Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1191. This is the path we will walk from now on (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"Bangjang."
“….”
"Bangjang!"
After calling out repeatedly, Bop Jeong finally looked back at Jongni Hyeong. Jongni Hyeong's face was flushed. Bop Jeong calmly asked.
"Yes, Sect Leader?"
“Are we really going to go back like this?”
“And what if we do?”
Jongni Hyeong raised his voice, seeming frustrated.
“This isn’t something to end half-heartedly! How could Banjang react this way even after seeing their arrogance?”
“…”
"It was a proposal that Bangjang made yourself. No, not that. Was it only from Bangjang? Isn't it a proposal made directly by Ten Great Sects?"
Jongni Hyeong’s eyes flared as he continued in an agitated tone.
"To put it into the right words, it was a great proposal Bangjang has made. You’ve extended your hand even while enduring bitter words that you did not need to hear, yet how can they just kick Bangjang’s hand away?"
But Bop Jeong just smiled broadly at him.
"Isn't it good?"
"Yes?"
"When one gets older, there's nothing more enjoyable than seeing energetic youth. Moreover, since Shaolin is a Buddhist temple, it's even harder to see people so determined."
"Tha- That’s...."
"Let's leave them be."
Bop Jeong shook his head lightly.
“It’s regrettable that something that could have gone smoothly has gone awry, but from our perspective, it’s not entirely a bad thing.”
Jongni Hyeong tilted his head as if he didn't understand at all.
"How is this not a bad thing? We failed to absorb them, and Bangjang was publicly humiliated... Ahem. No, that..."
"I was humiliated."
"That, that wasn't my intention...'
Jongni Hyeong mumbled the end of his sentence and subtly avoided Bop Jeong's gaze.
No matter how well he tried to put it in words. No matter what was said, in the end, if you look from the outside, it would only seem that Bop Jeong, Bangjang of Shaolin, got scolded by Baek Cheon, who had just become the acting sect leader of Mount Hua, and retreated.
That the dignified Bangjang of Shaolin was humiliated by the newly appointed young acting sect leader of Mount Hua will surely please the gossips. He wouldn't be surprised if it became a rumor known throughout Kangho within days.
"Thinking that way makes me a little embarrassed."
"Bangjang?"
Jongni Hyeong stared at Beop Jeong as if he couldn’t understand at all. Though he said he was embarrassed, Bop Jeong’s face didn’t look embarrassed at all.
Perhaps it was a misunderstanding, but he even seemed a bit relieved.
“It’s not entirely a bad thing.”
Unable to contain himself, Jongni Hyeong asked again.
"In the end, hasn't everything reached a catastrophe? Heavenly Comrade Alliance declared that they would take a different path from Ten Great Sects. As a result, isn’t Kangho more clearly divided now?"
“....”
"Evil Tyrant Alliance and Magyo are eyeing Jungwon, and we’re splitting up among ourselves? Where in the world is such absurdity?”
"Amitabha."
Hearing that, Bop Jeong calmly recited a chant, which frustrated Jongni Hyeong further, raising his voice again.
“There’s no such law. Just because they are Ten Great Sects, or Five Great Family, doesn’t mean they always got along! Sometimes, Ten Great Sects even opposed each other more fiercely than enemies, didn’t we? Yet, when a crisis struck Kangho, we joined forces as if nothing had happened. Isn’t that why Ten Great Sects was Ten Great Sects?"
“That’s true. It is.”
Bop Jeong nodded calmly, as if acknowledging the truth of that statement.
"Yet how can they speak such outrageous things? No matter how young they are, they can’t act like this!”
Bop Jeong smiled brightly.
"Sect Leader."
"Yes?"
"When the mistakes of the later generation stem from their ignorance, it is not their fault, but the fault of the predecessors."
"That, that's...."
"In the end, those words are just spitting in my face. We failed to inform and persuade them properly; who else can we blame?"
Jongni Hyeong let out a cough, seemingly uncomfortable. Bop Jeong smiled once more.
"And… the words spoken by Mount Hua's Acting Sect Leader were not simply born out of youthful passion or ignorance. He did not say those things because he didn’t know or hadn’t learned; rather, he spoke them because he had learned and understood all too well."
"What does that mean...?"
Bop Jeong simply shook his head without further explanation.
"So, let’s just watch over them."
"Bangjang. But right now, time is of the essence..."
"The more urgent it is, the more you should go back, right?"
