Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 65

A buzz of worried whispers filled Baekmaegwan, the training hall for the Third-Generation Disciples of Huashan. They had been muttering about Chung Myung again, fearing what trouble he might cause next. But then, the news arrived, and the worried whispers turned into excited shouts. The meaning of the uproar flipped completely.

“He saved Lord Hwang?” one disciple exclaimed, his eyes wide.

“Lord Hwang?” another asked, confused. “Who is that?”

“Are you serious?” the first disciple scoffed. “Lord Hwang! The richest man in Hwayeom! He gives Huashan more money than anyone else, ever!”

“Huh?” The confused disciple’s jaw dropped. “Wow! So he’s really important?”

“Important? He’s *huge*!”

The Third-Generation Disciple made a strange face.

“Chung Myung saved someone like that!”

“Wow! This is really…”

“We’re doomed.”

“Of all people.”

“Why him…”

It was very welcome news for Huashan, but sad news for the Third-Generation Disciples.

With this, Chung Myung’s position would rise quickly, and the elders of Huashan would obviously protect Chung Myung even more. Chung Myung was already under the protection of Master Un-geom and the Sect Leader.

And now he’s going even higher?

Jo Gul let out a hollow laugh.

“I was wondering what he was up to.”

He really was like a ghost.

Or maybe heaven was helping him.

“Isn’t this going too far, Sasuk?”

“Perhaps.”

“Isn’t he just too lucky?”

“Luck?”

Yoon Jong stared at Jo Gul and said.

“Do you think it’s luck?”

“…Do you think differently?”

“That’s not luck, that’s skill.”

Jo Gul tilted his head. Yoon Jong looked at him and opened his mouth.

“Being able to go down to Hwayeom was a privilege Chung Myung earned with his ability, and encountering the Hwang family’s affairs in Hwayeom was also skill. What could we have done in that situation? We would have just returned to Huashan and reported it.”

“…That’s true.”

“That wouldn’t solve anything. There’s no guarantee that Lord Hwang wouldn’t die in the meantime, and unless we caught them on the spot, there would be no evidence. If things went wrong, Huashan, having tasted money, would be said to be oppressing innocent people and trying to steal their property. Even the Sect Leader wouldn’t be able to move carelessly.”

Jo Gul nodded without realizing it.

Listening to it, every word was right.

“Anything looks easy after someone else has done it. But when you actually do it yourself, it’s not as easy as it looks. Develop your skills before discussing luck. If your skills are sufficient, luck will follow.”

“I understand, Sasuk.”

Jo Gul sighed quietly.

‘Sasuk is nagging a lot these days.’

Yoon Jong used to be the type of person who would stand back from whatever happened.

Yoon Jong was the oldest of the Third-Generation Disciples, but he didn’t show off or try to use his position.

He was just someone who went with the flow, but recently he felt like a true Great Disciple.

He had changed since deciding to achieve something in Huashan.

Well, that was the same for Jo Gul too.

The others closed their mouths and fell into thought, as if they had felt something from Yoon Jong’s words.

But Yoon Jong’s words were not over.

“But, I’m worried.”

“Yes?”

“The process and results were obtained through ability, but it’s also true that his position has risen…”

Chung Myung had already made several contributions to Huashan. Now that Chung Myung had made another contribution, what was there to say about his status?

“He’s definitely going to try to do something again.”

“…”

Chung Myung’s biggest problem wasn’t that he was vicious.

It was that the vicious bastard was also diligent.

“Sigh.”

“What sin did I commit in my past life?”

Baekmaegwan was instantly filled with sighs and lamentations.

News of Chung Myung’s deed quickly reached the elders, and soon they were gathered to discuss the implications.

“Lord Hwang has decided to take charge of the Hwayeom business.”

“That’s a relief.”

“If it’s Lord Hwang, we can trust him.”

Hyun Jong tried not to show how excited he was.

‘I shouldn’t show too much excitement.’

Hwang Mun-yak offered to manage the business without receiving any payment. He even promised a huge amount of money, saying he would repay even a little of the favor he had received from this incident.

There were two conditions.

First, don’t save the money earned, but use it immediately for the development of Huashan.

And the other was to give special treatment to Chung Myung, the Third-Generation Disciple.

The first condition was not a problem.

Hyun Jong also had no intention of saving the money earned. Huashan was not yet at the stage of saving wealth. It was as if they had to pour money into a bottomless pit just to barely wet the inside of the pit.

The problem was the second condition.

‘Special treatment is a very vague word.’

