Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1194. Why does it turn out that way? (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
At that very moment, the rumor that was faster than the wind was spreading through Heavenly Comrade Alliance's manor.
"Then, Sect Leader, I shall take my leave."
"Hmm, yes, go ahead."
In a space where the other sect leaders had tactfully given them privacy, the disciples of Mount Hua, who had been discussing Bop Jeong’s reaction and how to handle it, wrapped up their meeting.
Hyun Jong nodded and opened his mouth.
"We should find another time to discuss the finer details and our future direction."
"Yes, we shall do that."
When Baek Cheon got up from his seat, the other Five Swords also rose from their seat
"Well then."
He gave a slight bow and turned to leave the room.
The moment the door shut with a firm click, Hyun Young urgently opened his mouth.
"No, Sect Leader!"
"…What nagging do you have this time?"
"Isn't this too hasty?"
“Hngg.”
A groan escaped from Hyun Jong’s lips.
"Hey, this rascal! In the end, things went exactly as you wanted, didn’t they? So why the nagging now?"
“No. There wasn't any talk about handing over the position of sect leader to Baek Cheon, was there?"
Hyun Jong let out a deep sigh. While elders existed to voice such concerns, it seemed like no matter what he did, there was always an issue. What tune should he even dance to?
"Do you think I knew this would happen?"
"Then, are you saying that brat suddenly made that decision without discussing it with you at all?"
"That's what I'm saying."
“Hoho….”
Hyun Young stared at the door Baek Cheon had exited with an incredulous look as if saying, ‘What kind of absurd person does that?’
"They say the youngsters these days are terrifying…"
"He’s not even that young anymore. It’s just that this is Kangho, but if this were a regular household, he’d be old enough to have kids and start a family by now."
“That’s true, but….”
Hyun Young clicked his tongue in frustration.
He understood. It wasn't a situation Hyun Jong could control either. As long as Hyun Jong was in the position of the sect leader of Mount Hua, it would have been impossible for him to refuse Bop Jeong's offer.
But even with that understanding, he hadn’t expected Hyun Jong to hand over the position of sect leader so easily.
It was Hyun Young himself who warned him not to mistake the children’s accomplishments for his own, yet he couldn’t even imagine that Hyun Jong would react in this way.
"…Seriously, sometimes, Sect Leader can be so reckless."
Hearing that, Hyun Jong mumbled with a somewhat sheepish expression.
"I must have caught it from the kids."
"You've always been like this, always been!"
At that moment, Hyun Sang, who had been listening quietly, smiled brightly and spoke to Hyun Jong.
"It is a bit worrisome."
"You mean Baek Cheon?”
“Baek Cheon is Baek Cheon, but I’m more worried about Un Am."
"Hmm, I understand. I’ll have a separate talk with Un Am."
"I think that’s necessary."
Hyun Young grumbled and complained.
"Is Un Am really the problem right now? Baek Cheon has just become the sect leader!"
"He's not the sect leader yet; he's only the acting sect leader."
“What’s with that? How are the sect leader and acting sect leader any different?"
"It's different. Being called 'acting sect leader' certainly carries far less pressure than being addressed as the actual sect leader."
Hyun Jong stared blankly at the door through which Baek Cheon had exited and thought.
'It won't be easy.'
He didn’t know how others viewed this situation, but as someone who had lived as the sect leader of Mount Hua for many years, Hyun Jong understood the weight that title carried.
It was a burden he had taken on himself, and thus, it was a burden he had to overcome on his own.
But knowing how difficult it truly was, he could only hope that the title of "acting sect leader" would at least lighten that burden, even if just a little.
"That… Sect Leader, are you really going to pass on the position? Really?"
“Tsk.”
Hyun Jong frowned and glanced at Hyun Young.
"Why are you being so restless today?"
“No, this is all too sudden!"
"When has anything not been sudden with Mount Hua? Since that rascal Chung Myung joined, has there been even one thing we've managed to take our time to prepare and execute?"
"Well, that's true, but still…"
Hyun Jong let out a faint chuckle.
"What? Now that you'll be retiring to the backroom as an old man, does that twist your insides?"
"Aigo! What are you saying? This is what I've dreamed of, even in my sleep."
Hyun Young clicked his tongue and waved his hands dismissively.
"To be honest, Mount Hua has grown far too large for backwoods folks like us to manage. Thanks to the child, we’ve had the chance to see and experience great things, but was that ever something we were truly meant for?"
