"Master Zhang."
Hyun Jong silently poured tea into his cup.
The fragrant aroma of the tea spread throughout the room.
Whenever anger welled up in his heart, Hyun Jong would brew tea like this.
Nothing calmed the mind and body better.
"Today, the disciples from Jongnam will arrive."
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes, Master Zhang. There will be no issues in welcoming the Jongnam disciples."
"That's a relief."
Hyun Jong let out a low sigh. 'At least this time, I won't have to show a shameful face.' It was embarrassing to fall behind Mu Hak, but what had embarrassed Hyun Jong the most was not being able to properly host the disciples from Jongnam.
How would it feel to have to show them the crumbling halls, meager meals, and the desolate training grounds that he wished to hide from them? Especially for Hyun Jong, the master of Hwasan, this was a sensitive issue.
Enduring the mocking gazes of the Jongnam disciples was not an easy task.
Until now, he had only been able to bite his lip and endure their scorn...
"The more I think about it, the more I realize that Cheongmyeong has done a great deed."
Unam smiled with satisfaction.
It was often said within Hwasan that Hyun Jong was overly fond of Cheongmyeong, but Unam fully understood Hyun Jong's feelings.
From the perspectives of both Hyun Jong and Unam, Cheongmyeong was like a benefactor who had broken the heavy stone lodged in their bellies and freed them.
It was not merely a matter of survival.
Hwasan was a sect with a long-standing tradition.
At the very least, they had to present a respectable appearance to others.
Although they taught that appearances were merely superficial, people tended to judge others based on what they saw.
No one would listen to a beggar discussing the Dao.
Cheongmyeong had not only resolved Hwasan's survival issues but had also restored its dignity.
How could they not cherish him?
Unam's gaze, filled with amusement, seemed to make Hyun Jong a bit uncomfortable, so he cleared his throat softly and offered him tea.
"Drink up."
"Yes, Master Zhang."
Unam lifted the teacup and savored a light sip, nodding quietly.
"How is it?"
"It seems the aroma has become richer. It has been dried for a long time, so it should have lost some of its fragrance by now."
"Indeed."
Hyun Jong nodded as if pleased.
"Well-dried plum leaves can actually become more fragrant. I only realized this after decades of drying plums."
Hyun Jong quietly gazed at the teacup before speaking again.
"Hwasan is the same. I have merely endured. I claimed I would recreate the glory of the past, but in truth, I was just struggling to get through each day."
"…Master Zhang."
Hearing a hint of concern in Unam's voice, Hyun Jong smiled reassuringly.
"But just enduring has brought about such days. Sometimes, simply waiting can be the answer, rather than any scheme or trick."
It was a strange sentiment.
Unam looked at Hyun Jong with newfound respect. 'We are not the only ones moving forward.' Sometimes, the master would fall into the illusion that he was already complete.
However, a person continues to advance until the day they die.
If Hyun Jong, who walked the path of a Daoist, were to continue honing himself until his last breath, how could he not be trustworthy?
"Hwasan will reclaim its past glory under the leadership of the master."
"That would be good, but even if it happens, it won't be my merit. It will be thanks to the efforts of my disciples."
"How can you say it is not your merit?"
"Unam."
"Yes, Master Zhang."
"I am someone who knows my own shortcomings. If Hwasan had not crumbled like this, how could I have become the master? If my seniors had not left Hwasan, I would have simply spent my days reciting scriptures."
Unam replied in a serious tone.
"They proved their lack of qualification to be your disciples by leaving Hwasan. You are the rightful master of Hwasan."
Hyun Jong smiled without responding.
It was a somewhat awkward conversation.
Thus, he needed to change the subject.
"So, how are the first-generation disciples?"
"They have finished their training and are now stabilizing their minds and bodies."
When the term "first-generation disciples" was mentioned, Unam's face darkened slightly.
"Master Zhang."
"Speak."
"Honestly, I am a bit scared."
"Scared? Why is that?"
Unam sighed softly before continuing.
"As I mentioned before, Hwasan's momentum is exceptionally strong right now. However, depending on the results of this Jonghwa Conference, that momentum could falter, right?"
"Do you think the first-generation disciples will not be able to handle the Jongnam disciples?"
"I want to believe in the children as well. But… as you know…"
Unam did not finish his sentence.
Both he and Hyun Jong understood that the gap between Hwasan and Jongnam had widened significantly.
Hwasan was just beginning to emerge from its darkest period in history, while Jongnam was experiencing an unprecedented golden age.
Naturally, there was a significant difference in the level of their disciples.
No matter how hard the first-generation disciples worked, defeating Jongnam's disciples was a distant dream.
Unam was worried that the hope the disciples had just begun to feel would be overshadowed by a sense of defeat again.
"What about the third-generation disciples?"
"…Yes?"
"Are the third-generation disciples not participating in the Jonghwa Conference? Are they well-prepared?"
When Hyun Jong suddenly changed the subject, Unam was slightly puzzled, but he had no choice but to answer the master's question.
"They seem to be preparing more than adequately."
"More than adequate? Excessively so."
Unam could only express it this way because he had seen the third-generation disciples training several times.
