Chapter 95

Chapter 94. If we lose to those brats, we're all dead. (4)

Qingming climbed the mountain, constantly looking around.

'Not here?'

Qingming, who had been on edge, fearing that Yui Seol might follow, let out a deep sigh.

"Ha... What am I doing?"

Qingming, who used to fear nothing in the world, was once called the Plum Sword Immortal. Back then, there were those who feared him, but no one he feared.

Even the head of Shaolin didn't hesitate to meet him, right?

And now, Qingming finds himself in a position where he's avoiding a young girl.

"I need to talk to her to make any sense of this."

Ideally, he'd like to bash her head in, wrap her in a rope, and throw her off a cliff, but since it's an accident, he can't hit her, can he?

Huh?

What about Baichuan?

"That brat started it first."

How can a troublesome junior and a mischievous girl be the same?

Anyway, thanks to this, for the first time in his life... no, the first time since he died, Qingming is avoiding someone.

"To be avoiding someone at this hour of the morning, what have I come to?"

As Qingming heaved a deep sigh, he was about to dash up the mountain.

'Huh?'

He sensed something.

"Hey! Hey! I knew this would happen! Deceive the ghosts, but don't deceive me... Huh?"

Qingming tilted his head.

The aura he sensed was different from Yui Seol's. Yui Seol, the one who could make herself almost undetectable even when Qingming, the great Qingming, tried to sense her.

That's why Qingming had lost track of her several times.

But the sensation he felt now was too strong and clear to be Yui Seol's. And...

"Two people?"

It wasn't just one.

Qingming, slightly frowning, began to move cautiously in the direction of the sensed aura.

For two people to meet in the deep mountains at this hour of the morning, it reeks of conspiracy.

'I need to find out what they're up to.'

Qingming's eyes began to sparkle.

Swish.

His feet cut through the wind, moving powerfully. As he neared the source of the aura, Qingming stifled his presence and blended into the surroundings.

He slowly moved forward, peering ahead.

'Huh?'

Qingming blinked. No matter how many times he looked, the people in front of him didn't change.

One of them was someone Qingming knew well.

Baichuan.

It wasn't strange for Baichuan to be here. After all, this was Huashan's territory.

But the person standing opposite Baichuan being here was incredibly strange.

'Why are you here?'

Jin Jinlong.

Jin Jinlong, the eldest disciple of Zhongnan, stood facing Baichuan with a peculiar expression.

'Why are these two meeting at this hour?'

It reeks of conspiracy.

Qingming stealthily moved closer, straining his ears.

"You seem to be doing well."

Jin Jinlong smiled at Baichuan, but Baichuan's face twisted in displeasure.

"You look relaxed."

"Why shouldn't I? Donglong."

"Phew!"

Jin Jinlong and Baichuan's gazes turned to one side.

'Damn.'

Qingming desperately stifled his breath.

The sound of "Donglong" made Qingming unable to hold back.

The two people tilted their heads and looked at each other again. They probably thought it was just an animal sound.

Baichuan's face twisted.

"Don't call me by that name. I am Baichuan."

"It's not right to discard the name your parents gave you. No matter what anyone says, you are Jin Donglong."

'Grrrr.'

Qingming clenched the ground.

'Oh, I'm dying. Donglong, Baichuan's original name is Donglong. I'm going to burst.'

Qingming's body convulsed.

Baichuan's face turned red as if it would burst.

"Call me Baichuan!"

"Alright, Donglong."

Wow, that kid really knows how to push buttons.

Even though Baichuan clearly hates it, he keeps calling him Donglong. What a terrible personality.

Whether Jin Jinlong knew or not, he continued the conversation with a slight smile.

"Living in Huashan doesn't seem too bad. Your face looks quite good."

"What do you want to say?"

"I just wanted to see."

Jin Jinlong's smile deepened.

"To see how my disgraceful younger brother, who ran away to join Huashan, is doing."

"Didn't you check two years ago?"

"I'm the kind of person who never gets tired of kicking a defeated dog."

Baichuan's face twisted.

Jin Jinlong is that kind of person. He's merciless to those he considers weaker. He usually hides behind a facade of gentleness, but inside, he's rotten.

How much did Jin Jinlong torment Baichuan in the past?

"How about it? If you beg now, I might accept you back into Zhongnan."

"Stop talking like a dog."

Baichuan looked straight at Jin Jinlong.

"I am the second-generation disciple and the eldest disciple of Huashan. My dream now is to make Huashan a sect greater than Zhongnan. So don't ever mention such things to me again."

'Hmm?'

Qingming looked at the two with sparkling eyes.

So, let's see.

To summarize, these two are brothers? One is Jinlong, the other is Donglong.

'...I really want to see their father.'

I must avenge this torn abdominal muscle. What kind of person names their children like that? No wonder the kid ran away!

Baichuan growled.

"And even if I begged, you'd just laugh and pretend it never happened. That's the kind of person you are."

"Haha. It's strange, isn't it? Despite being apart for so long, you know me so well."

After laughing for a while, Jin Jinlong suddenly became serious and looked at Baichuan with a cold gaze.

"You made the wrong choice."

"..."

