Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1193. Why does it turn out that way? (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Rumors spread faster than the wind, and some rumors travel even faster.
The news that Baek Cheon had taken up the role of the acting sect leader of Mount Hua and rejected Bop Jeong’s proposal swept through the entire Heavenly Comrade Alliance like a storm.
Naturally, it was a bewildering development. While Baek Cheon was certainly not unqualified for the position of sect leader, Hyun Jong had held such an unshakable status as the sect leader of Mount Hua.
Typically, no organization changes its leader during times of prosperity, and Mount Hua had been expanding its influence with an unstoppable momentum. So, what reason could there be for such a sudden change?
"What?"
Some were shocked.
"N- No, but why?"
Some were confused.
"What on earth are they thinking…?"
And some were worried.
The reactions were varied, but all shared a common sense of shock and unease.
It was widely acknowledged within Heavenly Comrade Alliance that Mount Hua was the sect leading them all. Naturally, the sudden changes in Mount Hua made everyone worry about whether it would affect Heavenly Comrade Alliance as a whole.
But no matter how great their shock was… it couldn’t compare to that of the disciples of Mount Hua, who felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck out of the clear blue sky.
They had gone to bed and woken up, only to find that the head of their household had changed overnight. The disciples of Mount Hua were utterly bewildered.
They stared at each other in a daze.
As they gathered together in confusion, the disciples from other sects quickly passed by, whispering among themselves. On any other day, they might have ignored it, but given the circumstances today, even those murmurs grated on their nerves.
"Then…."
Chung Hwa asked in a bewildered tone.
"What’s going to happen now?"
"What do you mean ‘what happens’? Baek Cheon Sahyung has become the sect leader."
“N- No, is that something that can simply end with a ‘that’s how it is’? We’re talking about a change in the sect leader!"
"…Normally, that wouldn’t be the case, right?"
"No matter how much we say Mount Hua is a sect without ancestral lineage or tradition…"
“You punk! What’s with our ancestral lineage and tradition! Ours is solid! It’s just that we're on the cliff of ruins!"
"That’s what I said."
"It’s not the same!"
Chung Hwa pouted and turned to look at Baek Hyun.
"And besides… if Sect Leader was going to pass down his position, shouldn’t it have been to Un Am Sasuk instead of Baek Cheon Sasuk? So what happens to Un Am Sasuk now?"
“…I don’t know. Since Sect Leader has done it, wouldn’t they have discussed it with each other?”
"I suppose, but…"
Everyone's expressions changed in a complex and strange way.
They understood that this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, it was expected that Baek Cheon would become the sect leader someday. It was just a matter of timing and order; no one opposed the idea of Baek Cheon becoming the sect leader. It’s just that what happened now was a little, just a little different from what they had expected.
But that seemingly tiny difference had ended up complicating the entire situation.
"So, um… then…"
“Hm?”
Im Pyeong tilted his head with a confused look.
"Sect Leader… no, I mean, the Original Sect Leader… N- No, that’s not it, that, Hyun Jong Jin-in… Ugh, that’s not quite right either…"
Baek Hyun shut his eyes tightly.
"Let’s just keep calling him Sect Leader for now."
“Then what about Baek Cheon Sasuk?”
"…Let’s call him Deputy Sect Leader."
“No, but isn’t that against the rule…"
"Let’s just do it that way for now, at least among ourselves!"
"Why are you getting so mad?"
"Agh, damn it!"
Taken aback, Im Pyeong quickly spoke again.
"So then… what happens to Sect Leader now? Now that he’s stepped down from the position."
"He becomes the Grand Sect Leader."
"The Grand Sect Leader?"
"Yes."
Baek Hyun nodded and elaborated.
"It’s customary to refer to the previous Sect Leader with the title Grand (Taesang/태상(太上)). So the Sect Leader will become the Grand Sect Leader, and the Elders will be known as Grand Elders."
“Ah….”
Im Pyeong seemed to be thinking about something and remained silent, then suddenly frowned.
“No, Sasuk, that… doesn’t the term ‘Grand Sect Leader’ refer to the generation above the sect leader? Like Grand Sect Leaders and Grand Elders."
