Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 458

“Then, I shall see you next time.”

Beopjeong bowed. He seemed to be the leader of his group.

Even though he had come all the way to distant Shaanxi, Beopjeong only stayed for a day. He was getting ready to leave as soon as dawn broke.

Hyun Jong tried to change his mind, but Beopjeong insisted. After all, the Abbot of Shaolin was one of the busiest people in the world.

Beopjeong was very busy as the Abbot of Shaolin. But he still came all the way to Shaanxi. This showed how important the Northern Sea issue was to Shaolin.

“I wish you wouldn’t leave so quickly,” Hyun Jong said.

“⋯⋯”

Beopjeong looked closely at Hyun Jong’s face.

It was too kind. *Too* sweet.

*If you’re going to say that, at least look a little sad,* Beopjeong thought, annoyed. Hyun Jong was trying to look regretful, but it didn’t look real.

Then, Beopjeong saw it. He groaned inwardly.

Under Hyun Jong’s robe, at his waist, hung a sword. A very familiar sword.

The Violet Cloud Divine Sword.

The Violet Cloud Divine Sword was a treasure of Mount Hua. It had been brought for negotiations, but somehow it had moved from Beopjeong’s hands to Hyun Jong’s waist.

‘They may not lower the price, but they’ll take the goods anyway. These devils!’ Beopjeong thought.

Beopjeong squeezed his teeth together tightly.

Beopjeong knew that Mount Hua was being stubborn. So, he had no choice but to hand over the sword. Beopjeong was the Abbot of Shaolin and always in charge. He was not used to someone else controlling the situation, like Mount Hua was doing now.

‘How much trouble did I go through to get that?’ Beopjeong wondered.

How much money was spent? How much effort was put in?

And he was going to lose it so easily….

Hyun Jong saw Beopjeong staring at the Violet Cloud Divine Sword. He cleared his throat quietly and gently touched the sword.

“I will gratefully accept the gift.”

“⋯⋯Gift?”

To practically steal something brought for negotiation and call it a gift?

‘Whether it’s the disciples or the Sect Leader….’ Beopjeong thought.

They’re all like swindlers!

Beopjeong’s face turned red with anger. He repeatedly chanted Buddha’s name to calm down.

He couldn’t show his anger with so many people watching. No matter what he felt inside, he had to look like he had persuaded Mount Hua.

“⋯⋯I’m glad you like it.”

“I will never forget that you found and returned Mount Hua’s sacred artifact.”

It was Hyun Jong, not Mount Hua, who would not forget.

Hyun Jong was showing his personal thanks. But he was also hinting that Mount Hua didn’t owe anyone a favor because of this.

At that tricky comment, a vein popped out on Beopjeong’s forehead.

‘Even if he is the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, he shouldn’t be this cunning,’ Beopjeong thought. ‘His experience in the martial world should be limited.’

Unfortunately, Beopjeong did not know what kind of person Hyun Jong was.

Having been bothered by debtors his whole life, he was a master at not being caught off guard.

“Amitabha. Amitabha.”

Beopjeong had been chanting Buddha’s name. He opened his slightly twitching lips and said,

“Just know that Shaolin’s heart is always thinking of Mount Hua.”

“I will remember it, Abbot.”

Beopjeong had somehow managed to end the conversation well. He sighed in relief and turned his head to look to one side. He couldn’t stand the gaze of someone who had been staring at him so hard that his cheek was prickling.

“⋯⋯”

“⋯⋯”

Hye-yeon was among the Mount Hua disciples saying goodbye. She looked very sad and lost, staring at him.

‘I’m sorry,’ Beopjeong thought.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

“Ab, Abbot⋯⋯.”

Hye-yeon called out as if she had something to say. But Beopjeong could only turn his head and look away.

‘This is all for the sake of the world,’ he told himself.

Moreover, Hye-yeon was talented. One day she would lead Shaolin. She had to be able to handle this kind of sacrifice.

Of course, seeing Hye-yeon’s big eyes, shining like a lost puppy, made his heart ache. But what could he do?

He could only endure it.

“Hoo.”

Beopjeong sighed softly and turned his gaze back to Hyun Jong.

“Then, I will really be going now.”

“Take care!”

But the answer didn’t come from Hyun Jong. It came from Chung Myung, who was next to him.

Chung Myung was smiling widely. Seeing this made Beopjeong’s blood boil.

“Hwasan Divine Dragon.”

“Yes.”

“⋯⋯I’ll say it again, this matter is truly important.”

“I know. It’s an important matter, so you gave us so much, didn’t you? I have a conscience too. If I’ve received that much, I have to do the job properly.”

“⋯⋯”

Chung Myung puffed out his chest and smiled. His answer stabbed at Beopjeong’s heart.

‘It is futile,’ Beopjeong thought.

