Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1184. I'll bear It (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
A short yet long silence settled in the room.
It wasn’t just silence—it was a stillness, and even closer to a profound quiet.
The weight of Baek Cheon’s final words lingered in the air, permeating everyone present.
Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't that significant.
After all, it was just the change of leadership for one of the many sects in Kangho.
Yet, for those who witnessed it, a surge of emotion filled their hearts. So many swirling feelings made it hard for them to break free from the lingering mood.
It would be difficult to guess who among them was the most deeply moved by the scene. On the other hand, it was far too easy to tell who among them was the most conflicted.
Bop Jeong’s eyes trembled uncontrollably. It was hard to believe he had moments ago been someone with eyes as deep as the ocean.
'What in the world...'
He looked back and forth between Hyun Jong and Baek Cheon with an expression of bewilderment that he couldn't help. It was all so absurd.
Choosing the head of a sect is not a decision to be made lightly. What kind of position the sect leader was? It’s a role of immense responsibility, deciding the future of an entire sect. And yet, such a significant matter was handled in this way?
Even if Mount Hua was a sect that has long since abandoned formalities, this was beyond the bounds of common sense. It was almost easier to believe that this was all a staged play orchestrated by the disciples of Mount Hua. That would make more sense.
But there was someone who shattered even that faint hope of Bop Jeong.
"Wha... What is this..."
He turned his head when a voice came from somewhere and saw Chung Myung completely lost in thought. Even the word “soulless” was not enough to describe Chung Myung’s current state.
"This... no... no, what is this... this..."
"......"
"Even if the sect turns upside down... there should be limits. Oh... oh dear..."
With eyes as lifeless as those of a dead fish, he stared blankly into the distance beyond the ceiling, muttering incomprehensibly.
"Did I live to see this... to see this... Oh, Sahyung... Mount Hua is ruined... Mount Hua..."
Of course, Bop Jeong knew very well that Chung Myung had both the appearance of a chivalrous hero and a con artist. However, even to Bop Jeong, this reaction didn’t seem like an act.
Could it really mean that everything had been decided right here, at this moment?
'Have they lost their minds?'
Bop Jeong looked at Hyun Jong with a face that couldn’t hide his astonishment.
The Hyun Jong he knew was a very cautious man, almost to the point of seeming timid. And yet, Hyun Jong had handled such an important matter so carelessly? It made no sense.
'No, this can’t be.'
Bop Jeong snapped out of his daze.
This wasn’t the time to be blaming Hyun Jong or evaluating the situation. What was important was that the incident had already occurred, and if he were to make a mistake, this place could be swept away in an unexpected direction at any moment.
Feeling a sense of crisis, Bop Jeong uttered a short prayer.
"Amitabha."
The sound of his voice echoed clearly through the room, finally snapping everyone out of their trance as they turned their attention toward him.
Bop Jeong tried to remain calm and opened his mouth.
"....Maengju-nim, I am not in a position to comment on the great affairs of another sect, but this seems rather sudden and drastic."
As soon as he said the words, Bop Jeong realized his mistake.
In his rush to speak without fully collecting his thoughts, he had said something that could offend Hyun Jong. At that moment, he understood the error he had made, but Hyun Jong unexpectedly nodded calmly in response.
"That may be the case, Bangjang."
"......"
"However, this matter is something I, the sect leader of Mount Hua, have decided. The authority to appoint and designate the next sect leader belongs solely to the current sect leader of Mount Hua, which is me.”
Bop Jeong clenched his lips tightly.
Hyun Jong's words are correct. The decision to appoint the next sect leader is entirely up to the will of the current sect leader. Even the elders who assist the sect leader, or the Taesangjangmun (former sect leader), can only offer their opinions on the matter; they cannot force the sect leader’s hand.
In such a situation, what meaning would the words of a monk from another temple have?
But Bop Jeong could not back down here. From his perspective, he simply could not back down.
