Chapter 43: Because It’s Mount Hua (Part 3)

"Ugh, it's cold!"

The dawn in the mountains is distinctly different from the dawn on flat ground.

When the cold air meets the morning dew, it creates a chill that seeps into your bones. Pushing through this chilly morning air, the three great disciples of Mount Hua left Baekmaegwan and headed toward the training grounds.

"It really wakes you up."

"It wakes you up, but my body isn't awake yet. The fatigue hasn't gone away…"

"You should've properly circulated your energy."

"I spent the whole night circulating my energy, okay?"

"Ah, really?"

Exchanging idle chatter, the three great disciples took out sandbags and stone bags from a small hut on one side of the training grounds.

"But how long do we have to keep doing this?"

"Who knows? Until someone tells us to stop, I guess."

"Who's going to tell us?"

"Are you asking because you don't know?"

The faces of the disciples flashed with the image of one person.

'That monster.'

'That bastard who should've drowned in a cesspool.'

Though they were all part of the three great disciples, Chung Myung had already completely dominated them.

The training was so grueling that some of them occasionally rebelled. But even that stopped after the last rebel ended up embedded in the ceiling of Baekmaegwan.

Well.

Even Jo Geol, the first rebel, and Yoon Jong, the senior disciple, didn't say a word and just kept training. How could the others dare to rebel against Chung Myung?

After all, Jo Geol and Yoon Jong were on a completely different level among the three great disciples. No one even dreamed of surpassing them. To them, Jo Geol and Yoon Jong were already monsters, but it turned out there was an even bigger monster in the world.

"But don't you think that guy's been acting weird lately?"

"What do you mean?"

"He looks unwell, and he hasn't been showing up for training much."

"…Now that you mention it…"

In the beginning, Chung Myung had diligently participated in the early morning training, tormenting the three great disciples in various ways. But recently, he had been conspicuously absent.

"What if the rumors are true?"

"What rumors?"

"There's a rumor that he's fallen into demonic deviation."

"No way!"

"No, no. Think about it. He's been getting thinner and paler, and his health seems to be deteriorating. That's why he's been skipping training."

"Hmm…"

"If he were usually lazy, I'd understand, but that's not the case. He used to train three times as hard as anyone else, and now he's suddenly gone quiet. Isn't that strange?"

"Now that you mention it, it does sound plausible."

A subtle tension formed among the three great disciples as they listened to the conversation.

"Then…"

And then, someone finally said what shouldn't have been said.

"Does that mean we don't have to train anymore?"

"…"

The faces of the three great disciples instantly hardened.

To be honest, things weren't the same as when they first started training. Back then, they had been forced to come to the training grounds, and every day felt like hell.

But now, they were beginning to feel themselves grow stronger through the training. It was unfamiliar to train by physically moving their bodies rather than refining their energy or studying martial techniques, but the results were undeniable.

Their lower bodies had stabilized, and their martial techniques had become clearer.

What greater joy could there be for a martial artist than becoming stronger? Though their bodies were exhausted, they were beginning to find joy in the training.

But upon hearing those words, the thoughts they had been suppressing began to surface.

'We can't skip every time, but…'

'Well, maybe just once…'

'The training is a bit excessive, after all. It wouldn't hurt to cut back a little…'

Everyone's thoughts converged into one.

'If only Chung Myung weren't here!'

The murmuring didn't stop even as they carried their training tools to the training grounds. The early morning training, which they had once taken for granted, now felt like a nuisance as doubts crept in.

It was only natural. They were all human, after all.

"See, he's not here again today."

"There must really be something wrong with him."

"Then maybe it's time to try something."

The final remark was the tipping point.

There were exactly three reasons why the three great disciples had obediently followed Chung Myung until now.

First, none of them were confident they could take him down even if they all ganged up on him. No, to be honest, they knew they couldn't.

Second, Chung Myung was under the protection of Ungeom, the master of Baekmaegwan. If they couldn't deal with him directly, they'd have to go through higher channels. But what could they do if those higher channels sided with Chung Myung?

And third, Chung Myung was surprisingly reasonable. While he was a demon when it came to training, he didn't bully anyone or make unreasonable demands just because he was strong.

In fact, life had become more comfortable compared to when Jo Geol had been in charge of disciplining the three great disciples.

But now, one of those three reasons had crumbled.

'Maybe it's worth a try?'

'He's been looking like a walking corpse lately.'

'If we all band together, maybe we can win?'

A determined resolve began to swirl in the eyes of the three great disciples.

Watching the disciples murmuring as they exchanged opinions, Jo Geol sighed.

"Senior Brother."

"Leave them be."

Yoon Jong chuckled.

"They'll learn the reality soon enough."

At that moment.

Creak.

Everyone's heads turned in unison. The door of Baekmaegwan was opening. All the three great disciples except Chung Myung were gathered here. That meant the only person left in Baekmaegwan was Chung Myung.

So, naturally, the person coming out of Baekmaegwan now had to be—

The door swung open.

And the three great disciples immediately closed their eyes and turned their heads away.

"Ah! What the hell!"

"It's blinding!"

A dazzling light swept past their eyes.

When they cautiously looked back toward the door, their eyes widened in shock.

Chung Myung was walking out. It was definitely Chung Myung.

