Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1093

The words were unexpected.

“What? Unifying the martial world?”

“What is he talking about?”

Criticism and disapproval poured out. Im So-byeong clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. How can you be so clueless?”

“…I think it’s not that we’re clueless, but that you’re out of your mind.”

Watching from a short distance, Namgung Dowoon was drenched in a cold sweat, his back soaked.

‘Is he really allowed to act like that?’

Even though he was the Green Forest King, who supposedly ruled over all the mountains. Of course, the Green Forest King was a bit younger than he had imagined, sickly, and a little immature, but even so, the Green Forest King was the Green Forest King. Normally, a disciple of Mount Hua wouldn’t be able to speak so rudely to him…

“Tsk!”

Im So-byeong clicked his tongue loudly, showing his discomfort. Startled, Namgung Dowoon hunched his shoulders.

“You shouldn’t argue with people who don’t know anything! What do fighters understand? They haven’t even read important books. How can people who only study Taoism understand what a true scholar means?”

“A true scholar?”

“That’s why Confucius said, ‘A gentleman does not speak of strange forces, violent acts, disorder, or the supernatural.’ Arguing with unorthodox Taoists is not right.”

Baek Cheon stared at Im So-byeong, dumbfounded.

“Is that something a bandit should be saying?”

“Heh heh. Confucius said that if one follows the right principles, they are a gentleman, so one’s background doesn’t matter. If you want to argue with me, at least learn the basics first.”

Hearing this, Baek Cheon scoffed.

“It seems you are mistaken.”

“Yes?”

“The Book of Changes, is important for Taoists.”

“…Really?”

“Tsk, tsk. That’s why they’re unorthodox. How could someone raised in the mountains understand the true meaning of Taoism?”

Namgung Dowoon’s head drooped. He gave up on understanding this crazy conversation.

“Anyway!”

Im So-byeong snapped open his fan, changing the mood as if he hadn’t been put down just moments ago.

“The Alliance Lord and Chung Myung agreed on something important. They will not change the core beliefs of the Heavenly Union, even when fighting the Demonic Sect.”

“So, what does that mean?”

“What are the core beliefs of the Heavenly Union?”

“Well…”

Baek Cheon glanced at his junior brothers. They all coughed awkwardly and looked away. Baek Cheon’s face twisted. In the end, he had to answer.

“I can’t say for sure, but… isn’t it about being with friends you can trust?”

“Exactly.”

“…Oh, really?”

Im So-byeong looked disgusted, and Baek Cheon quietly looked away.

“…That’s right, but we need to add one thing. The most special thing about the Heavenly Union is that it doesn’t care about status or background.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

That was the main reason why the Heavenly Union was seen as a mix of different groups.

“The Heavenly Union has always been like that. Even though some families are famous, some people are still careful around the Sichuan Tang Family, right?”

“Which idiot does that?”

“…Soso, don’t swear. Calm down.”

“It makes me angry.”

“Whoa, whoa. There, there. Good girl.”

Baek Cheon smiled wryly. Tang Soso gritted her teeth, but it was true.

The Sichuan Tang Family was powerful and famous. No one could deny that.

However, because they used poison and hidden weapons, people saw the Tang Family as sneaky and closer to the less honorable groups.

They just couldn’t say that to the Tang Family’s face.

“It’s not just the martial world. People have looked down on Sichuan for a long time.”

“…Well, that’s…”

Im So-byeong shrugged.

“What about the Beast Palace and the Northern Sea? They are called the Five Overseas Palaces, but they are very far apart. They shouldn’t even be grouped together. The reason for grouping them is clear.”

“…”

“They are not from the main region.”

Baek Cheon nodded. That was also true. The name Five Overseas Palaces showed disrespect for those not from the main region.

“So, the Heavenly Union started as a mixed group around Mount Hua, a group ignored by the main region, along with groups that were avoided and treated badly… Ah, no. Taoist Yiseol. Please, put down that sword. I’m not saying this to be mean, but…”

Yiseol glared at Im So-byeong, having already pulled her sword halfway out, as if daring him to continue.

“Even those trash-like bandits joined, didn’t they?”

Only then did Yiseol put her sword back and nod.

Im So-byeong felt a bit wronged, but what could he do? That sword master was scary.

“So, what is the Heavenly Union? Honorable, dishonorable, foreign, unorthodox, Taoist, normal people… Oh dear. There’s even a former monk here. Does that count as Buddhist?”

“Who’s a former monk!”

