Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 478
Seol Chonsang, the Leader of the North Sea Ice Clan, walked through the corridor where the blizzard was approaching with his men.
Even though the cold wind scratched his skin, he didn’t blink. The cold never bothered the man in the North Sea.
“Clan Leader-nim.”
When he heard an old-fashioned voice from behind him, Seol Chonsang halted.
“With all due respect, I don’t understand your decision at all. Why are you welcoming them?”
It was a careful question, but Seol Chonsang frowned.
“There is no reason.”
The voice answering it was cold.
“It’s obvious why these guys have come here. Aren’t she a doctor who will check how the Ice Clan is going?”
“Then even more so…….”
“Foolish.”
Seol Chonsang looked back at the Elder with a frown.
“Who do you think sent them?”
“…… That’s…….”
“Of course it’s Shaolin.”
The Elders’ faces hardened when the name Shaolin came out of Seol Chonsang’s mouth.
“Shaolin has left the Ice Clan alone because we had no power. What they need now is justification.”
The current Shaolin did not wield as much power as they had in the past.
The Ice Clan would not dare to push Shaolin’s surveillance out of the North Sea when Jungwon was lit up like wildfire according to their orders.
But it’s different now.
As Shaolin’s power weakened, no sec would come to this far North Sea. Therefore, Shaolin has to deal with the North Sea alone. It will never be easy even for Shaolin either.
And even if they win, they will end up coming all the way to the North Sea alone and suffering severe damage, making them completely lose their influence in Jungwon.
“If we touch them, we give them a justification.”
“If it’s a cause…….”
“Mount Hua Divine Dragon. And Shaolin’s Hye Yeon.”
For an instant, Seol Chonsang’s eyes shone sharply.
“If two rising stars representing the Righteous Faction were killed in the North Sea at the same time, it would be difficult for even the big-name sects with heavy buttocks not to get involved in the affairs of the North Sea.”
“… … Are you saying that the Shaolin thought about that and sent them here? Besides, I heard that Shaolin’s Hye Yeon is a monk that the Shaolin’s Bangjang cherishes… …. They are talented people who only come out once in a hundred years.”
“Yes, a hundred years. It’s a long, and important timeframe.”
Seol Chonsang murmured to himself in a subdued voice. Then he looked back at the Elder and said flatly.
“But for Shaolin, one genius is just a genius. What’s more important than that would be Shaolin’s position.”
“Hmm.”
The Elders trembled.
If that’s true, doesn’t it mean that Shaolin’s Bangjang sent his most cherished disciple to a place where he could return with just a limb?
‘It’s truly heartless and terrifying.’
It’s said that Poisonous Heart (독심(毒心)) is a must for those who run the world, but he didn’t expect it to be this bad…….
“If we harm them, Shaolin will have a good cause and come to pressure the Ice Clan.”
“But, Clan Leader-nim. Is the pressure from Jungwon a problem at all?”
At that, Seol Chonsang turned his head and glared at the Elder. The speaker quickly flinched and bowed his head at the fierce gaze.
Seol Chonsang, who did not hide his look of pity with an irritated face, sighed.
“I’m not afraid of Jungwon. It’s not that I’m afraid of Shaolin either. The problem is that we have nothing to gain from fighting them now. If we advance to Jungwonright away, the damage will only increase even if we win.”
“That’s right.”
“It’s best to win without fighting. If we treat them well, Shaolin will lose the justification to invade the North Sea Ice Clan.”
“Aah.”
The Elders of the Ice Clan who followed him behind nodded in admiration.
“Truly the Leader of the North Sea Ice Clan!”
“Who can guess the heart and wisdom of the Clan Leader?”
“Catching up to Shaolin is not so far away dream indeed.”
At the pouring praise, Seol Chonsang smiled in satisfaction. But his inner thoughts were completely different from his facial expression.
‘Bunch of fool.’
How can they ask so many questions without considering this simple thing?
