Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 476
“If the savior goes away with nothing, we will uncomfortable.”
Baek Cheon smiled as he looked out at the crowd of villagers who had gathered to see them off.
“I’m grateful for that. But we can’t stay long because we have work to do, so I hope you understand.”
“But if you go away…….”
Everyone was both sorry and relieved that they didn’t know what to do. The Chief, in particular, had an almost empty face when he looked at Mount Hua’s disciples.
They should repay the kindness because they cured them of the illness, but instead of receiving anything, they gave all the remaining grain.
Even though the Ice Clan was threatening them, receiving such assistance almost caused him to cry.
“I beg forgiveness for not recognizing the savior at first sight.”
“… Don’t do this, old man.”
Baek Cheon persuaded the Chief, who was still bowing his head.
They were extremely vigilant, but once they opened their hearts, they expressed their gratitude more than the Jungwon people.
It’s just…
Baek Cheon’s face turned slightly dark as he looked behind the Chief.
‘As expected, their complexions aren’t that bright.’
Of course it is.
The strange disease was treated somehow, but that did not improve the situation in the village.
The closed disease that occurred to them was ultimately created by the situation in the North Sea.
If the situation in the North Sea did not improve, it would not be strange if something similar happened anytime.
Even if there was no closed disease, it would have been the same situation where they could not eat properly.
Baek Cheon looked at them with a heavy heart and bowed his head deeply.
“We’ll be on our way.”
“Yes, Savior. If you go north from here, you’ll find the North Sea Ice Clan.”
“Thank you, then…….”
The villagers spoke out as Mount Hua’s disciples grabbed the cart.
“Take care!”
“Thank you so much!”
“When you come back, please stop by. We’ll treat you really well.”
Mount Hua’s disciples waved at them and began pulling the cart.
For a long time after departure, Tang Soso looked back continuously as if she was never relieved.
“Will they be all right?”
“……it won’t be a big problem for a while. Yesterday, Baek-ah had a hard time and filled the warehouse.”
“… … I didn’t think he would be so similar.”
They only praised him a few times because he was good at catching big fish, but Baek-ah, who was so encouraged by the compliment, jumped into the water and caught a big fish one after another.
Then, he repeatedly looked at everyone with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Why don’t you compliment me more?’
“I don’t know if he’s smart or stupid.”
“Similar to someone.”
Baek Cheon sighed.
Anyway, thanks to Baek-ah, they were able to fill up a warehouse.
‘It was a pity that monk Hye Yeon’s face was getting sadder.’
What can they do? He reaps what he sows.
Anyway, in order to eat fresh raw food, villagers will have to fish themselves in the future, but there will be no big problem filling their stomachs for a while with just the fish in the warehouse. It’s cold, so there’s no danger of the fish going bad.
“I heard that the Chief distributes the fish we caught to other villages.”
“Hmm. Then that’s a good thing.”
Baek Cheon nodded quietly. Han Yi-Myung’s words, “In this barren environment, we can’t live without helping each other,” came to mind again.
“But there must be a limit for that, too. Amitabha.”
“That’s right.”
At that time, Yoon Jong, who had been listening to the conversation mixed with concern, slowly opened his mouth.
“Is there anything more we can do?”
“Again. That’s another disease, that one!”
At that moment, Chung Myung poked his head through a small hole in the cart’s tent.
And below his chin, Baek-ah also stuck his head out triumphantly.
“What? Why don’t you just live there!”
“Haak!”
“…… N- No, it’s not that like that…….”
Two animals…. No, one human and one animal were shouting at once.
“Why? Are you going to sell your sword again? Because it’s Hancheol Sword, it’s going to be sold at a very high price?”
“Haaak!”
“W- Why are you bringing that up again?”
Yoon Jong’s face turned red in an instant.
“I’m just… I was just wondering if there was anything we could do to help.”
“We can’t help them.”
“Huh?”
Yoon Jong was a little surprised by Chung Myung’s low voice and looked at him.
“Well, it’s not that hard to help.”
“…….”
“But it’s only for a moment. It won’t be long before it becomes the same.”
Although his voice was dull, Chung Myung’s face was more serious than ever.
“It’s not others who change their lives, it’s themselves.”
Everyone looked back at Chung Myung with their mouths wide open in amazement at the words.
“What?”
“……No.”
