Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1186. This is the path we will walk from now on (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Thud.
The sound of the broken prayer beads hitting the floor echoed like thunder. The beads, which had slipped from the snapped string, continued to roll indifferently across the floor, making a rattling sound.
Tang Soso, her already large eyes now wide as lanterns, reached out and gently tugged on Yoo Iseol’s sleeve, while her gaze remained fixed on Baek Cheon.
"....Sago."
"What?"
"Can’t, can’t you do something?"
"Do what?"
"No, that..."
"Can't stop him. It's pointless."
Yoo Iseol muttered indifferently, her expression unchanging.
"At least we can hit Chung Myung."
Only after hearing those words did Tang Soso realize something new.
Once someone is determined to go all out, the hardest person to stop at Mount Hua isn’t Chung Myung, the infamous "Mad Dog of Mount Hua," feared throughout Kangho—it’s Baek Cheon, the "Righteous Sword of Mount Hua."
And the reactions of others who watched this situation were not much different from Tang Soso's. Jo-Gol's mouth was wide open as if it was about to be torn apart, and Yoon Jong's, so shocked, had widened his typically narrow eyes.
'Unbelievable…'
Yoon Jong looked at Baek Cheon with round eyes.
He could say it with certainty. There were over a hundred disciples in Mount Hua, but the only one who could speak so sternly to a figure like Bop Jeong was Baek Cheon.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Bop Jeong. More precisely, they focused on Bop Jeong’s shoulders, which were trembling slightly.
Bangjang of Shaolin was shaking with barely contained anger. Those who knew what Shaolin was and who the Shaolin Bangjang represented couldn’t help but feel a chill at the sight.
But the disciples of Mount Hua, though aware of all this, were feeling something entirely different from fear.
Yes, Baek Cheon's words and actions may have been excessive. His tone may have been too harsh. He could have softened his expression of the same sentiments.
But there was one reason why no one raised their voices at Baek Cheon for being excessive. The words Baek Cheon had just spoken were the resentment that anyone who had ever lived in Mount Hua had been holding in their hearts.
Mount Hua’s ancestors saved the world. Yet even those who remembered that fact had willfully ignored it, only to look down on and take advantage of Mount Hua. How unjust, how painful that had been?
And now, here in this moment, Baek Cheon sternly pointed out that fact. Not to anyone else, but to Bop Jeong himself. What they had hoped for, even longed for, but never dared to imagine even in their wildest dreams was now happening in reality.
In the silence that swept through the room, Bop Jeong stared blankly at the floor. Scattered before him were the shattered pieces of his prayer beads.
Who in all the world would dare to speak of duty in front of Bangjang of Shaolin? Who would dare try to lecture him? This wasn’t just disrespect toward Bangjang of Shaolin—it was a grave insult to Bop Jeong, the old monk who had walked the path of the Buddhist teachings.
However, the reprimand for this situation didn’t come from Bop Jeong but from Jongni Hyeong, who was seated beside him.
"What kind of nonsense is this!"
Jongni Hyeong raised his voice and glared at Baek Cheon with a seething gaze. Until now, he had kept silent, thinking it wasn’t his place to speak, but even in his opinion, this was an action that had crossed the line.
"Now that you've become Acting Sect Leader, is there nothing you can see? Even if you were to officially take the position of Sect Leader, such words would still be unacceptable! How dare you, without knowing your place—"
But at that moment, it was Bop Jeong himself who stopped Jongni Hyeong.
"Stop, Sect Leader"
"Bangjang! But this is too much of a disrespect..."
"I said stop!"
Bop Jeong’s shout, backed by his internal strength, instantly silenced Jongni Hyeong’s fierce protests. Jongni Hyeong looked back at Bop Jeong, unknowingly jolted.
Bop Jeong, who had been staring at the scattered prayer beads, raised his head and closed his eyes.
"…I apologize for raising my voice, Sect Leader. But, Sect Leader, though I appreciate your feelings, this is not something for you to get angry about."
"Bangjang...."
"....Amitabha."
With his eyes tightly shut, Bop Jeong quietly chanted a Buddhist mantra. Repeating the mantra several times in a soft voice, he managed to regain his composure and finally opened his eyes.
