Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 95

Chung Myung climbed the mountain, looking around. He hoped Yoo Iseol wasn’t following him again.

“Is she gone?” he muttered.

He sighed in relief. Chung Myung, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, used to fear no one. Even the Abbot of Shaolin was happy to meet him. But now, he was hiding from a young girl because she made him uneasy.

“What am I even doing?” he thought.

“There’s no reasoning with her.”

He was angry enough to hurt her badly, but he knew he couldn’t. She was too important to Mount Hua to be harmed.

“That bastard started it.”

Fighting with a senior member of the sect was different from dealing with someone who was just annoying.

In any case, Chung Myung was avoiding someone for the first time in his life… no, for the first time even after dying once.

“Avoiding people at this hour… how did I end up like this?”

Chung Myung sighed deeply, just as he was about to dash into the mountain.

‘Huh?’

He sensed someone’s presence.

“Hey! Hey! I knew it! You can fool a ghost, but you can’t fool m— Huh?”

Chung Myung tilted his head.

Yoo Iseol was incredibly quiet, so much so that even Chung Myung, with all his skills, could barely feel her nearby, even when he tried hard.

That was why Chung Myung had missed her presence several times.

But the feeling he felt now was too strong and clear to be Yoo Iseol’s. And…

“Two people?”

Not just one.

Chung Myung narrowed his brow slightly and cautiously began to move towards the source of the sensed presence.

Two people meeting separately in this deep mountain at this early hour? This seems like something hidden.

‘I need to find out what they’re up to.’

Chung Myung’s eyes began to sparkle.

Whoosh!

He moved quickly, like a gust of wind rushing through the trees. Chung Myung, having almost reached the location of the sensed presence, made himself quiet and blended himself with the surroundings.

Then, he slowly moved forward and peeked his head out.

‘Huh?’

Chung Myung blinked. But no matter how many times he looked, the people in front of him didn’t change.

He knew one of them well.

Baek Cheon.

It wasn’t strange for Baek Cheon to be here. After all, this was Mount Hua’s territory.

But it was far too strange for the person standing opposite Baek Cheon to be here.

‘Why are you here?’

Jin Geum-ryong.

Jin Geum-ryong, the eldest disciple of the second generation from Jongnam, stood facing Baek Cheon with a strange expression.

‘Why are these two meeting separately at this hour?’

The air was thick with the scent of something hidden.

Chung Myung cautiously moved closer and strained his ears.

“You seem to be doing well.”

Jin Geum-ryong smiled and spoke to Baek Cheon. But Baek Cheon’s face twisted with clear dislike upon hearing those words.

“You seem to be at ease.”

“Why shouldn’t I be? Dong-ryong-ah.”

“Pfft!”

Jin Geum-ryong and Baek Cheon at the same time turned their gazes to one side.

‘Oh, crap.’

Chung Myung held his breath tightly.

The name ‘Dong-ryong’ itself was enough to make Chung Myung laugh.

The two tilted their heads and then faced each other again. They probably thought it was just the sound of an animal.

Baek Cheon twisted his face.

“Don’t call me by that name. I am Baek Cheon.”

“You shouldn’t carelessly discard the name your parents gave you. No matter what anyone says, you are Jin Dong-ryong.”

‘Kkeueueueueue.’

Chung Myung gripped the ground.

‘Oh, I’m dying. Dong-ryong. Baek Cheon’s real name is Dong-ryong. Oh, my stomach is going to burst.’

Chung Myung’s body shook.

Baek Cheon’s face turned red as if it would explode any second.

“I said, I’m Baek Cheon!”

“Alright, Dong-ryong-ah.”

Wow, that bastard is really getting to him.

He hates it so much that his face is turning red, but he keeps calling him Dong-ryong to his face. He really has a bad personality.

Whether he knew of Chung Myung’s opinion or not, Jin Geum-ryong continued the conversation with a slight smile.

