Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1097

Sometimes, people surprise you.

It happens when you see someone thinking thoughts that ordinary people wouldn’t, when you see someone thinking in a different way.

But the biggest surprise is when you see someone seeing further than ordinary people.

“We were afraid of the Demonic Sect,” Hyun Jong said. “We were also worried about the Four Great Evils uniting and the Nine Great Sects being divided. That’s why we rushed and worried. At the time, we were thinking about how to deal with those problems.”

Hyun Jong nodded at Tang Gunak’s words.

“That’s exactly right.”

“But Cheong Myeong was looking at something else,” Tang Gunak said with a sigh. “He wasn’t focused on how to fight the Demonic Sect, but on how we should change. It’s similar, but a completely different thing, isn’t it?”

“It’s truly strange…”

“Hmm.”

It was unexpected, but Hyun Jong nodded as if he understood.

“Sometimes, when I look at Cheong Myeong, I wonder how he can think like that,” Hyun Jong said. “How can someone who has achieved so much have so little faith in himself?”

“Clan Leader…”

Tang Gunak looked slightly upward, as if he were looking beyond the ceiling.

“From the Heavenly Union’s point of view, it’s a blessing,” he continued. “From Mount Hua’s point of view, it’s a welcome thing, because he leads everyone. But…”

Tang Gunak’s eyes darkened.

“Cheong Myeong… the Sword Saint of Mount Hua… is it truly a good thing for him?”

His voice sounded regretful.

“I don’t know, Union Lord,” Tang Gunak said. “Maybe… it’s a sad thing.”

Hyun Jong slowly closed his eyes.

Tang Gunak’s words seemed to pierce Cheong Myeong’s core.

On the surface, Cheong Myeong seemed like the picture of confidence. He never doubted himself, always gave the right answer, and moved forward without hesitation. He was a hero who helped not only himself but also others.

But what was hidden inside that confident appearance?

Doubt, anxiety, and even a fear close to self-hatred.

Hyun Jong still remembered the shock he felt when he first saw Cheong Myeong’s inner self. Even if Cheong Myeong was proud because he was so talented, no one would have blamed him. But Hyun Jong discovered that Cheong Myeong saw himself as worthless. Anyone else would have been surprised.

This was the main reason why Hyun Jong didn’t want to dig into Cheong Myeong’s past.

Whatever Cheong Myeong had seen and experienced, even if he had committed a terrible sin… hadn’t he regretted it and suffered enough?

Even if not as a sect leader, but as a fellow Taoist, how could he reopen the wounds of someone who had suffered so much?

A long silence filled the room. Both men looked thoughtful.

Tang Gunak slowly continued, “The Shaolin Sect has put the interests of their Unmoving Wisdom Hall first, even dividing the alliance we already had.”

“…”

“And the Ten Thousand People Clan is controlling the sects allied with them,” he added. “It might seem good now, but they’re following the path of the evil sects that showed off their power and then disappeared from history.”

Hyun Jong nodded.

“On the other hand, Cheong Myeong is taking a completely different path,” Tang Gunak said. “He’s not building walls between sects, he’s sharing what they have, and he doesn’t want anyone to be superior… That’s friendship.”

Tang Gunak smiled.

Until now, Cheong Myeong had always treated other sects with respect, but Mount Hua was always his priority.

He made Mount Hua train hard, but he didn’t focus on making the other sects stronger.

When he felt threatened by the Four Great Evils, he closed off Mount Hua to make it stronger, clearly showing what he really thought.

But now, Cheong Myeong was reaching out to other sects in the Heavenly Union.

Some might see it as interfering too much, but it was a big change for Cheong Myeong. He judged his own abilities more harshly than anyone else.

Hyun Jong smiled slightly and said, “I think the young leader of the Namgung Clan might have influenced Cheong Myeong a little.”

“I think so too.”

It was probably the first time Cheong Myeong had seen a sect like the Namgung Clan humbly trying to improve.

So Cheong Myeong, who had always respected each sect’s independence, must have expanded his view of what he could do.

“Clan Leader…”

Hyun Jong chose his words carefully, sounding a little worried. Then he asked, “What do you think will happen because of what Cheong Myeong is trying to do?”

“Well…”

Tang Gunak smiled slightly.

