Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1142

“Is this the place?”

Hwang Jongwi looked at the large manor before him.

“Yes, Danju-nim. From what I know, the people of Mount Hua are here.”

Hwang Jongwi let out a deep sigh at the advisor’s words.

“We’ve finally arrived. It’s been a long journey.”

“There should be no need for Danju-nim to come in person….”

“Don’t say such nonsense.”

Hwang Jongwi shakes his head firmly.

“Mount Hua is not only a friend of Eunha Merchant Guild but also our largest client. Even if we have established trade relations and a close friendship, if we neglect them, even the close relationships will grow distant.”

“Ah….”

“And. Is there just Mount Hua here? Aren’t the biggest clients of our Eunha Merchant Guild, North Sea Ice Palace, and Southern Beast Palace, also there? How could I not come and greet the biggest clients of Eunha Merchant Guild gathered in one place? Even if it were in the Western Regions instead of the Yangtze River, I would come personally!”

“You are absolutely right.”

The advisor nodded repeatedly with an expression of admiration.

After Hwang Mun-yak died, Hwang Jongwi struggled to fill the void left by his death, but recently, he has been leading the merchant guild to a degree that makes Hwang Mun-yak’s time in life seem insignificant.

Everyone in the trading company openly said that if things continued this way, it wouldn’t be a dream for Eunha Merchant Guild to become the number one merchant guild under Hwang Jongwi’s leadership.

“My father always said that for a merchant, trust and people are the most important. I’m simply following his words.”

Hwang Jongwi, who was looking at the manor with a stern face, smiled brightly.

“And… Personally, I really wanted to see the disciples of Mount Hua. Seeing them gives me strength whenever I’m tired and weary. In truth, there aren’t many people as lively as they are, right?”

“Hahahaha. They’re so lively that it’s a problem. With the people of Mount Hua away from the mountain, not only Huayin but also Shaanxi feels quiet.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Hwang Jongwi smiled bitterly.

It’s said that you don’t notice the presence until it’s gone.

‘This just shows how important Mount Hua has become in Shaanxi. In just a few years.’

There’s no point in talking about it.

Before Mount Hua came back to life, the representative sect of Shaanxi was the Southern Edge Sect, and when Southern Edge Sect suddenly went to Bongmun, many were concerned.

However, Mount Hua filled the empty space of Southern Edge Sect perfectly, if not to the point of overdoing it. And now, not just Shaanxi, they were spreading their influence throughout the entire Jungwon, and even beyond to outer palaces.

So, even a brief absence of Mount Hua made the entire Shaanxi region lose its vitality.

“I also feel a sense of excitement when I meet people of Mount Hua.”

“You’re not the only one.”

Hwang Jongwi chuckled and pointed to the gate of the manor.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes, Danju-nim.”

Hwang Jongwi heads towards the manor.

“It seems there’s no one guarding the gate?”

“Is it really necessary? It’s where the Mount Hua, Tang Family, and outer palace reside, so anyone with even a little bit of sense wouldn’t dare to act rashly.”

“Well, that’s also true.”

“Let’s come in. They’re not so stiff that they would argue about we opening the gate ourselves.”

“Yes.”

At Hwang Jongwi’s words, the advisor steps forward and opens the gate. Hwang Jongwi, who entered, smiled faintly.

‘It feels like I’m at Mount Hua in a strange way.’

The atmosphere of Mount Hua, a mixture of the tranquility unique to Taoism and the liveliness unique to Chung Myung, can be felt here as well. It must be the same wherever Mount Hua is present.

“That person?”

Hwang Jongwi was delighted to see the familiar back walking ahead. Meeting someone he recognized right after arriving lifted his spirits.

“Jo-Gol Dojang! Isn’t this Jo-Gol Dojang!”

Since the disciples of Mount Hua all wear the same uniform, it is difficult to tell who is who just by looking at their backs, but Jo-Gol is easy to recognize even from his back because of his unique curly hair.

The delighted Hwang Jongwi approaches Jo-Gol and smiles.

“It’s been a while. Jo-Gol Doja… Mother!”

When Jo-Gol turned his head to look at Hwang Jongwi, Hwang Jongwi was startled and stepped back.

“J- Jo-Gol Dojang?”

“Ah….”

