At those words, the Grand Master glanced at me.

“It is true that this test is a method to admit that child. But you must know that through this method, the talk about Haheun’s admission that had just subsided will resurface again. However, what if Haheun now says she will take the test together? Who could add any words when a child already recognized by the sect is proving something unnecessarily?”

I rolled my eyes. As expected, it was the Sect Leader’s intention.

‘How was it in the original work?’

At that time, ‘Haheun’ wouldn’t have been in a position to step up and take the test.

While the presumed protagonist disciple might somehow manage to climb the winter Huashan, ‘Haheun’ was neither here nor there, so climbing the mountain would have been impossible.

‘Did they forcibly carry it out because they had to admit her anyway?’

If that’s the case, I can somewhat understand why ‘Haheun’ disliked the disciple so much…

Anyway, the Grand Master, looking at the Master who still hadn’t relaxed his expression, added with a light sigh.

“And think about it if that child really passes the test. Both are your disciples, but one did it and one didn’t? Don’t you think that would cause talk in its own way?”

Then the Grand Master turned to me and explained.

“You probably didn’t hear this far. Since Yu Un was the one who brought that child, there was an order to take responsibility and accept her as a disciple if she passes the entrance test.”

“Ah.”

I see. So that’s the context of becoming Master’s disciple.

I already knew the outcome, but this is the first time learning the process. As I nodded, Master explained in a voice that seemed to swallow a sigh.

“…I was going to tell you tomorrow.”

Feeling that Master was unnecessarily heavy-hearted, I deliberately smiled brightly.

“I see. Then I’ll have a junior disciple too.”

I could feel Master inwardly hesitate at my reaction. At the same time, the Grand Master spoke in a slightly lighter voice.

“Do you know the content of the test?”

“Yes, I heard from senior brother.”

“Yes, then you know there’s no way you’ll fail, right?”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

I thought I could do it, but I wasn’t completely certain. If the Grand Master says that much, can I be confident? As my eyes sparkled, the Grand Master smiled lightly.

Then he turned to Master and spoke as if chiding.

“Loosen up your expression, you fool. Can’t an child who received the Jade Plum Token and even learned the Secret Fragrance Technique not do that?”

“…Even so.”

“Even if the sect has already acknowledged and you are teaching her, even if no one voices doubts about this child anymore, there may be people who still have unpleasant feelings in a corner of their hearts. Haheun said that Huashan is ultimately a place where people live, and that’s exactly right.”

He continued in a low voice.

“People’s hearts don’t move with their heads. Look at yourself. You readily accept that the commoner child you brought with no inner strength can climb winter Huashan, but you’re angry that Haheun, who has inner strength and has even learned martial arts, wants to take the test. You’re just more attached to the child you’ve known longer.”

Master said nothing.

“Anyway, if Haheun volunteers to take the test together like this, even those with unpleasant feelings will have nothing to say. It’s as if someone already recognized by the sect and holding a title is doing something they don’t need to do. It will be more effective since it won’t be too easy, though they won’t fail. It means we can settle in a day what would have taken a long time. Either way, if that child you brought takes the test alone, there will be talk linking them to Haheun whether they succeed or fail. Because it was you, no one else, who brought them.”

As I listened blankly to the Grand Master’s continued words, I suddenly thought.

‘I don’t even need to persuade anyone.’

I came thinking about how to persuade, but it was meaningless. The Grand Master is doing it all for me.

There was a moment of silence after the Grand Master finished speaking. Then Master opened his mouth, letting out a small sigh.

“My thinking was short-sighted.”

It was finally an acknowledgment.

At the same time, the Grand Master gave me a slight glance. There had been no prior warning, and we hadn’t talked separately, but I immediately understood what that glance meant.

I moved a little closer to Master. And as soon as Master turned to look at me, I immediately asked for permission.

“Master. So… I would like to take the test together. I hope you will allow it.”

Master, who had been looking down at me with somewhat complicated eyes, knelt down on one knee to meet my eye level. After examining my face for a moment, he finally nodded.

“You’ve grown a lot in less than a year, but I may have still been seeing you as weak.”

His face showed newfound emotion. But I could understand Master’s feelings too.

‘Having rescued and brought someone who was left alone after their family was massacred, only to have them wake up from fainting and immediately ask “Who are you?” It must have been quite a sight for someone seeing it for the first time.’

It’s understandable.

Moreover, since that day, he had to pull me out when I was crying in corners, and he diligently taught and cared for me.

“Looking back, I’ve taught you quite a bit, but…”

As if not wanting to hear Master’s increasingly nostalgic muttering, the Grand Master abruptly interjected.

“Yes, and I fed you tea a few times. Your inner strength balance should be well-adjusted.”

“Pardon?”

