Chapter 20

Chapter 19. Is it because of me that the volcano was destroyed? (4)

I had a rough idea of what had happened.

The determined team that climbed Mount Dae-san must have been completely wiped out. However, there must have been survivors among the demons guarding Mount Dae-san, as it was practically their base.

So, it wouldn’t be strange if someone witnessed Qingming beheading the Heavenly Demon there.

"Damn! Shit!"

Qingming threw the paper he was holding.

All the people who should have recognized him were dead, and the ones who shouldn’t have seen it did. What a fucking situation!

Zhaoge took a step back, startled.

"Why are you suddenly angry…"

"Ugh."

Qingming rubbed his face.

'Calmdown.'

It’s not worth getting angry at Zhaoge. I can always vent my anger later.

"So, the Demon Sect attacked and completely destroyed the volcano?"

"The damage wasn’t as severe as it could have been. They must have expended a lot of energy breaking through Sichuan and reaching Shanxi. But I heard that many of the halls were burned down, and a lot of martial arts techniques were lost."

That makes sense.

Even if the secret manuals hadn’t been passed down properly, if they had been there, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. Learning martial arts from manuals alone, without a master, is hellishly difficult, but it’s a hundred times better than having nothing.

If even those manuals were lost, it explains why the volcano declined so rapidly.

"It makes sense, but…"

Why does it feel so unsatisfying and frustrating?

"Ugh. I understand."

Qingming slowly got up from his seat.

"Where are you going?"

"…For a walk. I need to clear my head for a bit."

"Granduncle will come to check on you soon. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you get in trouble."

"Sure, sure. Thanks."

Zhaoge shook his head, not understanding Qingming’s behavior.

'He’s such a strange guy.'

* * *

"Damn it."

I’m boiling with rage.

Damn it, freeze to death!

I risked my life, literally, to cut off the Heavenly Demon’s head, and now the volcano is ruined, and others have reaped all the benefits?

What kind of fucked-up result is this? Is there no such thing as cause and effect in this world?

The more I think about it, the more my stomach churns.

"Huh…"

Now, even seeing their pitiful state, I find it hard to get properly angry. It’s all because of Qingming, but what can I say?

"No, what kind of loyalty do those demons have!"

If the Heavenly Demon was dead, they should have just cowered in a corner and lived quietly. But they decided to seek revenge and attacked all the way to Shanxi.

If the volcano had been closer to Sichuan, it would have been completely uprooted.

"I can’t even call this a stroke of luck."

I just pulled out some of my hair.

"Ha."

But sitting alone on the eaves, watching the sky darken, my heart seems to calm down a bit.

'That’s how the world works.'

Qingming wasn’t really angry because his actions had harmed the volcano. He was angry because the people who came after him had to bear the consequences of his actions.

If he had survived and had to deal with the aftermath, he would have gladly accepted it.

But he’s dead, and the young disciples, who know nothing, are the ones bearing the consequences. Thinking that the volcano’s current state is the price they pay makes it hard to calm down.

"Tsk. What can I do?"

No one can blame Qingming.

While the volcano suffered because he killed the Heavenly Demon, if he hadn’t, the volcano and the entire Central Plains would have fallen.

Qingming had no choice. Even if he were to go back to that moment, he would cut off the Heavenly Demon’s head without hesitation.

But…

"It’s strangely unsettling."

Qingming sighed deeply.

"Well, what’s done is done. If it’s destroyed, just rebuild it!"

It doesn’t matter whether he’s responsible or not. Whether he is or isn’t, he still has to do the same thing: revive the volcano.

"Thinking about it won’t change anything. As long as the result is good, that’s all that matters!"

If he can make it stronger than before, that’s all that matters. It might be impossible for others, but it’s possible for Qingming.

It’s a bit difficult.

No, it’s quite difficult.

It might even be more difficult than cutting off the Heavenly Demon’s head, but the important thing is that it’s possible.

'I’m getting too anxious.'

Impatience is a poison to those who practice. Moving quickly and wanting to move quickly are different things. I need to observe myself more and not rush.

"Alright, let’s calm down."

First, I need to find out what else was lost besides the martial arts techniques. The best way to do that is to ask someone.

"Where’s the leader? Come out now!"

Right. First, I need to talk to the leader…

Wait, did I just say that?

Qingming’s eyes widened as he turned his head toward the source of the voice.

'The main gate?'

A commotion was coming from the main gate, which was far away.

'At this hour?'

The sun was setting. Visitors at this hour?

No, what did they say?

"Come out, leader!"

Ah, right. The leader…

"Leader?"

Qingming scratched his ear, confused.

"What did I just hear?"

The leader, come out?

'No, who the hell is that?'

