Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1096

“Aaaargh!”

A scream ripped through the air outside the door, desperate and full of pain. Startled, Tang Gunak glanced towards the sound. He thought he recognized a familiar voice mixed in with the terrible cry.

But he forced himself to look away from the door and back to the man sitting across from him.

“Are you really okay with this?” Hyun Jong asked quietly, his voice full of worry. He watched Tang Gunak closely.

Tang Gunak managed a smile, but it was a sad, bitter smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m fine,” he said, but his voice sounded tired.

“Even so, it can’t be easy.”

“It is something I have wanted for a long time.”

Tang Gunak reached out and picked up the teacup in front of him. After checking that the tea had cooled a little, he used his inner energy gently. The cooled tea began to release a plume of white steam.

Tang Gunak enjoyed the smell and smiled slightly.

“As I always feel, the plum blossom tea has a truly wonderful fragrance.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Gunak took a sip of the tea, placed the cup on the small table, and said, “Actually, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. With the way things are now, a day will surely come when we can no longer keep up with Mount Hua.”

“That’s too modest. Who would dare compare the mighty Sichuan Tang Family, a powerful group known for their skills, to Mount Hua?”

Tang Gunak gave a wry smile.

The world might still think the Tang Family was a bit stronger than Mount Hua. Even when the Cheonwoo Alliance was formed, most people thought the Sichuan Tang Family was secretly in charge behind Mount Hua, except for those who knew what was really happening.

But once people found out what they had done in Gangnam, even that wrong idea would change.

‘More than anything…’

What mattered wasn’t what people thought. It was how Tang Gunak saw the situation.

Mount Hua was getting stronger every day, but the Tang Family stayed the same. The Sichuan Tang Family used to be able to wait for Mount Hua to stand beside them. But after this, that had changed.

“Alliance Leader. No… Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong looked at Tang Gunak with deep eyes when he heard the changed title.

“If things keep going like this, the gap between Mount Hua and the Tang Family will only get bigger.”

“…Family Head.”

“Not admitting that isn’t about pride. It’s just being stubborn and ignoring what’s really happening.”

Hyun Jong looked at Tang Gunak quietly.

Tang Gunak was talking easily, but trusting others to train the Jamyung wasn’t easy. Hyun Jong wasn’t sure if he could do it himself.

Seeing Tang Gunak talking so calmly about it, Hyun Jong felt respect for him.

“Wouldn’t it have been possible if you, Family Head, had really tried?”

Tang Gunak smiled bitterly.

“I appreciate you thinking so highly of me, but… if I could have done it, I would have made the Tang Family stronger already.”

“…I was rude.”

“No.”

Tang Gunak shook his head calmly.

“I also learned after seeing the Mount Hua Divine Dragon. Being good at martial arts and being good at teaching are completely different things.”

This was Tang Gunak’s true feeling.

Of course, when he first saw Chung Myung, he knew he was talented and would bring Mount Hua back to its former glory. Chung Myung showed amazing martial skills and a cold way of thinking that didn’t match his age… it was like his age didn’t matter at all. But…

‘Even that was underestimating the Mount Hua Divine Dragon.’

Tang Gunak hadn’t imagined that Mount Hua would become this strong.

Watching Chung Myung help Mount Hua grow, even Tang Gunak, who liked Chung Myung and wanted good things for him, sometimes felt small and less important.

An ordinary person might become hostile towards Chung Myung because of this, but Tang Gunak wasn’t a fool. He knew what was best for him and for the Tang Family.

“If I could have done something, I would have. But… if I try to push the family members now, it will just seem like I’m feeling threatened by Mount Hua’s growth. That would be bad both inside and outside the family.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong thought about it and realized that it was possible.

“So, I think this is the right way.”

“But Family Head…”

“That’s just how it looks on the surface.”

Tang Gunak smiled.

“The real reason is a little different. If I try to push the children myself and it doesn’t work out, wouldn’t I just be embarrassing myself?”

“……”

Tang Gunak smiled slyly. ‘Reputation doesn’t matter much in real life,’ he thought, ‘but in this situation, I need to think about how things look to others.’ Using the Mount Hua Divine Dragon as an instructor is the best thing for me.

Seeing Tang Gunak smiling slyly, Hyun Jong sighed.

“…That child is making things difficult for many people.”

“It’s quite meaningful for you to say that, Alliance Leader.”

Hyun Jong smiled bitterly at Tang Gunak’s words.

Those words meant that Hyun Jong was having the most trouble.

“It’s hard to deny.”

Chung Myung was like a blessing to Hyun Jong, but also like a dagger aimed at his neck.

A great helper is always like that. Someone as outstanding as Chung Myung always challenges the one in charge. So, even when you’re in charge, you have to think about whether you’re doing the right thing.

Dealing with that burden was not easy.

“Thank you, Family Head.”

Hyun Jong bowed his head to Tang Gunak.

“Ah, no. Why are you doing this?”

Tang Gunak waved his hand, embarrassed. Then, Hyun Jong looked at Tang Gunak with deep eyes.

“It was a very bold request, but you accepted it without getting angry… As the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, I have to thank you.”

“I think you misunderstand, Alliance Leader.”

