Chapter 1915 - Return of The Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1915. I Wish This Could Last. (5) ❀ ❀ ❀

“Hmm. So...”

With a somewhat displeased expression, Hyun Jong asked the person sitting before him again.

“You want to step down from the position of Sect Leader?”

“Yes, Grand Sect Leader.”

Un Am nodded calmly, without a trace of hesitation on his face.

“My decision is firm and unshakable. Please, do not reject it.”

“Reject? What are you saying? Stopping you, maybe, but rejecting you? You are the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. Who could possibly dare to ‘reject’ what you’ve decided?”

“Then please, help me lay down this heavy burden, Grand Sect Leader.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong let out a faint groan.

The Sect Leader of Mount Hua. There was no one who understood better than Hyun Jong how heavy and difficult that position truly was. And no one who could better understand just how much that weight was crushing the disciple sitting before him.

Hyun Jong had never thought that way himself, but it seemed Un Am had long believed that he was unfit to be Sect Leader. Which would only make that burden feel even heavier.

Even so, Hyun Jong could not easily nod his head.

“What nonsense is this?”

The one who voiced what Hyun Jong could not say aloud was Hyun Yeong, who had been listening beside them.

“Sect Leader, no, Un Am!”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Drop that stiff formality. Just call me Sasuk.”

“But still…”

Hyun Yeong’s face twisted sharply.

“Hey, you fool. You shouldered the Sect Leader’s burden through Mount Hua’s hardest days, endured sleepless nights of hardship. And now, when the long-awaited flower path finally unfolds before you, you say you’re walking away? How could that possibly make sense?”

“I…”

“Do you even know what Mount Hua is now, huh? A place respected and honored by countless people throughout the world! Do you really not understand how desperately we longed for this moment?”

“How could I not know?”

Of course, it was the generation of the current elders who had faced the storms of time head-on, but that did not mean the generation below them was free from those storms.

The day when Mount Hua would reclaim its rightful place among the Nine Great Sects, even being spoken of as the foremost among them. Who among them hadn’t dreamed of such a day, so grand that it once seemed absurd even to imagine?

“And now that such a day has finally come, you’re quitting before you’ve even had the chance to enjoy it? Have you ever seen such a frustrating man!”

“Calm yourself, Saje.”

“Do I look calm right now?”

“Tsk. Just calm down.”

At last, Hyun Sang pressed down firmly on Hyun Yeong’s shoulder, stopping him from rising to his feet.

“The Sect Leader must have his reasons.”

“Reasons? Reasons? Does someone with proper sense do this sort of thing? What’s the difference between this and studying for decades, passing the state exams, and then refusing to take a government post?”

“That may be true, but…”

“He must’ve lost his mind completely, his brain’s probably sprouted plum blossoms by now, this idiotic… mmph! Mmph!”

“Just close your mouth. Please!”

In the end, Hyun Sang had to clamp Hyun Yeong’s mouth shut. Hyun Jong gave a faint, bitter smile.

“Your sasuk only speaks so harshly because he’s upset. Try to understand.”

“There’s nothing to forgive or not forgive. I’m only grateful.”

“I see.”

Hyun Jong looked straight at Un Am.

“You truly won’t regret this?”

“I did not make this decision lightly. I’ve thought deeply and for a long time. I believe this is the right thing to do.”

Unable to help himself, Hyun Jong sighed deeply.

All fingers hurt when bitten, but there are always some that hurt more than others. To Hyun Jong, Un Am was such a finger.

A disciple who had entered Mount Hua in his youth and endured nothing but hardship well into middle age, who had stubbornly borne the weight of a sect that seemed destined only for ruin.

‘If only he could think a little more about his own desires.’

Not just for Un Am’s sake, but for his own as well, Hyun Jong had hoped for that. Then, maybe, he would feel a little less guilty toward his disciple whose hair had turned so white before his eyes.

“Un Am. The position you are trying to lay down is one that countless people dream of, yet almost none ever get to hold.”

“Yes, I understand, Grand Sect Leader.”

“Do you truly have not even a trace of desire left?”

Un Am shook his head.

“How could there not be? Of course there is.”

