"I'd rather die than suffer! I'd rather die than suffer!" Cheongmyeong's face, returning to Baekmaegwan, was completely rotten.

Nothing was going right.

They say a rich man can last three years even after going bankrupt, but it seemed a hundred years was out of the question.

Judging the current situation calmly, without the name value of Hwasan, it was no better than a third-rate sect. 'Not just no better, but a typical third-rate sect.' They were broke, the kids were in bad shape, and they were filled with their own nonsensical philosophy that no one understood.

This was third-rate! Is there any other kind of third-rate? Everything else was fine.

Yes, everything else was fine! But! "Where did the Twenty-Four Water Plum Blossom Sword Technique go? You bastards!"

Transmission could go wrong.

Learning the unorthodox through secret techniques was much harder than one might think.

It was quite common in the martial world for someone to get stuck in a rut while trying to learn the unorthodox solely through secret techniques, or to misinterpret the intent of the secret techniques and regress in their understanding of the unorthodox.

But for the unorthodox to completely disappear? How could this be! No matter how much the previous generation was wiped out, as long as the secret techniques and history remained, how could they have sold it off?

"Ugh!" Cheongmyeong scratched his head.

"Where on earth... should I even start?" The term 'total chaos' was made for times like this.

"Senior brother. Do I really have to save Hwasan in a situation like this?" Looking up at the sky, it seemed like his senior brother was smiling gently. - If I say so, then do it, you brat.

"Damn it!" Cheongmyeong grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and threw it into the sky, heading towards Baekmaegwan.

"Oh, my back."

Perhaps from overdoing it, his back was aching.

Damn it.

Just because he chatted a bit, he had to do all this labor until the training was over.

If he were still living in his previous life, he would have had to make a round trip from the bottom of Hwasan to the peak with just one kick!

Well, it was better than being too soft. 'I'm starting to feel a bit anxious.' Cheongmyeong licked his lips.

For now, he planned to figure out how Hwasan was running and think about where to start fixing things, but the more he learned about Hwasan, the more he felt like he was facing a mountain of difficulties.

If only Cheongmyeong had crossed over to this era with his past body and identity intact, things would have been much easier.

He could have just smashed the head of the sect leader and turned everything upside down.

But now, Cheongmyeong's identity was that of a low-ranking disciple among the three great disciples.

And he was a beggar at that.

Moreover, his understanding of the unorthodox was at a pitiful level.

Could he really change Hwasan from this position? "Hoo."

Just thinking about it made him sigh.

Of course, if he took his time and changed things slowly, it might be possible.

But the problem was that Cheongmyeong was not that patient.

If he kept watching the state of things here, he would be bedridden with anger before Hwasan changed. 'The Wudang and Cheongseong are probably advancing even at this moment.'

Generally, martial sects focus on reproducing the unorthodox techniques known as 'Jongsa.' However, Cheongmyeong's thoughts were different.

The world is bound to develop.

No matter how genius the founders were, as many ordinary folks inherit and study the achievements of geniuses, they will eventually surpass the level of genius.

In other words, as time flows, the unorthodox is bound to evolve.

The Yikgeun-gyeong, known as the unorthodox of Shaolin, is not simply passed down as it was first created by Huineng of the Sixth Patriarch.

Countless successors provide new interpretations and fill in the gaps, evolving even at this moment.

Yes, evolution...

"While others are evolving at this time, I’m forgetting what I have."

How could he not feel sick to his stomach? Cheongmyeong sighed deeply.

For now...

Grrr...

"..."

Cheongmyeong looked down at his stomach.

"Tsk."

Perhaps because he had lived as a beggar for so long, his body was always craving food. 'Now that I think about it, I haven't had dinner.' While everyone else finished their training and went to eat, Cheongmyeong couldn't because he was being punished.

There was never a punishment that didn't involve fasting, whether in the past or now.

There are few things as annoying as not being able to fill his hungry stomach after training.

Cheongmyeong held his growling belly and entered Baekmaegwan.

For now, he needed to organize today’s events a bit...

"Here they come."

Upon entering, Cheongmyeong raised his eyebrows at the warm welcome directed at him.

In the huge living room he saw dozens of the three great disciples gathered around.

"Hey, newbie!" Cheongmyeong's gaze weakly turned towards them.

"Isn't it familiar?" It was a guy called Agol.

Seeing the sulky expression plastered on his face, it didn’t seem like he was waiting with good intentions.

Cheongmyeong let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth to speak to Agol.

"What is it, Agol?" Agol's face flushed in an instant.

"Is this brat crazy! Call me Senior Brother Zhao Jie!"

"Senior Brother..."

Cheongmyeong's head tilted up towards the ceiling.

Staring at the old wooden ceiling made him feel like he might cry for no reason.

Ah.

Now I have to call these little brats 'senior brother.' But what can I do? If you feel wronged, you should have come earlier.

"Yes, yes. Senior Brother Zhao Jie. So, what is it?"

