Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 903

What’s the best way to welcome a guest? People might say it’s kindness, good manners, or a comfortable bed. But for the people of Mount Hua, living on their lonely mountain, welcome meant something else entirely.

“Drink up, raaaah!”

“Meat! Meeeat!”

“Sob. It’s not rabbit! Pork! It’s pork!”

“Hahaha! Have another cup!”

What happened next was quite a sight. Imagine Taoist monks, robes falling off their shoulders, drinking and eating like there was no tomorrow! Luckily, they were high on Mount Hua, far from anyone who might be shocked by this wild party.

The Mount Hua disciples didn’t worry about being polite anymore. They drank a lot and ripped apart the meat. It was like they were letting out all the feelings they had kept inside for three long years, all at once.

Plates of food disappeared as soon as they arrived. It was gone in a flash! Disciples had to keep running down the mountain, panting, to bring back even more food to feed the hungry crowd.

Even in the loud, happy chaos of the party, Tang Gunak turned to Chung Myung and slowly raised his glass. Chung Myung grinned back and lifted his bottle high in reply.

Tang Gunak looked very relaxed.

He had seen Chung Myung’s amazing progress for himself. He had even used his best move in their fight, which felt very real. Coming all the way from the Yangtze River was worth it, just for this.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“Have you confirmed that I haven’t been slacking off for the past three years?”

“Hmm.”

Tang Gunak frowned as if contemplating, as if he was struggling with what to say.

“Certainly.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve seen many swords in my life, but yours… yours was something new.”

“Hee-eum.”

“Now I understand why Mount Hua’s sword skills were once so famous and powerful.”

“Hee-eum.”

“Even if you looked everywhere in the world, you wouldn’t find many swordsmen as good as you.”

“Hee-eum!”

“You’ve worked so hard. Talent alone isn’t enough. You must have trained like crazy. You really deserve all the praise.”

Chung Myung’s chin went higher and higher as Tang Gunak spoke, clearly enjoying the compliments.

“He’ll be looking at the clouds soon!” Baek Cheon muttered.

“I already am!” Chung Myung replied proudly.

“Idiot,” said Baek Cheon.

Jo Gul shook his head, and Yoo Iseol told him off, but Chung Myung’s chin stayed up in the air, full of pride.

“And…”

Tang Gunak’s sharp gaze turned to the Five Swords sitting around Chung Myung.

“…It’s not just Chung Myung who has become stronger.”

A satisfied smile spread across Tang Gunak’s face.

“Enough with the compliments.”

Chung Myung, who had already lowered his chin, looked at Tang Gunak and said,

“I don’t think you’re the one to say that, Clan Lord.”

“Me? Why?”

“That last move.”

The moment Chung Myung said those words, the party noise died down. Everyone turned to Tang Gunak, suddenly interested in this ‘last move’.

“You created it, didn’t you, Clan Lord?”

“…How did you know?”

“Well, it’s easy to see. Hmm. It’s totally different from your usual style…”

Chung Myung, seeing Tang Gunak’s slightly suspicious gaze, grinned and added,

“And… well, it was a little rough around the edges.”

“Ahem!”

Tang Gunak coughed loudly and quickly drank his wine in one gulp, like he was very thirsty. But really, he looked more embarrassed than thirsty.

“Clumsy?”

“That’s… ?”

Baek Cheon stared at Chung Myung, eyes wide. Even Yoo Iseol, who hardly ever showed feelings, glared at Chung Myung as if to say, ‘Is he out of his mind?’

It couldn’t be helped.

What Tang Gunak had shown at the end was amazing, even to them. But Chung Myung called it clumsy…

But Tang Gunak didn’t seem angry at all. Instead, he kept coughing, like someone who had done something wrong and was trying to hide it.

“Was it that obvious?”

“A little too much… ?”

“Ugh.”

A groan escaped his lips. Dang So-so was fascinated. She had never seen Tang Gunak act like this before, and she couldn’t stop watching him.

Chung Myung asked casually,

“It’s incomplete, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“I thought so.”

Tang Gunak sighed deeply. Simply put, the move wasn’t ready for a real fight yet.

“Why is it incomplete? Its power was truly tremendous.”

Baek Cheon couldn’t contain his curiosity and joined their conversation.

Tang Gunak readily answered.

“It’s not just about power.”

“…Yes?”

“The move consumes too much internal energy. After using it once, I’m so exhausted that it’s hard to fight anymore.”

“People say a move like that should be a ‘one-hit knockout’, right? If it can defeat your enemy in just one strike…”

“But I didn’t defeat him, did I?”

“…Ah, no. That’s…”

Baek Cheon stammered, unable to continue.