Jo-Gol bows his head deeply after recognizing Hwang Jongwi.

“Sangdanju… No, Danju-nim. You’ve arrived.”

“A- Are you ill?”

“…Yes?”

“What’s wrong with your face? Your face?”

Jo-Gol sweeps his face weakly.

“…It’s a little haggard.”

A little haggard?

Hwang Jongwi looked at Jo-Gol, speechless.

‘Even if we dig up the grave and take out the corpse, it won’t look like this.’

It was hard to tell if his face was deathly pale or dark as if he were already dead.

His bloodless, pale skin looked so rough that tree bark might be smoother, and the dark circles under his eyes were so deep they seemed ink-painted.

Even if he had tried to put on makeup, he wouldn’t look this bad.

“What on earth happened to you?”

“What happened, well…”

It was when.

“Isn’t that Danju-nim?”

Hwang Jongwi turned his head quickly at the voice coming from the side.

“…W- Who?”

“Huh? Danju-nim, it’s me, Yoon Jong.”

“Yo- Yoon Jong Dojang?”

Hwang Jongwi blinked his eyes repeatedly.

Yoon Jong’s appearance was not much different from Jo-Gol’s. No, in some ways, he looked even worse than Jo-Gol.

“Did Evil Tyrant Alliance come to attack?”

Hearing that, Yoon Jong smiles in an uncharacteristic way.

“Evil Tyrant Alliance… it wouldn’t be so difficult if it were them. Just… we’d just have to beat them up.”

“…”

“The problem is that there’s someone worse than Evil Tyrant Alliance in Mount Hua.”

“Tha- That must be Chung Myung Dojang, right?”

Who else but Chung Myung could turn a person like this?

However, upon hearing Hwang Jongwi’s words, Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol simultaneously shook their heads.

“Chung Myung is better.”

“At least he’s still human.”

“…Yes?”

The two shook their heads without further explanation.

At the very moment when Hwang Jongwi, who had no idea what was going on, was about to ask again.

“You punk! I told you to come to the training ground, so why are you wasting time here!”

When they heard the angry voice, Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol flinched and shrank their necks. At the same time, their faces contorted in sheer horror.

Hwang Jong instinctively turned his head to look at the person who had shouted.

“Ba- Baek Cheon Dojang?”

“No. Isn’t this Danju-nim?”

Baek Cheon, who saw Hwang Jongwi, politely clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes. Yes… Baek Cheon Dojang.”

“Did you just arrive?”

“Yes, I am.”

“It must have been a long journey, and you must have had a hard time. I’m sure Sect Leader will be happy to see you.”

Strangely enough, while everyone else was dying, Baek Cheon wasn’t much different from the Baek Cheon he knew.

No, on the contrary….

‘He seems oddly shiny.’

Had Baek Cheon not been training? No, that didn’t seem like his character at all.

“Let’s go. I’ll guide you to Sect Leader.”

“Ah…. Yes.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Baek Cheon, who had been showing an extremely gentle expression towards Hwang Jongwi, turns his head towards Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol.

At the same time, his expression changed completely from the one when he looked at Hwang Jongwi.

“It’s time for training! What are you doing here?”

“…We were just going.”

“That…. I’m just greeting Danju-nim for a moment.”

Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol cowered like mice in front of a cat. Baek Cheon, who was looking at the two with eyes that seemed to be dissatisfied with them, frowned.

“Hurry up. I’ll escort Danju-nim and return.”

“Yes.”

“Yes!”

The two bow their heads towards Baek Cheon and Hwang Jongwi then walk towards the training ground with quick steps.

“No, seriously, why is he like that? He was complaining with us just recently!”

“How would I know…”

“I’d rather deal with Chung Myung. Ugh! Since that yangban with higher rank is glaring his eyes, there’s nothing we can do.”

“Shh. He can hear you.”

“All the kids are dying. Why are we the only ones doing extra training? It’s already so hard I could die.”

“…Stop complaining and let’s go. Quickly.”

“Ugh.”

Watching the two run to the training ground, a cold sweat formed on the back of Hwang Jongwi’s neck.

When he turned his head with a slightly uneasy feeling, Baek Cheon was still smiling kindly.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

This man is scarier than I thought.

