Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1363. As expected, you have a big heart (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
In carrying out acts of Chivalrousness, one must not expect any reward. This is the iron rule of those who walk the path of chivalry.
The moment one desires compensation, their actions cease to be an act of Chivalrousness and become a mere transaction. That was why Baek Cheon never sought repayment for his deeds.
Even if it meant risking countless dangers, even if it meant losing much along the way. But....
Baek Cheon slowly nodded and spoke.
“I understand your circumstances.”
He suppressed the sigh that threatened to escape.
"But, Village Chief. Our circumstances are no better. Could you not help us just this once? If we must avoid the pursuit of Evil Tyrant Alliance while also being deprived of food, our survival is far from guaranteed.”
The usual Baek Cheon would not have laid out such a detailed explanation.
He was not doing so now in order to gain sympathy by highlighting his hardship. He just wanted to know.
He wanted to see how pure goodwill, offered without expectation of return, would be repaid. Whether their path of chivalry was truly making the world a better place.
“Hero-nim....”
However, it seemed that Baek Cheon's feelings did not reach Elder Hyeong.
“How could a humble man like us discuss the circumstances of heroes?"
“....”
“We know nothing. We only hope somehow to scrape by from day to day. Please have mercy on us.”
Elder Hyeong bowed his head again. Baek Cheon couldn't help but laugh hollowly at the sight.
What could he do?
If a strong man pressed down on him with overwhelming force, at least he could try resisting. But when the weak plead for understanding while explaining their circumstances, what words could one possibly speak in response?
"No!"
Jo-Gol, who had been holding his breath beside him, flushed with anger and raised his voice.
“We’re not trying to rob you, we’re saying we’ll buy them with money! And at several times of its worth! You people could just go down to a reasonably large town and get more grain with that money...!"
“Gol.”
“Sasuk, isn’t this a bit too much? It’s not like we’re asking them to do anything that dangerous!”
“Stop!”
Baek Cheon raised his voice firmly at Jo-Gol. Jo-Gol clammed his mouth shut but couldn’t completely hide his displeased expression.
"Please, Hero-nim."
Elder Hyeong bowed his head once more.
“It may seem trivial to Hero-nim like yourselves, but humble ones like us must stake our lives on each such matter. A tiger sleeping under the sun may think nothing of it, but for a rabbit, stepping out in the open means staking its life."
Jo-Gol was about to argue again when a hand quietly extended before his face. Jo-Gol reflexively started to swat it away but stopped. Because it was none other than Yoon Jong who had blocked his mouth.
Yoon Jong quietly gazed at the elder before speaking.
“Village Chief, I understand what you are saying. But we, too, risked our lives when we helped the people of this village.”
At those words, Elder Hyeong fell silent as though he had no rebuttal.
“Stepping into Gangnam and trying to eradicate the evil influence of Evil Tyrant Alliance isn’t as simple nor an easy decision to make. Yet no one among us objected to doing so.”
“Hero-nim....”
Yun Jong looked at Elder Hyeong with an expression slightly different from his usual self.
“That is why we are begging you to spare us something so small, incomparable to what we gave before. Is it still truly impossible?"
“Father!”
When Hyeong Wook could no longer bear it and started to shout, Elder Hyeong glared at him with sharp eyes.
After shooting Hyeong Wook a fierce look, the elder turned back to Baek Cheon and his group. The fierce glare at Hyeong Wook melted as if it was a lie, and was replaced by awkwardness and shame.
"How could I not understand? But, Hero-nim… If we help you and perhaps meet with misfortune, wouldn't that be meaningless?"
Yoon Jong stared blankly at Elder Hyeong, dumbfounded.
Even he, who had never hesitated to stand on the side of commoners, had not expected this response. Elder Hyeong drove the final nail in.
“Please understand our position. The grace we received from you is as vast as the sea, but… We are shamefully foolish and powerless to repay the favor. What could those who barely survive by digging the earth and subsisting on grain given by Evil Tyrant Alliance do?"
“....”
“Please, I beg of you. Please withdraw just those words."
The village chief bowed so deeply that it bordered on servility, making those sitting across from him visibly uncomfortable. It felt as if they were the ones oppressing the weak.
After quietly observing the situation, Baek Cheon finally spoke.
"In the end, you're saying don't expect grain and leave this place as quickly as possible."
“That’s....”
Elder Hyeong's voice trailed off. There was no word of denial. Baek Cheon didn’t press him further. Their stance was so firm that attempting to persuade him was pointless anyway.
And truthfully, persuasion was impossible.
No matter how kindly they spoke, would armed men making demands ever sound like a mere request? The moment their initial proposal was rejected, Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Hainan Sect were left with no options. Those who prided themselves on walking the righteous path could do nothing else.
Elder Hyeong continued to cast apologetic glances at them, while Hyeong Wook bit his lip in frustration.
Baek Cheon quietly watched the two, then turned to look at those seated behind him.
Most of them struggled to conceal their bewilderment and indignation. Tang Pae, Namgung Dowi, and Seol So-baek seemed particularly unwilling to accept the situation.
