Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Chapter 1116

The way people look at each other is generally consistent.

The look in a mother’s eyes at her grown-up child, the look in a father’s eyes at his beloved daughter, or the look in a teacher’s eyes at their proud student is more or less the same in most situations.

However, the eyes of those here now looking at Chung Myung were truly complex.

“Why?”

And it seemed like Chung Myung was utterly clueless as to why they were giving him such looks.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Finally, a groan came out of Hyun Jong’s mouth.

Seeing Chung Myung looking at him with those innocent, bright eyes as if he had done nothing wrong made Hyun Jong feel a surge of frustration.

But Hyun Jong is a Taoist. So he spoke as calmly as possible.

“…Chung Myung.”

“Yes?”

“It seems like there might be a bit of a problem within the alliance right now.”

“Huh? There is a problem?”

“….”

“Here?”

Chung Myung tilted his head, genuinely not understanding.

Hyun Jong, who unconsciously looked at Chung Myung’s expression again, lamented his foolishness. Why would looking at that face make his already twisted stomach twist once more?

“Ughhhh….”

When Hyun Jong was so angry that he struggled to continue his word, Hyun Sang stepped in with a bitter smile. Isn’t it the role of an elder to speak on behalf of sect leader in times like this?

“Sect Leader is concerned about what is happening in Heavenly Comrade Alliance right now.”

“Ah, that?”

Chung Myung nodded as if he understood.

“It’s definitely a cause for concern. I understand what Sect Leader is saying.”

“You do?”

Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung skeptically. This guy isn’t the type to understand so quickly…

And as expected, Chung Myung did not betray Hyun Jong’s expectations this time.

“You’re saying they lack basic training because they’ve been focusing only on practical experience, right? I’ve been thinking about that too.”

“….”

“Ha. This really isn’t easy. Ideally, both should be balanced. We shouldn’t lean too much to one side… Should I tell them to cut down on sleep?”

“Then they will all die….”

“Ei, how could a human die just like that? They won’t die, they won’t.”

Hyun Jong pounded his chest in frustration as he saw Chung Myung waving his hand as if there was no chance for it.

“Hey, this punk! Do you even know how the alliance members are treating each other these days?”

“Yes?”

“It would be lucky if they only fought in the training ground! In the span of three days, there were three sword fights in the Dining Hall! And twice, they got into fights with the people in the next quarters while they were sleeping!”

“….”

“And! If they’re going to fight, they should at least fight properly! Breaking the walls in the manor we borrowed! Blowing up the roof! And even set it on fire?”

“Wow, setting fires is a bit much.”

The disciples of Mount Hua already had the experience of having their quarters blown away by the fire that those damned bastards set when Magyo invaded, so when they hear the word of fire, they wake up in a cold sweat even while sleeping.

Ah, was that why it was set?

It must have been Im Sobyeong. It’s definitely Im Sobyeong. Truly, someone not to be underestimated…

“What on earth are they doing! This! We’re paying more to fix the manor than to rent it!”

“Ei, we’re making a lot of money.”

“Is this about money? Money?”

“Right!”

At that moment, Hyun Young shouted, stepping in to support Hyun Jong.

Hyun Jong, surprised, turned his head and looked at Hyun Young. He’s not the kind of guy to take his side like this?

“Hey, this punk! No matter how much money you have, if you keep spending it like this, you will end up like a beggar! The more you have, the more you need to know how to save! That’s how you ensure a comfortable retirement age!”

…Was it that side?

Hyun Jong sighed deeply with a knowing look.

“Chung Myung-ah.”

“Yes?”

“I’m really worried.”

Although Hyun Jong’s face grew serious, Chung Myung’s face remained as bright as ever.

“Fights break out almost every day.”

“Kids usually grow up fighting.”

“There are also frequent cases of injuries.”

“Kids get hurt when they fight.”

“…Their feelings toward each other are getting worse by the day.”

“Kids are originally narrow-minded, so they get upset easily, but they make up the next day as if nothing happened…”

“Listen seriously for ooooonce!”

Seeing Chung Myung answering while picking his ear, Hyun Jong finally burst out. Then he grabbed the back of his stiffening neck.

“Uugh!”

“Aigo, Sect Leader!”

“Now, you’re old, so I told you not to get excited, why do you keep doing this!”

“Keuungg….”

Hyun Jong took a deep breath and looked at Chung Myung. But regardless, Chung Myung still had the most innocent expression in the world, as if asking, ‘What did I do wrong?’

‘That despicable…’

At times like this, he really wanted to kick him. The greatest misfortune for Hyun Jong was that the source of both his joy and his stress was the same person.

“Hey, this rascal!”

“Yes?”

“What kind of place Heavenly Comrade Alliance is!”

Hyun Jong spoke half in an advising tone and half in a scolding tone.

“Didn’t you say with your own mouth that this is a place where everyone becomes friends?”

“Was… I?”

“Hey!”

“Oh, I remember. I remember.”

“Ugh.”

Hyun Jong took a deep breath, feeling his anger surge, and spoke with determination.

“But when you brought everyone together, all you did was start a fight with each other! Is there you do more than splitting them into sides and having them fight with each other? Won’t this just divide the alliance?”

“Divide?”

Hearing those words, Chung Myung opened his eyes wide.

“Yes! Won’t it divide us!”

“No, Sect Leader. What are you talking about?”

Chung Myung asked as if it was the first time in his life he had heard such an absurd statement.

