Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 204

“What is the Clan Lord thinking?” Elder Jang’s voice echoed in the dimly lit room. His words were a clear attack, and Tang Gunak felt his jaw tighten. A muscle jumped in his cheek.

*Damn old geezers,* he thought, clenching his fist under the table.

The Dang Clan, a powerful family group known throughout the land, was built on strong family ties and a history of fighting. This blood connection made them different. It made them special, in a way. They were more united than other clans because of these deep family bonds.

But it wasn’t always a good thing.

This strong family focus also meant the older members, the elders, had more power.

In other clans, elders might retire and focus on their own martial arts. But in the Dang Clan, they tried to control everything, big and small, saying it was for the family.

Just like now.

The elders of the Dang Clan, who had retired from fighting, became Supreme Elders and advised the Clan Lord. They met in the Dang Clan’s Council of Elders.

In the past, the Council of Elders was just a group that gave advice to the Clan Lord. But over time, this group became as powerful as the Clan Lord, or even more so.

Even though the Clan Lord was the most powerful in the family, he couldn’t easily control his uncles.

“An alliance with Mount Hua? Not Wudang, not Zhongnan, but Mount Hua! What are you thinking, Clan Lord!”

Tang Gunak frowned as one of the elders shouted. They used respectful titles, but were they truly being respectful?

Tang Gunak was starting to lose his temper and was about to speak. But before he could, a calm voice spoke, quieting everyone down.

“Calm down and listen to the Clan Lord first.”

“But, Council Head!”

“Can you not hear me?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Dang Wae, the Council Head, made everyone quiet and looked at Tang Gunak.

“Clan Lord, tell us now. What are you thinking?” He spoke calmly and slowly, showing he was in control.

Tang Gunak cleared his throat, trying not to sound angry.

“Mount Hua is a clan worthy of an alliance.”

Dang Wae looked at Tang Gunak and smiled faintly, then spoke slowly.

“That’s strange.”

His eyes were as cold as ice.

“It can’t be that your judgment is bad, so I don’t understand why you think this. Has Mount Hua become famous again without me knowing? Or…” Dang Wae’s voice dripped with mockery. “Has the Dang Clan become weak without me realizing?”

Even though he knew Dang Wae was clearly mocking him, Tang Gunak just kept his voice cold.

“I will say again, I have seen the potential of Mount Hua.”

They stared at each other.

One was the Clan Lord of the Dang Clan, representing the entire family.

The other was the Head of the Council of Elders, the group of the most senior members of the Dang Clan.

The two people with the most power in the Dang Clan glared at each other.

“Let’s forget about Mount Hua for now.”

“…”

“I heard that you dismissed Dang Pae from the position of Young Clan Lord.”

Tang Gunak, who wasn’t surprised this came up, quietly nodded.

“Did you decide this alone, Clan Lord?”

Tang Gunak looked at Dang Wae without answering, then nodded calmly.

“That is correct.”

“You made such a big decision by yourself?”

“Would you be happy if I made Dang Pae the Young Clan Lord again?”

Dang Wae smiled faintly at the quick reply.

“Clan Lord, we are only saying this because we care about the future of the Dang Clan. We are doing this because we care about the Dang Clan, not for ourselves, are we?”

Tang Gunak bit his lip slightly.

*They’re like old men who only care about power,* he thought.

If they truly cared about the Dang Clan, Tang Gunak would have shown them respect.

But the Council of Elders had become selfish a long time ago.

They had given up on making the clan bigger outside Sichuan, and now only wanted to fight for power inside the family, even if it meant making the Clan Lord less powerful.

“Let’s hear the reason first. Why was Dang Pae dismissed?”

“Because he didn’t fit.”

“He didn’t fit?”

“Yes.”

Tang Gunak said firmly.

“I decided that he was not the right person to be the Clan Lord of the Dang Clan in Sichuan and handle the big responsibilities. So, it’s better for him to stop being Young Clan Lord now. It will be better for Dang Pae too.”

