Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1192

Jongli-hyung’s voice was sharp. “Abbot.”

Beopjeong didn’t respond at first.

“Abbot!” Jongli-hyung called again, his voice full of frustration.

Slowly, Beopjeong turned to look at Jongli-hyung, whose face was flushed. Beopjeong asked calmly, “What is it, Sect Leader?”

“Are you really going to accept this defeat so quietly?”

“Then what else can I do?”

Jongli-hyung’s frustration grew. “Isn’t this something we shouldn’t just let go? How can you be so calm after seeing their arrogance?”

Beopjeong remained silent.

Jongli-hyung continued, his eyes burning with anger. “This proposal was made by you, Abbot! No, it was a proposal from all Nine Great Sects!”

“Frankly, Abbot, was that really a good proposal? We offered our help, even though we had to listen to harsh words. How can you just reject that offer?”

Beopjeong smiled gently. “Isn’t it a good thing?”

“What do you mean?”

“As you get older, there’s nothing more enjoyable than seeing passionate young people. And because Shaolin is a Buddhist temple, it’s rare to see such strong determination.”

“Is that what this is about…?”

“Let’s leave it at that,” Beopjeong said, shaking his head.

“It’s unfortunate that something easily solved has gone wrong. But from our point of view, it’s not all bad.”

Jongli-hyung looked confused. “How can this not be bad? We failed to bring them in, and you were openly humiliated!” He paused. “No, I didn’t mean that…”

“Humiliated, yes,” Beopjeong agreed.

“I didn’t mean it like that…” Jongli-hyung mumbled, avoiding Beopjeong’s eyes.

No matter how he tried to make it sound better, the truth was that Beopjeong, the Abbot of Shaolin, had been lectured by Baek Cheon, the acting sect leader of Hwasan, and had been defeated and left feeling ashamed.

The Abbot of Shaolin humiliated by the young acting sect leader of Hwasan? How happy would the gossips be? The rumor would spread throughout the Jianghu in days.

“Thinking about it that way, it is a bit embarrassing,” Beopjeong admitted.

“Abbot?” Jongli-hyung stared, confused. Beopjeong didn’t seem embarrassed at all. He even seemed relieved.

“How is this not a bad thing?” Jongli-hyung asked again, unable to understand.

“Hasn’t everything fallen apart? The Cheonwu Alliance will walk a different path from the Nine Great Sects. The Jianghu is now more divided than ever.”

Beopjeong was silent.

“The SaPaeryeon and the Demonic Cult are watching the Central Plains, and we’re divided. How can such a strange thing happen?”

“Amitabha,” Beopjeong chanted calmly.

Jongli-hyung raised his voice, frustrated. “There’s no rule that the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families must always be friendly. They’ve often been enemies! But when a crisis hits the Jianghu, they unite. That’s why they’re the Nine Great Sects.”

“That’s right. That’s how it was,” Beopjeong agreed.

“But how can they say such outrageous things? Even if they’re young, there’s no excuse!”

Beopjeong smiled gently. “Sect Leader.”

“Yes?”

“When the younger generation makes mistakes out of ignorance, it’s the fault of the older generation.”

“That’s…”

“In the end, those words are insulting myself. We failed to teach and persuade them, so who else is to blame?”

Jongli-hyung cleared his throat, uncomfortable. Beopjeong smiled again.

“And the words of Hwasan’s acting sect leader aren’t just reckless or ignorant. They’re not spoken because they don’t know, but because they know too much.”

“What does that mean?”

Beopjeong shook his head. “Let’s just watch.”

“Abbot, this is urgent!”

“The more urgent, the more you should take a longer path.”

Jongli-hyung bit his lip, unable to understand Beopjeong’s carefree attitude.

“Abbot, do you really not know?”

“Know what?”

“How much damage you’ve suffered because of this breakdown. Even now…” Jongli-hyung stopped.

Beopjeong finished the sentence. “Now that my position is weak, I proposed a pointless conference and was humiliated. So people will look down on me even more?”

Jongli-hyung was silent.

“It’s alright,” Beopjeong said.

