Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 663

A loud voice boomed, “Water! I need water! Where is it?”

A slightly panicked voice replied, “Drinking water is just over there, sir! In front of the main hall.”

Another voice, impatient, cut in, “And the toilets? Where are they?”

“Toilets? Go behind the building with the plum blossom carvings…” the Mount Hua disciple started, a little flustered.

“Plum blossoms? Every building has plum blossoms!” the guest exclaimed, sounding annoyed.

“Ah, right! Behind the taller building, the two-story one,” the disciple corrected quickly.

“Fine, thank you,” the guest grumbled, moving off.

“Hey, hey. How long do we have to wait?”

“J-Just wait a little longer…”

Tiny drops of cold sweat trickled down Yoon Jong’s forehead. His heart hammered in his chest. He felt like a small boat tossed in a stormy sea of people. ‘I’m losing my mind,’ he thought, his head spinning. He had never seen so many people gathered in one place, especially not here on the usually quiet slopes of Mount Hua. Managing this crowd, answering their endless questions, and trying to keep order was proving to be a monumental task. He glanced around at the familiar buildings of Mount Hua, usually so peaceful and serene. Wasn’t this place famous for its small number of disciples, a select few compared to its grand reputation? Now, it felt like the entire world had descended upon them.

The second and third-generation disciples, as well as the first-generation disciples, were all out and running around as much as possible, but even so, there was a severe shortage of manpower.

“Please stand in line properly and do not stray to the side.”

“If you need anything, please tell us. We will resolve it as quickly as possible.”

“Hey! Who told you to fight here? Do you want to be kicked out?”

Yoon Jong looked at the Tang Clan members and inwardly admired and praised them.

‘Indeed! They are true professionals!’

Unlike the Mount Hua disciples, who were overwhelmed because they were experiencing this for the first time, the Tang Clan members were skillfully handling the people.

At times like this, one could truly feel the power of a prestigious clan.

One could not be called a prestigious clan just by having high martial prowess. Mount Hua would only regain its qualifications as a prestigious clan when it had experienced as many things as the Sichuan Tang Clan and could skillfully handle all of them. Yoon Jong reaffirmed his determination with a newfound realization.

“Didn’t I ask how long we have to wait!”

Yoon Jong was startled and turned his head to see the guest who had been asking questions earlier, looking at him with a very irritated face. Momentarily flustered, Yoon Jong was at a loss for words.

It was then.

“I apologize. Please wait just a little longer,” Baek Cheon said with a bright smile.

The guest, who had been red-faced with anger, looked at Baek Cheon’s face and nodded with a dazed expression.

“Y-Yes, I will. Haha… Haha. There are so many guests, so it will inevitably take a long time.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“Haha. Understanding? It’s only natural. You are all working so hard.”

Yoon Jong’s face contorted terribly at the sight of the man suddenly turning into a gentle lamb.

‘Is he discriminating against people?’

What a dirty world!

Even more sadly, he himself understood this discrimination.

Even Yoon Jong wouldn’t have been able to resist if Baek Cheon had presented that face and apologized.

What could he do? If he felt wronged, he should have been born handsome.

As the protesters returned to their seats, Yoon Jong sighed deeply. Then, Baek Cheon patted him with a slightly pitiful expression.

“You’re having a hard time,” Baek Cheon said, patting Yoon Jong’s shoulder with a sympathetic smile.

Yoon Jong sighed dramatically. “You have no idea, Martial Uncle. Until you arrived, I thought my head would explode.” He wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Honestly, this is more tiring than any training.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

What was there to say?

“I’m a bit out of it, but it’s not that difficult.”

“Is that so?”

“Compared to being tormented by that rascal, this is nothing.”

“That’s a relief.”

It was true. Usually, mental fatigue is greater than physical fatigue in these situations. If the bodies of the Mount Hua disciples were like rocks, their minds, tempered by Chung Myung, were like diamonds.

⋯⋯The problem was that it wasn’t intentionally tempered.

Baek Cheon looked around at the Mount Hua disciples who were busily running around.

‘Everyone is doing well.’

The Tang Clan’s help is significant, but the Mount Hua disciples are certainly doing their part as well. Everyone looked excited. Watching them, Baek Cheon couldn’t help but smile.

Baek Cheon smiled slightly and then spoke seriously again.

“Even so, when this many people gather, problems are bound to arise. So, don’t take your eyes off them for even a moment.”

“Speaking of which.”

“Yes?”

“Where is Chung Myung?”

