Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 287

The big competition was starting, but at first, nothing seemed very different. The sun still shone brightly on the Shaolin temple grounds. The crowd still buzzed with excited chatter. But if you looked closely, maybe the air felt a tiny bit tighter, like a drum about to be hit.

Even the seats for the leaders on the platform were different. Just a little bit different, but for Hyun Jong, it was everything.

‘To sit with the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families…’ He couldn’t quite believe it.

Hyun Jong looked down at his chair. No, not down. He checked the *location* of his chair.

Right at the front of the platform.

Not in the second row anymore, where he used to have to stare at the backs of all those important people.

The very front row. His chair was now in the front row, the place only for the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families. It was a huge change.

Tang Gunak’s words were the final blow. Because they felt it wasn’t quite right, the sect leaders quickly agreed to move Hwasan’s seat to the front row.

Even though this competition was about the young fighters, Hwasan was suddenly seen as important as the Nine Great Sects. Just like that.

Normally, this would have been an event so moving that it would bring tears to his eyes.

Normally, that is.

But, Hyun Jong could not be his normal self at this moment.

Hyun Jong’s ears burned. The other leaders were talking, and their words felt like sharp needles poking him.

“Gambling, you say…”

“To run a gambling den in the sacred Shaolin, what on earth is going on?”

“Who is that person from which sect?”

“I heard he’s the leader of the Hwayoung Sect.”

“Hwayoung Sect? Has anyone heard of it?”

Every time the words ‘Hwayoung Sect’ and ‘gambling’ were mentioned, Hyun Jong twitched like someone with needles stuck in their backside.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

He felt like running over there and flipping the gambling table over right away.

But having already come up onto the platform, that was only possible in his imagination.

Just then, Abbot Heodo of the Wudang Sect spoke with a subtle smile.

“Hwayoung Sect, you say…”

His slightly slow voice immediately grabbed everyone’s attention.

“I think I know that sect?”

Hyun Young watched him, and his face lost all its color, like paper turning white.

In the past, Hwasan had argued with Wudang over the fate of the Hwayoung Sect.

So, Abbot Heodo of Wudang was bound to know that the Hwayoung Sect was connected to Hwasan.

Abbot Heodo looked at Hyun Jong with a kind smile.

But Hyun Jong felt that smile was like that of a venomous snake.

“You know them? Where is this Hwayoung Sect located?”

“How can such a place come to Shaolin and muddy the waters? Tell us at once, Abbot.”

“We need to stop this right now!”

Hyun Young was sweating a lot, wondering how to handle this, when…

Tang Gunak, who had been quietly listening, looked at the sect leaders and said calmly:

“Is there a problem?”

“…Yes?”

“This is Shaolin.”

“Indeed. Isn’t that why we’re saying this? If it weren’t Shaolin, why would we care whether they gamble or not?”

“You don’t understand. How things are handled here depends only on what Shaolin wants.”

At those words, everyone went quiet.

“I understand your concern, but please be careful with your words and actions. Any criticism could be seen as blaming Shaolin. Who would dare set up a gambling table without Shaolin’s permission?”

At those words, the sect leaders all looked at Abbot Beopjeong of Shaolin.

Beopjeong looked back at them and smiled.

“Wouldn’t it be alright?”

“A-Abbot.”

“But, how can we in the sacred Shaolin…”

The sect leaders were surprised by the gazes, but Beopjeong simply smiled gently.

“I have never thought of Shaolin as a sacred place.”

Beopjeong lightly put his hands together in respect.

“Shaolin is just another temple in the world. It just has a few more monks. So why should we gather people and tell them not to enjoy themselves in such a great place?”

“Hmm.”

Seeing the sect leaders uncomfortably clearing their throats, unable to agree, Beopjeong smiled gently.

“Isn’t it enough to be strict with our own disciples? We can’t just force those who came to see our sect’s disciples to follow our rules. I am grateful if they can enjoy themselves like that.”

As soon as Beopjeong finished speaking, words of praise and agreement poured out.

“As expected of the Abbot.”

“Haha, this place should be a festival.”

Whether the logic is right or not is not important.

If the Abbot of Shaolin says so, no one can argue. Those gathered here are all leaders of sects that lead the world, but none of them dare to object to his words.

This is the power that Shaolin has built up with its history.

Normally, Hyun Jong would have been thrilled by the power of the great Shaolin Sect, but now he could only breathe a sigh of relief that this matter had somehow been resolved.

‘I feel like my lifespan has been shortened by ten years.’