“Then why—”

“It’s not because I lack desire that I am stepping down. It’s because stepping down is the right path.”

“Un Am…”

“Please allow it, Grand Sect Leader. Baek Cheon will be a fine Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly and let out a quiet sigh.

‘Tao…’

Tao is, quite literally, a path. The path each person chooses to walk differs, but those who speak of the Tao all know this, the more one clings to, the harder it becomes to walk forward.

That is why one must let go.

Only one who can let go of what is precious and deeply yearned for can truly be called a Taoist.

To let go not of things that are disposable, but of the things one does not wish to part with, only then does one become a true Taoist.

In that sense—

“How shameful.”

Hyun Jong said slowly as he opened his eyes.

“You are a true Taoist. As your teacher, I have yet to reach the same height as you… ack! What the—! You scared me! What is it!”

“What are you talking about?”

“When did you get here! Again! Why do you always appear without a sound, you brat!”

Hyun Jong clutched his pounding chest as though on the verge of a fit. If the day came when he died, it would surely be from the shortened lifespan caused by this kid.

Cheong Myeong, who had suddenly thrust his face right in front of Hyun Jong’s, turned his crooked gaze toward Un Am.

“Sect Leader. You’re passing down your position?”

“Well… yes.”

“Why?”

“Hm? That’s… well…”

Un Am tried to answer with an awkward smile, but Cheong Myeong’s sharp question came faster.

“Then Dongryong will become the Sect Leader?”

“……”

“That Dongryong?”

“You should call him Baek Cheon.”

If you add ‘Sasuk’ after the name, even better.

Though that was probably too much to hope for.

Cheong Myeong began to lose his temper.

“No, Sect Leader. Nooooo! Sect Leader!”

“…What now…”

“Does that make any sense? Huh? Dongryong is going to be the Sect Leader. ‘Mount Hua Sect Leader Jin Dongryong’—does that sound right to you?”

“…It’s Baek Cheon.”

Un Am, who added the meaningless correction anyway, sighed deeply.

“Is there any reason he shouldn’t? What do you think of Baek Cheon, exactly?”

At that moment, countless thoughts and expressions flickered across Cheong Myeong’s face.

“Well…”

“That’s enough.”

Stop. You don’t have to say it. I think I know already.

Un Am quickly changed the subject.

“After this great war, I hear that many sect leaders across the orthodox factions plan to step down from the front lines.”

“Yes.”

“Shouldn’t we move in step with that? Younger leaders will soon take the front, so it would be smoother for us to adjust accordingly…”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Since when have we ever followed what others do?”

“…Cheong Myeong-ah. That’s not what I meant—”

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re criticizing the former Sect Leader who steadfastly stepped down despite everyone asking why he would do such a thing?”

“Wh—what! Of course not! That was an act of deep wisdom by the Grand Sect Leader…”

“Exactly. So why would we make decisions just to match other sects? Our own situation should come first.”

This time Un Am tried a different reasoning.

“Cheong Myeong-ah, as you know, I lack both martial ability and wisdom. Mount Hua will face even greater challenges in the future. It’s better for someone capable of withstanding those trials to take the position.”

“What? Martial ability and wisdom, you say? Huh— wait, don’t tell me… are you saying that the former sect leader, who’s held the position for decades despite having martial skills worse than a third-rate disciple, is shameless?”

“W–what the hell are you twisting my words into, you brat!”                     

Utterly flustered, Un Am finally burst out swearing and sharply turned to Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong was biting his lips, his face saying, ‘This time, I’m actually kind of hurt.’

“G—Grand Sect Leader! That’s not what I meant…”

“…Yes. I suppose I was a bit shameless.”

“That’s not it at all!”

Un Am shouted furiously at Cheong Myeong.

“Out! Get out, you brat! Why did you barge in here just to cause chaos! Go on, get out!”

“I can’t! How could I leave when things are like this? Dongryong’s about to become Sect Leader!”

“Wasn’t that always bound to happen someday?”

“Sure, people die someday, but that doesn’t mean they should die today!”

Un Am was at a loss for words. In that silence, Cheong Myeong declared firmly,

“Now is not the time.”