Yoon Jong saw it in that instant.

The dark clouds gathering on Baek Cheon’s face, which had been shining brilliantly.

“I was looking for him anyway.”

“He seems to have crawled into a corner and gotten stuck. Wouldn’t it be better to just leave him alone at times like this?”

“Can you lie down and sleep comfortably knowing that there is dynamite buried somewhere in your house that could explode at any moment?”

“Impossible.”

Baek Cheon looked up at the sky with a mournful face and nodded with a dark expression.

“If anything happens, find me immediately or tell Martial Uncle Unam. If there’s no one else, find Baek Sang.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“And keep a close watch on Jo Gul.”

“I will keep that in mind as well.”

After finishing his instructions, Baek Cheon looked around and muttered quietly.

“But where did that bastard really go to hide?”

That rascal Chung Myung was truly strange.

When he was in front of them, it made their stomachs churn, but when he wasn’t in sight, it made people extremely anxious. If the Mount Hua disciples were told to choose between having that rascal Chung Myung in front of them or not, they would all choose the side where Chung Myung was visible, with tears in their eyes.

Because a landslide happening in front of their eyes was better than a tsunami rushing in from an unseen place.

“Ugh. I hope the Beast Palace and Ice Palace arrive soon. Then the manpower will increase, and I’ll be able to chase after that rascal Chung Myung more easily.”

Woof woof!

“I know it’s nonsense, so there’s no need to say it.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t you just make a dog sound?”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t do that.”

“Huh?”

It was then that Baek Cheon was tilting his head, facing Yoon Jong.

Woof! Woof woof!

Woof woof woof!

Baek Cheon’s eyes began to widen.

‘What the dog is barking?’

Apart from the ‘nonsense’ that Chung Myung would utter, he could hear the sound of a real dog barking.

“Huh?”

“Did you hear that too?”

“I definitely heard a dog barking just now.”

The faces of the Mount Hua disciples who heard the sound were all filled with bewilderment.

The faces of the Mount Hua disciples were bewildered.

In fact, if it was a place with houses, the sound of a dog barking could be heard anywhere, so there was nothing particularly special about it.

The problem was that this was Mount Hua.

How could the sound of a dog barking be heard on the summit of Mount Hua, where even birds were too tired to fly? Moreover, the sound was getting louder and closer.

“Could it be?”

Everyone turned their heads towards the mountain gate where the sound was coming from. The Tang Clan members who were attending to the crowd also looked in the same direction with bewildered faces.

“Wh-What is that!”

A buzz of excitement filled the mountain gate. People were pushing closer, eager to see who was arriving. But then, something strange happened.

A confused voice called out, “Wait, what’s going on?”

Then, shouts of panic erupted. “Move back! Get out of the way!”

The crowd at the mountain gate stumbled back in fear, pushing each other to get to the sides. Baek Cheon watched as a group of people came closer. He could see them clearly now.

Someone whispered, “…Beast Palace?”

Another voice, louder this time, confirmed, “Yes! It’s the Beast Palace!”

A third person added, “Look at them! It has to be the Beast Palace!”

A man of such immense size that everyone stared in surprise was approaching with an air of grandeur. His roughly disheveled hair was messy, but it looked strong and wild, like a lion’s mane, making his already large frame seem even larger. He wore a tiger skin and shiny leather shoes.

These were impressive, but something else caught everyone’s attention even more: the large dog baring its teeth in front of him.

“Woof! Woof woof! Woof! Grrrr!”

Two big black dogs with iron chains growled, showing their teeth. They looked ready to attack. But then, the giant man gently pulled their chains. Suddenly, the dogs became calm and walked quietly beside him.

“…The Palace Lord.”

“Yes. It is the Palace Lord.”

Baek Cheon, his mouth slightly open, watched the scene before turning to Dangpae, who had appeared beside him, and asked,

“…I thought we told them not to bring beasts?”

“We certainly did. But….”

“But?”

“…We didn’t say anything about not bringing dogs. I never imagined they would….”

“….”

In any case, it was certainly not the Dang family’s responsibility.

“Let’s go!”

With a booming voice, Maeng So led the dogs and strode into Mount Hua. The problem was that Maeng So wasn’t the only one from the Beast Palace.

Grrrr!

Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof woof!

Those following behind him were also leading at least one dog each.

A large dog, a medium-sized dog, a cute… Oh. That one’s actually kind of adorable… Ah, that’s not the point!

