Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 213

The situation within the Dang Family was quickly resolved.

As if he had been waiting for this moment, Tang Gunak acted decisively. He took away all of Dang-oe’s power and threw him into the underground prison.

At the same time, Tang Gunak temporarily closed the Council of Elders because they had failed to stop Dang-oe’s bad behavior. He also reduced the power of the Supreme Elders in the Council.

The Supreme Elders tried to protect their power, but Tang Gunak had already taken control of the family.

Even though the Supreme Elders were very important, they couldn’t go against the Family Head unless the other family members agreed with them.

In the end, they had no choice but to give up their power and step back.

Dang Hak and his family, who had agreed with Dang-oe’s plan, were stopped and locked up.

I want to take my time with the investigation,

Is that really needed?

Tang Gunak nodded slowly, pouring tea into Chung Myung’s cup.

Isn’t it clear what they did wrong?

Yes. If I wanted to, I could prove they are guilty quickly. And what they did is so bad, they will probably never be free again.

Then why take so long?

Because there are many other things we need to deal with.

Ah.

Chung Myung nodded.

While Dang-oe is being investigated, the Dang Family will naturally be afraid. The family’s most senior elder is under investigation. Who would dare to speak up in such a situation?

It meant he wanted to use this fear to take control of all parts of the Dang Family and make sure everyone obeyed him.

You’re more terrifying than I thought, Family Head.

Or could I say the same about you?

What did I do?

Never mind.

Tang Gunak shook his head.

He had lived a long life, but among all the people he had met, none were more terrifying than Chung Myung.

His unbelievable strength was one thing, but how could he understand the depths of Chung Myung’s mind? It was something you wouldn’t expect from a young martial artist.

Maybe becoming friends with Hwasan will be the best choice of my life.

Well.

If Chung Myung was right, it wasn’t the Dang Family that chose Hwasan, but Hwasan that chose the Dang Family.

That’s all well and good, but are you really okay with it?

With what?

I’m talking about Dang Pae.

Ah. Him?

Chung Myung chuckled.

Well, it’s true that he did something wrong, but do you really need to remove him from being the Young Family Head for something like that?

Dang Pae is timid. You can tell just by the way he acted.

Family Head, I know it might sound rude for a young one like me to say this…

Now you’re saying that?

Seriously, this guy is making people awkward.

Ahem, anyway.

Ahem. Yes, speak.

Chung Myung spoke with a serious look.

People learn from their mistakes. Um… no, it’s not really a mistake, so let’s call it a wrongdoing.

Why do you think Dang-oe became such a snob?

I wonder. I’m curious about that too. When I was the Young Family Head, he wasn’t such a strange person.

It’s because he only lived inside the Dang Family.

Being only in the Dang Family, there’s nothing to get hurt by, and nothing to suffer from. He doesn’t know how much there is in the world. That’s why he’s still holding onto that small matter of being kicked out of the Young Family Head position. People grow by seeing the world, failing, getting frustrated, making mistakes, and going through hardships. In other words…

Chung Myung stared intently at Tang Gunak and said,

No one can grow under someone who takes away everything from them for one mistake.

These words bothered Tang Gunak.

Tang Gunak, feeling something from Chung Myung’s words, quietly nodded.

No one is perfect from the beginning.

That’s true for everyone.

Chung Myung was the same.

He was unmatched in martial arts, but he was close to being a terrible person.

If he hadn’t lived a new life, he would never have realized how terrible he was in the past, and how much his Senior Brother Head had suffered trying to make him a human being.

In other words, if his Senior Brother Head had avoided Chung Myung because of his terrible personality, neither the Plum Blossom Sword Saint Chung Myung nor the current Chung Myung would exist.

The important thing is not to avoid making mistakes, but what you learn from them.

That’s right. It’s basic. I seem to have forgotten the basics.

Tang Gunak sighed softly.

Dang Pae was also his son. There was no way his heart would have been comfortable after cutting him off so sharply.

Moreover, Dang Pae had not only silently accepted the punishment that Tang Gunak would have been angry and resisted in his younger days, but also used his lower position to secretly capture Dang-oe’s men, which helped a lot.

