Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 99

Hyun Sang, the Prior of Martial Arts, spoke, his voice shaking. “Sect Leader… shouldn’t we stop this?”

Hyun Jong was silent, his eyes closed tight. His face was pale, and lines of worry etched themselves around his mouth.

Stop it?

How could he stop it?

Could he really stand in front of everyone from Shaanxi and say, ‘We are losing badly. Let’s stop before our students get hurt more’?

That would stain the proud name of Mount Hua.

Mount Hua had fallen, yes. But *because* it had fallen, they had to protect certain things. Their name. Their pride.

If they lost their name and the pride of their students, Mount Hua would become just another small, weak group, forgotten and unimportant.

And that would be the end of Mount Hua.

Hyun Jong could not let that happen. Not for himself, but for the hope of Mount Hua rising again. He could not say those words as their leader.

However, the situation must have been dire indeed for Hyun Sang, who was well aware of their predicament, to speak such words.

Nine consecutive losses.

They had already achieved the worst record in the history of the Hwajong Assembly. But the bigger problem wasn’t the wins and losses, but the manner of them.

In all nine fights, not one Mount Hua student had even landed a single hit. It was like watching children fight grown men.

And all the important people of Shaanxi were watching this embarrassing show.

‘How can I bear this shame?’

Hyun Jong’s eyes trembled.

It felt as if all his internal organs were being torn apart, his heart ripped out by hand.

What truly tormented him wasn’t the humiliation he was currently experiencing. It was the thought of how much despair his disciples must be feeling.

He had failed to properly assess the strength of their opponents and had pushed his children into a deadly situation. The thought of the mental anguish those children would suffer because of his incompetent leadership made him want to hurt himself.

“Sect Leader…”

Hyun Jong slowly opened his eyes.

And then, he let out a deep groan.

“…It is a matter of necessity.”

“But…”

“Do you think my heart isn’t burning as well?”

It was at that moment.

“Gack!”

The last of the second-generation disciples, who was competing on the training ground, dropped his sword and collapsed to the ground.

For a swordsman to drop his sword was, in some ways, a humiliation worse than death. The Jongnam disciple, who had skillfully targeted his wrist to achieve this result, whistled.

“A swordsman dropping his sword? Unbelievable. Does Mount Hua not even teach that?”

Mockery.

Even knowing that this mockery was the agreed-upon outcome, he couldn’t suppress the surge of blood rising within him.

Ten consecutive losses.

A result that couldn’t be more devastating. The faces of the Mount Hua elders twisted in anguish.

‘Has it really come to this?’

They had thought they had finally grasped an opportunity to revive Mount Hua. Especially since so many good things had happened recently.

But everyone who had been lost in dreams was now facing the cold reality. In the end, Mount Hua was a martial sect. Without martial arts to support it, no amount of finery mattered.

Everyone here was now keenly aware of that fact.

“Good work.”

“Yes, Elder!”

Sama Seung patted the shoulder of Akho, who had returned to his seat.

It was a most satisfactory result.

Not only had they all won, but the content of the matches was also extremely one-sided. Most encouraging of all was that the influential figures of Shaanxi were watching these matches.

‘Now, the reputation of Mount Hua will fall to the ground and never resound again.’

Wasn’t this the situation they had desperately wanted since the time of their predecessors? He was overjoyed that Sama Seung was the one fulfilling that long-cherished desire.

Sama Seung listened carefully. By now, those who were watching must have grasped the situation.

Sure enough, he could hear murmuring.

“This is too one-sided.”

“I had some expectations because it was Mount Hua… But the past is the past, and the present is the present, it seems. Mount Hua is no longer the Mount Hua of old.”

“Well, everyone knew they weren’t great anymore, right?”

“Still, I didn’t expect it to be this pathetic… To be honest, I can’t really tell anymore whether Jongnam is strong or Mount Hua is weak.”

“Isn’t it both?”

“It’s a pity. A real pity. It seems Mount Hua is truly finished. What a waste… Mount Hua is really done for.”

Sama Seung twisted his lips into a smile.

Public opinion had completely turned in favor of Jongnam. But his goal today wasn’t to elevate Jongnam’s status. It was to plunge Mount Hua into the abyss.

He wanted to destroy Mount Hua completely, even the smallest chance of them getting better.

“Now, it’s time to finish things. Did you watch well what your martial uncles were doing?”

“Yes, Elder!”

The third-generation disciples of Jongnam looked at him with determined faces.

“Do not hesitate.”

Sama Seung’s eyes gleamed.

“Even a lion gives its all when hunting a rabbit. Show no mercy. Crush them so that they won’t even think about learning martial arts again.”

“Yes! We will keep that in mind!”

Sama Seung smiled bitterly and looked up at the sky.

‘It’s such a clear day.’

And it was such a wonderful day.

Yoon Jong was speechless.

He couldn’t bring himself to look at the second-generation disciples gathered beside him. He didn’t need to see them to know what expressions they wore and how much despair they were in.

And it was the same for the third-generation disciples.

‘Is the difference between Jongnam and us this great?’

