Novel Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 994
“Chung Myung.”
“Yes?”
Hyun Jong quietly stared at Chung Myung and then opened his mouth.
“I’ve heard similar words from you a few times before. But... it seems like today, those words carry a slightly different meaning.”
Hyun Jong, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, asked Chung Myung with a deep sense of gravity.
“In my view, you seem to think that the conversation we need to have from now on must differ from those we’ve had in the past. Is my guess correct?”
“Yes, Sect Leader. It is right.”
“Then.”
He paused for a moment and spoke again after a while.
“Is there any reason why you think it needs to be different from before?”
The reason why Hyun Jong asked this question was because he wanted those who might not understand the situation to realize the importance of the upcoming discussion.
And indeed, it was a fitting decision.
...If only the clapping of hands were normal.
“The reason?”
“That’s right.”
“...Sect Leader is asking for the reason?”
“...”
Hyun Jong, sensed something was off, and took a quick look at Chung Myung’s complexion. Then he quickly shut his eyes tightly. This is because Chung Myung’s head was tilted awkwardly to one side.
‘Why is he suddenly acting again?’
What on earth did this Hyun Jong do!
“Sect Leader.”
“...Y- Yes.”
“I don’t even know where to start explaining this.”
“H- Hng?”
Hyun Jong wanted to say, ‘If you don’t know how to explain, then there’s no need to force it.’ Really.
But, having some tact, those words couldn’t come out of his mouth.
“I don’t know if Sect Leader thought I was crazy or something.”
“...Is it that obvious?”
“.....”
Hyun Jong realized that he had made a mistake and quickly changed his words.
“N- No! That’s not it! How could I possibly think of you like that? No. Of course not! I’m speaking nonsense.”
“...Keuhum.”
Chung Myung cleared his throat slightly as if he was letting it slide this time. However, Hyun Jong did not miss the small twitching of Chung Myung’s eyes and lower eyelids.
“Sect Leader.”
“Y- Yes.”
“When I joined Mount Hua, what did Mount Hua have?”
“...Yes?”
“Frankly, wasn’t Mount Hua no better than a band of beggars, worse than even bastard of Beggar Union!”
“I- It wasn’t that bad...”
“That’s right.”
Hyun Jong’s timid rebuttal was immediately suppressed by Hyun Young.
“Beggar Union had more money than Mount Hua. Even beggars ate better.”
“...”
No, well.... That’s not wrong either.
“It sounds like you’re saying Mount Hua was worse than beggars...”
“And how is that wrong? Beggars don’t have debt.”
“...”
Hyun Jong, who was speechless, just cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Anyway!”
Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m saying this now, but was Mount Hua even a place for people to live?”
“...”
“After I joined, I found out that all our martial arts were sold and all of them disappeared!”
The head of Martial Art Hall Hyun Sang and the head of White Plum Blossom Dormitory Un Gum flinched and turned their heads.
“The sect had no money, only debt!”
Hyun Jong and Hyun Young looked at the distant ceiling.
“The kids aren’t training and are just playing gangsters among themselves!”
“Why are you bringing up that story now?”
“Jo-Gol, close your mouth.”
“...Yes, Sahyung.”
“Now that we’ve come this far, do you think that old senile fool Bop Jeong will welcome us?”
“...Calling him a senile old fool is a bit...”
“Aren’t Shaolin and Wudang the two pillars that make up Ten Great Sects?”
“Yes.”
“We’ve confronted Shaolin’s Bop Jeong head-on in front of everyone, and we’ve beaten the Wudang Sect Leader to a pulp in front of everyone! Do you think they’re mad enough to get along with us!”
“...”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Chung Myung.
“What? So what!”
However, Chung Myung proudly spread his shoulders as if he had done nothing wrong.
“So, don’t waste your efforts in vain. In the first place, those yangban probably had no intention of getting along with us. Why should we even try?”
“Hmm.”
Un Gum, who had been quietly listening the whole time, smiled faintly.
“Though your words may be harsh, I share the same view. We’ve come too far to turn back now.”
“...”
“And even if they desired it, as Sect Leader said, their path is different from Mount Hua’s.”
“Yes!”
“That’s right, Sect Leader!”
Words of agreement poured in from all around. Hyun Jong quietly nodded.
This is not because Mount Hua has become stronger. Mount Hua was a sect that knew the bitterness of being weak more than anyone. That’s why they chose not to follow the wrong path.
“So.”
This time, Hyun Jong asked everyone.
“What kind of sect do you think Mount Hua should be?”
“...”
This time, not everyone could answer easily. It was a question too deep to be answered simply.
At that time, Hyun Jong’s gaze turned to none other than Yoon Jong.
“Yoon Jong-ah.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Answer me. What kind of place do you want Mount Hua to be?”
At Hyun Jong’s question, Yoon Jong’s eyes deepened with contemplation.
“Sect Leader. I’m sorry... I don’t know such grand things.”
“Hm. Is that so?”
When Hyun Jong asked back with regret, Yoon Jong opened his mouth again.
“However, I think I know what I must do.”
Confidence resonated in his voice. Everyone’s gaze turned towards Yoon Jong.
“This time, when Namgung Sogaju came to us for help, I wanted to assist him more than anyone. And I was truly proud to be part of Mount Hua, rushing to the Yangtze River to aid him. So far, I have experienced many things in Mount Hua. But I have never been more proud of being a disciple of Mount Hua than I was then.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Yoon Jong nodded slowly.
“Therefore, I intend to act on what I felt. Even if it’s difficult and arduous, I try not to turn away those who come to me for help. As Mount Hua has faced difficulties in the past, we do not hesitate to help those who are struggling and distressed.”
A gentle smile spread across Hyun Jong’s lips.
“To listen to what conscience dictates and to simply act on it. That’s the kind of place I envision Mount Hua to be.”
When Yoon Jong finished speaking, he nodded.
“I have my own vision of Mount Hua, and Yoon Jong has his vision of Mount Hua.”
He made eye contact with all of Mount Hua’s disciples one by one.
“But all those visions don’t necessarily need to converge into a single opinion. If each of us strives to achieve the Mount Hua we envision, eventually, it can become a place better than any one of us could imagine...”
Hyun Jong trailed off slightly, then closed his eyes and thought.
“I believe so.”
A profound silence settled in the room.
Hyun Jong’s words deeply resonated in everyone’s hearts.
‘Yes. That will do.’
They will face countless difficulties ahead. But if they do not ignore what they know now and persistently pursue it, those numerous challenges will eventually be overcome.
And when that time comes, both they and the world will know. What kind of sect Mount Hua truly is.
It was the moment when Hyun Jong was about to open his mouth again.
“Is that okay?”
“...”
When he slowly opened his eyes, Chung Myung gazed at him with a meaningful expression, his eyes gleaming.
“What Mount Hua does each person want to achieve?”
“...”
“Really? So, I don’t have to hold back?”
“...”
No.
Perhaps it’s time to look for a different approach, Chung Myung.