Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1213

The inauguration ceremony ended simply.

For the inauguration of the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, now a major sect representing Shanxi, it might have seemed too humble.

Usually, when a Great Sect gets a new leader, it’s a huge event that everyone in the area knows about.

But this time, the ceremony for Mount Hua was small. However, the disciples were not disappointed.

Rather, they thought this small ceremony was perfect for the Mount Hua Sect.

Unam held the Violet Cloud Divine Sword. Sunlight glinted off its pure white blade. He looked at it, feeling something new in his heart. Un Am wasn’t usually a sentimental person; he didn’t get emotional about objects.

But this sword was different. It wasn’t just metal and a sharp edge. It had a deep meaning. It was a symbol of Mount Hua, a symbol he never expected to hold himself.

This sword, in his hands, felt heavy with history and responsibility.

Unam took a deep breath and slowly drew the Violet Cloud Divine Sword.

Unam looked at the pure white blade, then paused just before the sword was fully drawn. He slowly slid it back into its scabbard.

Thwack!

He felt a sudden urge to draw the sword completely and swing it once. Any swordsman holding a sword would feel that, no matter what the sword symbolized.

Yet, he didn’t draw the sword completely for a simple reason.

This sword was important not for fighting, but for showing the sect’s honor and peace. The sword held in his hand had meaning only when it was not drawn.

Nothing had changed much.

Unam had only briefly stepped in as the Violet Cloud Divine Sword passed from Hyun Jong to Baek Cheon. The result was still the same.

Even though the result is the same – Baek Cheon going to Hainan – the way we got here, with me becoming Sect Leader first, is important and will change things.

There were many swords in the world.

Some swords killed on the battlefield, while others saved lives. Some were used for money, and some for power.

Whether they were used right or wrong, each sword had its own meaning.

Then…

What about a sword made as a sword, but never used to cut or threaten anyone? Wouldn’t a sword that stayed in its scabbard have its own meaning?

Unam smiled slightly.

‘That’s enough.’

Anything more would be too much.

Unam glanced at Hyun Jong, as if to say they should end the ceremony. But Hyun Jong just smiled back.

Then Un Am realized his mistake. He cleared his throat softly and, with a serious expression that felt a little strange on him, he spoke.

“Those disciples who will go to Hainan, come forward!”

“Yes!”

As soon as he spoke, the disciples of Mount Hua rushed forward and knelt behind Baek Cheon.

Unam looked at them and spoke again.

“Acting Sect Leader.”

Unam turned his head and called out to Baek Cheon, who bowed respectfully.

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Unam briefly closed his eyes at the title of Sect Leader. But he opened them again and spoke with a determined look.

“The one who must carry Mount Hua’s will to Hainan is not me, but the Acting Sect Leader.”

Baek Cheon met Unam’s shining eyes without a word.

“Even if the Sect Leader of Mount Hua cannot go in person, this sword will prove that the Acting Sect Leader’s will is Mount Hua’s will.”

Unam held out the Violet Cloud Divine Sword, and Baek Cheon accepted it with as much respect as he could show.

Baek Cheon fastened the sword to his side, and Un Am spoke again.

“Acting Sect Leader.”

“Yes!”

“Lead the disciples of Mount Hua, prove to them that Mount Hua is righteous, and return.”

“Yes!”

Unam could see it. Baek Cheon’s voice was very serious as he answered, but he couldn’t hide the energy in it.

‘That rascal…’

Everyone has desires. But seeing his martial nephew so happy about becoming Sect Leader, Un Am felt a strange emotion.

It wasn’t just Baek Cheon. The disciples behind Baek Cheon also looked happy.

Faced with this overwhelming feeling, Un Am bit his lip slightly. Then he heard Baek Cheon’s voice.

“Disciple Baek Cheon!”

Unam’s eyes turned to Baek Cheon.

“Following the Sect Leader’s command, I will clearly carry Mount Hua’s will to the Hainan Sect and return!”

Unam slowly nodded, and Baek Cheon rose to his feet. Seeing his determined figure, a smile naturally formed on Unam’s lips.

Baek Cheon, with the Violet Cloud Divine Sword at his side, began to walk towards the main gate. The Five Swords followed behind him as if to guard him.

He had seen this many times before. But the sight Un Am was watching now was the same as before, yet also different.

Hyun Jong’s voice reached Unam’s ear.

“How is it?”

“…”

“Your heart isn’t completely at ease, is it?”

At that voice, Un Am let out a short sigh.

“I thought this decision was made for me… Now it seems you intended to play a trick on me.”

“Haha. Maybe I did.”

Indeed, his heart was heavy.

No matter how much everyone had decided together, approving that decision was the Sect Leader’s job. To become the Sect Leader meant taking responsibility for all those decisions.

If even one of those children returned wounded, could Un Am bear that pain?

“Have you always sent the children off with this feeling?”

“Didn’t you guess?”

“I guessed, but I didn’t know that the guess and reality would be so different.”

Unam shook his head.

Only now did he understand why Hyun Jong had changed his mind at the last moment.

