Return of the Mount Hua

This is my role. (2)

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“…Sect Leader.”

Baek Cheon clenched his fist before he even realized it.

It was something he had longed to hear.

But it was also something he could never dare hope for. The words that Beop Jong had spoken were so sharp they seemed to pierce even the hearts of those merely listening beside him.

If he had been the one standing there, what could he have said in response? Baek Cheon couldn’t help but wonder. Could he have made the bold choice to turn against Shaolin in the name of righteousness?

Of course, Baek Cheon, the second-generation disciple of Hwasan, could have done it.

But Baek Cheon, the Sect Leader of Hwasan – could he have made that choice?

Knowing just how difficult that decision was, Baek Cheon’s heart burned as he looked at Hyun Jong.

The same was true for everyone else.

In the eyes of the disciples of Hwasan who were watching Hyun Jong, there was only trust and pride. He had stood his ground even against Beop Jong of Shaolin, and upheld his sense of justice – upheld the righteous path of Hwasan.

Of course, Beop Jong and Beop Gye could not ride that surging wave of emotion.

A trace of dismay appeared on Beop Jong’s face.

“How could you……”

It wasn’t the first time he’d been rejected. But to meet someone who would so openly declare, right to his face, that they would walk a different path – this was the first time in his entire life.

Even Gupailbang and the Five Great Families who had rejected his proposal had done so from afar, unable to face him directly, sending only letters and retreating quietly.

Had they been sitting before Beop Jong now, they wouldn’t have dared to say such words aloud, refusing his command so plainly.

But… just what kind of confidence did Hyun Jong have to speak so boldly with him standing right in front of him?

Before Beop Jong, the Abbot of Shaolin, a sect with a thousand-year legacy?

“Alliance Leader… no, Sect Leader.”

Beop Jong swallowed dryly, as if struggling to continue his words.

“Is this… is this truly Hwasan’s will? Truly?”

His voice carried both anger and frustration.

Beop Jong was human too, and this memory would surely cloud his future judgment. Leaving a bitter memory with the Abbot of the thousand-year-old Shaolin was a heavy burden for Hyun Jong as well.

Yet Hyun Jong simply looked at Beop Jong with calm eyes.

No matter how fierce the wind may blow, a plum tree rooted deeply in the earth does not sway.

“That’s right.”

Beop Jong parted his lips slightly, only to close them again. Even with all his deep cultivation, it seemed difficult for him to control his emotions.

“Do you believe I made all these proposals for the glory of Shaolin?”

“…”

“Though the paths may differ, everything was for the sake of the people of the world. And yet Hwasan, in the end, refuses to take Shaolin’s hand?”

Chung Myung’s eyes grew fierce. He looked as though he was about to speak, but Baek Cheon grabbed his wrist – almost as if to say, trust the Sect Leader.

“A path for the sake of the people of the world, you say…”

Hyun Jong slowly nodded.

“Hwasan does not doubt Shaolin’s words. Regardless of the means, we do not wish to doubt that what the Abbot seeks is peace.”

“Then why do you refuse?”

Hyun Jong smiled gently.

“Abbot. How could there be only one path?”

“…”

“Hwasan, too, is a place that serves the people of the world. A place that strives never to erase the word ‘righteousness’ from its heart, no matter what it does.”

“In that case…”

“But.”

Hyun Jong’s voice turned firm.

“Just because we share the same purpose does not mean we must walk the same path. Shaolin can follow its own way, and Hwasan can follow its own way, to achieve the same end result.”

“…”

“To believe that the only way to bring peace to the world is by joining hands with Shaolin – wouldn’t that be your arrogance, Abbot?”

Beop Jong’s face twisted.

Of all the things said, it was that word – ‘arrogance’ – that fueled his fury the most.

“If there is arrogance, it is not Shaolin’s but Hwasan’s!”

“That bastard…!”

