Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 12

They walked along a dusty path, the only sound their footsteps and the rustle of leaves in the trees around Hwasan. Un-geom glanced down at the young boy beside him. “Say,” Un-geom began, his voice gentle, “you’re not scared at all, are you?”

Chung Myung just shrugged, kicking a small stone ahead of him. He didn’t look scared. In fact, he looked almost… bored. Most children arriving at Hwasan for the first time would be wide-eyed and nervous. But this boy just seemed a little annoyed to be walking so slowly.

‘He’s got spirit, that’s for sure,’ Un-geom thought, a small smile touching his lips.

Just then, Chung Myung suddenly asked, “When was this Baekmae Hall built?”

“Why do you ask?” Un-geom replied.

“I heard that martial sects usually form master-disciple relationships to teach,” Chung Myung said.

“Hmm,” Un-geom hummed.

“But everyone is gathered in a place like that, so it feels a bit odd,” Chung Myung added.

Un-geom’s eyebrow twitched slightly. ‘He’s hitting a sore spot,’ he thought.

In the past, Hwasan always taught students through master and student pairs. A new student would be assigned to a senior master, who would teach them Hwasan’s rules and techniques.

These master-disciple relationships were the foundation of the great sect that was Hwasan.

The decline of this system was a direct result of Hwasan’s own downfall.

“There’s nothing strange about it,” Un-geom said. “They simply thought it was more efficient.”

“Then, does Grand Uncle Master also stay at Baekmae Hall?” Chung Myung inquired.

“…No,” Un-geom answered.

Chung Myung nodded slightly, and Un-geom frowned at the reaction. ‘Strange fellow,’ he thought.

You couldn’t find an answer to the question in such a reply. Yet, Chung Myung nodded as if he understood and paid no further attention. It wasn’t clear what Chung Myung understood.

Basically, all new students at Hwasan were sent to Baekmae Hall. Un-geom, as the one in charge, was the first to see the new disciples. He had seen many children, but this one felt different. What was it? He couldn’t explain it exactly, but it was an unchildlike composure.

‘An interesting fellow has come,’ Un-geom mused.

While Un-geom was observing Chung Myung, Chung Myung was thinking about something else entirely.

‘They ran away,’ he thought.

He could roughly guess the situation. Looking at Hwasan, it was clear that there were very few people. Compared to when he charged into the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, the number of Third-Class Disciples had decreased a lot.

Even if that number had stayed the same, Hwasan wouldn’t be so empty. In other words…

‘All those blasted guys left Hwasan.’

The number wouldn’t have decreased all at once.

But people always try to escape from a sinking ship. If one or two abandon Hwasan, eventually there will be a shortage of teachers.

It would be fine if those who didn’t take disciples left. But if those who had been in Hwasan for a long time and even raised disciples turned their backs on Hwasan, the remaining disciples would have nowhere to go. There was a limit to how many students other masters could take.

That’s why this system must have come about as a last resort. If they gather the children in one place and teach them as a group, they don’t have to worry about the number of masters decreasing.

“Tch,” Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

‘Who cares anyway?’

The fact that things have changed from the past is not something to be criticized. Unlike the rigid Sect Leader, Chung Myung was practical. It was more important to get results than to cling to tradition.

If they created Baekmae Hall and found a way to keep Hwasan going, that was good enough. Although he felt a bit bitter…

‘The hearts of the children who had to create Baekmae Hall must have been torn even more.’

Chung Myung felt a little depressed because he could guess how they felt.

‘No. This is not the time to be thinking like this.’

It was enough for others to be depressed. Chung Myung’s job was not to be swayed by emotions, but to make Hwasan a great sect again.

‘The Third Training Hall, is it.’

The Third Training Hall came into view. A tall stage overlooked a wide training field, and the front of it was filled with small children.

‘Oh?’

Chung Myung tilted his head.

There seemed to be more Third-Class Disciples than he thought. Compared to the past, it was still a small number, but considering Hwasan’s current situation, they seemed to have received quite a few disciples.

