Return of the Mount Hua

Even if I open my eyes, it’s the same. (4)

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“Ughhh…”

Groaning, Jo Geol trudged towards Hwaeum.

“Ah, I’m dying here.”

He had run like a madman from faraway Mount Song to this place, and he was utterly exhausted. But despite his frantic effort, Hwaeum before him was eerily quiet.

“See? There’s nothing going on.”

“…”

“I told you we didn’t need to rush just because Sasuk went ahead. We could have taken our time.”

“…”

“And if you needed someone to come along, I suggested you take Soso. What grudge do you have against me that you won’t let me rest…”

“Jo Geol.”

“Yes?”

“Shut your mouth. Please.”

“Just listen. I told you several times, we could take it slow, right? The higher-ups will handle everything anyway. Running all the way here just to watch…”

“Geol, sometimes I wonder.”

“Yes?”

“What it would feel like to shove a sword sheath into that endlessly chattering mouth of yours.”

“…”

Jo Geol felt a chill run down his spine and promptly shut his mouth. Yoon Jong smiled kindly at him.

“Although it’s not something a Taoist should do, and I’ve kept it as mere curiosity, listening to you makes me think that experiencing something unbefitting of a Taoist might not be entirely bad.”

Jo Geol kept his mouth tightly shut, his eyes darting around. In the past, he might have retorted with a snide comment, but lately, this guy had become somewhat intimidating. There were moments when his eyes seemed to flash with a sharp, unsettling intensity.

With silence finally achieved, Yoon Jong let out a deep sigh. Jo Geol, still cautious, asked quietly.

“I’m just curious. Really curious.”

“…What is it?”

“Why did you come here in such a hurry? Do you have any particular thoughts about this?”

Yoon Jong sighed, exasperated. Jo Geol’s persistence was something to be admired.

“You’re right. There’s not much we can do. At best, we’ll just be filling the numbers. We might not even get into the meeting room.”

“That’s what I’m saying. We’ll just be like useless sacks of grain.”

“Exactly.”

“Eh?”

Yoon Jong gazed at Hwaeum as he spoke.

“Even if all we can do is play the role of a sack of grain, there might be someone who finds comfort in that. There’s a difference between having someone at your back and being alone.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Never mind… It’s just enough to know that.”

Yoon Jong fell silent, surveying the now familiar – though greatly changed – scenery of Hwaeum. Darkness had settled over Hwaeum, enveloping it in a quiet stillness.

A small smile formed on Yoon Jong’s lips.

“At least, it seems we didn’t arrive too late.”

His gaze drifted beyond Hwaeum, towards Hwasan.

Someone was descending the steep, rugged mountain with incredible speed.

❀ ❀ ❀

“What do you plan to do now?”

Zhuge Jain’s cautious gaze turned to Moyong Wigyeong and Jongli Gok.

“What do you mean by that, Lord Zhuge?”

Moyong Wigyeong asked, and Zhuge Jain narrowed his eyes.

“I won’t take it back. The situation is clear. Right now, everyone is confused by the immediate issues, but once things settle, positions will be consolidated.”

“What do you mean by ‘consolidated’?”

“No one is going to share their resources with the remnants of a defeated faction.”

Moyong Wigyeong’s face hardened slightly.

“Are you saying we might be ostracized?”

“It’s a possibility. In fact, it would be strange if it didn’t happen. They have no reason to embrace us. We caused a defeat that would leave a lasting impression on Gangho and somehow survived that dreadful war.”

“Ahem.”

Moyong Wigyeong cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the statement. However, Zhuge Jain continued resolutely.

“Furthermore, our remaining strength is insignificant compared to Cheonumaeng. If we’re not careful, we might be relegated to doing menial tasks.”

As he pondered Zhuge Jain’s words, Moyong Wigyeong’s face grew stern.

He didn’t believe Hyun Jong was that kind of person, but he knew all too well that leaders often have to make harsh decisions regardless of their personal integrity. As a leader himself, he understood this well.

“So, Lord Zhuge, what do you think we should do?”

“We have to make a choice. Either leave Cheonumaeng and strive for a comeback after a defeat [권토중래(捲土重來)]…”

Zhuge Jain lowered his voice slightly.

“Or we can build our own strength so that they cannot easily dismiss us.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhuge Jain’s gaze fixed on Jongli Gok.

“What do you think, Sect Leader?”

“…”

Jongli Gok silently looked down at his half-cooled tea. Zhuge Jain, as if urging for an answer, continued.

“If Jongnam, Moyong, and Zhuge join forces, they won’t be able to treat us lightly. We might even take the initiative from Cheonumaeng. Their alliance looks strong, but it’s actually quite loose. While the Tang clan might be difficult to sway, forming connections with Beggars Sect, Namgung, and Haenam won’t be hard given our past relations. If we leverage this…”

Jongli Gok let out a small chuckle, which Zhuge Jain took as a favorable sign, his face brightening slightly.

“Jongnam is more than capable of leading those sects. In that case, it wouldn’t be difficult to stand as equals with the Alliance Leader. Naturally, Jongnam should aim for such a position.”

It was a subtle provocation, hinting at whether Jongli Gok would truly serve under Hyun Jong, with whom his relations were strained. Jongli Gok stared at the cold tea in his cup, deep in thought.

‘Familiar.’

