Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1236. Is that so? (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Gwak Hwanso (곽환소(郭歡騷)) looked at the scene before his eyes with a cold, frozen face.
In the Great Sea Hall (대해전(大海殿)), where only Hainan's disciples, and especially main sect disciples, were people dressed not in Hainan’s robes but in the plain clothes of commoners.
Gwak Hwanso clenched and unclenched his fists slowly.
Rage rose to the top of his head.
It wasn’t just because outsiders had entered a hall meant only for main sect disciples. It was because those people wearing commoner clothes were none other than main sect disciples of Hainan.
"You all. I heard you're leaving Hainan."
When Gwak Hwanso spoke, some disciples glanced around nervously before mumbling.
“Yes.... Sahyung.”
Gwak Hwanso bit his lip, then spoke again.
“Are you requesting to be excommunicated?”
Under normal circumstances, a question like this, asked with such fury, would have terrified them. After all, Gwak Hwanso was the eldest Sahyung among Hainan's second-class disciples, and his personality was known to be headstrong and impatient.
Of course, everyone still found him uncomfortable. However...
"...We have no choice."
This time, they dared to say things they would never have openly said under usual conditions.
“What are we supposed to do… We don’t know when Evil Tyrant Alliance will attack, and there’s no way we can win.”
“You...!”
“We know. We understand, Sahyung. That in times like these, we should be willing to die together. But… we’re sorry, Sahyung. We’re not as courageous as Sahyung are.”
"How can you say that?"
“Don’t blame the Sajes too much, Sahyung.”
Before Gwak Hwanso could say anything else, someone else stepped in.
“It’s not just a matter of courage.”
Gwak Hwanso turned silently at the person who interrupted him.
"We're not ordained monks. All of Hainan’s disciples have families. You know that Saje Go Hong who just spoke has an elderly mother at home, don't you?"
“....”
“Loyalty to the sect is all well and good, but if we die, what happens to the families we leave behind? Throwing away our lives for pride isn't real courage either, is it?"
The expression faded from Gwak Hwanso’s face. They all understood this meant he was truly enraged, yet none of them were willing to back down so easily this time.
“You don’t have a family, Sahyung, so you wouldn’t understand how we feel. Go ahead, be angry, curse us if you must. But don't call us unprincipled. Filial piety is as important as loyalty to the sect."
At that moment, Lee Jayang (이자양(李子陽)), who had been silently guarding behind Gwak Hwanso, snickered.
“I didn’t realize Yoo Gong Sahyung (유공(庾供)) had a mother still alive. Weren’t your parents passed away some time ago?”
"Jayang!"
“It’s just the truth, but does that mean everyone planning to leave the sect now has elderly mothers and families to protect? Are the rest of us bastards without families or parents who gave birth to us?"
Jayang's face was filled with a mocking smile.
“If it’s fear driving you to flee, why bother with all this talk? You said to curse and get angry if we want, but now you don't want to hear it to your face?"
"Watch your word!"
“Sahyung. You don’t seem to understand, but I’m being cautious with my words right now. If I were to speak my mind, at least one of us would have drawn a sword by now.”
“....”
“If we’re going to hold this excommunication ceremony or whatever, I wish we would just get it over with. I’m sure you can understand the agony of having to call someone like you ‘Sahyung’ just for the sake of rules.”
Yoo Gong bit his lip and glared at Jayang. As Jayang was about to mock again, Gwak Hwanso stopped him.
“Enough.”
“...Daesahyung. This person....”
“Yoo Gong was recently married, was he not?”
"What's so great about that!"
“His child just reached a hundred days old. An infant, who doesn’t even recognize his father’s face.”
At those words, Jayang was speechless for a moment and pursed his lips.
“No matter what....”
"That's enough."
Gwak Hwanso shook his head with a heavy expression.
"This was decided by the sect. A single disciple should not discuss right and wrong regarding the matters that the sect has permitted. Sect Leader made this decision after careful consideration, did he not?”
Jayang turned his head away with a thoroughly displeased expression. But he no longer criticized Yoo Gong or Go Hong.
Above all, he couldn't continue because he knew what was in the mind of Gwak Hwanso, who would normally scold and criticize them with the loudest voice, when he said such things.
