Novel Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 645

“What!?”

Song Tae-ak, whose eyes were as big as a lantern, shouted without realizing it.

“They won?”

“Yes!”

“Who against whom?”

“Mount Hua against Wudang!”

“…What?”

It was not his ears’ problem. He couldn’t have misheard the same thing several times.

However, it was such an unimaginable result that he had no choice but to ask again.

“Mount Hua beat Wudang?”

“That’s right!”

“Tell, tell me more! What’s going on!”

At Song Tae-ak’s urging, the general presented a letter in his hand as if he had nothing to say. While quickly grabbing and reading it, Song Tae-ak’s mouth slowly opened in shock.

“E- Elder… Wudang’s elder was defeated? By… by Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”

He rubbed his eyes and read them over and over again, but the contents of the book did not change at all.

“Y- You sure there’s no mistake in this, right?”

“Have you ever seen wrong information from Geumchop (금첩 (金徹))?” [금첩 (金徹)) is a term in Korean that refers to a special messenger or envoy who delivers important information or news from the king or government officials to the public or officials in the provinces.]

“Right. Tha- That’s true.”

Information is life to merchants. In addition, Geumchop which flew from this short distance had little to no unreliableness. After all, it would have been written down exactly as seen.

“Well… They say that in life, wolves can chase away tigers… but…”

It was hard to say that Mount Hua winning against Wudang was at the level of a wolf defeating a tiger. Isn’t this more like a rabbit biting off a tiger’s jaw and pulling out its teeth with its front paws?

“Oh my gosh…”

If such an unbelievable thing had happened, the cause must have been incredible. Either the tiger wasn’t a tiger or the rabbit wasn’t a rabbit. Since that Wudang couldn’t be anything other than a tiger, it meant that Mount Hua was a much more powerful sect than he had thought.

“A- Aigoo!”

Song Tae-ak grabbed his head in terror.

Only then did he realize the mistake he had made. He would not have stayed at the merchant guild if he had known that Mount Hua could defeat Wudang like this. He would have gone to the place where the battle was taking place and thrown up flowers or something.

“Da- Damn it, how could I make such a mistake…!”

With his big hands, he patted his own head and looked back at his subordinates with excited eyes.

“Then, then where are those Mount Hua guys now!”

“They are probably on their way back to our guild by now. We received the news as soon as the victory was decided…”

“What? They’re coming back now?”

“Yes, they are!”

“Al- Already?”

He was momentarily surprised, but it didn’t last long. Song Tae-ak is a merchant who managed a huge trading post. If he had been so stupid that he didn’t know what to do right now, he wouldn’t have been able to roll in so much money.

“What are you all doing? Prepare a victory banquet right away! Drinks! Prepare an overflowing amount of food and drinks!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Make it splendid! Mobilize everything you can and prepare as splendidly as possible! This Song Tae-ak and Golden Ship Merchant Guild should show that they are more than happy about Mount Hua’s victory!”

“Yes!”

Song Tae-ak took a deep breath as he saw his subordinates rushing around.

‘Then what’s going to happen now?’

He abandoned Wudang and turned to Mount Hua not because he thought they could beat Wudang right now.

Investment is based on the future, not the present.

It was done under the calculation that Mount Hua would grow faster than that Wudang.

But now that things have come to this…….

‘This is a huge success!’

If Mount Hua’s power and momentum were more than he had expected, he might be able to recover his investment several times over.
“No wonder I had a good dream last night! This is not the time for me to sit back and relax!”

Instead of leaving it to his subordinates, he should come forward and prepare for the banquet. Now that Mount Hua had finished everything it had to do in Wuhan, they would soon leave for Shaanxi. Before that, the name Song Tae-ak and the Golden Ship Merchant Guild had to be clearly engraved.

“What, what should I do first? For now….”

It was just then.

“Sangdanju-nim!”

“What is it? What’s going on?”

“Mo- Mount Hua people are coming back!”