He had barely gotten younger, but his increased lifespan was being chipped away day by day.

Hyun Jong, secretly groaning, glared at the disciples of Hwasan with fierce eyes.

‘Even if my remaining lifespan disappears, you must get good results!’

His reputation was ruined, so he had to get good results, at least! Good results!

You damned bastards!

“It seems the Abbot is going through some hardship?”

“Huh?”

At Baek Cheon’s words, Chung Myung tilted his head, looking clueless.

“That gambling den. That…”

“Ah, right!”

Chung Myung clapped his hands together.

“I need to bet too.”

Chung Myung reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of betting slips.

“…What, how did you bring so much money?”

“Money always has a use. See? It’s useful now that I brought it.”

He looked ready to win all the money at the gambling den.

Baek Cheon shook his head, watching Chung Myung grin.

But Chung Myung didn’t scold him; rather, he looked at him with a warm gaze and a satisfied smile.

“What’s with that look? Suddenly creepy.”

“Sasuk.”

“Huh?”

“I’m going to bet everything on Sasuk in the first round, you know? You better not lose.”

“If you happen to lose, I’ll make you earn that money back no matter what, so you better do well. You better win, even if it kills you, unless you want to be wielding a pickaxe and performing Plum Blossom Sword Style in the Bukhae coal mines.”

Those were words that were too warm for a disciple to say to his martial uncle.

“Chung Myung.”

“Huh?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“When haven’t you? Ask away.”

“Who do you think will win?”

Chung Myung gave him a look as if he were the most hopeless person in the world.

Baek Cheon became serious.

“Excluding you.”

“Huh?”

“Who, excluding you, is most likely to win among the remaining people?”

Ah, excluding me?

Chung Myung looked thoughtful.

Chung Myung scratched his cheek lightly and shrugged.

“I don’t know?”

“…You don’t know?”

“Of course, I know who’s the strongest. But a martial arts competition isn’t always won by the strongest, you see.”

Baek Cheon wanted to ask more, but Chung Myung spoke again. “Still, some fighters are good. Like that bald guy from Shaolin.”

Baek Cheon nodded, already expecting this.

‘Was his name Hae Yeon?’ His strike was truly terrifying.

Everyone who watched the fight would agree with this.

Chung Myung thought for a moment before speaking.

“Ah, and that Namgung Clan guy was strong too, wasn’t he?”

Baek Cheon frowned slightly at the mention of Namgung Dowi.

“There seems to be one in Wudang as well, and there was a strong one among the Peng Clan guys. And um… shouldn’t we still consider Jin Geum-ryong a contender? An average guy would have a hard time dealing with him.”

“…Namgung Clan, Wudang, Peng Clan, and Jongnam.” These groups are becoming famous everywhere.

“Besides them, there are about three or four others? Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange if any of them won.”

“So, are you saying that if you weren’t here, one of them would have won?”

“No.”

“…Then?”

Chung Myung frowned, as if asking why he was even asking such a thing.

“If I’m not here, Sajuk should win. Isn’t that clear?”

“…”

“Why? Are you not sure?”

After a moment of silence, the corner of Baek Cheon’s mouth twitched slightly.

“Not sure, you say?”

That was the moment.

“Baek Cheon of Hwasan!”

Baek Cheon slowly stood up. He turned to Chung Myung, his eyes serious.

“Wait for me,” Baek Cheon said, his voice low but firm. “I will prove it. I will return.”

“Hoo?” Chung Myung chuckled, a glint in his eye.

Baek Cheon straightened his black martial clothes and walked towards the sparring stage. His shoulders were broad, his back straight. He moved with a confident stride, like a hero stepping into legend. The afternoon sun glinted off the white headband on his forehead.

Watching his impressive figure, Chung Myung chuckled.

‘He’s so simple-minded.’

It was a lie.

Ah, of course, it was certainly true that Baek Cheon was one of the potential winners. He was easily in the top three.

But winning was difficult.

Because there was a monster.

Chung Myung’s gaze turned towards Shaolin.

‘Was his name Hae Yeon?’

There was no answer for that guy.

The current Baek Cheon would probably have a hard time dealing with him.

Of course, it wasn’t that there was no way to win.

But that was when discussing the outcome of a match. When discussing skill, there was no need to compare them at all.

If he was given a few more years, who knew what would happen, but the comparison was being made now.

“Oh, and…”

Chung Myung scratched his cheek.

“I didn’t mention that there’s one more in Jongnam.”

Well, it should be fine, right?

Baek Cheon, who had stepped onto the sparring stage, chuckled as he looked at his opponent.

