Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 127

Wi Lip-san looked at the young men in blue robes. They were from Mount Hua. His father had always spoken of Mount Hua with pride. “Mount Hua,” his father would say, “was once the most famous sect of all.” Now… Wi Lip-san sighed.

*Glug, glug, glug.*

One of the blue-robed men, Chung Myung, lowered a bottle from his lips, a wide grin on his face. He wore the Mount Hua uniform, but it looked a bit worn.

“Ah! That hits the spot!” Chung Myung chuckled.

*Mount Hua. A famous sect,* Wi Lip-san thought again. *But fame is earned. It takes hard work and sacrifice. Generations of Mount Hua people built that name.*

“Hey, Sasuk! More meat over here!” Yoon Jong reached across the table, hand outstretched towards Chung Myung’s plate.

Chung Myung glared. “Are you trying to steal my food, you greedy piglet? Eat your own! I’m not sharing!” He playfully swatted Yoon Jong’s hand away. “Unless you want to lose a finger!”

Jo Gul laughed. “Come on, Sasuk, don’t be so mean! Just a little piece!”

Wi Lip-san remembered his father’s words. “Although Mount Hua is currently experiencing hardship, it will one day be revived and once again make its name known throughout the world. Therefore, you must not make the mistake of turning away from them, seeing only their current state. Protect Mount Hua. Then, one day, our Hwayoung Sect will also have its day to soar with Mount Hua.”

“Kya! It feels like I’m alive again now that I’m down from Mount Hua!”

“Still, be careful what you say when Sasuk is around, you rascal!”

“It’s alright. It’s alright. I’m sure Sasuk is thinking the same thing as me inside.”

“…No. I feel like I’m going to die being with you.”

“Hahaha! Just kidding!”

“…I wish I was kidding too.”

Wi Lip-san watched the Mount Hua disciples. They were eating meat and drinking, teasing each other loudly. He managed a small smile.

*Father would have loved to see this,* he thought.

Then, another thought came, sharp and bitter. *But then he would have argued with them. “Prestigious sect? Revival?” Father would have scoffed. “Get out of here! Mount Hua is finished, Father. Completely ruined.”*

Wi Lip-san pressed a hand to his stomach. A sharp pain twisted inside him, like a knife. Watching these carefree disciples only made it worse.

“Keuheum!”

Wi Lip-san could not hold back the cough any longer. It was a harsh, painful sound. The noisy chatter of the Mount Hua disciples stopped instantly. All eyes turned to him.

“Ah,” Chung Myung said, suddenly looking less carefree. He seemed to remember Wi Lip-san was injured. He held out the bottle. “Want a drink? Maybe it will help your cough?”

“Are you crazy?” one of the younger disciples exclaimed. “He’s sick!”

“He has injuries inside!” another added.

“Think, Chung Myung, think!”

Hey, you lot, calm down!” Chung Myung tried to quiet them, but the noise level was rising again. And with it, Wi Lip-san felt his stomach clench in pain.

*Prestigious sect? Don’t make me laugh,* Wi Lip-san thought bitterly.

Yet, he remembered visiting Mount Hua ten years ago, holding his young son, Wi So-haeng, in his arms. Even then, Mount Hua was said to be fading. But when he stood on their mountain, he felt *something*. A sense of history, of power, even in decline. He had felt it in the old stone buildings, in the way the remaining disciples moved.

But these men… these noisy, drinking men… Where was that feeling now? He saw only worn uniforms, heard only loud jokes. There was no sign of past glory, only… disappointment.

Seeing Wi Lip-san’s face, full of worry, Yeom Pyeong spoke gently. “Excuse me, Baek Cheon Dojang?”

“Yes?” Baek Cheon replied, turning to him.

Yeom Pyeong hesitated slightly. “Do… do you all understand how serious our situation is right now?”

Baek Cheon stood up quickly. He bowed his head a little to Wi Lip-san and Yeom Pyeong. “Please forgive us,” he said, his voice sincere. “My disciples… they are good people, but they are sometimes too relaxed. They don’t mean to be disrespectful.”

Wi Lip-san just sighed again.

“I’m not blaming you,” Wi Lip-san said, his voice tired. “You helped us, and we are grateful for that. But Baek Cheon Dojang, we must be realistic. We need to decide what to do next.”

“Decision?” Baek Cheon asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

Wi Lip-san sighed. “It’s hard to leave your home. But… we have no choice. Wudang is too strong. The Hwayoung Sect will leave Namyeong. We will retreat. You should return to Mount Hua. There is nothing more you can do here.”

