Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1626

“So, what’s going to happen?”

“They say the organization is changing.”

“Organization? Did the Cheonwu Alliance even have anything you could call an organization?”

“That’s why they’re changing it this time. They say they’re completely overturning the Alliance’s system.”

“How so?”

“They’re planning to establish several new groups and mix the disciples from each sect, no matter where they originally came from.”

“What? Really?”

“That’s what I heard.”

News of a huge change in the Cheonwu Alliance system spread like wildfire through Hwaeum, a town already buzzing with activity. The Cheonwu Alliance is a group of martial arts schools. The air crackled with gossip and worry.

Since Hwaeum wasn’t very big, the word quickly spread everywhere. It was even faster than rumors could travel.

“Why are they doing such a crazy thing?”

“I know, right? It’s like they’re saying the Demonic Alliance might attack tomorrow, but we’re just going to sit around playing with ledgers. Are they out of their minds?”

“How is that going to help the current situation? Swinging a sword one more time would be much more helpful.”

Some people felt negative about the change.

“When you think about it, wasn’t the Demonic Alliance like that too? Those disorganized guys became stronger after uniting under the Hegemon, no matter their background. If it weren’t for that, how could they have beaten Shaolin and the Nine Sects? I think it’s a fair thing to do.”

“Shouldn’t we try anything if it helps reduce sacrifices?”

Some people felt positive about it.

“…Will it get better if we do that?”

“I really don’t know if this will work.”

“Even if it does work, it will be hard to adjust to the new groups. I wonder if it will go smoothly…”

“The leaders must have thought it through, right?”

“I hope so.”

But most people just felt uneasy.

It was hard to know if this change would work. For many years, the Jianghu world, the world of martial artists, had clear borders. Different groups rarely mixed, even groups from nearby areas.

So, being mixed with strangers and fighting together was a big change. It was natural that people weren’t sure what would happen.

The only good thing was…

“What is this nonsense!”

Thud!

A hard fist slammed onto the tea table.

“I’ve been working with my brothers my whole life, and now you’re telling me to suddenly work with people I’ve never seen before? Does that even make sense?”

“First, calm down…”

“They’re even mixing us together without caring about the Demonic Alliance or the Foreign Devils? So, you’re telling me to trust my back to bandits or those outsiders! Who knows what those Foreign Devils, people from other lands, will do behind my back.”

“Someone will hear you! Calm down!”

“How can I calm down about this!”

The man, breathing hard, bit his lip.

“I absolutely can’t accept it. This is nonsense. It’s only going to help those Demonic Alliance guys! What on earth are the leaders thinking?”

“…If you’re so unhappy, why don’t you go and say it directly?”

“What?”

“Why don’t you go argue with the person who made this happen?”

“Who is the person who pushed this forward!”

“The Mount Hua Sword Saint.”

“…Who?”

“The Mount Hua Sword Saint. The Cheonwu Alliance Chief.”

“…”

“Why? Are you going to go and argue with him?”

The man, who had been breathing heavily, looked away awkwardly and turned his head slightly.

“Well… now that I think about it, it might not be such a bad idea.”

“You were just calling it nonsense a moment ago?”

“W-When did I! Do you have proof?”

“…You’re so pathetic.”

Although many people had complaints, in Hwaeum, they kept their voices low. No one dared to speak out too loudly.

Ironically, Chung Myung’s reputation for being unruly and disrespectful had stopped people from complaining. Someone whispered, remembering the rumors of Chung Myung once defeating a group of bandits who dared to disrespect Mount Hua. No one wanted to be on the wrong side of that sword saint.

People only have one life.

And so, everyone anxiously watched the military camp. They needed at least a basic announcement about the changes from there to start discussing things properly.

“How many days will it take?”

“It’ll probably take at least ten days.”

“Ten days?”

“Yes, Senior Brother. Think about it. They have to divide all those sect members one by one, and think about the strength of each group and what positions to give them. It won’t be easy.”

“Now that I hear it… But to take ten days at a time like this.”

“It’s lucky if it’s only ten days. It might take fifteen days.”

“Ugh.”

Anxiety filled everyone’s hearts. But some people were relieved by that. At least they would have time to prepare.

But, as usual, things in the Cheonwu Alliance didn’t go as expected.

“Here it is.”

“Oh! So, it’s finished?”

“…Yes.”

“It took longer than I thought.”

Longer? Jegal Ja-in barely stopped himself from cursing. The work would have taken at least a hundred people fifteen days to do. To say it took longer than he thought to the person who finished it in just two days! He wanted to rip that sly mouth off…

“Still, well, this is good enough. Thank you for your hard work.”

Chung Myung nodded at Jegal Ja-in, then glared at Im So-byeong as if scolding him.

“You actually did some real work, unlike that lazy bum over there.”

“Incompetent!”

Im So-byeong was furious.

“Watch your words, incompetent! I can take anything, but not that!”

“No, did I say anything wrong? The work got done quickly because Jegal stepped in. You can’t deny bloodlines. A guy who’s only good at banditry is trying to use his head! The basics are different, the basics!”

“Is it my fault I don’t have the talent? Do you know how much I have to worry about when I work? There are so many people who would attack me, saying the bandit is holding a grudge and doing this on purpose, even if there’s just one thing to complain about!”

Im So-byeong pointed at Jegal Ja-in.

“I wouldn’t have to deal with this if my last name was Jegal or Sima! It’s not because I’m incompetent!”

Im So-byeong pointed his finger at Jegal Ja-in again.

“Then why aren’t you a genius strategist?”

“Ugh, ugh….”

