Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“No, that’s enough.”
My pride is wounded, but I need to know the subject.
I return the sword to its sheath.
“But you’ve been short with me for some reason.”
“You don’t need to use that arrogant tone, that honorific, with surprise.”
This is what I thought.
If you’re that arrogant while possessing such a powerful weapon, you don’t need to be respected as a human, let alone a dragon.
Ma Jinchen shrugged.
“That’s because I don’t care about such things anyway. By the way, since we’re on speaking terms, let’s start talking.”
Smiling, Ma Zhenqian took out the saber again from his bosom and waved it gently.
‘You’re so thick…….’
She smiles when she hears insults, and she doesn’t correct them.
However, even though I reacted outwardly, I didn’t like the fact that it was taken for granted.
“The cooperation between Zhongnan and Huashan. What do you think of the current joint exercises?”
It’s a strange question.
He gave me a blank stare, as if he didn’t know what I was talking about.
“You don’t know yet? It doesn’t matter, I’ll tell you. As you can see, Zhongnan and Huashan are not on good terms with everyone except the shamans and Shaolin. It’s because they’re afraid of blood, you know.”
“And?”
“The rift is deep, deep, and it lasted for three hundred years until a month ago. Do you think it makes sense to suddenly talk of cooperation?”
He thought about it and answered.
“Perhaps he’s changed his mind. A single-minded warlord doesn’t last long. Perhaps he’s remembered that.”
“No, it’s too sudden for that. A month ago, Zhongnan didn’t have such good feelings for the volcano. The leader was a bit harsh. To put it bluntly, Elder Lingfeng is strange. Even the elder of the Volcano Sect who came here is strange enough. Anyway, he suddenly called for a meeting and offered to cooperate. He sounded so friendly.”
There was something strange about Ma Jintian’s story.
“A feud that’s been going on for three hundred years shouldn’t be so easy to resolve.
“Something has intervened, I don’t know what, but if they’re threatening the Gu Sect, they can’t be taken lightly.”
Zhang Wenyin’s eyes widened in anticipation.
Was it a mistake to feel that it had something to do with this?
“Well, it’s a leap of faith, but it’s a possibility. So for this training, keep quiet and pretend you’re not there. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
With a clang, Ma Jintian folded up his Qigong and turned around to walk away.
An ominous premonition, a headache.
He stood still in the clearing until dawn.
Chapter 9: Training, Martial Arts, and the True Way (1)
Chirp.
The chirping of birds announces the morning.
The clouds turn scarlet as dawn breaks, and the light shines brightly through the darkened alleyways of the night.
“Aaah!”
You’re blinded by the bright light.
I close my eyes for a moment, then open them.
Before I knew it, it was morning, and I could feel the checkpoint guards and people moving around.
I could also feel the servants bustling around to turn off the red light and prepare breakfast.
“Haha, it’s morning…….”
I must have been awake all night due to the shocking sensation.
I hadn’t realized that I was still in a daze from the night before.
I staggered back to the Volcanic Sect’s latter-day quarters, half-eyed.
I was about to climb the stairs and open the door when a voice called out to me.
“Morning!”
Yeon-Hwa greets me with a fresh smile.
I was still groggy, so I nodded slightly and opened the door to enter.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
Yeonhwa opened the door and walked in, looking like something was wrong.
“Oh, I’m just not awake yet. Just a minute…….”
Leaving Yeonhwa behind, I sat down on the top of the bed and turned on the trestle.
I breathed in the morning air, a harmonious blend of yin and yang qi.
The Jahasim method is modeled after the time of sunset, when yin and yang are harmonized.
As a result, my mind immediately became clear and my body relaxed.
She cried for a while and opened her eyes.
Yeon-hwa couldn’t stand the bird, so she taped a piece of paper by the door and disappeared.
I’m going to eat. Come quickly.
She tore off the paper, placed it on the table next to her, and opened the door.
She walked down the stairs and into the dining room.
In the dining hall, the disciples of the Huashan Sect were gathered, drinking tea and creating a solemn atmosphere like a prestigious tea ceremony.
The tea ceremony.
“Is that a tea ceremony……?
I frown.
They seemed to have a misconception about the tea ceremony.
The tea ceremony is about relaxing and enjoying yourself, an attitude that allows you to drink tea in the most flavorful way.
However, they were drinking tea in the same way, as if they were bound by something prestigious and solemn, as if they were stuck in a rut.
Hrumph.
The sound of tea drinking rang out at the exact same time.
He sighed for a moment and went to Yan Hua’s table.
Unlike the others, she was drinking her tea in a relaxed manner.
However, she had a sense of dignity while drinking it, and unlike the others, she seemed to be practicing the true tea ceremony.
“Huh? You’re here?”
Yeonhwa said after he finished his tea and set it down.
I stared at the teacup containing the tea, and she nodded.
“It’s called Yongxing Tea, and it must be famous around here. It smells good, and the color is fine.”
“Really?”
I held the tea at chest level and admired the color.
It’s a clear green color.
