Novel Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 671

Early morning.

As soon as the sun began rising, those who stayed at Huayin overnight started climbing Mount Hua.

Their faces, filling the path, were all flushed with excitement.

‘Today is the day.’

‘Today, at last!’

These people had come all the way to this distant Shaanxi to witness the founding of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance with their own eyes.

Of course, there were certainly those who had come simply to mark their presence at Mount Hua, but many more believed that the founding of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance would bring about a significant ripple in Kangho.

Yesterday, many people climbed the mountain like today, but there was one difference. Among the crowds, non-martial artists were also noticeable.

“No matter how many times I climb, it’s still steep.”

Hwang Munyak laughed from the palanquin surrounded by hired warriors. He then looked pensively at the narrow mountain path. Hwang Jongwi, walking beside the palanquin, spoke.

“With so many people, it seems even more difficult to climb.”

“With this many people climbing despite the difficult path, isn’t this a testament to Mount Hua’s current standing?”

Hwang Munyak’s face was filled with uncontrollable emotions.

In the past, when he first climbed Mt. Hua to establish a trade deal, there was no one else climbing the mountain.

Later, when he climbed back to Mount Hua again, it was with influential people from Shaanxi, but they weren’t particularly interested in Mount Hua either.

Only a few years have passed since then.

‘It’s more fitting to say it’s a difference of Heaven and Earth than a Reversal of Fortune.’

“Things have changed so much.”

“Isn’t it the brilliance of your foresight, Father? I still don’t understand. What did you see in Mount Hua back then?”

“Hoho. That’s a misunderstanding.”

“Yes?”

Hwang Munyak burst into hearty laughter at the puzzled look on Hwang Jongwi’s face.

“Although it’s true that I had expectations for Mount Hua, I never imagined it would change this much.”

“Ah…”

Hwang Munyak shook his head with a smile on his face.

“Ordinary merchants invest in money and goods, but to become a great merchant, one must know how to invest in the future and value, not just what’s visible.”

“Yes, Father. That’s right.”

“In that sense, it seems I’m not a proper great merchant. If I had known that Mount Hua would be such an extraordinary place, I would have invested all my assets. Tsk tsk. To think I couldn’t fully recognize the value of the gem right in front of me.”

Hwang Jong laughed bitterly at Hwang Munyak’s words.

Hwang Munyak and the Eunha Merchant Guild greatly profited from their investment in Mount Hua. However, the profits were relatively small compared to the trade routes they established through Mount Hua.

The important thing is not the immediate money at hand, but the fact that they’ve secured a future that can generate profit for decades to come. That is a value that is impossible to fathom.

The deal, is the most successful challenge and achievement in the history of the Eunha Merchant Guild. Yet Hwang Munyak still seemed to be left with regret.

“Still, it’s such a relief.”

“That we made money?”

“No, that it worked out for Mount Hua.”

Hwang Munyak looked at Hwang Jongwi with a distinctive look.

“That’s not very merchant-like of you.”

“It might be.”

Hwang Jongwi smiled bitterly.

“Although I can’t compare to Father, I’ve lived a long time as a merchant in my own right.”

His gaze turned to the top of the mountain.

“Throughout the process, I’ve met and dealt with countless people. Sometimes chasing profits, sometimes chasing people, and sometimes following the flow.”

“Hmm.”

Hwang Munnyak nodded.

Obviously, Hwang Jongwi is not young either. Age-wise, it wouldn’t be strange for Hwang Munyak to retire now and have him become the leader of the merchant guild.

“But it’s weird.”

“Hm?”

“Even though we’ve been in business for several years, we don’t often get the chance to meet the people of Mount Hua who stay secluded in the mountains.”

“That’s true. They are Taoists, after all.”

“However, strangely enough, I feel at ease when I see the people of Mount Hua.”

Hwang Jongwi smiled quietly.

“It’s not because I’m looking at the deviant Taoist. I’ve met other Taoists several times, not just from Mount Hua. But in my view, the people of Mount Hua are somehow different.”

“In what way?”

“Well, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly. Sometimes they seem silly, sometimes it’s absurdly stubborn, and sometimes they seem to have no plan whatsoever…”

Hwang Jongwi’s words trailed off, and he shook his head, unable to find the right expression.

“I don’t know if I should say this as a merchant, but I just like Mount Hua. Maybe that’s why I’m so happy that Mount Hua’s status is increasing day by day, Father.”

Hwang Munyak, who was listening seriously, laughed heartily.

“Great merchant. Yes, that’s what a great merchant is.”

“Excuse me?”

Hwang Munyak looked at Hwang Jongwi with affectionate eyes.

“Didn’t I say that a great merchant is someone who knows how to invest in the future?”

“Yes. That’s what you said.”

“But that alone is not enough.”

The smiling Hwang Munyak continued.

“There’s a saying in the world of merchants. One who gains money becomes a merchant, but one who gains hearts becomes a great merchant.”

“Oh….”

“If you truly want to surpass me, never forget the heart you have now. If you treat those people with sincerity, they will treat you sincerely in return. Someday, the deals built on sincerity, not just profits, will make you a great merchant.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Father.”

In response to the neat answer, Hwang Munyak nodded with a smile.

‘He’ll do well.’

He knew it too. He was getting old.

He wanted to keep watching Mount Hua’s growth into the world for a long time to come, but now it’s hard for him to keep up with them.

Generations flow and change.

It was time for him to entrust the merchant guild to Hwang Jongwi.

Even if he was inexperienced or felt lingering attachments, he should know when to step back and trust. Hadn’t Mount Hua taught him that?

