Return of the Mount Hua Sect

“Hmm.”

Namgung Dowi carefully chose his words, hesitating for a moment.

‘What should I call this? Sect Leader Meeting? Executive Meeting? Family Head Meeting?’

Mount Hua’s Chivalrous Sword was on his way to gather the leaders of each sect, but Namgung Dowi couldn’t think of an appropriate term to explain to others.

‘Come to think of it, it’s quite chaotic.’

In ordinary sects, the hierarchy was strict. It might have been difficult to designate positions for the leaders of each sect, so they were collectively referred to as ‘Munju’ (sect leader).

However, strangely, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance had no such positions. This was because the nature of Chung Myung was free-spirited, and Hyun Jong did not force such things either.

‘Is it because the leading sect is Taoist?’

If Namgung Hwang, Namgung Dowi’s father, had been the leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, he would have started by organizing the system. He would have created positions for each task that the sects had to do, appointed suitable individuals to those positions, and so on.

‘At any rate, it’s quite unique.’

“Sogaju-nim?”

“Ah, um… Yes. It seems that Mount Hua’s Chivalrous Sword is calling.”

“Ah, you’re going to the boss meeting.”

[I couldn’t translate this probably, but remember who’s referred to as “boss” by the members of his sect?]

“What meeting?”

The person who casually answered was poked in the side with an elbow by the person next to him. Then the one who spoke realized and closed his mouth.

“Ah, it’s nothing. Have a good time.”

“…”

“Have a good time.”

“Uh, yeah. Okay.”

As the disciples bowed and greeted, Namgung Dowi turned his body as if being pushed away.

‘Boss meeting?’

What should he say…?

‘Anyway, we…’

It seemed like a word that shouldn’t be attached to the magnificence of a sect.

‘Wait a moment.’

Namgung Dowi, who was about to step forward with his arms out, stopped moving his feet.

So… There were a lot of people, but their exact positions were a bit ambiguous, and all the work was left the most competent people to roughly take care of… Usually, the group would mindlessly follow the direction decided by the smartest person among them…

“…bandits.”

It felt unfamiliar yet strangely familiar! That was it!

Of course, the disciples might not have thought of that and called them bosses, but didn’t that mean they also felt that way?

‘No, no!’

Shivering, Namgung Dowi, had a gleam in his eyes as he hurried towards Hyun Jong’s residence where the meeting was being held.

‘It can’t be like this!’

With a determined vow carved into his chest, he moved forward quickly.

* * *

“Is everyone here?”

Having attained enlightenment and regained his senses, Namgung Dowi surveyed the surroundings with a cold gaze.

‘Come to think of it, the people gathered have always been abnormal.’

In all matters of the world, a certain formality must be maintained. If this formality was not properly established, people would confuse public and private affairs. The corruption that occurs in all groups comes from this confusion between public and private life.

However, look at this gathering now. Wasn’t the appearance of the assembled individuals too disorderly?

“Seems like everyone is roughly here.”

“….”

That person was the problem. That human. Namgung Dowi’s eyes, which had always looked at Chung Myung and the Five Swords with affection, seemed unusually sharp today.

‘Well, to be honest, he can’t be helped because it’s Chung Myung Dojang, but aren’t the others clearly problematic as well?’

Misunderstanding were forbidden.

It wasn’t that Namgung Dowi had negative feelings towards them. He believed that the Five Swords were fully qualified to express their opinions on the affairs of the league. But the problem was that anyone could come or go without any specific position.

So….

“Yes, Sahyung. It seems everyone is here.”

Even Tang Soso came in, Tang Soso! No, she’s not even one of the Five Swords in the first place!

‘No, recently, hasn’t she been included in the Five Swords?’

There were signs of it before, but it was impossible to lump Chung Myung together with other Five Swords.

Of course, it would now be embarrassing to call the Five Swords late bloomers. Hye Yeon and Namgung Dowi were probably the only people in their age group whose skills could be compared to them.

The ones who were once called the Five Dragons in the past were now led by Yoon Jong and Jo Gol, without Baek Cheon needing to step in. No, to be blunt, they might be led by Tang Soso.

So, the Five Swords were certainly a formidable group.

However, Mount Hua’s Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung was not someone who could be discussed on the same level as the Five Swords. To even talk about people who could confront Chung Myung one-on-one, wouldn’t you have to bring in the top figures from each sect?

‘Frankly, that seems difficult too.’

Anyone who had seen Chung Myung fight with Jang Ilso against the bishop would undoubtedly admit that Chung Myung’s real skills were underestimated in Kangho. There may even be less than ten people who can face Chung Myung in the world. So how you group his name under the Five Swords?

So, people were gradually taking Chung Myung out of the Five Swords. And instead of calling them the Four Swords, they were quietly pushing in Tang Soso, who had made a name for herself at Plum Blossom Island, although it wasn’t official yet.

‘Yeah, let’s leave Mount Hua out of it, they’re just like that.’

“No, Nokrim hasn’t arrived yet.”

Then why was that guy here! Namgung Dowi looked at Tang Pae with slightly distorted eyes.

Originally, this was a meeting of the Sect Leaders! But why was Tang Pae, the Sogaju of the Tang Family, taking a seat as if it were natural? Tang Gunak was already here!

“Oh, I’m a bit late.”

“Ahem. Hello.”

Namgung Dowi’s twitched.

This time, his gaze was fixed on the back of the swordsman Beonchung, who followed the Nokrim King. Until now, he had admired the appearance of the bodyguard like a deity, but once he started to feel annoyed, everything began to bother him.

