Chapter 80

Chapter 79. A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss! (4)

When the story ended, no one spoke.

Everyone stared at Yunjong's face with serious expressions, lost in thought.

It was, as expected, Baekcheon who broke the long silence.

"So, that child...?"

"Yes, Junior Master."

"Discovered the sect's treasures and martial arts."

"Yes."

"Found the ledger and cleared Huashan's name, and even had the business premises seized?"

"That's right."

"And even cured the illness of the Huang official from the Galaxy Merchant Guild?"

"Yes."

"In return, the Galaxy Merchant Guild agreed to manage Huashan's finances... Huashan's finances."

Yunjong nodded silently.

Thinking about it, he had found it strange on the way back. Huayin was bustling with activity, and he saw merchants he had never seen before.

Since he had been away from Huashan for a long time, he had vaguely thought that Huayin's economy had improved, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

"Indeed."

Baekcheon opened his mouth to say something but then closed it again.

"I understand."

"Yes, Junior Master, then I'll take my leave."

"Go ahead."

As Yunjong left the room, Baekcheon looked at the air with a serious expression. The other disciples also had dazed looks on their faces.

"Really, what is this...?"

Baekshang spoke with a sense of futility.

"So, that young brat solved all of Huashan's problems on his own?"

"..."

His voice was filled with shock.

Baekcheon couldn't really refute it either.

The biggest problem for Huashan wasn't the lack of martial arts or the small number of disciples. It was the lack of money.

'It wasn't just a lack of money.'

The debt was enormous.

When Baekcheon left Huashan to enter seclusion, his greatest worry was what to do if Huashan had collapsed when he returned.

But Qingming had solved it all.

"I can understand why the elders are so fond of him."

Baekshang laughed in a defeated manner at Baekcheon's muttering.

"I thought Elder Xianying was eating meat with the money the child had earned, and that he was a wealthy merchant's son who donated a lot of money to Huashan. But it seems that's not the case..."

He really had been the one who had kept Huashan fed.

Baekcheon shook his head.

'This is beyond comprehension.'

If he were in Xianying's position, he would have carried Qingming around too. A child who had not only solved the financial problems that had been unsolvable for decades but also made money flow like water in just a few months.

The saying "he wouldn't even hurt if you put him in your eye" applies here.

Xianying was lucky to have no children; if he had, he would have kicked his child out in a storm.

You can always have more children, but where would you find another Qingming?

"Senior Brother, this is..."

"Hmm."

Baekcheon let out a heavy sigh.

"If he had only solved one problem, it would have been a matter of 'achieving merit.' But the boy is involved with the Galaxy Merchant Guild. As long as the Galaxy Merchant Guild manages Huashan's finances and Huashan earns money from it, Qingming's position will only grow stronger every month."

For a while.

"Wouldn't it eventually become a matter of course?"

"Of course. But will that moment come quickly? As you know, this is like... a gold coin falling into a beggar's den."

Just seeing it would be good, and touching it would be even better. Even without using the gold, wouldn't the mere presence of it make one feel full?

Qingming had thrown gold into the beggar's den that was Huashan. Even Baekcheon couldn't have achieved such a feat.

'Even the Sect Leader seemed to take a special interest in that child.'

Baekcheon bit his lower lip slightly.

He had thought that upon returning from seclusion, he would receive the expectations of the elders, but a sudden appearance had taken all the expectations that should have been his.

This was a problem that couldn't be ignored.

"What's so great about his achievements?"

Baekwen, who had been listening to the conversation so far, spoke with a tone of dissatisfaction.

"Finding Huashan's treasures was just a coincidence, and curing the Galaxy Merchant Guild's Huang official was just good luck, wasn't it?"

"Disciple."

"Senior Brother, Huashan is a martial sect. It's impossible for a martial sect to favor a child who has earned money. How could such a thing happen unless Huashan is upside down?"

Baekcheon gently reprimanded Baekwen.

"Disciple, you should be careful with your words. That's a criticism of the junior masters and grandmasters."

"Of course, I didn't mean to criticize them."

"But it's not entirely wrong."

"Excuse me?"

Baekcheon nodded calmly.

"Disciple, you're right. Huashan is a martial sect. No matter how much money is earned, as long as it's a martial sect, martial arts will always be the most important."

"You're right."

"Indeed."

Baekcheon nodded at the disciples' responses.

"Ultimately, we must return to the fundamentals. Right now, the elders are naturally interested in the boy, but once they realize that the Huazong Assembly is approaching, they won't have time to focus on the three major disciples."

"Yes, Senior Brother. It should be that way."

"So, for now, let's focus on martial arts. We can correct the habits of the younger disciples later."

Baekshang glanced at Baekcheon.

"Senior Brother."

"What is it?"

"The Huazong Assembly isn't just for us. The three major disciples will also participate."

"Is there anyone who doesn't know that?"

