Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 670
Hyun Jong’s gaze, looking at Chung Myung, was truly empty.
The gazes of the Elders and other disciples beside him were not much different.
“That….”
Hyun Jong, who was about to say something, wrapped his face in silence with both hands.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“Yes?”
Chung Myung, who was kneeling down in front of the gate and raising his hand, replied nonchalantly.
“… I’m asking just in case.”
“Yes.”
“…You do know that you’re a Taoist, right?”
“Yes, of course!”
‘How many years did you think I’ve lived in a Taoist sect!’
“I see… So you know… you do know, yet…”
Hyun Jong looked up at the ceiling blankly as if he couldn’t bear to continue talking.
The Chung Myung here is not just the Chung Myung who kicked Yang Gyeong in the face in front of so many people in Jungwon.
It’s Chung Myung who was so determined to beat Yang Gyeong even more that he escaped while on the way to Repentance Cave, but Baek Cheon and Un Gum caught him before he could.
If the two had noticed Chung Myung’s disappearance just a little later, Yang Gyeong would have still been unable to leave Mount Hua by now. Instead, he would have been lying in the Medicine Hall while turning into a hedgehog….N- No. While undergoing treatment by Soso’s needles.
“Please… Please live like a Taoist. Please…”
“No, Sect Leader! Listen, that guy disrespected Mount Hua!”
“You disrespect Mount Hua the most! You, the most!”
“Me? Eiii, no way.”
“Uuuugh!”
“Hehe. There seems to be a misunderstanding, but I just wanted to handle it nicely with words. I didn’t mean to use force…”
“Arm! Raise your arm properly, your arm!”
“…Tsk.”
Chung Myung pouted his lips and raised his arm straight again next to his ear.
Hyun Jong’s heart burned to a crisp.
‘The one they call the world’s greatest rising star…’
The people who were flocking to Mount Hua right now were not looking for Hyun Jong or Tang Gun-ak, but Chung Myung.
After briefly greeting Hyun Jong, they didn’t leave the mountain but went looking for Chung Myung instead. They wanted to see with their own eyes what the rumored Mount Hua Divine Dragon looked like.
But with that guy behaving like that…
“One must grow up when one gets older…”
“Ah. I have something to say about that.”
“Huh?”
“Hehe. I don’t think that’s going to be easy. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to give up cleanly and find peace of mind?”
“…Chung Myung-ah.”
“Yes?”
“Raise your arm higher.”
“….”
“Arm, arm! Higher!”
Chung Myung raised his arm higher with a sulky face. At that moment, a displeased voice came from one side.
“No, he could make mistakes! What did he do so wrong that you have to punish him? Chung Myung, lower your arm! It must have hurt.”
Although Chung Myung was skilled enough that his arm wouldn’t hurt just because of a brief punishment, Hyun Young seemed quite dissatisfied.
“It’s because you keep protecting him like that, he’s getting worse!”
“How can you say that!”
When Hyun Young widened his eyes, Hyun Jong flinched slightly.
‘Did I say something too harsh?’
Hyun Young spoke with fire in his eyes.
“When did Chung Myung get worse?! He’s been consistent since the first time I saw him! He hasn’t changed at all!”
“….”
‘Uh… Yeah… That’s right… He’s been like this from the beginning.’
“And in my opinion, he’s even improved a bit. At least this time he only hit him once!”
“…. is that something to be proud of?”
‘Is that really something to be proud of, you punk.’
It was Hyun Jong’s deep sorrow that he couldn’t curse aloud as Mount Hua’s Sect Leader.
“And it’s more of a problem to hear and tolerate such words! How dare they say such things in Mount Hua? As Chung Myung said, it’s not just about disrespecting the Outer region people as barbarians. It’s ridiculing and ignoring Mount Hua itself for making an alliance with them!”
“Right!”
When Chung Myung agreed with spirit, Hyun Jong suddenly glared at him with fiery eyes.
“…..Just… uhm….. yes.”
Chung Myung sulkily lowered his head again. Mount Hua Five Sword, who had been watching, sighed quietly.
‘Oh my gosh, he overpowered Chung Myung with just a glare.’
‘That’s Sect Leader for you!’
‘Wow… Is that even possible?’
Although subduing someone with just a glare might not be a big deal for a Sect Leader, it would become a groundbreaking event if the person was Chung Myung.
“Stay still for a while.”
At that time, Hyun Sang, who had been silent, sighed and dissuaded Hyun Young. Hyun Young was furious.
“No, did I say anything wrong?”
“Stay still! Huh? Stay still!”
Hyun Young pouted.
Hyun Jong’s heart, which was looking at the Elder and the third-class disciples who were pouting their mouths in pairs, was almost burnt to the ground and scattered as ashes.
Un Am, who kept looking at the two Elders arguing, smiled and opened his mouth.
“Sect Leader.”
“Hm?”
“It’s rare for me to take sides with Elder Hyun Young, but this time, I don’t think he’s entirely wrong. I don’t think Chung Myung did anything particularly wrong either.”
“…Even though he went so far as to escape Mount Hua to beat him again?”
“Well, that’s more a matter of personality… ahem.”
‘Anyway, let’s put that aside for now.’
“It should have been dealt with firmly.”
Un Am once again said in a very serious tone.
“This isn’t just about the rejection towards Outer region people. Even if they didn’t like the Outer region, they wouldn’t have been able to say such things here if they respected Mount Hua.”
“That’s what I’m saying! If it were Shaolin, these guys wouldn’t even dare to open their mouths…”
“Be quiet!”
“You shut up!”
“Read the room before you talk! You punk!”
Beaten by criticism from all sides, Chung Myung stuck to the door.
“…You didn’t have to go that far.”