In order to quickly take control of the ice Clan, he filled his surroundings with people who would devote their unconditional loyalty rather than ability.
As a result, even though the Elders are all flattering him, they don’t help at all.
Seol Chonsang, who was suffering from a headache, suppressed his irritation and opened his mouth.
“What are they doing now?”
“I’ve given them drinks and food, and they’re eating and drinking as much as they want.”
“Without a doubt?”
“Yes, they weren’t particularly wary.”
“…… were they that stupid?”
A smile rose from Seol Chonsang’s face muttering briefly. And cold cynicism and contempt were evident.
“They were introduced by Maeng So, the Namman Yasugungju, so I was a little nervous but, I guess they’re just idiots who have lived in a warm and prosperous place.”
Those who live on barren land do not always relax. But Mount Hua’s disciples didn’t seem to be capable of that.
At that time, one of the Elders behind him hesitated with a strange expression. Seol Chonsang did not miss the change in that expression.
“Did you have something to say?”
“Clan Leader…”
The pointed-out person swallowed dry saliva with an awkward face.
“That…… It’s somewhat different.”
Seol Chonsang’s eyebrows twitched.
Different?
“What do you mean?”
“Well, rather than lack of tension… They…….”
Seol Chonsang, slightly irritated by the stuttering word, frowned.
“Speak properly. What do you mean!”
“……I think you should see it for yourself.”
“Hm?”
Eventually, Seol Chonsang, who didn’t get a proper explanation, glared briefly at the person who brought it up. However, he soon moved again without any reprimand.
‘I’ll know when I see it.’
It just so happened that he was heading there.
And a little later.
Seol Chonsang’s eyes, entering the Banquet Hall, grew wide as if they had seen an unbelievable sight.
‘What?’
This is the North Sea Ice Clan.
The North Sea. Yes, North Sea. A barren land far from Jungwon.
Any outsider who entered the land dominated by the Ice Clan was bound to be intimidated.
It had nothing to do with how bold someone was. Because people have no choice but to shrink in front of unfamiliar nature and culture.
Therefore, all outsiders who have visited the North Sea Ice Clan have shown him similar reactions.
But…….
‘What, are they?’
The scene unfolding before him was an unfamiliar situation he had never seen before.
Glug! Glug! Glug!
The person sitting in the middle was holding a whole large bottle and drinking it at once.
Looking at his Adam’s apple, which was shaking vigorously, Seol Chonsang’s throat was tempted.
“Keuuuuaahhhhhh!”
The person who slammed down the bottle wiped his mouth and gave a cheerful exclamation that would never happen again in the world.
“This alcohol is spectacular!!”
The man who sat in the middle and giggled was, of course, Chung Myung.
His eyes that looked at the bottle were full of satisfaction.
He smacked his mouth as if he liked the strong liquor, which can’t be found in Jungwon, and soon grabbed the meat in front of him and began to tear it apart.
“Meat! The meat!”
Munch, munch, munch, munch.
Chung Myung, who had crushed the meat instantly, reached out to aim for other meat.
Ssak!
But someone quickly snatched the meat he was aiming for.
“Huh?”
Chung Myung glared at Jo Gol, who had caught his meat.
“You touch my meat? Don’t you know who is top and who is bottom?”
“Chung Myung-ah. You’re the one who is at the bottom.” (As in terms of seniority.)
“Ah, right.”
Jo Gol, who was slightly wary of Chung Myung, soon shed tears of emotion as he devoured the meat.
“Moist meat…! It’s not dried jerky, it’s real meat! Keuh! It melts in your mouth, it melts!”
“Eat quietly. Quietly!”
While reprimanding Jo Gol, Yoon Jong also frantically moved his spoon.
Even Baek Cheon, who was usually the first to point out the fact when the disciples lost their minds, was frantically pouring food into his mouth, and Yoo Iseol and Tang Soso, sitting on one side, swept the food violently with their eyes fixed on the table.
“Food! Food!”
“Damn, it’s so delicious……!”
