As the story came to an end, no one spoke.
Everyone looked at Yoon Jong's face with serious expressions, repeatedly falling into deep thought.
It was Baek Cheon who finally broke the long silence.
"So that child..."
"Yes, Master."
"He discovered the treasures of the sect and the unlearned."
"Yes."
"And he found the ledger, clearing the mountain's debts, and even seized the business premises?"
"That's correct."
"Moreover, he even cured the illness of Grandmaster Hwang from the Galaxy Sect?"
"Yes."
"As a result, the Galaxy Sect has agreed to oversee the finances of the mountain... the finances of the mountain."
Yoon Jong silently nodded.
Now that he thought about it, he had felt something strange on the way back.
The atmosphere in Hwa Eum was lively, and he had seen merchants he had never encountered before.
Having been away from the mountain for so long, he had vaguely thought that the economy of Hwa Eum had improved, but it seemed that was not the case.
"... I see."
Baek Cheon opened his mouth as if to say something but quietly closed it again.
"I understand."
"Yes. Master, then I will take my leave."
"Alright."
As Yoon Jong left the room, Baek Cheon gazed seriously into the air.
The other disciples also wore blank expressions.
"What is this...?" Baek Sang opened his mouth, looking as if he was in disbelief.
"Are you saying that child solved all the mountain's problems by himself?"
"..."
There was astonishment in his voice.
Baek Cheon could not refute that.
The biggest problem for the mountain was not the unlearned, nor was it the small number of disciples.
The mountain had fallen so rapidly because it lacked money.
"It wasn't just a lack of money."
The debts were enormous.
When Baek Cheon left the mountain and entered seclusion, his greatest worry was what he would do if the mountain was ruined upon his return.
Now, to think that Cheong Myung had resolved all that.
"I can understand why the elders of the sect are so protective of him."
Baek Cheon's muttering made Baek Sang laugh weakly.
"I thought Elder Hyun Young was indulging in the money that child brought in, thinking he was a great merchant's son who donated a lot to the mountain. But it turns out that's not the case..."
In truth, that child had literally kept the mountain alive.
Baek Cheon shook his head. 'There is no answer to this.' If he were in Hyun Young's position, he would have carried Cheong Myung around with him.
A child who had managed to solve the mountain's financial issues, which had shown no signs of resolution for decades, and even made money flow like water in just a few months.
The saying that one would not feel pain even if they put their eyes on it was meant for such a situation.
It was fortunate that Hyun Young had no children; if his child had fought with Cheong Myung, he would have kicked the child away like a storm.
A child could be born again, but where could one find another like Cheong Myung?
"... Master, this is..."
"Umm."
Baek Cheon let out a heavy sigh.
"If he had only solved one problem, it would have ended with 'he has done well.' But that child is entangled with the Galaxy Sect. As long as the Galaxy Sect manages the mountain's finances and the mountain earns money because of that, Cheong Myung's position will only rise with every payment that comes in."
"For a while, at least."
"... At some point, won't it become a given?"
"That is true. But will that moment come quickly? As you all know, this is like... gold falling into a beggar's hole. Just seeing it is good, and even touching it would be delightful. Even if one does not use the gold, just having it would be satisfying, wouldn't it? Cheong Myung is the one who threw gold into the beggar's hole that is the mountain. No matter how great Baek Cheon is, he could not achieve such an accomplishment."
'Even the sect leader has taken a special interest in that child.' Baek Cheon lightly bit his lower lip.
He had thought that upon returning from seclusion, he would receive the expectations of the elders of the sect, but now, that child had taken all the expectations that were meant for Baek Cheon.
This was a matter that could not be overlooked.
"What is so great about that achievement?" Baek Mun, who had been listening to the conversation, spoke with discontent.
"Finding the treasures of the mountain was just a coincidence, and curing Grandmaster Hwang of the Galaxy Sect was also just good luck, wasn't it?"
"Disciple."
"Master, the mountain is a martial sect. It is impossible for a martial sect to favor a child who brings in money. How could such a thing happen without the mountain turning upside down?"
Baek Cheon gently admonished Baek Mun.
"Disciple, you should choose your words carefully. That is a criticism of the elders and the sect."
"... That was not my intention."
"But it is not entirely incorrect."
"Yes?" Baek Cheon nodded calmly.
"Your words are correct. The mountain is a martial sect. No matter how much money is brought in, since this is not a merchant sect but a martial sect, ultimately, the unlearned will be what matters."
"That is indeed true."
"Yes."
Baek Cheon nodded at the disciples' responses.
"In the end, we can only return to the fundamentals. Right now, the elders of the sect have no choice but to pay attention to him, but once they realize that the Hwa Jong Conference is approaching, they will not be able to focus on the three great disciples."
"Yes, Master. That will certainly happen."
"So for now, focus solely on the unlearned. Correcting the habits of those young disciples can be done afterward."
Baek Sang glanced at Baek Cheon.
"But, Master."
"What is it?"
"Going to the Hwa Jong Conference is not just us, is it? The three great disciples will also participate in the Hwa Jong Conference."
"Who does not know that?"
"It will not be enough if we only work hard. We must also prevent the three great disciples from being humiliated, right?"
