Return of the Mount Hua Sect (HTL 1634+)

The day dawned.

Jo Geol, who had stayed up all night with his eyes open, stood up blankly as the sunlight poured through the window.

The people who had stayed up all night with him in silence turned their eyes to him.

"Geol-ah?"

Jo Geol scratched his head roughly and said.

"I should go and see. The dawn air is cold! I'm a little worried that his body might have been harmed... And... I don't want to trouble the busy medical hall unnecessarily..."

That's a ridiculous excuse.

"Great Sect Leader said..."

Yoon Jong, who had opened his mouth, stopped speaking and shook his head. A sigh escaped.

Hyun Jong clearly ordered not to show any kindness to the expelled disciple. But Jo Geol couldn't have forgotten that already.

Even if he gets punished for this, as long as Jo Geol has decided to go himself, Yoon Jong cannot stop him.

"Geol-ah."

"No, sahyung. I'll be back soon. If I get scolded, then so be it. You can just say you dozed off and didn't know..."

"Let's go together."

"...What?"

Yoon Jong stood up.

"I have to go too."

Then he headed for the door without waiting for Jo Geol. The others, who had been sitting, also stood up as if they had promised to do so.

"No, but..."

Jo Geol scratched his head vigorously, sighing. He hadn't intended for things to escalate like this.

"Is it a fundamental rule in this sect for everyone to disregard orders from the higher-ups?"

Despite the order issued just yesterday by Great Sect Leader, everyone was blatantly ignoring it. Looking at the ones walking ahead, Jo Geol followed them.

"... He'll be alright, right?"

"He will be."

Even if Baek Cheon has weakened, he was once a warrior.

A single night of cold wind wouldn't make him seriously ill.

However, the worry was more about the sickness of his heart, not his body.

'Excommunication...'

Yoon Jong pondered how he would feel if he were in a similar situation.

It's hard to even imagine. He had never thought of a life outside of Mount Hua. Even when Mount Hua's demise seemed inevitable, Yoon Jong never thought of leaving.

Everything he had was in Mount Hua.

How could one understand the feelings of being forcibly severed from all that? One cannot even dare to offer consolation.

"Health is the priority. Whatever a person does, they need to be healthy first."

Yoon Jong's face hardened. Despite the situation, he felt a surge of anger at Jo Geol's foolish words.

"Sahyung."

"What."

Yoon Jong's voice turned cold as he replied.

"Is it really possible to heal Sasuk's body if he's going to Zhongnan?"

Yoon Jong looked up at Jo Geol.

"It should, right?"

A long sigh escaped instead of an answer.

'Yes… Right now, that's the only hope.'

"We have to believe."

"It should be fine. Sasuk's family is wealthy, right? Once he recovers, everything will be alright. It will be."

Anyone could see that Jo Geol's words were neither sincerely believed nor comforting. Yet, Jo Geol kept repeating similar words, saying it was rather a good thing.

"Yeah. At least... it will be better than now. But then, hypothetically speaking. If Sasuk recovers, will the excommunication be canceled..."

"Jo Geol."

Jo Geol flinched and hunched his shoulders as Yoon Jong's icy voice pierced his ears.

"Think before you speak."

"No, I mean, it could happen, right? I'm not saying it should…"

"Don't say such nonsense. It insults both Mount Hua and Sasuk. And above all, Sasuk would never accept such a thing."

Jo Geol let out a long sigh of frustration.

He knew it was impossible. Even if it were possible, Baek Cheon would never choose that path.

"...I was just saying."

"..."

Yoon Jong did not reprimand Jo Geol further. Honestly, he hadn't completely dismissed similar thoughts himself.

But now, he had to accept it. Baek Cheon would become Zhongnan's people.

'Zhongnan…...'

Although their relationship had improved rapidly recently, it was still Zhongnan.

Will this amicable relationship with Zhongnan continue? At some point, it might become a relationship worse than before and lead to confrontation.

If Baek Cheon stands at the forefront of Zhongnan at that time, how should Yoon Jong view him?

'It's difficult.'

It was when Yoon Jong was trying to calm his complicated mind.

"Sahyung, over there."

At that moment, the people Yoon Jong least wanted to see came into view. They were walking in the same direction as Yoon Jong's group.

Among Zhongnan's people were Zhong Ligok, Jin Geumryong, and Lee Songbaek, as well as Baek Cheon's father, Jin Chobaek...

'Are they going to pick up Sasuk?'

Yoon Jong unconsciously bit his lower lip.

Thinking about it coldly, it was natural, but it felt like being pierced by a hot iron rod.

When their eyes met, Lee Songbaek awkwardly bowed his head. The other companions also seemed to notice them and glanced over.

Yoon Jong greeted them politely.

Regardless of his burning insides, the other party was the head of another sect. Disrespecting them would tarnish Hwasan's reputation.

Zhong Ligok slightly bowed his head and accepted their courtesy.

As they were heading to the same place, the distance between them shortened as they walked. When the distance between them was less than one Zhang, it was hard not to be conscious of it.

Unexpectedly, it was Jin Geumryong who spoke first.

"Are you going to see him?"

"...Yes."

Though the relationship with other sects was usually not strictly kept, but in terms of seniority, Jin Geumryong was a rank higher.

Furthermore, privately, he was Baek Cheon's elder brother, so Yoon Jong showed him proper respect.

However, the response was very short.

"Why?"

It carried a lot of meaning. So much that Yoon Jong felt a surge of emotion.

Yoon Jong clenched his teeth. He felt that if he opened his mouth now, harsh words would come out. Anyway, causing a disturbance here would not be good for anyone.

At that moment, Zhong Ligok spoke.

"I heard that your Great Sect Leader has forbidden contact with the exiles. Don't you know this could be a problem?"

