Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 611

Wuhan, a city in China’s Hubei Province, stood proudly on the banks of the Yangtze River.

If you wanted to see the most impressive thing in Wuhan, it would be the Yangtze River. It flows right through the city.

The Yangtze River, a very important and long river in China, flowed powerfully through Wuhan. The flat, wide plains stretched out around the river, like a giant green carpet. Wuhan was built upon this vital waterway.

On the banks of the Yangtze, a group of martial artists were busy building something. People watching whispered to each other.

A man pointed. “What are they building?”

A woman squinted. “I don’t know them. What are they doing so close to the river?”

Suddenly, a young man gasped. “Wait! Look at their robes… Isn’t that the symbol of the Wudang Sect?”

“Wudang?” An older man frowned, then his eyes widened. “You’re right! It *is* Wudang!” He leaned closer, peering at the figures by the muddy riverbank.

“It really is them!” the first man exclaimed. “But… what are the Wudang Sect doing *here*?” He scratched his head, confused.

Those dressed in flowing Wudang robes were preparing the ground on the riverbank. They brought sturdy bluestones and laid them carefully. Then, they drew their swords and began to smoothly cut away the rough surfaces.

“Good heavens! They’re cutting those rocks like tofu!” someone exclaimed.

“Why are you so surprised?” another replied. “They’re Taoists from the Wudang Sect! They can cross mountains in a single stride and rivers with ease; this is nothing for them.”

“No, but what are they building right now?”

“It looks like some kind of stage?”

It was truly a wondrous sight. Rocks the size of houses were moved with ease, and then cut neatly to cover the floor like bricks. As they repeated this, a rather high stage was soon created.

“Elder, we’re almost finished.”

“Hmm,” Heo Sanja, watching the martial arts stage, nodded quietly.

“But… why are we doing this…?”

“You ask the obvious,” Heo Sanja replied in a calm but firm voice.

“Wuhan is Wudang’s territory. Would a host make their guest work? Just as a guest should watch, a host should take care of things.”

“Ah…”

Heo Sanja’s eyes gleamed slightly. “Do not fight over small things. If you want small things too much, you won’t see the big picture. If you worry about small problems and try to avoid losses, you’ll miss the grand scheme. As a disciple of Wudang, if you want to see the world, you must have a broad perspective.”

“I will remember that, Elder,” Mu-jin answered solemnly, bowing deeply.

Mu-jin had once been defeated by Cheong-myeong.

Bearing the name of Wudang Three Swords and aiming to be Wudang’s First Sword, it was a great shock to him. He had never thought of a Mount Hua disciple as his rival, and then he was beaten by someone younger.

But that defeat didn’t stop Mu-jin. He had never known fear, but now he knew his weaknesses and learned to be humble.

Like trampled barley that grows straighter, and a pine tree in a rough field that grows stronger roots, that defeat made Mu-jin stronger and pushed him higher.

“How is it?”

“Yes?”

“What do you think about seeing the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua again?”

Mu-jin thought for a moment. “I don’t know. It seems like nothing has changed, but so much has changed. I didn’t know him well to begin with.”

“That’s not what I’m asking. I want to know how you feel.”

“…I was glad.”

“Hmm?”

A faint smile touched Mu-jin’s lips. “When we first met, he wasn’t well-known. He made a name for himself in the competition with Jongnam, but people still doubted him.”

“That’s right.”

Heo Sanja remembered it clearly. He hadn’t paid much attention to the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua either. He thought Cheong-myeong would shine for a moment and then disappear.

But after meeting him, Heo Sanja changed his mind completely. That’s why he tried so hard to bring him to Wudang, even offering special conditions that Wudang had never offered before.

But Cheong-myeong stayed in Mount Hua, and now Mount Hua was threatening Wudang.

‘Maybe it’s not all because of the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua…’

But if Cheong-myeong didn’t exist, Mount Hua wouldn’t be where it is now.

