Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 354
“Welcome.”
As the visitors from Mount Hua entered the entrance, Hwang Mun-yak opened his arms and welcomed them.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Sangdanju-nim.”
“Hoho. Why are you saying it now? Mount Hua is the best friend of our Eunha Merchant Guild, how can I not welcome them?”
Hyun Young smiled happily as he looked at Hwang Mun-yak, who appeared to be genuinely happy.
Hwang Mun-yak’s expression would have been different now if he had had this reaction only after Mount Hua had regained its reputation.
However, Hwang Mun-yak has claimed to be their sponsor since Mount Hua was in trouble.
So how can there be any reservations?
“Let’s not do this here, come inside. I’ve prepared some simple dishes.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Hwang Mun-yak smiled at Hyun Young, who expressed his gratitude, and glanced at Chung Myung.
“It’s only been a few days, but we meet again, Sodojang.”
“Right. How have you been?”
“I’ve had a bit of trouble refilling the good wines that Sodojang has emptied.”
“Hehe. Then I’ll have to empty it for you again.”
“Would that be possible?”
Hwang Mun-yak returned the chuckle.
Hwang Mun-yak would have called him rude if others had said this. Chung Myung, on the other hand, is unique. Chung Myung is a man who bears no responsibility for anything he says or does in this situation.
To be honest, how much money did Eunha Merchant Guild make because of Chung Myung?
‘Even with everything else aside, just being able to join the tea trade in Yunnan this time can recover several times the amount invested.’
However, this is also nothing when he considers the money they will earn in the future.
Mount Hua’s dominance is now out of Huayin City and has begun to extend here to Xian. And soon, it will begin to spread to Xian and the whole of Shaanxi.
If they can carry such a Mount Hua on their back, it is not a dream for the Eunha Merchant Guild to take over all of Shaanxi and grow into a top merchant that is discussed worldwide.
So how can’t Chung Myung be pretty?
‘It’s not just Chung Myung Dojang.’
Hwang Mun-yak smiled delightedly as he looked at the disciples heading to the inner hall.
The young man, who had long been oppressed by the huge name of Southern Edge Sect, is now a promising rising star who has made a reputation in the world.
Mount Hua’s growth is astonishing, even for him who has been watching from the sidelines.
‘If they go on like this…….’
Of course, it will not be easy, but now it is enough to dare to put the word ‘the best in the world’ in his imagination. Those words could not have been even dreamed of just a few years ago.
And it was obvious that their trip to Xian would be the starting point of that move.
Hyun Young briefly spoke of greeting to Hwang Mun-yak and called his disciples into the room without delay.
“Hmm. You arrived earlier than expected.”
“Thanks to that, we can push the schedule slightly.”
Hyun Young nodded lightly.
“Let’s keep the talk for later and move on. Baek Chun-ah.”
“Yes!”
“Lead the disciples and look at the people’s sentiments in Xian. No matter how many times we visited, Xian was the place where Southern Edge Sect had the greatest influence. So far, it will not be favorable to us.”
“Yes, I’ll take a closer look.”
“Baek Sang, you go to Young Master Hwang and make a list of supplies for the sect.”
“Yes, Elder!”
Hyun Young also assigned some other disciples to do their work.
It was certainly a quick work befitting his position as Finance Elder.
“Do you all understand?”
“Yes, Elder!”
“There is nothing to delay. Time is as good as gold, so move now!”
“Yes!”
“Elder?”
“What?”
“What about me?”
Sitting in the corner, Chung Myung raised his hand and asked. Then Hyun Young smiled pleasedly.
“Yes, Chung Myung-ah. You are going with me to search for the hall.”
“Oh, hall to open the sect?”
“Yes.”
“Understood, then I’ll join.”
“Yes, come with me. Hahahaha.”
“Hahaha!”
The other disciples trembled with unknown anxiety as they watched the two people face each other and laugh back and forth.
“Oh…….”
Yoon Jong looked around without hesitation.
“It’s huge.”
“What’s new for the person who has visited Nakyang before? And didn’t you stop by the city before?”
“It feels a little different from there.”
Baek Chun smirked.
“Take a good look. There will be a lot of things to stop by from now on. Now you have to get used to this place as much as Huayin.”
“Yes, Sasuk.”
Even as Yoon Jong answered, his gaze moved the whole time as if he was preoccupied with something. Baek Chun smiled and glanced around.
‘Will everything be all right?’
He sighed unknowingly because of the constant tension.
It is highly likely that there are still quite a few people who have a hostile attitude to Mount Hua, as this was a place with a strong influence of the Southern Edge Sect.
Every move had to be cautious.
It was then.
“Uh. Over there…?”
“What? What’s going on?”
“Isn’t that Mount Hua Sect?”
Some passers-by began to murmur when they saw the plum blossoms engraved on Baek Chun’s chest. Of course, it was a very small voice, but Mount Hua’s disciples couldn’t have missed it.
The shoulders of the disciples shrank slightly.
