Chapter 99

Chapter 98. It's just a joke. (3)

"…Jang Min."

Hyun-jong stood silently with his eyes closed.

"…Shouldn’t we stop?"

Mugakju Hyun-sang approached with a trembling voice, but Hyun-jong could not give any response.

Stop?

How can we stop this?

In the presence of so many Seo-mun elders,

'Since we cannot match Zhongnan, and further attempts will only result in more injuries, it would be better to stop here.'

Is he asking me to say that?

It would be defecating on Huashan’s name.

Even if Huashan has declined… No, precisely because it has declined, there are things that must be protected. That is the name and pride of Huashan.

If we cannot protect the name of Huashan and the pride of its disciples, Huashan will not be a fallen prestigious school but a third-rate sect.

And that moment will be when Huashan takes down its sign.

Hyun-jong could not let that happen. Not for his own honor. To protect the possibility of Huashan’s revival, as the leader, he could not utter those words.

But the situation was extremely dire, and Hyun-sang, who fully understood their predicament, had to speak up.

Nine consecutive defeats.

Nine people lost in a row.

They have already achieved the worst record in the history of Huazong meetings. But the bigger problem was not the outcome but the content.

None of the nine who engaged in combat managed to even touch their opponents. It felt more tragic than a fight between a grown adult and a child.

And all the Seo-mun elders were watching this spectacle.

'How can we bear this humiliation?'

Hyun-jong’s eyes trembled.

It felt as if his internal organs were being torn apart, and his heart was being ripped out by hand.

What truly tormented him was not the humiliation he was currently enduring but the despair his disciples must be feeling.

By not properly gauging the strength of the opponent, he had pushed his disciples into a desperate situation. The thought of the mental pain they would endure because of his incompetence made him want to tear himself apart with a sharp knife.

"Jang Min…"

Hyun-jong slowly opened his eyes.

Then he let out a deep sigh.

"…What a chaotic world."

"One…"

"Do you think I’m not burning inside?"

At that moment,

"Keh!"

On the training ground, the last of the disciples lost their sword and fell to the ground.

For a swordsman, losing their sword is a humiliation worse than death. The Zhongnan disciple who cleverly targeted the wrist and forced this outcome whistled.

"Can you believe a swordsman lost their sword? Does Huashan not teach such things?"

Mockery.

Even knowing that this mockery was a prearranged outcome, he could not control the blood rising in his veins.

Ten consecutive defeats.

The worst possible outcome. The faces of the Huashan elders were contorted in agony.

'Has it really come to this?'

He thought they had finally grasped the opportunity to revive Huashan. Recently, things had been going well.

But now, all those who were lost in their dreams are facing the cold reality. Ultimately, Huashan is just a sect. Without martial arts to back it up, all the good fortune is meaningless.

Everyone here is now acutely aware of this fact.

"Good job."

"Yes, Elder!"

Sima Sheng patted the shoulder of Yue Hao, who had returned to his seat.

It was an incredibly satisfying result.

Not only did they all win, but the content of the competition was extremely one-sided. Most encouragingly, the Seo-mun elders were watching this unfold.

'Now, Huashan’s reputation will fall to the ground and never rise again.'

Isn’t this what they have longed for since the previous generations? It is a great honor that this long-held wish is being fulfilled by Sima Sheng’s hands.

Sima Sheng subtly listened. By now, those watching must have grasped the situation.

Sure enough, murmurs began to rise.

"This is too one-sided."

"Even though I had some expectations for Huashan… The past is the past, and the present is the present. Huashan is no longer the Huashan of old."

"Wasn’t that already known?"

"Still, I didn’t expect it to be this bad… In fact, I can’t even tell if Zhongnan is strong or Huashan is weak."

"Both, perhaps?"

"What a pity. What a pity. It seems Huashan is truly finished. How futile…"

Sima Sheng twisted his lips into a smile.

Public opinion has completely turned in favor of Zhongnan. But today, his goal is not to elevate Zhongnan’s status but to send Huashan to the abyss.

To do that, he needs to burn the seeds so they cannot grow.

"Now, it’s time to wrap this up. Did you see what your seniors did?"

"Yes, Elder!"

The three major disciples of Zhongnan looked at him with determined faces.

"Do not hesitate."

Sima Sheng’s eyes gleamed.

"A lion puts its best effort into catching a rabbit. Show no mercy. We must crush them so they never think of practicing martial arts again."

"Yes! I will remember that!"

Sima Sheng smiled bitterly and looked up at the sky.

'What a clear day.'

And what a good day it is.

"…"

Yun-jong was at a loss for words.

He couldn’t bear to turn and look at the gathered disciples. Even without looking, he knew their expressions and the depth of their despair.

The same went for the three major disciples.

'Is the gap between us and Zhongnan really this large?'

