Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 482
“Not on this side!”
“There are no more footprints! Is it snow-covered?… ?”
The person who received the report squinted.
“Does it make sense, even if there is a blizzard, that there is no footprint of the person who just passed by?!”
“Bu- But it’s really…….”
“Then, did you mean the intruder has reached the level of Step on Snow Without a Trace?” (A state of Lightness Art that does not leave footprints even if you step on the snow.)
“… I’m sorry.”
“Find him! Now!”
“Yes!”
The Ice Clan warriors dispersed in all directions.
A lone intruder infiltrated the Ice Clan and harmed their warriors. They wouldn’t be able to save their face as Ice Clan warriors if they missed him like this.
‘This guy…’
Song Won (송원(宋遠)) clenched his fist and looked around the snowstorm.
‘I will never let you go alive.’
This was a matter of his pride.
Tatatat!
Urgent footsteps were heard one after another.
“You go that way!”
“Yes!”
“If you find him, don’t try to confront him alone and send a signal right away! He was a formidable fellow!”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
The man who gave the order also hurriedly turned around and tried to run, but flinched for a moment.
‘Not this way.’
A vast frozen lake spreads out before him. Taking this path, which has no cover to block the view, as an escape route was a choice that anyone with a head could not make.
He raised his eyes to look ahead, just in case, but he couldn’t even see a faint shadow.
“That way!”
“Yes!”
The warriors of the Ice Clan quickly advanced and moved away.
And after a while…….
Ppaekkom.
A vast plain of ice.
A round and small head appeared in a small hole in the middle of it.
The round head turned left and right as if checking the surrounding. Soon, a sigh burst as the man jumped from the ice.
“…Ugh. I’m freezing.”
Cold water trickled down from the icy hair. As the snowstorm hit him in the face, he felt he would rather go back into the water.
Even though it hadn’t been long since Chung Myung put out his face, white frost began to form around his face. The water flowing through his body froze in an instant.
“Keuhh, what an annoying qigong.”
White Ice Divine Palm is the cold yin qigong that the Ice Clan is proud of, and it is the martial art representing (성명절기(成名絶技)) them.
The reason why the yin qigong is annoying is that the chill and yin energy penetrate into the body. Perhaps Chung Myung’s body was colder than this ice water right now.
“Oh, it’s cold!”
“Kiik!”
“Be quiet, you punk!”
The wet Baek-ah looked resentful, protesting as if it was unfair, but Chung Myung just covered his mouth.
“Things like leeches!”
Chung Myung, who had dug a hole in the lake and hid under it, gritted his teeth.
It was said that people should live a good life, if he hadn’t tried ice fishing a few times on the way, it was an idea that he would not have thought of. Besides, he has already confirmed through Hye Yeon that people don’t die just because they’re in the water.
In the darkness raging in the blizzard, Chung Myung’s eyes shone brightly.
“……are they gone?”
Those who chased him are scattered in all directions and gradually moving away from the Ice Clan.
It’s perfect for sneaking back at times like this.
If there’s only one problem…….
“…I can’t go up there.”
Chung Myung sighed deeply as he looked down at the water flowing down his neck.
“I’d prefer to die rather than suffer. Hey! Take a breath.”
Kiiik!
Baek-ah struggled, resisted, and twisted his body. It was a protest for making even him enter the water as well.
“Think carefully. You will freeze to death if you go outside with a wet body.”
…….
Baek-ah, who was stunned for a moment, sighed and inhaled. The marten’s thin belly swelled up.
Chung Myung took a deep breath and went back into the water.
On top of the thick ice, Chung Myung’s image which was like a carp was blurred.
* * *
“…Will it be all right?”
“What?”
“That Chung Myung guy. Things seem to be getting bigger.”
“Yoon Jong-ah.”
“Yes, Sasuk.”
“Are you experiencing this just for a day or two?”
“…….”
Baek Cheon said with a face like a Taoist who had attained enlightenment.
