Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1118

The thought of comparing them to the Nine Great Sects was unbearable. How disappointed was Hyun Jong with their hypocrisy?

But thinking about it, his own words weren’t that different from the Nine Great Sects’ behavior. Were their problems caused by hiding true feelings and pretending to be nice?

Chung Myung looked at Hyun Jong and said,

“It’s normal to have problems between people, so sects will always have issues.”

“That’s true, but…” Hyun Jong replied.

Wasn’t the real problem that the solution was unconvincing?

“Pretending is good, but if it only creates bad feelings, isn’t it better to be honest?” Chung Myung asked.

The Nine Great Sects didn’t want to pretend; they just couldn’t reveal their true feelings.

They talked about ‘friendly competition,’ but it was just words. Like a beautiful dream that never comes true. Wasn’t it normal to feel jealous when competing?

Chung Myung shrugged.

“You might think so, but shouldn’t we try to solve problems instead of hiding them because it’s hard?”

“Hmm…” Hyun Jong said, feeling strange.

Usually, he talked about principles, and Chung Myung argued. But now, Chung Myung’s words sounded more like principles.

Principles that were hard to follow.

“I can’t help but worry,” Hyun Jong admitted.

“Sect Leader,” Chung Myung said, looking serious.

“If it wasn’t the Tang Family, the Green Forest, or the Namgung Family, what would you do?”

“Hmm?” Hyun Jong asked, surprised.

Chung Myung’s voice was firm.

“If the Plum Blossom and Azure Blossom groups in Mount Hua were fighting, would you tell them to pretend to be friendly like you’re saying now?”

Hyun Jong pressed his lips together, thinking.

If those two groups were hiding their anger, he would do anything to fix it, because it would hurt Mount Hua.

“Are you saying I’m putting up a wall against them?” Hyun Jong asked.

“Not a wall, but you don’t see them as one sect,” Chung Myung replied.

Hyun Jong frowned. Was that true? He wanted to deny it, but couldn’t.

Chung Myung shrugged.

“Don’t worry too much. It’s not easy, right?”

“…”

“I felt the same way. I thought what I was doing was enough, but it wasn’t,” Chung Myung said, smiling sadly.

“If we want to be friends, we should treat them like one sect. Right now, it’s like telling our kids to work hard while spoiling the other sects’ children.”

“…”

“We seem to favor them, but we’re only protecting our own. We should stop that,” Chung Myung finished.

Hyun Jong chuckled weakly.

Chung Myung loved Mount Hua more than anyone, even more than Hyun Jong himself. And now he was saying they shouldn’t favor Mount Hua over other sects.

“Chung Myung-ah,” Hyun Jong said.

“Yes, Sect Leader?”

“Is that the right thing to do?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Even if it causes problems?”

“Yes. Problems disappear when solved. The real danger is hiding them because you’re afraid,” Chung Myung stated firmly.

Hyun Jong groaned.

“And…”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung grinned.

“If they fight, they might not get along as well, but they’ll trust each other on the battlefield.”

“…”

“Isn’t that enough?”

Hyun Jong shook his head.

“I thought you wanted friends, but you want comrades.”

“No. I want real friends.”

“…”

“Not just pretending to be friendly, but people who can argue and criticize each other, but will always help each other when in danger,” Chung Myung explained.

Tang Gunak, who had been listening, spoke up.

“Mount Hua has been doing that well.”

“Yes, but I want everyone in the Heavenly Union to be like that.”

“That’s hard,” Hyun Jong said.

“Yes, it is,” Chung Myung agreed calmly.

“It will be hard to keep up, but if we try, maybe it’s possible for a while.”

“Until we face the Sae Pae Union and the Demonic Sect?” Hyun Jong asked.

Chung Myung didn’t answer, just grinned. Tang Gunak shook his head.

“It’s more like a dream than reality, but I don’t mind,” Tang Gunak said.

“Pardon?”

“I’m happy just to fix the Tang Family with this chance,” Tang Gunak replied.

He muttered with a gloomy face, “The Tang Family is the real winner, damn Mount Hua bastards.” Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung, wondering how he could say that.

But Chung Myung was still grinning. Hyun Jong sighed.

‘He’s always been like this…’

Hyun Jong knew Chung Myung had a plan. But this time, it involved other sects, so he was worried.

