I Thought He’d Come Back as a Dragon (1)
The inside of Eunha Merchant Guild was packed shoulder to shoulder.
Word had spread that Mount Hua was leaving, and the sects of Xi'an had all come out to see them off.
“...You came here in person?”
“Ahem.”
At Dan Byeonglip’s question, Nam Ja-myeong of Seowol Gate let out a loud, deliberate cough.
He composed his expression and answered in a solemn tone.
“We may belong to different groups, but as people, should we not never forget gratitude? We received Mount Hua’s favor, so it is only right that we show our respect.”
“For something like that, you’ve brought an awful lot in your hands.”
“...It’s just a small token of sincerity.”
“If you’re handing over sincerity twice, you’ll be ripping out the very roots of your house. I had no idea Seowol Gate was this rich.”
“W-What are you saying, you—!”
When Nam Ja-myeong glared at him, Dan Byeonglip grinned to himself and turned his head away. He had only been teasing him a little, but the truth was, he understood Nam Ja-myeong’s feelings well enough.
This is probably the only choice left.
Not just the sects of Xi'an, but the people of Xi'an themselves had all received Mount Hua’s grace.
Everyone now knew that those demonic bastards had killed innocent civilians on the road to Xi'an. And it was easy enough for anyone to imagine that Xi'an would have suffered the same fate if Mount Hua had not come.
So of course the people of Xi'an felt affection for Mount Hua that seemed to know no limit. Three years ago, Mount Hua had defended Shaanxi’s pride on the Yangtze River; this time, they had saved their lives. If people were not grateful for that, that would have been stranger.
Which meant...
If you want to do business in Xi'an now, you have no choice but to get under Mount Hua’s wing.
The disciples they had now might still be able to hold on. But what about the future? Was there any reason for anyone to choose the Southern Edge’s branch sect over Hwayeong Gate and Mount Hua’s other local branches?
The public mind could be cold to the point of cruelty.
The children in the market no longer waved sticks and talked about the Southern Edge's Thirty-Six Sword Technique. Once the words Plum Blossom Sword Art had entered their mouths, the sentiment in Xi'an was all but over.
Even if Southern Edge lifted its closure and stepped back out into the world, it would not be able to reverse this tide.
So it was only natural that Nam Ja-myeong, as the representative of Southern Edge’s branch in Xi'an, would be terribly conflicted.
If I cleanly switch over to Mount Hua, my ties with Southern Edge will become a problem. But if I remain as a branch of Southern Edge, the sect itself is on the verge of ruin.
A martial hall with no disciples was no different from a shop no customers wanted to visit.
On the other hand...
“Greetings!”
“Oho. Sect Leader Wi, is it!”
“Hahaha. It has only been a few days since we last saw you, but you already seem even more impressive.”
There, the other side had struck the jackpot.
Everyone was desperate to speak with Wi So-haeng, who had come leading Hwayeong Gate. The fact that they were bowing so low to a mere deputy sect leader, not even the sect leader himself, showed exactly what position Hwayeong Gate now held in Xi'an.
Well, of course. It’s Hwayeong Gate.
Hwayeong Gate was not merely a branch of Mount Hua. It was a true friend who had stood by Mount Hua’s side when the entire martial world had shown them no interest at all.
Friends who stayed with you in hard times always received far more reverence than the friends you met only in good times.
Anyone who knew how highly Mount Hua valued Hwayeong Gate had no choice but to try and make a good impression.
Xi'an really has changed a lot.
No. Perhaps it was not just Xi'an that had changed.
Now that Mount Hua had returned, the martial world would have to brace itself as well.
Even before Mount Hua had entered its three-year closure, every move they made had sent shockwaves through the Jianghu. So how much greater a storm would they become now that three years of secluded training had made them absurdly stronger? It was obvious without even having to see it.
Just then—
“They’re coming out!”
“The Mount Hua people are coming out!”
At someone’s shout, all eyes turned at once. Sure enough, the swordsmen of Mount Hua were walking out in formation.
As the onlookers swallowed dryly and watched, a flicker of surprise crossed their faces.
When they had fought here before, they had trembled at the murderous qi and blade-like sharpness radiating from Mount Hua’s swordsmen. But now, they could not feel any of that at all.
Only a suitable ease, a softness.
They’re like the Southern Edge.
No, they seem even more relaxed than Southern Edge.
Mount Hua really does have the bearing of a major sect now.
What made people look up to someone was not skill alone. Newly awed by Mount Hua, they all stepped forward to greet Hyun Jong, who stood at the front.
“Sect Leader! We heard you were returning to Mount Hua!”
“We don’t know how we can ever repay the kindness you and Mount Hua have shown us.”
