Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 654

“We’re here! We’ve reached Mount Hua!” the disciples shouted.

“Mount Hua! Finally, we made it!” another cried, his voice full of emotion.

Clutching the wooden cart, the Mount Hua disciples stared at the massive peaks of Mount Hua looming before them. Tears of joy streamed down their dusty faces.

Usually, the climb up Mount Hua brought groans and complaints. But now, even the cloudy peak hidden in swirling white clouds looked beautiful to them.

*There’s no place like home…* one thought.

*I’ll never leave Mount Hua again!* another vowed silently.

When they left Mu Han, they were bursting with excitement. But the tough journey back had worn them out.

“If, if we just climb up here, we can rest!” one disciple said.

“Aaaaargh! I’m getting to the top first!” another yelled.

“Get out of the way, you bastard! Me first!”

The Mount Hua disciples began to charge up the path without looking back.

“Huh?”

Chung Myung, who was watching them from behind, tilted his head, puzzled.

Un Geom noticed his expression and asked, “Why? Is there a problem?”

Chung Myung scratched the back of his head, looking slightly awkward. “…Now that we’re here, I was going to say we could leave the cart behind.”

“…”

“Well… it’ll be fine, right? They said they’d carry it themselves. Nothing I can do.”

“…”

Un Geom watched the Mount Hua disciples charging fiercely up the mountain with a pitiful gaze.

The breeze was cool and refreshing.

Of course, the wind at Mount Hua was always crisp and clean. Situated on such a high mountain, the wind always carried a cool energy.

Now that the weather was getting warmer, the wind brought a refreshing coolness.

“Hmm.”

But Hyun Jong couldn’t bring himself to be happy, even as the wind caressed his face.

“Are you worried about the disciples?”

At Un Gak’s words, Hyun Jong cleared his throat softly and gave a faint smile instead of answering.

“Heh heh.”

“What are you so worried about? You’ve already heard the news that the disciples won against Wudang and are on their way back. Surely they won’t trip and break their noses on the way back.”

“I suppose not.”

Hyun Jong chuckled as if he himself found it absurd, and then quietly said, “I always thought that since I dedicated my life to the Dao, I would never experience the feelings of a parent, but these days, I feel like I understand how parents feel when their grown children leave home. I’m worrying about them now, like a parent. I suppose I’ll only feel at ease once they’re back within my embrace.”

“Isn’t it just that the Sect Leader cares too much for the children?”

“Heh heh.”

Hyun Jong glanced around at the quiet surroundings and said, “It’s not just that. Anyway, isn’t the mountain too quiet without the children?”

“That’s true. It does feel a bit lonely.”

This was the first time Hyun Jong had experienced Mount Hua’s disciples leaving the sect for so long.

Although their numbers had dwindled compared to the golden age, you could really feel how empty it was with over a hundred disciples gone, leaving only a few behind.

“I never thought I would miss the sound of them squawking and training so much.”

“Sect Leader… I don’t think the disciples would like to hear that.”

“Haha. Is that so?”

Hyun Jong, gazing at the empty halls, shifted his gaze towards the sect gates.

*It’ll still be a while before they arrive.*

Considering the distance from Mu Han to here, it would take at least three more days, even if they came as quickly as possible. That was even taking into account Chung Myung urging the disciples on without rest.

Knowing this, Hyun Jong couldn’t bring himself to leave the spot where he could see the sect gates at a glance. At least he wasn’t going outside the gates and stretching his neck to see, which was the extent of his patience.

Hyun Jong slowly closed his eyes, his hands clasped behind his back.

*I suppose that’s what it means to get old.*

There was a time when the young disciples of Mount Hua eagerly awaited Hyun Jong’s return from his travels. But now, the situation had changed. Hyun Jong was staying at Mount Hua, waiting for the disciples to come back from their journey.

The changing of generations, growing old, and passing on one’s position—this was the process through which it was achieved.

