Chapter 61

Chapter 60. Is the Young Daoist Really a Daoist? (5)

"Hehehe. Got a big catch."

Qingming grinned widely.

"Seriously, how can merchants be so out of touch with reality? They gave me all this just because I helped them get one thing?"

Money!

It's money!

Wealth!

Sigh. Didn't the ancient sages say that the more money, the better?

Even though Qingming had already become one of the richest people in Shaanxi by stripping Zhang Wenshi's slush fund, the idea of increasing his wealth was always a pleasant one.

"Quite generous, indeed."

They said he was a great merchant in Shaanxi, but his generosity was like the Yangtze River. I was just joking, but I didn't expect him to give me all of it. Even if I had taken half, it would have been a cause for celebration.

Of course!

They certainly didn't give Qingming all this just out of gratitude. If Huang Wenyao hadn't recovered, they might have been willing to do so, but now that he's recovered, the situation has changed.

It's only natural for one's mood to change before and after using the restroom.

Still, the fact that they gave him so much without any complaints must mean they have other intentions.

But even if they have some ulterior motive, it doesn't matter to Qingming.

'If I don't want to, I won't.'

If Qingming were a child like he appears, he might feel burdened by receiving such wealth, but unfortunately, Qingming is not a child.

He's more like a seasoned old man who has been worn out too much.

If they knew this, they might have thought differently...

"Anyway, everything is more or less settled."

He saved Mr. Huang and, in return, received a promise of support from Huashan. Once everything is ready, he will head to Huashan with Qingming. So, he can say that he has completed all his tasks here.

The only thing left is...

Qingming smiled as he saw someone approaching him.

"Hey, are you feeling better?"

Song Bai.

Song Bai, the second disciple of Zhongnan, approached Qingming, who was lying on the main hall floor, and looked down at him.

"What's up?"

Song Bai stared at Qingming for a moment before speaking.

"I'm returning to Zhongnan."

"Ah, that's great. I thought you might feel lonely being left behind. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Song Bai didn't turn to leave after saying that. Qingming glanced at him and asked,

"Is there something you want to say?"

Qingming's question made Song Bai smile faintly.

"Little Daoist."

"Yes?"

"I understand that you trapped me to resolve this matter."

"Yes?"

"Since the outcome is good, I can understand it."

Qingming sat up on the main hall floor and smiled at Song Bai.

"Trapped? That sounds a bit strange. Didn't you try to trap me first?"

Song Bai smiled.

"Since you did, I won't blame you, right?"

Qingming laughed, finding it absurd.

'This guy is weird.'

Kids these days are definitely different from the past. The Zhongnan disciples he met before were all anxious to show their hostility towards Qingming.

Of course, he didn't have the chance to really understand their personalities.

"So, what do you want to say?"

"Whether I was humiliated, or because of you, I was in danger, or I was manipulated by you, none of that matters. It's all because I was lacking."

Song Bai said with a serious face.

"The only thing that troubles me is the sparring match we had before this incident. I still can't understand what happened to me then."

Qingming narrowed his eyes and looked at Song Bai.

"So?"

"If you allow it, I would like to have another sparring match with you. This time, it's not with any special intention. I sincerely request a match with you."

Qingming scratched his cheek as he looked at Song Bai.

'Look at this.'

He thought Song Bai was coming to pick a fight again. If he had figured everything out, it would be strange if he didn't know he was manipulated by Qingming.

He expected Song Bai to act like a wild boar that had been hit by a spell, but instead, he was asking for a match.

'It doesn't seem like he wants to win this time.'

Quite an interesting reaction.

"Hmm. What should I do?"

A sparring match is essentially a way to compare martial arts. While it might be meaningful for Song Bai to spar with Qingming, Qingming didn't see what he could gain from it.

So, there was no reason to accept the request, but...

"Sure, why not."

There was no particular reason to refuse.

Qingming stood up and pointed to the courtyard.

"Here?"

"Let's go somewhere no one can see us."

"Phew. Scary. You're not planning to sneak an attack, are you?"

Qingming made a gesture of slicing his neck, and Song Bai sighed.

"Little Daoist, I'm not a fool. Although it's hard to believe, I already know that your martial arts are superior to mine."

"Hmm?"

Qingming looked at Song Bai with interest.

"I didn't say it. I want to know what happened to me."

Qingming smiled subtly.

"You might regret it."

"Even so, I'm willing."

"Alright, let's go then."

Qingming took the lead, and Song Bai followed with a determined expression.

Song Bai took a deep breath.

He was nervous.

Even when sparring with his senior disciples, master, or uncles, Song Bai had never felt nervous, but seeing Qingming in front of him made his heart beat three times faster.

'So small.'

Qingming was still a child, though it's a bit awkward to call him a child now. He's at least ten years younger than Song Bai. In Zhongnan, he would be like a junior disciple.

'At least a generation apart.'

A generation refers to the difference between a master and a disciple.

In principle, as the second disciple, Song Bai could take the third disciple, Qingming, as a disciple. However, it's difficult to take disciples at an age when one should focus on training, so in practice, one usually becomes a first disciple before taking disciples, but it's possible in principle.

In other words, he was about to face someone who could be his disciple, with a sword in hand.

Still, why?

This pressure?

Just by recognizing Qingming as an opponent and placing him in front of him, he felt a pressure he had never experienced before.