“I can’t believe such a right word comes out of his mouth.”
“Amitabha. The sun will rise in the east.”
“These bastards?”
Chung Myung looked up.
“……Tsk. That’s it. What’s the point of saying it? Just run.”
With his tongue clicked, he hid his head back inside the tent.
Mount Hua’s disciples exchanged their glances with strange faces.
‘Weirdo.’
When he met with the demon disciple (Temporary term) just two days ago, he gave a terrifying vibe, but now he acted as if nothing had happened.
Baek Cheon, who smiled softly, encouraged the Saje.
“We wasted too much time. We have to go first before those tied up the other day reach the Ice Clan first. Let’s move quickly before our break.”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
“Understood, Sahyung.”
“Let’s go!”
Everyone began to pull the cart more vigorously.
* * *
“There…….”
“I think it fits very well.”
“…It was a long journey.”
“It’s called the Ice Clan (빙궁(氷宮)), and that word is just right.”
Looking at the large building in the distance, the disciples of Mount Hua let out a sigh of relief.
A dazzlingly white exterior wall.
A fortress towering high in the sky could be seen beyond the large wall that felt overwhelming just by looking at it. Looking at the fortress built in a completely different style from that of Jungwon, they realized once again that this place was definitely the North Sea.
If the fortress in Jungwon was large and magnificent, the North Sea Ice Clan was relatively sharp and high. Like the exterior walls, the white fortress blended in with the surrounding landscape, making it look like an ice castle.
“It’s amazing. Such buildings in a place like this… … .”
“I know right?”
Given this cold weather and barren terrain, it would never have been easy to build such a fortress. Just by looking at that fortress, they could realize how powerful the North Sea Ice Clan is in the North Sea.
“Hm.”
“Hmm.”
Yoon Jong opened his mouth as if he had been slightly weighed down.
“I feel a little scared. I think it’s a little suffocating…..”
Jo Gol burst into laughter at the uncharacteristic appearance.
“Hahaha, Sahyung. You became like that with just this?”
“What does a son of a rich family know?”
“…….”
Yoon Jong turned his gaze with his eyes narrowed. Jo Gol was startled and threw his gaze toward the distant mountain.
It was the same for Baek Cheon that he look at the castle with renewed admiration.
“This is the North Sea Ice Clan.”
After a brief glimpse of it, he stopped the cart and warned at everyone.
“Be on your toes, everyone. Even though Yasugungju-nim has told them in advance, no one knows how they will come out.”
“Yes, Sasuk.”
“In the worst-case scenario, we may have to run away. Remember that and be careful.”
“Yes.”
The faces of Mount Hua’s disciples were tinged with tension.
Their relationship with the Ice Clan is not clear, and even Magyo is entangled in them. Of course, they had to be nervous.
“The- Then……..”
“Ugh. It’s cold.”
But at that moment, there was a rustling sound, and Chung Myung, who wrapped himself tightly with fur, jumped out of the cart. Then he staggered and walked forward.
“It’s like a real ice fortress.”
Chung Myung, who left a disrespectful impression because it was so simple, looked back at the disciples.
“What are you doing? Let’s go.”
“Let’s go!”
The disciples of Mount Hua, who smiled lightly, quickly strengthened their determination and made their way toward the Ice Clan. As the snowstorm had stopped, the white exterior wall looked even bigger and more majestic.
Baek Cheon, standing in front of the large gate in the center of the outer wall, knocked on the door.
“Hello!”
Kung, kung, kung, kung!
Usually, at the main gate of a sect of this size, there is a guard who secures the gate. However, either because of the cold weather or because they thought that no one would come to this distant North Sea, there was no one guarding the main gate.
Kung, kung, kung!
“Hello! We’ve come to the Ice Clan for business!”
There was no return answer.
It was the moment when Baek Cheon was frowning and about to knock on the door again.
Clink!
A loud sound of iron came in and the door slowly began to open.
Geuguguk!
A huge iron gate moved and a rustling sound could be heard. Everyone distorted their faces automatically at the sound that subtly scratched a person’s nerves.
Finally, a man in white robes appeared through the half-open door.
‘These people really like white things.’
The building is white, but even the clothes are white. Also, the skin was rather pale, so it felt a bit bizarre.
“What brought you to knock on the door of the Ice Clan…?”
