Chapter 1903 – Return of The Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1903. There’s Something I Want to Ask. (3) ❀ ❀ ❀

“Ow!”

“Be quiet!”

“.....”

Tang Soso smeared medicine thickly over Baek Cheon’s bruised, bluish eyelid. The oddly rough, irritated touch was clearly not just his imagination.

Watching carefully and keeping silent, Baek Cheon cautiously opened his mouth again.

“Um, it hurts a little…..”

“It hurts? You’re the one who still used your inner energy even after your dantian was shattered, and now you’re whining over something like this? Do you actually want to feel pain bad enough to die?”

From Tang Soso, a chilling murderous aura poured out that even Tang Gunak in his lifetime would have been shocked by. Faced with that murderous aura right before him, Baek Cheon could only sweat buckets, unable to even meet her gaze.

“After barely! Barely surviving! After being worked to the bone for nearly ten days without a wink of sleep, I finally manage to return to the quarters, and now you’re trying to cause more trouble?”

“…..”

“If I’m going to have to nurse you, I might as well kill you! No, wait! Isn’t that better? It’s better to kill you than to take care of you!”

If Cheong Myeong had heard her, he would have clapped with tears of joy saying, “Oh? I like that idea better!”

“Uh… Soso?”

“What now!”

“This stuff… it’s medicine, right? Not poison?”

“…..”

“I apologize. I spoke out of line…”

Baek Cheon quickly withdrew his words, dripping with cold sweat. Clicking his tongue as he watched, Jo Geol turned to ask Yoon Jong.

“So who won?”

“…… I think it was a draw.”

“A draw? You’re saying it ended with such a favorable result?”

“Either way, whether it’s our Sasuk or Jin Geumryong, if they don’t draw their swords, they’re no better than second-rate fighters. It’s natural there was no clear winner.”

“Wow. At least they didn’t completely lose their minds. If they had drawn their swords and gone wild, it would have been an incident remembered forever in Kangho history.”

“From the looks of it, they’ve already lost their minds enough.”

Hearing them whispering so that he could hear, Baek Cheon ground his teeth.

“……Shut up, you bastards.”

“Don’t move and stay still!”

“Yes.”

Tang Soso finished applying medicine to the sulking Baek Cheon’s face, clapped her hands clean, and said:

“There. Done.”

“……As always, I sincerely thank you.”

Baek Cheon bowed his head in apology as if he were making a formal confession. Jo Geol clicked his tongue.

“See? That’s why a person should think before acting.”

“……Of all people, you’re the last one I want to hear that from. You and Cheong Myeong both.”

“What do you mean, Sasuk? No matter how reckless I might get, I’d never throw punches at the older brother who saved my life.”

“So you do realize you’re reckless, Jo Geol! This Sahyung is proud of you.”

“Seriously, is this guy for real?”

How about the two of you try throwing punches as Sahyung and Saje, not blood brothers?

Looking at Jo Geol glaring at Yoon Jong, Baek Cheon let out a long sigh.

“So…… was it really that disgraceful?”

“Very.”

“Extremely.”

“Beyond words.”

“Pathetic.”

Baek Cheon’s shoulders nearly collapsed under the weight of it.

Trying to comfort him, Yoon Jong smiled with a sage-like kindness.

“It is all right, Sasuk. Please do not blame yourself too harshly.”

“Huh?”

“In the end, isn’t being a true Taoist about following one’s heart? Things like benevolence and duty, gratitude and repayment, aren’t those just values created by people? What matters is that you act according to your heart.”

“……So what you’re saying is, I’m a shameless ingrate who knows neither benevolence nor duty, and repays kindness with enmity?”

“You understood perfectly, as expected.”

“Looking at you, I realize you’re the worst of them all, you bastard…”

Baek Cheon covered his face with his hands, but since medicine was smeared there, he had to quickly pull them away.

“Really, why did you do it? Even if the opponent was Jin Geumryong…”

“I know. I know……”

Baek Cheon was well aware that he had done something he shouldn’t have. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t know. Actually, he might already have done something not even human.

“I know, but…… the moment I see that insufferable face, I just can’t control myself. What do you expect me to do?”

“Hmm, to be fair, that face really does cross the line.”

“But isn’t that face basically your face, Sasuk?”

“Which is exactly why it crosses the line.”

“Ah, I see.”

