Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 714

“Dead?”

“…Yes.”

Hoga-myung, the strategist for the Myriad Man House, placed the brush he was holding on the inkstone. Then, he picked up his pipe, rubbed his fingers together lightly, and lit it.

Even after only a few puffs, bitter smoke soon filled the air.

“Hooo.”

He blew out a long stream of smoke and looked at the kneeling figure with a calm face.

“The ones I sent to Namchang?”

“Yes.”

“Who did I send?”

“Makwi of Goryeong Island and Heo Hyeong, the Iljanghong.”

“Makwi and Heo Hyeong, hmm….”

Creak. Creak.

As he muttered and leaned back slightly, the chair made a rough grating sound. With his eyes half-closed, Hoga-myung stared blankly at the ceiling, and a low voice escaped his lips.

“That’s strange. Is there anyone in Namchang who could kill them? No, even if there was someone like that visiting, it’s still strange. Not just beaten, but beheaded? Even after they said they were from the Myriad Man House?”

The smoke slowly disappeared.

“Who is it?”

“That is…”

The kneeling figure cautiously raised his head, looked at Hoga-myung to see how he was feeling, and stammered.

“Th-that… it seems that…”

“Don’t waste time. I’m a busy man.”

“Yes. It seems to be the Mount Hua Sect.”

A brief silence followed. The sound of the burning tobacco became quieter.

Hoga-myung, who had been staring at the ceiling, slowly lowered his head and looked directly at the person who reported.

“Mount Hua?”

“Yes. I heard that disciples of Mount Hua have come to Namchang.”

“…Why would those guys who should be in Shaanxi suddenly show up in Namchang? And even if they are from Mount Hua, Goryeong Island and Iljanghong weren’t that weak. Who came?”

“The, the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua…”

Hoga-myung laughed.

“The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?”

“Yes. It seems so. That guy is leading the Mount Hua Five Swords…”

“…I’m really sick of it.”

It seemed this guy was deeply connected with the Myriad Man House. There was no way to do anything without hearing that name.

“The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, who was in Shaanxi, suddenly appeared in Namchang and killed Goryeong Island and Iljanghong?”

Hoga-myung, who had been laughing, suddenly turned as cold as ice.

“This is like they are starting a war with our Myriad Man House. Even though the Lord himself visited Mount Hua to show a sign of friendship, they respond like this? A flicker of annoyance crossed Hoga-myung’s eyes. Mount Hua again, he thought, always causing trouble.”

Others might think differently, but Hoga-myung thought it was a great sign of friendship that the Overlord himself had visited the distant Mount Hua.

“How did they find out about the information?”

“That, that seems a bit strange.”

“Hmm?”

“From what I’ve heard, they didn’t seem to know that Goryeong Island and Iljanghong were in Namchang. It just got twisted…”

“Twisted? What does that mean?”

The kneeling figure cautiously began to explain. Hoga-myung’s face twisted as he listened to the story.

“What is this…”

They came to catch a con man and accidentally ran into them. And they cut down Iljanghong and Goryeong Island, who attacked first.

In this case, it was hard to say Mount Hua was the one who started the problem.

“…What a headache, really.”

Hoga-myung sighed deeply.

Just as he was about to pick up the pipe he had briefly put down, a knock sounded on the door, and a person rushed in urgently. He immediately knelt next to the figure who was already on his knees.

“Strategist! I have something to report!”

“…What is it now?”

“The, the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua…”

Hoga-myung leaned his head back and grabbed his forehead.

How long would he have to hear that damned Divine Dragon of Mount Hua’s name?

“What about the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?”

“The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua has come to Guangdong!”

The chair fell backward with a crash. Hoga-myung, who had jumped up from his seat, asked with a face that could not hide his surprise and confusion.

“What did you say just now?”

“A report came in that the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua and the disciples of Mount Hua have now entered Guangdong…”

“Are you certain?”

“Not many people know the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua’s face well, so it’s hard to say for sure, but it is certain that a group wearing uniforms with plum blossom patterns has entered Guangdong.”

