Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1172

Im So-byeong hummed, a low sound as he lightly waved the fan in his hand.

“Ah, so you were talking about *those* things,” he said. “Interesting.”

Namgung Do-wi looked at Im So-byeong, a displeased and uncomfortable gaze shared by Maeng So and Seol So-baek, who sat beside him.

‘I don’t even know what to do,’ he thought.

His heart felt heavy, and he wanted to talk to someone, to unburden himself. But why did that ‘someone’ have to be this man?

Yet, his feet had led him here. Joining the leaders, some from distant lands known as the Nine Heavens, who were with Im So-byeong felt, in a way, like it was meant to be. Of course, once he sat down, the arrangement didn’t feel so natural.

Im So-byeong leaned forward slightly, his fan still gently waving. “So,” he asked, his voice smooth, “what did the others say? How did they react?”

Namgung Do-wi hesitated. “Reactions… you want to know about reactions…” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. How could he explain the heavy air in that room?

He usually wasn’t bad with words. But this… this was more than just words. It was a feeling, a tension you could almost touch.

Im So-byeong watched him, his eyes sharp and intelligent. He was known for his quick mind. He probably already guessed half of it.

A small smile touched Im So-byeong’s lips. “I think,” he said softly, “I understand enough.” He chuckled, a low sound that held a hint of amusement, as if he’d already read Namgung Do-wi’s troubled face like an open book.

“Well, how should I put it…” Namgung Do-wi said. “It sounds like they poked at old wounds, just like Mount Hua always does.”

Im So-byeong glanced at Namgung Do-wi.

“The reactions were… unexpected,” Im So-byeong said.

“Unexpected?”

“Yes, unexpected. Wasn’t this something everyone already knew?”

Namgung Do-wi sighed involuntarily at Im So-byeong’s clear gaze, which was fixed on him. Im So-byeong continued,

“From the start, the Cheonwu Alliance is that kind of place. Are there really people here who were drawn in by the two words, ‘Mount Hua’?”

To that, not only Namgung Do-wi but even Seol So-baek and Maeng So couldn’t answer.

“No. The people gathered here were all drawn in by the two words, ‘Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon, Chung Myung.’ Even if Mount Hua had done the same things, the Cheonwu Alliance would never have been created if the main figure in those events wasn’t Mount Hua Sword Master Chung Myung.”

“…That’s not wrong.”

Maeng So, who had been folding his arms, nodded heavily.

He, too, had decided to join hands with Mount Hua after seeing the potential of Chung Myung, so he couldn’t help but agree with Im So-byeong’s words.

“But conversely, it also means that the Cheonwu Alliance is a place that can only be established with the sacrifice of Mount Hua Sword Master Chung Myung.”

“The word ‘sacrifice’ is a bit…”

Namgung Do-wi frowned as if he couldn’t agree.

“From the start, Namgung has never demanded the blood of Chung Myung. The reason we were drawn to Mount Hua was because of the righteousness and character that Chung Myung showed. Not because we thought he would be our shield.”

“…Let’s put aside how absurd it is to use the word ‘character’ to describe him right now.”

Im So-byeong cleared his throat and looked at Namgung Do-wi with a slightly darkened gaze.

“Well, what Namgung Clan Leader says might not be wrong. The reason Namgung Clan Leader follows Chung Myung is not because of the sacrifice he showed, but because of the heroic deeds he displayed.”

Namgung Do-wi nodded.

When he had asked Mount Hua for help, Chung Myung had drawn his sword and headed to Plum Blossom Island without a moment’s hesitation. Namgung Do-wi would never forget that sight for the rest of his life.

The righteousness that he had always discussed as a matter of course.

He had felt in that moment how the back of someone who actually practiced that righteousness felt to someone who desperately needed it.

“But… that’s ultimately the same thing.”

“Yes?”

“Heroic deeds and very dangerous acts are almost the same thing.”

“…No, how can that be…”

Im So-byeong let out a faint sneer.

