The abode at Shenzhou Peak of Mount Qingcheng.
The scenery was diocre, yet from this place, one could glimpse the Qingcheng Palace and observe the people moving below at the entrance.
Seol-Hwi often sat alone there when he felt conflicted.
Yes, it is true that I set a standard for myself. Among them, there might be so that really needed to be removed and filtered out
He could not afford to ignore Qingchengs martial arts.
Sohow, it felt inevitable.
Having reached a high level in his previous life, Seol-Hwi could easily spot the shortcomings of most warriors.
In the na of tradition, the techniques were imbued with inefficient movents, and sotis the elders were too stubborn to change them.
From the beginning to the end, Qingchengs martial arts skills were considered inferior. The special experiences of my life have helped a lot, but now that is what is holding back.
To exaggerate a bit, it felt akin to a religion.
The Buddhist scriptures say that if one ets an arrogant person, kill them, and kill the Buddha too if you et him on the road.
This was because blind faith lead to destruction.
However, such statents could only be made by those who have already climbed halfway up the mountain. And Qingcheng had its roots in Taoism.
To truly understand the sect, it was not enough to just mimic the actions and habits; one had to assimilate it all into their being.
Blind faith certainly lead to distortion, but those who have never experienced such blind faith might understand it intellectually, yet cannot feel the warmth of the law that heats their hearts.
Shhh
In an instant, Seol-Hwis figure vanished from the peak.
Pik
He picked up the sword in an instant and held it with ease.
Swish
A light sting followed by a graceful slash.
Swish
Seol-Hwi executed the original Clear Wind Sword technique, which traditionally comprised 12 forms.
Here, Seol-Hwi had removed four techniques he considered ineffective and had used two forms he created himself, improved with the help of his master. But now, he was following the instructions of the martial arts manual.
He had started learning the movent early in the morning.
Shhh
The mind
Before attempting the original version, Seol-Hwi concentrated once again and decided not to include his own techniques.
The mind that encountered sothing in a state of ignorance knows nothing.
Like children with pure hearts, he decided to accept any given form like a blank sheet of paper.
Shh. Shh.. wheik.
And so the sword dance beganan action that aligned the body with the swords direction and waited for the enemys attack.
Anticipating the opponents sword, he safely stepped back, struck with his own sword, and even stabbed at an opening.
Chik
And from the third form, Seol-Hwi reflected on a past problem.
The warriors of the Qingcheng sect wore loose-fitting uniforms. Therefore, when making swift movents, the hem of the robe could hinder their actions.
The original sword movent involved holding the tip of the robes hem with the hand not wielding the sword, while keeping an eye on the opponents blade. It was a stance ready to cut or stab within the available range.
In the past, Seol-Hwi had discarded the action of lifting the robes hem for the technique, as he thought it emphasized appearance over practicality.
Shhh
But this ti, he deliberately incorporated the movent without prejudice, accepting it wholeheartedly. Then he executed it as seriously as possible.
There was so discomfort when the hem caught, but he continued until he was satisfied.
Wait
Before transitioning to the fourth form, Seol-Hwi tilted his head, sensing sothing amiss.
However, it was difficult to properly judge what it was and whether it would be helpful.
So he tried the process from the third to the fourth.
Shh. Whik.
And again.
Shhh. Wheik!
He repeated that movent many tisno, hundreds of tis.
Seol-Hwi, whose forehead was now wet with sweat, groaned briefly as he rembered the hidden aning behind the movent.
Ah.
The act of holding the dress and lifting the sword this was no formal act.
As soon as Seol-Hwi had seen it before, he had dismissed it as an unnecessary movent. There were reasons for that.
Hands entangled in those stylish, long clothes.
He had thought that in an actual fight, it would cause him to die instead of killing the enemy. Thats right, in a fight between amazing warriors, dozens of sword attacks would co in. If one hand was kept like that, he could not avoid them all
One would fall after at least three stabs in that duration.
It was a ridiculous move that seed unnecessary based on Seol-Hwis common sense and exposed their vital point.
However, he now had to have faith. After continuing the technique to find what its essence was, Seol-Hwi realized sothing again.
And again, through countless repetitions
Seol-Hwi was able to see a different sight than before.
It isnt just wrapping the hand in the robe for the sake of looking good.
The flow of the technique was ant to be proud and intense.
That is, before pushing the opponent, there was a preparation for collecting internal energy. When connected with this, the movent of lifting the robe was a process of preparation, not just for show.
Infusing qi into the robe and then raising the
In that case, one could protect the chest with the robe, even if only for a mont.
Seol-Hwi saw for the first ti that this was an exceptional form of defense. Conversely, he could attract and absorb the enemys attack, defending against any major attack.
Shhhh!
In a short breath, he could stab and cut a wide area to the left and right, beyond the normal range of the sword.
Why huh. Actually, it was part of the practice.
If only a few more words had been included, Seol-Hwi would have preserved the technique without omission. But due to hundreds of years of storage, many details had been lost, and now only a few elents were preserved from the original.
Seol-Hwi extended his thoughts further. Indeed, were all other techniques completely transmitted? He doubted that was the case.
