Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1195

Rumors spread quickly through Heavenly Union Manor.

“I will leave now, Sect Leader.”

“Alright.”

The Mount Hua Sect disciples finished their meeting. They had been talking about Beop Jeong’s reaction and what to do, away from the other sect leaders.

Hyun Jong nodded and said, “We should talk more about the details and future plans later.”

“Yes, we will.”

Baek Cheon stood up, and the other Five Swords stood too.

“Goodbye.”

He bowed politely, turned, and left the room.

As soon as the door closed, Hyun Young spoke quickly. “No, Sect Leader!”

“…What are you going to complain about now?”

“Isn’t this too fast?”

“Ugh.”

Hyun Jong groaned. “Hey! Didn’t you get what you wanted? Why are you still complaining?”

“No. We didn’t talk about making Baek Cheon the Sect Leader, did we?”

Hyun Jong sighed. Elders should help with these decisions, but this is difficult. What should I do?

“Do you think I knew about this beforehand?”

“Yes, he said it suddenly, without asking me first.”

“Heh heh…”

Hyun Young stared at the door Baek Cheon had left, looking like he was thinking, ‘Who is this strange person?’

“People say young people these days are surprising…”

“He’s not young anymore. In the normal world, he would be old enough to have a family.”

“That’s true, but…”

Hyun Young made a clicking sound with his tongue, feeling bitter.

He understood. Hyun Jong probably had no choice. As Sect Leader of Mount Hua, he couldn’t refuse Beop Jeong’s idea.

But still, to make someone else Sect Leader so easily…

Hyun Young was the one who warned them not to take credit for the children’s success. But even he was surprised that Hyun Jong reacted like this.

“…Sect Leader can be a bit… unpredictable sometimes.”

Hyun Jong mumbled, looking embarrassed.

“I think I learned it from the young ones.”

“You always have been!”

Hyun Sang, who had been quiet, smiled gently and said to Hyun Jong, “I am a little worried.”

“About Baek Cheon?”

“Yes, Baek Cheon too, but I am more worried about Un-Am.”

“Hmm, you’re right. I will talk to Un-Am later.”

“I think you should.”

Hyun Young grumbled, looking annoyed.

“Is Un-Am the problem now? When Baek Cheon is going to be Sect Leader?”

“Not Sect Leader, but Acting Sect Leader, for now.”

“What’s the difference? What’s the difference between an Acting Sect Leader and a Sect Leader?”

“There is a difference. It will be less pressure than being called the full Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong looked silently at the door Baek Cheon had left, thinking.

‘This won’t be easy.’

Hyun Jong didn’t know what others thought. But he had been Sect Leader of Mount Hua for years. He knew how much responsibility came with that title.

It was his responsibility. He had to deal with it himself.

But he knew it was hard. He hoped that being called ‘Acting Sect Leader’ would make the responsibility a little lighter.

“Um… Sect Leader. Are you really going to make him Sect Leader? Really?”

“Tsk.”

Hyun Jong frowned and glared at Hyun Young.

“Why are you so worried today?”

“No, it’s just too sudden!”

“When has anything in Mount Hua been planned? Since Cheong Myeong joined, has anything been done slowly and carefully?”

“That’s true, Sect Leader, but…”

Hyun Jong chuckled.

“Why? Are you worried about being ignored and treated like an old man?”

“Oh, no, not at all! It’s what I’ve always wanted.”

Hyun Young shook his head and waved his hands.

“Honestly, Mount Hua has become too big for simple people like us from the mountains to manage. Because of the young ones, we have seen good things, eaten well, and lived comfortably. But did we really deserve it?”

“Yes, you are right.”

Hyun Jong smiled slightly.

“This was always going to happen. Does it matter if it happens a little earlier?”

His voice was calm, like he had accepted everything.

“The future of Mount Hua belongs to these young ones. They will face the results of Mount Hua’s choices. So, it’s right that they decide where Mount Hua goes.”

“Ugh.”

Hyun Young groaned. He sounded worried but also understanding.

“We just need to watch them and make sure they don’t make choices that are too reckless or too extreme.”

“Isn’t that what we have always done?”

“Yes. Nothing will change. It’s just that Baek Cheon will be the one leading now.”

It seemed like nothing had changed. But they all knew things would be different.

“You did the right thing, Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong looked at Hyun Sang.

“It’s easy to say you trust someone. But it’s hard to really show it. Sect Leader, you trusted and supported him completely, without hesitation. That will make Baek Cheon stronger.”

“……”

“You were great.”

“Ahem.”

Hyun Jong cleared his throat, looking embarrassed. His ears turned slightly red.

“You are praising me too much.”

Hyun Sang smiled gently, watching him.

‘He seems more relaxed now.’

Hyun Jong’s voice was much lighter than before. Hyun Sang realized how much pressure Hyun Jong had been under.

If Baek Cheon hadn’t stepped forward, Hyun Jong might have been overwhelmed by the pressure.

‘This is how it should be.’

Hyun Sang was about to nod.

“But…”

“Hmm?”

Hyun Young looked at the door, as if something was strange.

“Isn’t someone very quiet?”

“Someone? Who?”

“Who else could it be? The one who usually gets angry and loud first.”

“…Cheong Myeong?”

“Yes, him.”

Hyun Sang smiled gently.

“Even though he often causes trouble, doesn’t he become serious when it’s about important things for the sect?”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, he seems comfortable with Baek Cheon, even if he doesn’t say it. He even said Baek Cheon is good at fighting, which is a big compliment from him.”

