Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 610
Wuhan, Hubei Province.
If one had to choose the most impressive thing in Wuhan, everyone would pick the Yangtze River that runs through the middle.
A wide plain spread around this wide river, which is no different from the lifeline of Jungwon. Wuhan was built upon.
On the riverside of such an iconic river, martial artists were now diligently building something. The people who watched the scene were whispering around.
“What are they doing?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen them before, but by the river….”
“Huh? Aren’t they Wudang?”
“What? Wudang?”
Those who heard the word opened their eyes wide and looked at the people gathered by the riverside again.
“For real? Wudang Sect!”
“No, what are Wudang Sect people doing over there?”
The men spread the foundation to the riverside and brought hard bluestone (Celestine (청석을)) on top of it.
Then they drew a sword and began to cut off the uneven surface smoothly.
“My- My gosh! Such a stone is cut like tofu!”
“What are you so surprised about? Aren’t they the Taoists of the Wudang Sect? They’re people who cross mountains and rivers all at once. Such a job is no big deal.”
“No, so what are they making now?”
“It looks like some kind of stage.”
It was a truly novel sight. A rock the size of a house is moved like a cobblestone, and the moved rock is neatly cut and used as a floor like bricks. After such a process was repeated, a fairly high stage was created within no time.
“Elder-nim, we’re almost done.”
“Hm.”
Heo Sanja, who was looking at the stage, nodded quietly.
“But… why are we…”
“You’re asking for the obvious.”
At Mu Jin’s careful question, Heo Sanja answered in a quiet but powerful voice.
“Wuhan is the domain of Wudang. Is there anyone who makes a visiting guest to work? Just as a guest has a duty to follow, the master of the house also has a duty to follow as an owner.”
“Oh….”
His eyes glowed slightly.
“Don’t try to fight over small things. Those who covet the small cannot see the big. Those who obsess over insignificant matters and struggle to avoid losses are bound to miss out on the big cause. As a disciple of Wudang, if you want to see the world, you must cultivate your eyes to see big.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Elder-nim.”
Heo Sanja smiled brightly at Mu Jin’s deep bow and sincere answer.
Mu Jin lost once to Chung Myung in the past.
It must have been a big shock to him, who was carrying the name of ‘Wudang’s Third Sword’ and even aiming for the seat of ‘Wudang’s First Sword’. A person who had never considered a disciple of Mount Hua as his opponent was defeated by someone younger than him.
But the defeat did not drag Mu Jin down. He learned there is no shortage of people who he should be afraid of in the world, and learned humility.
Just as barley that has been trodden once grows stronger, and a pine tree that grows in a rough field has tougher and stronger roots, the defeat tempered Mu Jin and led him to a higher place.
“How is it?” “Yes?”
“How do you feel to see the Mount Hua Divine Dragon again?”
When Heo Sanja asked, Mu Jin, who had been thinking for a while, replied.
“I do not know. It seems like nothing has changed, but it also feels like a lot has changed. It might be because I didn’t know him well in the first place.”
“That’s not what I’m asking. I asked how you felt.”
“…I was delighted.”
“Hm?”
A light smile was drawn around Mu Jin’s mouth.
“When we first met, his reputation wasn’t that high. Of course, he made a name for himself in his performance with Southern Edge Sect, but his reputation was full of doubts.”
“It was.”
He still remembers clearly.
Heo Sanja also didn’t pay much attention to the name Mount Hua Divine Dragon. He thought it was just a brief sparkle and would only be talked about briefly.
Although he completely changed his mind after he met the man himself. Wasn’t that the reason he tried to somehow bring him to Wudang? He even put forward an unconventional condition that had never been seen in the history of shamanism.
But eventually, he remained in Mount Hua, where he was now thrusting a sword into the Wudang’s throat.
‘All of that might not be the work of Mount Hua Divine Dragon…..’
At least without the presence of that Mount Hua Divine Dragon, Mount Hua’s position would have been much different than now.
“Ever since then, he has continued to rise and make a name for himself. Now, in front of the name Mount Hua Divine Dragon, there is not only the world’s best rising star but also the modifier of the best talent in a hundred years, isn’t there?”
“That’s right.”
Mu Jin spoke in a confident tone.
“So there will be more meaning in paying back.”
“….” “I’m rather grateful. Because he did not become lazy, I was able to keep practicing with him in my heart. It’s a little embarrassing to target someone younger than me, but…….”
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Heo Sanja said flatly.