“To be honest, I don’t know, because no one in the martial world has ever tried this before.”

“Hmm.”

He looked at Hyun Jong with clear eyes and said, “But we’re in an unprecedented situation. The Demonic Sect could rise and invade at any time, and the Nine Great Sects, who should be leading the defense, are divided and weak. Even the Four Great Evils are getting stronger.”

“…”

“In this situation, it’s unlikely that the Heavenly Union can overcome everything without any losses. To be honest, it will be hard even with sacrifices.”

“…That’s right.”

Tang Gunak smiled.

“So, shouldn’t we do everything we can, even if it’s a long shot? Even if it’s something new?”

Hyun Jong smiled back.

“I guess so. All I can do is support him silently.”

“Don’t say that,” Tang Gunak replied. “For Cheong Myeong, there’s nothing more powerful than your silent support.”

Hyun Jong looked a little embarrassed.

“I have a lot of work to do.”

“Yes. First, we should tell the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace and the Northern Sea Ice Palace about this and ask them to join us. We’ve been neglecting them a little, haven’t we?”

Tang Gunak sighed.

It wasn’t intentional, but because the Beast Palace and the Ice Palace were far from the Central Plains, it was hard to ask for their help.

But the two palaces might have felt that Mount Hua and the Dang Clan were leading the Heavenly Union, and that their opinions didn’t matter.

Now that they had promised to include everyone, they couldn’t make anyone feel left out.

“The Beast Palace Lord might be annoyed…”

Tang Gunak smiled sadly at Hyun Jong’s words.

“That might be true, but we have to deal with it. Responsibility comes with authority, and he’ll understand that.”

Hyun Jong nodded and sighed.

Whenever Cheong Myeong did something big, there was chaos in Mount Hua and in the Heavenly Union.

But he couldn’t complain. Cheong Myeong had rebuilt himself to get where he was, and he was doing the same for the Heavenly Union.

Hyun Jong had to let Cheong Myeong follow his will without holding him back.

“However…”

Tang Gunak’s expression changed slightly.

“There are still concerns. Internal problems are one thing, but the biggest concern is external.”

“…Are you talking about the Nine Great Sects and the Four Great Evils?”

“Yes.”

Tang Gunak narrowed his eyes.

“The story of what happened in Hangzhou will spread. Mount Hua and the Four Great Evils will become much more powerful. The ones who will be most unhappy about that…”

“…will be the Nine Great Sects.”

“Yes, and it might be worse than you think.”

Hyun Jong looked at him questioningly, and Tang Gunak smiled sadly.

“The Shaolin Sect never wanted to give up the idea that they were ‘protecting the martial world.’ But Mount Hua has taken that role away.”

“Ah…”

Hyun Jong nodded, looking complicated. Tang Gunak covered his mouth with his sleeve and started to laugh quietly. Hyun Jong widened his eyes and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry,” Tang Gunak said. “I shouldn’t, but I can’t help but laugh when I think about how angry Beop Jeong must be.”

It was a silly laugh, not what you’d expect from Tang Gunak.

But Hyun Jong understood. He also had to stop himself from smiling when he thought about Beop Jeong’s anger.

He tried to look serious and said, “He’s a pitiful person.”

“That’s right. He’s not stupid, he’s just proud and thinks he’s always right.”

Beop Jeong was the opposite of Cheong Myeong.

Beop Jeong was also very talented. He stood out in the Shaolin Sect and became the abbot.

“That’s why…”

Beop Jeong never thought he could be wrong. He was sure he was right, unlike Cheong Myeong, who always knew he could be wrong.

“So we have to be careful, because we don’t know how Beop Jeong will react now that his pride has been hurt.”

Hyun Jong nodded, feeling worried.

The Nine Great Sects were a bigger threat than the Demonic Sect or the Four Great Evils, at least for now.

Hyun Jong said firmly, “Whatever they think…”

Tang Gunak’s eyes flickered.

“They won’t be able to touch those kids. That’s my job as the leader of Mount Hua and the Union Lord of the Heavenly Union.”

It was a clear statement of his will. Tang Gunak smiled and said, “I’ll do my best to help, Union Lord.”

This move by the Heavenly Union might be a small change, but Tang Gunak believed that it would lead to something big.