Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1091

Episode 1090. What sin did I commit in my past life? (5)

It’s not that I don’t understand the fear they must feel.

No, Cheongmyeong understood their feelings more keenly than anyone else. After all, he had already experienced it once.

When the Demonic Cult began to advance into the Central Plains, the moment he understood the magnitude of their power and their purpose, a sense of fear and oppression that made it impossible for him to breathe gripped Hwasan.

The fear that if they did nothing, the Central Plains would be destroyed. And the pressure that Hwasan had to share in the responsibility. Hwasan, who was suffering under that burden, eventually ran on his own two feet and offered to be sacrificed.

That may have been the right choice. As a result, the Central Plains defeated Cheonma and stopped the Demonic Cult. However… … .

‘Long-term execution.’

Cheongmyeong asks Cheongmun, who is shedding tears of blood.

‘Do you still believe that the death penalty was the right choice?’

There is no need to hear the answer. The tears that Cheongmun is shedding are the answer.

What if there really was such a thing as the Heavenly Realm, and you witnessed the downfall of the Qing Dynasty and the humiliation suffered by its descendants with your own eyes?

Perhaps, for Cheongmun, that place should be called Avici Hell rather than the heavenly world. How could a place that makes one feel more comfortable watching a scene where one would rather be burning in hellfire be called the heavenly world?

And now, Hyeonjong is walking that path.

Cheongmyeong opens his eyes and looks at Hyeonjong. Cheongmun’s face overlaps with Hyeonjong’s face sitting in front of him.

“Long story.”

“… … Speak.”

“I know it sounds funny for me to say this.”

“… … You know what I mean, you punk.”

Cheongmyeong’s one word lightened the already heavy atmosphere just a little.

Cheongmyeong was always like that. Even when everyone tried to stop him, he would rush into the enemy camp without a moment’s hesitation because it was something he had to do. It doesn’t make sense for him to stop King Hyeonjong now.

“Disciple, I have been thinking for a long time. Why did the volcano collapse even though it upheld its righteousness and did what it should have done?”

“… … .”

“Why did I have to shed tears of blood even though I did the right thing?”

Hyunjong closed his eyes slightly. In fact, that question was like an unsolvable homework problem for those living in Hwasan today.

They learn to keep agreements. But the price for keeping those agreements is too terrible. The gap between what they learned and what they experienced firsthand. That gap sometimes made them doubt the path they were walking.

If it were to protect others through one’s own death, everyone here would be able to do it without a single moment of hesitation.

But the disciples of the volcano know that what they are trying to do now is to force those they want to protect the most into the trap of sacrifice.

How can we possibly accept that the price we pay for our efforts to protect those we love is the sacrifice of those we are most determined to protect?

Can you really die laughing?

Could someone who witnessed with his own eyes the tragic sight of his comrades, who had practiced together and laughed together, all dying, die with a smile, feeling joy at having prevented the destruction of the Central Plains?

Now, Qingming has brought up the fact that the disciples of Huashan have been secretly trying not to mention.

“… … Have you thought about it?”

“yes.”

“So… … did you find the answer?”

Cheongmyeong slowly nodded his head.

“I couldn’t find it, Jang Moon-in.”

“… … .”

“I just hoped that we would be stronger. And that they would be weaker than they were before. So that if they did the same thing again this time, it wouldn’t be as disastrous as before.”

Hyeonjong closed his eyes.

It was an empty and vain answer. However, King Hyeonjong was no different from Cheongmyeong. They simply hoped that they would not lose sight of the pretense of agreement and justice. They hoped that the ideal would not one day be aimed at their necks.

“That’s why when I heard that the Demonic Cult had appeared, I had to go. Not to stop them, but to confirm them. To see with my own eyes how strong they were.”

Hyeonjong’s eyelids fluttered.

Because I could predict the gloom that Cheongmyeong would feel after seeing the power of the Demonic Cult with my own two eyes. No, because I could clearly feel it in those eyes.

“… … You must have despaired.”

“yes.”

Cheongmyeong answered calmly. It was so calm that it was bitter. A sigh escaped Hyeonjong’s mouth.

Why does this child always keep such stories to himself?

If you could just tell me a little more about the story you contained within, I would be able to help you somehow. No… … Even if I can’t be of help, I will at least try my best.

“I fought without finding an answer. It’s better to fight than not to fight.”

“… … .”

“But as we fought, we came to know why the volcano failed.”

Hyeonjong looked at Cheongmyeong with a blank expression.

“Why is that?”

“Because I didn’t believe it.”

“… … You didn’t believe it?”

“yes.”

Cheongmyeong nodded slowly.

Cheongmun was certainly a great man. If we were to discuss his strength as a person, not his uneducated strength, then there would be no one comparable to him throughout Cheongmyeong’s entire life. Even Hyeonjong, who is now acknowledged by Cheongmyeong, might be nothing more than a weak person if compared to Cheongmun.

but…….

“The volcano at that time was so strong, and the one leading it was so great. That’s why… … That’s why the volcano couldn’t trust anyone but itself.”

Now I know why the volcano had to bear that heavy burden alone.

Cheongmun always told him not to go out alone and take care of his brothers. He told him not to go out alone and to lead those who were lacking with his excellence. That was Cheongmun’s way. But… … .

Cheongmyeong bit his lips slightly.

Maybe this is the first time in his long life that he has said…

“That method is wrong.”

The moment I uttered the words, my tongue began to sting. Denying Cheongmun was no different from denying everything about Cheongmyeong. But… … Now Cheongmyeong had to do that bitter thing.

