Did You Bring It? (2)

What Hwang Jongi saw upon entering the room was a scene that was familiar, if familiar at all.

Hyun Jong sat in the center, flanked on both sides by the elders of Mount Hua. Indeed, it was a sight often seen even within Mount Hua.

The problem was…

“Who is that person…?”

Hwang Jongi blinked as he saw a huge man slumped against one wall like water-soaked cotton.

“I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere… Ah!”

Realizing that the large figure was the Beast Palace Lord he had seen during the Heavenly Friends Alliance’s initiation ceremony, Hwang Jongi flinched and shuddered.

What on earth had happened to drain all the energy from the body of that tower-like man? The way an ordinary person slumps and the way someone like him slumps felt completely different.

Moreover, as far as Hwang Jongi remembered, the Beast Palace Lord was a very polite person, contrary to his appearance…

‘He must have been through so much…’

It dawned on him anew that anyone entangled with Taoist Chung Myung and Mount Hua, be it the Beast Palace Lord or Tang Gunak, would be thrown into hell without exception.

‘And I would be no different.’

What? Missing Mount Hua?

Come to think of it, had there ever been a time as peaceful as the few months Mount Hua was absent from Shaanxi? They say when a person becomes addicted to alcohol, they think being drunk is natural, so what was I thinking missing them?

“Oh, Merchant Lord!”

Hyun Jong, Mount Hua’s sect leader, no, the leader of the demons, brightened upon seeing Hwang Jongi enter and stood up.

Without hesitation, Hyun Jong approached and firmly grasped Hwang Jongi’s hands, smiling brightly.

“Merchant Lord, how long has it been? Meeting you here in this distant place brings me boundless joy.”

“Yes. Well… yes. Sect Leader, I am also glad to see you…”

When a sect leader of Mount Hua shows such warmth, gratitude naturally arises, yet strangely, Hwang Jongi felt increasingly uneasy.

‘No, it’s not the sect leader’s fault.’

Holding Hyun Jong’s hand, Hwang Jongi quickly scanned the surroundings, searching for the one clearly responsible for all this trouble.

As always, the root of all evil was smiling cheerfully as if none of this had anything to do with him.

“You’re later than I expected.”

Though it was hardly a thing to say to someone who had rushed all the way from distant Shaanxi, Hwang Jongi didn’t take offense. He had been through too much to be swayed by such remarks.

“Have you been well?”

“What could possibly happen here? Of course, I’ve been well.”

“Ugh.”

“Sigh.”

As soon as Chung Myung answered, sighs and groans echoed from all around. Understanding the reason, Hwang Jongi just shook his head.

“It seems…”

Hwang Jongi, who had tried to joke seeing Chung Myung’s calm demeanor, suddenly tilted his head slightly.

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong?”

After a brief hesitation, Hwang Jongi quietly approached Chung Myung.

“Would you stand up for a moment?”

“Sorry?”

Chung Myung tilted his head but stood up as asked. When Hwang Jongi stepped closer, Chung Myung backed away with a somewhat sulky expression.

“I don’t have this kind of preference…”

“You seem a bit taller.”

“Really?”

Chung Myung’s eyes widened at that.

Hwang Jongi looked Chung Myung up and down and nodded as if confirming it.

“Definitely.”

“Oh?”

Chung Myung stepped close to Hwang Jongi and measured their head heights with his hand. Voices around agreed.

“Yeah, I do seem a bit taller.”

“…Maybe you are still growing.”

“Ah! Heaven hasn’t abandoned me! I thought I wouldn’t grow anymore!”

This body was shorter than his previous one, which caused many inconveniences, but fortunately, it seemed he still had room to grow.

“No wonder my swordplay has felt so refreshing lately. Just wait, Heavenly Demon brat!”

“…I think you like the wrong part of it.”

“When you grow taller, your arms get longer, and longer arms are better for swordsmanship. Of course, too much isn’t good, but right now, I’m a bit stubby. Growing a bit more is better.”

Hwang Jongi shook his head. This person hadn’t changed since the first time he met him. It’s impressive how consistent he could be.

“Ah, right. Did you bring it?”

“Whose words were it, that could I not disobey? Of course, I brought it.”

“Ah, as expected, the only one I can trust is the merchant lord.”

“…I wish there was even a penny of sincerity in that statement.”

“Hehe. I always speak with perfect sincerity. So, where is it?”

“You seem to be happier about the item than about seeing me.”

“No way. I just want to be sure, that’s all.”

Hwang Jongi chuckled at that.

“It’s something hard to bring inside, so I left it by the door.”

“Oh!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Chung Myung’s eyes lit up and he dashed to the door, flinging it wide open.

Those curious about what had been brought peered over to see the object placed by the door.

“A cauldron?”

“What is that?”

It was a dark-colored cauldron placed by the door. Those who saw it were puzzled. Only the Mount Hua sect members in the room knew what it was.

“It’s a Cold Steel cauldron.”

“A Cold Steel cauldron? Did you say Cold Steel?”

“It’s a cauldron made from eternal Cold Steel. Now that I think about it, we had stored it in the Merchant Guild.”

At that, the eyes of those not from Mount Hua widened.

