Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 345

Late at night, inside the Blue Plum Hall, hearty laughter echoed.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

“Euhahahahaha!”

The men inside filled each other’s cups, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

“Haha! Can you believe it’s this easy?” one of them said.

Another replied, “I thought it would be harder, with all the talk about their recent success. But it turns out to be so simple.”

Hyunbeop, who had been listening quietly, tilted his cup and chuckled softly.

“Hyun Jong was always weak,” he said. “And those famous rising stars? They’re just children.”

“That is correct, Father,” someone responded.

Hyunbeop continued, “Their fame is just luck. Their limits would have shown soon anyway. If we had left them alone, that is.”

“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

“Yes, indeed,” Hyunbeop nodded firmly.

“Don’t forget, we came to Mount Hua only for Mount Hua’s sake.”

“I will remember that.”

“Good. Pour me another cup.”

Just then, the door burst open, and a man strode in. Everyone stood up and bowed their heads.

“You dare to drink so much when you should be learning? Have you no shame in front of our ancestors!” he shouted.

“You have arrived,” one of them said.

Hyundang frowned, noticing the scattered liquor bottles.

“Have you forgotten where you are?” he asked sternly.

Hyunbeop replied carefully, looking a little embarrassed, “My apologies. We were just a bit too excited.”

“It’s hard to stop drinking and eating meat after living like normal people for so long,” another added.

“Foolish ones,” Hyundang said.

Hyundang went straight to the head seat and sat down, his face serious.

“We just need a little more patience. Soon, Mount Hua will be run our way. Until then, watch what you say and do, and behave yourselves.”

“I will keep that in mind, Senior Brother,” someone answered.

“Hmph,” Hyundang grunted.

Hyundang looked around at Hyunbeop and the others, thinking, ‘He thought his bad luck had become good luck.’

Leaving Mount Hua hadn’t been easy, and starting over was tough.

It was hard for a Taoist who had only trained and practiced martial arts in the mountains to return to normal life.

But he had worked hard, built a family, and his children supported him.

‘So many people will be a force to be reckoned with,’ he thought.

If he could get them into Mount Hua, it would all be his. Even if he didn’t become the sect leader, he would be just as powerful.

‘If I can make my eldest son the next sect leader, all of this will be mine,’ Hyundang smiled slightly.

“Mu-gyeong.”

“You should call me Hyunbeop here,” Hyunbeop corrected.

“Yes, that’s right. Hyunbeop. What about what I asked you to check?”

“Yes. I’ve looked into it, and it seems the rumors about Mount Hua having lots of money are true. The warehouse is full of goods that have come in just two days.”

“Hmph,” Hyundang grunted again.

Hyunbeop added, “Also, Mount Hua has the only right to trade with Yunnan. If we use this well, we can make a lot of money. It seems the Mount Hua people don’t know how valuable this is.”

Hyunbeop smiled slightly and said, “If you give me the power, I can make you rich, Senior Brother.”

“Not me, but Mount Hua,” Hyundang replied sternly.

“Of course, Senior Brother.”

Even though he spoke sternly, Hyundang smiled a little. He couldn’t help it.

Hyunbeop looked at him and smiled triumphantly. “The fact that they aren’t fighting back much means they know they can’t win, right?”

“Hmm,” Hyundang hesitated.

“Don’t think they are weak,” he warned.

“Yes?” Hyunbeop asked, surprised.

Hyundang explained, “The Hyun Jong you remember may have been clumsy, but the current Hyun Jong has kept Mount Hua going for years and has made Mount Hua famous again.”

Hyunbeop’s face twisted slightly. He didn’t want to admit it.

“How could Hyun Jong do that?” he scoffed.

Hyundang said, “As Hyun Jong said, things change. After thirty years, it’s not strange for a person to change.”

Hyunbeop mocked, “Hyun Jong? *That* weakling?”

“Senior Brother, even though things change, people don’t change easily. You know that, right?”

“…That’s not entirely wrong,” Hyundang admitted.

Hyunbeop pressed on, “If Hyun Jong has changed, why would he leave us alone? If you were him, would you have waited until now?”

“…” Hyundang didn’t answer.

Hyunbeop grinned, as if saying, ‘See?’

“Being careful is good, but too much caution can ruin things. Sometimes, you can get more by being bold.”

“Yes, that’s true,” Hyundang nodded slowly, looking thoughtful.

