Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1528. Now it's my turn (3)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
The transformed Huayin was brimming with vitality.
The reason refugees originally struggled in poverty was that their food, shelter, and work were not secured.
But at least in this Huayin, that was not the case.
This was because the manpower that had been mobilized to build the city's basic framework had returned to their main occupation of training, creating a large number of job vacancies within the city.
Tang Gun-ak and Hwang Jongwi filled the gap by hiring refugees to do the work.
To those who had already been relieved just to have food and shelter, jobs were now being provided. Naturally, many rejoiced and carried out their assigned tasks with all their hearts.
Among them, what Hwang Jongwi paid the most attention to was land reclamation. Selecting land and converting it into farmland.
Land reclamation wasn’t as easy as one might think.
One cannot simply cut down mountains to make rice paddies and fields, so you must look for a suitable flat land, and even if fertile land is found, it takes several years of effort just to make that place into land where crops can grow.
Even in reclamation, that's not all there is to worry about.
If everything were solved just by obtaining land to farm, would those who practice slash-and-burn agriculture live in such poverty?
When humans occupy land, the animals that once lived there lose their homes and are driven out. However, animals also have distinct territories, so they cannot carelessly set foot on another animal's land.
As a result, they have no choice but to bide their time, looking for a chance to reclaim the land that was taken from them.
When the territories of animals and humans become intermingled and boundaries blur, accidents always happen. That was common sense and truth.
But... that obvious truth was avoided only this land of Huayin.
“…Are they still doing that?”
“They said not to mind it.”
“H- How can you not mind it?”
“That’s true, but.”
Every time land was cleared, gravel and roots were dug up. The farmers who were organizing these kept glancing furtively to one side with sour expressions, as if something was constantly bothering them.
A sleek, streamlined body. A sharply tapered triangular face with glints of sharp teeth. Plus fur as black and glossy as if polished with coal.
A single black panther was lying lazily, enjoying the afternoon sunlight.
"Ca- Can panthers be that black?"
“Isn't it called a black panther? Haven't you heard of it?”
“I’ve only heard about it....”
For those living in the peaceful lands of Hubei and Shaanxi, seeing a panther in the flesh was a once-in-a-lifetime rare event.
And in fact, this scene would be rare even for those living in remote areas beyond Shaanxi.
"So why is it staying like that?"
“Didn't you hear? That’s its job.”
“Job?”
"Don't you know? When land is reclaimed like this, wolves and panthers and such would suddenly rush in and take someone away.”
“That’s right. A friend of mine’s father died that way. It was a great tiger back then."
“So you know. Then you also know how dangerous it is for us to be doing this work here, right?”
“Yeah....”
The person answering tilted his head.
Now that he thought about it, there definitely should’ve been a few incidents already, but strangely enough, he hadn’t heard a single case of such things happening in this place.
"Are there no mountain beasts here?"
“Haha. That’s ridiculous. Hey, my friend. This is Shaanxi, Shaanxi! How much would the people of Shaanxi laugh if the people of Hubei said there were no animals in Shaanxi? Do you know how many high mountains there are here that even people can't set foot on?”
“Right. That’s true, but…”
“They say those beasts over there are guarding the place, so no other animals dare come close.”
“Really? W- Well, they certainly don’t look ordinary, but with beasts like that standing guard one by one in this wide place…”
“Tsk, tsk. You know nothing. They're not ordinary beasts but mystical creatures, mystical creatures. They say they’re beasts brought from the Southern Beast Palace.”
“Ah…”
"So the beasts that should have been rampaging when Heavenly Comrade Alliance members left can't come near."
“So that’s how it was… Then what? The beasts are protecting us?”
"Basically."
“Hah… This is enough to make a ghost cry.”
Of course, beasts protecting humans isn’t unheard of. Dogs guard houses right away, and stories of horses blocking enemies to protect their masters were not uncommon to hear.
But… what kind of panther…
It was just then.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
The sound of a dog barking fiercely was heard from somewhere.
“What’s with the barking…”
And at that moment, the black panther that had been lying lazily rose to its feet. Without even giving a glance to the startled people, it quickly took a guarded stance toward the mountain.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
The barking sound seemed to grow louder, and soon dozens of dogs began to swarm over.
"Huh? Wha- What’s that?"
“Can’t you tell by looking? Aren’t they dogs, dogs.”
"No! Who doesn't know they're dogs? I'm asking why these dog bastards are suddenly here out of nowhere."
Of course, a pack of stray dogs could be anywhere, but there was one strange thing.
No matter how fierce wild dogs might be, they should properly run away with their tails between their legs when they see a panther, but those dogs instead rush fiercely toward them.
Woof! Woof!
The dogs that came running with rough barking (?) soon stopped in unison in front of the panther. Even during this, the black leopard maintained its guarding stance without turning its gaze.
And....
Growl.
The dogs stepped back to the left and right. From between them, something waddled out.
“…Ma- Marten? Walking on two legs?”
"What is it wearing, that thing?"
The marten that slowly walked out from between the dogs looked at the black panther as if something displeased it.
Flick.
Then it flicked its small forepaw.
The black panther that had been taking a guarding stance charged toward the weasel like the wind. It looked as if it would bite the marten and twist its neck in one go!
“That! Look at that!”
But what unfolded next was truly bizarre.
The black panther that had rushed like lightning prostrated itself flat in front of the small marten that was only as long as its front paw.
Kii!
The marten stomped the ground hard with its hind leg. The black panther groaned in pain.