Chung Myung’s words made him feel relieved.

But are you really okay with it? Dang Pae stabbed you in the back. If Dang Pae becomes the Family Head in the future, you will have to face him often. Can you handle that awkwardness?

Why would I be awkward?

Huh?

If anyone should be awkward, it should be him. I’d be happy if Young Family Head Dang Pae becomes the Family Head. Would he be able to shamelessly stab me in the back and betray me after stabbing me in the back once?

Heh heh heh. I’d be grateful.

Tang Gunak was thinking that he shouldn’t make Dang Pae the Family Head after all.

I understand what you mean. But it’s also true that Dang Pae made a mistake, so I’ll have him compete fairly for the position of Young Family Head again. That will help Dang Pae grow as well.

Do as you please.

Tang Gunak sighed deeply.

Then, the next problem is…

He scratches his head roughly. It’s a different look from the usual dignified Tang Gunak.

So So… So So says she’s going to join Hwasan.

Why is she doing that?

Ugh. How would I know!

Tang Gunak shouted.

He was about to lose his precious daughter to Hwasan.

Should I refuse her?

Do you have the right to do that?

I don’t. But Baek Cheon, my martial uncle… Well, I guess even he would have to ask the Sect Leader about this.

What kind of person is the Sect Leader?

Heh heh heh. The daughter of the Dang Family. Too important a person has come to join Hwasan. But since you’ve made the precious journey, give her a seat and take good care of her.

That’s the kind of person he is.

Tang Gunak sighed deeply.

I absolutely don’t want to send So So to Hwasan.

Then don’t.

So please take good care of her.

Huh?

What’s with the rambling?

Tang Gunak sighed.

No matter how much I’ve seized the power of the family, I can’t overturn hundreds of years of tradition overnight. There will be enormous backlash. In the end, if things continue as they are, she will have no choice but to marry into a powerful family within a year or two.

Hmm.

I just want her to be happy. But if there’s no way for her to be happy in the Dang Family, then I should at least send her to a place where she can be happy.

Why Hwasan of all places? I recommend Wudang or Jongnam. Ah. Emei would be good too.

Are you telling me to marry off my daughter right now?

Tang Gunak’s eyes flashed with fire.

Seeing his strong anger, Chung Myung licked his lips.

He really loves his daughter.

Anyway, please take good care of her. If you take care of her, I can send her with peace of mind.

No, who said I’m taking her? I don’t need her. I can’t be looking after kids at my age.

Even though my daughter is older than you?

Age doesn’t matter.

Tang Gunak stared blankly at Chung Myung with an empty look before speaking.

“I asked you to teach me medicine, remember?”

“That’s in the past! You’re not trying to use that against me now, are you?”

“Soso is an expert in that area.”

“Excuse me?” Tang Gunak’s face twisted slightly, like he had tasted something sour.

“Soso learned some ways to make her body stronger from the inside. She also knows some secret techniques, but not the most important ones. And she is very fast on her feet.”

“I see why she was so fast.”

“She also learned medicine. That’s mostly what she was taught. You could say she’s the best student of the Medicine Hall’s leader. She’s so good that the leader wants her to take over the Medicine Hall instead of getting married.”

“Hehe. I wanted a younger sister!” Chung Myung said, his eyes shining with happiness.

Tang Gunak thought hard, tapping his fingers on the table, lost in thought.

‘Can I really trust this guy and send her?’ he wondered. The more he looked at Chung Myung, the stranger he seemed.

Sometimes he seemed like the most trustworthy person, but other times, Tang Gunak felt like he should never trust him, even if it meant death.

“Of course, that’s not all I want,” Chung Myung said.

“Naturally. A promise is a promise. Whether we bring the Mount Hua disciples to the Tang family or send doctors from the Tang family to Mount Hua, we will teach medical skills properly. Soso will only be there to help.”

“Yes,” Tang Gunak replied.

Chung Myung nodded, a wide, pleased smile spreading across his face. He liked how this deal was going.

“As soon as you leave, I will take my family and Soso to Mount Hua. After meeting the sect leader and explaining everything, I will personally leave Soso with him,” Tang Gunak said.