‘I wonder, too.’

What kind of future will they create? What will Mount Hua and Eunha Merchant Guild look like in the future?

“Let’s hurry. We need to arrive before it’s too late. It’s the day when Mount Hua became the leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. How can our Eunha Merchant Guild be late?”

“Yes, Father!”

Hwang Jongwi responded loudly and quickened his pace.

“Hmm.”

Upon arriving at the gate, Hwang Munyak nodded repeatedly.

“You’ve prepared well.”

“We haven’t done much. The Sichuan Tang Family renovated and decorated the hall.”

“Everyone does what they can.”

As soon as he entered the gate, a spacious training ground appeared, and the halls were visible on both sides. The once crumbling appearance was gone, and all the halls looked magnificent.

A large platform had been newly constructed in front of the main hall, and seats were arranged on both sides for important guests.

The beckoning Hwang Munyak slowly stepped out of the palanquin.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ride the palanquin until there…”

“No, I don’t think so. How can one ride a palanquin in a place like this? A merchant’s end comes when they forget their manners and duty.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Still, Mount Hua has given this old man a seat. How can I not be grateful? Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

As he approached the prepared seat with a smile on his face, a familiar face greeted him.

“Welcome, Sangdanju-nim!”

“Elder-nim. It’s been a long time.”

Hwang Munyak shook hands with Hyun Young.

Mount Hua’s Elder in charge of finance, Hyun Young, and the Eunha Merchant Guild Master, Hwang Munyak, had shared many conversations and numerous transactions over time.

“Congratulations on establishing the alliance. It’s truly gratifying to see Mount Hua change day by day.”

“It’s all thanks to Sangdanju-nim for helping Mount Hua. This is not an empty compliment. Everyone in Mount Hua is always grateful to Sangdanju-nim.”

“Hahaha. I think we should exclude one person.”

“…Uhmm, yeah, that’s true…”

Surely, upon hearing these words, Chung Myung would have exclaimed, ‘They should be thankful, why are we thankful? Who made their money in the first place!’ with a throat-tearing shout.

‘Well, it’s not entirely wrong.’

Feeling as if he could hear that voice, Hwang Munyak laughed.

For him, Chung Myung was an unparalleled benefactor and a lucky charm that rolled in on its own. In other words, even if Chung Myung suddenly grabbed and pulled his beard, Hwang Munyak is confident that he would only laugh it off.

“What about Sect Leader?”

“He’s preparing for the ceremony so it’s difficult to meet him now. Please come this way, Sangdanju-nim. We have prepared a good seat for you.”

“To that extent…I know my place, too. If you could just give me a furthest seat, that would be enough.”

“Absolutely not! How can Sangdanju-nim sit at the furthest seat! This way! Please come this way!”

Hyun Young forcefully led Hwang Munyak.

Even if Hyun Young is a person who hasn’t mastered martial arts in earnest, he’s a martial artist nonetheless. The old Hwang Munyak, who did not know martial arts, could not resist his strength.

Hyun Young dragged Hwang Munyak to the front seat of the table next to the platform. Hwang Munyak was shocked.

“E- Elder-nim! This is…….”

Seats for the leaders of the Ten Great Sect and the Five Great Family were arranged behind and beside him. It was already surprising to sit in the same row as them, let alone the very front row!

Indeed, tt was an excessively high seat.

Feeling suffocated, Hwang Munyak grabbed Hyun Young and begged.

“E- Elder-nim. Please let me move to a seat in the back.”

“That’s not gonna happen! How can we arrange a guest of honor’s seat in the back?”

“I- I feel uncomfortable. Due to my age, if I sit in such a prominent place, my heart will pound, and I won’t be able to bear it.”

“…Hoo.”

“Back row! The back row is enough! If you care about me, please do as I ask.”

“Hngg, alright. Haa, Sect Leader will be displeased.”

“I- I will explain it to him separately. Please.”

“Yes, as you wish.”

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Hwang Munyak finally managed to be guided to a seat in the back. He collapsed into the chair, feeling as if the wind had been knocked out of him.

Holding his chest, he took several deep breaths, finally calming down as he let out a deep sigh. Then, he couldn’t help but laugh.

‘So this is Mount Hua…’

People are bound to change, and so is the sect, as people created it.

In the past when he first climbed to Mount Hua, he must have been an important guest. But could he be such an important guest to Mount Hua now?
He was a merchant and knew the ways of the world well enough.

Even if Mount Hua had guided him to a lower seat instead of a high one, he wouldn’t have been dissatisfied.

Yet, he was offered a high seat, even at the front.

‘Are they naive, or is it something else…’

He was reminded of what Hwang Jongwi had said when they arrived here.

“Naive yet stubborn… upright without any schemes…”

The smile on Hwang Munyak’s face was evident.

‘So they are just good people after all.’

He realized anew how fortunate he was to have formed a connection with Mount Hua.

The seats in front of him were filled with the leading figures of Kangho.

Everyone had gathered to celebrate the founding of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Regardless of their intentions, they had no choice but to fill these seats.

The fact that they could gather these people in one place demonstrated the current strength of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance…

And.

‘So many people.’

Beneath the platform and on both sides of the training ground, the crowd was packed tightly without any gaps.

There was a strange emotion in the heart of Hwang Munyak looking at the whole scene.

Although quite some time had passed since he sat down, he didn’t feel bored just by looking at the surroundings.

And shortly after.

“It’s starting!”

“Here they come!”

Along the path that had been secured beforehand on the left and right, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance leaders finally appeared.