Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 677

Dragged to one side, Lim Sobyeong looked at Chung Myung with a gloomy face. He looked like a puppy that had fallen into the water, a pitiful expression.

But Chung Myung and Baek Cheon stood in front of him, their eyes as sharp as blades. Lim Sobyeong opened his mouth hesitantly.

“No……”

“What!”

Before he could say anything, a thunderous shout flew out, and Lim Sobyeong flinched.

“It’s not like I had any bad intentions.”

“What, you little rascal? No bad intentions? There’s a limit to how much you can cause trouble at someone else’s party! What kind of evil sect idiot are you!”

As Chung Myung finally rolled his eyes back and tried to charge, Baek Cheon quickly grabbed him from behind.

“Chung Myung! Still, he is the Green Forest King……”

“I should beat him because he’s the Green Forest King! Would I beat him if he wasn’t the Green Forest King?”

“That’s actually true.”

That didn’t make sense, but somehow it felt right in this crazy situation.

“No, you son of a…! I gave a life-saving medicine to a man who was going to die anyway, and now he’s here to get himself killed? Alright, now that it’s come to this, I’ll send you off myself! Stick your head out!”

“Chung Myung! Calm down!”

Baek Cheon glanced at Lim Sobyeong. Chung Myung’s words weren’t wrong, but Lim Sobyeong was still the Green Forest King, a man of high status. Even if you don’t care about good or evil, his status is higher than the famous figures of the Jianghu sitting at the head table.

There was no way he would feel good after hearing such harsh words…

“Hehe.”

But Lim Sobyeong, far from showing any displeasure, grinned and scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Isn’t that why I came here?”

“Huh?”

Then he said with a serious face.

“A gentleman never forgets a favor. I have received a huge favor from Mount Hua and Chung Myung, so how could I not come to celebrate the party for their helper? That is the way of a gentleman…… Ouch!”

Lim Sobyeong, who was kicked in the face by Chung Myung’s foot, fell backward.

“What gentleman, you rascal! What kind of bandit is talking about gentlemen? If a bandit is a gentleman, then who in the world isn’t Confucius?!”

Lim Sobyeong jumped up.

“Haha! A gentleman is not limited by his situation. If he tries his best to be good and fair, no matter what situation he is in, he can be called a gentleman…… No, don’t kick me! Hey!”

Chung Myung’s foot, held by Baek Cheon on both shoulders, thrashed through the air several times.

“Um, Baek Cheon. Don’t slowly move him closer one step at a time, please hold him properly. I think his foot is getting closer and closer.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it myself.”

Baek Cheon, who had completely lost his sympathy for Lim Sobyeong, sighed softly and dragged Chung Myung back.

“Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!”

Chung Myung’s eyes were bloodshot, veins popping out at his temples as he glared at Lim Sobyeong as if he would devour him.

“You’ve been here for two days?”

“Yes. Seeing people passing by after a long time, my heart is at peace…… Haha. I guess I should see people like this sometimes rather than being stuck in the mountains.”

Seeing Chung Myung’s face getting even more heated, Baek Cheon was shocked and quickly said.

“I think the Green Forest King was a little hasty. If they know that the Green Forest is here, they won’t stay still……”

And it’s not something that will end just like that.

Of course, Mount Hua saved the Green Forest, and everyone probably guesses there’s a connection. At least, those who came here to see the Heavenly Union with their own eyes.

But isn’t seeing the Green Forest King here in person very different from just guessing they might be connected to Mount Hua?

“Haha, those are minor things. Why bother paying attention to such things one by one…… Uh? You, you can’t let go of my hand! Baek Cheon! Hand!”

Baek Cheon’s hand, which was slowly loosening, reluctantly grabbed Chung Myung again.

‘I would have no regrets if I could just punch him once.’

Why are all the things entangled with Mount Hua like this?

“Hey, you! Mmph! Mmph, mmph!”

As Chung Myung tried to have a fit, Lim Sobyeong finally jumped up. And as a last resort, he stuck the liquor he was holding in Chung Myung’s mouth.

“Come on, don’t be so angry. First, take a sip of this liquor. That’s right, that’s right! That’s it. Oh, you’re doing well. Keep going!”

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

As the liquor went down, Chung Myung’s body, which had been full of tension, slowly relaxed.

“Kaaaah!”

