Chapter 79

Chapter 78. A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss! (3)

"Alright, Elder?"

Hyun-yeong looked at Baek-cheon, who was dumbfounded, with an unsatisfied expression.

'Did I say something wrong?'

Baek-cheon hurried to salvage the situation.

"Going down to Huayin alone to drink alcohol is a grave offense for a third-generation disciple. Even if the Sect Leader granted the child the authority to go down to Huayin alone, how could that authority be used for drinking? I believe punishment is necessary."

At this, Hyun-yeong's head tilted slightly.

'This time, he seems to have understood properly.'

Then, what about that guy...

"You don't understand, do you?"

"......Yes?"

Hyun-yeong spoke without hiding her anger.

"Do you set the rules of Huashan?"

"H-How could I?"

"Is there a rule in Huashan's regulations that prohibits drinking outside the sect?"

"......"

Baek-cheon couldn't bring himself to speak.

No, there isn't such a rule.

After all, which sect would include a rule in their regulations that disciples are not allowed to drink outside the sect?

That should be an unspoken rule!

"And."

Hyun-yeong looked straight at Baek-cheon.

"So what if he drinks a little?"

"......Elder?"

"So what if he drinks a little?"

"......"

Does it seem to Baek-cheon alone that Hyun-yeong's face is turning red?

No, it wasn't.

Finally, with her face flushed, Hyun-yeong waved her hand at Baek-cheon and shouted.

"There are so many of you who can't even earn your keep! You, who live off others, buying a little alcohol with your own money! What? As a junior master, you nitpick and scold him for that?"

Eh? Junior master?

"Those who eat meat with the money earned by their juniors! If a junior wants to drink a little with the money he saved penny by penny! Can't you stand it and come running to tattle? You useless parasites who can't even earn your keep!"

Baek-cheon was speechless.

It was hard to understand why he was scolded for reporting that a third-generation disciple was drinking, but what was even harder to understand was Hyun-yeong's reaction.

Wasn't she the one who was usually so calm and cold that she even complained about not being able to fully utilize her talents because the person who should have entered the Northern Sea Ice Palace came to Huashan?

Seeing Hyun-yeong, who was usually so composed, with her eyes wide open and waving her hand, it was hard to tell if this was reality or a dream.

"Your junior has to go down to Huayin to earn... No! To gain merit, and what do you do as a junior master? Just swinging your sword and eating, what's so great about that, criticizing, criticizing! I'll smash your heads! Eat your own food, you guys! What have you done to eat meat..."

Bam!

At that moment, someone kicked the door open and burst in.

"Hahaha! Junior brother, you're here!"

Hyun-sang, who had a very peculiar smile, rushed in and hugged Hyun-yeong from behind, covering her mouth.

"Mmm! Mmm! Let go... Mmm!"

"Hahaha. Let's go out for a moment. Somewhere without the kids. Ah, stay still!"

Swoosh!

With the sound of the door closing, the hall was filled with an eerie silence. No one could easily speak.

Chomp chomp chomp chomp.

The only sound in that peculiar silence was Cheong-myeong eating.

"Exactly..."

Baek-cheon muttered to himself.

"What's going on here?"

It was a statement that represented the feelings of all the first-generation disciples.

* * *

"Isn't it too strange, Senior Brother?"

In response to the question directed at him, Baek-cheon simply put down the teacup in his hand without a word. It was an old, worn-out teacup he had used for a long time. Before his seclusion, he thought it had a certain charm. But now, it just looked shabby.

After all, this was the norm in Huashan.

Old utensils, old buildings, and old people.

The only hope for this worn-out sect was the first-generation disciples, and among them, the greatest hope was Baek-cheon.

But the sect he returned to after a year had changed so much that the phrase "a complete transformation" seemed inadequate.

"It's strange that new buildings are being built, and places that have been neglected for over ten years are being repaired. Well, I guess that's all fine. If money comes in, it's natural to do things that couldn't be done before. But!"

Baek-sang said with a tone of frustration.

"Isn't the attitude of the sect elders strange? After a long seclusion, the Sect Leader didn't even say much..."

"Didn't the Sect Leader sufficiently commend your efforts?"

"Still, it's been a whole year..."

"He's a busy person."

Baek-sang slightly bowed his head. He thought he had gone too far by mentioning the Sect Leader, but he still couldn't understand.

"Even if we set aside the Sect Leader, isn't the behavior of Elder Hyun-yeong and Senior Master Yun-geum also strange?"

Baek-cheon didn't give a direct answer. Whatever he said would be strange. If he said it, it would seem like he had complaints with the higher-ups, but there were too many things that didn't sit right with him.

"Didn't you notice? The higher-ups are favoring that child."

"Baek-sang."

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

"I'm not that clueless."

"......"

Did he not notice that he was scolded in front of everyone?

"Senior Brother, isn't that kid a bit arrogant?"

"Um?"

