Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1161. What Should We Do? (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Bangjang, this is….”
As he walked towards the firmly closed main gate of the manor, there was not the slightest hesitation in Bop Jeong.
Jongni Hyeong, who often followed him, urgently tried to stop him with a look on his face that seemed helpless as if going through complicated trials.
“Bangjang. I was the one who said that killing time like this was pointless. But no matter what, this is....”
“Amitabha.”
Bop Jeong, who had been slightly displeased, looked back at Jongni and smiled gently.
“Sect Leader.”
"Yes?"
“Thank you, Sect Leader. Your words opened my eyes.”
“…What, what do you mean by that?”
"You told me to consider the best possible outcome."
“Yes, that’s right. I did say that. But still..."
Bop Jeong nodded slowly.
"Thanks to those words, I realized what I need to do now and what the right path is."
“Ho- However, Bangjang.”
"Right... Yes, that's what being right means. I don’t know what I’ve been seeing all this time. They say that even a small illusion can grow endlessly and consume a person—that is the nature of the 'heart demon'. It seems I was caught in such a mind demon. Thanks to you, I feel as though I've been doused with cold water and come to my senses."
Jongni Hyeong wiped the sweat that had gathered on his forehead.
“Bangjang…. How could I possibly fathom Bangjang’s deep intentions? But no matter how deep your thoughts, to suddenly visit where they reside..."
"What harm is there in that?"
"If it’s such an urgent matter, wouldn’t it have been better to summon them instead? I fear that if word spreads that Bangjang of Shaolin has gone to visit Heavenly Comrade Alliance, people might misunderstand."
“Haha. There’s no need to worry about that."
"Yes?"
Bop Jeong smiled and shook his head.
“Hyun Jong-jin came to see me the other time, so it’s only right that I visit them this time."
“Ho- How does that make sense? Our positions are different, and our statuses are different.”
"Well, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I'm relieved that they are staying not too far from here. It’s fortunate that I can meet them as soon as I’ve made up my mind."
“….”
"Don't worry. Everything will turn out well."
A deep sigh escaped Jongni Hyeong's mouth.
"May I ask what exactly you intend to do?"
"What is there that I can't tell you? I am trying to reach out to them.”
“Huh? Ba- Bangjang. Haven’t Heavenly Comrade Alliance and we already crossed the river of no return?”
"We can still turn back."
Jongni Hyeong looked at Bop Jeong with a bewildered expression.
“Then, then what will you do if they reject your offer?”
“That won’t happen.”
"But if, by chance..."
“Hmm, well, I don’t know. If it were them I know, they wouldn't refuse, but if such a thing were to happen..."
Bop Jeong's eyes darkened slightly.
"No, it won't happen. You don't need to worry."
Jongni Hyeong followed Bop Jeong, shaking his head.
'What exactly is he planning to propose?'
The person who had been agonizing in the room for days suddenly burst out and headed straight for Heavenly Comrade Alliance without looking back. What was strange was that the expression on Bop Jeong’s face was much more refreshing than before.
'Has he really had some sudden great awakening?'
Isn't it frustrating when you ask questions and get no answer?
'I can only wait and see.'
The guards at the gate were flustered and at a loss for what to do when they saw Bop Jeong approaching. It was understandable. Could they have ever imagined that bangjang of Shaolin would suddenly visit?
The fact that they recognized Bop Jeong from afar was at least a small relief.
“Sect Leader… No, is Maengju inside?”
"Gr- Greetings, Bangjang."
"Haha, there's no need to be so tense. I've just come to share some tea."
"We, we've sent word inside. P- Please come in!"
"Have you received permission to let me in?"
“That’s… we haven’t.”
"Then I will wait here. It wouldn’t be proper for a guest to enter without the owner’s permission."
"That…."
The guards exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to respond.
But just then, fortunately, the door inside suddenly opened.
Kwang!
Hyun Jong, who was visibly flustered, opened the door violently. Seeing Bop Jeong and Jongni Hyeong standing there, he breathed a little heavily. And then he said.
“…Welcome, Bangjang.”
“Maengju-nim. Have you been well?”
Beaojong slowly greeted Hyun Jong with a banzhang, and Hyun Jong returned the gesture deeply.
"If you had informed me beforehand, I would have come out to meet you. Why have you come so suddenly without sending a word...?"
"I thought of you and decided to visit. Once the thought crossed my mind, I didn't want to delay by following formalities. My apologies, Maengju-nim."
“No, rather, I am most pleased by your visit."
"This is Sect Leader Jongni Hyeong of Kongtong. You are already acquainted, yes?"
“I am Hyun Jong of Mount Hua. It is a great pleasure to meet Sect Leader of Kongtong."
“No, Maengju-nim. The pleasure is mine."
Hyun Jong smiled brightly. But his eyes carried a hint of suspicion as he observed Bop Jeong.
The last time they met each other, Bop Jeong had laid his emotions bare. But Bop Jeong now seemed quite different. Rather, he was filled with the calmness and gentleness he felt when they first met.
“Please come inside.”
"Then I will take you up on your hospitality."
Bop Jeong follows Hyun Jong into the manor.
Bop Jeong, who had been following Hyun Jong one step behind, soon came out into the yard and faced the people waiting for him.
"It's been a long time since we've all met."
Bop Jeong spoke with a warm smile. In response, some subtly furrowed their brows in discomfort, while others nodded slightly, but most were busy hiding their trembling feelings.
"Tang Gaju, you’re here as well."
