Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 429
“Plum Blossom Sword Saint?”
Baek Chun made a suspicious face at the old man’s sudden remark.
‘No, what the old man suddenly said…….’
“Who are you looking at?”
“Doesn’t he stare at Chung Myung?”
“Huh?”
Baek Chun tilted his head back at Chung Myung.
‘But why is he suddenly sweating so much?’
None of the images he had seen of Chung Myung looked like this.
Isn’t Chung Myung the type of person who will cheat calmly even if dragged in front of King Yama?
‘What’s going on here?’
Baek Chun looked back at Tang Jo-pyong with curious eyes.
“Plu- Plum Blossom…….”
Passion filled the old man’s eyes, which seemed to be fading away. Tears welled up in his wrinkled eyes.
“Sword Warrior Elder…….”
Finally, the old man, who had been trembling and crying, came to an abrupt halt. He then frowned.
“Huh?”
“…….”
“…is it not?”
“…….”
The atmosphere subsided coldly.
“Ha ha ha. Haha.….”
Tang Jo-pyong tilted his head when Chung Myung burst into awkward laughter.
“Am I right?”
“…….”
“I don’t think so?”
At every word he said, Chung Myung was startled.
‘Which rhythm should I dance to?’
Chung Myung had nothing that could be done when dealing with a person who was not sane. He could do something about it only if he could talk with the person.
“Plum Blossom….huh? Who did I call?”
Finally, Tang Gun-ak, who was next to him, sighed deeply and stepped in.
“Great Grandfather, the Plum Blossoms Sword Saint has already passed away a hundred years ago.
“… yes?”
At that word, the tears around Tang Jo-pyong’s eyes dried up instantly.
“I see, I see. No, but the Sword Warrior Elder wasn’t this handsome. He looked just like a swindler, not like a Taoist.….”
‘No, this man?’
“But he was a very Taoist person, once you know him. He was strong and noble.”
“Hehe. That’s right.”
“……he has a bit of a bad personality……. No, it was very bad. A lot.”
“…….”
Blood vessels rose on Chung Myung’s forehead.
“…I miss him. It seems like yesterday that the Sword Warrior Elder was stroking my hair, but time has passed already.”
Tang Jo-pyong muttered a lonely sigh and looked up at the distant sky. Everyone became solemn at the sight of the very dim appearance.
Except for one person.
‘Who is it?’
After agonizing over it, Chung Myung soon smiled pleasantly.
‘I have no idea.’
How can he remember everything from a hundred years ago?
Tang Bo has brought him to Tang Family for a few drinks, so maybe that’s when they bump into each other.
He must have been a child, considering that the past Chung Myung patted his head, but he became such a white-haired old man today.
‘It’s a bit sentimental….’
“So who are you?”
‘…. Or not.’
Then Tang Gun-ak sighed quietly and got to the point.
“It doesn’t matter now, Great Grandfather. I think we need to make a sword with Hancheol. And we need to make some additional gold-grade (금(禁)) daggers.”
“Gold-grade and Hancheol Sword…….”
Tang Jo-pyong, who was reciting Tang Gun-ak’s words, blurted the end of his words.
Soon, the old man’s eyes, which had been loosened, shone sharply.
“Gaju is asking an unreasonable favor from an old man who is dying.”
“I know it’s a difficult request, Great Grandfather. I’m not sure about the Hancheol Sword, but I’m anxious to leave the gold-grade dagger in the hands of other children. Of course, I admit their skill, but how can they follow Great Grandfather’s hand?”
With sincere persuasion, Tang Jo-pyong looked over the workshop behind Tang Gun-ak and others without a reply.
“Have you saved enough Everlasting Metal?”
“That’s right.”
Tang Jo-pyong shook his head quietly.
“I didn’t think I’d grab a hammer in my remaining lifetime….. but I, too, am a member of the Tang Family. If Gaju says so, I cannot help but listen.”
“Thank you. Thank you, Great Grandfather.”
Tang Jo-pyong shook his head loudly.
“But let alone the gold-grade, what will you do by making a sword? I don’t think the Tang Family decided to master swordsmanship.”
“The Tang Family formed a friendship with Mount Hua. The people who brought this metal were the Mount Hua Sect, and they asked for the production of the Hancheol Sword.”
“What?”
Suddenly, a spark popped out of Tang Jo-pyong’s eyes, which seemed calm all along.
“Who are you giving the Hancheol Sword to?”
“Mount Hua…….”
“Are you going to give Hancheol Sword made with the craftsmanship of the Tang Family to other sects? That doesn’t make any sense. Tang Family can only use Tang Family’s weapons. Tang Myung, you rascal! How dare you put such a thoughtless remark in your mouth!”
Tang Jo-pyong, who was pointing his finger, had the momentum to foam his mouth.
“Not until dirt gets in my eyes! I can make daggers as much as you want. But not a sword!”
