Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 557

“So, um….”

He started to look suspicious.

Hyun Jong stared at the man sitting before him.

“Of the Green Forest…?”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

The seated man bowed deeply to Hyun Jong with the utmost courtesy.

“I am Im So-byeong, the current leader of the Green Forest, though I am inadequate.”

“Green Forest….”

Hyun Jong’s gaze flicked to the side. Baek Cheon, who met his eyes, subtly avoided his gaze.

Really, Cheong Myung was the one to blame for this. But Hyun Jong didn’t want to ask Cheong Myung about it. Baek Cheon also thought it was pointless.

“So… the Green Forest King….”

“Yes, that is correct, Sect Leader.”

At the repeated confirmation, Hyun Jong looked at the ceiling and chuckled.

‘In all my life….’

I’ve seen all sorts of things. Yes, I have indeed seen all sorts of things.

But even if Mount Hua wasn’t what it used to be, he never imagined he would live to see the Green Forest King enter Mount Hua.

Hyun Jong simply laughed in the face of an emotion he couldn’t quite describe.

What made him even more bewildered was the appearance of the man claiming to be the Green Forest King.

‘Doesn’t he look like a scholar to anyone?’

It wasn’t just his attire.

His every action and word exuded courtesy and grace. As the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, he wondered if he should even be thinking this, but no matter how he looked at it, the disciples of Mount Hua sitting behind him seemed more like bandits.

“To think that such a distinguished guest would visit Mount Hua….”

Originally, words of flattery, such as ‘it is the greatest honor’ or ‘the glory of three lifetimes,’ should have followed, but Hyun Jong couldn’t bring himself to say those words.

What Sect Leader of Mount Hua would welcome the Green Forest King?

If he misspoke here, the previous Sect Leaders who had ascended to the Immortal Realm might all appear in his dreams tonight and berate him.

Im So-byeong understood this quickly. He spoke before Hyun Jong could hesitate more.

“Given my position, I had many concerns on the way here. But to receive such a warm welcome, I am overwhelmed by the Sect Leader’s benevolence.”

“Haha. How can you say such a thing? All under Heaven are fellow disciples.”

Hyun Jong cleared his throat softly and offered Im So-byeong a teacup.

“It is not a precious tea, but it is made from the plum blossoms of Mount Hua, so please try it.”

“Thank you.”

Im So-byeong savored the tea with precise movements. He performed the tea ceremony perfectly. Hyun Jong was amazed.

‘Who is the bandit and who is the Taoist?’

Is it that the bandit leader who doesn’t seem like a bandit is wrong?

Or is it that the Taoist who seems like a bandit is wrong?

“The aroma is excellent. This tea captures the essence of Mount Hua.”

“…Thank you.”

“Haha! I have been troubled because there was no one around me who knew the tea ceremony, but meeting someone with such deep knowledge fills me with boundless joy. May I impudently ask for another cup?”

“Impudent? Of course, I must offer you another. Haha!”

Seeing the color return to Hyun Jong’s face, Jo Gul whispered to Yoon Jong.

“Senior Brother.”

“Hm?”

“He’s still a bandit leader, is it okay for the Sect Leader to be like this?”

“…How could that be the Sect Leader’s fault? It’s our ignorance.”

“Still, that’s….”

“Be quiet.”

Jo Gul, who was about to add more, eventually shook his head as if resigned.

“Yes.”

Hyun Jong, who had poured another cup of tea, asked Im So-byeong.

“The Green Forest has many enemies. It must have been hard to travel so far to Mount Hua. What brings you here?”

“Ah, that’s… Cough! Cough! Keheok! Cough!”

Hyun Jong was startled to see Im So-byeong suddenly shaking and coughing as if he were about to cough up a lung.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m, I’m alright… Cough! Cough! Oh dear, this cough… Cough! I’m, I’m sorry. My health isn’t very good….”

Hyun Jong was quite taken aback by the unexpected words.

The Green Forest King is weak?

Isn’t that similar to saying the Wudang Sect Leader can’t wield a sword, or the Shaolin Sect Leader can’t chant Buddhist scriptures?

Now that he thought about it, this man’s complexion wasn’t good, and he was quite thin.

“I have been ill since birth….”

