Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 468. That's none of my business. (3)
Translator: Xoxo
Editor: Hoamzz
"… It’s driving me crazy."
"There's no end to this.”
Mount Hua's disciples were fed up with the endless lake of ice.
They have already traveled to Sichuan twice. Didn't they even go further to Yunnan once?
But at that time, there was a taste that the surroundings has changed. Didn't they realize that they have came quite far when they saw the scenery and the landscape changing even at the same distance?
However, this rotten lake was the same no matter where they went. All they can see is snow-covered mountains and fields. And there's only ice. It felt like walking in place.
A beautiful landscape they have never seen before? A spectacular view that gives shivers?
It was like that for the first time, too. Watching the same scene for days and days made them sick and tired of it.
Even though the scenery disappeared when snowstorms occasionally blocked the view, it is impossible to regard temporary invisible things as new.
"Sasuk. How much further do we have to go?”
“… … Considering the time we took, I think it’s almost there.”
At Jo-Gol's question, Baek Chun also stared forward with tired eyes.
Unexpectedly, his body wasn't that tired. Unlike Jungwon, where he have to cross hills, rivers, and mud, this endless ice lake was flat from beginning to end.
After he got used to running on ice, he was able to move faster.
The problem is that no matter how hard they go, he can't see the end...….
"Are we arriving?”
“… … Now, just looking at the white stuff gives me goosebumps.”
"It was pretty at first."
"Right, Sago? I liked it at first, too.”
After about ten days in the North Sea, he fully understands why people cry for a warm southern country.
Baek Chun smiled bitterly.
Everyone has been complaining about being tired while pulling a cart so far, but never complained about being bored. The North Sea seemed to be great, given that such guys were so talkative.
"We're almost there now. Cheer up, everyone."
"Yes, Sasuk!"
"Okay, Sahyung."
Baek Chun also tightened his tired mind and gave strength to the hand that grabbed the cart.
Then Jo-Gol, with his head stretched out, shouts as if he found something.
"Ah! There!"
"What's there?"
"Sasuk! Look over there. Isn't that a folk house?"
"Hm?"
Baek Chun narrowed his eyes and looked where Jo-Gol pointed.
"I think so."
Perhaps it was because the snowstorm had subsided, the front was clearly visible. The jagged mountains gradually lowered, revealing the densely packed huts below the slopes.
"Village."
"It's a folk house!"
After nearly 10 days of absence from the village, Baek Chun’s group were forced to cheer as if they had seen nectar (감로(甘露)) in the desert.
"Sasuk! Let's go!"
"Yes."
Baek Chun nodded his head and turned the cart.
Jo-Gol narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Hmm…."
Yoon Jong then tilted his head.
"Hmm."
The entire group at the scene in front of them with a subtle look on their faces.
Hut
Unlike Jungwon, wooden houses lined up from side to side. In comparison, there was a similarity to the form seen in fishing villages in Jungwon. Of course, the shape of the house is different.
However, if there is one thing that feels completely different from the fishing village in Jungwon...….
"There's no one here.”
"Really?"
The house is lined up, but they can't feel any movement.
All the people are gone and only the house is left?
No, it's not like that either.
Smoke was still flowing out of the chimney rising from every house. It meant there was a fire inside.
"Do they normally not come out?"
"……That's a possibility. Because it's cold."
"No matter how much it is...….”
Jo-Gol tilted his head.
The overall feeling was a bit gloomy. Even though it was a village inhabited by people, there was no sense of vitality.
"Is something wrong?"
“… … I think I've seen something similar. This is exactly how a village haunted by plague was like.”
"Then wouldn't it really be a plague?"
“What kind of plague? In this cold, even the gods seem to freeze to death.”
Yoo Iseol, listening to the three people's conversation, said quietly.
"Let's just knock. The door."
"Well, let's do that."
Baek Chun nodded and approached the house in close view. took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Tok, tok, tok.
"Hello!"
Tok! Tok! Tok!
“Is someone there!”
However, no matter how hard he knocks on the door, he can't hear anything from inside. Baek Chun's forehead narrowed slightly.
"…Shall we go to another house?"
“It seems like we should.”
But the same was true elsewhere.
They knocked on several other houses nearby, but there was no answer.
"……What the hell is this place?"
Jo-Gol's face was completely distorted.
"Did they say the North Sea people were generous? Far from being generous, it's heartless."
Yoon Jong frowns at Jo-Gol's words.
“Don’t be rude. It is a place rarely visited by outsiders, so the boundaries may be severe. It's easy to say without being in their position."
"……Yes."
But Yoon Jong also looked uncomfortable as if something was bothering him.
He can definitely feel a movement in the house, but it was frustrating that there was no answer.
"Sahyung. Knock more. Just a couple of places."
"Well, let's do that."
Since it's a pity to go back like this, Baek Chun also headed to another house.
"Hello!"
Instead, he knocked on the door more carefully than before.
"We’re just a passerby. I'm not a bad person. I need to ask you a few questions, so the door...….”
Creak!
And this time, fortunately, the door opened right away.
"Oh. Thank you…….”
But he didn't have time to thank. Baek Chun stepped back quickly. Because he could see something flashing inside the open door.
Back Cheon, who held the sword's handle reflexively, saw the person who had emerged from the inside and relaxed his hands again.
The big kitchen knife was obviously threatening, but it was a wrinkled old woman who holding it. The scrawny hand holding the knife was shaking pitifully.
"Again…… who else are you guys going to take away! Those who will fall into hell!"
An old woman with tears in her eyes swung her knife, shouting in a cracking voice.
Baek Chun was rather perplexed and stuttered slightly.
"We- We're not like that. We just stopped by to ask for directions."
