I Have No Right to Speak of Forgiveness to You, but (3)
"There they are, Sect Leader."
"Mm. I see."
Watching Baek Cheon and the others running toward them in the distance, Hyun Jong gave a small nod, his feelings somewhat complicated.
They took a little longer than I expected.
The delay made him worry that something might have happened. It would have been wonderful if they could all understand one another, but Yu I-seol’s father was a matter far too sensitive, too painful for her to speak of lightly.
Even so, the reason he had insisted on sending those children together was because he had hoped they might understand I-seol’s pain.
Perhaps the emptiness in her heart that even the adults of the sect could not fill might be mended by those children.
But sharing pain could also, at times, be dangerous for relationships....
Hyun Jong watched Yu I-seol’s expression first, his face slightly tense.
Ah....
And at last, seeing her approach, he let out a cry of admiration in his heart. Relief softened his entire face into a smile.
Baek Cheon, who had come to the front first, reported, "Sect Leader. Everyone has returned safely."
"Good. You’ve all worked hard."
"Yes!"
Hyun Jong’s gaze moved to Yu I-seol.
"Did you have a good trip?"
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Hyun Jong quietly studied her face. It was clearly different from before she had departed.
"You look better."
The faint unease hidden beneath her expressionless face had vanished, leaving behind a face so calm that anyone looking at it would feel at ease. Of course, someone who did not know Yu I-seol well might still think she looked exactly the same.
"Do you feel a little more at peace?"
"Yes."
"Good. That’s enough."
As Hyun Jong nodded, Yu I-seol gave him a slight bow, then immediately turned away. She promptly slipped into the midst of Baek Cheon’s group, who were already squabbling with one another without a moment’s pause.
Watching her, Hyun Jong could not help but smile.
So she has found her place.
The old Yu I-seol had never truly belonged anywhere in Mount Hua.
From the moment she climbed Mount Hua while holding Hyun Jong’s hand, Yu I-seol had accepted as her destiny that she would live as a disciple of Mount Hua. And yet, even then, she could not quite treat the sect’s disciples as family.
Of course, Hyun Jong had never thought that was wrong.
That, too, was simply one way to live. He had no desire to judge Yu I-seol’s life as right or wrong. Even if it was not the shape of life he had hoped for, Yu I-seol’s own way of living was worthy of respect in itself.
Still....
Hyun Jong smiled faintly.
Even so, he could not deny that Yu I-seol looked better when she was with those children like that.
In the end, it must have been that child who changed I-seol.
Hyun Jong’s gaze drifted to Chung Myung.
The point at which Yu I-seol began to change was after Chung Myung joined Mount Hua. Hyun Jong did not know what it was about Chung Myung that had changed her. But did the reason really matter?
Just how much more is that child going to change Mount Hua?
So much had already changed. But Chung Myung would never stop at this point.
Even more things would change in the days to come.
Hyun Jong looked at Chung Myung with a pleased expression.
From the moment they had arrived, Chung Myung had run straight to the carts and was inspecting the loaded goods by himself.
How meticulous.
Yes, yes.
Someone leading a sect needed that sort of attention to detail too....
"Baek Sang, Sahu."
At that moment, Chung Myung tilted his head at an angle and abruptly spun around.
"H-huh?"
Baek Sang, suddenly singled out, looked at him with a confused expression. Chung Myung narrowed his eyes and said, "There’s a coin missing."
"...."
Baek Sang wore a face of utter injustice and protested, "There’s no way that’s true! I guarded it so well that not even an ant could get near it, except while I was sleeping!"
"What? You slept in front of the money? Have you lost your mind? Who sleeps while guarding cash!"
"...."
With his mouth puckered, Baek Sang grumbled, "It’s not like anything huge went missing.... It’s just one coin...."
"What? One coin?"
Chung Myung’s eyes shot wide open and began to gleam dangerously.
"You think you’d get a single coin from selling you off? Huh? Since when has Mount Hua been rich enough to look down on one coin? And that from someone in the Finance Hall? Hooo?"
"N-no."
Flustered, Baek Sang turned to the Sect Leader for help, but Hyun Jong simply looked away with a satisfied expression.
Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.
A noble man did not look upon wickedness.
Indeed.
Hyun Jong urged them onward without pause.
There were many reasons, but the biggest one was that they had left Mount Hua too long without its Sect Leader.
Unlike other great sects, where there were always plenty of people to stand in for the Sect Leader or the elders if they were absent, Mount Hua could not function properly if even three of the Hyun generation were missing.
The Un generation had no doubt struggled desperately to fill their absence, but there were limits to what they could do.
So he wanted to return to Mount Hua as quickly as possible.
"Sect Leader! Over there?"
"Oh."
Hyun Jong raised his head and looked ahead.
Thanks to their unceasing rush, Mount Hua’s outline had finally begun to appear far in the distance.
"...Mount Hua."
It had only been a month in actual time, and yet it felt as though they had been away for years.
Their somewhat tired steps found new strength.
Baek Cheon, too, smiled brightly at the sight of Mount Hua before them.
"We’re finally back."
"It really was long, wasn’t it, Sahyung?"
"It was. Long enough that it felt even longer because of someone. I feel like I’ve aged several years, worrying every day that that bastard might cause some new disaster."
"Come to think of it, it wasn’t me who caused the trouble, Sahyung.... Never mind."
Yoon Jong, who had quietly looked away from Baek Cheon’s sharp glare, muttered under his breath.
This guy used to at least pretend to be gentle, and now he’s openly trying to scare people with force.
They’ve all been corrupted.
At this rate, how could Mount Hua stand properly?
"Anyway, let’s hurry. We need to be up Mount Hua before today ends."
"Yes, Sahyung!"
Just as everyone was about to quicken their steps with excited hearts—
"...But, Sahyung."
"Hm?"
Baek Cheon turned to look at Jo Gul. For some reason, Jo Gul’s face looked terribly dark.
"What is it?"
"...That thing."
"Hm? What?"
"That thing. That thing."
Jo Gul jerked his chin. What he was pointing at was... the carts, and Chung Myung sprawled on top of one of them.
"Why bring that up now?"
"Not Chung Myung. The cart."
"...The cart? Why the cart?"
Jo Gul hesitated for a moment, as though he did not even want to say it aloud, then spoke.
"We’re not seriously planning to drag that thing up Mount Hua, are we?"
"...."
There wasn’t just one cart, but four in total.
Baek Cheon smiled as he looked at the dignified sight of all that cargo and money piled high, swelling like a little hill atop them.
Ah.
Surely not....
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Shouldn’t they be here by now?"
"They should arrive today."
The Mount Hua disciples rubbed their hands together anxiously in front of the mountain gate.
By the count of the days, today was the day they should arrive.
"Aren’t they not coming today after all? If they were on schedule, they should have arrived this morning, shouldn’t they?"
"Let’s wait just a little longer."
Un Am looked down the mountain with a slightly worried expression.
We were definitely told they’d arrive today.
Travel always came with all sorts of variables, so a delay of a day or two was no great surprise. And yet, for those waiting, it was impossible not to feel their hearts tighten.
"Is everything ready?"
"How many times are you going to ask? It was finished from the start."
At that somewhat sharp answer, Un Am smiled faintly.
Now I understand why Elder Hyun Young went to so much trouble preparing food.
He had often wondered if it was excessive, but now that he was the one waiting for everyone, he understood that feeling perfectly.
These were the people returning after accomplishing a feat that would not happen again for a hundred years. If it were up to him, he would have liked to carry each and every one of them around Mount Hua on his back, but since that was impossible, he at least wanted to prepare a warm meal.
"The Sect Leader must be tired from the long journey, so even if we’re happy, let’s welcome them at a reasonable level and let them rest today."
"Yes, Sahyung!"
"Don’t worry, Sasuk!"
The Mount Hua disciples lined up in long rows at the mountain gate nodded with slightly flushed faces. They had already been told that Mount Hua had placed second in the martial tournament and achieved its best result, and everyone felt as though they could fly.
Everyone had finished preparing to welcome the brothers who had brought this honor home with a joy unlike any other in the world.
Yes. It would be an utterly delightful occasion.
