Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 78

Jo Gul was utterly bewildered. ‘What in the world is going on?’

Everyone in Mount Hua knew Yoo Iseol, but almost no one had talked to her up close like this before.

It wasn’t just because Jo Gul was a Third-Class disciple. Even the Second-Class disciples had never been seen chatting with Yoo Iseol. Though she was a disciple of Mount Hua, Yoo Iseol was somewhat detached.

Yet, here she was, speaking to Chung Myung right in front of Jo Gul’s nose. The older disciples stared sharply at him.

‘Wow, they could kill a man with those looks.’

No, to be precise, they were glaring at Chung Myung, and Jo Gul just happened to be sitting next to him. But as they say, if you sit with someone who causes trouble, you’ll get in trouble too. He was currently being pummeled mercilessly.

‘Chung Myung, please! Show some respect, you blithering idiot! What’s with that tone when the Second-Class disciples are right here?’

Despite the Senior Brothers glaring daggers at him, Chung Myung remained unfazed. The air was so tense you could feel it, but only Yoo Iseol seemed unaffected, speaking in a low, gentle voice.

“It’ll only take a moment.”

“I’m not going.”

“I said it’ll only take a moment.”

“I’m not going! Are you deaf or something!”

That tone! That tone, you little rascal!

Without realizing it, Jo Gul squeezed Chung Myung’s thigh. Chung Myung turned his head sharply.

“What?”

“…Uh… You shouldn’t ask that. Uh… You shouldn’t ask me that in front of the Senior Brothers. You should just understand the situation.”

Clicking his tongue, Chung Myung turned his head to look at Yoo Iseol.

“I have nothing to say to you, Ice Fairy.”

“I have something to say.”

“I don’t particularly want to hear it.”

“It’ll only take a moment. Let’s go outside for a bit.”

“Sounds like a pain. Can’t we just eat?”

“Then I’ll wait until you’re done eating.”

The Second-Class disciples were on the verge of losing their minds.

Firstly, they had never seen Yoo Iseol speak so much at once. No, they had no memory of her speaking so much to someone of a similar age who wasn’t one of the elders.

And now, wasn’t she practically begging a greenhorn Junior Brother?

Indeed. Secondly, what drove them even more insane was Chung Myung’s attitude.

‘That crazy bastard…’

‘The Ice Fairy is speaking, and he can’t even be bothered to stand up?’

‘Is that guy blind?’

Burning rage and subtle respect poured towards Chung Myung simultaneously.

For people who follow the Tao, it is very important to stay away from the opposite sex. And Yoo Iseol was someone who could easily shatter such training. Even if someone is very disciplined, if Yoo Iseol asked nicely like that, they would have to agree.

If one were to see that face and expression up close, that is.

But Chung Myung was openly displaying his annoyance towards Yoo Iseol. This was something the Second-Class disciples couldn’t even imagine.

“I’m not going! I have a lot to do. Look for someone else.”

“I came looking for you.”

“But why me…”

It was at that moment.

A low voice, but filled with internal energy, spread widely.

Everyone’s head turned to one side. Baek Cheon, dressed in white martial robes, rose from his seat, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at Chung Myung.

“You were called Chung Myung, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

A concise answer.

But Baek Cheon didn’t get angry. Getting angry in this situation would only reveal his own shallowness.

“I understand that you’re tired from visiting the Sect Leader and taking on various tasks. You’re probably doing things I don’t even know about. But the Ice Fairy is asking you a favor. You should at least think about helping her, right? You’re a junior disciple.”

Baek Cheon finished speaking with a warm smile. He thought it was decent…

“Why?”

Baek Cheon flinched.

Did I mishear?

No? Then did he really just say ‘Why’?

Flustered, Baek Cheon examined Chung Myung’s expression. Seeing his sulky face, it seemed he hadn’t misheard.

For a moment, Baek Cheon felt a surge of anger, but he barely managed to suppress it.

‘Stay calm.’

If he lost his temper here, he would become the person who brawled with the youngest of the Third-Class disciples.

“Did you say ‘Why’?”

“Yes.”

“There could be many reasons. First of all, people should have manners. There are manners to be observed even between fellow disciples.”

“Ah, manners?”

Chung Myung nodded quickly as if he understood, then called out to Yoo Iseol.

“Ice Fairy.”

“Yes?”

“Apologize quickly. He’s saying you’re being impolite.”

“…”

Yoo Iseol raised a finger and pointed to herself.

“Yes. Apologize quickly.”

“Me?”

“Good grief, you don’t understand.”

Chung Myung explained patiently.

“This is a celebration for the Second-Class disciple’s return. Making personal requests and acting individually in such a place is against etiquette.”

“Ah…”

Yoo Iseol nodded as if she hadn’t considered that. Then, she rose from her seat and bowed deeply to Baek Cheon.

“I’m sorry, Senior Brother. I didn’t think that far.”

“Ah, no, Junior Sister. That’s not what I meant…”

Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly.

How did the story end up like this?

Just as he opened his mouth to somehow salvage the situation, Chung Myung whispered again from behind Yoo Iseol.

“You should apologize to the Grand Uncle, not him. You made a mistake in the presence of the Grand Uncle.”

“That’s right.”

Yoo Iseol bowed to Un Geom again.

“This disciple was short-sighted.”

Un Geom smiled gently.

“You say all sorts of things. I’m fine, so sit down.”

“Yes, Grand Uncle.”

As Yoo Iseol sat down, the one who became troubled was none other than Baek Cheon. For a moment, he couldn’t grasp what he should do.

He had risen so boldly… Now that it had been resolved in this way, it was awkward to sit back down. Weren’t the Second-Class and Third-Class disciples all looking at him, anticipating what Baek Cheon would say?