Gwak Hwanso stared at the two and spoke as if sighing.
"You seem to have misunderstood my intention. I have no complaints about your decision to leave the sect.”
“...Then....”
"But just as between people, there's a minimum courtesy that should be maintained between disciples and their sect."
Gwak Hwanso looked at those in commoner clothes with cold eyes.
“Have you officially excommunicated?”
“....”
“I heard you requested an excommunication ceremony from Sect Leader and that it would be conducted after the storm passes. Isn’t that correct?”
"...Yes, that's correct."
That matter alone made them visibly remorseful, and they began to avert their gaze.
“That means, until the excommunication ceremony is held, you're still Hainan’s disciples. And yet..."
Gwak Hwanso's gaze was intensely cold.
"Why don't I see the Three Waves that should be on your chests?"
The Three Waves (삼파랑(三波浪)). The three wave patterns embroidered on the chest of Hainan disciples' robes. This was both Hainan's symbol and the pride of its disciples.
Naturally, those who had changed into ordinary clothes no longer wore the Three Waves on their chests.
“This is a place where only the main disciples of Hainan can enter. You’re well aware of that, so I assume you still consider yourselves disciples of Hainan. But what were you thinking, appearing here in such attire?”
“We....”
Gwak Hwanso spoke as if spitting out the words.
"I understand your position. I'm not trying to condemn your decision to leave the sect. But at the very least, you should show some respect to those prepared to die. Isn't that courtesy to those who shared the same roof and purpose with you, and to the sect that sheltered you?"
Those in commoners' clothes hung their heads low.
There was room for excuse. Originally, they planned to receive excommunication and leave the sect today. However, because of the storm that suddenly came, they couldn't leave Hainan.
It felt awkward to put the martial robes back on once they had taken them off.
But, just as Gwak Hwanso had pointed out, if they felt that way, then they shouldn’t have set foot in this Great Sea Hall. This place was only for those who considered themselves true main sect disciples of Hainan.
"If you can't wear Hainan's martial robes again, if you have no intention of embroidering the Three Waves on your chest again, at least leave this place now. This place is for Hainan’s disciples.”
A few disciples looked as if they wanted to argue, but seeing the look on Gwak Hwanso’s face, they bowed their heads and, one by one, began to leave the great hall in silence.
Gwak Hwanso let out a long sigh. As the people in commoners' clothes left, the great hall looked incredibly empty.
'This won't be all.'
Even those who were only watching and waiting now would quietly follow them out after the excommunication ceremony. Or, one morning, they would simply disappear without a trace.
How many would remain? How many would be here tomorrow, and how many the day after? Would even half of them still be here after a week?
Lost in thought, he gave a small, bitter chuckle.
‘What’s the point of thinking about it?’
There was a time when they all shared the same dream. The dream of making Haenam the greatest sect under heaven. They had grand dreams of showing those Jungwon sects, who dismissed them as mere Southern Sea bumpkins, just how strong and formidable Hainan could be.
But now that dream had been swept away uselessly like a palace built of sand on the beach. All that was left were the fools who couldn’t let go of a dream that had already crumbled.
“Jayang. What about the third-class disciples?”
“...We’ve prepared to send them off, even if we have to spank them to make them go. They’re just clueless kids, so they should be sent off.”
“Good. Well done.”
A look of blatant contempt crossed Jayang's face.
“Even those young kids are set on staying and dying with Hainan, but these guys who strutted around enjoying all of Hainan's glory are running away to save themselves."
“....”
"Getting older doesn't make one a better person, it seems, Sahyung."
“Stop it.”
When Gwak Hwanso shook his head again, Jayang spoke indifferently.
“Pretending to be the good guy, are you? If it were normal, Sahyung would be the most enraged.”
"What's the point of getting angry when nothing will change?"
“Or maybe you’re just too angry to show it?”
Gwak Hwanso didn't answer. Maybe that was the truth. But he soon shook his head.
"Let those who want to leave, leave."
“....”
“I am Daesahyung of Hainan. The people I should be concerned about are Hainan’s disciples. Why should I be concerned about those who refuse to be Hainan’s disciples?”
Jayang chuckled.