"Even if the higher-ups favor him, shouldn't he at least bow to you? But that guy is..."

Baek-sang started to say something but then closed his mouth.

If he had openly mocked, he would have poured out his anger, but it felt strange to scold someone who acted as if he didn't care and just ate.

"Hmm."

Baek-cheon's brows furrowed.

"And I don't understand why Senior Sister Yu shows so much interest in that child. Why..."

A small ripple appeared in the teacup held by Baek-sang.

"Isn't it just Senior Sister Yu's feelings?"

"Senior Sister Yu hardly talks to us. I've never seen her speak so actively to someone. We haven't been close to her for just a day or two, have we?"

"......"

"At least to you, Senior Brother..."

"Baek-sang."

"......Yes, Senior Brother."

"Don't get too worked up."

Baek-sang bowed his head again and subtly observed Baek-cheon's reaction.

He tried to manage his expression, but Baek-cheon's discomfort was clearly visible. His brows kept furrowing.

'I, to that young brat.'

And he's not even a disciple, just a junior.

In a sect like Huashan, the difference between a disciple and a junior is like heaven and earth. Just as he would never disobey Yun-jae, Cheong-myeong should naturally do the same.

'Arrogant brat.'

Baek-cheon slightly bit his lip.

At that moment, Baek-sang, who had been cowering, cautiously continued.

"It's unfair, it's unfair. After completing such difficult training, the elders don't even acknowledge it, and some newcomer is hogging all the attention of the sect elders."

"We've passed the age of receiving such attention."

"You know that's not what I mean, right?"

I know. I know too well.

Baek-cheon sighed softly.

'It feels like the initiative has slipped away.'

Is it because I was away for so long?

In the past, the sect elders would have sought out Baek-cheon immediately upon his return to discuss matters of the Huazong branch and training. Now, they show no particular interest in him.

Instead, they all seek out Cheong-myeong.

Baek-cheon found this unpleasant.

He didn't know what Cheong-myeong had done to receive such high expectations and subtle protection from the sect elders, but Huashan was his sect.

The one who should receive the expectations of all Huashan members and bring back its glory should be Baek-cheon.

"Will you just let that brat be, Senior Brother?"

"What if I don't?"

"......Still, shouldn't you give him a good scolding? If you let this continue, Huashan will be turned upside down. To uphold the strict rules, you need to step in, Senior Brother."

Baek-cheon smiled bitterly.

It's a request to beat the brat for being arrogant.

"Stay calm for now."

"Senior Brother!"

Baek-cheon frowned as Baek-sang raised his voice. Seeing his expression, Baek-sang lowered his eyes.

Only then did Baek-cheon nod in satisfaction.

"I'm not without the desire to do so."

"Then why..."

"We need to understand first."

"......?"

Baek-cheon shook his head and slowly put down his teacup.

"Everything has a sequence. We need to understand why the senior masters are protecting that child so much, don't we?"

"Ah, yes. We need to."

"Here he comes."

"......?"

As soon as Baek-cheon finished speaking, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Creak.

The person who entered bowed.

"Disciple Yun-jong greets the senior masters."

"Welcome."

Baek-cheon pointed to the front.

"Sit down."

"Thank you, Senior Master."

Yun-jong sat down cautiously, his entire body conveying that he didn't dare to sit there. It was a very respectful attitude.

Baek-cheon was pleased with Yun-jong's attitude.

'A junior should be like this.'

Not like that arrogant brat.

Feeling a bit better, Baek-cheon spoke in a relatively gentle voice.

"Yun-jong."

"Yes, Senior Master."

"Thank you for taking care of the sect elders in my absence as the eldest disciple."

"It was my duty as a Huashan disciple."

"Yes, that's right. It was your duty. But..."

Baek-cheon paused, and Yun-jong subtly raised his head to gauge his expression. The next words were as expected.

"Strange things seem to be happening in Huashan now."

"......Are you talking about Cheong-myeong?"

Baek-cheon didn't answer directly, but Yun-jong could guess his thoughts.

"It's my fault as a senior brother for not guiding my junior properly. If you're angry, please punish me, Senior Master."

"No, it's not something you can handle. That's why I'm asking."

"......Yes, Senior Master."

Baek-cheon's lips curved into a subtle smile.

"Tell me what happened in my absence. I'll decide the future direction based on what you tell me."

Yun-jong sighed deeply.

'It's only right to explain to Senior Master, but it feels like I'm betraying Cheong-myeong.'

Before coming here, Yun-jong had already asked Cheong-myeong if it was okay to report everything to Senior Master. Cheong-myeong's answer was simple.

- Go.

"......"

It would be easier if he gave some guidance.

Yun-jong glanced at Baek-cheon and made up his mind.

"I think I should start from when Cheong-myeong first entered Huashan."

As Yun-jong began to recount the story, the first-generation disciples listened intently, holding their breath.

The more the story progressed, the more Baek-cheon's face twisted.