Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 457

“Then, see you next time.”

Bop Jeong took the Bangzhang stance, bowing his head.

Despite traveling all the way to Shaanxi, Bop Jeong stayed only one day and was ready to leave as soon as the sun rose.

Hyun Jong tried to talk him out of it, but Bop Jeong was adamant. The position of Shaolin’s Bangjang is one of the busiest in the world.

In contrast, the fact that Bop Jeong and Shaolin traveled this far to Shaanxi demonstrates the importance of the North Sea project.

“I don’t feel comfortable with you being in such a hurry.”

“…….”

At Hyun Jong’s words, Bop Jeong glanced into his face.

It was very gentle.

……It was a little too excessive.

‘If you want to say something like that, at least your expression…….’

He appeared to be attempting a sad expression, but it did not appear to be successful.

When he saw what was causing Hyun Jong’s smile, Bop Jeong moaned quietly.

A familiar sword hung dangling from Hyun Jong’s waist.

Zaha Divine Sword.

Mount Hua’s Divine Weapon, which he had brought for bargaining, had already slipped from his grasp and landed on Hyun Jong’s waist.

‘Can’t even give me a discount, but still keep my stuff behind. Things that’ll fall into hell!’

Bop Jeong struggled to separate the teeth that were stuck together.

Bop Jeong had no choice but to leave the sword behind, knowing Mount Hua was obstinate. It was because he was inexperienced in resisting others holding his leash and shaking it, despite being the Shaolin leader who had never lost initiative in his entire life.

‘How much trouble did I have to save that?’

How much money did he spend, and how much effort did he put in?

But he didn’t think it would be taken away in vain….

Hyun Jong coughed calmly and stroked his sword as he noticed Bop Jeong’s gaze toward his sword.

“I will be grateful for the gift.”

“…Gift?”

‘You’ve practically robbed me of something I brought to negotiate. A gift?’

‘Disciples and the Sect Leader …..’

They’re all crooks!

Bop Jeong, whose face turned red with anger, controlled his mind by chanting.

He shouldn’t be excited in a place with so many looking eyes. No matter what happened on the inside, it has to look like he had persuaded Mount Hua on the outside.

“…I’m glad you like it.”

“I will never forget that you found and returned Mount Hua’s Divine Weapon.”

But it was Hyun Jong, not Mount Hua, who wouldn’t forget.

While personally expressing gratitude, it was Hyun Jong who cleverly expressed that Mount Hua did not owe grace for this.

The sly remark raised blood on the smooth Bop Jeong’s forehead.

‘Even if it is a sect with a long history like Mount Hua, the experience dealing with matters in Kangho would be small, but how can you be so sly?’

Unfortunately, Bop Jeong didn’t know what Hyun Jong was like.

Having suffered from debtors all his life, he is a person who is used to not being caught.

“Amitabha. Amitabha.”

Bop Jeong, who chanted, opened his slightly twitched lips and said,

“Just know that’s what Shaolin thinks of Mount Hua.”

“I’ll remember well, Bangjang.”

Bop Jeong, who somehow ended the conversation well and sighed with relief, turns his head and looks to one side. He has not been able to overcome the gaze of someone looking at him to the point where his side face stings.

“…….”

“…….”

Sure enough, Hye Yeon was looking his way with an absentminded face among Mount Hua’s disciples who came out to see Bop Jeong off.

‘I’m sorry.’

Bop Jeong closed his eyes tightly as he handed an apology inside.

“Ba- Bangjang…….”

Hye Yeon called as if he had something to say, but Bop Jeong just turned his head and looked away.

‘This is all for the sake of the world.’

Moreover, Hye Yeon is the one who someday will lead Shaolin. He should know how to make such sacrifices.

Of course, seeing Hye Yeon with big eyes like a puppy losing its parents made his heart ache, but what can he do?

He just has to put up with it.

“Huuuk.”

Bop Jeong, who sighed briefly, turned to Hyun Jong again.

“Then, I’ll really go.”

“Have a safe trip!”

But the answer came not from Hyun Jong, but from Chung Myung who was next to him.

Seeing Chung Myung with a big smile on his face, he felt a thousand anger burning inside.

“Mount Hua Divine Dragon.”

“Yes.”

“………Again, this is really important.”

“I know. You gave me so much because it’s important, right? I have a conscience, too, and if I’ve accepted it like this, I’ll work properly.”

“…….”

