Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 461
“…Is it a person?”
“It’s a person, right?”
“It appears to be a human being.”
Everyone looked at the man sitting on the ice and blinked.
“It’s not a bear, is it?”
“He’s speaking! Talking!”
“Why are you being so erratic?”
Yoon Jong averted his gaze when Baek Cheon glared.
The reason he questioned whether he was a human being despite hearing the sound of words was straightforward. It was due to the fact that the person in front of them was dressed in a large bear skin.
It wasn’t a person, but it was an outfit they’d never seen before in Jungwon.
“May I respond to his question?”
“… I’m not sure.”
The bear-skinned man looked at them and opened his mouth again as everyone hesitated.
“I haven’t seen an outsider in a long time.”
Under the dark brown fur that covered his head, a pure white face could be seen. Because of the shaggy beard, it was difficult to fully comprehend the appearance, but there was one distinguishing feature.
Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol seize Baek Cheon’s arms and pull him back. They muttered urgently.
“Sa- Sasuk! Sasuk, Sasuk! His eyes are blue!”
“Isn’t that a goblin?”
“Do- Don’t panic. It was told that Westerners have blue eyes!”
“…Westerners? This is the north.”
“Huh?”
Baek Cheon flinched, unable to find an answer.
When the three of them glanced at the man and didn’t know what to do, Yoo Iseol shook her head and stepped forward.
“Is it fine to talk like this?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“… the North Sea ostracizes Jungwon.”
“Aah.”
The man nodded as if he knew what she was saying.
“That’s the story of high officials. It has nothing to do with the worms like us.”
Then he smiled brightly.
Mount Hua’s disciples crept near again after seeing Yoo Iseol and the man talking nonchalantly.
Baek Cheon, who was stabbed in the side and slightly pushed forward, coughed loudly and calmly greeted the man.
“Excuse me. My name is Baek Cheon, a second-class disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“Mount Hua Sect?”
The man tilted his head and muttered.
“Mount Hua……I think I’ve heard of it.”
Mount Hua Sect is now famous throughout Jungwon, but it seems that the news did not reach this far to the North Sea.
No, even if their reputation is conveyed, it’s no wonder that this man doesn’t know Mount Hua Sect unless he’s the people of Gangho. (Before: Kangho.)
Baek Cheon added him more briefly and softly.
“It’s a Taoist Sect in Jungwon.”
“Oh, you guys were Taoists. That’s why I didn’t recognize you.”
There was a bitter smile on Baek Cheon’s face at his words.
It’s hard to tell whether they are Taoists or monks, as they are wrapped in animal fur and leather.
“It’s weird. He should be able to recognize the baldness.”
“…….”
‘Gol-ah.’
‘Why are you doing this to Monk Hye Yeon these days?’
‘Do you have any grudge?’
Baek Cheon, who noticed that, slightly stretched his foot back and stomped on his toes, coughed and asked.
“……If you don’t mind, may I ask you a few questions?”
“You are well-mannered people. Ask me.”
“It’s our first time here, but is this the North Sea?”
“Yes, this lake is the North Sea.”
“Oh…….”
A new look of emotion flashed on Baek Cheon’s face.
Looking at the ice lake that spread out so wide that the end was invisible, he could see why this place was called the sea.
“It looks like we’re in the right place.”
“Yes, that’s a relief. If I had taken the wrong way, I would have just wanted to break the ice and jump in.”
“…….”
Yoon jong has become more aggressive these days.
Then Jo-Gol stepped in and asked a question.
“But what are you doing here? There doesn’t seem to be much to do on the ice.”
The man smiles brightly.
“It might be a little unfamiliar to you guys. I was fishing.”
“What? Fishing?”
Come to think of it….
A long wooden stick was placed in front of the man sitting in a small chair, and the rope hanging from the end went under a hole in the ice.
“Um, then… … .”
The man nonchalantly picked up the pole next to him and smashed the hole where the surface had already begun to freeze.
Jo-Gol asked in wonder.
“…Can you fish here? The water is frozen.”
“The top is frozen, but the bottom is fine. If it freezes to the bottom, all the fish will die, so won’t it be a dead lake after winter?”
“Oh…….”
Yoon Jong frowns and whispers to Jo-Gol.
“Gol-ah.”
