Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 309

Yoon Jong believed in patience. Like a plum tree waiting for spring, he knew training took time.

Therefore, Yoon Jong was being patient. That’s what a true Daoist should be… or so he thought, until he heard…

“Thinking you’re too good for us?”

Yoon Jong slowly looked up. All around him, the White Plum disciples stood like angry statues, their eyes burning into him.

Uh… They looked at him like he’d done something really bad.

But… Jo Gul? He was there too, waving his arms around. Yoon Jong’s cheek twitched. *What’s he doing here?*

“I!”

Baek Cheon, who had been standing with his arms crossed in the center, rolled his eyes.

“I’m really angry, I am!”

“You, the best student of Azure Plum, gave up in a fight? Without even trying?”

“No…”

Yoon Jong looked around and looked like he’d been treated unfairly. But the White Plum disciples just kept shouting, not listening to him.

“Look at him, look at him, acting like he’s too good for us.”

“I thought he was thinking he’s so great now that he’s better at sword fighting.”

“A disciple of Mount Hua surrendering? Surrendering? He should be ashamed!”

Yoon Jong squeezed his eyes shut.

It felt like he was surrounded by a swarm of angry bees, buzzing and ready to sting.

But wasn’t this truly unfair?

“No…”

“No excuses!”

“Be quiet!”

“Hey! Why did you surrender! Aren’t you going to answer?”

“Why don’t you open your mouth, huh?”

Hang on.

They’re angry, fine, but if they’re all going to yell at me, shouldn’t they at least decide what they want from me first? Should I talk or be quiet? … And Jo Gul, why are you suddenly acting like you’re better than me? This little rascal?

Then, Baek Cheon sighed deeply and continued in a solemn voice.

“With so many people watching, a disciple of Mount Hua surrendering. What will people say about Mount Hua!”

“But we’re brothers…”

“That’s even worse! How can an older brother give up to a younger brother! Mount Hua will lose all respect! At least swing your sword! At least try to fight back!”

Finally, Yoon Jong, who couldn’t stay quiet anymore, spoke in a voice that sounded like he was treated unfairly.

“…Doesn’t it depend on who you’re fighting?”

“What?”

The White Plum disciples glared, but Yoon Jong was defiant.

“What you say is all correct! As an older brother, I shouldn’t have given up like that! Even if I can’t show the respect an older brother should have, I should at least show the spirit to fight!”

“Oh?”

Baek Cheon tilted his head and asked.

“Then why did you do it?”

“But would Cheong Myeong go easy on me just because I’m his older brother? He’s the type to fight seriously, no matter who you are! He should have become… a judge! He’s the type to beat everyone the same way, rich or poor!”

“Would someone like that go easy on me just because I’m his older brother? Think about it logically! If he was someone who would just fight a little and stop, I would have at least tried to fight back. But he’s the type who would really hurt me if I even tried, so I need to stay safe first!”

Yoon Jong confidently straightened his shoulders.

“Among you, only those who would fight Cheong Myeong without giving up, even if they get badly hurt, should criticize me!”

“…”

The White Plum disciples looked away, trying not to show their faces.

They wanted to scold him, but really, fighting Cheong Myeong seriously was a terrible idea.

Yoon Jong felt proud.

He knew he was right… Huh? Jo Gul?

Why are you picking up *actual* stones?

At that moment, Baek Cheon, who had been listening silently, nodded at Yoon Jong.

“Alright. You’re right.”

“Senior Brother!”

“Aren’t you being too easy on him?”

“Quiet.”

When someone complained, Baek Cheon frowned and told them to be quiet.

“Yoon Jong.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“I get what you mean.”

“Uncle!”

Yoon Jong looked at Baek Cheon, grateful. *See?* He thought. *Baek Cheon is the only normal one in Mount Hua, where everyone else is acting crazy. He’s the only one you can talk to like a normal person…*

“But you know.”

“Yes?”

“No matter how I think about it, I think you might have messed up…”

“…”

“Even if *we* understand, will Cheong Myeong agree?”

“Yes?”

“Cheong Myeong.”