“Ah, I see.”

“It’s alright. I’m fine… Kuweeeeek!”

Im So-byeong expertly pulled out a handkerchief with lightning speed and covered his mouth.

“Gasp?”

Hyun Jong’s eyes widened as he saw the cloth covering his mouth instantly turn red. Im So-byeong lightly dabbed at his mouth and said.

“I, I’m alright. It happens often… Cough.”

Seeing this, a look of pity crossed Hyun Jong’s face.

“It must have been difficult to rise to the position of Green Forest King with such a weak body.”

“I cannot change what I was born with, so I simply strive and work hard.”

“Oh….”

Hyun Jong’s expression changed as if he were looking at someone admirable.

After talking to him, wasn’t he truly a gentleman?

He couldn’t understand why such a person was staying in a rough place like the Green Forest.

Im So-byeong, who had calmed himself after a few small coughs, took a deep breath and spoke again.

“So, the reason I came here is….”

And after glancing at Cheong Myung once, he began to explain.

“So….”

A moment later, a vein began to throb on Hyun Jong’s forehead.

“That… you are in need of treatment because you are weak… and that….”

“Yes.”

“You took the money….”

“Over ten thousand gold. Cough!”

“But didn’t give the… the item….”

Eventually, Hyun Jong began to gasp and fall backward.

“Sect Leader!”

“Calm yourself, Sect Leader!”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young, who were standing on either side of him, grabbed Hyun Jong as he fell and began to vigorously rub the back of his neck.

“Kkeueuk….”

Hyun Jong, who was struggling to breathe, suddenly shot up, emitting a bright blue light from his eyes. His gaze was naturally directed towards Cheong Myung.

“…Is it true?”

“Hehe.”

Chung Myung, looking a bit sheepish, scratched the back of his head with a wry smile.

“Well, uh, about that… maybe there’s a small mix-up?”

“…Is it true?”

“It looks bad, I know, but there’s a real story to it…”

“Argh, you rotten scoundrel!”

With a roar, Hyun Jong grabbed the worn wooden pillow, its smooth surface cool against his hot hand. He swung it wildly, the wood whistling through the air, narrowly missing Chung Myung, who promptly flattened himself on the spot.

Hyun Jong’s face turned red as a tomato. Fists clenched and trembling, he roared,

“A disciple of Mount Hua has nothing better to do than swindle people? And! Huh? Bandits! Baaaandits! A Taoist disciple scamming bandits!”

“It wasn’t like I was trying to scam them. It’s just that when I got to Mount Hua, there weren’t any supplies…”

“That—that rascal is so bad, even water wouldn’t take him down!”

Hyun Jong, eyes rolling back in his head, lunged at Chung Myung, only to be restrained by Hyun Sang and Hyun Young, who gripped his shoulders tightly.

“C-calm yourself, Sect Leader! There are guests present!”

“Chung Myung must have had his reasons!”

“Reasons? *Reasons*?” Hyun Jong sputtered, his voice rising. “Has anyone *ever* seen this rascal think before he causes trouble? Huh? *Have you*?”

“…”

Hyun Jong, his strength spent, slumped back down.

“I’ve lived a long life… but never did I imagine I’d see a Mount Hua disciple swindling the Green Forest bandits. What is the world coming to…?”

Hyun Young, who had been listening quietly, scoffed.

“Well, let’s be honest. Bandits are bad guys, so scamming bad guys is a good deed!”

“You shut your mouth! You!”

Gathering the last of his strength, Hyun Jong hurled the remaining wooden pillow at Hyun Young before gasping for breath.

“C-calm down, Sect Leader.”

Even Im So-byeong, seeing Hyun Jong on the verge of collapse, stepped in to dissuade him.

“I… I am truly ashamed…”

At that moment, Chung Myung grumbled, his face clearly displeased with how things were turning out.

“Why are we apologising to some bandit? They should be grateful I didn’t chop off their heads.”

“You be quiet!”

Hyun Jong foamed at the mouth and kicked out at Chung Myung. However, Hyun Young and Hyun Sang were holding him so tightly that his white-socked feet only flailed pathetically in the air.

“To scam a sick person by promising to cure them! Is that something a Taoist, or even a human being, should do!”

