Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 853

“…Did you say sealed?”

“Yes.”

Hwang Mun-yak, the head of the Eunha Merchant Guild, stared at Hwang Jong-ui, his face frozen in disbelief.

“…Did you say sealed? Mount Hua is sealed?” He let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “Huh.”

Hwang Jong-ui, understanding his father’s reaction, nodded.

“That seems to be the case.”

“Are you telling me to believe that?”

“…I also found it hard to believe, so I checked. The gates of Mount Hua, which should never close, were firmly shut.”

Hwang Mun-yak’s wrinkled eyes widened.

“So… Mount Hua is really sealed? That Mount Hua? The Mount Hua I know?” His voice was full of disbelief. Hwang Jong-ui nodded again, his face serious.

“It seems certain. The rumor has already raced through Shaanxi.”

“I see. Then it must be true. It must be….”

“It has to be….”

Hwang Mun-yak turned his gaze away, filled with an indescribable emotion.

Chung Myung tore into a large duck leg, chewing with loud, satisfied smacks. He downed the liquor beside him in one gulp and slammed the bottle down with a thud.

“Keeeuh. I feel alive now.”

“Food should always be eaten outside. Tsk. They need to replace the chefs at Mount Hua. It’s so bland.”

Hwang Mun-yak stared blankly at Chung Myung before speaking.

“That… Daoist.”

Chung Myung turned his head casually, as if asking why he was being called.

“Yes?”

“What I… what I just heard, is it… true?”

“About what? The sealing?”

“Yes. That, Mount Hua is sealed….”

“It was… necessary. Let’s just say it was time for Mount Hua to rest.”

At that moment, there was no need to explain what doubts Hwang Mun-yak harbored.

“Why?”

No… sometimes there are humans who need to be told.

“Y-you sealed it, but how are you here, Daoist…?”

“Ah, me?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, me? Just popped out for a bit.”

Hwang Mun-yak smiled faintly.

‘Let’s just not try to understand.’

It’s not like it’s happening for the first or second time. I should just accept it, but… why do I keep repeating the same thing every time it happens? If I’m human, I should be able to adapt.

But Hwang Jong-ui didn’t seem to have given up yet.

“I-if it’s true that you’ve sealed it, shouldn’t you not be out here?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Why are you asking me that ‘why’? You’re the one who should be answering!

Chung Myung, who was gulping down more liquor, wiped his mouth and spoke.

“No. It’s not like we sealed it because we committed a crime. We’re sealing it so people don’t come looking for us, so there’s no reason why we can’t come out, right?”

“…N-no. Still, a sealing is….”

“Hey, that’s how it is. How many of those sealed folks actually stick to it? I bet those Jongnam bastards and the newly sealed Wudang guys are sneaking out at night with blankets over their heads to drink in the corners. I guarantee it, I do.”

“So just let the small stuff slide.”

“…Yes.”

Yes, perhaps it is best not to dwell on such things.

“Anyway, now that it’s like this, please manage the business in Hua well, and please take care of the trade route to Bukhae properly. Goods will also be coming from Bukhae, the northern trading region, to Mount Hua. And the Eunha Escort Agency issue will be handled by the Tang family in case of emergencies, so ask for help if any problems arise.”

“Yes.”

“And when you put food supplies into Mount Hua, fill it up with meat… and, um… that….”

Chung Myung trailed off, giving a look that said, ‘Do I really have to say this?’ Hwang Jong-ui opened his mouth with a forlorn expression.

“…I will continue to fill the usual hiding place with liquor.”

“Ha. Ha. Ha. Hah. You don’t have to go that far, but since I can’t come out because of the sealing, oh dear. The liquor will rot, it will rot!”

“…Shall I reduce it a bit?”

“Yes?”

“Ah, no, because it’s rotting….”

“Yes?”

“…I’ll bring more.”

“Keeeuh. Well, if you insist.”

Chung Myung shrugged and smacked his lips.

“Ah, and goods will be coming from the Tang family. When those goods arrive, please bring them to Mount Hua regardless of the sealing. I’ll make sure the Eunha Merchant Guild can enter.”

“I will do so.”

Having finished giving instructions, he let out a light sigh.

“I’d like to say I’ll come visit often, but this is actually the last time. It’ll be difficult to visit again until the sealing is lifted.”

“Mmm.”

“I’m worried because there’s a lot of work I’ve left undone, but I believe everyone will do well.”

Hwang Mun-yak smiled faintly.

“Please don’t worry, Daoist.”

“But….”

Chung Myung looked at Hwang Mun-yak as if he were curious.

“You’re not asking why we sealed it? I thought people would usually be curious about that.”

Hwang Mun-yak quietly shook his head.

“People like us wouldn’t understand even if we heard it. How could those who chase profit know the inner thoughts of those who chase the Dao?”

“I simply believe that the Daoist has a grand purpose.”

“Not really.”

Chung Myung scratched the back of his head, and Hwang Mun-yak smiled softly.

“I will handle everything well so that there are no problems. I will also cooperate well with the Hwayoung Gate in Xi’an to ensure that there are no difficulties in increasing the number of affiliated clans.”

“Ah, that’s right. I need to ask you about that too.”

“Such trivial matters are not something the Daoist should worry about. The Daoist only needs to carry out his intentions. Cleaning up the aftermath is what people like us do.”

“And make money at the same time?”