He had worked so hard on his cultivation. But his inner peace was being shaken by a few words.

“⋯⋯I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, don’t worry. Ah, instead…”

Then, Chung Myung spoke, looking down slightly.

“We’ll be counting on you to take good care of the matters concerning the League.”

“⋯⋯Don’t worry.”

Beopjeong nodded silently.

“Then, farewell.”

He bowed towards Hyun Jong, who returned a deep bow.

“Take care, Abbot.”

“May you be well, Sect Leader.”

Beopjeong glanced briefly at Hye-yeon before turning. The elders followed him, leaving through the gates of Mount Hua together.

Baek Cheon sighed quietly.

‘He really is the Abbot of Shaolin,’ he thought.

He hadn’t really done anything, but Baek Cheon felt pressure. Only after Beopjeong had completely disappeared did it become easier to breathe.

Baek Cheon wasn’t sure if this pressure came from Beopjeong himself, or just from the fact that he was the Abbot of Shaolin.

‘There’s no real point in figuring it out,’ he decided.

At that moment, Yoon Jong, who was standing next to him, whispered softly.

“I feel a bit strange.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Don’t you think it’s weird? The Abbot of Shaolin bothered to visit Mount Hua, and the Sect Leader naturally saw off such an Abbot of Shaolin.”

“⋯⋯”

“It’s all so new.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

In fact, these things didn’t really feel that special anymore. But that was why it was surprising.

It meant that Mount Hua had become a sect that could confidently stand up to Shaolin.

And whatever the reason, the fact that the Abbot of Shaolin had bothered to visit Mount Hua meant a lot.

“⋯⋯We need to work harder.”

“That’s right.”

“But… why is that person acting like that?”

At Jo Gul’s words, Baek Cheon subtly turned his gaze.

He saw Hye-yeon, looking blankly at the mountain gate. She looked like a loyal subject who had lost his country.

“⋯⋯He must have committed many sins in his past life.”

Amitabha.

Amitabha.

Beopyo had followed Beopjeong as he left the mountain gate and went down Mount Hua. He cautiously brought up a topic.

“Abbot.”

Beopjeong glanced at him instead of answering.

“The word ‘League’ from earlier⋯⋯.”

“Hmm.”

At Beopyo’s question, Beopjeong hummed softly and shook his head.

“It’s nothing for you to concern yourselves with.”

“But, Abbot…”

Beopjeong stopped speaking and walked faster.

Then, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Mount Hua.

‘The Mount Hua Sect…’

They are rebels at heart. At least, that’s how Shaolin saw them. Shaolin saw them as difficult, yes, but sometimes, only a rebel can solve a problem that others can’t. Too thorny to embrace, too irritating to ignore, but perhaps, just right for this.

‘Simply suppressing them won’t do.’

He was proud of his ability to understand people. As long as that Divine Dragon of Mount Hua was there, Mount Hua would never come under Shaolin’s control.

And Beopjeong didn’t want that either.

Wasn’t it obvious what would happen if they tried to force a rebellious spirit to submit?

If they could help each other without needing to be superior and subordinate, wouldn’t that be ideal?

“Abbot.”

However, Beopyo still seemed unhappy with the situation.

“I still don’t understand your decision, Abbot. Was it really necessary to entrust this task to Mount Hua? Especially to the point of requesting their help… Aren’t there many other great sects?”

Beopjeong turned to Beopyo, his gaze darkening slightly. He sighed softly before speaking, a rare sign of impatience from the usually calm Abbot.

Beopyo flinched and lowered his head slightly.

“Did you ask what makes Mount Hua so great?”

“……”

“If you don’t know *that*, then… well, there’s nothing more to say.”

“……Forgive me.”

Beopjeong, with a rare sharp look, said,

“There is a right person for every job in this world. This is something that Shaolin will have difficulty resolving, no matter how hard we try.”

Then, he slowly shook his head.

“If you are greedy for small things, you are bound to miss the big picture. It may seem bad now, but in the end, all of this will be for the sake of the world and Shaolin.”

However, Beopyo still didn’t seem to understand.

“Can they really resolve the situation in the Northern Sea with just their strength? I do not doubt the Abbot’s profound intentions, but I simply do not have faith in them.”

“If they fail to resolve it, that is also good.”

“……Pardon?”

Beopjeong wore a subtle expression as he resumed walking.

“If they resolve it, it will be good for the world, and if they fail to resolve it, that too will be good for the world.”

“……”

Beopyo tilted his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. *This makes no sense,* he thought, utterly bewildered by Beopjeong’s words. But that was the end of Beopjeong’s explanation.

“That is all that matters.”

He simply chanted a low Buddhist prayer.

But then, Beopyo poked at a point that Beopjeong hadn’t considered.

“By the way, Abbot, what happens to the money we invested if they fail?”

