Chapter 1148: I’ve Done Everything I Needed To. (3) |
“Is it finished?”
“J-just a little left…”
“No, what is so important about sweeping the yard that you can’t finish on time every single time? Isn’t this laziness too much?”
“Oh, don’t even mention it. If we rush to finish on time, we get scolded. The elder of Mount Hua comes and calls us food parasites and gets so angry!”
“…You mean Elder Hyun Young?”
“I don’t know the exact characters, but that strict person…”
“I see.”
“Yes. Anyway, that person said that since many people come and go in the manor, if it’s not kept clean, those who see it will look down on those gathered here…”
“…Then sweep it.”
“…”
The most feared figure among those working in the manor was neither Hyun Jong, the leader of the Heavenly Friends Alliance, nor Chung Myung, the fiend of the Heavenly Friends Alliance.
Hyun Jong is so gentle to those untrained in martial arts that he might as well be live bait… no, well… anyway, he is endlessly warm-hearted. Chung Myung does not harass civilians or martial artists indiscriminately, but since there are those who must be troubled first, he does not turn his attention to others.
To them, the grim reaper-like figure is none other than Hyun Young, the Finance Hall leader of Mount Hua.
“Not all Taoists have… good personalities…”
“Hey, you! How dare you say such a thing out loud! You want to be struck by lightning?”
“S-sorry.”
“Say such things quietly, where others can’t hear you.”
“…Yes.”
The one who gave advice suddenly turned his head sharply to check the sky.
“It’s time! Step aside quickly!”
“Yes!”
The two hurriedly stepped aside. It was time for the daily routine to begin.
‘Ugh, really.’
‘Seeing that sight again today.’
As if by agreement, the doors of the pavilions all opened simultaneously, and the two tensed up, swallowing dry saliva.
But the scene that unfolded today was distinctly different from usual.
“Hurrah!”
“It’s morning!”
“Let’s go! To the training ground!”
Before the people could even be seen, loud voices burst out. Then, from the opened doors, Heavenly Friends Alliance warriors armed with weapons poured out in a rush.
“Huh? What, what’s this?”
Those who usually shuffled out like half-dead bodies now ran out energetically, startling the workers who widened their eyes.
‘What is this?’
‘Am I seeing things?’
But it seemed they were not mistaken. Those who came out stretched vigorously and smiled broadly.
“Ah! How can my body feel this light!”
“Now I understand why everyone goes crazy over the spiritual pills!”
“I could fight all day!”
“Let’s go!”
“I’m first!”
The crowd started running toward the training ground all at once. The two pressed against the wall blinked as those who passed by like the wind.
“Hello!”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Th-thank you…”
Those who had never made eye contact before now greeted with lively voices. Of course, they passed by quickly right after greeting.
“So what kind of training are they doing today?”
“Maybe they’re sparring with the sect leaders?”
“Really? Finally, the day of revenge!”
“Eh. But they’re sect leaders, so ‘revenge’ sounds a bit off.”
“If that’s the case, why are they running so fast?”
Leaving a huge dust cloud, the warriors disappeared toward the training ground. The two pressed against the roadside looked at each other in disbelief.
“You…”
“Yes?”
“…I think we have to sweep this again from the start.”
Looking at the messy path, he sighed deeply and bowed his head.
Those who joined the Heavenly Friends Alliance all experienced many changes.
Those who lived only within one sect had to coexist with others, so change was inevitable, not optional.
However, among the many in the Heavenly Friends Alliance, the one who changed the most surprisingly was not a martial artist.
“Hey!”
A loud scolding came from Lady Chu.
“I told you not to lift the pot with just two people! It’s heavier than you think and accidents happen! You need three people together!”
“Yes, madam!”
“Is the chicken still not done?”
“Oh dear! It needs to be boiled a bit more. The pot is so big…”
“The fire is weak! Quickly bring more firewood. There should be new firewood in the backyard!”
“Yes! Yes! I’m going now!”
Lady Chu looked around intensely to make sure nothing was missed.
“M-madam! They are asking for more rice.”
“We just served a pot.”
“Oh dear. Today seems to be a special day; as soon as the pot is put down, it’s all gone! It’s like some greedy fish have latched on…”
“Rice cakes! The rice still needs a bit more time, so first bring out the rice cakes we planned as dessert. If they have something to eat, they’ll wait a bit! They’re in the basket over there!”
“Yes, yes! I’ll bring them right away!”
“One pot of rice… no, bring two more! No, just bring three pots! Quickly!”
“Yes, madam!”
Lady Chu, who gave orders until her voice was hoarse, wiped the sweat dripping down her face with her sleeve due to the heat.
“What kind of chaos is this.”
Meal times in the manor always resembled a battlefield. But today seemed especially chaotic.
“Madam! There’s no rice!”
“Meat! What about meat? Meat!”
“Ah, I wish we had one more chicken.”
Mount Hua disciples poked their heads through the kitchen door and started crying like hungry baby birds… no, hungry grown birds.
Madam Chu shuddered at the sight. But before she could say anything, a hand from behind grabbed the collars of those nagging.
