Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 702

“Grrrr.”

Behind Cheong-myeong, who was puffing steam from his mouth, the Five Swords of Mount Hua looked like they had been dragged through mud and were convulsing on the ground.

“That crazy…”

“Aigo… Aigo, I’m going to die…”

The later generation disciples of Mount Hua were considered the best among all the sects in the martial world. However, they were extremely tired from merely running.

They helped each other. They picked up those who fell. They dragged those who collapsed. They supported those about to fall. The Five Swords of Mount Hua arrived in Namchang together. Along the way, they had even started to feel affection(?) for each other.

‘Why didn’t they just leave me collapsed on the ground!’

‘Such cruel people! Insisting on helping and dragging me along…’

‘They can’t die alone, can they?!’

Having somehow arrived in Namchang, they all glared at Cheong-myeong with angry faces. But Cheong-myeong, as if not feeling it at all, was staring at Namchang like a hunter looking at its target.

“By the way…”

Baek Cheon, who had barely caught his breath, asked Cheong-myeong, “What are you going to do now?”

“…”

“We don’t even know what that person looks like. And isn’t it possible that the one claiming to be a disciple of Mount Hua is no longer in Namchang?”

“…”

“So, first, let’s get an inn and at least wash up, then slowly start looking…”

“Sasuk.”

“Huh?”

Cheong-myeong cut him off without even turning around.

“With that attitude, how are you going to lead Mount Hua?”

“…”

“You don’t know what they look like? You don’t know if they’re still in Namchang? What does any of that matter?”

“Why doesn’t it matter, you rascal?”

“Listen well. For those who lead people, the art of using people is important.”

Cheong-myeong slightly raised his hand and lightly beckoned.

Then, from behind the trees on the left and right, dark figures sprang from the shadows like startled crows.

“Heok!”

“Is it an attack?”

The Five Swords of Mount Hua, who had been collapsed on the ground, were startled and rose to their feet.

“We greet the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua!”

“We have been waiting! Welcome to Namchang!”

Greetings burst forth.

Everyone stared blankly at those who were prostrating themselves.

“…Beggars?”

“We are the Beggar’s Sect, Sasuk! The Beggar’s Sect!”

“Isn’t the Beggar’s Sect just beggars?”

“…No, this guy’s personality is getting worse day by day.”

Regardless, the Beggar’s Sect disciples glanced at Cheong-myeong and quickly said.

“We have received word from the leader of the Beggar’s Sect branch in Huaum. We will cooperate with everything we can!”

“We look forward to working with you!”

Cold sweat formed on the back of Baek Cheon’s head.

‘No…’

Of course, Mount Hua and the Beggar’s Sect… No, to be precise, Cheong-myeong and the Beggar’s Sect don’t have a bad relationship, so it’s not that strange for them to cooperate.

But the problem was that attitude, which couldn’t be considered ‘cooperation’ at all.

‘What kind of rumors are spreading in the Beggar’s Sect?’

He had a question, but honestly, he didn’t want to know the answer. He was sure he would only get frustrated if he knew.

“That guy?”

At Cheong-myeong’s words, the Beggar’s Sect disciples quickly rose to their feet.

“He is still in Namchang.”

“We will guide you right away!”

“Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

As the beggars moved as if they were about to run out immediately, Baek Cheon and Jo Gul screamed in horror.

“W-wait, let’s catch our breath…”

“Are we running again?! Again?”

Cheong-myeong shouted without even turning his head.

“We can rest after catching that bastard! What are you doing! Go!”

“Yes!”

The Beggar’s Sect disciples began to run with all their might. And Cheong-myeong followed closely behind without delay.

“Aoh, damn it! Seriously!”

“Let’s stop running! Please stooooop! You bastard!”

The Five Swords also followed behind Cheong-myeong, shedding tears.

In fact, Cheong-myeong’s words weren’t entirely wrong. If they wasted time and the person who caused the problem escaped Namchang, they would have to run even further to chase after them.

But the problem was that they were literally on the verge of gasping for breath.

‘Damn bastard!’

‘Why did he have to impersonate Mount Hua of all things!’

‘If I catch him, I’ll grind him to dust!’

All their anger was directed at the impersonator somewhere in Namchang.

They knew.

That the cause of this pain was not only the impersonator. Rather, to be precise, it was Cheong-myeong.

But if a typhoon blows and a house collapses and is blown away, wouldn’t anyone blame the one who built the house haphazardly rather than blaming the typhoon? Because blaming the typhoon, the cause of the pain, is meaningless.

Similarly, there is no point in blaming Cheong-myeong. The one who made Cheong-myeong act like that is the one who is at fault.

