Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1187. This is the path we will walk from now on (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Mount Hua’s will. Mount Hua’s Chivalrousness.
No one instantly grasped exactly what those words meant.
If those present hadn’t witnessed the preceding events, they might have dismissed it as mere righteous words spoken by a youngster who had only just taken the seat of the acting sect leader.
But those who had been watching the situation from the beginning completely felt the strange resonance of those words.
Perhaps it was because those who bore some level of responsibility could not help but sympathize with the dissonance between reality and ideals.
Everyone learns. Everyone resolves. They pledge to uphold Chivalrousness and pursue noble causes.
When they first held a sword, when they first entered the path of martial arts, didn’t everyone harbor lofty dreams in their hearts?
However, once you learn about Kangho's ruthlessness and the price of honest Chivalrousness ideals, they no longer speak of Chivalrousness.
That was why Baek Cheon's words held resonance.
Mount Hua was no longer a small sect in Shaanxi. With its elevated status came an increased burden. And yet, here was the acting sect leader of Mount Hua speaking of Chivalrousness.
How long had it been since anyone had seen such a sight with their own eyes?
“Will and…”
Bop Jeong spoke in a peculiar tone.
"...Chivalrousness."
A leisurely smile spread across his lips.
“Your words sound as though you are implying that Shaolin lacks both will and Chivalrousness. Is that my misunderstanding, Acting Sect Leader?”
Baek Cheon received Bop Jeong's words with an even wider smile.
“Of course, that was not my intention. I only meant to point out that the way we pursue our Chivalrousness differs.”
Bop Jeong slowly nodded.
“Acting Sect Leader. I cannot help but acknowledge the courage you have put into those words. The reason the elderly should listen to the young is because they have long lost that courage.”
On the surface, it sounded like he was acknowledging Baek Cheon, but there was a strange hidden bone within. It could be interpreted as saying that Baek Cheon’s words were nothing more than courage without substance.
“However, regrettably, while your courage is high, your answer is not sufficient to address my question.”
Bop Jeong shook his head, muttering.
“Mount Hua and Shaolin have different paths. Therefore, we cannot walk the same road.”
He looked at Baek Cheon with dark, heavy eyes, taking a deep breath. It was a gaze that seemed to press down on him, carrying a chill that made one instinctively shrink back.
“But the current situation of the world is not so forgiving for us to simply acknowledge each other and step aside. You understand, don’t you, Acting Sect Leader, how difficult it is to consider the stance of each individual sect?"
Baek Cheon closed his eyes as if agreeing with those words.
He knew it too. Ideals were ideals, and reality was reality.
“If we attempt to accommodate everyone’s stance, it ends up being all over the place. If you, Acting Sect Leader, cannot provide a proper rebuttal, I will have no choice but to see Mount Hua as disregarding the safety of the world in favor of pursuing its own ambitions.”
Neither words aimed at provoking emotions, pointing out logical gaps, nor even addressing Bop Jeong’s demeanor had managed to shake him, who stood as solid as an eternal rock.
‘This is what makes it terrifying.’
Tang Gun-ak bit his lips without realizing it.
This is why those who uphold a grand cause are so fearsome. That was why, throughout history, so many heroes and ambitious leaders risked their lives to claim such a cause.
Until now, the grand cause of the world clearly rested with Heavenly Comrade Alliance. But in this moment, that grand cause was firmly in Bop Jeong’s grasp.
So, wouldn't it be possible to refute everything Baek Cheon says by saying, 'So, does that mean that Mount Hua will ignore the innocent who are in dire straits and only uphold its own will?’
Of course, they could turn away. They could simply admit it. But the cost would be that Mount Hua would lose countless things. Especially since Mount Hua had not yet fully earned the support of the people.
Tang Gun-ak looked at Baek Cheon, who had his eyes closed as if deep in thought.
‘It’s alright, Dojang…’
Tang Gun-ak did not expect Baek Cheon to completely refute those words. That would be too harsh a demand on someone who had only just become the acting sect leader of Mount Hua. In the first place, the responsibility for bringing the situation to this point lay with others, so it was absurd to expect the one who inherited it to resolve everything.
