Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 346

Hyeondang. Ha Wooryang.

He was once known as Mount Hua’s greatest talent, the one everyone believed would bring the sect back to its former glory. Everyone had high hopes for him.

Back then, Hyun Jong never doubted that Hyeondang would become the next leader. To the young Hyun Jong, Hyeondang was an idol, someone to look up to.

But Hyeondang betrayed everyone’s expectations and left Mount Hua on his own.

And he did so right before he was supposed to become the new sect leader.

‘Shameless man,’ Hyun Young thought.

Hyun Young’s teeth clenched. *Traitor.* The word tasted bitter in his mouth.

It wasn’t just that Hyeondang had left Mount Hua. Hyun Young understood why some people left. Times were terrible back then. He felt angry at those who had gone, yes, but deep down, he got it. They were trying to survive.

But Hyeondang… Hyeondang was different. This was a betrayal that cut deeper.

He left Mount Hua with his fellow disciple, Hyeonbeop, without a word, right before he was to be named the new sect leader.

Imagine if all the Un disciples had died, and Baek Cheon was about to become the leader. Then, Baek Cheon took Baek Sang and his followers and left Mount Hua.

Of course, the current Mount Hua had Yiseol, Yoon Jong, and, above all, Chung Myung. So, even if Baek Cheon left, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But back then, Mount Hua had none of them.

All the sect’s hopes were pinned on Hyeondang.

This event was a huge shock to Mount Hua, which was barely holding on as a sect.

The previous sect leader had died after a long illness, and the person who was supposed to be the next leader had abandoned his position and left the sect.

What could be a clearer sign of decline than this?

Because of this, many people thought Mount Hua had no future. They started to leave.

Sects that used to talk with Mount Hua also cut ties.

In other words, Hyeondang delivered the final blow to Mount Hua’s decline.

Hyun Young still ground his teeth whenever he thought about that time.

Hyun Jong, who had never dreamed of becoming the sect leader, took the position without any preparation, simply because he was the most senior member left in Mount Hua.

Hyun Young remembered the position of sect leader.

As soon as Hyun Jong took that heavy and painful role, many disciples left Mount Hua, and he could only watch.

That small and sorrowful back.

To Hyun Young, who knew what Hyun Jong had gone through since then, Hyeondang was even more hateful than Jongnam.

He bit his lip tightly.

He could see Hyeondang, looking visibly flustered, and Hyun Jong, standing tall, his eyes like cold stones. A quiet power seemed to flow from him, making the air around him still.

Look.

He was there.

The one who had survived those harsh storms and painful years, like an old pine tree rooted in a cliff.

Hyun Young’s proud senior brother, and the dignified sect leader of Mount Hua.

‘Sect Leader.’

Hyun Young struggled to hold back the sudden stinging in his eyes.

Hyun Jong, who in the past couldn’t even compare to Hyeondang, now seemed twice as great. Having overcome that long period of suffering, he was no longer the Hyun Jong of the past.

Hyeonbeop coughed, a dry, nervous sound that tried to break the heavy silence.

“Sect Leader… I think… maybe you’re being a bit too harsh?”

“…Excessive?”

Hyun Jong’s stern gaze turned to Hyeonbeop.

“What is excessive, you say?”

“…”

“Is there anything I said that is wrong?”

“It’s not that, but…”

Having stepped forward, Hyeonbeop trailed off, as if he had nothing to say.

In fact, if they argued logically, they couldn’t say anything against Hyun Jong. The only reason they dared to come to Mount Hua was because they remembered Hyun Jong as weak.

‘When did this guy become so strong?’

Hyeonbeop was surprised.

He had told Hyeondang that people don’t change easily. But the Hyun Jong in front of him seemed like a completely different person.

Wasn’t he showing enough dignity to lead a sect?

He had always believed that a person’s core nature wouldn’t change, no matter what they went through. But seeing Hyun Jong now, he felt like something he had always believed in was collapsing.

So, he couldn’t help but be flustered.

“Hmm.”

But while he stalled for time, Hyeondang calmed down and raised his head, looking a bit more relaxed.

“Sect Leader.”

“Speak.”

“How could I not understand your feelings? Of course, you must hate me.”

“…”

“But isn’t giving me a chance not such a difficult thing? I truly only want to atone to Mount Hua. If you give me a chance, I want to help restore Mount Hua to a sect worthy of its name. I would do anything, even if it meant my bones were crushed. Isn’t that why I brought my entire family to Mount Hua?”

Hyun Jong smiled faintly at Hyeondang’s earnest words.

“I don’t doubt your words, senior brother.”

“…Then why?”

“It’s just that Mount Hua no longer needs your help.”

“…”

“You said you would help Mount Hua?”

Hyun Jong stared at Hyeondang with cold eyes.

“Then leave Mount Hua right now. That is the only way you can help Mount Hua.”

“This…!”

Hyeonbeop flared up, his eyes wide.

“Isn’t this too much! Do you think only you have suffered? Don’t you know that we who left Mount Hua haven’t had an easy day since then?”

“So?”

“…What?”

Hyun Jong’s eyes were now as cold as ice.