It was a natural request for Hwang Mun-yak. Chung Myung was his savior. He said that he was repaying the favor by investing in Huashan because Chung Myung was a disciple of Huashan, but he felt a little more special to Chung Myung personally.

The problem came from that ‘special treatment.’

‘What ways are there to give special preferential treatment to the Third-Generation Disciple?’

This was making Hyun Jong’s head ache.

If Chung Myung’s achievements were evaluated fairly, the result would be that he had not received a proper reward.

Chung Myung already gets everything the Third-Generation Disciples can get. He even has privileges that First-Generation Disciples can only dream of!

‘In times like these…’

Hyun Jong glanced at Un-am.

Un-am noticed Hyun Jong’s gaze and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Ahem, it’s a good thing.”

Un-am, who had gathered people’s attention, looked around and continued.

“But the reason Lord Hwang has stepped up like this is because Chung Myung saved them from danger.”

“Hmm.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s a really amazing guy. How can he pick only the good things like a ghost?”

“He’s truly a talented individual.”

“So, what I mean is.”

“Hmm?”

Un-am cleared his throat once at the gathering gaze.

“Shouldn’t we give that child a reward this time as well?”

“Well, that’s right. We should.”

“He deserves a reward.”

Everyone nodded.

“Hmm, then what kind of reward should we give him? Let’s all give our opinions.”

Hyun Jong smiled happily as things went as he wanted.

Good things were happening in Huashan, and there was even a disciple who knew his intentions and moved accordingly, so how could he not be happy? Of course, not to mention the lucky charm who brought in good fortune.

“Considering that he is a Third-Generation Disciple, how about letting him learn martial arts that he cannot yet learn as a Third-Generation Disciple?”

“Oh?”

Hyun Jong looked around the meeting room. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, lighting up the faces of his elders. They were all smiling and agreeing with each other. This was just as Hwang Mun-yak had described – the special treatment for those who helped Mount Hua.

“When we finish studying the Plum Blossom Sword and the Seven Star Sword,” Hyun Jong said, his voice calm, “it would be good to give Chung Myung that authority. He would be very happy, I think.”

“A wonderful idea, Sect Leader!” one elder said quickly.

“I agree,” added another.

The air felt warm and friendly. Hyun Jong smiled, a real smile that reached his eyes, and nodded. “Very well, then. I shall…”

“No, no, no! That won’t work at all!”

A loud, angry voice cut through the peaceful moment. Silence fell in the room. Everyone turned to see who had spoken.

Hyun Jong sighed quietly and closed his eyes for a moment before looking.

It was Hyun Young, the Lord of the Treasury. His face was red with fury, his fists clenched.

“Sect Leader!” Hyun Young shouted. “Giving *that* as a reward to the child is just wrong!”

‘Oh, what is it now?’

This was going to be troublesome.

Even though Hyun Jong was the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, Hyun Young was his martial brother, an elder of Mount Hua, and the Lord of the Treasury. Ignoring Hyun Young’s words and proceeding with the matter would be a significant burden for Hyun Jong.

“Now, now, Lord of the Treasury. What is the problem?”

“A reward is not something like that! What kind of reward is that!”

“Hm?”

“If you give martial arts to children, do you think they’ll be happy? He’s already busy learning martial arts at the Hundred Flowers Hall; is telling him to learn even more a reward? That’s punishment! This is why swordsmen are like this!”

Huh?

What is this?

Why was the conversation flowing so strangely?

As everyone looked on in bewilderment, Hyun Young practically breathed fire from his eyes.

“A reward is not something like that! It’s not about throwing away something you have that you wouldn’t mind losing! What kind of reward is that! You have to give something that the giver is loath to part with to be a proper reward! Are you even listening to me?”

Why was that guy acting like that?

Hyun Jong stared at Hyun Young with an utterly bewildered expression. Wasn’t this the same Hyun Young who had been openly insisting that Chung Myung should be punished during the previous meeting?

So why the sudden change of heart?

Suddenly, an excited voice burst from Hyun Young’s lips.

“Is this an ordinary contribution?! Thanks to that child saving Lord Hwang, Mount Hua has money… no, a massive sponsorship has come in, and Lord Hwang has even offered to manage the business for free! For free!”

Only then did Hyun Jong understand why Hyun Young was acting this way.

Hyun Young was the Lord of the Treasury.

And the Treasury was the place that managed Mount Hua’s finances. To put it nicely, it was the place that managed the household; to put it bluntly, it was the place that managed Mount Hua’s money.

