Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 744

Hwang Jong-i looked around the room. He knew this room well, he had been here many times before.

Usually, groups like the Mount Hua Sect have a special room to greet visitors. The sect leader’s home, which is the most important place in the sect, is usually not for outsiders.

But Hyun Jong did not use a separate greeting room. He dealt with all important and small matters in his own home. This is why Hwang Jong-i had visited the sect leader’s home many times.

But this was the first time he had waited so long while Hyun Jong was not there.

Maybe that was why? The room, which he usually ignored, looked very different to him today.

“How simple this room is,” Hwang Jong-i thought. He was seeing it in a new way today.

Mount Hua had changed a lot. When he first came to Mount Hua to meet Chung Myung and become friends with them (because of Hwang Mun-yak), Mount Hua was very different. It was like night and day.

Even though Mount Hua, which was once falling apart, was now as grand as any other group, this room was still the same as before.

There were no decorations in the room, not even one picture on the wall. Only the things that were needed were there. Looking at this, it was easy to see that the owner of this room was a simple man.

“He is really amazing,” Hwang Jong-i thought.

People usually change when they become important.

But Hyun Jong was the same person whether he was the leader of a small, unknown group in Shaanxi, the head of the Heavenly Union (which controlled the world), or the leader of the great Mount Hua Sect.

Hwang Jong-i had met many people, so he knew how rare this was. He felt even more respect for Hyun Jong.

“The Sect Leader…”

But Do Woon-chan, the leader of the Spirit World Sect, who was sitting next to him, was too worried to notice the room. Looking anxious, he kept asking Un-am when the Sect Leader would come.

“He will be here soon.”

“…Where did he go so early in the morning?”

“I am sorry. The Sect Leader usually trains by himself at this time… I sent a student to get him, so he will be back soon.”

“Training so early…”

Hwang Jong-i raised his hand a little. Do Woon-chan, who was complaining, sighed quietly.

Actually, they were being rude by coming to the mountain gate so early without warning. Asking about the host was even more rude.

He was so worried and in a hurry that he didn’t even think about being polite. He was only thinking about why he had come.

It was at that moment, as he bit his lip tightly.

Bang!

The tightly closed door opened, and Hyun Jong entered the room.

Hwang Jong-i and Do Woon-chan, and those who had come to accompany them, rose from their seats at once.

Hyun Jong: “Sorry for being late. I didn’t know you were coming, so I was out for a while. Please forgive me.”

Do Woon-chan: “No rudeness at all, Sect Leader! We are grateful that you even see us after we came so early without asking.”

Hwang Jong-i and Do Woon-chan bowed deeply.

Hyun Jong bowed in return and quickly walked to the head seat and sat down.

“Please, sit down.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Do Woon-chan, having taken his seat, was about to open his mouth quickly. His mind was so urgent that he had no time to wait for Hyun Jong’s words.

But then he stopped talking.

‘Huh?’

He felt something different about Hyun Jong, who was sitting straight.

It wasn’t forceful, but it felt like a gentle pressure all around…

‘Wait, does he look stronger?’

It had been a while since they had met at the Heavenly Union inauguration ceremony, but it hadn’t been so long that a person could change this much. Do Woon-chan blinked his eyes at the strange change.

Then Hyun Jong spoke softly.

“You have come to see me so early, so something important must have happened. Please tell me what it is.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Hwang Jong-i looked at Do Woon-chan.

He thought it was better for Do Woon-chan to explain. Do Woon-chan nodded and started to speak.

“Sect Leader, the special deliveries from the Eunha Escort Agency are being attacked.”

Hyun Jong’s face became serious at once.

“Wait… attacked, you said?”

“Yes.”

Hwang Jong-i spoke up. Do Woon-chan was upset and not explaining clearly, so Hwang Jong-i added, “Actually, it’s more like they are being stopped, not really attacked.”

“Can you tell me more?” Hyun Jong asked.

Do Woon-chan sighed, looking lost.

“The people escorting goods across the Yangtze River to the south are being attacked by robbers.”

…”More than five people have been attacked already. Three had their goods stolen but lived. But we don’t know where two others are. Maybe…” Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly.

If they disappeared while crossing the Yangtze River, everyone knew what it meant. If they fell into the wide river, it would be almost impossible to find them. Even if they lived, they would be too hurt to come back.

Hyun Jong understood the situation quickly. He spoke in a serious voice.

“Why is this happening now? I thought there were no big problems before.”

“…I think there are two reasons.”

Hwang Jong-i sighed and said.

“First, the special deliveries of the Eunha Escort Agency have become too well-known. We helped make them famous to get more business, but even so, the rumor that the Eunha Escort Agency carries valuable things has spread too much. So, of course, they will be attacked.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong nodded, agreeing.

“And the second reason is that there are more goods to deliver and they are going to more places. Before, the Eunha Escort Agency mostly delivered to Sichuan from Beijing. But now, more officials are asking them to carry goods, so deliveries are going to Nanjing, Hangzhou, and even Guangzhou.”

Hwang Jong-i swallowed and went on.