Soon, as the liquor bottle was pulled out, an exclamation burst from Chung Myung’s mouth.

“This is amazing?”

“It’s a specially prepared fine liquor. I know very well that the Mount Hua Divine Dragon enjoys liquor. How can you call someone who doesn’t know the way of liquor a gentleman?”

“Did you only bring one bottle?”

“Of course not! I have a few more bottles.”

“Haha. You really know your stuff!”

“Hahaha! Of course, of course!”

The two men, who had suddenly become like-minded, looked at each other and laughed heartily. Baek Cheon’s face, who was watching this, was terribly distorted.

‘I wish they would both just die.’

But unlike his wishes, these two were so vicious that even King Yama couldn’t easily take them away.

“But why did you come?”

Chung Myung, who had calmed down his anger with liquor, asked, and Lim Sobyeong shrugged his shoulders.

“I told you, I came to celebrate.”

“Don’t give me that obvious nonsense.”

“No, I’m serious? Actually, our Green Forest is also a member of the Heavenly Union!”

“Since when?”

“But the other groups who are members are all attending the event, but we can’t even attend!”

“So, since when⋯⋯.”

“That’s not important!”

Lim Sobyeong grinned.

“Who do you think will be the most sensitive to the founding of the Heavenly Union?”

“Shaolin?”

“No. It’s the evil sect.”

“Huh?”

As if this was the main point, Lim Sobyeong’s eyes became slightly serious.

“When the Heavenly Union starts to become famous and gain power, how do you think the Nine Sects and Five Great Families will react?”

“They’ll try to fight us.”

Chung Myung gnashed his teeth as if he was angry just imagining it.

“Tell them to come! I’ll peel the skin off both monks and Taoists!”

“Chung Myung. You’re also a Taoist.”

“Oh, right. Aish, I forget sometimes.”

Then Lim Sobyeong chuckled.

“They might think that, but in reality, it’s not like that.”

Chung Myung looked up, chewing on a piece of dried meat. “Huh?” he mumbled, his mouth full.

Im So-byeong chuckled. “You might think that way, Sect Leader. You, Chung Myung of Mount Hua, don’t care about what others think. Reputation? Face? Doesn’t matter to you!” He waved his hand dismissively. “But the big groups in the Jianghu are different. They are the Nine Great Sects, the most powerful martial arts groups in the Jianghu. They cannot ignore their reputation. They can’t just attack a good group like ours, just because they don’t like us. Especially when we haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Yes, I see,” Baek Cheon said slowly, nodding his head. He understood what Im So-byeong meant.

If the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families openly fought against the Cheonwoo Union, it would surely cause talk about them protecting their own interests and unfairly treating other groups.

It wouldn’t be a big problem for a group like Mount Hua, which didn’t have much to lose, but it would definitely worry those who had ruled the Jianghu for so long, like the Nine Great Sects.

“So, they might try to hurt us in small ways, but it will be hard for them to do anything openly. Instead, they will look for other things to do.”

“…Does that mean the Evil Sects?” Baek Cheon asked.

“Yes,” Im So-byeong said clearly.

“The Cheonwoo Union is getting so much attention because of the things Mount Hua has been doing. Nothing is better than getting good results when you want to become famous and spread good words.”

“That’s right,” Baek Cheon agreed.

It was true that Mount Hua and the other groups had become close, which had greatly increased their power. But it was Mount Hua’s actions that had first made so many people want to see what was happening.

The Nine Great Sects would be the same.

If the Cheonwoo Union seemed to be growing stronger, they would surely try to make their own groups stronger in the Jianghu.

“So…” Chung Myung looked at Im So-byeong with a strange look.

“The Nine Great Sects might start hunting down the Evil Sects to show how strong they are?” Chung Myung asked.

“Exactly!” Im So-byeong grinned.

“It’s nothing new. It’s happened many times before. That’s why the Evil Sects are also very worried about what’s happening here. There are probably many of them here besides me.”

When he heard this, Baek Cheon quickly turned his head.

He saw many ordinary people sitting and drinking, with their goods spread out to sell.

‘Among them…’ he thought.

It was unexpected.

But when he thought about it, it wasn’t that strange. It was impossible to know exactly who everyone was, since so many people had come here.

“I just need to stay close to Mount Hua,” Im So-byeong said.