“Since then, he’s been winning and making a name for himself,” Mu-jin continued. “Now, people call him the best of the younger generation and the greatest talent in a hundred years.”

“That’s right.”

Mu-jin said confidently, “So, it will mean more to beat him now.”

“…”

“I’m grateful, actually. Because he didn’t get lazy, I kept him in my mind and trained hard. It’s a little embarrassing to focus on someone younger, but…”

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Heo Sanja said firmly.

“In the Jianghu, age and background don’t matter. What matters is who is more upright and who is stronger.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Heo Sanja reached out and patted Mu-jin’s shoulder. Talented people who have been praised since childhood often fall after one defeat. It’s because they learn ‘fear,’ which they never knew when they were winning.

Heo Sanja was proud of Mu-jin, who had stayed strong like a giant tree in the wind, even after a rare defeat.

‘I should thank the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua for this.’

Thanks to him, Wudang had a strong person who could lead them in the future.

“How is Jin Hyun?”

“He’s probably the same as me.”

“I see. That’s good.”

Heo Sanja nodded and lowered his voice. “But I’m sorry. You should have a chance to get revenge, but the situation isn’t right.”

“Don’t worry. The sect is important, not me.”

Mu-jin knew he wouldn’t be fighting Cheong-myeong in this competition.

“But… Elder.”

“Hmm?”

“Is Elder Heo Gong really going to join the competition?”

“He is.”

“Someone who doesn’t care about worldly things…”

Heo Sanja chuckled. “What Elder cares about worldly things? I’m the strange one.”

“That’s true.”

“He’s difficult, but the Sect Leader told him directly, so he can’t refuse. And he just needs to come here.”

Mu-jin looked questioningly, and Heo Sanja smiled. “He’s competitive and won’t be able to resist drawing his sword. He’s very interested in the Plum Blossom Sword Technique of Mount Hua, which was once said to be as good as Wudang’s.”

“Ah.”

That made sense. Heo Gong, known as the greatest martial ghost of Wudang, would be interested in the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

Heo Gong wasn’t the First Sword of Wudang, but he could be one day. If he wasn’t the youngest Elder and was the same age as the others, he might already be known as the First Sword of Wudang.

“The important thing is this,” Heo Sanja said firmly.

“It’s not something to be proud of if Heo Gong beats the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua. It’s shameful that a Wudang Elder has to fight the Divine Dragon of Mount Hua.”

“…”

“No matter how much he wins, people will still point fingers.”

Mu-jin nodded, understanding. A Third Generation Disciple of Mount Hua against an Elder of Wudang.

Everyone knew a sword fight was strange. Even if Chung Myung lost without even touching his sword, his fame wouldn’t suffer. In fact, some thought his fame might even grow because he was facing a respected Wudang master.

“So, you must do it.”

Heo Sanja looked at Mu-jin with determined eyes.

“I know you might be concerned about facing the second-generation disciples of Mount Hua as a first-generation disciple. However, this contest isn’t to show we are better than Mount Hua. That’s obvious. We need the world to know that Mount Hua’s fame is too high right now.”

“Yes.”

“You must show everyone that no one in Mount Hua dares to challenge you. Can you do it?”

Mu-jin answered with a firm gaze.

“My personal feelings don’t matter. The honor of our sect is more important. I will prove with my sword that Mount Hua isn’t even worthy to stand behind Wudang.”

That was a reliable answer. Heo Sanja nodded, pleased.

“Yes, yes.”

Seeing a disciple grow so dependable was satisfying.

Maybe Mount Hua felt the same way about their disciples.

‘We must admit what we must admit.’

The younger generation’s strength and spirit, those who would carry the sect’s future, seemed stronger on Mount Hua’s side.

Heo Sanja realized this after seeing the Mount Hua disciples in person. Their unusual freedom, not what you expect from Taoists, was unpleasant. But he could sense real strength and determination in each of them.

This worried Heo Sanja, causing him to react to a small challenge. He felt uneasy, as if the Mount Hua Divine Dragon’s words might come true in a few decades.

