Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 753

“Chung Myung?” Hyun Jong’s voice was a little shaky. “Are you… are you angry?”

Chung Myung sat with his back half-turned, looking at the plum blossom scroll on the wall. He didn’t answer. Cold sweat ran down Hyun Jong’s back.

*Why did I hang that scroll there?* Hyun Jong thought sadly. *A plain wall would be boring, but now it gives Chung Myung a reason to ignore me.*

The Abbot’s room was quiet and smelled of old paper. Sunlight came through the window, making dust motes dance in the air. The plum blossom scroll on the wall was bright against the plain walls.

“The plum blossoms are pretty, right?” Hyun Jong said, trying to sound cheerful.

“Yes,” Chung Myung said. “They are pretty.” He still didn’t turn around.

Hyun Jong forced a smile. “Yes, yes, they are. So…”

He glanced at Hyun Sang and Hyun Young, who sat with blank faces. Since Hyun Jong had forbidden Chung Myung from going, they expected him to fix it himself.

‘Those damned fellows.’

Hyun Jong sighed, tried to look calm, and looked at Chung Myung again. The way his cheeks were puffed out, it wouldn’t be easy.

“Um… Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yes?”

You should turn your head when you speak. Hmm?

“As you know, things in this world don’t always go as planned, and they change from moment to moment… don’t you think?”

“That’s right, Abbot.”

Hyun Jong smiled and nodded.

“Hehe. So what can we do? A problem has come up, and someone needs to solve it. You’re the person I trust most in all of Mount Hua.”

“It would be Martial Uncle.”

“…It’s you.”

“Aww, it’s Martial Uncle.”

This rascal is clever…

Hyun Jong’s eyes twitched.

“Yes, yes. I trust Baek Cheon too. But I can’t leave everything to those children. They’re all still quite immature.”

“…”

“Don’t you all think so too?”

He looked for agreement, but the elders showed no reaction. When Hyun Jong glared at them, they flinched and reluctantly added.

“Th-that’s right. It’s still too early to leave it all to those brats…”

“Ahem. That’s the right thing to say. How can we trust those brats! Things only work out properly when Chung Myung steps up!”

Twitch.

Hyun Jong saw Chung Myung’s ear subtly turn back to its original position, fluttering delicately.

‘Now’s my chance!’

“I feel the same way. I made a bold decision for the children’s growth, but it seems too big for them alone. In times like these, you must step up! You, the best swordsman of Mount Hua!”

Hyun Jong saw the corners of Chung Myung’s lips and cheekbones twitching.

‘Almost there.’

“Chung Myung-ah. So, won’t you step up and help us out?”

Chung Myung slowly turned his head completely back. He had a very happy face.

‘It’s done, it’s done…’

“Abbot.”

“Yes. Yes, Chung Myung-ah!”

Chung Myung smiled brightly at Hyun Jong.

“My disciple is fine!”

“…Huh?”

“Martial Uncle will take care of it. What big deal could there be? The Abbot trusted him enough to send him, so he’ll have to do well.”

Chung Myung subtly lifted his bottom.

“Well, I have the Hundred Plum Blossom Hall to clean, so I’ll be going now.”

“Wa, wait a minute!”

Chung Myung stood up as if he was going to leave. Hyun Jong grabbed his waist, horrified.

“Why are you doing this, Abbot!”

“Ah, sit down! Just sit down for a moment! Huh? Chung Myung-ah, let’s sit down and talk!”

“I have nothing more to say! Please don’t do this! My pants are coming down.”

“Then just sit down!”

“Eesh!”

Chung Myung reluctantly sat back down. Hyun Jong wiped the sweat from his forehead and released Chung Myung’s waist.

“No, I understand why you’re doing this… but the situation has changed, hasn’t it?”

“No, Abbot!”

“U, ung?”

Hyun Jong flinched as Chung Myung glared at him.

“In the first place! Huh? Wasn’t it your idea, Abbot, that the disciples should experience problems without me to grow and develop independence!”

“Th, that’s right.”

“Isn’t this a problem! A problem! Where else can they find a better situation to develop independence!”

Hyun Jong could not speak and stared blankly at Chung Myung.

“If you were going to be like this, you shouldn’t have started it! You said they should be able to solve any problem on their own, and now you’re running to solve it for them just because the situation has changed a bit!”

“That’s right.”

“Indeed.”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young nodded with their arms crossed. But they quickly backed down at Hyun Jong’s glare.

Hyun Jong sighed and said in an even heavier voice.

“Chung Myung-ah. I wouldn’t do this if I were only thinking about the children. I would hope that they could overcome the danger and grow even more, as you said. But I heard that innocent people are being held captive there. We must save them.”

Chung Myung didn’t give in easily. He rolled his eyes almost as if he would devour him.

“No, isn’t that also included in the problem? They should be able to handle that much on their own! That’s how they develop independence! When will they develop independence if they only solve easy problems!”

Hyun Jong was momentarily speechless.

He’s only saying terribly correct things today.

“Abbot.”

“Eung?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to go that I’m doing this. I deeply feel the Abbot’s great intentions.”

“…”

“I also clearly understand that I must grit my teeth and make this decision for the sake of Mount Hua. All of this is for Mount Hua.”

“…Really?”

“Yes! If I have even a little personal desire, may I be struck by lightning and die…”

Rumble!

Everyone widened their eyes and looked towards the window at the sudden thunderclap from the sky.

“…There are no clouds?”

