Chapter 90

Chapter 89. What the hell is this? I'm the strongest! (4)

"Grandmaster."

Hyun-jong silently poured tea into the cup. The fragrant aroma of the tea spread throughout the room.

Whenever anger welled up in his heart, Hyun-jong would brew and drink tea like this. There was nothing better for calming the mind and body.

"Today, the disciples of Zhongnan will arrive."

"Is everything prepared?"

"Yes, Grandmaster. There will be no problem in welcoming the Zhongnan disciples."

"That's a relief."

Hyun-jong let out a low sigh.

'At least this time, I won't have to show my shame.'

Losing in martial arts was embarrassing, but what made Hyun-jong feel the most ashamed was not being able to properly entertain the disciples of Zhongnan.

How could he feel when he had to show the dilapidated pavilions, poor meals, and desolate training grounds to the very people he least wanted to see them?

Especially for Hyun-jong, the Grandmaster of Huashan, this was a sensitive issue.

It was also difficult to endure the slightly mocking gazes of the Zhongnan disciples. Until now, he could only bite his lips and endure the mocking gazes, but...

"The more I think about it, the more I realize that Qingming has done a great deed."

Yun-ahm smiled with a hint of satisfaction.

Although it was often said within Huashan that Hyun-jong overly favored Qingming, Yun-ahm fully understood Hyun-jong's feelings. From Hyun-jong and Yun-ahm's perspective, Qingming was like a savior who had removed the heavy stone from their stomachs.

It wasn't just about survival.

Huashan, a traditional school with a long history, had to at least show a decent appearance to others. Although they taught that appearances were mere formalities, people inevitably judged others by what they saw.

No one would listen to the teachings of a beggar.

Qingming not only solved Huashan's survival issues but also restored its dignity. How could they not cherish him?

Noticing that Yun-ahm's smiling gaze was slightly uncomfortable, Hyun-jong cleared his throat and offered him tea.

"Drink."

"Yes, Grandmaster."

Yun-ahm lifted the cup and sipped it lightly, then nodded.

"How is it?"

"The aroma seems stronger. Although it has been dried for a long time, it should have become less fragrant by now."

"Indeed."

Hyun-jong nodded with a pleased expression.

"Properly dried plum leaves can become even more fragrant. It took me decades to realize this after drying plums."

Hyun-jong gazed at the cup and spoke.

"Huashan is the same. I just endured. I said I would recreate the past glory, but in fact, it was hard just to get through each day."

"Grandmaster..."

Hearing Yun-ahm's voice, which was slightly tinged with worry, Hyun-jong smiled reassuringly.

"But by just enduring, we've come to this day. Sometimes, waiting is the answer, rather than any strategy or scheme."

It was a mysterious and profound statement.

Yun-ahm looked at Hyun-jong with renewed eyes.

'Not only are we moving forward, but so is he.'

Sometimes, the Grandmaster gives the illusion of being already complete. But a person progresses until the day they die. As a Taoist, Hyun-jong would not stop refining himself until his last breath.

How could he not be reliable?

"Huashan will regain its past glory in your generation."

"That would be good, but even if it happens, it won't be my achievement. It will be due to the efforts of my disciples."

"How can you say it's not your achievement, Grandmaster?"

"Yun-ahm."

"Yes, Grandmaster."

"I know my shortcomings. If Huashan hadn't fallen so far, how could I have become the Grandmaster? If my senior brothers hadn't left Huashan, I would have just recited scriptures and spent my days."

Yun-ahm replied in a solemn tone.

"By leaving Huashan, they proved they were not qualified to be the Grandmaster. You are the rightful Grandmaster of Huashan."

Hyun-jong smiled without a word.

It was a slightly embarrassing conversation, so it was necessary to change the topic.

"So, how are the current disciples doing?"

"They have finished their training and are now calming their minds and bodies."

As Yun-ahm mentioned the current disciples, his face darkened slightly.

"Grandmaster."

"Speak."

"To be honest, I'm a bit afraid."

"Afraid... Why?"

Yun-ahm let out a low sigh and continued.

"As I mentioned before, Huashan is currently in a very good position. But depending on the outcome of this Huazong Conference, that momentum could be lost, couldn't it?"

"Do you think the current disciples won't be able to handle the Zhongnan disciples?"

"I want to believe in the children. But... as you know..."

Yun-ahm didn't continue.

Both he and Hyun-jong knew the vast gap between Huashan and Zhongnan.

Huashan was just barely emerging from its darkest period in history, while Zhongnan was experiencing an unprecedented golden age. Naturally, there was a significant difference in the level of the disciples.

No matter how hard the current disciples worked, it would be difficult for them to defeat the Zhongnan disciples.

Yun-ahm was worried that the disciples, who had just started to have hope, would be overwhelmed by a sense of defeat again.

"What about the third-generation disciples?"

"Excuse me?"

"The third-generation disciples are also participating in the Huazong Conference, right? Are they well prepared?"

Hyun-jong suddenly changed the topic, which made Yun-ahm a bit puzzled, but he had no choice but to answer the Grandmaster's question.

"They seem to be preparing... excessively thoroughly."

