Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1517

The training hall became completely silent. You could hear your own heart beating in your chest. Dust motes danced in the shafts of light from the high windows, but no one moved. Every eye was fixed on Hong Daeguang, frozen in shock. No one dared to break the heavy silence.

Even the Shaolin monks who had come to help the Alliance stared blankly at Hong Daeguang. Their eyes seemed to ask, “What did we just hear?”

And with good reason…

“Wow… the Beggars’ Sect is really something else.”

“I thought nothing could be worse than Mount Hua.”

“I know, right? Mount Hua is like a very wise and respected old man now.”

“Seeing him today, I realize that Head Disciple Chung Myung is a righteous man who deeply respects his elders. Amitabha.”

The martial arts world was a place where even murder could be excused depending on the situation, and where robbery was common.

Even though the martial arts world can be dangerous and violent, some things are completely forbidden.

“This is a perfect example of betraying your master and ancestors.”

Martial arts sects would investigate who a member had killed and if there was a reason, but betraying one’s master and ancestors was unforgivable. They would cut the offender’s tendons and imprison them without question.

The entire martial world would criticize them for keeping such a sinner alive. That was how serious the sin was.

And now, Hong Daeguang had called his own Alliance Leader and elders shameless trash, no better than beggars.

Even Jo Gul’s face had lost all color.

“S-Senior Brother, why is he acting like this?”

“He must be acting without thinking.”

“Even if he is, this is too much.”

“Geol-ah.”

Jo Gul, startled, turned and asked, “Yes?” Yoon Jong said with a gentle smile.

“It’s pointless to try to understand a madman’s madness. He’s crazy, so why question it?”

“…Sometimes, Senior Brother, you’re a truly bad person.”

Everyone was shocked, staring at Hong Daeguang, but Hong Daeguang himself seemed calm…

…Or rather, he wasn’t. He was as pale as a sheet, as if he had just realized what he had said.

“N-No. Th-That’s…”

He stammered, cold sweat running down his face as everyone stared at him.

“M-My words weren’t meant to… Yes, not in that way.”

“What way were they meant to be?”

“W-Wait a minute, Mount Hua Divine Dragon. This isn’t the time for jokes!”

Hong Daeguang looked around, frightened.

If you’re going to make an enemy, you have to pick a side. Only then can you stand with the other. But now, Hong Daeguang had insulted both the Alliance Leader and the elders.

No matter who wins…

“Th-That… Haha… Ha. I didn’t mean to, what I meant was…”

He stuttered, trying to find an excuse, then suddenly turned to Chung Myung and screamed.

“It’s all your fault! You damned brat!”

“…Huh? I was quiet this time, though?”

Chung Myung blinked, surprised by the sudden attack.

“I’ve gotten so used to you talking nonsense that I ended up doing it myself!”

“Why are you blaming me for something you did?”

Normally, Chung Myung would have been furious and ready to beat the beggar, but this time, he didn’t feel the need to get angry. Instead, he rummaged through his robes.

“Let’s see… I hope it’s not crushed. Oh…! It’s fine!”

Chung Myung pulled something out and tossed it to Hong Daeguang.

“Wh-What’s this?”

Hong Daeguang caught it, confused, and quickly unwrapped the long object wrapped in white paper, desperately hoping it was something helpful. Could this be some kind of magic trick?

“This is…!”

Long and somewhat round… So, this is…

“C-Candy?”

No, why candy all of a sudden…? Why would he be carrying this around? No, more than that, why is he giving it to me?

“Eat it.”

“Huh?”

“You are going to lose your arms and legs. You will be locked in a dark cave. You will only eat old, hard rice until you die. So, I thought you should have something sweet before that…”

“You son of a bitch!”

Hong Daeguang threw the candy to the ground. Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

“Ah… what a waste.”

“Is this the time for jokes?”

“It’s not a joke, though…”

Hong Daeguang shut his mouth tightly.

Indeed, it was no joke. If the situation weren’t so chaotic, the elders and the Alliance Leader would be deciding which of Hong Daeguang’s limbs to cut off first.

“Th-That…”

It was at that moment, as Hong Daeguang desperately tried to think of something, that…

“There are no beggars…”

Ilhoshin-gae muttered weakly. Everyone turned to look at him.

“…Not beggars.”

A hollow laugh escaped his lips.

“Yes. That’s right… Yes.”

Memories of the distant past flooded Ilhoshin-gae’s mind.

A freezing winter, a hand that had saved him from death. A hut that, though not warm, had felt infinitely so.

