Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1179. I have something to tell you (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Welcome, Bangjang.”
As Bop Jeong approached, Hyun Jong greeted them with a bright smile as if his face had never been tense before.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again. Though it’s been a short time, I trust all has been well?”
Bop Jeong returned Hyun Jong's greeting with a respectful bow and a gentle smile.
“Thanks to your concern, Sect Leader, I’ve been doing well. I didn’t even leave my quarters, just in case something happened.”
At Bop Jeong’s playful remark, Hyun Jong curled the corners of his lips. Others might not have noticed, but the elders of Mount Hua could clearly see the faint bitterness hidden within that smile.
To make a lighthearted joke in such a setting meant that Bop Jeong had confidence and composure. He had already seized the upper hand in this meeting.
“Please come inside.”
“Yes. Thank you, Sect Leader.”
Tang Gun-ak said with a slight frown.
“Bangjang, for now, it would be more appropriate to address him as Maengju.”
Bop Jeong closed his eyes and nodded.
“Indeed. I misspoke. Please forgive my mistake, Maengju-nim.”
“No, there’s no need. What does a title matter? I am the leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, but also Sect Leader of Mount Hua. So neither of those are wrong.”
As Hyun Jong nodded and gestured toward the inside, Bop Jeong followed the invitation and stepped forward.
It was palpable—this time, the atmosphere was different from his last visit. The people welcoming him seemed to regard him with more caution and deference than before, even though their emotions had been deeper back then.
That shift in the atmosphere made Bop Jeong feel somewhat exhilarated.
It wasn’t just that they were more cautious of him. It was because, in that tension, he sensed that the answer he had come for was already apparent.
'I’ll have to narrow this distance gradually.'
There have been past conflicts and there is a lot of ill will that has built up, so they can't just laugh and live together overnight just because their positions have changed. Going forward, Bop Jeong's role would be crucial. If he couldn’t show enough openness and acceptance, the merger between their factions would be worse than useless.
Despite the weight of that responsibility, Bop Jeong was able to smile. He had already climbed the highest mountain—surely, solving the smaller issues ahead would not be impossible.
Bop Jeong opened his mouth after glancing around briefly.
“By the way, has Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword not joined us?”
“Ah, that’s….”
For a moment, Hyun Jong’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“I apologize. He’s feeling a bit unwell…”
“Maengju-nim, I wasn’t trying to criticize him for not coming to greet me. I was merely wondering if he would be attending this meeting…”
“No, he is waiting inside.”
“Ah, then that’s fine.”
Only then did Bop Jeong nod in satisfaction.
If Chung Myung doesn't come to greet him but attends the meeting, doesn't that mean that he doesn't accept him emotionally but will follow the decisions of Mount Hua and Heavenly Comrade Alliance?
‘That’s the kind of person you are.’
Of course, it would be even better if Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword came running barefoot to greet him. (So rushed to welcome others that forgot to put on footwear)
But Bop Jeong knows that this was just greed. No one can wield Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword as they please. Those who indulge in such greed will surely pay the price.
Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword required delicate handling. To be honest, even Bop Jeong wasn't entirely confident in his ability to handle him perfectly.
Usually, such people are referred to as double-edged swords, but in Bop Jeong's eyes, Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword was more like a sword without a hilt. Anyone who tried to wield that sword would have to be prepared to lose their fingers.
'But Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword. Luckily, I have that hilt.'
Bop Jeong's gaze was fixed on the back of Hyun Jong, who walked ahead of him.
Hyun Jong was the key that would enable him the sword called Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, which no one can wield. It would be impossible for him to wield Chung Myung himself, but only Hyun Jong can move Chung Myung.
And Bop Jeong, in turn, could influence Hyun Jong. So, in the end, it wouldn't be much different from Bop Jeong himself guiding Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, would it?
'Sect Leader. Your decision was never wrong. Even if I were in Sect Leader’s position, there would have been no other way. This is the weight that comes with being the leader of a sect, isn’t it?'
With these thoughts, Bop Jeong closed his eyes and quietly murmured a Buddhist chant.
How can it be comfortable for Hyun Jong to bow down and come back into Ten Great Sects once more?
But for Hyun Jong, there had never been another choice.
The primary responsibility of a sect leader is not to bring glory to the sect or build a stronger force, but to ensure the continuity and survival of the sect.
Especially, Hyun Jong, who witnessed with his own eyes the sect completely falling into ruin and being driven to the point of nearly having to take down its signboard, would have had no other choice.
Bop Jeong, feeling a tinge of sorrow, murmured another Buddhist chant.
“Please, go ahead.”
“Yes, Maengju-nim.”
Bop Jeong entered the room with a composed gesture. There was already one person sitting in the spacious room. Upon meeting the eyes of the one inside, Bop Jeong smiled and greeted him first.
“It’s been a while.”
“We met just three days ago, haven’t we”
“Three days is a long time. Don’t you think we should meet more frequently?”
“You’re already talking as if everything’s settled. You might end up hurting your face.”
“That has nothing to do with it.”
"Yes?"
Bop Jeong smiled brightly as he looked at Chung Myung.
“Even if I don’t get the answer I want today, would it do good for us to keep avoiding each other? So, it’s only right that we interact more often.”
