Chapter 1170: Was I Really Wrong? (Part 5)

[I accidentally skipped translating this chapter earlier, so here it is...]

After Beopjeong left, the remaining individuals in the room maintained an ambiguous silence before dispersing. It was as if they agreed to organize their thoughts rather than discuss countermeasures.

Thus, the only ones left in the room were the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, Hyun Jong, and the elders.

"Sect Leader."

As Hyun Sang cautiously spoke, Hyun Jong, who had been silently contemplating with a deep expression, looked up to meet his gaze.

"...What do you think about what Bangjang said?"

Hyun Jong, without a word, stared at the flickering lamp and then spoke with a heavy voice.

"Hyun Sang."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"...Doesn't it seem like the wick is reaching its limit?"

Hyun Sang glanced at the lamp and nodded.

"I'll replace it tomorrow."

"If the worn-wick core is replaced, it should be fine. But if something irreplaceable is wearing out, what should we do?"

Hyun Sang fell silent. He understood that Hyun Jong's concern was not just about the wick.

With a bitter expression, Hyun Jong murmured.

"It's a fact we knew but chose to ignore. That's why Bangjang's point hurts even more."

A sigh escaped from Hyun Sang's lips. Even Hyun Young, who would usually retort by now, remained silent with a hardened expression.

"You all knew, didn't you?"

"..."

"The current Mount Hua is like a lamp burning Chung Myung as a wick. The brighter the wick burns, the more intense the light it emits... but the brighter the light, the faster the wick wears out."

"Who said to burn it like that?"

Hyun Young burst out in anger.

"We told him to stop! How many times did we say he didn't need to do that? Yet, what can we do when he keeps running wild! If there was a way to stop him, wouldn't we stop him?"

Hyun Young, who usually cherished Chung Myung more than anyone in Mount Hua, had an obvious reason for expressing such negative statements about Chung Myung. It was out of concern and worry for Hyun Jong, who was probably blaming himself.

"Hyun Young."

"He's...!"

"Was there really no way to stop him?"

In response to Hyun Jong's words, Hyun Young remained silent for a moment and then tightly sealed his lips.

"You know, I know. There must have been a way to stop him somehow."

Hyun Jong knew. Chung Myung wouldn't resist his orders. Of course, he may have fussed and tried to persuade, but in the end, if a difference in opinions between them did not narrow, Chung Myung would eventually follow Hyun Jong's words.

Therefore, hadn't Hyun Jong always lived with gratitude for Chung Myung?

'That must have been his consideration.'

No, it might have been his belief.

But at this moment, the consideration and belief that he simply felt grateful for so far were stabbing at Hyun Jong's heart.

Because he couldn't deny it. The fact that the one who had relentlessly driven Chung Myung and the Five Swords to the edge until now was none other than Hyun Jong.

"Sect Leader."

Hyun Sang sighed and spoke.

"Don't blame yourself. Anyone would have had no choice but to do that."

"...Right."

"Chung Myung is not someone we can judge by our standards. Isn't he a child who even the great Bangjang, the world's highest authority, acknowledges as superior?"

Hyun Jong chuckled bitterly.

Certainly, if he thought that way, his heart would be at ease. However, Hyun Jong knew. In the person named Chung Myung, there existed incredible strengths and unbelievably weaknesses to the point of incomprehensibility.

Hyun Young opened his mouth with a sullen tone.

"So, what are you going to do? Will you accept Beopjeong's proposal?"

"Well, I don't know."

"I'm not very fond of it. That guy may apologize with his mouth and acknowledge his mistakes, but how can we believe those words? It's probably just a trick to drag the Heavenly Comrade Alliance under his feet."

"Yeah, that could be the case."

Hyun Jong sighed.

"But didn't Bangjang already answer that suspicion? If his ambition is aimed in the direction of serving the world, like a just cause, then we have no grounds to refuse."

"Grounds, grounds! What's so great about that damn grounds!"

Hyun Young shouted in an irritated voice.

"That grounds talk is now getting on my nerves! It's nauseating! Why should we be tormented to this extent by that damn justice and grounds that others don't even care about?"

"Hyun Young..."

"How did the Heavenly Comrade Alliance get created!"

Hyun Young bit his lip tightly.

"Yes, I understand! The one who created the Heavenly Comrade Alliance was not us, but that guy Chung Myung! So if that guy wants to do it that way, we have to do it that way. But should we be the ones to step forward first and suggest dismantling the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"

Hyun Jong let out a deep sigh.

"Hyun Young. Chung Myung..."

"If that guy Chung Myung can't do it, then why should we be the ones to take the initiative and throw it all away first?"

Hyun Jong smiled bitterly.

"Think carefully about the Bangjang's words. Isn't Chung Myung a person who, when burdened with responsibilities, tends to take on even more and not shy away from difficulties?"

"Then why can't we just make it so he can't take on more responsibilities? There are so many paths in the world, and the only way to stop him is to dismantle the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and crawl into the Ten Great Sects?!"

Hyun Jong tried to say something, but Hyun Young, with an expression that indicated he still had more to say, glared at him with an angry look.

"There are ways to compromise while protecting what needs to be protected. Why does it always have to be so extreme?"

