Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 799

Beopgye of Shaolin murmured, his brow furrowed as he studied the river, “The valley entrance… it’s too narrow.”

Hyeoncheonja of Cheongseong added, his gaze sweeping across the choppy water. “Hmm, and look at all those rocks. Too many obstacles.”

All eyes turned to the river. The air hung heavy with the salty smell of the sea and the distant cries of gulls. Before them, pirate ships, their black flags snapping in the wind, crammed the river mouth. They were clustered like angry wasps guarding their nest, blocking the way to the deep, shadowed valley carved into the cliff face on the far bank.

Namgung Hwang clenched his fist, his knuckles white. *Harder than I expected,* he thought grimly. *Much harder.*

Dealing with pirates is difficult for this reason. If the pirates were in an open field, like other groups, they could easily defeat them with the great strength of Shaolin, Wudang, Namgung, and Cheongseong.

But to attack such terrain, one has to accept losses from the very beginning.

No, it’s not just from the beginning.

It’s more accurate to say the losses will start as soon as we try to approach.

They would only be able to enter the valley after fighting a naval battle with those ships.

Namgung Hwang gritted his teeth. Sometimes, I even envy the groups who don’t follow the rules.

Looking at the valley made him feel sick.

They were limited in what they could do because of the civilians who might be inside, but those guys were not. They had no idea what kind of dangerous traps were hidden in the narrow valley.

“We need to secure the higher ground.”

“That’s right. We don’t know what tricks they might pull.”

“…It won’t be easy.”

Defeat was out of the question. There was more than enough power gathered to deal with the Black Dragon Company.

But the most important thing now was not a simple victory. They had to minimize casualties as much as possible and achieve more merit than other sects. That’s why their minds were so complicated.

To look good, we need to act first. But that will definitely mean many people will get hurt.

If we shed blood, they will only be pleased.

What to do?

While they were all watching each other carefully, Beopgye spoke first.

“Shaolin will take the lead.”

“As expected of Shaolin. Who in the world would doubt Shaolin’s sense of justice? But this time, please yield the first strike to our Wudang.”

“Namgung has also brought ships.”

“Cheongseong has also brought ships.”

The four men glanced at each other.

“Then, for now…”

“Hahaha!”

“Who will take the vanguard…”

“Here, have a drink!”

“…We need to decide that first…”

“Hey! Bring out all the alcohol you’ve got! I know you brought some!”

The blood vessels on Namgung Hwang’s face, which had barely calmed down, bulged again.

“You…”

“Calm down, Lord Namgung.”

“Don’t mind them.”

“Keuh…”

At the other leaders’ dissuasion, Namgung Hwang glared with a face that suggested he was about to die of frustration.

Despite all the serious planning, a big party was happening behind them.

The Huashan guys in black uniforms, the bandits in green robes, and even the pirates in blue were all mingling and having a drinking party.

“Drinking while on the battlefield…”

Even Hyeoncheonja, who usually liked Huashan, frowned, looking confused.

“Ignore them! What do you expect from people who are friends with those rule-breakers? We can’t trust them in battle. They might betray us.”

“Ahem.”

The three men looked displeased.

But only one person, Heo Do-jin, clicked his tongue to himself as he watched.

How foolish.

It wasn’t something to be upset about that they were having a drinking party.

The important thing was that they had prepared alcohol. In other words, someone among them had realized from the moment they came here that the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families would unite and push them back, preventing them from participating in the battle.

Isn’t that something you can easily guess?

Impossible.

They are Huashan.

They are a group becoming famous quickly and are very popular in this region. But at the same time, they are a sect that was expelled from the Nine Great Sects almost a hundred years ago. This means none of them really know how the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families think or act.

Someone who knows the Nine Sects and Five Families well might guess this. But Huashan, who have been away from that world for a hundred years, are so sure they will be excluded that they brought alcohol?

The most important thing to notice is that they understood this situation so well.

Heo Do-jin looked at Chung Myung, who was happily drinking in the middle, thinking, ‘The one who guessed this is probably him…’

He’s truly someone you can’t understand.

