Chapter 1934 - Return of The Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1934. Anyone Else Have Something to Say? (4)

Un Am extended a hand respectfully and saluted everyone with a fist-and-palm greeting.

“I am Un Am, currently serving as the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.”

The sect leaders gathered there looked at him with solemn eyes.

How many people would know the taoist name Un Am? Compared to those whose fame had shaken the world since their youth, the name Un Am was little different from anonymity. It was not a name that could dare compare itself to those seated here.

And yet, not a single one among them dared look down on him.

One might choose not to respect the man named Un Am. But no one would dare belittle the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. For Mount Hua’s standing in the current jianghu was just that immense.

“To all of you who have come from afar despite this sudden request, I offer my deepest thanks.”

After bowing deeply, Un Am continued. There was a composure in his calm and measured tone that was no different from his usual self.

“The reason I have gathered you here today is partly to express my gratitude for the aid you rendered during the recent war. More importantly, however, it is to discuss what lies ahead.”

At those words, the gazes of the sect leaders changed. Instinctively, they realized that this was where the alliance gathering truly began.

“The damage wrought by the war was great. There is far too much that we must do—both to restore what was lost and to help those who still suffer from its aftermath.”

Watching from below the platform, Hyeon Jong’s eyes gradually moistened.

‘Un Am-ah....’

Every disciple of Mount Hua was like a child or grandchild to him.

There wasn’t a single one he didn’t care about. But if he were forced to choose the one who occupied the greatest place in his heart, it would inevitably be Un Am.

The disciple who had endured Mount Hua’s long winter, only to willingly yield the glorious spring that had finally arrived to the next generation.

Whenever Hyeon Jong looked upon such a disciple, he always felt a pang of sorrow.

“...Such an outstanding child.”

If Mount Hua had been just a slightly more prestigious and well-organized sect, perhaps that child’s name would have resounded throughout the world even before Baek Cheon and Cheong Myeong?

As he thought this, Hyeon Jong’s wrinkled face became colored with both pride and sorrow.

“Good grief, why are you crying again? On a day like this too. Way to jinx it.”

“......”

“I keep telling you, old people do nothing but cry. Ugh.”

The one who occupied the greatest place in his heart was undoubtedly Un Am.

And the one who irritated him the most was undoubtedly this damned saje of his.

“You old fossil who doesn’t have a shred of sentiment.”

“Forget sentiment and wipe those tears before someone sees you. Don’t go crying in the middle of an event and ruin the whole atmosphere.”

“I said I understand.”

While the two elders bickered in the back, Un Am continued to guide the atmosphere with his characteristic benevolent smile.

Yet there were also those who watched this meaningful scene with utterly emotionless eyes.

Seated some distance away from the center of the platform, the Hundred-Faced Fox, Cho Geosan, fixed his gaze upon Un Am and spoke.

“Well, what do you think, Divine Lord?”

The Phantom Divine Lord, Yeo Mugwang, stared at Un Am with unreadable eyes before finally answering in a voice devoid of interest.

“Mediocre.” [Mediocre. beomyong. 범용(凡庸). Ordinary, commonplace, lacking exceptional qualities.]

“Hmm. Is that so? Even though he is the Sect Leader of Mount Hua?”

The Phantom Divine Lord clicked his tongue briefly.

“There’s nothing particularly deficient about him, but neither is there anything exceptional. As the leader of a small sect, he wouldn’t be lacking. But to say he possesses the qualifications to lead a sect that would discuss the affairs of the world? No.”

It was an assessment cold enough to sting.

“The others are much the same. Quite disappointing. I heard Mount Hua intended to contend over the affairs of the world, so I expected at least something on the level of Wudang in its prime.”

The Hundred-Faced Fox’s smile deepened slightly.

“That’s not bad for us, is it? If Mount Hua truly stood on the level of Wudang in its heyday, we’d never have a chance.”

“As if.”

“Yes?”

“Perhaps in the past. But as I am now, even if the Wudang of those days returned, I could contend with them on equal footing. There would be no one among them capable of stopping me.”

At those unbearably arrogant words, the Hundred-Faced Fox let out a hollow chuckle.

Still, it wasn’t bad. The Phantom Divine Lord of today possessed the qualifications to be arrogant. No, he needed to act arrogantly.

Only then could the Hundred-Faced Fox seize his opportunity.

“Then I’ll take it that Divine Lord’s intentions remain unchanged. May we proceed according to plan?”

“Fox.” [hori. 호리(狐狸). Literally ‘fox’; used here as a short form of address drawn from his epithet.]

“Yes, Divine Lord.”

“Stop trying to test me. Even my patience has its limits.”

Yeo Mugwang glared at the Hundred-Faced Fox with faint irritation in his eyes.

