Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 647

In general, alcohol loosens people’s tension.

Everyone pretended to be calm, but there was no way that the sparring matches with Wudang weren’t burdensome. In that sense, Song Tae-ak’s preparation for a big banquet was worth calling a foresight.

At first, everyone couldn’t relax and sipped with only a small glass, but the chatter gradually started to flow as they took one or two shots.

And in the end…….

“So I took out my sword there! Uh? Ttaaaakk!”

“……Sahyung, please calm down.”

“What calm down! We won against Wudang!”

“Sahyung lost, didn’t you?”

“Ugh! Didn’t you hear what Sasuk said? Sometimes there are victories worth more than defeat!”

“Valuable defeat is better than a victory. And since Sahyung suffered a valuable defeat, just shut up and drink.”

“Come on, you bastard!”

… Chaos erupted here and there.

“Alcohol! We’re running out of alcohol here!”

“Here, too!”

“No, I asked for alcohol a long time ago!”

Song Tae-ak shuddered and closed his eyes tightly.

‘I’d rather feed cows.’

Starting with expensive alcohol in the first place was a mistake. He should have realized that they drink alcohol like a horse from how they were last time he accommodated them.

‘No, but they still ate like human beings back then.’

Now they’re eating and drinking like beasts.

Taoist that avoids eating meat as much as possible, is wary of overeating, and sees indulgence in alcohol as taboo?
There is no such thing here.

Taoist bastards in black uniform are the only……. no, to be exact, Taoist bastards in half taken off black uniforms with intimidatingly muscular bodies who’s holding alcohols and meat while making commotion are the only scenes that could be seen here.

The faces that have consumed alcohol are all red.

“…Bring them more alcohol as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Sangdanju-nim!”

Fortunately, the ones who carry the alcohol and food don’t express any dissatisfaction.

‘That’s understandable.’

Of course, since Mount Hua Sect were precious guests from the start. They were a hero who had subjugated the bandits. However, their weight couldn’t compare to what they are now. They had become a prestigious sect that defeated that Wudang.

The former might be more valuable to commoners, but for merchants, the latter would be the obvious preference.

But one thing that bothers him is…….

How could they have beaten a Wudang? No matter how hard I look at it, I can’t get used to it.

In a good way, it’s easygoing, and in a bad way, it’s too unrefined. For Song Tae-ak, who has consistently seen Wudang as the same Taoist sect, it was unfamiliar to see Taoists opening their tops and drinking alcohol like this.

‘But maybe this is the driving force behind Mount Hua’s fame.’

In Song Tae-ak’s eyes, a person was leading this atmosphere.

“Oh! Chung Myung is here!”

“Here, have a drink!”

“Drink! Drink! You deserve a drink!”

“Hehe! What’s so great about me.”

Chung Myung. As he moved, everyone around him gathered and cheered.

“What do you mean? You’re an incredible man! You literally beat Wudang’s Elder, not anyone else!”

“Anyway, you monster!”

“He’s the First Sword of Mount Hua! The First Sword of Mount Hua!”

Chung Myung, whose face was red with alcohol, twitched around his mouth. He tried to pretend to be nonchalant, but as someone who was weak to praise, it was not easy for him to withstand the pouring compliments.

“No, well… This is nothing…”
He stuttered and hesitated, but the praises kept pouring in.

“That is nothing? The opponent is an Elder! And Wudang’s Elder at that!”

“I have never heard in my life that the third-class disciples have beaten the Elder of a prestigious sect! It’s a story that even a skilled storyteller would hesitate to tell! If anyone made up such a ridiculous story, they’d be hit over the head with a bottle!”

“Whoa! Our Chung Myung is shining, shining! I can’t see it because it’s blinding!”

“Of course, of course! It’s just light! Our light!”

At the praise pouring down like heavy rain, Chung Myung’s face finally collapsed.

“Kya… Kyahaha…”

“That’s right! That’s right! He’s laughing so well! Oh my, he’s good at laughing, our Chung Myung!”

“Way to go! Way to go! Way to go!”

As Chung Myung started to drink and laugh out loud in excitement, Sahyung filled his glass with alcohol.

“We’re all going to drink and die tonight!”

“You can die! It’s okay to die now!”
“No, you can’t die, you punk!”

Song Tae-ak shook his head as he saw his disciples playing as if they were already in another world.

‘It’s a sect that I can’t possibly understand.’

It was clear that the atmosphere here was simply superb. Every single one of them…….

‘Hm?’

Song Tae-ak tilted his head slightly.

It was because he saw someone quietly getting up from the corner of the heated banquet hall and cautiously going outside.

If it were an ordinary banquet, nothing would be strange. He might just be going to the restroom. However, this does not usually happen at places where people of Kangho eat and drink. This is because they could control most bodily functions.

‘Well, I’m sure he’s got some personal business.’

Thinking it was unimportant, Song Tae-ak quickly lost interest and turned his head.

Thunk.

Gwak Hee, who carefully closed the door, sighed quietly.

Fortunately, since the atmosphere was so intense, no one noticed him leaving. It wouldn’t be a problem even if they did, but he didn’t want to break the mood.

‘Everyone seems to be having a good time.’

That’s understandable.

Gwak Hee drank a few cups of alcohol in a row and felt like something was slipping out of him. He pretended like it wasn’t the case, but the fact that he had to compete against that Wudang was so burdensome and pressure that he couldn’t even tell everyone.

It was only natural that he was overflowing with joy because he had a good result in such a situation.

