Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 645

“Let’s go back.”

Heo Sanja turned quickly and walked away without another word. He didn’t even wait for his disciples to answer. You could feel the cold anger in how he walked.

It wasn’t very kind for the leader to act this way, especially since Heo Gong was still waking up. But none of the Mount Dang disciples would dare to blame him.

Watching Heo Sanja walk away, Mu-jin sighed quietly.

“Bring the elders. We are going back to Mount Dang.”

“Yes.”

He looked at his disciples, who were still shocked. He sighed again and said, “Don’t forget what the Mount Hua elder said.”

“⋯⋯.”

“The real winner is the one who learns the most from this competition. It looks like we lost the match, but if we learn something, we don’t need to be ashamed.”

“⋯⋯Yes.”

“It’s just⋯⋯.”

Mu-jin closed his eyes for a moment.

“It feels like we were missing something important. We are known as the greatest martial arts group, but we just assumed we were strong without working hard enough.”

The Mount Dang disciples nodded together. Everyone agreed with him.

“Let’s start over. From the beginning. Disciples from other groups, younger than us, are working so hard. We can’t be a shameful sight.”

“We will remember that.”

“We will try harder.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Mu-jin nodded slightly.

Maybe his words made them feel a little better. Everyone started moving and doing what they needed to do. But Mu-jin’s heart felt even heavier.

The Mount Dang disciples had learned something important today.

But would their leader and the older teachers accept losing as calmly as they did?

‘Probably not.’

They were young and had a future. But the leader and older teachers only cared about now.

Thinking like them, Mu-jin knew they wouldn’t want to be remembered as the leaders who were beaten by Mount Hua. They wouldn’t want to lose the title of the best Taoist group and the best sword group.

‘Maybe this competition will change things more than I thought.’

The change might be bad, not good, but Mu-jin couldn’t stop it. He could only hope the older teachers would make wise choices.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Mu-jin spoke to the other disciples and then, as if he had decided something important, started walking towards Mount Hua.

“You crazy guy!”

“You unbelievable fellow!”

“No way, he beat a Mount Dang elder⋯⋯!”

“How far are you going to go, you little rascal!”

The senior disciples started playfully hitting Chung Myung’s head as he came back.

Thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud!

Dust flew up from Chung Myung’s head. But the Mount Hua disciples didn’t care. They were happily pounding his head.

“Haha.”

Chung Myung puffed out his chest and said proudly, “It’s not like I did anything amazing. This much is…”

Thud thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud!

“Th, this much…”

Bang bang bang bang bang! Bang bang!

“Hey, these guys are really going too far!”

“Run!”

“Smart guy!”

The Mount Hua disciples, who were hitting him as an excuse to celebrate, quickly ran away when Chung Myung glared at them.

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul grabbed Chung Myung’s arm as he tried to run after them. They held him back and said, smiling, “Chung Myung, Mount Dang is watching.”

“Calm down.”

“No! Those guys!”

“They are doing it because they are happy, happy.”

“You have to understand.”

“Ugh.”

Chung Myung looked angry and annoyed. Yoon Jong shook his head, looking at him and trying not to laugh.

‘Seriously, this guy is amazing.’

It wasn’t just because he beat the Mount Dang elder.

Maybe Chung Myung had planned this from the start. Hadn’t they seen Chung Myung do things that seemed crazy but helped Mount Hua many times?

‘This guy will make Mount Hua even more famous.’

This win wasn’t Chung Myung’s biggest achievement. What they did in the Northern Sea, fighting bad groups, was much bigger.

But people in the Central Plains didn’t know much about the Northern Sea. What they did there wasn’t even a big rumor here.

Stopping Daebyeolchae and making the Green Forest safe was much bigger than this fight with Mount Dang.

But after today, everyone in the world will hear about Chung Myung and Mount Hua. Their name will spread very quickly everywhere.

“In the end, he got everything he wanted. That awful guy…”

“Indeed.”

Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong shook their heads at the same time, watching Chung Myung surrounded by the younger disciples again.

“Haha! It’s not like I did anything amazing.”

“No! Amazing is amazing!”

“What kind of guy are you really!”

The Mount Hua disciples still looked at Chung Myung like they couldn’t believe it. They knew he was strong, but they didn’t know how strong.

But after seeing him fight today, they understood. This guy was beyond normal.

“It’s not something to praise so much.”

Chung Myung listened to them praising him and scratched his ear like it was nothing.

