Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 404
“Ouch ouch ouch ouch!”
Chung Myung screamed and made a fuss.
“No! Why is wearing the bandage so painful?”
“… You’d better shut your mouth off, Sahyung. Before I sew that mouth.”
“…Yes.”
As Tang So-so exuded killing intent, Chung Myung quickly closed his mouth.
Squeeze.
“Uh…….”
Tang So-so’s touch is nerve-wracking as she sprays geumchang on the wound. An indescribable annoyance was evident in her hand. (금창/金瘡/ A type of herbal medicine commonly seen in martial arts novels. It is also called Geumsangsan. As the name suggests, it is a medicine used for wounds caused by metal weapons such as swords or spears. Since lime is the main ingredient, it is naturally used as a powdered medicine)
“Sahyung.”
“Yes?”
“I know Sahyung can detox the poison to some extent. But you know it would’ve been dangerous to have another sword in your chest, right?”
Chung Myung shrugged at her serious voice.
“It’s a skill not to suffer from that.”
Then Tang So-so began to untie the bandage on his arm again.
“… What’s wrong?”
“I think it’s loose, so I’m going to put it back on.”
“…….”
Chung Myung, who had shed tears again in exchange for making fun of his mouth, breathed deeply and leaned back in his chair as soon as the treatment was finished.
Tang So-so fumed as if she were still upset.
“And what if Sahyung dies?”
“Ah, such a nag.”
Chung Myung avoided eye contact by turning his head slightly. The combination of nagging as a Samae and nagging as a doctor was excruciating.
Tang So-so, who was about to say something else, abruptly stopped speaking.
Chung Myung cast a downward glance. Tang So-so’s clenched fist, seen below her sleeve, was shaking.
Chung Myung averted his gaze, his eyes downcast.
“What about the others?”
“There’s not much danger for Sahyung or Sasuk. Some are injured, but it won’t be life-threatening. It’s luck.”
“No, it’s a skill.”
Chung Myung shook his head.
“Luck doesn’t happen if you don’t have skills. It means the training they’ve been doing was meaningful.”
“Yes.”
With a slight nod, Tang So-so spoke in a much more complex voice than before.
“……but the Elder is a little…….”
Chung Myung’s eyes twitched.
“Elder Hyun Sang?”
“Yes, the poisoning was bad. I detoxed it, but the treatment was delayed.…. There may be some aftereffects.”
Chung Myung nodded with a heavy face.
“And….”
Tang So-so bit her lip and hesitated for a moment.
“Will Instructor-nim be able to make it through the night….?”
Chung Myung closed his eyes without saying a word.
Then he opened his eyes and got up. His hand landed on Tang So-so’s head.
“It’s not your fault.”
“…Sahyung.”
“You don’t have to blame yourself for strange things. Other people have sinned, but why are you blaming yourself?”
“But…….”
Tang So-so bit her lips. She looked distressed as if she was holding back tears.
‘I was arrogant.’
Indeed, she was confident in medicine.
She learned medicine from the Tang Family, not just anywhere else. She was convinced that she had the skills that didn’t fall short in anywhere.
So she thought she could handle any of Mount Hua’s Medicine Hall’s problems.
However, the battle forced her to fall into deep despair.
‘If I had been a little more proficient…….’
Un Gum wouldn’t have to be in such a critical condition.
All she could do now was hold on to Un Gum’s lifeline, which was about to be cut off.
“I’m sure Great Sasuk will be fine. He’s not the kind of person who will get hurt like that.”
“…Sahyung.”
“I believe you.”
Tang So-so eventually nodded slowly.
Chung Myung, who tapped her on the shoulder, turned around.
“And take a break for now. It takes stamina to examine the patient.”
“…What are you saying as if everything is over? Don’t overdo yourself, Sahyung! If the wound worsens, you’ll have to lie in the room and rest a month. Are you listening?”
“Yes, yes.”
He waved his hand as if he was tired of nagging and went outside.
Looking at back of such him, Tang So-so sighed deeply.
“What about them?”
“We’ve locked them all up.”
Sitting alongside Chung Myung, Baek Chun looked at his side with a very unhappy face.
It was because he didn’t like the guy with his whole body wrapped in bandages walking around as if nothing was wrong.
