This Place, This Is Hell. (4)

“Nooooo!”

A loud voice shouted from the temporary sect leader’s residence. Those passing by clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

“It’s starting again.”

“Anyway, that Chung Myung guy never has a quiet day.”

“That’s a talent too. A talent.”

Laughter mixed with concern briefly poured toward the quarters, but that was all. No one was surprised. This was a daily occurrence at Mount Hua, and wherever Mount Hua stayed.

“Does this even make sense! Huh?”

One who was about to quicken his steps with a bitter smile at the outburst suddenly stopped and tilted his head.

“Wait. Is that really Chung Myung?”

“Huh? What do you mean? If not Chung Myung, then who can it be?”

“The voice sounds different though?”

“Voice?”

Hearing that, they looked back toward Hyun Jong’s quarters. Without even needing to listen closely, a tremendous shout erupted.

“I’m so pissed off! Huh? I am!”

“……”

For a moment, everyone’s faces turned strange.

“Right?”

“Yeah. This, this isn’t Chung Myung’s voice?”

“Then who is it?”

“Isn’t that the sect leader’s voice?”

“Huh?”

Everyone was startled and stared blankly toward the quarters.

“Say something, say something!”

“Ahem.”

“Hmm.”

“Ugh.”

Those gathered before Hyun Jong subtly averted their gaze.

Tang Gunak, Meng So, Im So-Byeong, Namgung Do-Wei, and even a representative who was sitting in place of Seol So-baek for some reason, dared not meet Hyun Jong’s eyes.

“When the kids hit and fight each other and cause chaos!”

“……”

“The sect leaders should stop it! Are you just watching?”

“…Uh, um… Alliance Leader.”

Meng So gave an embarrassed smile.

“That’s all something Mount Hua’s Sword Saint is supposed to handle…”

“Well said!”

“Huh?”

“Can’t you see over there? There?”

Hyun Jong, eyes half-rolled back, pointed fiercely to the side. Where he pointed, Chung Myung, now pale like a corpse, was slumped against the wall.

‘What, what is that… Has he starved himself for ten days?’

‘How did the shadows under his eyes reach down to his chin?’

‘Isn’t he going to die like that?’

“Is that even a human figure? That guy came laughing, walking on two feet after beating up the high priest! But look at how he looks now!”

“……”

“They’ve made someone else’s precious son look like that? These people, I swear!”

“P-please calm down, Sect Leader.”

Hyun Young, sweating nervously, stopped Hyun Jong who was rolling up his sleeves.

“Calm down? Do I look like I can calm down?”

Baek Cheon opened his mouth wide at this bizarre situation.

‘I am living to the day to see this. To think I’d see this kind of scene.’

Hyun Jong taking Chung Myung’s side and getting angry at others, while Hyun Young tries to calm him down—how could this make sense unless the world was turned upside down?

Hyun Jong pushed away the clinging Hyun Young and glared fiercely at Tang Gunak.

“Say something, Tang family lord!”

“K-khem.”

“I understand using poison in duels! But! They used poison not in a duel but because of a quarrel? Are they trying to pick a fight with Mount Hua now?”

“Th-that part I cannot comment on. But that poison wasn’t the absolute poison and I already revoked…”

“Ah, so you think beating someone up and then treating them later makes it okay?”

“That’s not what I meant, but…”

Tang Gunak, seemingly at a loss for words, averted his gaze. Surely he didn’t expect poison to be used during a fight in the diner, not a duel.

If this had happened with another sect, it wouldn’t be surprising if it ended in a fight to the death. But since Mount Hua was the victim, it was overlooked to this extent.

“And, Beast Palace Lord!”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“How on earth did you manage those beasts to let them rampage into villages like this!”

“Ahahaha!”

Meng So laughed heartily as if it was nothing.

“That’s why they’re called beasts, aren’t they? If they knew how to be controlled, they’d be humans.”

But Hyun Jong had no intention of letting that joke slide. With bloodshot eyes, he openly glared at Meng So.

“Are you laughing right now?”

Meng So lowered his gaze slightly.

“Well said! If you know beasts are like that, you should manage them! What were the Palace people doing just watching the beasts run wild?”

“I have no comment on that…”

“Those bastards went into villages, ate all the food people had, and devoured the livestock. Chung Myung even got his eardrum damaged while protesting! His eardrum!”

“He looks fine though…”

“What?”

“Ah, nothing.”

Meng So shrugged his shoulders, uncharacteristically small for his large frame. They say gentle people are scarier when angry, and this was exactly that.

“And!”

Hyun Jong’s fiery gaze now fixed on Im So-Byeong. But at that moment, Im So-Byeong took the initiative.

“Wait a moment!”

“…Hmm?”

He confidently opened his fan wide.

“It seems you’re blaming us, but if you look closely, aren’t we the ones wronged?”

“Did you just say you’re wronged?”

“Yes! This time, those Tang guys started the quarrel first. Even though we’re lowly Evil Sect bastards, isn’t it their fault for provoking and spitting first? Should we just take the hits?”

“Well…”

Hyun Jong hesitated as if at a loss for words, and Im So-Byeong seized the opportunity to press on.

“Alliance Leader, aren’t we the ones who decided to wash our hands clean and live properly? Then you should embrace us with kindness, not keep discriminating against us and Tang guys…”

“That’s not it!”

“…Yes?”

“Officials came and went!”

“…Officials?”

Im So-Byeong tilted his head as if puzzled by the sudden remark. His confidently spread fan drooped slightly.