“Yes?”
“Stop showing off your ignorance and shut up.”
“……Yes.”
Baek Cheon smiled pleased as he saw Yoon jong beating Jo-Gol neatly.
It’s a beautiful Saje relationship.
“Ah! That’s moving!”
Then Tang So-so, who was looking at the fishing rod, made a fuss. Indeed, the fishing rod was reeling and tilted sharply toward the hole.
“Eucha.”
The man grabbed the fishing pole and pulled it up at once.
Chwaaat!
The water seemed to soar from the hole that was larger than the human head, and soon a large fish, the size of an arm, appeared out of the water.
“Wow.”
“It’s huge!”
“Hahaha.”
The man giggles as if he’s in a good mood.
“I’m lucky. It is rare to catch a fish this size these days. Is it because of meeting a foreigner?”
Then, he shrugged and spoke in a cool way.
“I’ll serve you fresh fish in return.”
“Yes?”
“Hahaha, don’t hesitate. Northerners never treat foreigners badly.”
“No, not that part. What did you just say?”
“I said it was fresh fish.”
“…is it?”
“Huh?”
The man turned his head and looked at the fish he had caught.
Even though it hadn’t been long since it was taken out of the water, it was already covered in white frost. It’s frozen solid in the meantime.
“…It was fresh a while ago.”
“…….”
“…….”
Everyone’s faces looking at the fish were a little mesmerizing. But then the luggage in the cart began to wriggle.
“Hm?”
The man stared at Mount Hua’s disciple with curious eyes.
And
Bulssuk!
“Huh?”
His eyes widened.
He was surprised that another piece of luggage rose amidst the luggage.
The entrance of the bag, which had been moving slowly, opened wide and black hair popped out of it.
“Wha- What the hell is that?”
Baek Cheon closed his mouth and covered his face.
He has never denied Chung Myung’s existence, but for this moment, he was so ashamed that he wanted to pretend he didn’t know Chung Myung.
“… I’m sorry. He gets cold easily.”
Sure enough, Chung Myung, who stuck out his head, screamed at the gust of wind.
“Aakkhhh! My head is tearing! Argh!”
“…….”
“Oh my gosh! It’s gotten colder! What the hell is this place!”
“…….”
The man’s eyes looking at Chung Myung shook slightly as if he was flustered.
“Didn’t you say you were Taoist?”
“He is not. Perhaps.”
“…….”
However, not caring what they think about him, Chung Myung was busy pouring out his words.
“Old man! Old man!”
“Huh? You mean me?”
“This is the North Sea, right?”
“…but yes.”
“Where do I have to go to get to the North Sea Ice Clan? Is it around here?”
“North Sea Clan?”
The man’s face hardened at the unexpected question.
“Are you guys going to visit North Sea Clan? The North Sea Clan is not accepting outsiders. Even the same North Sea people need permission to access nearby.”
“Oh, it’s okay. I got permission.”
“You guys?”
The man looked slightly suspicious at Mount Hua’s disciples and nodded quietly.
“Well, if you hadn’t gotten permission, you wouldn’t be visiting this place in the winter when even the North Sea people were restrained from going outside. It must be that urgent.”
“…….”
‘No, it’s not.’
‘We just came without thinking.’
“Then, where is the North Sea Ice Clan?”
“The road to North Sea Ice Clan is not that difficult. It’s not that hard. All you have to do is follow this lake. At the end of it is the area where the mountain range meets the lake. The North Sea Ice Clan is right there.”
“Oh, so all we have to do is follow this lake?”
“That’s right.”
Chung Myung nodded violently as if he was relieved.
“I was so scared that we had to go for a long time! So we’re almost there, right?”
“Huh? Didn’t you hear me?”
“What? You said we’d only have to get to the end of this lake, right?”
“…You have no idea what the North Sea is. The North Sea Ice Clan, which is at the end of the North Sea, is about 1,500 Li from here.”
“What? How much?”
“1,500 Li.”
“Yes?”
“A-Are you deaf? It’s 1,500 Li.”
“What?”
“…….”
Chung Myung’s eyes trembled as if there was an earthquake.
“What, how many Li?”
“…1,500 Li.”
“Old man, you’re not joking with me, are you?”
“…….”