“Deliveries to Sichuan don’t need to cross the Yangtze River. For normal deliveries, boats are faster, but the Spirit World Sect people are faster on land than on water. So, until now, they didn’t need to cross the river.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

“But to get to Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou, you have to travel a very long way around Jungwon if you don’t cross the Yangtze River. So, they must cross the Yangtze River.”

Hyun Jong nodded silently.

The Yangtze River stretches from the East Sea to Dongting Lake in Henan.

Hangzhou is located almost on the East Sea. To deliver goods from Beijing to Hangzhou without crossing the Yangtze River, you have to go around half the distance of Jungwon.

This was a big waste of time.

“To move the goods, they have to cross the Yangtze River… and robbers are attacking those goods.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes again.

Hyun Jong opened his eyes slowly. He looked at Hwang Jong-i and Do Woon-chan. Hwang Jong-i looked very cold and serious. Do Woon-chan’s face was very pale.

“Okay, I understand what’s happening,” Hyun Jong said. “So, what do you want me to do?”

Hwang Jong-i spoke, his voice heavy.

“Sect Leader.”

“Speak,” Hyun Jong replied.

“It seems the Janggang River Eighteen Bandit Groups are attacking the Eunha Escort Service. This means more attacks will probably happen.”

“…I guess so.”

“The Eunha Escort Service wanted to get customers fast. So, they promised to pay much more money if things went wrong than other escort services. We had enough saved to handle it until now. But if this happens a few more times, we won’t be able to pay anymore.” Hwang Jong-i sighed deeply. “We thought about going around the Janggang River, but it’s hard. We can pay the extra cost, but we’d lose the speed that made the Eunha Escort Service famous.”

“…A special escort that isn’t fast isn’t special anymore.”

“Exactly. If that happens, the important people in Beijing won’t use the Eunha Escort Service anymore.”

Hyun Jong’s face became even more serious. It was worse than he thought. The Eunha Escort Service might not survive.

“So, in the end, we need to be able to cross the Janggang River safely.”

“That’s right, Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong looked at Do Woon-chan. “Hmm. What do you think, Chief?”

“Sect Leader,” Do Woon-chan said, biting his lip. “My disciples were hurt.”

“…”

“Some of them might even be dead. What can I say? But… Sect Leader, please remember one thing. There was only one reason I started this escort service.”

“What is it?”

“Even if we lose goods, there’s a place that will help us get them back. That place is Hwasan.”

“…”

“Sect Leader,” Do Woon-chan said, his voice tight. “I’m begging you. Please, you have to fix this.”

Hyun Jong thought for a long time, in silence.

Tap. Tap.

The room became very quiet. You could only hear the lamp burning.

After thinking for a long time, Hyun Jong spoke. “…To be honest…”

Everyone waited silently for his words.

“…I don’t know much about business. And I don’t really see why we should keep doing this business if it’s so dangerous.”

Hwang Jong-i’s face became hard. He thought Hyun Jong was going to close the Eunha Escort Service.

But Hyun Jong wasn’t finished. “But I do know one thing.”

His eyes looked at both men. “The Ghostly Gate are friends of Hwasan. It’s not about losing goods or money. A friend of Hwasan was hurt and is missing because of an attack by another group. That’s what’s important right now.”

“Sect Leader!” Do Woon-chan’s eyes widened. He was so relieved he could barely speak.

He had wanted to ask for help, but the words to get revenge for his disciples were stuck in his throat. He thought it was too much to ask. But Hyun Jong said it first.

“Hwasan doesn’t ignore its friends’ problems. And we won’t start now.” Hyun Jong’s face was firm. “Hwasan will help with this.”

“Sect Leader!”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.”

“However!” Hyun Jong shook his head slowly. “Even though I’m the Sect Leader of Hwasan, this is a big deal. I can’t decide alone. I want to talk to the senior members and disciples about this. I hope you understand.”

“Yes, Sect Leader! Of course.” Do Woon-chan nodded quickly. He knew Hyun Jong was right, and he wanted to hear others agree too.

“Woon-am, go and gather the disciples…”

“Sect Leader.”

“Hmm?”

Do Woon-chan spoke quickly, “I’ll go and get the Hwasan Divine Dragon myself. I think it’s better to tell him first.”

“…”

“Is that okay?”

“Well… it’s not that it’s not okay… Yes, it’s fine… but, really?” Hyun Jong looked unsure.

Hwang Jong-i helped Do Woon-chan. “It’s better than him hearing it here, right?”

“…” Hyun Jong imagined Cheong-myeong’s reaction if he came here and heard the story. He shuddered. “…Do what you want.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Woon-am.”

“Yes.”

“Take these two to Cheong-myeong.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

As the two men stood up quickly, Hyun Jong sighed. “And while you’re at it…”

“Yes?”

“Take a few others with you. Or the building might get destroyed.”

“…I will remember that.”

The same thought went through Do Woon-chan and Hwang Jong-i’s minds.

‘He hasn’t changed at all.’

‘Truly… always the same.’

But today, both men were thankful for that.