The day of the Huazhong Conference dawned.
Hyun Jong quietly gazed at the first and third generation disciples lined up before him.
It was a solemn sight.
The fact that these children's faces were so tense pained Hyun Jong's heart.
The children standing before him understood the heavy burden they carried as they approached the Huazhong Conference.
It was heartbreaking.
He did not know when it had changed, but this burden was originally one that the elders, including the sect leader, should have borne.
However, at some point, the responsibility of proving the sect's strength and upholding its honor had shifted to the children.
Even if they were first-generation disciples, they were too young to bear such a weight.
As for the third-generation disciples, it was needless to say.
Yet, he felt endlessly grateful and even more sorry for the children who stepped forward without a single complaint about the heavy burden.
“Sect Leader.”
Hyun Young subtly signaled, and Hyun Jong slightly lifted his head.
He had let the children stand for too long, lost in sentiment.
Clearing his throat softly to lighten the atmosphere, he spoke in a gentle voice.
“Everyone looks so tense.”
As he slowly looked around at the children, Hyun Jong shook his head.
“There’s no need to be so stiff. Winning or losing isn’t what matters. Just treat this Huazhong Conference as a stepping stone for yourselves.”
Hyun Jong made eye contact with everyone and spoke as if making a promise.
“No matter what the outcome, you will always be proud disciples of Huashan. Just remember that.”
His words were simple.
They did not boost the morale of those going into the competition, nor did they instill a determination to carry Huashan's honor on their backs.
Yet, those words gently eased the hearts of the disciples who had been tense under the heavy burden.
As everyone’s expressions softened a bit, Hyun Jong nodded.
“I will be watching over you. Go and do your best.”
With those words, Hyun Jong turned and walked ahead.
Hyun Young quickly followed beside him.
“Are you not going with them?”
“Even if it’s a competition, those who are competing and those who are watching cannot go together. They will have things to discuss among themselves. Let them be with each other.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
As Hyun Young gestured, the other elders of Huashan and the disciples of the Yun Clan quickly followed behind Hyun Jong.
As the first and third generation disciples were relaxing their breaths in low tones, one person stepped forward.
Baek Cheon.
He stood resolutely before everyone.
“Today, we fight against Jongnam.”
Baek Cheon’s gaze briefly shifted to Cheong Myung before returning to its original position.
“As the Sect Leader said, losing is not something to be ashamed of. What is shameful is not giving your all. When you face the competition, carry the pride of being Huashan disciples.”
“Yes! Senior Brother!”
“Let’s go!”
With a firm expression, Baek Cheon led the first-generation disciples toward the competition area.
The faces of the following first-generation disciples showed a resolute determination.
Even Yu Yi Seol, who walked last, displayed a solemnity different from her usual demeanor.
“Ahem.”
As the first-generation disciples moved away, Yoon Jong quietly stepped forward.
The third-generation disciples warmly welcomed him.
“What’s up, Senior Brother?”
“Let’s keep it brief, just brief. You’re going to keep me up all night like this.”
“Ha. They say a title can drive a person mad.”
These brats… “If you treat me half as well as Baek Cheon, I’d be grateful!”
“Let’s hurry up. My legs are hurting.”
“If that’s the case, let’s each say a word. Jo Geol, please stand at the back. Save some time.”
“Ugh.”
Yoon Jong let out a deep sigh. ‘They used to be such good kids.’ How did it come to this? Yoon Jong turned to look at the root of all this trouble.
Despite the grand event of the Huazhong Conference looming ahead, Cheong Myung appeared utterly disinterested, as if he couldn’t care less.
“Cheong Myung.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you have nothing to say?”
Cheong Myung chuckled lightly.
“What’s there to say? It’s not a big deal.”
Cheong Myung casually turned his head to look at the competition area.
“We need to finish quickly and eat. Let’s go.”
Unknowingly, Yoon Jong’s lips curled into a smile.
“Alright, you brat.”
There was one thing he was sure of.
Though usually a pain, at times like this, he was incredibly reassuring.
“Let’s go!”
Yoon Jong took the lead, guiding everyone toward the competition area.
Cheong Myung followed quietly, his eyes sparkling.
The Huazhong Conference was fundamentally an event created for the exchange between Huashan and Jongnam.
Of course, both Huashan and Jongnam had their own ulterior motives, but at least on the surface, the purpose was centered around the competition.
Thus, the Huazhong Conference did not accept visitors.
Until now, it had merely been a gathering of disciples from Huashan and Jongnam competing against each other.
This Huazhong Conference would not be any different.
Up until they reached the competition area, everyone thought so.
Murmurs filled the air.
“……”
Hyun Jong opened his eyes wide, staring at the training ground.
Beyond the Huashan gate lay the grand training ground.
Due to the nature of the competition, a wide space was necessary.
Thus, the Huazhong Conference was held here without exception.
Until now, the vast training ground had only seen disciples from Huashan and Jongnam lined up on either side, but today, a rather strange scene unfolded.
“W-What are those people doing…?”
A crowd of unidentified individuals had gathered around the training ground where the Huazhong Conference was to take place.
That wasn’t all.
Even at this moment, people were rushing into the gate.
What was even stranger was that everyone entering was carrying items.
They were each hauling chairs or tables around the training ground.
Hyun Jong was momentarily at a loss for words due to the unexpected situation.
At that moment, Unam approached with a worried expression.
