Episode 1210 Now the clan is finally back on track! (5)
Since the vacant lot of the manor was being used as a training ground, it was not very spacious. Thanks to this, just because Hwasan’s disciples lined up all at once, it didn’t look empty but was full.
It seems that the other factions of Cheonwoomaeng had vacated the training hall for the appointment of Hwasan’s deputy Jangmun, and not a single one was seen. Baekcheon took a heavy step forward, grateful once again for the consideration.
It was something I had hoped for and hoped for. From the time he left Jongnam and first entered Hwasan, his dream was to become a Jangmun sect and one day make Hwasan a better sect than Jongnam.
It was a goal he set as a young child, but his dream did not change one bit even after he got old enough to not have any more skills left. Rather, it became bigger and stronger.
Now his dream is not to make Hwasan a better sect than Jongnam. It is to go beyond that and create the best sect in the world, and even go beyond that and create a sect that leads the flow of power.
And today, Baekcheon finally takes the first step towards the dream he has longed for.
‘Let’s not be nervous.’
It’s only the first step. If you are already nervous, how can you get through the difficult road ahead?
Baekcheon took a short, deep breath.
The disciples of Hwasan, who were always full of fun, were staring at him with even more seriousness. In that gaze, Baekcheon moved forward. Equipped with his livery, he was taller than ever. He walked along the center of the training hall, and finally stood in front of the elders and elders who were waiting for him.
No one in particular has told me anything. But I felt like I knew what I had to do now.
“Baekcheon, a disciple of Hwasan Lee, teaches Jang Mun-in.”
With those words as a signal, Hwasan’s disciples all kneeled down on one knee and held out both hands in front of them to show respect.
“I appreciate the long story!”
Hyeonjong looked at Baekcheon in silence and then shifted his gaze to the disciples lined up behind him.
King Hyeonjong, dressed in a formal uniform, exuded a heavier seriousness than usual. Everyone who received his gaze straightened their posture and strengthened their bodies. As if he wasn’t going to leave any stains on this place.
Because everyone knows. How important is it to appoint a new scholar of a literary school?
Changing the head of any sect is not easy. However, especially in the case of volcanoes, its meaning can be said to be special.
In Hwasan, Jang Mun-in’s authority is stronger than that of any other sect. And it is a sect that was going through a crisis to the point where it was on the verge of extinction just a few years ago.
If such a sect appoints a new scholar, wouldn’t it mean breaking up with the Hwasan of the past and at the same time being reborn as a new Hwasan?
Therefore, appointing someone to this position, even if it is just an acting Jangmun person, carries the same weight as appointing a new Jangmun person.
Hyeonjong had all his disciples in his eyes. It’s a little strange to see my students with sharp eyes that are different from usual, but at the same time, I feel trustworthy.
At that moment, he closed his eyes as a strange sense of déjà vu washed over him.
‘That’s right…’
There is no reason to feel deja vu at a sight you have never seen before. Nevertheless, this feeling of déjà vu is not an illusion. Hyeonjong knew the reason well.
The appearance of the disciples he was seeing now was no different from the appearance of the volcano he had dreamed of in the past. No, on the contrary, his current students have grown into something even better than the future of the Huashan Sect that he always envisioned.
Seeing my dream come true with my own eyes filled me with indescribable emotions. And at the same time, I realized that it was time to step down from my position as a long-time writer.
‘Maybe it’s a little late.’
Regret? There is no such thing.
Each person has their own role. Hyeonjong, who knew that his role was over, could not have had any regrets.
The only thing left is, rather than a regret…
Hyeonjong smiled slightly and opened his mouth.
“Disciples, listen.”
“Yes, Jang Mun-in!”
Hwasan disciples responded with loud voices. Hyeonjong nodded and spoke in a serious voice.
“As you all know, I, Hyeonjong, in my capacity as Hwasan Jangmunin, would like to appoint a new Jangmunin here today who will lead Hwasan for future generations.”
A variety of emotions appeared in everyone’s eyes at that moment.
Regret about Hyeonjong stepping down from his position as Jangmun.
A little bit of discomfort and fear about the volcano that will change now.
But the biggest thing is the expectations for a different Hwasan and the firm trust in Baekcheon who will lead Hwasan.
Hyeonjong thought.
It would be nice.
Anyone who can elicit that kind of look from his students would be fully qualified to become Jangmunin, and would be able to perform the role of Jangmunin better than King Hyeonjong.
Hyeonjong once again recalled the time when he became a scholar.
The position of Jang Mun-in, which he took on as if all his executioners had left Hwasan. There was no celebration or blessing. There was just a sense of pride and a heavy sense of responsibility to somehow protect the volcano.
The look in Hyeonjong and Hyeonyoung’s eyes that looked at him at that time became a heaviness that Hyunjong would remember for the rest of his life.
‘That’s a good thing.’
So it is truly a pleasure. This means that the person who will become the new writer may receive a different perspective from him.
Now Hwasan is no longer the failing clan in Shaanxi that he inherited in the past. This is not a place where everything is chosen blindly and satisfied with only the opinions of a few people.
Hwasan of the new era, like Hwasan of the past, would establish its system as a proud noble family of Shaanxi and a great school that would reverberate throughout the world. Therefore, it is only natural that someone suited to that era would be promoted to a prominent position.