I brought it closer, smelled it for a moment, and took a sip.
It tasted as refreshing and clean as it looked.
“This is good tea.”
“Yes, it’s surprisingly careful. I guess the Gunblade Sect isn’t that big, so they want to take this opportunity to score some points with the Gu Sect.”
Starting as a boping disciple and becoming a swordsman has given me the freedom to think freely and soften my mind.
That’s why he was able to say this.
Hearing this, some of the other disciples next to him frowned, but they continued to drink their tea with a grunt.
“So, what’s for breakfast today? Since it’s morning, greasy food won’t be good…….”
After waiting for a while, the siblings started to come out of the kitchen.
Click!
They put the food down on the table, go to another table, and put the food down again.
When the food landed on my table, I realized what it was.
Two spores, that’s all.
“What is this?”
“Two spores? Are you kidding me?”
The other students voiced their displeasure.
I frowned.
Two spores for breakfast, and they complain as soon as they see them.
No matter how luxurious they’ve been living, they shouldn’t complain in front of him out of respect for his sincerity.
They should have known that much as a matter of courtesy and learned it in the mainland…….
Just then, the elder was coming into the dining hall.
“Elder, look at this. There are two spores in the rice, Po. Two.”
His tone was cocky and disdainful.
This was Zhong Changping, the most frivolous of the landowners.
Elder Wenhu frowned.
“So what do you want me to do?”
After yesterday’s incident, Elder Wen looked angry because he didn’t like Zhong Changping’s words.
However, the impassive Zhong Changping continued to rant.
“How can you serve us this kind of food? We’re not even disciples of the Zhongwen Sect, we’re disciples of the Hua Shan Sect, one of the oldest and proudest sects in the country.”
He ranted.
It was as if he was saying that he was a noble person and therefore could not eat such things.
After a moment of silence, Elder Wenhu said.
“Don’t eat it.”
Elder Wen Hu blurted out and went and sat down.
Zhong Changping stood dumbfounded for a moment, then approached him and said.
“Elder, what’s that……?”
“Noisy, eat while you’re talking. If you don’t like it, don’t eat and leave. Don’t make a fuss for nothing.”
Irritated.
As the elder of the volcano, you’re angry that he’s being so flippant about the subject of land rights.
You nod in sympathy, but Zhong Changping speaks again.
“No, Elder. This is disrespecting our volcano. How can…….”
“Shut up, Changpyeong. Stop making a fuss and sit down.”
Someone said quietly.
A quiet but loud voice.
Jong Changpyeong looked at the person who made the noise with a frown, then went back to his seat and sat down.
When he turned his head to look, he saw a man with a cold expression, a slim but strong figure.
“You ignore the elder, but you listen to that kid. I don’t know who’s higher up.”
Elder Wenhu said with a smirk.
Although he was smiling and laughing, he was not at ease, which was evident from the content of his words.
Zhong Changping blushed and lowered his head.
“Who is it?”
He asked Yan Hua, gesturing quietly to the man behind him.
“Wan Chengfeng. He’s called the Cold-Blooded Ironheart among the swordsmen, and he’s the highest ranking swordsman in the Academy except for Senior Yu Hyuk. He was trained by a Qing Dao elder, so he hates rude people, hypocritical people, and people who commit sins the most. He also imposes his ideas on others, so he’s not a very popular senior, but he’s trusted by the elders, and he’s considered to be very fearsome.”
“Hmmm.”
I’ve heard this before.
Elder Qingdao, as his name implies, has walked the clear path, the straight path.
Moreover, his disciple inherited this character trait from Elder Qingdao and developed it further, to such an extent that it became infamous among many alumni and juniors.
Elder Qingdao is also a teacher of the Land Sword.
I had met him a few times before when I was training.
I blame my stupidity for not recognizing Man Qingfeng (or is that a death sentence? I don’t even know him, so I’m a little embarrassed……).
The meal ended without any conversation except for what I asked Yeon-hwa.
When I went back outside for another cup of tea, the men of the Zhongnan sect had already finished eating and were just warming up.
Each took out a weapon and brandished it, or held out a book and a long bow.
When we came out, they stopped and began to stare at us.
Among them was Ma Jinchen, the man himself.
He holds up a scepter and waves it wildly, smiling broadly.
He nodded slightly and looked at the elders.
After greeting each other lightly, the two elders exchanged a few words, then turned to us.
“Stand four by four, just as you sat at the table last night.”
Everyone in Zhongnan and the volcano frowned.
But at least they’re going through with it, which is better than yesterday.
“From now on, we’re going to Mount Manghua.”
Manghua Mountain.
I don’t know what kind of mountain it is, but the name Mangshan, which is a water name, gave me a feeling of barrenness.
“Where is Manghua Mountain?”
A gentle-looking man who looked like an infant asked me from the Sect’s side.
“I don’t know its official name, but that’s what I called it, and that’s what it will be called from now on. Knowing that, don’t argue with me and follow me.”
As I thought about it, Elder Wen Hu was a hot-tempered man, and he didn’t like to be interrupted or questioned.