Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 663
The number of dogs the Namman Yasugung Clan brought reached a whopping hundred.
“No. How can I push away the cubs who are coming?”
“Should we just leave the starving ones behind?”
“These Jungwon people are cold, so cold.”
“The hall is so immaculate! It’s not like they lack money!”
“….”
Under the reproachful gaze, the disciples of Mount Hua found themselves without a defense. They’re Taoists who preach the teachings of Tao, but how can they criticize them for not leaving the dying dogs alone?
Mount Hua, which is in danger of becoming an insensitive and money-loving place that doesn’t care even if dogs starve to death, must condone Yasugungju’s atrocities.
Fortunately, the issue of managing the dogs was resolved much more easily than anticipated.
Khaak!
Chak!
Khaak!
Chaak!
The onlookers repeatedly blinked at the bizarre scene unfolding before them.
“What kind of sight is that?”
“…I know right.”
“I can’t even understand what I’m seeing… Even though my eyes are wide open.”
Their gazes were all drawn to one place.
A small, snow-white paw pointed downwards perfectly matched the phrase ‘cute as a button.’
At this, the variously-sized dogs quickly and deftly lay flat on the ground.
Swaek!
As the small paw pointed upwards again, the dogs sprang up like lightning, and when the paw drew a circle in midair, the dogs rolled on the ground.
“…What is that?”
“Am I dreaming now?”
It would have been unbelievable if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, but those who were at Mount Huawere experienced the difficulty of believing even what they saw for the first time.
Whenever the small, fluffy white marten lifted its paw, the dogs as large as humans would flip over here and there.
They worried that the flips’ intensity might cause some damage.
“N- No, they don’t look like will bite people.”
“Is that the problem right now? The real issue is why the dogs are listening to the marten’s commands in the first place?”
“……I find it strange that the marten is pointing at the dog with its front paw.”
There was something……absolutely illogical about the whole situation.
Grr!
When the marten slightly bared its teeth, looking displeased, the dogs lined up like soldiers, all shaking and tucking their tails.
The white marten nodded its head, seemingly satisfied.
‘No matter how I look at it, it seems like a human. How is that supposed to be a marten?’
‘What’s up with that? Look at how it’s sticking out its belly.’
The marten behaved so much like a human that everyone was both amazed and dumbfounded.
“Is that a Mythical Creature?”
“There is a Mystical Creature on this Mount Hua too.”
“…I thought ‘Mystical Creature’ was just a story.”
Since it was now difficult to find spirits in Jungwon, everyone found it strange and peculiar.
Haak!
When Baek-ah snapped its front paw to the side, the dogs rushed to the back of the hall. The people marveled and applauded at the neatly organized training field as if the dogs hadn’t even been there in the first place.
“Is this the power of the Namman Yasugung Clan?”
“What did you see with your eyes? That marten was raised by Mount Hua’s disciple!”
“Eh? But why?”
“……How would I know?”
No one could even begin to guess the situation. So, everyone could only stick out their tongues in disbelief.
‘Something has been very strange from the start.’
‘There’s not a single thing I can understand for sure.’
Jungwon people slowly began to realize that Mount Hua was something different from the ordinary sect.
However, the Mount Hua Sect members also shared that absurd feeling.
“…… It’s handled.”
“That thing is surprisingly useful. At first, it looked like it had no purpose other than being a scarf.”
“It’s better than you.”
“…Why are you doing this?”
Yoon Jong sighed deeply when Jo-Gol growled.
‘While we’re at it, why don’t you train this bastard too, Baek-Ah?’
Chung Myung thought that, at the very least, it should be able to make him do some basic tasks. Since that guy is also a kind of beast.
“……Actually, the dogs are not the problem.”
Baek Cheon turned his eyes away with a sour face. Chung Myung was barking……. No, he was protesting at Maeng So.
“Are you a dog master? It’s a total mess here! Hah?”
“Hahahahat! Don’t worry about such trivial things! Here, here! I brought good alcohol from Yunnan since I’m meeting you! How about a refreshing drink?”
“How many jars did you bring? Did you bring a lot?”
“I brought enough to drown and die in it! I went through some trouble to bring it! How about it? Want to try a cup right now?”
“Sounds good!”
Baek Cheon’s large hands covered his face.
