Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1453

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed like a cat ready to pounce as he glared at the snickering faces around him. “Wait,” he said, his voice a little rough. “Is this… is this how you always do things? Deciding something this important like it’s a quick bet in a hidden alley? Is it always this casual?”

Tang Gunak glanced around at the other leaders, then lifted his shoulders in a casual shrug. “How should we know? We’ve never done this before, have we?” He chuckled softly.

“That’s right.”

“Actually, this is the first time I’ve ever had a conversation like this with other sects.”

“It hasn’t been long since I became the head of the family.”

Feeling a bit dizzy, Chung Myung looked up at the wide sky.

‘This is a lost cause,’ he thought.

The increasing workload wasn’t the main issue. Well, it was important, but…

“You want me to be the Chief Commander?”

“Don’t you like fancy titles?”

Of course, he liked fancy titles! But this was too much!

“No…!”

“Enough.”

“…Huh?”

Chung Myung was about to explode again, but Maeng So stopped him.

“I don’t understand why we need to argue about this. Isn’t this what you’re trying to say? If we unite the command, some people will surely lose out.”

“Exactly!”

“Then disagreements will surely happen, leading to arguments. That’s why the Heavenly Union has always agreed on things equally, without giving anyone higher ranks! We even divide the responsibilities!”

“Yes!”

“So, decisions made with everyone’s agreement should be the most important thing. Right?”

“…Huh?”

Chung Myung, confused for a moment, froze. He knew what was coming.

“Following that idea, you should become the Chief Commander. Because we all agreed on it. Surely, you won’t go back on your word, will you?”

“Kuh…”

Chung Myung clutched his neck, as if he couldn’t breathe.

“If a disciple from a small sect refuses something that all the sect leaders have agreed on, then this alliance has no reason to exist.”

Everyone looked at Maeng So with admiration. They finally understood why Chung Myung had said that Maeng So looked like a bear but had a fox inside.

“And… if you think about it, Hwasan has already decided. Are you going against your sect leader’s orders? Tsk, tsk. To openly defy your sect leader in front of so many people, he must be so embarrassed.”

“Yes?”

Suddenly cornered, Chung Myung widened his eyes and looked back at Unam. Un Am offered a gentle smile.

“Ah, no, I don’t mean that…”

“It’s alright. Palace Lord Yasu doesn’t need to feel sorry for me.”

Feel sorry? Sect Leader, are you serious?

“I haven’t been the sect leader for very long, and honestly, my martial skills are not great, so I have to accept it even if my disciple doesn’t trust me.”

“Oh dear…”

“Oh my…”

“That’s too much.”

Despite the sympathy from all around, Un Am still smiled calmly, like a peaceful painting.

But behind him, a chilling feeling grew. Un-geom, Hyeon-yeong, and Hyeon-sang, standing behind Unam, were giving off murderous looks, as if they wanted to grind Chung Myung into dust at any moment.

Looking into Un-geom’s bloodshot eyes, even the mighty Chung Myung shrank back.

“Ah, no, it’s not like that… It’s just…”

At that moment, Im So-byeong opened his fan wide and chuckled.

“Haha. Isn’t Hwasan a sect that doesn’t respect rules? Hahaha!”

Chung Myung opened his mouth wide and turned to look at Im So-byeong.

“That, that evil bastard…”

“Eek. How scary. Baek Cheon disciple, save me! Ah… You ignore even your sect leader, so would a sect leader’s helper be enough?”

Baek Cheon’s fist trembled. The Five Swords standing around him were all glaring at Chung Myung with eyes that seemed ready to grind him to dust.

“That bastard with no roots!”

“We need to bury him in the Plum Blossom Cave.”

“We need to stick a sword in the top of his head!”

“Just kill him.”

Chung Myung sweated as he looked around. At that moment, Namgung Dowi spoke up.

“Disciple, there’s something I really want to say to you.”

“…Huh?”

“You always care for us, but you also underestimate us.”

“What are you suddenly talking about… No, what are you talking about, Young Lord Namgung?”

“Why do you think the decisions we make are short-sighted and don’t think about the future?”

Chung Myung was speechless for a moment. Namgung Dowi shook his head and continued.

“We have already thought a lot about what you are worried about. Keeping the Heavenly Union together and not dividing people into ranks is important. But dealing with the coming crisis and saving even one more life is also important.”

It was hard to do both, especially in this situation.

“That’s why we’re giving you this role.”

“Am I that great…?”

“No, Disciple. It’s not because you’re great.”

“…Yes?”

“If we have to die while following someone’s orders…”

Namgung Dowi looked straight at Chung Myung and said.

“Our Namgung wants you to be the one giving those orders.”

