Did You Bring It? (1)

“Is this the place?”

Hwang Jongi looked at the large manor visible before him.

“Yes, Lord. As far as I know, the people of Mount Hua are here.”

At the steward’s words, Hwang Jongi sighed deeply.

“Finally arrived. It was so far.”

“You didn’t have to come personally, Lord…”

“Don’t say such things.”

Hwang Jongi shook his head firmly.

“Mount Hua is both a friend and the biggest client of the Eunha Merchant Guild. Even if we have business and friendship, neglecting a client can turn close ties distant.”

“Ah…”

“And it’s not just Mount Hua here. The Northern Sea Ice Palace and Nanman Beast Palace, the Eunha Merchant Guild’s biggest clients, are also here. With the biggest clients gathered in one place, how could I not come? Even if it were the Western Regions, not the Yangtze River, I must come personally!”

“That’s a wise statement.”

The steward nodded repeatedly with an admiring expression.

After Hwang Mun-Yak’s death, Hwang Jongi struggled to fill the void, but recently he has led the guild so perfectly that the memory of Hwang Mun-Yak pales in comparison.

Everyone in the guild openly says that if things continue like this, the Eunha Merchant Guild will rise to become the world’s best guild under Hwang Jongi’s leadership.

“My father always said that trust and people are important to merchants. I am just following my late father’s words.”

Hwang Jongi looked at the manor with a firm face and smiled gently.

“And… personally, I wanted to see the people of Mount Hua. Whenever I am tired and weary, seeing them gives me strength. Honestly, there aren’t many as lively as they are.”

“Hahaha. They’re too lively, that’s the problem. With Mount Hua people leaving the mountain, not only Hwa-Um but also Shaanxi feels quieter.”

“That’s true.”

Hwang Jongi gave a bitter smile.

They say you don’t notice when someone arrives, but you notice when they leave.

‘That means Mount Hua has become so important in Shaanxi, all in just a few years.’

It’s tiring just to talk about it.

Before Mount Hua revived, the representative sect in Shaanxi was Southern Edge, and when the Southern Edge suddenly announced it would close its gates, many were worried.

But Mount Hua filled Southern Edge’s void so perfectly it overflowed. Now, its influence extends beyond Shaanxi to the entire Central Plains and even the Western Regions.

So, just Mount Hua’s brief absence causes Shaanxi to lose vitality.

“I’m also excited to meet the people of Mount Hua.”

“You’re not the only one feeling that way.”

Hwang Jongi chuckled and pointed to the manor’s gate.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes, merchant lord.”

Hwang Jongi proceeded toward the manor.

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone guarding the gate?”

“Is it really necessary? This is where Mount Hua, Tang Family, and two of the Five Palaces reside. Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t dare act rashly.”

“That’s true.”

“Let’s go in. They aren’t so rigid as to demand formalities just because we opened the gate.”

“Yes.”

At Hwang Jongi’s words, the steward stepped forward and opened the gate. Hwang Jong-ui entered and smiled slightly.

‘Strangely, it feels like I’ve truly come to Mount Hua.’

The unique calmness of the Taoist path and the lively spirit of Chung Myung blend into Mount Hua’s atmosphere, felt even here. That’s how it is wherever Mount Hua is.

“Who is that person?”

Hwang Jongi saw the back of the person ahead and brightened. Meeting a familiar face right away lifted his spirits.

“Taoist Jo Gul! Isn’t that Taoist Jo Gul!”

All Mount Hua disciples wear the same martial uniform, making it hard to tell them apart from behind, but Jo Gul’s distinctive curly hair made him easy to recognize.

Hwang Jongi, delighted, approached Jo Gul with a smile.

“Long time no see, Taoist Jo Gul… oh my!”

When Jo Gul turned his head to look at Hwang Jongi, Hwang Jongi was shocked and stepped back.

“T-taoist Jo Gul?”

