A short yet long silence settled.

It was less silence than stillness, and that stillness bordered on absolute hush.

The echo of Baek Cheon’s last words permeated everyone in the room.

Perhaps it was not such a great matter.

After all, it was merely the change of a sect leader among the countless schools in the martial world.

But a surge of passion rose in the hearts of those who witnessed the scene. A torrent of emotions, hard to put into words, kept them trapped in that afterglow.

It would be hard to guess who here was most moved by the sight. Conversely, it was all too easy to tell whose mind was the most tangled.

Beop Jeong’s eyes trembled repeatedly. It was hard to believe he had just moments ago had eyes as deep as the sea.

‘What on earth...’

He glanced between Hyun Jong and Baek Cheon with a bewildered expression. He was dumbfounded.

Choosing a sect leader is never a decision to be made lightly. What is a sect leader? A weighty position that determines a sect’s future. And yet such a momentous matter was handled like this.

No matter how much Mount Hua discarded formality long ago and became a sect with different principles, this was beyond reasonable acceptance. He almost preferred to believe it was a play staged by Mount Hua’s disciples; at least that would be more believable.

But someone shattered even Beop Jeong’s vague hope to pieces.

“Th... this... what...”

Turning toward the voice, he saw Chung Myung completely dazed. Saying his soul had left his body wouldn’t be an overstatement.

“This... no... no, what is this... this...”

“......”

“Even if a sect goes mad... there are limits. Oh dear... ooh...”

He mumbled incomprehensible words, staring at the ceiling with rotten-fish eyes.

“To witness this... why must I... I... oh sahyung... Mount Hua is ruined... Mount Hua is...”

Of course Beop Jeong knew Chung Myung had both the appearance of a chivalrous hero and a swindler. But even to him, that reaction could hardly be dismissed as acting.

Then does it truly mean they decided all of this right here?

‘Are they sane?’

Beop Jeong looked at Hyun Jong with a face that was more than bewildered; he was aghast.

The Hyun Jong he knew was so cautious he verged on timid. Yet that Hyun Jong had handled such a grave matter in such a slapdash way. It made no sense.

‘No, it can’t be.’

Beop Jeong, dazed, suddenly snapped back to his senses. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

This was neither the time to blame Hyun Jong nor to leisurely assess the situation. The matter had already occurred, and if they erred, this gathering could be swept into an unforeseen course in a heartbeat.

Sensing crisis, Beop Jeong emitted a short Buddhist chant.

“Amitabha.”

At the clear voice ringing through the room, those who had been dazed finally turned their gazes to him.

Beop Jeong forced calm and began to speak.

“...Alliance leader. I would not presume to argue in another’s great affairs, but this seems far too sudden.”

As Beop Jeong spoke, an involuntary look of realization crossed his face.

Speaking hastily without fully formed thoughts, he’d likely said something that could offend Hyun Jong. He realized his mistake in an instant, but Hyun Jong surprisingly nodded coolly.

“As you see it, abbot, that may be so.”

“......”

“But this matter was decided by Mount Hua’s Sect leader—me. The authority to choose and appoint the next sect leader rests solely with me, the current Sect leader of Mount Hua.”

Beop Jeong pressed his lips tightly together.

Hyun Jong was right. The selection of a sect’s next leader depends solely on the current Sect leader’s will. Elders or even a retired grand master may voice opinions, but they cannot force the Sect leader’s choice to change.

In that case, what meaning would the abbot of another sect’s words have?

Yet Beop Jeong could not back down here; his position made retreat impossible.

“However... appointing a sect leader is surely the greatest formal affair of a sect and must be done with decorum.”

“Indeed.”

Hyun Jong nodded again, coolly.

“Therefore, for now he will not be a full Sect leader but an Acting Sect leader. The Acting Sect leader is a temporary post that carries out the Sect leader’s authority on appointed matters, so strict formalities are unnecessary.”

“...That...”

Even Beop Jeong found himself at a loss for words. His earlier objections had been almost contrived, and now there was no corner left to cling to that contrivance.

And at that moment.

“Acting Sect leader, come here.”

“Yes!”

Hyun Jong drew the sword at his waist and presented it to Baek Cheon.

“In the name of Mount Hua’s Sect leader, I grant full authority regarding negotiations with Shaolin to Mount Hua’s acting Sect leader, Baek Cheon.”

“I accept the command.”

Baek Cheon received the sword with a dignified stance and bowed. Without delay he drew the Plum Blossom sword from his waist and sheathed it in its place, securing the Violet Cloud sword Hyun Jong had given him.

What could words convey about Beop Jeong’s inner turmoil at seeing that Violet Cloud Sword?

That very sword was the one Beop Jeong had retrieved and returned to Mount Hua. Yet now that sword was placing him in an awkward position.

He was beyond anger now.

Baek Cheon, sword at his waist, rose from his seat, turned, and sat facing Beop Jeong. Behind him, Hyun Jong seated at the high seat overlapped in view.

At that instant Beop Jeong had to muster immense inner strength to calm the facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.

“...Amitabha.”

Instinctively chanting, Beop Jeong closed his eyes.

‘Calm down.’

In hindsight there was nothing to panic about. The absurdity of «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the scene had caused an overreaction, but at root it was merely that the interlocutor had changed.

It’s true that Baek Cheon’s display was impressive enough even for Beop Jeong to look twice, but that was an assessment of Baek Cheon as a great disciple.

