Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1202

A voice filled the quiet room. “Then,” it said, drawing out the word, “the last spot is for…”

Every head in the room turned at once. All eyes were now on Tang Gunak.

Groups like Mount Hua, the Namgung family, the Green Forest, and even two of the powerful Five Outer Palaces had already chosen who would go. That meant only the Dang Family was left to decide.

“Patriarch?” someone asked, breaking the silence.

Tang Gunak felt everyone staring at him. He cleared his throat loudly, trying to act calm even though he felt a little trapped.

“The Dang Family…” he began.

“Are you going, sir?” someone asked.

“Everyone else is sending their sect leaders,” another added.

Tang Gunak’s eyes twitched.

“Now… ahem,” Tang Gunak said. “Right now, I am here not as the Dang Family’s leader, but as the vice-leader of the Heavenly Union, sorting out the situation. So, any matters related to the Dang Family should be directed to the young leader, not me.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?” someone questioned.

“Mount Hua distinguishes between the acting sect leader and the Union Leader’s roles, so shouldn’t the Dang Family do the same?” Tang Gunak countered.

It seemed like he was trying to avoid going, and it was hard to argue with him. Everyone then looked at Dang Pae, who was sitting in a corner.

“Uh… well…” Dang Pae started, feeling the intense stares.

“Of course, there are many excellent people in the Dang Family who could represent us, but…”

Before he could finish, the Five Swords were whispering among themselves.

“Many?” one asked.

“There used to be many. But the leader joined hands with Chung Myung and shoved them all into the back rooms,” another replied.

“Ah, you mean the closure of the Council of Elders. Then there aren’t any,” the first one concluded.

Dang Pae tried to ignore their voices and spoke again. “But… considering the fairness between groups and the important meaning, shouldn’t the leader himself from the Dang Family…”

At that moment, Dang Pae felt a chill and quickly turned his head. Tang Gunak’s face had momentarily looked scary before quickly returning to normal.

“Himself?” Dang Pae repeated.

“Ah, no…” Dang Pae, sweating, continued, “It’s true that he should go… but, as you know, if our leader goes, there might be some problems…”

“What problems?” someone asked.

“…Something, perhaps?” Dang Pae answered vaguely.

“Pardon?”

Feeling another murderous intent stabbing him in the back, Dang Pae tried hard to think and stammered, “Well… right now, the leader is effectively the vice-leader of the Heavenly Union… and since he’s handling so many roles, if he leaves his post, several problems will arise in his work…”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong started whispering again.

“Senior Brother, what exactly does the Heavenly Union do these days?” Jo Gul asked.

“…I wouldn’t know. But there isn’t really anything going on right now, is there?” Yoon Jong replied.

“Then what kind of void would be created?” Jo Gul wondered.

“Who knows?” Yoon Jong shrugged.

Sweat began to appear on Dang Pae’s forehead.

Those damned jackals. And they call themselves Taoists….

“So, if the leader leaves his post, the Union Leader might have a harder time,” Dang Pae concluded.

“Ah. Well, then.”

“That’s true.”

“The sect leader must have a lot on his mind these days; we shouldn’t bother him.”

Dang Pae gritted his teeth. Those rotten Mount Hua bastards….

Baek Cheon got straight to the point, as if the conversation was dragging on. “So, who is going from the Dang Family?”

“One of the elders…” Dang Pae suggested.

“An elder?”

Dang Pae glanced at Tang Gunak. His father was just smiling, as if wondering why he was worrying over a problem that already had a solution.

And Dang Pae thought he knew what that solution was.

“…I will go,” Dang Pae announced.

“The young leader?” someone asked.

“Yes. Since the sect leaders from other groups are going themselves, shouldn’t I go myself as well?” Dang Pae reasoned.

“Hmm. If the young leader goes, then…”

“Ahem,” Tang Gunak interrupted.

“Hmm. It’s a long journey, and a dangerous one at that,” Tang Gunak said.

“Still, since the young leader is willing to go himself, it seems we’ll save some face. Thank you, young leader,” Tang Gunak added.

“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural that I should go,” Dang Pae replied.

Watching Tang Gunak smile gently, Dang Pae bit his lip slightly.

He didn’t used to be like that, did he? When did he become so sly? Why?