“Ah…”

Jo Gul recognized Hwang Jongi and bowed deeply.

“Young Lord… no, Merchant Lord, you have come.”

“A-are you ill?”

“…What?”

“Why does your face look like that? Your face?”

Jo Gul weakly brushed his face.

“…It’s a bit damaged.”

A bit damaged?

Hwang Jongi was at a loss for words as he looked at Jo Gul.

‘Even if you dug up a grave and took out a corpse, it wouldn’t look like this.’

Should he say he turned pale white or that he died blackened?

His bloodless pale skin was so rough it seemed bark would be softer, and the dark shadows under his eyes were as if drawn with ink.

Even deliberate makeup wouldn’t achieve this effect.

“W-what on earth happened?”

“What do you mean what happened…”

At that moment.

“Isn’t that Merchant lord?”

At the voice from beside him, Hwang Jongi quickly turned his head.

“…W-who?”

“Yes? Merchant Lord, it’s Yoon Jong.”

“T-taoist Y-Yoon Jong?”

Hwang Jongi blinked repeatedly.

Yoon Jong looked just as bad as Jo Gul, or in some ways worse.

“Did the Four Sects Alliance invade?”

Hearing that, Yoon Jong snorted in an uncharacteristic laugh.

“The Four Sects Alliance… If they were the enemy, it wouldn’t be so hard. We’d just… just beat them to death.”

“…”

“The problem is, there’s someone worse than the Four Sects Alliance here at Mount Hua.”

“That would be Taoist Chung Myung, right?”

Who else but Chung Myung could make someone look like this?

But Yoon Jong and Jo Gul shook their heads simultaneously at Hwang Jongi’s words.

“Chung Myung is better.”

“At least he was human.”

“…What?”

The two shook their heads without answering.

Just as Hwang Jongi, utterly confused, was about to ask again.

“You fools! I told you to come to the training ground, why are you wasting time there?”

At the angry voice, Yoon Jong and Jo Gul flinched and shrank their necks. Their faces twisted horribly.

Hwang Jongi also reflexively turned his head to look at the speaker.

“T-taoist Baek Cheon?”

“No. Isn’t that merchant lord?”

Baek Cheon bowed politely upon seeing Hwang Jongi.

“Long time no see.”

“Yes, yes… Taoist Baek Cheon.”

“Did you just arrive?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It must have been a long journey; you must be very tired. The sect leader will be glad to see you.”

Strangely, while others looked near death, Baek Cheon appeared much the same as Hwang Jongi remembered.

No, rather…

‘He even looks somewhat polished now.’

Is Baek Cheon the only one who hasn’t trained? No, that wouldn’t suit his personality.

“Let’s go. I’ll guide you to the sect leader.”

“Ah… yes.”

“Wait.”

Baek Cheon gave Hwang Jongi a gentle smile and subtly turned his head toward Yoon Jong and Jo Gul.

At the same time, his expression changed completely from when he looked at Hwang Jongi.

“Training time is over! What are you two doing here?”

“…We were just going.”

“Well… we stopped briefly to see Merchant lord.”

Yoon Jong and Jo Gul shrank like mice before a cat. Baek Cheon frowned deeply, clearly displeased.

“Hurry up. I’ll escort Merchant Lord.”

“Yes.”

“Yes!”

The two bowed to Baek Cheon and Hwang Jongi, then hurried toward the training ground.

“Seriously, why is he like that? We were cursing others together not long ago!”

“How would I know…”

“Chung Myung is better. Ugh! When a high-ranking person like Baek Cheon flips his eyes, there’s nothing you can do.”

“Shh. They’ll hear you.”

“They’re all dying. Why are we the only ones doing extra training? We’re already exhausted.”

“…Enough talk, let’s go quickly.”

“Ugh.”

Watching the two run toward the training ground, cold sweat broke out on Hwang Jongi’s neck.

Turning his head with a vague unease, Baek Cheon still wore a friendly smile.

