Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1504

Shin-gae took a deep breath. *It was done.* The decision was made. Nothing should change it now. He thought, *No matter what I do now, I will become the Ark Master.*

But Shin-gae was very tense. His muscles felt tight, like ropes pulled too hard.

The Ark Master’s seat was everything in the Beggars’ Sect. He opened his mouth. His voice was deep and serious, filling the dusty hall.

“So,” he said in a deep, serious voice, “I believe that for the next Ark Master’s seat…”

He stopped talking for a moment. He looked at everyone. His eyes showed he was very sure of himself.

“I believe I should be the one.”

Several elders flinched.

Everyone knew Shin-gae wanted to be the Ark Master. Whether they liked it or not, they knew what he wanted.

Even though they knew, some elders felt embarrassed. Shin-gae was being too open about wanting the position.

Elder Chu-myeon frowned deeply. *’He could at least pretend to be recommended,’* he thought sadly.

The Beggars’ Sect was already under Shin-gae’s control. He could have asked other elders to suggest him. Then, Shin-gae could have acted like he didn’t really want it at first.

But Shin-gae was asking for the position himself. It was like he thought even pretending was too much trouble. It was like he didn’t care what anyone else in the Beggars’ Sect thought.

Shin-gae looked at everyone again with a sharp gaze.

“If anyone has any objections, step forward and speak.”

Dust motes danced in the shafts of light from the high windows as silence fell. The usual noisy chatter of the beggars was gone, replaced by a thick, heavy quiet that pressed down on them all.

A light of triumph flickered in Shin-gae’s eyes.

Beggars are usually very talkative and complain a lot. If they could speak their minds, the meeting would take a very long time.

Shin-gae thought it was better to stop them by force, even if people complained that he was too bossy. If he became the Ark Master, he could deal with the complaints later.

“Are there any objections?”

“I have none.”

“It seems like Shin-gae is the only one who can be Ark Master.”

“Because of the situation, it has to be him. Who else can lead the Beggars’ Sect in the upcoming war?”

The elders who already supported Shin-gae spoke up quickly, all at once.

Only then did the elders who were slow to understand start to look unhappy. But it was too late to turn the tide. Many beggars nodded, agreeing that Shin-gae should be the Ark Master.

They didn’t know what would happen when someone like Shin-gae, who listened to no one and thought he was always right, got so much power.

Shin-gae almost smiled, but he stopped himself. He asked again in a serious voice.

“Is there anyone else?”

There was no answer. Just as Shin-gae was about to nod, a blunt voice suddenly burst out.

“Is it acceptable to elect the Ark Master in this way?”

Chu-myeon, unable to bear it any longer, finally opened his mouth. Shin-gae lashed a glance at him, his eyes like sharp stones. Chu-myeon looked very weak and sad. Shin-gae, even in beggar clothes, looked strong like a tiger. Chu-myeon looked weak and helpless.

Shin-gae looked down at him sideways and said.

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

“The Beggars’ Sect has rules. When the Ark Master dies suddenly and doesn’t name someone to take over, there’s a way to choose the next one…”

“Of course, there is. But that process takes at least half a year.”

Chu-myeon bit his lip tightly.

“Do you really think it’s okay to wait six months to choose a new Ark Master? What if we are attacked in that time? Can you take responsibility for that, Elder?”

A sigh escaped from Chu-myeon’s mouth.

The Wicked Alliance is getting stronger. We lost in Sichuan. These are very big problems. They are strong reasons to break the rules.

“I don’t want to do this either. Of course, I want to choose the Ark Master fairly. But who will be responsible if the Beggars’ Sect gets hurt because we are too worried about being fair!”

Chu-myeon was speechless. Anyone listening would think Shin-gae was suffering because of this situation.

“We have to do it this way. It’s not about how we choose, but who we choose. So, Elder, do you have someone else you want to suggest for Ark Master?”

This question was also sharp. This is why Chu-myeon hadn’t spoken up before.

Chu-myeon didn’t think Shin-gae was right for the job. But he couldn’t think of anyone better. So, he knew his words wouldn’t matter.

“…No.”

In the end, Chu-myeon, feeling overwhelmed by the power, stepped back. Shin-gae nodded slowly.

“I also have regrets. But we have important things to do. I have to do this. I hope you elders understand.”

A cold gaze swept over everyone again. Now, no one met his eyes. Even though there was a small argument, Shin-gae now controlled the whole meeting.

*’Finally,’* he thought.

Shin-gae clenched his hand, hidden in his sleeve. Now, he would finally become the Ark Master of the Beggars’ Sect.

“If there are no further objections, then we all agree…”

The words finally flowed from Shin-gae’s mouth. How long had he waited for this moment?

“First Elder Shin-gae of the Beggars’ Sect shall be the Ark…”

But something else stopped him. Shin-gae was about to finish speaking, but then he suddenly roared.

“What is all this commotion!”

This was the moment to choose the Ark Master. Even though they were doing it quickly, it should have been a serious moment. But noise from outside was bothering Shin-gae.

“What’s going on outside…”

At that moment, with a thud, the door leading to the hall swung open. A group walked in confidently. Shin-gae’s face hardened.

“Outsiders?”

