Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 90

“Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong poured tea into a teacup without a word. The fragrant aroma of tea filled the room.

Whenever anger started to rise in his heart, Hyun Jong would brew tea. He found it was the best way to calm his mind and body.

“The Jongnam disciples will arrive today,” Un Am said.

“Is everything ready?” Hyun Jong asked.

“Yes, Sect Leader. Everything is prepared to welcome the Jongnam people,” Un Am replied.

“That’s a relief,” Hyun Jong said with a soft sigh.

‘At least this time, we won’t look so shameful.’

It was shameful to be weaker in martial arts. But Hyun Jong was even more embarrassed about something else. He was ashamed that he couldn’t welcome the Jongnam disciples properly.

What must it have been like for the Jongnam disciples to see the crumbling buildings, the inadequate meals, and the desolate training grounds? He didn’t want them to see any of it.

This was a sensitive issue, especially for Hyun Jong, the Sect Leader of Hwasan.

It wasn’t easy to endure the gazes of the Jongnam disciples, who looked at him with a hint of mockery. Until now, he could only bite his lip and bear their scornful looks.

“The more I think about it, the more I realize what a great thing Chung Myung has done,” Un Am said with a faint smile.

People often said that Hyun Jong cherished Chung Myung too much, but Un Am understood Hyun Jong’s feelings completely. For Hyun Jong and Unam, Chung Myung was like someone who had removed a huge weight from their hearts. He was a great help.

It wasn’t just about making a living.

Hwasan was a traditional sect with a long history. It had to at least look respectable to others. Although they taught that outward appearances were just formalities, people tend to judge others by what they see.

People don’t listen to wise words from someone who looks poor and messy.

Chung Myung not only solved Hwasan’s financial problems but also restored Hwasan’s reputation. How could they not cherish him?

Hyun Jong seemed a little embarrassed by Unam’s smiling gaze. He cleared his throat softly and offered him tea.

“Drink,” Hyun Jong said.

“Yes, Sect Leader,” Un Am said, lifting the teacup. He took a light sip and nodded quietly.

“How is it?” Hyun Jong asked.

“The aroma seems richer,” Un Am replied. “Even though it’s been dried for so long, the fragrance should be fading by now.”

“Indeed,” Hyun Jong said, pleased.

“Dried plum blossom leaves can become even more fragrant,” Hyun Jong explained. “I learned this after drying them for many years.”

Hyun Jong quietly gazed at the teacup before speaking.

“Hwasan is the same,” he said. “I was just trying to survive. I said I would bring back the past glory, but really, I was just struggling to get through each day.”

“Sect Leader,” Un Am said, his voice slightly worried.

Hyun Jong smiled reassuringly.

“But after just trying to survive, this day has come,” he said. “Sometimes, simply waiting is the answer, rather than any grand plan.”

His words had a deeper meaning.

Unam looked at Hyun Jong with new respect.

‘We are not the only ones moving forward.’

Sometimes, one might think that the Sect Leader is already perfect. But a person keeps growing until the day they die. Hyun Jong, walking the path of a Daoist, would keep improving himself until his last breath.

How could he not be trustworthy?

“Hwasan will regain its past glory during your time as Sect Leader,” Un Am said.

“It would be good if that were the case, but even if it happens, it won’t be because of me,” Hyun Jong replied. “It will just be thanks to the disciples’ hard work.”

“How can you say it’s not your merit?” Un Am asked.

“Unam,” Hyun Jong said.

“Yes, Sect Leader?”

“I know my own faults,” Hyun Jong admitted. “If Hwasan hadn’t fallen into such ruin, how could I have become the Sect Leader? If my senior brothers hadn’t left Hwasan, I would have just spent my days reading scriptures.”

Unam replied sincerely.

“By leaving Hwasan, they proved they weren’t worthy of being Sect Leader,” he said. “You are the rightful Sect Leader of Hwasan.”

Hyun Jong smiled without replying.

It was a slightly awkward topic, so he wanted to change the subject.

“So, how are the second-generation disciples doing?” he asked.

“They finished training and are now resting and relaxing,” Un Am replied. His face darkened slightly at the mention of the second-generation disciples.

“Sect Leader,” Un Am said.

“Speak,” Hyun Jong replied.

“To be honest, I’m a little scared,” Un Am admitted.

“Scared…? Why is that?” Hyun Jong asked.

Unam sighed softly and continued.

“As I’ve said before, Hwasan is currently very strong,” he explained. “But the results of this Hwajong Competition could change that, right?”

“Do you think the second-generation disciples can’t handle the Jongnam disciples?” Hyun Jong asked.

“I want to believe in them,” Un Am said. “But… as you know…”

Unam didn’t need to finish his sentence.

He and Hyun Jong both knew that Hwasan and Jongnam were very different.

Hwasan was just starting to recover from its darkest period, while Jongnam was enjoying its greatest days. Naturally, their disciples were at very different levels.

No matter how hard the second-generation disciples had worked, defeating the Jongnam disciples seemed impossible.

Unam was worried that the disciples, who had just started to feel hopeful, would lose heart again.

“How are the third-generation disciples?” Hyun Jong asked.

“Pardon?” Un Am asked, surprised.

“The third-generation disciples are also participating in the Hwajong Competition, aren’t they?” Hyun Jong continued. “Are they preparing well?”

Unam was a little puzzled by Hyun Jong’s sudden change of subject, but he had to answer the Sect Leader’s question.

“Their preparation… seems very thorough,” Un Am said.

Very thorough.

Extremely thorough.

Unam had seen the third-generation disciples training a few times while passing by, and he couldn’t help but describe it that way.

The children’s training was entirely in Un-geom’s hands, so he couldn’t interfere. But in Unam’s opinion, it seemed like a very strange way to train.

