“The Six Harmonies Sword technique you’re practicing is something everyone learned when they were third-generation disciples, isn’t it? If you have any difficulties, you can ask any of your senior brothers. Of course, you might not need to since you’ve probably memorized it all already…”

I could easily interpret Senior Brother Liu’s words.

You’re practicing what everyone learned as third-generation disciples, even though you’re only a second-generation disciple?

And just because you received some praise, you’re trying to disregard your senior brothers?

‘Wow, what a great way to treat a child.’

Considering the apparent age difference between us is nearly 10 years…

I couldn’t help but sigh, though I swallowed it internally.

In truth, I could have responded firmly here and refused to follow my senior brother.

However, that would likely make things troublesome in the future. Fighting with a senior brother who was already at Huashan when I was born isn’t something a disciple of the Dao should do. I didn’t want to be the disciple who caused trouble while the master was away.

‘Well, picking on a child who wasn’t even born when you were practicing the Six Harmonies Sword isn’t something a Dao disciple should do either.’

But he had already done so.

‘…That doesn’t mean I need to stoop to the same level.’

I decided I should probably do as my senior brother wanted for now.

Although I’ve resolved to live without caring about others’ opinions, this situation was a bit different. When confronted so directly, it’s more difficult to ignore.

Besides, whatever his intentions might be, he still has to be mindful of the adults, so he won’t be able to do anything too serious openly.

If his intention was to inflict some mental damage, there was no way I would fall for it.

“May I do so, then?”

Thinking I had taken the bait, Senior Brother Liu grinned.

“Of course. Everyone will be pleased. I for one am, and there are many who want to become closer to our young junior sister.”

I wonder if that “becoming closer” is truly just “becoming closer”?

Moreover, thinking back, Senior Brother Liu had been speaking as if there were several people at his destination from the start.

‘Really, a Dao disciple wanting to bully a young junior sister, and with multiple people at that.’

It was quite a spectacle.

“Let’s go then.”

“Yes.”

As I slowly followed behind my senior brother, I suddenly recalled the distribution within this sect.

When news of entrance exams for large sects like Huashan spreads, countless children from across the country flock to apply for admission. But since they can’t accept all of them as disciples, they filter applicants through several tests, accepting only those who pass as third-generation disciples.

‘But even among those third-generation disciples who enter, only a portion are assigned masters and receive Dao names.’

This select group that receives Dao names becomes the true mountain disciples, while the rest become inner disciples who receive teachings from a single master in larger groups.

True mountain disciples, having received Dao names, cannot leave Huashan. In exchange, they can learn the sect’s advanced martial art, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

On the other hand, inner disciples can leave the mountain and establish their own secular sects anywhere below once they become first-generation disciples. However, they can only learn up to the Five Elements Plum Blossom Sword.

The Senior Brother Liu walking ahead of me now was an inner disciple who hadn’t received a Dao name.

‘…And he also dislikes me.’

I quietly clicked my tongue internally. While it was still pathetic that he was plotting something against a child, this senior brother did have his reasons.

The part that angered him was this:

‘He had to pass difficult entrance exams to become a disciple but didn’t receive a Dao name, while I was picked up by the master and immediately given one.’

That was the gist of what I had overheard in passing before.

In other words… it was jealousy.

Just hearing those words might make it seem like receiving a Dao name is very valuable. But looking at it objectively, setting aside personal feelings, that wasn’t necessarily the case.

‘Honestly, how many people would genuinely enjoy being cooped up on this remote mountain for their entire life?’

Of course, among Daoist sects, Huashan is considered quite secular. They allow cooked food, though alcohol is prohibited.

Even true mountain disciples are allowed to marry.

But regarding marriage, it’s important to remember that true mountain disciples are given Dao names to signify that they are lifelong Daoists of Huashan.

This means that if they marry, their spouse must also live at Huashan.

Most ordinary people wouldn’t be happy about this, so it’s essentially just a nominal allowance.

‘Unless they marry fellow disciples, it’s practically impossible.’

As a result, some actually prefer the position of inner disciple.

They receive the same treatment within the sect as the true mountain disciples they trained with. They can simply train diligently and live peacefully, then descend the mountain when the time comes, establish their own secular sect, take on disciples, and once the sect is established, get married and build a stable family.

By the standards of this era, that was an exceptionally stable and excellent life.

‘…But even knowing all that, there might still be people who want to receive a Dao name.’

Like Senior Brother Liu walking ahead of me now.

