Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 343

Pour, pour, pour.

Hot steam rose from the teapot as tea filled half the cup.

Hyun Jong quietly gave the teacup to the older man, Hyun Dang.

“Hmm.”

Hyun Dang lifted the cup to his lips. The tea smelled soft and smooth as it steamed.

After a sip, Hyun Dang nodded deeply.

“Your tea-making is even better now.”

“Do you remember how my tea used to taste?”

“Of course. How could I forget? Your tea was something I will always remember.”

Hyun Jong smiled a little.

“You must have had many regrets.”

“…Yes. I think I did.”

A gentle talk.

But the people watching did not look calm at all.

The Sect Leader’s residence was a simple room, with wooden walls and a low table. Dust motes danced in the sunlight coming through the window, but the air felt heavy with unspoken words. Hyun Jong sat at the head of the low wooden table. Hyun Sang and Hyun Young sat on each side of him.

The Un Clan, including Un Am and Un Geom, sat facing them.

Across from Hyun Jong, Hyun Dang sat with his legs crossed. His group sat straight and still behind him.

The room felt tense, even though the tea smelled gentle.

Then, silence.

The tea’s soft smell was very gentle, but the air in the room was not.

Hyun Dang, looking unhappy with the silence, spoke first.

“You haven’t aged at all.”

“When good things happen, people become younger, even when they are old.”

“Really? I guess so. Good things, you say.”

Hyun Dang looked closely at Hyun Jong as he spoke.

“Seeing you doing so well in that position makes me feel better. I was worried, to be honest.”

“Ha!”

Before he finished speaking, Hyun Young snorted.

Hyun Jong glanced at him with a look that said to be quiet. Hyun Young closed his mouth, but you could see he wanted to shout insults.

“Thank you for your concern,” Hyun Jong said.

“No, I should be thankful. You have led Mount Hua so well.”

Hyun Young glared at Hyun Dang, looking very unhappy. Even Hyun Sang looked uncomfortable and cleared his throat again and again.

“So…”

Hyun Jong started to speak to change the mood.

“What brings you here?”

Hyun Dang stared at Hyun Jong for a long time.

“You have changed a lot too.”

“…”

“The old you would not have asked so directly. You always talked around the point.”

“Enough time has passed for the mountains and rivers to change many times. How could a person not change?”

“True. That is right. But I hoped that you, at least, would stay the same.”

Hyun Jong did not answer.

He didn’t need to. And now Hyun Dang needed to answer, not him.

“I think you need to answer my question,” Hyun Jong said.

“Yes. I suppose I do.”

Hyun Dang sighed softly and looked at the people of Mount Hua.

“Thirty years ago, I left Mount Hua because I wanted to.”

“…”

“Because I thought Mount Hua had no future. Or, to be exact, because I thought I could not save Mount Hua when it was failing.”

“That is what happened,” Hyun Jong said.

“But as I got older, my thoughts changed.”

Hyun Dang smiled gently.

“I could not forget Mount Hua. It was always in my heart. I thought I would forget it over time, but Mount Hua in my heart only grew bigger each day.”

Hyun Young laughed rudely.

“Seeing how well you stayed away for thirty years, it couldn’t have been that big to begin with!”

“…Hyun Young.”

“Yes, I know, I know.”

Hyun Young stopped talking when Hyun Jong quietly told him to be quiet. But his lips still stuck out, showing he was still angry.

Hyun Dang spoke calmly.

“Yes, well. We left Mount Hua. We know people will criticize and insult us.”

Hyun Jong frowned slightly.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“…As I lived my life, I tried to forget Mount Hua. I built a life for myself, and things got easier. But a corner of my heart remained empty. In the midst of all that, the name of Mount Hua reached even where I lived.”

Hyun Sang bit his lip slightly.

‘To think that this fellow is really…’

While they were building their lives and living comfortably, Hyun Jong had dedicated everything to reviving Mount Hua.

If they thought about that even a little, they wouldn’t dare say such things in front of Hyun Jong.

“The moment I heard that Mount Hua was making its name known to the world again, I couldn’t ignore my regrets anymore. And so, I brought people who felt the same way and their children all the way to Mount Hua.”

Hyun Jong slowly nodded.

“I understand what you’re saying. But it still doesn’t answer the question.”

“…What answer are you looking for?”

“What is it that you intend to do at Mount Hua, Senior Brother?”

Hyun Dang stared intently at Hyun Jong before opening his mouth.

“Is there anything I cannot do?”

“…”

“I am a sinner. I shouldn’t even be allowed to step on Mount Hua. I don’t expect anything. Just being on Mount Hua is enough. I want to help Mount Hua, even if it’s just a little.”

“Hmm.”

“Those who have come here with me all have skills and have built their lives. They will surely help Mount Hua. So, let us become like ghosts of Mount Hua. I want to live for Mount Hua until I die.”

Hyun Jong sighed quietly.

“Senior Brother…”

“What utter nonsense!”

At that moment, Hyun Young jumped up from his seat and pointed a finger.

“When Mount Hua was falling apart, you didn’t even show your face. And now you come back, saying what? Ghosts of Mount Hua? Do you even have a conscience?”

“Hyun Young, calm yourself.”

“How can I stay calm in this situation, Sect Leader! Isn’t it obvious what these people want? They pretended not to know anything for thirty years when Mount Hua was about to collapse, and now that Mount Hua is doing well, they are trying to get something for themselves now that Mount Hua is successful!”

Hyun Young shouted, his nose flaring.

“There’s nothing more to hear! Throw these people out now!”

“Hyun Young!”

It was then.

“I apologize, Sect Leader, but I share the same thoughts as my junior brother on this matter.”

“…”

Hyun Sang stepped forward to support Hyun Young, his face hardened.

