Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 66

Sunlight warmed the quiet room where Hwang Mun-yak sat opposite Chung Myung. The merchant, dressed in fine blue silks, slowly sipped his tea, the delicate scent of plum blossoms filling the air.

Chung Myung watched him, his young face thoughtful. A slight frown creased his brow, a shadow passing over his usually bright eyes.

Hwang Mun-yak placed his cup gently on the low table, the porcelain clinking softly. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and assessing.

“How did it go?” Hwang Mun-yak began, his voice smooth and measured.

“He… he said some odd things. Now and then,” Chung Myung replied, shifting in his seat and picking at a loose thread on his simple Taoist robe.

“This will be good for the Taoist Temple.”

Hwang Mun-yak’s eyes sharply scrutinized Chung Myung’s reaction. Seeing Chung Myung’s brow furrowed and his silence, a subtle sense of unease crept in.

‘Is Hwang Mun-yak really talking to someone as young as me like this?’ he wondered.

He wasn’t one to be full of self-importance, but considering what Hwang Mun-yak had achieved, he shouldn’t be having a private conversation with one of the three great disciples of Mount Hua.

Yet, Hwang Mun-yak was now in a private meeting with Chung Myung, not as a benefactor who had saved his life, but simply because he wanted to deal with Chung Myung, the third-generation disciple of Mount Hua.

“Aren’t we in the same boat now?”

“The same boat….”

Chung Myung grinned.

“I was lucky enough to save the head of the Sangdan, but who am I to be in the same boat as you? You should be talking to the Head of the Family now.”

“I am not interested in being in the same boat as Mount Hua.”

Chung Myung narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Hwang Mun-yak.

‘Did I show too much?’

“Actually, I am not interested in Mount Hua without you, Little Taoist.”

“I think you overestimate me too much.”

Hwang Mun-yak slightly curled up the corners of his lips at Chung Myung’s humility.

“Little Taoist, I am a merchant. I have lived as a merchant all my life, and I will live as a merchant until the day I die. If there is one weapon I have as a merchant, it is the ability to see people.”

“⋯⋯.”

“If my eyes are wrong, I would have already failed. Even if I haven’t failed yet due to good luck, I will surely collapse someday. There is nothing unfair or regrettable about it. But if my eyes are accurate….”

Hwang Mun-yak looked at Chung Myung with meaningful eyes.

“Wouldn’t both the Eunha Sangdan and Mount Hua have good things happen to them?”

Chung Myung scratched his cheek lightly.

“Well, let’s not say things like we’re in the same boat. I don’t really like those kinds of words.”

“Why is that?”

“Those who speak sweet words always stab you in the back.”

That’s what they were like in the past.

There were countless people who praised and shed tears for Chung Myung and the people of Mount Hua who set out to save the world. But none of them ever showed kindness to Mount Hua.

So, why would he like those words now?

“I don’t like those words very much either. For a merchant, a boat is something you can get on and off at any time.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“However.”

Hwang Mun-yak smiled with a friendly face.

“If the destination is the same, there’s no need to get off the boat, is there? If two people row, they can go faster. Wouldn’t that be alright?”

“Hmm.”

Chung Myung looked at Hwang Mun-yak with serious eyes.

“Yes. Well, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Hwang Mun-yak’s eyes sparkled.

‘I’m sure of it.’

I’ve confirmed it with this.

How the results come out in this conversation is not that important. It would be good if he could get Chung Myung’s cooperation, but even if he couldn’t, as long as he finished negotiations with the Head of the Family, Eunha Sangdan would support Mount Hua and take the benefits.

Nevertheless, the reason Hwang Mun-yak wanted a private meeting with Chung Myung was to confirm this point.

‘In this child’s mind, Mount Hua is already developing. He thinks that as long as he is there, Mount Hua will definitely develop, right?’

Tremendous confidence.

But the reason why that confidence doesn’t feel like the arrogance of a child who doesn’t know the world is because of the seasoned feeling that Chung Myung exudes from time to time.

“Little Taoist.”

“Yes.”

“Eunha Sangdan will do its best to support Mount Hua. Do you know what that means?”

“Well, does that mean you’re going to be at odds with Jongnam?”

“That’s right.”

“It seems a bit shameless to ask for something in return for something I didn’t ask for or want.”

“I’m not asking for anything in return. I just want you to know.”

“Yes, that’s about it….”

I’ll know.

I’ll know. As much as you want.

It doesn’t cost anything anyway.

“I’ll probably be visiting you often in the future.”

“Yes. The Head of the Family said that if there’s anything to send to Eunha Sangdan in the future, I’ll be the one to go.”

“That’s a very welcome thing. I hope we see each other often and become close. Haha.”

“Yes, of course. Hahaha!”

Chung Myung and Hwang Mun-yak looked at each other and laughed heartily, thinking completely different things in their hearts.

‘This slippery little rascal!’ thought Hwang Mun-yak.

‘Trying to swindle people! I’ve seen a cartload of guys like you in my past life!’ thought Chung Myung.

They were facing each other with smiling faces, but it seemed like subtle sparks were flying.

“Little Taoist.”

“Yes?”

“This is a gamble on my life.”

“That’s something a young person should say.”

“Well, I think I’ve gained a new life since you saved me. There’s nothing wrong with betting my newly gained life on you.”

“I don’t think I particularly care about that?”

“I just wanted to tell you. Then.”

Hwang Mun-yak got up from his seat. Then he stared at Chung Myung quietly.

“As a token of repaying you for saving my life, I’ll give you a word of advice.”

“Yes.”

