Chapter v14c19

**The Opening Ceremony of the Mount Hua Conference!**

(TLN: i skiped a chap yesterday go back and read it ill post 2 today so that it doesnt feel like there was no progress)

**- The Appearance of Elder Hyuk Jung!**

“Today’s the day!”

Yoon Jun-ho said, basking in the morning sun. His face was flushed with excitement, his voice trembling with anticipation.

“Are you that excited?”

Jang Hong asked. Yoon Jun-ho nodded vigorously.

“Of course! It’s the biggest martial arts tournament in the world! The dream of every young martial artist! I can’t believe I’m actually here, participating in the Mount Hua Conference! It feels like a dream! I keep pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

The timid young man was still lacking in confidence. But he was better than someone who slept through the entire event.

“Well, it’s good to be young.”

Jang Hong decided to be positive. And then he shouted at Yoon Jun-ho,

“Show those black path bastards the spirit of the white path!”

In the Heavenly Demons Pavilion’s lodgings, a young boy was also basking in the morning sun. He was a boy with a youthful face and an air of innocence. It was So Yu, the boy they had met at the entrance to the Red Plum Valley.

“It’s finally starting! The Mount Hua Conference! I’ll show those Cheonmu Academy bastards, those arrogant white path hypocrites, what we’re made of!”

“I’m counting on you.”

The man with the scar on his left cheek replied in a monotone. It was the man they had nicknamed “Second Senior Brother.”

He was preoccupied with something more important. He was meticulously polishing his weapon, his focus unwavering. What could hold the attention of such a cold and aloof man?

“And this time, I’ll prove that I’m a real man!”

So Yu said, determined to prove himself. He had always been insecure about his youthful appearance.

“Good.”

Another curt reply. But So Yu didn’t mind. He looked at the sun, his eyes shining with determination.

“I’ll win, no matter what! I’ll defeat them and prove myself! I’ll show those white path bastards the spirit of the black path! Just you wait!”

But he had no idea how badly his expectations would be shattered.

Left white, right black.

The black and white robes, divided down the middle, were the ceremonial attire of the Law Enforcers.

Left white represented yang, right black represented yin.

The robes symbolized the harmony and balance of yin and yang.

The harmony of black and white.

It was a reminder of their duty and their mission.

Dozens of Law Enforcers, clad in their black and white robes, stood in formation on the platform at the First Training Ground in the Red Plum Valley. Most of them were old, their faces weathered by time, their ages impossible to guess. There were a few younger ones – in their fifties – but they were a minority. But their collective presence was overwhelming, filling the vast training ground with an aura of authority.

“There are so many of them! Where were they hiding all this time?”

Namgung Sang wondered, tilting his head in curiosity. They had been in the Red Plum Valley for three days, but they had only seen a handful of Law Enforcers.

“I don’t know… Maybe they were playing hide-and-seek.”

Hyun Woon replied casually. His gaze was fixed on a single point, and he didn’t have the attention to spare for anything else.

“What’s that empty space in the middle for?”

The Law Enforcers were lined up on both sides of the platform, leaving an empty space in the center, as if reserved for someone special. Namgung Sang followed his friend’s gaze.

“Is someone else coming?”

And then,

“Huh?”

Bi Ryu-yeon, who had been looking away, was the first to notice him.

“What the…?”

Yeomdo, who had been standing at the front of the line of Cheonmu Academy disciples, craned his neck forward, as if an invisible hand was pulling him.

“N-No way…”

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“This is…”

Binggeom stared as well, his eyes narrowed. Despite his years of training, his heart skipped a beat.

“Hey, isn’t that the old man…?”

Bi Ryu-yeon’s eyes snapped open. He had been on the verge of falling asleep.

The old man walked confidently towards the platform, receiving the respect of the Law Enforcers as if it were his due. Bi Ryu-yeon, Yeomdo, and Namgung Sang all recognized him. They had spent several days with him, and it was too soon to forget his face.

He was wearing the black and white robes of a Law Enforcer.

He stopped in the center of the platform, his gaze sweeping over the assembled disciples, his eyes filled with love and compassion.

“Welcome, talented disciples of the martial world, both black and white! You should be proud to be here, chosen from among the most promising young martial artists in the world. Admire and respect each other, regardless of your affiliations. It is your right and your duty.”

His voice was deep and resonant, filled with the wisdom of age.

“I am Hyuk Jung, and I have the honor of overseeing the tenth Mount Hua Conference. It is a great joy and privilege for an old man like me to witness your youthful energy and talent! Please, call me Elder Hyuk.”

His voice was surprisingly strong and vibrant, filled with genuine joy and excitement. It was contagious, lifting their spirits and filling them with anticipation.

But the real excitement was yet to come. And it was an excitement that would fill some with dread. He looked at them, his eyes twinkling.

How would they react to what he was about to say? He was curious. But he wouldn’t have to wait long to find out.