It was something that could be a little sad, but Hyun Jong didn’t feel any regret or discomfort. He was just sorry that he couldn’t do more to help the children on their difficult journey.

“By the way…”

“Yes?”

“Doesn’t it sound like something’s coming this way?”

“I don’t really hear anything…”

Un Geom shook his head, but Hyun Jong’s eyes narrowed slightly.

*It’s a sound I’ve heard a lot before…*

A sound that was familiarly audible, a sound that hadn’t been heard in Mount Hua for a while.

“Could it be…”

“Yes.”

“Is it possible that those who left from Mu Han could arrive today?”

“Come now, Sect Leader. That’s impossible. Unless they sprouted wings and flew here, how could that be possible?”

“That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Yes. For a person to do that, they would have to use their special fast-movement skill without sleeping or resting. It’s not easy for one person to move like that, let alone that many people. And they have luggage too.”

“…That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

“…But what happens if they do?”

“Yes?”

Hyun Jong’s eyebrows twitched.

*Those crazy bastards…*

Un Gak, who had been looking at Hyun Jong’s face with a puzzled expression, suddenly turned his head with a surprised look.

A sound was really starting to be heard.

The sound, like a distant cry carried on the wind, felt all too familiar.

“N-no way, already…? No, this is… how could they have covered that distance…? What on earth did they do?”

If Un Gak heard it too, there was no room for doubt. Hyun Jong shouted,

“Summon the others who are left!”

“Yes, yes! Sect Leader! I’ll go right away!”

Un Gak ran off in a hurry. Hyun Jong hastily added after him,

“Tell them to prepare a meal right away!”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

Hyun Jong cleared his throat a few times and stepped forward.

Even though he had experienced it several times, his heart pounded and he couldn’t calm down whenever this happened. Besides, before, he had only welcomed a few children back to Mount Hua, but this time, most of Mount Hua’s disciples were returning after being away, so the feeling was quite different.

Hyun Jong looked at the sect gates with eyes mixed with anticipation and anxiety. Soon, the valiant disciples of Mount Hua, who had returned after accomplishing their great task, would reveal themselves through those gates.

How admirable.

Indeed. So admirable!

The disciples who had defeated the Green Forest Bandits and won the competition against Wudang.

They had become more than just ‘young disciples’. The swordsmen of Mount Hua had finally returned to Mount Hua.

His heart, which had been filled with worry and anxiety, began to swell as if it would burst.

Crash!

Finally, the doors burst open violently to the left and right as if they would break. And the disciples began to pour in. Dust-covered and grinning, the disciples poured through the broken gates.

“You lot!”

Seeing those faces he had missed so much, Hyun Jong’s eyes grew misty.

Of course, they all looked like beggars again. But it wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen them like this before, so he wasn’t surprised.

He still couldn’t understand why they were dragging a cart up the mountain, but Hyun Jong had given up trying to understand his disciples’ strange ways. It was easier to let it go.

What did it matter what they looked like or what they brought? These were the disciples of Mount Hua, who had done something amazing.

“Welcome back!” Hyun Jong, the Sect Leader, called out.

“Jang Munin!”

At Hyun Jong’s welcome, the disciples of Mount Hua didn’t put down the cart. Instead, they hauled it towards Hyun Jong with all their might.

‘Are they really that happy?’

He watched these young men run towards him. They had grown so strong, they could have left Mount Hua. Seeing their joy filled his heart.

“Jang Munin! Aaaargh!”

“Jang Munin! Jang Munin!”

Hyun Jong, with a kind face, opened his arms to welcome the disciples. Each one was something to be proud of.

“Jang Munin! Chung Myung! Chung Myung!”

“That Chung Myung! You have no idea how much he tormented us!”

“Please, do something about that bastard! Jang Munin! Waaah!”

“⋯⋯”

They all complained about Chung Myung at once, so much that it was hard to understand. Hyun Jong smiled and lowered his arms.