“…A misunderstanding?”

“Yes.”

Tang Gunak smiled slightly.

“It’s not that the Mount Hua Divine Dragon asked me to let him teach the Tang Family. I asked the Mount Hua Divine Dragon to take care of the Tang Family a little.”

“…I see.”

But Hyun Jong’s face didn’t change.

“Even so, I’m still grateful. That means you understood what Chung Myung meant and took the first step so he wouldn’t have to say anything unpleasant, right?”

“…The Alliance Leader is being too kind to me.”

Tang Gunak smiled bitterly.

“You don’t have to do that, Alliance Leader.”

Then, he glanced at the door.

“I’m actually a bit of a coward. I don’t have the courage to do what the Mount Hua Divine Dragon tells me to do, like that Green Forest King, the leader of a group of bandits. That’s why I’m here drinking tea with you, isn’t it?”

“That’s… a special case…”

“It’s not that different. The Green Forest King is truly amazing. If Im So-byeong tries to use his authority, even Mount Hua has to respect him. Besides, he did great in Hangzhou this time, didn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

Hyun Jong nodded.

Even if Im So-byeong wasn’t a great person, the position of Green Forest King was enough to deserve respect.

Wasn’t the fact that he was carrying on the Green Forest traditions enough to show that he deserved to be the Green Forest King? Im So-byeong deserved respect everywhere as the leader of a group that controlled the world.

And yet, he was rolling around in the dirt.

“There’s no need to go that far…”

“That’s to avoid any problems.”

Tang Gunak smiled slightly. He had been working with Im So-byeong in the Yangtze River for three years, so he knew what kind of person Im So-byeong was.

“Even though the Demonic Sect is based on the idea of the strong preying on the weak, that’s mostly inside the Demonic Sect.”

“Hmm.”

“No matter how strong the Mount Hua Divine Dragon is, he’s just a disciple, not the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. They wouldn’t be happy to follow his orders, even if he’s not an ordinary disciple.”

Hyun Jong nodded. From the Green Forest bandits’ point of view, that made sense.

“But if Im So-byeong, the Green Forest King, is leading the way and training without complaining, there’s less chance of people complaining. Maybe the Green Forest King is trying to make that happen.”

“…He’s thoughtful.”

“Not like how he seems on the outside.”

Tang Gunak’s eyes became deep.

“Of course, the Green Forest King might also want to increase his power and control by doing this, and also put the Mount Hua Divine Dragon in debt.”

Tang Gunak, who had been speaking gently, smiled bitterly and sighed.

“However, even if he has those intentions, it’s not easy.”

“Yes. I think he’s a great person.”

Hyun Jong’s face looked a little complicated.

The more you know Im So-byeong, the more you see different sides of him. Just look at how much people’s opinion of him has changed since he joined Mount Hua.

“Amazing…”

Just then…

“I’m a patient, you rotten horse-faced bastard!”

“Patient? Patient? Alright, you Demonic Sect bastard! I’ll show you what a real patient is! Come here, you bastard!”

“Heeeeeek!”

Tang Gunak and Hyun Jong looked at the door with annoyed faces, as if they had planned it. Tang Gunak listened to the screams for a while without saying anything, then quietly finished what he was saying.

“…He’s an amazing person.”

“Yes…”

His voice sounded weak.

“Ahem. Anyway.”

Tang Gunak cleared his throat and spoke again.

“Since the Green Forest King is working so hard, I can’t just sit back and watch. The Tang Family will help the Mount Hua Divine Dragon as much as we can this time.”

“Thank you, Family Head.”

Tang Gunak smiled strangely.

“I’ve realized that people have limits. Whether it’s possible or not, the Mount Hua Divine Dragon is amazing just for coming up with this plan.”

“Hmm… In many ways.”

“Yes. In many ways.”

A strange look crossed their faces.

It would be good if he was only not ordinary in a good way…

“That’s a kind thing to say.”

“…Yes?”

“On the surface, it just means that other groups will share the responsibilities that Mount Hua has been carrying. But the real meaning is different, isn’t it?”

Hyun Jong nodded with a serious face.

“That’s right.”

“That Mount Hua Divine Dragon, who is not just anyone…”

Tang Gunak paused for a moment, then continued.

“Isn’t he saying that he will take care of all the groups in the Cheonwoo Alliance and move forward with them?”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes and nodded.

“The Mount Hua Divine Dragon told me when he created the Cheonwoo Alliance that ‘Those who help each other can become friends.’ But… this time, the word ‘help’ was missing.”

“You knew.”

“That’s why it’s amazing.”

Tang Gunak laughed.

“Who would say they will embrace everyone without thinking about profit? Only… the Mount Hua Divine Dragon can say that.”

“……”

“So, how can I not respect him?”

Outside the door, a young voice could be heard. In that sharp voice, there was a hint of affection that was hard to notice unless you listened carefully.

“I always thought he didn’t fit in with Taoists, but I was wrong. The great Tao is not seen as the Tao by ordinary people, and if you say that the Tao is the Tao, it is not the Tao…”

Tang Gunak finished with a soft smile.

“I understand it now.”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes.

“I think so too.”