Chapter 18

Chapter 17. Is it because of me that the volcano erupted? (2)

"Did that child say so?"

"Yes, Master."

Yunam's face contorted strangely. Yunjeom tilted his head, surprised by Yunam's unexpected reaction.

"Didn't you know?"

"How could I know?"

"…Oh. I thought the Headmaster had deliberately brought that child in. Otherwise, why would he do it?"

"There's no situation where we can afford to look for a disciple. The child came in on his own."

"Since the Headmaster said he accepted a new disciple…"

Yunjeom trailed off.

The Headmaster, who had declared he would no longer accept disciples, had taken in this child. Therefore, he thought there must be some reason. That's why he didn't find it strange despite the turmoil.

But Yunam really seemed to be unaware.

"Is there something the Headmaster knows…?"

"No. The child really came on his own."

"…What a strange affair."

Yunam smiled wryly.

'The more I think about it, the stranger it gets.'

Suddenly, a child came from afar, out of the blue, saying he wanted to become a disciple of Huashan, and within a day, he was already doing something.

'It must be an overreaction.'

He wondered if the child was a spy sent by another sect to ruin Huashan, but that was an excessive thought.

Firstly, Huashan was no longer a sect worth deliberately destroying, and secondly, even if there was such an intention, it was almost impossible for a small child to have the necessary ability.

If the child had such abilities, it would be more beneficial to nurture him with great effort rather than send him as a spy to rot.

"Then, wouldn't it be better to try to dissuade the child now?"

"Let it be."

"But, Master."

"You didn't stop him because you had some expectations of the child, right?"

Yunjeom nodded slightly without answering.

"I know your efforts. Leading the disciples is a natural duty as a senior, but I also know that you bear this responsibility too heavily."

"That's not true, Master. I just…"

"It's fine."

Yunam smiled gently.

"Everyone is struggling. I don't know what the child is thinking, but if you judge that it will help you and Huashan, there's no need to stop him."

Yunjeom looked up at Yunam.

"I still don't know exactly. The child…"

"Yunjeom."

"Yes, Master."

"The child is now a disciple of Huashan."

Yunjeom's eyes wavered slightly.

"Of course, I have more affection for the child I took in first, but even if the child came later, since he has decided to join Huashan, he is a child of Huashan and must be cared for together."

"…I was foolish."

Yunjeom bowed slightly.

"If it goes too far, you should stop it. You know more about Baimei Hall than I or the Headmaster do."

"Yes, Master."

Yunjeom stood up.

"Then I'll go."

"Go ahead."

As Yunjeom left, Yunam quietly poured tea into his cup.

'What a strange child.'

Indeed, an extraordinary child had come.

A child who couldn't hide his presence for even a day would surely bring about a sudden change. Whether this change would be a blessing or a curse for Huashan, Yunam couldn't tell.

But one thing was certain.

'Change is necessary.'

Huashan needed a new wind. Drifting in a vast, windless sea would only lead to death by thirst or starvation. Even if they didn't know where they were going, they had to set sail.

Even if the destination was an uninhabited island, it would be better than dying in the vast sea.

Yunam slowly brought the cup to his lips.

He hoped that Qingming's presence would be the wind to move Huashan.

Of course, whether he would remain so calm if the wind turned into a typhoon was yet to be seen.

* * *

"I feel like I'm going to die."

"…I'm already dead."

Groans echoed from all around. Of course, those making these death sounds were the three major disciples of Huashan.

'Is this some new form of torture?'

He knew it was strength training. And Huashan had never neglected strength training. Even Shaolin, the foundation of all Central Plain martial arts, did not neglect strength training.

'But there's a limit, right?'

Yunzhong lowered his head to look at the table.

Vegetable stir-fry was served, but his hands were trembling so much that he couldn't properly pick it up, and the stir-fry was scattered all over the table.

"Ugh… I can't even eat properly."

"We have sword training in the afternoon. If we drop our swords, it'll be chaos. If we swing real swords and drop them, someone might get a hole in their back."

"…Fortunately, we don't seem to have the strength to swing them like that."

"Is that fortunate?"

Yunzhong sighed.

'Speak up. Speak up.'

If you have complaints, why not go and argue directly? What would change by complaining behind their backs?

"I can't do anything."

"Great Master!"

Complaints burst out from all around. But Yunzhong silently picked up the vegetable stir-fry.

With Yunjeom now supporting Qingming, what more could he do?

"Master! If you don't say something now…"

"Isn't the position of Great Master for such times?"

Just as Yunzhong was about to speak, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Stop your incessant chatter."

The gazes of the three major disciples, who had filled the dining hall, turned to one spot.

"Zhaoge?"