“That’s how it was…”

That was how Ilhoshin-gae had become a beggar. In the darkest corners of the world, out of sight of those who had much. Those who had found him there and offered him a hand were all so poor that they barely had enough food to eat each day.

“That’s why… I wanted the Beggars’ Sect to become great.”

Ilhoshin-gae wasn’t the only one.

Most of those in the Beggars’ Sect had joined in the same way. A place that willingly accepted those whom no one else would. That was why the Beggars’ Sect was such a gracious place for them.

Because it was such a place, he had wanted to make it great with his own hands.

But the world had taken that opportunity away from him. After a long period of frustration, he had thought that opportunity had finally come again…

Ilhoshin-gae closed his eyes.

Thinking about it, that was how it was. What he had wanted was a great and powerful Beggars’ Sect.

But in that Beggars’ Sect, there was no place for the ragged beggar who had offered a hand to the young Ilhoshin-gae.

The greatness he wanted was the greatness that the stronger version of himself desired, not the greatness that the weak and miserable young version of himself had dreamed of.

Ilhoshin-gae opened his eyes and looked at Chung Myung quietly.

“So that’s what you meant, Mount Hua Sword Saint.”

“Huh?”

“So that’s why you said I wouldn’t do. Now I understand your words.”

Chung Myung tilted his head, displeased.

“…You still didn’t understand even when I tried very hard to explain it.”

It seemed that beggars had something in common. Ilhoshin-gae’s gaze left Chung Myung and turned to Pungyeongsin-gae.

“Alliance Leader. No… Muheun.”

Pungyeongsin-gae met his gaze.

“Speak, Senior Brother.”

“What do you intend to do? Do you intend to remain in that position?”

It was a sudden question, but Pungyeongsin-gae shook his head immediately, as if he had already decided.

“I am also a person with a sense of shame. It is natural to want an opportunity to make up for my mistakes, but I also know that it is my own greed. Even without position or authority, I will be able to atone for my sins.”

“Then?”

“I intend to hand over the position of Alliance Leader and step down.”

Ilhoshin-gae laughed sadly.

“Then there was no reason to fight in the first place. The Beggars’ Sect that I hated will now end.”

“Yes, Senior Brother. But…”

“I know. You, too, could not tolerate my Beggars’ Sect.”

“…That is correct.”

Ilhoshin-gae closed his eyes again and was silent. He seemed to be thinking, and when he opened his eyes again, his gaze was gentler. His voice also changed.

“Then that is what must be done. Both you and I… People who are stuck in the past and changed by it should step aside now.”

“Ch-Chief!”

“What are you saying!”

The elders cried out, horrified.

“What nonsense are you spouting now?” Elder Zhao roared, slamming his hand on the wooden table. Other elders around the room grumbled in agreement, their faces red with anger.

The First Elder raised a hand, silencing them with a sharp look. His voice was like ice. “And what exactly would *you* do? Start another bloody war? Are you eager to fight Shaolin and Mount Hua again? Have you forgotten the last defeat?”

One of the elders shouted, veins popping in his neck.

“If we resist to the end, not caring for our lives, the common beggars won’t be able to just stand by and watch. After all, aren’t we the same Beggars’ Sect? If they fight with us…”

“A tremendous amount of blood will flow.”

The First Elder cut him off.

“Are you saying we should mobilize the lives of the common beggars to gain power?”

“That, that is…”

The First Elder laughed sadly.

The Beggars’ Sect that would throw away lives as if they were nothing. Certainly, that was the Beggars’ Sect he wanted. But that was never what he truly wanted.

“Calm down, Great Elder!”

One of the elders shouted, unwilling to give up.

“Even though they came from Shaolin, the Abbot can’t possibly share the same intentions as them. Even if we are suppressed, if we just hold out for a few days, the Abbot will take care of them and return the Beggars’ Sect to our hands!”

Hye-bang’s expression subtly changed as he listened silently. It was a valid point.

“It’s already decided! If we just endure a little longer…”

“Enough.”

But the First Elder shook his head, his face showing no attachment.

“If that happens, the Beggars’ Sect will fall into chaos again. We can’t avoid the scandal that the one who ousted the Chief in league with Shaolin has risen to the new Chief position. The beggars won’t follow me.”

“What can they do about it? In the end, they’ll have no choice but to follow. No, they will have to follow!”

Those words made the First Elder feel more empty than any other argument from the other elders.

Those words proved exactly what Hong Daegwang had said: that the Beggars’ Sect he wanted to create would only fill the bellies of himself and the elders.

“It’s too late to change things now. If we fail, we lose everything. So what are you hesitating about!”

