Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1646. So, are you having fun? (5)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Sit.”
Despite hearing Cheong Mun's words, Chung Myung stood firm and didn't move. Cheong Mun glanced at him. Cheong Mun glanced at him briefly. The way he was standing with arms crossed and staring this way, he was clearly brimming with discontent.
Cheong Mun let out a quiet sigh and asked.
"What is it?"
"Why are you even talking with scum like that? You know perfectly well they're not even human."
Chung Myung gritted his teeth slightly. A blatant sigh finally leaked from Cheong Mun's mouth.
“Watch your words. The birds hear what’s said at night, and by day….”
"Let them hear."
“...”
“No, I don't think they'll hear well at this volume, should I try saying it a bit louder? So all the bastards in the world can hear?”
Cheong Mun groaned as if his head was aching.
"Fine. I understand, so sit."
“Cheong Mun Sahyung!”
"Sit."
When Cheong Mun spoke again, Chung Myung grumbled but pulled out a chair and sat. In the process, he pulled out a new chair, not the one the other sect leaders had used, as if he detested even his body touching where they had sat.
Cheong Mun continued to stare at Chung Myung who kept grumbling.
To be able to live so dictated by his feelings even after reaching this age... Wasn't that quite an impressive talent? Usually, people are gradually worn down by the world's hardships...
No, no. Thinking about it, this too should be seen as being worn down and rounded. If it were the young Chung Myung, he would have stormed in without a second thought and brought a wooden sword crashing down on the sect leaders' heads.
That sight, in its own way...
“What are you thinking about?”
“Ahem!”
Cheong Mun’s face flushed momentarily before he coughed loudly. No matter how much frustration had built up, it was a thought unbecoming of a Taoist.
Composing his expression, Cheong Mun called Chung Myung seriously with a stern face.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“...”
“Chung Myung-ah.”
"...What."
Chung Myung grimaced as if already fed up with the nagging to follow.
“Don't act so recklessly towards the sect leaders.”
“...”
“Of course... I do actually know.”
"Know what?"
"That your deliberately threatening behaviour toward them is actually a consideration to make my work easier by putting your presence forward as a shield. Regarding that point, I'm always..."
Cheong Mun paused. Because Chung Myung, who had been listening, made an expression that said, 'Me? Did I? Did I do such a thing?' and then averted his gaze.
"...grateful."
"Uh... Yeah, well. As long as you know."
"...Right."
Cheong Mun shook his head.
In fact, whether Chung Myung intended it or not wasn't really important. What mattered was that thanks to Chung Myung's existence, Cheong Mun could at least breathe a bit.
If Chung Myung weren't in Mount Hua, the current Cheong Mun would be fighting a battle at least three times more difficult. Fortunately, they were at least aware of Chung Myung's mood and compromised at appropriate points.
Then Chung Myung asked in a firm voice.
“So what are you going to do now?”
"...Hm?"
"You said you'd get support, but instead of support, didn't you just get ridicule? Are you going to keep cleaning up after those trash like this?"
Cheong Mun smiled bitterly.
"Trash, you say. They're all heads of sects representing Kangho. Such people..."
"Enough. If this continues, aren't only we of Mount Hua suffering? The kids' wounds don't even have time to heal!"
Cheong Mun closed his mouth at those words.
"Let's just withdraw."
“Chung Myung-ah.”
"Those damn bastards are acting like this because they've never properly fought Magyo! If we just announce we are reorganising and step back from the front line, they will end up grabbing our pants and sobbing later. Why can't a smart yangban like you grasp this simple thing?”
Cheong Mun sighed instead of answering. Chung Myung's voice grew louder.
“We’re doing all the work, so why do we have to watch those damn bastards act so high and mighty? If this is how it’s going to be…”
“Chung Myung-ah.”
A firm voice leaked from Cheong Mun's lips. Chung Myung, who had been laying out complaints with an annoyed face, tightly closed his mouth.
“Do you think I don’t want to do that? Do you think their behaviour doesn’t make my blood boil?”
“...”
“I also want to teach them a lesson, just as you said. But who will take responsibility for the common people who will suffer because of our withdrawal?”
"Common people, common people! Those damn common people!"
“Chung Myung-ah!”
"Damn it! Why is that our responsibility? It's those bastards' responsibility! We're doing all the fighting while those bastards just watch! Ah, could it be our fault for not fighting better?"
A feeling of regret crossed Cheong Mun's eyes as he looked at Chung Myung.
He was fuming because he couldn't do anything about the anger rising inside him. As if he would run after the sect leaders who had just left and lash out at them.
But Cheong Mun knew that Chung Myung's reaction was not simply because he couldn't control his anger.
"...Does it upset you and break your heart to see the disciples get hurt and wounded?"
Chung Myung bit his lips tightly.
“That’s not it...”
A bitter voice escaped Cheong Mun's mouth.
"I feel the same, I do... When it comes to heartache, mine would be no less than yours."
"...Such a person!"
"But, Chung Myung-ah, if we throw away our responsibility to vent our resentment, there will be those who must lose family, and their pain will be even greater."
Chung Myung couldn't say anything and stared intently at Cheong Mun. He could read the deep sorrow (비애(悲哀)) cast on that face he had seen his entire life. Chung Myung let out a sigh with an annoyed face.
"Will you understand?"
"Understanding be damned."
Chung Myung kept muttering curses. But he didn't try to oppose Cheong Mun beyond that.
"This is the responsibility of us who have learned martial arts."
"Are we the only ones who learned martial arts? Are those bastards scholars or something?"
"They too will have to fulfil their roles soon."
