CLS-Chapter 220

Chapter 220

Cheong Yeong-ja, the sect leader of Mount Hua, was enjoying a rare moment of respite.

“The tea tastes particularly good today.”

They say late passion is frightening—Cheong Yeong-ja had become completely absorbed in the way of tea, which he had learned late in life. Especially after successfully passing today’s tense preliminaries, the tea seemed to taste even better.

Feeling the cool breeze while savoring the gentle tea fragrance, wasn’t this truly paradise on earth?

‘This is a good thing.’

Cheong Yeong-ja wore a gentle smile.

Cheonuiryeon’s proposal had been sudden. The request to use Mount Hua as the venue for the Tianxia Martial Arts Tournament was, in many ways, quite presumptuous.

How could they hold someone else’s celebration in Mount Hua, a place steeped in history and tradition?

However, Cheong Yeong-ja had accepted this proposal as an opportunity.

As much as the world would focus on this martial arts tournament, Mount Hua would also receive attention.

‘It would be even better if we could attach some grand name like the Mount Hua Tournament.’

Cheong Yeong-ja smiled gently.

Already, from just the preliminaries, the main mountain was overflowing with people beyond what they could handle. Since the martial world had been without any major incidents for so long, it felt like all the thrill-seekers who had been starved for events were flocking to Mount Hua.

“Hehehehe.”

He couldn’t stop smiling.

If the tournament proceeded without any problems, everyone would remember Mount Hua. Then he too would be remembered in Mount Hua’s history as the sect leader who spread Mount Hua’s name throughout the world.

Cheong Yeong-ja smiled quietly while slowly savoring the tea fragrance.

The warm breeze and the gentle tea scent tickling his nose.

Where else could paradise be but right here?

“Ahh…”

Cheong Yeong-ja felt enlightenment slowly approaching. The barrier that had remained stagnant and unmovable all this time seemed to be slowly extending its hand to him today.

Just as Cheong Yeong-ja was about to fall into a state of selfless absorption, feeling the joy rising proudly in his chest—

“Ahem, ahem.”

From somewhere came the sound of throat clearing, instantly breaking his concentration.

Crack!

Cheong Yeong-ja, who had been pulled back to reality in an instant from the threshold of selfless absorption, ground his teeth, unable to contain his anger.

‘A chance to elevate my realm!’

A martial artist’s enlightenment could come at any time, anywhere, but it was also something that could be shattered just as unpredictably.

Cheong Yeong-ja trembled with rage, unable to control his anger at losing the opportunity to enter enlightenment due to an untimely visitor. Who was this audacious person who dared to enter the sect leader’s quarters and interrupt his enlightenment?

Just as Cheong Yeong-ja was about to shout angrily to punish this reckless individual, hearty laughter reached his ears.

“Hahaha, is the sect leader present?”

Cheong Yeong-ja’s half-opened mouth snapped shut.

The anger that had been rapidly rising began to be quickly controlled.

It had to be. What always cured anger management disorders if not overwhelming violence that one couldn’t handle?

“Oh, have you come, Master Uncle?”

“Hahaha, yes, yes.”

Seeing Maehwageomjon approaching with a smile across his face, Cheong Yeong-ja immediately stood up.

‘Why is that person here?’

Cheong Yeong-ja’s eyes trembled as he looked at Maehwageomjon.

No matter how much he was Mount Hua’s sect leader, he couldn’t maintain a sitting position before Maehwageomjon.

Who was Maehwageomjon? He was the one who had made his name throughout the world as Mount Hua’s greatest sword even before Cheong Yeong-ja had risen to the position of sect leader.

Even now, he was his proud Master Uncle who hadn’t lost his position as Mount Hua’s undisputed greatest sword.

Maehwageomjon was someone whom Cheong Yeong-ja, despite holding the position of sect leader, couldn’t dare to request an audience with first. He was someone whose face could only be seen and whose advice could only be heard during major ceremonies.

For such a Maehwageomjon to come looking for Cheong Yeong-ja first was truly surprising.

“What brings you here?”

“Really now. Must I have a reason to drop by?”

“That wasn’t what I meant. Please, come this way and have a seat.”

Cheong Yeong-ja offered the seat of honor and hurriedly brought out a cup to pour tea.

“Here you are.”

“Mm, tea prepared by the sect leader? It’s been a while since I’ve tasted this.”

“If Master Uncle had visited more often, I could have served you better.”

There was a hint of complaint in his words.

“Haha, if people see each other’s faces too often, they run out of things to say and things become awkward. You have to see each other occasionally to know the joy of meeting.”

“But isn’t occasionally a bit too occasional?”

“Is that so?”

Cheong Yeong-ja let out a deep sigh.

“Don’t I only have Master Uncle left as an elder I can rely on in Mount Hua? Sometimes this position of sect leader feels too burdensome and difficult for me. If even Master Uncle doesn’t help me, where else can I go to lament?”

“Hahaha, the sect leader who was so brilliant in his youth has become a whining child in his old age.”

Though he said that, Maehwageomjon also seemed pleased as he burst into hearty laughter.

“Perhaps you’ve come to see me because you disapprove of the martial arts tournament being held at Mount Hua?”

“Disapprove?”

“Yes. I was also troubled by the idea of conducting worldly affairs in a pure sanctuary…”

Maehwageomjon slowly shook his head.

“Worldly affairs are worldly affairs, but it’s not as if we live above paradise. For humans who cannot escape the world to try to live apart from it is also just attachment. The sect leader should do as he wishes.”

“Ah…”

These words carried deep meaning.

Cheong Yeong-ja nodded quietly.

It felt as if the stuffiness in his chest had completely cleared. Now that even his last concern that had been troubling his heart was resolved, incomparable peace came over him.

