Goo Jong-myung’s expression changed every mont, with each single breath.
Confusion and absurdity. Bewildernt and despondency. Then back to a blank stare and indescribable anger.
Despite these various expressions, his hand reached for the book of Purple Cloud Divine Arts that Seol-Hwi presented.
“Ah. Wait a mont.”
At that mont, Seol-Hwi retrieved the Purple Cloud Divine Arts book again.
The hand that was reaching out trembled slightly, and Goo Jong-myung’s puzzled gaze turned to the man in front of him.
“On second thought, I can’t just show this to anyone recklessly like this. As you know well, being from the Mount Hua Sect, the Purple Cloud Divine Arts is a very special technique and even legendary among the people….”
“…….”
“Put yourself in my shoes. Could you easily reveal the very special and extraordinary Purple Cloud Divine Arts?”
Goo Jong-myung was at a loss for words at that statent.
It was certainly not incorrect, but hearing such a thing from soone who wasn’t from the Mount Hua Sect was baffling.
“Is it really the Purple Cloud Divine Arts?”
Even in this absurd situation, he wanted to confirm once more.
In fact, the opponent’s attitude didn’t matter to him right now.
The essence of the highest martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect.
Even after hundreds of years, restoring the lost parts of the Purple Cloud Divine Arts was impossible.
He couldn’t help but check if the strange person in front of him knew even that.
“I shall confirm it for you. The originally known Mount Hua Sect Purple Cloud Divine Arts consists of 48 techniques. Including the 14 lost sword techniques, it totals 62. Moreover, this Purple Cloud Divine Arts contains all processes with the crimson sword techniques… it’s the authentic one.”
“Authentic…”
As soon as he heard those words, Goo Jong-myung was filled with a peculiar joy.
He no longer asked questions and looked up at the sky.
Although he sumd it up with the eccentric word “authentic,” he understood.
Each technique in the text had been improved, unlike the past Purple Cloud Divine Arts.
The opponent had already seen through it.
Describing it as a crimson sword path stemd from that.
Also, comparing it to the word “authentic” was likely a taphor for properly executed techniques.
“Hey. There’s no need to shed tears, is there? Look. Stop crying! It’s not even sothing I promised to give, so why keep… .”
Seol-Hwi was flustered, but Goo Jong-myung did not stop crying.
The dark side of the Purple Cloud Divine Arts.
Facing the darkness of the Mount Hua Sect that he wished to conceal, Goo Jong-myung could no longer hide it.
Because there was no one to guide him on the right path. Yet, he couldn’t let go due to his pride.
In the end, the self-deprecating Mount Hua Sect even colluded with the Demonic Cult. Wasn’t that the current situation?
“What do you need?”
“…?”
“What is it that you, esteed guest, desire from , no, from our Mount Hua Sect?”
When the opponent asked directly, this ti Seol-Hwi was surprised.
There were many stories of countless murim warriors appearing and killing each other over rumors of an absolute martial arts technique book appearing in the murim world.
But soone as steadfast as Goo Jong-myung.
Among the people he had t, wasn’t there no one as upright as him, to the point that none could compare in terms of pride?
Seeing such a person speak as if letting everything go.
It reminded him once again of how precious the martial arts known as Purple Cloud Divine Arts, and the ultimate techniques passed down from the sect, truly were.
“If you take this martial arts book and train, you will soon be able to reach a higher level than you are now.”
“……!”
“However, when the ti cos, you must guarantee two things. Can you promise that?”
Seol-Hwi’s words made his eyes widen.
Presumably, he was more shocked by the ntion of reaching a higher level with the Purple Cloud Divine Arts than by the two conditions.
“Tell .”
At his seemingly consenting response, Seol-Hwi nodded.
“Faith and trust.”
“……?”
“This book may not perfectly represent the Purple Cloud Divine Arts. Nevertheless, you must follow it without doubt and believe in it. Then you will surely gain so insight.”
Absolute faith is, in fact, a difficult demand to make.
But Seol-Hwi had to insist on this point. When the Clear Wind Split and Union was demonstrated in the past, it was much more primitive and simple than before.
In other words, he knew that without dispelling doubt, one could not advance to a better stage.
“What about trust?”
In response to Goo Jong-myung’s repeated question, Seol-Hwi answered promptly.
“When you open your eyes to the world, if you’re nearby, you’ll see a new world. Our common enemy that we must fight.”
“A common enemy?”
“Yes. Saying that enemy is strong would be an understatent. It’s an existence that cannot be left alone and must be fought. You must trust my words even when the ti cos.”
“……”
Goo Jong-myung was confused. The notion of a common enemy was difficult to understand at the mont.
“Of course, you won’t be alone. There are other warriors, and End Demon will join as well.”
“End Demon? What is that……”
“I offered End Demon the sa conditions as you. He accepted. Becoming the Cult Leader was just a secondary outco that occurred in the process.”
At those words, Goo Jong-myung’s mind raced. Suddenly, he had beco the Cult Leader.
Now he realized that the being before him had intervened.
“What kind of person is he that we must fight?”
“Rather than a person, you should describe him as a being. He is one who manipulates the world. A god, but not a benevolent one. He leads the world to ruin.”
Goo Jong-myung closed his eyes.
He felt in his bones that the mont he receives this martial arts technique, his life’s direction will change completely.
“Choose. Accept this—”
“I will accept it.”