“They haven’t been training for very long…” Un Am pointed out.

Hyun Jong nodded quietly. He understood Unam’s concerns.

“Unam,” Hyun Jong said.

“Yes, Sect Leader?”

“If there is a mountain in front of you, what would you do?”

“Well…” Un Am hesitated.

“That’s right,” Hyun Jong said. “There’s no choice but to go over it. If there’s a path, we’ll go around it, and if there’s time, we’ll rest. But if there’s neither, wouldn’t we have to go over it?”

“I’m worried that we won’t be able to get over it,” Un Am said.

“Even so, we’ll gain experience,” Hyun Jong replied. “Wouldn’t it be easier to cross the mountain next time?”

Unam sighed deeply.

He didn’t fully understand everything the Sect Leader said, but there was no point in asking more questions. The Sect Leader probably didn’t have a specific solution either.

Seeing that Unam’s expression didn’t improve, Hyun Jong smiled and said,

“The Hwajong Competition is really just a friendly exchange.”

“Yes,” Un Am agreed.

“Victory or defeat isn’t important,” Hyun Jong continued. “What’s important is who can grow more by using this exchange as a chance to improve, right?”

“You are right, Sect Leader,” Un Am said.

“They are guests coming from far away,” Hyun Jong reminded him. “Take every precaution to make sure there are no problems.”

“I will,” Un Am replied.

Unam bowed deeply.

“Lord Hwang of the Eunha Merchant Guild has also agreed to help, so there shouldn’t be any problems,” Hyun Jong added.

“Lord Hwang… Indeed,” Un Am said. “I should visit Lord Hwang.”

“You are too busy with official duties, Sect Leader,” Un Am said. “Lord Hwang will understand.”

“Indeed. I would be grateful if he did,” Hyun Jong replied.

Since that day, Lord Hwang and the Eunha Merchant Guild had been investing heavily in Hwasan. Looking at how much they were investing, one might think they were planning to make Hwayeom their second Hangzhou or Suzhou.

“Won’t Jongnam complain about this?” Un Am asked.

“Things will happen as they are meant to,” Hyun Jong said.

His words were as calm as ever.

Unam bowed deeply and then quietly stood up.

“Then I will go and do a final check,” he said.

“You’re working hard,” Hyun Jong said.

“It’s nothing. Then…”

Unam walked backward.

As he quietly closed the door and went outside, Hyun Jong looked down at the teacup that had been placed in front of Unam.

The teacup, not even half empty and still steaming, seemed to reflect Unam’s current state of mind.

“Victory is not important, is it…” Hyun Jong murmured softly.

“Becoming a Daoist means casually telling lies.”

Hyun Jong knew very well that victory was most important. But this Hwajong Competition was a battle they couldn’t win. And he had to send his disciples into that battle.

They couldn’t win unless a miracle happened.

Unless a miracle happened…

Hyun Jong closed his eyes quietly, trying to calm his heavy heart.

❀ ❀ ❀

“This place is still small,” one of the Jongnam disciples said.

The Jongnam disciples looked around Hwayeom with slight sneers on their faces.

They had been here once before, two years ago, but Hwayeom was still a small city. Compared to Xi’an, where they usually spent their time, it was just a rural village.

“Senior Brother, was Hwasan really one of the Nine Great Sects in the past?” another disciple asked.

“Of course,” Jin Geum-ryong replied.

“But isn’t it very small and shabby for a sect that was one of the Nine Great Sects?” the disciple wondered.

Jin Geum-ryong smiled faintly and explained.

“It’s the other way around,” he said. “Hwasan’s presence is the reason this village exists. In the past, Hwasan was so powerful that it turned this place into a village where people came and went.”

“Indeed,” Jong Seo-han said, nodding as if he finally understood.

“But isn’t it completely ruined now?”

“That’s true,” Jin Geum-ryong agreed quietly.

Jong Seo-han glanced around and then spoke.

“To be honest, I don’t understand why we’re having this pointless event,” he said. “What’s the point of fighting with Hwasan, when we already know they are weaker? I could be practicing my sword more during that time.”

“The elders of the sect have their reasons,” Jin Geum-ryong reminded him. “Be careful what you say.”

“That’s true, but…”

Jong Seo-han turned his head slightly back.

He saw the person following behind them and smiled slightly.

“Well, this Jonghwa Competition is meaningful in its own way,” he said. “Taking revenge for someone who has been embarrassed is also a good thing.”

His words were meant to provoke Lee Song-baek.

But Lee Song-baek, the one he was trying to provoke, simply walked silently without responding.

‘How boring,’ Jong Seo-han thought, frowning.

Because Chung Myung had resolved the Lord Hwang issue, everyone in Jongnam knew that the Eunha Merchant Guild had started trading with Hwasan instead of Jongnam.

So, people were not happy with Lee Song-baek, who had given Chung Myung the chance to do that by losing to him in front of the young master of the Eunha Merchant Guild.

‘Since he doesn’t react, there’s no fun in teasing him,’ Jong Seo-han thought.

Lee Song-baek had changed after that incident. He had always been serious, but now he was even more so, and hardly spoke at all.

“We must repay Hwasan for the shame they caused a hundred years ago, Senior Brother,” Jong Seo-han said.

“That will happen,” Jin Geum-ryong replied.

Even as Jin Geum-ryong and Jong Seo-han talked, Lee Song-baek simply walked without joining the conversation.

He looked from Hwayeom to the towering Hwasan.

‘Hwasan, is it?’ he thought.

When he had visited this place before, he had been carefree. But now, he couldn’t help but see Chung Myung in Hwasan’s shadow.

‘Maybe we are entering the tiger’s den,’ he thought.

Lee Song-baek seemed to see Chung Myung’s smiling face.