Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1341. What happened? (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
On a night deeply steeped in darkness. The faint moonlight resting gently on the window frames of a still-lit pavilion.
Sarak. Sarak.
The sound of a brush soaked in ink sweeping across paper slipped through the cracks in the window. That steady noise continued for some time before being interrupted by a voice from outside the door.
“Gaju-nim.”
“Come in.”
Tang Gun-ak set down the brush in his hand and raised his head. Soon the door opened, and Tang Family's Custodian Tang Ik (익(當霬)) stepped carefully inside.
(H: 호법 literally means upholder of the law)
"You haven't retired to your chambers yet?"
“It’s still too early.”
Tang Gun-ak shook his head with a stoic expression.
"So, what is it?"
“The poisons and hidden weapons sent from the main family arrived just a moment ago.”
“Good. What of the accompanying report?"
“Yes, Gaju-nim. It says that the refugees sent to Sichuan have all settled safely. I intended to report this tomorrow, but..."
Tang Gun-ak nodded slowly.
"The family must be short-handed; it must have been difficult for them."
The people left in Tang Family weren’t exactly a significant force in terms of martial strength. Of course, within Tang Family, crafting poisons and manufacturing hidden weapons was no less important than martial arts, so it couldn’t be said they were idle.
“If those left in the comfort of Sichuan don’t even handle that much, what else are they good for?”
At Tang Ik’s comment, Tang Gun-ak chuckled faintly.
In the past, he would never have laughed at such a remark, but the current Tang Family had softened significantly compared to before.
But Tang Ik didn't miss the subtle bitterness laced within that smile.
"...Is there still no news from those who headed to Hainan Sect?"
"It's not a place from which news can be easily sent. Especially under current circumstances."
“That’s true, but....”
Tang Ik trailed off and sighed.
The group heading to Hainan Sect included Tang Pae, sogaju of Tang Family.
As a custodian of the sect, Tang Ik had approved Tang Pae’s decision to go. After all, it was a mission where key figures from the sects affiliated with Heavenly Comrade Alliance were participating, so it was unthinkable for Tang Family to be left out.
"Please don't worry too much, Gaju-nim. Sogaju will manage well."
"Worry..."
"...Pardon?"
Tang Gun-ak chuckled faintly.
"That word is too generous for me now."
He stood up from his seat after leaving behind those cryptic words.
“Gaju-nim?”
"You should rest as well. Training will resume at dawn tomorrow."
With that, he stepped out of the room. Tang Ik, watching his retreating figure, let out a long sigh.
The sound of insects chirped here and there.
Tang Gun-ak felt the same strange sensation as always.
By nature, insects are wary of humans. If someone approaches, they all fall silent and cease their songs.
But in the presence of that man, the insects never stopped. It wasn’t as though he was deliberately suppressing his presence.
It was something inexplicable through martial arts, and probably something that Tang Gun-ak will never understand in his lifetime.
Hyun Jong. He stood by the riverside, gazing toward the distant lands of Gangnam.
Tang Gun-ak, silently watching his back, shook his head.
He had sent his son and daughter into enemy territory. Yet even his worries and concerns couldn’t compare to that person's.
For that person had essentially sent everything he possessed into enemy territory.
"Hmm?"
Noticing the insects had fallen silent, Hyun Jong turned his head. Their eyes met, and Tang Gun-ak gave a slight bow. Hyun Jong returned the gesture with a polite nod.
"The night grows late, Maengju-nim."
Hyun Jong smiled gently.
"Sleep eludes me, so what can I do, Gaju-nim?"
Tang Gun-ak let out a soft sigh. He didn't know how to respond.
The two stood side by side on the riverbank, gazing across the water. The river they could cross whenever they wanted seemed endlessly far and wide.
Only the faint sound of insects resuming their chirp and the gentle lapping of waves against the shore broke the stillness.
The moment Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth to attempt some conversation, Hyun Jong spoke first.
"Gaju-nim... have you ever regretted becoming the patriarch of the family?"
Tang Gun-ak's expression stiffened slightly. Depending on how one interprets it, this could be considered quite a sensitive or even impolite question.
But he could tolerate it because it was coming from Hyun Jong. Not because Hyun Jong held a position that allowed him to be discourteous to Tang Gun-ak, but because there could be no malice in his words.
“Regret....”
Tang Gun-ak pondered how to answer and quietly looked at Hyun Jong.
In truth, his answer was meaningless. This wasn't really a question to begin with. So he asked instead.
“Do Maengju-nim regret becoming the sect leader of Mount Hua?”
Hyun Jong smiled softly.
"I used to, occasionally."
“....”
“But not anymore. I am lacking in many ways, I believe becoming Mount Hua’s sect leader has been the most fulfilling part of my life.”
"Then..."
Hyun Jong's gaze turned to the river embracing the moon.
“Still, I occasionally find myself wondering. What really kind of person was I?"
Tang Gun-ak frowned slightly.
“What do you mean....”
"Do you not feel the same, Gaju-nim? Of course, everyone experiences this at some point, but especially when you live as a sect leader, there are so many times when you must conceal your true feelings."
Tang Gun-ak nodded in agreement.
“It is a position burdened with heavy responsibilities.”
It was the same for him. Before meeting Chung Myung, Tang Gun-ak, who had faced excessive scrutiny from the Council of Elders, had been forced to act colder and more calculated than his true nature. He couldn't show them any weakness.
While things had eased somewhat now, those times were anything but easy.
"At first, I thought I would just do my best with what ability I had."
The voice was calm. But the reason it didn't sound merely peaceful was because of Hyun Jong's deep, darkly sunken gaze.
