Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1185

A long silence filled the room.

Everyone in the room still felt the effect of Baek Cheon’s last words.

Maybe this wasn’t a huge event. Just a change of leader in one of the many groups in the martial arts world.

But it was very easy to see who was most upset.

Beop Jeong’s eyes twitched. It was hard to believe he was the same man who had seemed so calm just moments before.

What on earth is this?’

He looked back and forth between Hyun Jong and Baek Cheon, his bewilderment clear on his face. It was utterly absurd.

Choosing the leader of a sect was never a decision to be made lightly. The sect leader held a weighty role that determined the future of the sect. Yet, to handle such a crucial matter in this manner…

Even if Mount Hua was an unconventional sect that had long abandoned formalities, this was not something that could be accepted as common sense. He almost wanted to believe that all of this was a play orchestrated by the disciples of Mount Hua. That would be more believable.

But there was someone who shattered even Beop Jeong’s vague expectations.

W-What?’ a voice choked out.

Beop Jeong turned and saw Chung Myung. Chung Myung’s face was pale, his eyes wide and staring at the ceiling. He looked like he was about to faint.

No… no, this can’t be happening,’ Chung Myung mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. Even if things get worse… there’s a limit! Oh… no…’

He kept staring up, his mouth open, saying things no one could understand. Mount Hua… doomed…’ He repeated it like a broken record, Mount Hua is doomed…’

Of course, Beop Jeong knew that Chung Myung possessed both the qualities of a chivalrous hero and a con artist. But even to Beop Jeong, this reaction was too difficult to dismiss as mere acting.

Then, did that truly mean that all of this was decided on the spot?

Are they out of their minds?’

Beop Jeong stared at Hyun Jong with a face that was beyond bewildered, almost frantic.

The Hyun Jong he knew was cautious to the point of being timid. Yet, for such a Hyun Jong to handle such a crucial matter so carelessly… It was preposterous.

No, that’s not it.’

Beop Jeong, who had been blankly staring, suddenly came to his senses.

Now was not the time to blame Hyun Jong, nor was it the time to assess the current situation. What mattered was that the deed was already done, and if he wasn’t careful, this situation could spiral out of control in an unforeseen direction.

Sensing a crisis, Beop Jeong uttered a short Buddhist invocation.

Amitabha.’

At that voice, which echoed clearly in the room, those who had been as if entranced turned their gaze towards him.

Beop Jeong tried his best to appear calm as he opened his mouth.

Alliance Leader,’ he began, trying to keep his voice calm. I know it’s not my place to say, but this… this feels very sudden.’ He worried he had spoken too strongly.

But Hyun Jong just nodded slowly. You think so, Abbot?’ he said, his voice quiet.

But this is a decision made by me, the sect leader of Mount Hua. The authority to choose and appoint the next sect leader rests solely with me, the current sect leader of Mount Hua.’

Beop Jeong’s lips pressed tightly together.

Hyun Jong was right. The decision to appoint the next sect leader of a sect rested solely on the will of the current sect leader. Even the elders who assisted the sect leader, or the Supreme Elder, could only offer their opinions on this matter; they could not force the sect leader’s choice.

In such a situation, what meaning could the words of an abbot from another sect possibly have?

But Beop Jeong could not back down here. Given his position, he simply could not afford to retreat.

However… isn’t the appointment of a sect leader the most significant event for a sect, one that naturally requires proper formalities?’

It is.’

Hyun Jong nodded again.

Therefore, he will not be the sect leader immediately, but rather the acting sect leader. The acting sect leader is a temporary position that carries out the authority of the sect leader regarding matters determined by the sect leader, so there is no need for formalities.’

That is…’

Even Beop Jeong found himself at a loss for words. From the beginning, it had been a near-forced objection, but now, even that forced argument had no room to stand.

And at that moment…

Acting Sect Leader, listen.’

Yes!’

Hyun Jong unsheathed the sword at his waist and handed it to Baek Cheon.

In the name of the Mount Hua Sect Leader, I grant Acting Sect Leader Baek Cheon of Mount Hua full authority regarding the negotiations with the Shaolin.’

I shall obey the command.’

Baek Cheon received the sword with a dignified posture and bowed his head. Without delay, he removed the plum blossom sword from his waist and tied the Violet Cloud Divine Sword given by Hyun Jong in its place.

What words could describe Beop Jeong’s feelings as he looked at that Violet Cloud Divine Sword?

That Violet Cloud Divine Sword was none other than the one Beop Jeong had found and returned to Mount Hua. Yet, that sword was now making Beop Jeong’s position difficult, wasn’t it?

He was beyond anger now.

Baek Cheon, with the Violet Cloud Divine Sword at his waist, rose from his seat and turned his body to face Beop Jeong. Behind him, the figure of Hyun Jong sitting in the upper seat overlapped.

At that moment, Beop Jeong had to exert tremendous mental strength to calm the facial muscles that were trying to twist on their own.

Amitabha.’

Beop Jeong, instinctively uttering the Buddhist invocation, closed his eyes.

Calm down.’

Come to think of it, there was no need to be flustered. Because such an absurd thing had happened before his eyes, he had become as frantic as if a fire had broken out, but when he thought about it, it was merely a change in the person he was talking to, wasn’t it?

It was true that Baek Cheon had shown an impressive side that even Beop Jeong had to acknowledge, but that was only an evaluation of Baek Cheon as a second-generation disciple.

