Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Mount Hua’s disciples, who had subdued the surrendering or injured Evil Sects, confined them temporarily in the warehouses of the Eunha Merchant Guild.

They had been granted the opportunity to enter a warehouse filled with treasures they had long coveted, but whether they were pleased with this fact was another matter.

Mount Hua’s top priority was, of course, the treatment of the injured and the handling of the deceased.

“How is it?”

“…Fortunately or unfortunately, it seems there will be no more deaths.”

“Yes?”

Since the number of injured exceeded the capacity of a single medical facility, Hyun Young had turned an entire hall of the Eunha Merchant Guild into a makeshift medical facility and gathered physicians from Xi’an.

At the statement made by the representative physician, Hyun Young asked with a puzzled look.

“Then it should be a relief, shouldn’t it? Why would it be unfortunate?”

“…That….”

The physician secretly looked at Hyun Young’s face and opened his mouth carefully.

“The treatment of such severe injuries will take a very long time. They’ll need to lie down and receive treatment for at least three months without moving.”

“And?”

“Even after they recover, they won’t be able to use their bodies as they did before.”

“Aah.”

Hyun Young nodded loudly as if he now understood what the physician was trying to say.

“Don’t worry about that.”

“However, as you know, treating such serious wounds requires expensive medicines. No matter how much we try to conserve…”

“Don’t worry, Physician.”

Hyun Young firmly waved his hand.

He was about to say that the cost of expensive medicines is something ordinary people cannot afford. Of course, they can’t help but feel anxious while proceeding with the treatment. They must have collected all the medicines available at the physician’s store, but they might not even be able to get the proper price for the medicines.

“All the medical expenses for those injured here will be covered by Mount Hua.”

“Is, is that true?”

“Yes.”

Hyun Young nodded as if it was natural.

“If you would do that for us…”

This was a matter already agreed upon with Hyun Jong.

In fact, there is no reason why Mount Hua should pay for their treatment. In the first place, they’re not targeting Mount Hua, but after Xi’an. With or without Mount Hua, they would have attacked Xi’an nonetheless.

However, such matters shouldn’t be approached with petty logic and cost-benefit analysis.

– If we only argue on the basis of logic, they too will do the same to us. A relationship where both sides reason with each other isn’t a bad thing, but the relationship I want isn’t like that.

It was the right thing to say.

Especially since someone, whose eyes roll when the topic of money is mentioned, nodded without a word, this must surely be the correct decision.

“I, too, do not wish to collect expensive treatment fees from those who have fought against the Evil Sects. However… if we use the medicine sparingly and do not perform the procedure properly, there may be many aftereffects.”

“Don’t worry about the money and please provide them with the best care possible.”

Hyun Young looked around at the injured lying in white clothes.

“They’ve shown their courage. Those people should not be denied the treatment they deserve.”

A sigh of admiration escaped the physician’s lips.

Applauding those who had shown valor was an easy task, but offering one’s own wealth for their sake was not something one could readily do.

In particular, Mount Hua was not obligated to take responsibility to this extent in this situation.

They might have just offered the place and taken credit for it, but to make such a generous offer naturally evoked admiration.

“Then I will do so.”

“Please take care of them, Physician. Our Medicine Hall will do its best to help.”

“Yes. We are receiving great help…”

Puuk!

“Aaaaaaaaaakh!”

“Ah, what a crybaby! Even when our Sahyung gets stabbed with a bigger needle, they don’t even groan!”

“Mi- Miss… it hurts so much…”

“Be quiet. Turn this way… Huh? Not here? Uh… It’s been so long since I’ve done this, I’m a bit confused…”

A sound that made one’s hair tingle just by hearing it came out calmly.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll stick it in again.”

“Sa- Save me…….”

Puuk!

“Aaaaaakh!”

The foot of the person stabbed with the big needle stretched out toward the ceiling. Hyun Young and the representative physician, who was staring blankly at the trembling toes, turned their heads without saying a word.

“That….”

Hyun Young, who was about to say something, put his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat loudly.

“…We truly appreciate your efforts.”

“Yes… Elder-nim.”

What started as a warm conversation ended awkwardly.

“Have all the disciples’ bodies been collected?”

“Yes, Father-nim.”

Wei Lishan nodded heavily while remaining silent for a moment.

Considering the fierce battle they fought, the number of casualties wasn’t high. It was such a harsh battle that total annihilation wouldn’t have been surprising.

But as the leader of the sect, Wei Lishan couldn’t rejoice at the low number of casualties.

“…I’m ashamed to have survived.”

“Don’t say that, Father-nim. All the disciples saw how fiercely you fought as a munju.”