“G- Great Grandfather! It’s already been long since Mount Hua and the Tang Family allied.….”
“That’s none of my business, stop and go back!”
Tang Gun-ak groaned and stepped back.
The spirit emanating from the old man’s body was not normal. Furthermore, his position as a nephew’s grandson made him more embarrassed.
‘This is difficult… … .’
At that time, Chung Myung sneaked up on him who was immersed in agony. And he gestured briefly, saying he had something to talk about.
Tang Gun-ak bows his head slightly toward Tang Jo-pyong.
“Great Grandfather, wait a minute…….”
“And who are you?”
“…….”
Tang Gun-ak looked at the old man with gloomy eyes for a moment. Soon after, Tang Pae accompanied Tang Jo-pyong and he came out to a distance.
Chung Myung and Mount Hua’s disciples clung to each other and asked.
“What happened?”
“Eum, Great Grandfather doesn’t seem interested in making Hancheol Swords.”
Chung Myung said in a harsh voice in response to Tang Gun-ak’s troubled mind.
“It’s not that he doesn’t want to make Hancheol swords, maybe it’s just that he’s not sane to begin with, isn’t it?”
“But he’s sane at least once a day.”
“…… that’s what I’m saying now!”
Chung Myung, who can’t bear it anymore, spouted fire from his eyes.
He was asking to create Hancheol Swords, but he didn’t know that Tang Gun-ak would bring them to his elderly Grandfather who couldn’t communicate.
“Then I ask someone else to make it. The old man is not the only one here.”
But Tang Gun-ak shook his head differently.
“Everlasting Metal is not something that can be handled so easily. Moreover, thinning out and forging Hancheol requires extremely high craftmanship skills.”
“Humm….”
“Of course, as you said, other people can also make Hancheol Swords. But, if you are going to use precious materials, shouldn’t you make a better quality sword?”
“That’s…. true?”
“All I have to do is convince him. If I can persuade Great Grandfather somehow…….”
“No, but it doesn’t make sense. How can you persuade an old man who can’t even be communicated with! If Confucius looks at that old man, he will throw stones at him saying there was no answer!”
“………You are a Taoist, aren’t you?”
“If Lao Zi had seen him, he would have told me to just leave him alone! It’s the nature of nothing!”
Chung Myung gritted his teeth.
After a brief look, the old man looked blankly into the air, said nonsense, and then suddenly screamed and insisted ridiculously.
It was also the kind of person Chung Myung found most difficult to deal with.
If they can communicate, he will try to do something even if he has to make a scene, but what would he say to someone who is mentally unstable? It’s better to read the sutra in the cow’s ear.
At that time, Baek Chun sighed deeply.
“It doesn’t seem easy, Chung Myung. Just looking at him saying that you are Plum Blossom Sword Saint earlier, it is clear that he is not in good condition. He can’t tell the difference between people.”
Yoon Jong responded.
“It’s good if he only couldn’t recognize people, but I think he has already lost the concept of time. The past and the present are all mixed up in his head. There is no way to persuade such a person.”
“…… I’m really going crazy…….”
Chung Myung, who was about to grumble, shut up for a moment.
“Huh?”
When Chung Myung suddenly became silent, Baek Chun suddenly had an ominous premonition.
‘This is his face when he thinks bad things.’
Chung Myung even began muttering to himself, thinking hard about something.
“He doesn’t recognize people……mixed the past and the present…….”
After a while, Chung Myung grinned.
“Yes, that’s right. Isn’t he out of his mind?”
At the evil smile, Baek Chun asked nervously.
“……You- What else are you going to do?”
Chung Myung just shrugged and laughed.
“Should we scam again?”
“Scam?”
Chung Myung thought for a moment and smiled as if he was having fun.
“Well, I guess it’s a scam in Sasuk’s eyes.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
‘But this is not a scam.’
Kikikik.
Chung Myung smiled and glanced to the side. Tang Jo-pyong was staring at the air with dim eyes again.
“So who are you?”
“……Tang Pae.”
“Where’s Myung going?”
“…….”
Tang Pae, who swallowed a sigh, looked up at the distant sky.
‘It’s like hell.’
‘I wish this moment had passed quickly.….’
“Huh?”
At that time, his eyes saw the approaching Mount Hua’s disciples, including Tang Gun-ak.
“What?”
But something wasn’t right. Everyone had an awkward look on their faces. As if…… trying to do something bad.
“Gaju-nim, what on earth…….”
“Shh.”
Tang Gun-ak covered his mouth with his fingers as if beckoning him to be quiet.
“…….”
At that moment.
“Keheuheuheum!”
Chung Myung walked out of the back of the workshop with a loud cough. With a gait that is somewhat different from usual.
‘Huh?’
Standing in the middle of the yard, Chung Myung shouted cheerfully with his hands behind his back.
“Apyong (아평(兒平))! Where is Apyong!”
“Apyong?”
Adding an ‘A’ before last name is a prefix used when calling on a child you know. But where is the child…
“Gasp!”
