Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 567

Papers were piled high on Hyun Jong’s desk, threatening to topple over as he sighed.

It was great that the disciples had achieved good results in the Northern Sea, but because of that, Hyun Jong’s workload had greatly increased.

“So, what’s left on the schedule?”

“Not much. There’s a meeting with the Tang Clan Leader, and you need to meet with the Eunha Merchant Guild Leader to confirm trade with the Northern Sea,” Un Am replied.

Hyun Jong sighed deeply.

“Anything else?”

“The leader of Hwayoung Gate wants to meet with you.”

“Hwayoung Gate again? What is it this time?”

“Now that their branch in Seo-an is stable, they want to discuss opening a new one.”

“Really? Is that so?”

“Yes. They think opening more branches is a bit late, so they want to open two more at once.”

“Really? They can do that themselves, why do they need to see me?”

“Well… Several sects besides Hwayoung Gate want to return as affiliated families of Mount Hua.”

Hyun Jong frowned slightly.

“Are you talking about the ones that left in the past?”

“No, not them. Some groups who used to be part of Mount Hua left long ago. Now, seeing how well Hwayoung Gate is doing, they want to become affiliated again and start their own branches. It seems they talked with the Hwayoung Gate Lord.”

“Haha. That happened.”

Hyun Jong slowly stroked his beard.

If managed well, more affiliated families are better. Each would help Mount Hua’s finances and power.

There shouldn’t be too many unmanageable sects that would harm Mount Hua’s good name, but isn’t it the main sect’s job to manage them?

“It’s a good thing.”

The need to increase affiliated families means that Hwayoung Gate in Seo-an is full of disciples, and the fact that people want to open affiliated families means Mount Hua’s reputation is good enough to accept disciples from outside.

Although every day was busy, Hyun Jong smiled.

“Mount Hua is benefiting so much from the disciples’ hard work.”

“It’s all thanks to your leadership.”

“How can that be my doing? If these things would happen because I’m good, they would have already happened.”

Hyun Jong smiled and picked up his teacup.

Mount Hua’s reputation grew daily, but Hyun Jong wasn’t elated. He knew this had little to do with his abilities.

Hyun Jong knew better than to take credit for the hard work of others. That kind of pride always led to trouble.

“Alright, is that all for the important matters?”

“…There’s one more thing.”

“Hmm?”

“Chung Myung is saying he needs to invade the Shaolin Abbot’s place…”

Unam trailed off. Hyun Jong squeezed his eyes shut.

“Let’s deal with that later.”

“He keeps pushing me…”

“Hold on a little longer.”

“Yes.”

Hyun Jong sighed.

‘I need to hold them responsible.’

The actual situation in the Northern Sea was different from what the Shaolin Abbot had said. Fortunately, the Mount Hua disciples handled it well; otherwise, they would have suffered a great disaster.

The sect couldn’t overlook this.

“Sect Leader.”

“Hmm?”

“If you’re burdened, I’ll try to persuade Chung Myung.”

Hyun Jong tilted his head at Unam’s cautious question.

“Burdened?”

“Isn’t it burdensome to hold Shaolin accountable for their mistakes?”

Hyun Jong raised his eyes slightly and laughed heartily.

“It’s not that.”

“Of course, Shaolin is a strong enemy. No matter how good Mount Hua has been lately, it’s still much smaller than Shaolin.”

“That’s right.”

“But I don’t want to bring those things into this. Mount Hua’s disciples went back and forth between life and death because of Shaolin’s misinformation. If we don’t make them answer for this, Mount Hua doesn’t deserve its name.”

His will, though calm, was firm.

“To be honest, I want to go to Shaolin right now and start a fight.”

“Then why are you hesitating?”

Hyun Jong paused and squeezed his eyes shut again as a puzzled look flashed across Unam’s face.

