The woman stared at Chung Myung with cold eyes.

In the meantime, Chung Myung managed to understand a couple things about the person before him.

First, this woman belonged to Mount Hua.

She had Mount Huas pattern engraved on the chest of her uniform to prove it. Only the disciples of Mount Hua could wear this.

Second.

Tch. Any man would be mesmerized by her.

She is pretty.

In his previous life, Chung Myung had been all around the world. To remain un-swayed by mortal pleasures and always maintain a stable mind was what the Dao was all about. However, it was impossible for Chung Myung, who was famous for being a delinquent master of Mount Hua, to remain stuck in one city for very long.

It had been the same before he rose to fame. He was someone who would hit the people from the other sects constantly.

After that, he struggled very hard to raise the reputation of Mount Hua through a cooperative effort and beat up everyone who tried to cheat him or Mount Hua.

Right. Even in the old days, he proved that Mount Huas sword was the best in the world by defeating the masters from all the famous sects.

Of course, it wasnt intentional.

They always started it.

It wasnt Chung Myungs duty to develop Mount Huas reputation. That was the role left to the elders of the sect. However, the role somehow became linked to Chung Myung and his Sahyung. Thanks to that, Chung Myung was dragged around all over the place.

Even then, he had rarely witnessed a woman as beautiful as this mysterious disciple in front of him. Although, there was a feeling like a flower that hadnt yet fully bloomed, making him wonder how it would look when it finally blooms someday.

Ebony hair, eyebrows, pure white skin, and perfectly clear, large eyes were impressive.

If Chung Myung had been a child with no experience, he might have been overwhelmed by this beauty by now.

The problem was that Chung Myung was an old man who suffered and saw too much of this world to be swayed by mere beauty.

Who are you?

A human.

The sword moved closer to his throat.

Ah! Shit! She doesnt know how to joke!

Mount Huas uniform.

Her gaze fell on the chest of Chung Myung as he spoke.

I dont remember seeing your face. Who are you?

Its my first time seeing you here too.

The woman narrowed her eyes.

A third-class disciple?

Yes.

Third-class disciples arent allowed to go outside the sect gate after sunset.

Im exempt from that rule.

What?

The sect leader gave me permission.

Chung Myungs brazen retort added a chill to the womans face.

The sect leader?

Yes.

To a third-class disciple?

Yes.

A lie.

Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders without answering.

Go and confirm it yourself. Do you think that a disciple of Mount Hua would lie using the sect leaders name?

The womans eyes slightly shook. She seemed to believe there was some truth in those words.

So put this sword away first. It might hurt someone.

The woman lowered her sword. She couldnt confirm if Chung Myungs words were genuine or not, but she couldnt continue to threaten him after he used the sect leaders name.

But

Its wrong to watch other peoples training.

This is where I regularly trained until yesterday, but then someone I dont know suddenly appeared. If I cant investigate and determine who they are, then what do you think I should do?

You should have come out the moment you noticed someone.

A stranger Ive never seen before suddenly appears near Mount Hua, and you want me to reveal myself without determining their intentions?

The woman gently bit her lip. Her white face turned a slight shade of red; it seemed like she couldnt argue back.

She isnt very good with words.

Her sword was sharp, but not her tongue, apparently. With a face like that, she likely didnt get dragged into many fights.

Such a disgusting world.

Good-looking people live such comfortable lives.

What is your name?

Chung Myung.

You received a name from the sect?

No. My name is Chung Myung.

a third-class disciple needs to have Chung attached. But it isnt a sect name; its your own name?

Yes. Even if the sect gives me a name, I will keep it as Chung Myung.

Ah

Shit. This woman was dumb.

I am Yu Yiseol.

Okay.

Yu Yiseol stared at Chung Myung without saying a word.

What is it?

Im a second-class disciple, I am Baek, and I am your senior.

Huh?

Chung Myung titled his head.

There were people of Baek?

No, of course there were. Mount Hua names each generation of disciples as such: Chung, Myung, Hyung, Un, Baek.

It was natural for someone to have the title of Baek. Then, the next title after Baek would return to Chung, like a circle.

In other words, it was normal for there to be disciples who were named Baek after the seniors named Un.

I just didnt see any of them, so I forgot about it.

The naming is done right away based on their age since problems can arise if there are age differences among the disciples. Therefore, depending on circumstances, sometimes a name gets skipped too.

Since Mount Huas situation was so complex, he thought that a couple names were skipped, but there was someone with Baek?

It is the first time Im hearing about this.

You are the youngest of Mount Hua, right?

Yes, right.

Didnt your sahyungs tell you?

Uh well

There was no way that his sahyungs, whom he constantly bossed around, would ever volunteer such information to him.

Its my fault.

Chung Myung, who was easily convinced, nodded his head.

There must have been some misunderstanding. What could be done?

Someone with the Baek name appeared. From Chung Myungs point of view, a few more pieces were added to Mount Huas board.

Is that the end?

What?

What about your greeting?

Chung Myungs face contorted.

I dont get it. What is this brat saying in front of this old man!?

Being young is a sin! It really is a horrible sin!

Yes. Nice to meet you.

Chung Myung roughly greeted her with a voice holding no emotion.

Go away now.

