Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 730

Day sixteen.

“Keueu….”

As Hyun Jong entered the room almost limped, several pairs of eyes watched from behind.

“…I don’t particularly notice anything different?”

“That’s odd.”

Baek Cheon tilted his head.

“He keeps talking nonsense, but he doesn’t lie.”

“… It sounds weird, but you’re right.”

Baek Cheon squinted his eyes and furrowed his brow.

‘I don’t see any significant changes.’

Chung Myung said that they would soon be able to confirm the change with their eyes, but there was no sign of such a change in the appearance of the Sect Leader.

Baek Cheon, who had been agonizing for a while, sighed softly.

“Let’s wait and see for now. He can’t always be right.”

“Yes.”

Eventually, the light in the room went out. Baek Cheon and the Five Swords awkwardly tilted their heads and turned around.

Day seventeen.

“Keueu….”

Hyun Jong, who had thrown off his blanket, struggled to get up.

Udeuduk!

“Kkeuk.”

His back screamed in pain. Although he hadn’t overexerted himself, it seemed to be a burden for his aging body.

Hyun Jong, who tapped his waist, sighed deeply.

‘I wonder how much longer my body can hold out.’

He hadn’t lost his motivation yet. The pain of pricking his body with a needle could be endured, but the physical pain was something else entirely.

This is nothing compared to the pain of sitting alone in this room and enduring tears that keep flowing out when Mount Hua was collapsing, and the pain of melting the five intestines.

The problem was that his physical strength couldn’t keep up with his mental strength.

Whether it was because he was getting older or because his natural body was too weak to handle Violet Mist Divine Art, he couldn’t tell, but he felt like he was falling into a pit every day without any progress.

However.

‘I can’t complain.’

Hyun Jong clenched his hand tightly.

Even if his body couldn’t keep up, even if he collapsed from exhaustion after mastering Violet Mist Divine Art, he never thought about giving up.

Aside from his sense of responsibility as the Sect Leader, he could never say while looking at the Saje who felt the same pain but somehow endured the training, or Chung Myung, who was sweating profusely while cultivating his True Energy.

So he had to endure today no matter what.

“Huuu.”

Hyun Jong, who had taken a deep breath, started to get up and began to fold the blankets. His body screamed and creaked every time he stretched his hand or stepped, but he didn’t groan and changed his clothes after spreading the blanket.

‘I’m not too late, right?’

It’s early morning when the sun has not risen yet, but Chung Myung never starts the training after sunrise.

Hyun Jong, who had neatly arranged the room with familiar and delicate touches, stood at the door.

‘Let’s not lose my spirit.’

No matter how tired he is, he is the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. His disciples are bound to be influenced by every expression and gesture he makes. So, no matter how hard it was, he had to keep a calm expression.

“Let’s go!”

Hyun Jong, who shouted briefly as if comforting himself, grabbed the door and flung it open.

And then.

Kwadeuduk!

“Hng?”

Hyun Jong looked at his own hand with wide eyes.

The door that was torn off was still dangling on his hand.

“…No, why is this…?”

The hinges that were attached to the door were broken and seemed like it would fall off at any moment.

“Really, why are you breaking the door?”

“Uh?”

Hyun Young, who had already finished his preparation, frowned and alternately looked at the broken door and the confused Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong looked at him like that and asked.

“Why do you look like that?”

“…My joints are aching.”

“….”

“….”

Hyun Young coughed softly and asked again.

“But why did you really tear off the door?”

“I didn’t tear it off, it tore itself off. I think the hinge is worn out.”

“The hinge is worn out? We just replaced all of them when we built and repaired the building.”

“Really? Then it must be defective.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is why we need to check even every hinge. The quality of goods in the Eunha Merchant Guild isn’t what it used to be. We need to be more thorough in our inspections.”

“Right. That would be better.”

“Leave it there. I’ll have the kids reattach it. Let’s go quickly. If we’re late, Chung Myung will give us a piece of his mind.”

“…Right.”

Hyun Jong was about to heave a sigh when Hyun Young laughed and spoke.

