Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1194

Rumors travel faster than the wind. And some rumors are even faster than that.

The news that Baek Cheon had become the acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua and turned down Beop Jeong’s proposal spread through the Heavenly Alliance like a strong wind.

Of course, this was a confusing situation. It wasn’t that Baek Cheon wasn’t qualified to be Sect Leader. It was just that Hyun Jong had always seemed like the permanent Sect Leader of Mount Hua.

Usually, you don’t change the leader when things are going well. So why would Mount Hua, which was growing so quickly, suddenly make such a big change?

“What?” Some were shocked.

“Ah, no, why?” Some were confused.

“What are we supposed to do…?” Some were worried.

People reacted in different ways. Some were shocked, some confused, and some worried. But everyone felt shock and concern.

Everyone in the Heavenly Alliance knew Mount Hua was the leading sect. They worried that this sudden change in Mount Hua would affect the whole alliance.

But no matter how shocked they were, it was nothing compared to the Mount Hua disciples, who felt like they’d been struck by lightning.

They had gone to sleep peacefully and woken up to find their leader suddenly changed. The disciples of Mount Hua were speechless.

The disciples of Mount Hua stood in a small group, their faces blank. Dust motes danced in the sunlight that slanted through the temple courtyard, but no one seemed to notice the beauty of the morning. They just stared at each other, lost in a fog of confusion.

Disciples from other sects saw them huddled together, whispered, and hurried past. Normally, they would have ignored it, but now even those whispers made them uneasy.

“Then…,” Chung Hwa asked, his face dazed.

“What happens now?”

“What do you mean, what happens? Didn’t you hear that Senior Brother Baek Cheon has become the Sect Leader?”

“I know, but can we just say, ‘that’s how it is’? This is a change of Sect Leader, isn’t it?”

“…It usually wouldn’t, would it?”

“Even if Mount Hua is a sect without a proper lineage…”

“Hey! What do you mean, a sect without lineage! Our lineage is solid! It’s just fallen into ruin.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“It’s different!”

Chung Hwa pouted and turned to Baek Hyun.

“And… if you’re going to transfer the position of Sect Leader, shouldn’t you give it to Senior Uncle Un Am instead of Senior Uncle Baek Cheon? What happens to Senior Uncle Un Am then?”

“…I don’t know. Since the Sect Leader did it, they must have talked about it.”

“Well, yes, but…”

Everyone’s expression changed in a strange way.

They knew it wasn’t a bad thing. Baek Cheon was going to become the Sect Leader eventually anyway. It was just a matter of when; no one would object to Baek Cheon becoming the Sect Leader. It was just that something a little different than expected had happened.

But that tiny difference was making the situation complicated.

“Um… then…”

“Yes?” Im Ping tilted his head, looking puzzled.

“That Sect Leader… no, the original Sect Leader… Ah, no, not that either, that Hyun Jong… Uh, that’s not it either…”

Baek Hyun squeezed his eyes shut.

“Let’s just call him Sect Leader for now.”

“Then what about Senior Uncle Baek Cheon?”

“…Let’s call him Junior Sect Leader.”

“No, that’s not right…”

“Let’s just do that here for now!”

“Why are you getting angry?”

“Seriously!” Im Ping, startled, quickly spoke again.

“Then… what happens to the Sect Leader? Now that he’s given up the position.”

“He becomes the Supreme Sect Leader.”

“The Supreme Sect Leader?”

“Yes.” Baek Hyun nodded and explained more.

“Past leaders are called ‘Supreme.’ The Sect Leader becomes the Supreme Sect Leader, and the elders become the Supreme Elders.”

“Ah…” Im Ping was silent, thinking, then frowned.

“No, Senior Uncle, the Supreme Sect Leader is someone above the Sect Leader, right? Like Supreme Sect Leader or Supreme Elder.”

“That’s right.”

“Then what about the Yun-generation Senior Uncles?”

“…Huh?”

“What should we call them? They’re not elders, and they’re not Supreme Elders…”

“That… uh… uh?” Baek Hyun tilted his head, trying to figure it out.

“…Wouldn’t they become Supreme Elders? Usually, the titles of Supreme Elder or Supreme Sect Leader refer to the previous Sect Leader and elders, but it’s also a term of respect for those of a higher generation… probably?”

“Then what about the current Sect Leader? You said he becomes the Supreme Sect Leader?”

“Then the Sect Leader would become the Super-Supreme Sect Leader?”

“Super-Supreme?”

“Super-Supreme, you brat! Super-Supreme!”

“…Super-Supreme Sect Leader?”

“Th-that’s right, probably?”

Im Ping looked uneasy, with doubt written all over his face.

“Is that even an official title?”

“I-it is! It really is, I tell you!”

“Hmm…” Im Ping nodded, pretending to believe him.

“But Senior Uncle, then…”

“Yes?”

“Does that mean we add another ‘Super’ every generation?”

“As far as I know…”

“Then later, when Senior Brother Yoon Jong becomes Sect Leader, if the current Sect Leader is still alive, do we call him the Super-Super-Supreme Sect Leader?”

