Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 562

Bubbles rose and popped in the bluish pot, making a soft *ssssh* sound. *Ssssh! Ssssssh!* The sound was steady, like a gentle whisper.

“Oh…,” Im So-byeong breathed. He watched the pot closely.

*Ssssh! Ssssssssh!*

Im So-byeong swallowed, his throat tight with worry. Inside the pot, a thick liquid steamed. It swirled with colors – hints of green, gold, and purple – like a sunset mixed together. Cheong-myeong stood over the pot, stirring with a long spoon. His face showed nothing, but it was clear he was making something important.

“Um….”

Im So-byeong glanced at Cheong-myeong’s face and cautiously spoke.

“How much longer do we need to….”

“Water!”

“Yes!”

Im So-byeong dashed out as quickly as he could, considering he was supposed to be a patient. Soon, he came running back with a bottle of water and handed it to Cheong-myeong.

“Here it is!”

But as soon as Cheong-myeong saw the water bottle, his face showed displeasure.

“Not that! I need something cold! Ice-cold water with ice floating in it!”

“I-ice water?” Im So-byeong asked without thinking, flustered. Cheong-myeong glared at him.

“Are you trying to ruin the elixir, old man? Don’t you know how important this is?”

“Ah, no! Of course not!”

“If the mixture is off even a little, it’s ruined! Don’t you want to be cured? Should I just dump it all out?”

“N-no, of course not!”

“Run!”

“Yes!”

Im So-byeong dashed out again like a thunderbolt.

A little while later, he returned, sweating heavily, with a bottle of ice water.

“Oho. Where did you get the ice?”

“I, I dug it up from the cave down below! I asked the disciples of the Moon Sect and found my way there!”

“That’s quite far, but you were quick. Give it here.”

“Here! Here it is.”

Im So-byeong quickly and respectfully offered the bottle, and Cheong-myeong took it with one hand while stirring the pot.

Then, without hesitation, he brought the bottle to his lips.

Glug! Glug! Glug!

“……”

“Kroooooh! That’s refreshing!”

“……”

Im So-byeong’s face fell. He looked completely disappointed.

You’re drinking it… No, is the esteemed Taoist drinking it….

And here I thought you were putting it in the elixir….

“Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

Im So-byeong forcefully suppressed the tears that were about to fall.

But Cheong-myeong’s demands showed no sign of ending.

“Ah, I’m hungry and losing strength?”

“Shall I bring you some sweets?”

“Are you serious? Do you think I live on sweets every day?”

“S-sorry….”

“Pancakes too.”

“……”

Im So-byeong clenched his fists at his sides. His jaw tightened, and a muscle jumped in his cheek.

“Why?”

“……It’s nothing.”

But what could he do? Cheong-myeong was in charge.

The Hunyuan elixir that Cheong-myeong was making was the only way to cure his illness. The moment Cheong-myeong ruined the elixir production, Im So-byeong’s life would be ruined.

So, he had no choice but to endure, no matter how dirty and unpleasant it was.

‘If I can just cure my illness, I’ll really….”

“Oops! My hand slipped….”

“Hiiiik!”

At that moment, the pot tilted to the side. Startled, Im So-byeong threw himself forward and grabbed the pot with his entire body.

“B-be careful!”

“Ah, I guess it’s because I’m hungry? I can’t seem to get any strength in my hands.”

“Ughhh. J-just wait a little longer! I’ll be right back!”

“Eh, what’s the rush? Take your time.”

“You little….”

“Yes?”

“……Nothing. I’ll be right back, right now!”

Im So-byeong dashed out again. The disciples of Mount Hua, who were watching the scene, shook their heads.

“He’s even using the Green Forest King as a servant.”

“……Indeed. The Green Forest King, no less.”

Before Cheong-myeong’s devilry, neither the lofty name of the Ice Palace Lord of the Northern Sea nor the infamy of the Green Forest King held any particular meaning. At least, not to that Cheong-myeong.

