Chapter 54

Chapter 53. Haha, what a big shot has come. (3)

"Ugh!"

The face of Jigimseung, who received the breakfast tray, twisted.

He had picked up the chopsticks but ended up putting them back down on the tray with a thud without picking up anything.

The disciples who were practicing glanced at Jigimseung.

"Does the food not suit your taste?"

"Ugh."

Jigimseung lightly shook his head.

"It's not that the food doesn't suit me, but my heart is not at ease."

"How can your heart not be at ease? If we, the disciples, have done something wrong, please scold us severely."

"It's not your fault."

Jigimseung slightly pushed the breakfast tray away with a slightly irritated look.

"There's a guy at the table who I can't even bear to look at, so I can't even eat."

Then, Lisongbai (李松栢), the second-generation disciple of Zhongnan, quietly asked.

"Are you perhaps talking about that kid from Huashan?"

"Ahem."

Jigimseung did not say anything, but no one could miss what his uncomfortable cough meant.

"Elder, I don't understand. What's so big about a kid coming here...?"

"It's not the kid that's the problem."

"Then...?"

"The problem is that the kid is from Huashan."

The disciples looked at Jigimseung with faces that clearly showed they didn't understand.

What's the big deal about a kid from Huashan?

They couldn't understand the deep-seated animosity towards Huashan that sometimes showed in their seniors.

"Didn't I tell you repeatedly? Huashan and we cannot coexist under the same sky."

But Jigimseung was different.

He grew up listening to countless stories about Huashan from the elders of Zhongnan. How Huashan had tormented Zhongnan, and how Zhongnan had suffered under the shadow of Huashan.

"The fact that a kid from Huashan can walk into the hall so brazenly is already unbearable, and to make matters worse, his name is the same as that of the Plum Blossom Sword, which even after a hundred years still leaves a bitter taste!"

"..."

The disciples exchanged glances.

'So that's why.'

'That Plum Blossom Sword has been dead for almost a hundred years, yet it's still talked about.'

'Even though the Huashan people probably don't remember the name Plum Blossom Sword, we seem to hear more about it than the current elders.'

Plum Blossom Sword.

Plum Blossom Sword Master Qingming.

When people from Zhongnan mention the past Qingming, they don't add the honorific "Zun" to his nickname. It's impossible to attach such a noble character to someone who leaves a bitter taste even after being chewed.

Lisongbai gathered the gazes of the disciples.

Anyone could see that Jigimseung's obsession was abnormal, but he was still an elder of Zhongnan and the adult they were serving.

And when it came to anything other than Huashan, Jigimseung was a very normal and gentle person.

"Don't worry about it."

"Don't worry about it?"

Jigimseung's eyebrows raised.

"That kid is going around town saying he will treat Mr. Huang."

"Ha ha. Surely not..."

"They say he's making progress."

"..."

Lisongbai closed his mouth.

Jigimseung didn't say anything more, but the intelligent Lisongbai could guess what was behind his words.

What if that kid really cures Mr. Huang?

'There will be chaos.'

Mr. Huang is a man of clear virtue. He won't just let Huashan, who saved his life, go. He will surely do his best to support Huashan in every way.

'I need to stop this.'

After quickly calculating, Lisongbai cleared his throat and spoke.

"Elder, if that kid is so bothersome, can't we just drive him away?"

"You?"

Jigimseung slightly widened his eyes.

"Yes. If Elder were to act directly, it would be a disgrace, but we are second-generation disciples. What's the harm in a second-generation disciple of Zhongnan having a sword duel with a third-generation disciple of Huashan?"

"Ugh. Won't it be said that we are oppressing a child?"

Lisongbai smiled.

"Who doesn't know that Huashan and Zhongnan have had long-term exchanges? If we happen to meet and compare our swords, and it gets a bit rough, it won't be a big issue."

Jigimseung slowly nodded.

"Moreover, the Zhonghua Gathering is coming up soon, which will give us even more justification."

"I understand what you mean. But I cannot allow it."

Jigimseung said firmly.

"Even so, he is a third-generation disciple. For you to take action against him or challenge him to a duel would be beneath the dignity of Zhongnan. How would the martial world view the oppression of a child from a declining sect?"

Lisongbai held back a laugh.

The one who is most concerned about that kid is Jigimseung himself. It was hard to hold back a laugh at his obvious pretense.

But as a disciple, it's his duty to consider the elder's feelings.

"Then I will take your refusal as final. But if one of the disciples makes a mistake, they will receive a fitting punishment, right?"

"Of course. Anyone who lays a hand on that kid will be punished by me."

"I will keep that in mind."

Jigimseung is a man of his word. His promise of punishment would be real.

But there was one thing.

Along with the punishment, there would undoubtedly be a greater reward.

"Following the elder's instructions is a disciple's duty. But isn't it also a disciple's duty to ease the elder's troubled heart? We will take care of the rest, so please don't worry."

"Ahem. Do as you see fit."

"Yes, Elder. Then I will take my leave."

