Chapter 1182: I Will Bear It (Part 1)

Baek Cheon's words were truly like lightning.

Everyone stared at him with wide eyes. Even though it sounded so clear, there was a suspicion in their ears that it couldn't be true. Astonishment.

There was no other way to describe the feelings than that.

But could the bewilderment of others be compared to the shock of the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect? Those who lived their lives with the two characters 'Mount Hua' as their destiny were looking at Baek Cheon as if they couldn't believe it, eyes wide open.

Even Jo Gol, who had been in fierce opposition with Baek Cheon just a while ago, stared dumbfoundedly, mouth agape, seemingly unable to believe what he was seeing.

"Uh…"

At that moment, a voice, almost a sigh or a groan, escaped from Chung Myung's lips.

"That crazy bastard…"

Expressions might differ, but there probably were no words that could better show the feelings of the Mount Hua disciples at the moment.

Even Hyun Jong, who had received an even greater shock than those disciples, asked Baek Cheon in astonishment.

"So, did you request to be the Sect Leader?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"For you?"

"Yes."

In the space filled with confusion and suspicion, Baek Cheon, who alone maintained composure, nodded calmly.

"More precisely, I humbly request to be appointed as Deputy Sect Leader. Becoming the Sect Leader is a matter that must follow the procedures and formalities of the sect's laws. However, the appointment of a Deputy Sect Leader, who is delegated the authority of the Sect Leader, can happen at any time with the current Sect Leader's approval."

[Deputy = a person whose immediate superior is a senior figure within an organization and who is empowered to act as a substitute for this superior.]

"Well, that may be the case, but…"

No, what was the point of arguing about that now? Wasn't the difference between Sect Leader and Deputy Sect Leader just a matter of words?

At this moment, Baek Cheon's intentions were clear: he would directly decide the fate of the Mount Hua Sect instead of Hyun Jong from now on.

No matter what the circumstances were, it was absolutely not something a disciple of Mount Hua would ask the Sect Leader for directly.

"Baek Cheon. I understand what you're saying, but this is not in line with reason. You are the head disciple of Mount Hua, but you are not the direct successor. Above you is Un Am. Even if you request, Un Am…"

"I have already discussed that part with Un Am Sasuk."

"…With Un Am?"

Baek Cheon nodded and explained.

"I have already conveyed my intentions to Un Am Sasuk this morning. Un Am Sasuk has granted his approval."

"No, that guy…"

Hyun Jong seemed like he was about to say something, but he closed his mouth without finishing the sentence.

What was the point of arguing about that now?

It was too awkward that Un Am wasn't here to blame for making such an arbitrary decision. Wasn't the absence of Unam in this place a statement that he wouldn't influence the crucial decisions of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Mount Hua?

'Somehow, he ignored the strict rules by extreme means.'

If Un Am stood by Baek Cheon's side, the situation might have looked a bit better but it would have given the impression that there were people above Baek Cheon. So by leaving the scene, Un Am indirectly supported Baek Cheon. Because Un Am was that kind of person.

Hyun Jong, trying to calm his frustration and confusion, finally spoke.

"It doesn't seem appropriate to make such a decision on the spot."

Baek Cheon nodded.

"Yes. Sect Leader, this is a request that I have deeply contemplated for a long time. Please understand that this is not a hasty decision made with youthful energy and impatience."

"...But, Baek Cheon. If you had such intentions, shouldn't you have sought the agreement of the other disciples as well? Judging by their reactions, it seems like this is not the first time they are hearing about this."

"That would not be advisable."

Baek Cheon firmly nodded.

"Gathering the opinions of lower-ranking disciples to request the position of Sect Leader is essentially no different from gathering opinions to drive out the Sect Leader. It is something that should never happen within the Mount Hua Sect."

"..."

"So, this is something I should handle alone."

Hyun Jong's confusion eased somewhat at these words. Uttering such words as a disciple was an extremely challenging task. It might be even more difficult than risking one's life and charging into battle.

Nevertheless, Baek Cheon showed no signs of hesitation. His determined attitude even helped Hyun Jong regain composure.

"Alright. I see."

Hyun Jong nodded slowly.

"No, what is this..."

However, Hyun Young's reaction was somewhat different from Hyun Jong's.

"No matter how much the sect's laws are reversed, how can such a thing happen? Moreover, in the presence of people from other sects?"

A fire lit up in Hyun Young's eyes.

"Sect Leader, you need to hold that arrogant guy accountable right away."

"Wait."

"Sect Leader!"

"I said wait!"

As Hyun Jong exuded an imposing aura, Hyun Young flinched and closed his mouth. When he fell silent, Hyun Jong turned to face Baek Cheon. It was an attitude more fitting of a Sect Leader than ever.

"If this is an inappropriate request, the appropriate punishment for that crime will undoubtedly be handed down. However, to do that, we must first hear what he has to say. Baek Cheon."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"As you mentioned to me, everything requires a reason. Why do you request the position of Sect Leader? Is it because I am lacking?"

"No, it's not."

"Then is it because you don't like my choices?"

"Even less so."

"Then why?"

"As I mentioned, it's because our perspectives are different."

Hyun Jong waited without responding, as if urging Baek Cheon to continue.

"Sect Leader is not wrong. You are absolutely right. One of the Sect Leader's greatest duties is to protect the disciples and carry on the will of Mount Hua for future generations. How can it be wrong to fulfill that duty?"

