Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 555

Loud chewing sounds filled the room. *Chomp, chomp, chomp* went the hungry mouths.

Drinks poured down throats with a *glug, glug, glug* sound, like water rushing from a bottle.

It wasn’t particularly special. It was a common sight in Mount Hua.

Except that the sound was coming from the Head Disciple’s room instead of the dining hall, and the ones drinking alcohol like water were not Chung Myung but Baek Cheon and his group.

Kraaah! I feel alive again!

Senior Brother! Senior Brother! More drinks here!

And more meat, please!

It was funny to see the disciples of the Plum Blossom Sword Hall eating and drinking so much right in front of the Head Disciple. Plates piled high with roasted meat, smelling smoky and delicious, and jugs of strong, clear alcohol were set on the table. Hyun Jong watched them, his eyes crinkling at the corners as a warm smile spread across his face. It was good to see them home and happy.

Eat slowly, everyone. You’ll choke.

As soon as the children came up to Mount Hua, Hyun Young swiftly prepared the alcohol and meat he had been preparing every morning, just in case.

At first, they were wary, but nothing could stand against hunger. After a few bites, they loosened their belts as if they had never hesitated.

Phew, I’m finally full.

I told you we should have stopped at an inn along the way!

We ate after arriving, so it’s fine.

At that moment, Hyun Young, who was pushing a sweet treat into Chung Myung’s mouth with a familiar gesture, asked casually.

Shall I prepare another table?

No, thank you, Elder.

I’m fine now.

Alright, alright. If you’re hungry, there’s more food in the dining hall, so eat as much as you want. Tsk tsk. These poor things look so gaunt.

Hyun Young, looking at everyone with pitiful eyes, clicked his tongue.

As the disciples seemed to have filled their bellies, Hyun Jong quietly opened his mouth.

So, did you handle the matters of the Ice Palace well?

We have much to tell you.

Baek Cheon, who had subtly hidden the liquor bottle behind his back, opened his mouth with a serious face.

It will be a rather long story.

Then let’s hear it tomorrow. Rest for now.

No. It doesn’t seem like something that can be put off until tomorrow, so I’ll tell you now.

Baek Cheon took a slight deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.

In the Northern Sea…

And so, a long story unfolded. The story of what they saw upon arriving in the Northern Sea and the circumstances of the Ice Palace. Even the things they fought against with the Demonic Sect.

The story was long and went on and on, so much so that even as he spoke, he realized how much he himself had experienced.

And when Baek Cheon’s story finally came to an end, the faces of the elders were frozen as coldly as they could possibly be.

The Demonic Sect…

Unlike Hyun Jong, who couldn’t bring himself to continue speaking, Hyun Young’s face became red with anger.

Those crazy bastards!

Soon, a great roar erupted.

The Demonic Sect! Do you even know what the Demonic Sect is, that you waged war against those bastards on your own! What were you going to do if you died!

It wasn’t a situation where we could back down. The situation in the Northern Sea was too dire…

Who cares about the Northern Sea, you fools! What in the world is more precious than your lives! Even if you had suffered misfortune, who would have praised you for it!

Sasuk, calm down.

How can I calm down right now!

I said, calm down.

When Hyun Sang stopped him, Hyun Young shut his mouth with a very displeased look. But his face was still full of anger that he hadn’t fully released.

The disciples of Mount Hua, who had been struck by lightning, hung their heads low. They knew what Hyun Young was saying with such a heart, so they couldn’t even make excuses.

Baek Cheon.

Yes, Head Disciple.

As the Head Disciple of Mount Hua, I must praise you, and all of you.

…

How can I scold you for not losing your sense of justice even in that distant, faraway land, and for doing your best for the people of the Northern Sea? Mount Hua is a good and honest sect. So, I should praise you and give you rewards.

Head Disciple…

But I cannot bring myself to do so.

Hyun Jong slowly shook his head.

My feelings are no different from Hyun Young’s. If you had suffered harm there, I would have regretted my decision for the rest of my life. Even if I were told that I am not qualified to be the Head Disciple of the Great Mount Hua, I will not praise you for this matter.

I am sorry, Head Disciple.

