Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 94

Tension filled the Green Plum Hall at Mount Hua. Sunlight came through the paper windows, but the air felt cold.

Jin Geum-ryong sat in the middle of the room. He narrowed his eyes and spoke quietly.

“I don’t like this.”

They had just finished eating. Delicious food had been served, bowls of noodles and plates of vegetables, perfect after their long climb.

But this good food made Jin Geum-ryong angry.

“Did they discover a gold mine or something?”

Mount Hua should be worse than Jongnam in every way.

He knew that Mount Hua was still not as rich as Jongnam. But the fact that they were getting closer made Jin Geum-ryong very unhappy.

Jong Seo-han watched him carefully and smiled nervously.

Usually, Jin Geum-ryong seemed very gentle. But if you thought he was weak because of this, you would be wrong and in big trouble.

Jong Seo-han thought Jin Geum-ryong was like the ocean.

Calm most of the time, but a terrible storm when angry. Jin Geum-ryong was like that. He was usually very gentle, but when angry, he was scarier than anyone else in Jongnam.

Jong Seo-han smiled nervously and said,

“It’s true that Mount Hua is very arrogant, Senior Brother.”

“Hmm.”

“But martial arts are what really matter, right? Even if they dress fancy and live well, if they aren’t strong fighters, they are just pretty crabapples.”

“That’s right.”

Jin Geum-ryong slowly stood up.

Then, he looked at his senior and junior brothers.

“One!”

Jin Geum-ryong shouted loudly.

“I want a perfect win!”

Everyone held their breath.

“Fame, wealth, martial arts—a complete win that is better in every way. Anything less is a waste. If we are even close to a weak Mount Hua, it is a disgrace to Jongnam. We can’t let a place like this hold us back. Have you forgotten? We must make Jongnam the greatest sect in our time!”

The Jongnam disciples looked determined.

“Pay attention! You look too relaxed, like you’re on vacation. It makes me angry. Remember why we are here! If you don’t act like Jongnam disciples, I won’t forgive you, even before the elders!”

“We will remember that, Senior Brother!”

“We won’t let our guard down.”

Clap, clap, clap.

The door opened.

Sama Seung walked in, clapping.

“Excellent.”

“Greetings, Elder!”

Everyone stood up and bowed. Sama Seung smiled and nodded.

“Geum-ryong said what I wanted to say.”

“I am sorry. If I knew you were coming, Elder, I wouldn’t have said those things.”

“No, no. It was a great speech. A Jongnam disciple should think like that.”

Sama Seung put his hands down and smiled slightly.

“Also,”

“Yes, Elder.”

“This Jonghwa Assembly must not just be a win. We must make them afraid to even say the name of Jongnam. Do you understand?”

Jin Geum-ryong narrowed his eyes.

“Are you saying…?”

“Martial arts sparring is about comparing skills. The main idea is not to hurt each other. Right?”

Jin Geum-ryong thought for a moment, then smiled.

“Elder.”

“Hmm?”

“The Mount Hua disciples are stronger than I thought. They don’t seem weak anymore.”

“Hmph?”

Sama Seung looked annoyed at Jin Geum-ryong’s sudden worry. But he smiled again when he heard what Jin Geum-ryong said next.

“Sparring should be friendly, not to hurt each other,” Jin Geum-ryong said. “But Mount Hua is stronger than we thought. We might have to fight harder to win, and someone could get hurt. Is that okay?”

“Hmm, that’s not good.”

Sama Seung put his hand on his chin, pretending to think.

“That won’t do. It wouldn’t be right. No matter how important the sparring is, it’s meaningless if our people get hurt. You must end this sparring with as few injuries as possible. Even if…”

Sama Seung smiled slyly and continued.

“…you end up hurting them.”

Jin Geum-ryong smiled and nodded, as if that was all he needed to hear.

“I will control my junior brothers and make sure it ends without any accidents.”

“Hmm, good.”

Sama Seung smiled and looked at Jin Geum-ryong.