“Whether Mount Hua is strong or weak, I would have come here regardless. So long as the only person in the current jianghu capable of facing me after I emerged from seclusion is that child of Mount Hua.”

“There could be no doubt of that, Divine Lord.”

The Hundred-Faced Fox concealed a faint smirk.

‘Anyone listening would think he’s some ascetic seeker who cares for nothing but martial arts.’

If Yeo Mugwang were truly such a man, he would never have sought out the Hundred-Faced Fox in the first place. Just as the Hundred-Faced Fox knew the Phantom Divine Lord well, the Phantom Divine Lord knew him equally well.

The fact that he had sought out the Hundred-Faced Fox made the meaning unmistakably clear.

The Phantom Divine Lord’s objective was neither the pursuit of the Tao nor martial arts alone. It was power and fame, nothing more.

‘Well, whatever. It’s better for me if you hold that position. I’ll manipulate the world while riding on your prestige.’

The gaze of the Hundred-Faced Fox, Cho Geosan, turned toward the platform. Un Am, whose appearance seemed plain and unassuming, was still speaking in that calm, measured tone.

‘Annoying.’

The Phantom Divine Lord had judged that man to be mediocre. There was no particular disagreement with that assessment. But was mediocrity truly a bad thing?

No, it was not. Mediocrity was familiarity. And to those who constantly remained wary of another’s power, familiarity was never a disadvantage.

‘There’s nothing to gain by dragging this out.’

He had to act before that mediocrity became familiarity to those gathered here.

The Hundred-Faced Fox’s eyes grew foxlike and sinister.

 

“Hence...”

Un Am paused briefly and swallowed.

“I would like to discuss this together with the sect leaders gathered here. Namely, how we may help more people before it becomes too late.”

Having finished speaking, Un Am slowly swept his gaze across the assembly. One of those present raised a hand toward him.

“What method does the Sect Leader have in mind?”

“That would be...”

As it was a question he had anticipated, Un Am opened his mouth calmly. But someone’s voice cut across his words.

“With Mount Hua at the center—or rather, at the summit.”

At the sharp voice coming from behind him, everyone’s gaze turned toward the rear.

“Select sects in each province to serve as branch offices, and have all other sects carry out the directives of those branches.”

As Hundred-Faced Fox, Cho Geosan cut in and interrupted the reply, the expressions of several sect leaders subtly shifted. They had recognized who he was.

“It is the most efficient method, is it not? I imagine the system Mount Hua envisions is not very different from this.”

Meeting the provocatively challenging gaze, Un Am realized at once. That man had not raised the issue with good intentions.

“Would you first identify yourself?”

“Ah, my apologies. It would be unreasonable to expect the Sect Leader of Mount Hua to know an insignificant nobody like me.”

Cho Geosan slowly rose from his seat. It was a movement that seemed to draw the eyes of everyone present. Once convinced that all attention had fallen upon him, he smiled.

“I am Cho Geosan, leader of a minor sect known as the White Night House. Among fellow martial artists, I am undeservedly known by the nickname Hundred-Faced Fox.” [baekyabang. 백야방(白夜房). Literally ‘White Night Chamber/House.’]

Un Am’s face hardened slightly.

‘The Hundred-Faced Fox, Cho Geosan.’

I’ve heard of him. He possesses a certain reputation in Hubei. Though not entirely for good reasons.....

But why has someone like him chosen to interfere so openly?

“Well then, Sect Leader. Am I mistaken?”

“Hmm.”

Un Am composed himself before speaking.

“Your proposal is not greatly different from ours.”

“Indeed, indeed. Just as I thought.”

Cho Geosan nodded as though everything were obvious. Un Am asked in a heavy voice.

“Do you believe there is something wrong with such a structure?”

“How could there be?”

The Hundred-Faced Fox, Cho Geosan smiled faintly.

“It is an exceedingly efficient method. Since it is impossible to manage every sect from distant Shaanxi, establishing regional strongholds is practical. If the Beggar Union were to handle communications among those sects, the plan would become even more complete.”

As though genuinely impressed, Cho Geosan swept his gaze over Un Am and the Mount Hua disciples standing behind him. Then he slowly added.

“However... there is one concern I cannot quite dismiss.”

“And what concern would that be?”

“Though this plan is a means of efficiently connecting all the sects under Heaven, viewed another way, it is also a system through which a single sect may issue orders to every other sect under Heaven. Of course, if one speaks only of efficiency, there could scarcely be a better arrangement...”

As his words trailed off, tension settled over the hall. Cho Geosan wore a crooked smile, seemingly savoring that tension.

“But would not that efficiency only function if the sect issuing those orders were sufficiently capable and qualified?”

The sect leaders could no longer remain silent. A murmur spread through the crowd.