“…” Baek Hyun covered his face. He said words he never wanted to say.

“What kind of messed-up family tree is this…”

“…You said the family tree was solid.”

“It is solid, you brat! It is solid! What sect has three former Sect Leaders in the same generation! Where is there a sect with such a solid family tree!”

“Is it really that solid?”

“Seriously…”

At that moment, Chung Hwa, who had been quiet, spoke again.

“Um, but…”

“What is it now?”

“I understand the idea, but something’s strange. If you’re right, ‘Super’ means ‘former’ or ‘predecessor,’ right?”

“It’s more like respect…”

“Then what about Senior Uncle Unam?”

“…Huh? What are you talking about?”

“The elders automatically become elders, so we just add ‘Super’ to them, but Senior Uncle Un Am has never been Sect Leader, so shouldn’t we not call him the Supreme Sect Leader?”

“…”

“So in Mount Hua, we have a Super-Supreme Sect Leader, but no Supreme Sect Leader?”

“…”

“The Yun-generation are called Supreme Elders… but we can’t call the Sect Leader the Supreme Sect Leader.”

His mind was a mess. Feeling confused, Baek Hyun turned his head. He couldn’t figure this out. Someone else usually did, right?

“S-Senior Brother! Please do something… Huh? Senior Brother?” Baek Hyun tilted his head. Baek Sang, who was supposed to sort things out, was slumped in a corner, looking blank.

Why is he like that again?

“Senior Brother?”

“What does it matter, you brats…” Baek Sang’s soul seemed to leave his body.

“At this age… I’m going to become an elder… Me, at this age…”

“…”

“The guys from the neighboring sects that I became friends with are all disciples of the Great Generation… Why am I the only elder… Only me…”

“Ahem.” Baek Hyun cleared his throat softly, trying to show sympathy.

“No, it’s not that bad…”

“Now that Mount Hua’s reputation is growing, our names will spread, but what will they think if they hear ‘Baek Sang, Elder of Mount Hua’…”

“Wow, Senior Brother! Your Taoist name sounds like an old man! I think of a white-haired grandfather! You’re so dignified!” Baek Hyun, who had been excitedly talking, flinched at Baek Sang’s glare and looked down.

Only after hearing Baek Sang’s words did the Baek-generation disciples realize their situation, and they sighed.

“…An elder.”

“I haven’t even gotten married yet…”

“I know. If I’m an elder, will I even get marriage proposals?”

“I wouldn’t want to either…” The Mount Hua bachelors, who still had hopes, looked sad.

“What marriage are you talking about? You’re Taoists!”

“Hey! Mount Hua allows marriage!”

“Stop it. Chung Myung will get angry. He thinks this place is a shrine.”

“No, the rules say it’s okay, so why…”

“Excuse me.” Gwak Hwee slyly raised his hand. Everyone looked at him.

“I think you’re missing something.”

“Huh? What?”

“If a disciple gets married, they have to live in Mount Hua, right? They can’t leave.”

“That’s right. What’s your point?”

“Can you live in the same place as Chung Myung after getting married?”

“…” The Baek-generation disciples were speechless and looked up, imagining the future.

At the same time, they lowered their heads and smiled.

“Let’s not.”

“We can’t do it.”

“What did the person getting married do wrong? This is just causing trouble.”

How could they drag an innocent person into a living hell? And even if someone was willing to understand, who would want to see their spouse covered in dirt all the time?

“What’s the point of the rules? This is reality…”

“Quiet.” Baek Hyun waved his hand, annoyed, and changed the subject.

“Anyway, where is the Senior Brother who caused this? He should explain.”

“Who? Senior Uncle Baek Cheon?”

“Yes. The Sect Leader, I mean.”

“If it’s Senior Uncle Baek Cheon, he’s probably…” Gwak Hwee looked at the horizon, as if imagining something.

“I think he’s paying for what he’s done.”

“…Surrounded by a pack of wolves?”

“Probably.” Baek Hyun nodded slowly, imagining it.

Those devils wouldn’t let him off easy.

He sighed and glanced at the other disciples. Their faces showed excitement, worry, and concern.

He spoke for Baek Sang, who was out of it.

“The Sect Leader hasn’t confirmed anything yet. He doesn’t hide things, so he’ll explain what we need to know and why.”

“Yes, Senior Uncle.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

“So don’t waste time talking. It’s fine if it’s just us, but we’re not alone. Don’t look confused. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Everyone, go.”

“Yes!” As everyone left, Baek Hyun sighed and turned his head.

“Senior Brother.”

“…I’m the Lord of the Treasury Pavilion… Why me…”

“Anyone would think you’re a beggar! Get a grip and let’s go!”

“What is he thinking…”

“Who knows? He’s always like that.”

Dragging Baek Sang, Baek Hyun smiled.

‘Senior Brother Baek Cheon is the Sect Leader.’

He was also uneasy. He trusted Baek Cheon, but the Sect Leader had always been Hyun Jong.

But even with that concern, he felt excited. He couldn’t help it.

‘Mount Hua might become more interesting.’ He was sure the other disciples felt the same.