582 Chapter 1470: Let's Make History (Part 5)

"Be, be careful there!"

"You might cause an accident!"

With a bit of exaggeration, the individuals carrying a house-sized boulder constantly uttered cries of death.

"This, this is too big..."

"We can't cut it any further."

"Well then, why don't you guys try lifting and moving it... ugh."

"Whoa! It's tipping over!"

As about a dozen people forcibly moved the boulder, it suddenly tilted to the side. Those involved were thrown in all directions closed their eyes tightly in anticipation of the impact.

"..."

"...Huh?"

However, no matter how long they waited, they didn't hear the expected thud. Curious, they cautiously opened their eyes, only to see a hand the size of a pot lid supporting the boulder.

"Palace Lord?"

"Tsk tsk."

Palace Lord Meng So, who had held up the falling rock with one hand, scoffed.

"Is this all those so-called Beast Palace disciples can do? Can't even properly move a rock! I didn't know they were so shameless!"

Upon hearing this, the others lowered their heads. However, some of them subtly expressed their dissatisfaction.

"Isn't this too big for a human? Couldn't you... add more people to help..."

"What!"

At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted from Meng So's mouth.

"Do you need more people? Just become stronger! If you want more help, strengthen yourselves!"

"No, it's not like that..."

"You guys are pathetic! Move aside!"

Meng So reached out both hands and effortlessly lifted the rock.

"Uracha!"

Then, he hoisted a rock that seemed to be ten times larger than his body onto his shoulders.

"Hee, heeek."

"Incredible..."

Everyone, including members of other sects who were busy with their own tasks, and even the Beast Palace disciples familiar with Meng So, were astonished. It was a truly remarkable sight.

meng So, seemingly unfazed, carried the rock with ease and confidently moved forward.

"Where should I move it to?"

"This way, Palace Lord!"

"Lead the way."

"Yes!"

As Meng So walked ahead with people in front of him, everyone marveled at the scene. This wasn't something that could be done simply because someone had strong internal energy. It seemed to require extraordinary physical strength.

"What are you doing! Quickly bring the remaining ones too!"

"Yes! Yes! Palace Lord!"

The Beast Palace disciples, now reinvigorated, rushed forward with enthusiasm. Someone watching couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"It's no joke, it's real."

"I thought it was an unbelievable task, but somehow it's working."

"That's true."

People shook their heads in disbelief.

Even with the mobilization of martial artists, this speed was beyond common sense. One of the secrets behind this extraordinary speed was undoubtedly the leaders and elders.

"Such a fascinating sight. Who would have thought that someone with the standing of a Palace Lord would be carrying a boulder?"

"Is the Beast Palace Lord the only one? The head of the Tang Family is apparently busy with hammering the buildings."

"Holding a hammer?"

"What are you talking about? Didn't he send nails flying like a ghost and stab dozens at once? He finished a job that would take an ordinary carpenter half a day in one breath."

"Hehe... it's truly incredible."

The top-ranked martial artists at the peak of their skills could achieve tasks that would normally require a thousand people.

However, no one dared to make such a request to them. The sect leaders, especially those at the level of the Five Great Families or the Outer Palaces, were not the kind of people to engage in such trivial matters.

The head of the Tang Family doing carpentry work, and the lord of the Beast Palace carrying loads? Most people would undoubtedly advise against uttering such nonsense.

But here, in this place, the unthinkable was happening.

"Timber!"

The Namgung Family's Sogaju, Namgung Dowi, raced along the newly created Hwaeum Avenue.

"Timber! I thought we didn't have a shortage of timber? Why is this so slow?"

"Well, the disciples from Mount Hua said there's a shortage of stones, so they asked us to move the rocks quickly first..."

"We need timber immediately for building houses! There's a sequence to tasks! Stop talking nonsense and start with the timber, please."

"So, Sogaju, that..."

"Bring it here!"

Namgung Dowi, as if he didn't have time to waste, forcibly took the cart being pulled by the Beast Palace disciples.

"No, this is something we..."

"Damn it! If we don't finish the work before sunset, the Chief will try to kill me! Are you willing to take a beating instead?"

The Beastly Palace disciples shrugged their shoulders at the sight of Namgung Dowi pushing them to move faster.

"Hurry, we're busy! Bring it quickly. Next carriage!"

Just as Namgung Dowi had done before, he raced down the road, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Ah!"

"Be careful! You might get hurt!"

People on the road dodged the speeding carriage, flying in all directions.

Laughter erupted from those who were watching in amazement.

"Am I dreaming?"

"It seems so."

"But... Wait a minute. I can see the Namgung Family head, the Beast Palace Lord, and the Tang Family head, but I can't see the other sect leaders."

The person who spoke had a peculiar smile, a slightly triumphant expression.

"If you think about it, isn't it safe to say that Mount Hua's Sect Leader is the strongest among them? At least he doesn't carry loads like the others."

Certainly, the Hwaeum villagers had a great affection for the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. However, it couldn't match their affection for Mount Hua. While leaders of other sect leaders were working hard, the sight of Mount Hua's Sect Leader not doing any heavy lifting was somewhat satisfying.

However...

"...Did you not hear, perhaps?"

"What?"

"...Never mind. It's better not to know."

"Huh? What do you mean? What is Sect Leader doing?"

"It's not Sect Leader; it's Great Sect Leader."

"Huh?"

The man who spoke cast a pitiful gaze into the distance, toward a building.

Thud!

When he faced the newly piled ledger, Hyun Jong's eyes lost his soul within seconds.