“But isn’t Chung Myung so well-behaved? He’s so polite too.”

What?

Hyun Jong stared blankly at Hyun Young. He doubted his ears. However, Hyun Young who was usually very quick-witted, unable to read Hyun Jong expressions, continued to talk nonsense today.

“If it were the other kids, he would have broken their heads on the spot, but look at him only pouting since we’re an Elder. Even though he could’ve sworn at us. What a nice kid he is.”

“…..he could’ve sworn at us?”

“Elder or whatnot, if you do something wrong, you should get sworn at.”

“….”

“But look at him, not swearing at all. My goodness, how kind and cute he is. Hahaha.”

Hyun Young-ah. I think the concept of “good” in your head is a little twisted. How did you become like this, my Saje….

“…Let’s just go.”

“Yes, I see Sahyung coming over there.”

“Yes.”

Hyun Jong turned his eyes and looked at the moon, which was still hanging in the sky.

“I must work hard today.”

That way, he could at least shine on his disciples who were walking in the dark, like that moon.

Day twenty-one.

“Are you okay?”

“…Do I look okay in your eyes?”

“…I’m sorry.”

As he brushed off the worried disciple, Hyun Young collapsed onto the spot.

“Hnggg. How is it getting harder as the days go by?”

Hyun Sang frowned as he looked at Hyun Young, who was sitting sprawled out with a skinny face.

“Have some dignity in front of the kids.”

“Does dignity matter now? I look like I’m going to drop dead. Aren’t you tired, Sahyung?”

“Haha. Tired, you say… I don’t really know.”

“Yes?”

When Hyun Young looked surprised, Hyun Sang smiled.

“Just dropping dead would be easier, right? That’s the only thought I have.”

“….”

“… I’m already this old, just what more am I chasing after? Violet Mist Divine Art or whatever, I’ll just…”

“Hey, hey! The kids are here!”

Hyun Young started dissuading Hyun Sang.

But once Hyun Sang started, he couldn’t stop and kept mumbling something with a face that looked like he couldn’t collect his thoughts.

“Martial art or whatever, I could have lived off farming, just why did I have to come to Mount Hua and suffer in my old age. I should’ve just married Yeong-yeong from my hometown and farmed for generations…”

“Cover your ears! Cover your ears, you punk!”

At Hyun Young’s shout, the disciples covered their ears with both hands. Hyun Young, who sighed, asked for help from the Sect Leader.

“Please do something, Sect Leader.”

“…But, Hyun Young-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Doesn’t Hyun Sang have a point?”

“….”

Hyun Young realized that all of his two remaining Sahyung were becoming senile. Then Baek Cheon silently came to their side and said,

“I’ll help you, Elder-nim.”

“Ugh. There’s no need for that.”

“Let me….”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll get up on my own.”

“Don’t be like that, let me…”

“Eing, I said I’m good.”

Hyun Young pushed Baek Cheon lightly, really lightly, he just slightly extended his hand.

But… the result was anything but light.

“Uaaah!”

Puuk! Puuk! Puuk! Puuk!

Hyun Young’s eyes popped out in surprise. No, not only Hyun Young, but everyone who witnessed the scene forgot to blink and stood with their mouths agape.

As if he had been kicked by a giant’s foot that was the size of a house, Baek Cheon was flung backward at a fearsome speed and bounced several times to the ground before falling down to the distant cliff.

“Aaaaaaaaaaargh!”

Back Cheon’s scream was heard from below.

Silence flowed for a moment. Everyone lost their words, alternating their gaze between Hyun Young and the cliff. It was Hyun Sang who opened his mouth first.

“N- No…How can you throw him off a cliff just because he wanted to help? Have you lost your mind?”

“N- No! That’s not it, Sahyung! It’s not like that! I just pushed him a little bit! How could I possibly have the strength to send a strong guy like him flying like that!”

“…Hm?”

‘Now that he mentioned it…’

Hyun Sang tilted his head with a puzzled face.

“Then why did he fly off like that?”

“…Why I wonder?”

The two Elders looked toward the cliff as if they didn’t understand.

