Return of Mount Hua Sect - Chapter 690

“Paegun…”

Bop Jeong’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“You’re saying Paegun came in person?”

“Yes, Bangjang.”

Bop Kye peeked into Bangjang’s face. Although he knew it was hard to read his thoughts from his expression alone, he still looked.

As expected, Bop Jeong sat with his eyes closed, his face inscrutable, chanting a sutra.

It may seem impolite at first glance to fall into a meditating state with a person in front of you. But Bop Kye, who had been with Bop Jeong for a long time, knew that this was his behavior when he was deep in thought.

After a while, Bop Jeong slowly opened his eyes and looked at Bop Kye.

“What was the reaction of the Ten Great Sect?”

“It was chaotic.”

Said Bop Kye as he exhaled deeply. His eyes were gloomy.

“Of course, the reactions varied among the sects. There were sect who openly showed hostility, and there were sects where that showed great interest in Heavenly Comrade Alliance. But generally, they seemed to be at a loss on how to respond to this situation.”

“I suppose so.”

Bop Jeong smiled with a slightly complicated expression and asked.

“What do you think?”

“Are you referring to Heavenly Comrade Alliance?”

“Yes.”

Bop Kye thought for a moment and frowned.

He, too, couldn’t grasp the existence of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

“More powerful than expected… Yes, more powerful, but not as threatening as expected…”

Bop Kye, who had said a few words while organizing his thoughts, eventually shook his head and confessed honestly.

“I don’t know, Bangjang. I don’t know what kind of impact they’ll have on this Kangho.”

Bop Jeong smiled and nodded.

“I see.”

“…What are you thinking?”

“What do you mean?”

“Shouldn’t we come up with some measure?”

“Hoho. You’re being rather ambitious. They didn’t even cause a problem for Kangho, so what do you mean by taking measures?”

“Bangjang… Wouldn’t it be too late after they cause a problem?”

Bop Jeong just laughed at Bop Kye’s worried tone.

“I suppose so, but that won’t happen.”

“….”

“As long as Maengju of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, there will be nothing else to worry about for you and for the rest of the Ten Great Sects. He is not a man who seeks the path of discord.”

Listening to Bop Jeong, Bop Kye recalled Hyun Jong’s image in his mind.

‘Indeed…’

Mount Hua’s disciples were certainly unlike the other Taoists. However, Hyun Jong exuded the noble character of a true Taoist. It was hard to imagine such a person pursuing strife and causing chaos.

“The problem lies elsewhere.”

“…Yes?”

“The influence is not something that stays dormant just because you don’t want to wield it. Even when left alone, it spreads and shakes the surroundings.”

“What do you mean…?”

“People are more sensitive to rumors than you think.”

Bop Jeong smiled a bit bitterly and shook his head lightly.

“If you were deeply impressed by Heavenly Comrade Alliance, others who visited there would have thought the same. As the rumors spread, it’s natural that people will line up to join the alliance, even if Heavenly Comrade Alliance doesn’t want to move.”

“Indeed…”

“When someone gains something, it’s natural that someone else loses something. I don’t expect those who lost to remain silent.”

Bop Jeong looked at the flickering lantern with his drooping eyes.

“What happened to the meeting of Sect Leaders I mentioned the other day?”

“Everyone has contacted us, saying they will attend. However… we haven’t received a reply from Wudang yet.”
“Oh, gosh.”

Bop Jeong shook his head.

He didn’t know what Heo Dojin’s feelings were like at the moment, but a person leading a faction should know how to hide their emotions.

“Eventually, Wudang will have no choice but to come. Call everyone in as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Bangjang.”

“Amitabha Buddha.”

Shadows fell in Bop Jeong’s eyes, which left a chant.

‘We can still control the Ten Great Sect and Five Great Family.’

Obviously, this is a big opportunity for Shaolin. In this situation, even the sects, who secretly antagonized and ignored Shaolin, would have no choice but to listen to Shaolin’s words.

