Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1189

Beopjeong had been glaring at Baek Cheon, ready to pounce. Then, he took a deep breath and slowly sat back down.

However, his eyes were even colder than before.

Didn’t I tell you? It’s all just empty words.

His voice was cold and sharp, like ice.

You say we can choose what seems impossible. Maybe that’s true. But the leader has to make that choice. The one that no one else can!

…

So, you’re comparing things that can’t be compared and making decisions that shouldn’t be made! Didn’t you, Sect Leader Delegate, say you would take responsibility? Are you saying it’s right to sacrifice a thousand lives to save one person?

Baek Cheon didn’t answer. Beopjeong frowned, as if to say, ‘See?’

It’s easy to talk about big ideas. But who will make up for the lives lost because of them?

Who gave the Abbot the right to make that choice?

Beopjeong’s eyes widened at Baek Cheon’s question.

Is it because he’s the Abbot of Shaolin that he can decide who lives or dies? Or is it because he’s Great Master Beopjeong that he can judge?

Listen here, Sect Leader Delegate!

To choose what cannot be chosen. To bear that responsibility.

Baek Cheon, who had been muttering, shook his head.

Don’t talk as if the Abbot is the only one who has ever carried that burden. Many have walked this path before, and our ancestors have thought about this over and over. They’ve already shared their wisdom with future generations.

…To future generations?

Beopjeong looked confused. What had their ancestors told them?

It’s something the Abbot knows well. We call that will ‘Hyeobui’.

Beopjeong’s face twisted. (Hyeobui is like our ancestors’ wisdom, passed down to guide us.)

That obvious…

What’s wrong with the obvious?

Baek Cheon’s eyes showed strong feeling.

Someone who thinks he’s wise measures everything. But the truly wise don’t judge what shouldn’t be judged! Do you think our ancestors didn’t know what the Abbot is saying? Do you think they were too foolish to talk about it?

…

Don’t just think with your head! Don’t just use logic, but follow what your heart tells you is right! The ancestors called that Hyeobui. And they only asked us to uphold that Hyeobui! It wasn’t because they were foolish, but because it was the only right answer.

Beopjeong’s face trembled.

They already knew what would happen when their descendants, trusting only in their own brilliance, judged values!

What on earth…

That’s why they emphasized Hyeobui above all else when teaching their disciples. They put what we should prioritize into that simple teaching. I ask you, Abbot! What did the great, lofty predecessors of Shaolin pass on to you?

Beopjeong clenched his fist tightly. His mouth was firmly shut. But Baek Cheon already knew the answer.

Of course. Shaolin was the place that emphasized Hyeobui and helping people more than any other sect. Wasn’t that why Shaolin had become the guiding star of the martial arts world (Kangho), and why it had been able to protect the martial arts world until now? (Kangho means the world of martial artists outside of normal society.)

What would those predecessors say if they saw the current Abbot? Would they truly regret that sorrowful self-sacrifice? Would they praise the choice made with tears of blood?

Shut up!

A lion’s roar burst from Beopjeong’s mouth.

This was the sound of his reason breaking, and the sound of the carefully maintained Hyeobui collapsing.

I’ve been listening and listening, and you’re saying anything! Are you saying that Shaolin has abandoned Hyeobui now?

Then are you following it?

What!

What do you think Hyeobui is, Abbot?

Does Hwasan know?

I don’t know well. But someone in Hwasan knows.

Baek Cheon immediately looked at one person.

Yoon Jong!

Yoon Jong was startled when his name was called out, and he looked up.

Are you talking about me?

Answer as a disciple of Hwasan. What is Hyeobui!

Hyeobui is…

Yoon Jong quietly closed his eyes. It was a sudden and confusing question, but he couldn’t ignore it. His answer had to be sincere.

Thus, Yoon Jong’s answer began from an unexpected place.

도가도비상도(道可道非常道). If you call the Tao the Tao, it is no longer the Tao, just as the moment you call Hyeobui Hyeobui, it is no longer Hyeobui.

His voice gradually calmed down.

The more you try to understand the Tao, the more distant it seems, like grasping at clouds. It’s not perfect like the world thinks. Hyeobui isn’t perfect either. Sometimes it’s strange, sometimes selfish, and sometimes unreasonable. That’s how people’s hearts are.