Jongni Hyeong began to bite his lips in frustration. To be honest, he couldn’t tell if Bop Jeong was calm because he truly believed in this or if he was just unbothered by everything.
"Bangjang, do you truly not understand?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I’m talking about how much damage Bangjang suffered as a result of this failed act of Chivalrousness. As it is..."
Jongni Hyeong trailed off and closed his mouth. However, Bop Jeong seemed to know what he was going to say and finished his sentence instead.
"That now, in my position that has already become extremely narrow, by making a pointless proposal for Chivalrousness and only ending up humiliated, even more people will now look down on me. Is that what you're trying to say?"
“…”
"It is fine."
Jongni Hyeong didn't answer, but Bop Jeong continued as if he had already heard the answer.
"Such things aren’t that important. What’s important is that, one way or another, Ten Great Sects have ended up isolated and without allies."
"That’s exactly what I was saying…"
Just as Jongni Hyeong was about to agree in frustration, an unexpected statement reached his ears.
"In the current situation, what could be better than that?"
Jong-ri-hyeong blinked with a blank expression.
"N- No, Bangjang. Did you misspeak? How can this be a good thing? Rather, it's difficult to think of anything worse than this."
At those words, Bop Jeong shook his head slightly.
"Situations change depending on how one thinks of it. Think about it, Sect Leader. Now, Ten Great Sects have found themselves in a position where even within Righteous Sects, their standing has diminished, and they can no longer do as they wish. Isn't that so?"
"Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying!"
"Which is why it’s the most favorable situation."
Jongni Hyeong stared at Bop Jeong, unable to hide his disbelief. He even had the blasphemous thought, ‘Did this yangban lose his mind after being humiliated?’
But Bop Jeong simply chuckled softly at his expression.
"It seems that this monk's words are hard to understand, Sect Leader."
“To be honest, it is.”
“Sect Leader. Do you know why the world has been cheering for Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s actions instead of those of Ten Great Sects all this time?"
"That’s…"
Jongni Hyeong couldn't answer. It wasn’t because he didn’t know, but because he didn’t want to be the one to say it.
"Because of the Chivalrousness?"
"....."
"Yes. Of course, that's true. But that's not all. The reason why people have supported Heavenly Comrade Alliance so far is because Ten Great Sects are seen as the strong and powerful."
"Ah...."
Only then did Jongni Hyeong begin to understand what Bop Jeong was getting at, and he nodded vigorously.
It might have been a statement that others would point fingers at, but Jongni Hyeong knew that Bop Jeong's words weren't so wrong.
In the eyes of the world, Ten Great Sects are not just powerful but also hold absolute authority. While people refrain from showing outright hostility because they see them as righteous protectors of Kangho, there’s no shortage of people who feel envious or even resentful of their actions.
"So, what Bangjang saying is…"
"Yes, Sect Leader. As of this incident, Ten Great Sects will no longer be perceived as the strong ones."
Bop Jeong quietly continued.
"Gangnam is now dominated by Evil Tyrant Alliance, and the western part of Gangbuk is under the control of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. As a result, compared to the past, the influence of Ten Great Sects has been reduced to less than half."
"...."
"So, the people will no longer see Ten Great Sects as the powerful force that can do whatever it wishes. And the same goes for those within Ten Great Sects."
A strange smile appeared on Bop Jeong's face.
"When external enemies appear, internal unity is inevitable. Do you know why Ten Great Sects have never been truly unified?"
Jongni Hyeong hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Because the external enemies... weren’t genuine threats."
"Yes, that’s correct. Although we suffered a setback, it's not as if Evil Tyrant Alliance is strong enough to bring down Ten Great Sects. But how is it now? The moment Heavenly Comrade Alliance broke away from Ten Great Sects, Evil Tyrant Alliance was no longer an easy opponent. Moreover, Ten Great Sects now finds itself in a situation where it must compete for dominance within Righteous Sects against Heavenly Comrade Alliance."
" ....."
"No one wants to lose what they have in their hands. As soon as I announce the results of today, even the sects of Ten Great Sects that have been keeping their distance will be forced to reconsider their stance."
"...Will that really happen?"
At the voice that still couldn't shake off its doubts, Bop Jeong closed his eyes and chanted, "Amitabha."
"Just look at the sects in Sichuan right now. Qingcheng and Emei are pressured by the threat of Evil Tyrant Alliance from the south, and the power of Heavenly Comrade Alliance to the north. Can they hold out without the shelter that’s Ten Great Sects?"