It was not because they agreed with Cho Geosan. Rather, his words amounted to a declaration that Mount Hua’s capabilities could not be trusted. And those gathered here were not people incapable of recognizing such an overt provocation.

As the crowd buzzed over a situation that was either completely different from what they had expected—or far more aggressive than they had anticipated—Un Am spoke once more.

“That is an exceptionally accurate observation, Sect Leader.”

“Hm?”

“Mount Hua is indeed a sect that falls short of being worthy of such responsibility.”

Cho Geosan looked at Un Am with surprise.

But Un Am’s gaze was directed not at him, but at the other sect leaders.

“That is precisely why we require the assistance and cooperation of everyone gathered here. Let me state this clearly once more: this gathering exists to seek that cooperation. It is not a gathering convened to discuss Mount Hua’s authority.”

It was a good answer. No, it was excellent.

That is, of course, if Cho Geosan had ever intended to accept that answer in the first place.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Cho Geosan laughed exaggeratedly. As though reclaiming for himself the attention Un Am had drawn away.

“Sect Leader. Forgive my boldness, but to my ears, this ‘cooperation’ sounds remarkably like ‘loyalty.’“

“What are you—?!”

Even Un Am could not conceal his bewilderment this time. This was provocation taken far beyond all bounds. No, it wasn’t merely provocation.

Before a gathering filled with influential figures, Cho Geosan was openly disparaging Mount Hua’s intentions. It was little different from a declaration that he intended to stand against Mount Hua.

Yet despite committing such an act, Cho Geosan continued speaking as though he had not the slightest concern.

“Ah, there’s no need to be so startled. I mean no ill intent. It’s hardly such an extraordinary matter, is it? After all, even Shaolin once demanded loyalty under the name of peace.”

Several of the sect leaders gave slight nods. At least that much, they seemed willing to agree with.

“Cooperation, assistance, loyalty—it matters little what name you give it. But..... Well. The one thing I am curious about is whether Mount Hua is truly a sect qualified to demand such things.”

“Sect Leader.”

“Please hear me out to the end. Mount Hua’s contributions to the world are not insignificant. I have no intention of denying an obvious fact. But merely because you once saved my life, am I now expected to trust and follow you regardless of your actual capabilities in the future...?”

Cho Geosan looked around as though seeking agreement.

At that moment, Un Am could not help but notice it. Whether genuine or feigned, the eyes of the sect leaders who had maintained favorable attitudes toward Mount Hua were subtly beginning to change.

‘This is bad...’

This was not why they had convened this gathering.

Yet at the same time, Un Am realized something else. The crack that had appeared now would not vanish simply because he hurriedly smoothed over this conversation.

‘What should I do...?’

It was then.

“Wow, you really twist your words like crazy.”

Someone’s sarcastic voice pierced everyone’s ears.

It was so flippant and aggressive that no one could believe it had come from a gathering like this. Naturally, every gaze turned toward the source.

It was the young taoist standing behind Un Am. From those who recognized him came sounds that were neither quite admiration nor quite groans.

“....Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”

“Why say it in such a long-winded way? You could’ve just said Mount Hua looks easy to push around.”

Cheong Myeong stepped forward.

Watching him, the Hundred-Faced Fox couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

‘He really is young.’

He had not expected him to take the bait this easily.

A truly seasoned veteran would have concealed himself until the very end and denied his opponent any opening at all.

“Well now, the famous—”

“Shh.”

Cho Geosan, growing pleased with himself, tried to continue, but Cheong Myeong casually waved a hand and cut him off.

“.....”

For the first time, confusion appeared on the Hundred-Faced Fox’s face.

“Sorry, but I’m the type who gets a stomach churn from hearing people twist their words. Let’s just skip to the point.”

“....The point?”

“Come out.”

“Huh?”

“Not you.”

Cheong Myeong jerked his chin toward the Hundred-Faced Fox—or rather, toward the Phantom Divine Lord seated beside him.

“Tell the guy next to you to step forward. That was the plan from the start anyway, wasn’t it? Isn’t that right?”

Cheong Myeong let out a grin as he looked toward the Phantom Divine Lord, who was glaring at him.

“What? Why? Going to pretend otherwise now?”

“Dojang, we—”

“Ah, just stop it.”

Cheong Myeong let out a faint scoff.

“No matter how you dress it up, we both know what’s really going on here. You were just testing the waters, thinking you could manipulate us a bit. So let’s not waste each other’s time. That’s more convenient for both sides, isn’t it? Don’t you agree?”

The moment he finished speaking, Cheong Myeong’s expression changed completely. His playfulness vanished without a trace, replaced by a cold, ruthless gaze that seemed to seethe beneath the surface. He snarled as he spat out his words.

“Come out. I’ll smash you to pieces.”

At that violent declaration, the Hundred-Faced Fox couldn’t help but flinch.

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