And yet, it felt new. In the past, these kinds of political maneuvers were commonplace. Even within a single faction, there were implicit adversaries, allies to identify, smiling faces hiding ulterior motives, and minds constantly seeking the greatest advantage.

Jongli Gok didn’t particularly want to criticize Zhuge Jain for this.

Before Jongnam closed its gates, the person who was most enthusiastic about such matters was Jongli Gok. It was Jongli Gok who had established Jongnam’s prestige, ranking within the top three among Gupailbang in terms of martial arts.

It must have been the same for Zhuge Jain. That was all he knew. It was simply what he had always done.

Is it easy for someone who has lived that way all their life, believing it to be right, to suddenly change? There would be no awareness that change was necessary.

“…Sect Leader?”

When Zhuge Jain urged once more, Jongli Gok finally set his teacup down on the table. Then he smiled faintly.

“You make a valid point. But I don’t think this is something we can discuss right now. It will take sufficient time to discuss such a matter, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, yes. You are right… But isn’t time what we lack the most right now?”

“Well, that is true.”

Oddly enough, at this moment, Zhuge Jain has taught Jongli Gok a valuable lesson.

It wasn’t the words themselves that brought him knowledge. Jongli Gok gained insight from the discomfort he felt toward Zhuge Jain’s intentions and his own attempt to gloss over the situation.

‘I am of the same kind.’

Although he thought he had changed considerably through the long isolation, he had lived just like them. His thoughts and attitude were not so different.

What if Jin Geumryong had been sitting here?

“Heh.”

As Jongli Gok pictured this in his mind, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

That inflexible Jin Geumryong might have shouted at them to get rid of the foul stench right away.

Jin Geumryong, as sharp as a sword, was sometimes uncomfortable to deal with, but now it was difficult to shake the thought that he himself had become too old and overly soft.

“In any case, we don’t have the time to discuss such matters right now.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

It was at that moment.

Knock, knock, knock.

Along with the sound of hurried footsteps, there was a knock at the door.

“Who is it?”

As the door opened, a young man bowed his head.

“Lord, there’s an urgent request for everyone to gather immediately at the hall where the meeting was held earlier.”

“Gather again?”

Zhuge Jain involuntarily looked towards the window. It was dark.

“The sun has already set. No matter how urgent the situation is, how can we continue the meeting at this late hour?”

“I was merely passing on the message…”

“Who called for the meeting? Was it the Alliance Leader?”

“Well… the message was relayed from the General.”

“The General?”

Did Cheonumaeng even have such a position? As if understanding Zhuge Jain’s confusion, Jongli Gok muttered.

“It must be Hwasan Geomhyeop.”

Zhuge Jain’s face showed astonishment.

“Hwasan Geomhyeop Chung Myung is the General of Cheonumaeng?”

“That would be right.”

“No, how could that be…”

He soon laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.

Isn’t it absurd for a child to hold such an over-the-top position as a General? No matter how much Gangho favors the strong, this was too much.

“Wait, wait. Does that mean he is the one summoning us right now?”

The absurdity faded, replaced by rising anger.

“How prestigious is this position in Cheonumaeng that he can command the heads of entire sects to come and go? Especially in this situation…”

But Zhuge Jain’s outburst was cut short. Jongli Gok had stood up from his seat.

“Sect Leader?”

“If we’re summoned, we must go.”

“But, Sect Leader, wait a moment!”

Zhuge Jain was so flustered that he stuttered.

Even if he held the grand title of the General, he was still just the second generation disciple of Hwasan. How could the Sect Leader of Jongnam respond to such a summon?

Not considering how ridiculous Jongnam would appear?

“Sect Leader, this is inappropriate!”

“It would be wise to understand something.”

“What do you mean?”

“Cheonumaeng I’ve observed so far doesn’t concern itself with such formalities. If you stay here thinking that way, you won’t be able to do anything.”

“What are you saying?”

“Look over there, and you’ll understand.”

Jongli Gok gestured toward the open door. When Zhuge Jain and Moyong Wigyeong looked in that direction, their eyes widened.

Two well-known figures were swiftly running down the main road using their light-foot techniques.

“…Those, those people.”

“Though he may be called the second generation disciple, he’s the one who can summon even the Alliance Leader and the Vice Alliance Leader of Cheonumaeng. So it’s not such a shame to heed his call.”

The family heads, watching the rapidly disappearing figures of Hyun Jong and Tang Gunak, swallowed nervously.

Jongli Gok looked down at them with a smile in his eyes.

“If you’re going, you’d better hurry. Arriving more leisurely than the host as guests is a sure way to earn scorn, don’t you think?”

Leaving those words behind, he exited the hall.

He could sense it. The senior members of Cheonumaemg, who had been spread out throughout Hwaeum, were quickly converging in one place.

Perhaps it was just his mood, but even this small movement seemed to bring a peculiar liveliness. Just moments ago, Hwaeum had felt endlessly clam.

A faint smile crept onto Jongli Gok’s lips.

“Are you there?”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Tell Geumryong and Songbaek to attend the meeting. If anyone tries to stop them, say I ordered them to be let in.”

“Yes.”

With a nod, Jongli Gok pushed off the ground.

‘Now, let’s see just how interesting this meeting will be.’

If there was one thing he had learned from Hwasan, it was that the future of a sect does not rest in the hands of those intoxicated by glory. That was the one thing.

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