“It is like the law of nature that Chung Myung causes an accident, and it is like the flow of the world to suffer damage if someone is involved in the said accident. Typhoons should be avoided, and a gentleman does not participate in a commotion.”
“Aren’t you just saying you don’t want to get involved?”
“Exactly.”
Baek Cheon clicked his tongue as loud as possible.
“And by this point, isn’t it time for you to know too? Ice Clan or whatnot, if he decides to overthrow it, even the Imperial Palace can’t handle him. He’ll probably be back by tomorrow morning.”
“…I wish he will.”
Yoon Jong kept looking out the window with a worried face.
He was so worried that he kept hallucinating hearing voices as if Chung Myung knocked on the window.
Tok, tok.
Right, just like this?
Tok, tok.
Again?
Bam! Bam!
Yoo Iseol sprang up. Then she ran to the window and opened it without delay.
Flinch.
Yoo Iseol was uncharacteristically surprised at the sight.
Chung Myung, who turned white and looked like a snowman, was hanging in front of the window, and grinded his teeth at high speed.
And on his shoulders, a white marten, who was not much different in appearance, was shaking with both front feet wrapped around himself.
Dadadadadak!
The sound of Chung Myung’s teeth colliding with each other was pleasantly heard.
“…… Looks weird.”
“Ge- Get out of the way.”
When Yoo Iseol stepped out of the way, Chung Myung went over the window and came inside.
Thud.
As soon as his feet touched the floor, he fell face down in front of the window and trembled with his body.
“…I thought I was going to die.”
Mount Hua’s disciples, staring blankly at the scene, shook their heads in unison.
“…… For real.”
“But he came back earlier than I thought. And it seems he come back without much fuss.”
“Why are your eyes covered like this…….”
Jo-Gol clicked his tongue and reached out to shake the snow off Chung Myung’s body.
“Huh?”
But there was almost nothing to be shaken off.
“Sasuk. It’s not snow, it’s just ice. He’s frozen solid.”
“What?”
Baek Cheon was startled and rushed to Chung Myung.
“No, you crazy bastard! What were you doing around until you got to this point! Brazier! Move him to the front of the fire! Get him a blanket!”
“Yes!”
Mount Hua’s disciples threw Chung Myung in front of the brazier and wrapped him in blankets.
Baek Cheon twisted his face and opened his mouth.
“If you went to spy, you should only do spying! Why did you make such a fuss!”
“…Dongryong.”
Kaak!
“I- I was trying to come back really quietly.”
“But?”
“……these bastards say I’m a demonic disciple.”
Mount Hua’s disciples nodded as if they had fully understood.
“That’s a little too much.”
“Apologize to Magyo. Such a harsh word.”
“…… These bastards…….”
Chung Myung opened his ax eyes, but unfortunately, Chung Myung, who was busy shivering, was not a threat.
Jo-Gol looked at Chung Myung and asked.
“But what happened to your body? No matter how cold it was, it wouldn’t be enough to freeze your body.”
“Ice Clan martial art…Ugh, that’s how it is.”
Chung Myung sniffled.
He was close to the fire and he felt like he would live a little.
“Cold Yin qigong originally penetrates into the body and freezes people.”
“Wow. You’re so dedicated to telling me that.”
“…… you’re really going to die.”
Chung Myung coughed and shivered. Baek Cheon asked with a small sigh.
“Are you fine?”
“Do I look fine?”
Then Chung Myung screamed with his eyes wide open.
“Hngg, if I didn’t go out wearing black clothes like an idiot, I wouldn’t have been treated like this! Why didn’t anyone stop me?”
“We all stopped you, you idiot!”
‘Does he have a laundry bat in his head? Why is his inside always so clean?’
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
Chung Myung shook as he hugged the ends of the blankets. Baek-ah, who had been exposed to the fire, quickly dug into him.
“… … But are you really okay?”
At this point, sincere concerns began to pour out. At Mount Hua’s disciple’s gaze, Chung Myung sighed and clicked his tongue. Then he straightened his back and crossed his leg.
“Uuu…… Yin qigong or whatever, it won’t invade my body! I’ll blow them away at once!”