This wasn’t just a comforting statement for Wei Lishan.

Wei So-haeng really thought so. He felt prouder than ever to be the son of Wei Lishan.

And as far as he knows, the disciples of Huayin Sect were not too different from Wei So-haeng.

At least in this battle, Wei Lishan proved that he wasn’t just leading the sect with the halo of Mount Hua. He had shown not only gentleness and composure but also the valor befitting a martial artist to all his disciples.

“What have you decided to do with the bodies?”

“Shouldn’t we send them to their hometowns?”

“…Yes.”

Most of the other sects who made sacrifices were from Xi’an, but the hometown of Huayin Sect which moved from far away was Namyang. At the very least, they deserved to rest in their hometowns.

“I should go myself.”

“Father-nim, you’re not feeling well. I will go on your behalf.”

“No.”

Despite Wei So-haeng’s dissuasion, Wei Lishan shook his head firmly.

“This is a duty I must fulfill as the Munju of Huayin Sect.”

“Father-nim….”

Wei Lishan smiled faintly.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s a sad and regrettable event, painful indeed. But you should be proud of your Sahyung. Weren’t they most righteous until the very end?”

“Yes. I will never forget their last moments.”

Wei So-haeng’s eyes shone firmly, and Wei Lishan nodded lightly.

Hardships strengthen people.

It’s heartbreaking, but this will make Huayin Sect’s disciples become more like martial artist. That was the only consolation.

“Then I must hurry. It’s a long journey.”

“N- No.”

“Hm? We need to move before the bodies decay…”

“Mount Hua Sect Leader has arranged to get ice crystal for preservation. He said it would take a day or two, so he told us to wait.”

“…..Ice crystal for preservation?”

Wei Lishan bit his lower lip slightly.

That precious ice crystal will be used to preserve the corpse…. This was enough to surprise even Wei Lishan, who is familiar with Hyun Jong’s character.

“If we have the ice, the bodies won’t decay. Of course, we still need to leave as soon as possible, but since it will take about two days to get the ice, it might be better if you rest a bit…”

Wei Lishan closed his eyes quietly.

If there was ice in Hua, it wouldn’t take two days to get it, and if they had to find ice, it wouldn’t be possible in just two days. This must be Hyun Jong’s consideration, worried that Wei Lishan would leave without taking care of himself.

“…Let’s do that.”

“Yes, Father-nim.”

Wei Lishan glanced sideways and spoke

“So-haeng.”

“Yes.”

“Have you met Chung Myung Dojang?”

“…….”

Wei So-haeng quietly shook his head. Wei Lishan smiled faintly.

“It’s sad, but such things are inevitable for those living the life of a martial artist.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“So there’s no need to suppress it needlessly.”

“…….”

“It is my command as the master of the sect. Go and thank Chung Myung Dojang and the disciples of the main sect.”

“But….”

“That is also your duty as Somunju.”

Wei So-haeng nodded as if he couldn’t help it.

“Yes. I will do so.”

“Good. Go and return quickly.”

“Yes.”

Wei So-haeng carefully stood up, bowed, and left the room. Then, at a slow pace, we left Huayin Sect and headed towards the Eunha Merchant Guild where Mount Hua resides.

Tadak. Taktak!

His slow steps gradually picked up speed and eventually turned into a swift jog.

‘Chung Myung Dojang-nim!’

Since Chung Myung saved him, Wei So-haeng did not have a proper chance to express his gratitude because the situation hadn’t allowed for it.

‘I have to say thank you.’

It is also a matter of great concern to settle the affairs of the sect as a somunju, but it is also natural for a human being to express gratitude to the savior of his life.

He increased his speed enough to make his breathing difficult and quickly ran to the Eunha Merchant Guild.

But….

As Wei So-haeng neared the Eunha Merchant Guild, his steps gradually slowed.

And then, they stopped altogether.

A strange expression appeared on his face along with hesitation.

In the past, he would have dashed straight into the Eunha Merchant Guild and sought out Chung Myung without hesitation, but now, for some reason, his feet felt heavy.

‘Why?’

Wei So-haeng tilted his head because he couldn’t understand the change himself.

However, he had to say thank you, so he entered the Eunha Merchant Guild. But no matter how hard he looked around, he couldn’t see any of Mount Hua’s disciples.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

Wei So-haeng, who spoke to a passing laborer, asked with a rather stiff face.

“Where are the people from Mount Hua right now?”

“They should be in the Dining Hall. It’s mealtime. It’s that large hall you can see over there.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Wei So-haeng nodded his head in thanks and slowly made his way toward the Dining Hall. But an inexplicable feeling of discomfort kept clinging to his ankles.