Who dares to barge into the volcano’s main gate and call for the leader so arrogantly? This would have been unimaginable in the volcano’s prime.

They would have been punched in the mouth before they could even finish their insolent words.

But the people at the gate seemed unaware of what they were doing.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The gate was being pounded on violently. The gate, which was barely holding its shape, started to creak and groan.

"Th, th, th?"

Boom!

The main gate finally fell backward with a loud noise, scattering into pieces and kicking up dust.

Qingming stared at the scene, dumbfounded.

'They broke the gate?'

The volcano’s main gate?

What the hell is going on?

"Let’s go in!"

About ten people who broke the gate rushed in and ran straight toward the leader’s residence in unison. It seemed like they had done this before.

The Yunzi disciples, startled by the commotion, rushed out.

"Wait, just a moment!"

"You can’t do this!"

But the intruders were relentless.

"Move! Move now!"

"Tell the leader to come out!"

"What? You just touched me?"

Qingming’s eyes widened.

'What’s happening?'

The intruders didn’t seem to have any martial arts skills, but the Yunzi disciples were struggling to block them. Even when a large man pushed them, the Yunzi disciples were pushed back as if hit by a cannonball.

It wasn’t because they were weak.

Absolutely! They were determined not to physically confront these people no matter what.

"Th, th, th…"

Before Qingming could fully grasp the situation, the intruders pushed the Yunzi disciples aside and reached the leader’s residence.

"Leader! Come out now!"

"Don’t run, come out!"

"We know everything that’s inside! We won’t leave today, so come out now."

Qingming felt his head spinning.

'Is this real?'

Where am I?

Even if the volcano has declined, it’s still the great Volcano Sect! And they’re causing a ruckus in front of the leader’s residence.

"Ugh!"

His forehead veins bulged. But Qingming couldn’t vent his boiling anger.

"What are you doing?"

"Eh?"

One of the Yunzi disciples who was trying to stop them turned sharply to look at Qingming.

"Get inside now! Why is the third disciple wandering around at this hour?"

"…Huh."

Qingming looked around.

He realized that no one else, except him, had come out. Despite the commotion, many people must have heard it.

'Is this a common occurrence?'

It’s human nature to peek when there’s a commotion. The fact that no one came out suggests that there’s a clear protocol for dealing with such situations.

Qingming, who had just joined, wouldn’t know about it.

"What are you doing?"

Even if that’s the case, shouldn’t you deal with these people first, not me?

"Leader! Come out now!"

"We won’t leave today! Come out now!"

"We know everything inside! We won’t leave today, so come out now."

"Shameless!"

The Yunzi disciple scolded Qingming, but the people gathered in front of the residence continued to shout.

Qingming’s neck stiffened.

At that moment,

Creak.

The door opened with a slightly irritating noise, and the Volcano Sect’s leader, Xianzong, slowly walked out.

As he appeared, the Yunzi disciples who were trying to stop the crowd bowed in unison. Xianzong waved his hand to dismiss them and spoke.

"What brings you here at this late hour?"

'Indeed.'

Even in this tense situation, Qingming couldn’t help but admire him.

Despite being a later generation, he must have lived a long life. Being of low rank and born later doesn’t mean he lacks dignity.

Every movement and tone of voice exuded a sense of grace. Qingming felt his excitement subside a bit.

He was truly…

"What nonsense are you spouting when you know full well?"

"Come down now! Immediately!"

"What are you pretending to be calm for?"

Right, he’s pretending to be calm…

No, that’s not it!

Xianzong’s face hardened slightly as he descended. Then he sighed.

"I’m not running or hiding. Where would I go if I left the volcano? So, please calm down…"

"Calm down? Calm down your ass!"

Qingming’s eyes bulged.

Despite Xianzong’s graceful words, the intruders didn’t even acknowledge them.

What was strange was that Xianzong, despite this, couldn’t say anything and seemed flustered.

What sin could he have committed? It’s as if…

'Huh?'

A word popped into Qingming’s mind.

"Leader!"

The apparent leader of the group pointed at Xianzong and shouted.

"We’ve waited long enough! We can’t wait any longer!"

"…"

The grace disappeared from Xianzong’s face.

'This, this…'

Could it be?

"When will you pay the money? The due date has passed! We can’t take it anymore!"

Qingming stared at Xianzong, dumbfounded.

The graceful Taoist, now reduced to a debtor, stood awkwardly and spoke softly.

"J, just give me a little more time…"

Qingming grabbed the back of his neck and tilted his head back.

'Ugh.'

Debt?

The sect, which has nothing left but crumbling halls, has debt?

'Really.'

Tears welled up in Qingming’s eyes. The sky turned gray.

'This is ridiculous. These guys are really crazy.'