Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1187

Plop.

The sound of the shattered prayer beads echoed like thunder. The beads, now separated from the string, rolled across the floor with a weak, dry rattle.

Tang Soso’s eyes widened, and she subtly tugged at Yoo Iseol’s sleeve, staring at Baek Cheon.

“…Oh no, accident,” Tang Soso whispered.

Jo Gul asked, “Why did he do that?”

Tang Soso, panicking, tugged at Yoo Iseol’s sleeve again. “Do something! Stop him!”

Yoo Iseol looked at her calmly. “Stop what? It’s too late now.” Her face showed no surprise.

“Even the Abbot is being criticized!” Tang Soso thought, finally understanding the situation.

When Baek Cheon decided to act, he was unstoppable. People thought Chung Myung, the ‘Mount Hua Mad Dog’ who scared everyone, was the most dangerous. But in this moment, it was Baek Cheon, Mount Hua’s Righteous Sword.

The others watching were just as surprised as Tang Soso. Jo Gul’s jaw dropped, his mouth gaping wide. Yoon Jong’s usually narrow eyes were wide open, showing the whites all around.

‘Oh my god…’ Yoon Jong stared at Baek Cheon, shocked.

Yoon Jong knew that in all of Mount Hua, only Baek Cheon would dare to scold the respected Abbot Beop Jeong like this. No one else would even think of it.

All eyes turned to Beop Jeong, or rather, to Beop Jeong’s trembling shoulders.

The Abbot of Shaolin was shaking with anger. Shaolin was not just any temple; it was a symbol of strength and tradition, known throughout the land for its powerful monks and long history. Anyone who knew its power would be chilled to see its Abbot so enraged.

But the Mount Hua disciples felt something else besides fear. They felt…

Maybe Baek Cheon was too harsh, too direct. He could have said it more gently.

But no one stopped Baek Cheon. They all felt the same anger he was showing. It was the anger they had kept hidden for so long.

Mount Hua’s ancestors had been heroes, saving the world in the past. But now, people just ignored this, using Mount Hua for their own gain. It was so unfair! It made them furious.

And now, Baek Cheon had said it out loud, right to Beop Jeong’s face! It was what they had all secretly wished for, but never thought would actually happen.

Silence fell like a heavy blanket. Beop Jeong stared down at the floor, his face blank. The prayer beads, dark wood and smooth, were scattered around his feet like fallen tears.

No one dared to tell Abbot Beop Jeong about right and wrong. No one would try to teach him anything! Baek Cheon’s words were a huge insult to the Abbot and to Beop Jeong’s lifelong dedication to Buddhism.

But the reaction didn’t come from Beop Jeong. It came from Jongri Hyung, who was sitting next to him.

“This is ridiculous!” Jongri Hyung shouted, his face red with anger. He glared at Baek Cheon. “I’ve been quiet until now because it wasn’t my business, but this is completely unacceptable!”

“Just because you are the Acting Sect Leader, you think you can do anything? Even if you become the real Sect Leader, you can’t say things like that! You are too arrogant! You don’t understand how the world works!”

But then, Beop Jeong himself stopped Jongri Hyung.

“Enough, Sect Leader.”

“Abbot! But this is very rude…”

“Enough!”

Instantly, Beop Jeong’s roar, powerful and filled with inner force, stopped Jongri Hyung’s fierce protest. Jongri Hyung jerked back and turned to look at Beop Jeong.

Beop Jeong, who had been looking closely at the scattered prayer beads, raised his head and closed his eyes.

“…I apologize for raising my voice. But Sect Leader, while I appreciate your concern, this is not something for you to be angry about.”

“Abbot…”

“…Amitabha.”

Beop Jeong chanted the Buddha’s name with his eyes tightly shut. He repeated the prayer in a small voice, trying to calm himself before opening his eyes.

What he saw was Baek Cheon’s calm face, still without a change in expression. To some, it would be a very confident appearance, and to others, a completely arrogant one. What about to Beop Jeong?

“…That part…”

Beop Jeong paused slightly, took a deep breath, and said softly.

“Is my fault. I apologize.”

As soon as he said those words, the Mount Hua disciples gasped.

On the surface, Baek Cheon had pointed out Beop Jeong’s mistake, and Beop Jeong had admitted it. It might seem like nothing more than that.

But those who understood the deeper meaning of this moment knew it was much more important than it seemed.

Beop Jeong closed his eyes again, prayed silently, and then said.

“For a moment, I forgot that you are representing the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. The Sect Leader of Mount Hua should be treated with respect. It was my fault.”

The Mount Hua disciples exchanged glances.

‘The Sect Leader of Mount Hua deserves to be treated with respect.’ Beop Jeong’s words could mean different things. But they knew he wasn’t talking about Mount Hua’s current weak state.

There was only one clear meaning: Beop Jeong had finally recognized, publicly, what Mount Hua had done in the past.

No words could describe what the Mount Hua disciples felt hearing those words.

Baek Cheon spoke again.

“As a martial artist, I should apologize if I was too harsh. But now, I am speaking for the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. So, please understand, I cannot fully apologize.”

“…There is nothing to understand or not understand. That is the right thing to do.”

Beop Jeong nodded quickly. Tang Gunak watched Beop Jeong closely. He saw something change in the Abbot’s eyes. Others might not notice, but Tang Gunak could see it. The old Beop Jeong would never have reacted this way.

‘Mount Hua is changing more than just us,’ Tang Gunak thought. ‘Or maybe Beop Jeong is becoming his true self again, changed by Mount Hua.’ It was a good thing in the long run, but not right now. Baek Cheon still had to argue with Beop Jeong, who remained calm even after all this.