“…No, why does it have to be that way!” Chung Myung complained.

“Haha! The other Evil Sects, who aren’t Mount Hua’s ‘brothers’ like the Green Forest, are in trouble!” Im So-byeong chuckled and casually put his arm around Chung Myung’s shoulder.

“Please take care of me,” Im So-byeong said.

“…Could you please just die? I’m begging you,” Chung Myung replied.

But Im So-byeong didn’t move away. Instead, he lowered himself slightly.

“Sect Leader,” Im So-byeong said.

“Hmm?” Chung Myung asked.

“Things might not go as smoothly as you think.”

“…” Chung Myung didn’t respond.

“As you know, Sect Leader, the Jianghu has been building up its strength for a long time. And that’s not just the Righteous Sects. The Evil Sects are also very strong now, because they haven’t fought a big war in a long time.”

“The Green Forest seemed pretty weak, though?” Chung Myung said.

“…” Im So-byeong looked at him with a hurt expression, but Chung Myung didn’t care at all. Instead, he pushed him away and brushed off his shoulder.

“…Anyway…” Im So-byeong continued, sounding a bit sad.

“The big fights that have thrown the Jianghu into chaos haven’t always started from big events. Everyone has a lot of power and wants to use it somewhere. Then, a small argument starts, and it spreads without stopping.”

“…” Chung Myung remained silent.

“I don’t want to worry you, but maybe the Cheonwoo Union is like lighting a fire in the Jianghu’s big barrel of gunpowder.”

Baek Cheon’s face turned serious. He hadn’t thought that the Cheonwoo Union could be seen that way. It was just a group of a few sects that thought alike…

“So what?” Chung Myung asked, his face showing no concern.

“Pardon?” Im So-byeong was taken aback.

“So, you’re saying that the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families might beat up the Evil Sects to show that they’re still strong?” Chung Myung asked in a flat tone.

“…That’s right,” Im So-byeong confirmed.

Chung Myung continued without emotion, “Whether the Evil Sects all die or the Nine Great Sects die while beating up the Evil Sects, what does that have to do with me?”

“…” Im So-byeong was speechless.

“If possible, I hope they fight each other and both die. Then the Jianghu will be empty, and we can take it all. Ehehehehehehe!” Chung Myung cackled.

“…”

“…”

Im So-byeong and Baek Cheon looked at each other, their eyes twitching. Watching Chung Myung laugh as if he was happy just thinking about it, they couldn’t tell who was the Evil Sect and who was the Righteous Sect.

“Sect Leader… You, uh, don’t quite understand… I mean, if this gets bigger, the Cheonwoo Union won’t be able to avoid it.”

“That’s obvious,” Chung Myung said, furrowing his brow.

“Yes?” Im So-byeong asked.

“So, if the Cheonwoo Union hadn’t been formed, this wouldn’t have happened?” Chung Myung asked.

“…” Im So-byeong didn’t answer.

“It’s the way things are. When something is full, it spills over. Even if it wasn’t the Cheonwoo Union, it would have happened sooner or later. As you said, the reason doesn’t matter.”

“Hmm. That’s true,” Im So-byeong admitted.

“Besides,” Chung Myung added.

“Yes?” Im So-byeong asked again.

Chung Myung stopped talking.

‘The Demonic Sect is coming anyway,’ he thought.

No matter how quietly they tried to live, the Demonic Sect wouldn’t let them.

“That’s what the Cheonwoo Union is for,” Chung Myung said.

Seeing the strong belief in Chung Myung’s eyes, Im So-byeong grinned. That was why he had come to see Chung Myung.

“Yes! We, the Green Forest, will also do our best to help!” Im So-byeong exclaimed.

“…Why would you?” Chung Myung asked suspiciously.

“Please don’t say that! Give us a chance! We can do all the simple jobs! The annoying jobs! We can even quietly get rid of annoying people! Just give us a chance to prove ourselves!” Im So-byeong pleaded.

“Ah, just get lost!” Chung Myung said, annoyed.

Im So-byeong grabbed onto Chung Myung’s pant leg and held on tight. Baek Cheon, ignoring the familiar commotion, sighed deeply.

‘Will it be alright?’ Baek Cheon wondered.

Baek Cheon was starting to seriously worry about what would happen to the Cheonwoo Union.