Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1240. Is that so? (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Glug, glug.
The cup was filled to the brim with alcohol.
As Yoo Gong looked at the cup that seemed ready to overflow at any moment, a drunken voice came into his ear.
"Not gonna drink?"
“....”
Yoo Gong raised his head and glanced at the grinning Chung Myung then brought the cup in his hand to his lips, downing it in one go.
"Oh. You drink well? Nice."
A burning sensation scorches his throat. However, Yoo Gong doesn’t flinch, draining every last drop without so much as twitching an eyebrow.
Thud.
He set down the now-empty cup cleanly.
“Alright, one more drink now.”
Chung Myung chuckled as he poured alcohol into the cup. And Yoo Gong just stared at Chung Myung as he poured the alcohol.
There were so many things he wanted to ask.
There was so much he wanted to say.
But he had long since become someone who said what needed to be said, rather than what he wanted to say.
Yoo Gong lightly lifted his newly filled cup, glancing around as if to take in his surroundings, and then spoke.
“I was surprised.”
"Huh?"
When Chung Myung tilted his head slightly, Yoo Gong gave a faint smile.
“You may not know, but us Hainan folks don’t harbor particularly fond feelings towards mainlanders.”
“Hmm?”
“Of course, it may sound strange to others. After all, Hainan holds a respectable spot among Ten Great Sects.”
“....”
“But no matter how much Hainan’s reputation grows, that can’t erase the history we’ve lived, constantly regarded as lowly islanders.”
Chung Myung looks at Yoo Gong in silence.
“On top of that… when the Gangnam Non-Aggression Pact realized, those sentiments only deepened."
Yoo Gong lets out a small chuckle.
“Even if no one speaks of it, they must think it deep down. If only we were from the mainland instead of an island, if only some other sect of Ten Great Sects had been isolated on the southern sea instead of us, maybe then we wouldn’t be so thoroughly ignored. And yet….”
Yoo Gong cast a glance at those sprawled around them.
“Here they are, people who don’t care much for mainlanders, yet drinking with outsiders who arrived today, getting drunk together until passed out like this.”
“....”
“It seems the statement that Mount Hua may be a sect known for its secular tendencies, but it’s actually a traditional Taoist sect with a history even older than Wudang isn’t wrong. Seeing how you guys are performing these Taoist art."
Yoo Gong's gaze studied Chung Myung as if analyzing him.
“No… perhaps it’s something else. If I may ask one thing, is it Mount Hua's Taoist arts that are sublime? Or is it Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword's ability to charm people that's remarkable?"
Hearing those words, Chung Myung smirked. And Yoo Gong also tried his best to match that smile.
That was, until the next words came.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
“Stop barking nonsense and drink. It's three cups. You've only had one."
“....”
“Drink.”
Yoo Gong gave a small cough and lifted the cup to his mouth once more.
And just like the previous cup, he downed the full cup in one go.
“Use any internal strength, and I’ll make you pay for every drop wasted. Handle it yourself."
“....”
“Alright, one more.”
Chung Myung smiled and poured more alcohol into the empty cup. Yoo Gong's complexion paled slightly at the sight of the rising alcohol.
Though he was downing it because he didn't want to lose face, originally Hainan's alcohol wasn't this kind of rice wine drunk from such cups, but rather strong alcohol that should be carefully sipped from small cups.
Even as a martial artist, drinking such strong alcohol repeatedly without being able to use internal strength was no small burden.
“You want an answer?”
“...Yes?”
“Then drink. Once you’ve finished three cups, I’ll humor you.”
“....”
Hearing those words, Yoo Gong’s face hardened slightly and he looked at Chung Myung before starting to finish his third cup.
"Oh. You drink well?"
Gulp! Gulp!
Yoo Gong endured the burning sensation in his throat and forced himself to drink the alcohol, practically slamming the cup down as he removed it from his lips.
“Keuh!”
An exclamation like a scream forced its way through his lips.