Jongli-hyung didn’t answer. Beopjeong continued, “Those things aren’t important. The Nine Great Sects are isolated.”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

A strange word interrupted Jongli-hyung. “In this situation, what could be better?”

Jongli-hyung blinked, confused. “Abbot, did you say something wrong? How is this good? It’s the worst thing that could happen.”

Beopjeong shook his head. “Things change depending on how you see them. Think about it, Sect Leader. The Nine Great Sects have less power and can’t do what they want. Right?”

“Yes! That’s what I’m saying!”

“So it’s perfect.”

Jongli-hyung stared at Beopjeong, bewildered. A disrespectful thought crossed his mind: ‘Has he gone mad after being humiliated?’

Abbot Beopjeong just chuckled, watching Jongli Hyeong’s face.

“It seems my words are hard to understand, Head Disciple,” he said calmly. The room was filled with the quiet scent of incense, and sunlight streamed through the paper window.

“Frankly, yes, they are,” Jongli Hyeong admitted. He felt a little rude saying this to his Abbot, but it was true.

“Head Disciple, do you know why people are cheering for the Cheonwu Alliance and supporting their actions, instead of the Nine Great Sects?” Beopjeong asked, his eyes steady.

“Well…” Jongli Hyeong started, hesitating.

Jongli Hyeong couldn’t answer right away, not because he didn’t know the answer, but because he didn’t want to be the one to say it.

“Is it because of chivalry?” Beopjeong prompted.

Jongli Hyeong remained silent.

“Yes, that’s part of it, of course,” Beopjeong continued. “But that’s not the whole story. The reason people are supporting the Cheonwu Alliance is because the Nine Great Sects are strong and powerful. In the *Jianghu* (the world of martial artists), there were powerful groups called the *Nine Great Sects*. Now, a new group, the *Cheonwu Alliance*, is challenging them. The *Wicked Blood Alliance* is a dangerous enemy to both.”

“Ah…” Jongli Hyeong said, finally understanding. He nodded quickly.

It might be something that people would criticize if they heard it, but Jongli Hyeong knew that Beopjeong’s words were close to the truth.

People around the world saw the Nine Great Sects as very strong and in charge. They were seen as good groups protecting the martial arts world. But some people were jealous of their power.

“Then, what you’re saying, Abbot…” Jongli Hyeong began.

“Yes, Head Disciple. Because of what’s happening, the Nine Great Sects will no longer be powerhouses,” Beopjeong said calmly.

He continued, “The *Wicked Blood Alliance* has taken over Gangnam, and the Cheonwu Alliance has taken over the western part of Gangbuk. Because of this, the Nine Great Sects’ power is now less than half of what it used to be.”

Jongli Hyeong listened carefully.

“So, people won’t see the Nine Great Sects as groups who can do whatever they want anymore. And that will be true for those who belong to the Nine Great Sects,” Beopjeong said. A small, knowing smile appeared on his face.

“When there’s an enemy outside, people inside tend to unite. Do you know why the Nine Great Sects haven’t united until now?”

Jongli Hyeong paused to think, then answered, “Because the enemy… wasn’t a real enemy.”

“Yes, that’s right. Even though they were hurt once, the Wicked Blood Alliance wasn’t strong enough to bring down the Nine Great Sects. But what about now?” Beopjeong asked. “Now that the Cheonwu Alliance has broken away from the Nine Great Sects, the Wicked Blood Alliance is no longer an easy enemy. Also, the Nine Great Sects now have to compete with the Cheonwu Alliance to be the leaders of the righteous sects.”

Jongli Hyeong absorbed this information.

“No one wants to lose what they have. The moment I announce today’s results, the sects within the Nine Great Sects that have been holding back will have to change their minds.”

“Will it really be like that?” Jongli Hyeong asked, still unsure.

Beopjeong closed his eyes and said a Buddhist prayer.

“Just look at the sects in Sichuan. Cheongseong and Emei are threatened by the Wicked Blood Alliance in the south and the Cheonwu Alliance in the north. Can they survive without the Nine Great Sects protecting them?”