What he faced was Baek Cheon's calm face, with no change in expression. To some, it would seem endlessly confident; to others, unbearably arrogant. How did it appear to Bop Jeong?
"…In this matter…"
Bop Jeong paused, taking a deep breath, and then spoke as if the words were being forced out.
"The fault is mine. I apologize."
As soon as those words were spoken, the disciples of Mount Hua exhaled in disbelief.
To simply accept it, Baek Cheon only pointed out Bop Jeong's mistake and Bop Jeong acknowledged it. It might seem like no more than that, something minor.
However, those who understood the deeper implications behind this seemingly simple situation could not take it lightly.
Bop Jeong closed his eyes once more, uttering another Buddhist mantra, before speaking again.
"I forgot for a moment that Siju... are the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua, and that the Sect Leader of Mount Hua deserves to be treated accordingly. It is all this small monk's fault for being so lacking."
The disciples of Mount Hua glanced at each other.
The Sect Leader of Mount Hua deserves respect befitting the position.
Depending on how one interprets this, it could carry various meanings. However, the treatment that the 'Sect Leader of Mount Hua' that Bop Jeong was talking about now should receive was not due to the power and influence that Mount Hua currently possesses.
The significance is clear: This was the first time Bop Jeong, in a public setting, had acknowledged Mount Hua’s contributions in the past.
How could the disciples of Mount Hua possibly express their feelings after hearing those words?
Baek Cheon spoke again.
"As a martial artist and disciple of Mount Hua, I would like to apologize for my excessive words. However, since I am here not as a mere martial artist but the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua, I find it difficult to offer an apology, so I ask for your understanding."
"....There’s no need for an apology. Your actions were correct."
Bop Jeong nodded coolly. Tang Gun-ak's eyes briefly flickered with surprise at the sight.
Others might not have noticed, but to him, it was clear that Bop Jeong had changed. If it had been the old Bop Jeong, this conversation would never have progressed like this.
'It’s not just us who were influenced by Mount Hua.'
No, perhaps Bop Jeong had merely returned to his original self, renewing himself after having been shaken by Mount Hua.
In the long run, that would be a good thing, but right now, it wasn’t something to be welcomed. After all, Baek Cheon was in the midst of a heated debate. And here he was, facing a Bop Jeong who remained calm, even in such a situation.
"But, Acting Sect Leader."
As expected, at that moment Bop Jeong opened his mouth again.
"The part where I apologized was in my tone and attitude, so I am not denying the meaning of what I said to you, Acting Sect Leader. Now, it is time for you, Acting Sect Leader, to answer this monk question."
Bop Jeong looked at Baek Cheon with calm, sunken eyes.
"Acting Sect Leader, you clearly stated that this decision was not born out of youthful passion alone. Then surely, you must have a convincing answer prepared to make this monk understand."
At those words, several people's expressions darkened.
In fact, among those here, was there anyone who truly wanted to join Ten Great Sects? Everyone secretly hoped for the survival of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
However, the reason no one was able to openly oppose it was because there was no justification or logic to oppose the cause put forward by Bop Jeong.
How could anyone logically argue against the idea that they must unite to save as many people as possible?
"If you cannot provide such an answer, Acting Sect Leader, then you will be nothing more than an evil who, driven by personal emotions, has brought disaster upon the world. You are aware of that, are you not?"
It was a clever way of speaking. Without being overly aggressive, Bop Jeong used the term "evil" to increase the weight of responsibility for the decision and put pressure on Baekcheon to answer.
However, if Baek Cheon were to latch onto that single word, it would seem like he was grasping at straws due to a lack of an appropriate response.
Everyone could only look at Baek Cheon with worried eyes.
"Of course, Bangjang."
But Baek Cheon's answer was bold, almost refreshing.
Bop Jeong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Do you have an answer for this monk?"
"Yes."
"It’s hard to believe, Acting Sect Leader."
Bop Jeong looks at Baek Cheon with eyes that seem to be questioning him.
"If you are going to continue sophistry, I would like to advise you to stop now. That will not only tarnish the reputation of Mount Hua, but also disgrace Sect Leader who appointed you to this position."