“…Sect Leader,” Baek Cheon said, his voice quiet. He looked down, a shadow crossing his face. “I understand you may not trust us completely, but…”

“It’s not about trust,” Wi Lip-san said, shaking his head. “If it was anyone but Wudang, I would fight to the end. But Wudang… They are too powerful. They even sent the Bujeol Sword.” He lowered his voice, as if just saying the name was dangerous. “That means they are serious. They will take Namyeong, no matter what we do.”

“Hmm,” Yeom Pyeong agreed, nodding slowly.

“Even if we somehow stopped them this time,” Wi Lip-san continued, “they would just come back again and again.”

Chung Myung poured more alcohol and drank it down in one gulp. *Glug.* He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Actually,” Chung Myung said, turning to Wi Lip-san, “that’s what I wanted to ask you about. Why are they so desperate for this place? Is there something special here? Using such strong methods… it’s not like the Wudang I know.”

Chung Myung frowned. The Wudang he remembered was different. Wudang was always careful about how they looked to the world. They were proud and proper.

*They were the kind of people who would even say their Taoist names while they were dying,* Chung Myung thought, a slight smile touching his lips at the memory.

He knew a lot of time had passed since he had been active in the *martial world*, but sects didn’t change their core ways easily. For Wudang to use such forceful methods to take Namyeong… something was definitely strange.

Wi Lip-san tilted his head, confused by Chung Myung’s words. “Did you say something special?”

“Yes,” Chung Myung confirmed. “Something important here.”

Wi Lip-san shook his head. “Not that I know of. If there was something valuable here, do you think people would have left Namyeong alone all this time?”

“Hmm. Maybe you’re right,” Chung Myung said, thoughtfully.

“Well,” Chung Myung said, a dangerous glint in his eyes, “if they don’t want to talk, I’ll just *make* those Wudang bastards talk.”

He turned back to Wi Lip-san. “You should take your people back to Mount Hua tomorrow morning, as soon as the sun rises. Leave the rest to me.”

“What? No, we can’t do that,” Baek Cheon protested.

“No, we can’t,” Yoon Jong and Jo Gul echoed.

“Our Sect Leader,” Baek Cheon explained to Wi Lip-san, “told us to solve the Hwayoung Sect’s problems. If we let you be driven out of Namyeong… he said he would sigh at the moon for three months straight.”

“Wow,” Wi Lip-san said, surprised. “That sounds… bad.”

“Very bad,” Yoon Jong shuddered, imagining it. Jo Gul nodded, equally horrified.

“Listen,” Wi Lip-san started, losing patience, “this is not a game—”

But Chung Myung cut him off, his voice suddenly deeper, all traces of joking gone. “Mount Hua has not forgotten what the Hwayoung Sect has done for us.”

Wi Lip-san blinked, startled by the change in Chung Myung. The playful light in his eyes was gone, replaced by a serious intensity. A powerful feeling seemed to radiate from Chung Myung, making Wi Lip-san feel strangely small.

“Now,” Chung Myung continued, his voice firm, “it is Mount Hua’s turn to repay that kindness. Mount Hua will never abandon its *related sects*. The world will see that clearly.”

Wi Lip-san nodded slowly, almost without thinking.

*Chung Myung,* he thought. *This man… they call him the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua.*

Maybe, Wi Lip-san realized, he had been wrong about Chung Myung. He had seen only a carefree drunkard. But there was more to him than that.

“But before we do anything,” Chung Myung said, his serious expression fading slightly, “there’s one small thing I need to ask, Sect Leader.”

Wi Lip-san nodded again. “Anything. If I can help, just ask.”

“Great!” Chung Myung grinned, shaking his empty bottle. “Do you have any more alcohol left in the Hwayoung Sect? Just one bottle would be enough.”

… Silence.

Chung Myung looked around at the blank faces. “Or… maybe three bottles? If you have them?”

… More silence.

“Really? None at all?” Chung Myung asked, his voice dropping in disappointment.

Wi Lip-san just stared at him, speechless. *No,* he thought again. *I was right the first time.*

“Everything is ready, Master Jin Hyun,” Jongdo Gwanju said, bowing slightly.

Jin Hyun nodded slowly. “You have done well.”

“Just one more day, and this annoying job will be finished,” Jongdo Gwanju said with a sigh. “Playing the *Gwanju* role… it’s not really for me.”

Jin Hyun smiled faintly. “The Wudang sect knows you have worked hard, Gwanju. When this is over, you will be rewarded.”

“Oh, please, Master Jin Hyun, don’t mention it,” Jongdo Gwanju said quickly, waving his hands. “Helping Wudang is reward enough for me.”

