Return of the Mount Hua Sect
Chap 712

𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘩

Chung Myung rushed forward.

In one hand, he held the nape of Jin Yang-geon's neck. Jin Yang-geon was like a doll in the hands of a child, he could only close his eyes tightly and tremble like an aspen tree.

'It must be hard for you.'

Jo Gul, who had followed Chung Myung from behind, shook his head.

This is probably the first time in Jin Yang-geon's life. Even if he rode on the back of a galloping horse and carried the fear of falling from its back, it would still be way better than being held onto Chung Myung’s hand and ‘running’ at this speed though.

Looking at Jin Yang-geon's pale face as if it was drained of all drops of blood, sympathy welled up in the hearts of Five Swords, even though he was a swindler who pretended to be a Mount Hua’s disciple.

Then, Yoon Jong softly opened his mouth.

“Sasuk.”

"Hmm."

“… … Will he be okay?”

Instead of answering, Baek Cheon stared at Chung Myung’s indifferent back for a long while. And he answered in a heavy tone.

“… … I don't know.”

Yoon Jong's face hardened slightly.

“I knew from the start that he was in a rather unusual state, but… … Still, I never imagined that he would leave without looting anything.”

Come to think of it, as Chung Myung came to the Golden Sword Manor in order to capture Jin Yang-geon, he destroyed Iron Pike House who stood in his way, helping them subdue the latter without suffering any damage.

What kind of place is the Golden Sword Manor? It is a doorway rumored to be rich.

If it was usual, Chung Myung would have used this as an excuse to pull out the root of the pillar of the Golden Sword Manor. And by now, the Lord of the Golden Sword Manor should be holding on to his stomach agonizing in pain.

However, Chung Myung didn't even pay attention to the manor, and as soon as the preparations were finished, he grabbed the back of Jin Yang-geon and started running. As if money wasn't important.

“… … Tome.”

At that muttering voice, the two of them turned their heads to the side.

Yu Yi-seol murmured as she looked at Chung Myung's back.

“Related… … to that tome."

"Well. I think so too.”

"Yes?"

Baek Cheon nodded in agreement.

“Anyway, it seems that the martial tome he mentioned is somehow related to Chung Myung.”

“… … But how does he know what it is?”

"Before… … .”

Baek Cheon paused for a moment as if to organize his thoughts before opening his mouth again.

“Un Am sasuk said that when Chung Myung was about to explain what kind of relationship he had with Mount Hua, Sect Leader stopped him, saying that he didn’t need to hear it.”

“… … was there such a thing?”

At Yoon Jong's question, Baek Cheon nodded.

“The fact that he had something to tell means that he has a story of his own. So I’m thinking, maybe his reaction now has something to do with that story.”

Jo Gul, who had been silently listening to the conversation, frowned.

“No, why did the Sect Leader stop him? I was always curious about where he fell from... … .”

"This insolent brat!"

Baek Cheon sternly scolded. Jo Gul jerked his neck back in awe as he saw that.

“Oh, no… … . I'm not saying that the Sect Leader was wrong... … .”

"Did you really think Sect Leader did that without any thoughts?"

Baek Cheon said bitterly with a slightly softened face.

“Those who return to Mount Hua are bound to be those who did leave in the past. Whatever the story, they are the ones who turned their backs on Mount Hua.”

“… … .”

"That's why he didn't want to listen. Perhaps for him, the fact that the descendant of the one who had left for some reason returned to Mount Hua on their own feet while the sect was on the verge of collapse, that was enough.”

"Ah… … .”

Jo Gul nodded.

Perhaps he now understood a little why the Sect Leader didn't want to hear the story of Chung Myung.

Baek Cheon’s gaze turned to the running back of Cheong Myeong.

“Just go and you will know. What is the story behind, why is he in such a hurry?”

In fact, what Baek Cheon was really worried about was not the story of Chung Myung. To be perfectly honest, he didn’t care about the story or the importance of the tome at all.

He just… … .

'Chung Myung.'

He just wanted when all of this was over, he’d see that frozen face shine brightly again as it always was.

"Sahyung."

"Yes?"

At that moment, Yu Yi-seol secretly looked at Baek-cheon and said lowly.

“Guangdong.”

“… … What do you mean?”

“If we keep going this way, we will reach Guangdong. There... … .”

