Read Novel Full Chapter 1193: Why Did It Turn Out Like This? (3)
Chapter 1193: Why Did It Turn Out Like This? (3)
Rumors travel faster than the wind. And some rumors travel twice as fast as that.
The rumor that Baek Cheon had taken the Acting Sect leader position of Mount Hua and refused Beop Jeong’s proposal literally swept through the entire Heavenly Friends Alliance like a violent gale.
Of course, it was bound to cause consternation. Baek Cheon was not unfit for the Sect leader’s position, but Hyun Jong had such an unshakable standing as Mount Hua’s Sect leader.
Generally, no group replaces its head while it’s on the rise, so why on earth would Mount Hua, expanding its influence with overwhelming momentum, suddenly introduce such a drastic change?
“What?”
Someone gasped in shock.
“Ah, no, why?”
Someone [N O V E L I G H T] else was flustered.
“What on earth is going on...?”
Someone worried.
Reactions varied, but they all shared shock and concern about the matter.
Everyone in the Heavenly Friends Alliance recognized Mount Hua as the sect that led the Alliance. It was natural to worry that Mount Hua’s sudden change might affect the Alliance.
But no matter how shocked they were, it couldn’t compare to the Mount Hua disciples who were struck by lightning out of a clear sky.
They’d gone to bed at ease and woken up to find the head of the household suddenly changed. The disciples of Mount Hua were utterly stunned.
The Mount Hua disciples stared at one another in a daze.
Disciples from other sects passing by saw them gathered together and whispered as they hurried past. Normally they might have ignored it, but given today’s circumstances even those whispers were grating.
“So...”
Chung Hwa asked back with a stunned face.
“What happens now?”
“What do you mean ‘what happens.’ Didn’t Baek Cheon sahyung become the Sect leader?”
“No, is it something that just ‘became’ like frying beans in a flash? This is a change of Sect leader, you know?”
“...Normally it wouldn’t be like that, right?”
“Even if Mount Hua is a sect without much pedigree...”
“You bastard! A sect without pedigree? The pedigree is solid! It’s just that it’s damn ruined.”
“That, that.”
“It’s different!”
Pouting, Chung Hwa turned and looked at Baek Hyun.
“And... if the Sect leader seat is to be transferred, shouldn’t it go to Un Am sasuk based on lineage rather than Baek Cheon sasuk? Then what happens to Un Am sasuk’s position?”
“I don’t know. It’s something the Sect leader did; wouldn’t they have consulted among themselves?”
“That’s true, but...”
Everyone’s expressions grew complicated and strange.
They knew it wasn’t necessarily bad. After all, wasn’t Baek Cheon always someone who would eventually take the Sect leader’s post? It was a matter of timing and order; nobody opposed Baek Cheon becoming Sect leader. Only a small, very small detail differed from their expectations.
But that tiny difference tangled the situation terribly.
“Um... then...”
“Hmm?”
Im Pyung tilted his head with a puzzled look.
“That Sect leader... no, the original Sect leader... ah no, it’s not that, elder Hyun Jong... uh, that’s not it either...”
Baek Hyun squeezed his eyes shut.
“Let’s just call him the Sect leader for now.”
“Then what do we call Baek Cheon sasuk?”
“...Let’s call him the young Sect leader.”
“No, that’s against protocol...”
“Just for now, let’s call it that here!”
“Why are you getting angry?”
“Ugh, damn!”
Startled, Im Pyung quickly spoke up again.
“Then... what will happen to the Sect leader? He’s given up the Sect leader seat now.”
“He becomes the Former Sect leader.”
“Former Sect leader?”
“Yes.”
Baek Hyun nodded and elaborated.
“The predecessor who transfers the Sect leader’s seat is referred to with the title ‘Former.’ The Sect leader becomes Former Sect leader, and the elders become Former elders.”
“Ah...”
Im Pyeong fell silent as if thinking, then suddenly frowned.
“But sasuk, then... Former Sect leader is a term referring to the senior generation above the Sect leader, right? Like Former Sect leader or Former elder.”
“That’s right.”
“Then what about the Un disciple members?”
“...Huh?”
“What should they be called then? They’re neither elders nor former elders...”
“Um... uh... uh?”
Baek Hyun tilted his head and scratched his temple.
“...Might they become Former elders? Usually the titles Former elder or Former Sect leader refer to the predecessor elders and predecessors, but the ‘Former’ title is also an honorific for a generation one rank above the Sect leader... maybe?”
“Then what about the current Sect leader? You said earlier that the Sect leader becomes Former Sect leader?”
“Um... then the Sect leader would become the Former Great Sect leader, right?”
“Great?”
“Former-former, you idiot! Former-former!”
“...former-former Sect leader?”
“Y-yeah, probably?”
Im Pyung’s expression grew sour, full of doubt.
“Is that even a real title to begin with?”
“It is! It really exists, I’m telling you!”
“Hmm...”
Im Pyung nodded as if reluctantly accepting it.
“But sasuk, then...”
“Yes?”
“Does each rank up add another ‘Former’ character?”
“As far as I know...”
“Then if Yoon Jong sahyung inherits the Sect leader seat later, and the current Sect leader is still alive by then, should we call him the Former-former-former Sect leader?”
“...”
Baek Hyun covered his face with both hands. Words he really didn’t want to say finally slipped out.
“What kind of messed-up pedigree is this...”
“...You said the pedigree of Mount Hua was solid.”
“It’s solid, you bastard! Solid! What other sect in the world has had three people serve as Sect leader in one generation? Where in the world is a sect with such solid pedigree!”