Jigimseung nodded without a word, and the disciples bowed deeply before leaving the room.

Jigimseung watched them leave, then frowned slightly.

'Those kids are underestimating Huashan too much.'

He could understand why.

When those kids were born, Huashan was already in decline. To them, Huashan was just a withered old tree that once held glory.

But Jigimseung knew.

How powerful Huashan used to be.

Even though Zhongnan is now known as the top sword sect in the world, the elders Jigimseung saw in his youth were not inferior to the current level of Zhongnan.

In fact, they were even more outstanding in some ways.

Even the past Zhongnan couldn't stand up to Huashan. If not for the invasion of the demonic sect, Zhongnan would never have surpassed Huashan.

'Absolutely, we cannot return to those times.'

Jigimseung's face showed determination.

"Seeing that kid from Huashan come here, it's safe to assume that Huashan has started external activities again."

He thought he had completely crushed Huashan so it could never rise again, but it seems he underestimated Huashan's remaining strength.

"Once this matter is over, I need to have a talk with the sect leader."

A ruthless look appeared in Jigimseung's eyes, uncharacteristic of a Taoist.

"Is Elder being too sensitive, Senior Brother?"

"Whenever the topic of Huashan comes up, he always reacts like this."

"Even so, it's too much to be wary of a small child. No matter how powerful Huashan was in the past, it's now just a small, declining sect, isn't it?"

"That's true."

"Even if the old Huashan were to return, it wouldn't match the current Zhongnan."

Lisongbai smiled.

"Courage is good, but I agree with Elder. The old Huashan was not a sect to be taken lightly. Even the current Zhongnan has some shortcomings compared to the old Huashan."

"Senior Brother!"

"But the past is the past. In the end, the strong are those who survive."

Only then did everyone nod.

Gao Hui (高輝), a second-generation disciple of Zhongnan, asked casually.

"Senior Brother, what do you plan to do with that kid?"

"Shouldn't we just pacify him and send him away?"

Lisongbai held back a laugh.

Oppressing a child went against his nature, but with Elder Jigimseung so agitated, it was a problem to keep the kid around.

It's not like Elder Jigimseung would personally harm the kid, but it wouldn't be good for a Zhongnan elder to be seen roughhousing with a child.

"By the way, why did Huashan send that kid alone? If it were Zhongnan, a child wouldn't be allowed to leave the sect alone."

"Every sect has its own circumstances. There must be a reason."

"Hmm. It seems Huashan's situation is not good."

"How can we know the affairs of other sects?"

Lisongbai cut off the unnecessary talk.

"We just need to do our job. Remember, our job now is to serve Elder well."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

"I will keep that in mind."

Only then did Lisongbai nod.

"Then how do we call that kid out...?"

"Wait, Senior Brother. Look over there."

"Huh?"

At someone's words, everyone turned their heads.

"Isn't that the kid?"

"Indeed."

"He's coming this way?"

"Ugh."

Lisongbai let out a hollow laugh.

While he was thinking about how to call out the kid from Huashan, the kid was walking right towards them.

"What should we do? Right now?"

"There's no need to delay."

Lisongbai stepped forward and bowed to the approaching Qingming.

"Hello."

"Huh?"

Qingming tilted his head, looking at Lisongbai and the other disciples.

Before Qingming could speak, Lisongbai took the initiative.

"My name is Lisongbai of Zhongnan. I am very pleased to meet a disciple of Huashan."

"Oh, hello."

Qingming responded indifferently.

Lisongbai maintained a friendly smile and asked.

"Where are you headed?"

"I'm going to see Mr. Huang. I want to check if he's making progress."

"Ah, I see."

Lisongbai held back a laugh.

'That kid is so brazen.'

Mr. Huang, a renowned doctor, couldn't cure Mr. Huang. It was hard to believe that this kid could do anything. Yet, he brazenly claimed he would treat Mr. Huang, which didn't show good character.

"Would you mind having a chat with me for a moment if you're not busy?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Ha ha. As you know, Huashan and Zhongnan have exchanged sword techniques for generations, right? We still hold regular sword exchange events. Do you know about this?"

"Oh, really? I didn't know. I've only been in Huashan for a short time."

"I thought so."

Lisongbai smiled.

'If he knew, he wouldn't be so brazen.'

Even though the name of Zhongnan was mentioned, the kid's expression didn't change. If he had seen the Zhonghua Gathering, he wouldn't be so calm.

"Experiencing Huashan's sword techniques can greatly benefit your practice. How about it? Would you show me the high-level sword techniques of Huashan?"

Lisongbai smiled slightly.

He was sure the kid would refuse, but he had several ways to trap him...

"Ah, so you mean..."

At that moment, Qingming tilted his head slightly.

"Fight?"

"..."

Lisongbai cleared his throat.

"It's not a fight, but a practice or a duel..."

"That's a fight."

Lisongbai's eyes widened.

What is this kid?

Receiving the puzzled look, Qingming smiled.

"I'll take any fight anytime. Just don't regret it."

It was a calm declaration.