After spending a day at Wudang, Seol-Hwi left early in the morning.
He originally intended to leave quietly with Training Hall Leader Jin Mu, but the crowd of Wudang was already gathered at the mountain gate.
“I will never forget this grace.”
“Please visit us again.”
Seol-Hwi briefly nodded and showed his courtesy.
And at the mountain gate, Training Hall Leader Jin Mu, who had finished preparing for departure, was waiting.
Seol-Hwi did not ask whether he had explained well to the Wudang Sect why he needed to accompany him.
He assud that he had persuaded them well enough and descended Wudang Mountain with him.
Seol-Hwi and Training Hall Leader Jin Mu had a light al at a nearby inn in the evening. Then, they moved straight away.
To get from Hubei to the Qingcheng Sect, they had to travel a considerable distance.
Moreover, the journey was inevitably arduous due to the many high mountains along the way.
Nevertheless, traveling by climbing the mountain was faster, and for that, spending the night outdoors was essential.
Seol-Hwi and the Training Hall Leader had already far surpassed the limits of human capabilities, so they showed no signs of fatigue even after traveling for several days.
However, since they needed to have various conversations during their journey, they took short breaks from ti to ti.
“There have indeed been many events.”
On the journey to Qingcheng, Seol-Hwi had many discussions with the Training Hall Leader.
About the Creator, and also about the new world.
Seol-Hwi answered his questions sincerely.
During the conversation, he was quite taken aback to learn about two entities preparing to fight the gods—Mount Hua and the Demonic Cult.
It seed truly shocking to him that representatives of these two groups were preparing to battle the gods.
When asked if he had any negative thoughts, he said it was not the case.
The world was rapidly changing, yet he felt as if he alone was being left behind.
They continued moving for a while, and as they walked, Seol-Hwi asked again.
“How does it feel?”
“…Feel?”
“I an your current state, having reached the Profound State. How does it compare to the Supre State?”
In the past, he too had reached the Profound State.
However, the situation then was sowhat different from the present case of the Training Hall Leader.
Having already reached the state of Profound Demon, Seol-Hwi hardly felt any special sensation from the Profound State now.
Without ti to enjoy it, he had imdiately yearned for a higher state.
Thus, he was curious about the emotions felt by a righteous warrior, unlike a seeker like a monk.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an extraordinary feeling… but I did feel as if the world beca a bit brighter.”
“Indeed.”
Seol-Hwi had so guesses about his realm.
Unlike the demonic realms of the Cult, which proceed from Initial, Qi God, Peak God, to Demon God, the absolute realms of the Justice Sects are very linear.
That makes it more difficult.
Because it’s not about gradually growing by eting certain conditions, but rather focusing on enlightennt.
So, it’s natural to feel that the wall from the Supre to the Profound State is almost insurmountable.
“But, are you going straight to Qingcheng?”
The Training Hall Leader knew that they were heading straight to Qingcheng Sect.
Anyway, to reach there, they had to pass through Qinghai, so it wasn’t much of a burden.
“Yes. It seems they are in quite a predicant.”
According to the ssage from the Beggars’ Union, Cheong Heo was in a very troubling situation.
There were no detailed descriptions, but Seol-Hwi could roughly guess because he had spent a long ti in Qingcheng in the past.
There were a few people making a na for themselves in the current first-generation disciples.
Of course, considering the entire Murim, they were about the top hundred skilled warriors.
Nevertheless, Qingcheng was a sect considered to be at the bottom of the Nine Great Sects, so in a way, they were figures who could lead the revival of this generation.
Cheong Heo was probably pushed to the backroom due to the sorrow of having no disciples now.
“What kind of connection did you have with Taoist Cheong Heo in the past?”
The Training Hall Leader’s curiosity was understandable. What kind of relationship existed between the best under heaven and Qingcheng?
Being almost at the bottom of the Nine Great Sects, there wasn’t much information.
“There is a very old connection. Of course, he wouldn’t know now.”
“Wouldn’t know you?”
“Yes. It’s a bit of a complicated story. Anyway, I was greatly influenced by that person’s martial arts.”
At those words, the Training Hall Leader seed to rember sothing and asked.
“By any chance, the martial arts you showed during our match…”
“You realized it. Yes, it’s Qingcheng’s martial arts.”
He looked quite surprised.
Having experienced the unparalleled power, it was hard for him to believe that the enormous typhoon surge originated from Qingcheng’s martial arts.
At first, it was said that the foundational martial art was from Qingcheng.
“Of course, there’s probably no one in Qingcheng who can use martial arts like I do.”
“That’s only natural. Nevertheless… it’s truly astonishing. The strength of Qingcheng.”
The Training Hall Leader shivered, recalling the mories of that ti.
The power that shot through to the Supre Clear Wind and Thunder Sword was an absolute force that instilled a sense of despair.
So he asked.
“I have a question.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Was the typhoon, which contained that thunder qi, using all your power?”
“Hmm…”
Seol-Hwi pondered for a mont.
Then he shook his head.
“If I had used full strength… the result would have been a bit different.”
“Ah…”
The Training Hall Leader was thoroughly convinced.
He was the one who had plunged into the vortex at the ti.
But thinking back now, it was a reckless decision.
If Seol-Hwi hadn’t slowed the wind at the end, he wouldn’t have even reached the center of the vortex and would have been swept away.
In the end, what allowed him to enter the eye of the storm… was Seol-Hwi.
“Thank you again for your consideration.”
“I didn’t say it to receive thanks.”