“Then who are you going to choose as the new Young Clan Lord?”

“It will be one of his younger brothers.”

Dang Wae’s eyes narrowed.

*He is incredibly arrogant,* he thought.

Dang Wae had once been the Young Clan Lord, but he lost the position to his younger brother because the previous Clan Lord decided so. That younger brother was Tang Gunak’s father.

Maybe it was on purpose, maybe not, but Tang Gunak’s words hurt Dang Wae.

“Isn’t Dang Pae good enough?”

Tang Gunak shook his head firmly.

“He is lacking.”

“…Dang Pae is…”

“Yes. In the past, I wouldn’t have even talked about whether Dang Pae was good enough, and I wouldn’t have removed him as Young Clan Lord. But!” Tang Gunak said, emphasizing each word. “Because I’ve now seen someone who is far better than Dang Pae, I can’t accept Dang Pae anymore.”

“Are you talking about the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua? The one they say is a prodigy?”

“That is correct.”

Dang Wae looked at Tang Gunak with interest. His eyes looked strange and bright.

“It seems that you think the Young Clan Lord’s skill is the most important thing. Is that correct?”

“That is accurate.”

“Then…” Dang Wae smiled slightly. “Doesn’t that mean that it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Clan Lord’s child?”

Tang Gunak’s eyes twitched.

This was a very sensitive topic, and Dang Wae was clearly bringing it up on purpose. But if he denied it now, he would be contradicting himself.

“Any capable child with the Dang surname can become the Young Clan Lord.”

Dang Wae quietly nodded.

“I am truly impressed by your generous intentions, Clan Lord. With that one statement, you have shown that you are not doing this for selfish reasons.”

Dang Wae raised Tang Gunak’s hand.

But Tang Gunak knew that this didn’t mean Dang Wae supported him at all.

“Then, if there is a child in the Dang Clan who is better than the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, you would have no objection to making him the Young Clan Lord, correct?”

Tang Gunak only stared at Dang Wae, who was openly showing his plan, without answering.

I hear that Chung Myung, the child currently staying with the Tang family, is being called the greatest prodigy of the younger generation.

…That is correct.

If that’s true, there’s no better way to measure our own children. What do you say? We hold a martial arts contest between Chung Myung and whichever of our children wins. The winner will then be named the Young Lord.

Tang Gun-ak gave a faint smile.

Normally, smiling like that in front of the family elders would be unthinkable. The Council of Elders was made up of the most powerful older members of the family.

But now, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Lord?

It seems the Head Elder misunderstands the situation.

Tang Gun-ak said with a mocking tone.

There is no child in the Tang family who can beat Chung Myung. People call him the ‘Divine Dragon of Mount Hua’ because he is so skilled.

Tang Oe smirked, a cold, thin smile that didn’t reach his eyes, at Tang Gun-ak’s words.

I have heard the story of how you were humiliated by that child.

…

Don’t think that what you know is everything, Lord. The children of the Tang family are not weak.

Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth firmly.

There’s no need to stop talking around the point. Get to the point directly.

Tang Oe slightly frowned at the sharp words.

If you speak so directly, then I will also stop holding back. What do you say? We pit Chung Myung against Tang Hak.

…Tang Hak, you say?

That’s right. If Tang Hak wins, wouldn’t he naturally be qualified to become the Young Lord? The Young Lord is the person who will become the next leader of the Tang family.

The corner of Tang Gun-ak’s mouth twisted slightly.

You seem awfully eager to make Tang Hak the Young Lord. I thought you weren’t going to give special treatment just because he’s your grandson?

I am only looking at ability.

Do you really think that child’s ability can surpass the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?

Should a Lord of the Tang family distrust his own kin so much?

Words like daggers flew back and forth.

Very well,

Tang Gun-ak agreed, a slow, mocking smile spreading across his face. He leaned forward, his eyes glinting. “But a gamble needs something to win, doesn’t it? And a challenge needs a price. Let’s make this more interesting. How about we add another bet?

