Return of Mount Hua Sect

Novel Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1098

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The sound of regular hits on Moktak and the chanting of Buddhist scriptures filled the small room.

With each strike of Moktak, the lamp illuminating the room flickered slightly.

It is a sublime sight. The face of the old monk, who was knocking on Moktak and reciting Buddhist scriptures, exuded solemnity, serenity, and the unique elegance of Buddhism.

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But at some point, the regular sound of Moktak began to shake. Accordingly, the gently burning lamp also flickered.

It was at that moment that the sound of Buddhist scriptures flowing from the old monk’s mouth stopped. The old monk, Bop Jeong, opened his closed eyes and quietly looked at Moktak in his hand.

‘I’ve been striking this all my life.’

It’s been over 70 years since he held this wooden table in his hands. Now, even with his eyes closed or ears blocked, he could strike it without the slightest mistake.

But at this moment, the Moktak in his hand did not make a proper sound.

‘The mirror of the mind…’

The old monk Bop Jeong, who was looking down at the Moktak with solemn eyes, slowly put it down. No matter how deeply ingrained and learned, if the mind is unsettled, it is all but futile.

In the end, it all depends on where one’s heart goes.

Bop Jeong knew that fact all too well. This was the teaching of Buddhism he had strived to realize all his life.

However….

‘Everything is in the scriptures.’

The ancestors had already shown him the way. However, the reason why those who follow cannot easily attain the Dharma is because it is not something that can be done just by knowing.

“…Amitabha.”

A small sound of chant escaped his mouth.

How much more must he seek and seek again to truly reach the state of Buddha? Is it even possible to reach that state while wearing this sinful, greedy mortal coil?

“…That too is an attachment.”

It is laughable.

Attachment is the source of agony. To truly attain the Dharma, one must abandon all attachments. But if you look at it closely, isn’t the desire to attain the Dharma and reach the state of Buddhahood itself is a kind of attachment?

The way of Buddhism is that those who seek cannot obtain, and only those who are detached can attain. How can that be a path for people to follow?

‘It is vain.’

Bop Jeong slowly shook his head.

He knows. That he is already in the wrong body to become a Buddha.

‘Rather than becoming a Buddha alone, I will make the whole world Buddha. Even if this one body of mine falls into hell.’

In order to do so, everyone in the world must understand the sublimity of Buddhism. They must realize that accepting and seeking Buddhism is the only way to truly escape this suffering (고된(苦)) life.

But unfortunately, those who have a hard time just living each day do not even pay attention to the noble teachings of Buddhism. Therefore, to lead them to the Pure Land (정토(淨土)), what is needed is not teaching but majesty.

A dazzling majesty so bright that no one can take their eyes off it. A majesty so magnificent that it naturally makes one want to walk that path.

Compared to that, even the name Shaolin is small. Everything he does is ultimately to spread the teachings of Buddha in Jungwon and lead more people to the Pure Land.

It is not that the teachings of Buddha are needed to raise the name of Shaolin. The fame of Shaolin is needed to spread the teachings of Buddha.

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Everything is for the suffering sentient beings, is it not?

‘But how can the path be this difficult?’

Bop Jeong’s eyes were tightly shut.

The world is too chaotic to spread the teachings of Buddha. And his power is too weak to overcome that chaos.

‘No one shows the way. No one…’

Bop Jeong stretched out its wrinkled hands and grabbed the Moktak again. The path of a practitioner is to not stop walking even if one is shaken and trembles.

But then.

“Bangjang, are you inside?”

The voice of Bop Kye was heard outside the door.

Bop Jeong gently put down the Moktak in his hands and sighed deeply. The life he chose is one in which he is not even given enough time to calm his mind.

“Come in.”

“Yes, Bangjang.”

The door opened cautiously, and Bop Kye entered the room.

Bop Jeong looked at him and frowned unconsciously. As he looked at the extremely haggard complexion of Bop Kye, he felt like he realized how disheveled he himself must appear.

“Bangjang.”

Bop Kye cautiously sat in front of Bop Jeong. His eyes were constantly scanning Bop Jeong’s complexion.

“News from Hangzhou has arrived.”

Bop Jeong closed his eyes in silence.

It was news he was curious about too. However, he already felt he knew the outcome. Bop Kye’s expression had already revealed everything.

“What happened?”

“…Hangzhou suffered damage that was close to annihilation, but for now… it is said that the evil group of Magyo who invaded Hangzhou were unable to cause any more havoc and left Jungwon.”

Up to this point, Bop Jeong had expected it too.

“To Hangzhou… What happened to the sword masters of Mount Hua Sect who headed to Hangzhou with Evil Sects?”

“That’s….”

Bop Jeong looked at Bop Jeong, who had his eyes closed and carefully continued his word.

“Already two days ago… It is said that they returned to the place where Mount Hua Sect resides without any casualties.”

Bop Jeong was suddenly engulfed in an indescribable turmoil. Countless emotions swirled within him.

The silence stretched on for a long time, and Bop Kye sitting in front of him could not even take a deep breath loudly. He just kept his mouth shut and waited endlessly for Bop Jeong’s response.

Eventually, Bop Jeong slowly opened his eyes and asked.

“Two days ago…?”

“….”

“Did you say two days ago?”

“Ba- Bangjang.”

At the frost-like energy flowing from Bop Jeong’s eyes, Bop Kye shrinks his shoulders without even realizing it. In the past, Bop Jeong never showed such coldness, no matter how upsetting the words were.

