"Where is the child?"
"I have sent him to his quarters to change. Once he's done, we can proceed directly with the initiation ceremony."
"I see."
Unam's gaze shifted downward, and upon seeing his expression, Hyunjong let out a soft chuckle.
"You don't seem too pleased."
"It's not that I find it displeasing, it's just..."
Unam hesitated for a moment before sighing and continuing.
"I may not fully understand your deeper intentions, Sect Leader, but I cannot comprehend why you have decided to accept that child. Right now, Mount Hua is at a point where we need to reduce even a single mouth to feed."
"Yes, that is true."
"He did not bring wealth like the other children, nor does he show any exceptional talent for martial arts."
"Hmm."
"Most of all, I sense no virtuous energy from him. He does not seem to be suited for the Taoist path. So why, then, do you insist on placing him under Mount Hua's name?"
At Unam's pointed remarks, Hyunjong merely smiled gently.
"Is that what you think?"
"...Sect Leader."
Unam sighed deeply. At times, Hyunjong was inscrutable like this.
'I cannot understand him.'
For over ten years, Unam had faithfully served by Hyunjong's side, yet he still found it impossible to predict the man's true thoughts. Hyunjong was simply too deep.
"Unam."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Fate often arrives in unexpected ways."
Hyunjong smiled serenely.
"Perhaps that child might one day become the light of Mount Hua."
"...He is too young to be Mount Hua's light."
"Perhaps so."
Hyunjong's expression darkened slightly.
Mount Hua was hanging by a thread. They had managed to hold on, but if they collapsed tomorrow, it wouldn't be surprising.
That was also why Unam felt uneasy about accepting Chung Myung.
If the sect truly fell apart, what would become of him? To be taken in, only to be cast out into the streets—it would be a cruel fate.
"I understand how dire our situation is."
Hyunjong's voice was heavy.
"But, Unam, even in the harshest winter, the plum blossom blooms. The plum blossom that endures the bitter cold carries a fragrance more profound than any other."
"..."
"If we stop sowing seeds just because winter has come, we eliminate even the possibility of seeing plum blossoms in the snow."
"...I understand."
"Good. You may go now."
Unam quietly closed the door behind him and stepped outside, exhaling a long sigh as he gazed up at the sky.
Whenever he spoke with Hyunjong, he would often feel as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.
But today was different.
Instead of feeling reassured, he was left with a heavy, suffocating sensation. The wisdom in Hyunjong's words was undeniable, yet his heart remained restless—because of the reality Mount Hua faced.
Mount Hua could no longer save itself.
Hyunjong had spent his life trying, yet things only worsened. At this rate, they wouldn't last another year.
A sect that had once stood with pride and history could now face complete annihilation.
'Where is Mount Hua headed?'
Unam closed his eyes in silent despair.
Chung Myung stared blankly down at the clothes he was now wearing.
The pure white martial uniform stood out against his skin. On the right side of his chest, five plum blossoms were embroidered, their presence evoking a strange feeling within him.
It was almost as if his entire body was tingling...
No.
It actually was itchy.
"Hell, this really is itchy!"
The fabric was of such poor quality that it constantly scratched at his skin. If he hadn't spent the past month living as a beggar in ragged clothes, he probably wouldn't have been able to bear it. In that sense, his time as a beggar had been unexpectedly useful.
"Tsk."
Chung Myung clicked his tongue.
"Pathetic."
Mount Hua had never been as wealthy as Wudang or Shaolin, but as one of the Nine Great Sects, it had once accumulated significant wealth.
Of course, thanks to the head disciple's philosophy that "a Taoist's greed for wealth is the greatest joke," they had never indulged in luxury. But at the very least, the sect had been able to provide its disciples with decent food and clothing.
And now?
What the hell was this sorry excuse for a uniform?
"Just where did all that money go?"
There should have been mountains of gold in the sect's treasury!
Even if the treasury had been emptied, Mount Hua had numerous businesses, including inns and taverns in Huayin. What had happened to all that income?
Sure, their martial skills had deteriorated, but how did they even manage to squander their wealth?
Chung Myung let out a deep sigh.
"There's not a single thing that's going right."
Ugh, thinking about this was just making his head hurt.
Hope only leads to disappointment.
"Well, at least I made it in."
He had entered the sect.
Of course, it was nothing short of a tragedy that the great Plum Blossom Sword Saint had to join as the lowest disciple...
But he was in.
It wasn't the way he wanted, but he had achieved his goal.
There were still countless problems to solve, but every long journey begins with a single step.
No matter how difficult things got, as long as he tackled them one by one, there was nothing he couldn't handle. In the end, most problems could be solved by sheer willpower and relentless effort.
But first—
"Wait, where the hell am I?"
There was a fundamental issue.
The place he had been brought to used to be Mount Hua's guest quarters. But at some point, it had changed into a dormitory.
Chung Myung frowned.
'Mount Hua never had a dormitory system.'
In the past, new disciples would immediately form master-disciple bonds and live with their teachers.
Then what was this place?
'Am I the only one here?'
Chung Myung quietly stepped outside.
The hallway stretched before him, lined with numerous rooms. It was just like how the guest quarters used to be.
Curious, he opened the door to the adjacent room. Inside, clothes and various personal belongings were scattered about.
'So, someone's living here.'
Just then—
"Who the hell are you?"
Chung Myung turned.
'Shit.'
He hadn't noticed someone approaching!
'Ah. Right. I don't have my martial arts anymore.'
He had spent all his time since arriving at Mount Hua practicing the damned Six Harmonies Technique. His body was getting stronger, and his foundation was stabilizing—but at the moment, his usable internal energy was practically nonexistent.
Without it, his senses were duller than ever.
"You little bastard! What are you doing snooping around my room? Are you a thief?"
What a foul mouth.
The boy looked about Chung Myung's age. As he yelled, a few other kids came rushing up the stairs.
"What's going on?"
"Jo Gul! What's wrong?"
The boy—Jo Gul—pointed at Chung Myung.
"This bastard was peeking into my room!"
"Who is he?"
"Must be the new guy."
Chung Myung's gaze lifted toward the ceiling.
'Why did I even come back to life...'
Just as he was debating how best to deal with these brats—
"What is this commotion?!"
"Ah!"
"U-uncle Ungeom!"
At the sharp voice from below, the children instantly parted to either side.
A stern-looking man stepped onto the landing, his gaze cold and precise—like a blade.
Chung Myung sighed.
This was going to be a pain.