“That’s right, that’s right. You know it well. Haha.”

Hwang Mun-yak laughed as if he were in a good mood.

“Daoist.”

“Yes?”

“Since the Daoist appeared, Xi’an and Hua, as well as the entire Shaanxi, have been bustling with energy. In particular, the people of Hua have an indescribable sense of pride.”

“Eh. I didn’t do anything.”

“And thanks to the Daoist, the Eunha Merchant Guild has also spread its wings.”

Hwang Mun-yak bowed respectfully to Chung Myung.

“Thank you.”

“Why are you doing this, suddenly!” Chung Myung, startled, quickly helped Hwang Mun-yak up, and he smiled and nodded.

“I wanted to say hello at least once. I don’t think I’ve ever expressed my sincere gratitude.”

“Gratitude, for what? Between us.”

Hwang Mun-yak smiled as he looked at Chung Myung.

Come to think of it, it hasn’t been that long. Only a few years. But those few years saved Hwang Mun-yak, changed his life, and even changed the future of the Eunha Merchant Guild.

It’s all thanks to that man’s appearance.

Chung Myung, receiving Hwang Mun-yak’s warm gaze, stood up awkwardly.

“Anyway, please take good care of things. Especially manage the Xi’an side well. Those Jongnam bastards might lift the sealing and come out to cause trouble while I’m gone.”

“Of course. The power of the Eunha Merchant Guild is not weak now. At least, we will ensure that the affiliated clans of Mount Hua in Xi’an, and the sects that have ties to Mount Hua, do not suffer any disadvantages.”

“Yes. That’s enough. Then.”

Chung Myung picked up the liquor bottle and walked towards the door. But even after grabbing the doorknob, he didn’t open it right away and hesitated slightly.

“That….”

“Yes, Daoist.”

“Don’t worry. Mount Hua and the Eunha Merchant Guild are good friends.” Chung Myung gave a small, genuine smile.

Hwang Jong-ui tilted his head at the unexpected words. But Hwang Mun-yak seemed to understand Chung Myung’s meaning and smiled faintly.

“If you say so, I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Yes, then.”

Chung Myung turned back to Hwang Mun-yak, grinned, opened the door, and went outside.

As soon as the door closed, Hwang Jong-ui frowned as if he didn’t understand at all.

“…Why did he come?”

“Why….”

“He said something, but there wasn’t really any substance to it, was there? It’s something worth asking, but it’s not something we wouldn’t do even if he didn’t ask. To come out all the way here with a sealed body, what he had to say….”

“Jong-ui. A person’s words….”

“Yes, Father.”

Hwang Jong-ui straightened his posture as Hwang Mun-yak’s voice became quite serious and firm.

“The true meaning contained within is more important than the shell. A merchant, even more so, must be able to read the hidden meaning in words.”

“The Daoist simply came to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye? A goodbye to the sealing, you mean?”

“No.” Hwang Mun-yak shook his head. His calm voice echoed.

“He came to say farewell to someone he won’t see again.”

“…Ah, Father?”

Hwang Mun-yak said with a smile.

“Isn’t he a truly warm-hearted person? It seems he was bothered by it after sealing himself. Now that Mount Hua is sealed, this old man is probably not a very important person to him….”

Hwang Mun-yak knows.

He probably won’t be alive when Mount Hua lifts its sealing. He has already lived a long life.

And Chung Myung seems to have guessed that fact.

“I have no more regrets. When you think about it, I should have died already, but thanks to the Daoist saving me, I’ve seen more than I deserve.”

“Father….”

“If I have any worries, it’s just about you and the Merchant Guild. The Daoist must have guessed it too. If I had closed my eyes while Mount Hua was suddenly sealed, I wouldn’t have been able to leave in peace because of my worries about the Merchant Guild and you. He deliberately came to tell me not to worry.”

Hwang Mun-yak, who had been speaking slowly, closed his eyes gently.

‘A Daoist artifact is not something separate.’

He knows.

That inside Chung Myung, whose actions are extremely rough, there is actually an exceptionally warm heart.

“The Daoist is worried.”

“…About that person?”

“A chaotic world is coming. The world is already changing.”

“How much more will that kind-hearted person be hurt in that rough world?” Hwang Mun-yak sighed softly.

“A person who doesn’t know gratitude is worse than a beast. Jong-ui.”

“Yes.”

“Help that person and Mount Hua, not only as the head of the Eunha Merchant Guild, but also as a person.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

“Yes. That’s enough.” Hwang Mun-yak smiled faintly.

It’s a shame that I can’t directly see Mount Hua and the Eunha Merchant Guild dominating the world. But even so, I don’t have any big regrets because I can guess it even if I don’t see it with my own eyes.

“The Great Peng waits a thousand years to soar once. I’m looking forward to how high Mount Hua will soar when it lifts its sealing.”

“I feel the same way, Father.”

“Hahaha. But before that, we need to do the work the Daoist entrusted us with properly. We’ll be busy. Let’s hurry.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hwang Mun-yak, who had left the room, looked at the main gate where Chung Myung had left, and the figure of Mount Hua towering above it.

“Someday… flowers will fall.”

Nevertheless, I can look at the falling flowers without sadness because I know that the day will come when they bloom again.

“Please take care, Daoist.”

A warm smile bloomed on the lips of Hwang Mun-yak, who was marked with the traces of time.