“…They must have come from Namchang, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hoga-myung put the pipe in his mouth and deeply inhaled the smoke. As the scent of tobacco filled his lungs, his worried heart slowly became calm again.

“The Divine Dragon of Mount Hua… Hmm.”

Soon, Hoga-myung nodded.

“The Overlord still needs him. So, now is not the time to capture and kill him.”

“Then…”

“However.”

Hoga-myung’s eyes turned cold. Hoga-myung stood up, a dangerous glint in his eyes. This needs to be handled personally, he decided.

“They must pay the price for causing trouble for the House and daring to come to Guangdong. Even if we let the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua live, there wouldn’t be much of a problem if we killed the disciples of Mount Hua who are with him, would there?”

Hoga-myung narrowed his eyes and thought carefully.

‘It’s necessary to scare them just enough.’

Or rather, make them really angry.

Either way, it wouldn’t be bad for the Myriad Man House.

“I will go myself. Prepare.”

“Yes!”

“Ugh. I don’t think this is the place.”

“…Again?”

“That’s strange. I’m sure it was this way… Is it the opposite side? Did I think wrong?”

Jin Yang-geon walked unsteadily, feeling like the world was spinning from the old man’s muttering.

That was because he had been carrying Old Man Pyo on his back and climbing the mountain for a full four hours.

If there was a clear place to go, he could use all his strength and just go. But this was a terrible situation where he would go because this place was right, only to be told it was a mistake, and then go to the opposite side, only to be told it was the place from before.

“Ugh. Mister! You said you remembered.”

“No. That… I definitely remember the scene back then, but I don’t quite remember how to get there…”

“How can you not know when you’ve been climbing this mountain your whole life!”

“Hey, you rascal! You try getting old!”

Old Man Pyo, who was being carried on his back, smacked Jin Yang-geon’s head with a loud thwack.

Yoon Jong, who was watching the two of them, muttered quietly to Baek Cheon.

“It’s still a relief.”

“What is?”

“Normally, that guy would be crazy and jumping around, but he’s quiet today.”

“Indeed.”

It wasn’t hard to imagine. Cheong-myeong, getting very angry, shouting loudly in the old man’s face like a roaring lion, asking if getting hit would bring him back to his senses.

But fortunately, the current Cheong-myeong wasn’t showing any particular reaction.

“Maybe it’s because he’s old that he’s not saying anything?”

“He always picks on old people.”

“⋯⋯.”

Ah, right.

When you think about it, the Ice Palace Lord and the Mount Hua elders that Chung Myung defeated were all old men. And the bishop of the Demonic Sect? He was extremely old, almost like he wasn’t alive anymore.

“Anyway, it’s a relief that he’s not his usual self. I’m glad we won’t have to see anything unpleasant⋯⋯.”

Just then, Jo Gul, who had been moving around nervously, suddenly made a strange face and rushed towards Old Man Pyo.

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Right in front of Old Man Pyo, he shouted loudly.

“Hey, old man! If you were confused, you should have said so earlier! Why are you making us run around like dogs? How many hours has it been! Are you trying to waste our time?!”

“Yoon Jong.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle!”

“Stop him.”

“Yes!”

Yoon Jong moved like lightning, jumped up, and hit Jo Gul hard on the back of his head with his knee.

“Eek!”

Jo Gul fell to the ground, face down. Yoon Jong quickly got on top of him and started hitting the back of his head.

“Die! You annoying pest! Why are you always like this?! Just be quiet!”

“Ack! Aaaack! Ack! Senior Brother! Ack ack!”

Watching Yoon Jong twist his body as he hit Jo Gul, it looked like he had learned that move from somewhere. Baek Cheon, who had been watching with a small smile, suddenly stopped and shook his head.

*I shouldn’t be smiling at this. I am supposed to be a Taoist.*

Jo Gul held his head with both hands and yelled.

“Aaaack! I’m not saying anything wrong! Ack! S, Senior Brother, your back! You’ll break your back! Not my back! Don’t step on⋯⋯.”

“Just be quiet already, you pest!”

Yoon Jong, having trampled Jo Gul, stood up, breathing heavily, and sighed loudly.