“Hasu tea. I found some that seemed about 60 years old before. It would be better if it reached 100 years, but I couldn’t wait 40 years, could I? Someone else would take it in the meantime. So I just harvested it, processed it well, and dried it.”

Master fell silent. So did I.

‘…Suddenly here?’

The Grand Master spoke so casually that it sounded like nothing special, but in fact, even that level is absolutely not easy to find.

No, even 60 years is already one cycle.

As we lost our words and turned to look at him, the Grand Master added, raising an eyebrow.

“Why? If you’ve eaten cold-natured spirit pills, shouldn’t you balance it with warm spiritual energy? It’s not like eating it whole, and when brewed as tea, you don’t consume much at once, so it’s not dangerous and it’s good.”

Then he asked me.

“The tea didn’t taste bad, did it? I told you drinking that would make you grow taller.”

I was just reminded of the tea that the Grand Master had personally brewed for me in his hall a few months ago. I also remembered drinking the same tea a few more times after that day.

‘…Could it be because of that?’

Every morning during meditation, it did seem like my inner strength was increasing a little bit. I thought the rate of increase seemed a bit fast.

But even if I felt I had improved, it was awkward to mention it, so I just tilted my head and felt somewhat proud on my own.

I thought it was because I trained diligently every day without fail, but was it actually a potion effect?

I felt dizzy for a moment, but soon changed my mind.

‘…I guess it’s a potion that can be obtained by having the Grand Master of the Medical Hall as a teacher.’

I don’t know why he’s telling me this only now, but I should be grateful…

The Grand Master’s statement dispersed the strangely heavy and serious atmosphere. In a way, it was an excellent shock therapy.

Master, who had been silent, greeted the Grand Master first instead of me.

“You really took good care of things while I was away. Thank you.”

“You left after making such a request, and now you’re thanking me? As I said, if they’re your disciple, they’re my grand-disciple.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me either. Right now, your job is to eat well and grow up with what you’re given. That’s why I didn’t say anything on purpose, but your master was getting serious by himself, so I said something to make him come to his senses.”

The Grand Master, who waved his hand, glanced up at the sky to check the position of the moon. He seemed to be gauging how deep the night had become. Then he gestured for me to come closer.

“Anyway, if you hadn’t come to tell me first, I was planning to bring it up tomorrow, but you came at a good time. I’ll convey it separately to the Sect Leader. The test has been set for two days from now.”

It was straight to the point as soon as I approached. I, who had widened my eyes for a moment, straightened my body and answered.

“I understand.”

“You’ve never completely descended Lotus Peak since your admission, right? At the foot of the mountain, there’s a large hall called the Blue Plum Hall. Usually, it’s where the disciples guarding the bottom of the mountain stay, and during entrance tests, it’s where the candidates stay for a month. You said you heard about the test content from your senior brother?”

“Yes, he said it was climbing the mountain.”

“That’s right. Go down tomorrow afternoon, spend the night, and start climbing the mountain around the early hours of the day after tomorrow. The guys at Blue Plum Hall will pack some water bottles and dried food for you. If you arrive at the sect gate by dusk, you pass.”

It was an explanation that seemed prepared in advance, as if he would have brought it up tomorrow if I hadn’t come first. I saw Master, who had straightened up, narrow his eyes and look at the Grand Master’s back.

For the sake of peace between the Grand Master and Master, I pretended not to see that and calculated the time.

From early morning to dusk is about 12 hours.

Huashan, one of the Five Great Mountains. Of course, there’s no cable car, and you’d be lucky to have ropes, plus cliff-ridden mountain paths that will be frozen here and there.

At least it’s a rocky mountain and winter, so there won’t be fierce beasts, but it’s certainly not a suitable place to throw teenagers and tell them to climb up by evening.

“The kid going with you will probably have a hard time, and you won’t find it completely easy either. But you should be able to make it within the time limit.”

Still, if the Grand Master is that confident, it must really be possible. Even thinking about the case based on Wol Young, not me.

“If you have room, keep an eye on that kid who could become your junior disciple.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t help too much. You understand?”

“I understand.”

Then Master, who sighed again, came over. He stroked my head a couple of times and opened his mouth.

“Haheun.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I allow you to take the test together with that child.”

Permission was granted. Come to think of it, the atmosphere had flowed as if permission was given, but I’m hearing the explicit confirmation now. I quickly greeted him.

“Thank you, Master.”

“How could this be something to thank me for? Rather… I’m just glad to see that you’ve grown a lot.”

Master smiled faintly as he finished speaking.

‘Hmm.’

If Master is happy because of me, then as a disciple, I’ve properly shown filial piety, so I guess I can feel proud about that part.

So I just smiled back at Master instead of giving any other answer.