"Who's going to be fooled by that!"
Back Cheon took another step back, startled by the action of the old woman who was suddenly wielding a knife. It's not a big deal to overpower her, but it's a big deal if the old woman gets hurt.
"Grandmother, we are not bad people."
"Get lost!"
Bang!
The door slammed hard. Baek Chun stared blankly at the closed door with a blank face.
"……What's going on?"
"Didn't she say we were going to take someone?"
“Does human trafficking happen?”
The expressions of Mount Hua's disciples hardened.
They’ve visited many cities so far, but the residents have never been so hostile.
"Amitabha."
Hye Yeon chanted a few times and opened his mouth with a worried look.
“It bothers me that people are overly frightened. It doesn't seem like we’re being treated badly because we’re just outsiders."
Baek Chun scratched his head with a puzzled face. As Hye Yeon said, the reaction was weird.
"Chung Myung-ah."
Chung Myung, who was standing in the back without saying a word, slightly raised his head.
"What are we gonna do?"
"Hmm."
Chung Myung shrugged as he looked at the village with slightly subdued eyes.
"The situation must be serious considering that Dong Ryong can't even communicate with them."
"Are we in a position to make such a joke, you punk?"
"I'm not kidding."
“…….”
Baek Chun's eyes twitched.
But just as he was about to have a seizure, Chung Myung neatly took the lead.
"Let's just go."
"…just like this?"
"I'd like to ask them a few questions, but…….”
Chung Myung shook his head briefly after blurring the end of his speech.
"Don't mess with scared people. Our careless actions could put these people in more trouble.”
His voice was somehow a little heavier than usual.
"I see."
Baek Chun nodded silently and turned away.
"… Sasuk, is it really going to be okay?"
Baek Chun sighed at Yoon Jong's words.
"What can we do when they’re scared of us?"
“When a person is afraid of a person, it means that something is wrong. Is it okay if we leave them like this?”
“…….”
Baek Chun's gaze slowly swept through the village once.
"…I know how you feel, but Chung Myung’s word is not wrong. We're outsiders. If we step forward for no reason, the problem may rather grow."
"……Yes."
"For now, let's find Ice Clan."
It was the moment when Baek Chun was about to walk with a stiff face.
“A- Are you from abroad?”
Baek Chun quickly turns his head at the sudden sound of a voice. He saw a half-hidden man behind the cabin.
He was so afraid that he didn't show his entire body, and his protruding head was still trembling slightly.
"Yes, we're from Jungwon."
"Ju- Jungwon!"
The man, who heard the word Jungwon, was frightened as if he had burned himself and quickly disappeared behind the hut.
"We are not bad people. I'm just here to ask you a few questions."
"How did Jungwon people come all the way here! Ge- Get out now! Now!"
"We came here for the North Sea Ice Clan."
"I- Ice Clan?"
The man poked his head out again.
"So you got permission from the North Sea Ice Clan?"
"To be exact, we didn't get permission, we were introduced. Ice Clan will not treat us badly.”
There was a moment of suspicion in the man's eyes, but he leaned out a little more as if he loosened a little.
"No way…… If you're not the one who has permission from the Ice Clan, you won't come deep into the North Sea this winter. If you have any slightest idea, that is."
“…….”
Baek Chun glanced at his Saje, but they all kept their brazen faces without changing their expressions.
Baek Chun's heart warmed automatically.
‘Where are all these scammers gathered?’
Whether the crooks entered Mount Hua or Mount Hua is creating a crook.
‘No……. It's a problem either way.’
"Yes, I've been running nonstop along the lake and heard that the Ice Clan is around here. Do you know which way to go to get to the Ice Clan?"
"The Ice Clan is……. Cough! Cough!"
But the man who was going to talk suddenly began to cough violently.
"Are you all right?"
"…I'm fine…….Cough! It's all right."
It was just that moment.
"Cough!"
The moment the man shook his head and coughed, something white came out and fell to the ground.
"Huh?"
"The- The tooth came off!”
The Mount Hua group backed away reflexively.
Every time the man who covered his mouth coughed, blood gushed out. Blood splattered over the pure white snow.
It's natural that he’s bleeding because his tooth has fallen out, but it wasn't that trivial seeing the man's pale complexion and thin body.
"……is it a strange disease (괴질(怪疾))?"
"L- Look! It's a plague!"
When Jo-Gol shouted as if he was right, Baek Chun turned his head and looked at Tang So-so.
"So-so."
"Yes."
Tang So-so rushed up to the man.
"Sta- Stay away from me."
"Stay still! I'm a doctor!"
The man flinched as Tang So-so shouted. Normally, she is just playful and lively, but Tang So-so, who is in front of the injured or sick, become stricter than anyone else.
Tang So-so's face became serious when he opened his mouth slightly after taking a look at the man.
"…Since when have you been like this? Is there anyone else with the same symptoms in this town?"
"Huh? Yes……Two- Two months ago...….”
She, who had her face distorted, suddenly asked.
"Can you open the door?”
"…Yes?"
"We need to check everyone in town. I need you to convince them to open the door! Quick!"
Baek Chun, who was watching from the side, asked with a slightly more serious face.
"……what's wrong with him?"
"I don't know yet. But the condition is very bad. Whatever the disease is, he can't last long. We need to see more patients and check."
“…….”
"Go!"
"Y- Yes."
They ran towards the nearest house with the man at the front. Everyone's face was as seriously hardened as ever.
*note
Become one of my Patreon for access to 54 advance chapters. I update at least one chapter a day on there. But I could also skip a day when things on my side became hectic. There will be a mass release at end of the month, probably. Mass release IS ON the web, not Patreon.
.png)
Comments Box