“If I went alone, it would be fine…”

“It’s obvious Chung Myung will follow me and try to cause chaos at Shaolin, but how can I handle that…”

“That’s how things are. If you do something wrong by ten, you have to give a punishment equal to ten to avoid problems. But isn’t Chung Myung the kind of guy who, if you do one thing wrong, will hit you a hundred times?”

“That’s right.”

“Then what will happen?”

Unam, who had imagined it, shook his head with a slightly pale face.

“That won’t do.”

“That’s right.”

Hyun Jong sighed heavily.

“If we’re not careful, we might end up having to apologize instead. So, let’s wait until Chung Myung calms down a bit.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Even as he answered, Un Am hesitated as if he had something to say. As Hyun Jong gestured for him to speak, he hesitated and opened his mouth.

“But…”

“What is it?”

“Will Chung Myung forget his anger?”

Hyun Jong couldn’t answer and simply tightened his grip on the teacup.

“Is there anything else?”

He moved on as if he hadn’t heard the question. Un Am understood the meaning of ‘experience’.

“There are no major issues other than that.”

“The Green Forest King is here in the sect. Are the disciples worried?”

“Knowing Chung Myung is involved, everyone has stopped caring. It seems even if a talking tiger sat down instead of the Green Forest King, no one would be surprised now.”

“That’s… fortunate.”

Actually, I don’t know if it’s fortunate or unfortunate, but I have to say it’s fortunate for now.

“Alright, make sure you take care of the disciples so they don’t get worried.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong stroked his beard and nodded slowly.

‘It’s getting busier.’

His body was tired, and many things made his head hurt. But he didn’t dislike this. This was evidence that Mount Hua was becoming a stronger sect.

“Unam.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“I’ll tell Hyun Young, so you should start managing the work of the Jae Kyung Pavilion.”

“If you mean manage…”

“I want you to make the important decisions for the Jae Kyung Pavilion.”

“Sect Leader!”

Unam was surprised. His face became serious right away.

“But isn’t that the Senior Master’s job? How could I possibly…” He wasn’t complaining about having to postpone work.

Controlling the sect’s money was one of the Senior Master’s most important jobs. Now, Hyun Jong was giving that job to Unam.

“You need to start getting ready,” Hyun Jong said. “I can’t stay in this job forever, can I?”

“What are you saying! Of course, you must stay for many more years.”

“That’s greedy,” Hyun Jong replied.

Hyun Jong simply smiled, watching Unam’s strong reaction.

“Thanks to the elixir Chung Myung gave me, I feel a bit better. But as people get older, they lose their sharpness. Someday, I might embarrass Mount Hua, so I need to prepare before that happens.”

“Senior Master…”

Unam carefully looked at Hyun Jong before speaking.

“I am not the right person for this job.”

“Hmm?”

“If you want me to manage the Treasury, I will. You should focus on more important things. But if this is to prepare me to take over your position, I have to refuse.”

“Why is that?”

Hyun Jong looked confused. He didn’t think Un Am would accept so easily, and he definitely didn’t expect him to refuse so strongly.

Unam answered politely but firmly.

“Senior Master, I am not good enough to be the leader of Mount Hua. I would just be a puppet. If someone like me were in that position, Mount Hua wouldn’t be able to move forward.”

“This rascal…” A hint of anger flashed across Hyun Jong’s face.

“What nonsense are you saying? That you are not good enough!”

“Senior Master,” Un Am sighed and continued firmly.

“If Mount Hua was like it used to be, I would gladly become its leader and give my life to it. No one in Mount Hua is better than me at comforting disciples, taking care of the sect, and being patient.”

“That’s right!”

“But Mount Hua doesn’t need patience now.”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly.

“Why wouldn’t I want the job? But I can’t let my desire ruin Mount Hua.”

“Are you saying I should give the position to Un-geom, then?”

“No. He is also not qualified to be the Senior Master. Being good at martial arts is important, but that’s not all it takes to be a leader.”

“Then?”