“Forward, swords!” someone commanded.

“Taaah!” the children shouted.

With the command, the swords were all pointed forward at once.

‘Oh?’

Chung Myung watched the scene with a curious expression. Hwasan was quite a liberal sect. It was sometimes criticized for its worldly ways, but that wasn’t because it didn’t follow the teachings of Taoism. They believed that forcing the teachings of Taoism on disciples was also against the Tao.

Because of this, it was rare to see such large-scale training scenes in Hwasan. They had a sense of belonging, but they respected each other’s differences. That was the Hwasan that Chung Myung knew.

‘How strange.’

It was certainly interesting to see over a hundred people learning the same sword form in such a Hwasan.

Even Chung Myung had never done this kind of training, except when matching swords with his fellow disciples to learn the Seven Stars Sword Formation. And that formation was just a sword formation that only seven people could perform.

“Return swords!”

Whoosh!

Over a hundred swords were turned over at once, flashing in the light.

Chung Myung exclaimed as he watched the scene. “Wow…”

“Are you amazed?” Un-geom asked, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

“…”

“There’s nothing to be surprised about,” Un-geom continued. “If you train hard, you will soon be like those children.”

“…Yes,” Chung Myung answered.

Chung Myung’s answer sounded a bit strange, but Un-geom thought that Chung Myung was so fascinated by the scene that he didn’t notice. He was rather pleased.

Of course, Chung Myung’s thoughts were the exact opposite.

‘What are they doing?’

As time went on, Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed.

“First sword!”

The children in uniforms all rushed forward at once and thrust their swords forward. The sword move was accurate and powerful, not what you’d expect from children.

“That…”

“Hmm?” Un-geom responded.

“What kind of sword is that?” Chung Myung asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Ah… The swordplay.”

Un-geom nodded as if he understood and answered, “The swordplay that your fellow disciples are performing now is called the Six Harmonies Sword.”

“Six, Six Harmonies?”

“That’s right. To be exact, it should be called the True Six Harmonies Sword. It is a sword technique that the ancestors have modified to be more practical from the Six Harmonies Sword that has been passed down in Hwasan. It is the foundation of all Hwasan martial arts.”

“…”

“It may not be easy to learn, but if you work hard, you will surely see results,” Un-geom said. “You should go to the back and stand with them. It may be awkward at first, but think of today as getting used to the atmosphere. Detailed instruction will be given within two weeks.”

Chung Myung walked to the back with a dazed look.

‘He must be frightened,’ Un-geom thought, frowning slightly as he watched him.

‘These days, children don’t have any spirit.’

Well…

Un-geom glanced at the children. It would be stranger if a young child wasn’t frightened by seeing his fellow disciples training with real swords. Even fearless children who talk about being the best in the world from the moment they enter the school tend to tremble from their fingertips the moment they see a real sword.

He would get used to it, they said. But looking at the clumsy movements of the children in front, it seemed best to keep his hopes low. Very low.

Chung Myung stood stiffly in the back row, his brow furrowed in a deep frown. He watched the training with narrowed eyes, and his thoughts were far from agreeing with the instructor.

‘What on earth are these people doing?’ he thought, his jaw tightening.

Practical? This was supposed to be *practical*?

*P-P-Practical?* The word echoed in his mind with bitter sarcasm.

A growl rumbled in his chest. ‘Argh, I swear, I’ll throw them all in the latrine!’

What is introductory martial arts?

Introductory martial arts teach children about martial arts. Children are like blank slates. It’s like teaching them the ABCs.

But what happens if you try to teach children the Analects of Confucius instead of the ABCs, just to teach them quickly?

They might get ahead for a moment. Just for a moment. They might be able to recite the Analects when others can’t. But can those children truly understand the deep meaning of the Analects?

This is ruining the children.

‘No. Well, fine, whatever.’

They must be desperate enough to resort to such tricks. The Analects are too much. The practical secrets contained in the Six Harmonies that those children are practicing aren’t that profound.