Why on earth would someone make a cauldron out of such precious eternal Cold Steel? It’s not like money grows on trees.

“No, this is madness!”

Especially Tang Gunak rushed out and examined the cauldron, then muttered in a daze.

“It’s really eternal hancheol… Last time they made all their swords from hancheol… Does Mount Hua have a hancheol vein or something? Now they’re even making cauldrons…”

Watching Tang Gunak in a daze, Hyun Jong whispered to Chung Myung.

“Did Lord Tang not know about this?”

“Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever told him. There was no particular reason to.”

“That’s true.”

“But why are you so late?”

Hwang Jongi gave a bitter smile at Chung Myung’s question.

“It’s no ordinary item. If Mount Hua carries it, no problem, but if we get robbed while moving it, that would be a big issue. It took some time to arrange guards.”

“Ah… I didn’t think of that. If I had, I would have sent some idle bandits to fetch it.”

“…”

Hwang Jongi gave up thinking. The events in the Heavenly Friends Alliance had long since exceeded his scope of understanding.

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work.”

“Ugh.”

At that moment, Meng So, staggering to his feet, looked at the cauldron outside the door and chuckled bitterly.

“Why did you ask to bring that?”

“It has its use.”

“Use?”

“The kids have been looking quite weak lately.”

“Who’s to blame for that!”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“They say you give a disease and then the cure. Since we gave them the disease, now we must give the medicine.”

“…That’s not the right phrase to use here.”

“Come on. I know the Central Plains language better than the Palace Lord. This is exactly the phrase to use here.”

The Beast Palace Lord’s huge head drooped. Everyone felt pity but no one dared defend him. They all knew it was pointless to argue with Chung Myung.

“But medicine?”

“We had the ingredients but forgot to bring the cauldron. Now that it’s here, we can give the kids some tonic.”

At that, Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung admiringly.

Indeed, he had been worried lately that the sect disciples were struggling too much and wondered if it was time to intervene again.

“I see. That’s a good idea.”

Just as Hyun Jong was about to nod, Meng So, looking flustered, hurriedly asked.

“W-wait! Who are you giving what to?”

“Medicine for the kids.”

“To whom?”

“I said to the kids! Palace Lord, your energy must be really low if you can’t understand that.”

Meng So stared at Chung Myung incredulously.

“…By kids, do you mean the disciples of Mount Hua?”

“No, I’ll give it to all of them. Everyone here.”

At that, Meng So’s gaze wavered.

“Even the Beast Palace?”

“Of course. The most important ingredients were brought by the Beast Palace and the Ice Palace; you can’t leave them out. One must have a conscience.”

Meng So closed his mouth tightly. After a long moment of contemplation, he spoke in a heavy voice.

“…It doesn’t make sense.”

“What?”

“The value of the ingredients and the finished spiritual pill can’t even be compared. No matter that we brought the ingredients, no one would think receiving the spiritual pill in return is a fair trade.”

“…”

“But you’re saying you’ll give it away without any compensation?”

This was too much. Though the Heavenly Friends Alliance had declared it would treat sect disciples and affiliated sects without discrimination, no one truly believed it was possible.

Even Meng So, one of the core members of the Heavenly Friends Alliance, did not truly wish for that. Yet now, Chung Myung seemed intent on actually doing the impossible.

At Meng So’s flustered voice, Chung Myung chuckled.

“No compensation? What are you talking about?”

“…Huh?”

An evil smile spread across Chung Myung’s face.

“Even when you use oxen, you have to feed them well to work well, and when you ride horses, you have to feed them carrots so they obey, right?”

“…”

“If even beasts need that, shouldn’t people be fed even better so they don’t work like oxen or horses?”

“…”

“These guys have been complaining about being tired lately, so let’s stuff their mouths with the spiritual pill and see if they still complain. If they have even a shred of conscience, they’ll obey without a word. Hehehe!”

Meng So trembled. Seeing his expression, Chung Myung nodded knowingly.

“Don’t worry. The Palace Lords and elders will get a pill each as well.”

“W-we too?”

“You’ve been struggling dealing with the kids lately. How can you handle them if they run wild after taking the spiritual pills? You’re getting older and your qi is waning.”

“…”

“The elders should eat well too, so it’s easier to handle the oxen or horses… no, the lively young ones. It’s all thought through.”

…Such kind words. How could giving away precious spiritual pill for free be a bad thing?

But everyone here painfully realized that depending on who says it and in what situation, it could be a bad thing.

“Eat well and grow strong. Once they take this pill, they won’t even dare complain about being tired for months!”

As Chung Myung’s eyes gleamed, Meng So quietly backed away.

“I-I think I don’t need to take it…”

“Take it.”

“No, really, I’m fine…”

“Take it.”

“…Yes.”

A pleased and proud smile spread across Chung Myung’s lips as he looked at the cauldron outside the door.

“Once they finish the Heavenly Violet Pill, we can push them harder than now. I’ve been frustrated anyway; this came at just the right time. Hehehe.”

Hearing that, everyone’s faces darkened. A black storm cloud was gathering over the pavilion where the Heavenly Friends Alliance stayed.