But the Chung Myung they saw now was not the same Chung Myung they had seen until yesterday. It was definitely him, but…

'Why does he look so… radiant?'

'His face is glowing like it's covered in oil!'

'Did he find some rare ginseng or something?'

The three great disciples all doubted their eyes.

Just yesterday, hadn't he looked like a walking corpse, ready to drop dead at any moment? But now, the Chung Myung before them looked so healthy it was almost disgusting.

'He's back.'

'We're screwed. Time to train.'

'It was a nice dream while it lasted.'

The three great disciples instinctively realized their dream had flown far away.

"Ahem."

Chung Myung walked to the training grounds and stood before the three great disciples, speaking in a solemn tone.

"My disciples."

"…"

"This instructor cannot help but feel apologetic toward you all. Due to my poor health, I have been neglectful of your training. I deeply regret this failure on my part."

"…Ah, no."

"It's fine. It happens!"

"We're fine! Really, we're fine!"

Sensing that something ominous was about to happen, the disciples desperately shouted. But Chung Myung only shook his head with a grave expression.

"No. Even in my absence, you have been training diligently. I have failed to live up to your expectations. This is undoubtedly my fault."

The atmosphere grew strange.

'This can't be real.'

'Since when does this bastard talk like this?'

But maybe this wasn't such a bad situation after all…

"However!"

"…"

Chung Myung's eyes sharpened as he declared firmly.

"While I cannot undo my mistakes, I can make up for them! If the training was lacking, then we shall train harder!"

"That damn bastard…"

"I'll kill him…"

"Just kill me. Just kill me!"

Small curses erupted from here and there, but Chung Myung didn't pay them the slightest attention.

"So, I hope you all remember that the future of Mount Hua lies in your hands and continue to train with all your heart. Now then."

Chung Myung pointed upward with his chin. Everyone's gaze followed.

They saw the towering Yeonhwabong Peak.

"…"

"Go."

"…"

"First come, first served. The slower half will have to go again."

"…"

"Not going?"

At that moment, someone shot off like a bolt of lightning. The three great disciples' faces filled with horror as they recognized who was running toward Yeonhwabong at an incredible speed.

"Senior Brother?"

Yoon Jong.

The senior disciple among the three great disciples was running toward Yeonhwabong as if his life depended on it. Someone quickly followed behind him.

Of course, it was Jo Geol.

"Hey, Senior Brother! Have you no loyalty?"

"Run! Hurry!"

"If you're late, you'll have to go again! Run!"

Finally snapping out of it, the rest of the three great disciples began rushing toward Yeonhwabong.

"How did this happen overnight?"

"Do I look like I know?"

"Senior Brother! You said we could try something earlier!"

"A gentleman must know when the time is right! Now is not the time!"

"A gentleman my ass! You frostbitten bastard!"

"What did you say?"

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother! We're falling behind! Run! Senior Brother!"

The three great disciples desperately climbed Yeonhwabong. Chung Myung's training didn't end just because time passed. You couldn't even eat until you completed your quota. If you had to climb Yeonhwabong twice and finish your quota, you'd end up walking on your arms instead of your legs.

That's why they were all running like their lives depended on it!

"Even the ghosts are merciless! Why aren't they taking him away?"

"He looks like he's about to be taken by the ghosts!"

They ran and ran, tears of blood streaming down their faces. Whatever method Chung Myung had used to recover his health, there was no hope for them now.

The first attempt at rebellion had been crushed before it even began.

Watching the three great disciples desperately climbing Yeonhwabong, Chung Myung chuckled.

"Such cute little things."

To dare dream of rebellion.

His heightened senses, sharpened by his newfound strength, hadn't missed a single word of their conversation, even from inside Baekmaegwan.

"Well, that's fine."

The old Chung Myung would've done the same.

Obedient, submissive people always had their limits. Mount Hua might prefer such individuals, but Chung Myung didn't. After all, he was a rebel by nature.

But!

There's nothing uglier than someone who complains without the strength to back it up. For a martial artist to earn the right to speak, the first and foremost requirement is strength.

"I'll make sure you have that strength."

Chung Myung grinned.

While it was important for him to regain his past strength, no matter how strong he became, he couldn't restore Mount Hua's former glory alone. A sect wasn't something that could be sustained by one person's power.

Throughout the thousands of years of martial history, countless individuals had risen to become the strongest under heaven. But while their fame was passed down, their successors rarely left a mark on the world.

In the end, for a sect to maintain its legacy and reputation, everyone in the sect had to be strong.

The reason Shaolin was called the number one sect under heaven wasn't because it had the strongest individual. It was because even a sect with the strongest individual couldn't defeat Shaolin in a sect-to-sect battle.

Even Mount Hua at its peak had been considered a step below Shaolin.

'Not this time.'

Chung Myung's eyes gleamed.

In the past, he had no choice but to follow the ways of his master and senior brothers. But this time, he could rebuild Mount Hua from the ground up in his own way. It would be a long and arduous journey, but the end result would be even greater and more magnificent than before.

Of course, whether the sect leader would approve of this new Mount Hua was another question.

"If you're unhappy, come back to life and stop me."

After laughing for a while, Chung Myung cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.

"The last one to finish gets no dinner tonight!"

It was a level of cruelty that would make even the devil cry.