"When walking around the main sect, they say to keep your knees straight."
"They told me to ask for permission even when going to get water."
"Ah, damn it. They're really petty and disgusting."
The top disciples truly found every possible way to torment them.
They pointed out even the smallest mistakes during training, and in daily life, they nitpicked at everything.
Today, they even received orders to clean the Baekmaegwan until not a speck of dust remained because its appearance was deemed dirty.
"Just hit me already!" Jo Geol gritted his teeth.
He was used to physical bullying, but he couldn't adapt to this kind of torment at all.
"I never imagined my seniors would be like this."
"I respected them!"
"What kind of neighborhood thugs are they? Is this really acceptable?"
Yoon Jong let out a deep sigh. 'There's nothing wrong with it.' There was no doubt that the top disciples were doing this to bully them.
The malice and mockery hidden in their words were too vivid.
But that didn't mean their actions were wrong.
What the top disciples demanded was all based on the norms set by the Hwasan sect.
But why was that a problem?
"Those norms were established at least two hundred years ago."
Old norms are supposed to be revised with the changes of the times.
However, the Hwasan norms had not changed.
Thus, until now, they had chosen to ignore these outdated norms through an unspoken agreement.
But now, the top disciples had begun to enforce these norms on the third disciples.
Leaving everything aside, the biggest problem was that these ancient norms were all arbitrary, like earrings on ears or nose rings on noses.
"No, how can the saying that Hwasan disciples must never let go of their swords mean that they should hold their swords even when washing or relieving themselves?"
"... They even said to hold it while eating."
"They say to hold it while sleeping too!"
"If that's all, then it doesn't make sense. How does 'Hwasan disciples must always engrave the teachings of the sages in their hearts' mean they must memorize the entire history of Hwasan?"
"... They don't even know themselves."
"Exactly!"
The third disciples ground their teeth in frustration.
Everyone was getting anxious in front of this bizarre sect absurdity.
Every time the top disciples approached and glanced at them, it felt like their lifespans were shortening.
"We can't even eat properly! We can't even sleep well!"
"If they're bored, they gather everyone. If one person makes a mistake, they call everyone to scold them."
"What kind of nonsense is this in broad daylight?"
"Senior! We have to do something, right?"
Yoon Jong sighed deeply.
"What do you want to do?"
"This is a bit too much! Honestly, it's obvious they want to bully us openly, and there's a limit to how much we can endure."
"That's right! We can tolerate everything else, but we can't stand being interrupted during training! No matter what, this is the martial arts sect, and training shouldn't be disturbed!"
The third disciples' eyes were bloodshot.
In fact, until now, there hadn't been any significant conflicts between the third and top disciples.
The top disciples were too busy with their own training, and the role of teaching the third disciples fell to the Baekmaegwan, so they had been living like two chickens watching each other.
Still, the third disciples had felt a kind of admiration for the top disciples.
But now that they were acting so petty, the sense of betrayal was unbearable.
Yoon Jong cautiously turned his head to look at the source of all this trouble.
He glanced at Cheong Myeong, who was slumped in his chair, and carefully spoke.
"Cheong Myeong."
"Yes?"
"... Shouldn't you do something about this?"
"What?"
"The top disciples, I mean."
Yoon Jong sighed deeply.
Everyone knew why this was happening, even if they didn't say it out loud.
The top disciples wanted the third disciples, especially Cheong Myeong, to bow their heads and submit.
'It's a rather petty way to go about it.'
Yoon Jong somewhat understood their position.
In fact, this wasn't about the Baekja faction being wrong; it was more about Cheong Myeong being at fault.
To be precise, it wasn't Cheong Myeong's actions but his very existence that was the problem.
Even if he were in the Baekja faction, it would be hard to tolerate having someone like Cheong Myeong in the lower ranks.
So far, there hadn't been any issues with the first disciples or the elders.
Cheong Myeong never crossed the line when dealing with them.
Regardless of his true feelings, he always showed respect as a senior disciple.
But it was different with the Baekja faction.
Hadn't Yoon Jong already seen how Cheong Myeong treated the Baekja faction?
"... Isn't it obvious what they want?"
"Obvious?"
Yoon Jong sighed again.
"I'm not saying you should bend your character. Just give them a little face, and I'll try to resolve this somehow..."
"Give them face?"
At Cheong Myeong's voice, Yoon Jong's eyes twitched slightly.
Oh no, I chose the wrong word...
But contrary to Yoon Jong's expectations, Cheong Myeong didn't explode.
Instead, he looked at Yoon Jong with sparkling eyes and cheerfully said,
"Senior, senior!"
"Huh?"
"I think I know a better solution! With this, we can really solve everything!"
Seeing Cheong Myeong's excited face made Yoon Jong feel uneasy before he even heard the idea, but as the senior disciple, he had no choice but to ask.
"... What method?"
"What else? We just beat up those top disciples!"
As soon as Cheong Myeong finished speaking, he jumped up from his seat.
A startled Yoon Jong shouted in panic,
"Catch him! Grab him! If we don't, we're all dead! Grab him!"
Perhaps feeling the same anxiety as Yoon Jong, the senior disciples, who had been prepared, all sprang into action.
While they held onto Cheong Myeong's arms and legs, Jo Geol jumped up and pinned Cheong Myeong to the ground.
