Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 852

News of Mount Hua going into seclusion spread quickly throughout the Central Plains (the heartland of the martial world).

In the past, this news wouldn’t have attracted much attention. But now, Mount Hua’s name carried great weight in the martial world.

The reactions of those who heard the news were remarkably similar.

“M-Master!”

Beopgye, his face pale, burst through the door. Beopjeong, who had been chanting Buddhist scriptures, turned around with a serious face.

“…Why are you acting so wildly?”

“B-Big trouble, Master!”

“What is it now?”

“H-Hua… Mount Hua…!”

As soon as Mount Hua’s name was mentioned, Beopjeong’s eyebrows shot up.

“…What did Mount Hua do this time to upset you so much? Did they go to Jiangnan and start a fight with the Four Seas Alliance (a major alliance in the martial world)?”

Beopjeong was sure that nothing Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon did would surprise him. He knew that normal rules didn’t apply to that man.

“M-Mount Hua! Mount Hua has gone into seclusion!”

“Yes, seclusion. That’s a big deal… What?! Seclusioooooon?”

Beopjeong’s eyes widened.

“Seclusion? Did you just say seclusion?”

“Yes, Master! It’s news from the Beggars’ Sect!”

“T-That can’t be true, can it? There must be some mistake. Or the Beggars’ Sect must be wrong about something!”

“I was so surprised that I checked several times… but it seems to be true.”

Beopjeong was speechless for a moment. Then, he muttered with a blank face.

“…So, they really went into seclusion?”

“Yes. That’s what they say.”

“…Why?”

“…”

Beopgye had been watching Beopjeong his whole life. He had never seen Beopjeong so dumbfounded.

But he couldn’t blame Beopjeong. When Beopgye first heard the news, he was even more shocked and kept repeating nonsense.

“N-No. But why?”

“Please, calm down, Master.”

“…Amitabha. Amitabha! Amitabha!”

Even decades of practice couldn’t help. Beopjeong chanted the Buddha’s name but couldn’t calm his mind.

“Amitabha! Amitabha! Amitabha, my foot! What on earth is Mount Hua thinking! What are they thinking! These crazy…”

“M-Master! The disciples are listening! Please lower your voice a little…”

“Ugh…”

Beopjeong tore at his head. Since he didn’t have any hair, he scratched his bald head instead.

“Why… why does Mount Hua always do this! Why? Why!”

He couldn’t understand it.

Of course, Beopjeong knew that Mount Hua, or rather, Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon, always had reasons for his actions, even if they seemed crazy.

But wasn’t this too much?

“They finally had a great chance to make the Heavenly Union as important as the Nine Sects (major martial arts groups), and then they just go into seclusion?”

Opportunities like this are rare.

Act quickly when the chance is good, and row when the water comes in.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Mount Hua and the Heavenly Union.

Wudang was in seclusion, Shaolin was dealing with problems from the other Nine Sects, and the Namgung family was quiet. This chance might never come again.

People or groups can’t move forward without a leader.

Even if Mount Hua continued its activities, Shaolin, Wudang, and Namgung would never let them become too powerful. They wouldn’t even need to interfere; just acting normally would be enough. People want something new, but they also like what they know.

Beopjeong was most worried because Mount Hua’s Divine Dragon knew all of this.

“What on earth…”

“Should we send a message to Mount Hua?”

“…If they’ve gone into seclusion, no one can enter. What’s the point of sending a message?”

“That’s true, but…”

Beopjeong stared blankly into the air, looking defeated.

‘What’s going to happen now?’

His plans were ruined. He had carefully planned everything, but it was all overturned.

‘This isn’t the first time!’

Nothing ever goes right when Mount Hua is involved.

“Hoo. There’s no helping it.”

“…Are you going to do nothing?”

“What else can I do? They haven’t caused any trouble, and they’re quietly going into seclusion. I can’t just go there and ask them why, can I?”

“…”

“Besides, the rule in the martial world is not to interfere with a sect that has gone into seclusion…”

Beopjeong sighed.

“I don’t know.”

“So irresponsible…”

“Irresponsible…”

Beopjeong smiled sadly at Beopgye’s words.

Beopjeong knew that giving up everything wasn’t irresponsible, but brave. People can’t easily give up even a grain of rice. How much courage would it take to give up something so big?

“A truly strange person.”

Beopjeong looked to the west and nodded.

He seemed confused, and Beopgye stayed quiet. Beopjeong was probably thinking about something he couldn’t understand.

“W-Wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

Beopjeong asked blankly.

“They went into seclusion?”

“…Haven’t I already told you that, Master?”

