Chapter 89

Chapter 88. What the hell is this? I'm the strongest! (3)

Yoon Jong narrowed his eyes and looked around.

None.

They are nowhere to be seen.

The senior disciples who would have sneaked up and tormented them from early morning, as they did yesterday, are nowhere to be seen today.

'Is it really true?'

It's not that he doesn't trust Qingming's words.

As Zhaoge said, Qingming may talk nonsense, but he doesn't lie.

The problem is that Qingming's idea of "resolution" often differs greatly from what an ordinary person would consider "resolution."

So, he thought something must have gone wrong this time as well...

'But it seems to have been resolved well?'

There's still some doubt about the "well," but it definitely seems to have been "resolved."

"Senior, it seems Qingming's words are true, don't you think?"

"......"

Yoon Jong nodded unconsciously at Zhaoge's casual question.

But is it really acceptable to believe this?

'Is it a way of thinking in the Central Plains to resolve a problem with a senior by beating them up?'

Even in the Western Regions, where the common sense of the Central Plains doesn't apply, isn't it a bit much to say you'll fix someone's attitude and beat them up?

The problem is that this absurd method actually works.

'Where is Huashan's future heading?'

Yoon Jong, who has never thought of himself as a conservative, finds himself thinking that conservatives aren't all that bad when he sees Qingming.

Isn't a world where conservatives rule more beautiful than one where a guy like Qingming runs amok?

"What are you thinking about?"

"......I was thinking about Huashan's future and conservatives."

"......"

Zhaoge looked at him with a gaze that seemed to say, "Is this guy losing it?"

Yoon Jong cleared his throat softly.

The third-generation disciples, who had been watching from the side, approached Yoon Jong and spoke.

"Senior, the seniors are acting a bit strange today."

"......That's true."

"Why are they acting like this all of a sudden? I'm worried they might be up to something."

"Indeed."

Yoon Jong looked up at the distant sky.

'These guys are losing their minds too.'

Using the term "trick" for seniors is something unimaginable in the Huashan before Qingming. But as Yoon Jong, Zhaoge, and the third-generation disciples are increasingly influenced by Qingming, it's becoming more common.

If this continues, Huashan might be filled with guys like Qingming...

Yoon Jong shuddered at the thought.

'The mere thought is terrifying.'

The problem is that it's not entirely impossible.

"It's more unsettling because it's so quiet. Should we go and check on them, Senior?"

"They can't have come to their senses all of a sudden. Don't you think they're up to something, Senior?"

Alas.

Where has the trust and faith between senior and junior gone?

"Shut up and get ready for practice!"

"......Yes."

The disciples, who looked at him with a gaze that seemed to say, "Why is he so moody?" as they slowly picked up their swords, made Yoon Jong sigh deeply.

Huashan is becoming further and further from the Huashan he knew. Of course, it's not necessarily a bad change... but the honest truth is that he doesn't want to see the Huashan that Qingming will create.

"Senior, did Qingming really beat Senior Baichuan?"

Zhaoge whispered so that others couldn't hear, and Yoon Jong frowned.

"What are you saying? He wouldn't lie, and if it hadn't happened, this change wouldn't have occurred."

"......No, it's just that......"

Zhaoge scratched the back of his head.

"It's just hard to believe. No matter how strong Qingming was from the start, there's still a difference in the time they've spent learning martial arts. I thought they might be evenly matched, but to beat him one-sidedly......"

Yoon Jong also couldn't understand this.

'Is this even possible?'

It's not possible. But isn't Qingming the one who always makes the impossible possible?

"Then, Senior, Qingming is stronger than Senior Baichuan?"

"Stop repeating the obvious......"

"Then how about compared to Zhongnan?"

Yoon Jong closed his mouth.

Zhongnan?

This is something Yoon Jong has never really thought about.

"Isn't Qingming strong enough to match Zhongnan? He even beat Senior Baichuan."

"......Hmm."

Yoon Jong fell into deep thought with a stern expression.

"Then, if Qingming leads in this Huashan Sect Assembly......"

"Walk."

"Yes, Senior."

"What would change even if Qingming beats Zhongnan?"

"......Wouldn't it change?"

Yoon Jong shook his head.

"It's a cause for celebration when a sect has a high-level practitioner. But in the martial world, one high-level practitioner alone can't do much. The reputation might soar, but once Qingming is gone, Huashan will fall back to its former state."

"......"

"To truly revitalize Huashan, we need to become stronger, not rely on Qingming. Only when Huashan's disciples are respected by everyone can we truly declare a revival."

"That's true."

"Still, I'm curious about the Huashan Sect Assembly, as you said. It will be decided there."

"What will be decided?"

"Qingming......"

Yoon Jong took a deep breath and spoke.

"Whether he will become a hero who truly changes Huashan or a tyrant who rules over a small Huashan."