"Yes."
"Then what about Great Sasuks from the Un generation?"
"…Huh?"
"What should we call them now? They’re not just regular elders, nor are they Grand Elders…"
"Well… um… huh?"
Baek Hyun tilted his head, racking his brain.
"…Wouldn’t they be Grand Elders as well? You see… the term 'Grand Elder' or 'Grand Sect Leader' often refers to the previous Sect Leader or elders, but they’re also honorific titles for someone one rank higher than the current Sect Leader... probably?"
"Then what about the current Sect Leader? Didn’t you just say that he becomes the Grand Sect Leader?"
"The-… then he’d be the Grand Grand Sect Leader, I suppose?"
“Gra- Grand, what?” (xoxo: the pronunciation for Grand Grand is Taetaesang. It sounded like spitting sound ‘Ptooey Ptooey’)
"‘Grand Grand’ you bastard! Grand Grand!"
"…The Grand Grand Sect Leader?"
"I- I think so?"
Im Pyeong’s eyes were filled with doubt. His expression was riddled with skepticism.
"Is that even a legitimate title?"
“It, it exists! I’m telling you, it really exists!”
“Hmm….”
Im Pyeong nodded as if he were willing to believe it for now.
"But Sasuk, in that case…"
"Yes?"
"Does that mean that every time the rank goes up by one generation, you add another ‘Grand’ to the title?"
"As far as I know…"
"So, if later on, Yoon Jong Sahyung inherits the position of Sect Leader and the current Sect Leader is still alive by then, do we call him the Grand Grand Grand Sect Leader?"
“….”
Baek Hyun covered his face with both hands. Words he’d never wanted to say slipped out in the end.
"What a mess of lineage…"
“…I thought you said our lineage was solid?"
"It is solid, you punk! Solid as can be! Tell me, which other sect in the world has three former sect leaders alive at the same time? Where else would you find such a well-established lineage!"
"Is that really what you'd call 'solid'?"
"Augh…"
At that moment, Chung Hwa, who had been keeping his mouth shut, opened his mouth again.
"Um, but…"
“What now?”
"Well, I understand the principles, but there’s something that doesn’t quite add up. Based on what Sasuk said, the term ‘Grand’ implies someone who’s ‘former’ or ‘of the previous generation,’ right?"
"Well, it’s more of a sign of respect than just meaning ‘former’…"
“Then what about Un Am Sasuk?”
"…Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, the elders automatically become 'Grand Elders' by just adding the 'Grand (Tae)' prefix, but Un Am Sasuk never actually took the position of the sect leader. Shouldn't we refrain from calling him a 'Grand Sect Leader'?"
“….”
"Does that mean our Mount Hua Sect will have a Great-Grand Sect Leader but no Grand Sect Leader?"
“….”
"And if the Un generation gets called Grand Elders... we can't call Sect Leader a Grand Sect Leader either."
Baek Hyun's mind was becoming a chaotic mess. Everything was getting so jumbled up that he hurriedly turned his head, realizing that he wasn't the one who should be sorting this out. There was someone who usually handled things like this, wasn’t there?
"Sa- Sahyung! Could you please… huh? Sahyung?"
Baek Hyun tilted his head in confusion. The person who was supposed to resolve this, Baek Sang, was slumped in a corner with a vacant look on his face.
What on earth was wrong with him now?
"Sahyung?"
"Why…."
"Yes?"
"…Why does any of that even matter, you little shits….”
Baek Sang’s voice sounded like his soul was escaping him.
"At this age... I’m going to become an elder at this age... At my age…"
“….”
"All the friends I’ve just gotten close to in the neighboring sects are still in their second generation… Why am I the only one becoming an elder…? Only me…"
“Ahem.”
Baek Hyun coughed softly, sharing the sentiment of Baek Sang’s pain.
"No, but… it’s not all that bad…"
"As Mount Hua’s reputation rises, our names will start spreading across the world. And when they hear the name 'Elder Baek Sang of Mount Hua,’ what do you think they’ll picture…?"
“Wow, Sahyung! I wonder if it’s because your Doho is a Taoist’s Doho, a picture of an elderly man with a head full of white hair and long beard came into mind just by hearing that title! Keuuhh, that’s so majestic!"