Tang Pae’s head turned.
As if the last time he was half-dozing off, Tang Jo-pyong jumped in surprise and was looking at Chung Myung.
“Who- Who……?”
Chung Myung looked straight at Tang Jo-pyong and nodded.
“There you are!”
“Who- Who are you?”
Tang Jo-pyong looked at Chung Myung with hazy eyes.
Then Chung Myung grabbed the plum blossoms embroidered on his chest, showed it off, and yelled.
“This guy! He doesn’t recognize me anymore? It’s me, Sword Saint!”
“Plum Blossoms Sword Saint……?”
Tang Jo-pyong blinked and checked Chung Myung over and over again. As if driving a wedge, Chung Myung took a step forward and exuded a dignified spirit.
“E- Elder!”
Tang Jo-pyong sprang up from his seat and ran toward Chung Myung. Then he trembled, clutching his hand and shedding tears.
“Elder… Where the hell have you been, Elder? How long has it been? Oh my god….”
The strange despondency on the faces of the Mount Hua disciples and Tang Gun-ak watching the scene was evident.
‘Wow, this works.’
‘Now, the fraud is also customized.’
‘I’ve never seen anyone do a scam on a senile old man in my life.’
Then Yoon Jong looked back at Jo-Gol and whispered in a questioning voice.
“But wasn’t he terrible at acting?”
“I couldn’t open my eyes to see it.”
“But why does he look so natural now?”
“How do you know what he’s doing?”
The two sighed at the same time.
And…….
‘Gre- Great Grandfather…….’
Tang Gun-ak was looking at the scene with a complex and subtle mind. He accepted it because there was no obvious way, but it was heartbreaking to see a crooked scoundrel rolling in and eating an Elder of his family on his back.
“I have nothing to say! Where’s the Tang Bo guy?”
“Great Grandfather……. I don’t know? Now…….”
“Eh! Useless man!”
Tang Gun-ak’s cheeks trembled.
‘That punk?’
‘You’re crossing the line.’
He asked him to do it because he said would act moderately, but he was completely immersed in his act. One might think that Plum Blossom Sword Saint really came back alive.
“I heard you’re a little dexterous, and I don’t have enough swords to fight against the Magyo. Since I brought the metal, can you make me Hancheol Sword?”
“Aigoo, Elder. Who would I disobey? If I disobeyed Elder’s words and Grandpa finds out about it, I’d be done for.”
“Then there’s nothing to say, so hurry up and make it!”
“Yes! Yes! Let’s get started…….”
However, as he was about to stand up with a quick nod, Tang Jo-pyong slightly turned his head to the side.
“But…… you look younger than how you were?”
“………When martial art skills increase, appearance changes.”
“Ah, right. I’ve heard of it before. Hehe. You’ve gotten very handsome. It’s much better than before.”
“…….”
‘That…….’
‘It’s a compliment, but it’s strangely upsetting.’
“I will light the furnace right now. Please wait a little bit!”
“…Yes.”
Turning around, Tang Jo-pyong asked when his eyes met Tang Gun-ak.
“Who are you?”
“I…….”
Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth to explain, but Tang Jo-pyong shook his head before hearing the answer.
“That’s enough. I’m in hurry, so if you know how to handle iron, come into the workshop. We need 20 people to work on the bellow and hit the metal. Call the Elders, too! We need to heat up the furnace!”
“Yes! I’ll do it right away.”
Tang Jo-pyong straightened his bent shoulders.
His bent back was straightened, and the energy of a craftsman that had never been seen before began to flow from his body.
“Maintain the White Furnace (백로(白爐))! Melt the Everlasting Metal!”
“Yes!”
Chung Myung grinned as he walked confidently into the workshop.
“It’s good, isn’t it?”
“…….”
Tang Gun-ak glared at Chung Myung with a look of despondent, anger, and irritation.
“You were very excited.”
“Hehe. It’s a piece of cake.”
“……People might think it’s a real Plum Blossom Sword Saint.”
“Hahaha. It’s nothing.”
“Ugh.”
Tang Gun-ak shook his head.
“Anyway, I’m glad it’s settled. I’ll help Great Grandfather, so you can act as Plum Blossom Sword Saint in between.”
“Yes, I will.”
‘Acting…….’
Chung Myung laughed a little bit bitterly at the thought.
When Tang Gun-ak headed to the workshop, Mount Hua’s disciples clicked their tongues and pointed fingers at Chung Myung.
“That, that. He impersonated an ancestor and scammed the old man.”
“At this point, he is an outright scammer.”
“Trash.”
Amid the pouring criticism, Chung Myung lifted his head and looked up at the sky.
‘Cheon Mun Sahyung.’
‘I’m being criticized for pretending to be me.’
‘Does this make any sense?’
– What are you talking about? You are swindler!
“Hey, rotten!”
‘What do you think you know, you!’
‘Hng!’