Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1030

Hye-pyeong watched the sun sink towards the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and red above the wide Yangtze River. He sighed, a sound he didn’t even realize he’d made. For days now, a heavy feeling had been pressing down on him, and it wouldn’t go away.

“What am I even doing here?” he thought, staring at the slow-moving water.

He couldn’t understand why the Abbot had sent them all the way from Mount Song, a famous place for monks and martial arts, to this faraway river. They were supposed to be watching the Four Factions Alliance, a group of smaller martial arts groups, but it felt pointless. Every time he heard the reason, it sounded weaker and weaker in his mind. It just doesn’t make sense.

All they had done since arriving at the Yangtze was watch the events unfolding on Plum Blossom Island from a distance.

In the end, it was the Heavenly Union, a powerful alliance led by Mount Hua Sect known for their swordsmanship, not Shaolin, that fought the Waterway Camp. So, hearing that they couldn’t leave the Yangtze to deal with the Four Factions Alliance felt like a hollow excuse.

Hye-pyeong watched the sun setting deeper, like a curtain falling over the world, and sighed once more before speaking.

“Senior Brother.”

“…What is it?” Hye-gong, who was on guard duty with him, answered without turning his head.

“Do you think Senior Brother Hye-bang arrived safely at Mount Song?”

“…”

Hye-gong’s reply didn’t come immediately. Only after some time did a heavy voice return.

“Why? Do you want to return to Mount Song as well?”

“It’s not that… It’s just…” Hye-pyeong trailed off, letting out a deep sigh.

“I don’t know, Senior Brother. It’s true that Senior Brother Hye-bang was disrespectful to the Abbot, but I don’t know if that’s a mistake worthy of entering the Repentance Cave…”

“Senior Brother Hye-bang decided to enter the Repentance Cave himself. There’s no need to argue about right and wrong.”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Hye-gong finally turned his gaze to Hye-pyeong.

“Do you regret not following him?”

Hye-pyeong pressed his lips shut.

In his honest feelings, he naturally wanted to return to Mount Song with Hye-bang. Since arriving at the Yangtze River, a major river in the land, he had been unable to understand the orders he had received from the Abbot.

‘I know.’

All of it was for the sake of Shaolin. No one doubted that Beop-jeong’s choices were based solely on his concern for Shaolin.

But…

“I have learned that Buddhists do not hesitate to become fertilizer for the sake of sentient beings.”

“…”

“Then we are…”

“Enough,” Hye-gong cut off Hye-pyeong’s words.

“Even if you have doubts, do not speak them so easily. Once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.”

“…”

“If there is something to contemplate, contemplate it deeply, and only when you are convinced that your thoughts are not completely wrong should you speak them. Otherwise, it is merely delusion.”

“I will keep that in mind, Senior Brother.”

A deep sigh escaped Hye-pyeong’s lips.

He sometimes wondered if the reason he hadn’t followed Hye-bang was simply because he lacked courage. Was it because he was afraid of disobeying the Abbot’s orders and acting independently?

‘I may not be qualified.’

He was a Buddhist who had vowed to dedicate his life to sentient beings, yet he had failed to do what he believed was right for fear of the Abbot’s wrath. Did he have the right to question Beop-jeong’s right and wrong?

It was at that moment, as Hye-pyeong was sinking into his inner thoughts, that Hye-gong spoke.

“Someone is coming.”

“Yes?” Hye-pyeong raised his head and looked at the people approaching the manor.

‘Who…’

Who else would come to this place at this hour, as the sun was setting?

Hye-pyeong’s face hardened as he recalled the saying, “The virtuous do not come.” (There was an old saying that bad news travels fast, ‘The virtuous do not come.’)

“Huh?” But soon, a bewildered voice escaped his lips.

The person at the head of the approaching group was familiar.

“Senior Brother. That person… No, who is that?”

“…It seems so.” Hye-gong’s face also hardened.

‘Why is that person here?’

The approaching person was none other than Hyun-jong, the sect leader of Mount Hua.

Of course, there was no reason why Hyun-jong couldn’t come here. However, considering the current relationship between Shaolin and Mount Hua, it was clearly an awkward visit.

