Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1212. It's as good as it gets (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
The succession ceremony concluded simply.
Perhaps, for the succession of the sect leader of Mount Hua, which has now become a major sect representing Shaanxi, it might have been too modest.
Originally, when the head of a great sect changed, it was a huge event that shook the entire region.
However, neither the disciples of Mount Hua, who participated in the ceremony, nor those watching from a distance felt particularly disappointed by its small scale.
Rather, they thought that this might be the most fitting succession ceremony for a sect like Mount Hua.
Un Am, who received the Zaha Divine Sword sword, looked at the sword with a renewed sense of emotion. To be honest, Un Am wasn’t someone who felt particularly sentimental about this sword.
Yet the reason he couldn't easily wield this sword was because of the meaning embedded within it. The very meaning of this sword, which he never thought would be in his hands.
Un Am took a deep breath and slowly pulled out Zaha Divine sword.
As Un Am confirmed with both eyes the blade imbued with that pure white light, he stopped his hand just before the sword was fully drawn and slowly pushed it back into the sheath.
Taak!
An impulse came to him in an instant. To fully draw that sword and swing it once. Leaving aside what the sword symbolizes, it was an impulse that any swordsman holding a sword would feel.
However, the reason he did not draw the sword until the end was very simple.
The sword in his hands held its meaning precisely when it wasn’t drawn.
Nothing much has changed.
It was just that Un Am intervened briefly in the process of passing Zaha Divine Sword from Hyun Jong to Baek Cheon. The outcome remains the same.
But perhaps the brief "process" that leads to this unchanged outcome could end up changing many things.
There are countless swords in the world.
Some swords kill someone on the battlefield, and some swords save someone's life. Some swords are wielded for profit, and some swords are wielded for oppression.
Whether their use was right or wrong, each of those swords carries its own significance.
Then...
A sword that was made as a sword yet has never cut or threatened anyone, even once. Wouldn't a sword that has not been drawn from its sheath also have its own meaning?
Un Am smiled softly.
'That's enough.'
Anything more than this would be simply too much.
Un Am slightly turns his head and looks at Hyun Jong. As if to ask whether it was time to conclude the ceremony. However, Hyun Jong was just looking at Un Am intently with a light smile.
Only then did Un Am realize his mistake, clear his throat lowly, and open his mouth with a solemn expression that even he finds a bit unfamiliar.
“Those disciples who will be heading to Hainan, step forward!”
"Yes!"
Before the words even fully left his mouth, disciples of Mount Hua rushed forward and knelt behind Baek Cheon.
Un Am, after glancing over them, continues his words.
“Acting Sect Leader.”
When Un Am turns his head and calls Baek Cheon, Baek Cheon bows respectfully.
"Yes, Sect Leader."
At being addressed as ‘Sect Leader’, Un Am closed his eyes slightly. But before he could fully immerse himself in the sentiment, Un Am opened his eyes again and spoke with a determined gaze.
"It is not I, but Acting Sect Leader, who must convey Mount Hua's intentions to Hainan."
Baek Cheon faces Un Am with shining eyes without replying.
"Even if the sect leader of Mount Hua cannot go personally, this sword will prove that the will of Acting Sect Leader is the will of Mount Hua."
When Un Am held out the Zaha Divine Sword, Baek Cheon offered the highest form of respect he could and accepted the sword.
As Baek Cheon straps that sword to his side, Un Am continued again.
"Acting Sect Leader."
"Yes!"
"Lead the disciples of Mount Hua and return after proving to them that Mount Hua embodies chivalry."
"Yes!"
Un Am could see it.
Though Baek Cheon's voice was as solemn as could be, there was an unmistakable liveliness hidden within it.
'This child.....'
It’s impossible for a person to have no desires. Yet seeing this disciple genuinely happy for his ascent to the sect leader, Un Am felt a strange surge of emotion welling up.
It wasn’t just Baek Cheon.
The eyes of the disciples looking at him from behind Baek Cheon also contained consistent joy.
The moment Un Am bit his lips in the uncontrollable emotion, Baek Cheon's voice was heard.
“Disciple Baek Cheon!”
Un Am's eyes turn to Baek Cheon.
"Receiving Sect Leader's order, I will clearly convey Mount Hua's will to Hainan Sect and return!"
As Un Am slowly nodded, Baek Cheon rose. Seeing that devoted appearance, a smile naturally forms on Un Am’s lips.
Baek Cheon, with the Zaha Divine sword strapped to his side, walks towards the main gate. Five Swords follows behind him as if guarding.
It was a sight he had seen many times until now. However, the sight that Un Am was watching now was the same as before, yet somehow different.
To such Un Am, Hyun Jong's voice reached his ears.
“How "How was it?"
is it?”
“….”
"Your heart isn't at ease, is it?"
At that voice, Un Am lets out a short sigh.
"I thought it was a decision made out of consideration for me... but now I see you meant to give me a hard time."
"Haha. That might be true."
Indeed, his heart felt heavy.
No matter how much it was a decision made by everyone, approving that decision is the sect leader's unique role. Being the sect leader means taking responsibility for all those decisions.
If even one of those children returns injured, would Un Am be able to bear the pain?
"Have you always sent the children off with such feelings?"
"Didn't you guess as much?"
“I did. But I never knew that a guess would be so different from reality."
Un Am shakes his head.
Only now did he understand why Hyun Jong changed his mind at the last moment.
It was already so hard for those watching; if the one going to Hainan had to bear that responsibility as well, how great would the burden on Baek Cheon's shoulders be?
This decision is for Un Am, but it was also Hyun Jong’s consideration for Baek Cheon.