“Huh? What?”
“… Aren’t you ashamed to walk around like that?”
“Look who’s talking.”
As Chung Myung said, it was the same for Baek Chun: he wore bandages. Yado’s wounds to him weren’t light either.
Chung Myung asked.
“But why is your face so full of complaints?”
“…yes?”
“You don’t look happy at all. I heard that you cut down Yado of Myriad Man House. Wow, you’re martial masters now, aren’t you?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Baek Chun frowned.
“If we had fought justly, I would have lost ten out of ten. It’s just that the surroundings helped. Right, just…… I was just lucky.”
It wasn’t modesty in his lips. Baek Chun really thought so. He was just lucky again this time.
“Luck is a skill.”
“…such obvious consolation…”
“Don’t be arrogant, Sasuk.”
Then Chung Myung’s emotionless voice penetrated Baek Chun’s ear.
“…….”
Chung Myung stared at him and said.
“To always win by skill, in other words, you’ll always fight someone weaker than you.”
“……that’s…….”
Baek Chun tried to say something but closed his mouth. Come to think of it, there was nothing wrong with Chung Myung’s words.
At that time, Chung Myung’s face was slightly loosened.
“Still, how can you say that you won by luck when you didn’t hesitate to fight someone stronger than you? It’s strange to be ashamed of that, right?”
Baek Chun nodded his head.
Listening to Chung Myung made him feel a little better.
Tak.
Chung Myung tapped Baek Chun on the shoulder.
“Of course, if your head gets cut off, you won’t be able to call it a fluke.”
Baek Chun’s eyebrows twitched.
“You were doing well, and then again! Saying the worst word, you punk!”
Chung Myung giggled at the response and smiled quietly. Then he squeezed Baek Chun’s shoulder.
“Stretch your shoulders, Sasuk.”
“…….”
“In any case, we overcame Myriad Man House with Mount Hua’s strength. This would have been something you could not have dreamed of a while ago, right?”
“…….”
“The same goes for Sasuk, and the same also goes for Sahyung. Everyone did a good job.”
“Did you eat something wrong?”
“Really, even when I’m complimenting you.”
Chung Myung frowned and stood up.
“Anyway, just receive it because you did something worth that. Isn’t that why I’m complimenting you this time?”
Chung Myung waved his hand and walked away.
Jo-Gol, who was watching the scene, tilted his head as if it was strange.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Yoon Jong responded.
“I know. I’m not that kind of guy, but he’s giving us all the compliments.”
“…but if you think about it, we fought pretty well, right?”
“That’s true.”
Baek Chun’s eyes became dim as he listened to Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol’s conversation.
‘Maybe that guy… … .’
In essence, wars take longer to deal with afterward than the fight itself.
It took a full day to recover the injured, and identify and repair the damaged areas.
The healthy disciples ran to Huayin City and bought the medicine needed to treat the injured, and the Medicine Hall was busy without a break.
It was not until night came again after a full day that Mount Hua began to regain its usual stillness.
And late at night.
Squeak.
Even the medics, who had been exhausted from caring for patients all day, fell asleep. The door to the Medicine Hall opened carefully.
Slowly, a person who opened the door quietly walked inside so that no one else would wake up.
Passing by where the patients lay, he reached the deepest inner chamber, hesitated for a moment and opened the door. And he looked down at the man lying on the bed in it.
“…….”
The strictness that he always showed while watching the disciples was nowhere to be seen. The only thing left on Un Gum’s face is a white face without blood and a dark shade around his eyes.
Chung Myung’s eyes darkened heavily.
‘Great Sasuk.’
The upper body was covered with bandages.
The right arm, the life of a swords warrior, has completely disappeared from the shoulder. A bandage wrapped around the severed shoulder stuck like a fire in Chung Myung’s eyes.
“…….”
A shallow, fast-paced chest. And a faint breath as if it’s about to stop.
Un Gum is now engaged in a fierce battle at a crossroads between life and death. A fight that no one can help.
Cool air sank on Chung Myung’s face.
All the soft faces shown during the day looked as if they were fake.
“Great Sasuk.”
Chung Myung, who opened his mouth and called Un Gum, engraved the image in his eyes.
Chung Myung, who had been looking down at Un Gum for a long time, turned around silently and left the Medicine Hall.