Baek Cheon pointed with his chin. Yoon Jong followed his gaze and finally saw him. Cheong Myeong, with a subtle smile, was walking towards them. (He’d just been at the gambling tables, Yoon Jong noticed.)

“…”

The White Plum disciples saw Cheong Myeong and slowly moved away, like they’d seen a wild beast.

Yoon Jong’s face began to twitch.

“What’s going on here?”

“No. Nothing…”

Cheong Myeong walked over and knelt beside Yoon Jong, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Senior Brother.”

“…Uh?”

“Very rational, isn’t it?”

“…Huh?”

Yoon Jong felt cold sweat on his forehead.

“Rational. Yes, being rational is good. There’s no need to fight for no reason against someone you can’t beat, getting all sweaty and bloody. It’s better to give up fast and save your energy, right?”

Yoon Jong looked at Cheong Myeong.

He was smiling widely, but Yoon Jong couldn’t read his face at all. *It’s weird how a smile can hide so much,* he thought.

Yoon Jong watched Cheong Myeong carefully and spoke slowly.

“T-That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Of course.”

“…You’re not being sarcastic, are you?”

“Hey. Have you ever seen me being sarcastic?”

“…Uh?”

He hadn’t seen that, it seemed. *Actually,* he thought, *Cheong Myeong isn’t the type to be sarcastic when he’s annoyed. He’d just attack you directly.*

“Y-Yeah. I thought so too.”

Relief washed over Yoon Jong’s face. *The uncles can be angry, but as long as I can get away with this with Cheong Myeong…*

But things never go as planned.

“But you know,” Cheong Myeong said.

“…Uh?”

Cheong Myeong smiled again, but this time it was a smile that made Yoon Jong uneasy.

“Then why did you draw your sword?”

“Huh?”

“Hey!”

Chung Myung stretched out his leg and kicked Yoon Jong hard.

“Keuk!”

Yoon Jong tumbled and collapsed onto the floor. Chung Myung, erupting with fury, shot to his feet. His eyes narrowed. He hated that word. ‘Reasonable.’ It sounded weak.

“A man so reasonable, why is he waving a sword around! If there’s need for a sword, go to the government office!”

“…”

Chung Myung rolled his eyes.

“Seriously! What? Reasonable? These fellows would try to negotiate with the Demonic Sect! Reasonable? We are sword fighters! We don’t talk about being reasonable!”

“Ah, no… I just meant… maybe we should think first?”

“Grrrr!”

Chung Myung’s face went red, and he looked like he might explode. He charged at Yoon Jong. The Baek Ja disciples, horrified, grabbed him, trying to restrain him.

“Chung Myung, calm down!”

“You can do whatever you want later at the pavilion! Just calm down for now!”

The Baek Ja disciples, who had been ready to beat Yoon Jong to a pulp just moments ago, were now desperately trying to stop Chung Myung.

“Reasonable? So reasonable that you’re stuck in the mountains, waving swords around, hoping to ascend to immortality? Why is a man seeking reason even at the Do Gate? He’s like a man looking for meat in a temple!”

“…Weren’t you the one looking for meat in the temple?”

“What?”

“Ah, no.”

Yoon Jong clamped his mouth shut. But his aggrieved gaze was fixed on the jerky in Chung Myung’s hand.

Without that, he wouldn’t feel so wronged.

“I’m bursting with frustration!”

“My temper’s flaring!”

“Ashamed.”

Yoon Jong, struck by the triple blow from Chung Myung, Baek Cheon, and Yu Yiseol, hung his head dejectedly.

There are times when a man must surrender. Unlike these fellows who know no retreat.

“Incompetent fool…”

“…I might actually kill you.”

Jo Gul, who had been trying to sneak in a word, flinched and backed away.

Just then, a calm voice cut through the noise.

“So, everyone’s here.”

“Ah, Grand Uncle Master!”

“Sasuk!”

Un Geom was approaching them with a gentle smile.

“I watched the match well.”

“Gwanju-nim!”

Yoon Jong ran to Un Geom with teary eyes. With Un Geom by his side, neither the mad tiger Chung Myung nor even the older disciples looked ready to jump in and scold him any further.