At those words, all the sect leaders nodded. They didn’t think that Chung Myung would only make the right decisions. Chung Myung was also human. He would make mistakes and bad decisions.

But even if they were sacrificed because of his mistakes, they could accept it if Chung Myung was the one who gave the order.

“What I believe in is not you. It’s the path you’ve walked until now.”

“…”

“Please.”

The gazes of the other sect leaders were also steadily focused on Chung Myung.

“Ugh…”

Having come this far, there was really no way to escape. No, maybe there was no way to escape from the start.

Chung Myung looked at Tang Gunak one last time.

Then Tang Gunak spoke calmly.

“While our family was attacked and coming here, I thought a lot. The only thing I understood during that deep thinking was one thing.”

“…What is it?”

“Let’s not be people who don’t learn from our mistakes.”

Tang Gunak shook his head.

“Maybe from the Hainan trip until now, we have made too many mistakes and bad decisions. That’s why things have become like this. But we can’t avoid change by just hoping things will be better next time. At least, I want the Sichuan Tang Family and the Heavenly Union to take one step forward tomorrow.”

“…”

“Become the Chief Commander, Hwasan Sword Saint. And do what you want. No one will stop you anymore.”

Tang Gunak’s eyes were full of clear trust.

Chung Myung wanted to be Hwasan’s sword.

But the world could no longer let him be just a sword.

Tang Gunak also wanted to see what kind of world would appear when Chung Myung, who had been willing to be a sword used by someone else, became the master of that sword himself.

After thinking for a long time, Chung Myung scratched his head, looking like he had a headache. He scratched so hard that his neatly tied hair became messy.

“Ha… Life.”

Nothing ever goes easy.

Chung Myung’s eyes turned to the sky. But the sky was just a plain blue.

“Alright. I’ll do it! It’s not a big deal!”

A happy smile appeared on Tang Gunak’s face.

“Oh, really. Good thinking…”

“Everyone wants to receive my orders so much! It wouldn’t be right to refuse any longer. What can I do?”

“…”

“But.”

Chung Myung glanced around at everyone. And at that moment, Tang Gunak saw it. The frown on Chung Myung’s face disappeared, and a strange smile spread across his lips.

It was a worrying smile.

“I clearly refused. But you all insisted on putting me in this position. Don’t forget that.”

“…Huh?”

“So, I’m not responsible for what happens from now on. I’m doing it because you all wanted me to. Right?”

A moment of silence passed. The Five Swords, who heard those words from a little further away, began to whisper to each other.

“…Doesn’t something seem a little strange, Senior Uncle?”

“A little? Is that all you can say?”

“Geol-ah… To be honest, I thought something was wrong from the beginning.”

“Right, Senior Brother? Honestly, isn’t it obvious what will happen if we put that bastard in charge?”

“That’s right. But when I think about it…”

Yoon Jong’s face turned a little pale.

“Only we know that, only we…”

“…This is why knowing things is important. My condolences.”

As the Five Swords whispered, the worry on Tang Gunak’s face grew a little more. Chung Myung smiled and said.

“The Nine Great Sects, the Six Demon Sects, whatever, I can just do whatever I want and turn everything upside down, right?”

“Ah, no, Hwasan Sword Saint. What I mean is…”

“Chief Commander.”

“…Huh?”

“You have to call me Chief Commander, Chief Commander!”

“Ch, Chief… Commander.”

“That’s right.”

Chung Myung nodded happily.

“There’s nothing to worry about. If you all really want it, I’ll do my best. You’re pushing me this far, what can I do? I have to meet your expectations.”

The sect leaders looked at each other nervously.

This all happened because they didn’t know.

Why Cheong Mun, who knew Chung Myung the best, never gave him a fancy title. Why someone who had been a Hwasan elder couldn’t even get a simple pavilion lord position. Why Chung Myung moved alone without any helpers, even when the Demonic Sect was attacking.

“W, well, first of all…”

Chung Myung glanced around.

“It’s not like we had a proper ceremony, but we can’t worry about those things right now. Still, now that I’ve become the Chief Commander, I have to do something.”

“…Here?”

“Hey, don’t worry. It’s simple. What big things would I want in this situation?”

“R, right?”

The faces of the sect leaders, which had been dark with worry, brightened up for a moment.

They had left Sichuan and entered Shanxi, but they were still traveling. They couldn’t do much here.

“Hey, Senior Brother!”

“Why?” Jo Gul poked his head out.

“Go get some blank books. And ink and brushes.”

“Where am I supposed to get that?”

“Ah, just find it!”

“…Tch…”

Jo Gul grumbled and disappeared. Tang Gunak looked at Chung Myung with worried eyes and asked.