"If you wanted to defeat me, you should have joined Zhongnan. Only then would there have been a slight chance. But Zhongnan? Joining a crumbling sect like Huashan to defeat me? Haha, even a dog would laugh!"

Baichuan bit his lip.

"Don't look down on Huashan."

"Hmm?"

"That's right. You're right. The reason I initially chose Huashan was out of spite. I wanted to lead and defeat the sect that my brother, who looked down on me, hated the most."

"That's a stupid and childish reason. Is that really you?"

Ignoring the continuous ridicule, Baichuan said firmly.

"At first, it was definitely out of spite. But now, I genuinely love Huashan. Being the second-generation disciple and the eldest disciple of Huashan is incredibly fulfilling."

'Hmm?'

Qingming looked at Baichuan with admiration.

'So that's the story.'

He must have had a reason for wanting to become strong. Qingming was secretly moved by Baichuan's words.

'Oh, a crumbling...'

"Feeling fulfilled as the second-generation disciple of a crumbling sect? In a failed sect? Have you lost your mind?"

That kid?

No, that was originally what Qingming wanted to say, but hearing it from that kid makes him angry.

Just shut up!

"Right."

Baichuan answered firmly.

"It might seem strange. But I realized after coming here that happiness isn't about being in a good sect, eating good food, and wearing good clothes. At least here, I'm needed, and I can set a goal to make this place as good as any other. Huashan has given me a goal and embraced me with affection!"

"Affection?"

Jin Jinlong sneered.

"Talking about such soft things, you haven't seen enough of reality. Let me tell you, you're finished. As a result of this pathetic choice, you'll spend your life as a third-rate martial artist, living in humiliation. And you'll watch me become the head of Zhongnan from here."

"That's none of your business. I'm just living my life."

"You'll live a trashy life. But it might be entertaining to watch."

Jin Jinlong sneered.

"But watching for too long doesn't suit my temperament. I'll tell you tomorrow, right away, how stupid it was to choose Huashan over Zhongnan."

Then, Jin Jinlong tilted his head slightly, as if thinking about something, and sneered.

"No, no. Maybe it was a good choice. What could be a better match than a fallen sect and a foolish person?"

"I don't care if you insult me, but don't mention Huashan. I'll tear your mouth apart."

"..."

Jin Jinlong glared at Baichuan. The rising killing intent made Baichuan flinch.

After glaring at Baichuan for a while, Jin Jinlong suddenly withdrew his killing intent and smirked.

"There's no rush. You'll know when the sun rises. Neither you nor Huashan will be able to show your face in the martial world after tomorrow. I'll make sure of it."

Jin Jinlong glanced at Baichuan and turned around. Then, without looking back, he descended the mountain.

Baichuan, watching Jin Jinlong's back, sighed deeply.

'Can he do it?'

Jin Jinlong is the kind of person who does what he says. His skills are far beyond what Baichuan can match.

Baichuan bit his lip.

'Don't waver.'

I am Baichuan of Huashan. And I will become the head of Huashan and restore its glory.

As Baichuan muttered to himself and turned around firmly,

"Wow, what a commendable sight."

"Ah! Damn! You scared me!"

Baichuan, startled, cursed and fell to the ground. His heart almost leaped out of his throat.

Regaining his composure, he looked up to see Qingming nodding approvingly.

"You, you... Why are you here?"

"Comrade... Grr. Dong, Donglong."

Qingming tried to suppress his laughter as Baichuan's face twisted.

"Did you hear everything?"

"Grr, Donglong. This disciple is impressed. Your noble heart for Huashan..."

Qingming nodded repeatedly, and Baichuan sighed.

"Ghost. I didn't sense you at all."

"It's natural."

"..."

"I didn't do anything wrong, but don't tell anyone else. Some people might not think highly of it."

"Don't worry, junior. This Qingming is the last person to talk too much."

"..."

Isn't that saying you talk a lot?

Baichuan, thinking he got caught by this guy, grabbed his head.

This was a secret known only to a few elders, including the head of the sect. But it had to be this guy...

"Hmm. So you're Jin Jinlong's brother?"

"Brother, but we're not close. We have different mothers..."

Baichuan sighed and tried to continue.

"I was young..."

"Ah, forget it."

"Huh?"

"We don't need to hear the details. It's obvious. Born as a bastard or the youngest, treated poorly by a talented older brother, and ran away to Huashan. Right?"

"..."

"Don't reduce someone's life to such a simple summary."

But it's true.

"Good job."

"Thanks. So... Huh?"

Baichuan's head snapped up.

"Good job. For coming to Huashan."

Qingming's expression changed. It wasn't the usual smile that irritated people. It was a genuinely warm smile.

And a heavy voice came from his mouth.

"Regardless of your background or story, since you came to Huashan on your own, you are a disciple of Huashan. And I will prove that leaving Zhongnan and choosing Huashan was not a mistake."

Baichuan couldn't say anything.

It's not something this young guy should say. But strangely, hearing those words made his heart feel at ease.

"Prove it? When?"

"When is when?"

Qingming smiled.

"Today."

Qingming turned his head.

Soon, the sun would rise, announcing the Huazong Assembly.

"Let's make a splash. Junior."

Qingming's eyes glinted with determination.

It's time to crush those Zhongnan bastards.