“There’s no reason to even consider it. They are the ones who left Mount Hua. How can we allow such people to set foot on Mount Hua? Ghosts, you say? We don’t need such ghosts in Mount Hua.”

“…”

“You must send them back.”

Hyun Jong furrowed his brow slightly and closed his eyes.

Hyun Dang opened his mouth a little, a small smile playing on his lips. His eyes, though, were sharp and calculating.

“I truly understand how you feel,” he began, his voice smooth and calm. “To become a Sa-hyung…”

“How *dare* you call yourself Sa-hyung, you snake!” Hyun Young exploded. His face flushed red, and he slammed his fist on the low table, making the teacups rattle.

“Hyun Young!” Hyun Jong’s voice was firm, but weary.

“But Sect Leader!” Hyun Young argued, ignoring the warning. “Isn’t he infuriating? How can someone who abandoned the sect call himself your Sa-hyung?”

“Enough,” Hyun Jong repeated, raising a hand. His gesture was tired, and Hyun Young, seeing the Sect Leader’s clear discomfort, finally grumbled and fell silent.

Hyun Jong said in a heavy voice.

“…I understand what you mean. But this is too sudden to decide right now.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“I will prepare rooms for you, so please rest. You must be tired from climbing the mountain.”

“I will do that.”

Hyun Dang smiled faintly.

Hyun Jong turned his head and looked at Woon-am.

“Woon-am.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Provide these people with the Green Plum Quarter and prepare a meal for them.”

“…Understood.”

Woon-am rose from his seat.

“I will show you the way.”

“Very well.”

As Hyun Dang and the others rose from their seats, Woon-am silently left the room.

After Woon-am and his group left, Hyun Dang, who remained in the room until the very end, quietly turned his head to look at Hyun Jong.

“I am sorry for appearing before you again so shamelessly.”

“⋯⋯”

“But I hope you will see that I truly care about Mount Hua.”

Hyun Jong nodded without a word.

Hyun Dang left the room with a small smile.

“Sect Leader!”

As soon as he left the room, Hyun Young raised his voice.

“Wait.”

“But!”

“Didn’t I tell you to wait?”

“Ahem!”

Hyun Jong sighed and opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry, but could you leave us for a moment? I have something to discuss with the elders alone.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

The Woon generation disciples who had been filling the room rose and went outside in a flurry. Only the Hyun generation disciples remained, and Hyun Jong spoke while caressing his teacup.

“What do you think?”

“What is there to think about! It’s a load of rubbish!”

Hyun Young shouted fiercely.

“Mount Hua’s reputation is rising, so now they’ve come to try and get something to eat. How dare they shamelessly show their faces at Mount Hua?”

“I think the same, Sect Leader.”

Hyun Sang, who usually never agreed with Hyun Young, openly took his side this time.

“We can’t think they came with good intentions. They look rich, judging by their clothes. Why would rich people who ignored Mount Hua when we were starving come back now? It’s obvious why.”

“And!”

Hyun Young added, grinding his teeth.

“Even if they did come with good intentions, it doesn’t matter. They are the ones who turned their backs on Mount Hua and abandoned it. Repentance? You say they regret it? We can’t just forgive everything because they say sorry!”

Hyun Jong sighed.

“I also think you’re right.”

“Then chase them out right now! Sect Leader.”

“Let’s wait a little longer.”

“Why?”

Hyun Jong shook his head.

“Have you forgotten? Mount Hua can’t worry about what others think like we used to.”

“⋯⋯”

“If they leave Mount Hua like this, people will say that Mount Hua mistreated its old members.”

“Does that even make sense?”

“It doesn’t make sense. But do people ever care about the truth?”

“⋯⋯”

“We can’t give people who want to speak badly about Mount Hua a reason to do so. Let’s at least feed them well and treat them well for a few days before sending them out.”

Hyun Young sighed deeply.

“I understand what you’re trying to do, Sect Leader, but I don’t think this will end so simply. Do you think people who came with a plan will give up so easily?”

“We have to try.”

Hyun Jong said quietly. Then he sighed to himself.

‘Bad luck always follows good luck.’

It was said that bad things always came with good things. But he never thought something like this would happen.

‘How frustrating.’

Hyun Jong’s sigh filled the room.

“⋯⋯Sa-hyung.”

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t that Hyun Jong more stubborn than we thought?”

Hyun Dang smiled faintly at Hyun Bub’s words.

“Indeed.”

“I thought he would bow down as soon as Sa-hyung came, but seeing that scared fellow sitting in charge and acting important makes me angry. Wasn’t that seat originally Sa-hyung’s!”

“Ahem. Lower your voice.”

Hyun Dang quietly gave a warning.

“This is Mount Hua.”

“Isn’t this just a place with only children left?”

“That’s true.”

Hyun Dang looked around Mount Hua with a twisted smile, as if he thought he would soon own it all.

“He’s pretending to be strong, but we can see he’s still weak. Hyun Jong will eventually accept us. Soon, more people will come to Mount Hua and pressure Hyun Jong, so he won’t have a choice.”

“That’s right, Sa-hyung.”

“Even though Mount Hua has been lucky with good disciples and has escaped from ruin, it can’t become great again with a scared person like Hyun Jong as the Sect Leader. So, we have to help.”

“Of course.”

Hyun Dang curled up the corners of his lips.

“It would be good to act humble until the time is right. First, we have to get our status back. So, everyone, be careful not to do anything without thinking.”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Hyun Dang smiled as he looked at Woon-am’s back, walking ahead in the distance.

He knew they wouldn’t be completely friendly. But that wouldn’t last long.

‘I have to take back my place.’

For that.

And for Mount Hua.

A hearty laugh burst from the old man’s mouth.

Everything will go back to how it should be.

Yes. To how it should be.