Bab 254: Chapter 1142: Did You Bring It? (Part 1)
"Is this the place?"
Hwang Jongui looked at the large manor in front of him.
"Yes, Danju-nim. As far as I know, the disciples of Mount Hua are here."
[Hwang Jongui is the president, aka "Danju-nim" of the Eunha Trading Guild...I chose not to use "President" because it felt too weird as someone from the US...]
Hwang Jongui sighed deeply at the governor's words.
"We finally arrived. It was far."
"You didn't have to come yourself, Danju-nim..."
"Don't talk nonsense."
Hwang Jongui firmly shook his head.
"Mount Hua is not only a friend of the Eunha Guild but also its biggest customer. If we treat the customer lightly just because we're trading or have a good relationship, even close ties can drift apart."
"Ah..."
"And here, is Mount Hua the only one? The North Sea Ice Palace and the Southern Beast Palace, the two biggest trading partners of the Eunha Guild, are also here. If our top customers are gathered in one place, how can I not come? Even if it's not in the west but by the Yangtze River, I still have to come!"
"You're absolutely right."
The governor nodded continuously with an admiring expression.
After the death of Hwang Munyak, Hwang Jongui struggled for a while to fill the void, but recently, he had been leading the superiors so perfectly that it made Hwang Munyak pale in comparison.
If everything continued like this, it wouldn't be a dream to say that the Eunha Guild, under Hwang Jongui, would leap to the top of the world during the reign of Emperor Huangzhou.
"My father always said, what's important to a merchant is trust and people. I'm just following my father's words."
Hwang Jongui looked at the manor with a firm expression and smiled.
"And... personally, I've been wanting to see the people of Mount Hua. When I'm tired and exhausted, just looking at them gives me strength. In fact, there aren't many people as lively as them, are there?"
"Hahaha. They're too lively, causing problems. With the people of Mount Hua gone, not only the harmony but also the atmosphere in Shaanxi has become quiet."
"That's true."
Hwang Jongui smiled wryly.
He knew where to stand, even if others didn't.
'It means that Mount Hua has become so important in Shaanxi. In just a few years.'
It was a mouthful, to say the least.
Before the revival of Mount Hua, the representative sect in Shaanxi was the Southern Edge Sect, and when the Southern Edge Sect unexpectedly entered Bongmun, many people were worried.
However, Mount Hua filled that void so perfectly and abundantly. And now, its influence wasn't limited to Shaanxi but the entire Central Plains and even beyond to the new territories.
So, just by Mount Hua temporarily leaving its place, the entire Shaanxi lost its vitality.
"I also feel excited to meet the people of Mount Hua."
"Are you the only one feeling that way?"
Hwang Jongui chuckled and pointed to the manor's gate.
"Let's enter."
"Yes, Danju-nim."
Hwang Jongui headed towards the courtyard.
"It seems there's no one guarding the door?"
"Do they really need it? This is where both Mount Hua and Tang Family, as well as two of the Outer Palaces, are staying. Anyone with a bit of thought wouldn't dare to cause trouble here."
"That's true."
"Let's go in. It's not like we'll be stopped just for opening the door and coming in."
"Yes."
At Hwang Jongui's words, the governor stepped forward and opened the door wide. Hwang Jongui, entering through the door, smiled slightly.
'It feels strangely like I've come to Mount Hua.'
The unique calmness of the Tao and the vitality specific to Chung Myung were mixed in the atmosphere of Mount Hua here. This was probably the case wherever the Mount Hua sect was.
"Who is that person?"
Hwang Jongui was delighted upon seeing the back of the person going in front of him. As soon as he arrived, meeting a familiar face made him feel much better.
"Jo Gol Dojang! It's Jo Gol Dojang!"
Mount Hua's disciples were all wearing the same uniform, making it difficult to distinguish who was who from behind. However, Jo Gol was relatively easy to recognize even from the back because of his unique curly hair.
Hwang Jongui, who had reflected, approached Jo Gol and smiled.
"Long time no see, Jo Gol Do... Oh my!"
When Jo Gol turned his head and looked at Hwang Jongui, Hwang Jongui stepped back in shock.
"Jo, Jo Gol Dojang?"