If the standard of evaluation was not as a second-generation disciple but as a sect leader, there was no reason to give him a generous score.

When he thought about it, wouldn’t it be much easier to deal with a newly crowned, inexperienced sect leader than with Hyun Jong, who was as seasoned as could be?

Beop Jeong composed himself, ready to offer words of congratulations to Baek Cheon.

But Baek Cheon spoke first.

First, I apologize for the discourtesy I have shown to the Abbot.’

I knew it was inappropriate for the occasion, but because it was such an urgent matter, I unintentionally made the Abbot wait. I am sorry.’

Baek Cheon bowed his head lightly.

Beop Jeong had no choice but to nod. After all, there was nothing to be gained by complaining now. So, it was better to show generosity.

Thank you for understanding. I, Baek Cheon, as the Acting Sect Leader who has been delegated all authority by the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, will now state Mount Hua’s position.’

Hmm, Baek Cheon Dojang. No… Acting Sect Leader.’

Yes.’

It seems your words are somewhat inconsistent. Wasn’t it you who asked this humble monk to treat Hyun Jong Jinin not as the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, but as the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Union?’

Beop Jeong glanced at the others before continuing.

This humble monk came here to negotiate with the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Union, so how can the Sect Leader of Mount Hua represent the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Union and negotiate with this humble monk? That is not reasonable.’

It was a sharp point. But Baek Cheon smiled as if he had already expected Beop Jeong to say those words.

It seems you are misunderstanding something.’

…Misunderstanding, you say?’

Yes, Abbot. I am not representing this negotiation. I am here to deliver Mount Hua’s answer to what the Abbot proposed to Mount Hua.’

This place is…’

This place is, of course, a place to discuss the future of the Heavenly Union and the Nine Great Sects. But you would not say that Mount Hua cannot express its intentions here, would you? Since the Abbot made different proposals to each sect, we must also give our answer to those proposals, must we not?’

…Indeed.’

To summarize, Hyun Jong had delegated the position of Sect Leader of Mount Hua to Baek Cheon, but had not given him the position of Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Union. Therefore, Baek Cheon was not here as the representative of the Heavenly Union Leader, but as the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua, to answer the proposal that Beop Jeong had made to Mount Hua.

All the disciples of Mount Hua are deeply grateful for the proposal the Abbot has made.’

If that is the case, then that is fortunate. Then…’

However, Abbot.’

Baek Cheon smiled quietly. But the smile, which should have seemed endlessly gentle, strangely looked several times more resolute than a stern expression.

Mount Hua will reject the proposal made by the Abbot. Mount Hua will not return to the Nine Great Sects.’

Beop Jeong’s eyes widened.

He had been trying to draw out a good direction through gradual conversation. But this young pup had suddenly started by stating the conclusion from the beginning. And that, too, in the direction he did not want.

Wait, just a moment! Acting Sect Leader!’

And!’

Baek Cheon did not end there, but continued speaking in a resolute voice.

The rights to the Heavenly Union are shared by all the sects belonging to the Heavenly Union. Even if the sects currently belonging to the Heavenly Union share the same intentions as the Nine Great Sects.’

Baek Cheon looked at everyone in the room. Everyone’s gaze was directed towards him.

He knew the expectations in those eyes, the burden conveyed by that attitude. Baek Cheon accepted each and every one of them without avoiding them, and spoke with all his heart.

Only Mount Hua will remain in the Heavenly Union.’

That voice spread out clearly and distinctly, like a line drawn in one stroke on a blank sheet of paper.

Therefore, in the name of the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, I declare that there will be no dissolution of the Heavenly Union. Even if all the sects leave the Heavenly Union and only Mount Hua remains, Mount Hua will uphold the name of the Heavenly Union.’

Beop Jeong’s mouth opened.

What on earth was this young pup babbling about?

But unlike the shock that Beop Jeong felt, Baek Cheon, who was dealing with Beop Jeong, was calm.

Ah, of course, please do not misunderstand.’

…Misunderstand?’

What other misunderstanding?

Baek Cheon, who had been standing firm and speaking sternly, now spoke in a tone as soft as a gentle breeze.

Of course, the Abbot would not think so, but that does not mean that Mount Hua intends to antagonize Shaolin or the Nine Great Sects. We are simply walking a slightly different path towards the same destination.’

A warm smile hung on his confident face.

In other situations, it would be a good thing. But not now. Those who saw that smile, even the disciples of Mount Hua, felt somewhat twisted inside as they looked at that smile.

Even if we do not enter under the banner of the Nine Great Sects, surely the Shaolin of the world cannot embrace just one Mount Hua?’

To resolve the crisis, the cooperation of the entire Central Plains is needed. And as you know, I am just a young pup who has just become the Acting Sect Leader and does not know the ways of the world, am I not?’

The moment Beop Jeong’s mouth opened without him realizing it, Baek Cheon bowed his head with the utmost courtesy.

I ask for much guidance and instruction in the future, Abbot.’

Uh…’

Beop Jeong could not continue, dumbfounded.

Tang Gunak watched Baek Cheon completely outmaneuver Beop Jeong. He felt dizzy and closed his eyes.

Why…’

Why… are the people of the Mount Hua Sect… all like that? Why…

Everyone was feeling both joy and pain at the same time, thinking that the Mount Hua they knew had returned.