Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 614

Heo Sanja stared at Jin Hyun. His disciple stood frozen, face blank with shock. Heo Sanja just couldn’t believe what he’d seen.

*He lost? Jin Hyun actually lost?* The thought echoed in his mind.

Jin Hyun was Wudang’s pride, the most talented of the second generation. They called him ‘Sword Dragon’ for a reason. How could *he* be defeated? And by a third-generation student from Mount Hua, no less – someone so much younger and less experienced. It made no sense.

‘How on earth?’

Yes, he could accept the defeat itself.

But what bothered Heo Sanja wasn’t just that Jin Hyun lost, but that Jin Hyun hadn’t been hurt at all.

That wasn’t just ‘lost.’

‘Overwhelmed’ was closer to the truth.

In the martial world, everyone knew overwhelming someone without hurting them was harder than just winning. Heo Sanja never thought his best disciple, Jin Hyun, would be so easily beaten by this Mount Hua student.

“Ugh…”

Heo Sanja’s control faltered.

‘How could this happen?’

Wudang disciples didn’t stand out when they were young compared to other sects. That was how Wudang martial arts and Taoist martial arts were.

But that was only when they were the same age and level, right?

Jo Gul from Mount Hua was younger than Jin Hyun and had less experience. Losing to someone like that was a disaster with no excuse.

‘How can I fix this?’

Then he heard a voice.

“You don’t need to look so upset.”

Heo Sanja turned to see Jo Gul on the platform, grinning.

“We’re not counting this as a win.”

Heo Sanja’s face went red, like a boiling pot. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. He clenched his teeth and trembled, his fists so tight they might break.

‘Such shame.’

It would have been better to lose with honor.

A match that didn’t count as a win meant it was too shameful to even call it that, right?

That wasn’t how it started, but now everyone would think a second-generation Wudang disciple wasn’t good enough to fight a third-generation Mount Hua disciple. His martial arts competition was ruined.

Heo Sanja’s eyes darted across the silent crowd. *What are they thinking? Do they see us as weak now?* His heart pounded in his chest.

No one cheered or clapped.

Everyone stared in stunned silence. Did this mean they were shocked too?

‘How can I save this?’

Heo Sanja didn’t know. Jo Gul kept talking.

“I hope we start again soon, before I get cold.”

The Wudang disciples’ faces twisted.

“…Is he doing that on purpose?”

“Definitely. I’m sure of it.”

“…How did he become like that?”

“Like master, like student, right?”

Yoon Jong wanted to say, ‘Even you are like him these days, Martial Uncle,’ but he didn’t. He knew he’d get scolded.

Jo Gul’s job was to provoke the enemy. He was doing it too well.

It was like sending a general to defend, but he conquered the enemy’s capital before anyone knew.

Wudang wasn’t the only one surprised.

“Wow… Jo Gul beat the Sword Dragon…”

“That easily?”

The Mount Hua disciples were shocked too.

They knew Jo Gul was strong and wouldn’t lose easily to the Sword Dragon. They knew how much the Mount Hua Five Swords had grown.

But they never thought he’d win so easily. No one expected that.

“…Is Wudang not as good as we thought?”

“No, idiot! Jo Gul is strong! The Sword Dragon isn’t weak!”

“R-Right, isn’t he?”

Baek Cheon smiled, seeing everyone’s disbelief.

‘They never stood a chance.’

Even when they fought in Hwayeongmun, Jin Hyun and Jo Gul weren’t that different. Jo Gul would have lost most of the time, but he was still good enough to compete.

The important thing was what happened next.

Training?

Yes, Jin Hyun would have trained hard. But…

‘He only trained his way.’

Before Chung Myung, he never knew training could be so hard. Baek Cheon was sure Wudang’s training wasn’t even half as intense as Mount Hua’s.

‘Half? Not even half of half.’

And it wasn’t just training.

Jin Hyun trained in Wudang, but Jo Gul had fought many life-or-death battles against stronger opponents.

Had Jin Hyun fought the Myriad Man Manor’s martial arts squads? Had he fought the Northern Ice Palace’s archers? Had he fought the Demonic Sect’s cultists? Had he taken a Demonic Sect bishop’s energy head-on?