“Cheong Myeong-ah.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but not now. Right now, Dongryong isn’t yet someone fit for that position.”

“Baek Cheon is a far greater Taoist than you think.”

“That’s exactly why.”

“Huh?”

Un Am looked genuinely confused. Cheong Myeong scratched his head.

 “Sasuk still needs time. Time to fully internalize what he’s gained from this war, to make it truly his own.”

“……”

“If he’s forced to shoulder the enormous burden of being Sect Leader before he’s fully settled within himself, he’ll never reach where he’s meant to go.”

At those words, for the first time since facing Cheong Myeong, Un Am’s expression grew serious.

“Are you referring to enlightenment?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Un Am let out a faint murmur.

“I thought he had already gained everything there was to gain.”

“Knowing something and truly attaining it are two different things.”

It was a simple reply, yet to Un Am, it felt piercingly clear and pure.

“Haa... I see. I understand what you mean.”

Un Am looked at Cheong Myeong with slightly subdued eyes.

“You say all that, but as always… deep down, it’s because you were worried about your sasuk, wasn’t it? Am I… right?”

His voice trailed off weakly, losing his conviction bit by bit.

Cheong Myeong-ah. When you say something this good, can’t you at least put on a solemn face...? Or at least a normal one? When you say it with a face that looks like a centipede’s crawling under your skin, people start doubting your sincerity, you know…

Un Am watched him silently for a moment, then spoke as if something had just occurred to him.

“Then… may I ask you one thing?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“If I refuse to change my mind and still pass the Sect Leader’s position to Baek Cheon, you’ll help your sasuk, of course?”

Cheong Myeong answered instantly, without a second’s thought.

“Of course. Why would you even ask something like that?”

“Right? Ha ha. For a moment, I almost thought—”

At that moment, Hyun Jong, who had been listening quietly, asked uneasily,

“And how exactly would you help him?”

“Ah, well, that’s obvious.”

Cheong Myeong shrugged.

 “The position of Sect Leader is poison to sasuk right now, isn’t it?”

“If we go by your words, yes.”

“Then what else can we do? We have to remove the poison.”

 “..…”

“I’ll make him step down of his own accord as quickly as possible. Then… should Yoon Jong Sahyung become the Sect Leader? But he’s still a bit too early for that. Then... Hmm…”

Cheong Myeong rubbed his temples, as though running through ideas, then finally shrugged with an air of reluctant acceptance.

“No choice but to go with the lesser evil. The Sect Leader’s seat should be taken by someone from Mount Hua who possesses martial ability, experience, wisdom, and competence all together.”

“....And who might that be?”

“Heh heh.”

“Who…”

“Heheheh.”

Cheong Myeong grinned sheepishly, a hint of pride creeping onto his face.

“Ah, come on. I really didn’t want to do it, but if things are like this, I don’t have much choice, do I?”

“…..”

“I truly don’t want to, but if it’s for Mount Hua, I’ll just have to sacrifice myself. Sigh. It’s not ideal for the youngest to become Sect Leader, but honestly, Mount Hua never really had a strong foundation to begin with, so it should be fine…”

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes, Grand Sect Leader.”

“I cannot permit that appointment.”

“Understood. I’ll withdraw my request.”

“Huh?”

Cheong Myeong tilted his head.

“Wait, why? Now that I think about it, it doesn’t sound like such a bad—”

“Please consider today’s proposal withdrawn. I will remain as Sect Leader until the day I die.”

“When you die, we’ll have the Sect Leader’s position passed to Geom-ah, then. Understood?”

“Understood, Grand Sect Leader.”

“Huh?”

“Then this meeting is adjourned.”

“Yes.”

“Wait, huh?”

As the others stood and began filing out of the room, Cheong Myeong blinked in confusion.

“Sect Leader? Grand Sect Leader? Elders? We’re not done talking! Hey?”

And thus, Un Am ended up continuing as Mount Hua’s Sect Leader for a while longer.

“Hello? Sect Leader? Sect Leadeeer?”

Cheong Myeong’s voice trailed behind them, unanswered, fading away into the echoes of Mount Hua.

Next Chapter

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