As Baek Hyun was cheerfully chattering on, he suddenly met Baek Sang's deathly glare and quickly averted his gaze.
Only after hearing Baek Sang's words did the Baek generation realize what situation they were in, and one by one, they sighed in unison.
"…An elder, huh."
“I haven’t even gotten married yet….”
"Right? Would I even get any marriage proposals now that I’m an elder?"
"I wouldn't want to marry someone like me either…"
The eyes of Mount Hua's lifelong bachelors, who still held onto faint hopes, started to glisten with unshed tears.
"Who ever heard of a Taoist getting married?"
"Hey, brat! Mount Hua doesn’t forbid marriage!"
"Stop it. Chung Myung would foam at the mouth if he heard that. Sometimes, that guy acts like this is Wudang."
“No, but that’s the sect's rule, why…"
"Excuse me."
At that moment, Gwak Hee raised his hand quietly. All eyes turned to him.
"Um… I think Sasuk is missing something important."
"Hm? What’s that?"
"…If a main sect disciple gets married, they’d have to set up their household here in Mt. Hua, right? They can't leave the main sect."
"Right, that’s obvious."
"Do you have the confidence to make a living as a newlywed in a place where Chung Myung bastard lives?"
“….”
The Baek generation disciples, rendered speechless, collectively looked up slightly. And in that brief moment, countless future scenarios played out in their minds.
Then, lowering their heads at the same time, they smiled warmly.
"Let's drop it."
“It’s something that can be done.”
"What wrong has the person we’d marry done to deserve that? We would just be adding more sin to our tab."
After all, they were supposed to be Taoist practitioners. How could they drag an innocent person into a living hell? Even if there were someone kind-hearted enough to understand, it would still be an issue. Who would be pleased to see their partner rolling around in the dirt every other day?
"What’s the point of rules and traditions? Reality is like this…"
"Enough. Be quiet."
Baek Hyun waved his hand with an annoyed expression on his face. Then he changed the subject.
"Anyway, with everything turning out this way, where’s that Sahyung who caused all this trouble? He should come and explain things to us."
“Who? Baek Cheon Sasuk?”
"Yeah, that… ahem, Sect Leader."
“If it’s Baek Cheon Sasuk, then by now, I’m guessing…"
Gwak Hee looked into the distance with a hazy expression on his face as if imagining something.
“I think he’s paying a very high price for what he did.”
"…Surrounded by a pack of hyenas?"
"Isn’t that most likely?"
Baek Hyun nodded slowly, as if imagining it himself.
Those demons surely wouldn’t let him off easily.
He sighed quietly and glanced around at the other disciples. Their faces were filled with a mixture of excitement, worry, and anxiety, their emotions clearly complex.
He spoke on behalf of the distraught Baek Sang.
"As you all know, nothing has been officially confirmed by Sect Leader yet. Sect Leader is someone who never keeps secrets from his disciples, so he’ll definitely explain everything we need to know and why."
“Yes, Sasuk.”
“Yes, Sahyung.”
"So until then, don’t go around flapping your mouths unnecessarily. We’re fine talking among ourselves, but remember, we’re not the only ones here. There’s no need to give the impression that we’re confused or in disarray. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good. Everyone, disperse."
"Yes!"
As they all scattered, Baek Hyun let out a sigh and turned his head.
"Sahyung."
"…To think I’d end up as head elder of Finance Hall… No, why me…"
"Oh! Peoplewould think you’re some beggar from Beggar Union! Get a grip, won’t you?"
"What on earth was that guy thinking…"
"How are we supposed to know? He’s always been like that."
As Baek Hyun dragged the slumped Baek Sang along, he couldn't help but smile subtly.
'Baek Cheon Sahyung becoming the sect leader.'
He, too, felt uneasy. It wasn't that he didn't trust Baek Cheon, but to them, Hyun Jong had always been the only sect leader of Mount Hua.
But even amidst his concerns, one feeling unmistakably surfaced. It was only natural.
‘Mount Hua might become a bit more interesting now.’
He was certain of it, deep down. And he was sure that the other disciples felt the same way.
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