"This is driving me crazy, really."
Unable to bear the frustration, Chung Myung rubbed his face roughly with both hands.
"No, Cheong Mun Sahyung! Do you trust those bastards? Even after seeing what those bastards have done up to now, you still trust them?!”
“Trust, you say...”
Cheong Mun muttered as if repeating it, then hardened his complexion with a sigh.
“Magyo is strong.”
“...”
“You, who are facing them directly, would know best. But more important than that is the fact that Magyo hasn't yet committed all its forces to the battlefield."
Chung Myung nodded at those words.
"If Magyo starts to move in earnest, we alone cannot stop them. Only if all of Jungwon’s strength is mobilised could we face them."
“...That’s right.”
"But what happens if we are at odds with each other before that? We will be defeated before we even get to fight properly. It will be the end of everything."
“...”
"They probably aren't unaware of that fact either. In the end, they will have no choice but to move when the time comes. I only hope the rift between us does not deepen before that moment arrives.”
A sigh slipped from Chung Myung's lips.
“Fine. All of what Cheong Mun Sahyung says is correct.”
“...”
"Setting aside why we have to take on all the responsibility for maintaining those damned relationships and ensuring the common people's peace, everything is correct. All of it."
"It won't be long."
Cheong Mun shook his head.
"Their movements are unusual. I don't know what they're aiming for, but soon they too will properly prepare their attack. When that time comes, we won't even be able to think about things like 'after the war is over'.”
“...”
“So let's just endure it a little longer.”
Chung Myung, who had been staring fixedly at Cheong Mun without a word, suddenly started scratching his head roughly.
“Might as well drop dead instead. Just answer me. Do you actually trust those bastards?”
Cheong Mun nodded.
"Yes. I trust them."
“No, Cheong Mun Sahyung!”
“I don't trust that they will fight for us. I also don't trust that they will show compassion for us.”
“...”
"But I trust that they too won't wish for ruin. I trust that they don’t want defeat either. That is why I trust that when the time comes that they can no longer retreat, they will fight with all their might. I am merely…”
Resolute will appeared on Cheong Mun's face.
"Waiting for the time."
Heavy silence descended between them. Chung Myung stared at Cheong Mun for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and asked.
“And what if not? What if those bastards act just like they are now, until the very, very end?”
“...”
"What if those damned bastards look after only their own safety until the end, get scared and pull back? What if they are more pathetic and worthless than you think? Will you regret thinking wrong then?"
"That won't happen."
"How can you be so sure? Look at what they've done so far!"
“I will make it so.”
Chung Myung was instantly struck speechless by the firm voice that made him doubt his ears.
A moment later, a gentle smile bloomed on Cheong Mun's face.
"So let's endure just a bit more, Chung Myung-ah."
“...”
"If you can't trust them, trust me. I don't think only excellent humans can keep to principle. Because even selfish and pathetic humans can keep it, that's what makes it the Tao (도(道)/Way/Path)."
A loud sigh escaped Chung Myung's lips.
"You talk well, you really do."
He grabbed the sword he had placed on the table and sprang up from his seat.
“I don't know about all the complicated stuff. Anyway, it just means I should keep fighting like I have been, right?”
“...”
"I'll hold on as much as I can. But you should know too, Cheong Mun Sahyung, even I can't hold on forever."
“Yeah, I know.”
"Anyway, the talk is... Ugh."
Chung Myung shook his head vigorously as if he didn't want to argue anymore and headed toward the door.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
"Yes?"
“Don’t hate them too much.”
Cheong Mun spoke in a bitter voice to Chung Myung, who turned back with a hardened expression.
“They are only trying to protect their own sects. Just as we protect Mount Hua. Their way… their method is simply a little different from ours.”
“...”
Because they love their own sects, they are afraid, and they don't want to step forward because they cherish their disciples. While it's hard to say their method is right, their heart for cherishing their disciples is no different from ours."
"The sect..."
"Yes. So don't too..."
“I don’t know, Sahyung.”
Chung Myung spoke in a somewhat cold voice.
“I don't know what you think, Sahyung, but I am not someone who cherishes Mount Hua terribly much unlike Sahyung.”
“...”
“If everyone were like you, then your words would be correct. But if everyone were like me, then you would be wrong. I just hope that's not the case."
Chung Myung opened the door and went out.
Left alone, Cheong Mun mulled over Chung Myung's remaining words and slowly closed his eyes.
'It's heavy.'
Chung Myung alone cannot win. Mount Hua alone cannot win. Eventually, they must lend their strength. Only when all the power of the Kangho was gathered as one can they face Kangho.
Someone must hold the center. No matter how difficult and arduous that position is.
'The Tao of Righteousness...'
The only thing Cheong Mun expected was that one thing, the heart that anyone who was human would possess.
* * *
Chung Myung opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a long while.
Absentmindedly recalling the dream, he brought his fingertips to his eyes and felt dampness.
Chung Myung muttered as if repeating something.
"Sahyung..."
He wanted to ask. If he ever met Cheong Mun again...
'Did you believe in yourself until the end, Sahyung?'
Perhaps… he needed the answer not for Cheong Mun’s sake, but for his own.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
Chung Myung, roughly wiped his eyes with his sleeve, sat up.
'This is no time to be lost in old sentiments.'
The situation he now faced was no less than the past. No, it was perhaps even harsher.
Back then, Chung Myung believed in Cheong Mun. But now others believed in Chung Myung the way the Chung Myung of that time believed in Cheong Mun.
So now was the time to fight the given reality.
Chung Myung tightly gripped the sword at his bedside and stepped down from the bed.
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