The Hwajong Assemblies so far had been somewhat harmonious. Defeat was the same, but it wasn’t as one-sided as a person crushing an ant.

Only then did Yoon Jong realize that Jongnam had never truly taken Mount Hua seriously.

“…Is it our turn?”

The faces of the third-generation disciples darkened.

It was true that they had received training from Chung Myung, but the overwhelming gap before their eyes stole even the confidence they had gained from their training.

No, but putting that aside, right now…

That wasn’t the problem right now…

Yoon Jong stealthily turned his gaze to Chung Myung, who was sitting next to him.

And then, he gasped.

Grind!

The sound of teeth grinding made Yoon Jong’s heart sink.

Chung Myung’s face was flushed red, as if it would burst at any moment.

His face seemed to redden little by little each time a martial uncle was defeated, and now it was as red as a fully bloomed plum blossom.

Seeing that face, Yoon Jong carefully reached out and grabbed the hem of Chung Myung’s clothes.

‘This bastard is about to explode.’

Yoon Jong opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

“Ch, Chung Myung, calm down first.”

“…Calm down?”

The moment he heard that twisted voice, Yoon Jong let go of something in his heart… No, he couldn’t let go! This was the Hwajong Assembly! Not only the Sect Leader but also the people of Jongnam and Shaanxi were watching!

If this guy went berserk here, something worse than the second-generation disciples losing might happen.

Yoon Jong started to calm Chung Myung down like he was trying to stop a wild animal from attacking.

“Ch, Chung Myung. Think about it. You said it yourself yesterday. To accomplish great things, patience is the most important thing!”

“…Patience.”

“Yes! Patience!”

“…Senior Brother.”

“Yes, Chung Myung. Remember your words well…”

“I’ve been thinking.”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung’s head slowly, very slowly, turned towards Yoon Jong.

And then.

Yoon Jong saw it.

Chung Myung’s eyes had half-turned.

“…I.”

Chung Myung rose to his feet, growling like a beast.

“Originally, I have no patience!”

How proud.

You bastard.

Unam took a deep breath. His face was as pale as it could possibly be.

If he could, he wanted to leave this place right now. However, unless the Sect Leader’s instructions were given, he had to continue with this Hwajong Assembly.

“Next… we will proceed with the third-generation disciples’ competition. Among the third-generation disciples…”

It was then.

“Grab him! Don’t let that bastard go!”

“Chung Myung, you were supposed to go out last! This is a problem!”

“People are watching, people! Please, let’s only do this when we’re alone!”

Unam looked back at the third-generation disciples with bewildered eyes.

Unam looked confused at the younger Mount Hua students. They were all trying to hold someone back, their faces panicked.

‘Chung Myung?’

Why was that child…?

Questions abounded, but he had to finish what he was saying. They weren’t the only ones here.

“The vanguard is…”

“Kraaah!”

However, Unam’s words could not continue.

No sooner had the word ‘vanguard’ left his lips than Chung Myung flung aside his senior brothers, who were desperately trying to hold him back, and leaped onto the training ground like an arrow.

“Hooo!”

Chung Myung, who had stepped onto the training ground, took a deep breath. Then, glaring at Jongnam with gleaming eyes, he said,

“One of you, quickly!”

“Anyone is fine. One of you, come up here quickly. Before you all die.”

Sama Seung’s mouth dropped open.

“That, that madman!”

He knew he wasn’t in his right mind, but he didn’t know he was this crazy. Such arrogant behavior in a place where not only Jongnam but also the influential figures of Shaanxi were watching!

“Calm down, Elder.”

Jin Geum-ryong quickly stopped Sama Seung’s outburst.

“We can’t jump around just because a mudfish jumps, can we? Soon, that guy will know his place.”

“Ugh!”

However, seeing Sama Seung still unable to hide his displeasure and clearing his throat loudly, Jin Geum-ryong rebuked in a low voice,

“Woo Ryang.”

“Yes, Martial Uncle!”

Seonwoo Ryang, who was supposed to face Chung Myung, nodded firmly.

“He came out as the vanguard, unlike what we expected, but nothing will change. Let that guy know his place!”

“Yes, Martial Uncle! Don’t worry!”

Seonwoo Ryang gripped his wooden sword and leaped onto the sparring arena.

And he pointed the sword in his hand at Chung Myung.

“I’ll crush that arrogant mouth of yours. I am Jongnam’s…”

At that moment, Chung Myung vanished like smoke. One moment he was there, the next he was right in front of Seonwoo Ryang, so fast it was like teleportation.

“Seon…”

Seonwoo Ryang saw it.

Seonwoo Ryang saw a face full of furious rage, then everything went black.

The disciples of Mount Hua heard a tremendous sound, one they had never heard since entering Mount Hua, echoing loudly throughout the mountain.

CRASH!

Rotating.

Seonwoo Ryang’s body spun around more than ten times in the air before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Seonwoo Ryang’s body, which was slammed into the ground, twitched pitifully as if he had malaria.

Chung Myung, seeing Seonwoo Ryang collapsed, sneered.

“Acting tough when you’re nothing special.”