Every breath drew a heavy scent of liquor, and his stomach felt as if he had swallowed molten lava. His blood felt boiling and seemed to circulate twice as fast throughout his body.
“Good.”
Chung Myung smirked and poured alcohol into his own cup with a splash. Then as soon as it filled, he snatched up the cup and gulped it down.
“Keueuhh!”
Tak!
The large cup, more like a bowl, made a clear sound as it was set down on the floor.
Chung Myung, wiping the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, said while looking at Yoo Gong who was trying to control the rapidly rising drunkenness.
"So."
"Yes?"
"What was it you were curious about?"
“That’s.... Uh....”
Yoo Gong stammered over his words, momentarily flustered. Chung Myung chuckled as he watched him stammer.
“As if you even remember. Because you just asked whatever came to mind without really being curious."
Yoo Gong's face reddens.
Whether it was from the drink or the embarrassment, he couldn’t tell.
"I'll answer anyway. I didn’t do much of anything.”
Chung Myung glanced at those sprawled on the ground.
“I just told them to bring out the drinks, then I drank. The others kept pouring and drinking on their own, and, well, here we are.”
“....”
Yoo Gong sighed.
“Although Hainan’s disciples may be a bit simple-minded and even take pride in that simplicity, they are not stupid enough to show shameless acts in front of the guests who arrived today. As you can see, Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword must have done something.”
“Has this yangban only been deceived throughout his life? I’m telling you, I didn’t do a thing.”
"Yes. That could be possible."
Yoo Gong nodded quietly.
“But if you think about it, that’s even more impressive. For things around you to naturally shift without you having to lift a finger…”
"Hey."
Yoo Gong frowns slightly when Chung Myung cuts his words short.
"I've emptied my cup. How about one more?”
"...I should stop..."
“What? Got something to hide when you’re drunk?”
“....”
“Drink.”
Chung Myung pours alcohol into Yoo Gong's cup again.
Yoo Gong looked back and forth between Chung Myung and the cup with a complicated expression. Chung Myung shrugged after filling the cup with alcohol.
"Ah, well. Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely hate forcing people to drink if they don’t want to. Why waste good alcohol on someone who doesn’t want it? I barely have enough for myself.”
“Then....”
“Not drinking is your choice. But if you’re not going to drink, I would appreciate it if you stepped aside. I’m here to drink, not having conversation.”
“....”
“So, what’s it gonna be? You’re here to drink or to talk?”
At those words, Yoo Gong let out a deep sigh and grabbed his cup. This time, he began drinking slowly, without rushing. Seeing this, Chung Myung grinned.
"At least you understand words."
"Keuh."
Yoo Gong sets down the cup. His hand trembled slightly as he did. His face was flushed, as if it might burst into flames at any moment.
“Oh, my. I told you not to use your internal energy. It’s a waste of alcohol.”
Chung Myung clicks his tongue and fills his glass with alcohol, then begins to gulp it down.
After a round of drinks had been circulated, Chung Myung continued the conversation.
“Am I great?”
Chung Myung smiles faintly.
“You don’t understand. I really didn’t do anything.”
“...Then.”
“This isn’t something that happened because I’m great. If anything, it’s the opposite.”
"Huh?"
Chung Myung chinned toward the collapsed people.
“How does it look?”
"...It looks disgraceful."
It was his honest opinion. At least this wasn't how one should behave when receiving guests.
Even though he had no right to criticize since he was about to leave Hainan, he could at least give his honest assessment, couldn't he?
"Is that so?"
Chung Myung smirked as he poured another drink into his cup. Then he offered an opinion quite opposite to Yoo Gong's.
“They look great to my eyes.”
“....”
Yoo Gong stayed silent. Partly because of the alcohol, but also because he couldn't quite understand Chung Myung's words.
"As you said, no matter how young and simple-minded they are, they wouldn't be thoughtless enough to drink themselves unconscious in front of guest Hainan for the first time today."