“P-Please calm down.”

Zhuge Zai was sweating and trying to hold back Im So-byeong. He wasn’t trying to stop Cheong-myeong from hitting him. Zhuge Zai had learned it was pointless to try and stop Cheong-myeong.

Im So-byeong’s rage was far from over.

“Then what help have you been?”

“Why me?”

“What help have you been? What? Suggesting we waste no time and pick names out of a hat? How could you say that?”

“It would’ve been over faster that way, wouldn’t it? And let’s be honest, is there any method faster and fairer than drawing lots?”

“Fair, maybe. Fair in sending everyone to hell together!”

“Still, it would be fair.”

“Huh?”

Zhuge Zai paused, then nodded slowly. In a strange way, he understood. If everyone failed together, wasn’t that the most equal outcome, even if it was terrible?

Im So-byeong sent him a look that pleaded, ‘Please, say something, anything!’ but Zhuge Zai coldly ignored him.

Zhuge Zai stayed silent. He knew from experience that saying anything more would just make things worse. In this crazy place, being the most sensible person only meant you suffered more.

“It’s not perfect, but I’ve got a basic plan. We just need the Sect Leader to say yes.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get it in a flash.”

Cheong-myeong gathered up the five completed registers. Zhuge Zai hurriedly stopped him.

“W-Wait a moment. Please, just listen to what people have to say until the end….”

“Oh, what is it now? I’m busy.”

“We can decide on everything else, but we can’t choose the heads of each division. This part needs to be decided after consultation….”

Hearing that, Cheong-myeong grinned as if it were nothing.

“Ah, don’t worry. No need for consultation. I’ve already thought about it.”

“You’ve ‘thought’ about it? Are you… serious?”

It was a question that could be considered incredibly rude—whether he had actually done any real thinking. But there was no sanity left to worry about manners. The saying ‘one who stays near vermilion gets stained red’ was proving true; anyone who stayed close to Cheong-myeong ended up becoming like him.

“Stop worrying so much. I’m serious, I tell you.”

Cheong-myeong, grinning, put down the registers and picked up a fine brush. Then, he opened the first page of each register and wrote several names in a flourish in the empty division head column.

“Uh….”

“Uh-oh?”

“T-The seal, just a moment! W-Wait, this is really…!”

“Done! I’ll go get the approval then.”

“W-Wait! No, just a moment! You crazy bastard!”

Im So-byeong’s desperate cry was of no use. Cheong-myeong, clutching the registers in both arms, threw open the door and vanished like a gust of wind.

A moment of silence followed.

After a while, the two men, who had been blankly clutching at the air, lowered their hands powerlessly and looked at each other. At this moment, the distinction between the Demonic Sect and the Orthodox Sect, the boundary between the prestigious and the lowly, was meaningless.

“W-Will it… be alright?”

“…Of course not.”

A sigh escaped from both of their mouths simultaneously.

At that moment, Hyun Jong’s face was etched with deep worry that wouldn’t fade.

By now, the best minds of the Mount Heaven Alliance would be racking their brains to create a new organization. He knew well enough how important that was, and that was why he was so anxious. But, unfortunately, Hyun Jong didn’t have the ability to help with that task.

So, he could only cheer them on in his heart.

‘It certainly won’t be as easy as they say….’

Bang!

“Please stamp these, Sect Leader!”

Pfft!

Hyun Jong spat out the tea he was drinking in a straight line into the air.

“C-Cheong-myeong!”

“The organization is here! The organization!”

“A-Already?”

“Yes.”

Was Cheong-myeong using magic? Even choosing teachers for new students took longer than this!

“Here! Take a look and stamp them.”

“Ah, no… this isn’t something that can be done so hastily….”

“Ah, what’s so great about it that it needs to drag on? Just get it done quickly.”

Hyun Jong, with a half-dazed expression, accepted the list of names that Cheong-myeong thrust at him.

‘Is this alright?’

Was it originally decided this quickly? He had never done it before, so he didn’t know what was right or wrong….

Hyun Jong, with soulless eyes, flipped through the list of names and suddenly flinched.

‘No. Wait.’

Had he seen something wrong?

Hyun Jong flipped the roughly skimmed list back to the front. So, what was written here was the… division head, so the division head was….

“…Baek… Cheon?”

Cheong-myeong nodded excitedly.

“Dong-ryong is a bit unreliable, but he listens well.”

Hyun Jong, with trembling hands, opened the front page of another volume.

“Yoon… Jong?”

“Same goes for him.”

…….

The next volume had Jo-geol, and another front page he opened with a sinking heart had….

“So… So… So?”

“Ah, right. I honestly hesitated a bit on that one. I was thinking of giving Geum-ryong a spot too.”

Cheong-myeong chuckled.

“But he’s a bit annoying. Since we’re deciding on positions to work together with one heart and mind, isn’t it better to have someone who communicates well? Don’t you think?”

Hyun Jong was completely speechless. Cheong-myeong gave a sly smile and subtly approached him, whispering in his ear.

“We can get something good out of this, right? Good things are good, you know? Supreme Sect Leader? Think about it. Right?”

Hyun Jong, mulling over those words, smiled endlessly.

“You, you little rascal!”

“Ack! Why! Why are you hitting me!”

“Get out! You damned son of a bitch!”

Hyun Jong threw the list of names with all his might, hitting Cheong-myeong squarely on the back of the head as he ran away.

The events of that day were talked about for a long time, mainly ending with the phrase, ‘Even the kind Hyun Jong, who had forgiven the Nameless Sect, could not forgive that Cheong-myeong.’