"Well, Elder?"

Hyunyoung looked at Baekcheon with a disapproving expression, as he stood there in a daze. 'Did I say something wrong?' Baekcheon hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"It is a grave offense for the third disciple to go down to the Harmony alone and drink. No matter how much the sect leader granted that child the authority to go down alone, how could that authority be used to drink? I believe a punishment is in order."

At that, Hyunyoung tilted his head slightly. 'This time, it seems you understood correctly.' Then, I should deal with that brat right away...

"You really don’t understand what I’m saying, do you?"

"…Yes?"

Hyunyoung spoke without hiding his anger.

"Do you set the rules of Hwasan?"

"Th-That can't be!"

"Then is there a rule among the Hwasan regulations that says one cannot drink outside the sect?"

"…."

Baekcheon could not bring himself to speak.

No, there was no such rule.

After all, which sect would include a clause in their regulations stating that disciples cannot drink outside the sect? That is something that is implicitly understood!

"And."

Hyunyoung looked straight at Baekcheon.

"So what?"

"…Elder?"

"What’s wrong with drinking?"

"…."

Was it just Baekcheon's imagination that Hyunyoung's face seemed to be getting redder? It was not.

Eventually, with his face flushed, Hyunyoung pointed at Baekcheon and shouted.

"There are so many good-for-nothings who can’t even earn their own meals! And you’re telling me that the one who feeds you can’t buy a drink with his own money? Huh? You’ve become a disciple and you’re going to snitch on him, huh?"

"Y-Yes? S-Snitch?"

Those who eat meat with the money they earn from their hard work! That brat wants to drink a little with the pennies he saved! And you can’t stand it, so you rush over to report him?

You worthless insect who can’t even pay for your own meals!

"Baekcheon stood there, dumbfounded. It was hard to understand the situation where he was being scolded for reporting that the third disciple was drinking, but what was even harder to understand was Hyunyoung's reaction. Wasn’t he usually so calm and cold that he was even told he couldn’t fully display his talents because he came to Hwasan instead of entering the North Sea Ice Palace? Seeing Hyunyoung rolling his eyes and pointing his finger made it hard to tell whether this was reality or a dream."

Your brat is going down to Harmony to earn money…

No!

What are you doing as a disciple? What do you have to show for it other than swinging your sword and wasting food? What gives you the right to point fingers at others?

Should I smash your head? Don’t eat, you fools! What have you done to deserve to eat meat….

"Bang! At that moment, someone kicked the door open violently."

Hahaha!

So you were here, disciple!

"Mugakju, with a very strange laugh, rushed in and hugged Hyunyoung from behind, covering his mouth."

Ugh! Ugh!

Let go of me…

Ugh!

""Hahaha.

Let’s go outside for a moment.

Somewhere without the kids.

Ah, just stay still!

"With the sound of the door closing, the hall was filled with a strange silence. No one could easily open their mouths. Chomp, chomp, chomp. In that strange silence, the only sound was Cheongmyeong eating."

What on earth…

"Baekcheon muttered without realizing it."

What’s going on?

"It was a phrase that represented the feelings of all the second disciples. * * *"Isn’t it too strange?

Senior brother?

"Even when asked, Baekcheon simply set down the teacup in his hand. It was an old teacup he had used for a long time. Before going to the closed sect, he thought it had a certain charm.

But now, looking at it again, it seemed more shabby than charming. After all, this was the norm in Hwasan. Old utensils, old buildings, and old people.

The only hope of this worn-out sect was the second disciples, and among them, the greatest hope was Baekcheon. But the sect he returned to after a year had changed so much that the phrase"the world turned upside down"seemed inadequate."

It’s strange that new buildings are being built one after another, and places that have been neglected for over ten years are being repaired.

No… well, that’s all good.

It’s only natural to do what you couldn’t do when you suddenly have money.

But!

"Baeksang spoke with a tone that could not contain his indignation."

Isn’t the attitude of the sect elders strange? I returned after a long closed sect, but the sect leader didn’t say anything special…

""Didn’t the sect leader sufficiently commend your hard work?

""Still, I’ve been gone for a year…

""He is a busy person.

"Baeksang slightly lowered his head. He thought it was too much to bring the sect leader into this. But that didn’t mean he was convinced."

Setting aside the sect leader, isn’t Elder Hyunyoung and the disciple Ungeum also strange?

"Baekcheon did not respond. No matter what he said, it would seem strange. If he said something, it would be seen as dissatisfaction with the upper ranks, and if he didn’t, there were too many things that bothered him."

Didn’t you notice? The higher-ups are surrounding that child.

""Baeksang.

""Yes, senior brother!

""I’m not that oblivious.

""……."Didn’t he just get scolded in front of everyone and not realize it?"

Senior brother.

Isn’t that brat a bit too arrogant?

""Hmm?

""Even if the higher-ups are surrounding him, shouldn’t you at least bow your head?