“In Kangho, neither age nor origin is important. All that matters is who is more upright and who is stronger.”
“Yes, Elder-nim.”
Heo Sanja reached out and tapped Mu Jin on the shoulder.
Someone who has been expected since childhood will likely fall into the abyss with a single defeat. This is because they recognize ‘fear’ that they did not know when they were on a roll.
He deserves to be heartbroken at this rare defeat, but Mu Jin, who stood like a giant tree unswayed by the wind, made Heo Sanja extremely proud and happy.
‘This is definitely something to thank Mount Hua Divine Dragon.’
Thanks to this, Wudang gained the strength to lead itself in the future.
“What about Jin Hyun?”
“It won’t be that different for him.”
“I see, then that’s fine.”
Heo Sanja nodded and lowered his voice slightly.
“But, I feel sorry for you. Given the circumstances, it would have been natural to give you a chance to avenge yourself, but the situation is not favorable.”
“Please do not worry. The important thing is the matter of the sect, not me.”
Mu Jin also knew at least that his opponent was not Chung Myung in this sparring match.
“But… Elder-nim.”
“Hm?”
“Is Elder Heo Gong really going to present in the sparring match?”
“He will.”
“Those who weren’t interested in the sect’s matter…….” Heo Sanja smiled quietly at the voice of concern.
“Is there anyone among the Elders who are interested in the matter of the sect? I’m the weird one.”
“Indeed.”
“He is a pain in the neck, but there’s no way he won’t move as long as Sect Leader himself orders him. And he just needs to come all the way here.”
Heo Sanja grinned as Mu Jin, who did not readily understand, expressed doubt with his eyes.
“Considering that guy’s courageous spirit, he wouldn’t be able to stop without raising his sword. The thing that overwhelms Wudang in the past…. No, he was very interested in Mount Hua’s Plum Blossom swordsmanship, which was said to be comparable to that of Wudang.”
“Aah.”
Then he understands.
Heo Gong, who is called Wudang’s ghost (무귀라 ), would surely show great interest in Plum Blossom swordsmanship.
Heo Gong may not be Wudang’s First Sword, but he is someone who one day may rise to the position of Wudang’s First Sword. If he hadn’t been the youngest of the Elders and had been of a similar age to the other Elders, the reputation of the shaman’s first sword might have been his by now.
“That’s not what matters.”
Heo Sanja said firmly.
“Heo Gong defeating Mount Hua Divine Dragon is nothing to be proud of or boast about. Rather, it is disgraceful to say in front of others that Wudang’s Elder had to step up to deal with Mount Hua Divine Dragon.”
“….”
“No matter how overwhelmingly we win, we’ll end up being criticized.”
Mu Jin nodded convincingly.
The Elder of Wudang and Mount Hua’s third-class disciples.
Anyone can tell that a spar between the two is a weird thing. Even if Chung Myung loses to Ho Gong without even being able to use his hands, his reputation will not be lowered in the slightest.
It would not be strange if his reputation increased because the Elder of Wudang was his opponent.
“So you must do it.”
Heo Sanja looked at Mu Jin with determined eyes.
“I know that you are bothered about having to deal with the second-class disciples of Mount Hua as a first-class disciple yourself. But this match is not about letting others know that we are superior to Mount Hua. That’s only natural. What we need to tell the world is that Mount Hua’s reputation is now too exaggerated.”
“Yes.”
“You must let everyone in the world know that there is no one in Mount Hua that dares to stand against you. Can you do it?”
Mu Jin replied with determined eyes.
“My individual grudge is a small matter. What is more important is the honor of the sect. I’ll prove with this sword that Mount Hua is not even close to Wudang’s toes.”
It was a reliable answer indeed. Heo Sanja nodded with a happy face.
“Yes, yes.”
Nothing could have been more proud than seeing reliable disciples.
Maybe Mount Hua is looking at their disciples with the same mind as Heo Sanja.
‘I have to admit what I have to admit.’
The power and momentum of young people who will carry the sect’s future, Mount Hua are superior in that sense.
Heo Sanja also realized this after seeing Mount Hua’s disciples in person this time. The insanity and free spirit that were not like Taoism were unpleasant, but each had strong strength and will.
The impatience that occurred here made Heo Sanja fall for trivial provocations. He’s worried that the words of Mount Hua Divine Dragon may become true after a few decades.
“I have to shake everything off with this sparring match.”
“Yes?”
“No. Nothing.”
Heo Sanja inspected the stage for the last time.