'Why am I so nervous?'

It feels like facing the elders. Even though this kid can't be that level.

In fact, he couldn't sense any aura from Qingming. There was no sense of determination to defeat the opponent.

He was just holding a wooden sword and looking at Song Bai.

Song Bai bit his lip and steeled his resolve.

'I need to confirm it with my own eyes.'

What he saw.

'Good intuition?'

Qingming looked at Song Bai, who was trembling with his sword, with interest.

Qingming wasn't threatening Song Bai at all, but Song Bai was as tense as if he had encountered a beast.

Quite a sharp intuition.

'He might become the best swordsman in Zhongnan someday.'

When Qingming was that age, were there any of his peers in Zhongnan with similar intuition?

Hmm, I don't know.

At that time, he wasn't particularly interested in others. He was too busy refining his own sword and avoiding Zhang Wenshi's nagging.

But even if he doesn't know about martial arts, he can't think of anyone with such intuition. Having excellent intuition means seeing more, which translates to potential.

'A late bloomer, I see.'

He might not stand out immediately, but as he grows older and trains more, he will gradually surpass others. In the distant future, he might be called the best swordsman in Zhongnan or even the Sword Sage of Zhongnan.

The only pity is...

'He was born in the era I returned to.'

Qingming slightly raised his sword.

Should I teach him a lesson as an apology?

"Aren't you coming?"

Qingming tilted his head and pointed his sword, making Song Bai flinch and take a step back. Then, he clenched his teeth and stepped forward.

The sweat on his forehead showed how much effort he was putting in.

After several deep breaths, Song Bai spoke with difficulty.

"Can I ask one thing before we start?"

"Sure, anything."

"Who are you, Little Daoist?"

"......I'm Qingming from Huashan."

Song Bai clenched his teeth.

"How can that be? You've only been learning the sword for a short time."

I've been practicing for a hundred years until I turned white-haired, you brat.

And when I was your age, I could already beat you with one finger!

Qingming smacked his lips.

It feels a bit like cheating, but he doesn't feel guilty. The Qingming of the past was even stronger than the current Qingming.

The current Qingming has been training for less than a year and is progressing very slowly.

But the past Qingming had already been practicing for over ten years and had reached a level where no one among the younger generation could match him.

So, there's nothing to feel awkward about.

"The world is inherently unfair."

"......"

"But you're not without a chance. The important thing is to believe in your own path, right?"

"If I believe in my sword and work hard, I can defeat you someday, right?"

"Pfft. No way."

Qingming waved his hand.

"If a sparrow tries to follow a crane, it will tear its crotch."

"......"

"But it's okay. You won't be ashamed of not being able to defeat me. Instead, you'll be honored to have sparred with me."

"Arrogant. Unbelievably arrogant."

Song Bai's eyes slowly narrowed.

The tension seemed to have eased a bit during the conversation, and his face was gradually returning to that of a martial artist.

"Be careful. I know my shortcomings and will use my best techniques from the start."

"Sure, go ahead."

Song Bai slightly twisted his sword.

Seeing this, Qingming narrowed his eyes.

'What is it?'

A sword can change its nature with even a minor movement. Zhongnan is a school that pursues the right path, and they don't twist their swords. Showing both the edge and the flat side of the sword to the opponent is a technique mainly used in Illusory Sword (幻劍).

Yes.

It's a technique from Huashan.

"I will use the Twelve Snowflake Techniques (雪花十二式) against you."

"Twelve Snowflake Techniques?"

Qingming tilted his head.

Was there such a technique in Zhongnan?

The basic techniques of Zhongnan are the Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords (天下三十六劍) and the Taiyi Light-Dividing Sword (太乙分光劍).

It seems they have created a new technique while he was away.

"I'm coming!"

"Sure."

"Taah!"

Song Bai shouted and charged at Qingming.

Qingming looked at him with a slightly indifferent expression.

'What should I do?'

Should he crush this different junior cleanly from the start? Or should he teach him to help him grow?

'Tsk, even if I have a bad temper, I wouldn't do that.'

He might do it to an elder or a first disciple, but he has no interest in crushing a kid like this. For now, he should teach him...

At that moment.

Song Bai's sword underwent a heavy change.

It wasn't fast but was incredibly heavy, and while not flashy, it was diverse.

A change different from what Qingming knew of Zhongnan unfolded before his eyes.

Seeing this change, Qingming's face contorted like a demon.

"Thi—"

Qingming's wooden sword swung forward with no change, but with immense force.

Boom!

With a loud noise, Song Bai was sent flying backward, spitting blood.

But Qingming wasn't satisfied with that. Without hesitation, he rushed forward, grabbed Song Bai by the collar, and pulled him close to his face.

Seeing Qingming's face, which had suddenly turned demonic, Song Bai trembled and couldn't even breathe.

"Where did you learn this, you brat?"

"Cu, cough. Wh-what are you—"

"Thi—"

Qingming bit his lip.

Twelve Snowflake Techniques?

What a load of nonsense.

Others might be fooled by that, but not Qingming.

The basic form of this sword technique, though clumsy and awkward, was a sword Qingming knew very well.

'Melodic Plum Blossom (梅花紛紛).'

A sword from Huashan. A sword that represents Huashan.

A sword that is said to contain the essence of Huashan.

The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique, which is no longer practiced in Huashan, was being performed by none other than Song Bai.