Goosebumps hills crept up on the backs of Mount Hua’s disciples who were watching the strange scene.

Day twenty-five.

“Doesn’t it seem a bit different?”

“…Sasuk. The wounds you had then have healed. I’m telling you it’s okay now. It looks perfectly fine.”

“No, not me!”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon, who became emotional and flushed red at Yoon Jong’s words, took a deep breath and then put down his chopsticks and pointed to the innermost seat in the Dining Hall.

“I mean them.”

When he squinted his eyes toward where Baek Cheon was pointing, he saw Sect Leader and the Elders. Yoon Jong let out a sigh of realization.

“Now that you point it out… It does seem like something has changed.”

“Is it like that, too, in your eyes?”

“But I’m not quite sure what exactly has changed. But something is definitely…”

“Hmm.”

Baek Cheon looked at Sect Leader with a subtle face. It was as Yoon Jong said. There was certainly no dramatic change that was clearly discernible. The degree of change was very slight, only noticeable if you paid close attention.

But something definitely has changed.

‘First of all… It seems like they’ve gained a bit of weight.’

They were still as thin as could be, looking like skeletons. But Baek Cheon was able to notice that a slight amount of flesh had returned to their skeletal faces.

“Did they gain a bit of weight?”

“You think so too?”

Yoon Jong quickly nodded in agreement.

“Isn’t that a good sign?”

“Since it means they’re in better shape.”

The two people who had been having the conversation looked at each other’s faces. A slight surprise and relief passed through their expressions. The atmosphere would have lasted a long time if it weren’t for the candle-setting voice.

“…I can’t even tell.”

“Be quiet, you son of a beast! Be quiet!”

“Shut that snout of yours!”

When Baek Cheon and Yoon Jong glared at him simultaneously, Jo-Gol flinched and asked as if it was absurd.

“…No, are you guys just waiting for me to speak these days?”

“….”

“Where did I do so wrong that you treat me like you would Chung Myung! No matter how it is! You can’t treat a person like you treat Chung Myung! That’s not something a human should do… Aaaaaargh!”

At that moment, Jo-Gol got hit by something and flew far away, crashing into a wall.

Kuung!

“Wha- What is it?”

“Is it an attack?”

Those who were eating all stood up and looked around. Half of them looked at Jo-Gol, who was sliding down the wall after crashing into it, and the other half looked at Hyun Sang, who was holding his chopsticks and lost in thought at the exact opposite side.

“N- No….”

Hyun Sang looked at Jo-Gol writhing on the floor and at his chopsticks alternately and stammered.

“I, I just… No, everyone. I just put a little force because the meat was hard to pick up…”

“….”

“Why, why… is there sword energy from my chopsticks…”

Several people, who had been watching Hyun Sang with blank eyes, suddenly came to their senses and rushed towards Jo-Gol.

“Gol-ah! Gol-ah! Are you all right?”

“He’s all right! As expected, idiots don’t die!”

“This kid is foaming at the mouth, though?”

Jo-Gol, who had slumped like a corpse, was carried out of the Dining Hall on someone’s back. No one could believe the spectacle they were witnessing. It was as if they had been possessed.

Baek Cheon slowly turned his gaze to Hyun Sang. Hyun Young was scolding him fervently.

“No! Why are you beating a child?”

“No- No! I, I really just tried to pick up the meat……”

“Now, you are even producing sword energy from your chopsticks! What would you have done if he was injured?!”

“I’m telling you it’s not like that!”

While looking at Hyun Sang, who was tearing his hair out as if he was unjustly accused, Baek Cheon’s mouth slowly opened.

– Even if I tell you a hundred times, it won’t be of any use. You’ll understand when you see it.

– Right about now, the effects should start showing. Don’t panic when you see it. Kikikik.

“Do- Don’t tell me….”

Baek Cheon’s eyes began to tremble.

Unknown energy was spreading behind the three elders who barely picked up food and pushed it into their mouths with a dying face.

By this point, Baek Cheon had no choice but to be sure.

Something was definitely… Something was happening.