“It seems living in Mount Hua isn’t so bad? You look quite well?”

“What do you want to say?”

“I just wanted to see.”

Jin Geum-ryong’s smile deepened.

“I wanted to see what my foolish younger brother, who ran away to Mount Hua to defeat this older brother, is living like.”

“You already checked two years ago, didn’t you?”

“I enjoy seeing someone who has lost stay down.”

Baek Cheon’s face twisted.

Jin Geum-ryong was originally that kind of person. He was cruel to those he considered weaker than himself. He usually pretended to be kind, but inside, he had a cruel heart.

How much had he been bullied by that Jin Geum-ryong in the past?

“How about it? If you kneel and beg now, I might consider accepting you back into Jongnam.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Baek Cheon looked straight at Jin Geum-ryong and said.

“I am Baek Cheon, the second generation disciple and senior disciple of Mount Hua. My dream now is to make Mount Hua a sect greater than Jongnam. So, don’t say things like that to me again.”

‘Oh?’

Chung Myung looked at the two with sparkling eyes.

So, let’s see.

To summarize, those two are brothers? One is Geum-ryong, and the other is Dong-ryong.

‘…I really want to see who their father is.’

I will definitely avenge this tearing pain in his stomach from laughing. What were they thinking, naming their children like that! No wonder the kid ran away!

Baek Cheon said, growling.

“And even if I did beg, you would just laugh and pretend you didn’t hear it. Because you’re that kind of guy.”

“Haha. Brotherhood is strange. Even though we’ve lived apart for so long, you know me so well.”

Jin Geum-ryong’s loud laughter stopped suddenly, as if someone had cut it off. He turned to face Baek Cheon, his smile disappearing. His eyes, which had been full of amusement just moments before, were now like chips of frozen ice, staring right through Baek Cheon. A sudden chill seemed to fill the air around them.

“You have made the wrong choice.”

“…”

“If you wanted to defeat me, you should have joined Jongnam. That way, you would have had at least a small chance. But instead of Jongnam, you chose Hwasan? You joined this crumbling sect to defeat me? Haha! That’s ridiculous! Even a dog wouldn’t believe that!”

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

“Don’t underestimate Hwasan.”

“Huh?”

“Yes, you’re right. At first, I joined Hwasan because of childishness. I wanted to lead Hwasan, the sect you despise, and defeat my brother who ignored and made me feel small.”

“That’s too foolish to call it childishness. Should I say it’s typical of you?”

Ignoring the mockery, Baek Cheon said firmly, “At first, it was definitely childish. But now, I genuinely like Hwasan. Being Baek Cheon, a second-generation disciple and senior brother of Hwasan, is incredibly rewarding.”

“Hmm?”

Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon, appearing ready to burst with pride.

‘So, that’s the reason.’

It seemed there was a reason for his determination to become stronger. Chung Myung was moved by Baek Cheon’s words.

‘Ah, it’s all falling apart…’

“You feel rewarded living as a second-generation disciple of this crumbling sect? In this ruined sect? Are you out of your mind?”

‘Is that little rascal…?’

No, Chung Myung was going to say that, but hearing that rascal say it made him angry again.

I’ll just rip his mouth apart!

“Yes,” Baek Cheon answered firmly. “It might seem strange, but I realized it after coming here. Being in a good sect, eating good food, wearing good clothes, and living richly doesn’t necessarily mean you’re happy. At least this place needs me, and I was able to set a goal to make this place the best. Hwasan gave me a goal and embraced me with affection!”

“Affection?” Jin Geum-ryong said as if he had seen something horrifying. “Saying such gentle things? You haven’t faced the real world yet. Let me tell you, you are already finished. As the price for making this pathetic choice, you will live your whole life as a third-rate martial artist, suffering humiliation. And you will watch me become the leader of Jongnam from here.”

“So what if you do? I’m just living my life.”

