Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 676

The grand opening ceremony, which was very short, ended, and a party started right away.

People who saw the Mount Hua Sect start gathered in small groups. They sat at tables, talking about what happened that day and what might happen in the future.

“Now that I’m here, it’s a little different from what I expected, don’t you think?”

“I agree. I thought the Mount Hua Sect would boldly take control of the western part of the Central Plains.”

“Hey, now! Is the Mount Hua Sect the only one in the western Central Plains? The Qingcheng and Emei Sects are watching closely, and there are also the Kunlun and Jeomchang Sects! Besides, the Mount Hua Sect is also in the west!”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Also, even though they’re not very active, the Jongnam Sect still exists! It won’t be easy for the Mount Hua Sect to have much influence!”

“That’s right… It is, but…”

Those who were about to answer looked at each other, then carefully stopped themselves from speaking. They looked strange.

Actually, if they had heard these words before seeing the opening ceremony, they would have all agreed right away.

Qingcheng, Emei, Mount Hua, Jeomchang, and even Jongnam were five of the most important martial arts groups in the area.

This meant that five of these groups were still in the West and hadn’t joined the Mount Hua Sect.

However…

‘Jeomchang and Kunlun are so far away that they rarely come to the Central Plains.’

Also, because they were so far away, these two groups were like they were from another land. Even though they were important groups, they didn’t have much influence in the Central Plains.

‘And Qingcheng and Emei are not as strong as the others.’

If they hadn’t seen the opening ceremony, they wouldn’t have thought Qingcheng or Emei were weaker than the Mount Hua Sect. But now, they wondered if Qingcheng and Emei could compete with the Mount Hua Sect.

Of course, Qingcheng and Emei might have more power than the four main groups of the Mount Hua Sect. Even if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be much weaker.

However, the most important martial arts groups were only loosely connected, while the Mount Hua Sect worked together as one. Everyone knew how important this difference was.

“Anyway, it’s quite strange.”

“Indeed.”

The crowd kept their thoughts to themselves, thinking deeply. A strange feeling settled over them.

They had come, believing that the Mount Hua Sect would bring big changes to the Central Plains. But the changes they expected seemed to be at least ten or twenty years away.

No one had thought that it would have such a big influence on the western Central Plains so soon after starting. But the way things were going, it was more unusual and extreme than they had imagined.

The announcement was as gentle as could be, and the opening ceremony was as short as could be.

But the determination hidden behind it was stronger than anyone had thought.

“…Even though they said it gently, this is like saying they want to become the leader.”

“Still, not really… The Sichuan Tang Family and the Mount Hua Sect, a Taoist group, are at the center; how could they become the leader?”

“You can’t just look at it that way. This is…”

But as he was about to say something, he looked around and stopped talking. It wasn’t something to say where the Mount Hua Sect’s disciples could hear.

‘These people are too relaxed and not paying attention…’

He clicked his tongue as he looked at the others, who were lost in their carefree thoughts.

‘They don’t understand what it means to be brothers at all.’

It wouldn’t happen often, but what if the Kunlun Sect, one of the most important martial arts groups, had a problem with a nearby group and started a war?

Would the other important groups help?

No way.

None of them would help Kunlun. Each group took care of its own problems. In the end, the most important groups were just a loose group that acted together when something big happened in the world.

But what if the same thing happened in the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace?

The Sichuan Tang Family and Mount Hua would rush to help right away, and even the Northern Ice Palace would come running, even if they didn’t want to.

In the end, even if someone made only one of those groups an enemy, they would have to face the other three at the same time. No one would dare to do that easily.

‘Nothing has changed, but everything has changed.’

When the leaders of the four groups, who were watching over the Central Plains, shared a cup as brothers, the meaning of this opening ceremony changed completely.

It was something that had never happened before for groups to share a cup as brothers. In this world, you never knew how things would change, even the next day. It wasn’t surprising for today’s friend to become tomorrow’s enemy and stab you in the back.

The leaders of the great groups, who knew that better than anyone else, were forming a bond of brotherhood? This was something that would never happen normally.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t guess why. No matter how much they appreciated it, the groups from other lands wouldn’t be so innocent as to call themselves brothers just because of that…

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Huh? Ah, it’s nothing.”

“Drink! We must drink first! Think later. Isn’t it a good day?”

“Yes, that’s right! Haha! We should!”

The loud party started again.

Those who weren’t thinking too much just celebrated the start of the Mount Hua Sect, while those who were thinking shared drinks and watched the people around them and the disciples.

Those who were thinking a lot couldn’t enjoy the party and were lost in thought, looking serious.

And in the middle of all this, the person who caused this situation… no, the one who had made everything so strange was complaining, looking annoyed.

“No, did I say something wrong?!”

“…”

“If you’ve seen everything, you should go home. Why are you lying around here like it’s your own living room, drinking and drinking! It’s making my head spin!”

“…I know, so please be quiet, Chung Myung. Someone will hear.”

“I’m saying it for them to hear! These people came here to play…”

Then, Chung Myung suddenly stopped talking and opened his mouth wide.

His eyes lit up as he looked at the pure white bottle that was right in front of his nose.

“…Take this and go up there and drink.”

“Can I really?”

“…Please, just go. I’m begging you.”

“Hee hee. Well, then.”

