Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 661

Chung Myung’s eyes twitched. He was very surprised.

“Ah, no⋯⋯”

He stared at the large crowd of people rushing through the mountain gate.

From where he stood, it just looked like ‘many people’ were coming in. But if you were at the gate and looked up at Hwasan, the line of people climbing the path looked like a giant dragon going up the mountain.

Chung Myung was speechless. ‘Why are so many people here?’ he mumbled, then quickly turned his head.

He saw long lines of people already inside Hwasan. The lines were so long, they went around the training grounds two times and reached all the way to the Abbot’s house where Hyun Jong was.

“⋯⋯The event hasn’t even started yet.”

“That’s normal.”

“Huh?”

Dang Pae, who was beside him, smiled gently and opened his mouth.

“Once the event starts, you can’t meet the Abbot. The people doing the ceremony can’t talk to every guest from every group, right?”

“That’s true.”

“So, most groups come early, hoping to talk to the Abbot alone.”

“⋯⋯Even so, this many?”

“It’s not usually this crowded, but⋯⋯”

Dang Pae laughed, seemingly pleased.

“It just means people are *really* interested in the Heavenly Union.”

“⋯⋯”

Chung Myung stared at the crowd with a very confused face. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t believe the number of people.

‘No. I did exaggerate a bit to get more people to come.’

Even so, could the effect really be this good?

“You look surprised. Well, you haven’t seen big crowds in Hwasan much. But get used to it now, Chung Myung. You’ll see this a lot in the future.”

Seen few crowds? *Back in my day*, Hwasan was *always* crowded, you little brat!

But for some reason, this felt a little strange… Huh?

Why?

Hwasan had events this big before, so why couldn’t he remember them…?

“Ah⋯⋯”

Suddenly, he remembered the voices of his old senior brothers.

– Senior Brother! Senior Brother! Please, do not leave your room!

– No, Senior Brother! Instead of that, please go and train a little. I’ve even prepared some wine for you! Just tell me the place, and I’ll bring you a table of snacks.

– Senior Brother! The Abbot has forbidden you from entering Hwasan!

– Even if you happen to encounter someone passing by, you must not start a fight or beat them up! No, even if you do beat them up, you must never cripple them!

-Why don’t you go to Jongnam for once? What? Business? Just go if I tell you to, you little rascal!

Chung Myung’s gaze turned towards the distant sky.

I didn’t realize back then that these were such important events.

People say you only understand how someone else feels when you’re in their shoes…

If any of Hwasan’s disciples were to pick a fight with the guests now, and end up beating them to a pulp?

Chung Myung would probably flip out, beat the culprit to a pulp, and then throw him off a cliff. But his senior brothers in the past didn’t have the strength to beat Chung Myung, did they? So they must have been frustrated.

‘Ah, geez⋯⋯ I’m sorry.’

Chung Myung suddenly felt embarrassed. He cleared his throat.

“Ahem!”

And then he looked ahead again.

The crowd was gathered in front of the new Hwasan buildings. A few Hwasan disciples and Dang family members were rushing around, helping people sign in and enter.

‘This feels strange.’

He couldn’t help but recall the time when he first came to Hwasan after being reborn.

The Hwasan he saw after going through the old, broken mountain gate was so different from what he remembered.

It felt lifeless. The special Taoist feeling was gone. The buildings looked like they were about to fall down, and the guards looked tired and sad.

It was hard to explain how he felt seeing Hwasan like that – half-destroyed and like a haunted house.

But now, people were gathering in that very Hwasan once more.

“Tsk.”

This feels strangely⋯⋯

Chung Myung quickly rubbed his nose, which was a little red. Then he stretched his shoulders strongly.

“Everyone looks busy, so shall I lend a hand!”

And he was about to stride confidently towards the guests when—

Grip.

“Huh?”

Chung Myung turned around to see Dang Pae awkwardly smiling as he clutched his sleeve.

“Um… well… my father said… Hwasan will have lots of events like this in the future. And as the leader of the Heavenly Union, you’ll have to host events yourself.”

“So?”

“So… it’s better if the Hwasan Divine Dragon… you… watch everything from above, instead of doing small jobs yourself.”

“⋯⋯”

“T-That is, to step in when there is a big problem! When there is a big problem!”

Chung Myung narrowed his eyes and glanced at Dang Pae.

Dang Pae awkwardly looked away and turned his head to gaze at the distant sky.

“Did the Dang family head tell you to do this?”

“⋯⋯It’s not exactly like that⋯⋯”

“⋯⋯”

Time had passed, and Hwasan had changed a lot.

But the treatment Chung Myung received hadn’t changed much from the old days.

‘Now even the Dang family is keeping an eye on me! Alas, my fate!’

Still, Chung Myung was proving that he had grown in his own way. If it were the old days, he would have shouted, ‘Who does this bastard think he is, watching me?’ and smashed his head on the spot, but now he was just glaring at him.

‘I’ve become much kinder.’

At this rate, I’ll soon ascend to immortality, ascend to immortality.

– You’re talking nonsense with great sincerity.

“No, what’s wrong with this fellow!”

“Yes?”

“⋯⋯It’s nothing.”

Chung Myung sighed deeply and looked ahead. Then, he suddenly tilted his head.

“But it’s strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“So many martial artists who supposedly fight at the drop of a hat have gathered here, but there’s hardly any shouting.”

“Hahaha. You jest, surely?”

“Huh?”

Dang Pae chuckled softly and said,

“People here want to make a good impression on Hwasan and the Heavenly Union. Of course they won’t cause trouble at a celebration.”

“Ah, is it usually like that?”

“⋯⋯Is something wrong?”

