Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 628

Ssssh.

The sword moved quickly across the water, like a fast swallow bird. It aimed right at her opponent.

The Mount Hua disciples watched, amazed by the sword’s movements.

“Sago’s sword is completely different now!”

“It doesn’t even feel like the same swordsmanship,” someone else murmured.

Yoo Iseol, on the sparring stage, was easily winning against the Wudang disciple.

Her sword, shining in the sunlight, impressed not only the Wudang disciple but also her fellow Mount Hua disciples.

“It’s a bit different from Baek Cheon Sago’s sword,” one disciple noted.

Baek Cheon’s sword was seen as the perfect example for the Mount Hua disciples.

It was the goal they all aimed for as they practiced their sword techniques. They dreamed of wielding a sword like his one day.

But Yoo Iseol’s sword was different.

She used the same moves and stances, but her sword felt different from the others.

“Wow… can a sword really become *that* different?” Yoon Jong wondered.

It wasn’t weaker, just different. The Wudang disciple looked confused.

*What is this sword!* he thought.

It was strange.

It seemed to dance with grace, but it also held a cold and deadly intent, aiming for weak spots.

The other Mount Hua disciples’ swords were impressive and drew attention, but Yoo Iseol’s sword captured the mind with its movements.

Besides…

*How can it be so precise?*

Even a short fight showed how accurate her sword was.

*How many times has she practiced these moves?*

Before Chung Myung came to Mount Hua, Yoo Iseol was the most dedicated to the sword. She practiced the few basic techniques they had, forgetting to eat and sleep. Now that she could learn better techniques, it was obvious what would happen.

Whoosh!

Yoo Iseol jumped over her opponent’s sword and silently thrust her sword towards the Wudang disciple. It was a truly chilling moment.

“Sago is Sago,” Jo Gul said, staring at the stage, speechless.

The only one who could compare to Baek Cheon in Mount Hua was Yoo Iseol. Baek Cheon’s impressive sword grabbed attention, while Yoo Iseol’s silent sword felt like it was piercing your heart.

“But it’s really strange,” Yoon Jong said.

“What is it, Senior Brother?” Jo Gul asked.

“Even though we all learn the same swordsmanship and train the same way, our swords are so different.”

“Ah… that’s true,” Jo Gul agreed.

The Five Swords had mostly gone through the same training. Chung Myung taught them in a similar way, and they probably trained individually in similar ways too.

But the swords of the Five Swords clearly showed their own unique traits.

“Isn’t that just what happens when you get better? That Chung Myung guy said it before. Even if you learn the same sword, it will change based on your personality.”

“But aren’t the Wudang swords all very similar?”

“Hmm. That’s true,” Jo Gul admitted.

The Wudang swords did differ slightly, but compared to the Mount Hua swords, the differences were small.

“Maybe something is wrong with us…” Yoon Jong said, sounding a bit worried.

Then, a calm voice spoke from behind them.

“That’s not it.”

Yoon Jong turned to see Un Geom standing there, looking at him kindly.

“Senior Uncle,” Yoon Jong greeted.

Un Geom looked at the sparring stage, his gaze calm as always.

“The sword of Wudang is a sword with goodness.”

“Goodness? What do you mean, Senior Uncle?” Jo Gul asked for clarification.

“Righteousness, you could say. They try to reach enlightenment by having good people train and study to find the best forms, and then teach these to their disciples.”

“Ah…”

“So all their swords are similar because everything is planned out, from how much power to use in a swing to how to control internal energy. The Wudang sword aims for perfection.”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong nodded, understanding now.

“But Mount Hua doesn’t argue about what is wrong, as long as the sword stays within the rules. It’s not about being wrong, but about being different.”

“Indeed…”

They realized they had never been told they were doing something wrong when using their swords.

“Which way is right?”

“Well, I don’t really know,” Un Geom admitted, shaking his head.

“There is more than one way to reach enlightenment. Sometimes Wudang may be right, and sometimes Mount Hua may be right.”

He stared at the Wudang sword.

*It’s something we can’t do.*

He didn’t know what the Mount Hua sword was like in the past. Unlike Wudang, which had a continuous history, the Mount Hua sword had been lost once. Now, he could only guess what it was like from the manuals.

So, he couldn’t tell his disciples that this was the perfect Mount Hua sword. This was Un Geom’s greatest worry as he taught the Mount Hua disciples.

He didn’t know if freedom or strictness was better.

But there was a big difference between not doing something you could do, and not doing something because you couldn’t. If the Mount Hua sword had a continuous history, and if he was a little stronger…

Just then…

“It’s always been like that,” Chung Myung said.

“Huh?” Jo Gul asked, looking at Chung Myung, who was squatting down.

“What has?”

“The Mount Hua sword has always been like that.”

“…How do you know that?”

“Can’t you tell by looking at the manuals?” Chung Myung asked, looking annoyed.

“Senior Brother, are your eyes just for show? Why even have them if they’re useless? You’ve seen the manuals, right?”

“I did, but…” Jo Gul mumbled.

