Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Everyone looked at Chung Myung and Bop Jeong with bated breath.

‘Oh my gosh…’

Baek Cheon unconsciously clenched his fists.

He had somewhat expected this.

It has already been proven many times that Chung Myung does not think well of Bop Jeong, and his animosity has reached its peak due to the recent events with the Evil Tyrant Alliance. Therefore, He guessed that no matter how much the opponent was Bop Jeong, Chung Myung would not just let it go.

But….

Even so, the opponent is Bangjang of Shaolin.’

The North Star of Kangho. Shaolin.

Who among the martial artists of Kangho wouldn’t revere the name? Even Baek Cheon, originally from Southern Edge Sect and now part of Mount Hua, considered Shaolin something sacred and inviolable.

But now, the representative of that sacred place, Bangjang of Shaolin is now silent, unable to even refute the venomous words of his Sajil.

Who could have imagined witnessing such a scene in their lifetime?

He knew he should intervene, but he couldn’t find the words to speak.

It was all Baek Cheon could do now to hold his breath and not miss a single word of their conversation.

“This poor monk….”

After a long silence, Bop Jeong opened his mouth.

“Simply did not think of it. If I had thought about it in advance, I certainly would have gone to the Yangtze River. This is just…”

“Aah.”

Chung Myung interrupted Bop Jeong with a short exclamation.

“You would have gone to the Yangtze River?”

“…That….”

“You must have run to the Yangtze River, stopped the Namgung Family fighting against the Evil Tyrant Alliance, and given up Plum Blossom Island to the Evil Tyrant Alliance again, and once again suffered the humiliation of Shaolin submitting to the Evil Tyrant Alliance?”

“….”

A clear sneer appeared on the corners of Chung Myung’s mouth.

“You?”

Bop Jeong struggled to open his mouth again but then closed it.

He tried to say something, but it wouldn’t open as if someone forced him to shut his mouth.

He might have reflexively said he would have done that, but he himself realized the fact.

The fact that he would never have.

How could this Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword believe something that even Bop Jeong himself couldn’t believe? The man who seems to know the inner thoughts of Bop Jeong better than Bop Jeong itself?

Eventually, a hollow laugh escaped Bop Jeong’s mouth. This was never a situation where persuasion would work in the first place.

“It seems that Bangjang only studies the principles of Buddhism and does not know the principles of the world, and if Bangjang doesn’t know, let me enlighten Bangjang.”

Chung Myung said sarcastically to the fullest extent.

“You clean up your own mess.”

“….”

“Not by running to others, begging them to clean it up for you.”

At that moment, it was not Bop Jeong who couldn’t contain his rising anger, but Bop Kye. This was because it was difficult to tolerate the young Taoist daring to lecture Bangjang of Shaolin as if he were teaching a child.

“Isn’t that going too far!”

As Bop Kye began to stir, Chung Myung very slowly turned his head towards it. And he looked straight at him and said,

“Too far?”

For a moment, a hum of frustration escaped Bop Kye’s lips. But he soon composed himself and spoke softly.

“Of course, it is true that Shaolin made a mistake. It’s true that we did something wrong. But isn’t Bangjang now trying to resolve the matter somehow? It’s easy to criticize, but much harder to correct wrongdoings. How can you be so heartless?”

Chung Myung then looked at Bop Kye silently and exclaimed.

“Ah, I was wondering who it was. We’ve met before, right?”

“….”

“At that time, we parted ways at the Yangtze River without even saying hello. Have you been doing okay?”

“Ke- Keuhum.”

The face of Bop Kye heated up in an instant. To him, the word Yangtze River was like an original sin that could never be washed away.

“Correcting. Correcting…. Yes, what you’re saying is right. But then… What have you been doing for the past three years that you’re only talking about correcting now? If you had put your mind to it, it would have been settled long ago.”

“Look here!”

“Hmm, that’s really strange.”

Chung Myung shakes his head as if he doesn’t understand.

“Being a monk doesn’t mean you’re not human, but how can you be so shameless?”

“What are you saying now….”

“Ah, it seems you don’t understand when I beat around the bush. Let me put it plainly. I told you to shut your freaking mouth, Master.”

Bop Kye, who was speechless, looked at Chung Myung with bewildered eyes.

He knew from a long time ago that Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword was a brash individual. But who could have imagined he’d be this outrageous? They said when people are too astonished, they often find themselves speechless, and that was exactly how Bop Kye felt at the moment.

“A person who tries to correct a mistake is better than a person who only criticizes. I think that’s true. But you have the nerve to say those words out of your own mouth.”

“….”

“And what? Correcting?”

Bop Jeong looks at Chung Myung with a pale complexion. It was because he was scared that something would come out of that mouth.

“The thing you call correcting, is that done by coming here and begging to fight together?”

“….”

“Shaolin seems to call that correcting a mistake, huh?”

Bop Kye bowed his head.

It was harsh, but there was nothing wrong with Chung Myung’s words. In particular, as one of the main culprits of the disaster at the Yangtze River, Bop Kye had no right to speak, even if he had something to say.

This is because he also had the bare minimum of shame.

“Step back.”

“…Bangjang.”

“That’s enough.”

Bop Jeong looked at Chung Myung quietly.