"Only until that child returns."
"For now, that is enough."
Un Am nodded.
It was when he sighed and was about to step forward.
“Where are you going?”
"Yes?"
"Now that you've become the sect leader, it seems you want to go and fully enjoy that feeling with the children... Unfortunately, you don't have time for that."
“….”
"Anyway, there’s a mountain of tasks that have piled up, ones that Baek Cheon was supposed to handle before he left for Hainan. I'm going to start the handover right now, so come to my quarters."
"…Yes?"
“Aigoo. What a relief. If Baek Cheon had become the sect leader, I would have been stuck with work even after becoming the grand sect leader."
“….”
Un Am stared at Hyun Jong. Hyun Jong had a genuinely relieved expression on his face. It was a moment when Un Am's face naturally became dumbfounded at his master's playful face, which seemed like he was seeing it for the first time in his life.
Jo-Gol, who was heading towards the main gate of the manor, opens his mouth while giggling.
"Aigoo, Acting Sect Leadeeer."
The moment Baek Cheon heard that voice, a vein bulged on his forehead.
"I thought you would be promoted to the top, but how do you feel about being pushed back? What are you going to do? Aigoo, this Sajil can't help but feel sorry! How upset the Acting Sect Leader must be!"
“….”
“But don’t worry! This Sajil’s loyalty remains the same! Even if Acting Sect Leader takes a slightly longer detour, this Sajil will steadfastly stay by Acting Sect Leader's side, even if it means my body will be torn into five parts…”
“Acting Sect Leader! Acting Sect Leader!”
Yoon Jong grabs Jo-Gol's collar and slaps his mouth repeatedly. After beating up the screaming Jo-Gol a few more times, Yoon Jong smirks and asks Baek Cheon.
"It's a bit sudden. Did Sasuk know this?"
"No, I didn't know either. Really."
A smile blooms on Baek Cheon's lips.
“But this seems like the right course of action. Thanks to this, I feel a bit more at ease too."
Yoon Jong smirked.
"Didn't you say that to grow, one must bear responsibility? Isn't it a bit ironic that you're relieved now that your responsibility has lessened?"
“It’s different from that.”
Baek Cheon shook his head.
“Originally, the position of sect leader should have gone to Sasuk. I wanted it that way too, but since Sasuk was adamant, there was no choice."
“That’s true.”
"Even though Sasuk has become the sect leader, it doesn't mean the responsibility I've taken on has decreased. The reason I felt relief was not because the responsibility decreased, but because I've shed the burden of obtaining something that's not yet my rightful place."
Baek Cheon shrugged.
"Actually, for me to skip a generation and receive the position of sect leader...."
“Don’t speak nonsense!”
At that moment, the roar of a century-old stubborn elder was heard in Baek Cheon's ears.
“Where! Huh? In the Great Mount Hua Sect, where the rules and laws are upheld! Would such an outrageous act of climbing up the ranks backward be allowed?!”
“….”
"I won't see such a sight before dirt enters my eyes! Aarm! Of course!"
“Gol-ah.”
“Yes. Sasuk!”
“Go and get some dirt….”
“…Has it been decided who will be put in?”
"Wouldn't it work out somehow if we all try together?"
"Please make sense. Otherwise, we'll be the ones with dirt in our eyes first."
“….”
"This is how things should work! This is it!"
“Ugh.”
From Five Swords' perspective, it may just seem like Chung Myung being Chung Myung, but to Chung Myung, this was quite an important issue.
Wasn’t Chung Myung the embodiment of bandit, who tried his best to throw away all the pride and accomplishments he had gained throughout his life and stay true to the title of Mount Hua's third-class disciple?
From his perspective, even if only because of the single word 'generation', he was respectfully serving children whom he would have played with on his lap in the past, so how could he tolerate seeing the generations being reversed right before his eyes?
"Traditionally, in a sect!"
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
"If we stay to listen to him, it'll be another day gone. Let's just go! To Hainan!"
"Give me some cotton. Let me plug my ears first."
Mount Hua's disciples shake their heads and head towards the main gate, leaving Chung Myung behind.
At the main gate, those who had already finished preparations were waiting for them.
Namgung Dowi, Tang Pae, Seol So-baek. And Im Sobyeong with his mouth protruding as big as a foot.
Baek Cheon stepped forward to greet them on behalf of the group.
“Thank you for waiting.”
"Don't mention it."
Namgung Dowi received the greeting.
"It's only natural. Congratulations on officially becoming the acting sect leader, Baek Cheon Dojang."
"Thank you."
“First, Namgung Family….”
"Ah!"
At that moment, Im Sobyeong suddenly shouted.
"Are you going to make me spend the night? Me? Ah, let's get going! Why did you have to change the sect leader on the day of departure and keep everyone waiting! Such a grandiose thing for something without any particular meaning... Kuwaaah!"
Chung Myung, who soared up almost like ascending to heaven, kicked Im Sobyeong's face with the sole of his foot. Then, as Im Sobyeong let out a pig-like scream, Chung Myung pounced on him like a wolf.
"No meaning? You Evil Sects bastard, how dare you look at the Great Mount Hua Sect's sect leader succession ceremony!"
"Aaah! Ah! Aaaaah!"
"Since we're going to Gangnam anyway, let's take care of this Evil Sects punk's corpse before we go! Die! Die, you Evil Sects bastard!"
"Ahhhhh! Please spare me! Ahhhhh!"
Everyone who was watching Chung Myung beat up Im Sobyeong like he was catching a rat let out a collective sigh.
"Shall we depart?"
“…Let’s do that.”
It seemed that this journey to Hainan was not going to be easy either.
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