Not for those left behind in the past, but for those living in the present.

“The reason Volcano was able to fight at the forefront was because there were people supporting it.”

The reason Cheongmyeong was able to fight at the forefront was because there were people supporting him.

“And yet the volcanoes thought they were doing everything.”

Yet, Cheongmyeong thought he was doing everything.

“If only the volcano had the leisure to look back at those fighting behind it… … .”

If only Cheongmyeong could have looked at those fighting behind him even a little.

“The outcome might have been different.”

Maybe I wouldn’t have lost it all.

After saying that, Cheongmyeong quietly closed his eyes.

The Hwasan of the time was certainly a strong and great sect. However, it was also an arrogant and self-righteous sect. It looked coldly upon those who did not understand the righteousness that the Hwasan pursued. This is a fact that cannot be denied.

Cheongmun always scolded Cheongmyeong for not being able to get along. However, Hwasan, which had Cheongmun as its leader, may have been a sect no different from Cheongmyeong. The harmony that Cheongmun spoke of was merely harmony within the sect.

Nevertheless, Cheongmyeong believed that Cheongmun was absolutely right.

Because Cheongmun was always right and was too great a person for Cheongmyeong to follow.

But I learned this while fighting Danzagang.

Behind him was the Tang Bo, but behind the volcano there was no one.

Cheongmun, whom Cheongmyeong regarded as a great mountain, was not perfect either. He too was just a human being who suffered throughout his life.

And now, for the first time, Cheongmyeong is free from the shadow of Cheongmun that had been cast over her and is looking at the world. She is free from the shadow that was so warm, but also so heavy and thick.

“Long story.”

“Yeah… … . Okay, Cheongmyeong.”

“When people are in a hurry, they forget what they have.”

“… … .”

“What do we have?”

Hyeonjong couldn’t readily answer that question. What is there…? What do you have?

Representation? Consultation? Or… …. Force?

Hyun-jong looked around at those sitting here with deep, sunken eyes. Then, as if he had nothing more to think about, he opened his mouth.

“There are so many things that a volcano has. But if I had to name the most precious and important of them all, it would be just one.”

Hyunjong nodded with a slight smile on his face.

“He’s just a person.”

Cheongmyeong laughed at those words. What he had hoped for from Hyeonjong had come out exactly as it was.

“It’s not like the past. We have people. Not just the volcano, but those who live with the volcano.”

Hyunjong nodded his head.

After Qingming came, Huashan gained many things. But the biggest of them, no matter what anyone says, is relationships and bonds.

“I was the same way. When I was oppressed by the power of the Sapaeryeon, the first thing I did was to simply increase my strength. I could give up everything for him.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Originally, the Cheonwoo Alliance should have collapsed then. Who would wait for someone who abandoned all responsibility and stepped down in order to increase his own power? However… … The Lord of the Tang Family shouldered the work that we had to do and silently waited for us.”

Cheongmyeong turned his head and looked at Tang Gunak. Tang Gunak let out an awkward laugh as if he was embarrassed by the gaze.

“Why did you do that, my lord?”

“Is there really a reason? It’s just… … .”

It was a shy voice that was rarely heard from Danggunak. So, rather, it felt like it was full of sincerity without any room for doubt.

“Because we’re close friends.”

As if he was embarrassed to say such things with his own mouth, Dang Gun-ak coughed lightly. Cheongmyeong smiled broadly.

If then.

Back in the day, when they lost what they shouldn’t have lost.

If there was a sect like Dangga in Hwasan, if there was someone like Dangbo in Cheongmyeong, would they really have just watched Hwasan’s downfall? Would they have just watched a pack of lynxes flock to Hwasan?

No, that can’t be. Absolutely not.

If it were the Tang Dynasty, I would have risked my life to stop them. If it were the Tang Dynasty today, no matter what happened, I would not have allowed them to set foot on the mountain gate of Hwasan.

What the current volcano has, but the volcano back then did not have.

“Long story… … .”

These are the words that Cheongmyeong, the disciple of Hwasan, said to Hyeonjong, the eldest son of Jangmun, and these are the words that Cheongmyeong, the plum blossom sword master, said to Cheongmun in the past.

“When faced with a powerful enemy, the only thing a swordsman can rely on is his sword and the training he has put in.”

“……yes.”

“Then what should the sect believe?”

“Well… … .”

Hyun-Jong looked at those sitting in front of him once more. Then he looked at Cheong-Myeong with gentle eyes and answered.

“It is the value of what you have protected yourself… … and the confidence in the path you have walked.”

“Yes, Jang Moon-in.”

Cheongmyeong also smiled gently.

“The reason we created Cheonwoomaeng is because we needed people who could trust and fight for each other. We believed that we would be each other’s strength and bulwark.”

“Yeah, I see.”

Cheongmyeong slowly bows his head.

“So, Jang Moon-in. When you are troubled about what to do, Jang Moon-in, look back on what Hwasan has protected. I believe all the answers are there.”

King Hyeonjong quietly looks at Cheongmyeong, who has his head bowed.

What they have done. What they have kept.

“… … I see what you mean.”

Cheongmyeong closed his eyes.

‘Long-term execution.’

In the darkness, Cheongmun was still looking at him. However, Cheongmun’s face was no longer filled with pain.

‘Don’t worry. The kids are better off than us these days.’

At that moment, a soft smile appeared on Cheongmun’s lips as she looked at him.

Cheongmyeong looked at that smile for a long time with his eyes closed.

For a long time.