“Of course, Namgung Clan Leader might want to argue that the core of heroic deeds is not the danger but the cooperative spirit within… But is that really true? If Chung Myung had beaten up the local bandits with the same mindset as when he headed to Plum Blossom Island, would Namgung Clan Leader have evaluated those two events the same way?”

“That’s…”

Im So-byeong smirked as if to say, ‘See?’

“It’s funny, but it wouldn’t be the same. Because what people see is ‘who did what.’ Therefore, even if it’s the same bandit subjugation, if someone from a famous family does it easily, people think it’s just what they should do. But if an ordinary person risks their life, it becomes an inspiring story.”

When Namgung Do-wi fell silent, Im So-byeong shrugged.

“In other words, the more we evaluate and praise Mount Hua Sword Master’s cooperative spirit, the more the world believes in and follows the Cheonwu Alliance’s heart of righteousness, the more Chung Myung gets stuck in this idea of being ‘righteous’.”

Namgung Do-wi bit his lip tightly. Even if he wanted to say no, he couldn’t think of a suitable argument. Wasn’t the situation already turning out that way?

“So, the Cheonwu Alliance can only be a place created with the sacrifice of Mount Hua Sword Master as its foundation. Perhaps Namgung Clan Leader has been thinking about the fight against the Four Evil Sects and the Demonic Sect, but what was Chung Myung doing in that imagination?”

“Well…”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. A sigh escaped his lips.

Fighting at the forefront. Most desperately.

Leading countless people and shining brighter than anyone else, but Namgung Do-wi couldn’t deny it either. The fact that the brightest place was also the most dangerous place.

“Keep in mind, Namgung Clan Leader. There exist in this world crazy people who don’t care about themselves and keep doing dangerous things.”

Namgung Do-wi had no choice but to admit it. The fact that the person who best fit that description among those he knew was Chung Myung.

“Of course, most of those people die. But… very rare, maybe once in a hundred years.”

Im So-byeong gripped his fan tightly.

“There are those who are lucky enough to survive to the end even after doing those crazy things. Do you know what the world calls such people?”

“…What do they call them?”

“Heroes.”

The word ‘hero’ felt heavy now, not good at all.

Im So-byeong looked at Namgung Do-wi as if he found him pathetic.

“In Namgung Clan Leader’s imagination, Chung Myung would have become a hero after all the wars were over, wouldn’t he?”

Those words sounded as if it was none other than Namgung Do-wi who was pushing Chung Myung into hell. That’s why Namgung Do-wi couldn’t bring himself to lift his lowered head.

“Then…”

At that moment, Seol So-baek, who had been listening to Im So-byeong’s words in silence, spoke up.

“Is the Green Forest King any different?”

Im So-byeong smiled and looked at Seol So-baek before answering.

“What difference would there be? I’m also clearly aware that I’m leeching off that Chung Myung.”

“But… well, I don’t know. I wonder who’s worse, the one who knows and uses it, or the ones who say they didn’t know while slowly pushing people off a cliff. Of course, if they come back alive from that cliff, they become heroes, though…”

Maeng So, who had been listening, frowned and interjected.

“Green Forest King, you’re being too sarcastic.”

“Sarcasm?”

“From the start, it wasn’t that others forcibly pushed what Mount Hua Sword Master didn’t want. Others were just drawn to the path that Mount Hua Sword Master was walking. Such people are inevitably bound to look dazzling to ordinary people.”

“Hmm.”

A strange light flickered in Im So-byeong’s eyes as he looked at Maeng So.

“Yes, you’re right. It’s just funny that you seem surprised by something so obvious.”

“Let’s leave it at that.”

“Yes, let’s.”

Im So-byeong readily backed down.

Perhaps wanting to lighten the awkward atmosphere, Maeng So subtly asked Im So-byeong.

“So, what do you think, Green Forest King?”

“What are you referring to?”