“Then the only ones Sahyung need to worry about are the biggest fools on all of Hainan Island. Those who would rather die than live.”
“That’s exactly why they need my concern. They’re fools, after all.”
Gwak Hwanso gave a small smile.
It was true in the most literal sense. T Those who remain until the end will be the most foolish and thoughtless ones on this vast Hainan Island. Ones who thought they could shatter a rock with an egg.
"At least we gain one thing, don't we?"
Jayang said, shrugging his shoulders.
“We may not have made Hainan the greatest sect under heaven, but at least someday, we’ll be remembered as the sect that gathered the most foolish people in the world.”
“Do you call that an accomplishment...”
“Better to leave something behind than nothing at all, don’t you think so?”
Jayang joked. A smile spread across Gwak Hwanso’s lips as he looked at Jayang’s tanned face.
"True. Well, that's not wrong either. You won't find bigger fools than us even if you search the whole world."
“Exactly. As long as we’re the best at something, that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”
The two looked at each other and smiled. There was a mix of subtle self-mockery and awkward pride.
It was when.
Kwang!
“Sahyung! Daesahyung!”
The doors burst open as if they were about to splinter, and Hainan disciple, soaked through from the rain, came stumbling in, panic etched on his face. Gwak Hwanso cried out in surprise.
"What! What's the matter?"
"They, they've come!"
“Who? Could it be Evil Tyrant...!”
“Mount Hua has come!”
"...Who did you say came?"
“Mount Hua! Mount Hua’s here!”
“...Who?”
“Aigoo! Mount Hua Sect has arrived! They've arrived at our gate!"
At that, Gwak Hwanso’s gaze turned to the open door. The wind and rain were howling outside.
"...They came here?"
Jayang also muttered in a bewildered voice.
“...Has they lost their mind?”
Those words suddenly snapped Gwak Hwanso back to his senses.
"Let's go!"
He dashed out into the storm without a moment’s hesitation.
“Sa- Sahyung! Let's go together!"
Jayang and several other disciples scrambled to follow him
Paaaaaaa!
The pouring rain stung their faces like needles, but they didn't have the luxury of caring about such trivial things.
'They came here?'
Through this storm, to Hainan, where they may fight a war with Evil Tyrant Alliance at any moment?
There's a limit to foolishness. Beyond that, it’s no longer just foolishness but madness. This made no sense whatsoever.
But in that instant, he recalled the faces of Mount Hua’s disciples he had once encountered—the haggard but somehow dignified faces he had seen at the Murim Competition.
And there were so many stories about Mount Hua that he came across.
Paaaat!
As Gwak Hwanso running with all his might, the scene before the main gate finally came into view. Bewildered Hainan disciples and about ten people standing before them.
'Re- Really...'
It was truly a torrential rain.
It was coming down so heavily that visibility was blurry, making it hard to see anything clearly.
Reaching the gate, Gwak Hwanso slowly stopped. He looked at the ten or so people standing proudly before him...
“...It’s cold!”
"This is Southern Sea!"
"But what can we do about the cold! Damn it, I can’t believe we made it here alive!”
“How long are we supposed to wait?”
“I’ll never face south again, not even to piss!”
"...Food. Someone, food..."
...No. He was looking at strange creatures complaining about everything, looking either like drowned rats or beggars who hadn't eaten for months.
Then someone who was openly complaining turned their head and saw Gwak Hwanso.
“Ah?”
"Uh?"
"That pretty boy like a gisaeng's broth..."
"That ignorant country bumpkin!"
"Who are you calling a country bumpkin, you bastard!"
Gwak Hwanso shouted without thinking.
The pale pretty boy like a gisaeng's brother brushed aside his seaweed-like wet bangs and took a step forward. Then he made a dignified martial salute.
“I am Baek Cheon, the acting sect leader of Mount Hua Sect. I have come here in the capacity of a special envoy from Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Please allow us an audience with your Sect Leader!”
Kwareureureng!
As soon as he finished speaking, the sky flashed and roared frightfully. Baek Cheon glanced up nervously at the sky, his face even paler as he quickly added,
"If possible, before we get struck by lightning..."
“....”
“Quickly, please.”
Gwak Hwanso thought to himself. This was… a little—no, a lot different from what he had imagined.
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