Chapter 75

Chapter 74. It seems like something about the volcano has changed. (4)

Baekcheon’s eyes narrowed.

'Who is this kid?'

It’s incredibly strange.

Since the moment he entered this inn, he had felt a subtle sense of discomfort. Now, looking closely, he thought he understood why.

A child who looked to be barely fifteen was ordering expensive dishes and drinking alcohol?

Of course, it was possible.

The children of high-ranking officials, the descendants of prestigious families, and the offspring of wealthy merchants often enjoyed such luxuries from a young age.

The problem was that this place was Huayin.

As far as he knew, there were no high-ranking officials, no descendants of prestigious families, and no wealthy merchants’ children in Huayin. Even if there were, they wouldn’t be as young as Qingming.

So, who exactly was this child, who acted so naturally, drinking alone in Huayin?

"Cough."

The child gave a low cough and waved his hand.

"I’m just a passerby. Please don’t mind me and continue with your meal."

"A passerby, huh."

Baekcheon’s eyes softened.

"Yes, it could be. Young brother. Since we’ve met by chance, why don’t we introduce ourselves? I am Baekcheon, the second-generation disciple of Dae Huashan."

Qingming ground his teeth behind his hand.

'No way, this brat? Why is he so persistent?'

He couldn’t just beat him up.

While it wouldn’t be much of a problem to beat up a Qing porcelain, a white porcelain was different.

If the fact that Qingming had beaten Baekcheon like a mouse were to spread throughout Huashan, the headmaster would be in deep trouble, and Yunjian, who had recently become more nagging, would go berserk and try to kill Qingming.

That would mean the collapse of everything Qingming had built up so far.

'That can’t happen.'

He couldn’t get entangled with a young brat and suffer such a loss. Qingming cleared his throat a couple of times.

"I don’t really have a name worth mentioning…"

"In a conversation, hiding one’s face doesn’t seem to be the way of a gentleman, does it?"

What does this Taoist know about being a gentleman? Shouldn’t he be in an official position, this brat!

Qingming felt a surge of frustration, but for now, he needed to get away.

Qingming quietly stood up from his seat.

"Then I’ll be on my way."

"Wait there."

"Let’s meet and talk another time."

As Qingming tried to turn and leave, he suddenly grabbed the bottle of alcohol on the table. Then, with his mouth still covered, he bowed his head.

"Goodbye."

"Young brother, I would like to talk to you a bit more."

"I don’t have the hobby of peeling fish with men. See you."

Qingming dashed towards the entrance, and Baekcheon’s face hardened as he quickly extended his hand.

'Where are you going!'

Just as his hand was about to grab Qingming’s clothes.

Swish.

Qingming naturally took a step to the side, and Baekcheon’s hand sliced through the air.

"Huh?"

"Good luck!"

Qingming hurriedly ran out of the inn.

Baekcheon looked at where Qingming had gone with a dazed expression.

'He dodged?'

He had definitely used Jinna Shu at the last moment. Although it wasn’t at its peak, it was an excessive method to catch a child.

Yet, he dodged?

"Senior brother, why didn’t you catch him?"

"…Huh?"

"Didn’t you let him go at the last moment?"

Baekcheon’s face showed confusion.

What should he say?

"…I didn’t think it was right for a Taoist to oppress a young child."

"You’re truly a senior brother. Haha."

Baekcheon forced a smile.

'It must have been a mistake.'

He was probably tired from the long journey, or his mind had relaxed upon arriving at Huashan.

If he had properly used Jinna Shu, there was no way he couldn’t have caught that small child.

"More people have come to Huayin, and there are many unfamiliar faces."

"Since Huayin is not a small place, we can’t know everyone. If there’s a connection, we’ll meet again."

"Yes, senior brother."

Baekcheon smiled and returned to his seat.

But his smile wasn’t as bright as before.

* * *

"Damn! Damn it!"

Qingming kicked a rock.

"Why did he have to come crawling in there! There are so many other inns and taverns. If you have bad luck, you fall backward and break your nose!"

Ah, what a waste.

Thinking about the dishes he didn’t finish made his stomach churn. How much money was that?

"At least I managed to bring the alcohol."

While climbing Huashan, Qingming kept drinking from the bottle.

"Wow, it really sticks to the mouth."

It would have been even better with some dishes.

Qingming smacked his lips and threw the empty bottle into a corner.

"Ugh. Climbing this mountain is so tiring."

This mountain never gets easier, no matter how many times he climbs it.

'But a white porcelain, huh.'

Unexpected people suddenly appeared, which wasn’t part of Qingming’s plan. Of course, their appearance didn’t significantly hinder him, but…

'It could be a bit troublesome.'

Qingming had been living comfortably in Huashan because he had built up a significant amount of favor, earning him subtle preferential treatment. But that wasn’t the only reason.

The biggest reason, according to Qingming, was the extreme age difference between the Yunzi and Qingzi.

Compared to the Yunzi, who were all over fifty, the Qingzi were just teenagers, barely in their twenties. It would be a loss of face for the Yunzi to chase after and scold them.

Such tasks are usually done by the seniors.

The most terrifying person for a new recruit in the army isn’t the general or the emperor, but the senior soldiers. A nasty senior is more frightening than a famous general far away.

But now, a senior had appeared unexpectedly.

