Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1513

Everyone in the Beggars’ Sect was confused.

“‘Are those… Shaolin monks?’ one person asked, his voice full of doubt.

“‘It looks like it,’ another replied, equally puzzled.

“‘But… why are they here?’

Jo Gul, looking at the Shaolin monks as if he couldn’t understand, turned to Baek Cheon.

“‘Sasuk! Did you know about this?’

Baek Cheon sighed, rubbing his forehead. “‘…That rascal said he was planning something, but he didn’t tell me it would be *this* big.”

It seemed even Baek Cheon didn’t know for sure.

“‘So… anyway, they’re on our side, right?’

“‘Looks like it.”

“‘Then does that mean we’re going to fight together now?’

“‘I… suppose that’s what will happen?’

“‘Heh…'”

Jo Gul stared at the Shaolin monks, then let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “‘Ha! Well,'” he shook his head, “‘I guess I really have lived long enough to see everything.'”

To think that they would end up fighting alongside Shaolin. Who could have imagined such a situation?

Just then, one of the elders, lost in confusion, screamed out.

“‘Why would Shaolin help the Cheonwoo Alliance! We are both part of the Nine Great Sects!'”

Everyone knew there was no rule stopping Shaolin from helping the Cheonwoo Alliance. Asking directly like that was almost rude, like questioning Shaolin’s motives. But the Beggars’ Sect elders were too stressed to be polite.

“Amitabha.”

Hye-bang calmly answered, even after hearing the unreasonable question.

“‘There seems to be some misunderstanding. We did not say we were helping the Cheonwoo Alliance.'”

“‘Then what was that you said just now!'”

“‘We are here because the Beggars’ Sect Leader asked for our help. When a respected sect like yours, part of the Righteous Sects, calls for aid, Shaolin answers. Furthermore,'” Hye-bang’s voice grew stronger, “‘a Shaolin disciple has been hurt here! Attacking a monk of Shaolin is an attack against Shaolin itself. This is no longer just a Beggars’ Sect matter.'”

The elder, momentarily speechless, stared at Hye-bang.

“‘This is a matter within the Beggars’ Sect! Are you saying that Shaolin will interfere in the affairs of the Beggars’ Sect?'”

“‘That is correct. Interfering in the affairs of another sect is forbidden. That is, unless we have received a request from the Sect Leader.'”

At that, the elders’ faces changed several times in a short moment.

Even though they were driven to the brink, as long as this inauguration ceremony wasn’t over, Pungyeong Sin-gae was still the Beggars’ Sect Leader. Meaning, he was the only one who could represent the Beggars’ Sect’s position.

That empty title of ‘Sect Leader’ had now become a noose around the elders’ necks in the name of ‘justification’.

Hye-bang wore a faint smile.

“‘And… it doesn’t seem like this is just a matter for the Beggars’ Sect alone.'”

He quietly looked at those surrounded by the elders.

“‘Other sects have already interfered, and among them… well, there seems to be a disciple of Shaolin as well.'”

“‘Th-that’s…'”

The elders’ gazes were now fixed on Hye-yeon, who was blinking vacantly with a face as innocent as a cow.

The disciples of Hwasan murmured.

“‘Injured?’

“‘Well… there’s a bit of a scratch there.'”

“‘…If that’s an injury, then a mosquito is an eagle.'”

“‘Anyway, they say he’s a Shaolin disciple?’

“‘He is, isn’t he?’

“‘But wasn’t he kicked out of Shaolin?’ one Hwasan disciple whispered.

“‘Not officially,’ another replied. ‘They haven’t done the full ceremony yet. So, technically, he’s still one of them.’ They all looked at Hye-yeon with new eyes.”

“‘That’s true… but does that mean things turn out like this?'”

It was almost like covering the eyes and ringing the bell, but strictly speaking, it wasn’t exactly wrong. In any case, since a Shaolin disciple had been attacked, Shaolin had gained justification to intervene in this matter.

Of course, the fact that they had received a request from the Sect Leader was also more than enough justification.

“‘Is this… is this the real will of Shaolin?’

“‘It is.'”

“‘Did the Abbot allow this to happen? Really?'”

At one elder’s question, Hye-bang wore a strange smile.

“‘Well, it’s certainly not an order issued by the Abbot.'”