"Do we... have to do more of this?"

"No, not this. Great Sect Leader."

"Uh, right?"

"Not only this but there are about three times more tasks to be done today."

Hyun Jong's beard trembled as he gritted his teeth.

"Besides, you need to check the list of items to be purchased from Xi'an, rewrite the membership list of sects coming from all directions to estimate the number of people. Oh! And in this ledger, we've recorded the newly built halls in Hwaeum up to this point, so you need to confirm where to place each sect and how. After that..."

"S, stop... stop..."

Hyun Jong's hand trembled uncontrollably.

"M, my eyes hurt too much. Can I take a short break..."

"Oh my, the Great Sect Leader of Mount Hua, the Great Sect Leader, is saying his eyes hurt from looking at the ledger. People will laugh at you. You make good jokes."

Is this real? It feels like my eyeballs are about to pop out. Do you know how old I am?

Hyun Jong clenched his fist. If he didn't have eyes, he would've already torn his head apart several times. Even in such agony, Hyun Jong couldn't bring himself to shout that he couldn't do this. No, he couldn't shout.

It was because of the hell unfolding around him.

"The numbers don't match, the numbers!"

"I double-checked it ten times; how can it not match?"

"Do you not see it here? Are your eyes full of holes?"

"What, why is it wrong again?"

This time, Hyun Jong's eyes rolled to the opposite side.

"Do you see it here? The content in this ledger and the quantity in the warehouse don't match! Which bastard messed this up?"

"Uh? Let me see. Oh, didn't we lend it to Bakryeong Poyguk in Luoyang last month?"

"Why didn't you write that in the ledger, you idiot! How many times have I reviewed this!"

Those with the eye shadows running down almost down to their chins were rummaging through the account books. Hyun Jong spoke in a slightly strained voice.

"But Chief..."

"Yes?"

"Is it usual for the Eunha Guild to have this much work?"

"How could it be?"

"Then...?"

"Think about it. This is almost like building an entire city. The goods needed for that would be more than what an ordinary Eunha Guild would transport in a year."

"...Well."

"Thankfully, those Sichuan folks, um... their name...?"

"Four Seas Merchant Company."

"Yes, yes! Thanks to the Four Seas Merchant Company folks coming over, it was fortunate. If it weren't for them, our Guild Master might have escaped from Hwaeum wearing a mask."

For a moment, Hyun Jong's mind conjured the face of Hwang Munyak.

"...I saw him wandering outside earlier."

"Oh, you didn't know?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The Guild Master said he was going to Luoyang with Elder Hyun Young. They will purchase goods from the merchants there."

"..."

"The purchase list alone is almost equivalent to a cartful, so it's impossible to obtain everything from one company. It seems that all the merchants from Luoyang and Xi'an will have to rush in."

"Why is Hyun Young going?"

"The Guild Master said he had never seen anyone so skilled at negotiating prices in his entire life. Even the previous Guild Master, who has passed away, was not at that level."

Hyun Jong lost his words for a moment. The image of Hyun Young scolding the merchants flashed involuntarily in his mind.

But Hyun Jong quickly erased that image. It was a matter of dignity and survival. He pointed at the account books in front of him.

"...So when will this be finished?"

"I heard that the Four Seas folks who left for a business trip are also coming to Shaanxi. They said they could join in about three days, so maybe we can have some relief from then on?"

Hyun Jong's face momentarily turned red.

Three days? Do this for three more days? Without even letting me sleep?

"This is too much..."

And at that very moment...

Bam!

The adjacent door of Hyun Jong's quarters suddenly swung open, and from within, account books spilled out like a flood.

"Oh, are you okay? You seem to have fainted."

"What's wrong with this gentleman? Why is he so weak?"

"Shh, be careful. He's the one who came from Nokrim."

"Huh? I thought he was an official from the Imperial Palace."

Hyun Jong looked blankly at the spilled account books along with the man. Im Sobyeong, who looked more like a corpse just by his complexion, held the account books in his hands, trembling.

Even at a glance, it seemed like there were five times more than what Hyun Jong had to deal with.

"Isn't this getting a bit too much? We should move...."

"Quiet down. These are specific instructions from Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. We don't have the right to exclude or include anything."

"...Alright, then."

Hyun Jong's eyes began to water. He never imagined the day would come when he would sympathize more with the perspective of a bandit rather than being a disciple of Mount Hua.

Of course, on the opposite side, the Mount Hua disciple wasn't an ordinary disciple but a damned troublemaker...

Hyun Jong asked sincerely.

"Isn't that a bit excessive over there?"

"Well, it does seem a bit much."

The Commissioner of the Eunha Guild, who was throwing account books again, furrowed his brow.

"But that gentleman mentioned that the account books he's looking at are related to personnel and weapons, so others shouldn't see them... Ah! Since Great Sect Leader is the head of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, it's natural for you to see them. So, would you like to help a bit?"

Hyun Jong, who was sending a reluctant gaze, got up from his seat without hesitation. And he approached the fallen Im Sobyeong.

The Commissioner nodded approvingly. Indeed, Mount Hua was a sect of kindness and righteousness...

Thud! Thud!

At that moment, Hyun Jong kicked the scattered account books with his foot, pushing them into the opposite room. Hyun Jong dragged the convulsing Im Sobyeong and his limp hand, slammed the door, and firmly tightened the latch.

"..."

"Let's continue what we were doing. Oh, just do that much."

...Let's pretend we didn't see that. The Commissioner quietly erased the scene from his mind.