“How many Li? It’s less than 1,500 Li from Mount Hua to Sichuan Tang Family. 1,500 Li?”
“But isn’t this the North Sea?”
“……is this really a crazy place?”
Chung Myung muttered in confusion.
He has heard that the lake is so big that it’s called the North Sea, but to this extent! Isn’t this too much?
“We’re gonna have to drag a cart in this cold for another 1,500 Li?”
The string of reasons Chung Myung was trying to hold on to was finally broken.
“Darn it, if I don’t set that Shaolin Bangjang Bop Jeong or Bap Tong (Craw/밥통) head on fire, then I’m not human! Is that man cheating while wearing a monk uniform? Is this even a place humans can come to? This?”
He thought the informants from Shaolin were beaten to death by Magyo, but now he knows they were dying from freezing! Freezing!
But there was no one to stop Chung Myung’s verbal abuse. Baek Cheon and the rest of the disciples were also stunned.
“1,500 Li?”
They think they’re going to freeze and die soon, but now they must go 1,500 Li further to the north. Their face was very pale.
The man shook his head as if he was sorry.
“You guys had no idea what the North Sea was like. This is just the beginning of the North Sea. If you go to the mountain range up there, it’s unparalleled cold there.”
“…….”
“It’s perfect for freezing to death in that outfit.”
The man who was talking smirked.
“Can’t be helped. This must be fate, come with me.”
“Yes?”
“The North Sea people don’t treat its guests badly. You’d better go to my house and warm up first.”
“Ah… I appreciate your words, but…….”
“Yes! I’ll be there!”
Suddenly interrupted by Chung Myung, Baek Cheon looked back with a sullen look.
“Hey. Suddenly, at someone else’s house…….”
“I’m freezing right now. Is it a problem if it’s someone else’s house or mine? Who will compliment you for your courtesy if you freeze to death on the street?”
Chung Myung was proving with his whole body why it was said that the temperament of those living in cold regions was urgent.
“You’re not wrong. You’d better not look down on the North Sea.”
“……then I’ll be indebted to you.”
“Hahaha. What debt? Come with me.”
The man began to clear the seat where he was sitting.
“It’s a relief, though. I don’t have much to eat because it’s winter, but I caught some fish today.”
“What? That?”
The man nodded at Chung Myung’s question.
“You’re going to share it?”
“…… It’s not easy to catch something like this in the North Sea in winter.”
‘Even so, that fish?’
“Ugh, I’d rather die than suffer.”
He can’t even eat full when he freezes to death. Being reborn as a beggar doesn’t mean he has to live like a beggar.
Chung Myung, who popped out of the bag, sprinted toward the hole in the ice.
“Oh, it’s cold! It’s cold! Argh! I’m freezing!”
Then, he pushed his hand into the hole without delay.
“Wha- What are you doing……!”
“Euracha!”
When Chung Myung pulled his hand up, the ice around the hole broke. Then several fish, the size of human arms, rose together.
“Huh?”
Tong! Tongtong!
The fish that fell on the ice fluttered and soon froze.
“Oh! Good job, Chung Myung…….”
Baek Cheon twinkles his eyes and turns to praise Chung Myung. But he wasn’t already there.
“…….”
He turned his head and found a bag with a tight entrance dilly-dallying into the luggage.
“… Sometimes I can’t tell whether I should swear or praise him.”
“Everyone is like that, too, Sasuk.”
Yoon Jong patted Baek Cheon on the shoulder as if comforting him.
The man alternately looked at the fish lying all over the ice and the bags dug through the luggage.
His eyes softened slightly for a moment.
“Hurry up and load this.”
“Yes!”
When Mount Hua’s disciples loaded all the frozen fish into the cart, the man arranged the fishing rods.
“It seems like…. You guys weren’t ordinary guests.”
Then he straightened up and stood up, looking at Baek Cheon.
“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Hong Yi-myung (홍이명(洪理溟)).”
“As I said before, we are Taoists of the Mount Hua Sect in Jungwon. He’s the third-class disciple of Mount Hua…..”
“Oh, I got it! Let’s go! I’m freezing!”
“…….”
Hong Yi-myung nodded as he looked at Baek Cheon with a sad look.
“Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
Baek Chun realized that his personality was not much different in cold or hot places.