Un Geom, seeing Yoon Jong running towards him, smiled gently, then reached out and grabbed his ear.

“Aack! Gwanju-nim! My ear!”

“You, come over here.”

“Aaaah! Gwanju-nim, my ear! It hurts! Please!”

“Quiet! Yoon Jong! As the leader of the disciples, you should be setting a better example! Stop this nonsense and follow me!”

Everyone stared blankly at Un Geom as he dragged Yoon Jong away by the ear.

“…Was Sasuk always like that?”

A hollow reply came to the muttered question.

“That’s how it all goes. That’s how it is.”

The disciples of Hwasan sighed in unison.

Even taking a step is not easy. With each step, the wounds throb.

But Lee Song Baek diligently moved his feet without showing any signs of it. This is no time to whine. The wounds of Jongnam are greater than his own.

He glanced around and let out a soft sigh.

‘Heavy.’

They looked like defeated soldiers returning from a lost battle.

Perhaps it was only natural.

Defeat is something one doesn’t fully realize in the moment.

The pain of losing hit them harder later, when they understood what they had lost.

Jongnam lost too much in this competition. Perhaps to the point where they can never recover.

Lee Song Baek raised his head and looked at the sky.

He looked around at the Jongnam disciples. Their shoulders were slumped, their faces pale. It felt like the whole sect was falling apart.

The energy, the pride they used to have – it was gone, like a light had been turned off.

He could see only sadness and hopelessness in their eyes.

All of that weighed heavily on him.

But Lee Song Baek did not lower his head.

‘Did you start from here?’

No, it must have been several times more desperate. Unlike Jongnam, which still had people and a reputation, Hwasan had literally nothing left.

Chung Myung had brought Hwasan to where it was now in just a few years from that situation where nothing but despair remained.

‘Can I do it?’

Lee Song Baek quietly closed his eyes.

He doesn’t dream the vain dream of being able to do it like Chung Myung. But if it was something he had accomplished over several years, he thought that if he worked hard for decades, he might be able to do it someday.

If he worked hard and kept working hard.

A long, long road.

A road that felt so far away, it seemed distant.

‘Can I walk that road?’

“Oh.”

At that moment, Lee Song Baek’s legs gave way and his body staggered.

Thump.

The disciples walking beside him reached out and supported him.

“Are you alright, Sahyung?”

“Your injuries are still deep.”

Lee Song Baek raised his head and looked at the disciples.

‘Sahyung.’

It was a word he hadn’t heard for a while. The disciples had been reluctant to even talk to him. He didn’t expect them to support him like this and worry about him.

“I’m fine.”

Lee Song Baek nodded, and the disciples awkwardly withdrew their hands. Then, after hesitating slightly, they spoke.

“Um… Sahyung.”

“Hmm?”

“Um… When we return to Jongnam, could you teach me the Thirty-Six Swords of the World?”

“…Me?”

“Yes.”

The disciple, who had been hesitating for a moment, spoke in a low voice.

“It’s a bit awkward to ask Sasuk or Sabeom…”

“…”

Lee Song Baek glanced around. The disciples were glancing at them. But their eyes did not contain the same contempt as in the past.

“Would it be alright? You are learning the Twelve Styles of Snow Flowers.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

His disciple scratched the back of his head.

“After watching Sahyung and that Hwasan Divine Dragon’s sparring match… I realized that the Twelve Styles of Snow Flowers are not the only answer.”

“…I see.”

Lee Song Baek turned his head and looked at the place they had left.

Shaolin, now quite far away.

He is there.

‘Chung Myung Dojang.’

Chung Myung had opened the way for him. And perhaps, through his sparring match with him, he had also opened the way for Jongnam.

Whether Chung Myung intended it or not…

‘Someday, we will meet again.’

And then.

Lee Song Baek will repay the favor he received from him.

Lee Song Baek, who had been staring at that place silently for a while, turned his head again and looked ahead.

His eyes were unwavering.

“Let’s go. There is much to do when we return to Jongnam.”

“Yes! Sahyung.”

Lee Song Baek’s feet, heading towards Jongnam, gained a little more strength.