“We will visit Mount Hua often as well, so please come to Xi'an whenever you can.”
Hyun Jong, who had been slightly taken aback by the tightly packed crowd, soon smiled gently.
“We are merely returning home, yet you see us off so warmly. I do not know where to put myself.”
“Of course we should.”
Nam Ja-myeong of Seowol Gate stepped forward and bowed to Hyun Jong.
“On behalf of the sects and the common people of Xi'an, I thank you for saving us. It is something I should have come to thank you for long ago.”
“Please do not do this, Sect Leader.”
Hyun Jong clasped Nam Ja-myeong’s hand tightly.
“We are not strangers to each other. If you show such excessive courtesy, I will be embarrassed.”
“Sect Leader...”
At the words not strangers, Nam Ja-myeong stared at Hyun Jong with a dazed expression.
“Seowol Gate can also become friends with Mount Hua, can’t it? It’s not as though one must be Mount Hua’s branch sect in order to be friends.”
“...Could even Southern Edge’s branch sect do that?”
Hyun Jong smiled faintly.
“That goes without saying.”
“Ah. Then Southern Edge too...”
“...”
Hyun Jong merely smiled at that and said nothing, and Nam Ja-myeong’s instincts flashed warning signals.
On top of that, the Mount Hua disciples standing behind Hyun Jong were all sending him looks that clearly said, Not Southern Edge. Not Southern Edge, you old man!
“...I spoke thoughtlessly and said the wrong thing. Please forgive me, Sect Leader.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Then Dan Byeonglip, who had been standing nearby, quickly shoved Nam Ja-myeong aside and asked, “You called them friends, Sect Leader?”
“Yes, that is right.”
“I see what you mean.”
As Dan Byeonglip nodded, Hyun Jong smiled gently and said, “You say Mount Hua protected Xi'an, but that is not quite right.”
“...Pardon?”
“If you had not all risked your lives first to hold back those demonic sect bastards, then even after Mount Hua arrived, we would have struggled to bear the damage.”
“...”
“You did extremely well.”
Dan Byeonglip could not bring himself to speak and only looked at Hyun Jong. After hesitating for a long while, he finally nodded.
“Thank you, Sect Leader.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Hyun Jong gave a light salute with clasped hands.
“Then we will be off now. I would love nothing more than to linger and share our hearts, but we have also left our own sect unattended for far too long.”
“Yes, yes! Of course you must. You are very busy.”
The sect leaders, aching to say one more thing, finally gave up and cleared the way.
Except for one person.
“Daoist!”
Wi So-haeng hurried over to Chung Myung at the back. But Chung Myung kept his gaze fixed ahead and did not turn around.
“Daoist Chung Myung?”
Then, without even looking at the puzzled Wi So-haeng, he nodded his chin toward him, signaling him to go away.
Seeing that, Wi So-haeng spoke as if he understood.
“...You caused trouble again?”
“...”
“Good grief... It’s only been a few days.”
Just then Hyun Jong suddenly turned around, and Chung Myung flinched hard.
“The deputy sect leader is asking you something. Pay no mind to anything else and answer him.”
“I can do that?”
“...Tch.”
As though he no longer wanted to exchange even a single word, Hyun Jong snapped his head away. Only then did Chung Myung smirk and look at Wi So-haeng.
“What?”
“Daoist! May I come to Mount Hua when I have time?”
“I don’t care much, but... hmm, I’m not sure. I don’t know how long we’ll be at Mount Hua.”
“Pardon?”
“We’re going to get busy soon.”
Chung Myung grinned.
“We’ve trained our asses off, so now it’s time to swing our swords a bit. Otherwise it’d be a waste, right?”
Seeing the confidence on Chung Myung’s face, Wi So-haeng nodded at once as if bewitched.
“Yes, Daoist. Then I won’t bother you.”
“It’s not bothering.”
Chung Myung placed a hand on Wi So-haeng’s head.
“A branch sect is still part of Mount Hua.”
“...”
“Just as Mount Hua has grown stronger through hard work, Hwayeong Gate has to get stronger too. Once we’re back at Mount Hua, I’ll figure out a way as quickly as possible so Hwayeong Gate can train as well.”
“Then will I be able to help you, Daoist?”
“You’re already doing well.”
Chung Myung snorted softly.
“Compared to the senior brothers behind me, you’re an adult. A proper adult.”
“But what about that bastard?”
“Hey. I’m not denying that, but that’s not really something you should be saying, is it?”
Complaints erupted from all around, but Chung Myung ignored them cleanly and said to Wi So-haeng, “Soon, a war so big you won’t be able to avoid it will come to Hwayeong Gate too. In that war, the only thing that can save you is skill. So don’t slack off on your training.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
Chung Myung smirked and patted Wi So-haeng on the shoulder.
