Here. This is hell. (4)
“Nooooo!”
A resounding scream echoed from Sect Leader’s temporary quarters. People passing by clicked their tongues and shook their heads as they went past the area.
“It’s starting again.”
“Chung Myung never has a quiet day anyway.”
“That’s his talent. It is, indeed.”
Mixed with laughter and concern, glances were briefly cast towards the direction of the quarters, but that was it. No one was surprised. This was the everyday routine in Hwasan, or where Hwasan was.
“Does this make any sense? Huh?”
One of those hurrying away suddenly halted and raised an eyebrow.
“Wait. Is that really Chung Myung?”
“Huh? What are you talking about? If it’s not Chung Myung, then who else?”
“The voice seems different though.”
“The voice?”
Those who heard this turned their attention back to Hyun Jong’s quarters. There was no need to strain to listen – an immense roar erupted.
“Am I furious? Huh! Me?”
“…”
For a moment, everyone’s faces turned pale.
“Is that so?”
“It seems that way. Th-this isn’t Chung Myung’s voice, is it?”
“Then whose voice is it?”
“Isn’t it Sect Leader’s voice?”
“What?”
Everyone was startled and stared blankly toward the quarters.
“Please say something, anything!”
“Cough.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Umm…”
Those gathered in front of Hyun Jong awkwardly avoided eye contact.
Not even Tang Gunak, Maeng So, Im Sobyeong, Namgung Dowi, and even Han Imyeong, who stood in for Seol Sobaek for some unknown reason, dared to meet Hyun Jong’s gaze.
“While kids fight and create chaos!”
“…”
“The leaders of the factions should intervene! Are you all just going to watch?!”
“…Th-that, um… Alliance Leader.”
Maeng So let out a forced laugh.
“That’s something Hwasan Geomhyeop has decided…”
“Oh! You speak well!”
“I’m sorry?”
“Don’t you see? Over there?”
Hyun Jong, with his eyes half closed, fiercely pointed sideways. There, where he pointed at, Chung Myung was sprawled against the wall, limp like a corpse.
“What… what’s that… has he been fasting for ten days?”
“How did the shadows under his eyes reach down to his chin?”
“Is he going to die like this?”
“Is that a person, is it? The guy who laughed and came back on his own feet even after beating the Bishop! But now, look at the state he’s in!”
“…!”
“Turning someone else’s precious son into this? What will people say?”
“P-Please calm down, Sect Leader,”
Hyun Yeong intervened, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
“What do you mean calm down! Do I look calm right now?”
Baek Cheon was dumbfounded by this extraordinary situation.
‘Surviving to witness this. I never thought I’d see such a sight.’
Hyun Jong expressing outrage in Chung Myung’s place, and Hyun Yeong trying to calm him down – unless the world turned upside down, how could this make any sense?
Hyun Jong pushed away Hyun Yeong, then glanced sharply at Tang Gunak.
“Please, speak, Lord of the Tang Clan!”
“C-Cough.”
“I understand using poison in combat! But! You poison someone in a mere quarrel? Are you suggesting giving it a try with Hwasan?!”
“Well… I have no words for that part. But that poison wasn’t lethal, and furthermore, I’ve already administered the antidote…”
“Ah, I see. So, if you beat someone up and then provide treatment, it’s all good?”
“I didn’t mean it that way, but…”
Tang Gunak found himself at a loss for words, subtly averting his gaze. No, surely he didn’t think a mere fight in a dining hall, not even a duel, would involve releasing poison.
If this had happened between different factions, it wouldn’t be surprising if lives were at stake. But those affected were from Hwasan, so it was kind of justifiable to let it slide.
“And you, Beast Palace Lord!”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“How on earth did your beasts cause a ruckus in the village, huh?”
“Hahahaha!”
Maeng So laughed as if it was nothing.
“Well, aren’t they beasts? If you know how to manage them, you’re human.”
But Hyun Jong showed no inclination to let such an excuse slide. His bloodshot eyes were directed straight at the Lord of the Beast Palace.
“Are you finding this funny right now?”
Maeng So subtly lowered his gaze.
“You talk very well! If you know beasts are like that, shouldn’t you manage them properly? What were the palace warriors doing while the beasts were running wild?”
“Well, I have to say…”
“They went into the village, devoured all the crops people were meant to eat, slaughtered the livestock commoners were raising. Chung Myung’s eardrum bursted from their protests! Hearing loss!”
“They seem perfectly fine…”
“What?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Maeng so shrugged his shoulders in a manner unsuitable for his large frame. They say when a gentle person gets angry, they become even scarier, and this was precisely that moment.
“And!”
Hyun Jong’s accusing gaze now fell upon Im Sobyeong. But before he could speak, Im Sobyeong took the initiative.
“Just a moment!”
“…Yes?”
He spread his fan confidently.
“It seems like you’re criticizing us, but upon reflection, isn’t this unjust for us?”
“Unjust?”
“Yes! This time, those Tangga bastards were the ones who initiated the conflict. No matter how lowly we are, aren’t those who start a fight and spit first in the wrong? Are we just supposed to take hits without retaliating?”
“Well, that’s…”
As Hyun Jong momentarily faltered, seemingly at a loss for words, Im Sobyeong didn’t miss the chance and pushed forward.
“Alliance Leader, aren’t we the ones who agreed to live cleanly and purely! You should treat us with compassion instead of constantly discriminating against us…”
“That’s not it!”
“…Yes?”
“People from the government office came by!”
“The government office?”
Im Sobyeong tilted his head as if to say, ‘What a random thing to bring up.’ His confident fan, which had been opened wide, drooped slightly.
Hyun Jong continued speaking, openly displaying dissatisfaction on his face.