‘What’s the problem with the dogs? It’s the people, the people.’
No, to be precise, the problem was with that thing that didn’t even seem human.
It’s a sorrowful Mount Hua.
In this place, human-like beasts and beast-like humans coexisted.
“Baek Cheon Dojang.”
“Yes? Ah, yes! Sogaju-nim.”
Then Tang Pae approached Baek Cheon with a smile.
“Now that Namman Yasugungju has arrived, I intend to select some accommodations and send them down to Huayin City.”
“Huayin?”
“Yes. Since not everyone who came here can stay at Mount Hua, we need temporary accommodations, as I mentioned before, and people to manage them.”
“Ah!”
Baek Cheon nodded vigorously.
“I didn’t think of that. Thank you, Sogaju-nim.”
Tang Pae shook his head at the sincere expression of gratitude.
“This is not a matter of Mount Hua, it’s the work of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. It would be a shame if you keep saying that I’m helping.”
“Ah……”
“And….”
Tang Pae grinned.
“Mount Hua and Tang Family are not strangers, even if it’s just Mount Hua’s business, not Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
Baek Cheon, who saw Tang Pae’s eyes, soon laughed together.
“That’s right. We’re not strangers……”
“There.”
However, there was a voice that broke the emotional flow was heard. Startled, Tang Pae and Baek Cheon slowly looked back.
“So- Soso.”
“Soso….”
Tang Soso stared at the two with bloodshot eyes.
“While everyone else is busy attending to the guests as if they were going to die, you two seem to be having a great time, huh?”
“….”
“….”
“You look tired. Would you like me to put down a mat for you?”
“… I’m- I’m sorry.”
“We’ve committed a grave sin.”
“What are you doing! Move!”
“Yes!”
Tang Pae and Baek Cheon hurriedly ran and whispered.
“But was Soso always like that?”
“……She wasn’t that severe originally, but after she went to Mount Hua…..”
“……We apologize.”
“This is Mount Hua!”
Maeng So looked around with a sentimental face.
“It’s more splendid than I imagined. I thought it would be a simple and quiet place, being called a Taoist temple.”
“It’s because there’s a lot of people. And the Tang Family have put in some effort.”
“A bustling place is good.”
Maeng So smiled broadly.
“I never imagined in my life that I would ever have to come to Jungwon, let alone Mount Hua. Thanks to Mount Hua Divine Dragon, I’m enjoying myself.”
“You’ll have to visit more often in the future.”
“Hahahat. I should! I should!”
Maeng So laughed loudly and nodded. At that moment, Hyun Jong and Tang Gun-ak came out from behind. They seemed they come out to greet them in person after hearing the news of Namman Yasugungju’s arrival.
“Oh! Tang Gaju! And next to you…….”
Maeng So’s eyes change when he sees Hyun Jong.
“Mount Hua Divine Dragon.”
“Yes.”
“Is that gentleman the Sect Leader of Mount Hua?”
“Ah, this is your first time seeing him, right? Yes, he’s the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, Hyun Jong. Let me introduce…….”
But Maeng So strode toward Hyun Jong even before Chung Myung could finish his sentence. His movement was so intimidating and violent that people couldn’t help but look at him.
Without having to introduce everyone one by one, it wasn’t difficult to recognize Maeng So as Namman Yasugungju just by his demeanor and attitude.
On one side, there was Namman Yasugungju.
And on the other side, the Gaju (Head Family) of Sichuan Tang Family, the ruler of Sichuan, and the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, which had the most momentum recently.
As the three giants that shook the current Jianghu met, everyone, swallowed their dry saliva.
‘What is it?’
‘Is something about to happen?’
Maeng So looks fierce at first glance. His appearance is more than just wild. On top of that, isn’t he an outsider unfamiliar with Jungwon’s etiquette?
Everyone’s eyes were tense at the thought that something unexpected might happen.
A moment later, Hyun Jong grinned and saluted Yasugungju.
“Welcome to Mount Hua. Gungju-nim. I’ve heard a lot about the great deeds of Namman Yasugung Clan and its Clan Head from Tang Gaju and my disciples. I should have visited and greeted you earlier, but I couldn’t find the right opportunity. Please forgive my disrespectful behavior.”