“I told you not to enter the kitchen!”
“S-sasuk, it’s not like that!”
“Oh dear, I can’t live like this! Why are you all like this!”
“No, Soso, we’re just too hungry…”
Baek Cheon and Tang Soso dragged the Mount Hua disciples away. Yoon Jong sighed and bowed his head toward Lady Chu.
“I’m sorry. They’re good-hearted kids but just a little, no, very foolish…”
“Ah, no. I’ll bring it quickly.”
“You can take your time.”
“Ah, sahyung! If you go slowly, they won’t finish eating within meal time…”
“Watch your mouth!”
Yoon Jong elbowed Jo Gul’s head, who was late to speak, and nodded awkwardly.
“Then.”
After the two left, Lady Chu wiped the sweat from her forehead again.
‘What happened?’
Usually, they ate a lot but had no vitality on their faces. Seeing them suddenly so excited to eat made her feel energized despite the hard work.
“Those greedy bastards sure eat well.”
At that moment, a voice from the side startled Lady Chu, who turned sharply. Hyun Young, radiating strictness, was walking over with a nonchalant expression.
“You’re here?”
“Today they’ll eat especially a lot. Work hard.”
“I’m the one who works hard? The cooks do.”
“You say that.”
Hyun Young frowned and suddenly handed something tucked under his arm to Madam Chu.
“Oh my! Hak!”
Lady Chu was surprised and took the child Hyun Young handed over.
“What about the child…”
“The child keeps crying and throwing tantrums; it’s so noisy! Calm him down for a bit!”
“Sorry…”
Lady Chu, checking the child’s condition with a sorry look, sighed deeply.
“…Elder, I told you, you don’t have to change the child’s cloth…”
“I did it because he cried so much, not because I like the child. Don’t worry about it.”
“Still…”
“No more talk… You! How dare you approach with a knife when there’s a child here!”
“S-sorry, Elder.”
A cook who was about to pass by thoughtlessly was startled by Hyun Young’s shout and stepped back. Of course, it was more Hyun Young’s fault for bringing a child into the dangerous kitchen, but no one dared to question that.
Moreover, everyone knew why Hyun Young insisted on bringing the child here, so no one could say anything.
After Lady Chu calmed and put the child to sleep, Hyun Young took the baby back with a nonchalant expression.
“It’s hard, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not hard…”
“Work is naturally hard. If you get paid and it isn’t hard, then you’re a thief.”
Hyun Young muttered with a nonchalant face.
“But the pay for hard work belongs entirely to the worker. No one helps or owes anyone. Understand?”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Tsk.”
Hyun Young pulled the child closer, turned around, and suddenly scolded another cook.
“Hey! Clean up the spills on the floor properly!”
“Yes, yes! Sorry, Elder.”
“From tomorrow, the ingredients will come in double, so assign some people in the morning to help with cleaning.”
“Oh dear, Elder… We are too short-staffed. If we do that too, we…”
“When did I say not to hire more people? If you’re short, hire more. Talk and hire. Immediately!”
“Yes, yes! If you do that…”
As Hyun Young walked away, pointing out things here and there, a small smile appeared on Lady Chu’s lips.
‘Really…’
Though it was hard, it was truly fortunate to be able to come here amidst it all.
“Is the rice ready?”
“There’s no chicken here right now.”
“Ah! The Green Forest and Namgung kids are fighting over the meat! Meat! Please give us some meat first! Quickly!”
“…”
Lady Chu covered her face with her hands.
‘No. It doesn’t seem to be always like that.’
Those greedy bastards…
But soon Lady Chu raised her head sharply and shouted.
“I’ll give it to you, so get out of the kitchen! Quickly! I told you blocking the way makes it take longer!”
“Ah, no. We just…”
“Hurry!”
“Yes!”
Watching the heads quickly retreat, she shook her head.
“Is the chicken fully cooked?”
“Coming now, madam!”
“Quickly, quickly bring it!”
Her shoulders bounced vigorously as she rolled up her sleeves.
Chung Myung, watching the chaotic dining hall, tore off a chicken leg. The kids devoured one piece each and were so lively they were almost wild.
‘The effect is better than I thought?’
It seems that pushing people to their limits is the only way to make the medicine work properly.
People only appreciate what they have when it’s gone. Having realized the importance of stamina, which they usually didn’t care about, they will now train themselves.
“Well then, let’s see. We’ve done most of what we needed to do.”
The system is set.
So now, like Mount Hua in the past, they will start pushing themselves. To open a new waterway, you must dig the ground, but once opened, water flows continuously.
In other words, the long, rough, and arduous process is now over.
“Then it’s time to move on to the next stage.”
He nodded vigorously, stuffed the torn chicken leg into his mouth, and snapped his greasy fingers.
“Tell all the sect leaders to gather after the meal!”
Protests erupted here and there.
“Finish what’s in your mouth before you speak!”
“You’re flicking grease, you bastard! It’s disgusting.”
“…”
The kids seem way too energetic. Ugh.