"Ugh. A white porcelain."

Their first encounter was a bit strange.

"Ah, I shouldn’t have laughed there."

But he couldn’t help but laugh.

Baekcheon’s words were too absurd.

"Capture Zhongnan?"

What a joke?

Qingming kept shaking his head.

These guys, who can’t even match the third-generation disciples of the old Zhongnan, were just talk.

"Oh, senior brother. Nowadays, even such people are considered disciples of Huashan. What a time we live in! Ah!"

The third-generation disciples were less shocking.

How much could these kids have learned? Even if they had learned proper martial arts, they wouldn’t be much different from the third-generation disciples.

But the second-generation disciples were different.

The third-generation disciples were still building their foundation, the second-generation disciples were growing through practice, and the first-generation disciples were reaching maturity. And the elders were supposed to complete their own paths in martial arts.

So… that’s the standard.

"Ah, what a mess."

Qingming sighed deeply.

Seeing the state of the second-generation disciples made his stomach churn. Since they were part of Huashan, he had to take care of them…

"I shouldn’t be wasting my time like this."

Seeing their state made his already urgent heart even more anxious.

"Ugh. When will these people become competent?"

It was still a long, long way.

* * *

"Senior brother Zhaoge! All third-generation disciples are to gather at the training ground."

"Why?"

"The junior masters have returned."

"Ah, I see. Did you inform the senior brother?"

"Yes! He’s coming right away."

"Understood."

Zhaoge quickly put on his clothes.

It was almost sunset.

'Has he returned yet?'

Zhaoge opened the door and went to Qingming’s room.

"Kuh… Snore, kuh!"

"…"

Seeing Qingming sprawled on the bed, Zhaoge was speechless. His posture looked like he had had a heavy drink…

"Really, did he actually drink?"

There was a smell of alcohol too.

Zhaoge, flustered, rushed to Qingming, grabbed his shoulder, and shook him.

"Qingming! Junior brother! Qingming junior brother! You crazy brat…"

"Uh?"

"…Ah, never mind. Forget the last part."

He woke up at just the right time.

"Senior masters have returned, and everyone is gathering. You should hurry and clean up. You look terrible."

"Yawn."

Qingming stretched lazily.

"Trying to take a short break, but ended up falling asleep."

That’s not true.

Qingming, there’s no such thing as a creature that just falls asleep. You should say you lay down and slept.

"You should clean up…"

"Phew!"

As Qingming let out a slight shout, the smell of alcohol spread. Just as Zhaoge was about to say something, he noticed…

'Huh?'

The smell of alcohol suddenly disappeared. He sniffed again, but it was gone.

"Huh? Where did the smell of alcohol come from?"

"Alcohol? What nonsense, senior brother. Such words in a sacred and pure temple will bring divine punishment."

"…But I’m sure I…"

"Let’s go. If we’re late, we’ll get a beating."

Zhaoge, feeling very wronged, followed Qingming without a word.

"But why are we going out for the return of the second-generation disciples?"

"We should welcome them. They’ve completed a difficult seclusion and returned."

A difficult seclusion is a joke.

Seclusion isn’t like that.

They are locked in a dark penitence room for two or three months, eating moss and practicing swordsmanship, to realize…

'I’ve practiced a bit.'

That’s it.

'How dare they, who only practice a bit in pairs, talk about training.'

In my time, it wasn’t like that! In my time!

It was unimaginable in Huashan a hundred years ago.

"This time, they really brought their swords. The headmaster even supported their training, determined to put Zhongnan in its place."

"Really?"

"Yes. Senior master Baekcheon also strongly requested it."

Qingming snorted.

"Sure, sure."

"You should be careful with your attitude. Senior master Baekcheon is strict, and if you act as usual, you’ll definitely get a beating!"

"Sure, sure."

"Really, I mean it."

"Sure, sure."

Leaving Zhaoge, who looked like he was about to explode, Qingming walked towards the mountain gate. By the time he arrived, quite a few people had already gathered.

The headmaster, the elders, and the Yunzi were all outside the hall, standing in a line at the mountain gate, waiting for the return of the white porcelains.

"There they are."

"Open the gate."

The grand new gate opened to the sides. Soon, the second-generation disciples of Huashan, dressed in black martial robes, walked in confidently.

"Wow!"

"Their aura is different."

"Indeed, they are excellent."

The Yunzi were impressed, the Qingzi were clapping, and the Xianzi were welcoming the returning disciples with smiles.

Only one person was indifferent.

'When will this end?'

I need to go eat.

Baekcheon, leading the second-generation disciples, smiled and responded to the welcome.

'Wow, he looks like a painting.'

Indeed, he’s handsome, even when seen again.

Back then, Qingming also heard a lot of compliments for his good looks. When he dressed up and went down to the village, the beautiful girls…

- Conscience.

"Ah, really."

Is this guy scolding me with hallucinations?

Just as Qingming was about to nod and clap, Baekcheon’s eyes fixed on him. Baekcheon, who had paused for a moment, tilted his head slightly.

With a strange look, he stared at Qingming for a while, then came right up to him and smiled.

"Perhaps…"

Baekcheon, with a playful smile, looked directly at Qingming and said,

"Are we not old acquaintances? Young brother?"

"…"

Should I really beat him up?