Seeing the humble attitude, Maeng So snorted.
It is etiquette to respond with the same salute attitude. But Maeng So chose another way instead of courtesy.
Thud!
He took a step back and bent deeply.
“Uh?”
“Huh?”
Everyone looked at the scene and uttered sounds of confusion.
Salute etiquette is used when both parties are equal. But now, Maeng So bowed his head instead of saluting.
‘Is he acknowledging Mount Hua as a superior sect?’
‘No, even if that’s the case…’
Everyone couldn’t understand his behavior. But then Maeng So spoke in a loud voice.
“Great!”
‘Great? What great…’
“It is the greatest honor to meet Sect Leader of the great Mount Hua Sect!”
The mouths of Jungwon people opened wide.
‘What- What?’
‘What is he talking about?’
It is Namman Yasugung Clan.
Of course, Jungwon people tended to subtly exclude and ignore sects outside the region. And in fact, the power of the Outer clan didn’t match the top leaders of the Ten Great Sects. However, Namman Yasugungju was still one of the Five Great Outer Clan.
Even though Mount Hua had been making great strides recently, it was not yet a sect that could dare to approach Namman Yasugungju.
But now right before their eyes, Yasugungju Maeng So is offering the utmost respect to Mount Hua’s Sect Leader.
Even Hyun Jong was flushed with a bewildered expression.
“Gu- Gungju-nim. I cannot accept such excessive respect.”
“No!”
But Maeng So abruptly raised his head, bulging his already fierce eyes even more, and exclaimed.
“I’m not sorry to be here now. On behalf of all the people of Namman Yasugung Clan, and of all those who live in Yunnan! I am grateful for the grace of Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign, who protected Yunnan, and I express my utmost gratitude to Mount Hua Sect, the sect which Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign originates from!”
Maeng So placed both hands on his chest and bowed his head deeply once again. Although his manners differed from Jungwon’s, it was clear that he genuinely showed respect.
This added more credibility to Maeng So’s remarks a while ago.
“Did Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign save Yunnan…?”
“Who is Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign?”
“That’s the one! The one who was one of the Three Great Sword Warriors in the world during the fight against Magyo a hundred years ago.”
“What? Mount Hua produced the world’s Three Great Sword Warrior? But why didn’t I know? And if Namman Yasugungju is showing such respect, wouldn’t Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign’s deeds must have been tremendous? Why haven’t I heard of it?”
“I, I’ve never heard this story either.”
Confusion flashed across the faces of Jungwon people.
However, before they could gather their thoughts, Maeng So roared again.
“There’s no way to repay the grace of saving lives! Namman Yasugung Clan will be Mount Hua’s eternal friend, and will treat the enemies of Mount Hua as the enemies of Namman Yasugung Clan! Sect Leader, please do not reject the will of Namman Yasugung Clan!”
Hyun Jong momentarily turned his head away, feeling a stinging sensation at the tip of his nose.
Nobody knew.
He had to harbor a sense of regret even as people flocked to Mount Hua Sect because he thought nobody knew that Mount Hua Sect had once been like this.
But now Maeng So has lowered his posture in the presence of everyone to mention the names of Mount Hua and Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign in the past.
“…… It’s a long time ago. There’s no need……”
“No way!”
Maeng So yelled angrily.
“What does time matter when it comes to saving Yasugungju Clan, saving Yunnan! Furthermore, discussing the grace of Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign that saved the world from the evil clutches of Magyo!”
“….”
“Even if thousand years had passed, not just a hundred years, it should not be forgotten!”
“…Thank you very much.”
Maeng So, who had raised his head, smiled faintly.
“I brought a nice gift from Yunnan! We have much to talk about, let’s go inside.”
“Yes, we should.”
Everyone who witnessed the shocking scene could not hide their dismay as they watched the three people walk away.
A strange silence lingered.
And in that silence, a very faint strange sound was heard.
“Keke….”
People’s heads turned sharply.
Chung Myung, who closed his mouth with both hands, was shaking his shoulders.
“Kekekek….”
“….”
But why is he laughing?
No one knew why.
And then, at that moment.
“It’s the Ice Clan!”
“The North Sea Ice Clan has arrived!”
A loud voice came from outside the gate, leaving no time to calm the shock.