Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1197. How on earth did you endure this? (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
It might be a stereotype, but you know how it is.
That common expectation when a leader of a group or organization changes, and a young person steps into that role.
Sure, there might be concerns, but as long as the process is legitimate, people tend to look forward to the fresh energy and broad ambitions that new blood can bring.
But this....
Tang Gun-ak's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
'My uncle in Sichuan would be much more energetic than these guys.'
The old man was long past his prime and barely had his wits about him, but still, he’d be better than a sickly chicken, wouldn’t he?
What made Tang Gun-ak’s stomach churn even more was that this acting sect leader, who now looked like a faded shell of his former self, was the very person who’d lit a fire in Tang Gun-ak’s heart during that confrontation with Bop Jeong just a short while ago.
‘I’ll never understand these Mount Hua bunch. Never…’
The completely unpredictable Chung Myung, who swung between being a master swordsman and a raving lunatic, and then there was Baek Cheon, who shifts from being Mount Hua's next great hope to looking like the village idiot…
The thought of having to discuss the big and small matters of Heavenly Comrade Alliance with people like this already made Tang Gun-ak feel the gaping absence of Hyun Jong's steady presence more keenly than ever.
“So… um…”
Tang Gun-ak, unable to stay silent any longer, finally opened his mouth, though his tone was hesitant.
“I heard you were the one who called this meeting?”
“Pardon?”
“This meeting here?”
“…I did.”
"...."
It was then that Tang Gun-ak realized why violence was so prevalent in Mount Hua Sect.
If you had to live among people like this, wouldn’t you eventually resort to using your fists instead of words?
“Ah... Ah, that’s right. I... Yes, I did.”
"......"
“So, the reason I gathered everyone here was, um…”
Baek Cheon tilted his head.
“…What was it again?”
And at that very moment, Tang Gun-ak saw it.
The expression on Chung Myung’s face, which had been alternating between anger and despair, twisted into something that could only be described as a wrathful, demonic grimace.
Without a doubt, Tang Gun-ak had never seen anything so terrifying in his life. Even if Heavenly Demon himself were to descend before him, it wouldn’t feel as horrifying as this.
“…There was a reason, I’m sure.”
“Hey, this guy!”
Just as Chung Myung’s eyes rolled back and he began to convulse, Five Swords, who had been waiting for this, immediately lunged forward to tackle him, pinning him down and clamping their hands over his mouth.
Even Hye Yeon, who usually stood back clicking his tongue, was so startled that he threw his entire bald head onto Chung Myung’s chest to press him down.
“Chung Myung! He’s the acting sect leader! Acting sect leader!”
“People’s watching!”
“Shut up! Shut your mouth, shut it! One wrong word here, and you’ll really be dragged off to Repentance Cave!”
“Hold him down properly!”
Tang Gun-ak, watching this chaotic scene in a daze, unconsciously covered his face with both hands and lowered his head.
‘Is this really going to be okay?’
Maybe it would be better to side with Ten Great Sects even now? If they see this spectacle now, even the clan members who had vehemently opposed the idea would probably say ‘At least Shaolin is a prestigious sect with history and tradition to boast, aren’t they?’ and start running towards Seungsan without looking back.
At that moment, Yoo Iseol tapped the dazed Baek Cheon’s head a couple of times and handed him a bottle of cold water.
“Drink.”
“…Ah.”
Baek Cheon gulped down the cold water in one go, and slowly, color began to return to his face.
It was, in a way, quite a fascinating sight. He had merely gathered himself, wiping away the blank, dazed expression from his face, but that simple act alone made him look like a different person.
“I apologize. I wasn’t in the best condition.”
“Were you ever in good condition?”
"Huh?"
“....No.”
Tang Gun-ak bit his lip hard. It seemed he’d picked up the bad habit of speaking like those damn Mount Hua people. For him to be saying things like this.
Baek Cheon cleared his throat softly and spoke up.
“The reason I’ve gathered the various heads of the sects here today is to discuss the most urgent matter that Heavenly Comrade Alliance needs to address.”
“To discuss, you say…”
Tang Gun-ak murmured the word quietly to himself, then gave a slight nod before asking.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d be clear, Acting Sect Leader. Are you saying we should decide on what to prioritize first, or are you suggesting we discuss how to proceed with something you’ve already decided on?”
“It’s closer to the latter.”
"Hmm."
Tang Gun-ak’s expression shifted slightly.
If it were Hyun Jong, he wouldn’t have phrased it this way. Hyun Jong would listen to other people's opinions before deciding on something. However, Baek Cheon was asking them to discuss something he’d already agreed on.
One could chalk it up to differences in style, but Tang Gun-ak couldn’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable about it.
Then Baek Cheon said.
“Oh, please don’t misunderstand.”
"Hm?"
He added calmly, perhaps noticing Tang Gun-ak’s discontent.
“I am merely the acting sect leader of Mount Hua, not the acting leader of Alliance. What I’m about to say isn’t meant to act as a decree from Maengju-nim, but rather to present Mount Hua’s stance as its acting sect leader.”
"......Hm."
“The authority to make decisions, as always, rests with Maengju-nim. Please don’t take my words as if they reflect Maengju-nim’s stance.”
In other words, it wasn’t a command from a higher position but a proposal from a lower one. Technically speaking, the acting sect leader of Mount Hua held less practical authority than Tang Gaju, who served as the vice-leader of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, and was on par with other sects.
But....
“Acting Sect Leader, due to the circumstances, it’s difficult for us to see it that way. After all, the fact that you and Maengju-nim belong to the same sect…”
“Do you believe Maengju-nim would favor our opinions simply because we belong to the same sect?”
“....Yes.”