Chung Myung’s reply, while happily pushing his chest out and smiling, poked Bop Jeong in the chest.

‘It is useless.’

He has worked so hard on his discipline, but he didn’t know that his heart would be shaken so much by a few words.

“…I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

“Yes, don’t worry. Oh, instead.”

Chung Myung then said with slightly subdued eyes.

“We look forward to your kind cooperation regarding the alliance.”

“…Don’t worry.”

Bop Jeong nodded quietly.

“Okay, bye then.”

When he turned to Hyun Jong, he greeted and bowed deeply.

“Take care, Bangjang.”

“I wish you well, Sect Leader.”

Looking briefly at Hye Yeon, Bop Jeong soon turned away. The Elders followed him through the gate of Mount Hua.

Baek Chun breathed softly.

‘He’s indeed Shaolin’s Bangjang.’

He didn’t really do anything, but Baek Chun felt an unknown pressure. It wasn’t until he was gone entirely that it was easier to breathe.

He doesn’t know if this is from a person named Bop Jeong or the pressure from the title of Shaolin’s Bangjang, but…….

‘There’s no point in distinguishing them.’

Yoon Jong, who was standing next to him, whispered quietly.

“I feel a little strange.”

“Hm? What?”

“Isn’t that so? That Shaolin’s Bangjang is willing to visit Mount Hua, and our Sect Leader is seeing him off like it’s natural.”

“…….”

“It’s indeed surprising.”

Baek Chun nodded in agreement.

In fact, he didn’t feel these things in particular anymore. But that’s why it was a surprise.

It means that Mount Hua has become a sect that can proudly face Shaolin.

And for whatever reason, it means so much that Shaolin’s Bangjang has come to visit Mount Hua.

“……we’ll have to work harder.”

“Yes.”

“But…… what’s wrong with him?”

At Jo-Gol’s words, Baek Chun glanced away.

Hye Yeon looked at the gate with a face like a loyalist who has lost his country.

“……. he must’ve sinned a lot in his past life.”

‘Amitabha.’

‘Amitabha.’

After leaving the gate and following Bop Jeong going down Mount Hua, Bop Yo (법요(法要)) hinted at him.

“Bangjang.”

Bop Jeong glanced at him instead of answering.

“The word alliance a while ago is…….”

“Hmm.”

At Bop Yo’s question, Bop Jeong shook his head as he let out a faint sigh.

“It’s none of your business.”

“But, Bangjang…….”

Bop Jeong kept quiet and hurried the steps.

Then suddenly stopped and looked back at Mount Hua.

‘Mount Hua…….’

Deviant (반골(反骨)).

At least from Shaolin’s point of view, Mount Hua was like that. It was a thorny thing to embrace and an intrusive thing to leave alone.

‘It would not be a good idea to recklessly suppress them.’

He is also a person who prides himself on having a good eye for people. As long as there is that Mount Hua Divine Dragon, Mount Hua will never come under Shaolin’s command.

And that’s not what Bop Jeong wanted either.

Wouldn’t it be obvious what would happen if he tried to force their waist down?

Even if they don’t have a relationship up and down if they can become friends where they can scratch each other’s itch, would it be a problem?

“Bangjang.”

But Bop Yo still didn’t seem to like the situation.

“I still don’t understand Bangjang’s decision. Does Bangjang really need to entrust this work to Mount Hua? We are even in the position which makes the request… … . Aren’t there many other great sects?”

Bop Jeong looked back at Bop Yo with sunken eyes.

Then he flinched and lowered his head slightly.

“Did you just ask what’s great about Mount Hua?”

“…….”

“If you don’t know that, there’s nothing more to say.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Bop Jeong said with a rare sharp look.

“There is always the right person for everything in the world. This will be difficult to solve no matter how hard Shaolin tries.”

Then he shook his head slowly.

“If you are greedy for the little things, you will miss the big things. It may look bad now, but in the end, all this will be for the sake of the world and Shaolin.”

But Bop Yo still didn’t seem to understand very well.

“But can they really solve the North Sea problem by themselves? It’s not that I doubt the depth of Bangjang’s heart. But I have no faith in them.”

“If they can’t solve it, that’s good, too.”

“…Yes?”

Bop Jeong moved again with a subtle look on his face.

“If they solve it, it would be good for the world, and if they don’t solve it, it’s good for the world, too.”

“…….”

Bop Yo tilted his head slightly at Bop Jeong’s words, which he could not understand at all. But that was the end of Bop Jeong’s explanation.

