The moment Hyun Jong, who had been bowing his head deeply, raised it, the disciples of Mount Hua slammed their heads to the ground like lightning.
"If you make eye contact, you die."
"That is not a joke, you really die."
"What did I just see?"
Cold sweat broke out on the backs of the Mount Hua disciples. They had seen Hyun Jong angry many times before, but this was a different kind of anger altogether.
"The high priest would have been better."
"Please save me!"
From Hyun Jong's mouth, who was emitting killing intent from his eyes, suddenly came a long sigh.
"I…"
"…"
"What sin did I commit in my previous life…"
Un Geom and Baek Cheon lowered their heads even further.
"Ughhh."
Hyun Jong scratched his head vigorously. Though he wanted to overturn everything in anger, thinking about how much hardship these guys had endured made it hard to get angrier.
To be honest, were these guys in a situation to be scolded? They were heroes who had achieved feats worthy of a city-wide welcome in other sects. Yet these heroes…
"…"
Seeing the disciples bowing their heads to avoid eye contact and Chung Myung sending a look like "He's really being difficult,"…
"Ugh…"
His neck stiffened naturally. He tried to find some herbal medicine, but even Tang Soso, who should prepare it, sat sullenly in the corner. Hyun Jong sighed again.
"It's all my fault. Yes, all my fault…"
"…"
"Everyone…"
Hyun Jong bit his lip slightly.
"Still, it's a relief. Everyone returned safely."
"No, you should at least let us lower our arms before saying that…"
"Ah, shut up!"
"Soso! Where's the needle? Needle it in that bastard's mouth!"
"You just die already!"
The Mount Hua disciples rolled their eyes and glared at Chung Myung. If that bastard had talked less, the scolding would have been half as much.
Hyun Jong sighed deeply.
"Alright, everyone lower your hands."
"Hehe."
"You keep yours up."
"…Why only me?"
"Just keep it up."
Chung Myung's lips protruded. He was full of dissatisfaction as he sluggishly raised his arm again.
The others quietly lowered their arms.
Watching this, Hyun Jong blamed himself inwardly.
'How foolish I am.'
He wasn't angry because he had traveled a thousand miles in vain. The real anger surged the moment he saw the state of those wandering here.
Their clothes were torn and ragged in places, even stained with dried blood. The scabs glimpsed through the torn clothes hinted at the fierce battles they had endured.
Seeing that, a thousand fires flared up in his heart.
He was proud. Of course, proud. He understood well why they went to Gangnam. He could not deny the value of what they protected and the importance of the agreement they upheld.
But still, he was angry.
No matter how noble the cause, what parent would like their child going to a dangerous battlefield? Seeing those guys smiling after surviving such harsh battles made his anger surge uncontrollably.
Hyun Jong quietly bowed his head.
"Everyone… thank you."
Then everyone was flustered and opened their mouths wide.
"S-sect leader!"
"Ah, no, why are you like this! We were wrong."
"Beg, you bastards! Beg quickly!"
Hyun Jong, raising his head, shook it at the flustered disciples who didn't know what to do.
"I'm not thanking you for what you did."
"…"
"You resolved the crisis in the Central Plains, elevated Mount Hua's prestige, and showed the entire murim world that the Righteousness still exists."
"Sect leader…"
Hyun Jong looked at his disciples with sunken eyes.
"But I am not thankful for any of that."
"…"
"There is only one thing I am thankful to you for."
He bowed his head once more.
"For returning safe and sound… I truly, truly thank you."
The disciples of Mount Hua bowed their heads together.
It was clear how much Hyun Jong worried and agonized over them. Looking back, he had only worried about the safety of those fighting inside, never considering the feelings of those left behind. That was probably why he even forgot to send a simple message.
A fresh feeling of guilt arose. The Mount Hua disciples sighed repeatedly.
"Sorry, Sect leader."
"Sorry."
"Can we lower our hands now?"
"No."
"Ugh, really."
Chung Myung grumbled, but his voice didn't reach anyone else's ears.
"Phew."
When Hyun Jong sighed deeply, Hyun Young beside him clicked his tongue.
"Well, when kids fight wildly, mistakes happen. Don't be petty about it."
"What, you brat?"
"Anyway, you get more childish as you age."
Hyun Sang, watching cautiously nearby, gently stopped Hyun Young.
"Isn't the sect leader simply worried?"
"Who here isn't worried about the situation? If the kids came back safely, you should praise them first. That's what Sect leader should do!"
"Ugh, ugh…"
Hyun Jong had nothing to say and turned his head sharply. Hyun Young clicked his tongue and looked at the kids.