“How…”

“Don’t be rash,” Hye-gong calmed Hye-pyeong.

“Greet him with courtesy.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

In those few words, Hye-gong’s respect for Hyun-jong could be felt. Although the relationship between Shaolin and Mount Hua was strained, Hyun-jong, as a martial artist, deserved deep respect, regardless of his affiliation.

When Hyun-jong reached them, Hye-gong respectfully bowed and greeted him.

“Greetings, Sect Leader.”

Hyun-jong also clasped his hands and bowed deeply. It was a natural display of courtesy.

“I am Hyun-jong of Mount Hua. Please understand my sudden visit without prior notice. I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused.”

“Not at all, Sect Leader. Inconvenience is out of the question,” Hye-gong shook his head and cautiously asked.

“May I ask what brings you here?”

Hyun-jong took a short breath and opened his mouth.

“I have come to discuss something. Please tell the Abbot that Hyun-jong of Mount Hua… No, Hyun-jong of the Heavenly Union wishes to see him.”

“…The Abbot, you say?”

“Yes.”

A look of embarrassment crossed Hye-gong’s face.

Currently, Beop-jeong was not receiving any visitors. But the person standing before him was a visitor who could not be dismissed as just a simple outsider.

The leader of the Heavenly Union had come in person, so what good were principles?

After a moment of contemplation, Hye-gong nodded.

“I apologize, but could you wait here for a moment? The Abbot is not receiving visitors at the moment, so I must first inform him of your visit and seek his permission.”

“I can wait as long as necessary.”

“Thank you. Then…” Hye-gong winked at Hye-pyeong, quickly opened the door, and rushed inside.

Watching him go, Hyun-jong gazed at the manor with shadowed and tired eyes, showing the weight of his worries.

“Sect Leader,” Hyun-young, who was standing behind him, spoke cautiously with a worried tone.

“Wouldn’t it be better to reconsider, even now? At least you should have made an appointment first. Our desperate appearance won’t look good to others. We’ll become a laughingstock if we’re turned away at the door.”

Usually, in Jianghu rules, if they didn’t want to see you, they could just turn you away at the entrance. But even knowing this, Hyun Jong hurried forward.

“I know that,” Hyun Jong said quickly.

“Then… why are we still going?” Hyun Young asked, confused.

“This isn’t the time to worry about rules,” Hyun Jong replied, his voice firm. He didn’t look at Hyun Young, but stared at the estate in front of them. The buildings looked old and grey, and the garden was full of dry, brown leaves. It felt empty and sad.

He understood he couldn’t be too polite or follow all the rules. People making fun of him was not important at all compared to the lives being lost right now.

And…

“The situation in Jiangnan is dire, but…”

Hyun Jong bit his lip slightly.

“I’m worried about how long that child will endure.”

“…Are you talking about Chung Myung?”

“Yes.”

“No matter how special Chung Myung is, he cannot disobey the Sect Leader’s orders. If such a thing were to happen, he should be severely punished.”

Hyun Young always sided with Chung Myung, but on this matter, he was resolute. This could really damage the sect and the group they are allied with.

But Hyun Jong’s thoughts were different.

“Creating an unavoidable situation and then testing whether they obey or not is not what a true leader should do.”

“…That is true, but…”

“It’s best to find a good way for everyone. I don’t want to be a leader who pushes down his people. I want to be a leader they can trust.”

Hyun Young nodded.

But even with their good intentions, it was doubtful how Shaolin would react…

Just then.

Hye Gong, returning quickly, respectfully bowed to Hyun Jong.

“The Abbot wishes to see you. I will escort you.”

“Thank you.”

Hyun Jong stepped into the estate with a tense expression.

Hyun Jong’s hands, resting on his knees, were damp with sweat. He tried to keep his voice steady, but it trembled slightly.

People say you can really see what a relationship is like when you sit and talk directly.

In that sense, the relationship between Hyun Jong and the person sitting before him could be described as the worst. Even if the Sect Leader of Jongnam were sitting before him… no, even if Jang Il-so were sitting there, he wouldn’t feel this uncomfortable.

But the other party seemed unfazed by Hyun Jong’s presence, his expression relaxed.