“This may come as a surprise, even a shock…”

He began.

“But I believe it’s time to reveal the true purpose of the Mount Hua Conference!”

The true purpose?

The purpose of the Mount Hua Conference was for the talented disciples of the white path, represented by the Cheonmu Academy, and the black path, represented by the Heavenly Demons Pavilion, to gather every ten years to compete and improve their skills, in preparation for the possible return of the Heavenly Calamity Spirit. And of course, there was also the underlying competition for power and prestige within the martial world.

“Ryong-ryong, do you know what he’s talking about?”

Bi Ryu-yeon asked Hyo-ryong. Ryong-ryong was a nickname he sometimes used for Hyo-ryong.

“How would I know?”

Hyo-ryong was even more gloomy than usual today. His hair was even more disheveled than usual, making his face almost unrecognizable.

“What about you, old man?”

“The true purpose…”

Jang Hong frowned.

“Was there one?”

He couldn’t recall anything like that.

“There wasn’t anything like that last time…”

He was right.

“The Three Gates of Calamity, the centennial anniversary…”

Something was going on behind the scenes. And finally, the old man revealed the truth.

It was a truth that shocked even Jang Hong, a veteran of the martial world.

“Many of you probably think that the Mount Hua Conference is just a competition between the black path and the white path, a simple test of martial arts skills.”

‘Isn’t that obvious?’

They all thought the same thing.

“It’s understandable. Traditionally, martial arts tournaments have always focused on combat skills. And the Mount Hua Conference was no different, until now. But we’ve finally realized that focusing solely on martial arts goes against the original spirit of the Mount Hua Conference. We’ve been doing it wrong all this time.”

He continued, his voice echoing through the silent training ground.

“We’re not saying that martial arts are unimportant. The Mount Hua Conference was originally intended to be a friendly competition, a way for both sides to improve their skills. But!”

He paused for emphasis.

“We’ve discovered that there are many drawbacks to prioritizing martial arts skills.”

“What are they?”

One of the participants asked.

“It can lead to excessive aggression and rivalry. It can create animosity and hatred, instead of healthy competition. And it’s something we’ve all overlooked, in the name of mutual improvement.”

“But it’s a martial arts tournament! How else can we determine the winner?”

Another question. Elder Hyuk’s voice sharpened. He needed to get their attention.

“What do you think this is? A simple brawl, where the winner is the one who inflicts the most damage or knocks their opponent out of the ring?”

His tone was incredulous, his voice laced with authority.

“But that’s how it was last time…”

Jang Hong muttered.

“This is not a simple tournament! It’s a gathering of the most talented young martial artists in the world, a chance to shape the future of the martial world! Do you think such an important event should be so crude and barbaric?”

He had just insulted every martial arts tournament in the world. They all remained silent.

“You’re mistaken! And to reject and exclude each other, to try to defeat each other, goes against the Three Great Principles of the Mount Hua Conference! We’ve realized our mistake, and we’re going to correct it. It took us a hundred years, but we finally see the light.”

The Three Great Principles? They had never heard of them. Even those who had participated in the previous conference were confused.

“The Three Great Principles?”

Someone asked.

Hyuk Jung said, his voice firm and resolute,

“Friendship, harmony, and peace.”

Time seemed to stop. Everything froze. And then, a wave of shock and disbelief washed over them.

His words were earth-shattering.

“N-No way!”

‘I told you so!’

“That’s insane!”

‘Well, it may seem that way, but it’s true!’

“That’s ridiculous…”

‘It may seem ridiculous, but it’s the truth.’

“You’re lying! I don’t believe you!”

‘As expected! Well, it’s understandable.’

“That’s impossible!”

‘There’s no need to be so dramatic.’

For a moment, they were united, regardless of their affiliations or genders, in their shared disbelief.

“That’s crazy! It’s impossible! It can’t be true!”

Almost everyone in the First Training Ground agreed.

Their reaction was as passionate as he had expected. They wanted to deny reality. But unfortunately, reality was reality, and truth was truth. It couldn’t be changed by simply denying it.

Fortunately, they didn’t descend into mass hysteria. But it took a lot of effort to maintain their composure. They were struggling to process this information, to reconcile it with their existing beliefs.

It was a complete overhaul of their worldview.

It was a testament to the power of ingrained beliefs.

Hyuk Jung waited patiently for their initial shock to subside. And then he spoke again.

“I understand your surprise.”

‘You don’t understand at all…’

He seemed to be enjoying their confusion.

“But don’t treat the Mount Hua Conference like any other ordinary martial arts tournament, where the goal is to simply defeat your opponent! We can’t move forward, we can’t prepare for the coming calamity, if we continue to cling to such outdated notions!”

It was a dire warning.

“Question! What is this ‘coming calamity’ you speak of?”

They all stared at him, their eyes wide with anticipation.

His answer was chilling.

“The resurrection of the Heavenly Calamity Spirit.”