The warrior, who was talking, checked the faces of Mount Hua’s disciples and hardened his face.
“Foreigner?”
“…….”
Chung Myung glanced back at Yoon Jong and asked.
“Do we smell anything? How does that yangban know we are outsiders just by looking at our faces?”
“…Wouldn’t no one dresses like you throughout the North Sea?”
“…….”
Whether he was aware of what they talked about or not, the warrior’s distorted face didn’t straighten at all.
“Let alone knocking on the door of the Ice Clan, How dare an outsider step into the North Sea. You must really want to die!”
As he raised his voice, the martial artist in white robes rushed out from the inside even without an order.
Chung Myung asked again.
“Was they waiting in that cold place? Wow, there’s really nothing you guys can’t do.”
“……Chung Myung-ah. Please…….”
Yoon Jong suppressed his desire to hit Chung Myung’s mouth. What the hell’s in that bastard’s head that he so nonchalantly asked such a question?
It was Yoon Jong who couldn’t understand it no matter how long he looked at Chung Myung.
The martial artist who rushed outside surrounded the cart.
Chaeng! Chaeng!
Then they drew swords in unison and aimed it at Mount Hua’s disciples as if threatening them.
“Wa- Wait a minute!”
Baek Cheon raised both hands to show they had no intention of fighting. And he said urgently.
“It’s true that we’re of Jungwon, but we didn’t come here without permission. We are here after being introduced by Yasugungju-nim!”
“… Namman Yasugung Clan?”
“Yes.”
The martial artist in the lead frowned.
“How can the people of Jungwon be introduced by the Namman Yasugung Clan? It doesn’t make any sense!”
“I’m telling you! Check it out and you’ll find out.”
When he insisted again, the martial artist stared at Baek Cheon with suspicious eyes.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
“If that statement is not true… … .”
It was then.
“Oh, hurry up and check it out! How long are you going to leave us standing here?”
His head turns sideways.
As Chung Myung squatted halfway and trembled, the martial artist sighed as if speechless.
But Chung Myung’s mouth didn’t stop.
“It looks like you can’t even make a decision by yourself anyway, so don’t waste both our time and go quickly.”
There was a faint gleam on the man’s face.
Baek Cheon closed his eyes tightly.
‘I should have knocked that first before I knocked on the door.’
‘Why didn’t I keep his mouth shut in advance? Why!’
It was too late to regret.
But the martial artist nodded and put the sword back in the scabbard.
“Wait.”
“…….”
It was too obedient for a response after being provoked. Before Baek Cheon’s curiosity could gone, the martial artist turned back and went inside.
“……he listens more than I thought.”
“Of course.”
Chung Myung replied with a sour voice.
“If the North Sea Ice Clan is like an Imperial Palace but in the North Sea, then the Clan’s leader is like an Emperor to them.”
“Right.”
“A single soldier cannot handle things that the emperor might have decided after being contacted by the emperor of another country. If you do, your neck will fly off right away.”
“Oh……. That’s what you mean by not his authority to make a decision.”
“Then what did you take it as?”
“I just thought you were swearing.”
“…….”
Chung Myung’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but Baek Cheon stretched his shoulders proudly. He had a clean conscience. This is not his fault. Aren’t words supposed to be different depending on who said them? Even if the right words come out of Chung Myung’s mouth, it is natural that the words will somehow come out wrong.
Then Chung Myung said quietly.
“Sasuk.”
“Yes?”
“Be on your toes. If we don’t hear any good news from the inside, we’ll have to use the sword right away.”
Baek Cheon nodded at the word. All the other disciples also hardened their complexions.
A little time passed.
Tatak.
The person who went inside rushed out of the door.
“Everyone, hold your sword!”
At his command, the martial artist of the North Sea quickly put their sword back in the scabbard.
“Open the gates! Clan Head accepted them as guests of the North Sea!”
Martial artists ran toward the gate and began to open the door wide.
“Excuse me. Please go inside.”
“Oh, thank you.”
It was then that Baek Cheon, who thought things had gone well, breathed a sigh of relief.
“He’s telling us to come into the tiger’s den.”
“…….”
He could see Chung Myung twisting the corners of his mouth.
“Good, we’ll have to see whether we or them that’ll become the prey.”
Chung Myung, who smiled fishily, walked calmly toward the main gate of the North Sea Ice Clan.