Chapter 1910 - Return of The Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1910. I’m Home. (4) ❀ ❀ ❀

“Huaaaaah!”

Thud!

Jo Geol threw himself onto his bed. The bedding, freshly dried in the sunlight, gave off a warm scent.

“This is home. Home! This is what home feels like!”

“……Your home is in Sichuan, Geol-ah.”

“What are you saying! My home is here! That place is just where I grew up.”

“You said that once you came of age, you’d go back home without even looking back.”

“What kind of ancient story are you digging up now.”

Muttering under his breath, Jo Geol tenderly kneaded his pillow.

“I missed you, my musty-smelling pillow.”

“You changed that pillow less than half a year ago.”

Yoon Jong, as usual, scolded him while sitting down on his own bed. Then, for some reason, he ran his hand along the bedding with a faintly nostalgic expression.

Watching him quietly, Jo Geol smirked.

“What’s with that face? The ‘I never thought I’d live long enough to come back here’ kind of face?”

“…Did you learn mind reading or something?”

“Tsk, tsk. Come on. You’re an open book.”

Jo Geol chuckled and sat upright. Even his face showed a hint of sentimentality as he looked around the room.

He wasn’t as obvious as Yoon Jong, but a corner of his heart was still restless. If even one thing had gone wrong in all that chaos, they would’ve never returned here alive.

“Sahyung. Isn’t it true that you feel most at peace when you’re on Mount Hua?”

Jo Geol spoke softly, almost bashfully. For someone like him, saying something like that wasn’t easy.

But Yoon Jong gave him a look that said he was absurd.

“What kind of obvious thing are you saying?”

“Huh?”

“Think about everything that’s happened every time we left the mountain gate. No matter how kindly you put it, every trip has been a near-death experience.”

“Uh?”

“So of course, I feel most at peace when I’m staying on Mount Hua.”

“Uh…?”

Jo Geol tilted his head.

“When you put it that way…”

“If you’re going to jinx it, shut your mouth. I still get scared thinking Cheong Myeong might suddenly kick the door open and drag us off somewhere again. I’m never getting dragged off again. I’d rather have a knife stabbed into my leg.”

Jo Geol nodded with a dazed look.

He had thought home was just warm and comfortable, but apparently, it was the world outside that was hell.

“Well, at least we probably won’t be sent out anywhere for a while now, right?”

“Ah. I told you not to jinx it—”

Thud thud thud.

At the sound from outside, both of them instantly turned toward the door.

As if planned, they looked at each other. Fear flickered in their eyes. The footsteps were getting closer.

Thud thud thud thud!

“Eeeek!”

“What the hell is that?!”

Jo Geol shouted and dashed to the door, flinging it open as if to break it down.

“I’m not going! Just kill me instead!”

“What are you yelling about all of a sudden?”

“Huh? Soso-ya?”

Standing in front of the door was Tang Soso. She raised an eyebrow at Jo Geol, looking completely dumbfounded.

“Wh- why are you here all of a sudden?”

“What do you mean, why? Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Huh?”

Only then did Jo Geol instinctively grab his growling stomach. Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten because he’d been busy cleaning.

“They said everyone should come out to eat.”

“Ah…”

“Seriously, people always get weird the moment they return to Mount Hua. Maybe this place has bad energy.”

Soso glanced at them pitifully before turning sharply away. Left alone again, Yoon Jong and Jo Geol exchanged awkward looks.

“Guess we should… eat.”

“Yeah…”

Feeling embarrassed for no reason, they both cleared their throats and left the room.

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Thud! Thud!

“Wow…”

“There was a boar that big up there?”

“Seriously, he always finds them like a ghost. And this time, two of them.”

The Baek generation disciples clicked their tongues as they watched Cheong Myeong toss down two boars off his shoulders, each larger than his own body.

“No, wait, that doesn’t look like just two.”

“Huh?”

“There.”

Baek Cheon narrowed his eyes and looked toward the mountain gate.

“Huh?”

Scrape, scrape, scrape.

Following Baek Cheon’s gaze, the others turned toward the gate and their jaws dropped open.

An enormous boar, almost the size of a small house, no exaggeration, was approaching them. More precisely, it was being dragged along on its side.

“Wh-what in the world is that?”

“Is that a boar spirit chasing Cheong Myeong?”

“No, look closer! Down below!”

“Below?”

Everyone’s eyes dropped lower. Upon closer inspection, something white was clamped onto the boar, dragging it along.

“Isn’t that Baek-ah?”

“Wow, seriously? That thing managed to pull that? The boar’s leg looks bigger than Baek-ah’s whole body.”

“That’s why it’s called a spiritual beast.”

“Well, sure, but still...”

The disciples of Mount Hua couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“…And who dressed Baek-ah in a new robe again?”

“It’s gotta be Soso. Who else in Mount Hua would bother taking care of that one’s clothes?”

Scrape, scrape, scrape.

Baek-ah, who had somehow dragged a wild boar nearly ten times their own size all the way past the mountain gate, finally dropped it and tapped the ground twice with their hind legs.

“It look proud of themselves.”

“It’s puffing out its belly. Its belly.”

“…This is starting to get a little scary. I know it’s a spiritual beast, but don’t you think it’s getting too human-like?”

“It’d be fine if it was just human. Lately, it’s getting so much like Cheong Myeong and giving me chills.”

At that, Cheong Myeong, who had been watching Baek-ah with clear disapproval, clicked his tongue.

“Take the chance and go to Yunnan with the Beast Palace people. Yet you insisted on following us all the way here….”

“Let it go. It’s even wearing a proper robe now, at this point you might as well count it as one of Myeong generation disciples.”

“Don’t say nonsense! There’s a limit even if the sect falls into disarray!”

“……Haven’t you ever thought you’re the one who destroyed the limits, Cheong Myeong?”

Cheong Myeong clicked his tongue again, displeased, then gestured toward the boars.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Do you want me to catch them and roast them too? All our illustrious Sahyungs will just sit there and suck their thumbs while watching?”

“Oh no, as if that would happen.”

“Yes, yes. Don’t worry, Your Excellency. We’ll have them ready shortly.”

The Mount Hua disciples, deftly flattering him, drew their swords and charged the boars as if on cue. The sword-trained disciples, skilled and efficient, skinned them and finished the initial prep, then skewered the big pieces of boar onto a large wooden spit.

“Light the fire!”

“Euscha!”

They quickly built a roaring fire, set up the spit, and in no time had a whole roasted boar ready.

“Three of these enough, you think?”

“At that size, it should be.”

The Mount Hua disciples clustered around the fire as the meat browned to a golden roast.

Drawn by the commotion, the disciples from Diancang stood there dumbfounded, just watching.

“Um, Sahyung.”

“……Yes?”

“Mount Hua is a Taoist sect, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And this is Mount Hua’s training ground.”

“……That’s right.”

“So… do Central Plains orthodox sects usually roast boars on their training grounds?”

“…….”

“No. I heard Taoists mostly eat raw foods. Is it really okay for them to be eating meat like this?”

Lee Danhui shook his head emphatically.

“Oh, that’s a misunderstanding.”

“Eh?”

“It’s not that Buddhists or Taoists never eat meat. They simply avoid taking life themselves.”

“Ah.”

“So it’s wrong to kill just for meat, but eating something already dead is fine. Do you understand? Don’t judge people using half-baked knowledge.”

“Oh, is that so? Then…….”

One of Lee Danhui’s disciples pointed at the boar roasting on the spit, looking delicious.

“Who killed those? Were they struck by lightning or what?”

 “Keuheuheuheum!”

Lee Danhui cleared his throat loudly.

“Sahyung?”

“Quiet. Don’t make a scene when you’re in another sect’s domain.”

The disciple shot him a look that clearly said, ‘Out of things to say, so you’re changing the subject?’ but Lee Danhui firmly looked away.

After all, what else could he possibly say? A bunch of Taoists were roasting boars on the training ground.

What was more astonishing was that the elders of the sect, the so-called dignitaries, weren’t scolding them. Instead, they each grabbed a large platter, casually settled nearby, and sat down.

It was a sight that felt not just unfamiliar, but downright bizarre.

Taoists eating whole roasted boar? That was still within the realm of comprehension. What was truly unfamiliar was…

‘Have I ever seen such a thing in my life?’

The sect leader, elders, even the youngest disciples were sitting together informally, with no division of territory or ceremony. And yet no one seemed to find anything odd about it.

In a prestigious sect that valued etiquette, formality and discipline above all, such a scene was unthinkable. What would the Lee Danhui of just a few years ago have thought, looking upon such a scene?

‘I’d have sneered at them for being a rootless, undisciplined sect.’

But could he now mock Mount Hua as rootless? No, Who in the world could say that aloud?

 “Looks like it’s done cooking, doesn’t it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. The skin might be just about cooked. It’ll take a long time to cook through to the center.”

“Then we can at least eat the skin, right?”

“Oh, true? Are you a genius?”

The swordsmen of Mount Hua burst into laughter as they eagerly crowded closer to the bonfire.

 “No! Don't you dare cut up the boar with the precious swords our family made, you sahyungs! We have kitchen knives!"

“This... this is just too comfortable in my hand.”

“A kitchen knife is too dull compared to this sword. Come on, please understand, Soso-ya.”

“You damn people!”

The Mount Hua disciples took their portions of pork and returned to their places.

“Ugh, this is killing me.”

“As expected, the pigs raised on Mount Hua have that perfect chew. Low fat, firm texture. Why can’t other places taste like this?”

“Wild boars that trot up and down those slopes have to be tough.”

“……Suddenly getting solemn.”

The disciples of Mount Hua smacked their lips.

It felt nice to finally have some pork from Mount Hua again (?), but somehow… somehow, it just felt a little lacking, you know?

“……There’s no alcohol, right?”

“I heard the liquor storage is completely empty.”

“Ugh.”

“Besides, even if Mount Hua’s become rather loose lately, we can’t possibly drink openly with both the Sect Leader and the Grand Sect Leader here.”

“We drank before.”

“Shh! We agreed to forget that. Keep quiet, please.”

Just as the disciples of Mount Hua licked their lips in disappointment-

“Mm. Looks like it’s arrived.”

“Eh?”

A commotion rose near the mountain gate, and soon a group of people appeared, each carrying large jars on their backs.

“Huh? Who are they?”

“Wait. That thing they’re carrying on their backs…”

As they watched, Hwang Jong-ui trudged forward wearily.

“Eek! A ghost! It’s a ghost!”

“Hey, idiot, look closer! That’s the head of the Eunha Merchant Guild! Show some respect!”

“Then why does he look so pale?”

“He just lost a bit of weight.”

“…Doesn’t look like just that. More like his soul’s been sucked out.”

Looking as though he stood at the very edge of his life, Hwang Jong-ui forced an awkward smile.

“Heroes of Mount Hua, welcome back. This liquor was prepared by the Eunha Merchant Guild in your honor. Please, enjoy yourselves tonight as much as you wish.”

All eyes of the Mount Hua disciples shifted from Hwang Jong-ui to Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong gave a small shrug.

“It wouldn’t be polite to refuse a gift, would it?”

“Yeeeeah!!”

“Alcohol!”

“Out of the way, everyone! I’m first!”

“Ba- Baek Cheon Sahyung?”

As soon as the paper seals covering the jars were torn off, a strong aroma of liquor spread in all directions.

“Thank you, Lord of the Eunha Merchant Guild!”

“Heavens, hauling this all the way up the mountain couldn’t have been easy.”

“When did you even prepare all this? As expected of the Eunha Merchant Guild! No wonder you’re rich!”

“Hahaha…”

Smiles and praise flooded from every direction as Hwang Jong-ui gave a strained, gentle laugh.

There was, of course, no need to mention how, after hearing the thinly veiled threat— ‘You wouldn’t have come all the way up here empty-handed after all our suffering, right? Got any gifts? Huh? A gift? Preferably alcohol, enough for everyone to drink and celebrate?’ —he had swallowed his tears and sent a messenger racing down the mountain.

“Let’s drink!”

“Now it really feels like we’re home!”

“Ahh, have a cup, Sahyung.”

“Alright, pour one.”

As the Mount Hua disciples threw back strong liquor with reckless abandon, Hwang Jong-ui quietly watched them for a while before slowly approaching Cheong Myeong, who was sipping alone in a corner.

Cheong Myeong tilted his head, as if to say ‘What is it now?’

“Do you think this is enough, Dojang? Wouldn’t it be better to hold a proper welcoming ceremony?”

It wasn’t that Hwang Jong-ui hadn’t thought about it. They’d returned without warning, leaving little time to prepare, but he’d already planned to rent out an entire inn in Huayin for a grand celebration.

Yet Cheong Myeong didn’t seem fond of the idea.

“This is fine as it is.”

“……Hmm.”

“Don’t you think so?”

Hwang Jong-ui glanced at the campfire. Night had fallen completely; the fire glowed red, lighting the circle of faces around it. Everyone was laughing, talking loudly, their joy burning away something heavier. As if casting their burdens into the flames.

“I suppose so,” he admitted.

“I understand your wish to welcome everyone warmly. But… sometimes, instead of celebration, what people need most is to forget.”

Cheong Myeong extended the cup he held toward him.

“More importantly, have a drink.”

“Me too?”

“Why not? It’s not so different from the war just ending here too, is it?”

At that, Hwang Jong-ui gave a faint chuckle.

“Somehow, I think it’s only going to get busier.”

“That’s just how life is.”

Hwang Jong-ui laughed quietly and accepted the cup. The clear stream of liquor shimmered gold in the flickering firelight as it poured.

“Hey, the Diancang people, come join us!”

“Ah, they’re not old enough to drink yet! How many times do I have to say it?”

“But they can eat meat, can’t they? Besides, I stole my dad’s liquor when I was ten!”

“Ah, that explains your condition. Now I understand.”

“……What’s that supposed to mean, Sahyung?”

The laughter, the chatter, the faint sound of someone humming a tune...

As smoke rose from the mountain peak, the emotions they hadn’t yet tied off scattered quietly into the night sky.

Next Chapter

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