Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 353

Wi Rip-san, the leader of the Hwayoung Sect, felt his throat tighten. He swallowed hard, looking at the people around him.

*They haven’t paid me any attention until now…* he thought.

He knew they weren’t ignoring him on purpose. He could see and hear what was happening around him.

But it still felt like he had become invisible since arriving at Mount Hua.

Now, suddenly, they had called him to this meeting. Everyone was looking at him with eager eyes.

Their intense looks made him feel like he was something very valuable, like the answer to their prayers.

“Ahem.”

Feeling uneasy under their intense stares, Wi Rip-san cleared his throat quietly.

Hyun Jong was the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. He sat at the head of the table. He smiled at Wi Rip-san and began to speak.

“I have called Lord Hwayoung here to discuss future matters.”

“Yes, Sect Leader. I have been waiting.”

“First, I must apologize for calling you here but not spending much time with you since you arrived. It was not my intention, but things have been rather…”

But Hyun Jong’s words were cut short.

“Sect Leader!”

“…”

“Time is short! Lord Wi will understand, so please skip the introduction and get to the main point.”

“…”

Hyun Young interrupted him before he could even say a few words. Those who would normally have stopped him were nodding in agreement.

Watching their reactions, Hyun Jong sighed deeply.

‘These so-called Taoists.’

Even bandits aren’t this impatient. Bandits!

“Ahem. Very well, let’s do that.”

Hyun Jong, finally giving in, looked directly at Wi Rip-san.

“Lord of the Hwayoung Sect.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Mount Hua plans to create a family that supports us in the outside world in Seoan. Would you be willing to take on that important role?”

“Seo, Seoan?”

“Indeed.”

Wi Rip-san’s eyes widened.

Of course, he hadn’t followed Mount Hua without any thought. He had already been told that Mount Hua intended to support these families more. That was why he had come to Mount Hua to discuss plans, wasn’t it?

But…

‘Seoan, of all places.’

He had never imagined that the Sect Leader would mention Seoan.

“Sect Leader… did you just say you’re creating a family that supports Mount Hua in Seoan?”

“That’s right.”

Hyun Jong nodded calmly.

“It would be good to move the Hwayoung Sect to Seoan. If not, you could leave the Hwayoung Sect to your disciples and start a new sect in Seoan. Whatever is easier for you…”

“J-Just a moment, Sect Leader.”

Wi Rip-san interrupted Hyun Jong without realizing it.

He knew it was impolite, but he was so surprised that he couldn’t worry about good manners.

“C-Could you explain a little more slowly…”

Hyun Jong glared at his disciples as if to say, ‘Look what you’ve done,’ and they flinched and lowered their heads.

“Ahem. So…”

Hyun Jong calmly explained the situation to Wi Rip-san, step by step.

“Ah…”

Wi Rip-san looked around after hearing the situation.

“What do you think?”

“…Sect Leader, I am truly grateful for trusting me with such an important task.”

“Oh.”

“However, I’m not sure if I’m able to handle such a big responsibility. Wouldn’t there be someone more suitable than me…?”

“No, Lord Wi!”

But before he could finish, Chung Myung thumped his chest as if frustrated.

“Hwayoung Sect is the only family that supports Mount Hua, so where are you going to find someone else? Are you kidding me! There’s no one else! Only one family left here! Only one, I tell you!”

“…”

The elders of Mount Hua blushed at those words.

‘He could have put it more nicely!’

‘Did he have to say it like that! How embarrassing!’

‘That guy is…’

Wi Rip-san was speechless, staring at Chung Myung, stunned into silence.

‘The little Taoist never changes, even when the Sect Leader is present.’

He’s not an evergreen tree, so how can he be so consistently thoughtless…?

“If we’re going to raise a new family from now on, it’ll take forever. Then the fact that we won the Later Generations Martial Arts Competition will become like a tale from legends. We have to do it now, while we have the chance.”

That was true.

Everything in the world has its proper time.

“And think about it, Lord Wi. Are you really going to give this to someone else?”

“…? What do you mean?”

Chung Myung smirked and said.

“Mount Hua will now use all its resources to increase the number of families that support us. In other words, all the money and martial power that Mount Hua earns will be invested there.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s a position to manage all those families. You’re being humble now, talking about your abilities, but if someone else really takes that position and starts giving you orders, Lord Hwayoung, would you still be able to laugh it off?”

“Uh…”

Wi Rip-san’s face went blank.

Orders?

The leader of another family giving him orders?

“I need to think about that…”

“There’s nothing to think about. How much has Hwayoung Sect done for Mount Hua all this time? Are you going to endure that injustice? If I were in that situation, I’d be so upset that I wouldn’t be able to sleep.”

“…”

That was true.

To be honest, wasn’t Hwayoung Sect the one that stood strong when Mount Hua collapsed and the families left?

And now, a newcomer would push out the old-timer, and a sect that hadn’t experienced those difficult times would act as Hwayoung’s master?

‘I can’t stand that.’

Wi Rip-san’s face flushed slightly. Chung Myung added with a strange smile.

“Of course, it will be difficult for a while if you take charge of the families. But is there anything in the world that can be gained without hardship? If you think about Hwayoung Sect, you should take this chance. Think about the future. You’ll rise to a position where you manage all of Mount Hua’s families scattered throughout the world…”

“I’ll do it!”

“…You’re quick.”

Wi Rip-san nodded repeatedly with a determined face.

“The faster the decision, the better, right?”