"…Jeomchang would be in an even worse position. After all, Jeomchang is located in Yunnan."
"Yes, that's correct."
In truth, one of the biggest reasons the Sichuan sects had opposed Bop Jeong was the subtle internal power struggles within Ten Great Sects.
Historically, the sects centered around Henan, such as Shaolin, Wudang, Mount Hua, Kongtong, Southern Edge Sect, and Beggar Union, wielded far more power than those located on the outskirts like Sichuan, Yunnan, and Qinghai.
As Bop Jeong's influence waned, the sects that raised their defiance were all located on the outskirts. However, now they could no longer continue their opposition.
Trying to take a bit more power from Shaolin only to risk losing everything to Heavenly Comrade Alliance? What choice do they really have?
"Then, this will at least resolve the immediate issue."
"It's not just that."
Bop Jeong shook his head slightly and said.
"The reason why Ten Great Sects had to consider so many factors whenever we made a decision was because we were the most powerful. Everyone was always ready to criticize our every move. But now, since Ten Great Sects can no longer be seen as absolute powers, even if we act in our own interests for survival sake, there won't be much room for criticism."
"Ah...."
"In the meantime, since Heavenly Comrade Alliance has put such high value on the value of Chivalrousness, all under heaven will now look for Heavenly Comrade Alliance instead of Ten Great Sects whenever there is something that requires Chivalrousness. Though it may seem a bit humiliating, we’ve gained the justification to take a step back."
Bop Jeong smiled faintly.
"But isn’t a bit of humiliation something we can endure? So, Sect Leader, instead of trying to cover up today’s events, actively spread the news. Let it be known that Bop Jeong of Shaolin was humiliated by the young Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua and was chased away after his proposal was rejected."
"…Are you really sure that’s the right thing to do?"
"It’s not that it’s okay or not; it’s that it must be done."
"U- Understood, Bangjang."
"Amitabha."
Bop Jeong chanted softly.
They wouldn’t know. They wouldn’t realize what they had done. But soon, they would see as the situation changed.
'Listen, Acting Sect Leader. Every action carries responsibility. And from now on, that responsibility will be borne not by Ten Great Sects but by Heavenly Comrade Alliance.'
Bop Jeong was merely accelerating the inevitable. That alone was enough for now.
“But Bangjang....”
“Speak.”
Jongni Hyeong, who had glanced at Bop Jeong’s expression, opened his mouth again.
"But in the end… no matter what, we still have to fight Evil Tyrant Alliance, and now Heavenly Comrade Alliance has completely separated from Ten Great Sects..."
Bop Jeong shook his head.
"It’s just taking a slightly longer route. Eventually, everything will follow the natural course."
“.....”
"The reason a courageous young man overflowing with chivalrousness turns into a fearful old man is not because they lacked courage or lost their spirit of Chivalrousness. It's simply because… the world isn't a kind enough place to blindly chase the ideals.”
"Indeed…"
"When they come to understand why their predecessors had to make compromises, we’ll be able to accept a Heavenly Comrade Alliance that understands the ways of the world instead of the unpredictable, impulsive young Heavenly Comrade Alliance. In the end, by taking a slightly longer path, we’ll find a better way forward."
"I understand."
Jongni Hyeong nodded as if he finally understood everything. After all, hadn’t even he thought that Baek Cheon’s ambitions wouldn’t last long?
Rather than trying to absorb the Heavenly Comrade Alliance that stubbornly refuses to bend, it would be far more beneficial to absorb those who’ve already been softened and tempered by reality.
However,
"But, Bangjang."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"That.... I’m only asking just in case, but if… by some one-in-a-thousand, one-in-ten-thousand chance, that Heavenly Comrade Alliance really manages to push their will through until the very end, what… what will happen then?"
The end of his question was swallowed up by his unease. Bop Jeong slowly closed his eyes.
"If that happens…"
After uttering these words, Bop Jeong remained silent for a long while, eyes shut, before finally looking up at the sky. The endlessly vast sky stretched out, an achingly vivid blue.
"It will be one of two things. Either everyone perishes equally, or..."
"...."
"Just like life sprouting anew from the ashes, a world unlike anything we've known until now will unfold."
Jongni Hyeong suddenly shuddered. The echo of Bop Jeong’s hazy, drifting voice stayed with him for a long time.
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