"It's not just about us working hard. We must also prevent the three major disciples from being disgraced."

Baekcheon looked at Baekshang with interest.

"What do you think, disciple?"

"If we only think about ourselves, we should focus on training. But the three major disciples are also Huashan's disciples. How can we only think about our own distribution? Even if it's a burden, if we can help the three major disciples with their martial arts for a short time, it will be a great help for the Huazong Assembly."

Baekcheon smiled.

"Indeed, disciple, you care for Huashan more than anyone else."

"I'm flattered, Senior Brother."

"It's a good idea. After being away from the sect for a year, the children might have become distant. It won't be bad to sweat together for a change."

"Yes, Senior Brother. It's a good plan."

Baekcheon and Baekshang smiled at each other.

Ultimately, authority comes from strength. A gentle person is respected, but respect is just respect.

Even in a family, authority is necessary. If left as is, the day when the three major disciples start to crawl will not be far off.

Before that happens, they need to be shown why they are elders and why they must bow.

"It would be good if that Qingming has talent in martial arts. Then we would have a genius to lead the next generation of Huashan."

"The genius to lead the next generation is you, Senior Brother."

"I can't rely on the disciples forever. If he's a smart and well-behaved child, there will be many things I can have him do."

Baekcheon smiled subtly.

"He looks like he can't even eat a piece of meat. How could he have talent in martial arts?"

Baekwen's cold voice made him shrug.

"So, we need to teach and guide him more. It will be a bit overwhelming for him, but that's the way it is."

"Indeed, I understand."

The three of them smiled at each other.

'I need to show the elders the proper authority.'

Baekcheon's eyes slowly narrowed.

* * *

"Are you sleeping?"

"Yes."

"Ugh. I was dragged away by the junior masters, and you're lying here comfortably?"

Yunjong's face turned slightly red.

'My authority...'

He didn't intend to tell Qingming to show respect as the youngest now. The treatment of a grandmaster was something he had given up long ago.

But today, seeing how the other Baek siblings treated Baekcheon, he felt a surge of emotion.

'A proper sect is like this.'

Seeing the respectful demeanor towards the grandmaster made him feel particularly sad and tearful.

'Once, I was treated like that too.'

After that brat came, the other disciples became more relaxed. If it was just one, he could understand, but they all became lax quickly...

"What are you thinking about, Senior Brother?"

"Nothing."

This brat is also a problem, this brat!

In the past, even when they rebelled, there was a certain level of respect. Now, they treat him like a neighborhood elder!

Yunjong sighed deeply and looked at Zhaoge.

"Zhaoge."

"Yes?"

"Is Qingming's arrival really a good thing for Huashan?"

"Stop talking nonsense and tell me what happened. How did it go?"

Nonsense, this brat. Is that something to say to a grandmaster?

Oh, my fate...

Yunjong, who had given up, lay on the bed and glanced at Qingming, who was lying on the bed.

"Tell me what that brat has done so far."

"So, you reported everything?"

"Would there be any point in hiding it?"

"Indeed."

It was something that would eventually be known.

"What was their reaction?"

"You're not asking because you don't know, right?"

"Ugh."

Yunjong and Zhaoge sighed deeply. Looking at Qingming, who was lying on the bed and tapping his stomach, they couldn't help but sigh.

'Crazy brat.'

'Wild brat.'

No matter what, it's not right. Baekcheon is not a senior brother but a junior master. How could anyone make such a fuss at their first meeting with a junior master?

Baekcheon wasn't a harsh person to the three major disciples. But now that the relationship has soured, it's hard to predict what will happen next.

"He won't react well."

"Even I would react that way."

No one would have a good first impression of Qingming. Both Yunjong and Zhaoge had initially wanted to give him a beating.

Fortunately, they had only ended up with a moderate scolding. But if Baekcheon decided to crush Qingming, the situation could get out of hand.

"We'll be the ones to suffer."

"Indeed."

Yunjong sighed deeply again and looked at Zhaoge with a determined expression.

"Didn't you expect this when you heard the junior masters were returning?"

"Yes."

"Call the children and tell them to be careful with their behavior from tomorrow. Even without any special reason, they're already in a position to be criticized. With this, it won't be easy to let it pass."

"Yes, I understand."

After answering, Zhaoge turned to leave but suddenly stopped. He glanced back at Yunjong.

"Senior Brother."

"Yes?"

"I'm just curious..."

"What?"

"If Baekcheon and Qingming were to face off, who would win?"

"Stop talking nonsense and do what I told you."

"Tch."

Zhaoge grumbled and left the room.

Yunjong, who remained in Qingming's room, glanced at the room's owner, who was still in a dream.

'Who would win?'

Do you not know that?

"Sleeping well, you troublemaker."

The peace of Huashan is over. There will be a big commotion from now on.

Yunjong smiled at the sleeping Qingming and left the room.