That’s right. Yes, he didn’t defeat him. But that’s…

‘No, what should I say instead?’

Is it that the bastard who blocked it is weird, not that the move is wrong?

Or that if it had been a little more refined, he could have cut that bastard’s neck?

Neither was a good answer.

“It’s not refined enough to be a one-hit kill, and it consumes a huge amount of internal energy without being a one-hit kill. So, something like this…”

“Like they say, ’empty wagons make the most noise’?” Chung Myung asked. Tang Gunak’s eyebrows twitched. (This saying means that people who brag a lot often have nothing real to show.)

“Huh? Not that? Then, is it like ‘all that glitters is not gold’?” *Clang!* The glass in Tang Gunak’s hand shattered. (That saying means things that look impressive on the outside might not be valuable or effective inside.)

“Hmm… It seems the Mount Hua’s glasses are not of good quality. I’ll tell the Dang family to send new glasses.”

‘It would have broken even if it was made of steel…’

But no one pointed out that fact. It was always best to agree with the Dang family, even if they were wrong.

Tang Gunak, who had been trembling, finally sighed deeply.

“It’s incomplete. And I don’t even know when it will be completed.”

“Ah. So, you used that incomplete and dangerous move in the mock battle?”

Twitch.

Tang Gunak’s eyebrows twitched once again.

“…I used it in the mock battle because it was incomplete. If it was complete, would I have dared to use it on you? I wouldn’t want to kill a friend I just made.”

“I don’t think I’d die even if it was complete…”

“It’s easy to get hurt when you’re too sure of yourself.”

“I don’t get hurt, even when I’m sure of myself.”

“…”

“…”

Tang Gunak and Chung Myung stared at each other, looking like they might fight again. The others, tired of the tension, looked at Dang So-so, nodding for her to step in. She sighed heavily.

“Stop it, you two! You’re not children!”

“Ahem.”

Tang Gunak made a small sound of annoyance, like ‘tsk.’ He and Cheong-myeong then looked at each other and took big drinks of liquor straight from the bottle.

Im So-byeong, who had been watching them quietly, made a clicking sound with his tongue, showing he didn’t approve.

“Honestly,” Im So-byeong said, shaking his head slightly, “you fighters are all the same…” He was a bandit, talking to Tang Gunak, the head of the famous Dang family, and Cheong-myeong, a Taoist from Hwasan, right here in their own place.

“Indeed.”

Tang Gunak opened his mouth as if to refresh the atmosphere.

“This new move isn’t ready for a real fight yet. I tried to make it too strong, too fast. I’m thinking about making it a little weaker, but more controlled.”

“Well, wouldn’t it be unnecessary to do that?”

“Hmm?”

Cheong-myeong shrugged.

“Isn’t the problem that you’re using too much energy, not because it’s too powerful, but because you’re putting the energy in too roughly?”

“Method?”

“Yes. You’re spinning the energy to pull it in, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Okay, then instead of just making the energy explode outwards, try spinning the energy *inside* the knives from the beginning. Think of it like this: it takes more effort to suddenly spin something that is still, than to keep something spinning that is already moving.”

“Hmm?”

Tang Gunak’s eyes widened slightly, a spark of understanding in them. He seemed to be thinking hard.

“…The direction of the knife… and the direction of the energy… It’s so basic. The most basic thing. And yet…”

“Yes.”

Cheong-myeong nodded as if he knew what Tang Gunak was going to say next.

“Because it’s the most basic of basics, it’s easy to forget when aiming for higher levels, as if it’s a given.”

“…That’s right. To think I made such an obvious mistake.”

Of course, it wasn’t as simple as Cheong-myeong made it sound. Making the energy rotate within the fixed throwing knives was a much more difficult method than the current one. But if he could solve it well, he could definitely reduce the consumption of internal energy significantly.

‘Perhaps the power might even increase.’

If that were to happen, the Twelve Flying Daggers would no longer be just the Twelve Flying Daggers.

‘Thirteen Flying Daggers… No. Let’s just call it the Twelve Flying Daggers.’

What a terribly uninspired name…

“That’s right. Yes, I think it’s possible.”

As Tang Gunak nodded as if he understood, muttering to himself, Cheong-myeong cautiously brought up another topic.

“That’s not the only thing that’s incomplete, is it?”

“Hmm?”

Tang Gunak asked, feigning ignorance, and Cheong-myeong grinned.

“Originally, even the throwing knives that fell to the ground would fly up simultaneously, right?”

“You know so much about the Dang clan’s techniques,” Tang Gunak said, surprised. “Were you maybe… very interested in them before?”

Cheong-myeong thought to himself, *Not exactly interested. More like… I was someone important enough that the Dang family leader would be terrified to see me coming.* Out loud, he just said, “Something like that.”

