Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 566

Late evening. The room was dimly lit, only the soft glow of a lamp illuminating the faces of the two men. Outside, the night was quiet, but inside, the air was thick with unspoken questions.

In Im So-byeong’s quarters, the two men sat facing each other, staring intently.

“I don’t believe I’ve specifically mentioned the internal affairs of the Green Forest, have I?”

“You understand what I mean, right?” Cheong-myeong replied.

Im So-byeong shook his head at Cheong-myeong’s nonchalant tone.

Cheong-myeong’s intuition was surprisingly good.

“Since when did you know?” Im So-byeong asked, leaning forward slightly, his gaze intense.

“I didn’t exactly know beforehand. I just thought something didn’t quite add up,” Cheong-myeong said.

“Pardon?” Im So-byeong asked.

“Jang Il-so has stopped moving. Knowing his nature, he must be up to something.”

“⋯⋯”

“And the Green Forest King, in such a situation, left the Green Forest and came to Mount Hua alone?”

Cheong-myeong grinned.

“Strange, isn’t it?”

“⋯⋯”

“Don’t tell me the spirit elixir was important. Of course, the spirit elixir is important, and the Green Forest King’s health is important too, but… to you, the Green Forest is even more important.”

Im So-byeong sighed softly and said.

“I suppose there’s no point in trying to deceive you, is there?”

“White lies from someone who had no intention of deceiving me in the first place.”

Cheong-myeong looked directly at Im So-byeong and said.

“You were trying to see if I would notice, weren’t you?”

“⋯⋯”

“Be careful, or you might lose a hand trying to test me. I like testing others, but I don’t like being tested like this.” Cheong-myeong leaned forward, a playful but sharp glint in his eyes, making it clear he wasn’t entirely joking.

Cheong-myeong confidently puffed out his chest. But Im So-byeong couldn’t bring himself to laugh at his ridiculous appearance.

“Daojang,” Im So-byeong said.

“Yes?”

“So, are you saying all this to help me?” Im So-byeong asked, a hint of hope in his voice.

“Hmm.”

Cheong-myeong chuckled.

“Is there any question of helping each other in our relationship?”

“⋯⋯”

“If our interests align, that’s all that matters. You get to solve a troublesome problem, and we get to enhance our reputation.”

“So, Mount Hua needs more fame, is that what you’re saying?”

Cheong-myeong chuckled. “You keep saying things that are obvious. It’s a bad habit. You know everything, but you keep asking questions in a sneaky way.”

Im So-byeong gave a bitter smile at the pointed remark.

How could he not know?

If Mount Hua were content with its current state, it wouldn’t need greater fame. From the looks of it, they must have accomplished great things in the Northern Sea. Words have wings, and their exploits will surely spread far and wide throughout the Central Plains, naturally increasing their reputation.

But if Mount Hua aims for something beyond that, the story inevitably changes.

‘Because they’re about to establish a new alliance of martial arts groups.’

The more splendid the beginning, the better.

Those who diligently strive to grasp the political situation of the Jianghu, the martial arts world, will immediately recognize the significance of the Tang Clan, Mount Hua, and the smaller martial arts groups cooperating to become one family.

However, to most people who grasp the world through mere rumors, neither Mount Hua, nor the Tang Clan, nor even the smaller martial arts groups, are considered the center of the Jianghu.

To leave a definite impression on such people, it would be necessary to show appropriate activity in line with the opening ceremony.

“The Green Forest is just right for that, is what you’re saying.”

“Because they don’t hold grudges.”

Cheong-myeong took a swig from the bottle in his hand and grinned.

“Honestly, Mount Hua has grown quite a bit.”

“That’s true.”

“So, doing something ordinary doesn’t leave much of an impression. We did great things in the Northern Sea, but people in the Central Plains aren’t really interested in what happens in the smaller areas.”

Cheong-myeong said calmly, running his fingertip lightly along the bottle’s opening, and smiled bitterly.

‘And those Nine Great Sects won’t just let Mount Hua’s reputation spread.’

Even if they did, Mount Hua’s reputation wouldn’t rise as high as they thought.

Unless they were people who watched everything that happened in the Northern Sea from beginning to end, just hearing about it would lead them to believe that the Northern Ice Palace fought against the Demonic Sect, and Mount Hua only had fewer than ten people participating in that war.

How many people would hear this story and attribute the events in the Northern Sea to Mount Hua’s achievements?

“To do something that everyone in the Jianghu will acknowledge, we need to target a proper place, not just any random spot. But targeting such a place usually leaves grudges.”