“It’s a place where everything is mixed together, and everyone says, ‘We’re all friends.’ Do you know what that’s called?”

“A mess.”

“Destruction.”

“A mixed stew.”

“No, no.”

Im So-byeong grinned.

“The world calls it the world.”

“The world…”

Baek Cheon repeated. Im So-byeong tapped his neck with his fan, still smiling.

“The Heavenly Union accepts everyone. As long as you trust each other, it doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your status is. That means anyone can join the Heavenly Union.”

“…That’s right. They even accepted a bandit.”

“I know, right?”

“Tell me about it.”

Im So-byeong looked at Baek Cheon, hurt. But Baek Cheon’s face seemed to say, ‘What? Did I say something wrong? You bandit!’, making the Green Forest King feel even worse.

“…So, the Heavenly Union doesn’t need to divide itself. If it needs to, it can just accept everyone.”

“Well, that’s easy to say…”

“And what’s amazing about the Heavenly Union is that it’s the most diverse group, but it’s also the most united.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

The Nine Great Sects were close to splitting apart. The less honorable groups might seem united because of Jang Il-so, but the Heavenly Union was the most united.

“This place is crazy. Think about it. Even though the Demonic Sect has attacked, Mount Hua and Shaolin, who hate each other, are working together, and the Namgung Family is helping. Even I, the Green Forest King, have been dragged here.”

“…”

“The leaders of the Heavenly Union, the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, and the King of the Green Forest. Do you think these people would normally get along?”

“…Probably not.”

Baek Cheon scratched his head. He had forgotten how strange it was, but it was true.

If those people could get along so easily, why would people divide themselves into honorable and dishonorable groups, and exclude each other?

Even within the honorable groups, the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families were divided and careful around each other.

“But that’s possible in the Heavenly Union. So, the Heavenly Union doesn’t need to think like other groups. It just needs to accept them! What does that mean?”

“What does it mean?”

“It means that we don’t need to join the world. If we just keep getting stronger, the Heavenly Union will become the world. We can swallow up the Nine Great Sects and the less honorable groups. Instead of just patching things together, we bring them under the Heavenly Union.”

“…”

“Heh heh heh heh. I thought he was good, but I didn’t know he was so ambitious. I can’t believe it, really. Heh heh heh heh.”

Im So-byeong looked at Chung Myung on the roof, excited.

But Baek Cheon felt that something was wrong.

Just then, Yiseol spoke.

“It’s different now.”

“…Hmm?”

Baek Cheon turned to Yiseol. She was looking at Chung Myung, not Baek Cheon.

“Mount Hua failed. Completely.”

“…”

“Before, I thought it was because of the ungrateful people. But that’s not it. Mount Hua failed because it was alone.”

Baek Cheon nodded. That was what Chung Myung had said.

“So, this time it will be different. Now Mount Hua is not alone. Even if we’re not as strong as before, there are people who will fight with us and protect us. So, don’t be afraid. We can do it.”

Everyone nodded. It was simple, but it touched them.

“That’s right. If Mount Hua was alone before, it couldn’t have done anything within that group.”

“But it’s not like that now. The Tang Family will help us.”

“It’s not just the Tang Family. So, we don’t have to give in just because we’re in a group. Because Mount Hua is not just a sect now, but represents the Heavenly Union.”

Baek Cheon sighed.

‘There’s a lot to do.’

In the past, Chung Myung would have explained everything so that everyone understood. He would get annoyed but make sure everyone understood.

But not this time. He just brought up a topic and stepped back, telling them to think for themselves.

“Everyone will understand it differently.”

“…”

“But I think that’s right. A group is where people with different ideas come together and adjust.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle.”

“That’s what I think. What Martial Sister said is also right, and what the Green Forest King said… well… maybe a little.”

“…Hey, it feels like I’m being treated unfairly.”

Baek Cheon ignored Im So-byeong and spoke.

“The main point is the Heavenly Union itself. The Heavenly Union is a place where we protect each other. We shouldn’t force each other to sacrifice for the sake of the martial world. That would go against why we created the Heavenly Union.”

“…You’re right.”

“It will be hard. Chung Myung is saying that he must protect the martial world from the Demonic Sect, while also protecting everyone he cares about. It will be a difficult path. So…”

Baek Cheon looked up at Chung Myung.

The full moon shone on Chung Myung.

“Let’s help him. We also want to protect him.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

Baek Cheon smiled faintly as he looked at Chung Myung.

We don’t all need to think the same way. What’s important is to trust each other and protect each other.

That is a group, a union, a sect.

Yes. That is family.