Even if they lose something, even if they are criticized, they just need to stick to their principles.
After all, Mount Hua won’t be left alone to bear all the burden.
When they said they would follow Mount Hua’s decision, it didn’t mean they would make Mount Hua the scapegoat. Just as Mount Hua would willingly share the fruits of its decisions with Heavenly Comrade Alliance, they would also share the responsibility Mount Hua must bear.
The burden was still too heavy for the young Baek Cheon to bear. Although Tang Gun-ak was on the younger side among the sect leaders, if one looks closely, among the sect leaders of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, only Maeng So was older. (젊은 백천이 짊어지기엔 아직 그 짐이 지나치게 무겁다. 당군악도 문주들 중에서는 나이가 젊은 축이지만, 이제 따지고 보면 천우맹의 문주들 중에선 그보다 나이가 많은 이가 오직 맹소밖에 없었다.)
So, just as Hyun Jong has been his shield until now, he must now become Baek Cheon's shield.
Tang Gun-ak, who had made up his mind, opened his mouth to intervene in the conversation. However, Baek Cheon spoke faster.
“You keep making me repeat myself, Bangjang.”
Baek Cheon's expression was extremely calm.
“If Bangjang fails to understand one crucial point, we will simply keep repeating the same conversation.”
“…What is it you believe this monk must understand?”
“I may be lacking as an individual, but the acting sect leader of Mount Hua can never be lacking. This is because the role of sect leader is not just to represent the disciples but to embody the will of the sect. I will prove that to you from now on.”
Baek Cheon narrowed his eyes slightly as he fixed his gaze on Bop Jeong.
“The grand cause Bangjang is discussing is that ‘the path that saves the most lives is the right one.’ Is that correct?”
“It’s not something to put that simply. To be precise, it is closer to the idea that we must walk the righteous path for the safety of the world."
“The wrapping is great, but in the end, it still means sacrificing those who need not be sacrificed, doesn't it?"
Bop Jeong frowned.
“Acting Sect Leader. No one likes to make sacrifices. No one refuses to save those who they could save. If we act recklessly, driven by youthful impulsiveness, the consequences will be borne by all the people of the world. How long does Mount Hua intend to cling to an idealistic theory that does not match reality?"
Baek Cheon shook his head at those words.
"What Bangjang says is correct, but also incorrect."
"And why is that?"
"Because saying that we must sacrifice a few to save many is nothing more than weighing the value of human lives on a scale."
"Ha...."
For the first time, laughter escaped from Bop Jeong, who had maintained the utmost respect for Baek Cheon until now.
"Is that Mount Hua's argument?"
He couldn't conceal his scoff, as if he found it absurd.
"There is no higher or lower value in human life. Every life is precious. Who doesn't know that? But that's just an ideal. If you had to choose between one life and a thousand, what would you choose, Acting Sect Leader?"
"......"
"There is no up and down, and the lives of more people may be more important than the lives of the few because they have the same value as each other."
“Is that so?”
The corner of Baek Cheon's mouth twisted subtly.
“I understand what you are trying to say, Bangjang. But your argument still implies that human lives can be measured, no matter the criteria—whether by numbers or anything else."
"That's not what I meant..."
"What about a hundred lives versus one?"
“No, ten versus one? How about two versus one?"
Bop Jeong's face was distorted, as it seemed to him that this was nothing more than nitpicking. (법정의 얼굴이 일그러졌다. 이건 말꼬리를 잡고 늘어지는 것에 지나지 않는다는 생각이 들었기 때문이다.)
'Was this all there was to him?'
Although they were at odds because of their positions, the logic was so pathetic that it completely destroyed the good impression he had of Baek Cheon. Bop Jeong no longer saw value in continuing this meaningless debate.
"It seems there's no point in continuing this..."
“Bangjang.”
It was at that moment that Baek Cheon’s expression completely changed.
“Then I will ask Bangjang in return.”
"...What is it?"