At those words, Baek Cheon looked at Baek Sang with interest.
"What do you think, disciple?"
"If we only think of ourselves, it would be right to focus solely on training, but the three great disciples are also disciples of the mountain. How could we only think of our own share? Even if it is a bit burdensome, if we can help the three great disciples with their unlearned skills, it will be a great help for the Hwa Jong Conference."
Baek Cheon smiled brightly.
"Indeed, the disciple thinks of the mountain more than anyone else."
"That is embarrassing, Master."
"It is a good idea. Having been away from the sect for a year, you may have grown distant from the children, so it would not be bad to sweat together for a while."
"Yes, Master. That is a good method."
Baek Cheon and Baek Sang smiled at each other.
In the end, dignity comes from strength.
A gentle person is respected, but respect is just respect.
Even among family, authority is necessary.
If left as is, the day when the three great disciples would rise was not far off.
They needed to be informed beforehand.
Why they were elders, and why they should bow their heads.
"I hope that child Cheong Myung has talent in the unlearned as well. Then our mountain would gain a talent to lead the next generation, wouldn't it?"
"The talent to lead the next generation is you, Master."
"I cannot rely on the disciples' hands forever. If I have a smart child who listens well, there will be many things I can have him do."
Baek Cheon wore a subtle smile.
"That child looks like he hasn't even eaten porridge, so how could he have talent in the unlearned?"
At Baek Mun's cold voice, he shrugged.
"Then we must teach and guide him more, right? It may be a bit overwhelming for him, but..."
"Indeed, I understand."
The three of them looked at each other and smiled warmly. 'It seems necessary to properly show the dignity of the higher-ups.' Baek Cheon's gaze slowly settled.
"Are you asleep?"
"Yes."
"Ugh. I was dragged away by the elders because of that, and you're just lying down comfortably?"
Yoon Jong's face flushed slightly. 'My dignity...' He no longer thought of asking Cheong Myung to show respect as the youngest.
The treatment of a grand disciple had long been thrown away.
Yet, today, he felt a surge of emotions because he had seen how the other disciples treated Baek Cheon.
'That is what a proper sect is like.' Seeing them show utmost respect to the grand disciple made his own situation feel pitiful and tearful. 'Once, I received such treatment myself.' Since that child came, the other disciples had become unruly.
If it were just one person, he could understand, but they all learned quickly from the bad example...
"What are you thinking so deeply about, Master?"
"... Nothing."
This child is also a problem, this one too! In the past, even while rebelling, there was a certain respect, but now they treat him like a neighborhood brother!
Letting out a deep sigh, Yoon Jong looked at Jo Geol.
"Geol."
"Yes?"
"Is it really a good thing that Cheong Myung came to the mountain?"
"Don't say strange things, just tell me what happened. What is it?"
Strange things? How could he say that to a grand disciple? Oh, my fate...
Eventually, having let everything go, Yoon Jong glanced back at Cheong Myung, who was lying on the bed, and spoke.
"Tell me what that child has done so far."
"So you just reported what you saw?"
"... What good would it do to hide it?"
"True."
It would eventually be found out.
"What was the reaction?"
"You don't ask because you don't know, do you?"
"... Ugh."
Yoon Jong and Jo Geol sighed deeply.
Looking at Cheong Myung, who was lying on the bed and patting his belly, it was impossible not to sigh.
'Crazy child.' 'A troublesome child.' No matter how it was, Baek Cheon was not a grand disciple but a master.
Where in the world does one cause such a ruckus in their first meeting with a master? Baek Cheon was not such a strict person with the three great disciples.
But now that the relationship had soured, it was hard to predict how things would unfold.
"It won't end well."
"... I would feel the same way."
No one in the world would feel goodwill upon seeing Cheong Myung for the first time.
Did not Jo Geol and Yoon Jong initially want to hit Cheong Myung at least once? Fortunately, they could end it at a level of moderate punishment, but if Baek Cheon decided to trample Cheong Myung, the situation could escalate beyond expectation.
"We might get caught in the crossfire."
"Indeed."
Yoon Jong sighed deeply once more and looked at Jo Geol with determined eyes.
"Anyway, didn't you suspect something when you heard the elders were returning?"
"That is correct."
"Gather the children and tell them to be careful with their behavior starting tomorrow. Even without any special incidents, they are already in a precarious situation, and with this incident, they will definitely not let it slide."
"Yes, understood."
After answering, Jo Geol turned to leave but suddenly stopped.
Then he glanced back at Yoon Jong.
"By the way, Master."
"Hmm?"
"I'm just curious..."
"What is it?"
"If Baek Cheon and Cheong Myung were to face off, who would really win?"
"... Don't speak nonsense and just do your job."
"Tsk."
Jo Geol pouted at Yoon Jong's reprimand and went outside.
Left alone in Cheong Myung's room, Yoon Jong looked at the owner of the room, who was still lost in sleep. 'Who would win?' Is that something I need to ask?
"... He sleeps well. That troublesome child."
The peace of the mountain had come to an end.
A commotion was about to begin.
As Yoon Jong looked down at Cheong Myung's face, which was blissfully asleep, he chuckled and left the room.