It was a good chance to make up for the past failures in one go.

But….

‘This issue affects more than just the Ten Great Sect and Five Great Family.’

And the name of ‘Paegun’ kept bothering him.

Jang Ilso.

The faint sound of a Buddhist chant echoed once more.

“Contact Beggar Union and tell them to notify us immediately if anything unusual happens.”

“I understand, Bangjang.”

Bop Jeong nodded slowly at the quick response.

The night was suffocatingly still, like the night before a storm.

Still.

* * *

“What’s all this?”

Chung Myung’s eyes widened at the sight of the huge pile of luggage inside the gate.

“Do we have to go somewhere again? It’s only been a short time since the founding ceremony! Who are you trying to sell off this time?!”

“… It’s not like that.”

Looking back, Chung Myung had always brushed off Hyun Jong’s advice not to go and ventured far beyond Mount Hua. However, such memories have long been erased from Chung Myung’s head.

Yoon Jong shrugged his shoulders and said.

“It’s a gift.”

“Huh? A gift?”

“Yes. A gift for the founding ceremony.”

Then Jo-Gol, who had come closer without realizing it, tilted his head.

“The founding ceremony is over, so what kind of gift is this now?”

“Those were the gifts brought by the visitors who came to Mount Hua in person, and these are gifts sent from the merchants in Shaanxi and the surrounding province.”

“Huh?”

Yoon Jong also laughed as if he was dumbfounded.

“It seems that even small and medium-sized martial arts sects in Shaanxi have sent gifts, and this isn’t even all of it. People have been coming in with gifts since this morning.”

“Wow…”

Jo-Gol exclaimed in admiration. But standing next to him, Chung Myung was rather calm.

“Aren’t you surprised?”

“What?”

“That these gifts keep coming in?”

“What nonsense.”

Chung Myung laughed, looking at the piles of things that continued to accumulate.

‘This used to be a routine.’

At that time, they had to hire people to sort out the goods that came to Mount Hua.

The influence of a prestigious sect was beyond imagination. So it was only natural that there would be as many people as there were stars in the sky who wanted to establish a relationship with them and make a good impression.

It was like the endless flow of gifts into the manor of high-ranking officials.

“Elder Hyun Young must be smiling again.”

“He seems like he’s settled in the warehouse.”

“We may get used to it now.”

“… Don’t even hope for that.”

Yoon Jong laughed and changed the subject.

“If you’ve seen enough, get ready. Sect Leader ordered second-class disciples and third-class disciples to gather at the training field by noon.”

“Ah, I heard that too. But why are we suddenly gathering? We’ve been training individually except for morning practice.”

“It seems like we’re going to learn sword formations.”

“Sword formations?”

Yoon Jong nodded.

“Weren’t there sword formations among the secret techniques we got last time?”
“…I don’t know.”

“It seems like we’re going to learn the sword formations that came out at that time.”

“Why are we suddenly learning sword formations now?”

Jo-Gol asked with a look of incomprehension. Yoon Jong clicked his tongue as if it was obvious.

“Think about it. Didn’t we have a group battle against Daebyeolchae this time?”

“Yes, we did.”

“Although we set up our own formation and coordinated our breath at that time, if we had been able to deploy a proper sword formation, we could have had a much better battle. Un Gum Great Sasuk must have felt a lot from the battle.”

“Ah…”

Jo-Gol nodded his head.

“Then, the reason why Un Gum Great Sasuk was hardly seen for a while…”

“Yes. Amid being busy, he seems to have been interpreting and researching the sword formations. He’s really amazing. I know he doesn’t miss his own training either.”

“Phew, it’s not like he has ten bodies.”

Jo-Gol stuck out his tongue with a slightly bored face.

Although they also put in a lot of effort wherever they go, Un Gum is doing more than they are. He does not neglect his personal training while teaching his disciples, researching sword formations, and operating the White Plum Dormitory.

It was doubtful whether he slept properly.