“Is that really ‘solid’?”
“Damn...”
At that moment, Chung Hwa, who had been silent, spoke up again.
“Um, but...”
“What now?”
“No. I understand the principle, but something’s odd. As you said, the ‘Former’ character means ‘previous post’ or ‘previous generation,’ right?”
“It’s more of an honorific than ‘previous post’...”
“Then what about Un Am senior sasuk’s line?”
“...Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I mean, elders automatically become elders so you can add a ‘Former’ to them, but Un Am senior sasuk’s line never held the Sect leader position—calling them Former Sect leaders and elders would be wrong, wouldn’t it?”
“...”
“So in Mount Hua we’d have a Former-former Sect leader but no Former Sect leader?”
“...”
“And yet the Un disciples line would be called the Former elders... but we can’t call the Sect leader position as Former Sect leader.”
His head became a complete jumble. Feeling thoroughly tangled, Baek Hyun turned his head anxiously. This wasn’t a matter for him to sort out; wasn’t there someone else who organized these things?
“S-sahyung! Do something about this... huh? sahyung?”
Baek Hyun tilted his head. Baek Sang, the one who should sort this out, sat in a corner with a dazed look.
What on earth was that man doing now?
“Sahyung?”
“It’s...”
“Yes?”
“...What’s important about that, you brats...?”
The spirit drained from Baek Sang’s mouth.
“At my age... at my age I’m becoming an elder... I’m at this age...”
“...”
“All the neighboring sect folks I’ve finally gotten close to are in their prime... Why am I the only one becoming an elder... only me...”
“Ahem.”
In sympathy, Baek Hyun cleared his throat softly.
“Well, still... it’s not all that bad...”
“Now that Mount Hua’s fame will rise, our name will spread across the land—what will people think when they hear ‘Mount Hua’s elder Baek Sang’?”
“Wow, sahyung! With the honorific like a Taoist title, ‘Taoist master Baek,’ I immediately imagine a hoary-haired grandfather! Ooh, majestic!”
Baek Hyun, who had been cheerfully jabbering, flinched and lowered his gaze at Baek Sang’s murderous glare.
Only upon hearing Baek Sang did the Baek disciples realize their situation and sighed one by one.
“...An elder.”
“I haven’t even gotten married yet...”
“Indeed. If I’m an elder, will suitors even come?”
“Even I wouldn’t want me...”
The unmarried Mount Hua bachelors, still clinging to false hope, had moist eyes.
“What marriage for a Taoist?”
“Hey! Mount Hua can marry!”
“Stop it. Chung Myung will foam at the mouth and flip out. That guy sometimes thinks this place is the Wudang’s house.”
“But it’s the sect’s code, so why...”
“Excuse me.”
At that moment, Kwak Hoe quietly raised his hand. Everyone’s gaze turned to him.
“Um... I think you sasuks are missing one important fact.”
“Huh? What?”
“...When a main mountain disciple marries, they must set up household at Mount Hua, right? They can’t leave the sect grounds.”
“Right. What an obvious statement.”
“Do you have the confidence to set up a newlywed household with Chung Myung around?”
“...”
For a moment the Baek disciples, struck speechless, all looked upward slightly and imagined many futures in a short instant.
Then they lowered their heads and smiled contentedly.
“Drop it.”
“That’s impossible.”
“What did the one getting married do wrong? This is like piling sin on them.”
Even if they’re called Taoists, would they drag an innocent person into living hell? And even if someone broad-minded enough understood, it’s still a problem—who would like to see their spouse sprawling and rolling on the dirt every other day?
“What use is following the marriage rule? Reality is like this...”
“Quiet.”
Baek Hyun waved his hand in irritation and steered the topic elsewhere.
“By the way, the sahyung who caused all this—where the hell is he now? He should come and explain at least.”
“Who? Baek Cheon sasuk?”
“Yes. The... ahem. The Sect leader, I mean.”
“If it’s Baek Cheon sasuk, right about now he is probably...”
Kwak Hoe cast his gaze into the distance with a wistful look, as if imagining something.
“He looks like he’s paying dearly for what he did.”
“...Surrounded by a pack of jackals?”
“Wouldn’t you think so?”
Baek Hyun slowly nodded as if he could picture it.
Those devils wouldn’t leave him be.
He sighed softly and glanced at the other disciples. Their faces were a tangle of excitement, worry, and concern.
He spoke on behalf of the dazed Baek Sang.
“As you know, the Sect leader hasn’t made a definitive declaration yet. He never hides things from his disciples, so he will clearly explain what we need to know and why.”
“Yes, sasuk.”
“Yes, sahyung.”
“So stop flapping your mouths pointlessly. We’re among ourselves so it’s not a big deal, but we’re not the only ones here, right? There’s no need to give the impression that we’re confused and floundering. You understand?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Everyone, disperse.”
“Yes!”
As everyone dispersed, Baek Hyun sighed and turned his head.
“Sahyung.”
“...That, I’m the treasurer... why me...”
“Ah! People will think we’re Beggars’ Union beggars! Get a grip and let’s go!”
“What on earth is that man thinking...”
“How should we know? He’s always been like that.”
As he hauled the sprawled Baek Sang up, Baek Hyun couldn’t help but let a slight, strange smile cross his face.
‘So Baek Cheon sahyung is the Sect leader.’
He was uneasy too. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Baek Cheon, but to them the Sect leader of Mount Hua had always been Hyun Jong alone.
Yet despite that worry, one feeling rose clearly within him. It was unavoidable.
‘Mount Hua might get a little more interesting now.’
He was quietly certain. The other disciples were probably thinking the same.