“You’ve made a good choice.”

Chung Myung turned his head sharply and looked at Hyun Jong.

“He said he’ll do it?”

“…”

Hyun Jong stared at Chung Myung with a blank face.

‘He feels like he’s tricking someone…’

…There’s nothing particularly wrong with what he said. There were small lies and twists, but the overall idea is roughly the same.

But isn’t that subtlety the key?

The basic question of whether a Taoist should be misleading a family that supports them bothered him.

Hyun Jong had decided that, at least when it came to Chung Myung, he would no longer use common sense.

Alright. I am grateful that you are so willing to help,” Hyun Jong said.

“Actually, I should be thanking you,” Wi Lip-san replied. “But Head Disciple, if you really want to do this, my strength alone won’t be enough.”

Wi Lip-san took a deep breath and continued, “Hwayoung Clan is like a smaller family connected to the main Mount Hua family, but we haven’t learned Mount Hua’s martial arts well. It’s embarrassing, but other branch families, even small ones, have better fighting skills than us.”

“Hmm,” Hyun Jong nodded.

Mount Hua’s first teachers didn’t know good martial arts. So, they couldn’t teach them to the branch family.

This wasn’t Hwayoung Clan’s fault, but Mount Hua’s.

“So, I asked for Hwayoung Clan’s disciples to train at Mount Hua,” Wi Lip-san explained. “Head Disciple, even if Mount Hua is becoming famous, if Hwayoung Clan’s fighting skills don’t improve, expanding our influence is just a dream. So, please focus on this first and let Hwayoung Clan’s disciples…”

“There’s no time for that,” Chung Myung interrupted firmly.

“As I said, we have a good chance now. If we waste time, we’ll miss our chance.”

“Hmm.” The elders nodded.

Sometimes, effort isn’t enough. Every opportunity has its right time.

“Both sides make sense, so I’m worried,” Hyun Jong said, sounding troubled. He looked at Chung Myung.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think? Can you solve this problem?”

“Huh? Problem?” Chung Myung tilted his head, acting confused.

“Is there a problem?”

Hyun Jong’s face showed his unease.

Chung Myung understood Wi Lip-san perfectly well. That meant he already had a solution.

But even knowing there was an answer, Hyun Jong couldn’t be happy. Chung Myung’s answers were never normal.

“What do you plan to do?”

“Well, it’s simple. If they’re weak, they need to get stronger. If we teach them the new Mount Hua martial arts, they’ll naturally improve.”

“Yes, but isn’t the problem that we don’t have enough time?”

“Eyy. You’re stuck in old ways of thinking.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung straightened up and said, “Do they really need to learn Mount Hua’s martial arts at Mount Hua? Most of the Hwayoung Clan disciples are going to Xi’an to start the branch anyway, so they can learn there.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung grinned. “At the new school in Xi’an, the Hwayoung Clan disciples can learn the new martial arts and teach them to the new students. Why do things twice? Just do it all at once.”

“That’s right! That’s how it should be done!” Hyun Young chimed in, agreeing completely.

Hyun Jong frowned at him. ‘He doesn’t even think anymore. He just agrees with whatever Chung Myung says.’

He looked ready to cheer even if Chung Myung suggested throwing away the Head Disciple position.

“Ugh,” Hyun Jong shook his head and asked, “Then, who should go?”

“That’s for the Head Disciple to decide.”

“Is that so?” Everyone looked at Hyun Jong.

After thinking for a moment, Hyun Jong nodded. “Baek Cheon-ah.”

“Yes, Head Disciple.”

“You will go.”

“I will follow your command,” Baek Cheon said firmly, bowing respectfully.

“Choose a few from the Baek generation and a few from the Chung generation. I’d like to send Un-am, but the Un generation is too busy at Mount Hua.” He added, “Besides, the Baek generation is better at teaching than the Un generation. Also, Baek Cheon is more famous than anyone from the Un generation, so he’ll have more influence in the outside world than Un-am or Un-geom.”

“Hyun Young.”

“Yes, Head Disciple.”

“Go and help Baek Cheon.”

Hyun Young frowned. “Would that be okay? Things might be difficult if I’m not here.”

“Xi’an isn’t far from Mount Hua, so if we need your strength, I’ll send someone.”

“Ugh. You want me to go back and forth? You’ll be punished for overworking an old man like me!”

“Don’t act like an old man when your hair is still black.”

“Ugh,” Hyun Young sighed, but didn’t argue. He knew how much work went into starting a new school. If he, who managed the money, didn’t go, it would take much longer.

“Then I’ll find a good place and open the doors quickly.”

“Alright. I trust you with everything related to this.”

Hyun Young nodded.

But Baek Cheon looked at Hyun Jong, a little worried. “Head Disciple,” he began.

“What is it?”

“I need to ask something.” Baek Cheon hesitated before speaking. “Do we have to take that guy with us?” He didn’t look or point at anyone.

But as soon as he said ‘that guy,’ everyone looked at Chung Myung.

Hyun Jong also glanced at Chung Myung.

Logically, Chung Myung had to go. Opening a branch was the most important thing for Mount Hua, and Chung Myung’s strength was essential.

Even though Jongnam was isolated on their mountain, Xi’an was where Jongnam had the most influence. It was full of Jongnam’s branch families.

Still, Hyun Jong worried. ‘He’s already causing trouble here. Should we really let him loose in a big city?’ He felt a headache coming on.

But he didn’t hesitate long. He had already decided. “We’ll have to take him.”