Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1516

BOOM!

A huge explosion threw Ilhoshin-gae backwards.

Uwaaaaargh!

He was covered in cuts from swords. When he opened his mouth, a lot of dark blood poured out.

His hands shaking, Ilhoshin-gae held onto the floor and slowly turned his head. What he saw made him forget his pain. He stared, mouth open.

Blue sky.

The beautiful roof and walls that used to protect them were gone. Now, he only saw endless blue sky.

“The… the main building…”

It was completely destroyed. Ilhoshin-gae was in shock and couldn’t speak.

Really, it was not surprising. Powerful fighters were battling inside this old building. It was too weak to handle such a fight. It was almost a miracle it lasted this long.

Yes, it was like…

Thud.

Chung Myung walked towards him.

The fight inside was over. When Chung Myung’s sword destroyed the top of the building, everyone stared at him. They couldn’t look away.

“Hwa… Hwasan Sword Saint…”

Cough! Ilhoshin-gae coughed, and blood came out.

He knew he was beaten.

His best skills, the Jade Profound Return Divine Art and the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms (a secret move only for the Beggars’ Sect Leader), were useless against this monster.

He, the strongest fighter in the Beggars’ Sect, had lost completely to a young man not even thirty years old.

Thud.

Chung Myung stepped closer to Ilhoshin-gae, stopping right in front of him. Chung Myung looked up at the sky through the big hole in the roof.

“Hmm,” Chung Myung said, looking thoughtful. He looked at the sky for a moment, then spoke calmly.

“It feels good.”

“…”

“There’s a nice breeze, isn’t there?”

Ilhoshin-gae was surprised by this comment. He stared at Chung Myung, confused. He held his chest and tried to stand up.

The fight was over. He couldn’t beat this Sword Demon.

Even if he could fight Chung Myung, it wouldn’t matter. When the Shaolin monks suddenly showed up and helped Chung Myung, he knew he had lost.

He knew fighting more would only cause more people to die for nothing.

But Ilhoshin-gae couldn’t accept losing.

“I…” Ilhoshin-gae coughed blood and glared at Chung Myung angrily.

“I can’t accept it. I will never let Moo-Heun rule!”

“…”

“The Beggars’ Sect is falling apart! If things continue like this, it won’t be the Beggars’ Sect anymore! I! I will fix the Beggars’ Sect…”

“Ah, that’s what you’re worried about,” Chung Myung said, smiling and nodding. Ilhoshin-gae blinked, not understanding. Chung Myung pointed at him and said,

“The problem is ‘I’. It’s ‘I’.”

“…”

“It doesn’t have to be you. Anyone can change the Beggars’ Sect. It’s not something only ‘you’ can do.”

Ilhoshin-gae’s face twisted in anger.

“You don’t understand the Beggars’ Sect…”

“It’s full of idiots, right?”

“…What?”

Chung Myung seemed to know what Ilhoshin-gae was going to say. Or maybe he understood how Ilhoshin-gae felt. He chuckled and said,

“You think everyone is worse than you. And when you look at the younger people, they don’t seem good enough. You feel like if you don’t change everything, take control, and push them hard, they will all fail.”

Chung Myung looked to the side a little.

“They are careless, stupid. You can’t find anyone talented, even if you look everywhere. The ones who are a little bit good seem like they hit their heads when they were young, they are not thinking straight. And they are too confident for no reason…”

“Who is that idiot talking about?”

“Chung Myung! Look straight ahead!”

“Don’t look at us! Not this way!”

Chung Myung shook his head and looked back at Ilhoshin-gae.

“So, you think ‘you’ have to do everything. Rules and reasons don’t matter much. Any small problems along the way will be okay because the result will be good.”

Chung Myung grinned and asked Ilhoshin-gae,

“Right?”

“…”

“That’s why you can’t do it.” Chung Myung glanced at the sky.

“Someone who thinks only he is great and can do everything alone will just make things harder for everyone else. Only someone who believes that even people who seem worse than him can do things he can’t do is good enough to be a Sect Leader.”

Ilhoshin-gae’s fingers shook a little.

“Are you saying I’m not good enough?”

“No. I’m saying you are not right for it.”

“…Why?”

“Because you only change things for now.”

Ilhoshin-gae looked confused. Chung Myung explained more.

“You might be right about some things. If you become the Sect Leader, the Beggars’ Sect might get better for a short time. But in the end, those changes will make things worse for the Beggars’ Sect.”

“Why?”

“Because when you die, no one can take your place.”

Ilhoshin-gae’s body jumped slightly. Chung Myung made his point very clear.

“If only ‘I’ can do something, it’s the same as saying no one else can do it. A sect shouldn’t be like that. It should be something that can work even without ‘me’, and it should be something that can be protected even if ‘I’ am not there. But you can’t do that. You think all the other beggars are just stupid and useless compared to you.”

Chung Myung spoke calmly, but his voice sounded like a command.

“So, they must change themselves. The people who will live in the Beggars’ Sect in the future must do it themselves. Not old people like you who are almost dead!”

Chung Myung suddenly spun around. The elders saw his eyes and jumped back, gritting their teeth. One elder spoke, unsure,

“How dare someone who isn’t even in the Beggars’ Sect tell u…”

“ENOUGH!”

A voice like thunder exploded. It wasn’t Chung Myung, and it wasn’t an elder.

Dust swirled around Hong Daekwang’s worn shoes as he gritted his teeth. He glared at the elders, his eyes burning with anger. The Beggars’ Clan was known throughout the land, not for their poverty, but for their hidden network of information.

“Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?”

“You insolent beggar!”

“If you are so sure of yourselves, why hide? The Shaolin are here now! Why not announce it and become the Clan Chief?”

“What…?”

