Return of the Mount Hua Sect

It was a night of deep darkness, with even the moon hiding behind the clouds. A black shadow slowly made its way towards the warehouse at Eunha Merchant Guild.

While looking around, the shadow secretly hid in the shade to avoid the eyes of passers-by.

It seemed that his martial arts skills were quite advanced, and even the martial artists of the merchant guild, who must have been trained considerably, could not detect his presence and passed by without noticing.

“…….”

After waiting for the guard to completely pass, the shadowy figure cautiously approached the warehouse. Its eyes gleamed coldly as it observed the large padlock on the door.

Kkirik.

The shadowy figure gently placed his fingers on the keyhole of the padlock. After staying still for a moment, the shadow withdrew its hand and took out a thin wire from its pocket, bending it skillfully.

The wire, folded into shape, went into the keyhole.

And after a while.

Click.

The padlock opened effortlessly.

The shadow carefully removed the open lock, looked around once again, adjusted its mask, and then quietly entered the warehouse.

Sarak. Sarak.

The sound of fabric laid on the floor to protect the goods rustled quietly under his feet.

Successfully closing the door behind him, the shadow figure surveyed the warehouse with sharp eyes. It was full of all kinds of valuable items, but there seemed to be a separate object that the shadow figure was aiming for, as it did not rush to rummage here and there.

Soon he closed his eyes quietly in the middle of the warehouse. As if implying that the object the shadow figure is looking for cannot be determined with one’s eyes.

And….

Bonjjok.

Soon after, a dazzling light shone from the shadow figure’s eyes as he reopened them.

‘There.’

It walked forward without hesitation, patting the box stored in the innermost cold place with the back of his hand.

Tung. Tung.

The corners of the shadow figure’s mouth, hidden inside the mask, rolled up.

‘This is it.’

The shadow figure carefully untied the cloth wrapping the box. As the box was fully revealed, the figure grasped the firmly nailed lid and exerted force.

Udeuk. Udeuk.

Just as the lid was about to come off entirely,

Slam!

The warehouse door, which had been closed, opened violently and a group of martial artists poured inside.

“Stop moving!”

Then the man who was opening the lid was startled and looked back. The eyes revealed between the masks were horribly distorted.

“…Darn it.”

The hand moved before the head. As soon as he confirmed that there was a problem, the masked man thrust the box into his bosom and kicked the floor.

“Catch him!”

Some of the martial artists who drew the sword rushed like lightning, but the man soared up faster than the martial artists who followed him. He intended to escape through the ceiling.

In that instant, a golden fiery light soared right above the masked man’s head.

“Oooooooh!”

Hye Yeon threw himself at the masked man with a resentful punch. Startled for a moment, he flipped his body in mid-air, trying to change direction. But at that moment, Baek Cheon drew his sword and unleashed sword energy toward the masked man.

“Keuk!”

The man’s eyes twisted even more.

There’s nothing he can’t fight if he wants to, but the longer he drags time, the more will come. Instead of dealing with them one by one, he needs to get out…

It was that moment.

Chwarararak!

He heard the sound of metal intertwining from below, and then a large iron net flew in and hit the masked man.

“Argh!”

Pinned down by the net, the masked man plummeted to the ground.

“Hold him tight!”

“Don’t miss him!”

“Gotcha, this punk!”

Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol l held the end of the net tightly and pinned him to the floor. The man, who struggled for a moment, glared at those who had subdued him with his eyes filled with venom.

“This….”

A crunching sound came out from the man’s mouth. Approaching him slowly, Baek Cheon looked down coldly and said,

“…Take off his mask first.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

When Jo-Gol reached into the net and removed the mask, a very familiar face was revealed.

“Khaaaaak!”

‘Those who checked their faces sighed in unison.

The masked person, or rather, Chung Myung, glared at Hye Yeon with eyes full of venom.

“That damn bald monk! Were you serious with that punch?”

“…Amitabha. It was a misunderstanding, Siju.”

