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This was not his first time seeing this gate with his own eyes. One might expect him to be somewhat familiar with it by now, but it seemed even more unfamiliar than at first.

‘Perhaps it’s because my circumstances are different from then.’

Even if it is the same object, it is bound to look different when the situation changes.

When he first visited Mount Hua, there was nothing to be disappointed about. Rather, he was more interested in checking what Mount Hua looked like.

But now…….

“Amitabha.”

Bop Jeong chanted to shake off the discomfort he felt in his heart.

‘Who else would fall to hell if not me?’

It’s a task for the benefit of all people.

This is not a situation worth hesitating due to personal shame.

“Bangjang.”

“Hm.”

Bop Jeong nodded at the voice of Bop Kye. He had no time to delay now.

“May I enter?”

Un Gum, who was near the gate, ran after hearing the commotion and froze in place. He then quietly observed Bop Jeong and nodded.

“…This way. Please come here first.”

“Thank you, Dojang.”

Un Gum, rarely unable to hide his confusion, guided Bop Jeong. But this was not Un Gum’s fault. How could anyone in the world not be flustered by the sudden, unannounced visit of Shaolin’s Bangjang?

However, at that moment, Bop Jeong was looking at Un Gum anew for a different reason.

‘Was there such a person?’

A one-armed swordsman without arrogance.

The aura he exuded was extraordinary. Just from that feeling alone, it was not difficult to realize that this man was a swords master of the highest caliber, highly trained.

The problem was that this person did not exist in Bop Jeong’s memory.

‘Then, in just three years, has he grown this much?’

He appeared to be not young. It’s common knowledge that as one ages, rapid advancement in skill becomes difficult. Moreover, to make such significant progress in such a short time with a sword learned with the left hand, not the right?

He only saw one person, but he could understand how much Mount Hua has changed over the past three years. If this old man is like this, how much stronger must the younger disciples of Mount Hua have become?

Bop Jeong’s heart grew heavy.

‘Amitabha.’

Of course, it would be good for Mount Hua to be strong, a fellow Righteous Sect. But Mount Hua is now a sect that brings about typhoons all over the world. The stronger such a sect becomes, the more intense the storm that will hit the world.

Especially….

Bop Jeong shook his head. Now was not the time for such thoughts.

‘My mind is full of chaos.’

Even though he had been cultivated for so long, he was still shaken by such small things. It was enough to make all his pursuit of an unshakeable mind seem futile.

Just then, he saw the figure of Hyun Jong, Sect Leader of Mount Hua, rapidly approaching.

“….”

Seeing Hyun Jong running barefoot and faster than anyone else, Bop Jeong almost had to laugh.

‘He’s pure.’

If it were in the past, Hyunjong would not have considered it strange because he jumped out of his way. If sect leader of a declining sect heard that Bangjang of Shaolin had visited, such a reaction is only natural.

But is Mount Hua a sect that’s collapsing? It might have been once, but not anymore.

The leader of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the ruler of Shaanxi.

Mount Hua is a place where even comparisons with its past have become meaningless. Today’s Mount Hua doesn’t even need the pretense of being Ten Great Sects.

However, Mount Hua’s sect leader, Hyun Jong, was no different from when Mount Hua was once called a third-rate declining sect.

‘No, it’s not that he hasn’t changed.’

If one’s circumstances change, their attitude naturally changes. Maintaining the same attitude despite changing circumstances means he has become a deeper person than before.

To remain unchanged, one must change.

Isn’t it said that form is emptiness and emptiness is form? (????????(色卽示空空卽示色))

“Bangjang, how did you come to this place……”

Hyun Jong, who immediately rushed to him, stared blankly at Bop Jeong as if he was speechless. Then, as if suddenly regaining his senses, he deeply bowed and performed a fist salute.

“You are most welcome.”

The heart of Bop Jeong, which had been filled with worry, seemed to ease slightly at the hospitality. Even though he knew that Hyun Jong would react this way to anyone regardless of his own feelings.

Bop Jeong received Hyun Jong’s greeting with a smile all over his face.

“I don’t know what to do with such hospitality. I hope I haven’t come to a place where I shouldn’t have.”

“What are you saying? On behalf of Mount Hua, I would like to welcome Bangjang.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader. I truly appreciate it.”

Bop Jeong, returning the fist salute, glanced behind Hyun Jong.

‘…Is he not here?’

The acquainted Mount Hua’s elders were seen, but the person he was most concerned about was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the disciples of Mount Hua, who ran out after hearing the commotion, peeked out and whispered among themselves looking at Bop Jeong.

“What’s going on?”

“Bangjang of Shaolin has come?”

“Bangjang? Why is he here?”

He was already accustomed to the curious gazes of the world. From the moment he became Bangjang of Shaolin, such attention was unavoidable.

But after checking out the faces of those who sent those gazes, he couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable inwardly.

‘They are strong.’

These faces still bore the traces of youth. Young swordsmen who had shed their rashness but not yet fully matured. However, the energy emanating from these young swordsmen was incredibly sharp and profoundly stable.

A force he had never felt before, even at Namgung or Wudang.

Now he’s at a point where he doesn’t know what words to use to describe Mount Hua. Even words such as ‘a complete change’ and ‘remarkable success’ seemed insufficient to describe their growth.

