Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 568

While Hyun Jong was talking with Unam.

Morning training was over. People stood in front of the dining hall, looking blankly at the food. They were all staring up at the roof.

Two figures, one in white and one in black, jumped quickly across the roof tiles, shouting loudly.

“Just stand still for a moment!”

“I don’t want to.”

“No, we need to talk about this! You agreed!”

“I did agree.”

Chung Myung hopped across the roof, answering like he didn’t care.

“But if I wait, my conditions will get better. Why talk now!”

“Aaaaargh! You devil!”

Im So-byeong chased after Chung Myung.

The Mount Hua disciples watched the chase.

“…Wow.”

“Didn’t they say that man was the Green Forest King?”

“They did.”

“Isn’t the Green Forest King important?”

“I guess so?”

“…I see.”

“Well, it’s Chung Myung, after all.”

“Yes. It’s Chung Myung.”

It was a strange sight, but no one seemed surprised. They looked for a second and then acted like it was normal.

“Just eat your food.”

“…Yes.”

“What you don’t see doesn’t exist.”

“…Senior Brother, you sound wise these days.”

“If I didn’t, I’d be too stressed.”

But Chung Myung wasn’t their only problem.

“No, seriously, this little thing!”

Jo Gul jumped up from his seat, looking angry. Yoon Jong looked at him and asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Look at what this thing is doing!”

Yoon Jong looked where he was pointing. Baek Ah, sitting on the table, was eating Jo Gul’s chicken leg.

“Hey! That’s mine!”

Jo Gul reached for his food, but Baek Ah puffed up its fur and showed its claws.

“Ouch!”

Jo Gul jumped back, scared by how fierce it looked.

*Keeeek!*

Jo Gul glared at Baek Ah. Yoon Jong shook his head.

“…It acts just like its owner…”

“Indeed…”

Jo Gul felt tears welling up.

“I can’t even eat inside because I’m dirty from training, so I’m eating outside… and it’s stealing my food.”

How sad.

It always steals someone else’s food first.

Baek Cheon chuckled.

“Leave it. It must not be feeling well.”

“Yes? Do animals have feelings? What happened?”

“It tried to steal the Jasodan pills and Chung Myung caught it.”

“…”

An animal stole a spirit pill?

Was it even just an animal anymore?

“So?”

“Why do you ask? It must have had a hard time crawling back up the cliff. A weasel is fast, but the Mount Hua cliff is high.”

“…”

He threw it.

Yes. He threw it.

Jo Gul chuckled.

‘He doesn’t care about people or animals.’

How fair is that? Our martial brother.

“An animal that steals spirit pills, or a human who throws that animal off a cliff…”

“Like owner, like pet.”

Jo Gul swallowed his tears as he looked at his half-empty meal.

‘I’m already struggling, and now my food is stolen.’

Three days had passed since he started training with his martial brothers. On the first day, it was okay, but now he was getting beaten more and more.

Jo Gul was strong, so wooden swords didn’t hurt much, but he was being pushed back more and more.

‘They’re getting stronger really fast.’

The Jasodan pills were working. And with the Gongcheong Seokyu stone, they would be even stronger soon.

‘Mount Hua will be strong again.’

Strong enough to be famous, like before the war with the Demonic Sect.

“Aaaargh! This weasel is stealing my chicken leg!”

“I’ll kill you if you touch that! Hey! You!”

“Someone make that thing into a scarf!”

“…”

The Mount Hua disciples were being bothered by a single weasel.

And the weasel’s owner…

“Ugh, seriously!”

Chung Myung ran to the tables and kicked Im So-byeong, who was following him.

“Let’s eat! Let’s eat!”

But Im So-byeong stayed close to Chung Myung.

“Food can be eaten anytime!”

“Ugh. Why did you give me medicine! It’s making me too healthy.”

“Cough! The cold hasn’t gone away yet… Cough!”

“Here we go again.”

Baek Cheon sighed and stopped them.

“Chung Myung. He’s still sick. You said so. He still has the Il-eum Jeolmaek.”

