Chapter 83

Chapter 82. Who Challenged Who? You're Dead Now. (2)

"How was it?"

"......There was no particular reaction, surprisingly."

"Really?"

Baek Sang glanced at Baek Cheon and said.

"Yes. He's clearly very angry, but he doesn't rebel. He doesn't even say anything that could cause problems."

"Hmm, really?"

Baek Cheon slightly furrowed his brows.

'This is a bit different from what I expected.'

Isn't he in the prime of his youth? I thought he would react immediately if provoked a little. And that was the situation Baek Cheon was ultimately aiming for.

Huashan is a prestigious orthodox sect.

There are two things that this prestigious orthodox sect despises the most. One is the Way of Demons, and the other is insubordination.

These two things are never tolerated under any circumstances. The former is related to Huashan's identity as a righteous sect, and the latter is because it undermines Huashan's history and system.

Baek Cheon's plan was to provoke the third-generation disciples a bit, frame them for insubordination, and make sure they never dare to rebel again. However, the third-generation disciples are surprisingly enduring the pressure from the second-generation disciples.

"Is the pressure not strong enough?"

"It would be too much to go further. If we push it any harder, problems might arise on our side during the process of resolving the issues."

"Hmm."

Baek Cheon let out a low sigh, clearly dissatisfied.

'So he's not just a hothead without any sense?'

Thinking about Qingming, whom he saw in the dining hall, he would have already lost his temper and attacked. Not only is he restraining himself, but he's also keeping the other third-generation disciples in line...

'Or is it something Yun Zhong is doing?'

Regardless of the reason, it's clear that things aren't going as Baek Cheon planned.

"What about the other third-generation disciples?"

"Besides the fact that they're doing some strange training, there's nothing particularly... unusual."

Baek Cheon gently tapped his cheek with his finger.

"Is that so?"

"Senior Brother. It's not feasible to keep stalling. We don't know when the senior brothers will start showing signs of displeasure, and the Huazong Assembly is approaching. We need to start preparing for it."

"I know."

Baek Cheon nodded lightly.

"We've simmered it enough; now it's time to serve the porridge."

"Then what should we do?"

In response to Baek Sang's question, Baek Cheon smiled slightly and began.

"As you know, the Blue Robe disciples were originally all good kids."

"That's true. Before we left the closed training, they were all innocent children. I never thought they would change so much in just a year..."

"It's all because they got involved with a bad person. Do all the Blue Robe disciples really deserve punishment? The problem is just Qingming."

"You're right."

Baek Sang completely agreed with Baek Cheon.

The third-generation disciples and their representative, Yun Zhong, are not difficult to handle. There are a few troublemakers among them, but Baek Sang can handle them without Baek Cheon's intervention.

The problem is Qingming.

As the saying goes, "Those who stay close to ink get stained." The third-generation disciples, who were originally fine, have all become strange because of Qingming.

At least, the third-generation disciples they knew respected their seniors and understood that the words of their uncles were more important than those of their peers.

Qingming is the one who turned the third-generation disciples into what they are now.

In other words, if Qingming's arrogance can be broken, the other third-generation disciples will naturally return to their former obedient selves.

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Junior Brother."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Baek Cheon smiled.

"Do we really need a special method? What we're doing now is just upholding Huashan's laws, isn't it?"

"Of course, Senior Brother."

"There's no room for personal feelings. Qingming is also one of my precious disciples, isn't he? He's a bit arrogant, but if properly guided, he could become a good talent. So I'm just correcting his mistakes while he's still young."

Baek Cheon smiled subtly.

"The only problem is the method. I don't want to use harsh methods if possible, but since time is short, it can't be helped. The best way to discipline a child is through conversation, but sometimes a cane is necessary, isn't it?"

Baek Sang nodded, looking pleased.

"They will understand Senior Brother's deep intentions eventually."

"That's right. Even if it hurts a little now."

The two of them looked at each other and smiled.

* * *

Creak.

The door of the White Plum Hall opened slightly.

Peek.

A small head poked out. The person, who only stuck out their head to look around, frowned slightly.

'No one?'

Like a night visitor slipping in under the cover of darkness, Qingming was on high alert, scanning his surroundings.

No one was around, and there were no signs of anyone.

Qingming sighed and stepped out.

"Ugh."

What is he doing?

He walked out of the White Plum Hall with a lifeless expression and looked up at the sky.

"Zhangmen Senior Brother, are you watching?"

Zhangmen Senior Brother, who cherished and doted on...

- What?

Ah, don't get angry yet, just hear me out! You need patience! As the leader of Huashan!

Qingming's face contorted.

"Anyway, the point is that I'm avoiding a kid who hasn't even dried the blood on his head. Does this make any sense?"

He spoke with a voice full of grievance, but unfortunately, there was no response from Qingwen.