"Oh..."
Jo Gol recognized Hwang Jongui and bowed deeply.
"Vice Pre... No, Danju-nim has come."
"W-What's wrong with you? Have you caught some kind of illness?"
"Um..."
"Why is your face like that? Your face?"
Jo Gol weakly wiped his face with his hand.
"... It's a bit wounded."
A bit wounded?
Hwang Jongui lost his words, looking at Jo Gol.
'Even if we dug up the grave and took out the body, it wouldn't look like this.'
Should he say he had turned completely white, or should he say it had turned black and dead?
His skin, devoid of vitality, was so rough that tree bark was softer, and the dark shadows under the eyes were as intense as if they were drawn with ink.
Even if he deliberately put on makeup, it seemed impossible to achieve this level.
"W-What on earth happened?"
"What happened... Well, that..."
At that moment.
"Are you not Danju-nim?"
A voice from the side made Hwang Jongui turn his head sharply.
"... Wh-who?"
"Yes? Danju-nim, I'm Yoon Jong."
"Yoo, Yoon Jong Dojang?"
Hwang Jongui blinked his eyes continuously.
Yoon Jong's appearance was no different from Jo Gol's. No, in some ways, it looked worse than Jo Gol's.
"Did the Evil Tyrant Alliance come attacking?"
Hearing that, Yoon Jong laughed uncharacteristically.
"Evil Tyrant Alliance... If the opponent was the Evil Tyrant Alliance, there wouldn't be much difficulty. Just... just kill them. It's just a matter of beating them to death."
"..."
"The problem is that there are people worse than the Evil Tyrant Alliance in Mount Hua."
"Ch-Chung Myung Dojang, perhaps?"
Was there anyone other than Chung Myung who could make someone look like this?
However, upon hearing Hwang Jongui's words, Yoon Jong and Jo Gol simultaneously shook their heads.
"Chung Myung would be better."
"At least he was still human."
"...Yes?"
The two people shook their heads without answering.
At the moment when Hwang Jongui, still unable to understand the situation, was about to ask again.
"These guys! Why are you delaying there instead of coming to the training ground when I told you to!"
When a voice mixed with anger reached them, Yoon Jong and Jo Gol flinched, their throats tensing. Simultaneously, their faces contorted to a gruesome extent.
Hwang Jongui also reflexively turned his head to look at the one who shouted.
"B-Baek Cheon Dojang?"
"Oh. Isn't it Danju-nim?"
Baek Cheon politely greeted Hwang Jongui, bowing.
"It's been a while."
"Yes. Yes... Baek Cheon Dojang."
"Have you just arrived?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"It must have been a long journey. You must have had a hard time. The Sect Leader would also be delighted to see you."
Strangely, unlike the others who were dying, there was no significant change in Baek Cheon's appearance from the Baek Cheon he knew. Rather...
'He seems oddly shiny.'
Did Baek Cheon simply not train? No, with his personality, that couldn't have been the case, right?
"Please come. I will guide you to Sect Leader."
"Ah... Yes."
"Just a moment."
Baek Cheon, who showed an incredibly gentle expression towards Hwang Jongui, turned his head towards Yoon Jong and Jo Gol.
At the same time, his expression contorted completely from when he looked at Hwang Jongui.
"The training time is over! What are you doing here!"
"...We were just about to leave."
"That... we met Danju-nim for a moment."
Yoon Jong and Jo Gol cowered like mice in front of a cat. Baek Cheon looked at the two people with disdain and frowned.
"Go. I will guide Danju-nim and come back."
"Yes."
"Yes!"
The two of them bowed their heads towards Baek Cheon and Hwang Jongui, then headed to the training ground with hasty steps.
"No, seriously, why is he like that? Just a while ago, we were swearing together!"
"Do you guys understand..."
"I would have preferred Chung Myung. Ugh! There's nothing we can do because the superiors turn a blind eye to it."
"Hush. He might hear us."
"We're all going to die. Why do we have to do additional training? We're already dying from regular training."
"...Enough complaining. Let's go. Quickly."
"Ugh."
As the two rushed to the training ground, cold sweat dripped down Hwang Jongui's back.