"However... isn’t appointing a sect leader the most significant event for a sect, requiring proper formality?"
"Indeed, it is."
Hyun Jong nodded again, calmly.
"That’s why, for now, it is not the appointment of a sect leader, but rather an Acting Sect Leader. The acting sect leader is a temporary position that carries out the duties of the sect leader, as designated by the current sect leader, and thus, doesn’t necessarily require formalities."
"...That is..."
Even Bop Jeong was left without a proper response. From the beginning, it was an objection that bordered on being unreasonable, but now there was no room left for even that weak resistance.
And at that moment.
"Listen, Acting Sect Leader."
"Yes!"
Hyun Jong removed the sword from his waist and handed it to Baek Cheon.
"In the name of Mount Hua Sect Leader, I hereby grant Mount Hua Acting Sect Leader Baek Cheon full authority for negotiations with Shaolin."
"I will carry out your command."
Baek Cheon received the sword with a dignified posture and bowed his head. Then, without delay, he took off the plum blossom sword from his waist and attached the Violet Divine Sword that Hyun Jong had given him in its place.
What could Bop Jeong possibly say about Violet Divine Sword?
That sword was returned to Mount Hua Sect by none other than Bop Jeong. And now, that very sword was putting him in a difficult position.
At this point, he wasn’t even angry anymore.
Baek Cheon, now had Violet Divine Sword, stood up from his seat, turned his body around, and sat down to face Bop Jeong. Behind him, Hyun Jong, seated in the upper position, overlapped in the background.
At that moment, Bop Jeong had to summon an enormous amount of mental energy just to control his facial muscles, which were threatening to twist on their own.
"...Amitabha."
Instinctively, Bop Jeong muttered a prayer and closed his eyes.
'Calm down.'
When you think about it, there’s no reason to be flustered. It’s only natural to feel a sense of urgency, as something so absurd had unfolded right before his eyes, almost like a fire breaking out at Scripture Hall. But in the end, wasn’t it simply a matter of the person he was negotiating with changing?
It was true that Baek Cheon’s performance had been impressive enough for even Bop Jeong to reconsider his opinion, but that was based on evaluating him as a second-class disciple.
If the evaluation were based on him being the sect leader, there was no reason to give him such a high score.
When you think about it, dealing with a freshly appointed sect leader like Baek Cheon might be easier than dealing with someone as seasoned and experienced as Hyun Jong.
Bop Jeong took a deep breath. It was to congratulate Baek Cheon.
But Baek Cheon opened his mouth faster than Bop Jeong.
"First, I must apologize to Bangjang for my rudeness."
"......"
"I knew this matter was not fitting for my position, but the situation was urgent, and I unintentionally kept Bangjang waiting. I apologize."
Baek Cheon bowed his head slightly.
Bop Jeong couldn’t help but nod in return. At this point, complaining wouldn’t change anything. It was better to show generosity.
"Thank you for your understanding. I, Baek Cheon, as the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua Sect, with all authority entrusted to me by Sect Leader, will now speak on behalf of Mount Hua."
"Um, Baek Cheon Dojang. No... Acting Sect Leader."
"Yes."
"It seems something doesn’t quite add up. Weren't you the ones who asked this monk to treat Hyun Jong Jinin as Maengju of Heavenly Comrade Alliance and not as sect leader of Mount Hua?"
Bop Jeong glanced at the others and continued speaking.
"I am here to negotiate with the leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. How is it that the acting sect leader of Mount Hua is now negotiating on behalf of Heavenly Comrade Alliance Maengju? That doesn’t make sense."
It was a sharp observation. But Baek Cheon smiled as if he had anticipated this comment.
"I believe there’s a bit of a misunderstanding."
"...Misunderstanding, you say?"
"Yes, Bangjang. I am not here to represent Heavenly Comrade Alliance in this negotiation. I am here to deliver Mount Hua’s response to the proposal you made."