“Are you making all this noise without calling the other beggars because you are ashamed?!”

“Be quiet! You are not even a real member of this Clan!”

Hong Daekwang’s eyes flashed with fury.

“Since when did the Beggars’ Clan become a place where you need a title to speak?”

“…”

“From the Clan Chief to the newest beggar, we are all the same – beggars! We live at the bottom. There should be no ranks here. Everyone should have a voice! Isn’t that what the Beggars’ Clan is supposed to be?”

Hong Daekwang’s jaw tightened.

“If you want power and status! If you want to look down on others! Then take off these beggar’s clothes and join another group! Many places would welcome you as elders. Why pretend to be beggars at all?”

The elders were about to shout back angrily when a voice cut through the noise.

“Answer him.”

A voice, deep and commanding, boomed from behind them.

“Clan Chief?” one elder stammered, his voice shaking.

“No… it can’t be…” Confusion spread across the elders’ faces. They turned slowly, fear creeping into their eyes.

Standing at the broken gate, silhouetted against the fading light, was Poong Youngsingae, the Clan Chief. Behind him stood the elders who had left earlier, including Choomyungae. Poong Youngsingae’s face was grim, his eyes like chips of ice.

Seeing the Clan Chief, some elders closed their eyes, defeated.

*This is the end,* one thought grimly.

The Clan Chief’s presence was clear: the plan to gather the common beggars had failed. Their defeat now seemed certain.

Poong Youngsingae spoke, his voice cold.

“This is the elders’ place. Important decisions are made here.” He turned to Hong Daekwang, his gaze sharp. “You have no right to speak here. Why do you dare to?”

His words were a clear warning to be silent and back down. But Hong Daekwang stood his ground, shouting back with even more force.

“Why do you even ask! Because I am ashamed! Ashamed!”

“Hmm?” Poong Youngsingae’s eyebrows furrowed, his mouth tightening. This was not the answer he expected.

“Embarrassed? Is that all?”

“What other reason do you need?”

Poong Youngsingae licked his dry lips. Anxiety flickered in his eyes. Hong Daekwang scowled, ignoring the Clan Chief’s reaction, and continued.

“We are beggars who live by begging. We don’t work, we just roll around, and even if we freeze to death somewhere, no one cares.”

“Of course. Isn’t that what a beggar is?”

“Yes! Exactly! So, even if we are just beggars, we should not be shameful. If a beggar with nothing loses his pride, he is truly worthless! Even if people look down on us, we are still human. We want to act like humans, be treated like humans. What other reason do we need to be ashamed of this Clan?!”

Confusion flickered across Poong Youngsingae’s face. He opened and closed his mouth, as if searching for words.

Silence fell over the hall. All eyes were fixed on Poong Youngsingae and Hong Daekwang.

Poong Youngsingae sighed, a short, sharp breath. He seemed to push aside his earlier thoughts. Then, speaking in a quieter voice, he asked,

“Tell me… what do you really think of the Beggars’ Clan now?”

“What are you even asking? It’s a disaster! Is this a beggar’s place? It’s a den of monsters!”

“Then, why do you think the Beggars’ Clan has become like this?”

“Why do you keep asking questions you already know the answer to?” Hong Daekwang snapped, looking surprised.

Poong Youngsingae nodded slowly, his face etched with bitterness.

“Yes… you are right. I asked a foolish question. This is all my fault…”

“No!” Hong Daekwang interrupted.

“Hmm?” Poong Youngsingae looked up, surprised. Hong Daekwang ignored him, his eyes blazing as he swept his gaze across the ruined hall.

“Here! In this important place where the fate of the Beggars’ Clan is decided!”

His gaze, which swept over everyone, finally landed on Ilhosingae.

“Where are the *beggars*?” Hong Daekwang’s voice echoed in the silence. Ilhosingae flinched, his eyes widening in panic.

“Is wearing beggar’s clothes all it takes to be a beggar? You hoard money here, never beg yourselves, live like nobles! Are you really beggars just because you wear rags? Are *these* elders truly beggars?”

Several elders’ faces flushed red.

It wasn’t just the elders who felt the sting of his words. Poong Youngsingae’s face also grew red.

He had faced hardship, but it was also true he had been living well, eating rich food in expensive places.

If one were to look at his way of life without knowing his identity, who in the world would call him a beggar?

“Mount Hua is failing because it’s led by someone who is not a true Taoist.” “What?! That man is doing great, and you say–!” Someone yelled. “Chung Myung, be quiet!” another voice snapped. Before Chung Myung could argue, Hong Daekwang shouted even louder.

“But Mount Hua is becoming strong again because they are now acting like true Taoists, more than anyone else.”

Hong Daekwang’s glare at Ilhosingae intensified. His eyes burned with unwavering conviction.

“Development? Reform? Nonsense! How does making this place stronger help the *real* beggars? There are no beggars here, only you. You will just get richer!”

“You insolent–!” an elder sputtered.

“Did you ask for my opinion?” Hong Daekwang turned back to Poong Youngsingae. “Yes, I’ll tell you straight. I don’t care about the Clan Chief or the elders. Just like someone who isn’t a warrior shouldn’t lead warriors, you who are not beggars cannot lead the Beggars’ Clan. If you want to fix this Clan, you all must step down! Let the Beggars’ Clan lead itself!”

Hong Daekwang paused, his fist clenched tight. Then he roared,

“The Beggars’ Clan will take care of itself! You fat, comfortable gentlemen!”

In the ruined hall, his extreme words echoed loudly.

Baek Cheon, who had been staring in shock, blinked and turned his head. *Chung Myung…* He saw Chung Myung, even more stunned than himself, his mouth hanging open. Cold sweat dripped down Chung Myung’s face.

*Oh no… this is a disaster.*