"Next time, think about the person who waits anxiously. I thought the sect leader was going to die."
"I will keep that in mind, Elder."
"You definitely will."
Hyun Young nodded.
"Alright. Now that sect leader seems to have calmed down, tell me what happened."
Those seated glanced at Baek Cheon, as if telling him to speak on behalf.
Baek Cheon cleared his throat and began to speak.
"First of all…"
The events experienced in the Southern land slowly began to unfold.
"Hmm."
After hearing the not-so-short story, a groan escaped Hyun Jong's lips. Everyone looked at him, curious about what he would say first.
"Un Geom."
"Yes, sect leader."
"Where are the woman and child you rescued from Hangzhou now?"
Hearing that, smiles naturally appeared on the Mount Hua disciples' faces. It was so like Hyun Jong.
"The woman and child are resting in a quiet room."
Un Geom answered calmly and added.
"They have no particular physical abnormalities but are in a very weakened state. Even if we don't know, for an ordinary woman, going against the water current wouldn't be easy."
"That's right, that's right."
"So, I thought resting in a comfortable place was the priority. I asked the Tang family physicians, so there should be no problem."
"Good. The child is safe too?"
"Yes, Sect leader. You don't need to worry."
"That's a relief."
Only then did Hyun Jong sigh lightly.
Compared to the rise of the Demonic Cult and the unification of the Four Sects Alliance, two huge events sure to throw the murim world into chaos, the safety of just two survivors might seem trivial.
But Hyun Jong mentioned the safety of those two first among all matters. That revealed what kind of person he was, positively or negatively.
At that moment, Tang Soso quietly spoke.
"The mother and child seem very worried. Being forcibly relocated to a foreign land without relatives…"
"Of course. Naturally so."
Hyun Jong looked at Hyun Young as if there was no need to think.
"Hyun Young."
"Yes, sect leader."
"Make sure they lack nothing where they stay, and find a place for them to settle. Whether it's Hwa'um, here, or even Sichuan. Help them live comfortably wherever they wish."
"I will do so, sect leader."
Hyun Jong nodded with a heavy heart.
That there were survivors and that they were rescued by heavenly luck was certainly good news. But conversely, it meant only two survived in the vast land of Hangzhou.
Of course, some might have fled elsewhere after the incident, so not everyone was sacrificed, but the loss was still great.
"The Demonic Cult…"
The Demonic Cult, as told by them, was far more terrifying and dreadful than he had imagined. Especially considering they had toned down their words out of consideration for Hyun Jong.
"Chung Myung."
"…"
"Chung Myung."
After calling twice with no reply, Hyun Jong's eyebrows twitched.
Hyun Jong's tightly set mouth and Chung Myung's pouted lips met in the air.
"…Lower your arm."
"Yes, sect leader. I obey."
At the immediate polite reply, Hyun Jong squeezed his eyes shut.
'That guy, seriously…'
For anyone else, their personality would have changed a dozen times after what they went through these past few days, so how could someone remain so consistent?
At this point, it's not that his personality is bad, but maybe those trying to fix it are the ones at fault.
"You…"
Hyun Jong, about to say something, sighed deeply. After looking at Chung Myung with a troubled face for a moment, he spoke with strength.
"I won't ask why you know so much about the Demonic Cult."
"Ah, that? That is…"
"Enough."
Just as Chung Myung tried to say something smoothly, Hyun Jong cut him off firmly. It was better not to hear any half-hearted excuses.
"Tell me that later if you feel like it."
Of course, Hyun Jong was curious about Chung Myung's story. But relationships don't get closer by knowing more, nor do they grow distant by knowing less.
Whatever story he had, to him, Chung Myung was just Chung Myung.
There must be a reason why the child who had opened his heart didn't share his story. What Hyun Jong had to do now was not to push but to wait.
Hyun Jong subtly gestured to others nearby, as if saying their attitude should be no different.
He furrowed his brows slightly and spoke.
"More importantly, since you seem to know the Demonic Cult best among us, I'll ask. According to Baek Cheon, the Demonic Cult that appeared in Hangzhou this time seems to be only a part of them. Am I right?"
"Yes. That's likely."
"Then… if you combine the forces of those who didn't appear in the Central Plains this time, how strong would the Demonic Cult be?"
Chung Myung frowned slightly. Counting on his fingers and thinking deeply, he finally looked at Hyun Jong with a serious face.
"…You mean their strength excluding the Heavenly Demon?"
"Yes."
"Then…"
He closed his mouth tightly again. Chung Myung, silent as if pondering something, finally spoke when everyone was tense and dry-mouthed.
"At least ten times, no… even more."
The air in the room instantly froze cold.