“You’ll be living a trash-like life. Well, it might be fun to watch,” Jin Geum-ryong said with a sneer. “But watching for too long doesn’t suit my mood. I’ll let you know tomorrow just how foolish it was to choose Hwasan instead of Jongnam.”

Jin Geum-ryong, as if contemplating something, tilted his head and sneered. “No, no. Perhaps it was a good choice. A fallen sect and a foolish guy – could there be a better combination?”

“You can insult me all you want, but don’t you dare say Hwasan’s name with that mouth. I’ll tear it apart.”

“…Someone like you?” Jin Geum-ryong glared at Baek Cheon. Baek Cheon flinched at the angry look.

After staring at Baek Cheon, Jin Geum-ryong suddenly withdrew his angry look and chuckled. “There’s no need to rush. You’ll find out when the sun rises. After tomorrow, neither you nor Hwasan will be able to show your faces in the martial world. I will make sure of it.”

Jin Geum-ryong glanced at Baek Cheon and turned. Without looking back, he went down the mountain.

Baek Cheon, who had been watching Jin Geum-ryong’s back, sighed deeply.

‘Can I do it?’

Jin Geum-ryong is a man who does what he says. Regardless of his personality, his skills are so outstanding that Baek Cheon can’t even dare to follow.

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

‘Don’t waver.’

I am Baek Cheon of Hwasan. And someday, I will become the leader of Hwasan and revive Hwasan’s glory.

Just as Baek Cheon, muttering as if vowing to himself, was about to turn.

“Kuh, look at that good sight.”

“Whoa! Crap! You scared me!” Baek Cheon, terrified, instinctively swore and fell to the ground. He was so startled that his heart felt like it would leap out of his throat.

Barely managing to regain his senses, he raised his head and saw Chung Myung nodding with a pleased expression.

“You, you… Why are you here?”

“Hey there, Brother Baek Cheon!” Chung Myung said, holding back laughter, causing Baek Cheon’s face to twist.

“…Did you hear everything?”

“Kuh, Brother Baek Cheon. I am impressed. Such a good heart, thinking of Hwasan.”

Chung Myung nodded, and Baek Cheon sighed.

“You sneaky thing! You scared me! I didn’t even hear you coming.”

“Well, that’s only natural.”

“…There’s nothing wrong with it, but don’t tell others. Some might not like it.”

“Don’t worry, I’m the worst at keeping secrets!”

“…”

Isn’t that another way of saying he blabs like crazy?

Baek Cheon clutched his head, realizing he had been caught by this guy of all people.

Besides the sect leader and a few elders, no one else knew. But why him?

“Hmm. So, you are Jin Geum-ryong’s brother?”

“Even though we’re brothers, we’re not close. We have different mothers…” Baek Cheon sighed and started to explain. “Since I was young…”

“Ah, it’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“You don’t have to tell me. It’s obvious. Born as an illegitimate child or the youngest, overshadowed by a talented older brother, not treated well, so you ran away from home and came to Hwasan. Right?”

“…Don’t make my life sound so simple.”

But he’s right.

“You did well.”

“Yes. So… Huh?” Baek Cheon looked up.

“You did well to come to Hwasan.” Chung Myung’s expression was different. It wasn’t the irritating smile. It was a gentle smile.

And a serious voice came from his mouth. “No matter your background, no matter your story, once you come to Hwasan, you are a disciple of Hwasan. And I will prove that choosing Hwasan over Jongnam was not a mistake.”

Baek Cheon couldn’t speak.

This young rascal shouldn’t be saying such things. But when he heard those words, his heart calmed down.

“Prove it? When?”

“When is when?” Chung Myung grinned. “Today.”

Chung Myung turned his head. Soon, the sun will rise, announcing the Hwajong Competition.

“Let’s go wild, Brother Baek Cheon.” An strange light flickered in Chung Myung’s eyes. Now it’s time to crush those Jongnam guys.