Chapter 1897 – Return of The Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1897. That’s Enough. (2) ❀ ❀ ❀

Cheong Myeong seemed to understand Baek Cheon’s words right away, but the other Five Swords tilted their head in puzzlement.

“Children, you say? Sasuk?”

Yoon Jong asked, and Baek Cheon explained what he had gone through.

“……Those kinds of things.”

“I should have told you earlier, but given the circumstances I couldn’t manage to say anything.”

“There’s no need to apologize. But…”

Yoon Jong’s expression grew complicated and he trailed off. Before his muddled thoughts could settle, Jo Geol spoke up.

“But what do you mean taking those children to Mount Hua? Do you intend to accept them as disciples?”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Yoon Jong shot back.

“Why is it ridiculous? The situation is like this.”

“If you were in their position, would you join another school?”

“Well………….”

Jo Geol scratched his head. Of course he wouldn’t. But aren’t people’s thoughts and actions all different?

Baek Cheon also shook his head as if sharing Yoon Jong’s view.

“I don’t have that intention, and even if I did suggest it, the kids would refuse. They’re upright kids.”

“Hmm.”

Yoon Jong made a faint, pained sound.

“Then why insist on taking those kids to Mount Hua?”

“They may be upright by nature, but they’re still immature. On top of that, they’ve been left with wounds that may never heal. If you send just those kids off to remote Sichuan, the result is painfully obvious.”

Yoon Jong’s mouth moved as if he wanted to say something, then he stopped. He had meant to compare with Mount Hua, but strictly speaking the cases were different. Mount Hua had been driven to the brink of annihilation, yes, but there were still adults left who could guide the newly initiated.

But Diancang and Emei didn’t even have those adults. If they’d been a sect whose leadership had been broken from the start, maybe things could be managed somehow…

‘Diancang, Qingcheng, and Emei, none of them are even that.’

What if, as Baek Cheon said, they simply sent those children back to their home sects under these circumstances...

“…then we might really have to take down their nameboards. It would be too much for kids to run a sect on their own.”

Yoon Jong muttered bitterly. At that Jo Geol, looking uneasy, added.

“If that’s all that happens, fine. I’d even be relieved.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“…Isn’t that place Sichuan?”

“It is.”

“The three central sects in Sichuan can be counted as three: one is Qingcheng, one is Emei, and the other is the Tang Family.”

“That’s common knowledge, isn’t it?”

“Yes, of course. But the problem is that none of those three sects are in a normal state right now.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Haah. It’s….”

Jo Geol scratched his unkempt hair in frustration. Someone from Sichuan would understand immediately; otherwise it would be hard to grasp.

“Sichuan is not Henan or Hebei. If the three sects that represented Sichuan all go through upheaval, inevitably chaos will come to Sichuan as well.”

“You mean the unorthodox sects?”

“Maybe yes, or maybe not.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Sahyung, do you think only the unorthodox sects hold grudges against those three sects?”

Only then did Yoon Jong realize and fell silent.

“Now, sure, we fought with them and feel some camaraderie, so we see them favorably. But back in the day, there was no one we hated as much as the prestigious houses, was there?”

“…That’s true.”

“We were at least a fallen ‘prestigious house’. So wouldn’t there be sects that were treated even worse than us?”

“So what you’re saying is…..”

“Whether out of grudges, or out of the hope that now is the chance to trample Qingcheng and Emei and become the top sect in Sichuan, whatever the reason….”

“...Places that target those two sects will definitely appear?”

“Yes. You could say that.”

“Hmm.”

A shadow on Yoon Jong’s face grew even darker.

It was a fact hard to deny. They didn’t want to entertain such thoughts right after factions with different positions had joined together to repel the Evil Tyrant Alliance, but few would know the Martial World’s ruthlessness better than Mount Hua’s disciples.

“Qingcheng and Emei will practically be unable to recover on their own.”

“Yes, that’s my thought. Maybe if at least the Tang Family preserved their strength, things might differ, but as you know the Tang Family also suffered no small damage…”

Everyone nodded.

Tang Family had taken a heavy blow in this incident. Their poison storehouse and furnace, which practically the foundations of their power were destroyed, and countless family members were lost.

“…Still, it’s the Tang Family; shouldn’t they have some leeway?”

“No chance.”

Cheong Myeong, who had been silent until now, said flatly.

“The patriarch of the family has changed, hasn’t it?”

Everyone’s faces darkened slightly.

“That's true, but...”

“I’m not trying to disrespect the young patriarch of the Tang Family, but honestly, the previous Tang Patriarch was an extraordinary man.”

“…That’s true.”

Tang Gunak’s presence in Sichuan was special. Naturally it was the same within Tang Family itself. Could Tang Pae fill the place left by the great Poison King Tang Gunak? It would be impossible.

“Well, maybe when the young patriarch reaches the previous patriarch’s age, he could become greater. He’s experienced more, and watched his father closely as a life guide.”

Five Swords nodded in agreement.

“…but that’s decades away. Until then, Tang Family won’t regain its former might.”

“Mm. That seems right.”

In this situation, no sect had the capacity to take on caring for others. Yoon Jong let out a heavy sigh.

“…I understand the situation. So in the end, we can’t just send the kids back to Emei and Qingcheng, right?”

“Right.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

“But that doesn’t necessarily mean we must take the children to Mount Hua, does it?”

Baek Cheon, who had been silent for a moment, spoke up.

“I can’t think of any better option.”

“No….”

“Honestly, we can come up with some way. We could arrange for them to live under the protection of the Alliance, or even if not, if we think on it we’ll find something.”

