Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 927

He felt like a sharp sword, filled with killing anger, was pressed against his neck.

This feeling told him one thing clearly.

‘This isn’t a simple threat.’

Normally, this would be impossible, it made no sense. But right now, Beopjeong’s senses were very clear.

If he said the wrong thing here, Chung Myung might really try to kill him.

‘Why is he going this far?’

Beopjeong just couldn’t understand why Chung Myung was so angry. What good would it do for Mount Hua to make Shaolin angry?

“Amitabha…” Beopjeong murmured a Buddhist prayer, but it sounded confused.

The Buddhist prayer he said showed his confusion. He didn’t even notice his voice shaking a little at the end.

“Amitabha.”

His prayer showed exactly how frustrated he was. To fix this problem, they really needed the Heavenly Union to work with them.

But if this Sword Saint from Mount Hua, who was so important to the Heavenly Union, was so stubborn, it would be hard to get their help.

It was always hard to guess what the Sword Saint of Mount Hua would do. He never made deals that were bad for him, and threats didn’t scare him. What could you even say to someone who would threaten the head monk of Shaolin?

It was almost impossible to change his mind just by talking.

If there was one weakness that the Sword Saint of Mount Hua had, it was only…

“Alliance Leader.”

Beopjeong looked away from Chung Myung and at Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong looked back, his face serious and worried. When Hyun Jong’s name was spoken, Chung Myung’s shoulders tightened for a second. Beopjeong saw this small reaction.

‘Certainly.’

It was clear that the Sword Saint of Mount Hua didn’t care what anyone else thought, except for Hyun Jong, the leader of Mount Hua. Beopjeong didn’t know why – maybe because he was the leader, or something else – but it didn’t matter.

So, Beopjeong thought, if they put pressure on Hyun Jong, even the Sword Saint of Mount Hua might not be able to stop them.

“What do you think, Alliance Leader?” Beopjeong asked. “Do you agree with what the Sword Saint of Mount Hua wants?”

“Abbot, I…”

“Please don’t say that your disciples’ ideas are the same as yours. You know that’s just avoiding the question, Alliance Leader.”

Beopjeong continued to speak quickly, as if not giving Hyun Jong time to think.

“And don’t forget,” Beopjeong went on. “I’m asking the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Union now, not just the leader of Mount Hua. Even if the Sword Saint of Mount Hua speaks for Mount Hua, he can’t speak for everyone in the Heavenly Union. Are you sure all the other groups in the Heavenly Union completely agree with the Sword Saint of Mount Hua?”

“Hmm.”

Worry settled on Hyun Jong’s face.

It wasn’t just what Beopjeong said that bothered Hyun Jong, but how he said it.

His tone was very different from before. Now, he was clearly trying to push Hyun Jong.

“A leader of a group sometimes has to make decisions that seem like they are bossing everyone around, for the good of the group in the future. Even if it seems annoying or like a bad thing now, you have to understand it can be good for the group in the end, Alliance Leader.”

“This…”

Chung Myung’s face twisted.

He looked like he wanted to jump up and choke Beopjeong right then and there. But this time, he didn’t shout out angrily like before.

Beopjeong looked quickly at Chung Myung and smiled to himself. It was true, the Sword Saint of Mount Hua never went against Hyun Jong’s power. Hyun Jong was the only thing that could control this person who was impossible to guess.

And Hyun Jong was, actually, someone who was easily swayed.

Persuading Hyun Jong was not that difficult for Beopjeong, even if it was the Sword Saint of Mount Hua.

“When I became the Abbot of Shaolin…”

He continued to speak calmly. He was gradually regaining his composure.

“The first thing I understood was how much responsibility it was.”

Hyun Jong made a low sound of agreement. Anyone who had become a leader of a group would understand these words.

“The heavy feeling that one decision from me could change Shaolin’s future, even the world’s future. It’s something people who haven’t been leaders can’t even imagine.”

“Hmm…”

“Weren’t you the same, Alliance Leader?”

“⋯⋯”

Beopjeong smiled gently.

“There were many times I wanted to quit everything and just live how I wanted. But the name ‘Shaolin’ always stopped me.”

“⋯⋯”

“I have to listen to my monks because I am the Abbot of Shaolin. But sometimes, I have to ignore what they say because I am the Abbot of Shaolin. Doing what you feel like doing is actually easy. The hard part is stopping yourself from doing what you want and thinking about what’s best for the group in the future.”

Beopjeong’s voice, calm but strong, filled the space around Hyun Jong.

Beopjeong saw that Hyun Jong looked even more worried. He slowly pushed his point harder.

“I’m not asking for help for nothing. Shaolin always remembers when someone is kind to us. If you help us, as the leader of the Heavenly Union and Mount Hua, Shaolin will definitely pay you back. I promise we will not only help Mount Hua become one of the Nine Great Sects again, but we’ll also give you power we’ve never given to anyone else.”

Crack.

Beopjeong’s prayer beads clicked loudly in his hand. The sound made everyone who was listening closely jump a little.

Beopjeong felt he had control of the situation again and smiled gently.

“If that happens, Mount Hua will become great again very soon. Everyone cares about their own people. But a real leader has to think about more than just the people right now, they have to think about the future of the group, right?”

Crack!

Just then, Beopjeong heard a small noise. It was probably the Sword Saint of Mount Hua, holding something very tightly to stop himself from getting angry. But Beopjeong really tried not to look at him.

Beopjeong knew he had to ignore the Sword Saint of Mount Hua completely right now to be able to talk to Hyun Jong.

“But…”

At that moment, Hyun Jong opened his mouth.

“What will change even if Mount Hua returns to the Nine Great Sects now?”

“Many things will change.”