"Yes, that’s true."
A faint smile appeared on Hyun Jong's face.
"This was bound to happen sooner or later. Even if it happened a bit sooner than expected, what difference does it make?"
His voice was calm, as if he had already come to terms with everything.
"The ones who will carry Mount Hua forward from now on are those children. They are also the ones who will have to bear the consequences of Mount Hua's choices. So, isn’t it right to let them decide the direction Mount Hua will take?"
"Mm."
Hyun Young groaned. His groan was mixed with concern and acceptance.
"Our role is simply to watch from behind and ensure that they don’t make any overly extreme or reckless decisions."
"Isn't that what we've always been doing?"
"Yes, nothing will change. The only difference is that Baek Cheon will be the one speaking first now."
Nothing had changed.
And yet, so much would change. All three of them shared that same thought.
"You've made the right decision, Sect Leader."
Hyun Jong glanced at Hyun Sang's words.
"Saying you trust someone isn’t difficult. But putting that into action isn't so simple. The fact that you, Sect Leader, simply chose to believe in and support him will undoubtedly be a great source of strength for that child."
“….”
"You did well."
“Ahem.”
Hyun Jong cleared his throat awkwardly, a hint of redness showing at the tips of his ears.
"You're making a fuss over nothing."
Hyun Sang smiled brightly at the sight.
‘You’ve finally relaxed.’
Hyun Jong's tone was noticeably lighter than before. It made it even clearer just how much he had been struggling under the weight of that burden.
If Baek Cheon had not stepped forward in time, Hyun Jong might have been crushed under the weight of that burden and pressure.
‘This must be the natural course of things.’
Nature may seem fickle at times, but in the end, it always heads where it’s meant to go.
Just as Hyun Sang was about to nod in agreement…
"However…."
"Yes?"
Hyun Young looked towards the door with a curious expression.
"Doesn’t it seem strange that that child has been so quiet?"
“That child? Who?”
"Oh, who else would I be talking about? The one who usually froths at the mouth and ran wild."
“…Chung Myung?”
“Yes, that very child.”
Hyun Sang smiled faintly.
“That rascal may be unruly most of the time, but doesn’t he become serious when it comes to deciding on major and minor matters for the sect?”
“Hmm.”
“Besides, even though he doesn’t say anything, it seems like he feels quite comfortable with Baek Cheon. He even acknowledges him to some extent as a martial artist.”
Hyun Young tilted his head, still puzzled, and then asked Hyun Jong.
“Do you think the same, Sect Leader?”
“…Chung Myung, you mean?”
"Yes."
“That…to me, it just seems like…"
"Like?"
“…I think he has lost his mind?”
For a moment, there was silence.
The three of them turned to look at the door with increasingly uneasy expressions.
* * *
Jo-Gol, who was leaving the room, was staring at Baek Cheon's back as he walked ahead. Finally, he spoke up in a voice tinged with awkwardness.
"That…."
"Hm?"
“Ahem!”
When Baek Cheon turned around and their eyes met, Jo-Gol awkwardly cleared his throat before speaking again in a hesitant tone.
“That… Sasuk. Earlier, I, I was….”
"What are you trying to say?"
Jo-Gol couldn't bring himself to continue speaking and scratched his head. He wanted to apologize for his earlier behavior.
“That… I was a bit shortsi-....”
"You punk!"
But at that moment, Yoon Jong shouted in an even harsher voice. Jo-Gol, startled, looked at Yoon Jong with wide eyes.
Yun Jong's expression was anything but ordinary. It was the same stern face he only showed when someone had made a grave mistake.
“No, Sahyung…. What did I do wro-….”
"Do you not know what you did wrong?"
"Yes?"
Yoon Jong, grinding his teeth, shouted again.
“How dare you speak that way towards Acting. Sect. Lea. Der. ! Do you need to have your limbs cut and thrown into the repentance cave as punishment for you to get your act together? Bow properly and speak with highest respect!"
After hearing those words, Jo-Gol turned his head and looked at Baek Cheon.
Seeing the expression on Jo-Gol’s face made Baek Cheon shiver unconsciously and take a step back.
"Aigooooooo! Acting Sect Leadeeeeeer!"
Jo-Gol dropped to the ground in a deep bow.
"This disciple! This unworthy discipleeee! Has committed a deadly sin! How thoughtless of this disciple to dare! spout out such nonsense mannerlessly! Please rip out this disciple's tongue and punish me as I deserve!"