Chung Myung quickly grabbed the bottle of liquor that Baek Cheon held out. Baek Cheon sighed deeply.

“Are you sure, Uncle? It’s still a sect event.”

“…Then you can follow him around and stop him.”

“You have made a very wise decision, Uncle.”

“…”

Then, Chung Myung, who had been wanting the bottle, suddenly asked Baek Cheon, looking sulky.

“When are they finally leaving?”

“Someone said these parties last three days.”

“Three days? Are you serious? Three days of drinking?”

“…Yes, that’s true, but it’s still sad to hear you say it.”

“Hehe. Don’t be too sad! Not on a good day like this!”

“⋯⋯.”

‘Should I just kill him?’

Baek Cheon sighed, looking weary, and continued.

“Anyway… it was supposed to be three days and nights. But the Sect Leader decided it was too long to have a party here. So, it’s just today.”

“Good! That’s our Sect Leader! It made my stomach hurt seeing those strangers drinking in our home.”

“⋯⋯They are here to congratulate us.”

“Congratulate us? Nonsense. They just want free drinks. Have you ever really congratulated anyone at these things, brother?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Huh? Really?”

Chung Myung stared at Baek Cheon, looking genuinely shocked, as if Baek Cheon was the strange one.

‘What is wrong with this guy?’

‘How did he become so… like this?’ Maybe it was just his nature.

“Anyway, we should hurry and…”

Chung Myung started to complain again, but then a hand blocked his way.

“Huh?”

A refined young master, dressed in dazzling silk robes and wearing an ornate hat that seemed slightly too big, smiled at them.

“Don’t fight so much. Have a drink. It’s very precious liquor.”

“Uh…”

“Uhh…”

The two men, momentarily stunned, spoke at the same time.

“You… you! Th-this…”

“No…”

Even if the sky were to fall, Chung Myung would usually just complain about the timing. But he couldn’t help but stare at the person who had appeared.

“Ah, no way… No, are you really crazy…”

There was no one who shouldn’t climb Mount Hua, exactly. But some people should really think twice if they valued their lives.

The man standing before them was one of those people.

“Hehe. I had to congratulate you on such a fine day… Cough! Aoh, this damned mountain! It’s so cold! Cough!” He coughed dramatically into a silk handkerchief.

Baek Cheon’s jaw twitched as he watched the young master cover his mouth and cough.

“Haha. You seem so happy to see me that I’m overwhelmed with emotion…”

“No! Is this guy really out of his mind!”

Chung Myung rushed at the young master and grabbed him by the collar.

Instead of shouting, he looked around with wide eyes. Fortunately, everyone was too busy drinking and chatting to notice them. Chung Myung dragged him closer and hissed.

“Did you lose your nerve after almost dying? What are you doing here! Are you crazy?”

“Hehe! A true friend risks his life…”

“What are you talking about, you idiot!”

Startled, Chung Myung instinctively twisted the young master’s chin.

“Keck! Do you have to hit someone who came to offer congratulations?”

“I’m hitting you because it’s me! Anyone else would have killed you, you crazy fool!”

The young master in the fancy attire was none other than the Green Forest King, Lim Sobyeong.

“No, what is some demonic sect bastard doing here? There are guys here who are itching to catch you and kill you, as numerous as ants in an anthill!”

Right now, all the famous figures from the great sects of the world were gathered at Mount Hua. The Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, and all sorts of martial artists were swarming the place.

For the orthodox sects, it was the safest place in the world, but for the demonic sects, it was the worst possible place.

Even those who wouldn’t normally dare to look Lim Sobyeong in the eye would want to attack him if they saw him here.

So what kind of guts did he have to come all the way here?

“I’m seriously asking. Are you crazy?”

“Ah, no. Wait a moment, don’t get so excited.”

Lim Sobyeong waved his hand and then smiled smugly.

“That’s why I came in disguise!”

“⋯⋯.”

“Hehe. No matter how many people there are, who would think that I would come here dressed like this? Everyone thinks the Green Forest King should be a burly fellow covered in fur.”

“⋯⋯.”

“As proof, I’ve been here for two days already, and no one has recognized me. It’s safe, I tell you!”

Chung Myung’s pupils trembled.

‘Ah, no…’

It seemed to make sense… Ah, no, even so, he shouldn’t be doing this… But it’s also true that no one recognized him…

‘Haha, I don’t know.’

Anyway, there wasn’t a single sane person around.

“⋯⋯So, why did you come here?”

“Of course, I had to come.”

Lim Sobyeong replied with a serious face to Chung Myung’s slightly resigned question.

“We may not have announced it publicly, but the Green Forest is also a sect that has sworn brotherhood with Mount Hua.”

“⋯⋯Who did?”

“The Heavenly Union is holding its founding ceremony, so how could our Green Forest, the center of the Heavenly Union, not come?”

“⋯⋯So, who⋯⋯”

“Hehe. Don’t worry. I understand Mount Hua’s situation. I’ll just blend in and quietly greet the other sect leaders before returning. So, until then, a drink? What do you say?”

Chung Myung smiled as he watched Lim Sobyeong cheerfully shake the liquor bottle.

“Get lost, you demonic sect bastard!”

Life, it seemed, would never be easy, even after crossing just one mountain.