Song Tae-ak was so surprised that he jumped up from his seat.

“Why, why are they back so soon? We’re not even ready yet! Da- Damn it!”

Song Tae-ak ran toward the main gate.

“Open the gate! We must welcome the heroes who have returned from the victory trail! Open the gate wide right now!”

“Yes!”

Perhaps understanding the importance of the situation, the merchant guild members quickly opened the gate wide. Song Tae-ak, who ran out of the gate at once, looked forward, gasping for breath.

“Are, are they coming from over there?”

“Probably so.”

“Huuk! Huuk!”

“Just calm down for now…..”

“I know! But will things go as planned?”

Song Tae-ak replied with an irritated face.

‘Does no one have a clue how big of a deal this is?’

What does it mean that Mount Hua won against Wudang in this Wuhan, not anywhere else?

This was literally something that could change the situation in Kangho.

So how could one not be tense?

“Sangdanju-nim!”

“I know!”

“That’s not it! There, there! Mount Hua is here!”

As soon as those words were spoken, Song Tae-ak’s head turned in the pointed direction.

Indeed, a group of people could be seen approaching in the distance.

Gulp.

Swallowing dry saliva, he stared at the approaching group with his eyes wide open. Of course, they were clearly the disciples of Mount Hua.

But….

‘Something feels different about them…?’

They were undoubtedly the same disciples of Mount Hua he had seen that morning. He can’t be mistaken since he clearly saw them leaving for the sparring match this morning.

But now, the disciples of Mount Hua Sect approaching them had a different feeling to them.

How can he put this?

Although they are the same person on the outside, they seem to have developed a presence and momentum they had not possessed before.

‘Do I feel that way because of the fact that they came back from beating Wudang?’

But by all accounts, it wasn’t.

Every merchant must see the flow of money, but before that, he must know how to see people. Thus, no matter what the other side did, he had to maintain an objective point of view.

‘The momentum has definitely changed.’

It wasn’t really something that was hard to understand upon closer inspection.

Martial artists grow through training but also based on what they achieve.

The fact that they had won against Wudang in combat would have given them incredible confidence. If these already skilled individuals gained even more confidence, it wouldn’t be surprising if their momentum changed overnight.

Even Mount Hua’s disciples walking in line felt like they exuded a different aura they had never been before.

Song Tae-ak’s spine tingled. He clenched his fist tightly.

He may not be a martial artist himself, but seeing those who have walked the same path all their lives grow and walk toward their goal with determination was thrilling. Who wouldn’t feel that way?

He struggled to keep his body from shaking and waited for the disciples of Mount Hua to approach before shouting loudly.

“Congratulations on the victory! Heroes of Mount Hua!”

“We are twice as happy to have Sangdanju-nim congratulate us personally.”

“Of course I must congratulate you personally! Where else could such a monumental event happen? To have triumphed against that Wudang!”

“Hahaha. Thank you.”

“My heart is full of joy. Congratulations again!”

Hyun Sang nodded softly. Song Tae-ak really thought he did a great job choosing Mount Hua over Wudang.

But then a familiar crooked voice penetrated into his ear.

“Despite always being around and just watching, you seem to be overly enthusiastic in your congratulations.”

“….”

When he peeked to the side, he saw Chung Myung tilted his head and arms crossed. His gaze was piercing.

“What do you mean by that… When did I….”
“Everyone saw you pull back when Wudang appeared, even though you seemed like someone who would be joining Mount Hua right away said what now? Congratulation?”

“Ha… hahaha…….”

Song Tae-ak’s forehead began to sweat profusely.

‘I never thought it would end up like this!’

He was indeed a little scared. He didn’t know that Wudang, who had been able to leave Mount Hua alone for the sake of face, would move in earnest so quickly.

“Why? You seem to have changed your mind since we won?”

“That, that can’t be true, Dojang! My mind was only on Mount Hua from the beginning.”