Turning his head with a somewhat uneasy feeling, Baek Cheon still wore a friendly smile.
"Please go."
"...Yes."
This guy was scarier than he thought.
Following Baek Cheon's guidance, Hwang Jongui, walking through the manor, spoke up.
"Are the other sects also here?"
"Yes. They've just finished the afternoon training, so they're either resting or going to have a meal."
"I see."
Hwang Jongui nodded.
"Indeed, Mount Hua has its unique aspects. It might not be easy to train more than disciples from other sects when everyone is together."
"Oh, it's not like that."
"What? Earlier, you said that while disciples from other sects were resting, Mount Hua continued training..."
"Oh, that."
Baek Cheon scratched his head.
"They're over there. You'll understand when you see."
"Yes?"
At Baek Cheon's words, Hwang Jongui lifted his head and looked at the scene unfolding in front of him.
"..."
In the open space among the large training grounds, people covered in dirt were scattered everywhere.
'Is this a beggar's den?'
No, rather than a beggar's den, it was more like... What should he call it? A group of battered soldiers?
It looked like battered soldiers who had barely survived, lying sprawled on the ground.
Seeing those at the front, with their heads buried in the dirt and foaming at their mouths, Hwang Jongui scratched his head.
"T-These seem to be Nokrim members."
"No, they're not."
"Yes? Green clothes..."
Hwang Jongui fell silent.
Wearing green attire, it was only natural to assume they were from Nokrim. Without being part of Nokrim, they couldn't possibly be in such disarray and lying sprawled on the ground.
However, he was proven wrong.
Carved into the chests of those scattered individuals was the character "당" (Tang).
"They're from the Tang family."
"...."
The Tang family? These people?
Hwang Jongui blinked, scrutinizing those lying on the ground with their limbs astray and all dignity thrown away.
'No matter how you look at it, they resemble beggars?'
Not just regular beggars, but more like those starving for half a month.
Since when did the Tang Family change their affiliation to the Beggar's Union?
"Water... some water...."
"A-Are you okay?"
"Por... Porridge..."
"Porridge? You want some Porridge?"
"I want to die..."
"...."
Seeing Hwang Jongui's bewildered expression, Baek Cheon turned to him and spoke as if it were nothing.
"Don't worry about it. It happens every day."
No, you crazy person!
If this happens every day, it's not okay! Is this even a place where people live?
"Uh, those wearing white... no, yellowish clothes?"
"That's Namgung. Well, today, Namgung seems to be in relatively good condition."
"...."
Oh, those people?
The Namgung Family, known as the most upright prestigious family in the world?
Hwang Jongui, who had been shivering at the sight of the impoverished village resembling a plague-stricken town, gave up thinking altogether upon seeing Im Sobyeong hanging on the wall like a dried squid.
'Don't think too much.'
In a place where Chung Myung was, weren't such events always unfolding?
It was foolish to logically analyze a place where he existed. Therefore, stay calm...
"We're here. Hm?"
Arriving at the residence of the Sect Leader, Baek Cheon frowned.
"Hey, wake up."
Approaching the person sprawled against the wall in front of Sect Leader's residence, Baek Cheon tapped their shoulder.
'That person... um? Where have I seen them before?'
"Tang Gaju-nim. You shouldn't sleep here. Please get up..."
"Why is the Tang Family Leader here!"
Finally, a loud exclamation burst out of Hwang Jongui's mouth. Why was the head of the Tang family sprawled in front of someone else's residence like a town beggar! Why!
"Uh, Baek Cheon, is it?"
"Yes, Tang Gaju-nim."
"...It seems you're taking a break on your way to see Maengju-nim."
"Rather than that, go to your residence and take a short rest."
"No. Hm? Danju-nim of the Eunha Guild."
"H-How have you been? Gaju-nim?"
"Do I look well?"
"..."
Hwang Jongui, after hearing that strangely cold voice, lowered his head with a sigh.
"Come inside."
"Yes."
Tang Gunak led the way into the residence. Seeing that, Hwang Jongui let out a deep sigh.
'I shouldn't have come...'
The realization that he had truly come to a place with Mount Hua struck Hwang Jongui to the core.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone