The secret vault was smaller than expected.
But then again, that was only natural. If Mount Hua had the resources to build a massive vault out of Ten-Thousand-Year Black Iron, it would have been called the greatest sect in the world during its time.
"...Always complaining about being broke, but they spent money building this."
A deep sense of frustration washed over him, but what could he do? He couldn't argue with the dead.
Grumbling, Chung Myung stepped inside and looked around.
There were various items inside the vault. The first thing he needed to check was…
"Money!"
Chung Myung's eyes sparkled.
It must be here! The secret funds Elder Brother Jangmun had carefully saved! Glittering gold! Exquisite porcelain and other treasures…!
"It should be here."
Chung Myung looked around, tilting his head in confusion.
What's going on? Why can't I see it?
He opened his eyes wide and scanned the vault again and again. But no matter how hard he looked, there wasn't a single shiny object, let alone any treasure.
This can't be right.
"No, no."
Even if Elder Brother Jangmun was a frugal man, as the sect leader, there must have been many places where money was needed!
It's common sense to stash away some funds to deal with Mount Hua's crises or unforeseen circumstances, right?
"But why is there no money!"
A wave of immense sadness hit him.
Ah, what a stingy man. There wasn't even any secret funds.
Chung Myung rubbed his face vigorously.
If there had been secret funds hidden by the sect leader, he could have used them for many good purposes.
Like reviving Mount Hua by visiting brothels, visiting brothels, visiting brothels…
"Ah, no! No! I'm purely focused on reviving Mount Hua!"
He could almost hear someone clicking their tongue from somewhere.
"Tsk."
Chung Myung shook off his disappointment and turned his head. There was something more important than treasure.
"This must be it!"
The neatly arranged books on the shelves along one wall of the vault.
Chung Myung swallowed dryly and approached the bookshelf.
"This has to be it."
He pulled out a book from the middle and skimmed through its contents. As he read each character, a smile gradually spread across his face.
"That's right!"
It couldn't be missing!
As expected, the first bookshelf contained the meticulously organized financial records of Mount Hua, compiled by the sect leader. These were supposed to be kept in the Treasure Hall, but it seemed the sect leader had made copies and stored them here to keep track of confidential documents and prepare for unforeseen circumstances.
The records weren't just from Chung Myung's time but also from previous generations. With these, he could strike back at those bastards.
"These guys are dead!"
This alone made all the hardship of opening the vault worth it.
And the second bookshelf…
"Oh ho!"
Martial arts manuals!
Chung Myung almost let out a shout.
The lost martial arts manuals of Mount Hua were here…
"Huh?"
Chung Myung tilted his head in confusion.
"These aren't the lost ones?"
His brow furrowed. They were indeed martial arts manuals, but they were slightly different from the ones they had been practicing. These were manuals for martial arts that had mostly fallen out of use in Mount Hua.
"Hmm."
Chung Myung scratched his cheek.
"What a sentimental man."
Even though they had decided not to pass these down to future generations, they were still part of Mount Hua's martial arts. It seemed the sect leader couldn't bring himself to completely discard them.
Perhaps he was worried that losing these martial arts would negatively impact Mount Hua's future, so he had gathered them here.
If the first bookshelf represented the sect leader's duty to Mount Hua, the second represented his concern and affection for the sect.
"...Elder Brother Jangmun."
Chung Myung's eyes stung, and he wiped his nose.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely restore Mount Hua to its former glory."
No, I'll make it even more prosperous than before.
Chung Myung licked his lips and turned around.
There were no martial arts manuals, but that was fine. The important techniques were all in his head anyway. It was just a hassle to write them down, but he didn't need the manuals. He could recreate them if necessary.
And finally…
The third bookshelf was empty.
There was only a single rolled-up scroll on the otherwise empty shelf.
"What's this?"
Without hesitation, Chung Myung reached out, unrolled the scroll, and began reading.
// Edited
To the Sect Leader's Successor,
If someone is reading this, it means the next sect leader has been decided. Sometimes, a single line of text can convey more than a hundred words, so I leave my thoughts here in writing.
The position of Mount Hua's sect leader is not one of leading the sect.
If you, the successor, have become the sect leader, you already know this, but those who lead Mount Hua are its disciples and the children growing up within the sect. The sect leader's role is simply to protect and support them so they can fulfill their potential.
I hope you, as the successor, will let go of the anxiety of having to lead Mount Hua just because you've become the sect leader. Mount Hua is simply Mount Hua. No one can lead it, and no one can control it.
Successor,
When you are weary from the difficulties of reality and the heavy burden on your shoulders, remember this.
Mount Hua's spirit does not wane.
Mount Hua is simply Mount Hua. Whether its influence declines or flourishes across the world, Mount Hua remains Mount Hua. As the sect leader, what you must protect is Mount Hua's essence and spirit.
Ensure that the will of Mount Hua, preserved by our ancestors, is passed down to future generations. And nurture the successor to carry on our legacy for eternity.