What impressed Bop Jeong even more was the behavior of these disciples. The way they peeked around him was no different from children in a marketplace.

Innocent?

No.

In Taoism, such a demeanor is described as ‘pure’. Be informal, do not show unnecessary courtesy, and be honest about your feelings. That is the attitude that Taoists who want to resemble nature should have.

‘Strength and purity.’

He felt like he could understand why Mount Hua threatened Wudang’s position just by looking at them.

But… Bop Jeong knew better than anyone that this wasn’t the whole story.

“I greet Bangjang.”

“I greet Bangjang.”

Bop Jeong nodded quietly as he saw those giving him a fist salute.

‘Five Swords of Mount Hua.’

They are now the representative martial artists of Mount Hua. Of course, the name still refers to rising stars. But someday, their names would represent the greatest swordsmen in the world.

“Nice to meet you, Baek Cheon Dojang.”

“You know my name?”

“How could I not know of the world-renowned swordsman of Hwasan?”

“…It’s an honor.”

Baek Cheon bows his head in an impeccable manner.

The term ‘graceful’ suited him better than anyone else. Even as the head of the talent-rich Shaolin, Bop Jeong felt a subtle envy towards Hyun Jong at this moment.

“…Continue to progress.”

After receiving Baek Cheon’s greeting, Bop Jeong’s gaze shifted to another person standing behind him. To the person who was once his pride and who could have been like Baek Cheon to Bop Jeong.

“Have you learned a lot?”

“Bangjang ….”

Bop Jeong, who had been staring at Hye Yeon’s face, suddenly lowered his gaze and glanced at the martial attire he was wearing.

‘It’s the martial arts uniform of Mount Hua.’

He could guess what had happened. But if Hye Yeon hadn’t felt any wavering in his heart, he wouldn’t have worn another sect’s clothing, even if it meant wearing rags.

“There’s a lot I have to talk to you about. But now is not the time; let’s talk later.”

“…Yes, Bangjang.”

When Hye Yeon bowed his head silently, Hyun Jong stepped forward to protect Hye Yeon with a troubled face.

“Bangjang. There are circumstances… It’s my fault for not paying attention to everyone.”

“You don’t have to do that, Sect Leader. It’s not my intention to blame the boy. I just have a lot to discuss with a disciple who has been away from the temple for a long time.”

“If that’s the case…”

As Hyun Jong nodded, Bop Jeong smiled broadly and changed the topic.

“I’ve come running all the way here to discuss an urgent matter.”

“Oh, ex- excuse me. I apologize, Bangjang. Please come this way.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Hyun Jong quickly led Bop Jeong away.

Walking through the somewhat noisy Mount Hua, Bop Jeong closely observed its atmosphere. Compared to the tranquil Shaolin, it was bustling and lively.

This is the atmosphere of a thriving sect.

Even before he could fully gather his thoughts, Hyun Jong stood in front of Mount Hua’s sect leader quarter with Bop Jeong.

“Here we are. I humbly ask you not to blame us for not being prepared to receive guests.”

“How could an uninvited guest have such concerns? I would be grateful even for a cup of lukewarm water.”

“Please come in.”

The first thing that caught the eyes of Bop Jeong before entering the room was a pair of shoes in front of the door.

They seemed a bit small to belong to Hyun Jong.

This meant that the person who had not come out to greet him, despite the arrival of the renowned Bop Jeong, was inside this room. Bop Jeong seemed to know who the man was without seeing him.

“…Amitabha.”

Bop Jeong chanted softly, calming his mind in a way not to be heard by others. The person he came rushing to Mount Hua and truly wanted to meet is now here.

Bop Jeong, who was staring at the door, finally entered the room. As soon as they crossed the threshold, the first thing that caught the eye of Bop Jeong was, of course, the figure of a person sitting and leaning against a corner.

Chung Myung hadn’t changed much. Enough to recognize at a glance.

No, rather, there is no change to the extent that they need to find out what has changed. If anything, he seemed a bit taller, a bit more solid, but otherwise indistinguishable from when Bop Jeong had last seen him.

Even the atmosphere and the look in his eyes.

Despite seeing Bop Jeong enter, Chung Myung showed no particular reaction. He just stared at Bop Jeong with round eyes.

The two of them looked at each other like that for a moment.

Breaking the awkward silence, Bop Jeong was the first to smile broadly and speak.

“How are you doing, Sodojang? No, I guess even calling you ‘Sodojang’ doesn’t suit you anymore.”

His tone was extremely gentle as if speaking to a close friend.

Chung Myung answered with a bright smile.

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’ve been doing very well.”

“Is that so? It doesn’t seem like I’ve done much for you.”

“Ei, what do you mean you haven’t done anything? You’ve done so much.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Chung Myung smiled brightly. But it was only his mouth that did so; his eyes were not smiling at all.

“Since you’re wishing so bad for my ruin, shouldn’t I live well then, to at least rid my annoyance? Thanks to you, I’ve been doing very, very well.”

Just then, the disciples of Mount Hua who were entering the room stopped with their mouths wide open.

‘That… That…!’

‘That crazy guy.’

Seeing Chung Myung confront Bop Jeong head-on from the start, they were already worried about how tense this situation would be.

Cold sweat began to flow down their backs.