A bet?

Exactly.

Tang Gun-ak’s voice was sharp now, like steel. “If your precious Tang Hak wins this fight against the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, then I will give the Council of Elders the power to choose the next Young Lord.”

Huh?

Tang Oe’s eyes widened slightly.

That meant that if Tang Hak won, the Council of Elders could appoint anyone they pleased as the Young Lord, not necessarily Tang Hak. The Young Lord would eventually become the next Lord. In other words, it was no different from handing over the right to appoint the Lord to the Council of Elders.

In return, if the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua wins, I will not be subject to the interference of the Council of Elders until I step down from the position of Lord.

Hmm.

What do you say? Do you truly have the confidence to accept this wager?

The elders, who had been listening quietly as such a significant matter was being discussed, began to whisper amongst themselves. A ripple of whispers spread through the elders, like wind through dry leaves.

This is too risky!

But the chance to weaken the Lord…

What if Tang Hak loses?

However, Tang Oe seemed to have a slightly different idea.

Very well.

Heeok! Head Elder!

Despite the dissuasion from those around him, Tang Oe did not waver in the slightest. Tang Gun-ak quietly looked at him and nodded.

Then I will take that as settled. Let us hold the martial arts contest tomorrow.

Do so.

Then.

Tang Gun-ak slightly bowed his head and abruptly turned his body, leaving the main hall. As he disappeared, the elders of the Council began to stir.

Will it be alright? If things go wrong…!

If things go wrong?

…

Are you implying that Tang Hak might lose to the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua?

…That is not what I meant.

You are all a pathetic bunch.

Tang Oe shook his head as if he was thoroughly displeased.

Opportunity is not given, but created. If not now, when else will we have the chance to weaken the Lord’s power?

That is true, but…

Tang Oe glanced around.

‘Pathetic lot.’

They were all so focused on the small gains that would immediately fall into their laps that they were unable to plan for anything greater.

It worried him to have to carry out such a task with these people…

‘But there is no other way.’

A perfect opportunity never comes.

Wasn’t that the realization he had only gained at the very end of his life?

If you want to achieve great things, you must be willing to risk everything and jump at even the most flawed opportunities.

‘This is the last chance to make my grandson the Lord.’

Tang Oe had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away. Only when his grandson ascended to the position of Young Lord, and eventually inherited the position of Lord, would he be able to close his eyes in peace.

But, will Tang Hak be able to defeat the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua? That child is not called the greatest prodigy of the younger generation for nothing.

Do not worry. I am not underestimating that child called the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua. Even though the Lord held back, he is still the child who defeated the Lord. There can be no room for carelessness.

Then how…?

Firstly, that child called the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua suffered a major injury in the martial arts contest with the Lord. There is no way that injury has already healed.

Hmm. That is certainly true.

Secondly, that child only faced the Tang family’s hidden weapons. That means he has never experienced the true power of the Tang family.

The elders nodded.

The true power of the Tang family.

There was no one who did not know what that meant.

Lastly!

Tang Oe looked around at everyone with a chilling gaze.

If necessary, we will use any means to achieve the desired outcome. Isn’t that the Tang family’s way?

…

It would be good if that child could even stand in the martial arts arena. That would be a good spectacle to see.

The elders, understanding what Tang Oe’s words meant, looked at each other.

A slight sense of guilt.

And a slight sense of embarrassment.

But those emotions, which had only briefly surfaced, were soon covered by the desire that slowly crept out.

Do not worry. That child called the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua will not be able to walk out of the Tang family on his own two feet.

A bitter smile crossed Tang Oe’s lips. He leaned back, a chilling feeling settling in his stomach. He would make sure of it. This was his family’s future, and he would do whatever it took.

‘I have no personal grudge against you, but consider it your misfortune that you visited the Tang family at this time.’