A brief silence fell. Zhaoge, who had been quietly eating in the corner, confirmed the gazes on him and spoke sharply.

"Is the Great Master your errand boy? There's no one hiding to speak for you. If you have something to say, go and say it yourself."

"…But we…"

"If you can't go and argue directly, be quiet and eat. If you don't eat, you won't survive the afternoon."

With Zhaoge speaking so bluntly, no one dared to speak.

Yunzhong's eyes sparkled as he looked at Zhaoge.

'Strange.'

The Zhaoge he knew should have been the one complaining the loudest about Qingming. After all, he was the one with the highest authority and the strongest among the three major disciples.

But with Zhaoge subtly supporting Qingming, everyone found it hard to speak up.

Thud.

Zhaoge put down his chopsticks, stood up, and approached Yunzhong.

"Great Master."

"Hmm?"

"Can I have a word with you?"

"…Sure."

Yunzhong also put down his chopsticks and stood up.

The remaining disciples looked at the two leaving the dining hall with puzzled expressions.

"I don't know if I'm seeing things…"

In a secluded place, Yunzhong spoke first.

"You look quite refreshed?"

Zhaoge raised his hand and rubbed his face.

"Does it show?"

"You can't hide your expressions well."

"I just realized that."

Zhaoge smiled awkwardly.

"Can you still laugh after all that?"

"…Master."

"Yes?"

"How do you view Huashan?"

Yunzhong fell silent. It was too serious a question to answer lightly.

"A difficult question."

"If I continue like this, I'll just go back to my family. But you, Master, plan to stay with Huashan, right?"

"That's right."

Yunzhong nodded.

He was already scheduled to become a Daoist priest. The other three major disciples hadn't made their choices yet, but he would receive the Daoist priest's robe and become a true disciple of Huashan, sharing its fate.

"Do you see a future for Huashan?"

"Ridiculous. It's not a phrase to be used lightly."

"I don't see one."

"…"

It was a rebuke, but Yunzhong couldn't bring himself to do it. His thoughts were not much different from Zhaoge's.

"Does that mean your thoughts have changed?"

"…A little."

"Changed?"

"Although it's forced, I've realized something through this training. I've never pushed myself to this limit before."

Of course, that's to be expected.

Yunzhong nodded involuntarily. He had never done such training either. He always thought he was putting in effort, but he had never pushed himself to the point where his hands and feet trembled.

"But that kid can do twice as much as we do without getting tired."

Not just twice.

In terms of quantity, it's twice. Considering the weight, the intensity of the training is much higher. Seeing Qingming train with a sandbag heavier than himself, Yunzhong was also shocked.

"He can do it because he's strong. But his age can't be older than mine. He's not strong because he's strong; he's strong because he's been like this."

"You're right."

"Master, I thought it was impossible to become strong in Huashan. I thought I could only reach a level where I could show off my strength somewhere, but I could never become a master who commands the world."

"Zhaoge."

"Please hear me out, Master."

"…"

Zhaoge swallowed and continued.

"But watching that kid, I realized I was wrong. Honestly, is there anyone in our age group who can match him?"

No one.

Absolutely no one.

Even though Yunzhong wasn't the best among the three major disciples, he had confidence in his skills. He was sure he wouldn't be outmatched by the disciples of the Nine Sects.

But that monster could flip Yunzhong with a finger and send Zhaoge, who was stronger than Yunzhong, flying into the ceiling.

Is there another monster like him?

"Which martial art you learn is not important. What matters is how you learn it. I used to think it was just a nice-sounding phrase, but seeing that kid, I realize it's true. Master, I want to give it my all."

"…I feel the same way."

Zhaoge nodded vigorously.

"So, Master, please encourage the children. This might be a chance for our generation to change. It might be hard and unpleasant, but we need to follow that kid for now."

Yunzhong looked at Zhaoge with a serious expression.

Zhaoge was not only skilled but also had a talent for reading the flow of events, likely due to his background as a merchant's son. If he said this, it must be significant.

"Let's try it."

"Master!"

"You're right. This way, we can't achieve anything. I'm committed to Huashan. If it can help Huashan, I'll do anything."

Yunzhong's firm words made Zhaoge nod.

"But it's funny to think that it's all because of a new junior…"

"He's not an ordinary junior."

"That's true."

The two smiled lightly and turned to leave. The conversation was over. Now, the question was how much they could calm the children.

"Zhaoge."

"Yes, Master."

"Can we really become stronger?"

"One thing is certain."

"Hmm?"

"We can train hard enough to feel regret if we don't become stronger."

"…That's a comforting thought."

The two returned to the dining hall, still unaware of the gazes watching them.