What Hyeonjong will take with him when he steps down from his position as a scholar-in-chief is simply the pride of having endured until the new era of Hwasan. Isn’t that enough?
“A Jangmun of Hwasan must not forget his duty as a Taoist as the head of Hwasan, and must properly walk the path of the sword as the head of Hwasan, a swordsman.”
Baekcheon’s face was indeed stern. Hyeonjong smiled lightly.
okay. Baekcheon will do well. He has walked the path of the sword more faithfully than anyone else, and he has firmly engraved in his heart the principles that a swordsman of volcanoes must have.
“I, King Hyeonjong, now believe that Hwasan’s descendants are also qualified to do so, so I would like to inform the founder and ancestors that I will ascend the position of Hwasan’s Jangmun to the next Jangmun.”
A gentle energy flowed from Hyeonjong’s body.
“Anyone who has objections to this, are you here?”
“doesn’t exist!”
“Are those who oppose this here?”
“doesn’t exist!”
Hyeonjong quietly nodded. Perhaps his ancestors who are watching this will acknowledge his choice with a smile.
King Hyeonjong can speak confidently to his ancestors whom he will meet one day. He can’t say he did a good job, but he did his best, and he never for a moment neglected his role as a volcanic expert.
‘Everything goes as it should.’
Hyeonjong nodded and kept his eyes on Baekcheon. A heavy sense of responsibility rested on his straight face. Hyeonjong quietly nodded.
Did he have that kind of expression too? And did his teacher feel the same way?
“In that case, I, King Hyeonjong, as the Jangmun of Hwasan whose authority has been recognized by his predecessors, and as the head of Hwasan whose authority has been delegated by his disciples, I will select the person who will become the next Jangmun.”
All of Hwasan’s disciples looked at Baekcheon with eyes filled with anticipation.
At that moment, Hyeonjong’s gaze turned to another person. While all the disciples and even the elders were looking at Baekcheon, it was Cheongmyeong who was looking at Hyeonjong alone.
Hyeonjong smiled when he saw those unwavering eyes. It was a smile that perhaps resembled Cheongmyeong’s.
‘My ancestors. I did my best.’
So…
“The person who will succeed me as the master of volcanology!”
Hyeonjong’s eyes left Cheongmyeong and turned to one person. To the one who should rightfully ascend to that position,
“Unam!”
“yes?”
“⋯⋯huh?”
At that moment, the disciples’ eyes became as big as lanterns.
More than a hundred disciples all opened their eyes and looked blankly at King Hyeonjong. But the person who was most visibly embarrassed was none other than Unam. His eyes twitched.
On the other hand, a humorous smile appeared on Hyeonjong’s lips.
‘So… wouldn’t it be okay for me to do as I wish with the last choice?’
Tao is ultimately about following your heart.
His heart speaks.
Even if Baekcheon can become a better Jangmun, we should not ignore Unam’s dedication to Hwasan so far.
If it is taken for granted that better people rise to higher positions, Hwasan will also become a sect that only looks at ability.
Not ignoring the voice of your heart. That was Hyeonjong’s first and last greed, and the result of facing himself as a Buddhist monk.
“Uh…”
As Unam was so embarrassed that he could not keep his mouth shut, Hyeonjong felt an indescribable feeling at that moment.
‘It wouldn’t be a bad idea to live like Cheongmyeong in the next life.’
This sight, in which everyone could not hide their astonishment, gave King Hyeonjong a feeling he had never felt before in his life.
“Disciple Unam, please come forward!”
“Now, long story…?”
Unam just looked at Hyeonjong, not knowing what to do.
“What are you doing? Are you disobeying Jang Mun-in’s orders?”
When Hyeonjong scolded in a voice full of dignity, Unam didn’t know what to do, but he stepped forward. Although we are only seeing it from afar, he should never disobey Jangmunin’s orders while other members of the sect are also watching.
As Unam walked forward with careful steps and knelt down next to Baekcheon, Hyeonjong shouted in a stern voice.
“I, Hyeonjong, with the authority of Hwasan Jangmun, choose my greatest disciple, Unam, to be Hwasan’s Jangmun!”
A devastated expression appeared on Unam’s face. Hyeonjong spoke again as if shouting.
“also! Since Hwasan is not the same as in the past and it is difficult for one Jangmun person to lead Hwasan properly, a permanent Jangmun representative position has been created and the external affairs of Jangmun have been divided. Accordingly, I appoint Baek Cheon, a disciple of Lee University, to the position of Assistant Manager Hwasan Jangmun!”
“ah!”
“Huh…?”
Even though they knew that this was not the place to be, exclamations momentarily burst out from the mouths of the volcano disciples.
“Are those who oppose this here?”
Hwasan’s disciples momentarily exchange glances. After a while, their eyes turned to the two people in front of them.
To the person who will lead the future of volcanoes, and to the person who will connect volcanoes from the past to the future.
Soon, a huge roar broke out.
“doesn’t exist. A long writer!”
In the whirlpool of emotions threatening to explode, one person, Cheongmyeong, smiled.
“Now the clan is finally back on track!”
It was a moment of unprecedented satisfaction as he looked at Hyeonjong.