“Heh heh heh. But when you think about it, this is a time-honoured tradition among Taoists. I’m sure our ancestors did it a few times too.”

“Kkeueueueuk.”

“Sect Leeeeader!”

“Summon Soso! Bring Soso here! Now!”

It took quite some time for the chaos to subside.

“…Listen carefully.”

“My arm hurts…”

“Listen carefully before I break your arm.”

“Kkeueung.”

Chung Myung knelt in the corner, his arms held high like a naughty child. Dust motes danced in the sunbeams slanting through the window, highlighting the stubborn set of his jaw. Even then, he continued to pout and complain.

Chung Myung: “Sect Leader, I have a certain social standing, and if you punish me in front of these green youngsters…”

Hyun Jong: “Social standing? *You*?” Hyun Jong scoffed, cutting him off. “What social standing? As a troublemaker?”

Chung Myung: “Well, I mean…”

“I think it’s a very appropriate punishment. That’s what I mean.”

“Kkeueung.”

Hyun Jong sighed deeply and glared at the other disciples with eyes like daggers. Baektian and the others all lowered their heads, avoiding Hyun Jong’s gaze.

“I…”

Hyun Jong growled.

“I won’t tell you to stop him! It’s not like that rascal listens when you try to stop him! I know you can’t do anything about it!”

“…”

“But if he caused trouble, you should have at least reported it! Why are you all stuck to Chung Myung, keeping your mouths shut? Is that how I taught you?”

“We are sorry.”

“We were wrong.”

It was only yesterday that he had praised them, delighted that they had all grown up and returned from the Northern Sea.

‘Grown up, my foot.’

At this point, Hyun Jong was beginning to fear what sort of chaos they had wrought in the Northern Sea. How would he know if they didn’t tell him?

Even in the past, when Chung Myung caused trouble, they would at least come running to tattle on him…

‘Kkeueung. I’d rather die than suffer.’

Hyun Jong sighed deeply and spoke to Im So-byeong in a voice full of apology.

“Anyway, I am very sorry. I took him in as a disciple but failed to raise him properly…”

“It’s alright, Sect Leader.”

Meanwhile, Im So-byeong shifted his weight from foot to foot, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. Small beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, even though the room was cool. He was sweating nervously.

Since there was no other solution, he had come all the way here to report it, but who would have imagined that the monster would be openly punished like a scolded child in school?

Although his martial prowess did not seem particularly high, Hyun Jong deserved high praise simply for being able to punish and control the Mount Hua Divine Dragon in this way.

“I wanted to wait as long as possible… but the illness has become so severe, and no matter how I think about it, the Mount Hua Divine Dragon doesn’t seem like the type to listen to nagging…”

“That’s right.”

“Wouldn’t he just do everything else and then, when he’s bored, quickly make the medicine and just throw it to them?”

Hyun Jong’s face flushed red at the murmurs coming from all directions.

When he went out and solved problems, he was the most reliable person in the world, but when he came back causing trouble, Hyun Jong wanted to drag him to Nagan Peak and throw him off.

Not that he would die, though.

“Anyway… I am truly sorry. I will urge him to get the spiritual medicine as quickly as possible.”

“How annoying…”

“You little rascal!”

Chung Myung pouted and glared at Im So-byeong.

“I need to talk to you later. I have something to say.”

“What’s with the threats, you rascal!”

Chung Myung, subdued by Hyun Jong’s outburst, pouted. Hyun Jong’s heart burned black as he watched.

Then, Im So-byeong, who had been smiling awkwardly all along, opened his mouth. His face was quite serious.

“And… the reason I visited Mount Hua is not solely for that matter.”

“Hmm?”

“I think I need to tell you something rather profound.”

Seeing his expression, Hyun Jong nodded slowly.

“Speak.”

Im So-byeong glanced around. Seeing his gesture, as if there were too many ears nearby, Hyun Jong said in a solemn tone,

“There are no secrets in Mount Hua. If there is something you cannot say to them, then Bindo should not hear it either.”

“…No. It’s not that big of a secret, so I’ll just tell you.”

Im So-byeong took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“The movements of the Myriad Man House are quite unusual.”

“…”

At that moment, the eyes of everyone in the room turned cold.