Sama Seung thought Jin Geum-ryong was perfect. ‘With him as leader, Jongnam will become the greatest sect,’ he thought.

Of course, he was already doing a good job now.

“Geum-ryong.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“I will leave everything else to you. But I want to ask you one thing.”

“Please tell me.”

“Don’t let that arrogant guy get away with anything.”

…

Jin Geum-ryong thought of one person. Maybe the other senior and junior brothers were thinking of the same person. There was only one person who was from Mount Hua and arrogant.

“Are you talking about Chung Myung?”

“That’s right.”

Jin Geum-ryong smiled.

“Don’t worry. I will teach that child some manners.”

“You seem to be underestimating him a little.”

“…Sorry?”

Jin Geum-ryong quickly lowered his head, realizing he had been disrespectful.

“That child has already helped Mount Hua a lot through the Eunha Merchant Guild. You all know that, right?”

“Yes.”

Everyone answered loudly, but Lee Song-baek couldn’t answer and looked down. Lee Song-baek always felt bad when the Eunha Merchant Guild was mentioned.

Sama Seung glanced at him and continued.

“From what I see, Mount Hua trusts that child a lot. And he has such a personality. Do you understand what this means?”

“I am not smart enough to understand.”

“In the world, strong people usually become important. But sometimes, even weak people can become powerful if they are lucky or clever. He could become a big problem for Jongnam if he keeps growing like this.”

Jin Geum-ryong frowned.

‘That much?’

“If I may ask, isn’t he just a child?”

“That’s why.”

…

Sama Seung spoke in a low voice.

“A child who isn’t even an adult yet dared to say whatever he wanted in front of me. What will happen when he grows up?”

“…Hmm.”

“There are only two choices. He will become very powerful, or he will be destroyed.”

“Isn’t it more likely that he will be destroyed?”

“I can’t let him grow up and help Mount Hua. We need to stop him before he grows.”

“I understand, Elder.”

Jin Geum-ryong turned his head.

“Woo Ryang.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle!”

Sun Woo-ryang quickly rushed forward from behind.

“You heard the Elder’s words, yes?”

“Of course, Martial Uncle. Don’t worry. I will beat him badly so he can never say such rude things again.”

“That is not enough. Make sure he is badly hurt and cannot fight again. He must regret going against Jongnam forever.”

“Yes! Martial Uncle!”

Jin Geum-ryong nodded.

Sun Woo-ryang was known as the most talented of Jongnam’s third-generation disciples. Although he wasn’t the oldest, his skill was unmatched.

Sun Woo-ryang became much stronger after the last Jonghwa Assembly. Mount Hua probably doesn’t know how strong he is now.

He was the perfect choice to fight Cheong-myeong.

Jin Geum-ryong smiled faintly and turned to Sima Seung. The smile was cruel.

“Everything will be as the Elder wishes. I will make sure of it.”

Sima Seung nodded, a proud smile spreading across his face, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

“I trust you.”

Sun Woo-ryang was completely reliable.

These were the disciples Jongnam had raised with all their heart and soul. Sima Seung had no doubt that all their efforts would show the start of Jongnam’s golden age through these disciples.

And this Jonghwa Assembly would be the chance to announce that it’s beginning.

‘I will completely trample them.’

A cold, murderous intent flickered in Sima Seung’s eyes.

Meanwhile, in the Mount Hua sect…

“…Is it really happening?”

“My heart is hammering against my ribs, each beat loud in the silent room.”

“I’ve been to the privy twelve times today.”

“Ugh, gross.”

The third-generation disciples couldn’t sleep, even late into the night. The room was dimly lit, the cold mountain air seeping through the cracks. They sat on the floor, shadows dancing on their faces.

The Hwajong Assembly would begin tomorrow. Until now, they had been so focused on enduring the training that they had no time to think about the Hwajong Assembly or anything else.

But now that they were resting for a day to conserve their strength, all sorts of distracting thoughts filled their minds.

“Do you… do you really think we can… you know… do okay?” one disciple mumbled, fidgeting with his fingers.