“Misunderstanding? Misunderstandiiiiiiiiiiiing? Ah, right? It’s a misunderstanding, right? Two misunderstandings and you could kill someone? Misunderstanding?”

“Ahem.”

Embarrassed, Hye Yeon awkwardly turned his head away. It was Baek Cheon who saved him from embarrassment.

“No matter…”

He was frowning as if he couldn’t understand it at all.

“No matter how much you wanted to drink, would you rob the merchant guild? Huh? You mad man!

Just then, a white liquor bottle tumbled down out of Chung Myung’s arms.

When Yoon Jong quickly snatched the bottle, Chung Myung shouted with his eyes wide open.

“I haven’t even tasted that yet!”

Baek Cheon shook his head in disbelief. Then he turned his gaze and praised Tang Soso.

“……As you say, the net is effective.”

“Of course, to catch a beast, a net is needed. It will be of no use if he holds a sword, though.”

“Even if he’s not in his right mind, he wouldn’t draw a sword against his Sahyung.”

“Except he did draw it?”

“…Let’s just say he was extremely not in his right mind.”

Baek Cheon squatted in front of Chung Myung, looking at Chung Myung as if he were staring at a stranger.

“Please act like a human being, yes? Where do you think this is….”

“No, then give me money!”

“…….”

“I don’t have a single penny! I can’t go out! I can’t even drink! What am I supposed to do then? practice Taoism?”

“…You’re a Taoist, Chung Myung-ah.”

And a Taoist is originally a person who practices Taoism!

It was that moment when Baek Cheon’s head dropped as if he had no more strength to say anything.

Ppong!

An incredibly refreshing sound rang out. Yoon Jong took off the cap of the liquor bottle without thinking.

At that moment, a clean and fragrant scent spread throughout the warehouse.

Gulp.

At that moment, Baek Cheon’s Adam’s apple moved greatly. He swallowed his saliva and turned his head in surprise, and Chung Myung was drooling with his eyes completely bloodshot.

“…That….”

Even others couldn’t take their eyes off the bottle.

Yoon Jong, who realised that he had made a big mistake, hurriedly closed the bottle cap again.

“…….”

“…….”

There was a strange silence.

The first person to open his mouth after breaking the silence was, of course, the bravest of Mount Hua Jo-Gol.

“That… Actually, Chung Myung did contribute in a way, so… a bottle of liquor wouldn’t hurt, right?”

Of course, with his hand behind, Chung Myung only watched from the back during this battle, but no one pointed out that fact.

“R- Right. In truth, for someone with Chung Myung Sahyung’s temperament, enduring this long is already remarkable. It’s like tying up a tiger and only feeding it grass instead of meat. It would be strange if he didn’t go crazy, right?”

Dang-Soso quickly stepped out to support Jo-Gol.

“Hmm. But we haven’t even properly mourned the victims yet…”

“Don’t people usually drink at a funeral?”

Yoon Jong, who was trying to politely oppose, looked at Jo-Gol’s sudden interjection. But he was momentarily speechless against this logic.

“Of course, we shouldn’t drink excessively. But it’s like one bottle.… Wouldn’t it be okay if we just keep an eye on him?”

It was at a time when Baek Cheon was about to cut Jo-Gol’s words off, saying they were nonsense.

“…and while we keep watch, we could also drink a little.”

“Sa- Samae.”

Baek Cheon looked at Yoo Iseol with shock. But she turned her gaze away very neatly, denying his gaze.

“Sasuk!”

“Huh?”

Jo-Gol spoke firmly with the face as if there were an unprecedented life-or-death enemy in front of him.

“…..Your decision!”

“Your wise judgment!”

“…….”

Baek Cheon’s trembling eyes fixed on the liquor bottle in Yoon Jong’s hand.

In truth, the ones truly craving liquor weren’t Chung Myung but them. Chung Myung must have found and drank the alcohol provided by Hwang Jongwi in between training sessions.

Well, it must have been difficult for Chung Myung to do the same after they left Mount Hua and went into the mountains, but the ones who had abstained the longest were them.