“You guys came here just to throw fuel on the fire, didn’t you?”

“No. We came to criticize you, actually.”

“……Damn it.”

Baek Cheon groaned, clutching at his hair in frustration.

❀ ❀ ❀

Jin Geumryong lifted a steaming teacup to his face, savoring the rich fragrance of the tea before nodding.

“Hmm, good.”

It could have been described as a picturesque scene. If only one of his eyes weren’t swollen blue and purple.

“Do you really feel like smiling right now? After being beaten up by your own younger brother?”

“Beaten up?”

Jin Geumryong firmly corrected him.

“It was a draw.”

Jong Seohan’s jaw dropped. Since when had this man lost his grip on reality?

“Why did you even do that? You seemed desperate to provoke him.”

If that was the case, he shouldn’t have risked his life to save him in the first place.

“Hmm.”

“Do you realize?”

“Realize what?”

“It’s only because the Sect Leader overlooked it, but to be frank, your actions could have been seen as outright insubordination.”

“…..”

“If anyone had pressed the issue, you could have lost your position as Sect Leader’s successor.”

In the past, such a thing could never have happened. Jin Geumryong’s position within Zhongnan had been absolute.

More than that, considering the losses Zhongnan would have faced if someone else had taken the Sect Leader’s position instead of Jin Geumryong, such a risk was unthinkable.

But now?

One face came to Jong Seohan’s mind. Someone irritating, but impossible not to acknowledge.

“If that had happened……”

“You mean Lee Songbaek could have become Sect Leader?”

“……Yes.”

Jong Seohan pressed him with a faintly challenging look.

“How could you not consider that? Obviously...”

“I considered it.”

“…..”

“No, rather than considered, it’s more accurate to say I was prepared for it. I thought if it came to that, then so be it.”

Jong Seohan’s eyes shook violently. He was prepared to throw away his position as Zhongnan Sect Leader? That Jin Geumryong?

“Why? Why would you do that?”

“Who knows.”

Jin Geumryong let out a quiet laugh.

“Maybe because I thought Lee Songbaek isn’t such a bad guy after all.”

“Sahyung!”

“What? As a swordsman, he’s worthy of recognition, isn’t he?”

“Are you seriously saying this right now?”

“Fine, fine.”

Jin Geumryong let out an unusually gentle smile.

“There are plenty of reasons. I could list a dozen more. But they’d all just be excuses in the end……”

Still smiling faintly, Jin Geumryong looked quietly down at his teacup.

“I simply wanted to do it.”

From the very beginning, nothing had changed. From the moment Baek Cheon stormed out of Zhongnan, or perhaps even earlier, Jin Geumryong had only ever wanted to protect his younger brother.

“If only your eye wasn’t swollen up like a plum, I might have said it was admirable. But of all things, he got that bruise from the very brother he was trying to protect………”

“…Ahem.”

“Truly admirable, isn’t it? Huh?”

At that, Jin Geumryong could only slurp down the hot tea, as if admitting he had nothing to say.

“You should just be honest. Isn’t it a brother’s role to embrace his younger sibling’s pride, even when it stings?”

“Not so easy right now. Think how many years we’ve spent snarling at each other.”

Jin Geumryong let out a sigh.

“But… won’t it change soon enough? Zhongnan’s relationship with Mount Hua isn’t strained like before, and there’ll be plenty of chances to see each other from now on.”

“…..”

“Whatever awkwardness there is, we’ll work through it slowly. There’s plenty of time.”

“Oh, really?”

Jong Seohan gave him a pitying look and spoke flatly.

“But what does it matter? That younger brother of yours said he’s leaving today.”

Jin Geumryong’s head snapped to the side at those unexpected words.

“Huh? What do you mean, leaving?”

“He’s going back. To Shaanxi, to Mount Hua.”

“……What?”

Jin Geumryong furrowed his brow sharply, his expression one of disbelief. What in the world was this supposed to mean?

“Going back?”

“Yes.”

“To Mount Hua?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“He said he’s done everything he needed to do, so he’s going home.”

“......What?”

Like a broken wooden puppet creaking a few times, Jin Geumryong suddenly shot to his feet and raised his voice.

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

❀ ❀ ❀

Jongli Gok forgot all decorum and shouted.

“What kind of absurd talk is this? Going back? And today, of all times?”

Even madness had limits, and this was going too far!

“Alliance Leader! Please explain this!”