“I won once, and they won once. It’s just one win each.”

“⋯⋯How is that the same?”

“Is something wrong with your brain?”

“And…”

Chung Myung turned to everyone and said, “The losers also did well today.”

“⋯⋯.”

“The elder said it. Winning or losing this competition depends on what you learn. It’s the same thing. Losing a fight doesn’t mean you lost everything. If you become stronger because of it, that’s a win.”

The disciples nodded slowly. They looked calmer now.

Chung Myung grinned and chuckled.

“How is it? Now that you fought them, it’s not such a big deal, right?”

“⋯⋯It’s not that it’s not a big deal.”

Gwak-Hwi stepped back awkwardly. Then, Baek Sang, who was listening to Chung Myung, nodded and said, “I think even though they are still much better than us, they are not like something untouchable in the sky.”

Chung Myung smiled brightly.

“Yes. That’s enough.”

That was enough for now.

The Mount Hua disciples who fought today would not think of Mount Dang as gods in the clouds anymore. They knew Mount Dang was still better, but they could reach them if they worked hard.

That was the best thing Mount Hua got from this competition.

Just then, there was a noise behind them.

“Sasukjo!”

“Gwanju-nim!”

Chung Myung turned quickly. He saw Un-geom. He was awake now and his disciples were helping him stand.

Chung Myung frowned.

“Why are you walking around? Nothing amazing happened. You should be resting. Does your back hurt?”

Un-geom gave a sad smile.

“How could I just lie down and watch when my disciple did so well?”

“I’m telling you, it’s not a big deal.”

Chung Myung waved his hand like it was nothing.

“An elder is just the weakest of them. Mount Dang still has many really strong guys. We still have a long way to go before we can beat them.”

“Haha.”

Un-geom laughed like Chung Myung was hopeless.

He usually made sure the disciples were confident but not too proud. That was Un-geom’s job.

When one person is not there, others take their place.

Yes, this must be what family and a sect are about.

“Chung Myung.”

“Yes.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“⋯⋯.”

Chung Myung looked into Un-geom’s eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something, then quickly looked away. He mumbled, looking awkward, “Praising me is…”

Thwack!

Hyeon-yeong came up quietly, grabbed his head, and started shaking it hard.

Chung Myung was pulling something heavy from a hole in the ground with a rope.

“You little devil! You naughty thing!” someone shouted.

“Ow! That hurts!” Chung Myung replied, sounding annoyed.

“Now you’re even catching old people! If you keep spinning that rope, you’ll pull up a dragon next!”

*Chung Myung thought to himself,* *I caught something like this before.* *But saying that won’t help.*

“Seriously,” Chung Myung said out loud. “This time it’s so ridiculous, it’s not even fun anymore.”

“Is it because you can’t sell *this* one?” someone asked.

“Huh?” Chung Myung made a confused noise.

Chung Myung jumped back a little, surprised. He looked at Hyun Young, who was staring with his mouth open. Hyun Young’s eyes were wide, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

*Chung Myung thought,* *Is this real?* *This is a bit creepy.*

Suddenly, Hyun Sang walked to the middle of the group. He saw the tense faces and clapped his hands together to make things feel less tense. “Alright!” he said loudly. “I know how you feel,” he continued, speaking calmly, “but we can’t talk about it here. People are watching us, and the Wudang people are still over there, right?”

“Ah, should I show how much I like it even more?”

“……”

“……No, I just mentioned it because you said the Wudang were over there.”

*Chung Myung thought, rolling his eyes,* *Seriously, what is wrong with this guy? Did he trade his entire personality for those fancy martial arts moves? Maybe it was a bad trade.*

Hyun Sang, who had been staring at Chung Myung with trembling eyes, cleared his throat loudly.

“Let’s finish the rest of the conversation at the lodgings. Clean up. We’re heading back for now.”

“Yes, Elder!”

“Understood!”

As soon as the order was given, the disciples of Mount Hua began to busily clean up. Chung Myung, feeling slightly awkward, moved to join them.

“Huh? Someone’s coming?”

“……It’s Great Hero Mujin.”

“Why is he coming?”

The Mount Hua disciples stopped what they were doing and stared as Mujin walked towards them. Their smiles disappeared, and some of them exchanged worried glances. They shifted their weight, looking uncomfortable. Someone who hadn’t fought today coming towards them felt… wrong.

‘Is he trying to pick a fight?’

‘Maybe.’

Mujin, receiving everyone’s attention, lightly clasped his hands in greeting and stared at one person.

