Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1501

A message just came, Senior Brother. It’s from the Shaolin Temple.

The old man sat at a large, worn desk and slowly looked up.

The middle-aged beggar gave him a letter. It was now on the desk.

The letter was written on red paper. It said, ‘Personal Letter for the Dragon Head Chief.’ The ‘Dragon Head Chief’ is what they call the leader of the Beggars’ Sect.

But the beggar and the old man didn’t seem worried, even though the old man was not the Chief.

“Put it there.”

“It’s marked as urgent…”

“It’s probably the same old story. They’re telling us to pick a side.”

The middle-aged beggar quietly put the letter on the desk, in a place that was not too obvious.

The old man looked at the letter. His eyes darkened.

‘Beopjeong…’

He knew what was happening in the Beggars’ Sect. The letter, marked ‘Personal Letter to the Dragon Head Chief,’ was a clear message.

‘Such small actions.’

The old man was not happy. He didn’t like Beopjeong’s challenge, and he didn’t like that he was getting upset about it.

He sighed and asked, “Any news about the sacred object?” We don’t know what the sacred object is, but it is very important to the sect.

“Not yet…”

The old man looked annoyed. “It’s late. Has the Beggars’ Sect become so useless?”

“Senior Brother, you have to understand. Because of what we’re looking for, we can’t just send beggars everywhere.”

That made sense. If people knew the beggars were looking for their sacred object, the sect would be a joke in Jianghu. Jianghu is the world of martial arts heroes.

A sacred object should never be lost or stolen.

“Moreover, that…”

“Enough. I know.”

The old man stopped him, his voice rising. If people found out that the Chief had hidden the sacred object, it would be a disaster.

The old man was quiet and looked unhappy. The middle-aged beggar looked at the letter.

“Are you going to ignore it again?”

“…”

“Shaolin is asking more often. Does that mean it’s harder for the Beggars’ Sect to stay out of it? Shaolin and Beopjeong are like wolves, but they are strong wolves.”

“…”

“If the Chief does something foolish while you wait, the Beggars’ Sect could…”

“You’re talking a lot today, aren’t you?”

“…I’m sorry, Senior Brother.”

The middle-aged beggar was scared by the old man’s anger and quickly bowed his head.

The old man sighed.

The desk was covered in papers.

This was the Chief’s office. Only the Chief should give orders here. But now, Ilhosingae, the old man, was in charge.

But even with all the power, Ilhosingae didn’t look happy.

“Hoo.”

The Beggars’ Sect was almost completely in his control. His junior brothers followed him, and the branch leaders were used to him leading the sect, not the missing Chief.

Now, only one thing was left.

He touched the deep mark on the desk, where the sacred object should be. The sacred object is a symbol of the Chief.

“It’s not that I don’t want to become the Chief right away. But I can’t do anything without the sacred object or knowing where the Chief is.”

“The Beggars’ Sect already follows you, Senior Brother. No one will say no.”

“It’s not that they won’t say no, but that they can’t. Just like I couldn’t say no when he became the Chief.”

“…”

“Power that doesn’t come the proper way will cause problems. I can’t make the same mistake.”

“But, Senior Brother, there’s no time. If we don’t take control before the Four Faction Alliance moves again…” We don’t know who the Four Faction Alliance are, but they are important to Ilhosingae.

“I know.”

Ilhosingae rubbed his eyes.

He wanted one of two things: the current Chief to give him the position, or the sacred object that had the same power.

Ilhosingae wanted the sacred object because there was no way to find the Chief.

“…Muheunge.”

The Chief, Pungyeongsingae, was always in disguise. That wasn’t the problem. His disguise skills weren’t great. Anyone with good fighting skills could see through it.

But Pungyeongsingae always wore a disguise, even if people laughed at him.

One day, Ilhosingae realized something strange: he didn’t know Pungyeongsingae’s real face.

It sounded crazy, but it was true. The last time he saw Pungyeongsingae’s real face was forty years ago. Maybe even that wasn’t true. He wasn’t sure if the face he saw then was real.

So how could he know Pungyeongsingae’s face now?

There was more. Ilhosingae learned that no one in the Beggars’ Sect knew Pungyeongsingae’s real face.

He had hidden his identity for decades, even as the Chief.

How could that be?

How could someone hide for forty years? He didn’t have much experience when he became Chief.

“It’s sad…”

The Beggars’ Sect can find anyone, but they can’t find someone they don’t know. Even if Muheunge walked around the headquarters, no one would know he was the Chief.

So, the only thing they could find was the sacred object. Muheunge was gone without a trace.

“Both the person and the object are gone… and I have to find them.”

“…”

“Even without knowing what he looks like, and with only a few people who have seen the sacred object.”

“…Senior Brother.”

Ilhosingae chuckled.

“It’s like he planned this from the start. From the time young Muheunge became Chief… maybe even before that…”

Ilhosingae looked tired and sighed.

His leadership, his ability to see the enemy, and his fighting skills were useless.

“It’s like trying to catch a ghost, something you can’t really touch or see… Wait!”

Ilhosingae suddenly looked up, surprised.

“Senior Brother?”

Ilhosingae’s eyes were wide. He muttered, “No substance…? No substance? Can’t recognize him?”

“…Senior Brother?”

“Huh… Heh heh. Heh heh heh heh heh heh.”

Ilhosingae laughed loudly.

“S-Senior Brother? Why are you acting so strange?”