Unable to hold back, Chung Myung exploded, but the Five Swords grabbed at his sleeves from all sides.

“Ugh…”

Though he had momentarily lost his temper, Chung Myung also knew that he must not resort to violence here. He clenched his thigh tightly instead.

After a brief silence, Beop Jong seemed to realize that his words had gone too far, and he took a deep breath. Though he might have regained his composure, the fierceness in his eyes remained unchanged.

“There’s no point in continuing this conversation.”

“I’m sorry, Abbot.”

“I respect your decision, Sect Leader. However…”

Beop Jong’s eyes fixed intently on Hyun Jong.

“There is one thing you must remember. Every choice comes with a price.”

It was a remark so blunt that it visibly altered the expressions of several disciples.

But Hyun Jong only nodded calmly.

“If there’s a price to pay, then I must pay it.”

“You might not have had to. If only you had been a little wiser, Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong looked at Beop Jong in silence. His serene gaze seemed to press down on him.

“Indeed, if I had been a little wiser, I wouldn’t have rejected your proposal.”

“Then why…!”

“Isn’t that the nature of righteousness?”

“…”

“A wise man is bound to calculate profit. But one who wishes to uphold righteousness must follow not profit, but the path of the heart.”

Beop Jong fell silent.

“That is the path Hwasan seeks.”

Beop Jong silently closed his eyes. Only the prayer beads in his hand moved swiftly through his fingers. After a long pause, he slowly opened his eyes.

“Righteousness, you say…”

A faint, ambiguous smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

“It almost sounds as though you’re saying Shaolin does not pursue righteousness.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“…I understand Hwasan’s stance well enough.”

Beop Jong brushed off his robes and stood up.

Remaining here any longer would only add to his humiliation. What reason was there to sit face-to-face with those who could no longer be considered allies?

“Thank you for the tea, Sect Leader.”

“…Yes.”

“There’s no need to see me out. Then, farewell.”

Beop Jong glanced around at everyone in the room. His eyes, in the end, settled on none other than Chung Myung.

“I suppose you’re satisfied now, Hwasan Geomhyeop?”

“And you, Abbot, seem quite sour that things didn’t go your way.”

Chung Myung smirked and added,

“But that’s life, isn’t it?”

“Well said.”

Beop Jong nodded stiffly, his face grim.

“But from now on, it won’t be Shaolin that faces those hardships, but Hwasan. You’ll have to weather the winds Shaolin once held back for you.”

“Ah, right. Though, it seems your shoulders are a bit narrow for that. You couldn’t even fend off those damn Sapa bastards as they barge in.”

Beop Jong pressed his lips tightly together.

There was so much he wanted to say, but what good would more words do now, other than turn him into a laughingstock?

This wasn’t merely a failed negotiation.

It was a crushing defeat.

Despite stepping forward with everything on the line, it was the first time he had been unable to achieve his will.

‘No, that’s not right.’

Technically, it was the second. The first time his intentions had come to nothing was at the Great Martial Arts Tournament at Shaolin.

‘I should have realized it then.’

That Hwasan might one day stand in Shaolin’s way.

“Amitabha.”

Reciting a low chant, Beop Jong turned away from Chung Myung and spoke.

“Then, farewell.”

And without a shred of hesitation, he walked out.

Following him, Beop Gye didn’t so much as glance at anyone else, leaving not even a customary farewell behind.

Clack!

The door slammed shut, and at that very moment, the tension that had been drawn tight in Hwasan’s disciples was released all at once.

“Phewuuuuuuu!”

“…I thought I was going to suffocate.”

“…That was terrifying.”

Beop Jong was still Beop Jong.

The pressure radiating from the Abbot of Shaolin was not something they could easily withstand. And yet, not one of them showed disgrace – they had all endured to the very end.

“Sect Leader… are you all right?”

“Hmm.”

At Hyun Yeong’s concerned words, Hyun Jong let out a quiet hum.