Chung Myung sighed.

“If the ancestors wanted to teach set ways, they would have written the manuals in more detail. You don’t think they just got tired of writing, do you?”

“…Probably not. Even a hundred years ago, there couldn’t have been another person like you.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“It’s an insult, Chung Myung,” Jo Gul said.

“Hey, what did you say?” Chung Myung shouted, jumping up, but Baek Cheon grabbed his head and pushed him down.

“Just stay still, you rascal! Think before you act!”

“So, Senior Uncle thought things through so well that he acted like that in front of those Wudang guys?”

“I did well, didn’t I?”

“…Yeah. You did well.”

“You were excellent. Really excellent,” someone said.

Chung Myung just made a face, then laughed a little. “It’s not about right or wrong, you know? Water looks different, but it all goes to the sea. It has one big goal, see?”

“Hmm, true,” Yoon Jong replied, nodding slowly.

“And plum flowers grow together to make a forest,” Chung Myung continued. “Each flower is different, but each one is important.”

“I see,” Yoon Jong said, looking thoughtful this time.

“And…” Chung Myung looked up at the dusty sparring arena, his eyes seeming to look far beyond it. “In the end, it’s all a cycle.”

“A cycle?” Yoon Jong asked, confused.

Chung Myung nodded slowly. “Water starts in the sea, goes up to the sky, becomes rain, and comes back to the mountains. It makes small streams, then a big river, and goes back to the sea.”

“……”

“Plum flowers start as fruit, become seeds that fall down, grow into small trees, then big trees, and flower again to make fruit.”

“That’s right.”

“Nature is a cycle. Both the Mount Dang Sect and the Mount Hua Sect are trying to show that cycle through people. It’s just a different way of doing it. It’s not about who is better or worse.”

Yoon Jong, who had been listening, looked blank. “Uh…”

Seeing Yoon Jong’s confused face, Chung Myung asked, “Why?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. It’s just… it makes sense, but it sounds strange coming from you.”

“Hey! What’s wrong with you?”

“He’s our senior brother, you idiot!” Baek Cheon hit Chung Myung on the head again.

“Anyway,” Chung Myung said, pouting. “We’re just doing things our way. The Mount Dang Sect isn’t right or wrong.”

“…I understand.”

Un Geum watched Chung Myung with a serious look, thinking, ‘That guy, really…’

Sometimes, Chung Myung seemed very thoughtful. It was like he knew what Un Geum was thinking and was telling him not to worry.

Maybe it was by chance, but Chung Myung’s words had comforted Un Geum many times.

‘A cycle, huh? If Mount Hua keeps doing what it should, then things like swords will follow.’

‘Hmm.’

Chung Myung, who was watching Un Geum, looked forward. ‘Still so worried.’

He couldn’t just yell at him. Un Geum was worried about leading the younger students. So, he should be praised, not criticized.

The elders of Mount Hua were doing a great job. Their hard work was clear in the sparring arena.

‘It was like this before too.’

In the past, the Cheongja generation, led by Cheong Mun, was full of strong people. Chung Myung was so strong that he stood out, but the others were strong enough to easily beat strong fighters from other groups.

It was partly because Chung Myung pushed them hard…

Anyway, the Cheongja generation had their own unique sword styles. Like the current Five Swords, they found swords that suited them. The plum blossoms of that time bloomed in different ways.

All different, but together they made a forest. That’s the plum blossom.

And if the current Five Swords and their followers can bloom their own plum blossoms, Mount Hua will be great again.

If the students each bloomed their own plum blossoms, it would be amazing.

But Chung Myung’s face became serious.

‘A cycle, huh…’ He had said that earlier.

Yes, the world is a cycle. Life leads to death, and death leads to life again. This is how it always is.

But… ‘I’m outside that cycle.’

What doesn’t cycle will rot. Chung Myung might be helping Mount Hua now, but would he help in the future?

Why was he outside the cycle in the first place?

– Why did this happen?

Daloe Lama’s sad voice echoed in Chung Myung’s mind.

Suddenly, a huge EXPLOSION shook the sparring arena! *KABOOM!* Everyone jumped and looked towards the fight.

The sparring match was over.

“Ugh…” The Mount Dang Sect student sat on the floor, looking at Yoo Iseol in disbelief.

Yoo Iseol looked calm, as if winning was no big deal.

“I learned a lot.”

“…I learned a lot.”

Chung Myung smiled as he watched her turn around. ‘Yeah, she should be this good.’ He knew Yoo Iseol would win.

“Chung Myung.”

“Huh?”

“We’ve won all our matches so far.”

“Of course.”

Baek Cheon asked, looking worried, “So, what’s the plan now? Who’s next?”

“Huh?”

“Did you have a plan?”

“Huh?”

“……”

Baek Cheon’s face turned pale as he looked at Chung Myung. “Don’t tell me you didn’t plan anything?”

“……”

Chung Myung scratched his head and smiled. “Well… it’ll work out, right?”

“……”

Baek Cheon realized again how reckless Chung Myung was.