“Like the Myriad Man House.”

“Of course, we didn’t start that one… Ha, that bastard, just thinking about him makes me angry again.”

Cheong-myeong clenched his fist tightly, grinding his teeth.

Cheong-myeong slammed the bottle down, a flash of ferocious energy radiating from him. Im So-byeong, slightly startled, quickly cleared his throat and offered a cup of tea, hoping to diffuse the sudden tension.

“Please, have some.”

“No thanks. Why tea when there’s alcohol?”

Cheong-myeong pushed the teacup back and took a refreshing swig straight from the bottle. Then, with a ‘Kyah!’ he slammed the bottle down.

“Anyway, the conclusion is, the Green Forest is just right.”

Im So-byeong gave a hollow laugh.

“If we deal with the mountain fortress with the Green Forest King’s permission, the Green Forest won’t cause problems later, and Mount Hua will enhance its reputation?”

“That’s right. And you get to solve a headache. In other words, it’s a win-win.”

Im So-byeong lowered his eyes for a moment, pondered, and then smiled bitterly.

“I sometimes wonder what Daojang is thinking.”

Since when had this man been drawing this picture?

‘When he returned from the Northern Sea? Or when he left for the Northern Sea?’

No, perhaps it was as soon as he met Im So-byeong.

He had always thought he was good at using his head, but the world Cheong-myeong saw was beyond Im So-byeong’s easy comprehension.

Im So-byeong was someone who looked closely, but Cheong-myeong was someone who looked far ahead.

“You’ve already thought it all through, haven’t you?”

Cheong-myeong said nonchalantly.

“Enough, stop beating around the bush and tell me what the problem is.”

“⋯⋯Um.”

Im So-byeong looked straight at him and spoke seriously.

“Daojang.”

“Yes.”

“As you know, I am not old.”

“Yes.”

“Frankly, in terms of martial prowess, I am a bit lacking to carry the name of the Green Forest King. One of the reasons I hid myself was because of that.”

That was probably true.

Of course, Im So-byeong was strong. Those born with severed meridians tend to show faster achievements in martial arts than others.

But no matter what, there was a limit to his age when it came to facing the masters who dominated the world. Considering the weight of the name Green Forest King, Im So-byeong needed to become even stronger.

“Until now, that hasn’t been a problem.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I am weak.”

“⋯⋯Pardon?”

Im So-byeong sighed and said.

“There is someone who knows how to spot weaknesses like a ghost and stabs at them. Thanks to that bastard, my weaknesses were rather hidden.”

“Jang Il-so?”

“Yes. Thanks to that bastard waging war against the Green Forest, internal strife was avoided. The Green Forest couldn’t possibly fight each other with Jang Il-so, a hungry wolf, in front of them, could they?”

“⋯⋯So, you naturally created an external enemy.”

Creating external troubles to cover up internal troubles is a classic strategy.

It meant that thanks to Jang Il-so and the Myriad Man House showing their teeth, the Green Forest’s internal troubles had to be suppressed.

“But that Jang Il-so has pulled out?”

Im So-byeong sighed, looking at the men around him. “Honestly, you lot are no help at all.”

Chung Myung asked, leaning forward. “So, the bandit groups who were quiet before are now starting to attack?”

“Precisely.”

Chung Myung looked confused. “So, what does that mean for you?”

Chung Myung looked up at Im So-byeong. His eyes were empty, showing he was surprised.

“You ran away?”

“Please! Let’s just say I left to avoid trouble! It sounds better!”

Chung Myung was shocked at Im So-byeong’s bold statement.

Chung Myung was shocked. “Wow, this man is really crazy. So, because the bandits in the mountain fortresses are after you, trying to kill you or start a war, you ran to a place they wouldn’t dare attack?”

“…”

“That being Mount Hua?”

“Heh heh. They wouldn’t dare show their faces here.”

“…Is he really insane?”

Chung Myung stared at Im So-byeong, his eyebrows raised high. *Is this man serious?* he thought. “Is he really crazy?” Chung Myung asked out loud, shaking his head a little. “What kind of bandit runs to a Taoist temple because it’s dangerous? It’s full of swordsmen! It’s like a mouse running into a cat’s den!”

Im So-byeong’s face turned red. “I didn’t just come here to run away!” he said, sounding offended. “I also needed to get better after my injuries, and… and make friends with Mount Hua. You know, get on good terms with you all. It’s like… solving two problems at once!”

