"Come here."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Ungeom reached out and grabbed the teacup.

The plum blossom tea, made from dried plum petals, was one of Hyunjong's proudest creations.

Serving this tea meant that there was much to discuss today.

"How is it?"

At his question, Ungeom glanced at Unam before answering.

It was a silent inquiry of whether it was alright for someone to overhear.

Hyunjong raised his cup and replied briefly.

"It’s fine."

"Then, I will speak."

Ungeom opened his mouth.

"As you instructed, we did not intervene. However..."

"However?"

"There are some issues arising."

"Mm."

Hyunjong nodded quietly.

"If Hyunyoung had not come, the atmosphere would have been more urgent. As you said, a subtle tension flows between the second and third generation disciples."

"That would be the case."

Hyunjong sighed.

This was a situation caused by their choices. 'I was too hasty.'

The gap between the Baekja group and the Cheongja group was too wide, while the distance between the youngest of the Baekja group, Yuiseol, and the oldest of the Cheongja group, Yoonjong, was almost negligible.

Considering that it was customary to delay entry to create some difference, it was clear that a problem had erupted. 'It was an unavoidable issue.'

When the third generation disciples were accepted, Hwasan had no capacity to take in new students.

At the same time, the sect's finances were growing increasingly strained.

It was a situation where they should have blocked new entries.

Then someone suggested that instead of continuously accepting disciples, they should seek sponsorship from their families.

That was the beginning of the problem.

From Hwasan's perspective, where they had to cling to even the most fragile straw, it was necessary to secure funds immediately, wasn't it? Even if they were on the verge of collapse, they were still a prestigious sect, carefully selecting their disciples.

However, at that time, the children of the sponsoring families were accepted without question.

As a result, the Cheongja group was evaluated as somewhat lacking in talent compared to the Baekja group.

"In the past, the Cheongja group would not have dared to challenge the Baekja group. But isn't the current Cheongja group different from before?"

"Indeed."

Is there a focal point? Does it exist or not? In individual lives, it holds little significance, but in matters between groups, it shows a tremendous difference.

When the Cheongja group was based on the ambiguous focal point of Yoonjong and Jogul, they were merely the third generation disciples of Hwasan.

However, the Cheongja group, united around Cheongmyeong, would not be satisfied with just that.

Though there is a twenty-year age gap, they do not see each other as rivals, but those with a ten-year gap cannot help but be conscious of one another.

"It is my fault."

As Ungeom bowed his head, Hyunjong shook his head firmly.

"This is not your fault."

"Sect Leader..."

"I was the one who insisted on creating the Baekmaegwan. And wasn't that everyone's opinion? From the beginning, this situation was foreseen when we created the Baekmaegwan and accepted the third generation disciples early."

This was not merely to comfort Ungeom.

By establishing the Baekmaegwan, Hwasan gained many benefits.

However, with gain comes loss.

If the traditional master-disciple relationship had been maintained, no matter how small the age difference, they would not have dared to treat the upper group lightly.

But now, the third generation disciples had received nothing from the Baekja group.

They learned from Ungeom and trained with their peers.

Naturally, the distance from the upper group widened.

This was the greatest weakness of the Baekmaegwan.

Unam, sensing the mood, spoke up.

"Sect Leader, what do you plan to do?"

Hyunjong savored the plum tea in silence.

The subtle fragrance of the plum blossoms calmed his mind a little.

"What can be done?"

"But if it continues like this..."

"That is how people are. Just because we suppress and forcefully guide them, does that mean the burdens in their hearts will disappear? Sometimes, it is not bad to let them clash. In the end, it will flow naturally, won't it?"

"Sect Leader, this is about the disciples."

"If they truly set their minds to it, they could change the direction of their teachings. However, if you forcefully redirect the current, it may seem plausible at first, but eventually, problems will arise."

Hyunjong smiled gently.

"Ungeom."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"Let us trust our children."

"......"

Ungeom looked at Hyunjong with a truly complicated expression.

His lingering doubts were clearly visible on his face.

At that moment, Hyunjong spoke in a direction different from Ungeom's thoughts.

"Baekcheon is not such an unreasonable child."

"Excuse me?"

"Do you not think so?"

Ungeom's face went blank. 'No, Sect Leader, that’s not it!' Baekcheon is not the problem.

Sect Leader! The problem is that Cheongmyeong kid!

Only then did Ungeom realize the vast gap between the Cheongmyeong that the elders saw and the Cheongmyeong that he saw.

As the owner of the Baekmaegwan, Ungeom knew Cheongmyeong, who held the third generation disciples in his grasp, but Hyunjong saw Cheongmyeong merely as a pretty puppy bringing blessings to Hwasan.

"Baekcheon is still a child with a proper mindset, isn't he? Even if he gets a little angry out of pride, he won't harm the bond of kinship. He will patch things up appropriately, so there is no need to worry too much."