Excessively.

Extremely excessively.

Having seen the third-generation disciples training a few times, Yun-ahm could only describe it this way.

Since the training was entirely entrusted to Yunjian, he couldn't interfere, but from Yun-ahm's perspective, it didn't seem like a normal training method.

"They are still new to the school..."

Hyun-jong nodded.

Yun-ahm's concerns were well understood by Hyun-jong.

"Yun-ahm."

"Yes, Grandmaster."

"If there's a mountain in front of you, what would you do?"

"Well..."

Yun-ahm couldn't easily continue.

"Yes. You would have to climb it. If there's a path, you could take it, and if you have time, you could rest. But if you have neither, you would have to climb the mountain, wouldn't you?"

"I'm worried I won't be able to climb it."

"Even if you can't, you will gain experience. Next time, you might be able to climb the mountain more easily, wouldn't you?"

Yun-ahm let out a deep sigh.

Although he didn't fully agree with the Grandmaster's words, there was no point in asking more. The Grandmaster wouldn't have a specific solution either.

Seeing that Yun-ahm's expression didn't improve, Hyun-jong smiled and said.

"The Huazong Conference is fundamentally a platform for exchange."

"Understood."

"Winning or losing is not important. The important thing is who can develop more through the exchange, isn't it?"

"You are right, Grandmaster."

"They are guests coming from afar. Make sure to welcome them properly."

"I will keep that in mind."

Yun-ahm bowed deeply.

"Mr. Huang of the Galaxy Trade Group has also agreed to help, so there should be no problem."

"Mr. Huang... Yes, I should meet Mr. Huang."

"Given how busy you are, Mr. Huang will understand."

"Yes, I appreciate that."

Since that day, Mr. Huang and the Galaxy Trade Group had been pouring gold into Huashan. The scale of their investment was so large that it made one suspect they were trying to turn Huashan into a second Hangzhou or Suzhou.

"Will Zhongnan take this opportunity to attack?"

"Everything will follow its natural course."

It was a calm statement as usual.

Yun-ahm bowed deeply and quietly stood up.

"I will then do a final check."

"You have worked hard."

"It's nothing. I will go."

Yun-ahm took a few steps back.

After he quietly closed the door and went out, Hyun-jong looked down at the cup of tea that Yun-ahm had left.

The cup, which was still steaming and not even half empty, seemed to reflect Yun-ahm's current state of mind.

"Winning or losing is not important..."

Hyun-jong muttered softly.

"Even as a Taoist, I can now speak lies without hesitation."

Hyun-jong knew that winning was the most important thing. But this time, the Huazong Conference was a match they couldn't win. And he had to push his disciples into a match they couldn't win.

A miracle would have to happen for them to win.

A miracle would have to happen...

Hyun-jong suppressed his heavy heart and closed his eyes.

* * *

"This place is still so small."

The disciples of Zhongnan, who were looking around Huayin, had a subtle sneer on their faces.

Although they had already visited two years ago, Huayin was indeed a small city. Compared to the places they usually went, such as Xian, it was like a rural area.

"Senior Brother, was Huashan really one of the Nine Great Schools in the past?"

"Of course."

"But for a school that was part of the Nine Great Schools, this place is very small and shabby, isn't it?"

Qin Jinlong smiled and said.

"On the contrary, it's because Huashan was here that this town even exists. In the past, Huashan was so powerful that it could develop a town just from the people who came and went."

"Indeed."

Zong Shuhan nodded as if he finally understood.

"But now, it has fallen so far, hasn't it?"

"That's true."

Qin Jinlong nodded.

Zong Shuhan glanced around and spoke.

"To be honest, I don't understand the reason for this meaningless event. What's the point of exchanging swords with a school of such a low level? It would be better to practice more in that time."

"It's something the elders of our school have decided. Be careful with your words."

"Even so..."

Zong Shuhan turned his head slightly.

After confirming the person following behind, Zong Shuhan had a subtle smile on his face.

"Still, this Huazong Conference does have some meaning. It's a satisfying task to take revenge for someone who has been humiliated."

It was a slightly provocative statement.

However, Li Songbai, the target of the provocation, walked silently without any response.

'Boring.'

Zong Shuhan frowned.

Thanks to Qingming solving the issue with Mr. Huang, the Galaxy Trade Group had started trading with Huashan instead of Zhongnan. Now, no one in Zhongnan was unaware of this.

The gaze of the Galaxy Trade Group's young master, who saw Qingming being knocked down, was naturally not favorable towards Li Songbai.

'Without a reaction, there's no fun in teasing.'

After that incident, Li Songbai had changed. Although he was already quite serious, he was now even more taciturn.

"It's been a hundred years since Huashan humiliated us, so we need to repay it, Senior Brother."

"It will happen."

While Qin Jinlong and Zong Shuhan were having a conversation, Li Songbai walked without joining in.

His gaze was directed towards Huashan, which loomed over Huayin.

'Huashan?'

When he visited this place in the past, he was also very light-hearted. But now, he could see the shadow of one person in Huashan.

'Maybe we are entering a tiger's den.'

Li Songbai could see Qingming's smiling face in his mind.