“In any case, it seems the conclusion has been reached,” Tang Gunak said, wrapping up the situation.

“Those heading to Hainan will be the young leader of the Namgung Family, the young leader of the Dang Family, the palace lord of the Ice Palace, the Green Forest King, and…”

Tang Gunak’s gaze turned to those sitting behind Baek Cheon, as if guarding him.

“The Five Swords, as always?” Tang Gunak asked.

Baek Cheon glanced back at those behind him.

“…Normally, they wouldn’t be the kind of people to join a gathering where the sect leaders of each sect are present,” Baek Cheon said.

“Hey, don’t put it like that…” one of the Five Swords complained.

“If they are willing, I plan to take them. They are not so weak that they can’t even protect themselves. I hope the sect leaders of the other sects will understand,” Baek Cheon added.

“That would be good,” Tang Gunak nodded as if there was nothing to think about.

‘I believe it is necessary for smooth talks. It cannot be denied that the Five Swords of Mount Hua are the ones who represent the Heavenly Union to people outside right now,’ Tang Gunak thought.

“…Represent? That’s an overstatement,” Baek Cheon said.

“Hmm? Don’t you know?” Tang Gunak asked.

“Yes?” Baek Cheon tilted his head, asking what he meant.

“It is often said that when their fame rises, they themselves are often unaware of it, and it seems that saying is true. As the events of your trip to Jiangnan became known, the fame of the Five Swords has been soaring,” Tang Gunak explained.

“…Is that true?” Baek Cheon asked.

“Of course, most of that fame belongs to the Mount Hua Sword Master, but the fame of you and the other Five Swords is no longer something to be discussed at the level of junior disciples,” Tang Gunak said.

Tang Gunak smiled as he watched the Five Swords making strange expressions.

“Perhaps you will all get nicknames soon. The people of Kangho are the kind who can’t stand not giving people nicknames,” Tang Gunak added.

“Oh? Nicknames!” Jo Gul’s face lit up.

“So, we’re getting nicknames now?” Jo Gul asked excitedly.

“…Do you like it?” Baek Cheon asked.

“Of course! Sasuk and Sago have nicknames, but we didn’t, so we felt a bit wronged. We fought hard too,” Jo Gul replied.

“What if you get a weird nickname?” Baek Cheon teased.

“Hey, my nickname will be a good one. Unstoppable Gale Plum Blossom Sword (疾風梅花無敵劍). Something like that!” Jo Gul declared.

“That’s the weirdest one. That’s…” Baek Cheon trailed off.

Tang Gunak smiled as he watched Jo Gul’s reaction.

If Baek Cheon had not been planning to take the Five Swords, Tang Gunak might have been the first to request their company. The battles with the Four Evil Sects and the Demonic Sect. The Five Swords were always present in all of them.

They were no longer just junior disciples of Mount Hua. They were the swords of the Heavenly Union fighting against the Sama, and the symbol of chivalry who would rush to help those who were wronged anywhere.

The people of Hainan would have heard about the brave acts of the Five Swords, and if such people came in person, their treatment would inevitably be different.

“So, there’s… Yoo Iseol, Yoon Jong, Jo Gul…” Tang Gunak said.

Tang Gunak stopped speaking and looked at Tang Soso.

“…You don’t necessarily have to come,” Tang Gunak said.

“I’m going,” Tang Soso replied firmly.

“It seems like we have enough people already,” Tang Gunak said.

“I’m going,” Tang Soso repeated.

“…It seems like you’ll only be a hindrance,” Tang Gunak said.

“I’m going,” Tang Soso insisted.

Tang Soso put up a strong front with a bright smile, and Tang Gunak’s face visibly changed.

“Really?” Tang Gunak asked.

“You’re asking the obvious. It’s a potentially dangerous road. So, of course, I have to go with you. My senior brothers are the kind of people who can’t even sew up their own wounds if they get stabbed,” Tang Soso explained.

“Since the young leader is going himself, there’s no need for a physician,” Tang Gunak countered.

“That’s…” Tang Soso started.

At that moment, Baek Cheon spoke. “Soso is not going as a physician.”

“…Hmm?” Tang Gunak questioned.