‘Senior Brother would probably have been even angrier if I wasn’t a genius, but even though I am, he still dislikes it all the same.’

If I had been ordinary like the original ‘Ha-eun’, he would have been angry and jealous of my inadequacies, but since the current me is extraordinary, he can’t openly express his anger, yet still can’t let go of his jealousy.

Thinking about it this way, while I still found Senior Brother pathetic, I also felt a bit sorry for him.

He must be in a really bad place mentally if he feels the need to take it out on a 12-year-old child.

A sense of inferiority caused by unavoidable circumstances.

It might be similar to what the original ‘Ha-eun’ felt towards his disciple-brother.

Just as I reached that thought, we arrived at the place Senior Brother Liu and the others who shared his opinion had prepared. It was a small training ground located in a somewhat secluded area, where five or six more senior brothers had gathered.

‘They’re all inner disciples.’

It made sense.

Even Senior Brother Liu wouldn’t want to complain to the true mountain disciples who had already received Dao names, saying, “I feel bad because I didn’t receive a Dao name.” Regardless of whether they would sympathize with him or not, his pride wouldn’t allow such behavior.

So he must have gradually confided in those he considered to be in the “same situation” as him, and gathered those who shared his opinion to create this current situation.

‘Now what are they planning to do?’

I wondered how they would pick a fight. Perhaps they would suggest a guidance sparring session?

“You’re here, junior sister.”

“Welcome.”

At first, everyone outwardly welcomed me. Senior Brother Liu, standing nearby, smiled as if to prove his point and said,

“Didn’t I tell you everyone would welcome you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I played along, pretending not to know, and joined them. Following that, they immediately created an atmosphere of focusing on training, as if this was what they had intended all along.

I briefly assessed the situation and, in the meantime, took up the starting position of the Six Harmonies Sword as I always did.

‘Well, it was training time anyway.’

And as soon as I did so, I realized what these people intended.

“Junior sister, your posture seems a bit off.”

“Pardon?”

“I think it would be better to raise the tip of your sword a little higher.”

I slowly blinked and checked the position of my sword tip. If you drew a straight line from the tip, it would reach the middle of my neck. This was the position my master had adjusted for me.

“…Ah, I see.”

Having grasped the situation, I responded with a subtle expression. I didn’t change my posture.

What followed was an endless barrage of unsolicited advice…

“Junior sister, how about trying that part differently?”

“It would be better to relax a bit more when swinging there.”

“You should widen your stance more.”

“Junior sister.”

“Junior sister.”

“Junior sister!”

…It was much milder than the guidance sparring I had imagined, but several times more irritating. In a way, it was impressive.

“Junior sister.”

“Yes.”

I continued to respond verbally as I had at first, not following their advice in action and brushing it off, but at some point, I started to feel like I might develop a neurosis just from hearing the words “junior sister.”

‘Should I just stop and leave? Pretend I can’t hear them and run away?’

I was seriously considering it when:

“You’ve been ignoring the senior brothers’ advice since earlier.”

Senior Brother Liu spoke up in a crooked tone. As if on cue, the other senior brothers who had been chattering until just now fell silent.

Too late to run away now.

I let out a small sigh and turned to face them. Senior Brother Liu added with a sneer,

“Ah, is it because you’re Senior Brother Yu Un’s disciple that these senior brothers’ teachings are worthless to you?”

It was a childish yet cunning remark. If I said yes, it would be insulting the senior brothers, and if I said no, I’d have to listen to their ridiculous advice.

‘But did they not consider the possibility that I might turn this around and accuse them of insulting my master?’

I could just run out shouting that the senior brothers are arbitrarily changing what my master taught me, grab the first adult I see, and cry.

Surprisingly, I’m still young enough for crying to be effective. It would be even better if I found a senior uncle or aunt who likes me.

But I decided to hold onto my last bit of patience and not go that far.

“I would have respected you if you had acted like proper senior brothers.”

“…What?”

Whatever happens here won’t be relayed to others anyway.

Those senior brothers deliberately chose this secluded training ground to keep everything that happens here confidential. Conversely, even if I say some unpleasant things to the senior brothers here, no one who isn’t present would find out.

“I understand that you’re unhappy about me receiving a Dao name as soon as I arrived. I won’t deny that it happened because I was lucky enough to be picked up by the master.”

“I don’t know what you’re suddenly talking about, junior sister. We were just…”

“But does bullying me like this make you feel better? Do you find this fun?”

Besides, how could adults go around talking about being spoken to like this by a 12-year-old?

It would be like spitting on their own faces.