Yoo Gong nods with hazy eyes.
“So, why do you think they ended up like this? Because I know how to push their buttons?”
“....”
"No. I really didn't do anything. They were already worn down, already on the edge. They've been enduring, suppressing themselves to their limits in a situation where they don't know what might happen at any moment. Bracing themselves with the constant pressure that tomorrow might be their last day alive.”
Chung Myung's gaze darkened as he looked at those who had passed out drunk.
The scene of the collapsed disciples overlapped with one scene he knew.
The image of those who would desperately seek alcohol after returning from battle, passing out in deep sleep.
The image of those who would compulsively drink to cut off their consciousness, driven by guilt and relief at surviving when others died today, and fear of returning to the battlefield tomorrow.
Right. That was truly painful.
But back then, those people were at least responsible for themselves. However, those here now are still too young compared to the people he knew in the past.
And so.
“Just making it this far is already something great.”
“....”
"What makes someone who's been enduring finally crumble isn't something grand, but rather the tiniest sense of relief. Not the relief that says, ‘I don’t have to hold on anymore,’ but that small, trivial thought—‘Maybe tonight, or for just a few hours, I might be safe.’”
“....”
“That’s all I gave them.”
Yoo Gong parted his lips as if to say something but then lowered his head. A groan-like voice escaped from Yoo Gong’s mouth as he lowered his head in silence.
"...We weren't enduring."
"Hm?"
“It’s just that there was nowhere to run. Not anywhere in this world.”
Chung Myung lifted his gaze to look at the ceiling.
“...Yeah. That.”
He knew.
Knew it so well it hurt.
“So let them be. Sometimes people have moments where they just want to let go, even if they know they shouldn’t. Sure, tomorrow they might wake up and regret it, but sometimes that’s the very thing that helps them make it to tomorrow.”
Yoo Gong's gaze turned to Gwak Hwanso's unconscious face. His face, which had recently been as rigid as stone, looked oddly relaxed for the first time in a while.
Perhaps Chung Myung's words were right.
Perhaps what they needed wasn’t a clear answer or a definite goal, but just a single night where they could sleep without thinking about anything.
But… while they could afford that, he…
“Drink.”
Chung Myung suddenly shoved a cup in front of Yoo Gong's face.
“....”
As Yoo Gong stares intently at the cup, Chung Myung speaks calmly.
“Whatever your circumstances or reasons are.”
“....”
"Even if we don't know if we'll be allies or enemies starting tomorrow, you've endured just like them until now."
“....”
"Since I'm someone with a position to maintain, I won't be able to say everything I want to say tomorrow morning. So I'll say this in advance."
Chung Myung gave a faint smile. Looking at Yoo Gong, he spoke in a slightly softer tone.
“You held up well, kid.”
“....”
Yoo Gong’s shoulders trembled slightly.
It was an incredibly arrogant thing to say. And incredibly presumptuous.
But strangely enough, Yoo Gong didn't feel bad at all when he heard those words. No, if anything…
"Drink. And pass out. Dealing with the aftermath can wait until tomorrow."
Yoo Gong looked at Chung Myung with a dazed expression.
“Not drinking?”
“....”
With a slightly trembling hand, Yoo Gong took the cup. Yoo Gong, who received the cup with both hands, began to drink slowly, very slowly.
“Good.”
Chung Myung slowly poured alcohol into his cup. Then, as if to toast with Yoo Gong, he brought the cup to his lips.
Up until now, the drinks had been for the others, but this one—this one was just for him.
'Everyone.'
Images of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains he had once crossed drifted through his mind, almost casually.
'Don't blame me too much. I'll eventually go there too.'
The strong alcohol goes down his throat.
Memories that had been crawling up from the past were pushed back down by the drink he forced himself to swallow, sinking deep within him. But…
The lingering scent of alcohol that remained in its place continued to swirl around Chung Myung.
Just like those distant days of the past.
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