"It's not just about protecting Chung Myung. Don't you understand? In order to save all the people in the world, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the Ten Great Sects must become one, as Bangjang said. Where is the mistake in that?"

"If that's the right thing to do, should we just throw away everything we've done so far and bow our heads?"

"Hyun Young, we are Taoists."

"Yes, we are Taoists. Where in the world are there Taoists like us? Other Taoists like Wudang art sweeping up wealth and power, and the Shaolin Buddhists are standing as the North of Star of Kangho, while we, as Taoists, are kicking away our begging bowls. Yes! Why not?"

"..."

"As proud Taoists, has anything really changed in our lives? Do you know how long it's been since we couldn't even properly feed our disciples?"

"Enough."

"Sect Leader! Honestly, Sect Leader, have you never resented? Have you never resented those ancestors who destroyed the once great sect, irresponsibly accepted disciples, and threw everything into chaos?"

Hyun Jong closed his eyes tightly.

Why wouldn't he have? The nights he had spent in resentment were unable to be counted by both hands.

"The current Mount Hua is formidable."

"Yes, but the old Mount Hua was also impressive. In fact, it was even greater than it is now."

"..."

Hyun Young bit his lip and continued.

"I don't know, Sect Leader. I really don't know."

"Hyun Young..."

"I've lived my whole life as a Taoist of Mount Hua. As a result, I don't even know what Taoism is anymore. When I first entered Mount Hua, my resolve was firm, but now I don't even remember why I became a Taoist."

A sigh escaped from Hyun Jong. It wasn't because he was disappointed in Hyun Young's words. Rather, Hyun Jong empathized with his words.

"Should we give away what our children built for the sake of this unknown Tao? Should we abandon it?"

Hyun Jong shook his head.

"Hyun Young. Mount Hua... wasn't the Mount Hua we tried to create that kind of place? Even the ancestors..."

"Yes, Sect Leader. The ancestors were like that too. So we should be like that too. We should tell the children. Give it away. Release it. That is the path and righteousness for everyone."

"..."

"But, Sect Leader. Because of the justice and principles that Mount Hua tried to uphold, Mount Hua was completely ruined. And miraculously, it has come back to this point."

Hyun Young bit his lip.

"Moreover... The decision Sect Leader has made now will serve as a guidepost for the children who remain in Mount Hua. They will learn that it is the right path."

"I... "

"And some day, this decision may lead Mount Hua to ruin again. If that happens, our descendants will experience the same pain we went through."

Hyun Jong closed his eyes. This statement was more painful and bitter than any he had heard before.

"No, it may be even worse. At least we were fortunate enough to meet Chung Myung and not witness the complete disintegration of Mount Hua with our own eyes. But will there be someone like Chung Myung among the future generations? If luck doesn't favor them as it did for us, they might end up witnessing even worse."

"Stop it, you!"

"What! Why should I stop?"

When Hyun Sang shouted angrily, Hyun Young confronted him without backing down, with a gaze filled with anger.

"Do not be mistaken, Sect Leader! The reason why Sect Leader can discuss and uphold the Tao and righteousness here is not because Sect Leader has protected and carried on the Tao for a long time, continuing the righteousness. It is because of the achievements of a person who fell from the sky, and the benefits Sect Leader reaped as if they were his own achievenements, that Sect Leader can act like a high and mighty Taoist."

"You son of a bitch!"

"Hyun Sang-ah!"

"No, isn't this going too far!"

As Hyun Sang raged, Hyun Young clenched his teeth and glared at him.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Hey, even if you do, there's something to say..."

"Do those who follow such great justice and righteousness find such words irksome?"

Hyun Sang fell silent. Hyun Young looked at Hyun Jong with a slightly bloodshot gaze.

"If you want to discuss justice, the Tao, and righteousness, speak with the achievements of that great justice and righteousness of yours. Before you sit on the luxurious bed earned by the bloodshed of the children and talk about your high and mighty ideals!"

Hyun Jong's head involuntarily lowered. And into his ears, Hyun Young's soft voice penetrated.

"It might be right for the present Hyun Jong. But I wonder, would the Hyun Jong of a few years ago, who spent sleepless nights in a situation where the Mount Hua plaque had to be lowered, make the same decision as the current Hyun Jong."

"..."

"If not, there's probably only one reason. The ideals the children shed blood for lined Sect Leader's stomach full of oil. Could there be anything else?"

"Can't you shut up, you bastard!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Hyun Sang stood up with a roar. Sinister energy emanated from his eyes.

"You seem to have no shortage of words to say! Since when have you become so insolent? How dare you say something like that to Hyun Jong?"

"Yes. Indeed, 'dare.'"

However, Hyun Young just looked at Hyun Sang and Hyun Jong with cold eyes.

"To His Excellency Hyun Jong Jin, who is praised throughout the world for his righteousness, how could I 'dare' say such words?"

"This, this guy to the end!"

Hyun Young stood up from her seat. Then he glared at Hyun Jong.

"No matter what choice you make, eventually, we'll have to follow. But, Hyun Jong, please think before making a decision. I hope that discarding what the children shed blood for under the name of justice or righteousness is not just Hyun Jong's self-satisfaction with fairness." 

With that, Hyun Young rudely opened the door and left. Hyun Jong, looking at her back stirred by the cold wind, closed his eyes. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.