Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 124

The room was dimly lit, a single candle flickering on a rough wooden table. Dust motes danced in the weak light. Wei Lishan sat on the edge of his bed, his shoulders slumped, his breathing shallow. Yan Ping stood beside him, his face etched with worry.

“Any news from Sohaeng?” Wei Lishan asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Yan Ping hesitated. “…There is no news yet.”

Wei Lishan closed his eyes sadly. “Is that so….” He sighed, a long, weary sound. He looked very tired, his face pale.

“Sect Leader,” Yan Ping said gently, “you need to rest more.”

“…I know,” Wei Lishan murmured, his voice weak. “I know, but….”

Yan Ping sighed inwardly. *He cannot rest easy. None of us can.*

Jongdo Hall had no intention of coexisting with Hwayoung Sect. From the moment they established their sect, they had continuously provoked them. In the end, even after winning the duel against Wei Lishan, they were not satisfied and demanded that Hwayoung Sect leave Namyoung.

It was an oppressive and excessive measure.

But Hwayoung Sect did not have the strength to denounce the excessive measure.

The Jianghu was a world of the survival of the fittest. Those without power could not stand against those with power. Yan Ping was now bitterly realizing the truth of the Jianghu, which he had lived in all his life without truly understanding.

“Have the disciples of Wudang arrived?”

“Not yet. But considering the time, they should arrive soon.”

“I see… Cough! Cough!”

“Are you alright, Sect Leader?”

“…I am fine.”

“Your internal injuries are severe. You must lie down at once.”

“I suppose I should.”

Although he answered that way, both Wei Lishan and Yan Ping knew that this was not a situation where they could simply lie down and rest.

If the disciples of Wudang arrived, they might be driven out of this place immediately. Hwayoung Sect, which he had protected all his life, was about to lower its signboard. How could he spend time in bed?

“How are the disciples?”

“…Their morale is low.”

“I see. Yes… I see.”

A low sigh escaped from Wei Lishan’s lips.

Even though he heard that the disciples were wavering, he did not feel resentful in the slightest. They were the ones who had stayed by his side even in the face of the conflict with Wudang’s Sokga.

*I haven’t lived in vain.*

He felt sufficiently rewarded just by that.

“Sect Leader.”

Yan Ping sighed softly at the end of his words.

Yan Ping could be said to be Wei Lishan’s most senior disciple. He had been by Wei Lishan’s side for a long time, leading Hwayoung Sect together, but this time, even he could not find another way.

“…Sect Leader, shouldn’t you try talking to the Jongdo Hall Lord again, even now?”

“It’s no use.”

Wei Lishan shook his head.

“If they wanted something else, that conversation would have meaning. But they only want to drive us out of Namyoung. What conversation can we have? They only want one thing, and we cannot give it to them. So, we are stuck.”

“Then are you saying we have to suffer with our eyes open?”

“…The main sect will come to help us soon.”

“Sect Leader….”

Yan Ping’s face twisted slightly. Wei Lishan was always intelligent and never lost his reason, but whenever the name of Hwasan came up, his judgment became clouded. This was a chronic problem for Wei Lishan.

“The opponent is Wudang. No matter how much Hwasan has recently become famous, Wudang is an unmatched giant in the Daoist world. What help can Hwasan be?”

“…”

“It would be fortunate if they even tried to help. If Hwasan has any sense, they will not try to get involved in this matter. What good would it do to be in conflict with Wudang? Sect Leader, you must be cold-headed. Help will not come from anywhere. This is something we have to solve.”

Wei Lishan stared at Yan Ping silently.

He knew that what he said was not wrong.

“Even so….”

“That’s why I told you to stop sending tributes to Hwasan a long time ago. Why put so much effort into a place that won’t help when you need it? Would this have happened if you had sent the young sect leader to Wudang or Shaolin?”

Every word was correct.

Even so, Wei Lishan could not nod his head.

“We are Hwasan’s Sokga.”

“…”

Yan Ping pressed his lips tightly.

“The root cannot be abandoned, and it should not be abandoned. If we deny that we are Hwasan’s Sokga and throw away the name of Hwasan, do you think things will get better?”

“Sect Leader….”

“If we do that, it will be the same no matter whose Sokga we are. If Wudang loses its name, we will abandon Wudang, and if Shaolin’s power wanes, we will abandon Shaolin. No, that’s not right. I don’t want to live like that.”

“No one will recognize it.”