“I don’t know who it is, but let’s start by punching him in the face!”

“That’s a terrible thing to say, but I wholeheartedly agree!”

“Kill him!”

The disciples of Mount Hua, with bloodshot eyes and clenched teeth, ran towards the Geumgeom Gate.

“Huh?”

The guard Jomu-seong, who was guarding the main gate of the Geumgeom Gate, frowned as he looked at the group of people running towards him.

“What is it?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Look over there, over there!”

Yeomgong, who was also on duty, flinched as he looked in the direction Jomu-seong was pointing.

“What are those beggars… ?”

Their clothes were stained with so much dust that they had turned yellowish-brown, and it was difficult to recognize the original color of their hair. Grime streamed down their faces, which were revealed between their disheveled hair.

“Stop! Stop it!”

Yeomgong shouted like thunder and stood in front of the beggars.

Screeeech!

Then, the young beggar running at the front stretched his legs forward and slid to a stop. Yeomgong sternly said.

“You rascals! What are you doing making a fuss here…”

“Enough!”

But the beggar at the front cut him off abruptly.

“Did some lowly people calling themselves Mount Hua enter here?”

“Mount Hua?”

Yeomgong narrowed his eyes and examined the beggar before getting angry.

“Have these guys lost their minds? How dare you use the expression ‘lowly people’ to a master of the Mount Hua Sect! You deserve to be punished!”

And he tapped the golden scabbard on his waist with a loud sound.

“I should teach you a lesson, but since we have a guest, I will let you go this once. Be grateful and get lost. If you cause trouble again, you will not be safe.”

“They’re here!”

Cheong-myeong was a human being who was specialized in listening only to what he wanted to hear out of hundreds of words and erasing the rest from his mind.

As expected, the only words that remained in his mind after hearing all the words this time were ‘Mount Hua Sect’, ‘master’, and ‘guest’.

Cheong-myeong’s eyes flashed and he snorted.

“That swindler!”

As he tried to push past the guards at the entrance, two men grabbed his shoulders.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing, you kid!” one of the guards shouted. He was a big man with a rough face.

“Easy there, brother!” the other guard said, stepping closer. He was a bit calmer, but his voice was still firm. “Didn’t you hear what my friend just said? Move aside, now.”

Chung Myung’s playful smile disappeared. His eyes became narrow and sharp as he looked down at the guard’s hand on his arm.

Startled, Baek Cheon quickly stepped forward.

“Just a moment!”

Baek Cheon bowed politely. Then, he explained the situation calmly.

“We are from the Mount Hua Sect, a famous group of fighters from the mountains, in Shanxi. We’ve come to investigate someone pretending to be a Mount Hua disciple in Nanchang, and we ask for your help.”

The two men looked at each other, unsure. They looked at Baek Cheon again. He was cleaner than the others, but still looked like a beggar compared to the impressive Mount Hua fighter they remembered.

“…Where did you say you were from?”

“The Mount Hua Sect of Shanxi Province.”

“Ah… You’re from… there?”

Yeom Gong laughed loudly. Jo Mu-seong didn’t laugh, but he couldn’t hide his amusement, twitching his lips as he looked away.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Yeom Gong, who had been shaking with laughter, suddenly roared.

“These liars need to be taught a lesson!”

“…Pardon?”

“Do you even know what Mount Hua is? How dare you pretend to be them! The Mount Hua Sect is known for its respected religious fighters, Taoist masters! And you, looking like you haven’t washed for days, dare to speak of Mount Hua!”

Baek Cheon glared at Chung Myung with resentful eyes.

‘I told you to wash up, you idiot!’

“Tsk, tsk. These are bad times, truly bad. Youngsters these days are so bold with their lies! If I hadn’t just met a Mount Hua Sect member myself, I might have been fooled! Enough talk. I was going to let you off easy since you look young, but if you bother me any further, I’ll show you how tough this world can be! Get out of here, now!”

Yeom Gong stepped closer, his voice getting louder. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. “Get out,” he growled.

Baek Cheon sighed deeply and looked at Chung Myung with a sad expression. Chung Myung, however, grinned.

“Why make it so difficult? We just need to prove that we’re really from Mount Hua.”

“…How?”

“How… How indeed…”

A wicked smile formed on Chung Myung’s face. Baek Cheon flinched and took a step back. It was an instinctive reaction.

“I wonder… How should we prove it? Haa, this is quite the puzzle. Difficult, indeed.”

“Che, Chung Myung-ah?”

“It’s so difficult that I can’t think of any other way.”