But not these days. Unlike in the past, he sometimes showed such a cold aura that even Bop Kye was afraid.

However, this aura from Bop Jeong was different from before.

“If they had returned two days ago, Beggar Union should have naturally figured out their whereabouts.”

“….”

“Nevertheless, how am I supposed to interpret the fact that this news has only now reached you?”

“That… I don’t know either…”

As Bop Kye’s eyes trailed off, the corners of Bop Jeong’s eyes twitched faintly while looking at his face.

“Not a single thing…”

His hand, which had been lightly grasping the Moktak, strongly grasped the hem of the robe on his thigh. Bright blue tendons sprouted on the back of his hand.

“Not one matter worked right! Not even one!”

“Bangjang….”

“Yes.”

Bop Jeong pursed his lips and looked at Bop Jeong as if glaring.

“Please continue.”

“….”

“I said I want you to continue!”

“Yes, yes! Bangjang!”

Bop Kye flinched, lowered his head, and continued speaking quickly.

“According to the news from the Beggar Union… those who appeared in Hangzhou were the bishop of Magyo and his followers. Mount Hua’s disciples heading to Gangnam, along with Myriad Man Manor, Black Ghost Fortress, and Nokrim, slaughter the cultists….”

Bop Kye, who almost spoke of Evil Tyrant Alliance, instinctively looked at Bop Jeong’s complexion once again before continued speaking.

“And it is said that Paegun Jang Ilso and Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung beheaded the bishop with a joint assault.”

“….”

“The remaining cultists fled and the beggar tried to follow the traces, but the beggar who followed behind reported that the trail was cut off without a word and their whereabouts are unknown.”

Bop Kye swallowed dryly, his voice parched and burning.

“Tha- That’s all.”

The faces of Bop Jeong were icy cold as if the harsh north wind had blown through them. Bop Kye, who saw that complexion, closed his eyes tightly without realizing it.

‘How….’

He spent his entire life with Bop Jeong.

To a large extent, Bop Jeong is a Sect Leader, but to a small extent, he’s a Sahyung. He spent his entire life admiring and respecting the noble character of Bop Jeong.

So why, in recent times, does Bop Jeong keep showing a side of himself that Bop Kye doesn’t recognize? Even though Bop Jeong’s heart for Shaolin and all the people under the heaven has not changed, why?

“Paegun… and Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword beheaded the bishop?”

“Beggar Union reported it so…”

“So.”

Bop Jeong cut off Bop Kye and spoke in a calm voice.

“Those who were once eager to kill each other joined hands and fought together to defeat the enemy?”

“….”

“And after defeating the cultists, Paegun obediently sent away the sword masters of Mount Hua who were isolated in Gangnam?”

Bop Kye couldn’t even answer and just nodded.

It was something he couldn’t easily believe, but there was no other way. At least in Gangnam, they had no eyes on the ground. Thus, they had no choice but to rely on the information provided by Beggar Union.

“Ho…. hoho.”

Bop Jeong burst into empty laughter.

“I misjudged Mount Hua.”

“…Bangjang?”

Before he knew it, his face was horribly distorted.

“Even though they had different opinions, I believed that they were at least trying to follow That’s why I harbored some semblance of compassion for them!”

“….”

“If they are those who collude with those wicked Evil Sects for a purpose, how are they any different from Evil Sects themselves!”

“Bangjang… the situation…”

“Situation?”

Bop Jeong glared at Bop Jeong with furious eyes.

“What situation are you referring to?”

“….”

“Was it only they who felt the pain of the news of the dying civilians? I, too, was tormented to the point of sleepless nights!”

Kwang!

Bop Jeong’s fist hit the Moktak.

“But was that really the right thing to do? Is walking the wrong path to achieve the desired outcome the choice those who uphold righteousness should make?”

Bop Kye bowed his head. Bop Jeong’s face flushed as he continued.

“I do not blame them for their altruism! But do they really not understand that, as a result, they are only strengthening Evil Tyrant Alliance’s grip on Jiangnan?”

“Tha- That’s….”

Bop Jeong clenched his fists tightly.

“Those fools have made Jang Ilso a hero. Now, Jang Ilso will become a hero who saved Gangnam from the clutches of Magyo and further solidified the reign of Evil Tyrant Alliance. Do they not realize that more people will suffer for a longer time because of this?”

Bop Kye looked at Bop Jeong without a word. He looked like a person who had lost the ability to speak.

“It’s all wrong! All wrong! Hangzhou? Of course, it’s tragic that people died in Hangzhou. But what did those who rushed to Gangnam achieve? Did they save the people of Hangzhou?”

“They did not…”

“When a crisis of such magnitude occurs, people have no choice but to flee. Naturally, the damage would have been extremely reduced, and in the end, Evil Tyrant Alliance would have had to fight to stop Magyo’s southward advance. With just a little patience, it was possible for the two evils, Magyo and Evil Sects, to clash against each other! Why did they rashly intervene and plunge the civilians of Gangnam into despair!”

“….”

“Foolish! Foolish and more foolish!”

Bop Jeong grits his teeth.

“Those who cannot see the deeper implications will praise them and criticize us! Again! Without even knowing what they’ve done!”

“Ba- Bangjang….”

“This!”

Kwaaaaang!

In the end, Bop Jeong slammed his fist and the Moktak in front of him shattered.

The startled Bop Kye looked blankly at Bop Jeong with his mouth open.

“Mount Hua… truly incorrigible…”

A chilling murderous intent emanated from Bop Jeong’s eyes.