"That's not all. The young girl is driving me crazy, and the guy who looks like a courtesan is nagging me with unheard-of rules. Oh, I'd rather die than suffer like this!"

He really wanted to just flip everything over. He wanted to drag the leader out and beat him for not doing anything while the young brats were causing chaos.

Seeing these young brats, who weren't even born when he was leading Huashan and conquering the world, acting like senior brothers almost made him reach enlightenment.

If he went to Shaolin now, they would welcome him as an enlightened being and immediately accept him as a disciple. Really.

"Ha! What did I do in my past life... I did a lot of bad things."

Honestly, he felt guilty. Thinking about how much trouble his actions during his time as a second-generation and first-generation disciple caused Zhangmen Senior Brother and the leaders, he couldn't even complain about his current difficulties, even if it was just for show.

"Why did I do that?"

Qingming's eyes welled up with tears.

I should have been more moderate.

It feels like all the karma from his past life is coming back to haunt him. Dealing with these brats who aren't even human is like leading them along.

Ah, now I understand why Zhangmen Senior Brother didn't get married in his past life. He was afraid of having a son like me.

I'm sorry, Zhangmen Senior Brother.

I thought you couldn't get married because of your face...

Sighing deeply, Qingming trudged out of the mountain gate. In the old days, there would have been guards at this hour, but now, Huashan doesn't have guards on duty when there are no visitors.

The reason is simple.

Until recently, Huashan was a place where even beggars would throw a coin and leave, so there was no need for guards.

The person who made Huashan a livable place was Qingming.

But these ungrateful brats! After I worked so hard to make it a place where they could live comfortably, they don't even show gratitude!

He wanted to beat them all up, but...

"Ugh. I can't do that."

Strangely, Yun Zhong's face often overlaps with Zhangmen Senior Brother's. Comparing Yun Zhong to the rugged and burly Zhangmen Senior Brother might be a bit disrespectful, but their expressions are becoming similar.

When Yun Zhong makes a face like his insides are rotting every time Qingming does something, it...

'Strangely, I feel guilty.'

It feels like Zhangmen Senior Brother has come back to life and is groaning, making it hard to ignore.

"Tsk."

Qingming shook his head.

"I'll endure this until the Huazong Assembly is over."

He also wants to flip the Zongnan brats over. Even though the Blue Robe brats are annoying, they can't compare to the Zongnan brats.

The Blue Robe brats are the kind you want to kick in the butt, but the Zongnan brats are the kind you want to strangle.

According to Yun Zhong, it's best to endure until the Huazong Assembly is over.

That's right, but...

"Ugh. I might lose my temper and cause an accident."

The best strategy is to avoid the Blue Robe brats as much as possible until the Huazong Assembly is over.

Qingming started climbing the mountain by a different path than usual.

'I'll never go to Lianhua Peak again.'

A person can be fooled twice, but not three times. If you get fooled three times, are you even human?

Qingming turned his head to look at Luoyan Peak.

"Oh, my fate. I can't even practice as I please now."

If I suffer, I might as well die.

At this moment, in other sects, old monsters who have been practicing for nearly a hundred years are probably getting stronger without rest.

To close the gap, Qingming can't afford to rest. Being strong among the same generation is meaningless.

For Huashan to stand tall again as one of the Nine Great Sects... no, to surpass that and become the number one sword sect in the world, it's essential to have a master who can subdue those old monsters.

And no one else in Huashan can do that except Qingming.

Well, who knows.

Fifty years? A hundred years?

If we aim to be the number one sword sect in the world in that time, it might be possible to cultivate Jiaoge or Yun Zhong. Although they lack spirit, Baek Cheon has talent, and if his misguided foundation is properly guided, there's potential.

But the problem is that Qingming doesn't have the patience to wait that long.

"Fifty years is too long."

I'll die of frustration before then.

Qingming, trudging up Luoyan Peak, slowly drew his sword and looked around.

'No one?'

That accident or whatever has been following Qingming like a shadow since that day.

At least, it seems to restrain itself when he's with other Blue Robe disciples, but as soon as Qingming is alone, it appears and pesters him to talk for a bit.

If he can sense it and avoid it in advance, that's fine, but strangely, it's hard for even Qingming to detect You Yixue's presence.

'He's not a ghost.'

Sometimes, there are people with weak auras, but You Yixue's aura is so faint that it surprises even Qingming.

Moreover, Qingming, who is accustomed to sensing people through qi rather than sight or hearing, finds it especially difficult...

"Qingming."

"AAAAH!"

That's right. Like this.

Qingming almost jumped out of his skin and retreated in shock. He saw You Yixue awkwardly reaching out to him.

"No! Really! Make some noise when you appear!"

Qingming shouted, and You Yixue slightly frowned.