Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1519

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“…Well. How would I know?”

The Mount Hua disciples looked confused as Ilhoshin-gae laughed loudly. It seemed strange that he could laugh so much after losing everything.

“Is he crazy?” one disciple whispered.

“You are talking nonsense,” another replied.

“⋯⋯.”

Hearing that laughter, Baek Cheon felt very tired. It seemed like Ilhoshin-gae was saying everything was finished.

Jo Gul stretched his arms.

“Phew, I thought I was going to die.”

“Yes, I agree,” Yoon Jong said.

“Actually, when you think about it, it wasn’t *that* dangerous.”

The Mount Hua disciples sat down one by one in the dust and rubble. Broken wood and stone were all around them.

“It was still dangerous,” Yoo Iseol said quietly.

“Yeah, but not like the North Sea, or Hangzhou, or that terrible trip to Hainan, right, Sa-go?” Jo Gul asked.

“I don’t want to think about it,” Baek Cheon said with a small, tired smile.

‘It’s true…’ Baek Cheon thought.

This fight wasn’t as bad as before. It was dangerous, but no one except him was really hurt. It was nothing compared to past times when they were all badly injured.

Baek Cheon felt heavy and tired mostly because they had fought against another orthodox sect. He thought about this, feeling the weight of his responsibility as a leader. He always wanted to do what was best for Mount Hua.

Baek Cheon was thinking when Yoon Jong suddenly looked worried and asked,

“By the way, Sa 숙, do you think the Beggars’ Sect will blame us for this?”

Baek Cheon looked down. They were standing in the ruins of the Beggars’ Sect’s main headquarters. He smiled awkwardly.

“Should we run?”

“Get serious, Sa 숙.”

“Sometimes, that guy is worse than a beggar.”

“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

They were joking to relieve the tension when someone quietly approached.

“Amitabha.”

Everyone jumped up at the sound of the Buddha’s name. It was Hye-bang.

They quickly greeted him respectfully, but Hye-bang smiled gently and waved his hand.

“No need to be so formal. Even though our situation is strange, aren’t we on the same side now?”

Baek Cheon hesitated. He wasn’t sure how to act with the Shaolin monks because of what just happened.

But Chung Myung, of course, didn’t care about being polite.

“Hey, hurry up and get over here!”

“Hey, you little rascal!”

“Shut your mouth!”

People scolded Chung Myung to shut him up. But Chung Myung ignored them and snapped at Hye-bang.

“How far is it from Mount Song to here? If you had come sooner, the headquarters wouldn’t have collapsed!”

Hye-bang looked embarrassed and was sweating a lot. His shaved head was shining in the sun.

“Ah, Amitabha. I am sorry for being late, Mount Hua Sword Saint.”

“If you know that, try to be faster next time. Ugh, are your fast moves only for making soup? You are so slow!”

“Please just shut up.”

The Mount Hua disciples were embarrassed and covered their faces. First, he insulted our ancestors. Now, he is being rude to someone who helped us!

Hye-bang was sweating and apologizing to Chung Myung for his rude comments.

“Are we really the good guys here?”

“Doesn’t it seem that way to you?”

“We should apologize to Shaolin.”

The Mount Hua disciples were becoming solemn.

“Hye-yeon.”

Hye-bang looked around and called for Hye-yeon, who flinched.

“Come here.”

Hye-yeon blinked his big eyes and walked over hesitantly. He was happy to see Hye-bang, but now that it was over, he seemed afraid.

The Mount Hua disciples whispered.

“That monk is very shy. It’s surprising.”

“He’s always been like that. He blushed even at the martial arts competition.”

“Ah, I forgot. It’s been so long. He was always like that.”

The Mount Hua disciples felt strange seeing how much Hye-yeon had changed.

Hye-bang smiled gently at Hye-yeon.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“S, Senior Brother⋯⋯.”

“You’ve done well.”

Hye-bang patted Hye-yeon’s shoulder. Hye-yeon’s shoulders began to tremble, and his eyes became watery. The Mount Hua disciples smiled slightly.

“Are you crying?”

“C, Crying? No, Senior Brother. I’m not a child anymore.”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

“Don’t tease me⋯⋯.”