“Then… what about Hye-yeon?”

“Yes?”

“What happened to Hye-yeon?”

“…”

Beopgye looked uncomfortable.

“Well… I heard that she followed Mount Hua to Shaanxi.”

“W-What? So, Hye-yeon is in Mount Hua, which has gone into seclusion?”

“…Wouldn’t that be the case?”

“T-They’re taking a disciple from another sect and going into seclusion? And it’s Hye-yeon of all people?”

“…”

There was silence. Beopjeong muttered, dazed.

“…I can’t go to those who have gone into seclusion and demand that they release my disciple… No, don’t those Mount Hua guys have any manners…? What on earth is this…”

Beopgye closed his eyes as he watched Beopjeong talking to himself like a madman.

It seemed like Shaolin had been hit hard by Mount Hua this time.

“Seclusion?”

“That’s what I heard.”

“Hmph.”

Namgung Hwang, the head of the Namgung family, sneered.

“The sect leader? No, no. That sect leader doesn’t have the strength. Is it the Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”

“…He is now the Mount Hua Sword Saint.”

“What a grand title.”

Namgung Hwang gritted his teeth.

The title of Mount Hua Sword Saint bothered Namgung Hwang. It sounded like only Mount Hua was honorable.

“…Well. It’s not wrong.”

“Yes?”

“Hmph.”

Namgung Hwang snorted.

“…Mount Hua Divine Dragon, no, Mount Hua Sword Saint, is someone to be taken seriously.”

Namgung Hwang respected Chung Myung. Anyone who had been there would have to respect him.

‘Jang Il-so was as strong as the Black Dragon King.’

It wasn’t just what he saw and felt. Someone like the Black Dragon King would never serve someone weaker than himself, no matter the benefits.

At the very least, they would be equals.

‘That young man fought against Jang Il-so for a while.’

Of course, he didn’t think Jang Il-so had used all his power. But even so, Chung Myung’s achievement was still great.

Compared to that, even the name Mount Hua Sword Saint wasn’t that important.

But…

“What’s more impressive than his skill is his ability to lead Mount Hua at such a young age. And the courage to make the crazy decision to go into seclusion without hesitation…”

Namgung Hwang smiled, showing his teeth.

“Do-wi.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

“To be honest, he’s too good for you. He’s one of a kind.”

“…I know.”

Namgung Do-wi answered quietly, biting his lip. But then, he looked at Namgung Hwang with determined eyes.

“But.”

His eyes were firm.

“If a member of the Namgung family is going to compete with someone, shouldn’t he be at least that good?”

Namgung Hwang stared at his son’s eyes. He still had spirit.

“Yes. That’s my son.”

Namgung Hwang grinned.

“Mount Hua went into seclusion because he knows that wealth and power mean nothing without strength.”

“…”

“Don’t forget, Do-wi. The Namgung family is the greatest family in the world not because of its wealth or power.”

Namgung Hwang spoke loudly.

“It’s because the Namgung family is strong.”

Namgung Do-wi nodded.

“I will remember that.”

“But.”

Namgung Hwang’s expression hardened, and he gritted his teeth.

“The Namgung family isn’t strong enough right now, and neither am I. I couldn’t beat the Black Dragon King, and the Namgung family couldn’t defeat the Four Seas Alliance. Don’t forget, Do-wi. We are humiliated because we are weak.”

“…Yes.”

Namgung Hwang nodded.

“Even Mount Hua is going into seclusion to become stronger, so we can’t fall behind. All family activities are stopped. The Namgung family will focus on internal affairs and prepare for the coming trouble.”

“I will follow your orders, Family Head.”

Namgung Do-wi bowed. Namgung Hwang’s eyes darkened as he watched him.

‘Hmph.’

He should be happy after achieving so much.

Even if Chung Myung was showing off, Namgung Hwang would praise him. Chung Myung’s ability in the Yangtze River was worthy of praise.

‘But is he still not satisfied? How greedy.’

The old leader of the martial world was not happy.

“You’re holding on to useless desires, Mount Hua. You won’t have another chance to be active.”

Crack!

Namgung Hwang clenched his fist so hard that his knuckles turned white.

‘I’d rather die than be humiliated again.’

He knew he had no right to criticize Heo Do-jin.

He pushed him because he was ashamed of his own lack of courage and blamed it on others.

He would never be humiliated again.

“Three years will pass quickly. When the Jiangnan agreement ends, I will kill the Black Dragon King and Jang Il-so with my own hands and repay this humiliation.”

Namgung Hwang’s eyes showed his determination.