He felt sad and empty.

Yet, he couldn’t even get angry because he knew that he was no different from them.

“Chief.”

“Yes.”

“Those people…”

The First Elder took a short breath, calmed his mind, and spoke again.

“The reason they are resisting so much is because they are afraid.”

“…”

“Can the Chief ease their anxiety? My one life may not be enough, but it seems like now is the time for the Chief to show us mercy.”

“That was my intention from the beginning.”

Poong Young-shin said firmly.

“I will assure the elders in advance.”

“…”

“If you step down at this point, I will not hold anyone accountable for what happened today. Assassination of the Chief, disobedience of orders, any wrongdoing is fine. Today will disappear from the history of the Beggars’ Sect!”

“Ah…”

The elders’ eyes widened slightly.

That was the same as promising to guarantee their rights in the future. They, who had no choice but to face the end of having their martial arts abolished and being imprisoned in a jail as soon as they were defeated, had gained the opportunity to enjoy the same life as before.

Of course, it wouldn’t be exactly the same, but considering they had lost the war, it was more than they could have asked for.

“But I am different. I will take responsibility for all of this and step down from the position of Chief.”

“A-Are you really… serious, Chief?”

One of the elders asked back with an incredulous face. Poong Young-shin glanced slightly at the First Elder and answered.

“From the beginning, both I and you were wrong. I should have known long ago that the Beggars’ Sect could not be led on the right path in this way.”

Poong Young-shin closed his eyes as if holding back something.

‘Master.’

I don’t want to say that my teacher was wrong. But at least he wasn’t right. When he opened his eyes, Hong Daegwang, still frozen stiff, came into view.

Lacking and untrustworthy. But…

“The future of the Beggars’ Sect should be entrusted to those who will live that future. That’s the right thing to do.”

Poong Young-shin said. The elders swallowed hard and looked around.

“Amitabha.”

Hye-bang briefly chanted the Buddha’s name, and Baek Cheon slightly raised the sword in his hand.

The Chief had given up everything he could give up. Even though he could have suppressed everyone here with the support of Shaolin and Mount Hua if he had wanted to.

Then wouldn’t they have no other choice either?

The gaze was poured on the last person who could resolve this situation. The First Elder opened his heavy mouth and said.

“The elders, including myself…”

An unwavering voice spread out.

“I will follow the Chief’s words. I only ask that you show us mercy.”

Finally, the First Elder’s last words brought the situation to an end.

“I surrender.”

The Beggars’ Sect headquarters in Gaebong.

It was the moment when a small, perhaps all too great, war came to an end.

Poong Young-shin nodded, his face showing mixed feelings.

“Today’s events are sad, but… as my teacher said, all people, as much as they are wounded…”

“Um…”

“Can move forward. I understand your feelings, but the children we have raised…”

“That… um, Chief?”

“Will never…”

“Ah, no! Chief!”

Poong Young-shin’s face twisted in annoyance. Why did he keep interrupting at this important moment, without any sense! He turned sharply to Baek Cheon.

“What is it?”

“That… that over there…”

“Hmm?”

Poong Young-shin frowned and looked up at where Baek Cheon was pointing. What was he supposed to look at…

Creak.

“Uh…?”

Creak, creak, creak!

From that direction, there was a sound like something old, worn, and dull cracking. No, it wasn’t just a sound. It was actually cracking.

“Uh… that…”

“W-Wouldn’t it be alright? The top has already mostly flown away, so the half-remaining ceiling…”

Rumble!

“…”

Before those words could even finish, the building they were standing on began to shake violently. The meaning of that shaking was obvious. Everyone turned pale.

Creak, creak, creak.

Large cracks began to spread across the floor as well. The Shaolin monks were the first to slowly back away.

“C-Collapsing…”

“No way…”

Hong Daegwang’s truly timely and desperate scream burst through the building.

“It’s collapsing! Run away!”

“R-Run! We’re going to be buried alive!”

“Aargh! Why now!”

“Damn it! Nothing ever ends cleanly!”

“Run instead of talking!”

“Eeeek!”

“Uh… that over there? Uh…”

The Beggars’ Sect beggars who had been lingering outside, unable to enter, blinked blankly at the headquarters.

“Collapsing…”

Rumble! Rumble!

“Uh… it’s collapsing?”

Craaaaash!

The old building, standing precariously, collapsed completely.

“…Huh. Hehehe.”

It wasn’t just the war that had ended.

The old headquarters, which had been the symbol of the Beggars’ Sect for hundreds of years. Even that long history came to an absurd end.