But there were the two who showed completely different reactions.
Im Sobyeong, sneering as if he had expected this, and Chung Myung, maintaining a blank expression that gave no hint of his thoughts.
A sigh escaped Baek Cheon's mouth.
“Then....”
“Wa- Wait!”
Just then, Hyeong Wook hurriedly spoke up. Elder Hyeong immediately cast him another of his warning looks to silence him with sheer pressure, but this time, Hyeong Wook didn't back down so easily.
“This makes no sense.”
“What now....”
“The ones who received their kindness were none other than the villagers themselves. Father, you were unconscious the entire time, weren't you? You didn't see how much they struggled to protect our village."
The elder raised his gray eyebrows.
“What are you trying to say?”
"I mean this isn’t a decision we should make alone. We should ask the villagers! Tell them the situation as it is and leave it to their choice. Even if Father the village chief, how could you decide everything on your own?"
The elder let out a sigh.
"Would that work?"
“Yes! If we do that, I will accept the result."
Hyeong Wook nodded quickly and then addressed Baek Cheon and his group.
"Heroes-nim! I will gather the villagers and ask their opinions. It might be a hassle, but could you please wait until then?”
Baek Cheon glanced at those behind him. They too seemed to have no particular objection, merely staring blankly at Baek Cheon.
"...Then we'll ask this of you."
After all, it was the only option left. There wasn’t any other way.
"Alright! I'll be back soon…!"
Hyeong Wook ran out in a hurry. As Baek Cheon watched the door swing open and shut, a small awkward cough reached his ears.
"Um... Hero-nim."
“...Yes?”
“Before that, one thing....”
It was Elder Hyeong. His face again wore a deeply apologetic expression.
"Let me say once more..."
Baek Cheon spoke while looking around at the villagers gathered closely before him. He wondered if they truly had to go this far, but the old man’s insistence on fairness wasn’t necessarily wrong.
"Whatever choice you make… we will not cause any harm. As Acting Sect Leader of Mount Hua Sect, I swear this…."
When Baek Cheon turned his head, Geum Yangbaek nodded with a sour expression. He couldn't be pleased about making such absurd declarations before everyone like peking opera, without them even knowing the full context.
"I, Geum Yangbaek, Sect Leader of Hainan Sect, will personally guarantee it."
After Geum Yangbaek's solemn declaration, the villagers waved their hands frantically.
"Aigo! How could you say such things!"
"Yes! Yes! We’re only alive because of you, Hero-nim! How could we think to do something so heartless to our benefactors?”
"Yes! Exactly. Only beasts ignorant of kindness would do such things."
Those villagers who had actually witnessed them fight against Evil Tyrant Alliance were certainly far more hospitable than the village chief was.
"Is that enough now?"
When Hyeong Wook glanced at his father and asked, the latter nodded.
"Hold the discussion back there."
“Yes. Then this way.”
Hyeong Wook led the villagers behind the house. They moved surprisingly far, apparently worried their voices might be heard.
Once the elder turned around and went inside the house, Jo-Gol, who had been watching the situation, opened his mouth.
"Still, the villager might think differently?”
"Maybe."
"Of course. That old man was unconscious when we rescued those people, right? Of course, it'll be different."
Baek Cheon simply nodded wordlessly.
“I think so too.”
This was more pure hope than a confident answer, and it was Baek Cheon's last expectation for them.
But just then, a scoffing voice cut in.
"It seems our Taoist yangban have spent too much time secluded in the mountains."
It was Im Sobyeong. He smirked at Baek Cheon.
“If you place your high hopes in people, all you’ll have left in the end is disappointment.”
"I understand what you’re trying to say, but…"
"No. You Taoists don't understand."
“...Yes?”
Im Sobyeong let out a chuckle.
"Do you know why Mount Hua became such a hot topic for many? And why, despite still being incomparable to Ten Great Sects in strength, it catches the eye of numerous sects?”
"That’s…"
"You’ll find out soon enough."
Right as Im Sobyeong finished, as though to illustrate his point, Hyeong Wook returned more quickly than expected.
For the discussion to have ended so quickly could only mean that the majority of the villagers had shared the same opinion.
'Then?'
Just as a flicker of hope ignited in his heart, Baek Cheon saw it.
The complexity in Hyeong Wook's expression as he approached. The heaviness in his steps.
Hyeong Wook met Baek Cheon's gaze and bowed his head silently.
Baek Cheon didn’t need to hear the conclusion to guess what it was.
Im Sobyeong’s amused voice rang beside him.
"Help those in need. Repay grace that has been given.”
“....”
"The name Mount Hua became special because there are no others who keep such obvious principles."
Before Baek Cheon could respond, Hyeong Wook came and stood before them. Then he spoke with a long sigh.
“...I’m sorry, Hero-nim.”
Baek Cheon's shoulders slumped.
“The villagers… wish for Hero-nim to leave the grain and depart... Yes, that's what they want..."
Udeudeuk.
Baek Cheon tightly clenched his fist. The sound of cracking knuckles echoed dully.
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