How can he be so wise at such a young age? Heo Do-jin had met many talented people in this world, but someone like Chung Myung was completely new to him.

There are many with overflowing talent.

Of course, Chung Myung’s talent is amazing. But what worried Heo Do-jin even more than Chung Myung’s talent was his calm and understanding, which made him seem like he had lived in this world for many years.

I might have to rethink things.

Clearly, his judgment was not wrong. Huashan will likely struggle to close the gap with Wudang for some time.

But… what if time passes, they die, and that child becomes the leader of Huashan? Could Wudang really compete with Huashan led by Chung Myung in the future?

The more I think about it, the more fearful I become…

“Kahaha! Leader! Have a drink! Wow, the scenery here is really amazing!”

“…I’ll have tea.”

“Hey! Days like this call for alcohol, not tea! Chug! Chug!”

Heo Do-jin’s eyes twitched.

He was amazing, yes… He was truly amazing… But for some reason, Heo Do-jin hated admitting how good that man was, even more than he hated death.

“…Is this okay?”

“Is this really okay?”

He had seen too many of the bizarre things that man had done.

Baek Cheon had seen Chung Myung do so many strange things, that now, even if a dragon suddenly appeared in Huashan’s garden, tried to fly to the sky, but was caught by Chung Myung, beaten, forced to give up its magic pearl, and then ran away, Baek Cheon was sure he could just watch calmly.

Is this really okay?

The best fighters from four powerful groups were right in front of them: Shaolin, Wudang, Cheongseong, and Namgung.

Everyone in this world knew how important these groups were. How could Chung Myung and the others not realize how serious this situation was?

Right in the middle of it, a Taoist, a bandit, and a pirate were gathered, having a drinking party.

Even if we weren’t here, seeing this party would be strange!

But the real problem was the faces of the people drinking.

“…My stomach feels like it’s going to explode.”

The air hung heavy with unspoken fear. The setting sun cast long shadows across the rough ground by the river. A meager spread of food and drink sat between the Green Forest bandits and the Black Dragon pirates, and the imposing figures of the Nine Great Sects. It was supposed to be a feast, but it felt more like a final meal.

“Are we really supposed to eat this?” a bandit whispered, his voice barely audible.

“I-I’d rather fight,” another stammered, his eyes darting nervously towards the Nine Great Sects.

The Mount Hua Sect disciples watched the scene unfold. They felt the weight of the Nine Great Sects’ gaze, but it was nothing compared to the sheer terror radiating from the Green Forest bandits and the pirates.

The bandits from Nokchae were pale and shaken, their eyes wide and unfocused. One of them, a young man named Tae-joon, forced a weak laugh.

“Ha, haha… A drink…” he choked out.

*Shiver shiver shiver shiver.*

Tae-joon’s hand, reaching for a cup of alcohol, shook like a leaf in a storm.

‘I feel like I’m going to be sick.’

‘What if they suddenly change direction and attack us?’

‘Mountain spirit, please save me!’

This fear was natural.

Somehow, the situation had turned out this way. The Nine Great Sects before them were originally enemies, not allies, of the bandits. It would be normal if *they* were being controlled, not the Black Dragon pirates.

Yet, instead of running away, they had to set up a feast and drink in front of them. It would be more comforting to set fire to oil and drink it instead.

But if one had to compare, they were still better off.

“Hic!”

“⋯⋯.”

“Hic!”

‘A corpse would have a better complexion.’

The bandits glanced at the pirates with pitiful expressions.

They were at least the elite warriors of Nokchae, considered the best among the Green Forest, and they even had the Green Forest King here.

But the pirates were just pirates from a single water camp, and until recently, they were the ones being controlled, not the ones doing the controlling.

These people were dragged here like slaves to a feast in front of the place where their former comrades were being controlled, so it was a wonder they were still sane.

“⋯⋯So, why did we even bring the alcohol?”

“H-He told us to bring it… What great talent do we have to refuse…”

Well, yes.

You have to do what you’re told. Especially when the one ordering is the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua.