“Do you think Mount Hua will accept the offer that Shaolin made?”

“Hmmmm.”

Im So-byeong scratched his cheek as if he found it interesting.

“Actually, I have a question for you two Palace Lords. What do you plan to answer? It seems like a change is unavoidable.”

“…If the promise is kept, it’s not a bad proposal from our perspective either.”

“Yes?”

Seol So-baek asked, startled by Maeng So’s nonchalant answer.

“Palace Lord! Are you going to accept that proposal?”

“Calm yourself, Palace Lord Seol.”

Maeng So shook his head.

“It’s hard to compare Chung Myung and Shaolin’s teachings. From the start, it’s not easy to trust Shaolin.”

“Yes! Of course.”

“Right now, we should obviously choose Mount Hua. Because Mount Hua has Mount Hua Sword Master.”

“Yes, I also think so…”

“But will Mount Hua still have Mount Hua Sword Master in a hundred years?”

Seol So-baek didn’t answer.

“Shaolin will still be the North Star of the Central Plains in a hundred years. And they will remember the promise made by the previous abbot. But… it’s impossible to know what will happen to Mount Hua in a hundred years.”

“That’s…”

Seol So-baek, who was about to refute something, quietly closed his mouth. Because Maeng So’s words were not wrong.

“Personally, I don’t want to join hands with Shaolin. But as a Palace Lord, I can’t refuse the hand that Shaolin extends, no matter what sect it is in the world. Especially for sects from beyond the Nine Heavens like us.”

“As a Palace Lord, I can’t just think about what I want. I have to think about my people. Where is the guarantee that future generations won’t resent me someday for ruining the palace with this decision?”

Seol So-baek lowered his head deeply.

“But keeping the loyalty to Mount Hua, which has been caring for the sects beyond the Nine Heavens, is also a duty that I should naturally uphold as a Palace Lord. So, I intend to simply follow whatever conclusion the Alliance Lord makes. That would be the natural course.”

“Hoo,” Im So-byeong, who let out a slight exclamation of admiration, turned to look at Seol So-baek.

“What about Palace Lord Seol?”

“I…”

When Seol So-baek couldn’t answer properly, Im So-byeong nodded as if he understood.

“I understand. In fact, that’s the most common idea.”

“So? What’s the answer to my question?”

“Actually, from the Green Forest’s perspective, I would like them to refuse. Shaolin wouldn’t abandon the Green Forest in this situation, but it would be difficult to receive the same treatment as now.”

“And you’ll be pushed to the back in who gets what after the war?”

“Yes, that’s right. So, personally, I hope for that… But…”

Im So-byeong unfolded his fan and half-covered his face.

“But this time, the move that Shaolin brought is too clever. Perhaps this time… even the Alliance Lord and Mount Hua Sword Master will find it difficult to reject that proposal.”

“But haven’t the two of them rejected any proposal so far? Then it seems like there’s a very small chance that it will be the same this time.”

“That’s because everything they’ve done so far has been in line with the cause of saving people. But this time, the situation is different. Think about it. What if they reject that proposal and the Cheonwu Alliance faces the Four Evil Sects alone?”

Maeng So nodded as if he understood.

“…All the blood that has to be shed due to the lack of strength becomes the responsibility of those two.”

“That’s right. That choice could lead to even more deaths. So, isn’t it difficult?”

Maeng So sighed. It was a truly difficult matter.

“It was a reality that we had to face someday… But I didn’t expect it to come in this way. The abbot of Shaolin is indeed not someone to be ignored.”

Im So-byeong’s gaze turned towards the open window.

“I’m also curious. Now, his beliefs might hurt what he wants to protect. What will he choose then?”

At those words, Namgung Do-wi let out a heavy and long sigh.

Feeling the heavy air, Im So-byeong stared at the moon, which was half-covered by clouds.

‘It will be a long night,’ he thought.

For him, and for everyone else.

Especially for one person, it seemed like it would be a very long night.