“That’s all it takes.”

He just chanted in a low voice.

But then, Bop Yo stabbed in a way that Bop Jeong never thought of.

“However, Bangjang, if they fail, what will happen to the money we invested?”

“…….”

“Or did you decide to get your money back if they failed? Or maybe you’re wasting money for no reason?”

“…….”

Standing tall, Bop Jeong looked back at Mount Hua with slightly trembling eyes. His face seemed somehow pale.

“…Will they succeed?”

“Yes?”

“There’s also Hye Yeon……Mount Hua Divine Dragon, too. Would he do something about it?”

“…….”

Bop Yo lost faith in Bop Jeong for the first time since entering Shaolin.

* * *

Swoosh. Swoosh.

A supremely gentle light emanated from Hyun Jong’s face.

“Tha- That. Isn’t that Zaha Divine Sword?”

“Oh…….Mount Hua’s Divine Weapons!”

Hyun Sang and Hyun Young looked at the Zaha Divine Sword on Hyun Jong’s lap with passionate faces.

Although Zaha Divine Sword may mean a lot to anyone in Mount Hua, the meaning felt by the Elders was bound to be more special.

Doesn’t it seem like Mount Hua’s Divine Weapon, who was lost in that Hundred Mountain bloodbath, is finally back?

Hyun Sang, who was looking at Zaha Divine Sword with emotional eyes, secretly urged Hyun Jong.

“T- Try drawing it out, Sect Leader.”

“Hmm.”

Hyun Jong smiled quietly and drew the sword.

A dazzling brilliance emanated from the sword’s body.

“Oh! Oh… Hmm…….”

Hyun Sang’s face, which spat out exclamations, slowly regained its composure.

Hyun Young also looked down at the sword with a slight look of dismay.

At the different response he had expected, Hyun Jong asked.

“…What’s wrong with your faces?”

“… … I thought it would be very impressive.”

“I know right.”

Hyun Sang turned to Chung Myung’s Dark Fragrance Plum Blossom Sword then back to Zaha Divine Sword with sullen eyes.

“I don’t know if it’s because I saw something else…….”

“It doesn’t even look expensive.”

Hyun Jong’s face turned red.

“The- These punks! This sword is a sword with the spirit and history of Mount Hua! It is Mount Hua’s Divine Sword ……!”

“R- Right.”

“Yes, yes. We understand it, Sect Leader. Calm down.”

“…….”

Hyun Jong suppressed his anger with a red face.

‘The things to be punished by Heaven!’

“By the way, the North Sea…….”

“… … Is this the end of Zaha Divine Sword story? Are we already moving on?”

“No, why are you making such a fuss about finding a sword? It doesn’t even look that good.”

“………Ugh.”

Hyun Young brushed down his beard, ignoring Hyun Jong, who was making a groaning sound.

“Since the story of the North Sea came out the other day, I thought we should go there at least once… … .”

At that word, Mount Hua’s disciples nodded in unison.

Everyone was thinking that one day they would have to go to the North Sea. That’s how things turned out anyway.

But…….

“Why at this time of year?”

“What about the timing?”

“It’s getting chilly, isn’t it? It’ll be in the middle of winter when we get there now, but even in the summer, we’ll freeze our body in the North Sea…..”

Hyun Young clicked his tongue at Hyun Sang’s words.

“There’s more than one thing to prepare for.”

Hyun Jong, who was agonizing over Hyun Young’s words, said.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think? It is true that Shaolin’s Bangjang asked for this matter to be resolved, but he did not set the date for it. Wouldn’t it be better to leave after the winter?”

“I’d love to, but…….”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“The situation is the situation. If we insist on going when it’s warmer, the situation in the North Sea might worsen and it will become more dangerous.”

“Um, yes. That statement is not wrong.”

“I think it’s better to go right away. Strikes the iron while it is hot.”

Baek Chun, who listened to Chung Myung, murmured as if he were sighing.

“……The cows around Mount Hua have no horns left.”

Yoon Jong nodded desperately.

“Chung Myung picked them all. What else he will pick?”

Hyun Jong then nodded his head slightly.

“If that’s your will, then there’s nothing we can do.”

And he told Hyun Young.

“Prepare thoroughly so that there will be no problem for the disciples to travel to the North Sea.”

“Yes, Sect Leader!”

Thus, Mount Hua’s trip to the North Sea is completely decided.