“Hey, you.” Mujin said, looking directly at Chung Myung.

“Me?” Chung Myung asked, pointing at himself.

“Yes. Can I talk to you for a moment?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

“Do we have something to talk about? Unless it’s about swordsmanship.”

“……”

“Why? If you’re itching for a fight because you can’t, I can give you one.”

“……It’s not that……”

Mujin sighed deeply. The last competition was so intense that he had momentarily forgotten what kind of person Chung Myung was.

“There’s something I want to ask for advice on.”

“Hmm.”

Chung Myung nodded readily.

“Well, alright. Let’s go over there.”

“Yes.”

Mujin turned and headed towards a corner, and Chung Myung shrugged and followed him. Or, he tried to follow him.

He would have, if someone hadn’t stopped him.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yeah?”

Baek Cheon smiled and looked at him.

“Leave your sword behind.”

“……”

Chung Myung’s face twisted.

“Why? Do you think I’ll suddenly start swinging my sword?”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t. I know, so leave it behind.”

“But, still!”

“Chung Myung-ah.”

Un-geom smiled kindly beside him and nodded.

“Leave it.”

“……”

He had no allies here from the start.

“……Why are you leaving your sword behind……”

“Ah, never mind. Don’t ask.”

Mujin smiled slightly awkwardly as he saw Chung Myung with his lips sticking out a mile.

‘He’s truly an amazing person.’

The world of the Jianghu is ultimately governed by martial skill. The strong are bound to receive better treatment. Yet, Mount Hua didn’t seem to fear or be cautious of Chung Myung, who had defeated the Wudang elder.

Mujin knew how difficult this was.

For example, Heo Gong also hated formal rules, but instead of people gathering around him, everyone avoided him, didn’t they?

Chung Myung from when he first saw him and Chung Myung now seem like different people. Perhaps Chung Myung has changed, or perhaps Mujin has changed since then, so he can see things he didn’t notice before.

“But why?”

“Ah……”

Mujin hesitated for a moment before calmly opening his mouth.

“There’s something I want to ask you for guidance on.”

“Yes. Go ahead. I’m not in a position to teach anyone, but I’ll try my best to answer. Especially considering what I did before.”

“……That mask was certainly impressive.”

Mujin couldn’t help but chuckle at Chung Myung, who was shamelessly coming out without even trying to hide it.

“Hey, you.”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you the lowest in rank in Mount Hua?”

“Are you looking down on me right now?”

“……It’s not that.”

Why does this guy take everything so twistedly?

Mujin cleared his throat a couple of times and continued before any more misunderstandings arose.

“I know that Wudang and Mount Hua are different, but I still want to ask. What should one do when someone of low rank and status has a different opinion from the elders?”

“Yes?”

His voice was utterly sincere.

“When what I think is right differs from what the elders think is right, I don’t know what a disciple should do.”

Chung Myung narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Hmm. I don’t know why you’re asking me that.”

“……Yes. That’s true.”

“Don’t you already know the answer?”

Chung Myung looked straight into Mujin’s eyes and said.

“People already know the answer to most problems. They just pretend not to know because they don’t dare to act on it.”

“……”

“You shouldn’t ask someone else; you should ask your own heart. That’s all I can tell you.”

Mujin raised his head and looked at the sky.

After staring blankly at the slowly moving clouds for a while, he lowered his head and clasped his hands respectfully.

“Thank you, Daoist.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I hope there will be an opportunity to witness your swordsmanship next time. Right now…… Yes. You don’t have a sword.”

“Tsk.”

“Then.”

Mujin bowed once more and turned around. His steps towards the Wudang disciples seemed a little lighter than when he came.

Chung Myung, who had been silently watching his back, chuckled.

Mujin is young.

Anyone who has the will to change and has passion in their heart deserves to be called young, no matter their age.

There are definitely limits to what one can do alone, but as long as there are those who question themselves, Wudang will not remain as it is now.

‘Seeing him reminds me of someone.’

What happened to that guy?

Lee Song-baek.

Chung Myung, who had been thinking about him for a moment, scratched his head silently and turned his body.

He had achieved all the goals he had set out to accomplish in the Jianghu this time.

‘I should go back now.’

Before Hyun Jong, who was left in Mount Hua, cries because he is lonely.

‘Well, he’ll be happy since I’m bringing back a pretty good gift.’

A pleasant smile hung on Chung Myung’s lips as he ran towards the disciples of Mount Hua.