“.....Stop it.”
“Acting Sect Leadeeeeeeer! Please, calm your anger! I didn’t realize things would turn out this waaaaaaaaay!”
"Stop..…"
But in that moment, Jo-Gol went even further and prostrated himself flat with a thud.
"If anyone has sinned here, it’s this disciple alone! So please be lenient with the other Sahyung and hold only me accountable for my sins! Acting Sect Leadeeeeeeer!"
“Ey sheed steep eedh…” (xoxo: He said “I said stop it…” while gritting teeth)
“You rascaaaal! Didn’t Acting Sect Leader order you to stop?!”
“Aigoooo! How dare this disciple disobey Acting Sect Leader’s command! If you say crawl I shall crawl, if you say die I shall die!”
"…Then just go die, please… please just die…."
At that moment, a peculiar voice came from beside Baek Cheon.
"Acting Sect Leader."
"…Hm?"
Baek Cheon turned his head. Yoo Iseol—yes, that Yoo Iseol—was looking at him, trembling as she tried to keep a straight face.
"Acting Sect Leader…."
“….”
"Acting… Pfftt."
Unable to hold back her laughter, she quickly turned her head away. At the same time, a visible crack appeared on Baek Cheon’s face.
"…Samae."
"Acting...”
"Yeah."
"Acting Sect Leader."
Wow… Who knew she had such a knack for pissing people off? And to think I did not notice this until now?
"Hehe, congratulations, Sasuk!"
Tang Soso clapped her hands with a bright smile. Her surprisingly cheerful and genuine reaction left Baek Cheon feeling a bit awkward as he nodded.
"Yeah, thank yo-…"
"Oh my, oh my! I said Sasuk! Look at my foolishness! Sect Leader Sasuk….. Huh, is it not this, either? Then how should this disciple address you?"
“….”
"Yes? Sasuk? How am I supposed to address Sasuk nowww?"
There was an unmistakable devilish grin plastered over Tang Soso's face.
Baek Cheon weakly covered his face with both hands.
‘This is exactly why I didn’t want to do this.’
There was no way this pack of bloodthirsty hyenas would leave him alone, was there? While he had stepped up because of the circumstances, the thought of everything he’d have to endure from now on made his stomach churn.
At that moment, Hye Yeon, who couldn't stand to watch anymore, opened his mouth.
"Amitabha. It's not my place as someone who isn't a disciple of Mount Hua to say this, but you guys are bullying him too much.
“Mo- Monk Hye Yeon!”
Baek Cheon looked at Hye Yeon with a moved face. Yes, at least he’s still…
"No, Acting Sect Leader."
"…Yes?"
"The laws of Kangho are strict, thus a sect leader should not be addressing me with such honorifics. From now on please just ca- pfftttt.... call- call me Hye-…pfftttt.. Hyeyeon. Ahem."
Hye Yeon hastily covered his mouth with his hand, his smooth head shaking.
‘…I wish they'd all just drop dead.’
Maybe eliminating all these people was the best way to achieve peace in Kangho. Surely, most would agree, right?
"Khahahaha! Acting Sect Leader, huh!"
"Wow! I actually see Sasuk become the Sect Leader with my own eyes!"
"How greaaat The sect is turning! Hey, Chung Myung! Say something, will you…? Hng? Chung Myung-ah?"
Only then did everyone turn their gaze to Chung Myung. And all at once, they flinched and shuddered.
"Wh- Why are you like that, Chung Myung-ah?"
"You okay?"
Chung Myung, who had turned pale as a ghost, stood there with his mouth half-open, staring blankly. It was as if his soul was crumbling into pieces and spilling out through his parted lips.
“Dong….”
“Dong?”
“Dong… ryong….”
“….”
“Dong… ryong is the sect leader…. and I’m a disciple…."
“….”
"…Let's just die… I should just die already… Why am I staying alive till now just to witness this with my own eyes…? I should just go and drop dead… Ohohohoho…"
“….”
"Let’s die, aigooo… I should just die."
“That’s what he said, Sasuk?”
Baek Cheon, his face buried in his hands, murmured weakly.
"Someone, please throw that bastard away."
"Aigoooo! Of course! By your command…."
“Die, you bastard!”
"Aaaaaaaghhh!"
Baek Cheon, whose eyes had finally overturned, pounced Jo-Gol.
And so, the sound of Jo-Gol's piercing screams and Chung Myung's endless laments echoed sorrowfully through the manor for quite some time.
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