“A loud thunderclap came from a clear sky…”

Only Chung Myung’s cheeks twitched as he muttered.

Are you really going to do this, Abbot?

– Please have some conscience, you rascal! Conscience!

Chung Myung changed his expression completely and calmly changed his words.

“…I do have a little bit of personal desire. But! I’m not doing this because of personal desire.”

“…”

“Anyway, I’m not going, so trust Martial Uncle and the senior disciples who went to the Yangtze River.”

“Cheo, Chung Myung-ah!”

Chung Myung jumped up and opened the door. Hyun Jong threw himself again.

“Eish! Let go! You must keep your dignity as the Abbot!”

“Does dignity feed me!”

“Ehey! I said let go! My pants are stretching!”

“I was wrong, Chung Myung-ah! Shouldn’t we save the people first!”

Loud voices leaked out from Hyun Jong’s room. Unam, who was listening outside the door, smiled faintly. He said to the other disciples next to him.

“Kids.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle.”

“Cover your ears.”

“…Yes.”

“Tsk.”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young, the Three Masters of Chung Myung, surrounded him tightly as he leaned against the wall.

“Alright, alright, Chung Myung-ah. Calm down first.”

“He wouldn’t be like this if it weren’t serious.”

“You know it will take a long time to bring other disciples from Mount Hua.”

“That’s right, that’s right. It takes a long time.”

“You know that only you can go quickly and buy time until the main force arrives.”

“That’s right, that’s right. There’s no one but Chung Myung.”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young were trying to persuade him, but it seemed like a threat. They glared at Hyun Jong.

They were dissatisfied, saying, ‘Don’t just nod, say something. Who is this all because of.’

Hyun Jong sighed and spoke in a serious voice.

“Chung Myung-ah. People make wrong choices sometimes. When they make mistakes, they fix them, right?”

“Someone else does the deed! Someone else cleans it up!”

“That’s right. That’s right.”

Hyun Young twisted his face.

“Why is that coming out of there!”

“Uh…”

Hyun Jong wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled awkwardly.

“Anyway, you’re the only one we can trust right now. What can we do when you’re the best.”

Chung Myung’s cheek twitched slightly.

The elders clapped loudly.

“That’s right. That’s right! Chung Myung is the only one we can trust!”

“Yes, Chung Myung-ah. The Abbot didn’t have bad intentions. He made that decision because he knew you would step up in times of crisis, right?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“He can make bold decisions because he believes you can solve everything in times of danger. All these decisions were possible because you are so outstanding.”

Chung Myung’s face seemed half-melted. The two elders began to flatter him.

“Oh dear. What should we do? There’s no one to solve this problem if Chung Myung doesn’t step up.”

“Mount Hua will fall, Mount Hua will fall. Mount Hua will fall because the Abbot made one wrong decision.”

“He’s lost his senses, tsk tsk tsk.”

Hyun Jong clapped along and looked at his disciples with a strange gaze.

These guys are taking it too far…?

But the two didn’t care.

“Chung Myung-ah. You have to understand with a generous heart.”

“That’s right. Chung Myung has an incredibly big heart!”

Chung Myung’s face was a mess. His ears were red, his eyes were wide open trying to hold back laughter, his nostrils were flaring, and he had to suppress the corners of his lips. It seemed like he was having a hard time.

“Ahem!”

Chung Myung cleared his throat loudly and nodded quietly.

“Well, I can’t help it.”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“Well… the Abbot did this trying to do well, so it wouldn’t be right for a disciple to question him.”

The words, ‘Then what have you been doing all this time?’ almost came out, but Hyun Jong managed to avoid it.

“Th, that’s right. Our Chung Myung is truly a treasure.”

“Hehe. Come to think of it, when I first came to Mount Hua, the Abbot did say something like that.”

“I did?”

“Yes.”

“I was crazy…”

“Hahahaha! Oh my, our Abbot must be very tired!”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young blocked Hyun Jong’s mouth and pulled him back.

“Mmph!”

Tears welled up in Hyun Jong’s eyes. He failed to be honest.

Chung Myung got up and stuck out his belly. Baek Ah, in Chung Myung’s arms, stretched his head out and made a triumphant expression.

‘Th, that…’

Now even the animals…?

“There are many things I want to say, but the situation is urgent, so I’ll leave right away.”

“Ye, yes. Chung Myung-ah.”

“And from now on, please… Haa… No. What’s the point of saying it? I have to understand.”

“Mph! Mmph! Mph!”

“From now on, I hope you make even wiser decisions, Abbot.”

Chung Myung shook his head and bowed.

“Then I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes. Come back safely.”

“Hahaha. The Abbot seems happy too. I wonder if he’s so happy that he’s dancing. Haha. Please stay still! Hahahaha!”

Chung Myung smiled and went outside.

Thud.

Unam saw him come out with a very happy face and asked awkwardly.

“How did it go?”

“Martial Uncle. Disciple, I’ll be back from the Yangtze River.”

“…Yes. Come back quickly.”

“Yes. Hee hee hee!”

Chung Myung walked away, his steps light. A desperate scream was heard from behind Unam.

“Quit it! Quit it all, you guys! Tell that guy not to go!”

“Ah, please stay still!”

“People become more childish as they get older, eish!”

Unam lowered his head, listening to the three people arguing.

“Kids.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle.”

“I told you to cover your ears…”

“…Yes.”

After many problems, Chung Myung set off like a ray of light towards the Yangtze River, looking mischievous.