Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1365

Baek Cheon looked far away at the horizon. The villagers had all gone, hidden behind their houses.

He hadn’t expected any reward.

He wasn’t even asking for free grain.

He just wanted to buy grain. Even if he had to pay more than it was worth.

Was that really asking too much?

Without thinking, Baek Cheon looked at Yoon Jong. Yoon Jong always helped him when he felt lost as a Taoist. But Yoon Jong’s face was hard, not his usual calm.

If Yoon Jong was also hardened, then Baek Cheon knew his anger was not just his fault.

“I’m sorry…”

Hyeongwook lowered his head, looking utterly ashamed. His face was so red with embarrassment and guilt that it seemed ready to burst.

Baek Cheon knew blaming Hyeongwook wouldn’t help. Still, he had to say something.

“I didn’t realize it was such a difficult request.”

“…Sir.”

Hyeongwook squeezed his eyes shut.

It shouldn’t have been a difficult request. At least, not for him.

Of course, as Elder Hyeong had said, helping them might bring about a crisis. But hadn’t they helped the villagers without a moment’s hesitation, even in a potentially dangerous situation?

Helping shouldn’t only be for the strong. Ignoring others shouldn’t be the only choice for the weak.

But there was nothing he could do. Those who had been cautiously observing had ultimately said they preferred not to help.

The fear Elder Hyeong mentioned was stronger than any kindness they had received.

“I… I don’t know what to say…”

Hyeongwook stammered, and Elder Hyeong, who had been inside the house, cautiously emerged again. He glanced at Baek Cheon, then bowed his head. He didn’t look proud or happy, just worried that Baek Cheon was angry.

“Warriors…”

The old man began, his voice trembling. Understanding the meaning of that tremor, Baek Cheon let out a hollow laugh.

“There’s no need to worry.”

Baek Cheon’s voice was still cold, but he tried to be as polite as he could.

“We are not like the Demonic Sect, killing people just because we are angry. You don’t need to fear violence from us.”

“Thank you. Thank you, warriors!”

Elder Hyeong quickly offered his thanks, then glanced at Baek Cheon again.

“Please… don’t think too badly of us.”

“…What do you mean?”

“We know that from your perspective, it must seem absurd. But we have no choice.”

Baek Cheon stared at Elder Hyeong in silence. A look of sorrow settled on the old man’s weary face.

“The chivalry you speak of is something only those with power can afford to show. How can those who struggle to make ends meet care about the problems of others, or help them find a way to survive? When I’m desperate to save myself?”

Baek Cheon’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He could tolerate everything else, but he found this particular statement hard to bear.

It wasn’t as if the Heavenly Union was overflowing with resources when they decided to help these people. Chivalry was…

“We ignorant folk can only pretend to die when we’re told to. That’s all we’ve ever seen, that’s the world we’ve lived in.”

Baek Cheon, unable to hold back any longer, was about to say something when a voice cut through the air.

“Let’s go.”

The voice was short and sharp. Turning around, Baek Cheon saw Chung Myung scratching the back of his head roughly.

“I must have been out of it. Didn’t think. Should have considered that things weren’t so good here beforehand. Tsk. I’m done for. Should just die when you get old.”

“Chung Myung…”

“Let’s go. They told us to leave quickly and quietly, so we should hurry. It’ll be better for everyone.”

Baek Cheon felt strangely deflated.

If Chung Myung, who would normally be the most furious in this situation, was saying this, then he had nothing more to say.

“Looks like they’ve all finished eating, more or less…”

Chung Myung glanced over the Hainan people and said,

“If you’re full, we should get going. It’s not like we have all the time in the world.”

“…That’s right.”

“Tell them to get ready quickly. They’ll have plenty to do after we leave.”

Baek Cheon still had much to say, but in the end, he sighed deeply and replied,

“Alright… let’s do that.”

His heart ached. More than he could express.

“We don’t need to pay for the grain you ate…”

“No.”

Baek Cheon looked at Elder Hyeong with a resolute gaze.

“We will pay the exact price. We have to.”

There was a hint of regret in his emotionless voice.

Baek Cheon and the others left the village.

The atmosphere was quite different from when they had first arrived. No one dared to speak rashly.

Even the Hainan disciples, who didn’t know the full story, couldn’t help but notice the heavy atmosphere and remained silent.

“Are we just going to leave like this?”

In that situation, Lim Sobyeong was the one who spoke up boldly.

“What do you mean?”

“Isn’t it enough if the result is the same? There’s grain left over, so we could just take some and throw some money at them. Then the result would be the same as if they had willingly traded with us.”

“…”

“And then, if something happens to them, they can claim that we just robbed them of their grain, so they’re not guilty. Anyone can see that’s the most reasonable thing to do, so let’s go back now!”

Baek Cheon chuckled. It might indeed be the most reasonable thing to do. It might be a way to ensure that no one suffered.

But they couldn’t choose that path. If they decided that anything was acceptable as long as the result was the same, they would be no different from the Demonic Sect they were currently fighting.

“Augh!”

Just then, Jo Gul shouted.

He knew that he couldn’t do as Lim Sobyeong suggested, but he couldn’t contain his frustration.

“People should have at least a shred of conscience!”