“Let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

This man is scarier than I thought.

Walking through the manor guided by Baek Cheon, Hwang Jongi spoke softly.

“Are the members of other sects all here as well?”

“Yes. The afternoon training just ended, so everyone is either resting or gone to eat.”

“Ah.”

Hwang Jongi nodded.

“Mount Hua certainly has something special. Training more than other sects while all together isn’t easy.”

“Ah, that’s not the case.”

“What? Earlier you said other sects rest while only Mount Hua trains…”

“Ah, well.”

Baek Cheon scratched his head.

“They’re over there. You’ll understand when you see.”

“Yes?”

At Baek Cheon’s words, Hwang Jongi looked up at the scene ahead.

“…”

In the space between the large manors, dirt-covered people were literally sprawled out.

‘Is this a beggars’ den?’

No, rather than a beggars’ den… more like a group of defeated soldiers?

They looked like battered survivors barely alive, lying down.

Seeing those at the front with their heads buried in the dirt foaming at the mouth, Hwang Jongi was disgusted.

“N-no, they seem to be from the Beggars’ Union.”

“No.”

“What? Green clothes…”

Hwang Jongi closed his mouth.

Because they wore green clothes, he naturally thought they were Beggars’ Union members. If not, they wouldn’t throw away dignity and lie like that.

But he saw it.

The character ‘Tang’ engraved on their chests.

“They are from Tang family.”

“…”

Tang Family? These people?

Blinking, Hwang Jongi looked at those lying on the dirt, having thrown away all dignity.

‘No matter how I look, they look like beggars.’

Not just beggars, but those starving for at least two weeks.

Since when did Tang Family change their affiliation to the Beggars’ Union?

“W-water…”

“A-are you okay?”

“Ki-k… K-ki…”

“Crispy rice? You want crispy rice?”

“Kill…”

“…”

Seeing Hwang Jongi’s blank face, Baek Cheon glanced at him and said casually.

“Don’t worry about it. This happens every day.”

No, you crazy man!

This shouldn’t happen every day! How can this be a place where people live?

“Th-those in white… no, yellow clothes?”

“They are from the Namgung Family. Hmm, today the Namgung family members are in decent condition.”

“…”

Ah, those people?

The Blue Sky Namgung Family? The most upright prestigious family in the world?

After seeing the plague-like appearance of the village behind them, Hwang Jongi, shuddering, saw Im So-Byeong hanging on the wall like a dried squid and gave up thinking further.

‘Let’s not think about it strangely.’

Isn’t this always what happens where Chung Myung is?

It’s foolish to judge the place he is by common sense. So stay calm…

“Here we are. Hmm?”

Baek Cheon frowned upon arriving at the sect leader’s quarters.

“Excuse me, get up.”

He approached someone lying against the wall in front of the sect leader’s quarters, placing a hand on their shoulder, leaving Hwang Jongi behind.

‘That person… hmm? I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere.’

“Tang family lord, you can’t sleep here. Please get up…”

“Why is the Tang family Lord here!”

A loud shout finally escaped from Hwang Jongi’s mouth.

Why is the head of Tang Gunak sprawled like a local beggar in front of someone else’s quarters? Why!

“U-um. T-taoist Baek Cheon?”

“Yes, Family lord.”

“I was on my way to see the sect leader and stopped to rest, huh?”

“You should go to your quarters and rest a bit.”

“No. Hmm? It’s the Merchant Lord of the Eunha Merchant Guild.”

“H-have you been well, Family Lord?”

“Do I look well?”

“…”

Hearing that strangely sharp voice, Hwang Jongi bowed his head deeply.

“Please come in.”

“…”

Tang Gunak led the way into the quarters.

Seeing that, Hwang Jongi sighed as if the ground had collapsed beneath him.

‘I shouldn’t have come…’

Hwang Jongi felt deeply in his bones the reality of having come to Mount Hua.