Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1616

Two people sat facing each other across a small tea table in the center of a small room.

“A guest has come, but I have nothing to offer but leaf tea. I didn’t ask you to come, so don’t say I’m not friendly,” Jongri Gok said.

“Of course not,” Chung Myung replied.

Jongri Gok poured tea into Chung Myung’s teacup. Chung Myung watched quietly, then lifted the cup as soon as it was full.

“Tea from the Sect Leader of Jongnam is very special,” Chung Myung said.

“I’m glad you think so,” Jongri Gok replied.

The teacup in Chung Myung’s hand warmed up, and steam rose gently.

“You seem to like hot tea,” Jongri Gok observed.

“Yes. I really don’t like lukewarm things,” Chung Myung said.

Jongri Gok smiled slightly.

“Young people often like things to be clear, not confusing,” Jongri Gok said, a small smile playing on his lips. “But if you drink tea like that, so hot, you miss the gentle smells and tastes.”

“People tell me that a lot,” Chung Myung replied. “I’ve tried to enjoy tea properly, really I have, but…”

Chung Myung stopped talking and suddenly gulped down the boiling tea in one go.

*Thunk.* He slammed the empty teacup on the table, a crooked grin spreading across his face.

“Guess I can’t change who I am,” Chung Myung said, shrugging slightly.

“That… is truly unfortunate,” Jongri Gok said.

Jongri Gok chuckled and refilled Chung Myung’s empty teacup. Then, he asked casually, “So, what brings you here?”

“I thought we should talk about something,” Chung Myung said.

“We should?” Jongri Gok asked.

“Yes,” Chung Myung confirmed.

Jongri Gok put down the teapot and leaned back in his chair. He looked relaxed, but his eyes were fixed on Chung Myung.

“I don’t think we need to talk,” Jongri Gok said. “I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”

“You think so?” Chung Myung asked.

“I know you are the strategist of the Cheonwoo Alliance. But Jongnam is not part of that alliance. If you want something from me…”

Chung Myung cut him off. “No. I’m not here as the strategist of the Cheonwoo Alliance.”

“Then?” Jongri Gok asked.

Chung Myung’s gaze was sharp and cold as he looked at Jongri Gok.

“I came as a disciple of Hwasan. Only as a member of Hwasan.”

A small silence filled the room. Jongri Gok looked surprised for a moment, but it quickly disappeared. He kept a blank face and replied calmly.

“Then… we have even less to talk about, don’t you think?”

“Do you really think so?” Chung Myung asked.

After a moment, Jongri Gok crossed his arms.

“You say you like clear things, but you’ve just been asking questions since you got here. Your words and actions don’t match,” Jongri Gok said.

“You think I’m suspicious?” Chung Myung asked.

“I won’t deny it,” Jongri Gok said.

Chung Myung chuckled.

“Please understand. How can I explain it… I came because I had to, but now that I’m looking at your face…”

Chung Myung grinded his teeth. He didn’t even try to hide it from Jongri Gok.

“I want to cut off your head, and I’m trying not to,” Chung Myung said.

Killing intent poured out of Chung Myung like dark smoke. It filled the small room, making the air heavy. Jongri Gok smiled slightly. He shouldn’t be hearing such words as the Sect Leader of the Great Jongnam Sect. It didn’t matter if it was the strategist of the Cheonwoo Alliance or Chung Myung of Hwasan, who was famous everywhere.

If Jongri Gok made a big deal out of it, the Cheonwoo Alliance might fall apart. It was a statement that no one should dare to make.

Knowing this, Jongri Gok chose a different way to respond.

“Still, it’s a relief,” Jongri Gok said.

“What is?” Chung Myung asked.

“Sometimes I wonder if I lack dignity. I’ve even wondered if I’m worthy of being called a ‘righteous sect,’” Jongri Gok said.

A faint killing intent flashed in Jongri Gok’s eyes as he looked at Chung Myung.

“If you weren’t here, if Hwasan’s Sword Demon Chung Myung didn’t exist… how many times do you think I’ve had those thoughts?”

Jongri Gok’s hand, resting on the table, slowly clenched. His tight grip seemed to show what he was really thinking.

“If only you weren’t here. Yes… if only you disappeared. If you died in battle. Or even…”

Jongri Gok stopped talking. He couldn’t seem to say the last words. Chung Myung, who had been listening calmly, finished the sentence for him.

“If I were to cut off that head? Taking all the shame and dishonor?”

Jongri Gok didn’t say yes or no. But Chung Myung knew what that silence meant. Jongri Gok looked straight at Chung Myung and said,

“No matter how much I try to forget it, I can’t. Even now, with you in front of me.”

There was no warmth in their eyes as they looked at each other. A heavy silence fell in the room, thick and uncomfortable like a damp cloth. Jongri Gok looked away first.

“Why have you come?” Jongri Gok asked.

The killing intent had disappeared, leaving only a coldness that seemed like indifference. The two men looked at each other calmly, and Chung Myung hesitated for a moment. Then, he spoke as if spitting out the words.

“Jongnam… is needed,” Chung Myung said.

Jongri Gok’s eyes darkened for a moment. He seemed to be trying to understand Chung Myung’s words or find the hidden truth in them.

Then, he slowly shook his head.

“I hope you don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to find fault with everything Hwasan does now. I’m not helping because pretending to be friendly would not be honest,” Jongri Gok said.

