Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1181

Everyone in the room knew Hyun Jong would talk about this. But when he actually spoke the words, a heavy silence fell. It felt strange.

The Heavenly Union was special to them. It was like a safe roof in a storm, a strong wall against the cold wind. But really, the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families could do the same job. They had been protectors for much longer.

So, in many ways, nothing should change. What mattered was what each group decided to do, not just who they belonged to. Still, even though they knew this, Hyun Jong’s words felt like a sharp blow. Why?

Beop Jeong’s face was hard to read, like a mask. Was he sad? Relieved? It was a mix of both, maybe.

“Alliance Leader…” Beop Jeong started to say.

“Wait,” Hyun Jong interrupted quickly, not letting Beop Jeong finish. “Before we go further… I need to be sure about something.”

Hyun Jong looked at Beop Jeong intensely. Beop Jeong nodded slowly. “Yes, ask.”

Hyun Jong took a breath, trying to stay calm. He spoke carefully. “Abbot, you said this isn’t just about you or Shaolin’s ambition. You said it’s for the greater good.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And you said your ‘greater good’ is to save even one more person. Do you still believe that?”

Beop Jeong nodded firmly, without a second’s pause. “Yes, Alliance Leader, I do.”

“Then, if you lead the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, and all the good sects in the world, can you promise that your goal will stay the same?”

“I promise.”

Was it too fast? Hyun Jong narrowed his eyes at Beop Jeong. “Abbot…”

“I’m not just saying words, Alliance Leader,” Beop Jeong replied, shaking his head slightly, as if he knew what Hyun Jong was thinking. “This isn’t something I decided quickly. It’s something I *had* to do. If I wasn’t completely sure, why would I even be here?”

“…”

“Alliance Leader, if people outside the Heavenly Union criticize me, I can ignore it. But if my own people, the Nine Sects, turn against me… that would hurt deeply.”

Hyun Jong sighed, understanding.

“So, how could I lie about this? How could I even doubt myself?” Beop Jeong asked, his voice firm.

“…I understand,” Hyun Jong said softly.

Hyun Jong took a deep breath. “And you also said that all the sects in the Heavenly Union will be treated equally. That must be true as well.”

“Amitabha,” Beop Jeong said strongly, like it was obvious.

“Becoming one is good. Staying separate is not good. But the worst thing is to become one and then break apart again.”

“…That’s true,” Hyun Jong agreed.

“It’s my job to stop that from happening, no matter what. Now we are together. We can’t let things get worse than before. I will think and think again about how to keep the Nine Sects united.”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly. Beop Jeong’s answer was perfect. He couldn’t argue with it. It was a perfect answer.

A small, sad laugh escaped Hyun Jong’s lips.

*I was looking for problems,* he thought.

Even though he knew what he had to do, he had been searching for any excuse to change his mind.

*It’s greed. Just greed.*

Without thinking, Hyun Jong looked at the others. Everyone was watching him. Their eyes… it made his heart hurt for no reason he could explain.

It hadn’t been long. Compared to his long, hard life before, the time with them was short, too short.

But even in that short time, their gazes felt heavy, full of meaning.

*What’s the right thing to do? What’s wrong?* His mind was still spinning, confused.

Hyun Jong knew he wasn’t a great man. But he couldn’t push this decision onto anyone else. Whatever he chose, someone would suffer.

*I don’t know what’s right… but…*

If this choice needed a sacrifice, if someone had to take the blame, it should be him. Even if he was wrong, the others could learn from his mistake and move forward. He would be like… the ground they walked on, helping them grow.

That was the burden of being the Alliance Leader. That was the best he could do for those who trusted him.

“Alliance Leader,” Beop Jeong said softly, as if he could read Hyun Jong’s mind.

“I understand why you don’t completely trust me.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Abbot, but…” Hyun Jong started.

“If I were you, I would be worried and unsure too, Alliance Leader. This is not an easy decision,” Beop Jeong said kindly.

“…”

“But, Alliance Leader,” Beop Jeong’s eyes became serious, darker than before. “Isn’t it the Sect Leader who carries all the weight?”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes and nodded slowly. Even though they were different kinds of leaders, he understood Beop Jeong’s words deeply.

The Sect Leader is the one who carries the heavy load. No matter how big or small the sect, it’s always the same.

When Hyun Jong opened his eyes again, his face looked calmer.

*It’s just my burden to carry,* he thought.

What he really needed to worry about wasn’t losing the Heavenly Union’s advantages. It wasn’t about losing their old reasons for being.

It was about losing hope. Losing the future.

He had to make sure the young fighters in the Heavenly Union didn’t get stuck on small problems and lose their chance to grow into something amazing.

