Chapter 10

Chapter 9. Goodness, the Huashan Sect is in decline. (4)

"Where have you been?"

"Just taking a look around."

"...Looking around?"

Yunyan looked at Qingming with a doubtful eye.

But Qingming, as if he didn't care how Yunyan looked at him, leaned on one leg and turned his head to gaze at the sky.

'Was this kid always like this?'

He was certainly quite polite and respectful when he first entered the temple, but now his demeanor has completely changed.

How to put it?

Is it that he exudes a delinquent vibe?

'Well, considering his appearance, he seems to have lived as a beggar for quite a long time. Expecting purity from a beggar kid in this harsh world is unrealistic.'

"Have you eaten?"

"I'm not hungry."

This was genuine.

Just looking at the face of Huashan, all hunger and emotions vanish. Even as a Taoist, he couldn't overcome the emptiness, but now, without even receiving the Taoist name, he has managed to do so. Damn.

"Then come with me for a moment."

"Excuse me?"

"Zhangmenren wishes to see you."

"Oh, yes."

Qingming nodded.

If it's something he has to face, it's better to do it sooner rather than later.

The moment the door opened, an old man sitting quietly came into Qingming's view. Qingming looked at him with a slightly uneasy expression.

'He certainly deserves to be called Zhangmenren.'

The clear and refined aura of Dao.

Just from this aura, one can understand that this person has dedicated his entire life to Daoism.

But...

'He lacks any sense of authority.'

While he might be suitable as the head of a small temple, he cannot be considered the head of a major sect like Huashan. He is just clear and refined.

"Greet him."

"..."

Qingming secretly sighed.

'Is there anything more unjust in this world?'

If we consider age, when Qingming was secretly drinking in a corner of Huashan, avoiding the eyes of his senior, this Zhangmenren was probably just learning to walk. He might have only learned to hold a sword by the time Qingming was about to die.

And now, Qingming has to greet him.

'If you feel unjust, you shouldn't have been reborn.'

What can he do? Better to die than to suffer.

Qingming bowed respectfully. Seeing this, Huashan's Zhangmenren, Xianzhong, smiled gently.

"My name is Qingming."

"My name is Xianzhong."

It was a simple exchange of greetings.

As Qingming sat down, Xianzhong spoke.

"Although we have a guest, there is nothing proper to offer. Given the current situation here, I hope you understand."

"Yes, I do."

"..."

Xianzhong's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Usually, when someone says this, the response should be:

"Don't worry about it."

or

"How can an uninvited guest expect such treatment?"

But this kid was saying with his eyes and body language:

"I didn't expect anything, so don't bother."

"Yuchuan Yuan said you made an interesting statement."

"Excuse me?"

"Did you sell out?"

Qingming tilted his head.

"What do you mean?"

He acted as if he had no idea what was being said. Xianzhong narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Qingming's expression, but he couldn't detect any lies.

'Does he really not know?'

A child can't be that skilled at lying.

While Xianzhong was pondering, Qingming was secretly smiling.

'No use, kid.'

Who is Qingming?

He is the one who was praised for his keen eyes and who could easily deceive even the respected Qingwen. Zhangmenren always suspected Qingming, but he never found the hidden alcohol or hiding place that Qingming had.

Even when questioned, Qingming could calmly deceive. Zhangmenren had suspicions but no evidence, so he had to let it go... or rather, whatever!

Even Qingwen couldn't see through Qingming's lies, so Xianzhong couldn't detect any lies from Qingming's expressions and body language.

"Did you say that?"

"I don't remember. I was so tired that I lost consciousness..."

"Hmm."

The logic is perfect. A young body climbing this treacherous Huashan would have reached its limits, so it's not strange that he lost consciousness and fell.

However...

"If you were that tired, why did you speak?"

"Once I entered the Daoist temple, I thought it was important to pay respects to the Supreme Master..."

Xianzhong looked at Yunyan with a peculiar expression.

Yunyan flinched.

Xianzhong's eyes seemed to say:

"The kid climbed all the way here by himself, and you made a kid who was so tired that he was about to die bow? Kid?"

Of course, for Yunyan, this was a matter of extreme frustration.

'No, he was fine!'

The kid was as fresh as a fish when he entered the temple. But now he says he was so tired that he collapsed! What a frustrating situation!

Yunyan looked at Qingming with a bewildered expression, but Qingming acted as if he knew nothing and feigned innocence.

"Ahem."

Xianzhong nodded.

"That could happen. I'm sorry for not paying attention."

"No, it's fine."

"Alright. Then I have another question."

"Excuse me?"

"Why did you climb this treacherous mountain and come all the way here?"

"..."

"Stop saying you just came to see. Huashan is not a mountain you can climb just for experience. Climbing this mountain with such a young body is no small feat."

Qingming looked up at Xianzhong. It was a sharp question, but he was prepared for this.

"Zhangmenren."

"I'm listening."

"I want to join Huashan."

Xianzhong's eyes narrowed.

"Join?"

"Yes."