As he nearly reached the Dining Hall, he spotted a familiar face. Standing outside, hesitating to enter, and appearing as unsure as Wei So-haeng was…

“Buntaju-nim?”

“Uh? Somunju, it’s you.”

Hong Dae-gwang looked at Wei So-haeng and nodded his head, seeming a bit perplexed.

“What are you doing here?”

Wei So-haeng forced himself to swallow the words, ‘like a dog that wants to poop,’ that was about to come out after him. Then Hong Dae-gwang sighed deeply.

“I came because I had something to say to Mount Hua Divine Dragon… No, to Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”

“Yes.”

“That… Should I say something is a little uncomfortable?”

Wei So-haeng’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I understand how strong Mount Hua has become..… My, I’m so proud of that. But for some reason, the appearance of Mount Hua I saw this time was so different from anything I knew, so much that somehow….”

Listening to Hong Dae-gwang’s mumbling words, Wei So-haeng finally understood the discomfort he had felt on the way here.

‘I felt so distant.’

He was afraid of facing them, of finding that they were no longer like the Mount Hua he knew.

He thought it was a stupid worry, but it was strange to see that not only Wei So-haeng but also Hong Dae-gwang felt the same thing.

“…But we should still go in, shouldn’t we?”

“Hngg.”

Hong Dae-gwang made a groaning sound.

He could worry about it all he wanted in private, but he couldn’t very well keep hesitating in front of Wei So-haeng.

“Let’s go in.”

If Wei So-haeng hadn’t been there, Hong Dae-gwang might have pressed his ear against the hall to eavesdrop on the conversations inside, but now that this is the case, he had no choice but to barge in.

Hong Dae-gwang, trying hard to feign calmness, opened the door to the Dining Hall at once.

“Yoo, Mount Hua sword…….”

Hong Dae-gwang’s mouth, which was trembling, closed automatically.

The moment he entered, all those inside turned to look at him in silence.

No, it was definitely like that before he even came in.

‘This, this….’

It wasn’t the lively Mount Hua he knew. The faces of everyone looking his way were frozen.

This is something that was not seen in Mount Hua Sect of the past, which always welcomed foreigners warmly.

Hong Dae-gwang was about to groan as he realized once again that his guess was correct.

“No, look heeeeeeeeeere!”

‘Hm?’

A familiar back of the head shot up in the front, letting out a shriek.

“Hah, what! It’s not like they’re human bastards, so why are we giving them food? Food!”

“…How many times do I have to say it? They’ll die if they don’t eat, you know?”

“They can die of hunger or boiling for all I care! Anyway, I’m fed up with these? Do you know how many people in the countryside still can’t eat even one meal a day? But what? Food? Fooooooooood? You ask me to give food to those bastards who deserve getting their blood succked dry at any moment? If I had food for those rotten bastards, I’d feed a dog! A dog!”

“No… they really will die, you know? They’ll go ‘kwack’ and die.”

“Ah? Ah… Ah!”

Chung Myung clapped his hands sharply with a smack.

“I get what you mean now.”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon, who had been desperately trying to persuade him with an exhausted face, felt a bad premonition and looked at Chung Myung.

Chung Myung asked with a refreshing face.

“So, you’re worried they might die?”

“Y- Yes. They might be people of the Evil Sects, but starving them to death is….”

“Then I’ll just make sure they die before they starve.”

“…Huh?”

“If I go and slit their throat now, it’ll all be settled, won’t it!? Just wait! I’ll go and make sure they never have to eat again!”

“Grab him!”

“Catch that guy!”

“Ah, for God’s sake! Just eat quietly for once, will you, you damned fool!”

“If you’ve got time to complain, then catch him!”

Chung Myung, who was about to draw his sword and make a dash for it, was suddenly swarmed by Mount Hua’s disciples and pinned down.

“Let me go! Let me go, won’t you? Have you shithead gone mad? Are you attacking me now to save those Evil Sect bastards? Since when did you guys start cozying up with the Evil Sects? It wasn’t like that in my time! In my time!”

“Ah, just shut up already! That mouth! That mouth!”

“Aack! Hold there properly! Properly!”

“Please… Please just let’s eat. Please….”

Hong Dae-gwang, who was staring blankly at the scene, heard a chuckling laugh in his ear.

“…….”

Wei So-haeng was laughing out loud as if he had never been nervous.

‘Nothing has changed.’

Even if they become stronger, even if they have a different status than in the past.

Mount Hua is just Mount Hua.

“Chung Myung Dojang!”

Wei So-haeng, realizing that, smiled brightly. Then he called out to Chung Myung and ran towards him.