“Cheong-myeong *said* we could,” another replied, but his voice wavered slightly.

“Yeah, but…” a third voice chimed in, quieter this time, “Cheong-myeong… he’s never actually fought those Jongnam guys himself, has he?”

Yoon Jong sighed deeply. He worried for his fellow disciples.

He knew his fellow disciples were anxious, but he couldn’t find the words to reassure them.

‘My own worry is making me feel unwell.’

His heart continued to pound.

Turning his head, he glanced to the side and saw that even the mighty Jo Gul’s hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white. No wonder no one could sleep and they were all gathered here so late into the night.

Yoon Jong scratched his head a couple of times and opened his mouth.

“Where’s Cheong-myeong?”

“Sleeping! Can you believe it?”

Does he not feel any fear? Any tension at all?

The Hwajong Assembly is tomorrow! Or, well, today, I guess? Since it’s past midnight.

Just thinking about it makes my heart race.

“He’s been sleeping since earlier.”

“I saw him sprawled out. He was even snoring.”

“…I’m envious, but also think he’s insane.”

Probably both.

Just as Yoon Jong was about to speak, a calm voice was heard.

“It’s not that I have a big liver, it’s that you guys have livers the size of peanuts.”

Everyone’s heads turned towards the stairs in unison.

Cheong-myeong was coming down with an indifferent expression.

“What are you all doing, huddled together and not sleeping at this hour?”

“W-We’re nervous.”

“Nervous?” Cheong-myeong’s head tilted slightly.

‘Here we go again. That bastard!’

‘What’s he going to scold us about this time?’

‘What else? He’s going to say we’re dead if we lose again. That strict person!’

But the words that came out of Cheong-myeong’s mouth were a little different from what they expected.

“Why are you nervous?”

“…Huh?”

“Isn’t nervousness something felt by those who haven’t prepared enough?”

Yoon Jong answered on behalf of the others.

“No, it’s not that, it’s just that we’re worried about not showing a good performance tomorrow…”

“Martial Brother.”

“Yeah?”

“If we turned back time to ten days ago, is there anything more that Martial Brother could do?”

“…”

No. Just thinking about it made him feel sick. To have to do this crazy thing again for ten days.

“Nervousness is something that doesn’t exist for those who have done everything they can. Right now, you guys aren’t nervous. You just don’t believe in yourselves. But that’s ridiculous. Accept yourselves as you are, even if you’re weak. The important thing is whether you truly did your best. Did you do your best, Martial Brother?”

“…Yes.”

This, he could say with absolute certainty. They had truly done their best.

“Then that’s enough.”

Cheong-myeong snapped his fingers.

“No matter what anyone says, I will acknowledge that you guys did your best. So don’t waste time on useless things and go to sleep. Getting enough sleep to be ready for tomorrow is also important and takes effort.”

Everyone nodded.

“Then go on up.”

“…Where are you going?”

“I’m going to train.”

“Today is the Hwajong Assembly?”

“What’s so great about that? Training is ten times more important than that kind of thing.”

With those words, Cheong-myeong opened the door and left. A slight twitch appeared in his eye.

Everyone let out a low sigh.

“Seriously…”

“He’s going to train.”

Seeing Cheong-myeong maintain his usual routine even on the day of the Hwajong Assembly made them feel foolish for all the worries they had been thinking about so anxiously.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Yoon Jong said quietly.

“Cheong-myeong is right. If we want to confidently say we did our best until the end, we need to put in the effort to get some sleep.”

“Yes, Martial Brother.”

Everyone felt the same way, and they readily got up from their seats.

Yoon Jong watched his fellow disciples head to their rooms, then turned his head slightly to look at the door Cheong-myeong had left through.

‘He’s such a strange guy.’

With just a few words, he had eased the anxiety of those who couldn’t sleep until this late hour.

No matter the outcome of the Hwajong Assembly, the third-generation disciples would become stronger with Cheong-myeong around.

Yoon Jong was certain of it.