If the evaluative standard were a Sect leader rather than a great disciple, there was no reason to give him high marks.

After all, wouldn’t it be far safer to deal with a newly appointed, zealous Acting Sect leader than the seasoned Hyun Jong?

Beop Jeong steadied his breath to offer congratulations to Baek Cheon.

But Baek Cheon spoke before Beop Jeong could.

“First, I apologize for the discourtesy shown to the abbot.”

“......”

“I knew it was unseemly for the position, but the matter was urgent and I inadvertently kept you waiting. I am sorry.”

Baek Cheon bowed lightly.

Beop Jeong had no choice but to nod. Complaining now would change nothing; it was better to show magnanimity.

“Thank you for understanding. I, Baek Cheon, as Acting Sect leader vested with full authority by Mount Hua’s Sect leader, will state Mount Hua’s position.”

“Hmm, Taoist Baek Cheon—no... Acting Sect leader.”

“Yes.”

“Your wording seems off. Weren’t you the ones who asked me to address Hyun Jong not as Mount Hua’s Sect leader but as the Alliance leader of the Heavenly Friends Alliance?”

Beop Jeong glanced at others and continued.

“I came here to negotiate with the Alliance leader of the Heavenly Friends Alliance, so how can Mount Hua’s Sect leader negotiate on behalf of the Alliance leader? That makes no sense.”

It was a sharp observation. But Baek Cheon smiled as if he had expected Beop Jeong to say it.

“You seem to be mistaken.”

“...Mistaken, you say?”

“Yes, abbot. I am not acting as a proxy in this negotiation. I am here to convey Mount Hua’s answer to the proposal you made to Mount Hua.”

“This gathering...”

“This is, of course, a place to discuss the future of the Heavenly Friends Alliance and the Nine Great Sects. But you wouldn’t claim Mount Hua cannot declare its intentions here, would you? Since you gave different offers to each sect, should we not also respond to your proposal?”

“...I see.”

To summarize: Hyun Jong deputized the Mount Hua Sect leader position to Baek Cheon but did not hand over the Heavenly Friends Alliance leadership. Thus Baek Cheon was not a proxy for the Alliance leader; as Mount Hua’s Acting Sect leader he would respond to Beop Jeong’s proposal to Mount Hua.

“All Mount Hua disciples are deeply grateful for the proposal you made, abbot.”

“If that’s the case, that’s fortunate. Then...”

“However, abbot.”

Baek Cheon smiled gently. Yet that smile, which should have been soft, looked several times more resolute than a stern expression.

“Mount Hua refuses your proposal. Mount Hua will not return to the Nine Great Sects.”

Beop Jeong’s eyes widened involuntarily.

He had hoped to draw a favorable outcome through careful dialogue. Yet this brat had immediately announced a conclusion from an angle he did not want.

“W-wait! Acting Sect leader!”

“And!”

Baek Cheon did not stop there; he continued in a firm voice.

“The rights of the Heavenly Friends Alliance are shared among all its member sects. Even if the current member sects side with the Nine Great Sects’ intention...”

Baek Cheon took in everyone seated here with his eyes. All sharp gazes were fixed on him.

He felt the expectations in those looks, the weight they carried. Baek Cheon did not flinch; he took them fully and spoke with all his inner strength.

“Mount Hua alone will remain in the Heavenly Friends Alliance.”

His words spread as clearly and sharply as a single stroke drawn on white paper.

“Thus, in the name of Mount Hua’s Acting Sect leader I declare: there will be no dissolution of the Heavenly Friends Alliance. Even if all other sects leave the Alliance and only Mount Hua remains, Mount Hua will preserve the name of the Heavenly Friends Alliance.”

Beop Jeong’s mouth dropped open.

What on earth was this brat babbling?

But contrary to Beop Jeong’s shock, Baek Cheon facing him was utterly composed.

“Ah, of course, do not misunderstand.”

“...Misunderstand?”

Misunderstand? What more is there for misunderstanding now?

Baek Cheon, who had spoken firmly like Mount Tai, now spoke with a breeze-like gentleness.

“Of course I do not suppose you would think ill of us, abbot, but that does not mean Mount Hua intends to oppose Shaolin or the Nine Great Sects. We aim for the same destination, merely taking a slightly different path.”

A warm smile, like a spring breeze, graced his composed face.

In other circumstances it might have been well-intentioned. But not now. Those who saw the smile—even Mount Hua’s own disciples—felt their insides twist.

“Even if we do not return under the Nine Great Sects, surely Shaolin of the world could still embrace Mount Hua alone?”

“......”

“Solving the crisis sweeping the murim world requires the cooperation of all the Central Plains. And as you know, I am but a green housed youth newly risen to Acting Sect leader, ignorant of worldly ways, am I not?”

As Beop Jeong’s mouth involuntarily opened, Baek Cheon bowed with utmost courtesy.

“I humbly ask for your guidance in the future, abbot.”

“Uh...”

Beop Jeong, stunned, could not find words.

Watching Baek Cheon blatantly swallow up Beop Jeong, Tang Gunak suddenly felt dizzy and shut his eyes tightly at what he had to witness.

‘Why...’

Why are Mount Hua’s people... all like that? Why...

At the thought that the Mount Hua they knew had returned, everyone felt joy and pain at once.