“People are supposed to become wiser as they get older, but you never learn, you pest.”

“⋯⋯Senior Brother, you are becoming more violent too.”

“And whose fault is that, you idiot!”

Yoon Jong raised his hand, and Jo Gul quickly covered his head.

Baek Cheon watched and sighed.

*That Jo Gul.*

Chung Myung had been quiet and serious, so Jo Gul was trying to make things lighter. It might not be working well, but it was better than everyone being silent.

Jo Gul rubbed the back of his head where he was hit and carefully watched Chung Myung.

Baek Cheon also watched Chung Myung quietly. Then he spoke softly.

“Chung Myung.”

“Huh?”

“What are you going to do? The sun will be setting soon.”

“Hmm.”

“We couldn’t find it when it was bright. It will be dark soon, making it even harder. Maybe we should stop for today.”

Chung Myung touched his chin slowly, thinking. Then he asked the old man.

“Elder.”

“Yes?”

“So, you are saying you found the secret manual around here?”

“Of course. Yes, that’s right.”

Old Man Pyo nodded many times and patted Jin Yang-geon’s shoulder.

“Put me down.”

“Kkeueung⋯⋯.”

As if he was waiting for it, Jin Yang-geon sat down, and Old Man Pyo got off and looked around.

“My memory is not perfect, but I’m sure it was somewhere on this mountain or the one next to it. If we look for another day, we will definitely find it.”

Chung Myung looked at the mountain Old Man Pyo pointed to and nodded. The sun was starting to go down, painting the sky in orange and red.

“Can you tell me more about what happened back then?”

“Ah, that’s⋯⋯.”

The old man scratched his head and said.

“It was so long ago, I don’t remember everything clearly. But I remember I caught a fox back then.”

“A fox?”

“Yes. I saw a fox over there and shot it with an arrow right away. It was carrying something in its mouth, so I thought it had caught a rabbit or some animal. But when I caught it and went to the place, there was a book instead of an animal.”

Chung Myung frowned slightly.

“And you brought it to this person?”

“Yes, yes. Actually, I couldn’t read, so I didn’t know what was in the book. But there were pictures of people with swords, so I thought it would be good to bring it to him.”

Old Man Pyo looked at Jin Yang-geon and said.

“Also, he can read a little, and there were rumors he was learning martial arts.”

“Hmm.”

Chung Myung nodded slowly.

“I understand. It will be dark soon, so you can go down now.”

“Yes? But we haven’t found it yet⋯⋯.”

“It’s alright.”

Old Man Pyo looked at Chung Myung carefully.

“Th, then, about what happened earlier⋯⋯.”

Baek Cheon, knowing what the old man wanted to ask, answered for him.

“You will still get the reward. Thank you for your help.”

“Th, thank you, sirs. Thank you very much.”

Baek Cheon looked at Jin Yang-geon with cold eyes and ordered.

“Take the elder home and stay there. Let me tell you now, it’s best not to think about running away.”

“I, I wouldn’t even think of it! Really!”

“Good.”

Jin Yang-geon bowed and carried Old Man Pyo down the mountain. Baek Cheon watched them go, then turned to Chung Myung and asked.

“What are you going to do now?”

“It doesn’t matter if we find it exactly there. The important thing is that the secret manual was found somewhere around here.”

“Hmm.”

“A wild animal wouldn’t carry a book far. It must be close by.”

“I see. So, what should we look for?”

Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon without saying anything. His eyes were hard to read, and no one could guess what he was thinking. The shadows on the mountain grew longer as the light faded.

After a moment, Chung Myung spoke slowly.

“A grave.”

“⋯⋯.”

“If not a grave, then bones. Or clothes, a dead body… anything is fine.”

He paused for a moment before adding.

“I know it’s hard. But we have to find even a small sign. I am asking you to do this.”

Everyone nodded immediately, without any hesitation.

“Let’s split up and search different areas.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle!”

Chung Myung watched as everyone quickly divided and started searching their areas. He looked at the mountain, which was becoming darker quickly. His eyes became serious in the dim light.

*It must be somewhere on this mountain.*

*No.*

*It has to be.*