He knew Hyunbeop was right, but Mount Hua’s reaction still bothered him.

‘It can’t be this easy,’ he thought.

It wasn’t easy to become successful in the Jianghu. If it were, Hyundang wouldn’t have left Mount Hua.

If they had achieved so much, there had to be a reason.

But Hyundang couldn’t see that reason. The younger disciples were skilled, but the older ones didn’t seem much better than before.

‘There is definitely something I have missed,’ he thought, shaking his head.

He didn’t know what it was, but now was the time to push forward, as Hyunbeop said. If he gave them time to think, it would be too late.

“Anyway, if Hyun Jong isn’t a puppet, he will do something by tomorrow.”

“Yes. And if we can stop him, Mount Hua will be ours.”

“Yes. That’s how it should be.”

“Senior Brother, you will finally get your position back.”

“Oh, hush. You’re talking nonsense. I’m only doing this for Mount Hua’s future.”

“Of course, Senior Brother.”

The two men smiled at each other.

❀ ❀ ❀

“How are the disciples doing?” Hyun Jong asked.

“They aren’t complaining, but…” Hyun Sang replied.

“Those fellows, really…” Hyun Jong sighed, looking troubled.

He would have felt better if the disciples had complained about the newcomers.

The disciples of Mount Hua hadn’t said a word to him.

“Are they still trying to interfere with the disciples?” Hyun Jong asked.

“Yes,” Hyun Sang answered.

Hyun Jong frowned at Hyun Sang’s answer. Hyun Sang quietly stared at Hyun Jong and opened his mouth with a sigh.

Head Disciple, I understand your caution. Because you are Head Disciple, you must be careful and not act only on feelings, like us. But I worry this will hurt the disciples.

Where is Hyun Young?

He’s locked himself in his room. He said he doesn’t want to see us and won’t come out.

Hmm. Acting like a child.

Hyun Jong shook his head slowly.

Hyun Sang understood Hyun Young’s feelings. He spoke for him, “You must understand how Hyun Young feels, Head Disciple.”

“Of course, I do,” Hyun Jong said quietly. He looked down into his teacup, his face sad.

“Do you think I don’t want to kick them out? No, I probably want to more than anyone.”

“Then why not?”

“Because I know I can’t just do what I want.”

Hyun Jong looked straight at Hyun Sang.

“If I kick them out, others will try to use them. If that happens, our disciples, the people of Mount Hua, will suffer, not just us leaders.”

“Head Disciple.”

“So, I had to think hard. What is the best thing to do? How can I stop these young disciples from being hurt by the problems of the past?”

Hyun Jong sighed softly. His voice was heavy, like he carried a great weight. “Hyun Sang.”

“Yes, Head Disciple.”

“I don’t want these young disciples to suffer because of *my* feelings.”

Hyun Sang sighed quietly. Hearing Hyun Jong’s thoughts made his chest feel tight and heavy.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t anticipated this intention, but hearing it directly made his heart even more complicated.

Indeed.

When had Hyun Jong ever thought of himself? His actions were always geared towards the safety and well-being of Mount Hua and its disciples.

Hyun Sang was often frustrated, even angry, at Hyun Jong’s selflessness. But he always knew Hyun Jong was right in the end. So, he trusted him and followed his lead. He would do so again now, but… he still worried.

“Head Disciple, I understand why you’re doing this, but it’s starting to hurt the young disciples.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

Hyun Jong nodded slowly.

“I must act now. Luckily, I know what to do.”

His gaze turned to the distant sky.

“Bring my martial brother… No, wait. Bring him *here*,” Hyun Jong said, changing his mind quickly.

“Yes, Head Disciple.”

Hyun Sang nodded strongly and stood up.

In the Head Disciple’s room, two groups sat facing each other. The room was simple but grand, showing the importance of the Head Disciple. On one side were Hyun Jong and the old leaders of Mount Hua, the elders. On the other side were Hyun Dang and Hyun Beop. These two were also from the Hyun generation, but they had left Mount Hua long ago.

They had met like this before, a few days earlier, but today the air felt even more tense. You could almost touch the heavy silence.

Hyun Dang spoke first. His voice was too relaxed for the serious mood. “So, what do you want?”

Hyun Young, standing firmly beside Hyun Jong, snapped at him. “Be respectful!”

“Hmm?” Hyun Dang looked surprised, but not really.