"Excuse me? Who is patching things up? Is Baekcheon going to soothe Cheongmyeong?"

'This is a disaster.' No wonder the Sect Leader seemed so calm! But it was impossible to explain from now on.

No matter how much he talked, they would not believe him.

And in fact, Ungeom was also at a loss as to how to explain Cheongmyeong.

The discomfort he felt towards Cheongmyeong was merely a vague sensation.

When it came to explaining, it was ambiguous how to convince them.

"...... Yes. I understand, Sect Leader."

In the end, Ungeom had no choice but to step back.

"Ungeom."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"The Hwa Jong Gathering is not far off."

As soon as the words "Hwa Jong Gathering" were spoken, Ungeom's face darkened.

To be honest, the disciples of Hwasan no longer held any ill feelings towards Jongnam as they once did.

The feelings Hwasan had towards Jongnam stemmed from rivalry.

However, rivalry is not something that occurs between those with significant differences in status, right? Now that the gap between Hwasan and Jongnam was as vast as the heavens and the earth, there were no longer those who genuinely felt competitive towards Jongnam.

But even if there was no sense of rivalry, who would want to see their own disciples being completely outmatched by the disciples of another sect? It was only because they were still children that the difference was manageable; among the first-generation disciples or elders who had reached mastery, the gap would be even wider.

"We have solved many problems. But we have not resolved the most important issue. We are only at the starting point. To recreate the glorious Hwasan, you must do much."

"I will keep that in mind. Sect Leader."

"Good. You both may leave."

"Yes."

As Ungeom and Unam bowed and stepped back, Hyunjong quietly shook off his seat and stood up.

Opening the window at the back of the room, he could see Yeonhwa Peak, where the snow had nearly melted.

The plum tree, which had grown significantly, was adorned with small flower buds.

By the time the Hwa Jong Gathering began, the entire mountain would be in full bloom with spring plums.

'Plum blossoms... plum blossoms.' He had regained the Chilmaegum.

However, Hyunjong knew all too well that it was impossible to recreate the past glory with just the Chilmaegum. 'If only I had the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.'

Hyunjong squeezed his eyes shut.

Yet, he also knew that wishing for what was not there would not change anything.

Now was not the time to search for what was missing; it was the time to solidify what was present.

Still, a sense of regret lingered in a corner of his heart.

"O sages, please watch over Hwasan."

Little did Hyunjong know that the sage had already entered Hwasan.

Unfortunately, Hyunjong made two mistakes.

One of them was overestimating Cheongmyeong.

However, from Hwasan's perspective, this was not particularly problematic.

Cheongmyeong's ultimate goal was to nurture Hwasan, after all.

The more Hyunjong thought well of Cheongmyeong, the broader Cheongmyeong's sphere of activity would naturally become.

Though unintentional, thanks to Hyunjong's favorable view of Cheongmyeong, Hwasan was developing more rapidly.

However, the other mistake was more fatal than expected...

That was the fact that Baekcheon was not as gentle as Hyunjong thought.

"Something..."

"......"

"I need to eat something."

"......"

The three great disciples of Hwasan were gathered together in Baekmaegwan, their faces blank.

Cheongmyeong's training squeezed everything out of a person.

How he knew this was a mystery, but this ghostly kid accurately assessed the remaining stamina of the three great disciples and drained them until the very last drop.

Thus, after training, they all became as stiff as sun-dried cloth.

Surprisingly, however, the three great disciples did not express much dissatisfaction with the harsh training that continued day after day.

Of course, every time they trained, they felt like they were on the brink of death, but humans are creatures of adaptation, aren't they? After enduring that terrible training for a week or so, it became bearable.

Now, they had progressed to the point where they could greet the grim reaper warmly before returning.

- The more iron is hammered, the stronger it becomes, and the more a person is rolled, the stronger they grow! Moss does not gather on a rolling person.

'People do not gather moss.

You crazy fool.'

What was even more terrifying was that the three great disciples were proving Cheongmyeong's words with their bodies.

They could feel the changes in themselves day by day.

They were beginning to understand what it meant to train in a way that suited their bodies.

However, the problem was that a new calamity had fallen upon the three great disciples, who believed that as long as they could endure Cheongmyeong's training, everything would be fine.

"I feel like I'm going to die."

"That bastard... If it weren't for the master, I would have..."

"Isn't this going too far?"

What was tormenting them now was none other than the Baekja group.

In other words, the second generation disciples.

Since the day Cheongmyeong confronted Baekcheon, the second generation disciples had begun to cleverly pressure the three great disciples, nitpicking at every little thing, clearly intending to torment them.

"Why are those guys acting like that?"

"Do you really not know?"

"Ugh."

Everyone's gaze turned to one place in unison.

It was obvious who was at the end of that gaze.

"Huh?"

Cheongmyeong tilted his head as he received the gazes of his older brothers.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"......"

This kid clearly had no sense of conscience.