Hye-yeon’s face turned red. It was funny to see the Shaolin monk, who was so scary to the Demonic Sect and the Evil Sect, still acting like a young man in front of his senior brother.

“But⋯⋯ Is it really okay for you to come?”

“Didn’t you call me?”

“Well, yes, but⋯⋯.”

The Mount Hua disciples tilted their heads, confused.

Hye-yeon called?

Hye-bang explained.

“Even if the Beggars’ Sect leader and the Hwayeom Branch Lord asked, even if Mount Hua and the Mount Hua Sword Saint asked⋯⋯”

Hong Daekwang and Chung Myung licked their lips and looked at Hye-bang.

“And even if it didn’t break any rules, it’s not easy to interfere in another sect’s business without the abbot’s permission. You understand that, right?”

“⋯⋯Yes.”

That was obvious. Making a decision means taking responsibility. Who would want to take responsibility for something so big?

“What made us finally decide to come was the letter you sent, Hwayeom Branch Lord.”

“Senior Brother⋯⋯.”

The Mount Hua disciples turned to Chung Myung, wanting an explanation. Chung Myung confidently stuck out his stomach as if he had nothing to hide.

“Why? It’s normal to use family and friends to get what you want, right? It would be weird if I didn’t use the same bald head when asking Shaolin for help.”

“That⋯⋯ you scoundrel⋯⋯.”

“He should have gone to the Demonic Sect.”

Chung Myung had Hye-yeon write a letter asking Shaolin for help. And what Chung Myung did to Hye-yeon to make that happen…

“If the result is good, everything is good! Look! The touching reunion of senior and junior brothers has happened! You can thank me for that! Ahem.”

“⋯⋯.”

The Mount Hua disciples shook their heads, speechless.

“I really didn’t think you would come,” Hye-yeon said, surprised.

“I had to,” Hyebang replied with a smile.

Hyebang smiled gently. Shaolin monks were already gathering around Hye-yeon and Hyebang, looking happy to see Hye-yeon after so long.

“When my favorite junior calls, how could I not come?” Hyebang teased.

“Senior!” Hye-yeon exclaimed.

“Just kidding,” Hyebang chuckled softly. He always enjoyed teasing Hye-yeon, though Hye-yeon’s talent made it hard to treat him like a regular junior.

“We didn’t just come because you are our junior,” Hyebang said, his tone turning serious.

“…”

“It’s because when everyone else was walking down the wrong path, you alone were walking the right one. At least, that’s what we think,” Hyebang explained.

Hye-yeon clenched his fist, overcome with emotion. Hyebang sighed, looking a little sorry for him.

“It must have been hard,” Hyebang said softly.

“Senior…” Hye-yeon replied, his voice thick with emotion.

“Going against the Abbot… I didn’t truly understand how difficult it must have been for you until I did it myself. It’s like going against the will of someone you trust like a parent,” Hyebang said, understandingly.

Hye-yeon lowered his head. His senior understood the struggles that the Mount Hua disciples could hardly comprehend.

“Because you trusted us and asked for our help, we came without hesitation,” Hyebang added.

“But the Abbot…” Hye-yeon started to say, worry lacing his voice.

Hyebang smiled gently, cutting him off. “Of course, the Abbot won’t like this. He will say I went too far and try to punish me.”

Hye-yeon’s shoulders drooped, and he trembled again. A playful smile spread across Hyebang’s face.

“Still, what is he going to do, kill me?” Hyebang joked.

“Pardon?” Hye-yeon asked, looking dazed.

Hyebang shrugged. “At most, he’ll lock me in the repentance chamber for a few years, right? Who knows, I might even get to meditate in front of the Bodhidharma Cave. Maybe I’ll have a great enlightenment like the patriarch.”

“Amitabha. That’s too much to hope for, Senior,” Hye-yeon said, a small smile appearing on his face.

“You must become worthy of such a thing first…” Hyebang retorted.

“You damned monks!” Hyebang joked at the gentle teasing from behind. The Shaolin monks, who had seemed so solemn, quietly laughed.

“Seniors…” Hye-yeon’s eyes quickly filled with tears.

He had written the letter as instructed, including everything he wanted to say. But he didn’t really think they would come.