“……”

“Did you arrange to get the money back in case of failure? Or are we just throwing money away?”

“……”

Beopjeong stopped abruptly and looked back at Mount Hua with slightly trembling eyes. His face seemed strangely pale.

“……They will succeed, won’t they?”

“Yes?”

“Hye-yeon is there… and that Divine Dragon of Mount Hua, surely they will manage somehow?”

“……”

Beopyo lost faith in Beopjeong for the first time since entering Shaolin. While serious matters were discussed in Shaolin, the mood in Mount Hua was much lighter.

Scritch. Scritch.

A serene light, like the soft glow of dawn, flowed from Hyun Jong’s face. The quiet room was filled only with the gentle *scritch, scritch* of the sword being drawn.

“I-Is that the Violet Cloud Divine Sword?”

“Oh… Mount Hua’s sacred treasure!”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young stared at the Violet Cloud Divine Sword resting on Hyun Jong’s lap with faces overflowing with excitement.

The Violet Cloud Divine Sword would be meaningful to anyone in Mount Hua, but the elders felt it even more profoundly.

It was as if the spirit of Mount Hua, which had been severed at the Great Mountain Bloodshed, had finally returned.

Hyun Sang, gazing at the Violet Cloud Divine Sword with tearful eyes, subtly urged Hyun Jong.

“P-Please, draw it, Sect Leader.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong chuckled softly and quietly drew the Violet Cloud Divine Sword.

A dazzling, *violet* radiance flowed from the sword’s blade, catching the light of the morning sun streaming through the window. The metal itself looked ancient, yet the blade shone as if newly forged.

“Oh! Oh… Hmm…”

Hyun Sang’s face, which had been uttering exclamations, slowly and gradually regained its composure.

Hyun Young also looked down at the sword with a slightly awkward expression.

Hyun Jong, noticing their unexpected reactions, asked,

“……Why do you both look like that?”

“……I thought it would be much more moving.”

“Indeed.”

Hyun Sang glanced at the Violet Cloud Divine Sword with a lukewarm gaze before subtly turning his attention towards Chung Myung’s Plum Blossom Sword.

“Hmm,” Hyun Sang said, tilting his head. “Maybe it’s because we’ve seen *Chung Myung’s* sword, but… it’s just not *that* impressive, is it?”

Hyun Young nodded, peering closely. “And does it look a bit… cheap? Like something you’d find at a market stall?”

Hyun Jong’s face flushed red.

“Y-You scoundrels! This sword carries the spirit and history of Mount Hua! It is Mount Hua’s sacred treasure! Mount Hua’s…”

“Ah, yes.”

“Yes, yes. We understand, Sect Leader. Please calm down.”

“……”

Hyun Jong suppressed his anger with a face that alternated between red and blue.

These cursed wretches!

“Anyway, the Northern Sea…”

“……Is the Violet Cloud Divine Sword story over? Are we moving on already?”

“Why are you making such a fuss over finding one sword? It doesn’t even look that good.”

“……Keeeuh.”

Hyun Young ignored Hyun Jong’s groans. He stroked his beard and thought.

“I’ve been thinking that we should go to the Northern Sea ever since the story about it came up…”

At those words, the disciples of Mount Hua nodded in unison.

Everyone had been thinking that they would have to go to the Northern Sea someday. The situation had been flowing that way anyway.

But…

“Why at this time of year?”

“Why this time?”

“Isn’t it getting chilly? By the time we depart and arrive there, it will be the dead of winter. Why go to the Northern Sea, where your body freezes even in summer, at a time like this…”

Hyun Young clicked his tongue at Hyun Sang’s words.

“It seems like there are quite a few things to prepare.”

Hyun Jong, who had been pondering Hyun Young’s words for a moment, spoke.

“Chung Myung.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think? It is true that the Abbot of Shaolin requested us to resolve this matter, but he did not set a definite deadline. Wouldn’t it be better to spend the winter and depart then?”

“I’d like to, but…”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“The situation is what it is. If we dawdle, saying we’ll go when it’s warmer, the situation in the Northern Sea might worsen and become more dangerous.”

“Hmm, yes. That’s not wrong either.”

“It’s best to strike while the iron is hot, so I think we should depart right away.”

Baek Cheon, who had been listening to Chung Myung’s words, muttered with a sigh.

“……There are no horns left on the cows around Mount Hua anymore.”

Yoon Jong nodded fervently.

“Chung Myung has pulled them all out. What more is he going to pull out now?”

At that moment, Hyun Jong nodded slightly.

“If that is your will, then so be it.”

Then, he said to Hyun Young,

“Prepare thoroughly so that there are no problems with the disciples’ journey to the Northern Sea.”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

Thus, Mount Hua’s journey to the Northern Sea was completely decided.