“People feel warm just by going from the Northern Sea to Mongolia! Going from Sam-eum Jeolmaek to Il-eum Jeolmaek is like flying!”

“…That’s true.”

Baek Cheon looked at Im So-byeong suspiciously. Chung Myung shivered and said to Im So-byeong.

“Anyway, I’m going to eat, so don’t touch me. Even you shouldn’t bother someone when they are eating!”

“Isn’t Sect Leader not a dog?”

“…”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Is this guy serious?”

“Ugh. Just finish quickly. I’m not feeling well right now.”

“Why are bandits so annoying?”

“Bandits are annoying! If you want to be good, why become a bandit? They catch people who run and chase people who come back! That’s what bandits are like!”

Huh?

Come to think of it, that’s true?

Chung Myung stared at him, and Im So-byeong pounded his chest.

“Who knows what will happen to the Green Forest while I’m gone!”

“If something was going to happen, it would have already happened. And wouldn’t it be good for the world if something happened to the bandits?”

“Ugh…”

Im So-byeong clutched his chest and groaned, Baek Cheon grabbed his shoulder.

“Calm down. You can’t die peacefully if you treat that guy with common sense.”

“Ah, my life is short anyway.”

“That’s something we’ll have to see.”

Chung Myung butted in again.

Baek Cheon smiled a little. Looking at those two, they seemed perfect for each other. Neither of them acted like they were important or special.

The title “Green Forest King” means he is the boss of the Green Forest group, which is one of the five biggest groups of leaders. He is very powerful, almost as powerful as the head of one of the nine most important fighting schools.

It’s surprising that someone so powerful could be so normal and easy to talk to. Actually, maybe he was *too* normal. Sometimes, it was a bit much.

“Hey! Don’t eat so much! Let’s talk!”

“Why is *he* always bothering me!”

Baek Cheon was about to sigh and look away, when something caught his eye. He narrowed his eyes a little. “Hmm?” he murmured. He turned and saw a figure running quickly towards them from the mountain gate. *What’s wrong?* he thought.

“Teacher! Teacher!” the person shouted as they ran. Baek Cheon knew something was wrong immediately. His face became serious. “What is it? What happened?” he asked quickly.

Mount Hua was a difficult place to reach, with steep paths and rough land. People didn’t visit often. But it wasn’t like *no one* ever came. So, why was this person making such a big deal about someone at the gate?

“T-they look really strange,” the person gasped, out of breath. “I think you need to see them.”

“Huh?” Baek Cheon was even more confused.

“They… they look like… b-bandits,” the person whispered, fear in their voice.

Bandits?

Im So-byeong, now everyone was looking at him, made a “tsk” sound with his tongue. “Bandits? Here at Mount Hua? Really?”

Someone else from the group muttered, “…Is this guy really stupid? They must be here for *you*!”

“Huh?” Im So-byeong suddenly looked surprised. He turned quickly towards the mountain gate. “Oh, right! Maybe they are!”

“…I can’t tell if he’s clever or just completely clueless,” someone whispered.

“Ch-Chung Myung,” another person said quietly, “remember, he *is* the Green Forest King. Be respectful.”

“I’ll respect him when he acts like a King!” Chung Myung replied sharply.

Okay, let’s go see what’s happening!” Im So-byeong and the Mount Hua disciples ran quickly towards the mountain gate.

When they reached the wide-open mountain gate, everyone stopped, staring. Their eyes widened in shock. “Beon Chung!” someone exclaimed. Beon Chung was there, slumped on the ground. His face was grey with exhaustion, and he was breathing in short, ragged gasps. His clothes were ripped and stained dark red, and dried blood was stuck to his skin like a crust. It was clear he was badly hurt.

“Wait… Black Night Fox? Gwak Min?” Yoon Jong recognized the figure behind Beon Chung and pointed. “Is that you?” The Black Night Fox looked even worse. His face was as white as death, and blood soaked through his shoes, dripping onto the ground with every tiny movement.

