful for your consideration, Palace Lord.”

“He’s done for.”

“When you look at Senior Disciple, he’s not very useful compared to his grand words.”

“Shhh. He’ll hear you.”

I already heard you, you little bastards…

Baek Cheon felt defeated and raised his head. At that moment, Han I-myeong stepped forward and spoke.

“Winter has not yet passed, so the road back to the Central Plains will be quite rough. How about staying a few more days?”

“I am grateful for your words. However…”

Baek Cheon spoke politely and smiled as he watched the disciples securing the luggage.

“I don’t have the confidence to stop the guys who are excited to go home. Of course, I’m just as excited.”

“Hwasan must be a really good place.”

“I don’t know if others think so too. But at least for the disciples of Hwasan, Hwasan is a place that cannot be compared to anything else.”

Seol So-baek’s eyes lit up at those words.

“Hearing you say that makes me want to go there. Will I ever be able to visit Hwasan?”

Baek Cheon smiled and nodded.

“Hwasan will always welcome you, Palace Lord. After the Northern Sea is settled, please be sure to visit.”

“I will definitely remember those words.”

Seol So-baek, having finished the conversation with Baek Cheon, approached Cheong Myeong. Cheong Myeong, who was looking at the luggage with a sullen face, turned his head towards Seol So-baek.

“Why?”

“Sir… If you go like this…”

Cheong Myeong, seeing Seol So-baek’s eyes sparkling like a tearful puppy’s, stepped back slightly.

‘Did I see wrong?’

‘Oh my god, Cheong Myeong stepped back.’

‘So there are people he finds difficult to deal with too.’

Cheong Myeong, seeing the tearful eyes, eventually closed his eyes tightly and lightly patted Seol So-baek’s head.

“It’s okay to be sad, even if you are a Palace Lord,” Chung Myung said gently. “But don’t cry too much.”

Seol Sobaek nodded, wiping her eyes. “Yes.”

Chung Myung looked at her seriously. “Do your best. Try as hard as you can. If you do, the Northern Sea will be strong again.”

“I will,” she said quietly.

“And if you try your hardest, but things still don’t work out,” Chung Myung continued, “forget about it and move on.”

Seol Sobaek looked confused. “Forget about it?”

Chung Myung spoke clearly, “It’s not all your fault.”

Seol Sobaek closed her mouth, thinking hard.

“You don’t have to do everything alone,” Chung Myung explained. “The Northern Sea will change because of all the people here, not just you.”

“Being Palace Lord means you have power, but also responsibility,” he continued. “If you hold onto all the power, you will have too much responsibility. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Instructor, I understand,” Seol Sobaek said, nodding slowly.

“Good.” Chung Myung smiled a little, a warm and encouraging smile. “You’ll be great.”

Seol Sobaek looked up, a tiny smile starting to form.

“So, cheer up!” Chung Myung said, clapping her gently on the shoulder. “You look so sad! It’s not like we’re never going to see each other again. You’ll visit the Central Plains, and we’ll meet then.”

“Yes!” Seol Sobaek said, her voice brighter.

Chung Myung nodded to Seol Sobaek, who looked a little happier, and then turned to Han Imyeong.

Han Imyeong understood and stepped back, so Chung Myung could talk to him privately.

“Soon, the Cheonwoo Alliance will start with a big ceremony,” Chung Myung said. “It will be official then.”

“So, the Northern Sea Ice Palace needs to be there too,” Han Imyeong replied.

“Yes. Someone will contact you to arrange the time later, but it’s good to be ready.”

Han Imyeong nodded silently. “I will be ready, Instructor. Don’t worry.”

Negotiations about the Cheonwoo Alliance were finished. The Ice Palace agreed to join with Hwasan, the Tang Family, and the Beast Palace. These four groups, and smaller groups with them, will be the main part of the Cheonwoo Alliance.

“Well, then…” Chung Myung turned quickly to the Hwasan disciples. “Let’s go!”

The sky was a bright, clear blue, making the white snow even brighter. The air was so cold it bit at your cheeks. Everything was silent, except for the soft crunch of snow underfoot.

Buildings of pure white, shining in the sun, stood tall. From the main palace to the high walls around the city, warriors of the Ice Palace stood in lines on both sides of the main road.