Baek Cheon said in a heavy voice and lowered his head. Hyun Jong closed his eyes and nodded.

You have suffered much.

…

You have truly suffered much.

Baek Cheon thought about what Hyun Jong meant by those words, his eyes somehow grew hot.

If they had been praised for doing a great job, they would have felt good, but they would not have felt the same emotions as they did now.

The disciples of Mount Hua felt as if they were being compensated for all the hardships they had endured in the Northern Sea with just those words from Hyun Jong.

I told you to go to the Northern Sea, but you went to a den of devils!

But Hyun Young still spoke with a face that couldn’t hide his annoyance.

I should have refused when that damned So Lim monk was running his mouth!

Damned So Lim monk?

I’m talking about that So Lim abbot, Beop Jeong or whatever his name is!

Hye, Hyun Young!

Hyun Jong was startled and looked at Hae Yeon’s face.

Watch your mouth! We’re not the only ones here…

Ah, it’s okay.

Huh?

Chung Myung, who had been silent all along, grinned.

That one? It’s okay. Feel free to curse.

…

He curses too, you know.

Wh, when did I ever, Benefactor!

Hae Yeon was flustered and looked back as if seeking help, but the disciples of Mount Hua were only telling what they had seen and heard.

I heard it too.

Me too.

Phew, he was really tearing them apart…

…

Hae Yeon gaped with a look of utter injustice. But the Mount Hua disciples looked at him and made jokes easily.

Hyun Sang and Hyun Jong looked at each other’s faces and nodded.

It’ll be alright.

It’ll be alright.

It seemed that the relationship between Hae Yeon and the Mount Hua disciples had deepened even further after their trip to the Northern Sea.

As the problem that wasn’t a problem was neatly resolved, Hyun Young shouted again.

They told us to investigate because they saw members of the Demonic Sect, but this is like sending people straight into danger! If I had known the Northern Sea was in such a state, who would have even set foot there! Those fools need a huge wake-up call!

Ah, Amitabha! Amitabha! Hae Yeon chanted, saying a prayer to Buddha.

Hae Yeon chanted the Buddha’s name repeatedly, as if to purify the wicked words he had heard with his own ears. But even so, he did not blame those words for being wrong.

Head Disciple.

At that time, Hyun Sang cautiously opened his mouth.

This is no ordinary matter.

Hmm.

Even though they are not the most important group in the Demonic Sect and are those who have broken away from the sect, the fact that they have reached the point of plotting the resurrection of the Heavenly Demon means that the other Demonic Sect groups have also gathered enough strength.

That’s right.

The Sect Leader began to speak about a dangerous situation. “Luckily, our young disciples stopped their enemies’ plans. If things had gone wrong, something terrible would have happened to the Jianghu again.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong nodded slowly, his face serious and lined with worry. Who could understand the terror associated with the name ‘Demonic Sect’ better than the disciples of Mount Hua?

“This isn’t something we can discuss amongst ourselves. It concerns the entire Jianghu.”

“Yes, Sect Leader, I agree completely. This is too big for us to handle alone.”

“First, we must inform Shaolin and ask for their advice.”

Hyun Jong, who had been reciting a quiet prayer with his eyes closed, looked up at his disciples.

“Very well. I understand. Let us continue this after you’ve rested. You must be tired; go and rest for today.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Baek Cheon bowed and rose, and everyone else followed him.

“Chung Myung, you stay for a moment.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung awkwardly sat back down, while Baek Cheon glanced at him with an anxious expression before heading out.

“Hmm.”

The sound of the door closing echoed as Hyun Jong, now alone with Chung Myung, cleared his throat. He opened his mouth to speak.

But at that moment, Hyun Young suddenly grabbed Chung Myung, grabbing his cheeks and stretching them from side to side.

“You’ve been overdoing it again! Oh, you reckless boy!”

“Oww⋯⋯. It hurts.”

“You! You naughty boy! You!”

“It hurts⋯⋯.”

“Tsk!”

Hyun Young released Chung Myung’s reddened cheeks, frowning with displeasure. He then spoke in a stern voice.

“Don’t ever do anything so foolish again! Do you understand?”

“Is that something I can control?”

“You little!”