Hyun Jong openly showed his displeasure and continued speaking.

“Yes. Recently, there was a brawl at a gambling den in the back alleys of river mouth. The gamblers beat up all the staff and even robbed the safe before fleeing.”

“…Ah, no!”

Im So-Byeong shouted with a face full of injustice.

“What does that have to do with us?”

“…They say the ones involved wore green clothes with a tree symbol on the right chest.”

“Wow, they wore that? Crazy bastards…”

Bang!

Hyun Jong slammed the table with all his might.

“They came to help the commoners and then gamble? Gamble? And fine, gambling is one thing! Why rob a perfectly fine gambling den? Why!”

Im So-Byeong gave an embarrassed smile.

“Well… we didn’t rob innocent commoners. If it’s the gambling den operators, they’re like leeches sucking the blood of the commoners, so robbing them a bit…”

“Then you should have shared the money! That money all came from the commoners! What happened to that money?”

“…I’ll look into it.”

“Bah!”

Hyun Jong raised his hand, and Im So-Byeong ducked as if something was flying at him, then sheepishly raised his head.

Hyun Jong had hit his own chest. The pounding hand was full of frustration as if his insides were burning.

“Ice Palace!”

“S-sorry.”

Han Yi-Myung, already half intimidated, slowly backed away as soon as the word ‘Ice Palace’ was mentioned.

“Why isn’t the Palace Lord coming?”

“…There are some circumstances he has…”

“Ugh.”

Hyun Jong sighed deeply and glared at Han Yi-Myung again.

“Let’s say other places are like that. You asked not to fight unless during duels, but how can even Ice Palace be fighting? You said you’d listen, but I heard Ice Palace attacked Beast Palace first! What’s going on here?”

“Th-that has a story behind it.”

“What story?”

Han Yi-Myung answered, sweating profusely.

“Actually, our Palace Lord did his best to prevent private fights as requested by taoist Chung Myung. Yesterday, upon hearing a quarrel between Beast Palace and the Ice Palace, he rushed to mediate.”

“The Palace Lord tried to stop it?”

“Yes! You know our Palace Lord wouldn’t break Mount Hua’s Sword Saint’s request. Of course, he tried to stop it!”

“…Then what happened? I clearly heard Ice Palace attacked Beast Palace first.”

“Well… our Palace Lord told both sides to stop, saying ‘Taoist Chung Myung said not to fight.’ But one reckless Beast Palace member said in front of the Palace Lord, ‘I don’t care what that Taoist said,’ so…”

“…So?”

Han Yi-Myung squeezed his eyes shut.

“Well… isn’t it obvious? Our Palace Lord, enraged by the ‘Taoist’ remark, beat that Beast Palace member without question…”

Hearing that, Five Swords applauded.

“Kuh. Our So-Baek has really grown.”

“He even beat a Beast Palace member. Wow, his skills must have improved a lot…”

“Shut up, you guys!”

Hyun Jong’s roar made Five Swords shrink his shoulders. Taking a deep breath, Hyun Jong barely suppressed his anger and asked.

“So that’s why he didn’t come here?”

“Ah, no. He went wild and got beaten up badly, so he’s bedridden now.”

“B-beat the Palace Lord?”

Hyun Jong blinked and looked at Meng So, who awkwardly rolled his eyes and scratched his nose bridge.

“He was so young, we didn’t realize he was the Palace Lord…”

“Didn’t you see him before today?”

“Well… I only saw him briefly…”

They really didn’t recognize him well. Those crazy Beast Palace guys.

“So? Anyway, every sect fought without exception?”

“…Sorry.”

“We have no excuse to say.”

“Meanwhile, the beasts raided villages, and the back alleys where beasts didn’t go were robbed by bandits?”

“Ahem.”

“Ehem…”

“Even if the Four Sects Alliance’s main base was here, this chaos wouldn’t happen! Hey, you…”

“Hey! Sect Leader! Sect Leader!”

“Decorum! You must keep your dignity!”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young hurriedly covered Hyun Jong’s mouth from both sides. It was extremely rude, but they couldn’t let the Heavenly Friends Alliance leader say those words.

While stopping Hyun Jong, Hyun Young spoke sharply instead.

“How much chaos must have been caused for Chung Myung to lose his mind! I’ve never seen him bedridden before! Do you even have any sense or not!”

Everyone subtly turned their heads to look at Chung Myung.

Seeing him look like he’d given up on everything, a subtle guilt arose, and everyone grimaced.

“Can’t you apologize quickly?”

“Ahem. Sorry, Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.”

“Sorry, Taoist.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Hearing the apologies, Chung Myung smiled broadly. His face looked like he was dying, and the bright smile gave off a creepy feeling, but a smile was still a smile…

“Just go and die, you bastards!”

“Ah! Chung Myung!”

“Hold on, Chung Myung!”

“They are sect leaders! You crazy bastard!”

Chung Myung suddenly rolled his eyes and started rampaging, and Five Swords immediately rushed in to pin him down.

“Let go! Sect leader? Sect leaders should go freeze and die! What kind of sect leaders are those!”

“C-calm down!”

Chung Myung even foamed at the mouth and convulsed.

“I won’t do it! I won’t, you bastards! Heavenly Friends Alliance or whatever, I’ll do it all myself! I won’t do it!”

The desperate scream of one crushed by the disaster he brought upon himself echoed mournfully… truly mournfully throughout the manor.