The marten, which had been pointing its paw at the black panther for a while as if scolding it, let out another sharp cry, and the black panther hastily returned to its spot. With its fur standing on end while vigilantly watching all directions, it was completely different from its languid state earlier.
Kii!
The marten, shaking its head as if thoroughly displeased, glared at the black panther once as if to say, ‘I’m watching you,’ and then scurried away.
Woof! Woof!
The dogs that had surrounded it like guards quickly began following behind the marten.
The people who had watched this entire process from beginning to end muttered blankly.
“...What kind of neighborhood is this, really."
“Shaanxi is... quite different from Hubei.”
“...Is it because this is Shaanxi?”
“Is it?”
Shaking their heads in disbelief, they resumed working. Until their task was complete, the black panther did not once drop its posture.
It wasn't just the refugees who were living busy lives within the turbulent Huayin. The martial artists who had built the foundation for the refugees to live were now living far busier lives.
But the method was somewhat... unusual.
Blue Flower Inn (청화객잔(靑華客棧)) in Huayin. This inn had been entirely rented out by Heavenly Comrade Alliance in place of a not-yet-completed dining hall.
Inside, those wearing the martial robes of Mount Hua were gathered around a round table.
It was time for dinner after the afternoon training. Though it should naturally be the most boisterous time as tension was released, everyone sitting around the tables was fidgeting with something in their hands without exchanging a single word.
“Uh....”
What broke the silence was Jo-Gol's groan. His bulging eyes trembled violently.
He glared at the piece of cloth in his hand as if to burn it with his gaze, then as if having made a firm decision, he shot the needle in his other hand fiercely toward the cloth.
Puuk!
"Aaaaaaaak!"
“Be quiet, Gol.”
“No, what’s wrong with this punk? Why does he prick his own finger every time he sews?”
“Considering the purpose of the training, isn’t that the correct action?”
“That’s... weird...”
Jo-Gol grumbled and threw the blood-stained cloth and needle onto the table.
"Damn, why do I have to do this!"
“Gol, I said be quiet!”
“No...!”
Jo-Gol turned his head to argue the flying criticism, but instantly flinched and found himself at a loss for words.
Baek Cheon, his forehead wrapped in a hero’s headband and his bangs neatly tucked back, was sewing with the meticulous grace of a daughter from a noble family.
Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was peacefully doing embroidery. He appeared calm and composed.
"Don't blame others for what you can't do."
“Am I the only one who can’t? The only one?”
The angered Jo-Gol pointed his finger at Yoo Iseol, who was sitting on the opposite side.
“Look at Sago! She’s going to lose her fingers at this rate!”
Indeed, all ten of Yoo Iseol's fingers were wrapped tightly in bandages. Yoo Iseol spoke briefly with a blank expression but a strangely sulky expression.
"It's fine. Me."
“You’re not fine! You’re not! What if this interferes with holding a sword? Do you know which fingers the index fingers are!"
“I never knew you thought so much of Samae. Anyway… I’ll say this one last time. You’re noisy, so sit down.”
“Grrrr!”
Jo-Gol plopped back down in his chair. Of course, it wasn’t because his doubts was cleared.
“No, why are we…”
“Gol. If you keep muttering like that, I’ll send you to the training ground.”
At Yoon Jong’s words, Jo-Gol quickly shut his mouth. Then, he cautiously glanced at Baek Cheon with trembling eyes.
"You wouldn't, right?"
“If you don’t want to learn under Soso, then shut up and do it.”
“...Yes.”
Thus Jo-Gol's routine rebellion was suppressed, but he wasn't the only one suffering.
"Aak! My finger!"
“Tsk, tsk. I told you not to put too much internal strength into the needle.”
“Like that’s easy as it sounds! My whole life, whenever I've held something in my hand, it's been to stab, cut, and slice!"
“…Why do you talk like Evil Sects bastard?”
“Ouch!”
Sporadic screams echoed from all around. Baek Cheon shook his head.
“...This is harder than I thought, Sasuk.”
“What’s so difficult?”
"It seems like Sasuk has an aptitude for this."
“Medical arts?”
“No. Embroidery.”
“This punk?”
Yoon Jong sighed while avoiding Baek Cheon's glaring gaze.
“Just sewing isn’t that hard, but doing it swiftly by infusing the needle with internal energy is easier said than done…”
“No wonder Soso’s embroidery skills seemed like magic.”
It was easy to pierce something with a needle infused with energy. But precisely embedding a needle infused with internal strength exactly halfway into something is extremely difficult.
It requires sword-like precision in internal strength control.
“...If one practices like this from childhood, no wonder Tang Family’s hidden weapon techniques are the best under heaven.”
“Yes, that make sense. I can understand why Soso learned the sword quickly too. The sword is also a weapon that requires delicate internal strength control."
“Right.”
This meant that this seemingly useless training process would make their swords even sharper. But Baek Cheon didn't bother to say that fact out loud.
“Aaargh! My fingernail! I pierced my fingernail! Blood!”
“A bandage! A bandage!”
Well... not for any particular reason. He just found it rather enjoyable to see these guys suffer.
“Where on earth did the bastard who caused this whole situation go? Why haven’t I seen him since this morning?”
“Probably off drinking alone somewhere again?”
“After making all this mess?”
"When has that bastard ever cared about such things?"
Yoon Jong let out a pained sound. Baek Cheon too couldn't suppress his rising sigh.
He recalled the meeting from a few days ago that started this whole mess.
|Note
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