Return of the Mount Hua Sect

As she descended endlessly into the darkness, a strange sensation approached her. It was something cool yet warm, and gentle.

‘Ah….’

The woman slowly opened her eyes. She barely managed to lift her heavy eyelids, and her vision began to clear. What she saw was a slightly dark ceiling and someone holding her hand.

‘Who….’

She saw a young man with a pale complexion.

Even in her dazed state, a momentary sense of alertness washed over her. But as soon as she saw the black martial arts uniform he wore, she relaxed again.

‘Taoist….’

A vague memory resurfaced. She faintly recalled the sound of the word ‘Taoist’ while she had been drifting in and out of consciousness.

“Ah…”

The moment she opened her mouth to say something, a refreshing voice pierced her ears. It was a young female Taoist with her hair braided into two pigtails.

“You’re awake?”

It was a strange thing. She had never seen this young female Taoist before, yet just seeing her attire inexplicably reassured her. Well, it’s only natural for her. Someone wearing a Taoist uniform wouldn’t harm others.

“How are is it?”

When the female Taoist asked, the man who had been checking her pulse responded.

“She’s much more stable now.”

“Now then, take a step back and rest. You’re not in good shape yourself, Sahyung.”

“I’m fine.”

“…You never listen. It doesn’t have to be Sahyung.”

“It’s fine. I can still manage.”

“Yes, yes. Do as you wish, as you wish. Instead, I will tell this to Sect Leader and the elders.”

The woman, who had been listening intently to the bickering conversation between the two, suddenly remembered something and trembled.

“Ha- Hagi…. My Hagi…!” (I suppose it’s the child’s name.)

“Oh gosh. What am I thinking!”

The female Taoist with pigtails ran to one side. Then she came again, holding something wrapped in a thick blanket.

“The child is fine.”

The woman accepted the child with trembling hands. It was only when she saw the peaceful face visible through the swaddling cloth that a sense of calm washed over her face.

“Aah….”

Her hand gently caressed the baby’s cheek.

“He fell asleep from exhaustion. He’s healthy, so you don’t need to worry. He did wake up and cry loudly once earlier.”

“Thank you… Really, thank you so much…”

“You’re welcome.”

As the woman, filled with relief and gratitude, tried to say more, the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang.

“She’s awake?”

A group of burly men in black martial arts uniforms rushed in. The woman was startled and looked at the people running towards her.

Similarly, they were Taoists wearing black uniforms. The reason they don’t seem very threatening even though they have swords on their belts is perhaps because of their attire and the concern etched on their faces.

“Quiet down, you fools! There’s a patient here!”

“…Yes.”

“Sorry….”

“We were just happy…”

At the female Taoist’s sharp scolding, the men, who had come in cheerfully, immediately drooped their shoulders and lowered their heads. The shriveled appearance brought reassurance to the woman’s heart.

“But this place….”

“Oh, this is inside a ship.”

“Ship…?”

The young woman with the braided hair, Tang Soso, answered with a smile.

“Yes. We thought Hangzhou was no place to stay, so we brought you with us. We’re currently heading north of the Yangtze River.”

The woman stared at the ceiling with a momentarily stiffened face.

The moment she heard the word Hangzhou, those hellish scenes came vividly into her mind. Her body suddenly stiffened and she recoiled from the overwhelming fear. At that time, cool and soft energy rushed into the hand held by the Taoist next to her.

The energy coursed through her body, pushing the fear away once more.

“Ah…. That’s what happened… I see.”

The woman didn’t ask anymore. What happened to Hangzhou, what happened to the others. She already knows that.

“And you all are…?”

“We are all Taoists of Mount Hua Sect.”

Baek Cheon, who was standing right behind Tang Soso, spoke a little slowly. He seemed to try not to sound as threatening as possible.

“Mount Hua….”

“Yes. We are from a Taoist sect in Shaanxi.”

Baek Cheon glanced back at the disciples standing next to him and spoke calmly.

“We may look rough, but surprisingly, we are Taoists. We are not bad people, so please don’t worry.”

“…Is that really something you should say about someone’s appearance?”

“Gol-ah.”

“Why? Sahyung, don’t you feel bad…?”

“Sasuk is allowed to say that.”

Jo-Gol, who was momentarily speechless, glanced up at Baek Cheon’s face. Then, with a dark expression, he muttered something unintelligible. It was probably something about the world’s injustice.

“You don’t need to worry anymore. The cultists who attacked Hangzhou have all retreated.”

“…You saved me….”

“It was just luck.”

Hearing the calm voice, the woman fell silent for a moment. Soon, tears welled up in her eyes.

“…Thank you.”

Everyone held their breath as a trembling voice came out.

“Thank you… so much. Really… Really, thank you so much…”

The disciples of Mount Hua, not knowing what to say, simply gazed at the woman in silence. Then Un Gum, who was watching the situation behind, smiled and opened his mouth.

“We just did what we should as Taoists. We’re sorry we arrived so late.”

“No…. Just, thank you.”

After awkwardly wiping his nose, Jo-Gol looked at the child in the woman’s arms and started talking.

“What a smart-looking little one. Reminds me of myself when I was a child.”

Criticism poured in from all sides.

“Don’t speak nonsense to the child!”