“Don’t you think they’re still so young?”
“Then it seems that they are the rising star who said they had the best results in that Murim Competition.”
“Yes, yes!”
The shoulders, which were shrunk, were straightened up again by the favorable response.
‘The response isn’t bad.’
‘As expected, people have to produce results.’
Mount Hua’s disciples exchanged eyes with each other. In particular, Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong smiled as if they couldn’t hide their pride.
“Oh, I heard that Mount Hua is in great spirits these days, but now we have a day to see their disciples in Xian.”
“That’s great. Aah, indeed such a great moment. Until recently, I was so out of interest in them that I didn’t even know they had fallen, but in the blink of an eye…….”
“I’m well aware of them. I’ve been paying attention since I heard Mount Hua won Jonghwa Conference.”
“Haiyaa, this person, too! You can’t put them in the past and now together!”
The mob’s voices grew louder and louder.
As they began to chatter, the number of people who heard it or recognized the plum pattern of Mount Hua increased, and the attention that was focused on them increased as time by time went by.
Baek Chun hurried his step with a face mixed with pride and humility.
Mount Hua’s disciples, who managed to escape the crowd, looked at each other with a long sigh.
“Aren’t they in a welcoming atmosphere?”
“No one is more hostile than I thought. There is no mention of Southern Edge Sect at all.”
“Right. Still, I thought there would be people who were upset.”
Jo-Gol, who had been listening quietly, shook his head and said.
“That’s what human physiology does.”
“Physiology?”
“There’s something that Chung Myung always says, right?”
“Oh…….”
– What? Justice? Justicee? Aigoo. What a great hero you guys are! Hey, you yangban. If justice is so great, wouldn’t people line up with the sect with the most righteous act? No, how can you say that when you see those crazy monks of Shaolin stuck in the mountains and just chanting but having the position of the world’s best sect? Kangho is just about strength. The one who’s good at cutting is the best.
“…… that’s not wrong.”
Back Chun’s group shook their heads as they recalled Chung Myung’s words.
No matter how true the word may be, this is not something that those who claim to be righteous sect would say.
“The people of Xian, and furthermore, in Shaanxi, have considered Southern Edge Sect to represent themselves. It’s not because Southern Edge Sect has a long history or because they have done a great deal of righteous act.”
“Because they’re the strongest.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Jo-Gol nodded loudly.
“Isn’t the goodwill of the people of Xian to Southern Edge Sect also due to the power of the sect? But now Southern Edge Sect has done Bongmun, and Mount Hua is performing well.”
“It means that from now on, Mount Hua will be the representative sect of Shaanxi instead of Southern Edge Sect.”
“Yes, if the news spreads in Xian that Southern Edge Sect has entered Bongmun, the flow will be faster.”
Jo-Gol, who stopped talking for a moment, smiled slightly.
‘It’s not a bad time.’
If they can open a subsidiary sect in Xian, they can accelerate the flow.
“Apparently, there are enough rumors about the Murim Competition’s best performance in Xian. Everyone should be wondering how Mount Hua got so strong.”
“Then there must be many who want to learn the martial arts of Mount Hua.”
“Yes, what’s particularly good is that Mount Hua’s reputation is built on the activities of the second and third-class disciples. Isn’t it usually young people who are trying to learn martial art from scratch, right?”
“That’s right.”
“The fact that Main Sect has a strong background will be a great advantage factor for them who brood over entering the subsidiary sect.”
“Are you saying he’s a master of educating?” (“교육의 명가라는 건가?”)
“Exactly.”
Baek Chun nodded with a pleased face.
In any case, it is something to celebrate that Mount Hua Sect was well-received.
“We’ll have to stop by a few more places, but I don’t think Xian people is not as bad as we worried about.”
“I think so, too. Of course, we can’t jump to conclusions. As Southern Edge Sect has been in control of Xian for a long time, several people will make a living depending on Southern Edge Sect’s reputation. Those people wouldn’t be happy to see us open up a subsidiary sect.”
“We have to bear that.” (“그 정도는 감수해야지.”)
There was a determined light in Baek Chun’s eyes.
“Everyone, keep in mind. This is nothing short of the fate of Mount Hua. Everyone should do their best to help Huayin Munju.”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
“Yes, Sahyung!”
Everyone answered bravely with their eyes shining. Baek Chun smiled pleasedly.
‘This is the basics, this is it!’
How constructive is the conversation going on without a single Chung Myung?
His Saje, who usually seemed to have gone away a lot, we’re also proud of his high insight with their eyes full of pure light now that there was no Chung Myung.
‘When you’re next to him, everything becames crooked.’
Even himself, including Baek Chun.
Realizing the power of Chung Myung (?), he shook his head and moved on.
“It’s so comfortable without him.”
“If we were next to him, wouldn’t we have been nervous about what kind of accident he would have caused by now?”
“I wouldn’t have had time to look around.”
Everyone was busy criticizing Chung Myung as if saying that even Emperor also curses when the subject isn’t present.
