ROMHS Chap 151 - 350

CHAPTER 179:It is better than dying from frustration (4)

"So…"

Heo Do Jinin quietly placed the teacup in his hand on the table.

"You came back after being humiliated like that by Mount Hua's children?"

Heo Sanja just closed his eyes without answering.

"Heo Sanja."

"Yes, sect leader."

"It's strange. This is something to be ashamed of, but I don't see any shame on your face. What am I supposed to make of this?"

Heo Sanja let out a low sigh.

"Sect leader."

"Please."

"The reason I'm not ashamed is that I did the best I could."

"…"

"If I had been careless or stupid and experienced such failure because of that, then I would ask the sect leader to punish me right away. But…"

"I did my best, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I just lacked the necessary strength."

"I see."

Heo Do Jinin frowned.

Heo Sanja had the confidence and power to lead people. That was why this man was one of the most trusted in the sect. For such a man to make this statement meant that his opponents were anything but easy.

"Even though I went to the sword tomb and returned with nothing but humiliation, I am not ashamed…."

Heo Do Jinin took the teacup in his hands, took a sip, and sighed.

Then he placed it back on the table.

"If you say so, then I get it."

"… Sect leader."

"If there was nothing in the Sword Tomb, then there was nothing you would get from it anyway. This isn't your fault."

"I apologize.'

"There is nothing to apologize for."

A bitter smile hung on Heo Do Jinin's lips.

"Excessive greed breeds anger in the body. Even though our Wudang Sect shouldn't succumb to such feelings, we keep wanting more. It's good enough that we all don't obsess over this. And forgive me for sending our disciples down there to suffer needlessly."

"How can that be the Sect leader's fault?"

"I was terribly lost in greed. I was too enchanted by the reputation of the Soul Vitality Pill and Yak Seon. I never could have foreseen that man making such a place."

Heo Do Jinin laughed at the thought of being fooled by someone who died two hundred years ago.

"Did he mean to say that martial arts are meaningless? Those are the final words of a man that left nothing behind."

Heo Sanja tilted his head, unable to understand.

But, Heo Do Jinin didn't explain it to him. Sometimes not knowing was better. He just closed his eyes and gathered his thoughts.

Finally, he opened his eyes as he asked Heo Sanja.

"But just one thing."

"Yes."

"There's something I'm struggling to understand. Did you say that child from Mount Hua could stand on equal footing with you?"

"Yes."

Heo Do Jinin frowned.

It could not be said that Heo Sanja had exceptional strength compared to all the Wudang's elders. Rather, it could even be said that he was a bit lagging behind.