Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1237. Is that so? (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"Change of clothes!"
“No, water to wash up first!"
“No! Forget all that, I just need a dry place to sleep! A roof over the head, that’s all I’m asking!"
"Food."
"Sago, we just ate a little while ago."
"Food!"
“....”
Gwak Hwanso stared blankly at the group barking out demands. Despite the cold rain lashing his face and the fierce wind pushing against him, he could only stand there in a daze.
‘What on earth… what were these people thinking, coming all the way out here?’
No, no. He shouldn’t think of this like that. Just the fact they came here is something to shed tears of gratitude over. He should feel grateful…
They came through a raging storm and found Hainan in a dire situation.
“Hey! Are you just gonna stand there gawking?”
“Seriously, you can tell he’s from the warm southern sea! He’s slow!”
"Wow, while the guests are getting soaked in the rain!"
“If this were Mount Hua, someone would’ve gotten smacked upside the head already!”
But why the hell are these punks acting like this?
Even if they would just keep their mouths shut, the atmosphere would’ve been full of solemnity or dignity or something. But they’re hurling curses and completely ruining it… But why…?
“No! Do we have to keep waiting!”
And more than anything, the thing that dumbfounded Gwak Hwanso the most was the guy that yelling and yanking his hair off his wet face in irritation wasn’t even from Mount Hua.
‘Isn’t that… Namgung Dowi?'
Even though he lived in Hainan, he couldn’t help but recognize Namgung Dowi, the Demolishing Mountain Sword (단악검(斷岳劍). The sight of his impressive figure at the Murim Competition had been enough to stir a fierce rivalry within Gwak Hwanso.
'At least until he got kicked in the groin by Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.'
Anyway, the Namgung Dowi he saw back then was the picture of a young master of a prestigious family....
"...Do you only get guests once every ten years here? Don't you know how to receive people? Hah?"
"Dowi, calm down for now."
“No, Hyung-nim! These people..."
But fortunately, Gwak Hwanso didn’t end up having to do anything. Soon, Hainan Sect Leader Geum Yangnbaek came running through the wind and rain, literally with his eyebrows fluttering in the wind.
Gwak Hwanso swore he had never seen the Sect Leader run that fast in his life.
"Y- You said you're from Mount Hua?"
Geum Yangbaek, who came to an abrupt stop (though he almost slipped on the rainwater), stared with wide eyes at those standing at the gate.
'Sect Leader....'
Gwak Hwanso cast a sympathetic look at him, knowing Geum Yangbaek would soon fall into the same state of bewilderment. But just then.
“Would it be impolite to ask if you are the sect leader of Hainan Sect?”
Before anyone realized it, Baek Cheon had swiftly tidied up his appearance, and now he gave a respectful salute to Geum Yangbaek, looking every bit as neat and dignified as one could imagine. Geum Yangbaek hurriedly returned the gesture.
"M- My goodness, my mind must be in disarray. I, I am Geum Yangbaek, the sect leader of Hainan!"
“I am Baek Cheon of Mount Hua Sect. Though lacking, I currently hold the position of acting sect leader, representing the will of Mount Hua's sect leader."
It was the picture of a perfect, textbook salute—neither lacking nor excessive. Even those who had been grumbling just moments earlier had straightened their clothes and stood with impeccable posture.
“Thi- This....”
The dumbfounded Gwak Hwanso pointed at them. Seeing their expressions as if they were saying, ‘A mess? What do you mean? We've been like this from the start,' rage suddenly boiled inside him.
“The- These scammer....”
At that moment, Geum Yangbaek turned sharply to Gwak Hwanso and scolded him severely.
“You rascal! What kind of nonsense are you spouting in front of our guests who have traveled all the way to Hainan! Has the wind blown your wits away?”
"Se- Sect Leader, that's not..."
"If that's not it, then what is it!"
"Tho- Those bum were clearly just..."
“Bum? Have you truly lost your mind? Will you not shut your mouth this instant?"
“Wow....”
Swallowing down his frustration that felt ready to burst, Gwak Hwanso glanced around. Surely there were other witnesses who clearly saw their earlier behavior...
'There’s none.'
Everyone standing beside him was diligently looking anywhere but at Gwak Hwanso, clearly not wanting to risk attracting the sect leader’s wrath.
'Traitor bastards...'
Tears welled up in Gwak Hwanso's eyes. They say you can’t trust anyone in this world, but here they were abandoning their Sahyung, who had been through thick and thin with them, just to avoid a little scolding…
While Gwak Hwanso felt the cruelty of the world to his bones, Geum Yangbaek, who had been glaring at him, turned his head and looked at Baek Cheon.
"I apologize. The children were flustered..."
“Please, think nothing of it.”
Baek Cheon smiled brightly. Even in the pouring rain, his face carried unmatched warmth.
“Given the great trials you’re facing it's completely understandable that nerves are frayed. By rights, we should have sent a communication first and followed the proper procedures before visiting, but I hope you will forgive our rudeness in coming without knowing Hainan’s situation.”
Geum Yangbaek was rather impressed by Baek Cheon's thoughtfulness.
"How could you worry about such things? The mere fact that you knocked on our doors in the middle of a storm moves me to gratitude."
"...Sect Leader. You're being deceived..."
“....”
Geum Yangbaek, after crushing Gwak Hwanso with just a glare, quickly softened his expression and carefully asked Baek Cheon.