“…”

“It’s not like we had plenty of strength to spare when we helped them! Even if they don’t repay our kindness, they could at least consider our situation!”

“That’s enough.”

“Before, they looked at us with innocent, tearful eyes! Now, they won’t even show their faces until the moment we leave! If people like that become martial artists, they’ll turn into the Demonic Sect…”

“I said, that’s enough.”

Baek Cheon cut him off with a short, weary rebuke, and Jo Gul clamped his mouth shut.

“…I’m just frustrated, that’s all.”

“…”

“I didn’t expect any reward, but still… still, there’s something, isn’t there? Still…”

Baek Cheon started to say something, then shook his head.

In truth, his feelings weren’t much different from Jo Gul’s. If he spoke at length with such a confused heart, he would only reveal his inner turmoil.

When Baek Cheon didn’t give a proper answer, Jo Gul’s gaze turned to Yoon Jong.

“Isn’t that right, Senior Brother!”

At those words, Baek Cheon also looked at Yoon Jong.

Yoon Jong might have a different perspective to offer.

“Aren’t you angry, Senior Brother?”

At Jo Gul’s question, Yoon Jong shook his head calmly.

“It’s not anger.”

“…What, are you some kind of saint?”

“It’s not anger, it’s just that I’m confused.”

“Huh?”

Jo Gul gave him a puzzled look, and Yoon Jong looked up at the sky before speaking.

“As a Taoist and a member of the Orthodox Sect, I believed that we should help and protect the common people because there was goodness within them. I thought that since they were good people being oppressed by the powerful, we should use our small strength to protect them.”

“…”

“But today, for the first time, I’m starting to wonder. Not just about the people in that village, but about any situation.”

“Yes?”

“If the people we’re trying to protect aren’t good… then why should we risk our lives to protect them? Just because we’re stronger?”

“…”

“The saying that we shouldn’t expect a reward for our chivalry… perhaps it’s because there’s no way to receive that reward… Yes, that’s what I’m starting to think.”

His voice was calm, but the content was incredibly heavy. Especially coming from Yoon Jong. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts when…

“I’ve heard something like that before.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Chung Myung. To the man who was walking ahead as if he had no regrets.

“The common people aren’t as good as you think, and they’re not as great as you think. Their strength is weaker than you think, and the morality they talk about is mostly insignificant.”

“…Isn’t that practically an insult?”

“But that’s precisely why we have to protect them.”

The Mount Hua disciples who were listening frowned. They couldn’t understand at all. If they were truly such insignificant people, then why should they be protected?

“Because they were once people who could have become virtuous.”

“…”

“What that old man said wasn’t wrong. Most people don’t even get the chance to protect their own goodness. That’s because those with power didn’t protect them.”

Yoon Jong stared silently at Chung Myung’s back as he walked, his face hardened.

“Virtuous people are virtuous even without help. But a small act of kindness towards those who aren’t virtuous might lead them to virtue. A Taoist is someone who doesn’t let go of that small possibility, and chivalry is an attempt to change the world by giving what you have.”

Chung Myung, muttering to himself, looked up at the sky. As if chasing something far away.

“Honestly, I still don’t fully understand those words. I just know one thing. The predecessors didn’t give because they didn’t know, but because they knew and still tried to protect.”

Chung Myung’s words ended there. He didn’t add anything more.

He didn’t say that we should do the same, or that it was the right path. He simply conveyed what he had heard.

But everyone who heard those words was lost in their own thoughts. About what they were truly trying to do.

It was then.

“Wait, just a moment! Warriors!”

A loud voice came from behind.

Hyeongwook was running towards them, carrying something on his shoulder.

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”

Having run with all his might, Hyeongwook stood before them, panting for breath. Baek Cheon blinked, not understanding what was happening.

“What… why?”

“T-this!”

Hyeongwook lowered the large sack he had been carrying on his shoulder. It landed with a thud.

“It’s grain. Please, take it.”

“Yes?”

Hyeongwook’s face was still filled with guilt.

“The villagers may have decided not to, but this is my share. What can they do if I give away my share?”

“Ah, no…”

Baek Cheon looked back and forth between the sack of grain and Hyeongwook, flustered.

“We can’t accept this…”

“Please, accept it!”

Hyeongwook didn’t listen any further and bowed deeply. He looked somewhat similar to his father, but the feeling was completely different.

“I’m too weak to do anything more than this. Please, let me do even this much.”

“…”

“The villagers aren’t evil, either. They’re all just… just afraid. Please, don’t think too badly of them.”

“Brother…”

“It’s insignificant, but please, take even this much. I’m really… truly sorry.”

Baek Cheon looked down at the sack of grain with complicated feelings. It was cheap grain, and it would probably only be enough for each of them to have a handful.

But… the heart contained within was by no means insignificant.

Baek Cheon, who had been silently looking at the sack of grain, clasped his hands together in a fist and bowed deeply with the utmost respect.

“…We will gratefully accept it.”

His hands, clasped in a fist, trembled slightly.

The road ahead was long, and time was short.

But everyone there silently stared at the sack placed between Baek Cheon and Hyeongwook for a long time.

At the old, worn-out sack containing a few handfuls of insignificant but most precious grain.