The corners of Chung Myung's mouth twitched. Upon seeing this, Bop Jeong struggled to suppress the grin threatening to spread across his face.
Was it because he felt he had won a minor argument?
No, that's not it. The reason Chung Myung kept his mouth shut was because of none other than Hyun Jong. It wasn’t that he had lost in logic, but the mere presence of Hyun Jong had silenced him.
In the past, Bop Jeong might have felt a little jealous of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, who treated Hyun Jong favorably, even though he had nothing to highly value other than his character. However, to the current Bop Jeong, this appearance seemed even more reliable and appealing.
"We can continue the conversation later."
“Right.”
As Bop Jeong moved to take a seat in the center, Hyun Jong gestured towards the seat of honor.
“Bangjang, please sit here."
Bop Jeong glanced at the seat of honor but shook his head.
“No, Maengju-nim. This is my place now.”
"But…."
"It makes me more comfortable, so please, I ask that you let me."
"…If you insist."
Hyun Jong nodded and headed to the seat of honor. The others found their places and sat down.
Creak.
A quiet silence fell upon the room as the door closed. Without breaking the silence, Bop Jeong first looked at the faces of those who had entered the room.
First, the elders and sect leader of Mount Hua, Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, and those referred to as Five Swords, and Hye Yeon.
Additionally, Gaju of Tang Family, Tang Gun-ak, his heir Tang Pae, the heir of Namgung Family, Namgung Dowi, and the two gungjus of Outer Palaces were present. And even Nokrim King, Im Sobyeong, was seen. It seemed like he was uncomfortable in this position, as he was standing right next to the door, ready to leave at any moment.
'These are the backbone of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.'
Attending the meeting to decide the direction of Heavenly Comrade Alliance is something that requires both the position and qualifications. It is a bit strange that Five Swords of Mount Hua and Hye Yeon of Shaolin are present, but if others acknowledge it, it is not something Bop Jeong can question.
After all, this was still Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
Bop Jeong took a deep breath.
'Now, this is the final step.'
Though the events seemed to have progressed swiftly, that was only on the surface. If you add in the time Bop Jeong spent pondering over it, it would be right to say that it far from an easy situation.
Now, the moment had come to face the culmination of all that long, long struggle.
“Maengju-nim.”
Bop Jeong spoke. t wasn’t polite to let others speak first in such a setting, nor was it respectful to leave them in this atmosphere for too long.
“I shouldn’t, but I would like to forego formalities for today. Our situation is too urgent, and I can no longer endure the weight of waiting."
“…I understand, Bangjang.”
“Maengju-nim. And everyone here.”
Bop Jeong slowly looked at each person in the room.
"First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude. Because of the people here, things that could not have been solved with the power of Shaolin and Ten Great Sects alone were resolved, and people who could not have been saved were saved.”
“….”
"And, I wish to offer a formal apology for my narrow-mindedness in not fully accepting those facts sooner."
When Bop Jeong bowed his head, Hyun Jong quickly stopped him.
"Please, Bangjang, there’s no need for this."
“No, Maengju-nim.”
Bop Jeong shook his head.
“No matter what answer you give, once it’s given, it will be too late to say these things. That’s why I wanted to address it now before any decision is made. The fact that things have come to this point is more Shaolin's fault than anyone else’s. No, it’s not Shaolin’s fault—it’s my own."
“Bangjang….”
"I'm sorry."
Bop Jeong once again bowed deeply. Those who sat around him all had complicated expressions on their faces as they watched the scene.
While receiving an apology from Bangjang of Shaolin was certainly a significant moment, the current situation made it difficult to accept the apology with full joy.
Raising his head, Bop Jeong spoke once more, his face now stern and resolute.
“What Heavenly Comrade Alliance was trying to pursue will not be forgotten by Ten Great Sects. Nor will we forget that you awakened a spirit within Kangho that was beginning to fade."
“….”
"There's so much to say about what Heavenly Comrade Alliance has accomplished that we could spend the entire day discussing it. However, as you know, the current state of the world does not afford us that luxury. Therefore..."
Everyone couldn't take their eyes off Bop Jeong.
"As Bangjang of Shaolin, and as a representative of Ten Great Sects and Five Great Family, I would like to receive a response to the proposal I previously made."
The words came out of Bop Jeong a little faster than expected. Hyun Jong closed his eyes without realizing it.
"Maengju-nim, may I hear your answer?"
Bop Jeong looked at both Hyun Jong and Chung Myung's expressions at the same time. Even though he already knew half of the outcome, his throat dried up, and his insides burned. He, more than anyone else in the world, understood the weight of this answer.
However, he did not urge Hyun Jong. He knew that Hyun Jong’s feelings must be burning just as much, if not more.
A brief silence ensued. But for the parties involved, it felt like an eternity.
"Regarding the proposal you mentioned..."
Finally, Hyun Jong opened his mouth.
"I will give you an answer, Bangjang."
Bop Jeong unconsciously clenched his fists. His every nerve was focused on Hyun Jong’s lips.
“Heavenly Comrade Alliance….”
Hyun Jong’s voice, which came out like a sigh, was filled with a finality that could never be undone.
"We have decided to accept your proposal, Bangjang."
As soon as those words were spoken, Chung Myung's eyes closed tightly.
As if they would never open again.
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