“‘See! There’s no way he would!'”

“‘But right now, the Abbot is too far away to know about this situation, and the request for support for Shaolin came to Mount Song.'”

“…”

“‘According to Shaolin’s laws, if it is judged to be an urgent situation where the Abbot’s order cannot be awaited, the one with the highest seniority present can issue an order on behalf of the Abbot, so long as it does not violate Buddhist law and reason.'”

Ilhoshin-gae’s face turned deathly pale. A cold dread washed over him as he understood the full extent of his mistake. *This couldn’t be happening.*

Ilhoshin-gae had been too clever for his own good. He had made sure all the senior Shaolin monks were sent away from Mount Song, thinking it would weaken Shaolin’s response. He even delayed their departure to be extra sure. But now, because all the leaders were gone, Hye-bang, the most senior monk left, had the authority to act in their place. Ilhoshin-gae’s careful plan had become his downfall.

“‘Right now, the one with the highest seniority on Mount Song is me. Since it is certain that you are spreading falsehoods, all of Shaolin’s actions do not violate Buddhist law and reason. The affairs of a sect should be carried out according to just processes and procedures, not by force. So, elders, please step back and achieve what you desire in a formal and just manner.'”

“‘Th-this…'”

“‘If not!'”

Hye-bang shouted firmly.

“‘You will have to face Shaolin!'”

“Amitabha!”

No sooner had Hye-bang finished speaking than the Shaolin monks chanted the Buddha’s name in unison.

The monks’ chant filled the courtyard, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate in the very bones of those who heard it. It was like a wave of sound, pushing back the confusion and fear, replacing it with a sense of inescapable authority.

The elders unconsciously stepped back.

To face Shaolin. Who in the Jianghu didn’t know what that meant?

“‘Sh-Shaolin…'”

“‘Us? Shaolin?'”

Of course, those who had come here were not Shaolin’s true strength. They were merely less than a hundred martial monks.

But the Beggars’ Sect elders knew all too well just how powerful a force even a few dozen Shaolin martial monks could be.

And how terrifying an enemy they would become if they joined forces with the swordsmen of Hwasan who were here.

“‘Th-that…'”

Tang Soso, looking around, whispered.

“‘Um… this might sound a bit strange.'”

“‘Huh?'”

“‘If Shaolin seems reliable, am I the only one who thinks that way?'”

“‘Surely not.'”

“‘There’s no way.'”

“‘I’ve always respected Shaolin the most.'”

“‘I wanted to join Shaolin too!'”

“‘Sasuk. Geoli wants to go to Shaolin.'”

“‘Go. Go, you rascal! Go!'”

“‘…Why only me…'”

The Hwasan disciples began to straighten their shoulders.

If they were to meet as enemies, they would be nothing but troublesome and frightening, but if they became allies, there would be no place more reliable than Shaolin.

Besides, weren’t the disciples of Hwasan more than familiar with matching their martial arts with Shaolin’s, thanks to someone?

“‘It seems like… the tide has turned, Sasuk?'”

“‘Hmm.'”

Baek Cheon nodded slightly and took a step forward. Then, he straightened his shoulders and roared loudly.

“‘The Cheonwoo Alliance has the same position. The elders of the Beggars’ Sect must follow the formal procedures. Those who do not will be regarded as traitors who disrupt the Beggars’ Sect.'”

The Hwasan disciples began to murmur from behind.

“‘He’s really amazing.'”

“‘He was clearly standing there with a face that looked like he was about to die just a moment ago.'”

“‘At this point, shouldn’t he have found the wrong aptitude?'”

“‘Amitabha…. The future of Hwasan seems bright.'”

“‘Was that an insult?'”

Hwasan, having realized the reason and purpose of Shaolin’s appearance, regained their composure as if nothing had happened.

And the Beggars’ Sect elders, who had been pressuring them, were now cornered instead. Now, Shaolin and Hwasan had become the ones surrounding and pressuring them.

It wasn’t just the alignment that had changed. No matter how much they were elders of the Beggars’ Sect, could they fight against these two forces?

“‘H-how…'”

“‘Sin-gae! What is going on?’

“‘We didn’t hear anything about this! Great Elder!'”