Watching Cheong-myeong casually use the Green Forest King like a servant made them feel strange.

“Why did he come to Mount Hua of all places….”

“His life is on the line, isn’t it?”

“Sasuk, then choose between meeting Cheong-myeong and simply dying.”

“……I’d rather just die.”

“Right?”

Everyone sighed deeply, feeling sorry for Im So-byeong’s situation.

Hollow eyes.

Chapped lips.

A bloodless face.

“…….”

Im So-byeong slumped down in front of the pot, looking like a patient… No, he was originally a patient, but he looked even more like one.

On the other hand, Cheong-myeong, who was stirring the pot, had a healthy glow on his face, as if he had been eating and drinking well.

“Krooh, my throat’s dry again.”

“……Here it is.”

“Huh? You prepared it in advance?”

“……Yes. It’s the Taoist’s favorite liquor.”

The fundamental question of whether one should be drinking liquor while making an elixir had long since disappeared from Im So-byeong’s mind. Arguing about such things with that Cheong-myeong was utterly meaningless.

Cheong-myeong pursed his lips as he looked at the bottle Im So-byeong offered.

“It’s all warm. I like it cold.”

“……Wait here.”

Im So-byeong gripped the bottle with trembling hands and channeled his cold energy into it.

Instantly, frost formed on the bottle, and ice crystals floated in the liquor.

“Here it is.”

“Krooh, how convenient. As expected of someone with three yin and half a severed meridian. You control cold energy freely! It must be cool even in the middle of summer. Lucky you.”

“…….”

Cheong-myeong, muttering casually, snatched the bottle and stuck it to his lips. His Adam’s apple moved greatly with each gulp.

“Krooh! This is the taste! This is the taste!”

Im So-byeong simply stared at the scene with even more hollow eyes.

Just become a bandit.

I’ll be the Taoist.

Does the heavens even have a brain? If it did, it would have made that bastard a bandit and Im So-byeong a Taoist.

How could it handle things so poorly?

“……Is there anything else you need?”

“Hmm, what else could there be?”

Im So-byeong’s eyes twitched as he watched Cheong-myeong, moving his hands and deep in thought.

‘Why….”

Why does that damned elixir show no sign of being completed?

He’s been making the elixir for three days straight! Non-stop!

Thanks to that, he hasn’t slept a wink for three days, attending to all sorts of chores here!

“……Excuse me, Taoist Cheong-myeong.”

“Yes?”

“Is it even going to be completed…?”

“Tch?!”

Having endured as much as he could, he finally asked, but Cheong-myeong glared and snapped irritably.

“Rice has to be cooked to become rice! Does it become rice just because you rush it? Is it because you’re a bandit who only eats raw rice? You have no patience at all!”

……How long are you going to boil rice for three days? It would be burnt to a crisp by now.

And bandits do cook rice….

Then Cheong-myeong shrugged and said.

“Just wait a little longer. It’s almost done.”

“R-really?”

“Have you lived your life being deceived?”

“…….”

Tears welled up in Im So-byeong’s eyes.

‘How did I end up….”

The bandit who had upheld righteousness, benevolence, propriety, wisdom, loyalty, and filial piety, unlike a bandit, was learning about life at the hands of a Taoist who had never upheld such things in his life.

“Eeeh-chaaaa!”

It was that moment.

He would lie as easily as breathing, but he didn’t lie… No, as if to prove that he only lied occasionally, a dazzling light suddenly began to burst forth from the pot.

“Oh!”

At the same time, a look of joy began to spread across Im So-byeong’s face, which had been on the verge of death.

The five-colored light that had been bursting forth turned purple in an instant, and an incredibly wonderful purple light filled the room.

“It’s done!”

“Oooooooooh!” Lim Sobyeong jumped up from his seat. His eyes were glued to the purple liquid moving slowly in the pot.

“I-Is that the Honwon Dan?” he asked, his voice shaking a little.

“It’s better than that,” said Chung Myung.