No could there also be a aning to the direction of the form?
He fully expanded his thoughts now.
Seol-Hwi felt like even the most trivial and seemingly useless movents had so aning, and at that mont, a certain warrior ca to mind.
Chung Un-jeok, the man who epitomized Qingcheng.
This was the part where the improved version, previously considered inefficient, ca into play.
Lets revisit this, starting from the foundation.
Part of linking the seventh to the eighth form.
Seol-Hwi assud his stance and caught his breath. Unlike the basics of the Qingcheng Sect, this required a high degree of concentration, a large amount of internal energy, and its full strength could only be unleashed once one reached the Supre state.
Wheik
No, perhaps even more.
Seol-Hwi took a deliberate deep breath and prepared his body for the first form.
Lets do it.
As soon as he spoke, Seol-Hwis sword began to draw an arc.
Shhh!
Simultaneously, the energy began to flow out of Seol-Hwis sword.
The winter in Qingcheng was known to be harsh.
The Taoist monks of Qingcheng only showed their faces when the sun rose, and their decreased numbers due to the cold made it scenic yet deserted.
Ugh.
As the frigid days continued, the health of Chung Heo deteriorated because he could not move.
His joints felt stiffer, and he could no longer walk on his own. It was as if he were waiting for the day everything would co to an end.
The weight of Seok-Hwis na was too much to bear, so although everyone inquired about his well-being, in reality, only one young Taoist monk stood by his side, his final attendant.
Hyuk Mun. It is a bright day today.
A day bathed in warm sunlight.
The second-class disciple, seated on the floor, quickly bowed to him as he spoke,
Yes. It snowed so much yesterday, but it seems there isnt much wind today. After enduring the cold, a warm spring will co to our mountain.
Right this will be the world you will shape in the future. Like the everlasting green of Qingcheng Mountain, you will beco greater than you are now.
Yes Even when I beco greater than I am now, the masters must be stronger than .
Of course they are, and you should strive to be as strong as them.
Chung Heo smiled at this, but Hyuk Mun knew what it truly ant.
Seok-Hwi had been gone for three months now. A close friend he had been taught by for 20 years.
He probably felt more curious because Seok-Hwi was his disciple This was compounded by Chung Heos strict order not to speak or reveal anything about him under any circumstances.
Just what is happening
Hyuk Mun felt frustrated, but he could not ask.
What could compel a man to cast out his own disciple?
It seed like an entanglent too complex to unravel, but since honoring this elders final request was his duty, he decided to respect it.
Rustle
Uh?
After stepping into the kitchen to prepare a al, he paused, thinking he had seen sothing amiss.
The visitors who had co to see the elder had all left. There should have been no one else remaining, yet there stood a figure at the main gate of the residence.
The Great Sword of Qingcheng?
The man had a slightly haggard complexion.
It was Taoist Seok-Hwi.
For so reason, after the master shouted, he gave an order not to let the man in. Even though Hyuk Mun rembered it when the man ca
Cough cough?
Chung Heo, who was coughing because of the cold, naturally saw Seok-Hwi.
His face looked confused, his cloudy eyes filled with emotionsjoy and anger. He seed as if he did not know which emotion would burst out.
Hmm
The reason he turned his head to the side a bit late was because of those feelings.
Thud
While Hyuk Mun felt anxious, Seok-Hwi knelt down and bowed his head.
Master. The disciple has returned.
A mont of silence followed. In this uncomfortable silence, Hyuk Mun carefully left the place.
He did not know what the fight between the master and disciple was about, but he had no right to be there.
How can you just co back?
He felt happy, hoping for the relationship of the two to strengthen now.
Step
As Hyuk Mun left, elder Chung Heo turned his head and asked in a low voice,
Is there anything left between us?
It was a calm tone, but it broke Seol-Hwis heart.
Master
Even when Chung Heo spoke, there was a bit of a tremble in his voice, and Seol-Hwi knew what it ant.
A long ti ago, when a cold winter ca, didnt you make a promise with ?
Promise? What
Fishing while looking at the lake, the mountaintop lake. At night, the chat on the huge rock cliff.
That promise. I am here to protect it.
But Chung Heo did not respond to Seol-Hwi.
Normally, he would have gotten angry and kicked him out, but this ti he was just sitting there.
Master
Seeing that, Seol-Hwis eyes turned red.
He knew how his master felt now.
The man who clearly dismissed him from being his disciple and shouted to never co back again.
And yet, the mont he saw the disciple he had taught from childhood, he felt overwheld.
His intentions to break off the ties were sincere. And yet, when the disciple he cherished so much arrived, he could not say anything.
There were tis when it all seed fake. Other tis, it was too warm and happy to be considered fake.
Right. Lets go.
His master, who was sitting there, finally spoke and looked at Seol-Hwi.
Let us go and talk with the sword. Arent we, Qingcheng?
Yes.
Seol-Hwi bowed and stepped forward. He helped the master walk.
Shhh
With eyes deeper than before, the Great Qingcheng Swordsman carried his master around and slowly took one step at a ti towards the lake. Each step made him look forward.
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