“I don’t know if my decision was the right one. But, Hyun Yeong, haven’t we already learned all too well that being tempted by an easier path, even for a moment, can lead to far greater ruin?”

“…That’s true.”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps, out of pride, I’ve burdened you all with something heavy.”

“What, how could Shaolin ever be a burden of any significance? It’s just a bunch of bald guys living together.”

Still sensing the worry that lingered on Hyun Jong’s face, Chung Myung grinned widely and said,

“There couldn’t have been a more perfect answer, Sect Leader.”

“That’s right.”

“We believe your words were just, Sect Leader!”

Only then did a faint smile appear at the corner of Hyun Jong’s lips.

‘These kids, really…’

With disciples like these, he couldn’t simply choose the easy road. They say clean water upstream makes clean water downstream, but sometimes, it’s the pure water below that clears the flow above.

Tap.

At that moment, Hyun Jong’s gaze shifted towards the door.

A low sigh escaped Hyun Jong’s lips as he watched the figure silently follow after Beop Jong.

“How could someone be so disrespectful! How dare he speak that way to the Abbot!”

Beop Gye’s face was flushed red with anger.

Had Beop Jong not been present, he would’ve exploded more than once. From his perspective, that was no way to address the Abbot of Shaolin. There wasn’t even the bare minimum of respect shown to the sect that had, for centuries, protected the peace of Gangho and mediated among countless sects.

Normally, Beop Jong would have reprimanded such outbursts from Beop Gye. But this time, he said nothing. He simply kept his lips firmly shut and walked towards the gates in long, heavy strides.

“Hwasan Geomhyeop… and Hyun Jong.”

A voice like boiling water slipped from Beop Jong’s lips.

Had there ever been another moment in his life when he had suffered such humiliation? His insides burned and churned as though he had swallowed burning coals.

‘Since when has Shaolin been treated this way?’

All the years they had dedicated to the world, all the efforts for peace – yet now, everyone seemed to care only for themselves.

Grit.

Without realizing it, Beop Jong bit down hard on his lip.

“Amitabha…”

Unable to quell the fury rising within him, he clenched his fist tightly.

“I had believed that Hwasan still followed the righteous path… I was mistaken.”

“Abbot…”

“Let us return to Shaolin.”

Cheonumaeng’s refusal to cooperate did not mean Shaolin couldn’t face Sapaeryon. He had merely tried to minimize the cost.

If that wouldn’t work – then it was time to show them.

Shaolin had not been enduring out of weakness. It was time to remind them – why Shaolin had been called the Thousand-Year Shaolin, and why it had never relinquished its place as the Northern Star of Gangho for centuries!

To those wicked Evil Sects, and to the so-called Just Sects – who had forgotten what righteousness meant!

At that moment, Beop Jong came to an abrupt halt.

“Beop Gye!”

“Yes, Abbot!”

“Bring Hye Yeon at once! We cannot leave a disciple of Shaolin in a place like this any longer!”

“U-Understood!”

Beop Gye, still shaken by Beop Jong’s fury, hastily turned around, but in that very instant.

“There’s no need for that, Abbot.”

A calm voice sounded from behind them.

Both Beop Jong and Beop Gye turned their heads.

There stood Hye Yeon, bowing with one hand raised. He wore the robes of Hwasan – garments that did not suit him in the least.

“Perfect timing. Pack your belongings! You will return to Shaolin with us. No – there’s no need to pack! We’re leaving right now!”

“Abbot.”

Hye Yeon lowered his raised hand and looked directly at Beop Jong.

His clear, large eyes were calm – serene like a still lake.

“I will not go.”

“…What did you say?”

Beop Jong asked, unable to believe what he had heard, and Hye Yeon shook his head.

“I said, I will not go.”

“Why, you…!”

Beop Gye’s eyes turned cold as ice. Soon, his storm-like anger poured forth towards Hye Yeon.

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