Seol-Hwi waved his hand and then pointed to a place.
“I see an inn over there… Let’s take a short break.”
The two of them entered the inn.
It had been exactly one day since they set foot in Sichuan.
Certainly, since it was a bustling area of Chengdu, the atmosphere of the guesthouse was distinctly different from before.
There were those exchanging words amiably and others already seated together, making conversation. Additionally, there were quite a few martial artists with swords visible.
Not only that, but there were also people dressed in Taoist robes in one corner.
“They must be from Qingcheng.”
As soon as they sat down, the Training Hall Leader spoke.
Among the groups were people from Qingcheng, and their Taoist robes made them stand out.
“Magnificent mountain scenery and thirty-six peaks. It’s a sight unique to Qingcheng alone.”
Seol-Hwi recalled the ti he lived in Qingcheng in the past.
Even among countless recurring lives, it was a truly pleasant mory.
‘Seok Jeong and Seok Kang.’
Seol-Hwi instantly recognized the face of the first-class disciples of Qingcheng.
It seed like they were in the middle of a training journey called Travelling a Thousand Miles, traveling diligently to various places to broaden his knowledge.
‘It must be that ti now.’
During a past life when he lived as a disciple of Qingcheng Sect, there were a few notable events that were quite bustling.
One of them was the tournant held with the Kongtong Sect and Kunlun Sect to select the top martial talents of Sichuan.
The catalyst was Qingcheng’s proposal to the two sects, whose pride was wounded by the ergence of a top hundred expert among Qingcheng’s first-class disciples.
Of course, if you look closely at the process before the proposal, it was after the disciples of Kongtong Sect and Kunlun Sect got into a scuffle at an inn and were sequentially defeated by Seok Jeong and Seok Kang.
Thus, just before it escalated into a matter of sect pride, a Qingcheng elder made the suggestion.
At that ti, he was in the midst of building his reputation using the na Seok-Hwi, when suddenly his master called him urgently to participate in that martial arts tournant.
In fact, one of the reasons Seol-Hwi adjusted the timing while preparing for the fight with Training Hall Leader Jin Mu was precisely because of this.
It was to move in accordance with the day of this martial arts contest.
“Isn’t that the attire of Kongtong and Kunlun?”
The Training Hall Leader asked upon discovering a group on one side.
“That’s correct.”
“I’ve heard that Kongtong and Kunlun are rare, even if Qingcheng is not. But for all of them to gather at an inn in Sichuan seems rather strange.”
“They probably gathered due to a pride contest with Qingcheng. And roughly within two months, a large martial arts tournant will be held nearby.”
“A martial arts tournant?”
“It’s a competition to determine the best successor. As the na of Qingcheng’s successor is rising these days, other sects have made this competition out of envy.”
“Indeed, even if I don’t know about other sects, I’ve heard occasional stories about Qingcheng’s successor.”
The perception of Qingcheng had already changed significantly, perhaps due to Seol-Hwi’s influence.
Furthermore, it was a gaze that believed without a doubt that Qingcheng would win the martial arts tournant.
“Then what should we do now?”
“We plan to participate in that martial arts tournant.”
“What? You, sir?”
“Not . There is a Taoist I know in Qingcheng.”
“……?”
“A child who attends to my master’s needs.”
“Is he skilled?”
“He knows a bit about handling the wind, and he’s reputed to have a clean sword technique.”
“If he is a late-stage expert participating in such a tournant, not only would there be manifested internal energy, but there would also be masters at the pinnacle. Can that child really beco a sparring partner against them?”
“If he understands the sword of Qingcheng, identifies the opponent’s weaknesses, and reflects on himself… wouldn’t he be able to overco such difficulties?”
“Ah, if he understands the sword to that extent… there’s a chance of victory, isn’t there?”
Training Hall Leader Jin Mu nodded as if he understood.
Seeing this, Seol-Hwi smiled.
If people who practiced martial arts heard this, they would dismiss it as nonsense and laugh heartily.
But soone like Jin Mu imdiately understood what Seol-Hwi ant and agreed.
Jin Mu added one more thing here.
“However, to understand the concept of Softness Overcos Hardness, where gentleness overcos strength, and Strong and Flexible, where strength overcos gentleness, one must have trained diligently…”
“I can take responsibility for that. I have not seen anyone as dedicated as that child in terms of sincerity.”
“Oh. In that case, there is nothing to worry about.”
Seol-Hwi nodded in response to the bright voice of the Training Hall Leader.
Hyuk Jin—The only disciple who never left the side of his forr master, Cheong Heo, even while tending to him.
In truth, he was diligent but lacked a bit in talent.
As a result, Qingcheng often had him serving the elders.
Then, about ten years before his master passed away, he began to partially take over his master’s role.
‘He was just a child who loved Qingcheng.’
In the past, Seol-Hwi once asked Hyuk Jin how he intended to live.
From what he rembered, it was a quiet voice saying he would protect the Taoist monks.
Such a person should exist to make Qingcheng shine brighter, he said.
Seol-Hwi recognized his steadfast nature at that mont.
And he thought that if they t again, he should definitely pay attention to him.
The opportunity ca, and he felt a longing to see that guy’s face after a long ti.
“Shall we head to Qingcheng, then?”
“Let’s do that.”
After finishing their al, Seol-Hwi and Jin Mu left the inn.
He heard so scuffling noises but didn’t bother to pay attention.
For the first ti in a long while, Seok-Hwi was climbing Qingcheng Mountain, filled with a sense of anticipation. Or rather, it was Seol-Hwi.
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