Gwak Hee peeked at the bottle in his hand and walked a few steps forward. And soon, he jumped up to the roof of the front pavilion.
“Eucha!”

Standing on top of the tile, he sat down and looked up at the moon in the sky.

“It’s bright.”

The full moon rising over the sky shone brightly as if it were daytime.

Looking at the exceptionally bright moon, the words he hadn’t bothered to say flowed out of his mouth.

“…Can I do it?”

“Do what?”

“Euaaaaaargh!”

Hearing a sudden response from behind him, Gwak Hee stumbled and fell down, too surprised to keep his balance. He barely held onto the roof’s edge and climbed back up, panting.
“You-you surprised me!”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“If you’re here, show at least some signs!”

“You seem to be mistaken, but it’s not that I came, it’s you who ran here while I was resting. I came first.”
“…….”

Gwak Hee looked at Baek Sang with a sour face.

‘Of all people…’

No matter how close they are, Sasuk is still Sasuk. Therefore, for most of the third-class disciples, the second-class disciples are still somewhat uncomfortable.

And Baek Sang was one of the most difficult Sasuk for third-class disciples.

Among the second-class disciples, he was next to Baek Cheon in terms of seniority, and it was hard to say that he was particularly kind because he had a vague personality. Moreover, he is rumored to be a key figure in the Finance Hall, which can be considered the core of Mount Hua’s power.

It is no exaggeration to say that he is the most influential of the rising stars except for Mount Hua Five Swords, who became the representative of Mount Hua.

No matter how, to face Baek Sang in a situation where he had just escaped the banquet is not welcome.

“I asked you. Do what?”

“Ah, that’s….”

When Gwak Hee could not answer easily and hesitated, Baek Sang rose from his seat and trudged closer. Then he sat down next to Gwak Hee.
“Ughhh, my back.”

“…Are you all right?”

“It’s nothing. It just hurts where I got hit.”

The wounds from the fight wouldn’t heal in half a day. But Baek Sang was nonchalant as if it were insignificant.

“Did you bring any liquor?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s have a drink then.”

When Baek Sang put out his bottle, Gwak Hee had no choice but to slightly bring it closer to Baek Sang’s bottle and clink it together.

Chaeng.

The sound of bottles hitting each other sounded like a sword colliding with each other.

The two drank their liquor without saying a word.
“Keuu!”

“Humm.”

Gwak Hee, who was stealing a glance at the bottle, opened his mouth before Baek Sang did.

“It’s a luxury. To think we’re drinking such an expensive liquor like this.”

“An expensive drink…”

At his words, Baek Sang shrugged his shoulders and looked at the bottle of liquor in a nonchalant manner.

“It’s good to have expensive things.”

“Really?”

“But personally, I prefer cheap, low-quality liquor that I drank in Mount Hua.”
“…….”

Baek Sang smiled quietly at Gwak Hee’s blank gaze.

“Is it weird?”

“No, not at all.”

Gwak Hee quickly shook his head. And he said with a slightly flushed face.

“Actually, so am I.”

“Hahaha.”

Baek Sang retook another sip of alcohol. His eyes showed a smile as he looked up at the moon.

“There’s always guys like you.”

“…….”

“The ones who can’t put everything down and just rest when everyone else is resting.”

Gwak Hee, who felt stabbed by what he said, lost his words momentarily.

“What’s the matter?”

Gwak Hee looked Baek Sang in the eye instead of answering the calm question immediately. Unlike his cool voice, his eyes were slightly subdued, so Gwak Hee somehow didn’t want to exchange his words in front of him.

“Just a little…….”

“A little?”

“I’m a little scared.”

“…….”

Baek Sang did not rush and waited for Gwak Hee to continue. Gwak Hee said again after a while.

“At first, it was just good. I felt my skills improving, and I became able to dream of things I never thought possible before.”

“I’m sure you did.”

“If I do my best as instructed, I will… Yes, I felt like I could be something.”

“But not anymore?”

“…rather than not…….”

Gwak Hae paused, as if pondering his thoughts.
“As I said, I’m a little scared.”

“Why?”

“…because I’m not there.”

Anyone else would have tilted their head, saying, “What are you talking about?” But Baek Sang nodded as if he understood.
“Yeah, that’s the scariest thing.”

“……Yes.”

Gwak Hee wanted to be like Jo-Gol or Yoon Jong.

He didn’t even hope to be like Chung Myung or Baek Cheon. He had simply believed that if he kept striving toward his immediate goals, he could someday become stronger like they did.

But…….

“Are you afraid you’ll never catch up?”

“No… I don’t mind that. It’s just…”

Gwak Hee bit his lips slightly.

“I’m scared that they’re getting farther away from me.”

“…….”

“No matter how hard I try, the gap between me and Sahyungs only gets wider. When I faced Wudang’s first-class disciples in combat, I understood just how strong they were. So I realized how powerful Sahyungs who could beat them in combat truly were.”
Gwak Hee’s eyes turned downward. The sounds of the boisterous party echoed through the brightly lit hall.

“So, I don’t know how to say it, but my point is…”

“It’s okay.”

Baek Sang smiled and looked at Gwak Hae.

“There’s no need to explain everything. I fully understand how you feel.”

“I…….”

And before Gwak Hee could finish speaking, he nodded toward the banquet hall.

“Look.”

“Yes?”

“Do you really think those people laughing and enjoying themselves over there have no burden?”

“…….”

Gwak Hee remained silent at Baek Sang’s words.