“Yes. There was a recent brawl in the back alleys of Gugang. Those involved in gambling there not only beat up everyone in the gambling den but also robbed the safe and fled.”
“…Oh, no!”
Im Sobyeong exclaimed with a deeply aggrieved expression.
“What does that have to do with us?”
“They said one of them wore a green garment with a tree pattern on the right of his chest.”
“Oh, they wore that. Those lunatics…”
Thud!
Hyun Jong forcefully slammed his tea table.
“You came to help common people, yet engaged in gambling? Gambling? And! Even if gambling is fine, why ransack a gambling den! Why!”
Im Sobyeong let out a humble smile.
“Well… no, it’s not like we robbed innocent commoners. Those running gambling dens are leeches on the blood of the people, so it’s fair game to take from them…”
“Then you should have shared the money! That money came from the commoners! What happened to that money?”
“I… I’ll look into it.”
“Enough!”
As Hyun Jong raised his hand, Im Sobyeong thought something was about to fly at him and quickly bent his body. Then he straightened up awkwardly.
What Hyun Jong actually struck was his own chest. His hand struck with a force as if to extinguish an intense burning sensation within.
“Ice Palace!”
“S-Sorry…”
Han Imyeong, already half frightened, retreated subtly at the mention of ‘The Ice Palace,’ seemingly afraid of the consequences.
“Why isn’t the Palace Lord here?”
“There are some circumstances…”
“Hmm.”
Hyun Jong exhaled deeply and then glared at Han Imyeong again.
“Everywhere else might be like that. I requested not to fight unless it is a spar, how could Ice Palace get involved in a fight? You acted like you’d listen before, but I even heard Ice Palace attacked Beast Palace first! What on earth happened here?”
“T-There’s a reason for that.”
“What reason?”
Han Imyeong answered, sweating profusely.
“In truth, our Palace Lord tried his best to prevent any private fights, as requested by Chung Myung Dojang. Even yesterday, upon hearing about a dispute between Beast Palace and Ice Palace, he rushed to mediate.”
“The Palace Lord intervened?”
“Yes! You know our Palace Lord wouldn’t disobey Hwasan Geomhyeop’s request. Of course, he intervened!”
“…But what happened then? I distinctly heard Ice Palace attacked beast warriors first.”
“T-That… our Lord tried to stop both sides, saying ‘Chung Myung Dojang said not to fight.’ But due to an impulsive remark from a beast warrior in front of our Palace Lord, saying something like ‘What does that Taoist bastard know?’…”
“…Impulsive remark?”
Han Imyeong tightly closed his eyes.
“Well… isn’t it obvious? Our Lord, provoked by the words ‘Taoist bastard,’ without questioning or reasoning, just lashed out at the beast warrior…”
Upon hearing this, Ogeom applauded.
“Hmm. Our Sobaek has grown up.”
“Even went against the Beast Palace. Looks like his skills have greatly improved…”
“Shut it, you lot!”
As Hyun Jong’s thundering voice resounded, Ogeom subtly hunched their shoulders. After taking a deep breath and barely managing to control his anger, Hyun Jong asked again.
“So why isn’t he present?”
“Oh, no. He… in the midst of all that commotion, received quite a few blows and is now lying down sick.”
“T-They beat up the Palace Lord?”
As Hyun Jong blinked and looked at the Maeng So, the latter awkwardly scratched his nose.
“Well, they didn’t realize he was the Palace Lord because he looked so young…”
“But they have seen him before?”
“That… they only briefly saw him…”
They clearly couldn’t recognize him. Those crazy beast warrior bastards.
“Anyway, so everyone from every faction ended up fighting?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“No excuse.”
“While all this was happening, the beasts were ransacking the village, and the bandits were raiding the alleys untouched by the beasts?”
“Hmm.”
“Ahem…”
“Even if the main headquarters of Sapaeryeon was here, wouldn’t this chaos stop? Hey, this…”
“Ahem! Sect Leader! Sect Leader!”
“Maintain your composure! You must maintain composure!”
Hyun Sang and Hyun Yeong hastily tried to silence Hyun Jong and caught him from both sides. It was incredibly rude, but they couldn’t let such words escape the mouth of the Alliance Leader
While restraining Hyun Jong, Hyun Yeong spoke up instead.
“How much of a mess did it take for Chung Myung to lose his mind! I’ve never seen him so sick in all my years! Do you even have a single thought, any remorse or none at all!”
Everyone turned to look at Chung Myung when these words were spoken.
Seeing him in that state, as if he had relinquished everything, a subtle sense of guilt pervaded them all, leaving a bitter taste in their mouths.
“Can’t you offer an apology?!”
“C-Cough. I apologize, Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
“We’re sorry, Dojang.”
“…We deeply regret it.”
Upon hearing their apology, Chung Myung burst out laughing. His face, seemingly on the brink of death, smiling so brightly gave off an eerie feeling, but still, a smile was a smile…
“Just die, you bastards!”
“Oh! Chung Myung!”
“Hold on, Chung Myung!”
“They are the Lords! You crazy punk!”
As Chung Myung suddenly rolled his eyes and began running wild, Ogeom, who were waiting, immediately rushed in and subdued him.
“Let go! Leaders? Loooords?! What kind of leaders are these!”
“Calm down, please!”
Chung Myung, in a frenzy, foamed at the mouth and went into a fit.
“I won’t do it! I won’t do it, you bastards! Whether it’s Cheonumaeng or whatnot, I won’t do a thing! I won’t do i-iiiiit!”
The desperate cry of one overwhelmed by the catastrophe he had summoned spread throughout the hall, truly… profoundly… sadly echoing.
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Return of the Mount Hua 
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