Seol-Hwi was taken aback by the opponent’s too-natural response.
“I just told you. The opponent is a god-like being. Even knowing that…”
“Not a god.”
The eyes of Goo Jong-myung, who had opened his closed eyes, shone brightly.
“Even if it’s a god above gods, if I can obtain the Purple Cloud Divine Arts, I can discard this life like straw.”
“…….”
“I will trust and believe you. I don’t mind selling my soul if it ans I can master the Purple Cloud Divine Arts.”
Seol-Hwi finally realized it.
To him, the Justice Sects were often rigid and sotis frustrating places.
But when it ca to the sect, when it ca to a greater cause, their approach was different.
Indeed, it was a deanor not ashad of the na of a prestigious sect.
“One year. Of course, even if it’s not , I’ll co from ti to ti to help.”
“…….”
“Then receive it. The Purple Cloud Divine Arts of Mount Hua.”
At Seol-Hwi’s extended hand, Goo Jong-myung’s hand moved.
The difference from before was a touch that felt more composed than trembling.
Earth Demon had been in Mong Mountain for over a month.
His daily routine was very simple.
In the morning, he has a simple cup of tea and strolls around the area.
Then, in the afternoon, he tidies up his small house or finishes organizing his room.
Afterward, he prepares dinner or engages in simple training before going to sleep.
Once a week passes, he goes to the nearby village to get supplies.
He then endures living monotonously like this for another week.
“Hmm?”
One day.
A special presence visited this place.
An unfamiliar man appeared at the pavilion built around the house.
“Hey there.”
It was Seol-Hwi. After completing the task of the Purple Cloud Divine Arts, he returned to his original form and headed straight here.
As soon as he saw Seol-Hwi, a smile spread across Earth Demon’s face.
“Without any notice… When did you arrive here?”
“Just a while ago. It’s been a while, but you look quite radiant, don’t you?”
“Well, I live in a place with good air. How about a cup of tea?”
“Of course. Since I’m here to be treated, bring out sothing special.”
The two exchanged brief greetings.
Soon, Earth Demon brought out the tea, and as Seol-Hwi drank it, he spoke.
“Seeing that you’ve co all this way… has sothing happened at the main cult?”
“No, quite the opposite. Things went so well that I arrived sooner than expected.”
“Then, the situation with the Demonic Cult is…?”
“Oh dear. Living in the mountains as a naturalist has made you more impatient? I’ll tell you after I finish this.”
“Heh heh. Very well.”
Though it had been a long ti since their last eting, the two got along well.
Both Earth Demon and Seol-Hwi were individuals who had overco unfortunate lives.
Perhaps the curse-like misfortunes of their not-so-smooth lives tied them together in a bond of empathy.
“…And so that’s how it’s going.”
Seol-Hwi, having finished his tea, candidly reported the recent situation to Earth Demon.
The disappearance of Cheon Wol-seong, and End Demon becoming the Cult Leader.
Goo Jong-myung acquiring the Purple Cloud Divine Arts and preparing for the final battle.
It was a process of preparing step by step to confront the Creator.
“I’m grateful. The subordinates’ lives have been preserved, and things are unfolding smoothly.”
“We can’t be relieved yet. We must watch how far End Demon and Goo Jong-myung will rise. Moreover, we need to recruit at least one more person.”
“Is there soone else who can fight the Creator?”
“There is one in Wudang. A person ready to ascend to Profound state.”
Earth Demon nodded with a slightly surprised expression.
“Listening to you, I feel the mont of destiny is approaching.”
Earth Demon was also prepared.
He hadn’t been here for even two months, but the embers in his heart were still burning.
Throwing everything he had to challenge the being called the Creator.
Seol-Hwi would definitely create the space to fight.
However.
“Sorry, but, Earth Demon…”
Seol-Hwi’s response was different from what he expected.
“You won’t be fighting.”
At those words, Earth Demon’s eyes widened.
“What do you an? , not fighting?”
“If you stepped in, there’s no doubt you’d be a great help. But if you fight outside the system realm, it might end up like a double knockout. In the worst case, it could lead to mutual destruction.”
“But… why?”
“You don’t have a life.”
At the completely unexpected statent, Earth Demon looked shocked.
But Seol-Hwi was serious.
“I have thought about it. Even if I change the world here, even if I change the past. What your life would be like.”
“Seol-Hwi…”
“The conclusion is that I’m not confident. There might not even be an opportunity. So I thought. Your happy life… I’ll create it in this life.”
Even if the Creator turned back ti, it was impossible to predict how far the past would go.
And even if they returned to the past, it was difficult to be happy unless Earth Demon broke free from the fate of Heavenly Killing Star.
From the beginning, Earth Demon’s fate could have been different from the Wudang.
“Then are you telling to stand by like a dog watching you fight the one who made like this?”
“There’s another reason why you shouldn’t fight.”
Earth Demon was angry, but Seol-Hwi continued the conversation more calmly.
“When this fight is over, the world will be devastated. It’s obvious what a world without absolute masters will be like.”
“…….”
“Soone needs to balance the world. I hope you can take on that role.”
Seol-Hwi grasped Earth Demon’s shoulder and said.
“Give an answer. Say you’ll live this life happily. Only then can I fight the Creator with peace of mind.”
“…….”
“Will you help , Earth Demon?”
Earth Demon did not answer Seol-Hwi’s words. He was just silently looking up at the sky.
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