The First Divine General let out a short, sharp laugh. “No substance,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Haha! No substance at all!”

He leaned back heavily in his wooden chair in the dim room, as if all the energy had drained out of him. A low chuckle rumbled in his chest.

“It pains me to say it,” he said, his voice quieter now, “but I think I finally understand why Master didn’t choose me to be the Ark. I was so blind! So foolish!”

“What are you talking about?” the beggar asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

The First Divine General straightened up suddenly, his eyes gleaming with a new light. “Gather the elders,” he commanded, his voice firm and decisive.

A slow smile spread across his face, a confident, almost chilling smile. “I’ve been trying to solve a complicated puzzle,” he explained, “when the answer was right in front of me, simple as day. Now,” he said, his smile widening, “everything will fall into place.”

The middle-aged beggar just stared, his questioning eyes fixed on the First Divine General, still trying to understand what was happening.

“…Are you really out of your mind?”

Hong Daekwang looked at Chung Myung with a dumbfounded expression, as if he couldn’t be any more surprised. Then, he looked around at the others, specifically at Baek Cheon.

“Head Disciple too. No… Isn’t it common knowledge that this guy is crazy? Head Disciple, shouldn’t you have stopped him from doing something like this?”

“…Do you think he would listen if I tried to stop him?”

“Then at least don’t condone it! What’s with that attitude, seriously!”

Baek Cheon, at a loss for words, avoided his gaze and stared at the distant mountains, even though he couldn’t see any mountains inside the small, dusty chamber, the air thick with the smell of old paper and damp earth.

“Even madness should have its limits… Hey, Monk. Your wig is crooked. Seriously.”

“Ah, Amitabha.”

Hae Yeon, his neck flushed red, fiddled with the troublesome wig. Chung Myung, as if he couldn’t bear to listen any longer, cut in sharply.

“Enough with the nagging.”

Then, he gestured with his chin towards Hong Daekwang.

“What are you going to do? Answer me.”

Hong Daekwang chewed on his lip, staring at Chung Myung.

“…Is everything I heard true?”

“Do you think I’m so free that I’d just grab a beggar and spout nonsense?”

Hong Daekwang sighed deeply and rubbed his face roughly with his grimy hands.

“So, the King Beggar is the Ark, but someone else is controlling him. And that someone else is the *real* Ark from before…”

“Enough, Branch Leader.”

“…Well, I guess I’d be like that too.”

“Amitabha. Consider it fate.”

Hong Daekwang stared blankly at the ceiling with a vacant expression.

“…What kind of nonsense is this?”

He felt as if the world he knew had collapsed in an instant.

What made it even more frustrating was that Chung Myung, whom he knew, might spout nonsense, but he never lied.

“Anyway, let’s think about that later.”

“…How can you think about this later, you crazy bastard.”

“The past is the past. What’s important is the future. So, first, the uncle needs to become the Ark…”

“But why you?”

“How many times do I have to say it? There’s no one else, okay?”

“Why do you get to judge that…”

Tears welled up in Hong Daekwang’s eyes. How on earth was he supposed to accept this situation?

“Anyway, we don’t have time, so follow me for now. We can think about it more after you become the Ark.”

“…W-What are you planning to do?”

“What else can we do? They only have power but no authority, so they can’t do anything. That’s when we step in! And…”

It was at that moment.

“Head Disciple!”

The door to the secret chamber where they were hiding burst open with a bang!

“What is it!”

“Is it the enemy!”

The swordsmen of Mount Hua simultaneously drew their swords and aimed them at the door.

But the one who had thrown open the door was none other than Lee Songbaek.

“What is it, Young Hero! You startled me!”

“Hey, be gentle with the door…!”

“Big trouble!”

“Huh?”

Everyone finally took a good look at Lee Songbaek. They had been too busy clutching their startled hearts to notice, but Lee Songbaek’s usually calm face was noticeably pale.

Baek Cheon quickly asked.

“What happened, Young Hero?”

“Baek Cheon, Head Disciple… No, Acting Sect Leader! It’s a disaster. Rumors are spreading like wildfire outside.”

“What rumors?”

“The Ark! The Beggars’ Sect’s Ark!”

“Yes, the Ark?”

“He has passed away!”

The disciples of Mount Hua exclaimed in surprise.

“Huh? He’s dead?”

“No, what are you talking about? He was perfectly fine just a moment ago? Did they get him already?”

“There’s no way!”

“Then what’s going on?”

Everyone was visibly flustered and murmured amongst themselves. Baek Cheon calmly asked again.

“Is that true?”

“Yes! It’s said to be news from the main headquarters just now. That’s all everyone is talking about outside.”

“…What on earth…”

Everyone, dumbfounded and stunned, naturally turned around. When something didn’t make sense, their gaze naturally went there.

But Chung Myung, whom they faced, was staring blankly into space as if he had been smacked in the back of the head.

“Chung Myung-ah?”

“Uh…”

Chung Myung, who had been gaping, gave an awkward smile.

“Wow… That elder or whatever he is, he’s no ordinary person. He’s going this far?”

“What’s going on?”

“Well, the situation isn’t important… If we don’t resolve this today, we’re doomed.”

“Huh? Haha. This bastard, trying to scare us again… Chung Myung-ah?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened. He saw sweat pouring down Chung Myung’s face.

“Ch-Chung Myung…”

“…Maybe not. Maybe we’re already doomed.”

No, this is a real crisis…