And?

But that’s why Hyeobui is Hyeobui. The Tao is about letting things be natural. Like water, it flows down naturally. Sometimes it twists and turns, sometimes it stays, and sometimes it scatters, but eventually it goes where it should. People’s hearts are the same. The heart is sometimes foolish, sometimes evil, and sometimes selfish, but in the end, it flows like water to a vast place.

A profound light flickered in Yoon Jong’s eyes, which had reopened.

So, in the end, Hyeobui is about believing in people. It’s about answering the call of my heart. If I can do that, I’ll eventually go to the right place.

Baek Cheon nodded and looked at Beopjeong.

Did you hear that?

But Beopjeong, still furious, snapped back.

What did I hear! It’s just obvious idealism! So, that great idealism will save those who are dying…

Oh, I really can’t listen to this.

Beopjeong was surprised by the sudden sarcastic comment and turned his head sharply. Lim Sobyeong, who was sitting by the door, slyly looked away, but continued to speak firmly.

If you care so much about helping people, why are you just staying in a temple and fighting? You could help more people by working for the government.

W-what are you saying…

Beopjeong looked at Lim Sobyeong with a dumbfounded expression. He was the Green Forest King, but just the head of a heretical sect. How could he say such things to Beopjeong?

That’s not wrong.

What made Beopjeong even more upset was Namgoong Dowi. The young leader of the Namgoong Clan, one of the Five Great Families, was siding with the Green Forest King.

If doing greater things and achieving greater goals is always the right thing to do, then isn’t the martial arts world itself a contradiction? We can exist because the government can’t reach every corner of the world and can’t look after everyone. If the Abbot really wants to discuss the greater good, wouldn’t it be better to make the country richer and stronger so that the martial arts world disappears, rather than discussing the world in Shaolin?

Young Patriarch!

Blood vessels bulged in Beopjeong’s eyes.

Are you all going to argue like this? With these silly, false arguments?

Stop it, Abbot.

A calm voice cut off Beopjeong’s words. It was Hae Yeon.

Abbot, you are wrong.

…What did you say?

I said, Abbot, you are wrong.

You…

Beopjeong looked bewildered.

Others could say that. But not Hae Yeon. No matter how many times Beopjeong had talked about kicking him out, Hae Yeon was someone he had raised and taught.

How could Hae Yeon say such a thing?

Right now, Abbot, you’re trying to deny their words and saying things you shouldn’t say.

What nonsense are you talking about?

What did the Buddha, Sakyamuni, do after becoming enlightened after a long time of training?

Beopjeong stared intently at Hae Yeon instead of answering. Hae Yeon explained.

After becoming enlightened, the Buddha thought for seven days and nights. He decided to share his teachings and help everyone. What was the first thing the Buddha did?

Again, there was no answer. As if he hadn’t expected one, Hae Yeon answered.

He preached to those he could reach and accepted those nearby as disciples.

Hae Yeon. Y-you…

Amitabha.

Hae Yeon clasped his hands together and continued.

The Buddha wanted to save the world, but he didn’t write books to reach every corner of it, or try to spread his will using his status. What the Buddha did for the suffering people was to share that lofty will with those nearby. Yes, that’s all.

Hae Yeon’s clear eyes turned to Beopjeong.

That word became scripture, and that teaching became Buddhist law. Isn’t that how it was passed down to you?

Beopjeong’s eyes wavered.

As the Abbot of Shaolin, he couldn’t deny these words.

According to your logic, what the Buddha did was a small thing. Just the act of a foolish person who didn’t see the bigger picture. The Buddha, who had realized that great Buddhist path, did nothing for all the people of the world. But Abbot, was that teaching truly useless?

…

So, those who think of themselves as Buddhists shouldn’t insult the Sect Leader Delegate’s will. Isn’t Buddhist teaching about starting by saving yourself? So how can you say it’s foolish to help those you can reach?

You villain…

If you are a Buddhist who tries to follow the teachings of the Buddha before you are the Abbot of Shaolin…

Hae Yeon’s voice shook Beopjeong.

Before making empty excuses that you will go to hell, you should have thought about what the Buddhist path truly is.

Hae Yeon declared with regret, but with determination.

Abbot… you are wrong.

Those words pierced Beopjeong’s heart like a sharp dagger.