Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1040

“Then, please be careful on your journey back.”

“And remember what I said.”

The middle-aged man stood up from his chair. He stared down at the Abbot, his eyes cold. But the Abbot just smiled back, not looking angry at all.

“I will be watching how you respond. If you don’t do what you promise, we will take back everything we’ve given you! No, more than that!”

The middle-aged man scolded with a very stern voice.

“You will suffer greatly for all the help you’ve received from us until now. Do you understand, Abbot?”

“Of course.”

The Abbot replied calmly, but the middle-aged man didn’t seem convinced.

“Don’t forget that the Emperor is very angry.”

“⋯⋯.”

“You should pray his anger doesn’t turn on you. A warrior from the martial world who is useless is worth less than a common criminal.”

“⋯⋯..Amitabha.”

The Abbot stood up, closed his eyes, and made a Buddhist prayer gesture. The middle-aged man, who had been glaring, turned and left.

Thud!

The door slammed shut. Only then did the Abbot sigh deeply.

Creak.

A moment later, the door opened carefully, and Beopgye came in looking worried.

“Abbot.”

“Come and sit down.”

“Yes.”

Beopgye spoke as soon as he sat.

“What did he say?”

“The usual. The Imperial Palace is taking this very seriously. They want us to get rid of those evil groups right away.”

“⋯⋯.”

“If we don’t, they’ll blame us.”

“That’s….”

Beopgye sighed, not knowing what to say. The Abbot chuckled, but it was a bitter, cynical sound, not the kind of laugh you’d expect from a Buddhist monk.

“The Imperial Palace is always like this.”

In theory, the country shouldn’t allow martial arts groups, which are basically groups of fighters. But they haven’t really punished groups like Shaolin or Wudang.

It’s not because the government and the martial world don’t interfere with each other.

People say the government and the martial world don’t bother each other. But that’s not really true. It’s just an excuse the government uses to stay out of the martial world’s affairs.

The real reason is that the martial world is useful to them.

It might seem like the Imperial Palace controls everything, but that’s not true. If it were, how could rebellions and warlords exist?

The Imperial Palace’s power is limited, especially south of the Yangtze River, and not even perfect north of it. It’s hard for the government to keep order by itself.

So, the government thinks the martial world is helpful. At least the so-called righteous groups keep order around where they are.

But….

“Sometimes,” the Abbot said quietly, “I almost envy the Four Evil Alliances.”

“Abbot, what are you saying….”

“Isn’t it true?”

The Abbot smiled slightly.

“The Four Evil Alliances caused this problem, and the Demonic Cult started the trouble. But they’re threatening us to take responsibility, even though we didn’t do anything wrong.”

Beopgye hesitated, then sighed.

The government and the martial world are always like this. When things are calm, they treat them like troublemakers. When problems happen, they blame them.

But it’s different for the evil groups. They don’t have clear bases like the righteous groups. They’re like poisonous mushrooms that grow where the government can’t reach.

Think of the huge Yangtze River, where the Emperor’s navy can’t watch everywhere. Or the deep mountains, too far for anyone to control. And even places like Gangnam, where the government’s rules are weak.

In those places, the evil groups have grown strong, unlike the righteous groups, which are near Beijing and can’t escape the government’s control.

“If they’re so worried, why don’t they just send the Imperial Guards?”

“Things are tense in the north.”

“Ah….”

“So, they can’t move the Imperial Guards. They’re even adding troops from the north to the Imperial Guards around Beijing. They can’t pay attention to the area south of the Yangtze River right now.”

Beopgye nodded, understanding.

Everything was going wrong at once.

“So, they threatened us.”

“Probably.”

The Abbot smiled bitterly. But Beopgye still seemed unsure.

“If they’re so worried about the martial world, shouldn’t they have helped when the Four Evil Alliances first appeared? If they had, things wouldn’t be this bad.”

“The Imperial Palace sees the Four Evil Alliances and the Demonic Cult very differently.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Even though the Four Evil Alliances are bad, they still follow the rules of the martial world in some ways. Even if Jang Il-so controlled the martial world, would he try to take the Emperor’s throne?”

The Abbot asked, then shook his head.

“No matter how ambitious Jang Il-so is, that’s impossible. The martial world, which is ruled by force, is different. Ruling a country is not something people like us can do.”

“That’s right, Abbot.”

“But what about the Demonic Cult?”

The Abbot sighed, looking serious.

“The Demonic Cult is different. They don’t care about common people or the Emperor. The Demonic Cult doesn’t care about the Emperor’s laws or rules at all. The Imperial Palace must remember that painfully from a hundred years ago.”

“Indeed….”

Unlike the martial world, which forgets the past, the Imperial Palace remembers everything. The records of the Demonic Cult’s rise a hundred years ago must still be clear.

“So that’s why they’re so angry.”

Beopgye nodded, now understanding.

“Then what are you going to do?”

“It’s not time yet.”

The Abbot shook his head.

“If we let them push us to cross the river, we’ll suffer all the damage ourselves. Do you think they care about our losses?”

“But if we disobey the Imperial Palace, things could get worse.”

The Abbot smiled slightly.

“Don’t worry too much. I think that man is too impatient. He might have made a mistake himself.”

“A mistake?”

“Didn’t he say all the Imperial Guards are being sent north? Even if we disobey a little, they can’t do anything to us for a while.”

“Ah….”

“If we fix the problem before it’s too late, they won’t ask about what happened. We don’t need to rush.”

Beopgye nodded quietly. But he still felt uneasy.

Whether it was possible or not, if the Imperial Palace was asking so urgently, shouldn’t they follow their orders?