What if he just sat down while receiving these gazes?

Only Baek Cheon would look foolish.

He cleared his throat a couple of times and looked right at Chung Myung.

‘This won’t do.’

‘We have to stop him.’

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong looked at each other.

Fighting Chung Myung with swords was hard. Arguing with him was even harder. He had no logic. He used nonsense like it was real logic to win arguments.

If the conversation went on, Baek Cheon might actually lose it. They had to stop that from happening.

“Ahem! Sasuk! Welcome back!”

“Hey, Sasuk! You’re back! Great to see you! Isn’t it a fantastic day? Now you’re back from training, everything for the Assembly will be perfect, right?”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong tried to change the subject.

They weren’t trying to defend Chung Myung. They just didn’t want Mount Hua to fall apart on the first day because of a fight between Chung Myung and Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon looked at Jo Gul and Yoon Jong.

Baek Cheon looked at Jo Gul and Yoon Jong. They looked serious. He narrowed his eyes a little and spoke.

“Was it Chung Myung, you said?”

‘Oh, that consistent human!’

‘He doesn’t know when to back down. He really doesn’t know.’

They knew they couldn’t stop Baek Cheon. So, Jo Gul and Yoon Jong grabbed Chung Myung’s clothes.

Hey, please, just let it go. Just once, be polite…

Maybe sensing their desperation, Chung Myung spoke.

“You must have had a hard time on your long journey.”

Oh?

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul’s eyes widened. It had been a long time since Chung Myung had said something polite…

“You asked me this before. Are you tired and need to rest?”

…Of course not. No way.

The consistently bloody-minded git.

Baek Cheon’s eyebrows twitched.

“Let me ask you something. Did you really meet me in Hwaeum this afternoon?”

“Never seen you before.”

“It would be best to tell the truth.”

“Hey, I’m telling you it’s the first time. Have you been living a life of deceit?”

Chung Myung’s eyes looked so honest. No one would think he was lying.

Except for the third-generation disciples.

And Un Geom too.

Uh… the second-generation disciples might think so. Uh… well.

“Is that so? We’ll find out if I ask.”

Baek Cheon turned and clasped his hands towards Un Geom. Baek Cheon didn’t want to do this. But if he didn’t show Chung Myung who was in charge now, he would look foolish.

“Sasuk. I saw that child in Hwaeum this afternoon.”

Un Geom’s eyes twitched a little.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Third-generation disciples can’t leave Mount Hua. But he went down to Hwaeum alone, not even in his training uniform but in plain clothes. It’s suspicious. So, we should ask if anyone else saw him on Mount Hua today…”

“It’s alright.”

“Yes, I will investigate… Huh?”

Baek Cheon, who had been bowing with his hands clasped, suddenly raised his head.

Did I hear wrong?

No, are my ears playing tricks on me? I keep hearing strange things…

“I said it’s alright.”

Baek Cheon looked at Un Geom with a confused look.

Un Geom was the strict leader of the Hundred Flowers Hall. He wasn’t strict because he was the leader. He became the leader because he was a strict person who cared about rules.

And now, he was saying it was alright for a third-generation disciple to break Mount Hua’s rules. What was going on?

“Sa, Sasuk?”

“He has permission to leave the mountain, even without asking.”

“Pe, permission? Who could give him that authority?”

“The Sect Leader granted it. Is there a problem?”

“Se, Sect Leader…? Really?”

Baek Cheon was too surprised and asked back. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand. His voice was wrong, and it was rude to question his Sasuk. Baek Cheon was making mistakes today.

“So, it doesn’t matter.”

Baek Cheon’s dazed gaze turned to Chung Myung.

Chomp chomp chomp chomp.

“……”

He would have been less angry if Chung Myung had been sneering at him. But Chung Myung was acting like nothing was happening, and quickly eating his food.

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

‘I’ll go all the way.’

Now that it was like this, he would not be kind anymore.

Baek Cheon was about to speak again when the door opened and a person entered.

A person whose face seemed to be covered with a layer of cold ice. It was Hyun Young, the Lord of the Treasury Pavilion. He walked inside and looked around.

“Greetings, Elder.”

“Greetings, Elder.”

Everyone rose from their seats to greet him. He waved his hand as if to say he didn’t care.

“That’s enough. I came at a bad time. You all seem to be enjoying yourselves. I just came to check. Everyone, eat your fill today and rest comfortably. I’m leaving. Un Geom, make sure the children don’t play too hard.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

Baek Cheon, who was standing, spoke.

“I have something to report to the Elder.”

Hyun Young, who was about to leave, turned to look at Baek Cheon.

“What is it?”

“I apologize for reporting this, but I saw a third-generation disciple drinking alcohol at a tavern in Hwaeum this afternoon.”

“Alcohol?”

“Yes!”

Hyun Young’s face twisted.

“A third-generation disciple drinking alcohol! Did you see it clearly?”

“It is certain. He denies it, but I saw it clearly.”

Baek Cheon covered his face with his hands and smirked.

It might seem sneaky, but they started it. So, he had to do this.

“Which third-generation disciple did you see?”

Baek Cheon glanced at Chung Myung’s face. He was pretending to be calm, but he was probably burning up inside.

‘Don’t resent me.’

This was about the rules of Mount Hua.

“It is third-generation disciple Chung Myung.”

“…Who?”

“Chung Myung. That Chung Myung over there.”

An Elder couldn’t know all the third-generation disciples. Baek Cheon pointed at Chung Myung.

Hyun Young looked at Chung Myung, his face slowly rising with annoyance and anger. He spoke.

“So what?”

“Yes. That Chung Myung drank alco… Huh?”

“So what?”

“……”

Huh?