“If sword formations are so good, we should have learned them ourselves first. With five people, it’s possible to deploy a sword formation, isn’t it? Then, our struggles until now would have been reduced a bit.”

“Sword formations?”

“Yes.”

“Us?”

The conversation stopped for a moment. Yoon Jong and Jo-Gol, who were looking at each other with strange eyes, turned their gazes to one side.

“What?”

“….”

“Why are you looking at me?”

As Chung Myung glared at the two, they averted their gaze slightly.

‘A sword formation with that guy?’

‘Is it possible for our hands and feet to match?’

Considering that sword formations are deployed by those who have formed them, turning like gears, there’s no way that the jagged gear would work properly.

The man would try to run off, frothing at the mouth at every opportunity.

Chung Myung spoke with a sulky face, feeling the gazes of the two were not very pleasant.

“It seems like you’re always blaming me, but do you think things will work well if you guys do it without me?”

“That’s….”

Indeed, when they thought about it, this was also true.

First of all, it didn’t seem like Yoo Iseol would properly match sword formations and coordination.

Baek Cheon would… try, but at some point, his eyes would roll back, and he would go wild.

As for Jo-Gol…….

“Why are you looking at me like that, Sahyung?”

“No. Nothing.”

Yoon Jong grinned broadly.

‘Let’s give up.’

‘To hell with sword formations. We’ve been fighting just fine without them! That’s enough!’

“Anyway, it seems that Great Sasuk thinks it’s right to learn sword formations.”

“Then we have to learn.”

Jo-Gol spoke nonchalantly.

“Yes. You get ready. And you…”

Yoon Jong looked at Chung Myung with glum eyes.

“…I don’t think you have to come.”

“What? Are you discriminating against me now?”

“Now, Chung Myung. Think about it in your head.”

“Huh?”

“Everyone is performing sword formations. And in front of them, enemies are pouring in.”

“Yes.”

“Then, where do you think you’ll be?”

“At the very front.”

“With whom?”

“Alone.”

Yoon Jong smiled contentedly and nodded his head.

“Yes. It seems you understand what I’m saying.”

“….”

“See you later. Let’s go, girl.”

“Yes, Sahyung!”

Chung Myung smirked as he saw the two walking away.

‘Sword formations.’

It’s not a bad choice. Up until now, the Five Swords have been the main force, but in the future, other disciples of Mount Hua will also have to wield their swords more often.
In such cases, sword formations will definitely be helpful.

Basically, formation is a means of defense, not attack. If Mount Hua’s disciples can properly deploy sword formations, it will certainly reduce casualties.

Chung Myung, who guessed what Un Gum had in mind when he started training in sword formations, couldn’t help but rub the tip of his nose with his finger.

‘Now I don’t have to do anything in particular.’

Until now, he had to somehow make them aware or convey the next task to the higher ups in Mount Hua. However, now everyone is finding their next tasks on their own.

It means that Mount Hua has now started to roll as a complete martial arts sect.

Chung Myung smiled quietly as he felt a warmth in a corner of his heart.

“But….”

Of course, some things bothered him. Chung Myung, who alternately looked between the mountain of gifts and the scenery of Mount Hua, frowned slightly.

‘There’s no way this will proceed so smoothly.’

There was less backlash than he had expected.

Because Heavenly Comrade Alliance is stronger than expected?

‘No way.’

In the past, Mount Hua might have been stronger than the four sects that currently make up the Heavenly Comrade Alliance combined. All the more so given the difference between a sect and a coalition.

Yet, they still had to struggle with all kinds of interference and criticism.

And now, those greedy ones will just let the current Heavenly Comrade Alliance slide?

‘That’s never gonna happen.’

Chung Myung’s footsteps busily headed toward the gate.

‘Something is bound to happen.’

Now it is Mount Hua’s job to train and be strong, and solving the problems that will arise for Mount Hua is Chung Myung’s job.

“I need to see the beggar old man.”

Chung Myung ran down the mountain with a cheerful stride.