"If you’re new, you have to go through the initiation."

"Excuse me?"

"Don’t worry. I won’t go too hard on you. Looking at you, you look so skinny that I’m afraid you might die if I hit you too hard."

Laughter erupted from all around.

It seemed like they had done this kind of thing many times before.

Well, I understand.

Group living is like that.

Through some initiation, they strengthen their bonds and get to know each other.

The ones giggling around him had probably all gone through this initiation. 'Though it looks a bit low quality.'

It wasn't that he was unhappy about the initiation, but the attitude of these brats was a bit irritating.

They were supposed to be disciples of the sect, yet they were giggling like street urchins.

Of course, when Cheongmyeong first entered Hwasan, he wasn’t without a bit of frivolity, but he didn’t act like these brats.

Huh? Is that what an old man would say? So what! I'm already in my eighties!

"The initiation, huh."

Cheongmyeong nodded.

For now, it would be important to meet their demands and blend in.

It was frustrating, but what could he do? This was one of the ways to save Hwasan.

"Alright. What should I do?" Zhao Jie chuckled.

"Senior Brother."

"Yes."

"Will Senior Brother do it?"

Senior Brother? Cheongmyeong turned to look at the one called Senior Brother.

He was a bit taller than the others and definitely looked older.

So, he was the sect leader among the three great disciples.

"You handle it."

"Alright."

Cheongmyeong quickly organized the hierarchy in his head. 'That guy is the sect leader, but the real power lies with Zhao Jie.' It was the same in his previous life.

The sect leader had the title, but when there was a real problem, it was Cheongmyeong who solved it.

The position of sect leader and the real power are not the same.

Then, if he could manage this situation well...

"Strip."

"... What?" Cheongmyeong's head tilted sideways.

Did he hear wrong?

"Strip."

"..."

Cheongmyeong looked around.

The sight of the kids filling Baekmaegwan caught his eye.

They were all looking at him with amused expressions.

Cheongmyeong's gaze finally landed on Zhao Jie.

"... I think I misunderstood... No, I definitely did."

Cheongmyeong forced a smile.

Don't get excited.

Don't get angry.

If he got angry at these brats, he would become just like them.

"Strip?!"

"Yeah."

Zhao Jie grinned wickedly.

"Originally, guys get closer by doing this. Come on, strip and dance. After getting hit a bit, your affection for the senior brothers will blossom."

The corners of Cheongmyeong's mouth shot up to his ears.

"What?"

"Huh?"

"I can't even say it properly."

Ah, his pronunciation was off.

Clearing his throat to loosen his mouth muscles, Cheongmyeong struggled to speak.

"Um... What about the master?"

"The master trains in the evening. So, it's better not to think that the master will help you. Right now, we are the only ones here."

"I see."

Cheongmyeong nodded slowly.

"And even if the master were here, today would only be safe. You have to live here from now on. Do you think you can run away?"

That's right.

I have to live here from now on.

Thank you.

I miscalculated a bit.

"So, there are no masters here?"

"This brat keeps talking. This won't do. Let's start with a beating. I didn't like you anyway."

Zhao Jie suddenly stood up and strode over, grabbing Cheongmyeong by the collar.

"After getting hit a bit, you will develop respect for the senior brothers. I'm not doing this because I dislike you. I'm using the stick of love to guide a twisted disciple back to the right path. Got it?"

"Senior Brother."

"What? Do you have something to say?"

"Put some strength in your neck."

"Huh?" At that moment, Cheongmyeong's fist shot up and struck Zhao Jie's chin.

Bang! With a sound of something bursting, Zhao Jie's body shot up to the ceiling.

Kuzhik! Then, he broke through the old ceiling.

Dangling.

Zhao Jie's body, now stuck in the ceiling, swayed gently.

Quietly.

Very quietly.

The eyes of the three great disciples popped out at the sight.

"..."

After glancing at Zhao Jie, who was stuck in the ceiling, Cheongmyeong turned his body and walked towards the door.

"Hey, where are you going..."

Clank! Lifting the latch, Cheongmyeong locked the door and turned around with a bright smile.

"When a person lives..."

"..."

"There are times when they have various worries. Among them, the most troublesome worry is about what to do first. But..."

Creak.

Cheongmyeong's head tilted left and right.

"Thanks to you guys, my thoughts have become much clearer. Yes, organizing the surroundings comes first."

Cheongmyeong lifted his leg and stomped down on a nearby chair.

The wooden chair shattered into pieces.

Cheongmyeong grabbed the most intact chair leg.

"Hoo."

And while grinding his teeth, he said, "Even though I grew up in a sect, I still have some manners when dealing with my elders, you know?"

At those words, hope blossomed in the children's eyes.

Elders...

"If the masters hear this, they will be troubled. So, absolutely no screaming. Anyone who screams will get double the beating."

Ah...

We weren't elders.

That makes sense.

Let's start with a beating, you senior brats! Cheongmyeong turned into a ghost and charged at the three great disciples.