Beopjeong looked directly at Hyun Jong, his eyes serious. He wanted Hyun Jong to understand the truth.

“It’s true, the Heavenly Union is very powerful right now. So, you might think being one of the Nine Great Sects isn’t a big deal anymore. But, Alliance Leader, how many groups like the Heavenly Union have there been in the long history of the martial world?”

Hyun Jong’s face changed a little when he heard those words.

Beop Jeong saw his chance and spoke more firmly.

“In the past, some groups were as famous as the Nine Great Sects, and some were even stronger. But now, only the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families remain. What do you think happened to those sects?”

Hidden within his sleeve, Hyun Jong quietly clenched his fist. He knew Beop Jeong’s words were true.

“The Cheonwoo Alliance is strong, but even the Alliance Lord knows that alliances don’t last forever. When this alliance ends, Hwasan will face the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, who don’t like Hwasan. Only the Sichuan Tang Family will remain, and their relationship won’t be the same. In other words…”

Beop Jeong looked at Cheong Myeong, as if these words were not only for Hyun Jong.

“When the Hwasan Divine Dragon can no longer protect Hwasan, Hwasan will face a worse situation than ever before. Does the Sect Leader really think Hwasan can survive if it makes enemies of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families?”

“This…”

Cheong Myeong’s face twisted, and Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly.

Beop Jeong’s words hit Hyun Jong’s worries directly.

Hwasan had been growing quickly. Hyun Jong knew this was only possible because of Cheong Myeong. He was grateful to Cheong Myeong.

But where there is light, there is also darkness.

Hwasan was close to the Sichuan Tang Family, other sects, and the Green Forest, but its relationship with the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families had gotten worse.

If the Cheonwoo Alliance kept growing, it wouldn’t be a problem.

But what about Hwasan when Cheong Myeong is gone?

What if Cheong Myeong is hurt in the war with the Four Evil Sects? Or what about Hwasan after Cheong Myeong dies of old age?

Could they handle the pressure from the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families?

Probably not.

Hwasan had grown too much for one sect to handle. Expecting future leaders to do the same was unfair.

Hyun Jong felt a cold weight settle in his stomach.

If he could watch over everything while he was alive, he wouldn’t worry. But how much longer would he live?

He could choose now, but the price would be paid by those who came after him.

Was it right to burden future generations for a short-term gain? Could he make a choice that would make the powerful sects who had supported the Jianghu for centuries dislike Hwasan?

Beop Jeong watched Hyun Jong, who was lost in thought.

“I hope you will consider what is best for Hwasan. Alliance Lord… No, Sect Leader!”

It was the final blow.

A long silence fell over the room. Everyone waited for Hyun Jong’s answer.

Hyun Jong, who had been thinking for a long time with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. He looked at the Hwasan disciples.

Their faces showed different emotions.

Some looked at him eagerly, some trusted him completely. Some were unhappy to hear these words, and some were thinking deeply.

Finding the right path among those thoughts was the Sect Leader’s job.

He had let them make many choices before.

He knew he wasn’t good enough to make choices alone. But now, Hyun Jong felt it.

This choice was his alone to make.

Postponing it would only pass the responsibility to the young disciples.

It was a lonely fight, like walking alone on a dark road where you couldn’t see ahead.

However, Hyun Jong knew one star that would light up that darkness, a star shining brighter than any other.

“Venerable Abbot,” Hyun Jong said, looking at Beop Jeong.

“Venerable Abbot, I understand what you wanted to say.”

“Then…”

“If we make Shaolin our enemy, Hwasan might suffer in the future. Maybe even… maybe even the name of Hwasan could disappear completely.”

Beop Jeong nodded, satisfied. Hyun Jong understood.

“So, isn’t the choice for a Sect Leader very simple?”

“Yes, Venerable Abbot. It is too simple.”

Hyun Jong faced Beop Jeong with a calm face.

Beop Jeong straightened his back. He felt an unapproachable aura from Hyun Jong, who had always been friendly.

“A disciple from our sect once visited Yunnan, and there’s an interesting story about it.”

“…Yes?”

Beop Jeong frowned. He didn’t understand the sudden change of topic.

“What does that have to do with this?”

“I heard that a disciple saw people in Yunnan who were poor, so he sold his plum blossom sword to buy grain for them. No one reported it, but the disciple told me and asked for forgiveness.”

The Five Swordsmen looked at Yoon Jong. Yoon Jong’s face turned red.

Hyun Jong looked at Yoon Jong and smiled.

“The Beast Palace Lord told me what happened. I will now tell you what that disciple said to the Beast Palace Lord.”

“…”

“If Hwasan’s glory helps people, all of Hwasan’s disciples can be proud of it. But if it’s just Hwasan’s glory, Hwasan can be replaced by any other sect.”

Beop Jeong’s face hardened.

Hyun Jong’s face was soft, as if he had gotten rid of all worries.

“Venerable Abbot, the most important thing for Hwasan is to be genuine. If Hwasan can’t pass on its will to future generations, its glory is meaningless. It will just be another sect with the name of Hwasan.”

“…”

“If we choose to survive by giving in, Hwasan will no longer be Hwasan. I would rather see the end than see Hwasan change. That is…”

Hyun Jong’s eyes were deep and mysterious, making Beop Jeong uncomfortable.

“Even though I am not good enough, it is my duty to serve as the Sect Leader of Hwasan.”

Hyun Jong’s voice was soft but filled with certainty.

“Go back, Venerable Abbot. Hwasan will not agree to your request. If you wanted to change Hwasan’s will, you should have brought sincerity, not logic.”

It was the declaration of Hyun Jong, the Sect Leader of the Great Hwasan Sect.