“Jeomcang must be in an even worse situation. Jeomcang is in Yunnan,” Jongli Hyeong added.

“Yes, that’s right,” Beopjeong agreed.

One of the main reasons why the sects in Sichuan had gone against Beopjeong was because of secret power struggles within the Nine Great Sects.

Historically, the sects around Henan, like Shaolin, Wudang, and Huashan, had much more power than the sects in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Qinghai.

The sects that rebelled as Beopjeong’s power decreased were all outlying sects. But now, they won’t be able to continue fighting among themselves.

They wanted to get a little more power than Shaolin. But now, they might lose everything to the Cheonwu Alliance. What choice do they have?

“Then, the immediate problem will be solved,” Jongli Hyeong said.

“That’s not all,” Beopjeong replied, shaking his head slightly.

“The Nine Great Sects had to think carefully every time they made a choice because they were strong. Everyone was ready to criticize them. But now, the Nine Great Sects aren’t as strong, so even if they try to survive in their own way, there won’t be as much criticism.”

“Ah…” Jongli Hyeong murmured.

“The Cheonwu Alliance has made chivalry so important that people will now look to them, not the Nine Great Sects, whenever they need help. It’s a little pathetic, but it gives us a reason to step back,” Beopjeong said with a faint smile.

“But isn’t being a little pathetic something we can handle? So, Head Disciple, don’t try to hide today’s events. Instead, tell everyone about them. Say that Shaolin’s Beopjeong was completely humiliated by Huashan’s young Head Disciple Delegate, his idea was rejected, and he was chased away.”

“Is that really okay?” Jongli Hyeong asked, surprised.

“It’s not just okay, it’s what we have to do,” Beopjeong insisted.

“Ah, I understand, Abbot,” Jongli Hyeong said.

“Amitabha,” Beopjeong said softly, chanting a Buddhist prayer.

They wouldn’t know what they had done. They would realize it as they watched the situation change soon.

‘Listen, Head Disciple Delegate. Every action has consequences. The Cheonwu Alliance, not the Nine Great Sects, will have to face those consequences now.’

Beopjeong was just speeding things up a little. That was enough for now.

“But, Abbot…” Jongli Hyeong began.

“Yes?” Beopjeong asked.

Jongli Hyeong, who had been watching Beopjeong’s face, spoke again. “But in the end… now that we have to fight the Wicked Blood Alliance, the fact that the Cheonwu Alliance has completely separated from the Nine Great Sects…”

Beopjeong shook his head.

“It seems like a detour now. But in the end, things will happen as they are meant to,” he said.

Jongli Hyeong was silent.

“The reason why a brave young man becomes a cautious old man is not because he isn’t brave or chivalrous anymore. It’s just… that the world is not easy enough to just follow ideals,” Beopjeong explained.

“I suppose…” Jongli Hyeong said.

“If we understand why our predecessors had to compromise, we will be able to accept a Cheonwu Alliance that has learned how the world works, instead of a reckless, unpredictable young Cheonwu Alliance. In the end, we will find a better way instead of just taking a detour,” Beopjeong concluded.

“I understand,” Jongli Hyeong said, nodding as if he understood everything now. He himself thought that Baek Cheon’s ambition wouldn’t last long.

It would be much better to absorb those who have become flexible than to absorb such a stubborn Cheonwu Alliance.

However…

“But, Abbot,” Jongli Hyeong said.

“Yes, Head Disciple?” Beopjeong responded.

“That… I’m just asking, but if… just in a very unlikely chance, if the Cheonwu Alliance really carries out their will to the end, then…” Jongli Hyeong trailed off, anxiety in his voice.

What will happen?

Beopjeong slowly closed his eyes.

“Then…” Beopjeong said, pausing for a long time with his eyes closed, finally looking up at the sky. The sky was a dazzling blue.

“It will be one of two things. Either everyone will perish together. Or…”

Jongli Hyeong waited.

“Or, like life blooming again from ashes, a world different from what it has been will appear,” Beopjeong finished.

Jongli Hyeong suddenly shivered. The echo of Beopjeong’s dreamlike voice lingered in the air.