“Sect Leader.”
“What is going on?”
“The people who rushed in demanded to see the Huazhong Conference with their own eyes. There were so many of them that we couldn’t just block them.”
“Hmm.”
Hyun Jong frowned.
“Did Jongnam call for them?”
If so, the intention was clear.
They wanted to show the scene of Huashan’s defeat to these people.
At first glance, he hadn’t noticed, but upon closer inspection, the clothing of the guests was quite extravagant.
Seeing some familiar faces, it seemed they had invited the prominent figures from Shaanxi.
Among those he recognized were the leaders of the Shaanxi Ten Great Sects and local dignitaries.
Surrounding them were even those in official robes.
Considering the influence they had in Shaanxi, the events witnessed and heard at today’s Huazhong Conference would spread throughout the region in no time.
‘Petty!’
Hyun Jong felt a slight heat rise in his chest at that cunning thought and spoke in a voice slightly lower than usual.
“Don’t you know that outsiders should not be allowed in without permission?”
“B-But, Sect Leader…”
“How could we allow them in when their intentions are so obvious?”
“T-That’s not…”
“Hmm?”
At that moment, a low voice reached Hyun Jong’s ears.
“Sect Leader. This seems to be an uncoordinated situation.”
Hyun Jong turned his head.
The elder from Jongnam, Sima Seung, approached him with a slightly flustered expression.
Hyun Jong focused on Sima Seung’s ‘flustered’ demeanor.
‘So this isn’t something Jongnam initiated?’
If Sima Seung had called them, he wouldn’t have such a flustered expression while asking that question.
He would have walked over leisurely and smirked instead.
Hyun Jong glanced at Unam.
“What happened?”
“We tried to stop them, but the person who brought them…”
“It was me, Sect Leader.”
Hyun Jong and Sima Seung turned their gazes toward the source of the voice.
A very familiar figure approached them with a smile.
“Is that you, Lord Hwang?”
“Lord Hwang?”
Hwang Mun Yak from the Eunha Merchant Group was coming toward them.
“Apologies for the suddenness.”
Hwang Mun Yak casually waved his hand.
The two men received his greeting but still wore puzzled expressions on their faces.
Hwang Mun Yak smiled broadly.
“I thought it would be dull without an audience for the Huazhong Conference, so I brought a few people along.”
“Hmm.”
Hyun Jong furrowed his brow, about to say something when Sima Seung interjected.
“That’s not a bad idea. After all, since this is the last Huazhong Conference, it wouldn’t hurt for it to become a festival for Shaanxi.”
While saying this, Sima Seung subtly emphasized the term ‘Huazhong Conference.’
Hyun Jong let out a low sigh.
Since Hwang Mun Yak had invited people and Jongnam had agreed, it would be difficult for him to oppose it.
Would he tell those who had come all the way up this treacherous Huashan to just turn back?
‘That’s impossible.’
Words condemning Huashan’s harshness would spread throughout Shaanxi.
Considering their influence, it would be even more so.
‘This is tough.’
It was far too difficult to turn them away.
In the end, Hyun Jong could only let out a sigh inwardly and smile.
“Very well. Since you’ve come, please enjoy yourselves.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Sect Leader. Then.”
Hwang Mun Yak smiled brightly and turned away.
Mu Yeong Gae also grinned as he headed toward the audience area that was being prepared.
As Hwang Mun Yak walked ahead, he glanced up at Cheong Myung.
‘Is that alright?’
Cheong Myung nodded quietly.
Exchanging glances, Hwang Mun Yak wore an unreadable expression.
‘The young sect leader always surprises me.
What is he planning this time?’
The one who had instructed Hwang Mun Yak to gather the prominent figures from Shaanxi was none other than Cheong Myung.
He had secretly visited the leader of the So Clan in Huayun and conveyed his message to Hwang Mun Yak.
- For now, just bring anyone who seems somewhat notable.
He had followed the instructions, but he didn’t know what would happen next, either.
Hwang Mun Yak’s gaze met Cheong Myung’s, and Cheong Myung smirked.
‘The stage must be set for the best performance!’
What meaning was there in Huashan and Jongnam fighting each other in a place with no audience? Even if they achieved a result, if Jongnam kept quiet and Huashan boasted, no one would believe it.
Therefore, everyone must witness the outcome of this Huazhong Conference with their own eyes.
“Then, the preparations are complete.”
“Hmm?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Would they understand even if he told them? How could a sparrow convey the intentions of a stork…?
Wait, isn’t that a sparrow and a stork?
Anyway!
“Sect Leader! I’m using my brain like this, you know!”
Please take back what you said about me being foolish in the past!
- You’ve always been clever with your schemes.
“Seriously! Is it too much to ask for a compliment?”
Jo Geol frowned and looked at Cheong Myung.
“Why have you been talking to yourself since earlier? Are you nervous?”
“……”
As Cheong Myung let out a sigh, the preparations were roughly finished.
The arrangement of chairs and tables was complete, and the audience was seated a little distance from the training ground.
The servants who had brought the items lined up behind them.
“It seems to be starting.”
A tense voice was heard from somewhere.
A moment later, Unam quietly walked to the center of the training ground.
Standing in the middle, he looked around once before clasping his hands together and bowing to the audience.
Then, he took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and spoke in a solemn and booming voice.
“Then, let us begin this year’s Huazhong Conference!”
The atmosphere instantly heated up.