Tang Gun-ak nodded immediately.
If it were anyone else, he might have hesitated, but not Hyun Jong. There was no doubt about Hyun Jong’s fairness and integrity.
Moreover, Hyun Jong was someone who had absolute faith in his disciples, to an almost absurd degree, and yet…
‘He’s also the person who finds his own disciples the most untrustworthy in the entire world.’
It wasn’t so much that he didn’t trust them; it was more that he understood better than anyone else the madness his disciples carried within them… in any case.
So, things like paying special attention to Mount Hua's opinion won't happen.
“But if that’s the case, Mount Hua would end up being treated as just another sect, having the same say as any other. Are you alright with that?”
“Isn’t that a given?”
Baek Cheon answered without a moment's hesitation as if it were only natural.
“That’s what it should have been from the start. That’s the essence of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, after all. The only reason Mount Hua appeared to be leading the alliance was simply because Maengju-nim also held the position of Mount Hua’s sect leader. If you, Tang Gaju-nim, were to become maengju, Tang Family would naturally take on that role.”
“Hmm.”
“Mount Hua has no intention of demanding any special privileges in the alliance. The very ideals upon which we founded this alliance were grounded in equality, weren't they?”
The corners of Tang Gun-ak's mouth rose without him knowing it.
‘Indeed…’
It's easy to earn the reputation of being indifferent to power when one turns away from power that hasn’t been obtained yet. But when it comes to giving up power that’s already in one’s grasp, that’s an entirely different matter.
Power brings comfort.
Why reject the comfort that comes with it and choose inconvenience instead? Even more so when no one would fault you for keeping it.
Yet here was Baek Cheon, saying that Mount Hua would willingly relinquish the privilege and authority it had quietly held within Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
It might be easier for someone young, but even so, it was undeniably admirable.
“Is that Mount Hua’s stance?”
“Yes, Tang Gaju-nim.”
“Hmm. A fine approach. The younger generation truly has a different perspective.”
Tang Gun-ak nodded but suddenly made a peculiar expression.
“But let me say something.”
"Yes."
"....It seems there’s someone who doesn’t quite share your view, isn’t there?”
"Yes?"
At those words, Baek Cheon glanced to his side.
“Mmph! Mmmph!”
Chung Myung who was being held down by Five Swords is writhing furiously with bloodshot eyes. The burning fury in those eyes seemed to scream, ‘Do you know how we even obtained that authority! How dare you just give it up as you please! You Southern Edge Sect spy bastard! Get out of Mount Hua!’
“Mmmmph!”
“Stay still!”
“Someone get a rope, quickly!”
“A- A hemp rope?”
“No, not a hemp rope! We need a metal chain! What good is a flimsy rope on this guy!”
“No, where on earth are we going to find an iron chain right now…?”
The Five Swords were struggling to restrain Chung Myung with all their might. As Baek Cheon watched this chaotic yet somehow terrifying sight, a faint smile crept onto his lips.
“Tang Gaju-nim.”
“Hm?”
Baek Cheon turned his gaze away, looking completely unfazed, and said in a calm, leisurely tone.
“You don’t need to concern yourself with that.”
"...Is that so?"
“Yes. I am speaking as the acting sect leader of Mount Hua right now. So I find it hard to understand why you’d pay any attention to the antics of a mere third-class disciple.”
“Cou- cough.”
Tang Gun-ak coughed violently as if something had gone down the wrong pipe.
“A- A mere third-class disciple?”
“Don’t mind him. He’s just one of the many third-class disciples scattered around Mount Hua. Sure, he knows his way around a sword, which is why he’s even present here, but ultimately, he’s just another third-class disciple. He has no relevance whatsoever to Mount Hua’s official stance, so you can simply disregard him.”
"Uh...."
“Between myself, the acting sect leader of Mount Hua, and the opinion of a ‘mere’ third-class disciple, whose opinion do you think carries more weight?”
“W- Well, that’s... No, you’re right... That’s how it should be....”
“Haha, isn’t it just the most obvious thing?”
Tang Gun-ak witnessed it. Baek Cheon, who had been smiling politely, cast a quick glance at Chung Myung and smirked.
Seeing this, Chung Myung started to tremble uncontrollably. Soon, his mouth began to froth, bubbling up into a white foam.
“Gggurgh…”
As Chung Myung rolled his eyes and collapsed, making a strange noise, the room soon became quiet. The sight of him occasionally twitching and convulsing seemed to have gone to a place far, far away.
‘Is- Is this really okay?’
Technically, Baek Cheon was right. No matter how exceptional the “Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword” might be, in terms of hierarchy, he was still just a third-class disciple of Mount Hua. By the rules and principles, he shouldn’t have much say in a gathering like this.
'But still, he’s the Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword?'
Could this really be okay?
“As I was saying, not as some mere third-class disciple, but as the acting sect leader of Mount Hua…”
“Yes?”
“The most pressing action for Heavenly Comrade Alliance right now is to push through our Chivalrousness and to make it abundantly clear that we are different from Ten Great Sect.”
“Y- Yes, of course.”
“Therefore, I propose that Mount Hua calls upon the other sects to immediately mobilize their forces and set off for Hainan. Our aim should be to break through Gangnam and reach Hainan within three days, at the latest.”
“That’s... a little urgent....”
“Only those who are confident in their martial skills should join. If there are none, Mount Hua will head to Hainan alone.”
A heavy silence fell over the room. Baek Cheon finished his words with a sharp smile.
“That concludes my proposal.”
In that instant, Tang Gun-ak understood. This crazy acting sect leader wasn’t just willing to charge headfirst against the Shaolin; he was prepared to challenge anyone in his way.
Tang Gun-ak's stomach started to hurt again.
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