Xianzhong met Qingming's eyes. From those clear and innocent eyes, he couldn't read any other intentions.

"Does that mean you admit you climbed Huashan on purpose?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

Xianzhong nodded.

If Qingming had insisted it was a coincidence, Xianzhong wouldn't have believed him. Huashan is not a place you can just visit.

"Joining Huashan. So you know what Huashan is?"

"Yes."

Xianzhong's eyes narrowed again.

"Joining."

Qingming slightly moistened his lips.

'The logic is perfect.'

He can use the story of Qingjin.

Qingjin, his junior, disappeared while being chased by the demon sect before their final battle. Disappearance in war is actually death.

'Qingjin fell from a cliff, and a woodcutter found and treated him... But his injuries were too severe to get up. Out of gratitude, he taught the woodcutter Huashan's martial arts and took him as a disciple.'

And Qingming is the descendant of that woodcutter!

'Wow.'

It's a brilliant script.

The best part of this script is that Qingming can control his position.

If he says the woodcutter who saved Qingjin is his father, Qingming becomes a disciple. Since it's embarrassing to say a man who was young a hundred years ago is his father, he can write the script to make the woodcutter his grandfather, making him a senior disciple.

In other words, he becomes a disciple of the same rank as Zhangmenren.

If this happens, no matter how much he is pushed down, he will receive a higher position than a new disciple.

'No matter what, I can't be on the same level as these green kids.'

Finding his original position is impossible, but he should at least receive some privileges. Just the thought of having to bow to these green kids and treat them with respect makes him want to explode.

'Now, ask the reason.'

Then I'll spill the script I wrote. In the process, if I reveal a bit of Qingjin's secret martial arts, it will be smooth sailing...

"I will allow it."

"Excuse me? Of course, you would allow... Excuse me?"

Qingming's eyes widened as he looked at Xianzhong.

Contrary to his expectations, Xianzhong was nodding calmly.

"If you want to join, I will allow it."

"Excuse me?"

Wait a minute.

This is not some local martial arts school. How can joining be so easy?

Shouldn't you at least be suspicious of a kid you've never seen before who wants to join?

"Zhangmenren!"

Yunyan, thinking the same thing, exclaimed in surprise.

"You said you don't accept new disciples!"

That's right! You shouldn't accept so easily!

"My mind has changed."

Xianzhong answered with a light laugh.

"Upon reflection, we are not in a position to be selective about new disciples. Moreover, we can't just turn away a child who knows about Huashan and seeks to join."

"But, but..."

"Yunyan."

"Yes, Zhangmenren."

"Karma is a cycle. No matter what this child's intentions are, he knows the name of Huashan and has come to join. We don't chase away a bird seeking shelter from the rain, nor do we deny food to an animal seeking refuge in winter. Why should we turn away someone who has come to us?"

It was a statement that exuded a sense of righteousness. If someone else heard it, they might have been moved. But Qingming was a person who was three thousand miles away from such righteousness. The moment he heard it, goosebumps ran down his spine.

'What kind of karma is this! If an unknown person comes, you should be suspicious first!'

How did such a person become Zhangmenren? No, he became Zhangmenren because he is such a person. That's what the position of Zhangmenren is.

"No, I..."

Qingming tried to salvage the situation.

"Before that, let me explain my life..."

"It's fine."

Xianzhong shook his head.

"Your past life, whether you lived as a sinner or a saint, is just a matter of the secular world. The moment you climb Huashan and dedicate yourself to it, your past disappears."

Of course, that's true. But this can't be...

"No, but..."

"Even if I say it's fine, you still insist."

Damn it! I'm not fine! Listen to me! Listen!

Xianzhong smiled.

"Yunyan."

"Yes, Zhangmenren."

"Give this child a place to stay and prepare for the initiation ceremony."

"Yes, I will prepare."

"Your name is Qingming, right?"

Qingming nodded involuntarily.

"That's a good name. A very good name. The name of a future senior disciple is Qingming. Haha. This must be karma. You don't need a separate Taoist name. You may not know, but your name has deep meaning in Huashan."

Xianzhong's eyes became distant.

"Try to live up to that name."

With the situation flowing this way, Qingming had nothing more to say.

"...Yes."

"Go on."

Qingming got up with a dazed look. Yunyan also led him out with a slightly uneasy expression.

"This way."

"..."

As Qingming walked out, the vast view of Huashan came into his view.

'I've joined.'

Joined.

At that moment, Yunyan spoke in a slightly lower and more solemn voice.

"Although the initiation ceremony hasn't been held yet, from this moment on, you are a disciple of Huashan. You will become a senior disciple and the youngest of the three major disciples of Huashan."

"...Youngest."

Qingming's face trembled.

Youngest?

Me?

This Plum Blossom Sword Immortal, Qingming, the youngest of Huashan?

"Hahaha."

Seeing Qingming's laughter, Yunyan smiled contentedly.

"You seem happy."

"Yes, very happy. Hahahaha."

But why are tears welling up?

...Damn.