The moment Chung Myung’s hand gripped his sword hilt, Baek Cheon involuntarily squeezed his eyes shut. Chung Myung grinned and said,

“You two over there.”

“Hm?”

“This is truly unavoidable, so please understand. I absolutely! Must get inside.”

“This rascal dares to…!”

“I’ve already said everything nicely beforehand, so from now on… It’s your responsibility!”

Chung Myung’s eyes, which were usually playful, narrowed into slits. The light seemed to disappear from them, making them sharp and cold.

Sang Man-hui, the Vice Lord of the Golden Sword Bureau, handed a bundle of vouchers to Jin Yang-geon.

Jin Yang-geon stared silently at the bundle of vouchers on the table. His face was impassive, but his hand, hidden beneath the table, trembled with barely suppressed excitement.

‘How much is all this… Can this really be happening…?’

Faced with an enormous sum he had never even dared to imagine, he instinctively tried to swallow, but desperately composed himself.

Clutching his thigh to suppress the trembling, Jin Yang-geon spoke as calmly as possible.

“I have often heard of Great Hero Sang’s generosity, but I never imagined you would make such a big decision.”

“How could we possibly doubt Mount Hua? To doubt Mount Hua, a sect known for its honor, would bring shame on us.”

Jin Yang-geon smiled faintly and nodded, slowly placing his now steady hand on the table.

“All of this money will be used to help the hungry. And my sect will always remember the kindness of the Golden Sword Bureau in helping the poor.”

“If you would do that, what more could we ask for! Thank you, Great Hero Jin! No, Taoist Master!”

Sang Man-hui grasped Jin Yang-geon’s hand tightly.

Jin Yang-geon nodded with a relaxed expression and reached out with his other hand to take the bundle of vouchers.

KABOOOOM!

“Aaaaaaaaargh!”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

But suddenly, a massive explosion and scream from outside caused Sang Man-hui and Jin Yang-geon to turn their heads at the same time.

“…What.”

KABOOOOM!

The successive explosions paled Sang Man-hui’s face.

“A, an attack? Is it the Ironclad Brigade?”

His gaze quickly darted to Jin Yang-geon.

“D, Taoist Master. It seems the Ironclad Brigade has attacked.”

Jin Yang-geon forced an awkward smile, his face slightly pale.

“Haha. A mere pup… Doesn’t know the terror of a tiger… Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“As expected!”

Sang Man-hui’s face brightened considerably.

“Let us go out together!”

“Ah. I should probably secure these vouchers first…”

“…Pardon?”

Sang Man-hui stared at Jin Yang-geon with a blank expression.

Under that suspicious gaze, Jin Yang-geon grit his teeth, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.

“Vice Lord!”

Just then, the Chief Manager, his face ashen, burst through the door.

“What is it! Is it the Ironclad Brigade! Do these fools even know who is here…!”

“N, no! It’s not the Ironclad Brigade.”

“Huh? Not the Ironclad Brigade?”

Sang Man-hui’s face went blank at the unexpected answer.

If the Ironclad Brigade hadn’t attacked, then what was the cause of this sudden explosion?

“Then who is it?”

“W, well, that is…”

The Chief Manager hesitated, glancing at Jin Yang-geon before opening his mouth.

“H, Hwasan… Those claiming to be from the Mount Hua Sect have arrived and are causing a ruckus. O, our bureau’s disciples are trying to stop them, but they are no match…”

“Mount Hua?”

Sang Man-hui rebuked him, wondering what on earth he was talking about.

“Mount Hua, what nonsense is that! Why would the Mount Hua Sect be causing a ruckus here?”

“I, I don’t know…”

“Who on earth would pretend to be Mount Hua and…”

It was at that moment.

KABOOOOM!

“Aaaaaaaaargh!”

With a deafening explosion, the inner gate in front of the building housing the Vice Lord’s office was blown apart. Simultaneously, several disciples of the Golden Sword Bureau flew over the gate like frogs kicked by a child, landing on the ground with a thud.

Sang Man-hui blinked in disbelief at the unbelievable sight.

And then he saw it.

A bizarre figure sauntered through the shattered gate.

His eyes, covered in dust, emitted a fierce blue light. It was a sight that made one’s legs tremble.

“Hrrruuuuugh.”

The bizarre figure slowly turned his head from side to side, his gaze settling precisely on Sang Man-hui.

“Which bastard is from Mount Hua?”

Flames seemed to erupt from the eyes of the bizarre figure, Chung Myung.

“Which bastard dared to utter the name of Mount Hua? Come out! Won’t you come out?”

“…”

‘…Did they come from Jongnam?’

That was the first thought that crossed Sang Man-hui’s mind.