“I’m not hoping anyone will recognize it. I’m just protecting what I have to protect.”

Yan Ping let out a deep sigh.

Frustrating. Suffocating.

But….

*That’s why he is the Sect Leader.*

In the end, the reason he was nagging here was also because he respected Wei Lishan. If Wei Lishan was someone who would easily give up on Hwasan, Yan Ping would not have respected him so much.

“And I believe.”

“Believe what?”

“That Hwasan will not abandon us.”

Yan Ping shook his head.

“Sect Leader, that is not a matter of sincerity or heart, but a matter of ability. Does Hwasan have the ability to deal with Wudang?”

“…Sometimes, heart alone is enough.”

Yan Ping was about to say another word.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of someone knocking on the front gate was heard loudly.

Wei Lishan and Yan Ping’s faces hardened in an instant. They had locked the front gate and were not receiving visitors. Nevertheless, the fact that someone was knocking on the door meant that they had business to attend to.

The only people who would have business with them now….

“Sect Leader Wei! Sect Leader Wei, are you inside? I have come to settle things today, so come out at once!”

Yan Ping’s face contorted.

*Damn it. Already!*

There was no way they would have come without a reason. They must have brought the disciples of Wudang who had arrived.

“What should we do? Sect Leader?”

“What choice do we have?”

Wei Lishan let out a deep sigh.

“We have to go out. If we don’t go out after they’ve come all the way here, we’ll be called cowards.”

Wei Lishan got up from the bed, staggering.

“What is it you want?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Wei Lishan! You know why I’m here. Today, we finish this.”

Seeing the Jongdo Hall Lord barging in like a wild boar, one would doubt whether he was really a disciple of Wudang.

If he had studied even a little bit of the Daoist scriptures, he couldn’t be like this.

“I have nothing more to say.”

“Nothing more to say! If you lost the duel, you should get out of Namyoung. Why are you still here?”

“Where is the law that says you have to leave if you lose a duel?”

“There is no such law! But isn’t it about your honor?”

Wei Lishan sighed.

There was no law that said you had to leave if you lost a duel. But if the situation had become so serious that a duel between sect leaders had taken place, it was generally understood that the loser would leave without a word.

The Lord’s skill was the measure of his sect. If it was clearly revealed that he was weaker than his opponent, how could he stay? It was obvious which side those who want to learn martial arts will choose.

“There’s no need to say much. Leave now.”

“I told you, I’m not leaving.”

The Jongdo Hall Lord’s eyes turned fierce.

“Do I really have to hurt you before you understand?”

As the atmosphere became heavy, one of those who had been watching the situation from behind slowly walked forward.

“Hall Lord, let me speak for you.”

“Ah, will you? Even for such a small thing….”

“It’s alright.”

“Then I would be grateful!”

His politeness was a big change from how he acted with Wi Rip-san. Wi Rip-san looked at the man who stepped forward.

A black dopo.

And a dogwan on his head.

The pine tree embroidery on the dopo showed who this man was. There were many martial arts groups in the world, but only one could put a pine tree on their chest.

‘A disciple of Wudang.’

The man walked forward and respectfully put his hands together.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Jin Hyun, the second disciple of Wudang.”

“Wi Rip-san.”

His posture was perfect, and he moved with great care. If they met in a different place, people would admire how he looked. But not now. Those careful movements were aimed at Wi Rip-san.

Wi Rip-san looked at him closely, and then his face suddenly became serious.

“Wait! Did you say Jin Hyun?”

“Yes, Head of the Sect.”

“Then are you the… the one called Sword Dragon Jin Hyun?”

“I am ashamed to have such a reputation.”

Wi Rip-san’s face darkened as he realized who the man was.

‘Sword Dragon, huh? My luck isn’t so good today.’

Sword Dragon Jin Hyun.

Wudang had many talented young fighters. Jin Hyun was seen as the best of them all. People everywhere called him ‘Sword Dragon’.

He was known as the best swordsman of the younger generation in Wudang, and maybe even the best swordsman in the world.

Wudang sending Jin Hyun was a clear sign that they thought this matter was very important.

“I have heard about the situation from Jongdo Gwanju. You want to stay in Namyeong?”

“That is correct.”

Jin Hyun shook his head slightly.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Jin Hyun’s voice was low but strong.

“Namyeong is not a large area. If there are two martial arts schools in one place, there will be problems. Sharing students will only make things harder for everyone.”