Hwang Jongwi, who was walking along the manor as Baek Cheon guided, opened his mouth slightly.

“Are all the disciples from other sects here?”

“Yes. The afternoon training just ended, so they are either resting or having a meal.”

“Ah.”

Hwang Jongwi nodded.

“It’s true that Mount Hua Sect has its own unique aspect. It wouldn’t be easy for them to practice more than other sects in a place where everyone is together.”

“Oh, it’s not like that.”

“Pardon? Just a moment ago, you said Mount Hua was the only one training while other sects were resting…”

“Ah. That.”

Baek Cheon scratched his head.

“There they are. You’ll understand when you see it.”

“Yes?”

At Baek Cheon’s words, Hwang Jongwi raised his head and looked at the scene unfolding before him.

“….”

In the space between the large manor buildings, people covered in dirt were literally sprawled out.

‘Is this a den of beggars?’

No, this is not so much a beggar’s hole as it is a bunch of… defeated soldiers?

It looked like a group of defeated soldiers who had barely managed to survive a beating and returned lying face down.

Hwang Jongwi grimaced at the sight of people lying with their faces buried in the dirt, frothing at the mouth.

“The- These must be the people from Nokrim, right?”

“No.”

“Huh? But the green clothes….”

Hwang Jongwi closed his mouth.

He had assumed they were from the Green Forest because of their green clothing. If it wasn’t someone of Nokrim, they wouldn’t be able to throw away all their dignity and lie down like that.

But he saw it clearly.

The word “Tang” embroidered on the chests of those who are lying down.

“These are Tang Family members.”

“…….”

Tang Family? These people?

Blinking, Hwang Jongwi stared at the people who had thrown away all decorum and lay sprawled in the dirt with a renewed perspective.

‘No matter how you look at it, they look like beggars.’

Not just ordinary beggars, but beggars who hadn’t eaten for two weeks.

Since when did Tang Family change its affiliation to Beggar Union?

“W- Water…”

“A- Are you okay?”

“…eath.”

“Eat? You want something to eat?”

“I’m dying….”

“….”

When Hwang Jongwi looked at him with a blank expression, Baek Cheon glanced at Hwang Jongwi and said as if it was nothing.

“Don’t worry. This happens every day.”

No, you madman!

This shouldn’t be happening every day! This is supposed to be a place where people live!

“Th- Those in white… no, those in yellow clothes?”

“It’s Namgung. Hmm, Namgung seems to be in decent condition today.”

“….”

Ah, those people?

That Azure Sky Namgung Family? The Azure Sky Namgung Family, the most upright and prestigious family in the world?

After that, Hwang Jongwi, who had been shivering at the sight that looked like a village had been hit by a plague, gave up thinking after seeing Im Sobyeong hanging on the wall like a dried squid.

‘Let’s not think it’s strange.’

Isn’t this always what happens when Chung Myung is present?

Trying to apply common sense to him is foolish. So, stay calm…

“This is the place. Hm?”

As they reached the sect leader’s quarters, Baek Cheon frowned.

“Excuse me, please wake up.”

He approached the person lying on the wall in front of the sect leader’s quarter, leaving Hwang Jongwi behind, and tapped him on the shoulder.

‘That person is… Hm? I think I’ve seen him before?’

“Tang Gaju-nim, you must not sleep here. Please wake up….”

“Why is Tang Gaju here!”

Hwang Jongwi finally couldn’t hold back and shouted.

Why is Tang Gaju sprawled out in front of someone else’s quarters like a neighborhood beggar? Why!

“U- Um. Is this Baek Cheon Dojang?”

“Yes, Gaju-nim.”

“…I must’ve taken a short break on my way to see sect leader.”

“Please don’t be like this. Go to Gaju-nim’s residence and rest for a bit.”

“No. Hm? Danju of Eunha Merchant Guild.”

“H- Have you been well? Gaju-nim?”

“Do I look well?”

“…….”

Hwang Jongwi lowered his head as he heard that strangely sharp voice.

“Come in.”

“…Yes.”

Tang Gun-ak takes the lead and enters the quarters.

Hwang Jongwi let out a sigh as if the ground was collapsing when he saw that sight.

‘I shouldn’t have come… ‘

The reality of being at Mount Hua was sinking into Hwang Jongwi’s bones.