And the Treasury, until now, was a place that could be described in a single word.

Hell.

How dreadful must it be to manage the finances of a failing sect? The fact that Mount Hua had even managed to keep its signboard up until now was thanks to the efforts of the former Lord of the Treasury.

‘That makes sense.’

There was no source of income, and the creditors would torment people at the slightest opportunity, so much so that Hyun Young would have a fit just hearing the sound of money in his sleep, wasn’t he?

In the midst of all that, Chung Myung had made a contribution.

Although a large sum of money had come from the box Chung Myung had found, that was money that would quickly disappear if spent.

What the Treasury wanted was not to slowly deplete the accumulated funds, but a situation where the business was running smoothly and enough money was coming in each month to spend and still have plenty left over.

Chung Myung had saved Hwang Mun-yak, the person most needed to achieve that situation, so how could he not be happy? From the Treasury Lord’s perspective, he could carry Chung Myung around on his back for a month and still not be rid of his cuteness.

Hyun Young flushed red and shouted.

“We must give him a proper reward! That’s how that rascal will go out and earn more merits!”

Hyun Jong mumbled, “Well, people *achieve* merits…”

“In any case!”

Hyun Young was practically shaking with the ferocity of someone about to devour Hyun Jong.

“Sect Leader! That rascal is a god of wealth! We need to give him a proper reward and keep sending him out so he can earn more merits! Don’t you get it?”

“……”

“Do you even know how much money that rascal has earned this time?! Among these rice-worm-like fellows who can’t even earn a single penny! That kind of guy! That admirable rascal! Huh? Don’t you get it?”

The Lord of the Martial Hall, Hyun Sang, rose from his seat with a gentle smile. He then embraced Hyun Young from behind and began dragging him out of the room.

“Sect Leader! You must bestow a great reward! Sect Leeeeader!”

Once Hyun Young had been dragged out of the room, Hyun Jong let out a deep sigh.

“I hope everyone understands. He’s just someone with a lot of pent-up feelings.”

“…We understand.”

“In fact, you could do more. Considering how much he’s suffered.”

“How much resentment must he have…”

Everyone wiped their eyes.

“Sect Leader.”

Unam opened his mouth, trying to clear the air.

“The Lord of the Treasury is right. We must give Chung Myung a proper reward. I am especially concerned about the idea of giving away something we have to spare.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

“To be cold, Chung Myung’s contribution this time is not as great as the previous one.”

Hyun Jong nodded.

“But the last contribution was accidental. Therefore, the disciples will judge Mount Hua’s system of rewards and punishments based on what reward Chung Myung receives this time.”

“That’s probably true.”

“I hope we give Chung Myung a proper reward. So that all the disciples can know the obvious truth that those who make contributions receive rewards.”

Everyone nodded.

Hyun Jong surveyed the reactions of the crowd and then opened his mouth.

“Then, what kind of reward would be good?”

However, everyone was just looking at each other, unable to open their mouths easily.

“First…”

The first to speak was, as expected, Unam.

“Since that child likes going down from Mount Hua, it would be good to entrust him with the role of liaison with the Eunha Merchant Guild.”

“But isn’t that using him as a errand boy? Can that be called a reward?”

“Lord Hwang cherishes Chung Myung, so he will receive good treatment every time he goes.”

“Ah, that’s certainly true.”

Hyun Jong nodded vigorously.

That’s a good idea.

Once one opinion was voiced, others began to offer their own ideas.

“How about bestowing the Plum Blossom Sword in advance? Wouldn’t the children like that?”

“What use is a Plum Blossom Sword to a child who trains with a wooden sword! It would be better to give him a new uniform! With gold thread embroidery on the chest!”

“What meaning does a uniform that can’t be eaten have! Let’s give him something to eat instead! If not that, then allow him to freely enter and exit the library!”

“Do you think Chung Myung is like you! Giving him a reward of food?”

“Then a mystical medicine or something!”

“Where would we get a mystical medicine!”

“We can buy it! We have money now!”

It was at that moment.

Bang!

Hyun Young burst through the door, pounded his chest, and shouted.

“Just give him money! You can do anything with money, why are you all agonizing over it! You frustrating people! First, just shut up and give him money… Mmph! Mmmph!”

Hyun Sang silently covered Hyun Young’s mouth and quickly led him out. Then, he smiled awkwardly and closed the door.

Thud.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Hyun Jong quietly closed his eyes.

‘It’s true that good things keep happening…’

The Mount Hua he knew seemed to be getting a little strange as time went on.

Must be just his imagination, right?