Jin Hyun nodded again, still smiling. *Whether he means that or not doesn’t matter,* Jin Hyun thought to himself. *Jongdo Gwanju is not important. Once this is done, we will reward him, and that will be the end of his usefulness.*

“Those Mount Hua fools must be shaking in their boots by now,” one of the Wudang disciples sneered.

“Maybe,” another said. “But they are surprisingly brave for a ruined sect.”

“Brave? Or just stupid? How dare Mount Hua even think of opposing Wudang? I bet tomorrow, there won’t be a single person left in the Hwayoung Sect. Isn’t that why Master Jin Hyun gave them one last day?”

Jin Hyun just smiled, a cold, confident smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He didn’t need to say anything.

Jongdo Gwanju, who had been nervously watching Jin Hyun’s face, quickly stood up. “You must be tired after your journey, Master Jin Hyun. I should leave you to rest.”

“Not at all,” Jin Hyun said politely.

“Please, have a good rest tonight. I will see you again in the morning.”

“Good night,” Jin Hyun replied.

As Jongdo Gwanju hurried out of the room, Jin Hyun let out a slow breath.

“Senior Master,” Jinmu, his junior, said hesitantly. “Did you expect Mount Hua to actually come?”

“No, not really,” Jin Hyun admitted. “But our Sect Leader seems to have thought it was possible. It’s hard to understand how wise he is.”

“They say he can see a thousand miles without moving,” Jin Mu said, impressed.

“Exactly,” Jin Hyun agreed, nodding slowly.

“What do you think, Senior Master?” Jin Mu continued. “Is it possible the Hwayoung Sect will run away tonight, like Gwanju said?”

“The Hwayoung Sect Leader might,” Jin Hyun said calmly. “But the Mount Hua disciples? No, they won’t run.”

“Why not?” Jin Mu asked, curious.

“Because of their fake reputation,” Jin Hyun chuckled softly.

“People don’t usually care much about a reputation they deserve,” Jin Hyun explained. “But if they get more fame than they should, they become obsessed with it. That Chung Myung… he’s called the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, a false name. He won’t be able to run away now. If he challenges us and then runs, he will become a joke to everyone.”

“But,” Jin Mu asked, confused, “won’t losing to you be just as shameful as running away?”

Jin Hyun’s eyebrow twitched slightly. “Are you saying losing to *me* would be embarrassing for him?”

“N-no, Senior Master, that’s not what I meant!” Jin Mu stammered, realizing his mistake.

Jin Hyun smiled and patted Jinmu’s shoulder. “Just joking. But yes, they will probably stay. Losing is less shameful than running.”

“I hope they are people who understand shame,” Jin Mu said. “But they seem like fools who don’t know what shame is.”

“Hahaha, maybe you’re right,” Jin Hyun chuckled. He closed his eyes for a moment, Chung Myung’s arrogant face flashing in his mind.

*Arrogant fool,* Jin Hyun thought. *I understand him. He got famous too young, and now he thinks he’s invincible. It’s the job of a true master to bring people like him down to earth.*

“If they don’t know shame,” Jin Hyun said, his voice hardening, “we will teach them.”

“Of course,” Jin Mu agreed eagerly.

“But,” Jin Hyun continued, his expression becoming serious, “we can’t focus too much on Mount Hua. We must remember our real goal for coming here. Have you forgotten?”

“No, Senior Master. Never,” Jin Mu said quickly.

Something secret, something even the other *junior masters* didn’t know. Only Jin Hyun and Jin Mu knew the real reason they were in Namyeong, and they were working on it in secret. Jin Mu knew only because he needed to be ready for any *problems* that might arise. Originally, even Jin Mu wasn’t supposed to know.

“Hwayoung Sect, Mount Hua… they are just distractions,” Jin Hyun said, his voice low. “The important thing is to *make everyone focus on Namyeong*. If we succeed, we can become even greater than Shaolin. We will be the most powerful sect in the world.”

“I understand, Senior Master,” Jin Mu said, his eyes shining with excitement.

Jin Hyun turned to look out the window. The moon was high and bright in the sky.

*Geomchong. Sword Tomb.*

*That* was the real reason he was here. That was why he had even created this fake Jongdogwan sect. It was all for the Sword Tomb.

“First,” Jin Hyun said, his voice cold, “we will drive those Mount Hua fools out of Namyeong. Then, we will *begin* our plan, slowly and carefully.”

“Yes, Senior Master!” Jin Mu replied, his voice full of anticipation.

A slow, cruel smile spread across Jin Hyun’s face.

*Soon,* he thought, *the world will be under Wudang’s control.*

That night, their secret plan became darker and more dangerous.