If it was this hard for those watching, how much weight would be on Baek Cheon’s shoulders if he had to bear that responsibility while going to Hainan?

This was a decision for Unam, but also Hyun Jong’s way of looking out for Baek Cheon.

“Only until that child returns.”

“For now, that’s good enough.”

Unam nodded.

He was about to step forward with a sigh when…

“Where are you going?”

“Yes?”

“Now that you’ve become the Sect Leader, you want to go to the children and enjoy that feeling… But you don’t have time for that.”

“…”

“Since Baek Cheon is going to Hainan, there’s a mountain of work that I didn’t hand over. I’ll start the handover right away, so come to my residence.”

“…?”

“Aigo, I feel so relieved. If Baek Cheon had become the Sect Leader, I would have been stuck with the work even as the Grand Elder.”

“…”

Unam looked at Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong looked truly relieved. It was the first time he had ever seen his master’s playful face, and Un Am was very surprised.

Jo Gul, heading towards the main gate of the training grounds, chuckled and opened his mouth.

“Aigo, Acting Sect Leadeeeeer.”

The moment Baek Cheon heard that voice, a vein popped out on his forehead.

“I thought you’d be promoted quickly, but how did you get pushed back? Aigo, I feel sorry for you! How upset must the Acting Sect Leader be!”

“…”

“But don’t worry! My loyalty will not change! No matter how much further you have to go, I will stand by your side and be torn to pieces…”

“Shut your trap! Shut your trap!”

Yoon Jong grabbed Jo Gul by the collar and slapped his mouth. After punching Jo Gul, who was screaming, a few more times, Yoon Jong smiled and asked Baek Cheon.

“It’s a bit sudden. Did you know about this?”

“No, I didn’t know either. Really.”

A smile bloomed on Baek Cheon’s lips.

“But this must be the right direction. Thanks to this, I feel a bit more at ease.”

Yoon Jong chuckled.

“Didn’t you say that you take on responsibility to grow? It’s strange that you feel relieved because the responsibility has lessened?”

“It’s different from that.”

Baek Cheon shook his head.

“Originally, the position of Sect Leader should have gone to Martial Uncle. I wanted to do it too, but he was firm, so I couldn’t.”

“That’s true.”

“Even though Martial Uncle has become the Sect Leader, the responsibility I bear hasn’t lessened. The relief I feel isn’t because the responsibility has lessened, but because I’ve relieved the burden of getting something that wasn’t mine.”

Baek Cheon shrugged his shoulders.

“To be honest, I also felt that skipping a generation to receive the position of Sect Leader was…”

“You need to say something that makes sense!”

At that moment, Baek Cheon heard Chung Myung roar in his ear.

“Where! Huh? In the Great Mount Hua Sect, where rules are alive! Doing something like climbing up backwards!”

“…”

“I can’t see that happen before I die! Ahem! Of course!”

“Gul-ah.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle!”

“Go and get some dirt…”

“…Has it been decided who will put it in?”

“What if we all try together?”

“Say something that makes sense. Then we’ll be the first to get dirt in our eyes.”

“…”

“This is how it’s going right! This!”

“Oh my.”

From the Five Swords’ perspective, Chung Myung might just be being Chung Myung, but this was somewhat important to him.

Wasn’t Chung Myung the very picture of someone throwing away his own life and achievements and trying his best to be faithful to the position of a Third-Generation Disciple of Mount Hua?

He was treating the children he used to play with on his lap with respect because of the word ‘generation’, so he couldn’t tolerate seeing the generation being reversed before his eyes.

“A sect, by its very nature!”

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

“If we listen to that, another day will pass. Please, let’s go! Hainan!”

“Give me some cotton. I’ll plug my ears and go.”

The disciples of Mount Hua shook their heads and left Chung Myung behind, heading towards the main gate.

Those who had finished preparing were already waiting for them at the main gate.

Namgoong Dowi and Tang Pae, Seol So-baek, and even Im So-byeong, whose mouth was sticking out.

Baek Cheon greeted them.

“Thank you for waiting.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Namgoong Dowi accepted the greeting.

“It’s something we should do. Congratulations on officially becoming the Acting Sect Leader, Baek Cheon.”

“Thank you.”

“First, the Namgoong Family…”

“Ah!”

At that moment, Im So-byeong roared.

“Are we going to stay here all day? Let’s just leave! Why change the Sect Leader on the day of departure and make everyone wait! Doing something so grand for something that has no meaning… Kweeeeeeek!”

Chung Myung, almost flying, kicked Im So-byeong’s face. Then, he pounced on Im So-byeong, who was making the sound of a pig being slaughtered, like a wolf.

“No meaning? What do you think the succession ceremony of the Great Mount Hua Sect is, you disrespectful outsider!”

“Aack! Ack! Aaaaaack!”

“We’re going to Gangnam anyway, so let’s get rid of one heretic corpse before that! Die! Die, you heretic!”

“Aaaaaack! Spare me! Aack!”

Everyone sighed as they watched Chung Myung beat Im So-byeong like a dog.

“Shall we depart?”

“…Let’s do that.”

It seemed that this trip to Hainan would not be easy either.