“They were never really united in the first place, so how can they be divided? No, you need to have kids before you can raise them and send them off to get married.”

“…What kind of Taoist who uses metaphors like that?”

“That’s the truth.”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“It’s called Heavenly Comrade Alliance, but have we ever been friendly with Nokrim or Namgung Family? We haven’t even been friendly with Sichuan Tang Family.”

“…But you are friendly, aren’t you?”

“Sect Leader and Tang Gaju-nim might be close.”

“No, the kids too…”

“Huh?”

Chung Myung looks at Hyun Jong with a grin.

“Aigoo. Those friendly kids are grabbing each other’s collars and fighting to the death just because they were poked! Wow! The Righteousness of Jungwon has really fallen. There’s no need to blame Evil Sects.”

Hyun Jong, who was speechless, stared blankly at Chung Myung like a mute who had eaten honey. In fact, his statement isn’t wrong. If Heavenly Comrade Alliance had really been on good terms, this situation would not have happened.

In fact, Heavenly Comrade Alliance is a place where people cannot get along well with each other by nature.

Even though it is said that the affairs of a sect are decided by the sect leader, it does not mean that the heart of the disciples follows suit. Just because the sect leaders decide to be friendly with each other, it does not mean that the walls in the hearts of the disciples will break down.

But that didn’t mean Hyun Jong agreed with Chung Myung’s words.

“That’s why we need to prevent such things from happening even more?”

“Why?”

“If they aren’t friendly, we should make them friendly! But all they do is fight every day, so their relationships just get worse!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

This time, Chung Myung was not joking, but tilted his head as if he really didn’t understand.

“Is there a better way to get people to become friends than by fighting?”

“…Huh?”

“Usually, after exchanging some punches, they get really close.”

Hyun Jong, who had been staring at Chung Myung with blank eyes, suddenly seemed to understand something.

“By any chance… Chung Myung?”

“Yes.”

“That… The thing you said about becoming friends… do you mean that the other person stops arguing or suddenly acts friendly…”

“Yes, they even share their drinks to me.”

“….”

“They also share meals.”

“….”

Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly. Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes.

What kind of life had this boy lived before entering Mount Hua? What kind of hell had he been through to have such a way of thinking?

“That’s not getting friendly; that’s making them submit.”

“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

“How is that the same thing!”

At that moment, Chung Myung burst out laughing.

“Sect Leader. What do you think is the fundamental reason why those guys are fighting now?”

“Because you instigated them.”

“….”

“No?”

“That… partially, in a very small part, Sect Leader is right, but that’s not the fundamental reason.”

Chung Myung said bluntly.

“Sect Leader. We are Taoists, but before that, we are martial artists.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Martial artists live with an inevitable desire to see who is stronger.”

Hyun Jong closed his mouth. Chung Myung chuckled upon seeing his expression.

“Can you really expect young, hot-blooded people to just respect each other and get along? If it’s a problem that’s bound to explode someday, it’s better to let it blow up early and settle it.”

Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung with a face full of disbelief.

“So what you’re saying is… they’re fighting over hierarchy right now?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes.”

“No, they’re not even neighborhood dogs or anything like that….”

“Ei. It’s not like that, it’s the other way around.”

Chung Myung waved his hand.

“If even dogs do it, how can humans not? It’s only natural.”

“….”

“The saying, ‘Our side is stronger’ is something that has never disappeared, regardless of time or place. Rather than suppressing it by force, it is better to just let them fight it out.”

Hyun Jong opened his mouth wide.

“N- No, that’s.”

If you listen closely, you will see that this has something in common with Taoist logic.

Taoism doesn’t forcibly go against the natural flow. It’s the same whether it’s the flow of the world or the human mind. Suppressing it can lead to greater trouble.

‘If someone else had said this, I’d praise it as wisdom…’

The problem was that this rascal treated the sacred Taoist philosophy as a tool to reinforce his sophistry.

“Well… the words make sense. Kuhum!”

However, Hyun Jong, the leader of Taoist Sect, found it very difficult to refute this statement. After much internal deliberation, he finally spoke.

“But… right. Even so, isn’t it better for them to get along? Wouldn’t it be more harmonious (??(順天))?”

“Oh?”

Chung Myung made a strange expression.

“So, no matter what they think on the inside, let’s pretend to be friendly on the outside, laughing haha hoho, is that what Sect Leader means?”

“N- Not to that extent.”

“Good. Of course, that’s not a bad thing either.”

“Eh?”

Hyun Jong tilts his head at the answer that is different from what he expected. What is this rascal planning to say now?

As expected, a sinister smile appeared on Chung Myung’s lips.

“But that place … where they care about their reputation and all that, and bragging about how great they are and pretend to be friendly with each other while laughing and pretending to be nice to each other.”

“….”

“I know such a place very well. That… I don’t know if Sect Leader ever heard of Ten Great Sects.”

Hyun Jong couldn’t help the sudden explosion of his stomach and clutched his face.

“Aigoo, if Sect Leader wishes for us to be like Ten Great Sects, as your disciple, what choice do I have? I have no choice but to step into that world of hypocrisy and pretense with tears in my eyes….”

“Stop it, you rascal!”

“Kikikikik.”

Chung Myung, who turned Hyun Jong’s stomach upside down, opened his mouth with a straight face.

“I don’t think Sect Leader would really want something like that.”

Hyun Jong had no choice but to nod in agreement.