"Then?"

"But our positions are different."

"..."

"Sect Leader must continue the future, but for us, the present is more important than the future, as we have no legacy to protect. Therefore, what we must do is not just preserve but prove."

Baek Cheon spoke calmly but with a firm tone.

"What we must do is prove to the world that what we have inherited from our predecessors is not wrong."

Hyun Jong's eyes widened.

"From those who sacrificed their lives for the world, a hundred years ago, two hundred years ago, and even further back, from our founders who created the Mount Hua Monolith on Mount Hua!"

"..."

"The will that has been passed down still exists within Mount Hua, and with the combined will of many, it has progressed even further than in the past. I will prove this will with my hands, my sword, and my life."

Hyun Jong's tightly clenched fist began to tremble faintly. None of those watching noticed this fact, not even Hyun Jong himself. Everyone was simply absorbed in every word Baek Cheon uttered.

"It cannot be said that deciding to protect the future disciples is wrong. However, it cannot be said that speaking of fighting for those who cannot protect themselves, for the weak, is wrong either."

"...That's right."

If that statement were deemed wrong, everything about Mount Hua would lose its meaning. Therefore, it was an indisputable statement.

"So, I sincerely understand and respect Sect Leader's choice. However, as a disciple of Mount Hua, tasked with carrying on Mount Hua's will, our righteousness must also be carried out. There is only one way to satisfy both of these right yet different intentions."

Baek Cheon's declaration continued like a proclamation.

"Those who must prove themselves are taking over that heavy duty and responsibility from their predecessors, who lived with the sole mission of passing it on to future generations."

"Those who inherent the heavy duty and responsibility from our ancestors, who lived their lives with the sole mission of passing on their will to future generations, must prove that will."

"..."

"That is why I must become the Sect Leader of Mount Hua."

Even the elders no longer expressed anger. They simply stared at Baek Cheon with vacant eyes.

"I have conveyed these words to Un Am Sasuk. And I suggested to Un Am Sasuk to inherit the position of Sect Leader. However, Un Am Sasuk firmly refused. He stated that while he believed my intentions were correct, he couldn't accept because he was not someone to prove but someone to preserve."

"Un Am..."

"If Un Am Sasuk insists on this, then the person who must prove it must inherit the position. The most suitable person for that role in Mount Hua right now is none other than me, Baek Cheon."

Hyun Jong bit his lip.

It wasn't out of anger. It was because the realization that the boy had grown to say such words made his eyes teary.

'When did he become like this...'

He knew he had grown. He knew that the boy was growing more splendidly than he had thought. However, a child's growth always surpasses the expectations of those above.

This is exactly what a person raising a disciple hopes for in his dreams. Moments where all the time invested is rewarded in an instant and overwhelming emotions flood in.

However...

"Baek Cheon-ah, I understand your intentions well enough. But still, you..."

"Do you find me lacking?"

Baek Cheon asked and shook his head.

"Sect Leader, will there ever be a time when I'm not lacking?"

"..."

"The moment when the predecessors see that the future generations have no shortcomings will never come. It is just a matter of timing. I believe that now is the right time."

"..."

"If you think I'm lacking, please lead me. If you think I'm lacking, advise and scold me. But that's something I can certainly do even after becoming the Deputy Sect Leader."

Hyun Jong looked at Baek Cheon with a face that was hard to express. After a while of pursing his lips like that, Hyun Jong sighed as if the ground was giving way and asked.

"Since when?"

Before Baek Cheon could open his mouth, he asked again.

"Since when have you had such thoughts?"

Baek Cheon closed his eyes slightly to organize his thoughts. Then he answered,

"It all started because of what Jo Gol Sajil said."

"Gol-iga?"    [Just stacking on endings again]

"Yes. In response to Gol-i's words that everything was going wrong, I said, 'Think about what you should do.' And I thought about what I should do."

"I see."

"I said to the disciples who couldn't find an answer, 'Those who don't take responsibility for the decision have no right to dispute Sect Leader's choice.' "

"..."

"That saying applies to me as well. I respect Sect Leader's choice, and I intend to follow it. But my position, my thoughts, my will are different from his. But I, too, cannot help but follow Sect Leader's choice because I am also someone who does not take responsibility. So I thought, agonized, and pondered. At the end of it all, I came to one conclusion."

With his fist clenched, Baek Cheon said,

"Then I just have to shoulder that responsibility. If the right to choose is not given to those who do not take responsibility, then I will be the one to take on the responsibility."

At these words, the disciples sitting behind Baek Cheon's back bit their lips.

'Sasuk!'

Especially Jo Gol, who was looking at Baek Cheon's back with a face that seemed like he would cry at any moment. He thought his words hadn't been heard, but that wasn't the case. He wasn't ignored. On the contrary, among those here, Baek Cheon was the one who took Jo Gol's words most seriously.

"So, I am determined to continue. To prove that disciples who received the teachings of our predecessors are on the right path, with my hands, with the swords of my brothers and sisters, I will prove it."

Baek Cheon slowly breathed in. As if indicating that he would put all his sincerity into the next words.

Finally, that deep breath flowed out as a reconciliation named determination.

"I will bear that heavy responsibility, the weight of the burden, the irreplaceable value of the lives of my disciples..."

"..."

"I will bear it."