But Yoo Iseol, who had been quietly listening to those words, seemed to have a different opinion, so she frowned and opened her mouth.
“Everyone should be uncomfortable.”
“……Huh?”
“What do you mean, Sago?”
Everyone looked at her with puzzled eyes. Yoo Iseol said with a frown on her face.
“There’s a reason. We had to keep our eyes on Chung Myung.”
“… What’s with that?”
“He is a bigger trouble without us.”
“…….”
‘That’s right.’
That’s absolutely true.’
‘Everyone trembled.
Chung Myung is dangerous wherever he is and went without being said.
But the scariest of all Chung Myung is the one that is not here right now.
“…E- Elder went with him, wouldn’t it be okay?”
“Oil on fire.”
“…….”
‘Ah.’
‘……No way.’
They felt a rush of anxiety that everyone had been trying to forget.
Then.
“Huh?”
Yoon Jong pointed forward.
“Isn’t that Chung Myung?”
“Huh?”
Baek Chun frowned and looked in the direction Yoon Jong pointed.
“I see. I think that’s right. There’s Elder next to him.”
“What are they doing over there?”
“Right… I heard he said he was going to look for a hall, so maybe they are looking for it?”
“Oh? Here?”
Baek Chun peeked around.
‘It’s not bad.’
It’s a side of Xian. Although there is a distance from the center, the road was wide and a lot of people would pass through it and it also seemed that it was not a bad place to live.
“It must be expensive in places like this.”
“Yes. Besides, there must be a large yard where you can practice, so it will be more expensive.”
“Don’t you think it’ll be okay since we make a lot of money?”
“…… Elder Hyun Young?”
At those last words, everyone shut their mouths.
He’s gotten a lot better now, but isn’t Hyun Young the most frugal person who represents Mount Hua?
It was hard to imagine such a person buying an expensive hall along the busy boulevard to open the sect.
“…… It’s a very important matter. Sect Leader may have spoken separately.”
“If that’s the case, I’m glad.”
Not knowing what to do with the anxiety, everyone crept up to the place where Chung Myung and Hyun Young were.
But…….
“…Sasuk.”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t you say that Elder and Chung Myung went to look for a hall?”
“I did.”
“…That?”
“…….”
Baek Chun’s eyes, which moved slowly, began to tremble like aspen trees.
Martial Hall.
Right, every hall is just a hall.
If there are pillars and a roof and a large yard, that is definitely a pavilion.
The problem is…
‘I don’t think there’s anything else but the pillars and the roof?’
Then can you call that a hall?
A large house, which seemed to have been a haunted house for well over a hundred years, was spread out in front of them.
The thick grass, collapsed walls, and half-torn buildings looked pathetic.
“I hope not?”
“Ei… I don’t think so. Perhaps.”
“I’d rather have a vacant lot. The vacant lot won’t collapse. This hall seems like if you touch that window the wrong way, it will collapse.”
“……Mount Hua used to be the same, you know.”
Everyone looked at Hyun Young with contemplative faces.
He is not going to take over a haunted house for the subsidiary sect, isn’t he?
But what Yoo Iseol said a little while ago was constantly growing in their heads.
– Oil on fire.
At that time, the voice of an elderly man standing in front of Hyun Young and Chung Myung was heard.
“Yes, yes! The prices are really, really cheap here. You can’t find a place cheaper than this! But… but are you sure you don’t mind? There’s a reason why this well-positioned hall has become such a haunted house.”
“What’s the reason?”
The old man, who looked around secretly, whispered in a small voice.
“Rumors are spreading that ghosts are coming out. There have been people who have bought this place several times before, but they all saw ghosts and ran away without looking back.”
……Ghost?
Baek Chun and the group looked back at each other’s faces simultaneously.
‘In a haunted house, a ghost.’
‘Please! Please!’
‘Chung Myung-ah, please! Elder! no!’
Perhaps their hearts were connected, Chung Myung looked at the elderly with a rarely surprised face and asked back.
“There’s a ghost? Here?”
“……Yes, I’m telling you in advance because I’m afraid you’ll get angry after selling it without saying anything. There’s a rumor like that.”
“Oh my gosh, a ghost!”
Chung Myung clenched his fist.
“Then it must be really cheap!”
“…….”
“Right?”
“… it’s cheap…but there’s really rumors like that…”
Chung Myung and Hyun Young smiled happily at each other.
“Okay.”
“That’s fine.”
“Well…. There is a rumor that this is a haunted place, so the workers don’t want to work either.”
“That’s all right.”
“…Yes?”
Chung Myung smiled and said proudly.
“There’s a lot of workmen. A very strong one at that, too.”
“…….”
Of course, the face of Baek Chun’s group, who made eye contact with Chung Myung, began to rot.
“Let’s sign a contract!”
Hyun Young’s bright voice seemed to tell everyone’s future.
‘It’s like hell.’
‘I really hope they’re all dead.’
Their happiness did not exist where Chung Myung was, whether it was Mount Hua or not.