As the situation became unfavorable, the elders desperately sought someone to blame.

“‘Didn’t Sin-gae say he had a plan!'”

“‘What are you planning to do!'”

“‘I-if this happens, shouldn’t the plan change?'”

Listening to the outcry pouring out towards Ilhoshin-gae, Pungyeong Sin-gae felt his stomach clench. His face flushed with shame and regret, and he had to look away.

“‘Elder! Please come up with a countermeasure…'”

“‘Shut up!'”

At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted from Ilhoshin-gae’s mouth.

“‘You foolish bastards! Do you think that what you’ve done will disappear just because you’re backing out now?'”

“‘Th-that…'”

The flustered elders rolled their eyes back and forth.

In the Beggars’ Sect’s laws, there was only one punishment for those who tried to assassinate the Sect Leader.

Death.

Of course, it might be impossible to kill all these people. But at least, it would be unavoidable for the elders here to lose all their authority and be driven out of their positions.

“‘There are less than a hundred of them! And they are like rebels who do not follow the orders of the Shaolin Abbot! If the Abbot knew this fact, would he leave them alone? Of course, he will take our side.'”

At Ilhoshin-gae’s words, Hye-bang wore a bitter expression. He knew that there was a high probability that it would turn out that way.

“‘It’s enough if we just win! We just need to subdue them! Announce that the Shaolin rebels are attacking the Beggars’ Sect and call in the disciples!'”

The elders’ faces hardened.

If they did that, this would no longer be just an internal affair of the Beggars’ Sect.

But…

“‘What are you doing!'”

“‘…Yes!'”

Now there was no turning back. Those who had climbed on the tiger’s back could only cling on until the moment of death, hoping that the tiger would tire and collapse.

In the end, a few of the elders, having steeled their hearts first, ran outside. And the remaining ones soon began to exude their energy towards the Shaolin monks.

Hye-bang’s face hardened. *This could have serious consequences for Shaolin,* he thought, *but it was the right thing to do.*

“‘Listen,'” he said, his voice firm.

“‘Yes!'”

“‘Subdue the elders without shedding as much blood as possible! I will take all responsibility!'”

“‘Yes!'”

Hwasan also knew what they had to do.

“‘Sect Leader.'”

“‘Speak, Acting Sect Leader.'”

“‘Please do what you have to do, Sect Leader.'”

“‘…I understand what you mean.'”

The desire to watch the outcome here was fervent, but there was something else Pungyeong Sin-gae had to do. That was to stop the ordinary disciples of the Beggars’ Sect from rushing here.

Only Pungyeong Sin-gae could do that.

“‘I will definitely stop them.'”

“‘I ask for your help.'”

Pungyeong Sin-gae nodded with a firm face and threw himself towards the entrance.

“‘Young Master Lee! Please help the Sect Leader.'”

“‘…I understand.'”

Lee Song-baek also nodded greatly and followed behind Pungyeong Sin-gae. Baek Cheon, having confirmed that only familiar faces remained, cleared his throat quietly.

“‘Ahem.'”

“‘He’s starting again.'”

“‘What is he going to say this time!'”

“‘I won’t! I won’t, you bastards!'”

Baek Cheon blushed and glared at his junior disciples, then turned his head sharply.

“‘…We actually got hit quite a bit, didn’t we.'”

“‘Sasuk got hit a lot.'”

“‘We didn’t really.'”

“‘Sasuk! You have a bruise on your eye.'”

“‘Ugh…'”

Baek Cheon, gritting his teeth, pointed the tip of his sword at the elders.

“‘It’s time for revenge! Knock them all down!'”

“‘That’s the Sasuk we know.'”

“‘Protect Dong-ryong!'”

“‘Let’s go!'”

“Amitabha!”

The excited disciples of Hwasan moved. And there was someone ahead of them, Hye-yeon. For some reason, he was the most excited, rushing in like a gust of wind with an elated face.

“‘Subdue the traitors!'”

Then, with a sudden burst of motion, the Shaolin monks moved. Their ochre robes flowed around them like golden flames as they surged forward, a wave of disciplined power against the disorganized elders.

“A-mi-ta-bha—!”

A resounding Buddhist chant that penetrated to the heart echoed from the very center of the Beggars’ Sect’s main headquarters.