Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 928

Baek Cheon clenched his fist without realizing it.

It was a word he had longed to hear.

But it was also a word he dared not hope for. Beop Jeong’s words were so sharp that they hurt deeply.

If he had been in that position, Baek Cheon couldn’t help but wonder what he would have answered. Could he have been brave enough to go against Shaolin for what he believed was right?

Of course, Baek Cheon, the Second Disciple of Mount Hua, could do it.

But could Baek Cheon, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, really make that choice?

Knowing how difficult that choice was, Baek Cheon’s heart naturally warmed as he looked at Hyun Jong.

The others felt the same way.

The eyes of the Mount Hua disciples, as they looked at Hyun Jong, were filled only with trust and pride. He had not backed down even against Shaolin’s Beop Jeong, and he had carried out his own justice, the righteous path of Mount Hua!

Beop Jeong and Beop Gye were not affected by the strong emotions around them.

Bewilderment flickered across Beop Jeong’s face.

“How could this be…”

It wasn’t the first time he had been rejected. But meeting someone who declared that they would go a different path from him right in front of his face was a first in his life.

Even the powerful Nine Sects and Five Great Families had refused his idea, but they were too afraid to say no to his face. They only sent letters from far away, showing they were scared.

If they had been sitting in front of Beop Jeong, they wouldn’t have dared to say that they wouldn’t follow his orders like that.

But… what confidence did Hyun Jong have to stand in front of him and say such things so confidently?

In front of Beop Jeong, the Abbot of the Thousand-Year Shaolin?

“Alliance Leader… No, Sect Leader,”

Beop Jeong repeated, his voice strained.

He swallowed hard, as if the words were stuck there.

“Is this… is this really what Mount Hua wants? Truly?”

Beop Jeong’s voice rose slightly, showing his anger.

He was clearly angry and upset.

Because Beop Jeong was human too, this bad memory would likely affect his future decisions. Leaving a bad memory for the Abbot of the Thousand-Year Shaolin was a truly burdensome thing for Hyun Jong as well.

But Hyun Jong simply stared at Beop Jeong with calm eyes.

Hyun Jong was like a strong plum tree. No matter how strong the challenge, he would not change his mind.

“That is correct.”

Beop Jeong opened his mouth slightly, then closed it again, as if even his deep cultivation couldn’t easily control this emotion.

“Do you think I made all these proposals for the glory of Shaolin?”

“…”

“Even though we have different ways of doing things, I am doing this for the good of everyone. Even so, does Mount Hua refuse to join hands with Shaolin to the very end?”

Chung Myung’s eyes turned fierce. Just as he was about to open his mouth, Baek Cheon grabbed his wrist, as if telling him to trust Hyun Jong.

“A path for the sake of the people of the world…”

Hyun Jong slowly nodded his head.

“Mount Hua does not doubt Shaolin’s words. No matter the method, we will not doubt the fact that what the Abbot wants is peace.”

“Then why do you refuse?”

Hyun Jong smiled gently.

“Abbot, how could there be only one path?”

“…”

“Mount Hua also cares about the world and its people. We always try to be honorable and good, no matter what.”

“If that is so…”

“However,”

Hyun Jong’s voice became resolute.

“Just because the intentions are the same does not mean the paths are the same. Shaolin can work in its own way, and Mount Hua can work in its own way to achieve the same result.”

“…”

“Isn’t it arrogant of you, Abbot, to think that Shaolin’s way is the only way to bring peace?”

Beop Jeong’s face twisted in anger, his eyebrows furrowing and his lips tightening into a thin line.

“It is not Shaolin who is arrogant, but Mount Hua!”

“That human…!”

When Chung Myung, who couldn’t stand it any longer, flared up, the Five Swords grabbed the hem of his clothes from all directions.

“This…”

Although he was momentarily upset, Chung Myung also knew that he shouldn’t use violence here, so he grabbed his thigh.

After a moment of silence, Beop Jeong took a deep breath, as if he thought his words were too much. But although he may have regained his composure, his eyes were still fierce.

“There is no point in talking any further.”

“I am sorry, Abbot.”

“I respect the Sect Leader’s choice. But…”

Beop Jeong’s eyes stared straight at Hyun Jong.

“You must remember one thing. Every choice comes with a price.”

It was such an explicit statement that the faces of some of the disciples changed.

But Hyun Jong simply nodded his head calmly.

“If there is a price to pay, we will have to pay it.”

“You could have avoided paying it. If only the Sect Leader had been a little wiser.”

Hyun Jong faced Beop Jeong without a word. His profound eyes seemed to be pressuring Beop Jeong.

“Certainly, if I had been a little wiser, I would not have rejected the Abbot’s proposal.”

“Then why…!”

“Isn’t chivalry like that from the beginning?”

“…”

“Smart people will always think about what they will gain. But people who want to be honorable must follow their feelings and what is right, not just what is profitable.”

Beop Jeong closed his mouth.

“That is the path of Mount Hua that I think of.”

Beop Jeong closed his eyes without saying a word. Only the prayer beads in his hand spun quickly through his fingers. After a long silence, he slowly opened his eyes.

“Chivalry…”

A strange smile appeared on his lips.

“It sounds as if Shaolin does not pursue chivalry.”

“That is not the meaning.”

“…I have fully understood the will of Mount Hua.”

Beop Jeong shook off his seat and stood up.

Sitting here any longer would only add to the humiliation. What reason was there to face those who could no longer be seen as allies?

“I enjoyed the tea. Sect Leader.”

“…Yes.”

“There is no need to see me off. Then.”