“I know that. But why should we, who were here first, have to leave!”

“That is not important. What is important is that if there are two martial arts schools, both will suffer, and it is clear that Hwayoung Clan will suffer more.”

“⋯⋯”

Jin Hyun smiled slightly.

“How about this?”

“Yes?”

“Since it is true that Wudang is opening a school here and causing harm to your clan, we will give you some money to make up for it. If you move from Namyeong, we will pay for everything.”

Yeom-pyeong, who had been listening, twisted his face.

‘These thieving bastards.’

Did they think they were doing this because they didn’t have the money to move?

Settling in a new place meant starting over. Hwayoung Clan was a clan of Namyeong. All the students lived in Namyeong, and all their history was in Namyeong.

Leaving Namyeong meant giving up all of that and starting from the beginning.

“Thank you for your words, but⋯⋯”

Wi Rip-san shook his head.

“Hwayoung Clan has no plans to do that.”

“Hmm.”

Jin Hyun frowned slightly, looking unhappy with Wi Rip-san’s answer.

“Head of the Sect.”

“⋯⋯”

“If you really want to stay in Namyeong, there is one more way.”

Wi Rip-san’s face brightened a little as he looked at Jin Hyun. Just hearing that there was another way made him hopeful.

“What is it?”

“If you have to run a martial arts school in Namyeong, Head of the Sect… then take the plum blossom symbol off your sign.”

Wi Rip-san’s face became hard.

He couldn’t even answer, and Jin Hyun continued calmly.

“Two clans can live together. But we can’t have two dogwans. Hwasan has some Taoist connections, but we can’t allow it to be here where Wudang’s school is.”

“What, what does that⋯⋯”

“Choose.”

Jin Hyun said coldly.

“If you take off the Hwasan name, we will accept Hwayoung Clan. We can even take your students into our Wudang school here. Then Jongdo Gwan and Hwayoung Clan will be friends and get along well. But if you don’t!”

It was chilling.

His words were like a hidden knife.

“The name of Hwayoung Clan will disappear from Namyeong forever.”

Because Jin Hyun said it, the words felt very heavy.

Jin Hyun smiled slightly as he watched Wi Rip-san, who was shocked.

“So, what is Hwayoung Clan’s answer?”

“⋯⋯We⋯⋯”

Wi Rip-san’s lips trembled.

In a short time, Wi Rip-san’s face changed many times. After thinking hard, he sighed and said.

“We cannot abandon Hwasan.”

“⋯⋯”

“Even if we take down the sign one day, we are still Hwasan’s school. We cannot give that up.”

“Ha⋯⋯”

Jin Hyun shook his head.

“Since you don’t want to accept our easy solution and want to make things difficult, there is nothing I can do. I will give you three hours. If you do not leave this place after three hours, I will make you leave.”

Wi Rip-san bit his lip tightly.

“Isn’t that too petty for Wudang, which is so famous in the world?”

“You are wrong.”

“⋯⋯”

Jin Hyun said in a cold voice.

“It’s not that Wudang is famous and is doing this, but Wudang is famous because it has been doing this. And we have tried to do everything we can for you. You refused our offer and acted unfairly.”

“We⋯⋯”

“That’s it. There is nothing more to say. I will give you three hours.”

He spoke so quietly that only Wi Rip-san could hear.

“If you’re going to get support, you should choose a better place. Hwasan’s school? Do you think Hwasan will help you against our Wudang?”

“⋯⋯I⋯⋯”

Wi Rip-san couldn’t say anything.

The clear mockery on Jin Hyun’s face silenced him.

‘How useless.’

Wudang was putting pressure on Hwayoung Clan, even making unfair demands to protect their school. But Hwasan was not doing anything to help them.

What was the point of all his loyalty to Hwasan all these years?

“Hwasan doesn’t dare to come here. Head of the Sect, you should be smarter⋯⋯”

Just then.

“What are you talking about? What is that?”

“⋯⋯”

Jin Hyun turned his head without thinking when he heard the casual voice from behind.

“Who is it?”

“Ah, move! Why are you blocking the door!”

His fellow disciples, who were standing in front of the door, stepped aside a little.

A man walked in through the opening.

‘Who?’

Before Jin Hyun could even figure out who it was, he heard words he had never heard before.

“It’s me, you horse-face bastard.”

“⋯⋯”

Jin Hyun opened his mouth without realizing it.