“Give my regards to the sect leader.”
“Yes.”
Watching Chung Myung take care of Wi So-haeng, Jo Gul frowned slightly and said, “Why the hell is that bastard being so damn kind?”
Baek Cheon answered calmly, “Seems like you don’t know, but he’s secretly nice to kids.”
“Huh?”
“He’s good to younger kids. He was like that back in the North Sea too.”
“Then what about us?”
“Hm? What about you?”
“When we first met that bastard, we were kids too, weren’t we? But that bastard saw me and immediately lifted my chin and slammed me into the ceiling.”
Baek Cheon smiled faintly.
“Geol.”
“Yes?”
“For one thing, back then that brat was a kid too. He was even younger than you.”
His voice, explaining each point carefully, was annoyingly kind.
“And setting that aside...”
“...”
“He can do that to you.”
“...”
“That brat is weak against kids who are, strictly speaking, a bit more like people.”
“Then was I not even a person?”
“Do I really need to say it out loud?”
Jo Gul, who had been about to protest, suddenly shut his mouth. Yoon Jong beside him was looking at him with an expression that said, Please say one more word so I can say something too.
“Then, Daoist. Please be careful on your way!”
“Mm.”
Once Wi So-haeng returned to his place, the Hwayeong Gate disciples lined up around him.
“We wish Mount Hua peace and prosperity!”
Then, in unison, they saluted and saw Mount Hua off. Seeing that, the other sects also lined up in perfect order and paid their respects to Mount Hua.
Hyun Jong received every one of those greetings with a gentle smile and returned each salute in turn.
“May everyone remain well.”
Once Mount Hua had passed through the main gate, cheers from the waiting common people burst forth. Watching Mount Hua walk into that applause, the disciples of the Xi'an sects felt a strange, thrilling sense of emotion wash over them.
“Sect Leader Dan.”
“Yes, Sect Leader Nam.”
“What exactly did the Sect Leader mean by friends just now? Sect Leader Dan seemed to have some idea.”
At Nam Ja-myeong’s question, Dan Byeonglip smiled.
“The Sect Leader was speaking of the Heavenly Alliance.”
“The Heavenly Alliance? Ah... friends, yes. I see. I understand.”
Whoever joined the Heavenly Alliance—whether they were a branch sect of Southern Edge or not—was a friend of Mount Hua.
“...Then we should move immediately.”
“Will you join?”
“I’d like to say there’s no choice if we want to eat and live, but...”
Nam Ja-myeong gave a bitter smile.
“To be honest, I’d like to see what it feels like to become one of Mount Hua’s friends myself.”
“I doubt Southern Edge would be very happy to hear that.”
“A parent can’t be pleased with every friend their child makes. I’m sure you understand.”
Nam Ja-myeong swallowed back the words, Even if you don’t understand, it can’t be helped. The sect leaders of Xi'an, having overheard their conversation, all looked toward the retreating Mount Hua disciples with faces set in resolve.
And behind them, Hwang Jong-ui, who had watched all this unfold from the back, smiled faintly.
“Looks like we’ll have a lot to do now.”
But what needed doing no longer felt difficult.
Once they had passed through the city gate amid the crowd’s warm welcome, the Mount Hua disciples let out exhausted sighs.
“...I’m completely drained.”
“How can there be that many people?”
The ones who had worn the mask of calm swordsmen while others were watching all let their shoulders droop the moment those eyes disappeared.
“I thought my neck would snap from holding myself up.”
“I kept my eyes open too wide; they’re not just dry, they sting.”
“Still, what could we do? They were so happy to see us.”
They were complaining about how hard it had been, but none of them actually looked upset. If anything, there was a smile on each of their faces, as though they found the whole thing entertaining.
Hyun Jong asked gently, “If you are all so tired, shall we rest before leaving?”
“No!”
“Let’s hurry, Sect Leader!”
“We’ve already delayed long enough! We need to arrive before sunset!”
But the Mount Hua disciples shouted as if the matter was settled.
“Those little brats.”
They all must have felt the same way.
Their bodies had not yet fully recovered from the long training, so traveling a long distance was not easy. And yet they were all stamping their feet as though they would dash straight back to Hwa-eum at any moment.
Do they miss it that much?
The Mount Hua disciples’ gazes turned east.
Far away, toward the place where five barren peaks rose into the sky.
Toward Mount Hua, the mountain they had come from.
“Then let’s go!”
“Yes!”
The disciples of Mount Hua started running forward at a brisk pace.
With a small thrill in their chests and a deep homesickness they could not hide.
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