“… … .”

Baek Cheon's face hardened as he bit his lips.

'It's the headquarters of Thousand People Room.'

Normally, it would be difficult to enter Thousand People Room's territory. Not to mention they had just killed two masters of Thousand People Room not long ago, so entering Guangdong is even more dangerous.

“I don’t think Thousand People Room will be able to have full control over the vast Guangdong. Besides, from what we've heard, the man's hometown seems to be in a remote countryside.”

“I guess so.”

"It's something that can't be stopped now anyway, so let’s just pray and hope that nothing big happens."

Everyone nodded and spurred on their running feet.

At the same speed as the rays of light, Mount Hua’s disciples hastened their steps and shot forward.

* * *

“Is it here?”

“Yes, yes! Right here!”

Jin Yang-geon nodded his head with a face that looked like he would burst into tears at any moment. When they just started, there was still a bit of aura on his face, but now even if you put him in a coffin, anyone who looked at it would find it hard to distinguish him from a corpse.

“This is my hometown.”

Chung Myung's gaze crossed the small village in front of him and headed further back. He could see jagged mountain peaks in the distance.

It looks quite small when looking from here, but as they get closer, hundreds and thousands of mountains line up in their eyes, forming a mountain range.

‘Hundred Thousand Mountain Range’

Is what people call this place.

“… … Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”

Hearing that, Mount Hua’s disciples all stared at the place where Chung Myung's eyes reached. Unconscious groans leaked out.

"Ah… … ,”

“… … over there... … .”

Is there any other place in the world that can radiate such complex emotions and great weight at the same time? In an instant, it felt as if their shoulders were being squeezed.

'It was the base of the Demonic Cult... … .'

'Where Mount Hua fought.'

While everyone was staring blankly at the ridge, Jo Gul suddenly asked in a questionable voice.

“Wasn't the Hundred Thousand Mountain Range in Xinjiang?”

“… … yes?"

Yoon Jong slightly agreed.

“I heard that too.”

“No, I heard ít’s in Guangdong though? It is on the border between Guangdong and Guangxi.”

Tang So-so tilted her head and said.

Chung Myung’s eyes still didn’t leave the ridge, he opened his mouth.

“Both are correct.”

"Yes?"

"Just think about it. The Demonic Cult has returned and invaded Zhongyuan many times.”

"Right."

“By the way, would they dare to return to where they originally stayed? If they lose, of course they have to run away.”

“… … I guess so.”

“Martial artists are not fools, so they thoroughly destroyed and monitored the places where the Demonic Cult once stayed. So every time the Demonic Cult reappeared, they had to start somewhere else. Among them, the places where they showed up most frequently are Ten Thousand Great Mountains on the border of Qinghai and Xinjiang, and Ten Thousand Great Mountains here.”

"Ah… … .”

“Wherever the Demonic Cult appears, that place will be the Hundred Thousand Mountain Range.”

Chung Myung's eyes narrowed slightly.

There won't be any traces of the Demonic Cult in the past on that mountain anymore. A hundred years is a long time, and the remnants must be staying out of reach of Zhongyuan by now for the revival of the Demonic Cult.

So that place is now just an ordinary mountain.

However… … .

Chung Myeong closed his eyes tightly.

'In that place not far away.'

He thought.

Considering where they were heading when they heard the news that Chung Jin was missing, it could only be around here.

However, Chung Myung at the time could not go out to find Cheongjin. In the midst of everyone preparing for the final battle, he couldn't pull himself out for a personal reason.

It was his decision, and it was also Chung Mun’s decision.

Even now, he doesn't think that decision was wrong.

It’s just… … .

Chung Myung sighed softly and asked.

“Where is the martial tome?”

“My, my house… … .”

"Lead the way."

"Yes!"

Everyone entered the village following Jin Yang-geon as he rushed in front. After crossing the village where small thatched houses are sparsely located, they stopped in front of an exceptionally old house.

“Pleas- please wait!”

As if being chased by a ghost, Jin Yang-geon gasped while rushing into his house and began tearing off the floor with his bare hands. Finally, he pulled out a small chest.

“Here, here you are.”

He quickly handed the chest to Chung Myung.

However, Chung Myung did not think of extending his hand to receive it, just staring at it in silence.

“… … .”

Feeling nervous, Jin Yang-geon trembled and swallowed dry saliva. However, no one here could break this silence and urge Chung Myung.

After staring like that for a while, Chung Myeong finally reached out and quietly opened the lid of the chest.

The smell of old tomes hit the tip of his nose, and then a book that looked like it was about to crumble appeared.

A book with nothing written on the front.

Chung Myung silently reached out and grabbed it. Baek Cheon did not miss the trembling of his fingertips.

The book Chung Myung carefully took out had a rather strange shape.

A form in which two books are punched a hole and tied together.

Chung Myung unfolded the book in a delicate manner that they had never seen before and carefully turned each page one by one.

𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘧.

𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘧.

Only the sound of turning pages echoed in the stillness.

After carefully examining each page one by one, Chung Myung closed the book and put it back into the chest.

𝘛𝘢𝘬.

After closing the lid, Chung Myung took the chest in Jin Yang-geon's hand and held it in his hand.

Baek Cheon secretly sighed as he watched Chung Myung, who usually did not hesitate to kick a chest full of valuables, handling that chest carefully as if raising a cup of wine to offer

He didn't know exactly what that book was, or what kind of story he has, but at least they didn’t waste their time coming here.

“Guide the way.”

At those short words of Chung Myung, Jin Yang-geon quickly nodded again.

“This… this way. The hunter who discovered the martial tome lives in the house across from here!”

Then, without waiting for an answer, he started running towards the house across the street.

“Uncle Pyo! Uncle Pyo!”

Jin Yang-geon kicked the door and hurriedly rushed into the yard, then he knocked on the door like a man on the run.

“Uncle, are you there! It’s me! Jin Yang-geon!”

As Jin Yang-geon's voice grew increasingly urgent, the door finally burst open. And an elderly man who looked quite old stuck his head out.

"You are?"

“Hey, it’s me, uncle! It’s Ageon.”

“… … Ageon? uh… … . huh? Are you really Ageon?”

“Yes, me!”

“This brat, when you left, you said that you would come back only when you succeeded... But why do you look like this? You must have suffered a lot. Anyway, so

you're back now, right?"

“Oh, no, that’s not it… … .”

“There is something I would like to ask you uncle.”

Baek Cheon stepped forward and bowed his head to the old man. Seeing that, the old man looked at Baek Cheon and his companions with a slightly wary look.

“Who, who are you?”

“I came here because I had a few questions. I'm not a bad person, so don't worry."

The old man, who was looking at Jin Yang-geon and them alternately, tilted his head.

“What is there to ask of an old man waiting to die in the countryside… … .”

“Chung Myung-ah.”

At Baek Cheon's call, Chung Myung silently opened the chest and showed the old man the tomes inside.

“I heard that Jin Yang-geon got these tomes from you, do you remember?”

“… … tomes? Book?"

"Yes. I am talking about this book.”

The old man looked at the old book and muttered.

“I did something like that… … . ah!"

Then, as if something came to mind, he patted his knee and nodded.

“Yes, yes! I picked that up because I saw a drawing of a person wielding a sword on it, so I gave it to this brat who was learning martial arts back then!”

Baek Cheon asked with a stiff face.

“Where did you find this book?”

“Well, that… … It's a bit difficult to explain in words. My memory is fuzzy, and since it's deep in the mountains... … .”

Baek Cheon, who was watching the worried old man with his brow furrowed, gave a slight wink. Then Jo Gul took out a heavy bag from inside his sleeve and put it down in front of the old man.

“It’s hard to explain it in words, but we are in a hurry, so could you guide us to that place?”

“… … I'd like to, but I'm all old now, I’m afraid my strength... … .”

The old man, who sneakily opened the bag, stopped talking and opened his eyes wide.

“This, all of this… … ?”

"Please."

The old man nodded quickly.

“I will guide you. Noble people! Although my strength has declined, my memory is still very good. I'm sure you remember! Oh yeah!”

"Then we’ll be counting on you. Let’s go right away.”

"Yes! Don't worry.”

Baek Cheon, who was watching the old man talking loudly, glanced at Chung Myung. He still didn't know what he was thinking.

'Don't worry, you bastard.'

Baek Cheon's face was determined.

Whatever you're looking for, we'll be sure to find it.