Seeing Hyun Young ready to turn him over and spank him, Chung Myung slowly backed away.

Eventually, Hyun Sang sighed and stopped his junior brother.

“Stop nagging and come sit down. The Sect Leader has something to say to Chung Myung, that’s why he asked him to stay.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

As Hyun Young returned to his seat, Hyun Jong smiled kindly at Chung Myung.

“You must have gone through a lot.”

“It was nothing.”

“Indeed. What is the situation with the Ice Palace?”

“There shouldn’t be any problems for a while.”

Chung Myung said in a clear voice.

“The contract is one thing, but we’ve also built trust. Now that they know we’ll always try to protect them, there shouldn’t be any issues in our relationship.”

Hyun Jong nodded with a pleased expression.

“Making money is not as important as earning people’s trust. You have obtained something truly great.”

At the praise for Chung Myung, a truly delighted smile bloomed on Hyun Young’s face.

“Yes, that’s Chung Myung for you.”

Hyun Jong nodded as if agreeing with Hyun Young’s affirmation.

“So, your trip to the Northern Sea was certainly meaningful, but the situation seems far from reassuring. In a dangerous situation, you need to be careful.”

“I think so too.”

“So I ask.”

He looked at Chung Myung with calm eyes and asked.

“What should we do from now on?”

“⋯⋯.”

“Tell me what you really think.”

Uncharacteristically, Chung Myung fell silent with a troubled expression. As he organized his thoughts for a long while, everyone waited for him without urging.

Finally, Chung Myung raised his head and gazed steadily at Hyun Jong.

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes.”

“I can’t do anything alone.”

“⋯⋯.”

“If I didn’t have my martial uncles and senior brothers this time, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything either.”

“Hmm.”

“The same goes for Mount Hua. In a situation where we don’t know when the Demonic Sect will reveal itself again, it’s difficult to prepare for the calamity with our strength alone.”

“⋯⋯The Heavenly Union.”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung nodded.

“We need to make the Heavenly Union official, which is still just words, and work together closely. The bigger the ship, the safer it is.”

“How coincidental.”

Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung thoughtfully.

Originally, the reason Chung Myung went to the Northern Sea was to have the existence of the Heavenly Union recognized by the existing powers, led by Shaolin.

But now that the need for the Heavenly Union has grown even greater after visiting the Northern Sea, how could this not be a coincidence?

“We should send word to the Tang family to finish planning the opening ceremony.”

“Yes. That would be good. There are also some things I need to discuss with the Tang family separately.”

Hyun Jong nodded slowly.

“Mount Hua must not stop moving forward either. Although Mount Hua is becoming more famous, but we are still not strong enough.”

“That’s right.”

“It’s difficult.”

As worry settled on Hyun Jong’s face, Chung Myung cautiously opened his mouth.

“Well, it’s not all that difficult.”

“Hmm?”

“Still, everyone is working hard. We just need to keep doing what we’re doing. It’s slow, but it’s the safest path.”

Hyun Jong silently gazed at Chung Myung. A warm aura lingered in his benevolent eyes.

Hyun Jong felt a warmth spread through him. *I am pleased,* he thought. Chung Myung is truly changing.

Chung Myung had always lived a busy life.

From the sidelines, it was hard to understand why he was always in such a hurry, pushing himself and those around him so hard.

But now, that same Chung Myung was discussing slowness in front of them.

No, it’s not slowness.

It was trust.

Even if he didn’t shout or rant, he trusted that Mount Hua and his fellow disciples would not stop striving.

This was something Chung Myung hadn’t possessed before leaving for the Northern Sea.

“Will you lead?”

“We’re going together.”

The two men, who had exchanged words that weren’t completely clear, smiled at each other.

“You too have gained much from the Northern Sea.”

“It was just cold, though?”

“Hahahaha.”

Hyun Jong burst into a hearty laugh, a most affectionate smile gracing his lips.

“Yes. That’s enough.”

Hyun Jong’s laughter, as he chuckled once more, echoed out of the hall.

And⋯⋯.

On the ridge of Mount Hua, where the warm breeze of spring swept in after a long winter, the first plum blossom of the year delicately opened its petals slowly.

Spring was coming to Mount Hua.

A most warm spring.