“……”

“So, you don’t need to convince me. Jongnam will do what it should do,” Jongri Gok concluded.

Chung Myung’s voice was cold.

“No. More than that is needed,” Chung Myung said.

“……More than that?” Jongri Gok asked.

“Complete cooperation,” Chung Myung stated.

Jongri Gok’s face hardened at the unexpected words.

“No, maybe even more than that,” Chung Myung added.

Jongri Gok’s gaze turned cold again.

“……Are you asking us to obey you?” Jongri Gok asked.

“It would be nice if that were possible. But I can’t imagine Jongnam obeying Hwasan,” Chung Myung said.

“……”

“But we can stand together, can’t we? We can stop fighting each other,” Chung Myung suggested.

Jongri Gok stared blankly for a moment, then smiled faintly. The smile showed many feelings: bewilderment, surprise, ridicule, and reproach.

“If you’re saying so much, I’ll be honest too,” Jongri Gok said.

“Yes,” Chung Myung replied.

“I don’t think the Beggar Union was wrong. I think they pointed out a real problem,” Jongri Gok said.

Jongri Gok continued calmly.

“What you said was impressive. To stop people from being selfish by breaking down the barriers between us. But… it’s a silly idea. Who made those barriers? It was us, wasn’t it?”

Chung Myung didn’t answer.

“People want to create barriers. They want to separate themselves from others, us from them. It’s a natural feeling. Forcing them to break down those barriers will only create new ones,” Jongri Gok said.

Jongri Gok took a sip of his tea and continued.

“It’s the same for us. As long as two sects exist in the area of Shaanxi, we can never truly be ‘together.’ Not until someone wins completely,” Jongri Gok said.

A very cold and cruel smile appeared on Chung Myung’s face.

“So, you stole the secret books of a sect that was being attacked and did nothing as they were destroyed?” Chung Myung asked.

“……”

“To win completely?” Chung Myung asked.

Chung Myung realized something as he walked here. He had never asked Jongnam about this before.

He had not blamed them or forgiven them. They were the same. They had never been blamed, and they had not asked for forgiveness. They had simply ignored it, pretending it never happened.

Hiding something doesn’t solve the problem. It just hides it.

Jongri Gok had been looking up at the ceiling, but now he looked forward again. It was hard to know what he was thinking from his blank face.

“Are you looking for forgiveness? If you are, forget it. I don’t want to apologize,” Jongri Gok said.

Chung Myung chuckled softly.

Does he know? Does he know how Chung Myung feels, what he is going through as he sits here?

“Still, you don’t deny it,” Chung Myung said.

“Lying would only make Jongnam look foolish,” Jongri Gok said.

Jongri Gok closed his eyes slightly.

“But… that’s all. I won’t say that choice was wrong. If you came to hear that, you can leave. I have nothing to say,” Jongri Gok said.

Chung Myung stared at him intently and asked,

“Is it so hard to just say it was wrong?”

“……”

“To say it was a mistake, that it shouldn’t have happened, that you’re sorry to the Hwasan disciples who died because of it. Is it so hard to say those words just once?” Chung Myung asked.

Chung Myung’s voice grew more agitated. Or maybe it just seemed that way. His voice was low and threatening.

“Say it,” Chung Myung demanded.

“……”

“We had to pay with our lives. We had to lose everything. But you lose nothing by admitting it. You just have to lower your head once,” Chung Myung said.

“Hwasan Sword Demon,” Jongri Gok said.

“Answer me. Why was it so difficult and painful to do?” Chung Myung asked.

Chung Myung bit his lip. He looked like he was holding back tears.

“We protected Hwasan… and you too,” Chung Myung said.

Jongri Gok’s hand, under the table, was trembling slightly. You could only notice it if you looked closely.

“I didn’t expect anything in return. But I never thought we would be betrayed. Because a human wouldn’t do that. At least, not someone who seemed human,” Chung Myung said.

Jongri Gok sighed as he listened with his eyes closed. And that sigh seemed to protect him from Chung Myung.

“So, because we have sinned, we should now obey Hwasan without question? And then you’ll pretend it never happened?” Jongri Gok asked.

“I……”

“I refuse,” Jongri Gok said.

Chung Myung’s face hardened slightly. Jongri Gok was firm.

“I won’t accept that. Jongnam has not sinned against Hwasan. It was a choice we had to make. So, there is nothing to apologize for or regret. No matter what you say, that won’t change,” Jongri Gok said.

Jongri Gok shook his head slowly, looking a little tired.

“If you’re going to talk about the past, let’s stop here. I have nothing more to say. That is my position as the Sect Leader of Jongnam. If you want to blame me for this, go ahead. Do what you want,” Jongri Gok said.

Chung Myung was silent. He just stared at Jongri Gok with intense eyes.

He had even tried to understand.

Jongnam’s feelings of being less important than Hwasan. Their desire for stronger martial arts. And even the choice they made because they couldn’t stop it themselves.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t understand. And he realized that Chung Myung would probably never understand or forgive them.

“You need to say that correctly,” Chung Myung said.

“……What do you mean?” Jongri Gok asked.

“It’s not that you don’t want to admit it, but that you can’t. Because you don’t have the power to do so,” Chung Myung said.

Jongri Gok’s eyes, fixed on Chung Myung, darkened. He was hiding the unbearable weight, the extreme conflict, and the resulting instability.