“…”

“Don’t look at me like that. Do you think I wanted this? No, those who started the war haven’t disappeared; they’ve just left for a bit. But those bandits are using that chance to be dishonest! They’re the crazy ones!”

“…There must have been very little trust…”

“Aish, blast it!”

Finally, Im So-byeong, unable to hold back, burst out.

“How can you build trust if they won’t listen! If they won’t listen! No matter what I say, no matter what I plan, they just say, ‘What’s he talking about? He’s weak!’ What can I do against people like that!”

Im So-byeong mimicked their voices, sounding angry. “They just say, ‘What’s he talking about? He’s weak!'”

“…”

But Chung Myung was not easily fooled. Im So-byeong’s cheeks trembled.

“Hmm, well…”

Chung Myung scratched his cheek and said.

“It’s not just a small group of bandits.”

“That’s right.”

“And there might be more than one fortress?”

“Precisely.”

Chung Myung grinned.

“Ah, I see.”

Then, he stood up slowly from his seat.

“Do-jang, where are you going? We are still talking!”

“Ah, it’s bigger than I thought. I was going to deal with one weak fortress, but if it’s this big, it’ll be too much for us.”

“…”

Chung Myung stood up, ready to leave. “Well, this is bigger than I thought. Farewell. If you want my help, bring money, and maybe I’ll give you the next magic medicine…”

At that moment, Im So-byeong jumped forward very fast and grabbed Chung Myung’s trouser leg, holding on tightly.

“Do-jang! How can you just leave like this!”

“Hey, why are you doing this? Let go! Don’t you have any pride, you so-called Green Forest King!”

“Pride doesn’t matter when you’re going to die! I can’t take pride to the grave!”

“So you’re going to hold onto my trouser leg?”

“I’ll do worse if I have to!”

“Ah, my trousers are coming down! Let go! Let go!”

Chung Myung shouted, but Im So-byeong’s eyes burned as he tugged at his trousers.

But he had chosen the wrong opponent. Without hesitation, Chung Myung kicked Im So-byeong away, sending him flying.

“Aaaargh!”

Im So-byeong, who had rolled heavily across the floor, covered his mouth and coughed.

“Ku, cough! To treat a sick man like this…”

“That trick doesn’t work on me, old man!”

“Ah… I took the magic medicine.”

Im So-byeong sprang to his feet, looking perfectly fine. He gave Chung Myung an awkward smile.

“Well, please, have a seat.”

“No thanks. I have nothing to say.”

“Please, just a bit.”

His tearful face looked genuinely desperate.

“If you go back like this, I don’t know what will happen to me. Are you really okay with that, Do-jang?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Im So-byeong sighed heavily.

But Chung Myung was, as ever, Chung Myung. Nothing worked on him. Im So-byeong scratched his head roughly and sighed.

“I’m not asking you to do it for free. That’s why I’m offering you rewards, isn’t it?”

“Nonsense! I knew it from the start when you offered things so quickly. You are a conman.”

Chung Myung sighed deeply.

He had known from the start that Im So-byeong had not completely taken control of the Green Forest. Putting everything else aside, it was impossible for someone with Im So-byeong’s level of martial arts to claim the title of Green Forest King.

He doubted even Seolcheon Sang would be capable of it.

“Please, help me, Do-jang!”

“Tsk. How did I get stuck with such a leech?”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue, pulled his chair back, sat down, and crossed his legs.

“So.”

“Yes.”

“If you clean them all up and properly become the Green Forest King.”

“I’ll give you as much as you want! I can pile up money like a mountain.”

“Hey! Does this man think I’m obsessed with money? That money solves everything?”

“…Isn’t that the case?”

“…”

Chung Myung couldn’t bring himself to deny it outright.

“You’re not thinking of lying and breaking your promise, are you?”

“Do I look like that kind of person to you?”

“Yes.”

“…”

In a place where distrust and suspicion had piled up like a mountain, the two men stared at each other.

“…I’ll write a contract.”

“The terms?”

“Do as you please.”

Chung Myung hummed, thinking.

Only then did Chung Myung smile, as if he was finally intrigued.

“I can’t form an alliance with bandits.”

“Th-Then…”

“But!”

Chung Myung’s eyes sparkled.

“I can use them as workers!”

“…”

“Heh heh heh heh. Now that I think about it, it’s not necessarily a bad thing!”

“…”

Watching the gleeful Chung Myung, Im So-byeong thought with a pale face.

Perhaps it would be better to return to the Green Forest and die a glorious death.