"Ahhh!"
"Don't let go! Never let go!"
"Let go! Are you not letting go?"
The third disciples clung to Cheong Myeong like a pack of dogs, desperately trying to hold him down.
Their desperate eyes showed their determination: 'We will never let this crazy dog loose outside the Baekmaegwan.'
"Cheong Myeong! Calm down, Cheong Myeong!"
"We're all going to be ruined!"
"There's a limit to rebellion! If you beat up the top disciples, you'll really get expelled!"
Cheong Myeong's eyes were wide open.
"Okay, I won't hit them! I won't hit them! I'll just give them one punch! Just one punch!"
"That's still hitting them, you crazy fool! Hey! Hold him properly!"
"No, how can he be this strong!"
"Ugh!"
Cheong Myeong squirmed and gritted his teeth.
"Those crazy guys are doing things they didn't even do a hundred years ago! I'm so angry!"
The Daoism fundamentally seeks naturalness.
In other words, it is a place that does not bind itself to the norms and classes created by society.
Isn't it a famous story that when Confucius went to greet Laozi, Laozi was shocked and told him not to do such things? Yet here were the disciples of Daoism acting in ways that even Confucianists wouldn't.
"Calm down, Cheong Myeong! If you beat up the top disciples, it will really be a big deal."
"You could lose everything you've built up until now!"
"Just stay still! Stay still!"
"Let go! Are you not letting go? I'll really..."
The third disciples formed a giant human tower to pin Cheong Myeong down.
But every time Cheong Myeong squirmed, the massive tower wobbled.
Yoon Jong watched this scene, sweating coldly.
'Is this even a situation that makes sense?'
Baek Cheon was the strongest among the top disciples.
Until Cheong Myeong arrived, the position of the best disciple of Hwasan was naturally Baek Cheon's, and no one doubted that he would become the strongest in Hwasan one day.
Jo Geol also had talent that was not to be envied, but ultimately, martial arts is something that takes time to build.
It would be nearly impossible for Jo Geol to catch up to Baek Cheon, who had learned the sword over a decade earlier.
Even if it were possible, that would be a story for decades later.
The distribution of skills is like that.
No matter how talented one is, the time spent and the martial arts learned are different.
That is why the difference in distribution is something that cannot be easily surpassed.
But what was unfolding before Yoon Jong's eyes? The youngest disciple of the Cheongja faction, who had just entered Hwasan, was talking about beating up the senior disciple of the Baekja faction.
'The real problem is that no one here thinks that it's impossible.'
Thinking rationally? He wasn't sure.
No matter how strong Cheong Myeong was, it didn't seem likely he could compete with Baek Cheon.
Even if Cheong Myeong had learned martial arts before he could walk, Baek Cheon would have been wielding a sword for a longer period.
Moreover, Baek Cheon was not someone lacking in talent.
It is impossible to overcome the difference in time with mere talent.
Those who can do that are called geniuses, but no matter how great a genius is, it takes time to surpass a decade of difference.
Rationally, truly rationally thinking, it was absolutely impossible for Cheong Myeong to defeat Baek Cheon.
'But strangely, when it comes down to it, I feel like the Baekja faction will get beaten up, which is the problem.'
In the first place, common sense and reason do not apply to this person before him.
What has he done that was sensible until now?
"Cheong Myeong."
Yoon Jong sighed deeply.
"I understand how you feel, but you absolutely cannot do it now."
"Why?"
"The Hwa Jong Gathering is just around the corner."
"And so?"
"... Baek Cheon must represent the top disciples at the Hwa Jong Gathering. What if someone like him gets beaten by you and can't participate?"
"Come on, I wouldn't beat him up like that. I can hit hard but not injure him. Don't you know?"
"I know."
He knew very well.
He had been hit countless times.
But still, it couldn't happen.
What if Baek Cheon got beaten by a junior? Would his confidence remain?
"... Let's just hold on a little longer. It's better for us to endure being beaten by Baek Cheon than to be looked down upon by those Jongnam guys."
Cheong Myeong frowned.
"I think it would be better to just blow it all away."
"Just this once, please let it go for the sake of the Hwa Jong Gathering. It's a big deal."
"Ugh."
Cheong Myeong turned his head.
Then, in a slightly dulled voice, he said,
"Now move aside."
The senior disciples glanced at Yoon Jong.
When Yoon Jong nodded, they slowly released Cheong Myeong and stepped aside.
Even so, they kept their distance, ready to grab him again if he tried to jump out.
"So I just have to hold on until the Hwa Jong Gathering is over, right?"
"... It's not that you have to hold on until then, but..."
"Why are you being so vague! Be clear!"
Yoon Jong squeezed his eyes shut.
Then, feeling the urgency of the situation, he said,
"Yes! Just until the Hwa Jong Gathering!"
"Got it."
Cheong Myeong nodded readily.
"Still, since the senior has worked hard, I should at least grant that much."
"... I'm tearfully grateful."
"Why are you crying?"
"No, it's not that."
"This isn't tears; it's the sweat of my heart, you brat."
But what if they pick a fight over there?
"... Is that even possible?"
"What if they do?"
Yoon Jong sighed.
"Then you handle it. I can't do anything more."
"Really?"
Cheong Myeong grinned.
Seeing that smile made Yoon Jong feel increasingly uneasy.