“That’s right. That’s how it’s complete. But… it’s impossible to implement with my current skills.”

“If you can reduce the consumption of internal energy, it will definitely be possible.”

“…Do you think so?”

“Of course.”

A picture formed in Cheong-myeong’s mind.

A single throwing knife flying with terrifying power. And the hidden weapons and eleven throwing knives covering all sides.

It would surely be a technique like a fantasy.

And on the day that technique appeared in the world, another master of hidden weapons would appear.

“But…”

“Hmm?”

“Why did you suddenly create a new technique?”

“Hmm.”

Tang Gunak smiled at Cheong-myeong’s question.

“Of course, it’s excessive to create a new technique when you haven’t even fully mastered the ones you have.”

“…”

Cheong-myeong didn’t say anything.

There were two reasons.

One reason was that Tang Gunak’s words were correct.

Even Dang Bo, who was a more skilled martial artist than the current Tang Gunak, hadn’t devised a new technique for the Twelve Flying Daggers. So, it was certainly unreasonable for Tang Gunak to create a new technique.

But the second reason for not speaking was the exact opposite.

The new technique that Tang Gunak had created clearly surpassed the existing techniques of the Twelve Flying Daggers that he knew.

“But if you ask why I bothered to create this technique, there’s only one answer.”

“What is it?”

“Because it’s necessary.”

Tang Gunak shrugged and continued.

“The Dang family’s throwing knife techniques and hidden weapon techniques are certainly excellent martial arts. But… there are definitely shortcomings when facing masters who can be called ‘absolute.’ Especially with the characteristics of throwing knives, where the number of techniques you can use becomes limited the more you throw, the difficulties become even more severe.”

“That’s right.”

“It would be nice if you could retrieve the throwing knives, but if you’re facing an absolute master, you won’t be given the chance.”

Cheong-myeong slowly nodded.

This was definitely something Dang Bo had also been concerned about. So much so that he even considered attaching tough silver threads to the ends of the throwing knives. Of course, he abandoned the idea because it would cause problems with the trajectory of the throwing knives.

“I was practicing and thinking a lot. Then I looked at the knives on the ground. And I thought, why only use the knives I’m holding? The hidden weapons in the air aren’t the only ones I have. And the knives in my hand aren’t the only knives I have.”

“Ah…”

Tang Gunak cleared his throat, looking a little ashamed.

“So, that’s how I started trying to make this new move. But… it’s not working very well yet. I’m a bit embarrassed to show you what’s wrong with it.”

“No,” Cheong-myeong said firmly, shaking his head. “It was amazing.”

Tang Gunak looked at him, surprised.

“Really?”

Cheong-myeong nodded, his eyes serious. “Really. It was the best thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

A small smile appeared on Tang Gunak’s face.

“…Thank you, Cheong-myeong.”

“You’re welcome.” Cheong-myeong replied with a smile.

Cheong-myeong filled Tang Gunak’s glass. Then, Tang Gunak took the bottle and filled Cheong-myeong’s glass.

“Let’s drink.”

“Yes.”

Cheong-myeong emptied his glass with pleasure.

‘Moving forward…’

Over the past three years, Hwasan had certainly gained a lot. But Hwasan wasn’t the only one who had worked hard.

His descendant was creating a technique that even Dang Bo in the past couldn’t create. It was still lacking, but someday this technique would also become perfect like the other Twelve Flying Daggers.

If Tang Gunak couldn’t do it, someone who inherited his will, and then someone else who followed after them, would gradually complete it.

That’s how martial arts develop.

‘Right?’

Cheong-myeong, who lightly asked someone who came to mind, smiled and looked at Tang Gunak. Then, he suddenly widened his eyes as if he had thought of something.

“Ah, but there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Cheong-myeong chuckled playfully and asked.

“You’re worried about running out of knives, but why only twelve? Is there a special reason for that number?”

“…Huh?”

“Just because it’s called the Twelve Flying Daggers doesn’t mean you have to use only twelve throwing knives. You’re already sticking hidden weapons all over your body anyway, so if you had about twenty-four throwing knives, you wouldn’t have to worry about running out, would you?”

“…”

“Just because the ultimate goal is to handle twelve at once doesn’t mean you have to carry only twelve. There’s no harm in having spares, is there…?”

“…”

Tang Gunak’s expression changed. He looked… blank.

Cheong-myeong’s playful smile faded. *Wait… No way. Did he really not think of that? Seriously? Wow. He really didn’t.*

Cheong-myeong realized something. It wasn’t just fighting spirit that was being passed down through generations… it was also… well, maybe some things were being missed.