Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1163. What Should We Do? (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Ten… Great Sects….”
“…Reinstate?”
A groan-like voice leaked out from the mouths of Mount Hua’s disciples.
Their eyes continuously darted back and forth between each other and Bop Jeong, as if trying to confirm if what they had just heard was real. That was how shocking it was.
But the shock they received was incomparable to what Hyun Jong and the elders received.
Squeeze.
Hyun Sang's hand, which was holding onto his thigh, was tightening its grip as if it would pierce his flesh at any moment. However, Hyun Sang didn't even feel pain.
Reinstatement into Ten Great Sects. Who could have imagined that such words would come from Bop Jeong’s mouth?
The disciples do not know. The younger generations here, the Baek generation and Chung generation, could not even begin to fathom what this meant to the older generation, the Hyun generation.
They had witnessed it with their own eyes. They wondered with what kind of anguish the predecessors of Mount Hua, who had been kicked out of Ten Great Sects, had closed their eyes. They could not bear the resentment until the moment they closed their eyes, and they still vividly remembered the deaths of those who had hoped that the name of Mount Hua would once again be named in Ten Great Sects someday, even in the distant future.
Their masters had passed on with a constant plea. They begged, pleaded, and cried until the end, asking them to one day put Mount Hua back on its pinnacle and restore its former glory. Even knowing it was a nearly impossible dream.
And now, someone with the power to make that dream a reality was telling them to return.
Of course, Bop Jeong had said the same thing in the past. But to Bop Jeong at that time, 'the reinstatement of Mount Hua to Ten Great Sects' was merely a sweet bait and an empty promise to manipulate Mount Hua as he pleased.
But now, Mount Hua is no longer a place where Bop Jeong can manipulate as he pleases, nor is it a place where an empty promise can be thrown and then appeased. Mount Hua is now a sect that can hold Bop Jeong accountable for its statements.
The fact that Bop Jeong, who could not have been unaware of this fact, had made such a proposal meant that his offer was sincere.
“Tho- Those words….”
Hyun Jong, who was about to ask if it was sincere, suddenly closed his mouth. No matter what he said now, it would feel out of place. He was not just the sect leader of Mount Hua; he was also the leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
The dissolution of Heavenly Comrade Alliance should not be a condition for Mount Hua’s gain (과실(果實)).
“That's too much to ask.”
At that moment, Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth.
“Mount Hua is the core of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. No matter how great Ten Great Sects is, nothing is greater than the position of leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
“Hmm. That is one way to look at it.”
Bop Jeong readily acknowledged the fact.
“And what are the remaining sects supposed to do if Heavenly Comrade Alliance is disbanded?”
“Would there be a problem?”
"…Yes?"
Bop Jeong smiles broadly.
"The awkward part is that Tang Family is currently part of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Would there really a problem for Tang Family to return to Five Great Family that they originally belonged to? The place Tang Family that has been for hundreds of years?”
“….”
“The same goes for Namgung Family. What would be so strange about Namgung Family donning Five Great Family again?”
"We have no intention of doing so."
When Namgung Dowi answered coldly, Bop Jeong shook his head.
"Sogaju, I have nothing to say to you."
“….”
"But if Sogaju truly cares about your family, you should consider setting aside your stubbornness, even just a little."
"I believe that remaining with Heavenly Comrade Alliance is what’s best for my family."
"That may be true for now. But what about a hundred years from now?"
"Of course…."
“Does Sogaju think that it will be beneficial for your family to still belong to Heavenly Comrade Alliance after Sogaju is no longer present, Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword is no longer present, and everyone here has returned to the earth?”
“….”
“No, of course not. I’m not ignorant of the lofty ideals and noble aspirations of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. But those ideals..."
Bop Jeong declared in a calm voice.
"...were not created by Heavenly Comrade Alliance itself, but by a few people here. Am I wrong?"
Namgung Dowi's face distorted.
"We just have to continue that will."
“It is not easy for one sect to carry on the legacy of its predecessors, so do you really think it is possible for Heavenly Comrade Alliance, which is a union of numerous sects, to carry on the legacy for generations?”
“….”
“Sogaju is a great person. It could be. Perhaps you could do it. But, Sogaju, there is no guarantee that the next head of your family will be like you. And even less so in the generation after that."
Bop Jeong shook his head.
“Heavenly Alliance Comrade won’t last long.”
“No, but….”
“It is not because Heavenly Comrade Alliance is lacking. Rather, it is because it is too much. Human capacity is limited to begin with. Can they truly bear the vast ideals of Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"
No one could easily answer that question.
"I know this because I’ve experienced it. I didn’t think of myself as someone with a small capacity, yet I couldn’t grasp the ideals of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Let me ask you this. If someone like me were to appear among the successors of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, what would happen? If I were to emerge in a time when Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword and Hyun Jong-jin are no longer around, what would become of Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"
"Uh…."
This time, no one could bring themselves to say anything. The expected outcome was obvious, but the moment they said it out loud, it would be seen as disparaging Bop Jeong.
"And yet, do you truly believe that maintaining Heavenly Comrade Alliance is the best course for the future?"
At that moment, Baek Cheon spoke in a sharp, cold tone.
“I don’t know if it’s my place to open my mouth, but Bangjang. There are people from outer palaces in Heavenly Comrade Alliance, as well as us. If you're making this proposal, why didn't you invite them to this meeting...?"