"This gathering is..."
"This gathering is, of course, to discuss the future of Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Ten Great Sects. However, I trust Bangjang wouldn’t say that Mount Hua isn’t allowed to express its own position here, would you? Since Bangjang made different proposals to each sect, shouldn’t we also be allowed to give our response?"
"...I see."
In short, Hyun Jong gave Baek Cheon the position of the acting sect leader of Mount Hua, but did not give him the position of Maengju of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Therefore, Baek Cheon meant to answer the proposal given to Mount Hua by Bop Jeong as acting sect leader of Mount Hua, not as a representative of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
"All the disciples of Mount Hua are deeply grateful for the suggestions made by the Master."
"That would be a relief. If so..."
"But, Bangjang."
Baek Cheon smiled quietly. However, the smile, which should have appeared soft, somehow looked far more resolute than any stern expression could.
"Mount Hua rejects the proposal from Bangjang. Mount Hua will not return to Ten Great Sects."
Bop Jeong’s eyes widened in shock.
He had hoped to slowly steer the conversation in a positive direction. Yet, this young brat had jumped straight to the conclusion—one that Bop Jeong did not want.
"Wait, wait just a moment! Acting Sect Leader!"
"And!"
Baek Cheon didn't stop there and continued speaking in a firm voice.
"The rights to Heavenly Comrade Alliance are shared by all the sects belonging to the alliance. Even if the sects currently belonging to Heavenly Comrade Alliance decide to share the same goals as Ten Great Sects."
Baek Cheon glanced at everyone seated in the room. All eyes were firmly fixed on him.
He understood the expectations reflected in their gazes, the pressure conveyed by their posture. Baek Cheon didn’t shy away from any of it; he fully accepted it, channeling all his willpower into his words.
"Mount Hua alone will remain in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."
The voice spread out clearly and distinctly, like lines drawn with a single stroke of a pen on a piece of pure white paper.
"Thus, in the name of the sect leader of Mount Hua, I declare: there will be no dissolution of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Even if all other sects leave and Mount Hua stands alone, Mount Hua will continue to uphold the name of Heavenly Comrade Alliance."
Bop Jeong's mouth fell open.
What was this young brat even talking about?
But unlike the shock Bop Jeong received, Baek Cheon, who was facing such Bop Jeong, was extremely calm and composed.
"Oh, of course, please don't misunderstand."
"...Misunderstand?"
Misunderstand? What now?
Baek Cheon, who had been speaking with the gravity of a mountain, now adopted a gentler tone, like a soft breeze.
"Of course, I’m sure Bangjang wouldn’t think this, but just to clarify, Mount Hua has no intention of opposing Shaolin or Ten Great Sects. We simply walk a slightly different path while aiming for the same destination."
A warm smile spread across his face, like a gentle spring breeze.
Under different circumstances, how could it not have been a good thing? But not now. Even Mount Hua’s own disciples, seeing that smile, felt their stomachs churn.
"Even if Mount Hua doesn’t submit to Ten Great Sects, surely a sect as great as Shaolin wouldn’t have any trouble embracing just one like Mount Hua, would it?"
"......"
"To resolve the crisis facing Kangho, we need the cooperation of all Jungwon. And as you know, I’m just a young novice, newly appointed as acting sect leader, with no real experience in the ways of the world, am I not?"
The moment Bop Jeong's mouth opened without him realizing it, Baek Cheon bowed his head in an extremely polite manner.
"I humbly ask for your continued guidance and advice, Bangjang."
"Uh..."
Bop Jeong was left speechless, his face frozen in bewilderment.
Tang Gun-ak, who was watching Baek Cheon slyly outmaneuver Bop Jeong, felt dizzy for a moment and tightly closed his eyes.
'Why...'
Why were the people of Mount Hua... all like this? Why...
Everyone present, realizing that the Mount Hua Sect they once knew had returned, felt both joy and frustration at the same time.
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