Outsiders? Here? How? What were the guards doing? How could they let outsiders in during this important meeting to choose the Ark Master?

Shin-gae became very angry. He almost screamed. But he controlled himself. He had learned to be patient over many years.

But when he saw who the outsiders were, he couldn’t hide his surprise. The person leading them… Shin-gae knew the symbol on his chest.

Why were those with that emblem on their chests here?

Thud. Thud.

The man walked to the middle of the hall. He looked at Shin-gae, then slowly looked around at everyone else. He seemed calm and important. His presence made the beggars feel small and quiet for a moment.

“That man is…”

Before the elders could recognize him, the man clasped his hands together and bowed in all directions.

“I am Baek Cheon, acting leader of Mount Hua Sect. Thank you for inviting us to your important meeting.”

Shin-gae’s stomach twisted greatly. Everything about his words and actions was irritating.

The Beggars’ Sect invited Mount Hua.

It wasn’t completely wrong. Shin-gae *had* sent invitations to leaders of big groups. But he thought they would be too busy to come. He didn’t expect anyone to actually come, especially not the acting leader of Mount Hua.

Baek Cheon’s actions were also a problem.

Baek Cheon saw Shin-gae on the platform. But he bowed to the other elders first, on the sides. It looked like he was ignoring Shin-gae’s power. Shin-gae thought, *’He is ignoring me.’*

But Shin-gae could not get angry.

If Baek Cheon really was the acting leader of Mount Hua, then he was like a guest sent to celebrate. Shin-gae couldn’t be rude to him.

Shin-gae suppressed his anger and opened his mouth with a smiling face.

“I didn’t expect Mount Hua to send anyone. I thought you would be too busy. But thank you for coming. The Beggars’ Sect is very grateful for Mount Hua’s kindness.”

“You’re welcome. It’s the right thing to do. I was nearby and heard the news. The Mount Hua leader sends his deepest sympathy to the Beggars’ Sect.”

“…Thank you.”

Baek Cheon’s words and actions were perfect. This annoyed Shin-gae even more. But he tried to stay calm.

*’It’s unexpected, but it’s nothing more than that,’* he thought.

Shin-gae hadn’t planned for outsiders. But it wasn’t a big problem. If they came earlier, it would have been bad. But now, everything was already decided.

Maybe it was even good. Mount Hua would see all the elders agree to make him Ark Master. It would be like Mount Hua was approving it.

*’The gods send those you don’t expect. You may not have come with good intentions, but there’s nothing you can do,’* he thought.

“Give the guests seats, quickly.”

“Yes! Elder!”

The younger beggars quickly made room and guided the Mount Hua people.

“This way… Huh? Jo, Jong-nam?”

“…That’s…”

One beggar looked shocked. Lee Song-baek’s face turned red with anger. Other beggars looked confused and surprised.

Mount Hua people are here at the Beggars’ Sect meeting. And there’s someone from Jong-nam with them? Anyone who knows anything would be shocked. *Jong-nam and the Beggars’ Sect had a long history of conflict over territory and resources.*

Baek Cheon smiled gently.

“They are friends who came with me. I thought it would be good to have more people to congratulate you.”

“Ah…”

“There are also people from Shaolin with us. Is that also surprising? *The Beggars’ Sect and Shaolin rarely interacted, as their philosophies and practices were very different.*”

Everyone looked at Baek Cheon’s back. They saw a shaved head, shiny and clean. It was clearly a monk’s head. They nodded without thinking.

“…I’ll escort you this way.”

“Thank you.”

They made space for the Mount Hua group between the elders and the younger beggars. There were no chairs or drinks, because it was a Beggars’ Sect meeting. But the location was good enough. No one could say they weren’t being treated well. *The hall was large and drafty, with patches of damp on the walls and a faint smell of stale food and unwashed bodies.*

Shin-gae, who had been waiting for the Mount Hua people to settle down, took a short, deep breath.

Nothing will change.

He would become the Ark Master now. And the acting leader of Mount Hua would be there to see it.

“There has been a slight delay. Then, let’s finish as agreed earlier.”

Some elders glanced at the Mount Hua side, but since they didn’t show any particular reaction, they soon closed their eyes as if they had given up.

“Then, as a result of the elders’ meeting, the inauguration of the new Ark Master…”

“Wait a moment.”

At that moment, Baek Cheon quietly opened his mouth and interrupted. Baek Cheon’s polite smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Shin-gae’s face hardened coldly.

“Acting leader, do you have something to say? But remember, this is *our* meeting. Meaning that you, as mere attendees, have no voting rights.”

Baek Cheon nodded calmly, as if he knew.

“I just want to ask one thing to be sure. Everything I do here is for Mount Hua, so I need to be clear.”

“What do you mean by confirming?”

“Is the reason why the Beggars’ Sect is electing a new Ark Master because of the sudden death of the previous Ark Master?”

“That is correct.”

“Then this is not polite.”

“Polite?”

Baek Cheon nodded calmly.

“I don’t want to argue now. But I am also Taoist. We have to follow some basic rules. If the Ark Master died suddenly, as a Taoist, I must offer a small service to remember him.”

Baek Cheon stared straight at Shin-gae and said.

“Where is the place where you remember the dead Ark Master?”