“I will remove the word ‘Outer Palaces’ from the two sects of Northern Sea Ice Palace and Namman Beast Palace, and recognize the two sects as sects of Jungwon.”
“….”
“And I promise to support them as I have now, no, even more. Then they will be able to obtain what they have been longing for. What Heavenly Comrade Alliance cannot give them. Not as savages in the outskirts, but standing proudly at the center of Jungwon."
"Wh- What about Nokrim? Nokrim is part of Heavenly Comrade Alliance even though it's Evil Sects!"
Bop Jeong bursts into laughter at Jo-Gol's impulsive scream.
"That's a concern for me, too. I think we can discuss it together. But isn't Nokrim no longer a place that can be called Evil Sects?"
"…Well, that's true."
“If Nokrim promises not to harm the common people anymore, then there is no reason not to recognize them as Righteous Sects. Even the Buddha teaches us to lead wrongdoers to repentance. Wouldn't that be a virtuous deed?"
"If, if you say so..."
Jo-Gol scratched his head and stepped back.
If Im Sobyeong had heard this, he would have rolled his eyes and sworn allegiance to Bop Jeong. No matter how much Mount Hua favored Nokrim, it would never have the same impact as Shaolin's single acknowledgment.
"Then, isn't that settled?"
At that moment, Chung Myung, who had been listening calmly until then, opened his mouth.
"I believe I already gave you my answer. We have no reason to return to Ten Great Sects, which is now nothing but a hollow shell..."
"Would it be enough if it weren't just a hollow shell?"
“Huh?”
Bop Jeong looked at Chung Myung intently and smiled brightly.
"I promise Mount Hua equal standing with Shaolin."
"What?"
Chung Myung found himself speaking informally without realizing it. This was shocking even to Chung Myung, who thought that he could handle Bop Jeong's tricks at his fingertips.
What kind of place is Shaolin?
Even during the past war with Magyo, when Mount Hua was the only one holding the battle line and blocking Magyo, they never gave up their lofty pride as the leader of Ten Great Sects.
And yet now, when Mount Hua was still far from its former glory, Bop Jeong was offering it a position it hadn't even been able to claim back then.
"What kind of nonsense is this..."
"I will declare it to the entire world in the name of Shaolin Bangjang. Mount Hua and Shaolin will hold equal positions and cooperate moving forward."
“….”
Chung Myung's jaw dropped.
“That… Bangjang. That… I’m, I’m asking just in case.”
"What is it?"
"Have you recently had any incidents, like wetting your pants, or forgetting where you are...? Ow!"
Chung Myung collapsed forward on the spot. Then Hyun Young slowly retrieved the foot that had kicked Chung Myung's back of the head.
“I’m sorry, Bangjang. This one has moments where his mind tends to wander..."
“And the elders are?”
“My name is Hyun Young.”
“…I will remember that.”
Bop Jeong blinked, clearly surprised. He hadn't expected anyone among Mount Hua's elders to be capable of putting Chung Myung in his place.
“Amitabha.”
As if trying to calm his slightly startled mind, Bop Jeong chanted softly and then looked straight at Hyun Jong.
“Maengju-nim.”
“…Yes, Bangjang.”
"Of course, I understand that this alone is not enough. What Mount Hua enjoys now and the path it intends to walk is far more significant than all this."
At that moment, Chung Myung suddenly stood up and nodded his head up and down vigorously. Bop Jeong said calmly.
“But even so, Maengju-nim, you must accept my proposal.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“If Maengju-nim were just the leader of Mount Hua Sect, Maengju-nim could reject my offer. However, since Maengju-nim is the leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, Maengju-nim cannot reject my offer.”
Bop Jeong smiled brightly when Hyun Jong showed a look of incomprehension.
“The reason is simple. Heavenly Comrade Alliance is Heavenly Comrade Alliance. I ask, when Ten Great Sects and Heavenly Comrade Alliance are in conflict like now, when they are divided and cooperate minimally, and when they put everything aside and become one again.”
Hyun Jong's face hardened.
"Which of these three scenarios would make it easier to face them? And which of these three scenarios would save more lives?"
“That….”
Hyun Jong couldn't finish his answer, but it was no different from answering. This was a question that even a three-year-old child could answer on the spot.
“I believe that it is not a lie that Heavenly Comrade Alliance has been fighting for the common people all this time. Your sincerity has already been proven by your actions."
Bop Jeong looked around at everyone present.
“So I dare ask you this. Shaolin will be the first to let go. Therefore, I ask you not to reject the opportunity to save more lives and protect the world just because of pride. I beg you."
Everyone became quiet as if they were holding their breath. This was because Bop Jeong slowly bowed his head.
Tang Gun-ak, whose face was even more hardened, bit his lips tightly.
'This is... a checkmate.'
The cause that Heavenly Comrade Alliance had put forward so far. And the value that they had tried to protect. That was none other than chivalrousness. This could be said to be everything about Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
But now, that chivalrousness had become a sharp blade pressed against their throats.
'Bop Jeong….'
Tang Gun-ak, who felt an intense fear of the human being called Bop Jeong, unconsciously grabbed his thigh.
It felt as if someone was slowly… ever so slowly… tightening a large rope around his neck, suffocating him with an overwhelming sense of pressure.
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Thank you for the Chapter"""