Hyun Young tilted his head, looking puzzled, and then asked Hyun Jong,

“Do you think so too, Sect Leader?”

“Are you talking about Chung Myung?”

“Yes.”

“Well… the way I see it, he’s just…”

“Just?”

“seems to have lost his mind?”

A moment of silence followed.

The three of them stared at the door with worried eyes.

As Jo Gul left the room, he stared at Baek Cheon’s back as he walked ahead, then opened his mouth with a voice that sounded nervous.

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“Ahem!”

Baek Cheon turned around, and when their eyes met, Jo Gul coughed for no reason. Then he spoke again, carefully.

“Um… Martial Uncle. Earlier, I, I was…”

“What are you talking about?”

Jo Gul couldn’t bring himself to continue and scratched his head roughly. He wanted to apologize for his earlier behavior.

“I… I was wrong…”

“You!”

But at that moment, Yoon Jong scolded him with an unusually stern voice. Startled, Jo Gul looked at Yoon Jong with wide eyes.

Yoon Jong’s expression was serious. It was the stern face of Yoon Jong that he saw when he had committed a tremendous mistake.

“No, Senior Brother… What did I do wrong…”

“Don’t you know what you did wrong?”

“Yes?”

Yoon Jong, grinding his teeth, shouted again.

“How dare you talk to the Acting Sect Leader like that! You should be punished! Show him respect!”

Hearing those words, Jo Gul turned his head sharply to look at Baek Cheon.

The expression on Jo Gul’s face made Baek Cheon feel a chill and flinch back a step without realizing it.

“Aigooo! Acting Sect Leader!”

Jo Gul prostrated himself on the spot.

“This disciple! This disciple has committed a crime worthy of death! This disciple was wrong and dared to utter foolish nonsense to the Acting Sect Leader! Please cut out my tongue to atone for my sins!”

“Don’t do that.”

“Acting Sect Leader! Please, forgive me. I didn’t know the situation would turn out like this!”

“Don’t do it…”

At that moment, Jo Gul collapsed forward completely.

“The fault lies only with this disciple, so please forgive the other senior and junior brothers and only punish me. Acting Sect Leader!”

“Stoooooop…”

“You rascal! Didn’t the Acting Sect Leader tell you to stop!”

“Aigooo! How dare I disobey the Acting Sect Leader’s orders! If you tell me to crawl, I’ll crawl, and if you tell me to die, I’ll die!”

“Then just die, please. Please just…”

At that moment, a strange voice came from beside Baek Cheon.

“Acting Sect Leader.”

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon turned his head. Yoo Iseol was looking at him with a blank face, but she was shaking a little.

“Acting Sect Leader…”

“…”

“Acting Sect… *snort*.”

Unable to hold back her laughter, she turned her head sharply. At the same time, Baek Cheon’s smile disappeared.

“Junior Sister.”

“Acting Sect…”

“Yes.”

“Acting Sect Leader.”

Wow… so she had a talent for irritating people? I never knew that until now?

“Hehe. Congratulations, Martial Uncle!”

Tang Soso clapped her hands with a bright smile. Baek Cheon nodded awkwardly at her surprisingly normal and cheerful reaction.

“Yes, thank…”

“Oh my, oh my! Martial Uncle! Look at me! Acting Martial Uncle… Oh, is that not it either? Then what should I call you?”

“…”

“Yes? Martial Uncle? What should I call Martial Uncle now?”

Tang Soso smiled mischievously.

Baek Cheon helplessly covered his face with both hands.

‘This is why I didn’t want to do it.’

There was no way this group of teasers would leave him alone. He had stepped up because of the situation, but his stomach twisted at the thought of what he would have to endure from now on.

At that moment, Hae Yeon, unable to watch any longer, opened his mouth.

“It is not my place to speak as I am not a disciple of Hwasan, but it seems that everyone’s teasing is excessive.”

“Hye, Hae Yeon Monk!”

Baek Cheon looked at Hae Yeon with a touched expression. Yes, that person still…

“No, Acting Sect Leader.”

“Yes?”

“The rules here are strict, so the Sect Leader of a sect must not use polite words with me. From now on, just call me Hae Yeon… *cough*. Please… *sob*!”

Hae Yeon quickly covered his mouth with one hand. His bald head was trembling.

‘I just wish they would all drop dead.’

Wouldn’t eliminating these guys quickly be the best way to make things calm? I think most people would agree?

“Hahaha! Acting Sect Leader!”

“Wow! I’m seeing my Martial Uncle become the Sect Leader with my own eyes.”

“The sect is doing great! Hey, Chung Myung! Say something… Huh? Chung Myung?”

Only then did everyone’s gaze turn to Chung Myung. And at the same time, they flinched and shuddered.

“W-Why are you like that, Chung Myung?”

“Are you okay?”

Chung Myung, who had turned pale white, stood blankly with his mouth half-open. It was as if his soul, which had turned into crumbs, was falling out of his open mouth.

“Dong…”

“Dong?”

“Dong… Ryong is….”

“…”

“Dong… Ryong is the Sect Leader… and I’m a disciple…”

“…”

“I should die… I should just die… Why did I live until now to see this… I should just go out and die…”

“…”

“I should die. Aigooo… I should die.”

“Is that so, Martial Uncle?”

Baek Cheon, covering his face, muttered powerlessly.

“Someone, please take that bastard away and throw him out.”

“Aigooo! Of course! Whose order is it…”

“Die, you bastard!”

“Aaaaargh!”

Baek Cheon, finally losing it, pounced on Jo Gul.

Jo Gul’s screams and Chung Myung’s cries filled the manor for a long time.