Unam spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“Skip the Un generation and give the position to Baek Cheon.”

“Good heavens!” Hyun Jong finally shouted, his face red with anger.

“What are you saying! No matter how well those children lead Mount Hua, you, the Un generation, have protected it for decades. How can I skip you and give the leadership to the Baek generation! There’s no rule like that!”

“If something is missing, you can add it! You will be able to do it.”

“Senior Master,” Un Am said.

But Un Am didn’t back down easily and smiled sadly.

“You have lived your whole life for Mount Hua.”

“I want to do the same. If you were me, what would you do?”

“You rascal,” Hyun Jong said, looking at Un Am with deep sadness.

He was probably the only one in Mount Hua who understood Unam’s feelings.

“So, please think about it. Everything is for the good of the sect.”

“The Baek generation is too young.”

“If you stay in that position for another twenty years, it won’t be a problem.”

“So, you’re okay with staying in your current position for those twenty years? And you’d be fine with retiring to the back room after that?”

“Back room, you say?” Un Am grinned.

“I plan to become the biggest nag in Mount Hua. Baek Cheon might act without thinking sometimes, but as long as I am here, he won’t be able to act carelessly.”

“Ugh.”

“Baek Cheon is the best at moving forward, and Yoon Jong is the best at keeping things steady. If Baek Cheon grows Mount Hua, and then Yoon Jong takes care of the grown Mount Hua, then Mount Hua can finally become the place you dreamed of.”

Unam had already thought that far ahead. Hyun Jong sighed deeply.

“Let’s stop this discussion for now. It’s too far in the future to talk about now.”

“Yes,” Un Am replied.

Unam didn’t push Hyun Jong. But now that the subject was brought up, things would eventually work themselves out.

Sadness filled Hyun Jong’s eyes as he looked at Unam.

How could Un Am not want the position?

This wasn’t the Mount Hua of the past. When Hyun Jong took over, no one wanted the job, but now Mount Hua was known by all the sects in the world and could become richer than any other.

The position of Senior Master in such a sect would be tempting to anyone.

Yet, Un Am was refusing the position for the sake of Mount Hua.

He was admirable, and Hyun Jong felt very sorry for him.

“But…”

“Yes?”

“That’s not related to this.”

“Yes, Senior Master.”

“You said Baek Cheon is the one who grows, and Yoon Jong is the one who keeps things steady?”

“Yes. So, when the time is right, Baek Cheon should pass the position of Senior Master to Yoon Jong.”

“No. That’s not the problem.”

“Yes?” Un Am asked, tilting his head, not understanding.

Hyun Jong hesitated, as if he couldn’t say what he wanted to.

“Then… what if that… what if that Chung Myung rascal wants to become the Senior Master…”

“We must stop him!” Before he could finish, Unam’s voice rang out, chillingly. His voice was colder than ever before.

He was so determined that he seemed ready for war.

“Even if we have to use all of Mount Hua’s resources, lead all the disciples, and throw that rascal into the deepest dungeon, we must stop him at all costs!”

“If Baek Cheon is the one who grows, and Yoon Jong is the one who keeps things steady, then Chung Myung is the one who ruins everything! Mount Hua will be a disaster.”

“But hasn’t he been doing well so far?”

“That’s because you are here, Senior Master, and I am here, and because our martial uncle and senior brothers are here. Even a young horse behaves well when you hold the ropes tightly. But when you let go, its real personality comes out.”

“I never want to see that rascal’s true nature!”

“Ah, I understand,” Hyun Jong said.

Hyun Jong had always trusted Unam’s judgment of people. For him to say such things…

‘I told you, you should have lived a little more like a human being. Chung Myung, you rascal…’

Hyun Jong shook his head, clicking his tongue as he thought of Chung Myung.

Just then…

“Hmm?” Hyun Jong and Un Am both looked towards the door.

There was a commotion outside.

“What’s going on?” Sensing something strange, the two men jumped up.