"I am aware."

"Are you still going?"

The tone was gentle, as if advising, but in the end, it was telling him to retreat. However, Yoon Jong knew the meaning and did not easily retreat.

"Yes. I intend to confess my sins."

Zhong Ligok narrowed his eyes slightly.

And it seemed that it was not only Yoon Jong who had no intention of retreating. Jo Geol, who was glaring as if looking at an enemy, Yoo Iseol with sharp eyes, Baek Sang and Hye Yeon, who were fidgeting but staying in place, Tang Soso and Namgung Dowi, who were stood silently.

Currently, the most renowned new talents in the martial arts world are all defying orders and voluntarily facing punishment. To go to Baek Cheon.

'Is it charisma...?'

It seemed no one in Zhongnan could match Baek Cheon's ability to attract people. In Zhongnan, there was Jin Dongryong, with his sharp intellect, and Lee Songbaek, with his steadfastness, but Baek Cheon had something neither of them possessed. (tl note: its really said dongryong, not geumryong, hm)

"Hmm."

Jong Ligok briefly let out a sigh.

He could forcibly stop them, but there was no need to. By accompanying them to fetch Jin Dongryong, he might make them face reality.

"Then let's go together. Aren't we both on the way to see one person?"

"...I don't particularly intend to go separately, but that doesn't mean we can go together."

"Hmm?"

"We are not going to send Sasuk off."

There was a gleam in Zhong Ligok's eyes.

Yoon Jong maintained a calm demeanor even in front of Zhong Ligok. Even on the path to see the expelled while disobeying orders, he maintained a calm demeanor.

Zhong Ligok carefully observed Yoon Jong's eyes, which were deep and serene like a windless lake.

'How do such talented people keep emerging from Mount Hua?'

It might be shameless to say I'm envious, but it was hard to stop thinking that way.

"Then go ahead."

Zhong Ligok nodded briefly and moved his feet.

Anyway, bringing Jin Dongryong to Zhongnan quickly was crucial. The sooner he was diagnosed and treated, the better his condition would be.

Zhong Ligok's steps quickened.

Jin Geumryong, who was following behind, glared sharply at Yoon Jong and Jo Geol.

There was a cold tension between the two groups walking side by side at a certain distance. It was a chill that hadn't been there since they sorted out each other's positions.

Lee Songbaek secretly sighed.

'How frustrating.'

They had barely managed to mend the relationship between the two sects. Now, with Baek Cheon's situation, he had a bad feeling that their relationship would turn cold again.

That wouldn't be something Baek Cheon would want.

Suppressing his stifled feelings, he turned the corner heading to the hall where Baek Cheon would be.

Halt.

Suddenly, Zhong Ligok's steps halted. At the same time, Yoon Jong also stopped.

A low groan escaped from Zhong Ligok's mouth.

"Baek Cheon... No, where is Jin Dongryong?"

"Yes?"

He lightly stroked his chin and spoke with dark eyes.

"I thought he would be here. Send someone to his quarters immediately."

He assumed that the shock received yesterday would not be easily resolved, but it seemed that he had already composed himself and went to his quarters.

'Is he more resilient than I thought? If so, that's rather fortunate.'

Zhong Ligok calmly thought as he waited for the person sent to Baek Cheon's quarters to return.

But the news that came back was different from what he expected.

"Sect Leader. There was no one at the quarters."

"...Really? Then check the medical hall...."

One of the disciples quickly approached Zhong Ligok with an anxious face.

"….. There, there is no one at the medical hall either."

At that moment, Zhong Ligok's complexion changed dramatically.

"...Then, where did he go, in that condition?"

"Well, I, I don't know either...."

"Search the entire Wudang sect thoroughly. He must have been here until dawn. He will still be within the grounds!"

It's unimaginable to search another sect's grounds without permission. But considering the gravity of the situation, Zhong Ligok had no choice but to commit the rudeness.

He had no choice but to commit the rudeness.

The disciples of Zhongnan, spurred by the stern command of the Sect Leader, scattered all over Wudang in a rush.

A faint anxiety lingered in Zhong Ligok's eyes.

'Could he have gone to see Hyun Jong?'

That might be possible. He could have gone to beg for his life. He would have done that.

'This is not the time. I must personally....'

But the situation turned strange.

"There's no one, sect leader."

"We can't see him."

Even those who looked around Hyun Jong's place and even those who looked around the guest house where the Mount Hua disciples were staying could not find Baek Cheon.

Even those who searched beyond the grounds and scoured Mount Wudang were the same.

"This...."

Zhong Ligok became more and more pale. Hyun Jong, who had heard the news late, hurriedly ran over.

"Sect Leader."

"Great Sect Leader! You were not with Baek Cheon... no, Jin Dongryong?"

"I haven't seen him since yesterday."

"What...!"

Hyun Jong looked around at the other disciples in shock.

"Has none of you seen Baek Cheon?"

"...Great Sect Leader told us not to interact with the expelled disciple..."

"Is there really no one? Then what about today? Has anyone seen him today?"

Naturally, no answer came back. Hyun Jong stared blankly at the wide-open main gate of Wudang.

"This, this... is..."

He disappeared.

In this dangerous land where the specter of war still lurks everywhere, Baek Cheon disappeared like smoke.

"This kind of thing..."

Mount Hua expelled him. And hoped he would go to Zhongnan.

But Baek Cheon did not head to Zhongnan.

It was an unexpected situation. The color drained from everyone's faces.

"Baek Cheon-ah..."

Hyun Jong's dazed voice spread through the quiet martial arts training ground.

And on the roof of a pavilion a little away from the training ground.

Cheong Myeong, who had been silently watching all this commotion, let out a low sigh. The scent of alcohol lingering in his mouth felt unusually bitter today.