‘In the first place, that person wasn’t even an elder!’

If hey were gathering people to undertake a mission, it would make sense, but why bring that person into a meeting? From the looks of it, he wasn’t the person you needed in meetings that required you to use your brain!

“Why do you look like that?”

“…No reason.”

With a turn of his head, a deep sigh escaped from Namgung Dowi’s lips. His gaze was now fixed on the origin of all evil.

“Everyone’s here?”

That person. That person! The origin of all evil!

With an irritated gaze, Namgung Dowi stared at Chung Myung, who spoke with a nonchalant attitude.

In all things, there is a cause. In the first place, all of this happened because of that person who led the disorganized meeting under the ridiculous status of Mount Hua’s third-grade disciple.

Tang Pae, The Five Swords, and even Beomchung!

Even if one were to criticize their presence, couldn’t it all be refuted by the sentence, ‘Even Mount Hua’s third-grade disciple is here, so why are you only complaining about me?’?

‘Something is wrong with this.’

In the future, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance would go through even more. Therefore, there was a need to establish a solid system now, for the sake of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

“The reason I called everyone here today is because we need to discuss the future.”

Chung Myung looked around at everyone and continued.

“For now, it seems that that the major issues are over, so we should talk together about what to prioritize from now on.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Gunak nodded.

“In your opinion, is the issue of the disciples’ training over for now?”

“Yes.”

“…The day has finally come.”

At that statement, everyone simultaneously sighed in relief. It felt like seeing the light at the end of a dark, infinitely deep tunnel.

“But what do you mean by ‘let’s discuss’?”

“Just as I said.”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“Up until now, I’ve done what I was supposed to do. It was also a bit urgent.”

“That’s true.”

Even those who watched the process with suspicious eyes when the Chung Myung came pushed forward now agreed that it was absolutely necessary.

Haven’t Nokrim, Namgung, the Outer Palaces, and Central Plains people, who originally should have never been able to mix with each other, have been recently treating each other without formality?

‘Although the problem is it’s a bit too informal.’

Regardless, the fact that they were united was undoubtedly something to be grateful for. If they had gone to war without going through this process?

‘It would have been terrible just to imagine.’

Tang Gunak shook his head vigorously.

He had already experienced the destructive power that arised when different sects united at Plum Blossom Island. If, at that time, the Tang Family did not properly support Mount Hua or if Mount Hua did not protect the Tang Family, leading the way from the forefront, the course of the battle would have been completely different.

The numerous training sessions were necessary not only for the sects to reconcile at this manor but also for the tasks that the Heavenly Comrade Alliance would undertake in the future. Even if one pushed aside the fact that the process was hellish.

“Now that the urgent matters are settled, we need to think about what to do next.”

“Well, indeed.”

The reactions of those who heard this statement were divided into two.

The first group were amazed, thinking, ‘Indeed, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance discusses and pursues even these things with each other.’ These were generally individuals who hadn’t experienced much of Mount Hua, such as the Ice Palace or Beast Palace.

The second group…

“No, why bother with a meeting! Even if we have a meeting, in the end, you’ll do whatever you want!”

Like The Five Swords, those people harbored distrust for the meetings opened by Chung Myung.

“When did I?”

“When? When? When did you say that now?”

“Tsk tsk tsk. That’s why short-thinking people… I’ve always gathered everyone’s opinions through meetings without prejudice.”

“Sasuk.”

“Yeah?”

“Is there a difference between the prejudice I know and the prejudice this bastard talks about?”

“He’s talking nonsense. Among the things Chung Myung says, the only thing that has the same meaning to us is ‘break that bastard’s head.’”

“Ah, I understand a bit now.”

“But do these bastards really…”

As Chung Myung became irritated, Hyun Jong stretched out his hand and grabbed the back of his head, pressing down and subduing him.

“I also have similar thoughts.”

As Hyun Jong spoke, those who were grumbling at Chung Myung’s words suddenly sobered their expressions as Hyun Jong spoke with gravity.

“Please speak, Sect Leader!”

“No! Look at their attitude! Are you discriminating against people now?”

“…Isn’t that how it should be?”

“Huh? Huh… right. Yeah, that’s right. We have to discriminate.”

No matter what, I shouldn’t be treated the same way as Sect Leader. Ah, well, whatever.

Everyone sighed while looking at Chung Myung, who nodded in sudden understanding. When will that bastard grow up, for heaven’s sake?

Hyun Jong smiled warmly and spoke.

“You’ve all worked hard so far.”

“Not at all, Maengju-nim!” [Reminder that “Maengju” is Hyun Jong’s title for Lord of Heavenly Comrade Alliance]

“In fact, because everyone has been running around without a clear direction, and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance hasn’t been able to properly do what it should, let’s take this opportunity to bring out the issues we’ve all been thinking about in our hearts and talk about what aspects of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance need to improve in the future.”

“As for what needs improvement…”

“Maybe we just need to improve one person?”

“But what about those Evil Sect guys?”

“I didn’t mention anyone. Why, do you feel guilty?”

“Come forward!”

In the rapidly escalating commotion, Namgung Dowi confidently raised his hand. Hyun Jong nodded.

“Please speak, Sogaju.”

“First!”

Namgung Dowi energetically spoke.

“I believe there’s a need to organize the system of the unruly Heavenly Comrade Alliance and establish proper positions!”

He looked around at those present.

“Even if it’s just to sort out the current situation.”

Some people who were hurt by those words secretly averted their gazes.