Baek Cheon, who had been listening quietly, called Bop Jeong softly.
"Bangjang. Are you unaware?"
"...What are you talking about?"
"Of just how contradictory your words are right now."
Baek Cheon shook his head as he looked at Bop Jeong, who glanced at him as if to say, ‘What on earth are you talking about?’
"When Bangjang visited us last time, I thought Bangjang had changed from how he was in the past. I was pleased by it, and I felt deep respect. Do Bangjang remember what he said back then?"
"....Well, I’ve said many things."
"You said, ‘No one is wrong. It’s just that we each have different perspectives. Even if no one is wrong, our differing positions can lead us to pursue different goals.’ That day, Bangjang said this."
Bop Jeong nodded. Those were indeed his own words. But why was Baek Cheon bringing them up now?
"That day, what you said gave me a great realization. Because of it, I was able to reflect on my position and thoughts, and correctly realize what I needed to do. This is what it means for the younger generation to learn from the predecessors. But... what about Bangjang now?"
Bop Jeong frowned at those words.
"What are you saying…?"
"Bangjang, you are saying now that all those who do not share the same views as Bangjang are wrong, sinners, and evildoers who will bring misery to the world."
Bop Jeong held his breath at that sharp remark. The words that were meant to persuade them were coming back to bite him instead.
'This man…'
Bop Jeong looked at Baek Cheon with narrowed eyes.
In truth, it might not be too difficult to stand back and point out the flaws in someone’s logic.
However, Baek Cheon was now in the position of acting sect leader for the first time, and he was dealing with none other than Bop Jeong. And here he was, taking the time to slightly postpone his questions and poking fun at the flaws in the logic put forth by Bop Jeong.
"It is truly regrettable and disappointing. I sympathized with your grand purpose, but now, Bangjang, you're not showing behavior befitting that purpose."
"This monk...."
"As the Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua, I only hope that the cause that Bangjang speaks of is not used only as a tool to justify your own logic."
Bop Jeong’s expression distorted slightly without him knowing it. Yet, despite noticing his reaction, Baek Cheon continued to speak calmly.
"But there's no need for concern. I won’t let my distrust of your approach turn into distrust of you as a person, nor will I use it as a reason to break off our cooperation."
Everyone looked at Baek Cheon with surprised eyes.
This was his first debate with bangjang since becoming acting sect leader. And in this situation, he was offering to give up any advantage he had gained—such a thing was hard to comprehend.
But Baek Cheon's next words made even those people nod their heads.
"The reason is simple. I have said that if I lack something, I can learn, and if I fall short, others can fill the gaps. For me to then reject you on the grounds of your imperfection would be a direct contradiction of my own words."
Bop Jeong's face twitched slightly when he heard those words.
On the surface, it sounded like a compliment, but ultimately, wasn't it implying that while Bop Jeong wasn’t living up to his own words, Baek Cheon was?
Baek Cheon continued speaking without giving anyone time to ponder whether it was intentional or not.
"There’s no need for any other reason for Mount Hua to part ways with Shaolin. If there is a reason, it is only one: the grand cause you speak of, Bangjang, fundamentally contradicts the teachings of Mount Hua."
"...Contradicts, is it?"
"Yes, Bangjang."
Baek Cheon took a deep breath and then firmly declared.
"Let me make this clear here and now. As long as I am Acting Sect Leader, Mount Hua will never ignore those who can be saved in the name of a grand cause. If anyone must be sacrificed, that sacrifice will fall upon Mount Hua itself."
His voice was calm but undeniably resolute. It was a voice that sent chills through every disciple of Mount Hua.
"That is the will that Mount Hua has carried from the past, and it is the Chivalrousness Mount Hua must uphold."
A soft smile appeared on his lips.
"So, Bangjang, please remember this. This is the path Mount Hua has walked so far, and…"
Baek Cheon's gaze turned to the disciples of Mount Hua who were looking at him.
It was a gaze that was a little warm, but also a little stern.
"It is the path we will continue to walk."
The eyes of the disciples of Mount Hua shone as if answering his voice.
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