*Wasn’t I always the one who survived the winter?*

He had hoped for spring, but maybe spring wasn’t here yet. He would have to wait. Wait for the day when these young people would bloom like flowers. Did it matter if they bloomed in the Heavenly Union or the Nine Great Sects?

He just had to help them grow, like soil nourishes plants, and wait for that day.

Hyun Jong looked at Cheong Myeong.

Cheong Myeong’s face was blank, showing nothing. He was hiding his feelings, so Hyun Jong wouldn’t worry.

But Hyun Jong knew. Under that calm face, a storm of emotions was raging.

*Cheong Myeong.*

Hyun Jong’s heart ached when he saw that look.

Cheong Myeong’s tight lips said everything: respect for Hyun Jong, and fierce determination for Mount Hua’s future. Mount Hua was all Cheong Myeong cared about.

Hyun Jong often wanted to ask him, *What are you holding onto so tightly?*

All Hyun Jong could do was try to take some of the weight off Cheong Myeong’s young shoulders.

“Abbot.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader?”

“…I will trust your intentions, Abbot.”

For a moment, Beop Jeong’s face changed, showing a mix of feelings. His fingers, resting on his robe, trembled just a little.

“I still don’t know if this is right or wrong,” Hyun Jong continued, “But… I think it’s the best I can do right now.”

“Alliance Leader!” Beop Jeong nodded strongly.

“It *will* be right. No, I will make it right. I will prove that uniting the good sects was the right thing to do, so the whole world will praise you, Hyun Jong Jinin, for making a great decision.”

“Just keep your promise,” Hyun Jong said, “The promise that this is all to protect more people. Just that promise.”

“I promise, I will,” Beop Jeong said firmly.

Hyun Jong nodded, his heart still heavy. These kinds of meetings just caused pain if they went on too long. It was better for him to decide now and take any blame himself.

Hyun Jong, his mind made up, opened his mouth to speak, even though it felt difficult.

“I, Hyun Jong, as the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Union… declare here…”

“Wait! Just a minute!”

Jo Gul, who had been fidgeting the whole time, suddenly yelled, almost screaming. “Wait, Sect Leader! No, Alliance Leader! At least let us…”

“Shut up,” Baek Cheon said, his voice sharp.

“Sasuk!” Jo Gul turned to Baek Cheon, his eyes blazing with anger.

“I said shut your mouth,” Baek Cheon repeated, his voice cold.

“But…!” Jo Gul stammered.

Anger exploded in Jo Gul’s eyes. It was raw, uncontrolled anger, the kind he shouldn’t show to his fellow students.

But Baek Cheon stared back, his eyes like ice, silencing Jo Gul. Their angry gazes clashed.

Silence hung in the air.

Finally, Jo Gul seemed to shrink back. He bit his lip so hard it bled. His head dropped.

The room felt even heavier now.

Everyone looked away, unable to watch. This moment felt like it showed everything about what was happening to the Heavenly Union.

Their hearts screamed *no*, but their minds told them it was necessary. They understood, sadly. Jo Gul, who couldn’t accept it, and Baek Cheon, who forced him to be quiet.

It was a painful scene. Even Cheong Myeong leaned against the wall, looking up at the ceiling, turning away.

In this tense silence, Baek Cheon was the only one who stayed calm. He watched Jo Gul’s shaking shoulders for a moment, then bowed his head to Beop Jeong.

“I apologize, Abbot.”

“No, no, don’t worry,” Beop Jeong said kindly, shaking his head. “It’s natural for things like this to happen.” He really did understand Jo Gul’s feelings. If he were a young Mount Hua disciple, he might have reacted even stronger.

What surprised him more was Baek Cheon’s incredible calmness in this situation.

*Mount Hua is truly something,* Beop Jeong thought.

These young people were growing up under Hyun Jong and Cheong Myeong’s guidance. If someone like Baek Cheon became the Sect Leader one day, Mount Hua would be even more powerful than it was now.

Then Baek Cheon looked up, staring directly at Beop Jeong.

“However,” he said.

“Hmm?” Beop Jeong asked, confused.

“I know this isn’t the right time,” Baek Cheon said, “But I need to be a little… impolite. I hope you can understand.”

“…Impolite?” Beop Jeong repeated, puzzled. He didn’t understand what Baek Cheon meant. Baek Cheon’s calm face and his words didn’t make sense together.

Without explaining further, Baek Cheon turned to Hyun Jong.

“Sect Leader,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

Hyun Jong sighed, a sound of sadness. “Baek Cheon-ah, this isn’t the time…”

“I have something to say,” Baek Cheon interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Hyun Jong’s face became serious instantly. He knew that Baek Cheon’s voice held a strength he had never heard before.

Baek Cheon, the best disciple of Mount Hua, was looking at him, steady and unwavering. With a look Hyun Jong had never seen before.