Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1362. As expected, you have a big heart (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Ttak. Ttak.
Gulp.
Ttak. Ttak. Ttak. Ttak.
...Gulp.
Clatter! Clatter! Clatter!
“This....”
The village chief sitting in front of the large pot couldn't stand it anymore and turned around. Everyone standing there with spoons and empty bowls in hand was drooling and swallowing their saliva.
"The rice still needs to steam a little more....”
"We can eat it without steaming....”
"Still, rice needs to....”
"We can eat raw rice too."
The village chief's face twisted in a strange way.
“Ahem.”
Geum Yangbaek, who had been watching, cleared his throat awkwardly.
“That... Is it really not possible to eat yet?”
“They can eat, but if they haven’t eaten grains in so long, I’m worried they might get sick from half-cooked rice....”
"My children are martial artists, so they should be fine."
Hearing this, the villager reluctantly nodded with a grimace.
“Yes, if you say so... Then give me your bowls..."
"We can eat now!"
“Move!”
“I was in the front! Go back!”
“Arghh, who! Who grabbed my face!"
Hainan Sect disciples charged at the pot like starving wolves. The lid was opened and a huge white steam was pouring out of the pot, but Hainan Sect disciples did not retreat in the face of the heat. Instead, they charged in even more fiercely and scooped the rice straight into their bowls.
“A- Aigoo, what’s this....”
The half-shoved village chief blinked in disbelief at the chaotic scene unfolding before his eyes.
They were said to be esteemed guests from the southern sea, but they were no different from the Beggar Union. No, even Beggar Union might slowly back away if they saw this sight.
“Arghh! I said don't push!"
"Get out of the way!"
"Hey, who took it all! Do you want to die!"
Faced with this indescribably tragic sight, the village chief shook his head in despair and muttered:
“That’s… We've got several pots cooking, so if you'd just wait a little..."
“Oh, yeah! We’ll just eat those!”
"What?"
Hainan Sect disciples raced toward the other pots. The fires beneath them were still burning brightly, but to people who had already survived hellfire, such flames were no more than the warm glow of a cozy fireplace.
Lid after lid of boiling pots was flung open, white steam wafting through the village in great clouds.
It looked as if they were being raided by bandits.
Hyeong Wook stared blankly at Baek Cheon at the sight. Baek Cheon awkwardly looked away and cleared his throat.
"...They're quite starved..."
“....”
“Please be understanding. They’re not normally like this.”
“...Yes.”
Baek Cheon awkwardly rubbed his blushing face. He never expected Hainan Sect disciple to throw away all dignity so quickly.
Those who had scooped up rice sat down right there without bothering to find proper seats and stuffed the food into their mouths.
“Ahh, this is what it means to live like a human being.”
"I thought I was gonna die, eating nothing but unseasoned meat for days."
"A man needs grains to survive!"
"...Just one grilled fish would make this perfect."
"You're getting picky now? Then don't eat!"
"No! Who's being picky! Give me back my rice!"
Watching this scene, Lee Jayang heaved a deep sigh.
‘But sitting on the ground like that.'
Seeing the disciples of the Great Haenam Sect plunk themselves down in the dirt of some rural village, practically using their hands to stuff rice into their mouths. He feared someone would see this....
"Jayang Sahyung. If you're not eating that, could I..."
“Don’t you dare touch my rice! I’ll take off your hand!”
“....”
A strange silence fell. Lee Jayang avoided his saje's gaze and let out an awkward cough.
...Shame is shame, but hunger is hunger.
As he awkwardly picked up his rice bowl to eat, he noticed Gwak Hwanso still hadn't gotten any rice.
“Sahyung, please eat something.”
"Mm. I'll eat a bit later."
“Later? Will there even be any rice left for Sahyung by then?"
At Lee Jayang’s sharp remark, Gwak Hwanso simply chuckled.
His gaze remained fixed on a particular pot at the corner. Noticing this, Lee Jayang let out a small sigh.
That pot wasn’t cooking rice; it was boiling porridge to feed the wounded.
“...I understand how you feel, but you need to eat first and gain strength to treat the wounded."
“I know. I’ll be sure to eat, so don’t worry.”
Lee Jayang's expression grew somewhat sour.
‘I didn’t even think about that....'
He had been so concerned about how Hainan Sect would appear to others, while Gwak Hwanso was still looking out for the injured who hadn’t had a proper meal.
Even those whom their Sect Leader himself hadn't managed to think of.
Now there was no need to argue about who has the bigger vessel. And....
“Sahyung! Please try this.”
“If you don’t feel like rice, how about this? The villagers provided it, it's good for a light meal."
"What nonsense is that! He should eat a proper meal!”
"N- No. Since Sahyung said weren't eating... We can always eat again later..."
Hearing that their daesahyung hadn’t eaten, Hainan Sec disciples immediately put down their bowls and swarmed around him.
“I’m fine, so finish eating first.”
"How could we eat when Daesahyung isn't..."
"Don’t worry about me. I still have plenty of strength."
“Still....”
It wasn't simply because his position was daesahyung. It may be disrespectful, if Hainan Sect Sect Leader Geum Yangbaek had done the same thing in this situation, it wouldn't have been easy to draw such a response.
After overcoming countless hardships together to get here, they all knew how deeply Gwak Hwanso cared for them and how much he had set aside for their sake. So without anyone ordering it, they naturally worried about and looked after Gwak Hwanso.
Gwak Hwanso smiled at the gathered crowd.