“Don’t pretend to be hurt!”
“Tsk, it’s not working!”
The conversation ensued, whether Chung Myung complained or not.
“First of all, it must have been an opportunity to clearly convey Mount Hua’s position to the North Sea Ice Clan and Namman Yasugung Clan, who came all the way to Mount Hua. If Chung Myung had stepped up a little later there, they might have thought that Mount Hua was no different from the sects of Jungwon that had rejected them in the past.”
“Hmm, I think so too.”
There is still a massive wall between Jungwon and the Outer region. Mount Hua broke through that wall and formed friendships, but relationships can change anytime.
A relationship must be continuously nurtured.
If Mount Hua becomes complacent with the good impression they’ve already given and treats them poorly, there’s no telling when or how the feelings of the North Sea Ice Clan and Namman Yasugung Clan might change.
“Although it might have been a bit aggressive, Chung Myung’s actions would have sent a clear signal to the warriors of the Ice Clan and Yasugung Clan. At least, the signal that Mount Hua is truly someone who can stand by their side, unlike other Jungwon people.”
“…There wouldn’t be a clearer signal than that.”
“The problem is that it’s too clear, is it not?”
“…Signals should be given in moderation.”
But at least it was clear that Chung Myung’s actions this time had brought unity to Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
“Sect Leader.”
“Continue.”
Un Am nodded at Hyun Jong’s words.
“The leader of Ice Clan and Namman Yasugung Clan seem to believe in Mount Hua unconditionally, but the will of the leader does not necessarily match the will of the sect.”
“That’s right.”
Hyun Jong nodded his head.
It may be unpleasant to hear from the perspective of Mount Hua’s Sect Leader, but there was no sign of displeasure on Hyun Jong’s face.
“Perhaps the Ice Clan and Yasugung Clan’s warriors still have some lingering insecurity about Mount Hua. Considering the time they spent rejecting each other, it wouldn’t be easy to dispel that mistrust.”
“So you’re saying we had to show them instead of just telling them?”
“Yes, I think it was appropriate.”
Hyun Jong cast a subtle gaze at Chung Myung.
Of course, Hyun Jong had similar thoughts and stood up for Chung Myung. But….
‘Did he really think of that before he acted?’
They already know that Chung Myung is not a stupid guy who moves his body before his head. Chung Myung, who they know, moves his body before his head, but he is smart… um… this doesn’t mean much.
“And one more thing. The most important thing is that it served as a warning to other sects.”
“Hm?”
Un Am spoke in a firm voice.
“The world only knows that a new alliance that is Heavenly Comrade Alliance has emerged anew, but they don’t know much about what kind of place it is.”
“That’s right.”
“If both the Ice Clan and Yasugung Clan had yielded to them along with Mount Hua in this incident, there would definitely have been those who would underestimate Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
“….”
“We already know that, don’t we? Goodwill doesn’t always return as goodwill. To regain the favor that was given, one needs corresponding power and determination.”
“… You’re right.”
They had experienced it time and time again. How meaningless the goodwill of the powerless was.
Mount Hua’s disciples, whose memories of the past have arisen, have hardened their faces.
“We need to show them clearly. That Heavenly Comrade Alliance is not a place to be taken lightly and will not tolerate rudeness.”
“That’s what I’m saying! If we stay still, we’ll become pushovers!”
Those who had been listening seriously all at once frowned and looked at Chung Myung.
Faced with their unanimous gaze, Chung Myung spoke nervously.
“…Did you all plan in advance against me today?”
“…You really don’t think you’ve done anything wrong in all this, do you?”
Hyun Jong sighed.
There was nothing wrong with Hyun Young’s words. This guy hadn’t changed one bit from beginning to end.
Then Chung Myung said.
“That’s just how the world works.”
“Huh?”
“Once you start being underestimated, problems keep arising. People naturally take advantage of those who seem weak in front of them. They think, ‘You’ll bear with this much, won’t you?’”
“….”
“That’s why you need to set them straight from the beginning. Then, the half-baked ones won’t be able to go too far. That’s why, first, grab them by the collar right away!”
“… That’s enough.”
“Yes, sir.”
Hyun Jong sighed and thought again.
His words were right.
The problem was that he made the right words infuriating and the right actions unbearable.
Once again, Hyun Jong looked back at his other disciples with a bitter taste. He closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again. His eyes seemed clear as if he had organized his thoughts.
“It’s natural for a person or a sect to behave differently depending on their position. However, Mount Hua’s position has changed too much and too often in a short time, so you must be confused as well.”
“….”
“However, more than ever, you must gather your resolve. When you’re unsure of what to do, remember just one thing.”
Everyone’s gaze focused on Hyun Jong.
“You don’t need to try to do something to change.”
It was somewhat unexpected advice.
Hyun Jong smiled as he looked at his disciples who were waiting for the next words.
“You’re already doing well enough. The proper actions you need to take have already been ingrained in the teachings you’ve received. Trust yourself and don’t waver, for the path of your heart is the path Mount Hua should take.”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hyun Jong nodded his head.
There will be many more incidents like this in the future. As Mount Hua’s influence grows and more tasks are needed, they will be forced to make more choices.
They may not always be able to make the best choice, but if they know where they need to go and move forward, won’t they eventually reach their destination, even if the path is winding and crooked?
“Change inevitably brings uneasiness.”
Hyun Jong’s voice calmed the hearts of the disciples.
“Let’s move forward firmly. Trust what we have done so far.”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
Hyun Jong smiled quietly at the truly powerful answer.
“Finally, the founding ceremony is tomorrow. Let’s make sure we’re fully prepared.”
“Yes!”
The day was approaching when the Heavenly Comrade Alliance would finally be established.