"Since Bangjang claims he can make the decision, let me turn the question back. When all lives are equal, which is more important: one life or a thousand lives?"
Bop Jeong hesitated for a moment. Although it was the same question, something about it made him instinctively sense that there was more to it than met the eye.
But what can he possibly derive from the same question?
"As a Buddhist, I cannot make that decision. But as Bangjang of Shaolin, I would choose the thousand. If their value is equal and cannot be compared, then I must choose the option that saves more lives. Ignoring the decision because it's difficult is not an option—that is the essence of responsibility, Acting Sect Leader!"
“Of course, I respect your thought, Bangjang. In the end, what Bangjang is saying is that if Bangjang can sacrifice one to save a thousand, then that is right. Is that correct?"
"...Exactly."
Exhausted from the back-and-forth, Bop Jeong nodded, affirming his stance. At this point, no matter how Baek Cheon tried to twist his words, it would only come across as a forced argument.
But Baek Cheon's next question was something Bop Jeong could never have imagined. Baek Cheon's gaze sharpened in an instant as if it were going to pierce through Bop Jeong.
"Then, if you had to choose between one person's life and the money to feed a thousand people, which would you choose?"
Bop Jeong's expression blanked for a moment, not out of disbelief, but because he couldn't quite grasp what Baek Cheon was trying to ask.
“What is this….”
“I will ask again. If Bangjang could save a thousand lives that are on the verge of starvation by sacrificing one person’s life and obtaining a fortune, what would Bangjang do? Would Bangjang forsake one life to save a thousand?”
The tightly closed lips of Bop Jeong slowly parted on their own.
‘This is…’
Only the question had changed slightly. Nothing else was different. However, if he agreed here, wouldn’t he be someone who chose money over a person’s life?
When Bop Jeong hesitated and couldn't answer immediately, Baek Cheon asked again.
“Is it perhaps the money that is the issue? Then how about grain? If you could obtain enough grain to save a thousand people by sacrificing one person, would you choose the grain over the person?”
“This, this is absurd! Acting Sect Leader.... What is this....”
“Is grain also difficult? Then how about using the person as fertilizer to grow that grain? If it’s the manure that will yield ten thousand sacks of rice, it might be more important to Bangjang than one person’s life.”
“Acting Sect Leader!”
Bop Jeong judge, who could no longer contain himself, abruptly stood up from his seat. His eyes were filled with murderous intent. This was the murderous intent that Shaolin Bangjang emanated. No one in the world could easily withstand it.
But Baek Cheon did not retreat an inch.
“Please sit down. I have not yet finished speaking.”
“What nonsense is this...!”
“How is this nonsense? According to what Bangjang said, isn’t it more important to save a thousand people than to save just one? Then why does it matter if that person’s life is worth less than a pile of manure?”
“Listen here, Acting Sect Leader!”
“To begin with!”
A loud voice suddenly burst out of Baek Cheon's mouth.
“When you compare things that cannot be compared! When you force choices where none should be made, you end up dividing the value of everything in this world! Then you start to evaluate what should not be evaluated, and you belittle what should never be belittled!”
Bop Jeong bit his lip as if his words were stuck.
“First of all, the life of Haenam!”
Flames burned in Baek Cheon's eyes.
“Next, it was the life of comrades surrounded by enemies! After that, the lives of the wounded martial artists who fell at the front! Then, the lives of disciples from other sects! And next, the lives of young disciples who are no longer useful in battle! Where does this scale that allows Bangjang to abandon those deemed less valuable stop? How is this any different from saying Bangjang could abandon everything in this world!”
“Abandon! Abandon! Abandon again and again! While casting aside even the things that should never be lost, what exactly Bangjang planning to protect! Where are these many people Bangjang speaks of! Where are these people Bangjang claim to protect!”
"This...."
“How can someone who discards even those who trust and follow them like old shoes possibly protect strangers they’ve never even met? Bangjang speaks of all people, yet isn’t it you, Bangjang, who values them the least? If that is the great cause of Shaolin, if that is your cause, then!”
Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and drove the wedge in.
“Mount Hua Sect will never align itself with that cause.”
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