Swish
The airflow subsided, and Seol-Hwi stopped to show himself. He walked in, drenched in sweat.
Step
Chung Heo waited. When Seol-Hwi sat down next to him, he said,
I guess its really ti for to die. Doing such odd things in the last years
His expression was calm. He turned his head and softly spoke to Seol-Hwi,
You must have had a hard ti because your master has been so harsh.
No. I just thank you for helping the disciple realize sothing that was forgotten.
Seol-Hwi bowed his head to his master. There was not even a speck of falseness in his words.
Even if he lived and learned the arts, was he truly a mber of Qingcheng? In the eyes of those who had learned the true spirit of the sect from a young age, he was no different from an alien.
It might have been hard to notice at that age because everyone was obsessed with becoming a strong warrior.
Master. Your disciple has sothing to tell you. Actually, about the past I never spoke about
It is done. Do you really need to say it again?
?
His master ended his words, and Seol-Hwi looked at him with shocked eyes.
Chung Heo spoke calmly as he gazed at the calm and wide lake, which had small ripples around it.
Didnt you already speak with your sword? There is this desperate need to rise above, and many stories of anger and sadness. That target is probably the one who turned you like this, right?
Master?!
Seol-Hwi jumped up from his seat. This was a shock beyond surprise.
Obviously, a swordsman who reached a certain level could read many things from an opponents sword movents. From the emotions, thoughts, and attitude one had to their sword.
But now it seed as if his master had managed to read the emotions of the past. Just what did his master see in his sword dance?
I now understand the things I didnt understand before. Your life has reached a level that one cannot judge. To kill with such deep emotions and even accept the path of it. It is amazing. Sothing which deserves respect.
Master, I
I thought for a mont about why you truly followed the path of the sect. Not long back, I thought you just wanted the martial arts of the sect, but now I know that it isnt the case.
Chung Heo slowly looked at Seol-Hwi and continued to speak.
It must have been difficult for you. The reason why you were building a wall in your heart wasnt because you wanted soone who would talk warmly; you just wanted soone to see you without caring about your complicated past. And yet, since you had to follow this sects path, the mistakes done were nurous.
!
Seol-Hwis eyes trembled at that.
Was this the wisdom an elder had? The truth that his master did not know, which he wanted to hide, was revealed. He was moved by the warm words of the master.
Seol-Hwi. You are my disciple.
Seol-Hwi lowered his head, unable to hide his emotions. It was not the cold north wind that made him feel naked, but the warm sunlight.
The soft and warm words, the passion which he had never been able to express before his master, the loneliness and despair he had felt until now, it all lted his heart.
Qingchengs martial arts might not satisfy you. Not only the master, but the dozens ancestors of this sect might not teach you what you want. But even so, do not ever forget. Qingchengs martial arts isnt just about strength, but also about the attitude towards the world.
The Qingcheng Sect.
A place called the sacred ground of Taoism, where the enlightennt and study of countless Taoists ca together was, of course, martial arts, but at the root of it was this unyielding spirit.
Perhaps it was the old-fashioned part of pursuing formality to an excessive extent without forgetting the basics. It could not be denied that things stemd from there.
Chung Heo pointed it out.
Go and see Wudang.
Master?!
Seol-Hwi could not believe what he was hearing.
Wudang. His master, who valued their own sect, ntioned the na of another sect.
Seol-Hwi imdiately responded,
No, master. Although the disciple has shown a desire to grow, the direction in which I wish to learn is from our
I know. But how can you be so unaware? I didnt an it like that either.
Chung Heo looked at the lake.
Splash
The gentle waves shook on the lakes surface. He closed his eyes and quietly opened his mouth as if gathering his thoughts.
Although Qingcheng is a sacred place of Taoism, there are parts of it that are so caught up in old glory that they cannot see reality. Since the teachings of the past, nurous Taoists have combined the enlightennt and martial arts of the ancestors to create many sects, and among them, many talented individuals were born. Among them, there are those who attain enlightennt from the basics like us, but there are also those who gradually work their way up, like Shaolin or Wudang.
Master
It isnt a question of yes or no. Its different. Unfortunately, there is no martial arts here to give you enlightennt. Thats what I am saying. To reach a higher level, other things are needed.
Seol-Hwis face looked complex.
Well, his master was born in Qingcheng and had lived his entire life there. It was difficult to even guess what kind of state of mind such a proud person had to be in to suggest he try new things in another sect.
Shhh
Chung Heo slowly turned his head to see Seol-Hwi bowing.
Cheung Heo said the last words he could as a master.
Without a sword, there is no person. But it is the sa. What good is a sword without a person? As long as one carries the sword, Qingcheng is with them. Even if you rise to the position of overlooking the world, or even if the mont cos when the sword breaks while you are trying, I will be with you, in tis of sadness and happiness.
Master?