Warriors dressed in white stood in perfect lines on the snow. They looked like statues in the white world. Not a single warrior moved or spoke. They were waiting.

Then, creak… creak…

A black cart, piled high with bags and boxes, slowly came into view. It looked strange in this white and silent place. But the warriors did not laugh. They watched the Hwasan disciples with serious and respectful eyes.

“Wow, look at all of them!” one of the Hwasan disciples whispered. “They really came out in this cold?”

The Hwasan disciples awkwardly scratched their heads and walked forward.

Then, with a firm step, Songwon, the captain of the guard, stepped forward. He wore his full uniform, and you could feel the strength and discipline of a Northern Sea warrior just by looking at him.

He took a deep breath, put his hands together in front of him, and shouted to the Hwasan disciples, “The Northern Sea does not forget kindness!”

At the same time, all the warriors of the Northern Sea put their hands together and repeated in a loud voice, “The Northern Sea does not forget kindness!”

Songwon raised his head, looked at the Hwasan disciples, and shouted again, even louder, “We are grateful to those who helped us!”

“We are grateful to those who helped us!” the warriors echoed.

Then, all the warriors knelt down on one knee. It was the greatest respect a warrior could show. The Hwasan disciples stopped talking, surprised by the sudden formality. Their eyes widened, and they just stared, speechless.

“Wait,” Chung Myung said softly, stopping Baek Cheon. “Just… let them show their thanks. We don’t need to say anything.”

Baek Cheon nodded slowly. “…”

“Let’s go,” Chung Myung said gently.

“Alright,” Baek Cheon replied, and started pulling the cart.

With each step, the warriors of the Northern Sea showed their respect and thanks.

“Thank you!”

“Please come back again!”

“The Northern Sea will always remember Hwasan!”

The Hwasan disciples put their hands together, bowing to the left and right as they walked, pulling the heavy cart.

Even people from the town came out, waving and bowing deeply.

“Thank you!”

“Thank you so much, Hwasan people!”

“We will tell everyone in the Northern Sea about Hwasan!”

Baek Cheon had always believed in chivalry – doing good without asking for anything back. But now, seeing this, he understood something more. It wasn’t just about not asking for reward; it was that this kind of heartfelt thanks was worth more than any reward. He felt a warmth spread through his chest.

Loud cheers and words of thanks filled the air as the Hwasan disciples reached the gates. They stopped for a moment, stepping to the sides of the cart.

Baek Cheon, as the leader, put his hands together. “On behalf of Hwasan, thank you to the Northern Sea for your kindness. If you ever need Hwasan again, we will come, even if it’s a very long journey!”

“Thank you!”

“Goodbye, and come back!”

The Hwasan disciples waved back, smiling, and then got back in front of the cart. They felt a sense of accomplishment and happiness, not sadness, as they turned to leave.

“Okay, let’s go!” Chung Myung called out, his voice full of energy.

“Yes!” the others shouted back.

Laughing, they ran out of the gates and onto the bright white snow, their laughter echoing in the cold air.

“We’re going straight home to Hwasan!”

“Yeah!”

Soon, the cart and the running figures disappeared into the distance.

Seol Sobaek watched them go, until they were just tiny dots in the distance. Then, she spoke quietly, “They’re gone.”

“Yes, they have left,” Han Imyeong replied.

As she watched them disappear, Seol Sobaek felt a pang of sadness. She would miss them, but also felt a new sense of purpose.

“We have much to do now, Chief Manager,” she said, turning to Han Imyeong.

“Yes, Palace Lord. We will be very busy,” he agreed.

The Northern Sea would change, she knew. The ice would always be here, and the snow would still fall hard, but now, the wind of the Northern Sea would carry a faint, sweet scent of plum blossoms – a reminder of Hwasan and hope.

“Farewell…” Seol Sobaek whispered, putting her hands together and smiling gently.

‘Farewell, Chung Myung Instructor. Farewell, Hwasan people. We will not forget you.’

The pale sunlight of the Northern Sea touched the snow where the cart had passed, leaving a trail of sparkling light, like a promise of a brighter future. Seol Sobaek took a deep breath of the cold air, filled with a new determination. The Northern Sea would change, and she would lead the way.