“That’s what I meant.”

“Diancang too is the same. They may not be pleased, but if we asked Beast Palace Lord to take them in, I don’t think he’d refuse.”

“He surely wouldn’t.”

“But will that really allow Diancang or Emei to raise their heads in the world again? Will they recover their glorious days?”

“……”

“That is……”

No one could answer. Because everyone here knew it was impossible.

“In the past, I wanted to revive Mount Hua. But at times, I felt despair at how impossibly far that goal was.”

At Baek Cheon’s words, Yoon Jong and Yoo Iseol gave small nods. They too had naturally felt the same.

“What I resented was not our ancestors. It was the cruelty of the martial world, where not a single soul reached out a hand, turning away from the sacrifices of our forebears.”

“……”

“Of course, I know. The situation is different, it can’t be seen as the same. But still…”

Looking around at everyone, Baek Cheon spoke with strength.

“At the very least, if there’s something we can do, I want to try.”

A short silence followed. Not because there was no way to refute, but because they understood what feelings drove Baek Cheon to say this.

In the end, Yoon Jong was the first to raise both hands.

“Well, if that’s how it is… I guess it just means we’ll have a few more mouths to feed.”

“We already have Shaolin monks, too.”

“That’s true, Sago. We already have Monk Hye Yeon with us… strictly speaking, it’s not without precedent.”

Jo Geol chuckled as he agreed.

“By that logic, even bandits come and go here, who can’t we take in?”

“You’re not wrong, but the way you put it feels a bit off.”

As the atmosphere leaned toward agreement, Cheong Myeong, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“Goodwill is fine. If it’s accepted as goodwill.”

Cheong Myeong’s gaze as he looked at Baek Cheon had slightly darkened.

“Just now, you said Mount Hua’s position has changed, didn’t you, Sasuk?”

“…Yes.”

“Have you considered how what Sasuk is trying to do will be perceived by other sects?”

Baek Cheon shut his mouth at that. Jo Geol tilted his head and habitually asked Yoon Jong.

“What’s he talking about, Sahyung?”

“…If Sasuk’s will is followed, then the descendants of Diancang, Emei, and Qingcheng will all be living at Mount Hua. Perhaps even Hainan too.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“They may have fallen, but they were still once part of the Ten Great Sects. Not just one, but four of them. If those sects start showing Mount Hua’s influence, how do you think it’ll look?”

Only then did Jo Geol’s face harden.

“But… you can’t even call them the Ten Great Sects anymore.”

“True. But what if, one day, they regain that prestige? People always consider every possibility.”

Jo Geol clicked his tongue.

In other words, if those sects that had sought refuge here later returned to the Ten Great Sects bearing Mount Hua’s colors, then there would be fears that Mount Hua might dominate the Ten Great Sects themselves.

A baseless speculation, perhaps. But Mount Hua’s current momentum made even that wild idea feel uncomfortably plausible.

“Sasuk. Doesn’t that seem contradictory?”

Cheong Myeong asked again. Baek Cheon stayed silent for a moment, then replied.

“Maybe so.”

“If you know that, then...”

“But so what?”

Baek Cheon shrugged shamelessly. His composure was so unshaken that even Cheong Myeong wore a dumbfounded look.

“…Huh? Did I mishear that?”

“You heard right.”

“Has your head been rattled in a fight? How can you say ‘so what’ about this problem?”

Cheong Myeong demanded in exasperation, but Baek Cheon only snorted.

“Then let them see it that way.”

“Huh?”

“What we’re offering is kindness. Kindness is done because we want to. If you’re doing it because you’re worried about how the other person sees you, that’s not kindness, it’s just trying to save face.”

“……”

“No matter what the world says, if it’s the right thing, we just do it.”

“But without a plan like this...”

“I realized it once I’d died.”

“You said earlier you didn’t die, didn’t you?”

“If you spend your life worrying about every little thing and every gaze, you’ll never have time to do what truly needs to be done. So let them try to stop me if they want. I’ll carry out my will regardless.”

The Five Swords looked at him, struck speechless, as though at a loss.

“Then why did you even ask us for our opinion?”

“Because it’s easier if you support me.”

“And if we oppose?”

“Then I’ll crush you down and go through with it.”

Jo Geol turned his head to Yoon Jong.

“Sahyung. Mount Hua’s doomed, isn’t it?”

“…I was just thinking the same.”

“Me too.”

Despite everyone’s reactions, Baek Cheon stood prouder than ever, his face shining so much it was almost smug.

“Anyway, I’ve declared my intent.”

“Hold on.”

“What? Cheong Myeong, even if it’s you...!”

“Don’t fool yourself, Sasuk. Get a grip. You’re just the Deputy Sect Leader, not the real Sect Leader.”

“….”

Cheong Myeong flashed a sly smile.

“Something like this is for the Sect Leader to decide. If the Sect Leader says no, then you step back without another word. Got it?”

“Uh…”

A deep unease spread over Baek Cheon’s face.

❀ ❀ ❀

Un Am smiled gently.

“Do as you will.”

“You’re supposed to stop him!”

“You can’t allow this!”

“No, Sect Leader!”

The Five Swords leapt up in shock, protesting in a flurry, but Un Am only laughed warmly.

“How could I stop a disciple who wishes to uphold righteousness?”

“No! What kind of taoist-like nonsense is that?!”

“You fool. He is a Taoist!”

“Oh, right. No, but still!”

“Hahaha.”

“Don’t just laugh, Sect Leader!”

“Hahahahaha.”

And so, Mount Hua’s will was decided.

Next Chapter

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