“Are you going yourself, Clan Leader?” Chung Myung asked.

“A person who wants to be friends can’t just send someone else,” Tang Gunak replied.

Chung Myung smiled strangely. “So, you really want to be friends.”

“Is there a problem with that?” Tang Gunak asked.

“Not at all,” Chung Myung shrugged.

This was what he wanted. The Tang family was a good ally. In fact, they were almost too good for Mount Hua right now.

Besides, Chung Myung had helped continue a valuable old friendship.

“I delayed the trading company’s trip by a day. You can join them tomorrow and go to Yunnan,” Chung Myung said.

“Ah, it’s been a while. We should have gone sooner,” Tang Gunak replied.

“Can I ask why you’re going to Yunnan?” Chung Myung asked.

“That’s a secret,” Tang Gunak said.

“Even from a friend?” Chung Myung asked.

“I’ll tell you if the sect leader says it’s okay,” Tang Gunak chuckled.

How could the Mount Hua sect leader in Shaanxi possibly allow that?

“So, I’ll have to go to Mount Hua myself to find out,” Chung Myung said.

“Yes. The sect leader will decide,” Tang Gunak nodded. With that, everything between him and Chung Myung was settled.

Tang Gunak stood up.

“Huh? What are you doing?” Chung Myung asked, looking puzzled.

Tang Gunak stood up and bowed deeply to Chung Myung. He felt truly grateful for what Chung Myung had done, even if he didn’t always show it.

“I am very grateful,” Tang Gunak said.

Chung Myung looked slightly touched.

Tang Gunak smiled at his reaction.

On the outside, Chung Myung seemed greedy, but he had given a lot to the Tang family.

In fact, if you knew him, he was warm-hearted…

“Only with words?” Chung Myung asked.

…but there was always a reason.

Tang Gunak’s face turned red and blue.

“After taking so much, what else are you trying to take!” Tang Gunak exclaimed.

“A friend should be clear about what they want!” Chung Myung replied.

“Where does such a friend exist!” Tang Gunak asked.

“Hehe. Don’t be angry. It’s really nothing,” Chung Myung said.

“If it’s nothing, why didn’t you say it before?” Tang Gunak asked.

“It’s only possible now,” Chung Myung replied.

“Huh?” Tang Gunak frowned.

It wasn’t possible before, but it is now? That meant it was only possible now that the Council of Elders had less power and the Tang family head had more.

Then it wouldn’t be a small thing.

“What I want is…” Chung Myung whispered softly.

Tang Gunak looked astonished.

“W-What are you asking for?” Tang Gunak exclaimed.

“Just what you heard,” Chung Myung replied.

“What are you going to use that for? Ah, no, it’s obvious what you’re going to use it for,” Tang Gunak said.

“It’s nothing, right?” Chung Myung asked.

Tang Gunak twisted his face.

“As you know, the Tang family’s poison cannot leave the family,” Tang Gunak said.

“I know. That’s why I said it’s only possible now,” Chung Myung replied.

“Ugh,” Tang Gunak frowned, then sighed. If the Council of Elders had less power now, it might be possible.

“You’re really taking all of my hidden emergency funds,” Tang Gunak said.

“You can do that much for a friend going on a long trip, right?” Chung Myung asked.

Tang Gunak stared at Chung Myung before laughing. “Fine. But if that’s the case, I’ll be at a loss, so I have one condition too.”

“Geez, a Clan Leader like you has so many conditions. What is it?” Chung Myung asked.

Tang Gunak hesitated. “Show me that sword you used on the sparring stage again.”

Chung Myung quietly smiled.

It continues.

Even if the person is gone, their will continues.

What the people before us did throughout their lives is passed on to us. As long as that will continues, a person’s determination does not disappear.

Yes.

That was the sect.

Chung Myung smiled brightly. “That’s incredibly difficult.”

“Is it hard?” Tang Gunak asked.

“If you feed me a lot of Sichuan food, I’ll show you!” Chung Myung replied.

Tang Gunak smiled. “I’ll feed you as much as you want. Until your belly bursts.”

The two smiled and shook hands.