“Is that something a Taoist should say? You scoundrel!”

“This snout!”

As it turns out, Jo-Gol, a child from a wealthy family who grew up in a prestigious family, looked very aggrieved, but unfortunately, Mount Hua Sect was a cold-hearted sect that didn’t concern itself with individual grievances.

“No, look! This cheek…”

It was the moment when Jo-Gol pressed the child’s cheek with his index finger. The child opened his eyes to the touch and suddenly burst into tears.

“Uh, uuh? I- I’m not like that….”

“But this bastard really!”

In the end, Yoon Jong’s fist mercilessly turns Jo-Gol’s chin away. Despite this, Jo-Gol couldn’t even scream for fear of startling the child and was sent flying.

“The baby seems hungry.”

“Ah….”

The child’s mother looked at the crying child and turned to Mount Hua’s disciples.

“Can we help with anything?”

“What should we do?”

“Just order it!”

Everyone was flustered and blurted out anything. Tang Soso’s forehead creased with veins showing.

“Sahyung.”

“Yes?”

“…The baby needs to be fed. So, leave immediately.”

“Yes.”

The men of Mount Hua Sect rushed out without even looking back. Chung Myung also stood up and went out with them.

“Anyway….”

Tang Soso clicked her tongue and shook her head, then firmly closed the open door. Meanwhile, the woman had started nursing her baby, gently stroking the child’s cheek and head. Tang Soso spoke with an unexpectedly soft voice.

“I’ll prepare some porridge for you soon, so please wait a little.”

“I can’t trouble you like that…”

“What trouble? It’s the least we can do. Don’t worry. Although my Sahyung are a bit stupid, they are very capable.”

Tang Soso added with a slight smile.

“And they’re all very good people. So kind-hearted…”

The woman looked at Tang Soso in silence. Tang Soso’s gaze as she looked at the closed door was warm. She could clearly feel how much she cared for and liked them.

‘It’s a nice place.’

From their relationship alone, she could tell they were all warm-hearted people.

Then, with a suddenly darkened face, the woman hesitantly began to speak.

“Where will we go now…?”

“Yes? Ah!”

Tang Soso looked back at the woman and quickly explained.

“Anyway, Hangzhou is no longer a place where people can live, so we’re taking you to a safe place. Do you have anywhere you can stay?”

The woman shook her head with a helpless and sad look on her face.

People who cultivate the land usually live with their families in one area. If she cannot return to Hangzhou, it means that she and her child will have no place in this wide Jungwon.

“Hmm. Well… we could find a village along the Yangtze River for you to stay, but…”

Tang Soso scratched her cheek. It was far too difficult for a woman raising a young child to live alone in a foreign place. It was also dangerous.

“If you have nowhere to go, you could come to Sichuan or Shaanxi. The Tang Family is building a new village in Sichuan, and Huayin in Shaanxi is a very nice place to live. The people there are kind-hearted too.”

The woman’s face hardened. Sichuan and Shaanxi. She had only heard the names and didn’t even know where they were. The thought of going to such places to live alone while taking care of her young child filled her with anxiety.

But at that moment, someone held her hand tightly.

When she turned her head, a woman she didn’t know had been there was holding her hand with an indifferent expression. Her calm voice came out.

“It’s okay.”

“….”

“They’re all good places.”

An expressionless face. The face may look a little scary due to its cold expression, but she felt strangely reassured, perhaps because the hand she was holding was warm.

Yoo Iseol, who was not used to dealing with people, was also desperate to somehow reassure the woman.

Tang Soso smiled as he saw such Yoo Iseol. And she added cheerfully.

“Yes, that’s right. There’s no need to worry too much. Our Sect Leader will take care of everything somehow. Just focus on recovering your health.”

“…Yes.”

The woman holding the child gripped her hand tighter.

The strong hands seemed to speak for themselves. No matter what happens, she will protect this child. Yoo Iseol let go of her hands and stood up.

Tang Soso said.

“Then get some rest. I’ll bring you some porridge soon.”

“…Thank you.”

She quietly led Yoo Iseol out of the cabin. As soon as the door closed, Yoo Iseol asked Tang Soso.

“Is everything really okay?”

“yes. Thanks to the unreasonable effort of Chung Myung Sahyung.”

“….”

“Anyway, that unstoppable man. Even though his own body isn’t fully healed, he never listens no matter how much we scold him.”

“Yes, that’s how he is. I know, but…”

“Yes, that kind of person. I know, but….”

Tang Soso sighed deeply. She wished he would understand that while he worries about others, someone else worries about him too. Though she knew it wouldn’t be easy.

“The child…”

“The child is fine too, Sago. Don’t worry.”

Yoo Iseol nodded slightly and stared at the rippling Yangtze River. After a long while, she spoke in a small voice.

“My mother too….”

“….”

“Would she have looked at me like that too?”

Tang Soso quietly stretched out her hand and lightly held Yoo Iseol’s hand.

“She must have.”

“….”

“Definitely.”

Yoo Iseol slowly nodded. After a moment, she asked.

“How do you make porridge?”

“…I will do it.”

“I asked how to make it.”

“I will do it.”

In response to that soft but firm answer, Yoo Iseol slightly pouted her lips.