‘N- No, but….’

Baek Cheon tried to shake his head, mustering the superhuman patience and rationality of a future sect leader, but Five Swords’ eyes were all in sync glaring at Baek Cheon like fire arrows.

‘Dog bastards.’

To hell with decisions. They’ve already made up their minds.

“Keuhum.”

Baek Cheon cleared his throat with a look of agony and gently wiped the corners of his mouth. There was some light moisture on the sleeves.

“Then just one bottle….”

At that time, everyone raised their heads at the sound of a small sound coming from the front.

“…Monk?”

The box that Chung Myung had opened, Hye Yeon was lifting the whole thing before anyone realised.

“One, one bottle…….”

“Yes?”

Hye Yeon asked back, his big eyes shining brightly.

“…It’s nothing.”

Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong whispered softly as they approached Baek Cheon.

“Let’s sneak out secretly.”

“If possible, eat outside the merchant guild. We might get caught on the way back.”

“We need to cover our tracks properly. To be sure.”

“Keuhum.”

Jo-Gol and Yoon Jong discussing, Yoo Iseol quietly helping, and Baek Cheon who coughs as if he is innocent.

A weak voice leaked from Chung Myung’s mouth as he was staring blankly at the sight.

“…They’re having a good time.”

Get rid of the net, you punk!

* * *

Baek Cheon, Yoo Isel, Yoon Jong, Jo-Gol, Chung Myung, Tang Soso, Hye Yeon.

If Kangho were to see this group gathered in one place, they would surely be in awe.

Mount Hua’s first sword, Chung Myung, who went beyond a rising star and earned the recognition of even Jang Ilso, Baek Cheon, who attracts the attention of the world as Mount Hua’s next sect leader. And Mount Hua Five Swords, who cannot be compared with rising stars of other sects, and even Hye Yeon, the supreme talent of Shaolin.

They are the ones who are not short of being called the talented people who will lead Kangho in the future. It must be impressive that such people are sitting around in one place.

It’s obviously impressive. It is impressive, yet…

“Keuaaaaa!”

“Wow! This really sticks to the tongue!”

“Is it because it’s expensive? Or is it because it’s been a while since we drank?”

“One more cup.”

“Sago! Let me pour for you! I’ll do it!”

Looking at Tang Soso filling Yoo Iseol’s glass with alcohol, Baek Cheon couldn’t help but have an indescribable feeling.

‘Is this really okay?’

No matter what, stealing alcohol from someone else’s warehouse…

Gulp! Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

“…….”

But soon, he smiled contentedly.

From the moment he knew that it was Hye Yeon, not Chung Myung, drinking vigorously straight from the bottle over there, there was no point in this worry.

‘Let’s not overthink it.’

But…….

“Keuuu!”

Oh. The alcohol is great. It really sticks to one’s mouth

Baek Cheon, who let go of his thoughts, handed over a cup of alcohol and looked back at Chung Myung with a relaxed expression.

Gulp gulp gulp gulp.

He’s inhaling it.

Chung Myung was drinking as if he were a person wandering in the desert who found water and drank some.

“Keuuuuu!”

When he saw Chunng Myung’s expression as he pulled the empty bottle from his mouth with a pop… Well, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was anything special about happiness in life.

“Ah, I thought I was gonna die.”

“…No one dies from not drinking.”

“I almost became the first to do so.”

“…I’m afraid it won’t happen.”

Just stop talking.

“But still…”

With a serious face, Baek Cheon opened his mouth while looking at Chung Myung.

“What do you think will happen to you now?”

“Hm? What are you talking about all of a sudden? I was enjoying the drink..”

“I’m talking about Evil Tyrant Alliance.”

Thinking of them, a shadow naturally appeared on Baek Cheon’s face.

“From what I heard, it sounds like the situation there isn’t going well either. Do you think they can sort out this situation?”

Chung Myung wiped down his chin, where a trickle of alcohol had spilled.

“Hmm.”

And then he put the bottle down next to him. His eyes were slightly dimmed as he raised his head.