Seeing deep-rooted distrust of Shaolin in those eyes, Bop Jeong sighed deeply.

‘How did it come to this?’

It cannot be denied that Mount Hua is the sect that has shown the most righteous actions in the world in recent years.

Doesn’t the fact that Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, which is the center of such Mount Hua, shows such deep-rooted distrust toward Shaolin speak to Shaolin’s current position?

But even so, Bop Jeong couldn’t just retreat like this.

“Shaolin is….”

Bop Jeong hesitated for a moment, chanted, and continued speaking.

“…Imperfect. I too am imperfect.”

“….”

“Those who are imperfect inevitably make mistakes. I can accept the criticism we deserve for our faults. But… I cannot bear the thought of innocent people suffering because of mine and Shaolin’s wrongdoings.”

Chung Myung glared at Bop Jeong with a cold gaze. Despite this, Bop Jeong bravely continued.

“Any condition is acceptable. Just help us with this once. Without Heavenly Comrade Alliance, the Yangtze River would literally become a candle in front of the wind.”

Bop Jeong bowed his head once again.

Earlier, he had bowed to Hyun Jong, but now he bowed towards Chung Myung, marking a subtle difference.

Everyone watching bit their lips in contemplation.

Chung Myung’s words are also correct. But now Bop Jeong is really dropping everything and asking them for help. If Bop Jeong had simply talked about the situation and righteousness, no one would have been swayed.

But now Bop Jeong did not present any logic and simply appealed in a humble manner. Not only Hyun Jong but also others were looking at Bop Jeong with new eyes at the sincere appeal.

Perhaps.

Perhaps the situation is so critical that it can’t be resolved without their help? Otherwise, why would Bop Jeong, of all people, humbly beg them?

Could the head of Shaolin kneel and bow to a young disciple of another sect just for the sake of preserving Shaolin’s power? That couldn’t be it, could it?

But,

Only one person’s gaze remained unchanged. Not only unaltered but also devoid of any tremor.

“Bangjang hasn’t changed.”

The anger that had been boiling in Chung Myung’s voice disappears. Now his words were just calm. But as he stopped showing his emotions, he strangely sounded even more terrifying than the words he had poured out before.

“I did wrong, I regret it, but all this is for the common people and those who will suffer, so put aside the past mistakes and help us.”

Bop Jeong flinched. Chung Myung looked at him with a piercing gaze.

“It seems you think that if you pretend to reflect on yourself and bow down like that, the pushovers’s chivalrous hearts will burn and be the arrow meat shield for you, right?”

“Do- Dojang.”

“Now I really understand.”

“….”

“Bangjang is not a hypocrite. That’s why I dislike Bangjang.”

Bop Jeong frowned.

Disliked for not being a hypocrite? What kind of statement was that? Usually, people are disliked for being hypocrites, aren’t they?

As if understanding his confusion, Chung Myung elaborated.

“A hypocrite at least knows what they are doing. It means they have at least some awareness that they are committing evil. But…”

Chung Myung’s icy gaze pierced through Bop Jeong.

“Not Bangjang.”

“….”

“Bangjang does not doubt for a moment that you are doing the right thing. You believes yourself to be a virtuous person, perfectly righteous.”

As he spoke, it seemed as though Chung Myung was disgusted, grinding his teeth.

Yes, a hypocrite refers to someone like Heo Dojin. At least he is aware that he is a human being who can do evil for the benefit of the sect.

But not Bop Jeong.

Bop Jeong does not doubt his righteousness. No, even if he goes through hardships now, he does not doubt that he will eventually achieve the result that proves he was right.

At this moment, Bop Jeong must be convinced that persuading Mount Hua to participate in the war on the Yangtze River is the right path to saving the world.

He does not hesitate because he believes in his righteousness.

He fully believes in his righteousness, so much so that he can bow even to a much younger person.

For him, bowing to Chung Myung is nothing more than a holy process leading to a righteous conclusion through his sacrifice.

‘I had doubts.’

Amidst the hellish battles of the vast Hundred Thousand Mountains, even while risking his life, Chung Myung constantly doubted himself. He questioned whether his actions were truly right, whether his choices were genuinely correct.

Not only that, but also Cheong Mun. No, everyone there likely harbored the same doubts.

However, those who watched from behind, observing the deaths, did not doubt. They spouted about ‘holy sacrifices,’ firmly believing that pushing numerous people into that hell was the right thing to do.

Right, just like Bop Jeong now.

Such people, while feeling pity, push countless others to death. They shed tears but never regret. Because they never doubt that they are doing the right thing.

“Just once is enough.”

The momentum from Chung Myung gradually pressed down on Bop Jeong.

“It’s for the world, it’s for the people – even once is more than enough to die for such filthy sophistry. Excessively so.”

That momentum does not come from martial arts. If it simply comes from martial art, Bop Jeong wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed.

In the face of this indefinable, intense weight, Bop Jeong found himself unable to even breathe.

“As long as I live, you had better not think of using your three-inch tongue to exploit Mount Hua.”

Chung Myung’s declaration, softly spoken, resembled a wounded beast growling.

“Get the hell out of here now. Otherwise, I’ll break that proud neck of yours.”

Color disappeared from Bop Jeong’s face.