When Chung Myung took a meditating position, Baek Cheon shook his head.
‘All right, whatever.’
‘You’re the boss, you punk.’
The morning has dawned.
Kung, kung, kung!
Mount Hua’s disciple, who had fallen asleep from fatigue, opened their eyes at the loud knock on the door.
“What is it?”
“I’ll check it!”
Tang So-so quickly got up and ran toward the door. She asked, after opening the door and sticking out her head.
“What can I do for you?”
A few armed people were standing at the door. It was Song Won who chased Chung Myung yesterday.
He spoke bluntly, staring at Tang So-so with cold eyes.
“There was an intruder in the Ice Clan last night.”
“Ah, I thought it was noisy outside, so that’s what happened.”
“Is everything all right here?”
“Yes, we don’t really have anything happened.”
He looked at Tang So-so’s expression while talking, but he couldn’t read anything from her expressionless face.
“If you don’t mind, may I look inside?”
“… … Are you suspicious of us?”
“Not necessarily. But it’s good to be sure about everything. He may have infiltrated this place because he’s very good at sneaking.”
“…….”
“Everyone else in the Clan is under investigation, so please cooperate.”
It was the moment when Tang So-so was about to refute the obvious lie.
“Come in.”
She heard Chung Myung’s voice behind her back.
Tang So-so opened the door wide with a slightly displeased look. Then, she stepped aside and opened the way for Song Won to enter.
“Then.”
Song Won, who gave a light nod, comes inside. His sharp eyes swept through the room in an instant.
“You must’ve going through a lot.”
His eyes were fixed on Chung Myung, who was trembling.
The corner of Song Won’s lips twisted subtly at the sight of Chung Myung wrapped in a blanket.
“……You look very cold.”
“Yes, I get cold easily.”
“A martial artist that can’t stand cold.….”
“The martial arts I learned are a bit unique.”
“Is that so?”
Song Won opened his mouth with a deep smile.
“Dojang.”
“Yes.”
“May I check your hand in the blanket?”
“Hand?”
“Yes, just show me for a moment.”
“What about my hands?”
“Don’t ask me why.”
“I don’t know why, but I can’t show you.”
When Chung Myung shrugged, Song Won’s eyes sank coldly.
‘This guy….’
How dare they behave like that?
He knew they came as guests of the Clan Leader, but Song Won didn’t like their attitude very much.
His fierce heart made his tone rough.
“I just want to see if there are any wounds on that hand.”
“Wound?”
“Yes.”
The intruder was hit by Clan Leader’s White Ice Divine Palm on the hand. No matter how strong the intruder’s martial art is, he could never be fine.
He hadn’t really had any big doubts, but the fact that he was a martial artist but shivering in the cold was aggravating his suspicions.
“There’s no reason why you can’t show it to me if there’s nothing to worry about. Isn’t that so?”
“Yes, it is. But…….”
Chung Myung grinned.
“I don’t want to show you.”
“…….”
Song Won momentarily lost what to say and stared blankly at Chung Myung.
‘Is he trying to fool around with me?’
How big are his guts to be able to talk to him like this at the North Sea Ice Clan?
“… … Then you’re saying there’s something to worry about.”
“Ei, it’s not like that. No, but looking at it, it seems like I’m being suspected as the intruder, but just showing it to you is unfair. So, let’s make a bet.”
“…a bet?”
Chung Myung smiled as he looked at Song Won who frowned.
“If I’m not the intruder, don’t interrupt us while walking around the Ice Clan. It’s simple, isn’t it?”
Song Won’s stare at Chung Myung became even fiercer.
“I can’t be sure about the whole Ice Clan, but fine. I can even guide you if you want.”
“Not bad.”
Chung Myung, who nodded, finally took his hand out of the blanket and held it out to Song Won.
“Are you done?”
Smooth hands without a scratch.
But for a moment, Song Won grabbed his hand like a lightning bolt.
“What…!”
Surprised, Mount Hua’s disciples clasped their sword handles.