“T- That....”
Even after speaking, he hesitated slightly. In fact, Baek Cheon looked young enough to be spoken to informally, but something Baekcheon said earlier had caught his attention. In the end, Geum Yangbaek slightly changed his tone and asked.
"Did you say... acting sect leader?"
"Yes."
Baek Cheon smiled brightly and nodded.
“It may be presumptuous, but that is indeed the case. Thus, as both the acting sect leader with full authority from Mount Hua's sect leader and as a special envoy of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, I've come to request a meeting with Sect Leader."
Whether it was the cold rain or something else, a chill ran down Geum Yangbaek's spine.
'Acting sect leader.'
That was a term rarely heard.
Usually, the position of acting sect leader was given to the future sect leader to temporarily perform the sect leader's duties before the current sect leader officially stepped down.
While this was common in the imperial court or prestigious family, it was extremely rare in Kangho. The reason was simple. Unlike prestigious family or the imperial court, Kangho did not experience the temporary gaps in power that would arise from an elder’s age or illness.
If anything, martial masters grew stronger with age, so why would they ever need an ‘acting’ replacement?
And yet, for Mount Hua Sect to create and appoint an acting sect leader and send him to Hae-nam?
‘It must mean they think of us that highly!’
His fingertips trembled involuntarily. As he took in the others standing behind Baek Cheon, each one looked far from ordinary.
"Then the other guests..."
He was asking if they were all from Mount Hua.
When Baek Cheon gave a subtle hint, those waiting behind him stepped forward and greeted him with a respectful bow.
“I am Namgung Dowi, Sogaju of Namgung Family. I am currently serving as temporary gaju of Namgung Family in place of my late father."
"Tang Pae of Sichuan Tang Family. I'm here representing our gaju."
“I am Seol So-baek, Gungju of Northern Sea Ice Palace!”
Geum Yangbaek’s eyes widened in shock.
'Mount Hua, Namgung, Sichuan Tang, and even Northern Sea Ice Palace?'
Each of these names was no less prestigious than Hainan. Even if any one of them had visited alone, it would’ve been unthinkable to treat them with anything less than the utmost respect.
Yet these figures of such renown and position had come to Hainan together. And through this raging storm no less.
Geum Yangbaek's lips quivered. Not from the cold, of course. No matter how cold the rain, such chill couldn't affect his body trained in martial arts.
“To Hainan....”
Geum Yangbaek forced his trembling lips open. Not knowing what to say, he first spoke what seemed most appropriate.
"Thank you... for visiting Hainan.”
Baek Cheon was about to respond with a gentle smile when a faint, half-dead voice murmured from behind them.
“That’s… all good for setting the mood and all, but… Cough! Before we start holding any funerals, maybe we could find some shelter from the rain…”
"Shut up, you Evil Sects scum."
“...I’m saying this because I might die here. Really… Cough, cough!”
"It's fine, it's fine. Not like anything would change if one Evil Sects bastard dies."
"...Are you even human?"
Im Sobyeong glared with a corpse-like pale face before spitting blood. Baek Cheon looked at him for a moment with a hopeless expression, then cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
“My apologies, but if it’s not too much trouble, may we ask for some shelter from the rain? Everyone's quite exhausted from swimming across the sea..."
Geum Yangbaek snapped back to his senses at those words.
"Ho- How could I be so discourteous! What are you all doing! Quickly escort our guests to the Guest Hall! Hurry!"
"Yes!"
Geum Yangbaek gave a deep bow with clasped hands.
“We can discuss the details in a little while. For now, you should rest.”
"Thank you for your consideration. Then, please excuse our rudeness."
"This way, please!"
Lee Jayang perceptively stepped forward to guide the guests.
The Hainan disciples, who had been watching the situation in a daze, finally snapped to their senses and followed behind, as if forming an escort.
The two people who remained until the end, Geum Yangbaek and Gwak Hwanso, looked at those heading to the Guest Hall with entranced faces.
'This isn't a dream, is it?'
Gwak Hwanso lightly slapped his own cheek. But there was no need to hit himself to confirm. The rainwater flowing down his body and the cold he felt was enough to prove this was reality.
‘So, it’s true that Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s envoys are here in Hainan?’
And such distinguished figures at that?
To Hainan.... To Hainan in the midst of a storm.... Huh?
"...Sect Leader."
"Hm?"
Gwak Hwanso muttered, still dazed.
“Um… just a moment ago.”
“Speak.”
“A moment ago, that’s… Baek Cheon Dojang… No, the Acting Sect Leader said they swam across the sea to get here, didn’t he?”
"...I believe he did."
“Right now?”
Kureureureung!!
Gwak Hwanso and Geum Yangbaek looked up at the distant sky simultaneously. The fierce typhoon and the flashes of lightning were all too clear.
A deep silence fell between them.
They know the sea well. They were people who couldn't help but know what the sea looked like during such a storm.
The two, briefly picturing the ocean where waves as tall as houses would surely crash, looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.
"We must have heard wrong."
“R- Right? Haha.... Unless they've lost their minds."
“Haha....”
“....”
They both recalled the rumors they had often heard from faraway lands.
Mount Hua is a sect that knows no bounds.
Only now did the two truly understand, down to their bones, what that phrase meant.
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|Note
- 뒤가 없는 (Having no back/behind)
Someone who live only today. Living like there’s no tomorrow. Living Like Larry? Lol.
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