Chapter 1163: What Should We Do? (Part 3)

"Ten... Ten Great Sects...."

"... Return?"

A groan-like voice flowed from the mouths of Mount Hua disciples. Their eyes constantly scrutinized Beopjeong, as if to confirm if what they heard was real. The shock was immense.

But the shock they received was nothing compared to what Hyun Jong and the elders experienced.

Guuuuu.

Hyun Sang gripped his thigh with such force that it seemed as if it could pierce flesh at any moment. However, Hyun Sang felt no pain.

Return to the Ten Great Sects. Who could have imagined such words coming from Beopjeong?

The disciples didn't know. The Baek line and the Chung line here could not even imagine what this would mean for the Mount Hua disciples.

They watched with both eyes. How had the ancestors of Mount Hua, expelled from the Ten Great Sects, close their eyes? They vividly remembered the deaths of those who had hoped, even until the moment they closed their eyes, for the day when Mount Hua's name would rise again in the Ten Great Sects.

Their teacher also left, constantly pleading. He pleaded until the end, hoping that someday Mount Hua would regain its former glory, even though it was a dream that could never come true.

Yet now, someone with the power to fulfill that dream had returned.

Of course, Beopjeong had mentioned the same thing in the past.

However, for Beopjeong at that time, the "return of Mount Hua to the Ten Great Sects" was nothing more than a sweet bait to control Mount Hua at will and a strategic move on the chessboard.

But now, Mount Hua was no longer a place Beopjeong could control as it pleased, nor was it a place where he could throw bait and smoothly move on. Mount Hua was now a sect that could hold Beopjeong accountable for his words.

The fact that Beopjeong mentioned this meant that this proposal was sincere.

"That, that statement...."

Hyun Jong, who was about to ask if it was sincere, suddenly closed his mouth. Whatever he said now, the situation was awkward.

He was not only the leader of Mount Hua but also the head of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

The condition of dismantling the Heavenly Comrade Alliance should not be the consequence of Mount Hua's return to the Ten Great Sects.

"You are saying too much."

At that moment, Tang Gunak spoke up.

"Mount Hua is the core of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. No matter how great the Ten Great Sects are, it cannot be a position greater than the leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"Hmm. You may think so."

Beopjeong also readily admitted that fact.

"And if we dismantled the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, what about the remaining sects?"

"Would that be a problem?"

"...What?"

Beopjeong smiled.

"The awkward thing is that the Tang Family belongs to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Is it really a problem for the Tang Family to return to their original position as part of the Five Great Families? The Tang Family who has been in that position for hundreds of years?"

"...?"

"The same goes for Namgung. Is it so strange for Namgung to use the name of the Five Great Families again?"

"We have no intention of doing that."

When Namgung Dowi responded calmly, Beopjeong raised his head.

"Sogaju. I have nothing to say to Sogaju."

"..."

"But if Sogaju truly cares about his family, he should let go of your stubbornness a bit."

"I think being with the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is for the good of the family."

"Of course, that's natural now. What about a hundred years later?"

"Of course..."

"Without Maengju-nim, without Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, and after everyone here has turned to dust, do you think being part of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance will benefit the family?"

"..."

"Of course not. No. It's not that I don't understand the lofty ideals and noble aspirations of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. But that..."

Beopjeong declared with a calm voice.

"That wasn't created by the Heavenly Comrade Alliance but by some of the people here. Am I wrong?"

Namgung Dowi's face contorted.

"We can continue that meaning."

"Continuing the will of the predecessors in one sect is not an easy task, let alone the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, an alliance of numerous sects continuing the will across generations. Do you really think that's possible?"

"..."

"Sogaju is an excellent person. It might be possible. One, Sogaju. There is no guarantee that the next generation after Sogaju will be someone like Sogaju. And the next generation after that will be even less likely."

Beopjeong nodded.

"The Heavenly Comrade Alliance won't last long."

"No, but..."

"It's not because the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is lacking. On the contrary, it's because it's too excessive. The capacity of a person is inherently limited. Can they really handle the broad intentions of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"

No one could easily answer that question.

"I understand because I have experienced it. I was not someone who thought my capacity was small, but I did not understand the intentions of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Then let me ask you. If someone like me appears among the descendants of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, what will happen? If I appear in an era without Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, without Hyun Jong, what will happen to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"

"Um..."

This time, no one could speak up. The anticipated outcome was clear, but saying it out loud would turn into a criticism of Beopjeong.

"Yet, is maintaining the Heavenly Comrade Alliance really for the future?"

At that moment, Baek Cheon spoke with a cold voice.

"I don't know if this is a place where I can speak, Bangjang. But there are not only us in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance but also outsiders. You didn't call them to this meeting to convey this message..."

"We can abolish the character "Outer" attached to both the Northern Ice Palace and the Southern Beast Palace, and officially recognize both sects as central sects."