Until now, the Huazong meetings had a certain charm. Although they all lost, it was not as one-sided as a person crushing an ant.

Only then did Yun-jong realize that Zhongnan had never truly taken Huashan seriously.

"…Are we really that far behind?"

"…"

The faces of the three major disciples darkened.

They had indeed received training from Qingming, but the vast gap before them took away even the confidence they had gained from that training.

But, leaving that aside, what… what is happening now?

That’s not the issue right now…

Yun-jong subtly turned his gaze to Qingming, who was sitting beside him.

He gasped.

Grinding his teeth!

The sound of grinding teeth made Yun-jong’s heart sink.

Qingming’s face was so red it looked like it might burst at any moment.

"…"

With each defeat of his seniors, Qingming’s face had gradually turned red, and now it was as red as a fully bloomed plum blossom.

Seeing this, Yun-jong cautiously reached out and grabbed Qingming’s sleeve.

'This kid is about to explode.'

Three years in a village school and you can recite poetry; three months next to Qingming and you become a master of reading the room!

Yun-jong spoke in a trembling voice.

"Q, Qingming, calm down first."

"…Calm down?"

The moment he heard that crooked voice, something inside Yun-jong dropped… No, it shouldn’t drop! This is the Huazong meeting! Not only the leader but also the people of Zhongnan and Seo-mun are watching!

If this kid has a fit here, it might be worse than all the disciples losing.

Yun-jong tried to soothe Qingming like a mad dog.

"Q, Qingming. Think about it. You said yesterday that patience is the most important thing in achieving great things!"

"…Patience."

"Yes! Patience!"

"…Senior."

"Yes, Qingming. I remember your words…"

"I’ve been thinking."

"Huh?"

Qingming’s head slowly, very slowly turned towards Yun-jong.

And.

Yun-jong saw it.

Qingming’s eyes were half-rolled back.

"…I."

Qingming growled like a beast and stood up.

"I never had patience to begin with!"

It’s a boast.

This kid.

Yun-an took a deep breath. His face was as pale as it could be.

He wanted to leave this place right now, but as long as the leader’s order had not been given, he had to continue the Huazong meeting.

"The next event will be the competition of the three major disciples. Among the three major disciples…"

At that moment.

"Stop him! Don’t let that kid go!"

"Qingming, you were supposed to go last! This is a problem!"

"People are watching, people! Please, only do this when we’re alone!"

Yun-an looked at the three major disciples with wide eyes.

They were huddled together, trying to stop someone from walking out with wild eyes.

'Qingming?'

Why is he…?

Questions flooded his mind, but he had to finish what he was saying. They weren’t the only ones here.

"The vanguard is…"

"Kaaaaaah!"

But Yun-an’s words could not continue.

The moment he said "vanguard," Qingming threw off the seniors who were holding him and sprinted onto the training ground.

"Whooooo!"

Qingming took a deep breath on the training ground. Then, with gleaming eyes, he glared at Zhongnan and said,

"Send someone quickly!"

"…"

"Anyone will do. Send someone quickly. Before I die."

Sima Sheng’s mouth dropped open.

"…That, that lunatic!"

He knew the kid was crazy, but to this extent? To act so brazenly in front of Zhongnan and the Seo-mun elders!

"Calm down, Elder."

Jin Jinlong quickly stopped Sima Sheng’s outburst.

"Just because a fish jumps, it doesn’t mean we should jump too. He will soon realize his place."

"Ugh!"

Despite his efforts to hide his displeasure, Sima Sheng let out a loud cough. Jin Jinlong then spoke in a low voice.

"Wuliang."

"Yes, Senior!"

Xian Wuliang, who was supposed to face Qingming, nodded firmly.

"Although he came forward unexpectedly, it won’t change anything. Teach him his place!"

"Yes, Senior! Don’t worry!"

Xian Wuliang gripped his wooden sword and leaped onto the competition ground.

He pointed his sword at Qingming.

"I will crush that arrogant mouth. I am Zhongnan’s…"

At that moment, Qingming disappeared from his spot and appeared right in front of Xian Wuliang.

"X…"

Xian Wuliang saw it.

A face like an enraged Asura suddenly appeared in front of him. Then, everything turned dark.

Dark?

Why dark in broad daylight…

Oh! It’s not dark, it’s blocked. In front of me, so this is…

A fist?

And at that moment.

The Huashan disciples, who had never heard such a sound since they joined Huashan, heard a deafening noise.

Paaaaaaah!

It spun.

Xian Wuliang’s body spun in the air more than ten times before crashing to the ground.

"…"

Xian Wuliang’s body, lying on the ground, convulsed pitifully as if he had a fever.

Seeing the fallen Xian Wuliang, Qingming sneered.

"It’s just a joke."

Go to hell.