“Little Taoist, you are outstanding. Perhaps there is no one like you at your age, even if you search the world.”

“Thank you for seeing me in a good light.”

Damn it. It’s not that there’s no one like me at my age, there’s just no one like me even if you search the world!

How many people have died and come back to life besides me?

“But you need to hide yourself a little more. The world is a scary place. The world is a place where all sorts of ghosts and demons dance, and there are countless hungry ghosts fighting over a single gain. The moment you reveal yourself like a nail that sticks out, there will be an overflow of people who will pounce on you.”

Chung Myung smirked.

“You think too highly of me. I’m just a kid.”

“I’ve said everything I need to say. Then.”

Hwang Mun-yak bowed deeply and turned to leave.

“Ah, just a moment.”

“Yes?”

When Hwang Mun-yak turned back, Chung Myung had a subtle smile on his face.

“There are a few things I’d like you to find out for me. Would that be possible?”

Hwang Mun-yak also put on a subtle smile and nodded.

“Of course, anything.”

Clack.

As Hwang Mun-yak closed the door and came out, Hwang Jong-ui, who had been waiting, approached him.

“Did you have a good conversation?”

“How did the agreement with Jae Kyung-gakju go?”

“We have decided to deploy our subordinates to Hwaeum starting today. If we support and distribute the Sangdan’s goods, we will be able to stabilize the businesses within ten days.”

“Too long.”

Hwang Mun-yak said firmly.

“Stabilize it within three days, even if it means taking a loss. Now is not the time to chase profits. We need to show them our capabilities.”

“I will do so.”

Hwang Jong-ui couldn’t hide his curiosity and asked cautiously.

“The Little Taoist…?”

“⋯⋯Well.”

Hwang Mun-yak looked back slightly with a subtle expression.

‘He’s practically a monster,’ he thought.

I can’t see through him. I don’t know what he’s thinking inside.

Even the childishness he shows on the outside, I can’t tell if it’s real or fake.

“Mount Hua….”

Hwang Mun-yak smiled pleasantly.

“It would be better to call it Yongso (Dragon’s Pond).”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

Hwang Mun-yak strode away.

Dragon’s Pond.

A pond where dragons live.

There was no need to think about who the dragon meant.

“Jong-ui.”

“Yes, Father.”

“My thoughts have changed a little again. Maybe we should bet everything on Mount Hua.”

“⋯⋯.”

Hwang Mun-yak looked around with slightly excited eyes.

Merchants don’t live on money, they live on information. Money is just the result of using information.

He was the first to realize that a dragon was living in Mount Hua, which no one was paying attention to. Even as a seasoned Hwang Mun-yak, he couldn’t easily guess how valuable this information was.

‘If I use this information well, Eunha Sangdan might be able to rise to become the best Sangdan in the world.’

It won’t be easy, but isn’t that what makes it worth trying?

“We have a lot to do. Let’s go. We need to set the stage.”

Hwang Jong-ui followed Hwang Mun-yak with a puzzled look.

And from the high eaves of the Baekmae Hall, a pair of eyes watched their receding figures.

“Ugh.”

Chung Myung, who had been watching the two men lead their families and being seen off by the adults of Mount Hua, lay down on the eaves.

“That old man is very clever.”

Dealing with Hwang Mun-yak felt completely different from dealing with Hyun Jong or the other elders of Mount Hua. Of course, the elders of Mount Hua had deep Tao and possessed Hyun-gi. But when viewed dispassionately, they were Taoists who had lived their entire lives in the mountains.

There was no way that Hwang Mun-yak, who had lived his entire life in the commercial world where dogfights took place, could be the same as them.

“Whatever.”

Anyway, it’s over.

Hwang Mun-yak will be a great help to Mount Hua in the future. Because he will fill the most lacking part of Mount Hua.

Wealth?

No.

Hwang Mun-yak will fill the sense of the secular world that Mount Hua has lost while being separated from the world for a long time. Unless Mount Hua is just a Taoist sect, this is absolutely necessary as long as it claims to be a martial sect.

Chung Myung, who had his hands behind his head, smiled at the blue sky.

“Anyway, I’ve solved one problem, Sasuk. How is it? Do you think I did well?”

Chung Mun’s figure, visible beyond the sky, smiles at Chung Myung.

It’s like saying, ‘You rascal. See? You can do it if you try, right?’

“It’s just one step. What.”

There’s a long way to go.

The biggest obstacle to Mount Hua’s rise has been removed. There will be no more problems with money in the future.

Now that the problem of making a living has been solved, it’s time to focus on martial arts.

It’s not the time to criticize Jongnam.

If Jongnam has forgotten their roots and turned their eyes to other things, isn’t Mount Hua in a situation where they have completely lost their roots? We need to come up with a plan as soon as possible to return the roots of Mount Hua to them.

Chung Myung raised his upper body abruptly.

“Ugh. When will I train these people to be strong?”

He complains with his mouth, but looking down at the scenery of Mount Hua seems to ease his mind a little. Even though it’s changed a lot from the past, Mount Hua is still Mount Hua. Just looking at it….

Chung Myung lay down again.

“Sasuk, Sasuk. When you used to nag so much, I should have listened a little more. Now that I’m in your position, I understand.”

Chung Myung closed his eyes.

The image of himself hiding on the eaves to avoid Sasuk’s eyes, and the image of the Head of the Family Sasuk looking for him with a flushed face, are vivid in his mind.

The appearance has changed, and time has changed, but Mount Hua is Mount Hua.

Yes. It’s just Mount Hua.

It was one day when the long winter was over and the first spring plum blossoms sprouted in Mount Hua.