Jo Gol was ecstatic as if he had fallen in love with meat.
“We’re finally eating proper food here!”
“… We brought some grains, but we couldn’t even cook rice.”
“That demon was urging us to go fast that we only chewed raw rice!”
While coming to the North Sea, they were busy moving around and couldn’t eat properly. When they arrived in the village, they were in a situation to cook in earnest to treat people.
However, people who are well-known as Taoists can’t add spoons to the porridge they offer to give to patients in need.
As a result, Mount Hua’s disciples ate proper meals after only a month or so.
How hard must it have been for those who ate meat three times a day in Mount Hua to chew dry jerky on raw rice? But finally, when the right food came out in front of them, it was understandable that they had lost their sight.
Just one person.
Kkaejak.
Only one person was not eating properly. The spoon moved around on the plate and fell weakly on the table.
“… M- Monk…….”
Mount Hua’s disciples, who could afford to look around belatedly, saw Hye Yeon with their eyes filled with every pity they had.
Perhaps because the Ice Clan was determined to treat the guests properly, but only meat was visible on the table.
Roasted meat, boiled meat, fried meat, grilled meat…….
Of course, it was a feast for Mount Hua’s disciples, but for Hye Yeon, who is a monk, it was just a pie in the sky.
Hye Yeon, who looked at the table with sad eyes that would never be seen in the world again, picked up the roasted vegetables and chewed on it.
“… … Shall I ask them to cook something else?”
“Amitabha …….”
Hye Yeon shook his head weakly as he looked at Yoon Jong with moist eyes.
“I’m… I’m fine.”
“He’s all right! Let’s continue!”
“Yes!”
The battle-like feast continued again. Hye Yeon stared blankly at Mount Hua’s disciples.
‘Why won’t you ask one more time. Just one more time…….’
‘Do you have to cut it coldly at once? So heartlessly?’
Hye Yeon wasn’t the only one who was confused and dazed.
Seol Chonsang, the Leader of the North Sea Ice Clan, looked out at Mount Hua’s disciples in disarray.
‘Wasn’t Mount Hua Sect a Taoist Sect?’
Even though there is not much information about Jungwon in the North Sea, there is no way that such very basic information could be wrong.
‘What kind of Taoist in the world drinks and rips meat like that?’
‘And what’s with that monk who keeps eyeing the liquor bottle?’
Only then could he understand why the Elder said he had to see it with his own eyes. This… … was not a sight that could be described in words.
“Keueu! I think I will live a little longer now.”
In the end, Chung Myung, who sucked up enough meat to burst his stomach, tapped his belly and grabbed the alcohol bottle.
“…Are you drinking again after eating that much?”
“Dongryong, Dongryong. There is a separate stomach for food and alcohol. You don’t even know this simple logic. Tsk tsk tsk.”
Chung Myung grinned and lowered his head pleasedly.
“Oh?”
Then he belatedly found Seol Chonsang standing by the door. Chung Myung got up from his seat in a bright manner.
“Clan Leader has arrived!”
“…….”
“Keueu! Thank you. I didn’t expect you to be so hospitable!”
“… I- Is that so?”
Seol Chonsang’s forehead was covered with sweat.
He didn’t even know how long it had been since he sweated in the North Sea.
‘This… Did I do more than necessary?’
Relations between Jungwon and the North Sea remain poor. No matter how much they were introduced by Maeng So, this is still a hostile place for them.
But aren’t they acting like it’s their own home?
“Would you like a drink?”
“…….”
“This drink is good. It’s incredible.”
Speechless at the impudence, Seol Chonsang replied awkwardly with a smile.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Then he took a deep breath and cleared his mind. It was only when he approached the other side of Mount Hua’s disciples and sat down that his mind calmed down a little.
“Right, I think you’ve had enough, then let’s talk.”
He asked the question with a smile on his face.
“What brings you to the North Sea?”
To that question, Chung Myung rolled up the corners of his mouth.