“Hmm. That’s how it has turned out.”

“No. How can you just say ‘that’s how it is’ and leave it at that?”

“Heh heh.”

“This isn’t something to laugh about!”

“Heh heh heh.”

Jongli Gok pounded his chest in frustration. But Hyun Jong only gave a warm, genial smile.

‘Damn Mount Hua!’

He had believed that through years of cultivation he had mastered composure, but the moment he got entangled with these people, not only composure but even maintaining sanity became difficult.

“Do you realize how much work the Heavenly Comrade Alliance has to do starting now? And you intend to abandon your seat in a time like this?”

“Well…”

Hyun Jong scratched his head with an embarrassed look. Though he could, at times, exude such dignity that even Jongli Gok was taken aback, right now he looked more like some rustic elder from a third-rate sect.

“The kids said it’s time to go, and I don’t have a good reason to refuse, nor any reason I should stop them….”

“……Excuse me?”

“So we’re going.”

When someone suddenly has too much to say, they end up speechless for a moment. Jongli Gok, forgetting his dignity as Zhongnan’s Sect Leader, could only gape like a fish.

“W–what in the world……………”

What kind of dogshit is this?

Fortunately, Jongli Gok still had enough reason left not to say those words out loud.

Instead, he shot to his feet.

“Alliance Leader, please get a hold of yourself! You are the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, the one who has now become the sole guiding star of the martial world. How can someone like you make such an important decision simply based on the whims of a few disciples? Does that make any sense?”

“Hmm. You’re right. That doesn’t make sense.”

Hyun Jong nodded as if agreeing with Jongli Gok’s words.

“Then please reconsider. As you know, the Alliance isn’t bound together very strongly right now. With the goal of defeating the Evil Tyrant Alliance gone, even the smallest misstep could cause it to fracture apart.”

“Hmmmmm.”

“In a situation like this, the absence of the Alliance Leader? It would obviously be fatal. Now more than ever, you must use the authority of Mount Hua and the Alliance Leader’s prestige to solidify the Alliance.”

“I was actually going to bring that up myself……”

“……What?”

Hyun Jong gave a sheepish smile.

“Now that the Evil Tyrant Alliance is half-ruined, if there are sects that don’t wish to remain in the Alliance, perhaps there’s no need to hold on to them……”

“Alliance Leadeeeeeeeeeeeer!”

Startled, Hyun Jong hunched his shoulders.

“What are you saying? The Central Plains has only just now gathered under a single banner!”

[note: gichi, 기치(旗幟): a symbol of unity or leadership. Something you raise high to represent an army, faction, or cause.]

“Heh heh. But you know, the more diverse the banners, the better……………”

“Aaaargh!”

Unable to endure any longer, Jongli Gok let out a scream and clawed messily at his hair. The sight was so mad that Hyun Jong actually shrank away, inching farther from him in fright.

“Sect Leader! No, Grand Sect Leader!”

“……”

“Please, I beg you, come to your senses! I can’t pretend to know everything you’re thinking, but you absolutely cannot do this. The person at the top of the Alliance must be like an iron man, someone who can lead everyone forward. Otherwise……………”

He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Otherwise, things would turn into a dogfight like the Ten Great Sects used to be. The fact that he had almost said those words out loud felt unbearably awkward.

‘I…’

Surprised by the thought he himself had nearly spoken, Jongli Gok fell silent. Hyun Jong, watching him, spoke quietly.

“The Sect Leader’s words are correct.”

“……What?”

“I feel that necessity as well. But as you know, I’m not suited for that kind of role.”

Jongli Gok’s eyes trembled.

“But still, that doesn’t mean you can just leave….”

“Which is why, Sect Leader.”

“Yes?”

Hyun Jong gave him a soft smile, yet to Jongli Gok, it looked deeply significant, as he fixed him with a deep, lingering gaze.

“Would you perhaps consider taking on the role of Alliance Leader yourself?”

“……What?”

“I think you would be the most suitable person. What do you think?”

Hyun Jong’s eyes sparkled with sincerity, without a trace of falsehood. Jongli Gok opened and closed his mouth several times before muttering like a man laughing at a cruel joke.

“I’m really…..going to lose my mind.”

Of all the wide Central Plains, he truly cursed the ancestors of Zhongnan who had chosen to settle right beside Mount Hua.

❀ ❀ ❀

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