Then the one standing at the very front raised a hand and pointed downward.
"Th-there!"
"Eh, r-really! There! They’re coming up, Sahyung!"
"Oh?"
Un Am hurried forward.
"Ooooooh!"
Four people could be seen climbing the mountain as though they were flying.
Hyun Jong, Hyun Young, Hyun Sang, and behind them, Un Geom following along.
"Sect Leader!"
"Elders!"
"Hall Leader!"
The Mount Hua disciples quickly lowered their waists and bowed in respect.
"We greet the Sect Leader!"
"You’ve all worked hard, Sect Leader!"
Hyun Jong, approaching with a slightly flushed face, smiled warmly.
"It seems I’ve arrived late and caused you all trouble. What are you all doing out here?"
"It’s only natural, Sect Leader."
With a bright smile, Un Am welcomed him.
This was the place where they greeted those returning after accomplishing great feats. What was a little time spent standing around for a day?
"You truly, truly worked hard. The disciples are all overjoyed at what you and the children accomplished."
"Hahaha."
Hyun Jong burst into a good-natured laugh.
"I didn’t do anything. It was all those children."
"Was it not possible only because the Sect Leader led them?"
Hyun Jong shook his head.
"No. I really did nothing. If you want to praise someone, praise those children."
"Ha ha."
Seeing the Sect Leader, as always, attribute all the credit to the children, Un Am smiled softly. But for some reason, the people who should have been following behind him were nowhere to be seen.
"...But where are the children?"
At his question, Hyun Jong casually looked away and said, "They’ll be up shortly. Ah! I, ah, have some business inside, so I’ll be going now."
"Pardon?"
"We’ll speak again later."
Hyun Jong quickly headed toward the residential quarters. The elders also hurried after him.
Huh?
Even Un Geom had his head lowered deeply as he followed after the elders.
"Junior brother?"
"I-I need the latrine urgently. I’ll see you later, Sahyung."
"Hm?"
Watching Un Geom hurry inside in such a panic, Un Am could not even begin to guess the reason.
No, why was everyone in such a rush....
Just then—
"They’re coming!"
"Oh!"
Un Am snapped his head around.
The atmosphere was a little strange, but as the Sect Leader had said, the ones who had achieved such great feats were Mount Hua’s Baek generation and Cheong generation. Naturally, they deserved a proper welcome. Smiling broadly, he spread his arms wide.
"Everyone, welco—... Hm?"
But his words broke off abruptly. His eyes widened little by little as he looked ahead.
He could see the disciples climbing Mount Hua’s cliffs half-crawling, half-clinging.
"Uuuuuuugh...."
"Ughhh! Damn it! Why is this mountain so steep!"
"I-I nearly fell off the cliff three times."
The disciples, their eyes bloodshot, were climbing the mountain with long ropes wound tightly around their bodies.
Those ropes are... what?
And behind those who had crawled up the mountain, huge carts wrapped in rope suddenly rose into view as if being dragged upward.
Un Am’s mouth fell open.
They carried those up here?
Madness.
Every path leading to Mount Hua was a sheer abyss. It was one of Mount Hua’s perilous routes, a place where ordinary people would never even dream of climbing and where even martial artists often fell to their deaths.
And they dragged carts up that road?
What was more, it wasn’t just one cart.
"Aaaaaaagh!"
Jo Gul, clutching the edge of the cliff as he poked his head up, bared his eyes and howled.
"Damn it! Damn it! It’s just money anyway! We could’ve exchanged it for drafts or deposited it at the bank! Why in the world would you drag it all the way up here, you damn bastard!"
"You talk too much."
Eh?
As Jo Gul scrambled up the cliff, the rest of the Cheong generation followed one after another, their bloodshot faces red as they climbed. And along the ropes tied to them, the huge carts finally revealed themselves one by one.
On top of one of those carts... was Chung Myung. Seeing him sprawled there with a bottle of liquor in one hand, Un Am’s jaw dropped.
"...."
Un Am suddenly realized one thing.
Ah, right. They were always like this.
And he understood, deep in his bones, that there was no chance whatsoever of Mount Hua ever having a warm, normal welcome ceremony.