“I don’t know if you wiped your drool from your mouth.” [The phrase “입에 침을 바르다” (lit. “to wipe one’s drool”) is a Korean idiom that refers to someone who is insincere or hypocritical, pretending to support someone or something while secretly harboring ulterior motives or doubts.]

“….”

Chung Myung glared at him with eyes that did not hide his displeasure. Song Tae-ak felt like he was going to die.

“Um… Dojang. Um…….”

It was Hyun Young who saved Song Tae-ak.

“Chung Myung-ah. Don’t push him too hard. Doesn’t Sangdanju-nim have his own circumstances?”

“Tsk.”

Chung Myung grumbled but stepped back as if he would listen to Hyun Young.

Hyun Young smiled and looked at Song Tae-ak.

“Don’t be too disheartened, Sangdanju-nim. I understand everything.”

“Tha- Thank you, Elder-nim.”

“But….”

“…Yes?”

Hyun Young smiled mildly as he swept down his beard.

“Deals are made on the basis of trust in each other. Wouldn’t trust that changes depending on the situation be insufficient?”

“…Of course.”

“Since it is the first time that Gold Ship Merchant Guild and Mount Hyua have made a deal, it is natural that there may be mistakes on both sides. Shouldn’t we make more effort to avoid mistakes in the future?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Song Tae-ak felt nervous and quickly responded, swallowing his dry saliva.

Chung Myung’s anger was direct, but Hyun Young carried a knife in his kind words.

This was tantamount to a warning that he would never remain still if Song Tae-ak remained with a vague attitude. Therefore, Song Tae-ak had to show a corresponding attitude.

“Come inside! A celebration befitting the victory is necessary. I’ll prepare it properly as a way to congratulate you.”

“Haha, you don’t have to….”

“What are you upset about? Golden Ship Merchant Guild and Mount Hua are no strangers, so of course I have to congratulate them on this occasion. Now, come on in!”

When Song Tae-ak made a fuss, Hyun Young moved on as if he had conceded. Then the other disciples of Mount Hua followed him into the Golden Ship Merchant Guild.

When all of Mount Hua’s disciples entered, the remaining Song Tae-ak breathed a long sigh that he had endured as he wiped his forehead.

‘It could have been a big problem if things had gone wrong.’

The Golden Ship Merchant Guild would have been irreversible if he had given in to Wudang’s pressure and broken the contract with Mount Hua. It was his steadfast determination until the very end that saved him.
But.

“Tsk.”

“….”

“Tssssskkk.”

“….”

In this world, there is always someone who easily forgets kindness but never forgets grudges. While everyone had already entered inside, only one demon remained at the entrance and looked at Song Tae-ak. Song Tae-ak wiped away his cold sweat and said.

“… Sodojang. I, uh…”

“I am.”

“…Yes.”

When Chung Myung opened his mouth, Song Tae-ak’s hands were gently brought together.

What could he say in front of the man who even beat up Wudang Elder? And it’s not like he didn’t have any guilt.

“Letting it go this time, since Elder-nim has said so.”

“…Yes.”

“When war breaks out, the one who betted on both sides are the first ones to get hit. You know that, right?”

“I know. I know it very well.”

“Tsk.”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

“Let’s see how well you treat us before we talk again.”

“Don’t worry! I will properly…….”

“Let’s see.”

“….”

“How much, how well.”

“….”

“I’m sure you understood.”

After giving one last glare at Song Tae-ak, Chung Myung walked inside. Then, the general, who was watching the situation from the side, approached Song Tae-ak’s side.

“…What should we do?”

Song Tae-ak looked up at the sky without saying a word and pulled something out of his sleeve, handing it to the general.

“Open the safe.”

“That…all of it?”

“…use it for the banquet for now.”

“Understood.”

“Put the rest of the money back in that demon’s room.”

“….”

Tears formed in his eyes as he realized he had been robbed of his savings.