Beop Jeong looked around at the people in the room. The last gaze he reached was none other than Chung Myung.

“You must be happy that you got what you wanted, Mount Hua Sword Saint?”

“Looks like someone’s throwing a tantrum because they didn’t get their way,”

Chung Myung smirked and added.

“Isn’t that what life is all about?”

“Good words.”

Beop Jeong nodded his head with a stiff face.

“But now it will be Mount Hua, not Shaolin, that has to know that hardship. Because now you will have to face the problems that Shaolin was dealing with.”

“Ah, right. But it seems that your shoulders are a little narrow. You can’t even stop the evil groups from sneaking in.”

Beop Jeong pursed his lips tightly.

There were so many things he wanted to say, but what more would he be than a laughingstock if he mixed words in this situation?

It wasn’t just a failure to negotiate.

It was a crushing defeat.

It was the first time he had failed to get what he wanted, even though he had tried his best and risked everything.

‘No, that’s not right.’

To be exact, it was the second time. The first incident in which his will was turned to nothing was the Cheonhwa Hugi Jisu Martial Arts Competition.

‘I should have known then.’

The fact that Mount Hua could one day stand in front of Shaolin and block its path.

“Amitabha.”

Beop Jeong, who left a low Buddhist chant, turned away from Chung Myung and opened his mouth.

“Then.”

And he walked out without leaving a single regret. Beop Gye, who followed him, did not even give a glance to the others, nor did he leave a common greeting.

Thud!

The moment the door slammed shut, the tension that had been stretched taut from the bodies of the Mount Hua disciples slipped away.

“Whew!”

“…I thought I was going to suffocate.”

“…It was scary.”

Beop Jeong was Beop Jeong.

The pressure that the Abbot of Shaolin directly emitted was not something they could handle. But not one of them showed a disgraceful appearance and endured it well until the end.

“Sect Leader… Are you alright?”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong groaned at Hyun Young’s worried words.

“I don’t know if my decision was right. But Hyun Young-ah. We already know too well that being tempted by an easy path for a short time can bring greater disaster, don’t we?”

“…That is correct.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m putting a heavy burden on you because of my pride.”

“What’s so great about Shaolin that it’s a burden? They’re just bald heads living together,”

Chung Myung smiled and said to Hyun Jong, who still didn’t seem to be able to shake off his worries.

“There couldn’t have been a more perfect answer than that, Sect Leader.”

“That’s right.”

“We think the Sect Leader’s words were right!”

Finally, a smile appeared on Hyun Jong’s lips.

‘Those guys, really.’

Because these children are here, I can’t easily choose a comfortable path. The water above must be clear for the water below to be clear, but sometimes the water below, which is so clear, makes the water above clear on its own.

Tap.

At that moment, Hyun Jong’s gaze turned to the door.

A low sigh escaped from his mouth as he saw the figure of one person who had followed Beop Jeong out without a word.

“How can he be so rude! How dare he to the Abbot!”

Beop Gye’s face turned red.

If it hadn’t been a place where Beop Jeong was, he would have exploded several times over. In his eyes, that was not the attitude to treat the Abbot of Shaolin. It was a sight that did not show even the minimum respect for Shaolin, which had protected the peace of the world and mediated countless sects for hundreds of years.

Even Beop Jeong, who would have scolded Beop Gye under normal circumstances, did not say anything this time. He simply closed his lips tightly and walked towards the mountain gate with large strides.

“Mount Hua Sword Saint… Hyun Jong.”

A boiling voice escaped from Beop Jeong’s mouth.

Had he ever experienced such humiliation in his life? His insides were boiling and burning as if he had swallowed a hot charcoal.

‘Since when has Shaolin been treated like this?’

He had worked so hard for the world, so why did everyone only think of themselves!

Clench.

Beop Jeong unknowingly bit his lip tightly.

“Amitabha…”

He clenched his fist tightly, unable to cope with the soaring anger.

“I still believed that Mount Hua had the right path, but I was wrong.”

“Abbot…”

“Let’s go back to Shaolin.”

Just because the Cheonwoo Alliance doesn’t help doesn’t mean they can’t deal with the Sapa Alliance. He was just trying to reduce the damage.

If that doesn’t work, then now they have to let them know.

That Shaolin wasn’t holding back because it didn’t have the strength, why Shaolin is called the Thousand-Year Shaolin and hasn’t lost its position as the North Star of the Gangho for hundreds of years!

To those evil and supposedly righteous groups who have forgotten what is right and wrong!

At that moment, Beop Jeong’s feet stopped abruptly.

“Beop Gye!”

“Yes, Abbot!”

“Bring Hae Yeon! We can no longer keep Shaolin’s disciple in a place like this.”

“Ah, I understand.”

It was the moment when Beop Gye, who had been frightened by Beop Jeong’s anger, was about to turn around urgently.

“There is no need to do that, Abbot.”

A calm voice was heard from behind them. Beop Jeong and Beop Gye’s gazes turned back.

Hae Yeon was standing there, making a Buddhist greeting. Wearing the Mount Hua uniform that didn’t suit him at all.

“You came just in time. Pack your bags! We will go to Shaolin together. No, there is no need to pack your bags! Let’s leave right away as we are.”

“Abbot.”

Hae Yeon lowered his hand and stared at Beop Jeong.

His clear and large eyes were just as calm as a quiet lake.

“I am not going.”

“…What did you say?”

Beop Jeong asked back, doubting his ears, and Hae Yeon even shook his head.

“I said I am not going.”

“This…”

Beop Gye’s eyes turned as cold as ice. Soon, his storm-like anger poured out towards Hae Yeon.