“Well…”

The person sitting across from Hyun Jong, Beop Jeong, leisurely opened his mouth as he filled the teacup before him.

“So, Leader Hyun Jong, what brings you here to see me?”

Beop Jeong poured tea into small, white cups. The tea was a pale green color and smelled faintly of flowers. Steam rose in delicate curls.

Hyun Jong watched the steam disappear and tried hard not to sigh.

In truth, the relationship between Beop Jeong and him hadn’t always been like this. When he first saw Beop Jeong at the Mount Hua Tournament, such animosity didn’t exist.

No, perhaps he even admired him a little. Beop Jeong, the Abbot of Shaolin, the guiding light of the Jianghu martial world, managing the world from a position Hyun Jong couldn’t dare to approach.

But now…

“Hmm.”

As if guessing Hyun Jong’s thoughts, Beop Jeong smiled gently.

“It’s already been several years since we first met.”

“…That is so, Abbot.”

“I believe I poured you tea while sitting across from you like this back then as well.”

“You did. I still remember what you said then, Abbot.”

“Hmm. What did I say back then…”

Hyun Jong quietly looked at Beop Jeong and opened his mouth.

“You said, seeing me feeling grateful for the tea you poured, ‘Tea is just tea. Whether an emperor pours it or a commoner pours it, it is still just tea.’”

Beop Jeong nodded heavily.

“Those words really meant a lot to me back then. The weight of the same words differs depending on who speaks them. When the Abbot of Shaolin said those words to me, I felt the weight on my shoulders lighten a little.”

Beop Jeong’s eyes flickered for a moment, a tiny change that Hyun Jong almost missed.

Hyun Jong might just be reminiscing about the past. But to Beop Jeong, those words sounded like a question: ‘Are you truly the same as you were back then?’

Was Beop Jeong of then really the same person as Beop Jeong of now?

Beop Jeong didn’t particularly want to answer that question. He simply said,

“The tree merely stands in its place, but the wind does not leave it alone.”

Hyun Jong understood this to mean that even if Shaolin stayed still, the world’s problems would still affect them. Hyun Jong nodded as if agreeing with those words.

“The world is a funny place, Leader.”

Beop Jeong said with a gentle smile.

“Who would have guessed back then that we would become so awkward that even sharing a cup of tea would be uncomfortable?”

“I am just embarrassed.”

After a moment of awkward silence, Beop Jeong silently looked at the teacup. The tea that had been steaming hot was gradually cooling down. People were like this too. Even without doing anything in particular, time changed everything.

“Well, what brings you here? It couldn’t have been easy for you to come.”

At Beop Jeong’s question, Hyun Jong sighed softly.

“Have you heard about the situation in Jiangnan?”

“You are referring to the message from the Four Seas Alliance.”

“Yes, Abbot. The resurgence of the Demonic Sect.”

Hyun Jong emphasized ‘Demonic Sect,’ his voice tight with worry. But upon hearing those words, Beop Jeong simply smiled peacefully.

“Have you come to discuss that matter?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Hyun Jong swallowed hard.

The fact that he had come to the Abbot first already meant that Hyun Jong was yielding. Someone like Beop Jeong might use this fact as an excuse to say whatever he pleased.

But Beop Jeong’s next words completely deviated from Hyun Jong’s expectations.

“You have come at the perfect time.”

“…Yes?”

At the unexpected reaction, Hyun Jong widened his eyes slightly.

Beop Jeong simply nodded repeatedly with a benevolent smile.

“I was just thinking that I should visit you directly to discuss the situation, so I am incredibly grateful that you came. Indeed, the Leader is broad-minded enough to be fully qualified as the Heavenly Union Leader.”

“Ah… It is nothing so grand.”

“The matter of the Demonic Sect is so significant that all of Jianghu must step forward to handle it. Of course, we must discuss it.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Hyun Jong momentarily wondered if he had been misunderstanding Beop Jeong all along. Maybe Beop Jeong’s selfish actions were just because they had different ideas about how to keep Jianghu safe.

But then.

A small smile appeared on Beop Jeong’s lips.

He paused for a moment, his smile slowly changing to something less friendly.

“There is one small problem, Leader.”