They were both from famous clans, but they had different experiences. Jin Hyun was a flower in a greenhouse, but Jo Gul was a weed that grew strong in the cold.

Even if they had the same talent, they wouldn’t grow the same way.

“Learn martial arts correctly, train hard, and fight in real battles.”

That’s what Jo Gul did.

That made Jo Gul strong. And now, that was being passed on to the Mount Hua disciples, except for the Five Swords.

‘Mount Hua will become stronger.’

Starting with this competition.

“Where are the martial arts competition people?”

“……”

Baek Cheon sighed, watching Jo Gul chatter.

It was good to be strong, but…

It would have been better if he wasn’t like Chung Myung.

Huh? Jo Gul.

Huh?

Jo Gul smirked at Wudang.

“So, who’s next?”

Heo Sanja was about to speak when Mujin stepped forward.

Thud.

It wasn’t loud, but it got the Wudang disciples’ attention.

“Elder.”

“Hmm.”

Heo Sanja nodded. He wasn’t as calm as Mujin. Mujin only had to worry about himself, but Heo Sanja had to think about the competition’s aftermath.

The more stressed someone is, the more narrow-minded they become. Mujin understood.

“I’ll go.”

“…Mujin?”

Mujin looked at Jo Gul with a cold face.

“The momentum has changed. If we don’t do well next time, people will think Mount Hua has almost caught up to Wudang.”

He thought, ‘Mount Hua has passed Wudang,’ but he couldn’t say that to Heo Sanja.

“Hmm.”

Heo Sanja looked somber.

He was right. They needed to change the atmosphere.

Winning was important, but so was how they won.

A close win after a hard fight wasn’t the same as an easy win.

But…

“Are you sure?”

Mujin was like the head of Wudang’s first generation. Should he really fight a third-generation Mount Hua disciple?

The sect might ask him to, but he would be ashamed.

But Mujin was determined and said calmly.

“I must do what I must for the sect.”

“Mujin…”

“I’ll go.”

He stepped forward.

If he couldn’t fight the Mount Hua Divine Dragon, he should help the sect when they needed him.

“Wait, Senior Brother.”

One of the others spoke.

“Muho?”

It was Muho. He stopped Mujin.

“You shouldn’t do this, Senior Brother.”

“……”

“I know we need a win. But if the Wudang Three Swords win, will they respect us? Won’t they laugh at us for sending the Wudang Three Swords against a third-generation disciple?”

“……”

He was right.

“Let me go. I’ll break his nose and come back.”

“Hmm.”

Mujin looked at Heo Sanja, who nodded in agreement.

“Can you do it?”

“Of course.”

“Alright. Go. Show that arrogant kid what it means to be a first-generation Wudang disciple.”

“I obey.”

Muho saluted with his sword and turned to the platform.

“Jin Hyun.”

“……”

“Jin Hyun!”

“Yes! Martial Uncle!”

Jin Hyun, still shocked, looked at Muho.

“Don’t be sad.”

“……”

“You’re just preparing to jump higher. This isn’t a real loss. I’ll prove it.”

Muho glanced at Jin Hyun and walked confidently to the platform. Jo Gul looked disappointed.

“It’s you?”

Muho smiled gently.

“Are you disappointed, Taoist?”

“No. It’s an honor to fight a first-generation Wudang disciple.”

“Hoh?”

Muho tilted his head. He didn’t expect that.

He wasn’t being playful now. He was serious.

“Then why did you want Mujin?”

“It’s better to aim high.”

Jo Gul grinned.

“Even if I lose, I can learn from the strongest.”

“Winning isn’t important?”

“It’s better to win, but it’s not everything.”

Muho’s eyes flashed.

‘I thought he was a fool.’

He was thoughtful.

‘Is this Mount Hua’s style?’

That’s why he was here.

“I’m sorry I can’t be a good goal.”

“You are.”

Jo Gul raised his sword. His eyes were sincere.

“The best enemy is the one in front of me. I’ll do my best.”

Muho smiled.

“I’ll stop being dismissive. Let’s have a good match.”

Clang.

Muho’s sword drew a smooth curve. It was simple but strong.

Jo Gul’s sword aimed at Muho. It was light and sharp.

They rushed at each other.

“Taaah!”

“Haaah!”

The swords of Wudang and Mount Hua clashed.