“Oh…” Lim Sobyeong’s mouth went dry. He swallowed hard, his eyes wide with hope.

Even though he wasn’t sure if it was ‘better,’ Lim Sobyeong knew this medicine was special. ‘This is really amazing!’ he thought. He had drunk so many medicines trying to get better.

Some were so rare, you couldn’t buy them even with lots of gold. But none of them looked this powerful just by looking at it.

And the smell! It was clear and sweet, filling his nose. Honwon Dan or not, this medicine was the best kind, hard to find anywhere in the world.

“Oof!” Suddenly, Chung Myung kicked the pot hard. It flew up into the air!

“Eek! Wh-What!” Lim Sobyeong cried out. The thick medicine splashed up. Lim Sobyeong looked like he was about to faint, but Chung Myung stayed calm. He pulled out his sword and quickly cut the medicine as it flew up.

*Whoosh!* The medicine broke into many small pieces. They rolled into round balls and dropped to the floor with soft *thump, thump* sounds.

‘Fi-Finally!’

At long last, the medicine had taken the complete form of pills and lay neatly arranged on the floor. Lim Sobyeong watched, forgetting even to breathe.

“C-Can I eat them now?”

“Yes. It’s finished.”

“Th-Thank you, Daojang!”

After a tearful time of perseverance, he had finally obtained the medicine. He reached out his hand towards the prize.

But at that moment…

“Uh, not those.”

“Yes?”

“Yours are these.”

Lim Sobyeong shifted his gaze slightly towards where Chung Myung was pointing. A few pills were set apart from the neatly arranged rows of medicine.

“Those ones?”

“Yes.”

“Why are those separate?”

Chung Myung grinned.

“The others are just normal medicine, but yours are special medicine.”

“What’s the difference?” Lim Sobyeong asked.

“Ha! Even if people have the same sickness, they need different help depending on how they are. You can’t give the same thing to someone very sick and someone just a little sick! It’s simple!” Chung Myung grinned.

“So, I used a smaller pot to make these just for you. I’m very careful, you see.”

‘No wonder there were two pots.’ Lim Sobyeong stared at his portion of the Jasodan with suspicious eyes.

“Um… Daojang?”

“Yes?”

“These look a bit lighter in color,” Lim Sobyeong said, pointing to his pills.

“That’s just in your head,” Chung Myung said quickly.

“……And they don’t smell as strong,” Lim Sobyeong added, sniffing.

Chung Myung sniffed loudly. “Smells the same to me!” he said.

“……Can’t I just have one of those?” Lim Sobyeong asked, looking at the bigger pile.

“Why don’t you trust me? Have people cheated you a lot?”

Lim Sobyeong started to cry a little. ‘You can’t trust anyone,’ he thought sadly. ‘How can I trust *you*? I’d rather trust Maninbang…’

At the same time, Chung Myung quickly gathered the Jasodan pills he made into a bag he got from somewhere. He moved so fast, like he didn’t want Lim Sobyeong to even touch them.

“You’ll eat them right away, right?”

“……”

“Eat them quickly. I’ll guide your energy.”

Lim Sobyeong, his eyes swimming with suspicion, looked back and forth between the medicine Chung Myung offered and the bag, then sighed in resignation.

“I-If I eat just this, my illness will really be cured, right?”

“Stop talking and eat it quickly.”

“……I’ll trust you.”

With a resigned expression, he sat cross-legged on the spot. He felt tense all over. The thumping of his heart echoed loudly in his ears.

‘Please!’ With a determined look, he tossed the medicine into his mouth. Then, closing his eyes, he began to circulate his inner energy.

“Turn it around inside you as I help,” Chung Myung said.

Unable to speak, Lim Sobyeong nodded slightly. Chung Myung put his hand on Lim Sobyeong’s shoulder and gently helped his energy move.

*Whoosh!* Soon, bright, clean energy came out of Lim Sobyeong’s body.