But!

“If you’re going to teach, at least make it look like you know what you’re doing.”

“Huh?”

“Um?”

As if his thoughts had spilled out, the children around him turned to look at Chung Myung. Chung Myung, seeing their blank stares, quickly shook his head. The children looked at him with suspicion.

Just then, the Second Generation Disciple on the platform shouted loudly.

“Who’s daydreaming during training!”

“Ah!”

“S-Sorry.”

“All those who were daydreaming, horse stance!”

“Ugh.”

“Ugh!”

The children groaned and took the horse stance. They raised their swords above their hands and bent their knees. Chung Myung clicked his tongue at the sight.

Then, the Second Generation Disciple’s gaze turned to Chung Myung.

“And you?”

“Yes?”

“Why aren’t you doing the horse stance?”

“I wasn’t daydreaming?”

“…”

“…”

The Second Generation Disciple glared, then nodded. He wasn’t wrong.

“Continue! Basic Swordplay!”

The commands continued to be barked out.

Chung Myung looked up at the sky, watching the Second Generation Disciple demonstrating on the platform.

The sky was so blue.

Clear without a single cloud… It was like looking at the future of Mount Hua, which had nothing.

‘How am I supposed to change this?’

Becoming the greatest in the world alone isn’t that difficult. He has deep experience and a long future ahead of him. It’s harder for him not to become the greatest in the world.

But not Mount Hua.

No money. No people. The martial arts are a complete mess. Changing Mount Hua as a Third Generation Disciple is harder than a worm becoming a dragon.

“Haa…”

Then, a sharp voice reached his ear.

“Hey.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re a newbie, right?”

“…”

A newbie among the Third Generation Disciples. How far has this sect fallen?

“So?”

“I’ll see you later. You won’t get away with this.”

Chung Myung licked his lips.

“Everything’s fine, but let me ask you one thing.”

“Is this guy crazy? Don’t you know your place, speaking informally?”

“I get it, so just answer me. Then I’ll let you do whatever you want.”

“What?”

“Besides this, what else do you learn here?”

“This?”

“That Six Harmonies thing or whatever.”

“After learning the Six Harmonies Sword, we learn the Seven Sages Sword. After that, we graduate from the Plum Blossom Hall and learn the So Cheong Swordplay.”

“So Cheong?”

“Yes. After that, we can learn the Taeul Mystical Sword, which can be said to be the essence of Mount Hua’s martial arts.”

“…Taeul Mystical Sword?”

“Yes!”

“Taeul Mystical?”

Chung Myung’s eyebrows began to twitch uncontrollably.

No.

It can’t be.

Surely not.

“Haa, just one more question.”

“What?”

“When do you learn the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique?”

“…What’s that?”

“The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique! The essence of Mount Hua, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique!”

The child who was answering frowned.

“What are you talking about? There’s no such sword technique in Mount Hua.”

“…There isn’t?”

“Yeah. I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Kkeureuk.”

A strange sound escaped from his mouth.

“T-The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique doesn’t exist? And the guys who should be learning that are learning the T-Taeul Mystical Sword?”

Chung Myung’s eyes were bloodshot.

– Disciple. This Taeul Mystical Sword has too little Taoist inclination and its power is weak. I think it would be fine to completely remove it from Mount Hua’s martial arts. What do you think?

– It’s a sword technique that can’t be used at all. Let’s boldly discard it.

– Still, it was left behind by an immortal…

– Then, how about removing it from the library so that the children don’t take an interest in it?

– Hmm. That would be good. Let’s do that.

‘Senior Brother.’

The children are learning the Taeul Mystical Sword. Senior Brother.

Argh, damn it. Rebuilding Mount Hua, my foot. I’m going to collapse from frustration before I can rebuild Mount Hua. Me!

“Who’s talking again! You brats, come out here right now!”

“Ah, damn it. I’ll see you later! Seriously!”

“…”

A huge vein popped out on Chung Myung’s forehead.