‘His name was definitely Jong Seo-han.’

He was the second-in-command among the second-generation disciples of Jongnam. He was the one who had been stuck next to Jin Geum-ryong whenever he did something.

Jong Seo-han twisted his lips into a smile as he looked at Baek Cheon.

“Well, isn’t this a coincidence? Meeting the famous White Dragon.”

“…”

“You must be prepared, right?”

Baek Cheon stared at him intently before shifting his gaze to where the Jongnam disciples were gathered.

As expected, Jin Geum-ryong was glaring at him with cold eyes.

“Where are you looking?”

“…”

“You gained some empty fame and now you really think you’re something special. You don’t even deserve to look at my senior brother. You haven’t forgotten, have you? That the second-generation disciples of your Hwasan have never once beaten Jongnam. Your fame is nothing more than scraps you picked up next to that damned Hwasan Divine Dragon.”

It was a scathing and sharp provocation.

But Baek Cheon was more composed than ever.

“Yeah. That’s right. I admit it.”

“…What?”

“I admit it.”

Jong Seo-han stared at Baek Cheon with a blank look.

‘Does this guy have no pride?’

How could he remain so calm after hearing such words?

But Baek Cheon continued, with a nonchalant expression as if it were nothing important.

“The second-generation disciples of Hwasan have never beaten the second-generation disciples of Jongnam, and my fame is certainly overrated.”

“…”

“But what does that matter?”

Sreung.

Baek Cheon slowly drew his sword.

“If we’ve never won before, we just need to win from now on, and if my fame is excessive, I just need to make sure that my fame isn’t excessive. I’m sorry, but the disciples of Hwasan don’t live clinging to the past like you do.”

“You!”

Baek Cheon chuckled as he saw Jong Seo-han flare up.

It was nothing new.

In the past, he had trained with all his might to beat Jin Geum-ryong. But looking back now, he wouldn’t have been able to beat Jong Seo-han, let alone Jin Geum-ryong.

The gap between Hwasan and Jongnam was that great.

“Ah. Let me correct one thing.”

Jong Seo-han’s eyes were filled with doubt at Baek Cheon’s words.

“Hwasan doesn’t live clinging to the past, but I’m a bit petty, so I guess I’m clinging to the past. The memory of being crushed by you guys in the past is still stuck with me.”

Baek Cheon lightly tapped his temple with his finger. Jong Seo-han bared his teeth fiercely.

“Don’t worry. I’ll cover it with a new memory. The experience of being crushed once again in front of so many people won’t be easy to come by, so it’ll stay in your head for the rest of your life.”

“That’s right.”

Baek Cheon smiled brightly.

“As you said, it was Chung Myung who beat Jongnam, not us. But now, the opportunity has come to us. Looking at the bracket, if I beat you, the next one is Jin Geum-ryong.”

He looked at Jong Seo-han with fiercely glowing eyes.

“I’ll completely cut off the ghost of Jongnam that’s still clinging to Hwasan with my own hands. Come at me. I’ll prove that Jongnam is no longer a match for Hwasan.”

Baek Cheon, who had unfolded the starting stance of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, raised his sword and aimed it at Jong Seo-han.

Black martial attire and a pure white hero’s headband.

The sword in his hand, shining in the sunlight.

And even his outstanding appearance stood out even more.

He was the very image of a hero from a story. The spectators were all mesmerized by his magnificent appearance and stared at Baek Cheon.

But only one person.

Only Jong Seo-han couldn’t calmly look at that figure.

“Let’s see if that sword is as sharp as your mouth!”

“Don’t worry. It’s sharp enough!”

“Eek!”

Jong Seo-han, who had been pushed back by words, gritted his teeth and finally drew his sword.

Baek Cheon slightly turned his head and looked at Jin Geum-ryong.

Jin Geum-ryong was coldly staring at the sparring stage with sharp eyes.

‘You better watch closely, hyung.’

Because Jongnam would fall at the hands of Baek Cheon, not Chung Myung.

That would be Baek Cheon’s last consideration, who had once intended to place his ambitions in Jongnam.

Watching the sparring stage, where the tension was at its peak, Yoon Jong clenched his fists tightly.

“Chung Myung-ah, Sajuk will win, right?”

But there was no answer.

“Chung Myung-ah?”

When Yoon Jong turned around, Chung Myung’s seat was empty. Only Jo Gul was standing next to him with an awkward expression.

“…He went to bet money.”

“…”

Seriously…

The sect is doing well.

Very desirable, damn it.