“You are speaking to the Head Disciple of the great Mount Hua Sect. I let your disrespect go last time. But if you are rude again, you will learn how strict Mount Hua’s rules are.” Hyun Young’s eyes were cold.

Hyun Dang looked annoyed at Hyun Young, but he knew it was pointless to argue. He nodded easily. “I spoke wrong. Yes, Head Disciple, why did you call us here?” It wasn’t true respect, but it was polite enough.

Hyun Young still looked angry, but he stayed silent to let the Head Disciple speak.

Hyun Jong smiled a little. It was a calm, gentle smile that hid his true feelings.

“So, Martial Brother, you’ve been here a few days. What do you think of Mount Hua now?”

Hyun Dang stared at his face as if to discern Hyun Jong’s intentions.

But it was not easy to grasp his hidden meaning. In the past, Hyun Jong would have revealed everything in his expression and voice. But now, it was difficult to discern Hyun Jong’s inner thoughts.

“It was wonderful, Head Disciple.”

Hyun Dang nodded as if he was satisfied for now.

“Most of all, I’m happy to see Mount Hua so lively. It wasn’t like this in the old days. I can guess how hard you’ve worked, even though I wasn’t here to see it.”

Hyun Sang slightly frowned at the unexpected friendly words.

But, fortunately or unfortunately, Hyun Dang’s following words did not deviate much from Hyun Sang’s expectations.

“However…”

Hyun Dang brought up the main point in a tone filled with subtle anger.

“But… even though it’s lively, there are some problems. I’m disappointed that the rules between elders and young disciples aren’t clear. And you’re not following the teachings of the past leaders.”

“Is that so?”

Hyun Jong smiled gently. There was not the slightest hint of displeasure.

Hyun Dang’s eyebrows twitched at the nonchalant reaction.

“It seems that you have not understood my words, Head Disciple.”

“No. I understood it well enough.”

“…Understood?”

“Yes.”

Hyun Jong slowly nodded.

“And you’re reacting like that even though you understood?”

“Isn’t it natural?”

“…Head Disciple?”

His gaze towards Hyun Dang was strangely subdued.

“The Head Disciple of a sect must not completely ignore external opinions, but he must not be swayed by those words either. So, isn’t it unnecessary for me to fully accept your evaluation, Martial Brother?”

He said it with a smile.

But the undisguisable bone was exposed.

The current Head Disciple of Mount Hua is Hyun Jong no matter what anyone says, and Hyun Dang, who abandoned Mount Hua himself, is merely an outsider, so his evaluation is meaningless.

‘This bastard…’

Hyun Dang, who had realized the meaning, slightly distorted his ever-relaxed face.

But even after seeing that expression, Hyun Jong continued to speak with a nonchalant expression.

“Martial Brother.”

“…Speak. Head Disciple.”

“The reason why I have allowed you, Martial Brother, who abandoned the sect and discarded the enemies of Mount Hua, to reside in Mount Hua all this time is because I understood your heart, Martial Brother, who had no choice but to abandon the sect. Mount Hua at that time was such a difficult and challenging place.”

“Disciple Brother…”

“However.”

The moment Hyun Dang’s voice was about to become slightly wet, Hyun Jong cut him off firmly.

“I understand you, Martial Brother. I understand you well enough. But even in that difficult and challenging situation, there are those who held onto Mount Hua until the end and dedicated their youth to it. There are those who could have lived happily if they had run away, but foolishly and stupidly chose to live as disciples of Mount Hua.”

Before he knew it, Hyun Jong’s eyes had become extremely cold.

“As you said, Martial Brother, if you help, Mount Hua might become a little better than it is now. However, the moment that happens, Mount Hua will no longer be Mount Hua.”

Hyun Dang’s face trembled.

An unapproachable aura was emanating from Hyun Jong, who was speaking calmly with a resolute face.

‘When, when did this bastard become like this…?’

Hyun Jong stared at such Hyun Dang for a moment before finally speaking.

“Martial Brother. No, Ha Woo-ryang.”

“Y-you, you bastard!”

“That’s enough. Leave Mount Hua now. And…”

A chilling gaze that felt like cold air was piercing through Hyun Dang.

“Never try to cross the threshold of Mount Hua again. At that time, you will personally realize how strict the laws of Mount Hua are.”

Hyun Dang was suppressed by the momentum and could not find anything to say, and unknowingly closed his mouth.