"..."

"And the support for them will be promised as much as it is now, or even more. Then they can get what they have been longing for. What the Heavenly Comrade Alliance cannot provide. Not becoming outcasts in the border regions but confidently entering the center of the Central Plains."

"No, Nokrim! Nokrim is an Evil Sect but part of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance!"

Jo Gol's passionate exclamation prompted a wry smile from Beopjeong.

"I'm pondering that too. We could discuss it together. However, isn't Nokrim a place that cannot be called a proper Evil Sect anymore?"

"...That's true."

"If Nokrim pledges not to harm the common people anymore, we might consider recognizing it as a legitimate sect. Even Buddha encourages repentance, so wouldn't it be a splendid thing?"

"If, well, that's the case..."

Jo Gol scratched his head and stepped back. If Im Sobyeong had heard this, he might have fainted and sworn allegiance to Beopjeong. No matter how much Mount Hua favored Nokrim, the ripple effect of being acknowledged by Shaolin was something only Shaolin could grant.

"Then it's settled, isn't it?"

At that moment, Chung Myung, who had been listening quietly until now, spoke up.

"I think I've already given an answer to that. We have no reason to take up the facade of being one of the Ten Great Sects...."

"Is it only the facade you're concerned about?"

"Eh?"

Beopjeong stared at Chung Myung and smiled.

"I'll promise equal status to Shaolin in the name of the Shaolin Sect."

"What?"

Chung Myung, for a moment, unconsciously spoke informally. This statement was shocking even to Chung Myung, who thought he had Beopjeong in the palm of his hands.

What kind of place was Shaolin?

Even during the war with Magyo in the past, when Mount Hua fought alone to block evil forces, it was a place that never put down its pride as the leader of the Ten Great Sects.

However, compared to that time, the current Mount Hua, which was far from sufficient, was offered a position it did not have back then.

"What nonsense...."

"I'll declare it in the name of Shaolin's sec leader. Mount Hua and Shaolin will have equal status and cooperate with each other."

"...."

Chung Myung's mouth was wide open.

"What.... Bangjang. This... just in case."

"Just in case?"

"Do you have something going on lately? Or do you not remember where you are...? Kweeek!"

Chung Myung fell forward on the spot. Hyun Young quietly retrieved his foot that had kicked the back of Chung Myung's head.

"Sorry, Bangjang. This guy goes crazy from time to time...."

"Regarding Elder?"

"My name is Hyun Young."

"....I will remember."

Beopjeong blinked his eyes. It seemed that he did not expect that there would be someone among the elders of Mount Hua who could step on Chung Myung.

"Amitabhul."

As if trying to calm his slightly shocked mind, Beopjeong frowned and looked straight at Hyun Jong.

"Maengju-nim."

"...Yes, Bangjang."

"Of course, I know that this alone is not enough. What we are offering is too small a thing in exchange for giving up what Mount Hua currently enjoys and the path Mount Hua is trying to walk."

At that moment, Chung Myung stood up, vigorously nodding his head up and down. Beopjeong spoke calmly.

"However, even if that's the case, Maengju-nim must accept my proposal."

"...What exactly do you mean?"

"If Maengju-nim is just the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, you can reject my proposal. But as the Maengju of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, you must not refuse my proposal."

Seeing that Hyun Jong did not understand right away, Beopjeong smiled.

"The reason is simple. Because the Heavenly Comrade Alliance is the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Ask yourselves, when the Ten Great Sects and the Heavenly Comrade Alliance are in conflict as they are now, when they cooperate only minimally, and when they put everything down and become one again."

Hyun Jong's face hardened.

"Which of those three situations would be easier to deal with? And which of those three situations would save more lives?"

"Well...."

Hyun Jong didn't finish his answer, but that was no different from an answer. This was a question that even a little boy could answer on the spot.

"I believe that the sincerity of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's fight for the common people is by no means false. You have already proven that sincerity."

Beopjeong scanned everyone in the room.

"So, I dare to ask. I will put down Shaolin first. So please, don't refuse the opportunity to save more people and save the world because of your pride. I ask you."

Everyone fell silent as if holding their breath. Beopjeong slowly lowered his head in that silence.

Tang Gunak, whose face had become stiff, bit his lips tightly.

'This is... a flank attack.'

The reasons behind what Heavenly Comrade Alliance had been pursuing so far. And the values they tried to uphold. That was none other than righteousness. It was something that could be said to be everything about the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

However, now that righteousness had become an even sharper dagger pointing at their throats.

'Beopjeong....'

The fiercely resolute Tang Gunak felt a profound fear of the human named Beopjeong for a moment and unknowingly grabbed his own thigh.

A sense of pressure, as if someone was slowly tightening a large cord around his neck...