But he couldn’t say it.

Beopjeong’s voice was calm, but his eyes, usually warm, were like chips of ice. “What is the situation?” he asked, his tone leaving no room for delay.

Beopgye swallowed, the air in the abbot’s serene room suddenly feeling thick. “They seem to be lingering in Hangzhou, Venerable Abbot. It seems they will start moving soon.”

Beopgye’s heart was heavy as he answered.

The fact that the Demonic Sect’s movements were slower than expected was a welcome sign, but it also meant they were thoroughly destroying the city of Hangzhou. Thinking about how many people had fallen victim to their evil clutches kept him awake at night, and even eating felt like chewing sand.

“The SaPaeryeon must be very worried and thinking hard about what to do,” Beopjeong said.

A faint smile touched Beopjeong’s lips. That smile, in this situation, seemed so out of place to Beopgye.

“Venerable Abbot, what about support from other sects?” Beopgye asked.

“There will probably be contact soon,” Beopjeong replied.

“Isn’t it too late! This is the Demonic Sect! Why are they dragging their feet like this?”

“Isn’t there a distance to cover? Even if we prepare and send reinforcements right now, it will certainly take time.”

Beopgye’s face gradually hardened.

Was Beopjeong’s reaction too different from when he had requested support because of the SaPaeryeon a while ago?

‘Could it be…?’ Beopgye quickly dismissed the absurd thought that suddenly came to mind. This was not something he should dare to think about.

Beopjeong smiled faintly as he looked at him. “You have many thoughts.”

“No, Venerable Abbot. I am just…”

“Beopgye.”

“Yes, Venerable Abbot.”

“Not knowing is a comfortable thing.”

“……”

“But sometimes, there are facts that cannot be ignored. The duty of those who understand first is to inform those who are turning a blind eye to what should not be ignored of the grim reality.”

Beopgye, who did not understand Beopjeong’s words, remained silent. Beopjeong continued his explanation.

“The reason why Shaolin’s position is not what it used to be is very simple. It is because people no longer need Shaolin.”

“Venerable Abbot?”

“When there is a powerful enemy, there is a need for someone to follow. But if the enemy disappears, people tend to think of their own interests.”

Beopjeong’s voice was calm and serene.

“Soon, all the people of the world will understand. They will understand who has been protecting the peace of this martial world and safeguarding the spirit of the orthodox sects. When that time comes, they will know why Shaolin is Shaolin.”

“But, Venerable Abbot… If that happens…”

“It is something we must endure.”

Beopjeong quietly chanted a Buddhist invocation.

“The role of those who guard the ramparts facing the enemy is not to stop the enemy. It is to risk their lives to announce the enemy’s invasion, in order to prevent greater damage.”

“That is…”

Beopjeong said firmly, “How can we not call that sacrifice noble? It is the same. Sometimes, there are things we must endure to prevent greater damage.”

Beopgye lowered his head deeply.

“Why are you telling me these things?”

“Because it is something you need to know.”

Beopjeong’s eyes were cold as he looked at him.

“Taking responsibility is sometimes harsh, because it cannot be done with just a righteous heart. You, at least, must understand this fact.”

Beopgye bit his lip instead of answering. Today, Beopjeong seemed like a different person than he knew. He looked so different.

“The Imperial Palace will eventually have no choice but to cling to us. And it won’t just be the Imperial Palace. The Nine Sects, even the Demonic Sect. And…”

Beopjeong’s eyes shone coldly.

But at that moment, Beopgye opened his mouth. “But, Venerable Abbot, didn’t you say that the Imperial Palace remembers the history of a hundred years ago?”

“….Does that pose a problem?”

“Then… if they truly feel the danger of the Demonic Sect, wouldn’t they seek out Mount Hua instead of Shaolin?”

Beopjeong’s face hardened in an instant.

“What nonsense…”

Feeling his wrath, Beopgye lowered his head. “I am sorry, Venerable Abbot.”

“Is the current Mount Hua the same as the Mount Hua of the past?” Beopjeong asked, his voice sharp.

“This…” Beopjeong, biting his lip tightly, suppressed his anger and opened his mouth. His voice was slightly agitated. “What is the Cheonwoo Alliance doing right now?”

“They are not showing any particular movements,” Beopgye replied.

“I see… That’s how it should be. They can’t help it either. Their alliance is only strong when they feel safe and it benefits them.”

A cold sneer hung on Beopjeong’s lips.

But at that moment, Beopgye, who was watching his mood, quietly opened his mouth. “But…”

“But?”

“…It is not confirmed, but there is a story that about a dozen people, including the Mount Hua Sword Saint, crossed the river last night. The facts have not yet been confirmed, but…”

Clang!

Beopgye, who had been rattling on, was startled and raised his head in surprise. The tea table in front of Beopjeong was shattered into pieces and scattered all over the place.

“Venerable Abbot.”

“Who did you say it was?” Beopjeong demanded.

“Th, that is…”

“Who did you say it was!”

“Mount Hua Sword Saint. It is the Mount Hua Sword Saint. A dozen people including him…”

“Check again. Immediately!”

“……”

“What are you doing! Can’t you hear me!”

“Yes, yes! Venerable Abbot! I will check right away!” Beopgye was terrified and ran out quickly.

Beopjeong, who glared at his retreating figure with terrifying eyes, bit his lip until it bled.

‘Mount Hua Sword Saint.’ Beopjeong also knew that it was an overreaction. What could a mere dozen people do in this situation?

But… the moment he heard the words ‘Mount Hua Sword Saint,’ an inexplicable sense of unease surged up.