He had to train, too. He didnt want to waste the day just because someone else occupied his training place! The sun was about to rise too!

what a weird kid.

Who?

Me?

Yu Yiseol started at Chung Myung and spoke with a chilly voice.

I am going to check with the sect leader to see if what you are saying is the truth. If you lied, you had better be prepared for the consequences.

Chung Myung replied.

By all means, go.

Yu Yiseol started at Chung Myung without a word for a long time and slightly shook her head.

Really weird.

Chung Myung wanted to spit those words back at her.

With her sword sheathed, the girl glanced once more at Chung Myung and began to descend. As her figure disappeared in the distance, Chung Myung sighed as he gazed at the rising sun.

Ah, my fate.

Being treated like a child was horrible.

And my training time is also over!

He could still train if he wanted to, but his mind was going through so many questions he was certain that it would only be a waste of time.

Whenever I train, it ends up like this. So much time is wasted just going up and down the mountain.

Chung Myung bit his lip.

Maybe it was time to find another training ground?

Whats with this atmosphere?

Chung Myung tilted his head as he looked at the disciples having their meal.

It was the first time after Chung Myung thoroughly beat everyone that such a dark and gloomy air lingered about. He never thought he would have to see this, which was why he was confused.

Youre here?

Yoon Jong waved to him and called him over.

Chung Myung took his meal and went to the table where Yoon Jong and Jo Gul were seated and asked as soon as he sat down.

Whats with this mood?

our seniors are back.

The Baek bastards?

Oh? You know them?

Chung Myung had lived his whole life in Mount Hua, you idiot!

Anyway, so what? Whats wrong with them coming back?

First of all, dont call the Baek disciples Baek. Itll get complicated if they hear you say that. we might be scolded too.

Me? Or you?

Ah, I need to think about that.

Yoon Jong had a wry smile.

The seniors have been in closed-door training away from Mount Hua. In the past, their training centers werent well maintained, so they couldnt do any large-scale closed-door training here.

So, they went to another sect to train?

not exactly. I dont think they went just anywhere.

Anyway, so what? What about them is making these kids so gloomy? Do they have bad personalities? Do they bully and beat the other disciples?

Unlike someone else, the seniors dont beat us.

I wonder who that someone else youre referring to is.

Lets move on.

Yoon Jong was flustered when Chung Myung called him out, but Jo Gul quickly took the lead to change the subject.

Its because of the conference.

What? Isnt a conference just for meetings?

No, this is the Mount Hua and the Southern Edge Sects conference.

Whats that?

Jo Gul sighed.

Once in a while, both the sects come together. Now, we have a competition every two years to compare each sects achievements against one another.

Ah, I feel like I heard about this somewhere. When did this start?

Dont know. I know that its been happening for a long time.

Yoon Jong said,

I heard that the first conference was organized to occur once every five years. Back then, the goal was to foster friendship between both sects. That changed little by little over time, and its now become an event where the second and third-class disciples get together and compete in the name of their sects.

Compete?

Dont say its to compete.

The answer came from elsewhere.

Its called being beaten one-sidedly.

Even now, where I got hit still hurts.

How can we survive again this time? After seeing what happened, even the seniors went to train for our sake. This is so crazy.

Looking around, Chung Myung sighed.

Ah. Since the elders fighting would cause trouble, they push the fighting onto the second and third-class disciples? And we have been beaten all this time?

Right. To avoid repeat suffering of our past humiliation, the seniors went into closed room training and only just got back. In other words, the time of the conference is drawing near.

Is that so?

Chung Myungs lips curled into a smile.

Well, were going to compete with the Southern Edge sect, huh?

The Southern Edge sect?

That one?

Whether he wanted to or not, each situation lately only made Chung Myung hate the Southern Edge Sect more.

In the past, there was a bit of pity, but after knowing that they copied Mount Huas sword technique, Chung Myung couldnt even sleep in peace!

Competition

In the past, such things never happened.

At that time, Mount Hua was the best, and the Southern Edge Sect wasnt great, so such things didnt happen.

But now that Mount Hua was weak, were those bastards trying to use these claims of friendship to promote their strength?

It wasnt even funny to hear.

A friendly meeting with Mount Hua?

Chung Myungs eyes shone.

No matter how lame Mount Hua is now, it was Chung Myungs child. Only he had the right to destroy it, not some other sect.

And those second-class bastards!

Chung Myung, please. They are seniors; just call them seniors. Please.

Fine. Then those senior bastards!

Are they sure they can win?

thats a bit.

Yoon Jong couldnt readily answer. Closed-room training was meant to focus on the parts that a disciple lacked, but it was difficult to guarantee how strong they had gotten. Also, despite their achievements, winning still seemed like a distant dream.

Then.

Chung Myung gritted his teeth.

Then we need to win!

What?

Sahyungs! Are you ready to do anything to win? Even take poison!? Or break your limbs and bodies!? If you can do something to beat those bastards and make a name for Mount Hua, you are all prepared to die, right!

No, that doesnt sound right

Wasnt Chung Myung pushing it too far?

Dont worry! Ill make you win! Ill turn you all into the best!

Well, this man never really followed the path of Dao.

Just go to the Green Forest Mountain and turn into one of their bandits already. Why is he even here?

Well, this is a mountain too.

Haha.

Hahahah!