"Is there any other place I should be? It's been a long time, Bangjang."
"And Namgung Family Sogaju-nim."
"...It's a pleasure to see you."
Perhaps because their last encounter was not so pleasant, Namgung Dowi could not maintain his usual decorum.
"And who are these?"
“Yes. These are gungju of Beast Palace and Ice Palace.”
"Ah."
Bop Jeong smiled gently.
"It is a great pleasure to meet such distinguished individuals."
“I am Maeng So.”
“My, my name is Seol So-baek.”
Bop Jeong did not bow this time but simply nodded his head slightly.
Bop Jeong slowly raised his head and his gaze turned to a person at the back. A voice burst out as if it had been waiting.
"What do you think you're getting out of this, crawling in here again— Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!"
Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo-Gol all covered Chung Myung's mouth at the same time.
For the first time, a sigh escaped Bop Jeong.
"You haven’t changed at all, I see."
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
Chung Myung, whose arms and legs were being restrained by Yoo Iseol and Tang Soso, shouted something with his face flushed red, but unfortunately, no one could hear him.
Bop Jeong shook his head and looked around at the others, then spoke in a soft tone.
"I would very much like to have a conversation with all of you, but since I have not come here for personal reasons, I hope you understand that I cannot stay long."
“N- No.”
"If Bangjang has urgent matters to attend to, we understand."
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Bop Jeong's gaze fell on Hyun Jong.
"Maengju-nim, I would like to speak with you privately for a moment."
“Of course, Bangjang.”
Bop Jeong's gaze fell on Tang Gun-ak.
"And I would like to speak with you as well, Tang Gaju.”
“I will do so.”
It was when everyone except Hyun Jong and Tang Gun-ak was about to step back.
"You should join us as well, Namgung Sogaju-nim."
“…Are you referring to me?"
“That’s right.”
Namgung Dowi nodded with a stern face.
"Understood."
Bop Jeong bowed his head toward Maeng So and Seol So-baek.
"Naturally, I would have liked to invite you both to join us, but as what I am about to discuss is a sensitive matter within Jungwon, I must apologize for not being able to extend the invitation.”
“Please, don’t worry. I completely understand.”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
Bop Jeong smiled gently, then looked at Chung Myung, who was still struggling and making muffled noises with a peculiar expression.
“You should come in as well, along with the other disciples of Mount Hua.”
“…Us too?”
“Yes, without you, who would be there to stop Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword from killing me?”
“Tha- That’s….”
“Hahahahat.”
Jo-Gol's face turned pale at the joke Bop Jeong gave him.
“But... it seems like someone important is missing?”
"Yes?"
At that moment, Yoo Iseol gestured towards Bonchung.
"There."
"Huh?"
Yoon Jong, who tilted his head in the direction Yoo Iseol pointed, quickly frowned.
“…What on earth are you doing there, Nokrim King?”
Im Sobyeong, who was crouching with his head covered behind the broad back of Bonchung, was startled and quickly looked around in a panic.
“Ha- Hahaha…. I….”
“Hmm. You must be Nokrim King.”
Bop Jeong smiled brightly and looked at Im Sobyeong.
“Well? Would you care to join us?”
“Hiiiik!”
"Huh?"
“I, I was wrong! I’m sorry! I won’t do anything bad again!”
“….”
“I, I didn’t become a bandit by choice...!”
“Nokrim….”
“Uwaaaaah!”
Im Sobyeong let out a shrill scream and ran off behind the manor.
Everyone stared blankly at the scene. Even Bop Jeong gaped and blinked. Yoon Jong, who was still in shock and gaped, asked Baek Cheon in disbelief.
“Why... Why is he acting like that?”
"Hmm."
Baek Cheon awkwardly scratched his cheek.
“I heard this from that yangban before. If you just gathered all the corpses of bandits who were beaten to death by Shaolin monks, you could fill half of the Yangtze River with the blood.”
“….”
“He dislikes Namgung, but I guess he’s scared of Shaolin. It’s engraved in his blood, something he can’t shake, no matter how hard he tries.”
“Does that even make sense?”
“They say only those who get scared at the sight of a monk’s bald head survive in Nokrim, but I’m not sure what that means either.”
“Then why doesn't he act like that around Monk Hye Yeon?”
“He said rogue monks naturally become bandits, so he’s not afraid of them.”
“...But he’s not a rogue monk.”
Bop Jeong, who had been staring at Im Sobyeong's empty seat with a bewildered expression, shook his head. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Hyun Jong guided him inside.
“This way, please.”
“Yes. Thank you, Maengju-nim.”
As the people who had decided to attend headed inside, Seol So-baek, who had been watching from the yard, tilted his head.
“It seems a little different from what I heard.”
“What part?”
Seol So-baek frowned slightly at Maeng So's words.
“From what I’ve heard, he seemed like a really bad person...”
“Seeing him like this, he seems like a better person than I thought?”
“…Yes. It just seems that way, right?”
“No. Perhaps that monk Bop Jeong really is as good as he appears.”
“...Yes? Then why...?”
Maeng So slowly crossed his arms. He looked at the door where Bop Jeong had just entered and murmured quietly.
“Sometimes, an upright good person is more frightening than an evil person.”
Seol So-baek tilted his head as if he found it difficult to understand.
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Thank you for the Chapter """
everyone gathered there where leaders of their groups it is not okay to live beast and ice out.
I do not know why, but i think Shaolin leader will ask them to let him join heavenly friends alliance 😆 it will be shocking as f@ckkk