“Things have become more chaotic than I thought, but we don’t have to stop them from claiming shame on themselves. Tell the children to let others know that there is sparring between Wudang and Mount Hua and gather onlookers.”
“You mean on a grand scale?”
Heo Sanja nodded silently at the disciple’s question, which seemed a little perplexed.
“We need to tell those who are shaken where the sect that connects the true line of Taoism is. In fact, we’ve been too benevolent. I should have known in advance that if I didn’t put it forward, I wouldn’t….”
Thanks to Mount Hua, he found out about it.
“Move.”
“Yes!”
A subtle expression appeared on Heo Sanja’s face as he looked at Mu Jin who was walking away.
‘There is nothing to be a problem with.’
Although it could be said that the match has grown, the audience has been created, and the moderate competition has become a grand sparring match, it was something that would come back to them as long as they won.
And it was unimaginable that the second-class disciples of Mount Hua defeated Wudang’s first-class disciples. He couldn’t understand why that brilliant Mount Hua Divine Dragon was digging his own grave.
Yes, everything is perfect.
But…
‘Why do I keep feeling anxious?’
Heo Sanja’s eyes grew slightly darker.
The cold stage, carved out of blue stone, seemed strangely unfamiliar.
* * * “All the audience is here.”
“It’s more than I thought. I can’t see the end.”
“Hm, yes. I see. I didn’t expect people to be so interested in Wudang and Mount Hua’s match.”
Heo Sanja shook his head as he saw a huge crowd. This cannot happen with the reputation of Wudang alone. A one-sided match is usually frustrating, and you don’t have to spend your precious time and check it with your eyes.
In other words, those gathered here thought that Wudang and Mount Hua’s sparring match was right.
‘I don’t like it.’
Mount Hua has been gaining fame recently, but he never thought it would be this much. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much Heo Dojin was seeing.
“Is all the preparation set?”
“Yes! We’re all set.”
“…Ho Gong, he’ll be here soon.”
“….”
Heo Sanja’s face is subtly distorted.
‘Sect Leader asked so much, but this Elder…….’
It was nothing new since Ho Gong was always like that.
“Then is the opposite side all set?”
“Yes.”
“Mount Hua has already told us about the start time of the sparring match.”
“Yes, I’ve heard your answer.”
“That’s right, but…….”
“Hm.”
“…Why isn’t Mount Hua coming?”
“….”
Heo Sanja’s face twitched slightly.
‘These guys don’t even know what manners are.’
One meal had already passed since the promised time.
If they knew rules and manners, they wouldn’t break the promised time time like this. “I knew they were rude in the first place, but…….”
“Shall we go again?”
“That’s enough! What do we have to rush them!”
Heo Sanja bit his lips with a displeased expression.
‘It feels like they keep stalling for time.’
This was an obvious trick. It must have been a shallow trick to gain a slight advantage by making the waiting people nervous.
‘Still, those who have a history use such a shallow trick….’
What was more irritating was not their manipulative minds, but his own mind that kept getting nervous even though he knew what was happening.
The faces of Wudang disciples lined behind him were also filled with irritation and nervousness.
“Muryangsubul.”
Heo Sanja, who calmed himself by chanting, was about to open his mouth and soothe his disciples.
“Here they come!”
“That’s Mount Hua!”
“Aren’t they the ones who defeated Daebyeolchae and distributed the riches to Wuhan!”
“Wow!”
Heo Sanja looked around in amazement at the sudden fiery roar.
Far away, he could see Mount Hua’s disciples walking to his side. But what really surprised Heo Sanja was not Mount Hua’s appearance, but the audience’s reaction.
“Mount Hua! Mount Hua! Mount Hua!”
“Long live Mount Hua Sect!”
The cheers for Mount Hua spread like wildfire all over the place.
‘Such- Such thing?’
He expected Mount Hua to have captured the hearts of the common people, but he never imagined it would be this bad. Still, how many years has Wudang been protecting Hubei, but they are cheering so passionately for Mount Hua, who has barely made his face? Even if the opponent is Wudang! Heo Sanja’s face hardened cold.
Mount Hua walked toward him with a free-spirited pace.
“Well, it’s nice to see you again.”
Mount Hua Divine Dragon, who was at the forefront, waved his hand like a local thug.
“Did you sleep well? I hope you slept well in advance because you won’t be able to sleep well after the sparring match.”
“….”
It was a moment when reason flew out of Heo Sanja’s head.