But that brat…

"Baeksang tried to say something but fell silent. If he had laughed at least, he could have openly scolded him, but it felt uncomfortable to criticize someone who was eating as if he didn’t care."

Huh.

"Baekcheon’s brows furrowed."

And I don’t understand why Yu Sema is showing so much interest in that child.

Why on earth is Yu Sema…

"A small ripple appeared in the teacup in Baeksang's hand."

That’s Yu Sema’s heart, isn’t it?

""Yu Sema, who hardly talks to us.

I’ve never seen her actively engage with anyone before.

We haven’t spent just a day or two with her, have we?

""…….""That’s fine for me, but at least for you…

""Baeksang.

""…Yes, senior brother.

""Don’t provoke me too much.

"Baeksang lowered his head again. And he cautiously observed Baekcheon’s expression. He tried hard to manage his expression, but Baekcheon’s face could not help but reveal his discomfort.

His brows kept furrowing. 'I can’t believe I’m feeling this way about that kid.' He wasn’t even a disciple, but a mere servant, right?

In a sect like Hwasan, the difference between a disciple and a servant could be said to be like heaven and earth. Just as he could never defy the heir, Cheongmyeong should naturally be the same. 'That arrogant brat.'

Baekcheon bit his lip slightly. At that moment, Baeksang, who had been shrinking back, quietly continued speaking."

I feel wronged.

After going through such a hard training, the elders don’t recognize it, and some brat who suddenly appeared is monopolizing the elders’ affection, isn’t he?

""We’ve passed the time to receive affection.

""I know that’s not what you mean.

"I know.

I know all too well. Baekcheon sighed softly. 'It feels like the initiative has subtly shifted.'

Was it because he had been away for too long? In the past, the sect elders would have sought him out immediately upon his return to discuss the Hwa Jong meeting and training, but now they showed no particular interest in him. Instead, people were looking for Cheongmyeong.

Baekcheon found that displeasing. He didn’t know what Cheongmyeong had done to receive such expectations and subtle protection from the sect elders, but Hwasan was his sect. Baekcheon should be the one receiving the expectations of everyone in Hwasan, and he should be the one to bring brilliant glory back to the sect."

Are you going to leave that brat as he is?

""What if I don’t?

""…Still, shouldn’t you give him a good scolding?

If you leave it like this, Hwasan will turn upside down.

You should step up to set the strict laws right.

"Baekcheon smiled wryly. He didn’t like that the kid was acting out, so he was saying he should give him a good beating."

For now, calm down.

""Senior brother!

"When Baeksang raised his voice, Baekcheon narrowed his brows. Seeing that expression, Baeksang quickly lowered his eyes. Seeing that reaction, Baekcheon nodded as if satisfied."

I don’t want to do that either.

""But why…

""First, you need to understand.

""Yes?

"Baekcheon shook his head and slowly set down his teacup."

There’s a proper order to things.

Shouldn’t we understand why the disciples are protecting that child?

""Ah, that’s right.

We should.

""Here it comes.

""Yes?

"Before Baekcheon finished speaking, someone knocked on the door."

Come in.

"Creeeak. As the door opened, someone bowed."

Disciple Yoon Jong is here to see the disciples.

""Come in.

"Baekcheon pointed to the front."

Sit.

""Yes, disciple.

"Yoon Jong cautiously sat down in the chair, conveying with his whole body that he dared not sit here. It was truly a polite attitude. Baekcheon liked Yoon Jong’s demeanor. 'This is how a servant should be.' Not like that arrogant brat. Feeling a bit relieved, Baekcheon spoke in a relatively gentle voice."

Yoon Jong.

""Yes, disciple.

""You’ve worked hard serving the sect elders as the third disciple while I was away.

""I only did what I had to do as a disciple of Hwasan.

""Yes, that’s right.

It’s something you should do.

But…

"Baekcheon paused for a moment, and Yoon Jong subtly raised his head to observe his expression. The following words were as expected."

It seems that unusual things are happening in Hwasan.

""…Are you referring to Cheongmyeong?

"Baekcheon did not answer directly. But Yoon Jong could not have failed to guess his intentions."

It’s my fault for not properly leading the disciples as a senior brother.

If you are angry, please punish me, disciple.

""No. It’s not something you should bear.

That’s why I’m saying this.

""Yes, disciple.

"Baekcheon wore a subtle smile."

While I was away, tell me what exactly happened.

I will listen and decide on the future direction." Yoon Jong took a deep breath. 'It’s only natural to explain to the disciple, but it feels like I’m betraying Cheongmyeong.'

Before coming here, Yoon Jong had already asked Cheongmyeong. If he could confess everything to the disciple. Cheongmyeong’s answer was very simple. - Go."……."If only he would give some guidance, it would be easier.

Yoon Jong glanced at Baekcheon once and steeled his resolve." I think I should start from when Cheongmyeong first entered Hwasan."

As Yoon Jong slowly began to recount the events, the second disciples listened intently, holding their breath.

And as the story continued, Baekcheon’s expression gradually twisted more and more.