‘Missing that enlightenment isn’t regrettable at all.’

What help would it be to Mount Hua if he elevated his martial prowess? There were many among the elders who were stronger than him, and even if those elders attacked together, there was Maehwageomjon who would be no match for them.

While he wasn’t without desire to elevate his realm as a martial artist, spreading Mount Hua’s name was several times more important than raising his own realm.

“It seems Master Uncle came to put my mind at ease.”

Cheong Yeong-ja smiled with utmost joy. However, the eyes of Maehwageomjon looking at such a Cheong Yeong-ja were somehow wavering.

“Haha… Sect leader, may I ask you something?”

“Of course, Master Uncle.”

Cheong Yeong-ja nodded vigorously with an expectant face, wondering what teachings his Master Uncle would give him.

“…Am I truly the eldest in this Mount Hua?”

Cheong Yeong-ja’s face stiffened slightly.

‘Did something unpleasant happen?’

Usually, saying such things meant someone had infringed upon an elder’s authority.

Cheong Yeong-ja bowed his head slightly while thinking about who could have dared to challenge Maehwageomjon’s authority in Mount Hua.

“Of course, Master Uncle. That you are Mount Hua’s greatest elder is absolutely natural.”

“Haha, indeed.”

Maehwageomjon smiled broadly.

Seeing his satisfied smile, Cheong Yeong-ja relaxed his tension slightly. It didn’t seem to be anything serious.

“But why do you ask that?”

“Listen here, sect leader.”

“Yes, Master Uncle.”

“If I am Mount Hua’s greatest elder, how much can I interfere in Mount Hua’s affairs?”

Cheong Yeong-ja felt his heart sink.

‘Why is he saying such things?’

Saying he would interfere in Mount Hua’s affairs using his status as an elder was not much different from saying he would encroach upon the sect leader’s authority. Cheong Yeong-ja forcibly relaxed his stiffening expression.

What kind of answer should he give?

“…Master Uncle is Mount Hua’s highest elder.”

“Hmm?”

“If Master Uncle wishes to do something, who could stop you?”

This was Cheong Yeong-ja’s roundabout way of saying ‘You cannot be stopped, but that doesn’t mean it would be willingly followed.’

“Indeed. Then may I ask the sect leader for a favor?”

Cheong Yeong-ja closed his eyes tightly as if what was coming had come.

‘Well, this position wasn’t really mine anyway.’

The martial artist who represents Mount Hua is undoubtedly Maehwageomjon. However, until now, Maehwageomjon had not interfered in Mount Hua’s affairs and had pursued only martial learning like a sage.

Thanks to this, Cheong Yeong-ja had been able to comfortably manage Mount Hua while backed by Maehwageomjon’s prestige. If such a person asked him to step down from power, there was nothing he could do.

“…If Master Uncle makes a request, I must naturally listen. Please speak.”

“Hmm.”

Seeing Maehwageomjon’s face flush slightly with embarrassment, Cheong Yeong-ja let go of his last hope. Unless it was something significant, that elder wouldn’t show such an awkward expression.

He must be showing such an awkward face because it was something he couldn’t easily say due to propriety.

‘What could I not give?’

Though he didn’t know why this was happening suddenly, if Maehwageomjon stepped forward instead of him, Mount Hua would soar even higher. Cheong Yeong-ja consoled himself with this thought and quietly closed his eyes.

“Well, um…”

“Please don’t worry and speak.”

“Since the sect leader is putting this old man’s heart at ease, I’ll speak without reservation.”

“Yes, Master Uncle.”

Cheong Yeong-ja let go of the last desire that was confusing his heart.

Then, Maehwageomjon’s slightly trembling voice reached his ears.

“…Could you lend me ten nyang of gold?”

Cheong Yeong-ja’s eyes snapped open.

“…”

“…”

The two people looked at each other with awkward faces.

Under Cheong Yeong-ja’s intense gaze staring straight at him, Mount Hua’s greatest master and eldest member who had been rolling around in the martial world since before Cheong Yeong-ja was in diapers was bowing his head with an awkward expression.

“T-ten nyang?”

“…Is it too much?”

“No, that’s not it…”

What on earth should he say?

Cheong Yeong-ja looked at his Master Uncle, who had an embarrassed face like a newlywed, and spoke as if entranced.

“…Are you perhaps getting remarried?”

“Hey! What kind of talk is that!”

And I’ve never been married before! Remarriage to a 120-year-old virgin—what kind of nonsense is that!

“But why do you suddenly need such a large sum?”

“Ahem, there’s something I need it for.”

“Perhaps…”

“Hm?”

“You’re not getting into gambling, are you?”

“No! Really!”

Maehwageomjon burst out angrily and openly showed his irritation.

“If you don’t want to give it, just say you won’t! Why are you prying into everything!”

“When you suddenly ask me to lend such an enormous sum, how can I not ask!”

“As if I’d take it to the Demonic Cult! No need for long explanations! Will you lend it or not?”

“…Master Uncle.”

Cheong Yeong-ja opened his mouth with difficulty, feeling sweat dripping down his back.

“No, at least if I knew what it was for…”

“Ahhhhh!”

Maehwageomjon jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“You only praise me as an elder and whatnot, but you’re going back on your word over a few coins! Fine! From today, I’m going into seclusion, so you all eat well and live well on your own!”

At that moment, Cheong Yeong-ja’s body shot forward like lightning.

Grabbing the trouser leg of the departing Maehwageomjon, Cheong Yeong-ja shouted in a tearful voice.

“I-I’ll give it to you! I said I’ll give it! Master Uncle!”

It was fortunate no one was watching.

Cheong Yeong-ja was experiencing the worst day since becoming sect leader.