“No⋯⋯. It’s not that something is amiss, but⋯⋯”

Chung Myung gazed at the distant sky.

– No, are these bastards inviting people over and treating them like this? Alright, let’s take down the signboard today! Everyone, come here, you bastards! I was already annoyed wearing this ill-fitting Taoist hat, but today I’m taking it off! Are you not coming?!

“⋯⋯”

I’m sorry, Senior Brother. I didn’t know that⋯⋯

Chung Myung quickly lowered his head before he could hear any more curses from above.

“No, but⋯⋯”

Then his face twisted.

“The guests are here, but why hasn’t the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace arrived yet! Is that fellow so slow because he’s so big?”

“Haha⋯⋯. The Beast Palace is quite far away, after all. We informed them in advance, so they should arrive in time for the main ceremony.”

“Tsk. They said they’d arrive soon.”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue and was about to start complaining when—

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the mountain gate.

“Huh? Have they arrived?”

He was craning his neck to see when someone shouted in a loud voice.

“The Peng family! The Peng family of Hebei has arrived!”

“Oh?”

Chung Myung smiled, amused by the unexpected name.

“I did send them an invitation, but I didn’t think they’d actually come.”

But the problem didn’t end there.

“Cheongseong! Cheongseong is here too!”

“Isn’t that the Beggars’ Sect over there? Yes, it is! The Beggars’ Sect is coming too!”

“Oh! The Mount Hua Sect! The Mount Hua Sect!”

Chung Myung repeatedly exclaimed as he heard familiar names from here and there.

“The big shots are making their entrance.”

Dang Pae grabbed Chung Myung’s sleeve with a determined expression and pulled him.

“This is no time for that! Let’s go to the mountain gate!”

“Huh? Why?”

“Important people need to be treated well. The Abbot doesn’t have to greet everyone, but someone important should. You being the Hwasan Divine Dragon is enough. Come on, quickly!”

“Ugh. How annoying.”

Chung Myung, with a face full of annoyance, was dragged by Dang Pae towards the mountain gate.

Those who were waiting to sign the guestbook and enter Hwasan made way for the arrival of the big shots. And along the opened path, members of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families entered with dignified strides.

Thwack.

Chung Myung, standing before the mountain gate, straightened his back.

‘Eek!’

‘Has that Dang Pae gone mad?’

‘What is he thinking?’

The Hwasan disciples, who were busy guiding the visitors, discovered the scene and froze in horror.

Instead of pushing Chung Myung into a corner, he’s bringing him to a place where everyone’s attention is focused.

‘We’re doomed!’

‘W-We have to fix this!’

‘Elder! Where are the Elders?’

And at that moment—

Chung Myung quietly gathered his hands in front of him, took a formal posture, and slowly extended them forward.

“Welcome to Hwasan. You must be tired from your long journey.”

“⋯⋯”

“⋯⋯”

Baek Cheon, who had turned pale, slowly opened his mouth.

The remaining Five Swords beside him also watched the scene with vacant expressions.

“⋯⋯Did you see that? Chung Myung spoke like a human being.”

“He didn’t even use informal language?”

“⋯⋯Is that what ‘courtesy’ is?”

To those who didn’t know Chung Myung, it would have been a perfectly natural sight, but those who knew him were all dumbfounded.

Even the posture he took was flawless. If a stranger were to see him, they would think he was a disciple of a prestigious family who had received strict training.

Ah, no. That’s not exactly wrong, but.

Those who received the greeting looked at Chung Myung with interest.

“I am Peng Yue, an elder of the Peng family. May I ask who you are?”

“It is an honor to meet the Elder. I am Chung Myung, a third-generation disciple of Hwasan.”

“Oh? So you are the Hwasan Divine Dragon? The peerless genius of the younger generation?”

Chung Myung gave a gentle smile and lightly shook his head.

“It is merely an empty reputation. Hearing such words from the Elder of the Peng family makes me too embarrassed to lift my head.”

“Haha. A talented individual as I’ve heard!”

A blue vein popped out on Baek Cheon’s fist.

“⋯⋯I’d rather he cause a ruckus, that bastard⋯⋯”

“I-I can’t bear to watch, Martial Uncle!”

“Did that bastard eat something wrong?”

Watching Chung Myung, who had suddenly transformed into a perfect disciple of a prestigious family, made them feel sick, nauseous, and even enraged.

‘That loathsome bastard⋯⋯’

It was a relief that he wasn’t causing trouble, but why did they feel so resentful?

But even amidst their silent cries, Chung Myung still wore a graceful and gentle smile.

“Please come inside. The Abbot has been eagerly awaiting your visit.”

“That is most welcome. Then, would you help us pay our respects to the Abbot?”

“It would be an honor.”

He bowed once more and turned his body.

The guests, watching Chung Myung’s dignified back, exchanged small words.

“I heard he has a very eccentric personality⋯⋯. It doesn’t seem to be the case?”

“Well, rumors in the martial arts world are always exaggerated, right?”

“I understand why Hwasan is making a name for itself. The noble spirit is truly dazzling.”

“Kya⋯⋯. Kyaaru⋯⋯”

“Huh?”

The followers, tilting their heads at the strange sound that suddenly came from the front, stopped talking.

But Chung Myung walked on as if nothing had happened. His ears and the back of his neck were dyed red.

“Let us pay our respects first.”

“Yes.”

The Peng family, leading the way, entered the mountain gate.

‘But⋯⋯’

Peng Yue, looking around, frowned slightly.

‘Why do the Hwasan disciples all have such expressions?’

For some reason, their expressions were terribly distorted and fierce. Peng Yue could not understand and only tilted his head.