Yoon Jong and Zhaoge looked at each other with the utmost seriousness.

Qingming......

"Ah! Really! Get lost!"

The two of them slowly turned their heads.

Qingming was running away while cursing at someone behind him.

"......"

"Isn't that Liu?"

Yue Ming, who was chasing Qingming with a blank expression, shouted.

"Teach me!"

"I won't teach you! I told you not to come anymore! You bald head!"

"Yue Nü Sword!"

"Go ask Senior Yunjian to teach you!"

"Senior Yunjian is a man. Yue Nü Sword is a female technique. Senior Yunjian's mastery of Yue Nü Sword is weak."

"Am I a woman? Am I a woman?"

"Teach me."

"Aah! Damn, how did I end up with this guy!"

Qingming and Liu, who passed by quickly, left Yoon Jong and Zhaoge with a look of disbelief.

'When did they become close?'

'Was Liu always this talkative? It seems like he's said more in the past few minutes than he has since joining Huashan.'

'Or, is it okay to talk to someone like Liu like that?'

In any case, he's a guy without common sense.

"......What you were saying earlier. About the hero or the tyrant."

"Walk."

"Yes, Senior."

"Let's practice."

"......Yes."

Bai Shang's face twisted.

"Senior, are you really going to let them be?"

Bai Shang, who heard Bai Chuan's complaint, smiled.

"Why are you so angry?"

"Those guys are being so arrogant! Especially Qingming, he shows no sign of repentance. Shouldn't we punish them now?"

Punish?

You?

"What about you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing, never mind."

Bai Chuan forced a smile.

His whole body ached.

His gaze turned to Qingming, who was running away from Liu.

'What a ruthless guy.'

How can someone beat someone up so thoroughly without leaving a single mark? The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.

At least he avoided being humiliated in front of others, but now he had no way to vent his frustration. If he complained about being beaten by a junior without a single mark, he'd be treated as a lunatic.

Or a complete wimp.

Of course, even if he had marks, he wouldn't admit to being beaten like a dog by a junior. But it still felt unfair and disappointing.

"Why are you suddenly telling us not to touch the third-generation disciples?"

"Bai Shang."

"Yes, Senior. I don't understand your intentions."

Intentions? They're frozen.

He just doesn't want to get beaten again.

But he couldn't say that. Bai Chuan has a social reputation to maintain.

"The Huashan Sect Assembly is coming up, isn't it?"

"......That's true."

Bai Chuan put on a stern expression.

"I was shortsighted. We can discipline the third-generation disciples anytime, but the Huashan Sect Assembly is a biennial event."

Bai Shang nodded silently.

Bai Chuan noticed the lingering dissatisfaction on his face and frowned slightly.

"Disciplining the third-generation disciples is an internal matter, while the Huashan Sect Assembly is an external matter related to Huashan's honor. Both are important, but especially considering the symbolic nature of the Huashan Sect Assembly, we need to focus all our efforts on it. Don't you agree?"

"......Yes."

"Our enemy is not the third-generation disciples but Zhongnan. Haven't we forgotten why we trained so hard in seclusion?"

Bai Shang sighed deeply and bowed his head.

"Senior is right. I must have lost my mind for a moment."

'I lost my mind.'

And I still am.

But it was fortunate that his excuse seemed to work. If Bai Shang had asked, "Why are you acting good now when you started it?" he would have been at a loss for words.

"Thank you for understanding. Let's put the matter of the third-generation disciples on hold for now. We need to focus on preparing for the Huashan Sect Assembly. Tell the disciples to review their martial arts and reflect on what they've learned in seclusion."

"Yes, Senior!"

Bai Shang answered energetically and ran off.

Bai Chuan watched him go and lowered his eyes with a slightly dejected look.

'Once the Huashan Sect Assembly is over, the third-generation disciples' attitudes won't even cross my mind.'

Because the scene will be even more absurd.

Bai Chuan turned his head slightly and looked at Qingming, who was getting farther away.

'And it won't just be us who are surprised.'

Zhongnan will be even more surprised than Huashan. The thought of it made the pain from where he was beaten by Qingming... not go away.

It hurt more.

It hurt to the bone.

Damn, he hit hard.

Bai Chuan sighed deeply and turned his body.

'I will do my part.'

Although something got twisted because of Qingming's sudden appearance, his goal for the past two years has been to prove himself at the Huashan Sect Assembly. Considering who will be coming to Huashan this time, he doesn't have time to waste.

This time, he will definitely prove his worth.

Only...

Bai Chuan's face twisted as he turned around.

"But why is that guy always hanging out with Senior Liu?"

It's annoying.

Bai Chuan, who glanced at the two of them with a slightly uneasy feeling, suppressed it and headed to the training ground.

The time for the Huashan Sect Assembly to begin was approaching.