“However, Acting Sect Leader.”

Abbot Beopjeong spoke again, just as everyone knew he would.

“I said sorry for *how* I spoke,” Beopjeong began, his gaze sweeping over the tense faces in the room before settling on Baek Cheon. “Not for *what* I said. Now,” he continued, his voice hardening slightly, “Acting Sect Leader Jang, it is your turn. Answer my question.”

Beopjeong’s gaze, calm and steady as a mountain, settled on Baek Cheon.

“Acting Sect Leader Jang, you said this choice wasn’t just because you are young and act without thinking. So, you must have an answer ready that will satisfy me.”

Faces grew pale, some flushed red with worry, as Beopjeong spoke.

Did anyone really want to join the Nine Great Sects? Deep down, everyone wanted to keep the Heavenly Union together.

But no one dared to say they disagreed. There was no good reason to argue against Beopjeong’s arguments.

What reason could anyone give against joining forces to save as many people as possible?

“If you can’t answer, Acting Sect Leader Jang, you will become the villain who brought trouble to the world because of your own feelings. Do you understand this?”

He subtly used the word ‘villain,’ without making it sound too strong, to make Baek Cheon feel more responsible, pushing him into a difficult position.

But if anyone focused on that one small word, it would seem like they were just grasping at straws because they didn’t have an answer.

Everyone looked at Baek Cheon with worry.

“Of course, Abbot.”

Baek Cheon’s answer was not only bold but refreshing.

Beopjeong’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“So, you *do* have an answer?”

“That is correct.”

“I don’t understand, Acting Sect Leader Jang.”

Beopjeong stared at Baek Cheon, watching him closely.

“If you’re going to speak clever nonsense, I suggest you stop. It would hurt the good name of Mount Hua and damage the respect for the Sect Leader who put you in this position.”

Baek Cheon, who had been listening quietly, spoke to Beopjeong in a low voice.

“Abbot, are you not aware… Abbot?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“How your words don’t match each other right now.”

Baek Cheon shook his head as Beopjeong looked at him, asking what he meant.

“When you visited before, I thought you had changed. I was happy and respected you. Do you remember what you said then?”

“…Well, I said so much, I can’t remember.”

“No one is wrong. They just have different views. Even if no one is wrong, their goals might go in different directions if they have different views. You said this that day, Abbot.”

Beopjeong nodded. He had said those words himself. But why was Baek Cheon bringing it up now?

“The words you said that day gave me great understanding. I thought about my position and thoughts, and I understood what I must do. I guess this is what it means for a younger person to learn from an elder. But… what about you now, Abbot?”

Beopjeong frowned at those words.

“What are you saying…?”

“You are now saying that everyone who doesn’t agree with you is wrong, is a sinner, and is a villain who will bring misery to the world.”

Beopjeong inhaled sharply at that sharp criticism. The words he had planned to use to persuade them were now coming back at him like a dagger.

‘This one….’

Beopjeong stared intently at Baek Cheon with narrowed eyes.

It might not be so hard to point out the flaws in someone’s logic when watching from behind.

This was Baek Cheon’s first time as Acting Sect Leader. He carried a heavy weight of responsibility. And he was facing Beopjeong himself. Yet, Baek Cheon was calmly delaying his answer. He was finding the weaknesses in Beopjeong’s arguments.

“This is truly sad and disappointing. I thought I understood your reasons, but you are not acting in a way that matches those reasons.”

“I am…”

“As the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua, I just hope that the cause you speak of, Abbot, is not just used as a way to promote your own ideas.”

Beopjeong’s expression twisted slightly without him realizing it. But Baek Cheon, even while watching his reaction closely, just continued speaking calmly.

“But there’s no need to worry. I won’t let my distrust of your attitude make me distrust you. And I won’t use it as a reason to end our discussion.”

Everyone looked at Baek Cheon with surprise.

It was his first debate with the Abbot as the Acting Sect Leader. He had an advantage, but he was saying he would give it up? It was hard to understand.

But Baek Cheon’s next words made even those people agree.

“The reason is simple. I said that if I am not good enough, I can learn, and if I am lacking, others can help. If I said you weren’t perfect as a reason to reject you, I would just be contradicting myself.”

The expression on Beopjeong’s face changed slightly when he heard those words.

Depending on how you heard it, it might sound good, but didn’t it really mean that Beopjeong was someone who didn’t keep his word, while Baek Cheon did?

Whether he meant to or not, Baek Cheon kept speaking without giving them a chance to question it.

“There’s no other reason needed for Mount Hua to go a different way from Shaolin. If there is a reason, it’s only this: the cause you speak of, Abbot, goes completely against the teachings of Mount Hua.”

“…Against, you say?”

“Yes, Abbot.”

Baek Cheon slowly breathed in and declared firmly.

“I will make it clear here. As long as I am the Acting Sect Leader, Mount Hua will not turn away from those they can save to save everyone. If someone has to sacrifice themselves, that sacrifice will be Mount Hua’s.”

His voice was calm but very firm. A voice that would send a strong feeling through all of Mount Hua.

“That is what Mount Hua has always believed, and it is the discussion that Mount Hua must support.”

A gentle smile appeared on his lips.

“So please, Abbot, remember this too. This is the path that Mount Hua has walked until now…”

Baek Cheon’s gaze turned to the disciples of Mount Hua who were looking at him.

His gaze was warm and stern.

“And it is the path we will keep walking.”

The eyes of the Mount Hua disciples shone as if answering that voice.