“Chung Myung-ah,” Hyun Jong said.

“Don’t worry, Sect Leader,” Chung Myung replied.

“…”

“There won’t be any problems.”

Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung, worried.

‘He hasn’t changed.’

Hyun Jong didn’t want to protect the Tang Family and the others. He worried that if Chung Myung’s actions caused trouble, Chung Myung would be blamed.

But Chung Myung seemed to know how Hyun Jong felt.

“Alright. I understand. If that’s what you want…” Hyun Jong nodded.

He had to support Chung Myung.

“But Chung Myung-ah, that’s not the only problem,” Hyun Jong added.

“What else is there?” Chung Myung asked.

“I agree with encouraging this situation, but can they handle it?”

“What are you talking about…?”

Hyun Sang looked at the ledger and spoke.

“Today, the Namgung Family has fifteen injured and twenty slightly injured. The Green Forest has twenty-eight injured, and we haven’t counted the slightly injured. The Tang Family has ten injured.”

“I didn’t count the slightly injured. The Tang Family can handle that,” Tang Gunak said.

“…I see,” Hyun Jong said, frowning.

“Are they struggling?”

“…”

“The injuries are happening more often and are more serious. It’s not just from training; their bodies can’t handle it,” Hyun Sang explained.

“Uh…”

Hyun Jong smiled triumphantly.

“Good training is useless if they can’t handle it. You usually think about this, but you missed it this time.”

“But the Tang Family is there…” Chung Myung said.

Tang Gunak smiled quietly.

“I’m trying my best, but it’s not easy,” Tang Gunak said.

“Are you really trying? Really?” Chung Myung asked suspiciously.

“Haha, of course. Do you think I’d treat people differently just because of some silly competition?”

‘You weren’t like that before. But I’m starting to wonder…’

“I swear I’m not,” Tang Gunak insisted.

“Ugh.”

Chung Myung believed Tang Gunak, but not the Tang Family blood in him. The blood of a man who could cheat with a straight face.

“Tsk.”

He had suspicions, but no proof. Chung Myung glared at Tang Gunak, then looked back at Hyun Jong.

“So, we should help them a bit. We’re finally united, but it’s worse if they get sick and can’t fight.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that,” Chung Myung said.

“Alright, think carefu… Huh? What did you say?” Hyun Jong asked.

“I said you don’t have to worry.”

“…Ah, no. Chung Myung-ah,” Hyun Jong stammered.

“So, we need to help them endure while keeping things as they are,” Chung Myung stated.

“Th-That’s right?”

“Come on, Sect Leader! Who do you think I am? I’ve prepared everything!”

“…Huh?”

There was a way to do this?

“What are you going to do?” Hyun Jong asked.

The easiest way was to reduce the training, but that was impossible.

“How are the Mount Hua kids doing?” Chung Myung asked.

“Huh? Mount Hua?”

Hyun Jong looked at Hyun Sang for an answer. Hyun Sang hesitated.

“Mount Hua has… only about twenty slightly injured, and no one seriously injured.”

“No, why?” Hyun Jong asked, surprised.

“Well… are they just strong?” Hyun Sang wondered.

Chung Myung chuckled.

“They’re not strong because of Mount Hua’s spirit. It’s from constant training.”

“…”

“Can’t handle it? Then we’ll make them handle it. They can’t make excuses about being weak and wanting to quit,” Chung Myung declared.

“Chung Myung-ah, what have you prepared?” Hyun Jong asked.

“It’ll be here soon,” Chung Myung replied.

“What?”

“The Beast Palace and the Ice Palace are coming. I told the Eunha Merchant Guild to bring everything they’ve been saving for three years.”

“…”

“We’ll shove a Violet Elixir Pill – a powerful medicine from the Beast Palace – into their mouths, so they can’t rest. We should mix in the Beast Palace and the Ice Palace too. They’ve been living comfortably, but we can’t let that continue, can we?”

“Uh… Th-That…”

Chung Myung-ah, you’re going to deal with the Ice Palace and the Beast Palace in a strange way. People might misunderstand…

“Hee hee hee hee!”

Chung Myung laughed, clutching his stomach.

“We’ve been suffering alone, but no more! Now we all suffer together! I won’t let them fall behind! Ehehehehe!”

Ah… It wasn’t a misunderstanding.

Yes. Yes…