“But it didn’t turn out that way. I am not a great man, yet people kept expecting me to be one. Saying that's how Mount Hua sect leader should be."
Tang Gun-ak nodded slowly. Anyone who had ever taken on the responsibility of leadership would empathize with those words.
"So I merely pretended. I pretended to be magnanimous when I wasn’t, pretended to be benevolent when I wasn’t, pretended to understand the Tao when I didn’t have a clue...”
“....”
“For decades, I lived that way, playing the role of the ideal sect leader I had in mind. It was difficult at first, but at some point it became a little easier. And then, at some point, it became second nature.”
Tang Gun-ak closed his eyes.
He understood. Thoughts dictate actions. But sometimes actions control one's thoughts. Just as changing thoughts changes actions, changing actions also changes thoughts.
“Now it all feels natural. I think like the sect leader I wanted to become, I act the part, and I feel I’ve inched a little closer to being the kind of leader Mount Hua deserves.”
Hyun Jong smiled gently. Then he turned back at Tang Gun-ak and gave him a gentle gaze.
“But then at some point, this thought occurred to me. Who was I originally? I’m not sure anymore.”
“Maengju-nim…”
“I believe I’ve become a better person. Someone who is a little less ashamed to bear the name of Mount Hua sect leader. But... I wonder. Was that truly a good thing?"
There was an emotion in Hyun Jong’s voice that was difficult to describe.
"Was it truly only good..."
Tang Gun-ak remained silent.
Though difficult to put into words, he could understand deeply in his heart. He sympathized. And perhaps that was why he felt such a deep ache in his chest.
A brief silence settled. Hyun Jong opened his mouth again.
“The children have grown splendidly. They’ve become people so great I can hardly compare myself to them.”
"They still have far to go. How could they compare to you, Maengju-nim?"
Hyun Jong was filled with joy at Tang Gun-ak's words.
"But such thoughts also come to me. Has that growth truly made those children happy?"
“....”
“As they take on more responsibility, are they not losing more and more? Just as I once did, are they suppressing themselves desperately and striving to become what others expect of them?”
A small sigh escaped Tang Gun-ak's mouth.
"Isn't that how all people live?"
"Yes. I suppose so..."
The reason his heartache wouldn't fade despite knowing this truth was the thought that he too might have unknowingly been forcing those children to live the same life he had lived. Hyun Jong continued.
"I’ve come to understand one thing."
"...What might that be?"
“What I should have done.”
Tang Gun-ak stared at Hyun Jong with questioning eyes. But it was not easy to discern his true feelings from Hyun Jong’s calm expression, which was like still water.
At that moment, just as Tang Gun-ak was about to respond, his gaze snapped to the river.
'Something....'
Something was approaching rapidly across the water. Squinting his eyes and looking closely, he could see more clearly the object cutting through the water's surface. Something white...
"A marten?"
Tang Gun-ak's eyes widened.
That was definitely the marten that Chung Myung always kept with him. Of course, he couldn’t exactly tell by its appearance alone, but logically, could there be another white marten swimming across the Yangtze River at this hour?
Kiiiiiiiiiii!
The moment the marten spotted Tang Gunak and Hyun Jong, Baek-ah let out a sharp cry and increased his speed to near-flying levels as he swam.
Tadadadat!
Upon reaching land, Baek-ah instantly gripped the ground firmly with its short feet. Without even pausing to shake off the water, it climbed up Hyun Jong’s body and held out a small bundle tied around its neck.
Kik! Kiiik!
Rough breathing and coughs burst forth incessantly. Just seeing his small body trembling made it clear how hurried he had rushed here.
But Baek-ah held out the bundle again as if not worth noting. He appeared to be urgently demanding immediate attention.
Hyun Jong untied the bundle and pulled out a letter from within. The corner of the letter was slightly damp, but it didn't impede reading the contents.
Reading the letter without a change in expression, Hyun Jong calmly handed it to Tang Gun-ak.
"Is it a letter from Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword?"
Tang Gun-ak didn’t wait for a response and snatched the letter to read it. But unlike Hyun Jong, his eyes widened with every word he read.
The contents of the letter were beyond absurd—it was chilling. The letter briefly detailed their plan to break through Hainan Island and head into Gangnam.
Gangnam—the very headquarters of Evil Tyrant Alliance.
"Wh- What madness..."
Tang Gun-ak, startled, turned to look at Hyun Jong. But Hyun Jong's expression showed no change whatsoever. He merely continued gazing across the river as before.
'Shouldn't we do something?'
No matter how dangerous Gangnam might be, they couldn’t just sit idly by. If they all die at this rate...
Tang Gun-ak bit his lips.
But... No.
To invade Jiangnan was to declare war. No matter how important the group was, the lives of a few could not justify plunging the entire Heavenly Comrade Alliance into the flames of war....
“Gaju-nim.”
“...Yes?”
Hyun Jong asked with an expressionless face.
“Aren’t you curious about what I should have done?”
Tang Gun-ak frowned at the unexpected out-of-place question. Hyun Jong looked at Tang Gun-ak with a calm gaze and continued.
"This is an order as Maengju. Please summon all sect leaders of Heavenly Comrade Alliance to Maengju Pavilion immediately."
Tang Gun-ak’s eyes widened in shock.
“Wha- What do you intend to do…?”
The eyes of Mount Hua Sect Leader Hyun Jong, as he turned his gaze back across the river, were infinitely colder than before.
His unwavering voice spread out.
"We're going to save the children."
Tang Gun-ak realized at that instant. That the insect chirps had ceased long ago.
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