‘They are a bit embarrassing, no matter where I take them.’

‘I’m ashamed to face our ancestors, you brats! Ugh!’

“Ahem.”

He cleared his throat and looked at his disciples. His eyes, which had been disappointed, now showed warmth.

“You all look much better.”

At those words, the disciples looked at each other and tilted their heads.

“Sweat is dripping down our faces, though.”

“Wow, you’re really ugly.”

“Are you talking to me, you little punk?”

“Yes, I am talking to you. You are ugly.”

“You wanna go, for real?”

Hyun Jong looked up at the sky.

He thought he had let everything go, but he hadn’t. Shaking his head, Hyun Jong sighed.

“Why have you all returned so quickly? It couldn’t have been easy to come all the way from the distant Endless Expanse.”

“Can we talk?”

“No, never mind. I think I know without hearing it.”

No doubt that Chung Myung was causing trouble.

Soon, a warm smile spread across Hyun Jong’s face.

“You’ve all worked so hard.”

“Not at all, Sect Leader!”

They were all breathing heavily, but their expressions had changed.

People can change a lot in a short time.

Even Hyun Jong, who knew his disciples well, was impressed by their growth. They seemed more confident than before.

It meant they had a good journey.

“I have already heard what you have done. You have all done so well. You have done so very well.”

“⋯⋯”

The disciples bit their lips, feeling emotional.

They had been praised many times. The elders had said they were wonderful, and others had admired them.

But Hyun Jong’s words felt different.

It felt like they were finally being rewarded for their hard journey. The disciples looked at the sky or wiped their eyes.

“Not at all, Sect Leader! It was our duty as disciples of Mount Hua!”

“We are sorry that we could not have done better!”

“We also felt that we learned a lot. We will train harder in the future!”

“Yes, yes. You lads. Splendid.”

A warm feeling grew between the Sect Leader and his disciples. It would have been a perfect reunion if not for a voice that cut through the air.

“Hmph, look at the Sect, doing so well!”

Hyun Jong squeezed his eyes shut.

As soon as the disciples heard that voice, they quickly moved back like frogs seeing a snake. The pride on their faces disappeared.

‘What on earth have they been through…?’

‘How can the kids be getting more and more…’

Chung Myung, bursting through the gates, shouted.

“The most important thing is the ending! You can’t just finish things with words! Move the luggage and line up! We need to report properly, don’t we!”

“Ugh. He only ever says what’s right, damn it.”

“Exactly. It’s driving me crazy!”

Even as they complained, the disciples quickly dragged the cart to the corner. Then, they ran and lined up in the middle of the training ground.

Even the Un輩 lined up, and Hyun Sang and Hyun Young stepped forward to face the Sect Leader.

Hyun Jong stood tall, as befitting the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.

Hyun Sang opened his mouth.

“We, the disciples under Elder Hyun Sang of Mount Hua, have returned after carrying out the Sect Leader’s orders.”

Thud!

Hyun Sang bowed, and the disciples of Mount Hua all bowed.

Hyun Jong watched them bow, his heart swelling. He looked up at the sky, then back at his disciples. A wide, warm smile spread across his face. He couldn’t hide his pride.

“Did you feel and learn many things?”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

“Good.”

He nodded and continued.

“That’s all that matters. You have all worked hard. You must be hungry, so let’s eat first and then talk.”

“Food!”

“Aaaargh! Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten for three days straight!”

“Let’s go!”

Hyun Jong smiled as he watched the disciples rush to the dining hall.

‘Good.’

With all this activity, Mount Hua finally felt like Mount Hua again.

Looking at Chung Myung, who had not left, Hyun Jong said.

“Chung Myung.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Was the journey good?”

Chung Myung grinned.

“You’ll be surprised when you see it.”

“Haha. Is that so?”

A warm breeze blew.

It was the end of the long journey of the Mount Hua Sect.