Since their training was entirely entrusted to Ungeom, he could not interfere, but to Unam, it seemed like an abnormal training method.
"Since they have only just begun their training…"
Hyun Jong nodded quietly.
He fully understood Unam's concerns.
"Unam."
"Yes, Master Zhang."
"What if there is a mountain in front of you?"
"Well…"
Unam struggled to find words.
"That's right. You have no choice but to cross it. If there is a path, you would take a detour, and if there is time, you would rest, but if there is neither, you have no choice but to cross it, right?"
"I am worried that I might not be able to cross."
"Even so, you will gain experience. Next time, you might be able to cross the mountain more easily, right?"
Unam let out a deep sigh.
While he did not fully agree with the master's words, he realized that there was nothing more to ask.
Just because he was the master did not mean he had a perfect solution.
Seeing Unam's expression remain troubled, Hyun Jong smiled gently and said, "The Jonghwa Conference is fundamentally a place for exchange."
"…Yes."
"Winning or losing is not important. What matters is who can develop more by using the exchange as a stepping stone, right?"
"Your words are correct, Master Zhang."
"They are guests coming from afar. Make sure to prepare thoroughly so that there is no negligence."
"I will keep that in mind."
Unam bowed deeply.
"Master Huang from the Eunha Merchant Group has also agreed to help, so there should be no problems."
"Master Huang… Yes. I should visit Master Huang at least once."
"Since you are so busy, Master Zhang, I believe Master Huang will understand."
"Yes, I would be grateful if you could do that."
From that day on, Master Huang and the Eunha Merchant Group were literally pouring gold into Hwasan.
Looking at the scale of their investment, one might suspect they were trying to turn Hwasan into a prosperous city like Hangzhou or Suzhou.
"Will Jongnam not take issue with this?"
"Everything will flow according to its natural course."
It was a calm statement, as usual.
Unam bowed deeply and quietly stood up.
"Then I will go check on everything one last time."
"You have worked hard."
"Not at all. Then."
Unam stepped back.
As he quietly closed the door and left, Hyun Jong lowered his gaze to the teacup that had been in front of Unam.
The cup, barely half-empty and still steaming, seemed to reflect Unam's feelings.
"Winning or losing is not important…" Hyun Jong murmured softly.
"As a Daoist, I can speak lies so easily."
Hyun Jong knew well that winning was of utmost importance.
However, this Jonghwa Conference was a battle they could not win.
And he had to push his disciples into this unwinnable battle.
They could not win without a miracle.
Without a miracle...
Hyun Jong closed his eyes quietly, suppressing the heavy feelings in his heart.
"This place is still small."
The disciples from Jongnam wore subtle smirks as they looked around Hwasan.
They had visited this place two years ago, but Hwasan truly felt like a small town.
Compared to the bustling city of Xi'an, it was nothing more than a countryside.
"Senior brother, was Hwasan really the Gu Pai Lang in the past?"
"Of course."
"But for a sect that was once Gu Pai Lang, this place feels quite small and shabby, doesn't it?" Jin Jinlong smiled.
"That's the opposite. It was because Hwasan existed that such a village could be formed. In the past, Hwasan's might was so strong that it could develop a place for travelers to stay."
"Indeed."
Jong Seohan nodded as if he finally understood.
"But now it has fallen to such depths, hasn't it?"
"That is true."
Jin Jinlong nodded quietly.
Jong Seohan glanced around and then spoke.
"Honestly, I don't understand the reason for this meaningless event. What significance is there in sharing swords with a Hwasan of such a low level? It would be better to swing a sword one more time during that time."
"The elders of the sect have their reasons for doing this. Be careful with your words."
"That may be true, but…" Jong Seohan turned his head slightly.
Noticing someone following behind, he wore a subtle smile.
"Well, this Jonghwa Conference does have some meaning. It is rewarding to take revenge for someone who has been humiliated."
It was a slightly provocative remark.
However, the target of the provocation, Lee Songbaek, walked silently without responding at all. 'How boring.' Jong Seohan frowned.
Thanks to Cheongmyeong resolving the issue with Master Huang, it had become common knowledge in Jongnam that the Eunha Merchant Group had opened trade with Hwasan instead of Jongnam.
The gaze directed at Lee Songbaek, who had knocked Cheongmyeong down in front of the Eunha Merchant Group's small leader, was naturally not kind.
'With no reaction, there's no fun in teasing.' Since that incident, Lee Songbaek had changed.
He had always been somewhat serious, but now he was so quiet that it bordered on taciturn.
"After a hundred years of humiliation at Hwasan, we must repay it, senior brother."
"That will happen."
While Jin Jinlong and Jong Seohan chatted and walked, Lee Songbaek continued to walk without joining the conversation.
His gaze was directed toward Hwasan, which loomed tall beyond Hwasan.
'Hwasan, huh?' When he had visited this place in the past, he had felt quite light-hearted.
But now, the shadow of a single person overlapped with Hwasan. 'Perhaps we are now entering a tiger's den.' Lee Songbaek seemed to see Cheongmyeong's smiling face in his mind.