Tang Gunak looked at Baek Cheon. Then, Baek Cheon said with a determined face, “Soso will be joining as a swordswoman representing Mount Hua, not as a physician. No matter who the others are, it will be difficult to find a swordswoman who can replace Soso.”

Tang Gunak’s lips twitched.

“So, please allow it,” Baek Cheon finished.

As a father who didn’t want to send his daughter to a dangerous place, it wasn’t exactly pleasant to hear, but on the other hand, it was the most welcome thing he could hear.

It meant that the child who had joined Mount Hua later than others and made up for her shortcomings with the Dang Family’s medical skills, not swordsmanship, had now had her skill with a sword recognized by the acting sect leader.

Sure enough, Tang Soso’s face turned red at Baek Cheon’s words. Feeling the strong emotion in that face, Tang Gunak had no choice but to nod.

“If the acting sect leader says so, then it’s not my place to say anything. I will allow it,” Tang Gunak conceded.

“Thank you,” Baek Cheon bowed his head and looked forward, as if there was no need to exchange glances with Tang Soso over such an obvious matter.

‘Certainly…’ Tang Gunak nodded without realizing it.

Hyun Jong and Baek Cheon certainly have many differences. But the most prominent difference among them is their unwavering determination and confidence.

“Then is the number of people confirmed?” Tang Gunak asked.

“I believe so,” Baek Cheon replied.

“Um, Sasuk,” Jo Gul said.

“Yes?” Baek Cheon responded.

“…I think you should look behind you,” Jo Gul suggested.

“Yes?” Baek Cheon turned his head. He saw Hae Yeon fidgeting in a corner like a puppy that needed to go outside.

“…Venerable Monk?” Baek Cheon asked.

“Well… have a safe trip… Yes, have a safe trip. Abbot. I will pray to Buddha for your safe return from here…” Hae Yeon said nervously.

Jo Gul whispered to Yoon Jong. “Why is he being like that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because the abbot made a mess, and he’s embarrassed for a Shaolin disciple to go with them?” Yoon Jong replied.

“He’s worried about that?” Jo Gul asked.

Everyone looked at Hae Yeon with puzzled eyes. Then, Hae Yeon’s head quickly turned bright red.

“…The abbot should have had even half of that conscience,” Hae Yeon muttered.

“Half? Even a tenth would have prevented him from living like that,” Yoon Jong said.

“Thinking about it, maybe that man took too much, so the abbot had nothing to take?” Jo Gul wondered.

“Then that man is the cause,” Yoon Jong concluded.

“Oh, no, what did I do?” Hae Yeon protested as if he was wronged.

Baek Cheon chuckled as he watched Hae Yeon protesting. “Don’t worry about it and come with us, Venerable Monk.”

“Well, is it okay? The people of the Heavenly Union understand my position, but from Hainan’s perspective, a Shaolin disciple joining them might feel like mockery,” Hae Yeon worried.

“I don’t think you need to worry about that. There’s no one crazy enough to think that the sect leaders of each sect risked their lives for the sake of mockery,” Baek Cheon reassured him.

“Ah…” Hae Yeon looked around at the people there.

It was certainly a situation that could cause misunderstanding, but the faces of those going to Hainan seemed sufficient to dispel that misunderstanding.

“Then, I will accept your kindness. Amitabha,” Hae Yeon said.

As Hae Yeon’s participation was confirmed, Jo Gul looked around at everyone as if it was something new.

“Wow. So, the sect leaders of each sect except for the Beast Palace, the young leader, the acting sect leader, and Hae Yeon are all going together…” Jo Gul said in admiration.

Jo Gul, who was speaking in admiration, tilted his head as if something was strange.

“Um… no, Senior Brother. But…” Jo Gul started.

“Why?” Baek Cheon asked.

“Wasn’t the reason for sending only a small group to Hainan in the first place to reduce risk and ensure safety by sending a small number of people because it could be dangerous?” Jo Gul asked.

“That’s right? Didn’t I explain it all earlier? Why?” Baek Cheon confirmed.

“…But aren’t the people going to Hainan all the sect leaders of each sect who shouldn’t die the most?” Jo Gul pointed out.

Jo Gul asked again as if he didn’t understand. “What’s the difference between this and the Heavenly Union all rushing over there?”

No one gave a proper answer to that question.

No one.