Pirates with complexions that looked like they would collapse from a heart attack any second, bandits sitting across from them seriously contemplating whether to flee or die with honor. And the Mount Hua disciples, who were told to drink, so they drank, but couldn’t figure out if this was really okay, constantly watching everyone’s reactions.

And the four sects watching them, their insides twisting.

Everyone occupying the riverside was in an uncomfortable, unpleasant, and awkward situation.

Amidst all this, only one person was having a great time.

Glug glug glug glug glug!

Chung Myung poured the alcohol down his throat and popped the bottle out of his mouth.

“Kaaaah! Krooooh! This alcohol is great! Amazing! And the scenery is fantastic!”

Hyun Jong stared at Chung Myung with a dubious look.

He understood. There was a calculation behind everything Chung Myung did. It might be momentarily perplexing, but it was usually more beneficial to follow along.

He knew. He knew, but…

“Chung Myung.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“⋯⋯Is this really okay?”

He was matching Chung Myung’s rhythm perfectly, but he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“They told us not to interfere.”

“Even so…”

“If we’re sulking in the back, those bastards will just feel good. Sect Leader, you need to understand this to survive in this harsh political landscape.”

“⋯⋯What?”

“Politics isn’t about making ourselves feel good! It’s about making those we hate feel like their insides are twisting!”

Hyun Jong smiled contentedly at Chung Myung’s words.

‘Ancestors.’

I’m having a hard time these days. Sometimes it’s even harder than before.

Please, do something about this kid…

“And.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung wiped the alcohol from his lips with his sleeve and said in a slightly more serious voice.

“The kids need to learn how to watch from the sidelines too. Until now, they’ve gotten into the habit of rushing in to solve every problem, but haven’t you forgotten what happened to Mount Hua because of that?”

“⋯⋯Of course, I haven’t forgotten.”

“They were the ones who just watched when Mount Hua was on the verge of collapse. So, it’s even stranger that they’re so anxious to help with this trivial matter. I feel like pouring oil into the river and setting it on fire.”

Hyun Jong’s face hardened at those words.

“Well, Sect Leader, you’ll probably step in if they’re in danger. You’re not the type to just stand by and watch. But what about those bastards? When Mount Hua was burning and the disciples were being brutally killed, did any of them help? They just stood by with their arms crossed, drinking and looting the warehouse.”

Hyun Jong clenched his fist.

‘I…’

Anger surged.

Looking back, those sects were the ones who didn’t help even when the Demonic Sect invaded, set fire to Mount Hua, and massacred the disciples.

What the Mount Hua group was doing now wasn’t just watching a fire across the river, but what they had done back then was truly watching a fire across the river. And now, those who had done that were uncomfortable with just watching a war?

‘Have I forgotten all that just because things have gotten a little better?’

Hyun Jong gritted his teeth briefly.

“Alcohol!”

“Yes?”

“Bring the alcohol! I’ll have a drink too!”

“Sect Leader!”

“Hurry!”

At Hyun Jong’s shout, Hyun Young flinched and went to get the alcohol. Chung Myung grinned as he watched.

“You understand now.”

Hyun Jong nodded with a stiff face.

“There are things to forget and things not to forget. It’s not exactly about paying them back in kind, but…”

“That’s enough.”

Hyun Jong turned to his disciples and shouted.

“Drink up! Let’s enjoy a proper water festival!”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

Hyun Jong poured the alcohol that Hyun Young brought into a teacup and downed it in one gulp.

“Krooooh!”

“Come on, have some snacks too.”

“Alright!”

Chung Myung chuckled as he watched Hyun Jong chew on the jerky.

Yes, we must not forget.

What they did to Mount Hua in the past. And Chung Myung also must not forget what mistakes Mount Hua made.

‘It’s only this much now…’

Someday, those people will shed tears of blood like Mount Hua did.

“Let’s watch them perform their little show. But, um…”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung curled up the corners of his lips.

“This shouldn’t really become just watching a fire across the river.”

“⋯⋯What does that mean?”

“No. Should it become that? I don’t know. Hee hee hee hee.”

Hyun Jong shook his head, giving up on understanding Chung Myung, who was laughing wickedly while saying incomprehensible things.