The Mount Hua students watched from far away and whispered in surprise.

“Is it really working?”

“It can’t be a trick, right?”

“Shhh! Be quiet! You’ll make it go wrong!”

*Whoosh!* The energy, which was moving slowly at first, became stronger and stronger. The powerful energy lifted Lim Sobyeong a little bit off the floor.

The clear energy slowly turned purple. At the same time, sweat ran down Lim Sobyeong’s face and body like heavy rain.

“Hoo!” Chung Myung, who was usually joking, was now very serious. He focused hard on guiding the energy.

*BOOM!* Suddenly, a cold, white light burst out of Lim Sobyeong like a snowslide, mixing with the purple energy.

“Oh!”

“Th-That!” someone gasped. The bad energy that had been hurting him inside was finally leaving his body.

*BOOM!* The strong energies moving around slowly became calm again. They wrapped around Lim Sobyeong like a gentle river. Then, slowly, they went back into his body.

“It’s finished,” Chung Myung said, breathing out slowly. He took his hand off Lim Sobyeong’s shoulder and stepped back.

Now, only Lim Sobyeong’s soft breathing could be heard inside the hall.

A moment later, Lim Sobyeong finished moving the energy inside him and opened his eyes wide. Bright light seemed to shine from him.

He looked around slowly, then stood up.

“Wow…” someone whispered.

“Oh…” another student breathed. The Mount Hua students watching couldn’t help but gasp. Lim Sobyeong looked very different now. He wasn’t showing off his power, but you could feel a new strength in him.

Most of all, his face, which was always white and sick-looking, was now full of life and color.

“……Yes, it’s true,” Lim Sobyeong said. A big, sure smile came on his face.

“Like the old stories say, a magic medicine from heaven. It’s even better than they said. I am very thankful to Mount Hua.”

“……Huh?”

‘His voice has changed a bit?’ Chung Myung tilted his head slightly and asked.

“How do you feel?” Chung Myung asked.

“I feel amazing! Full of energy! It’s flowing everywhere! The bad energy in my chest is almost gone! This is really the Honwon Dan, the medicine of the gods! It’s worth so much money!”

Chung Myung frowned a little.

“Your voice changed a lot, didn’t it?”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry, Daojang! I’m not someone who forgets who helped me. Mount Hua is my helper, and I will be very polite! Hahahahaha! Ha! Uh… Cough! Uh?”

Lim Sobyeong’s happy face suddenly became stiff and twisted in confusion.

“Cough! No, why is this… Cough! Ugh, cough! Ah, no! Cough!” He held his back and bent over, coughing up blood. He didn’t even wipe it away, just looked at Chung Myung with wide, confused eyes.

Chung Myung scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.

“Well, it did get a bit better, but…” He clicked his tongue.

“You’re now about halfway cured.”

“……Ha-Half cured?” Lim Sobyeong stammered.

“Don’t worry! Getting better takes more than one time. Just eat it two or three more times, and you’ll be completely fine!”

“……” Lim Sobyeong couldn’t speak for a moment. He looked from Chung Myung’s face to the pills in his hand, then seemed to understand and asked, “Of course…”

“Yes?” Chung Myung replied.

“I have to pay more, right…?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe, I thought so,” Lim Sobyeong said weakly.

“You…!” he started to say, then just mumbled, “You bad person.” *Thud.* He fell to the floor.

Chung Myung smiled, happy with himself, as he watched Lim Sobyeong pass out. Lim Sobyeong’s face showed both happiness and sadness at the same time. Chung Myung pointed to the Mount Hua students.

“Put him in the storage room, or somewhere.”

“……Okay,” one student said.

“See? You should always be the same, from start to finish. Tsk,” Chung Myung said, shaking his head.

Baek Cheon sighed, watching Jo Gul carry Lim Sobyeong away.

‘Yes, Chung Myung,’ Baek Cheon thought. ‘You really are the same all the time.’ ‘That’s the problem… you’re *too* much the same….’