Baek Cheon sighed and put his hand over his face. ‘Dog merchants,’ he thought sadly. ‘This is ridiculous.’

“…Is that the Beast Palace? They look like dog merchants.”

We told them not to bring beasts, and they bring dogs, dogs!

Baek Cheon was very angry. He wanted to shout at them. But he also knew that this was a very showy way for the Beast Palace to arrive. They were definitely making an entrance.

“What is this…?”

“Their attire isn’t from the Central Plains?”

“Hey, it’s the Beast Palace! The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace!”

“What? Those guys?”

The crowd’s surprised gazes turned towards the disciples of the Beast Palace.

The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.

They had heard the name countless times, but this was the first time they were seeing them in person, so it was inevitable. The entry of Central Plains martial artists into Yunnan was currently restricted, and the disciples of the Beast Palace did not come to the Central Plains.

“The Beast Palace… But why are they bringing dogs instead of beasts?”

“Aren’t dogs beasts too?”

“Are you crazy?”

“…Sorry.”

It was certainly a bizarre sight.

An immense aura was felt from the disciples of the Beast Palace. And in fact, there was no need to even discuss the well-developed muscles of the disciples. Just looking at Maeng So at the head was enough to make one’s legs tremble.

But what to say….

‘They look like incredibly strong dog merchants.’

‘This is the strangest sight I’ve ever seen in my life.’

‘It’s quite different from what I’ve heard.’

The crowd was unable to escape their confusion. But that was the same for Baek Cheon as well.

“Why dogs…?”

Just then.

“Hehe.”

At the sudden sound of laughter, Baek Cheon’s head snapped around.

Chung Myung, who had appeared from somewhere, chuckled at the sight. He smirked as he took in the scene.

“What a dog show.”

“….”

Baek Cheon nodded quickly.

Chung Myung. For the first time in a long time, I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion.

So, can’t you do something about that?

As if hearing his thoughts, Chung Myung strode towards the mountain gate.

Maeng So, who had been walking at the head, smiled brightly as soon as he spotted Chung Myung.

“Euhahaha….”

But before he could burst into hearty laughter, the dogs walking ahead rolled back their eyes and began to bark.

Woof! Woof woof! Woof!

The dogs writhed as if they would pounce at any moment, and the chains around their necks were pulled taut.

“Oh, you little mutts….”

Chung Myung frowned deeply and glared. But the moment he was about to say something.

Peek.

Baek Ah, who had poked her head out from below his neck, glared at the dogs with her black eyes and made a threatening sound.

Ka-ack!

Yelp. Yipe yipe.

Then, the dogs that had been fiercely growling and barking hastily tucked their tails and dribbled urine. The crowd’s eyes widened at their pitiful, trembling 모습.

“What, what is it?”

“Why are they suddenly like that?”

The crowd could not understand what was happening. But Maeng So seemed to find it funny. He looked very happy.

“That little animal is still causing trouble! And you, Chung Myung, are you still the same as always?”

“Why did you bring so many dogs? I didn’t know the Beast Palace changed its name to the Dog Clan.”

“Huh? No… Well, I didn’t bring them from Yunnan. As you know, the Beast Palace is too harsh a place for dogs to live, isn’t it?”

That was certainly true. It was a place where weasels slapped tigers, so how could ordinary dogs survive?

“We departed separately because of the Dang family’s request, but….”

“But?”

Maeng So clicked his tongue.

“As I was coming, I saw too many stray dogs being abandoned and wandering around. Many dogs were starving to death.”

“….”

“So, as I took them in one by one….”

The dogs, utterly terrified of Baek Ah, clung tightly to Maeng So’s legs, burying their heads and hiding.

“I grew attached to them….”

“….”

Listening to Maeng So’s innocent words, Chung Myung twitched his cheek.

“So… that’s why you have this many dogs?”

“…I couldn’t just abandon them. I tried to leave them at the foot of the mountain, but these guys wouldn’t let go.”

“….”

Maeng So, who had been standing a bit awkwardly, burst into hearty laughter again. It was quite an awkward transition.

“Hahaha! What does it matter! Let’s go in! Seeing you after so long makes me feel like I can pierce the sky!”

“Don’t avoid the question!”

“Hahahahaha! Let’s go in, let’s go!”

“Tsk….”

Maeng So, clapping Chung Myung on the shoulder with a hearty pat, led all the dogs into Mount Hua.

And so, the Beast Palace arrived at Mount Hua, with dogs instead of beasts. Everyone would remember this strange and funny entrance for a long time.