Im So-byeong’s face became serious, all traces of his usual playful look gone. “…They’ve attacked,” he said, his voice low.

Black Night Fox nodded slowly, with pain. Beon Chung fell to his knees, bowing his head to the ground. “Please punish me!” he cried. “I failed to protect the Green Fortress!”

“…Who did this?” Im So-byeong asked, his voice tight.

“The only one I saw clearly was Mad Bull Blade,” Beon Chung replied weakly.

“…Mad Bull Blade,” Im So-byeong repeated. “He’s from Daebyeolchae.”

“Mad Bull Blade wouldn’t do this on his own,” Im So-byeong said, thinking aloud. “He’s not smart enough to plan something like this. It must be more than just him. Probably three or more groups working together.”

He looked at Black Night Fox, his eyes sharp. “Tell me everything. What’s happening?”

“The other Green Forest groups don’t know about this attack yet,” Black Night Fox explained, his voice weak. “The Green Fortress is destroyed. The Ten Shadows… they ran.”

“I understand,” Im So-byeong said quietly. He turned to Chung Myung. “Hey, you.”

“Hmm?” Chung Myung responded.

“We need to decide what to do. Now.”

Im So-byeong was like a different person. The joking smile and annoyed look he usually had were completely gone. His face was cold and hard, like ice.

“If you won’t help,” he said to Chung Myung, “then I have to leave.”

“Leave? To do what?” Chung Myung asked, surprised.

“This is something I can’t ignore,” Im So-byeong said, his voice firm. “I have to do it, even if it means I die.”

Chung Myung frowned. “Ugh,” he grunted, about to say something.

“What’s all the commotion?” a calm voice asked.

“Master!” someone called out. “Greetings, Master!” Everyone who saw Hyun Jong walking towards them quickly bowed. Hyun Jong, the leader of Mount Hua, waved his hand gently to acknowledge them. He looked around at the scene at the mountain gate, his eyes taking in everything. “It seems… something is wrong here,” he said quietly.

“Yes, it’s…” someone started to explain.

“It’s alright,” Hyun Jong interrupted gently. “Yes, Master!” Dang So-so replied quickly. Hyun Jong spoke calmly. “Please take our guests to the medical hall. Just by looking at them, you can see they are badly hurt.”

“Are you sure, Master?” someone asked, hesitant.

“We cannot turn away anyone who seeks shelter from a storm,” Hyun Jong said, his voice kind but firm. “Should we be so cruel as to refuse help to those who are injured, no matter who they are? Mount Hua is not a heartless place.”

“Yes, Master! I will do it right away!” Dang So-so replied, nodding quickly.

Dang So-so hurried forward, checking how badly hurt they were. She called out, “Some of them can’t walk! Brothers, please help carry them to the medical hall!”

“Yes!” the Mount Hua disciples replied, rushing to help.

“Be careful! Don’t make their injuries worse! We need to help them, not hurt them more!” Dang So-so added urgently.

“Understood!” Beon Chung looked at Im So-byeong as the Mount Hua disciples gently helped him up. “I… I need to tell you…”

“Get treated first,” Im So-byeong said quietly.

Beon Chung was silent for a moment. “We have enough information for now,” Im So-byeong continued. “I’ll handle the rest.”

Beon Chung nodded slowly. “Yes,” he whispered.

As Beon Chung was carried away, the others looked at each other, worried.

“Alright,” Hyun Jong said, turning to Im So-byeong. He looked at him seriously. “Green Forest King, can you tell me what happened?”

Im So-byeong sighed. “It’s a story I already told someone else…” He glanced at Chung Myung, then looked directly at Hyun Jong. “It seems this is bigger than just convincing one person. I’ll tell you everything. Please, Master, you have to help me.”

“…Let’s talk inside,” Hyun Jong said.

“Yes,” Im So-byeong agreed. Hyun Jong turned to Baek Cheon and the others. “Come with us, everyone.”

“Yes, Master!” they replied. Hyun Jong led the way, and everyone, including Im So-byeong, followed him towards the buildings. A feeling of danger hung in the air.