"You guys are clueless. If I eat now, I'd have to eat rough rice, wouldn't I?"
"Yes?"
"But if I wait and eat what the wounded get, I can eat fine white rice, so it's good."
“No, that's what you were thinking?”
“Wow… This is Daesahyung.”
The atmosphere lightened considerably with Gwak Hwanso's joke.
"So everyone, just finish your meals. And make sure to share with those from Heavenly Comrade Alliance as well.”
“Yes, we will, Sahyung.”
❀ ❀ ❀
After checking the situation in the yard, Baek Cheon entered the village chief's house and stared at Elder Hyeong sitting before him.
The old man bowed his head deeply to Baek Cheon.
"First of all… I may not remember much as I was unconscious, but I have heard that you saved the life of this good-for-nothing old man and even treated me.... How can I repay this favor....”
“Think nothing of it.”
Baek Cheon scratched his cheek with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
"That matter should have ended there, yet here we are shamelessly showing our faces again."
"How could you say such things! Rather, I should be grateful for allowing me to repay even a fraction of such enormous kindness!"
The old man bowed repeatedly toward Baek Cheon.
Hyeong Wook frowned unconsciously at the sight.
Until just moments ago, his father hadn’t seemed particularly welcoming toward them. Of course, he had constantly spoken about being grateful for their life-saving grace, but there had always been a subtle distance in his attitude.
But now Elder Hyeong's attitude toward Baek Cheon was as if he were seeing a divine being descended from heaven. The excessive bowing unsettled him.
Then Elder Hyeong, who had been bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the ground, carefully gauged Baek Cheon's expression and spoke.
“So, about that… did you say… you needed grain…?”
"Yes. That's how it is."
Baek Cheon nodded gently.
"It would be proper to explain our situation and circumstances in detail, but regrettably, we cannot stay here long at present."
“....”
"We will pay sufficient compensation. I beg of you to spare us whatever grain you can.”
Baek Cheon bowed deeply to show his respect. Hyeong Wook, at Elder Hyeong's side, startled and tried to stop him.
“H- Hero-nim, what are you doing! Grain is something we should naturally give! How could we speak of compensation when sharing grain with our benefactor? Please don't do this..."
"You keep quiet."
But Elder Hyeong gently stopped Hyeong Wook. Hyung Wook was flustered and protested.
“No, Father. Of course....”
"I said keep quiet!"
Hyeong Wook, taken aback, stared at his father in confusion. But his father's eyes were colder and more resolute than usual, so he had no choice but to bow his head. After all, Elder Hyeong was the chief of this village.
“Ahem.”
The elder coughed softly as if trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere.
"My apologies."
"Not at all."
“That....”
The elder carefully observed Baek Cheon’s expression before speaking.
“I understand what you’re asking. We too are human, so naturally we should help."
"Thank you for understanding."
“But....”
The elder heaved a deep sigh.
“As Hero-nim knows, because of this year’s severe drought, our crops have all withered. We’re, leaving us with no way to make a living. If we give away our grain, we’ll have no way to endure the winter."
"I understand. That's why we'll provide sufficient compensation. We will pay you generously for the grain, so you can purchase more from the nearby town of Xingyang.”
Elder Hyeong bowed deeply as if expressing gratitude for such thoughtful consideration.
"To even offer payment when we're repaying a debt of life, I'm truly moved beyond words.".”
Baek Cheon's expression grew increasingly awkward.
In truth, he wasn't accustomed to such excessive courtesy. Now he started to understand why people say that too much politeness can make the recipient uncomfortable.
Just then, Elder Hyeong looked at Baek Cheon with a strange expression.
"However, Hero-nim, there's one thing I wish to ask."
“Yes?”
"Now... are you perhaps being pursued by Evil Sects?"
Baek Cheon hesitated for a moment before answering. It was because it was not something that could be hidden even if he tried.
"Yes. That's how it is. But..."
"Aigo...! Please spare us! I beg you!"
The elder let out a cry and threw himself flat to the ground. s went wide.
“W- Why are you being like this all of a sudden?!”
“If those Evil Sects find out we provided you with grain, not a single one of us will survive!”
"Ah… There’s no need to worry about that. That's why we completely erased all traces of our presence here. And money bears no names, so....”
Baek Cheon tried to maintain his composure and reassured him with a smile, but before he could even finish his sentence, the elder hit his head on the ground again.
Kung!
"I beg you!"
Baek Cheon's face twisted slightly in shock. The elder’s pitiful pleas continued.
"Please think of saving these pitiful ones once more, and take grain from somewhere else. I'll tell you of other nearby villages. Please..."
“....”
"If there's even one chance in a thousand, one in ten thousand, that others learn we did such a thing, we'll all die. Traces may be erased, but one can’t silence people’s mouths forever.”
Baek Cheon opened his mouth to speak, but the elder spoke first.
"Please."
Tears pooled in the elder’s wrinkled eyes as he looked earnestly at Baek Cheon. The moment he saw that face, Baek Cheon felt his body lose all strength.
The elder bowed his head and said.
"There's no need to pay for the grain you just ate. But please, take everyone and leave here as quickly as you can. I beg of you!”
Baek Cheon unconsciously squeezed his eyes shut.
|Note
Consider supporting me by subscribing on Patreon for 5$. The Patreon membership for Mount Hua and Infinite Mage is the same. The benefit:
Advance chapters of Mount Hua : 76
Advance chapters of Magic Realm Convenience Store Worker : 144 Chapters
Comments Box