Yet, his seniors had received his letter and rushed all the way from Mount Song.

Hyebang put away his smile and said seriously, “Don’t make that face, Monk.”

“Yes?” Hye-yeon asked, surprised by the sudden change in tone.

Hyebang’s voice was solemn. “What we must follow is not the authority of the world. What’s important for a Buddhist is to constantly think about whether they are walking the right path of Buddhism. It means having the courage to walk the difficult path of Buddhism in this world full of suffering.”

“…”

“If you see our choice as just about brotherhood, you underestimate us. We have come not just for you, but to help a monk who is walking the right path,” Hyebang stated firmly.

Hye-yeon looked at Hyebang without a word. Then, understanding what he had to do, he reverently took the Panjang posture. It was a deep bow, hands clasped in a specific gesture of respect.

“Amitabha,” Hye-yeon said.

Hyebang, hearing the Buddha’s name, smiled slightly. Then, he hardened his face again and solemnly returned the Panjang posture.

“Amitabha,” Hyebang responded.

Hye-yeon and the Shaolin monks exchanged bows.

The Panjang, commemorating Ejo Hyega, who cut off his own arm to attain enlightenment, was exchanged between them in a way that truly honored its meaning.

The Mount Hua disciples nodded, drawn in by the powerful scene.

“Impressive,” one of them murmured.

“Indeed, Senior,” another agreed.

Even Yoon-jong, who had been watching seriously, and Jo-geol, who had been waiting to criticize Shaolin, had to acknowledge what they saw.

Perhaps this was the true Shaolin that the world revered. They even felt a sense of reverence.

“Then, now…” Hye-yeon began.

“Yes, we must return,” Hyebang said, cutting him off.

Hyebang shrugged. “News of this place will reach the Yangtze River soon, so the Abbot will be furious. Now is the time to deal with the aftermath.”

Hye-yeon’s face crumpled again, on the verge of tears. Hyebang suddenly slapped him on the head.

“Ack!” Hye-yeon exclaimed, surprised.

“You’re making that face again, you impudent fellow,” Hyebang scolded playfully.

“…”

“You are not the only one fighting. You left Shaolin and found a way to pursue Buddhism, but we will fight Shaolin from within Shaolin,” Hyebang said, his eyes filled with determination.

Hyebang looked at Hye-yeon and Chung Myung, who stood behind him. “It won’t be easy, but someday we will return Shaolin to where it should be. That may be our mission.”

Chung Myung and Hyebang’s eyes met.

A rare smile spread across Chung Myung’s lips. A smile that seemed utterly satisfied.

“Then, we will be on our way,” Hyebang announced.

“Yes? Already?” Hye-yeon and Baek Cheon were taken aback.

The dust from the collapsed ruins hadn’t even settled, but they were leaving already? Hyebang said calmly, “It is natural to return since we have finished what we had to do. We will leave the rest to you.”

“No, still… At least let the Abbot thank you…” Hye-yeon protested.

“We didn’t do this for thanks, so there’s no need,” Hyebang replied.

“Yes? That…”

“Then, we will see you again next time. Amitabha,” Hyebang said, bowing.

“Won Shi Chun Jon. May you be well,” Baek Cheon responded.

Hyebang and the Shaolin monks, who bowed and took the Panjang posture, turned around without regret. They left without looking back.

The Mount Hua disciples watched the yellow robes disappear into the distance, exclaiming in admiration.

“Truly clean,” one of them said.

“If it were Chung Myung, he would be rampaging, demanding to be treated, and singing about his big decision to help for three days and nights,” another commented.

“Cool,” one of the disciples simply said.

“I should have joined Shaolin,” one of them mused.

“Really?”

“Actually, being bald is a bit…”

While everyone was buzzing with admiration, Baek Cheon quietly placed his hand on Hye-yeon’s shoulder.

“Monk,” Baek Cheon said softly.

“I’m alright, Dojang. I’m not disappointed,” Hye-yeon said with a soft smile as he watched his seniors leave.

“Because I will see you again someday.”

Hye-yeon seemed to have grown through this incident. Baek Cheon smiled quietly and said with conviction, “You will.”

And Hye-yeon would be an even more excellent monk than he was now. Baek Cheon firmly believed it.