Tok.
Closing the door carefully and look up at the sky. He mumbled inside.
‘Cheon Mun Sahyung.’
‘I don’t think I can.’
‘I.’
He stood there for a moment, then moved forward, stiffening his complexion. It was when he was walking toward the gate without delay and was about to run.
“Looks like there are some petty thieves.”
Suddenly, Chung Myung stopped walking at a voice heard from the front.
“I know. It’s a thief when we see them move in secret at night.”
“…….”
“What? With a sword?”
Chung Myung’s complexion is cold.
The one from the back of the gate was Baek Chun. Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong jumped on the wall after him.
It was as if they were blocking Chung Myung.
“Where are you going, Chung Myung?”
Baek Chun stares fiercely at Chung Myung.
“I thought it was strange what you were doing since daytime. You’re not the kind of guy who’s going to give us such compliments and cheer us up. I thought you would do something. What? Did you want to break into Myriad Man House alone?”
Looking at Baek Chun silently, Chung Myung said in a cold voice.
“Get out of the way.”
“…with such tangled mind.”
Baek Chun tapped the sword on his waist.
“I can’t let you go.”
“…….”
“You’re a bad guy, but you’re still one of us. I can’t let a bastard do something crazy.”
Chung Myung once again clenched his teeth and opened his eyes thin.
“I said get out of the way.”
“If you want to go, cut me off and go.”
“Me, too.”
“I can’t let you go either.”
Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong jumped off the wall and stood on the left and right sides of Baek Chun. And Yoo Iseol, who was hiding behind the gate quietly, slowly walked out and stood behind Baek Chun.
Chung Myung sighed at sight.
“I’ll praise you for growing up. You dare to stand in my way.”
“Our head has grown a bit thick.”
“But…… you need to know what you are dealing with.”
Chung Myung grabbed the sword handle as if he were about to pull it out.
“Do you think four people can stop me?”
“This is what you said before.”
But Baek Chun smiled faintly.
“Sometimes you can’t back down even if you know it’s not your opponent.”
“…….”
“Come on, you spoiled brat. I’ll fix that manner of yours today.”
It was the time when Chung Myung pulled out his sword without hesitation.
“Stop it.”
A low voice came from the side.
“……Sect Leader.”
He pushed in the sword, half pulled by Baek Chun, and bowed his head deeply.
“Greetings, Sect Leader.”
Usually, Hyun Jong would have smiled softly and received their greetings. But they couldn’t feel any of that energy in him now.
He just stared at them with a rather angry face.
“Baek Chun.”
“Yes. Sect Leader.”
“You lead the children back to the White Plum dormitory.”
“But…!”
“Go back.”
“……Yes.”
Eventually, Baek Chun, who is lightly protesting, turned away. It wasn’t until Hyun Jong checked that they were going back that he looked at Chung Myung and said,
“Chung Myung.”
“……Yes.”
“You follow me.”
When Chung Myung didn’t answer silently, Hyun Jong’s eyes twitched.
“Can’t you hear me?”
“……No, Sect Leader.”
“Follow me right now.”
Hyun Jong strode along.
Looking from behind, Chung Myung sighed and walked silently behind him.
It wasn’t Hyun Jong’s place. After leaving the gate, he walked toward Nakanbong Peak. Despite being a long way up, the two didn’t say a word to each other throughout the climb.
Soon after arriving at Nakanbong Peak, Hyun Jong stood at the edge of the rocky cliff and looked down at Mount Hua engulfed in darkness.
Chung Myung stood still behind him.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“Yes.”
“What am I to you?”
Chung Myung hesitated to answer the unexpected question for a moment.
What is he? Just what?
There was a lot of thought, but there was only one answer.
“You’re the Sect Leader.”
That is an obvious answer.
“Do you really think so?”
“……Yes.”
Hyun Jong looked around at Chung Myung.
“I will ask you.”
On Hyun Jong’s cold face, Chung Myung unknowingly hardened his complexion.
“Do you really think of me as Mount Hua’s Sect Leader?”
“…….”
The two people faced each other without saying a word.
The moon in the sky was quietly looking down at Mount Hua’s Nakanbong Peak, a high peak that even the clouds couldn’t reach.