As an ancestor and the previous sect leader, I leave you with this heavy responsibility.
The 21st Sect Leader of Mount Hua, Cheongmun.
"..."
Chung Myung silently stared at the words written on the scroll.
He knew.
This wasn't a message left for him by Elder Brother Jangmun. But ironically, the person who needed to read this now was none other than Chung Myung.
"Really… What a naggy man."
Chung Myung sighed and tucked the scroll into his robe.
While the other items would have to be returned to Mount Hua, he couldn't part with this scroll.
"Now, then…"
Chung Myung smirked and turned around.
"I didn't get as much as I expected, but this should be enough."
The most important thing was obtaining the financial records. With those, he could reclaim all of Mount Hua's businesses. That would free the sect from the debt currently strangling it.
So this much was…
As Chung Myung was about to leave, he stopped in his tracks.
'Wait.'
Something felt off.
'What's off?'
He couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong, but an uneasy feeling lingered.
Why did he feel this way?
"Wait."
The third bookshelf?
Chung Myung's head snapped around.
Elder Brother Jangmun.
That is, Cheongmun, the 21st sect leader of Mount Hua, was a bit of a perfectionist. His room was always impeccably organized.
He wasn't just a tidy person. Every piece of furniture and bedding was arranged at precise angles, and he couldn't stand it if things weren't symmetrical.
But.
Why would he have two bookshelves filled to the brim on one side and an empty bookshelf with just one scroll on the other?
"No, no. That can't be."
I know Elder Brother Jangmun! That's not like him at all!
Chung Myung rushed to the empty bookshelf.
'There's something here!'
There must be!
That awkwardly empty bookshelf kept bothering him. Would he really set up a bookshelf just to leave one scroll? The Elder Brother Jangmun Chung Myung knew would never do that.
If someone other than Chung Myung had entered this vault, they might not have found it strange! But the person here now was none other than Chung Myung.
Chung Myung grabbed the bookshelf and, without hesitation, moved it aside.
'There can't be a mechanism on the outside.'
So there couldn't be anything behind the bookshelf. That side was covered in Ten-Thousand-Year Black Iron. But what about below?
There must be something. Of course, the floor would be covered in black iron. But what if?
After moving the bookshelf, Chung Myung placed his hand on the floor and began channeling his energy to pull.
'If it's the Elder Brother Jangmun I know, it's here!'
If there's an awkward spot, it's a trap.
Whoosh!
But nothing happened. Thinking he might not have used enough force, he pulled with all his might, but there was still no change.
'No?'
Just as he was about to give up, thinking he might have been wrong…
Creak.
"...!"
There it is!
"Hyaaaah!"
Chung Myung used every ounce of strength he had to pull on the floor.
Clunk!
With a sinking feeling, Chung Myung lost his balance and tumbled to the ground.
"Ouch, ouch."
He hit the back of his head a few times, and stars danced before his eyes.
'I hope I didn't make too much noise.'
Instinctively, he turned his head toward the entrance. But there was no sign that the sect leader had noticed. The distance and soundproofing would make it hard for him to hear.
More importantly!
Chung Myung jumped up and ran forward.
Something had definitely opened.
Rushing back to the spot, Chung Myung clenched his fist as he saw the hole in the floor.
"That's more like it!"
What kind of man was Elder Brother Jangmun!
"He's such a thorough person."
In case, by some one-in-a-thousand chance, someone other than the sect leader managed to open the vault, he had prepared a double layer.
Anyone who went through the trouble of getting this far would never imagine that there was another secret vault hidden inside. Even Chung Myung would have left without realizing if he hadn't known what kind of person Elder Brother Jangmun was.
Look.
Light was pouring out from that entrance!
Light!
A soft glow streamed out as if offering Chung Myung enlightenment.
Without hesitation, Chung Myung squeezed his body into the hole in the floor. Even with his small child's body, the entrance was tight. As he descended, he found a low-ceilinged space where he could barely stand.
And there…
Chung Myung reached out and carefully closed the lid he had struggled to open.
"Huff. Huff!"
Now no sound would escape, right?
So…
Chung Myung's eyes widened. His breathing quickened, and his heart pounded. Blood rushed to his face, and it felt like it might burst.
But who cared?
"Hehehehehe!"
He was so happy he could die!
Before him lay happiness.
Neatly stacked gold ingots on one side.
And on the other, meticulously arranged precious swords.
And…
"Is this… a Mystic Eye Stone?"
Unidentifiable gemstones and martial arts manuals!
"Hehehehehehehe!"
Laughter kept bubbling up. No matter how hard he tried to hold it in, foolish laughter spilled out uncontrollably.
"Hehehehehehehehehe!"
Yes, laugh! Laugh!
"I'm rich noooow!"
The very situation that the 21st sect leader of Mount Hua, Cheongmun, had desperately tried to avoid, even at great cost, had finally come to pass.
The moment Mount Hua's fate fell into the hands of the one person who should never have entered.