“So, should I feel sorry for you for having such a hard time?”

“…You, you…”

Hyeonbeop’s face twitched with anger, but he couldn’t say anything in front of Hyun Jong’s gaze. He was usually a smooth talker, but now his tongue felt heavy and stuck.

Instead, Hyeondang spoke.

“Hyun Jong-ah.”

“How dare you!”

Hyun Sang, who was beside him, tried to shout, but Hyun Jong raised his hand to stop him.

“Sect Leader!”

“It’s alright.”

Hyun Jong slowly shook his head and looked silently at Hyeondang.

“Speak.”

Hyeondang let out a deep sigh. What would Hyun Jong say next? The air crackled with tension.

“I know I’ve sinned against Mount Hua,” Hyeondang said. “But can’t you give me a chance to make up for it?”

Hyun Jong remained silent.

“Do you remember how I valued you in the past? Think of our connection…”

“Stop your pointless words,” Hyun Jong said, his voice cutting through the air.

“What?”

“The man sitting before you isn’t just Hyun Jong, your former student. I am Hyun Jong, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. I won’t let personal feelings cloud my judgment when it comes to important matters.”

Hyeondang was silent.

“I won’t drag this out. Leave now and never step foot inside Mount Hua again.”

His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Hyeondang shuddered, almost without noticing it.

He wasn’t impressed by Hyun Jong’s growth. He felt deeply ashamed that someone he used to look down on was now ordering him away.

“This…”

Hyeondang bit his lip, his eyes, which had been trembling with anger, suddenly turned cold.

“Sect Leader… No, Hyun Jong.”

“That bastard keeps–!” Hyun Young burst out, but Hyeondang didn’t give him a chance to finish.

“I understand what you’re saying. You’re telling me you can’t understand me.”

The gentle attitude he had shown before was gone, replaced by a cold smile and an arrogant look.

Watching him, Hyun Jong smiled faintly. ‘Nothing has changed,’ he thought.

Hyeondang had always been like this: arrogant and rude.

But in the past, Mount Hua needed someone like that. When people were losing hope, they needed someone with confidence to lead them.

Hadn’t Hyun Jong once been drawn to that side of Hyeondang?

But things were different now.

Confidence and arrogance seemed similar, but they weren’t the same.

If Hyeondang had become the Sect Leader, Mount Hua would have disappeared from history, even before Chung Myung joined.

“So, you’re telling me to leave,” Hyeondang said quietly, a bitter smile on his face.

“Good. That’s clear enough. But before that, let me ask you something.”

He glared at Hyun Jong with cold eyes. “Do you even have the right to do this?”

Hyun Jong stared silently at Hyeondang, who twisted his lips into a wider smile.

“I’ll ask again. Do you have the right to order me to leave?”

“Why do you think I don’t?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?” Hyeondang reached out, grabbed the water glass, and drank it all in one gulp. He set the glass down with a slow, deliberate movement.

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young watched him, uneasy at his calm manner.

After a moment, Hyeondang looked at Hyun Jong with mocking eyes. “If you were the real Sect Leader of Mount Hua, you could kick me out.”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young jumped up, glaring at Hyeondang with anger.

But Hyeondang didn’t flinch. He kept talking, his face relaxed. “But let me ask…” A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

“Are you really the Sect Leader of Mount Hua?”

“This bastard, I’ve been patient enough!”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

It was strange.

Hyun Young and Hyun Sang were red-faced and furious, but they were only shouting, unable to hide their confusion.

And Hyun Jong, even after hearing such insulting words, simply stared at Hyeondang calmly.

“What do you want to say?”

“It’s simple,” Hyeondang said, smiling as if he had won. “You are not the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.”

Hyun Jong’s expression didn’t change, but Hyeondang leaned back, enjoying the reaction.

He spoke slowly. “Who decides who becomes the Sect Leader? The previous leader and the elders. Only the previous leader can choose the next one.”

Hyeondang’s voice grew louder. “The previous Sect Leader of Mount Hua chose me, not you, Hyun Jong. I am the true Sect Leader, the one who should be leading Mount Hua.”

Hyun Young’s face turned red as he shouted, “That’s nonsense!”

“Nonsense?” Hyeondang remained calm despite Hyun Young’s anger. He glanced at Hyun Jong. “Do you think so too?”

Hyeondang shrugged, taking the silence as agreement. “You don’t understand. You really don’t understand anything. Leading a famous clan isn’t easy. Only someone with the right qualities can be the Sect Leader.”

“How dare someone who was kicked out even talk about the qualities of a Sect Leader!”

“Who kicked me out?” Hyun Young stopped talking.

Hyeondang looked at him and spoke in a confident voice. “No one has the power to kick me out! Who would dare? You? What right do you have, you were just my students!”

He looked pleased, as if he had already won.

“Answer me, Hyun Jong. Who is the Sect Leader of Mount Hua? Who did your master choose? If you follow the rules of Mount Hua, there’s only one answer.”

Hyun Jong stared at him, his eyes dark.

After a long silence, Hyun Jong finally spoke. “The Sect Leader of Mount Hua is…”