Seol-Hwi was taken aback by the sudden words of his master. His masters face, which had been yellow until now, had turned to a reddish blush.
He is losing it!
Seol-Hwis face went pale.
The wind of the sword he had demonstrated a while back had blown like a refreshing breeze.
Naturally, the internal energy of Qingcheng within his masters body had assimilated with it. There was strong resistance, but it was not always good.
Overwhelming energy that could not be controlled can only end the life of the elderly.
Master, master! Oh no. What did I!
Chung Heo smiled and waved his hand to Seol-Hwi, who was in shock.
Haha. Do not make a ss now. After all, people dont live forever. The martial arts of our sect that you demonstrated have relieved the worries deep in my heart.
That was true. With a body that had long since lost its strength and energy, he was waiting for the day for all this to end.
And he had co to know the deadline a few days back. On the contrary, he had personally witnessed his disciple rise to the highest limit of the sect, and this brought him joy.
Master
Do not give up. I will always be with you. I truly cared for and loved you, my disciple Seok-Hwi.
Not a hint of a lie existed in Chung Heos face, which had changed to a benevolent one.
Only the warmth from when he taught remained.
I too loved you a lot.
Seol-Hwi bowed his head, sobbing.
He revealed his inner thoughts, which he had wanted to say while coming to his master but could not easily express.
For the first ti in his life.
A master who treated him as a human. If the affection of those who shared blood was not deep, then this person who gave him warmth for the first ti was now losing his own warmth.
For Seol-Hwi, who had always lived on his own, this pain was too much.
Shh
His master was smoothing Seol-Hwis hair. And his hand fell slowly.
Huk. Euk
For a long while, Seol-Hwi could not see his masters face. All he could do was rub the old, calloused palm.
The winter in Qingcheng was cold.
Elder Chung Heo, a pillar of the sect, his death had saddened all the Taoists. Chung Heos ashes were being carried by Seok-Hwi.
As wished, he gently dropped them into the lake.
Master
Seol-Hwi also underwent many changes in his thoughts after leaving his master.
The hundreds of lives he had felt nothing for. In the end, what mattered was not the lives lost.
Even if he lived only once, the attitude with which you lived was more important. If one thought about it, the most valuable life among Seol-Hwis past lives was when he gave his all, thinking that was the end and not even caring about what ca next.
As his experience was fading away, he realized it all thanks to his master. It was not about how much or how long you live. Even just once, live life by giving it importance.
Normally, Seol-Hwi planned to visit all the places in the Nine Great Sects. He tried to learn their techniques, the enlightennts to be gained.
But now it all felt fleeting. Just once.
Other than stopping by Wudang, which his master spoke of, he gave up thinking about going anywhere else.
This was because he judged that if he achieved the best in this sect, then he could definitely reach the Profound state by accepting the nature of Wudang.
Jin Gu, one of the current elders in Wudang.
As a child, he was considered a genius who mastered all the martial arts of Wudang, and it was said that before the age of 15, he did not know any martial arts of Wudang.
But when he beca an adult, this serious thing happened.
During the evaluation test, for so reason, this colleague had thrown a dagger and, unable to block it, he ended up falling.
In that incident, he suffered serious injuries which left his arm paralyzed, and it was said that he could not practice martial arts often so he was rarely seen.
Years later, he often appeared in places where local people gathered or did odd jobs like providing rooms for Wudangs guests. And as ti passed, he beca the owner of a proper shrine.
Phew
One day, he was raking leaves on the stairs. Normally, he could not stand that well, but since his arms were strong and he had great balance, this did not feel difficult.
After roughly cleaning, he lay down at the nearby pavilion and closed his eyes for a mont.
When he woke up again due to the cold breeze, he saw an old man of similar age smiling.
Who are you?
He asked.
First, because of the obvious age, he asked openly, but he also felt like the aged robe could not be ignored.
Just passing by. I think the carriage broke down, and I wanted to look for Heavenly Lords Peak.
Heavenly Lord.
The other persons robe caught his eye. This old-style uniform with a picture of a mountain and a noble crane around the shoulder.
He imdiately adjusted his posture.
You are a mber of the Qingcheng Sect?
A mber? No, but yes.
It cannot be. How did you co here?
Jin Gu hurriedly bowed. This was because he rembered what he had recently heard about at a eting at the sect.
And if soone ca here, he must be soone who held an important position in Qingcheng.
The place is too shabby to serve you. If it is not rude, may I formally welco you here at the Five Dragon Shrine?
Haha. Is that really needed?
Ah
Jin Gu realized what it ant. The older man in front of him had co to see him, not the surroundings.
Do not feel burdened. I just wanted to et you. Who will I serve within the Wudang in the next life?
?
And now it has been decided. If you are a good colleague, it doesnt matter if you are a master or not.
Just what are
Jingu looked at him, shocked. Seol-Hwis eyes were filled with joy.
He had found the person who would be the target of his next life.
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