“I must get rid of these thoughts in this martial arts contest.”

“Yes?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Heo Sanja checked the martial arts stage one last time.

“This has become bigger than I thought, but if they want to embarrass themselves, we shouldn’t stop them. Tell the disciples to announce a martial arts contest between Wudang and Mount Hua and gather a crowd.”

“On a large scale?”

Heo Sanja nodded at his disciple’s surprised question.

“We must show those who are unsure which sect truly follows the real traditions of Taoism. We’ve been too careful. We should have known that if we don’t promote ourselves, no one will notice us…”

He realized this thanks to Mount Hua.

“Move.”

“Yes!”

Heo Sanja watched Mu-jin walk away, a strange look on his face.

‘There won’t be any problems.’

The event had grown. A small competition became a grand martial arts contest with a large audience. But all of this would benefit them if they won.

It was impossible for Wudang’s first-generation disciples to lose to Mount Hua’s second-generation disciples. He couldn’t understand why that clever Mount Hua Divine Dragon was digging his own grave.

Yes. Everything is perfect.

But…

‘Why do I feel so uneasy?’

Heo Sanja frowned, his eyes narrowing. He looked at the martial arts stage. The grey stone was cold and hard under his feet, and today, it felt strangely unwelcoming, like a place of bad luck.

“The audience is here.”

“More than we expected. I can’t see the end of the crowd.”

“Hmm, yes. I see. Who knew so many people would care about a martial arts contest between Wudang and Mount Hua?”

Heo Sanja shook his head, looking at the huge crowd.

This wouldn’t have happened with Wudang’s reputation alone. A one-sided match is boring. People don’t want to waste time watching something they already know the result of.

The people here thought the fight between Wudang and Mount Hua would be close.

‘I don’t like this.’

Mount Hua had become famous recently, more than he realized. He thought about Heo Do-jin and understood what he had seen.

“Is everything ready on our side?”

“Yes! Everything is perfect.”

“…Heo Gong will be here soon.”

Heo Sanja’s face tightened.

‘Even though the sect leader asked him, that elder…’

But Heo Gong was always like that.

“So, is everything ready?”

“Yes.”

“And we told Mount Hua when the contest starts?”

“Yes. They replied.”

“Yes. But…”

“Yes?”

“…Why isn’t Mount Hua here yet?”

Heo Sanja’s face twitched.

‘They have no manners.’

It had been an hour since the agreed time.

If they knew Taoism and etiquette, they wouldn’t break their promise like this.

“I knew they were rude, but…”

“Should we ask again?”

“Enough! Why should we beg them to come!”

Heo Sanja bit his lip, annoyed.

‘I feel like they’re playing with me.’

This was a trick to make them anxious and gain an advantage.

‘For people who follow Taoism to use such simple tricks…’

What bothered him most was not their trick, but his own anxiety, even though he knew what they were doing.

The Wudang disciples behind him also looked annoyed and worried.

“Infinite Life Buddha.”

Heo Sanja calmed himself with a Buddhist chant and was about to speak to his disciples when…

“They’re coming!”

“It’s Mount Hua!”

“Aren’t they the ones who beat the Great Viper and gave away money in Wuhan!”

“Waaaah!”

Heo Sanja was surprised by the loud cheers and looked around.

He saw the Mount Hua disciples walking toward them. But what surprised him more was the crowd’s reaction.

“Mount Hua! Mount Hua! Mount Hua!”

“Long live the Mount Hua Sect!”

Cheers for Mount Hua spread everywhere.

‘This much?’

He knew Mount Hua was popular, but not this popular. Wudang had protected Hubei for years, yet people cheered for Mount Hua, who had just arrived?

Even though their opponent was Wudang!

Heo Sanja’s face turned cold.

Mount Hua walked toward them casually.

“Well, it’s good to see you again.”

The Mount Hua Divine Dragon, in front, waved like a common person.

“Did you sleep well? You won’t sleep well after the contest, so I hope you rested.”

Reason left Heo Sanja’s head.