“Nice to et you. I am Myung Hwi from Wudang Sect.”
“Ah, no wonder you seed familiar. You’re the one who ca with the Training Hall Leader, right? Becoming the youngest disciple?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Taoist Cheong Gyeong’s expression brightened upon seeing Seol-Hwi. Wasn’t he a precious guest from the Wudang Sect visiting the Qingcheng Sect?
“But, what brings you here?”
“I was looking for a sunny spot to rest for a mont and happened to co across this place. That’s how I t Taoist Cheong Heo.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Taoist Cheong Gyeong nodded and politely introduced himself.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Cheong Gyeong, the Three Bladed training hall’s leader.”
“Oh, by that, do you an you are one of the famous Great Three Beings from Three Bladed Hall?”
“Ho, do you know of ?”
“Of course. I’ve heard about it for a long ti. ‘The hand techniques of Qingcheng are so unpredictable that one should not attempt close combat.’”
The Great Three Beings refers to those proficient in Qingcheng Sect’s martial arts known as The Great Hand Techniques.
In truth, while their na was quite known in the Sichuan region, they weren’t ntioned frequently in the martial world.
This was purely sothing Seol-Hwi said to flatter him based on past mories.
“Oh, I’m flattered to hear you say that.”
Regardless, Cheong Gyeong couldn’t hide his pleased expression.
At that mont, sothing ca to his mind, prompting him to speak again.
“Co to think of it… The Taiji Sword demonstration held by Training Hall Leader at the Blue Cloud Temple was greatly inspiring to the Blue Cloud taoists. We are truly grateful.”
“Pardon? When you say demonstration…”
“Ah, I see he didn’t tell you directly. In front of the disciples of Qingcheng, he demonstrated not one, but three martial arts techniques related to Taiji.”
“Oh…”
As soon as Seol-Hwi heard those words, a conversation he had with the Training Hall Leader a few days ago flashed through his mind.
- Cheong Heo’s disciple. I am thinking of raising a child nad Hyuk Jin.
At that ti, Seol-Hwi said he would personally teach Hyuk Jin.
It seed that the Training Hall Leader had considered this and held the demonstration.
‘He took asures just in case.’
It made sense because his act of teaching a child nad Hyuk Jin could be perceived as an insult to Qingcheng.
Not just Qingcheng Sect, but any sect could feel the sa.
The act of asking soone to demonstrate martial arts in order to teach could easily be misunderstood as an attempt to steal their techniques.
To prevent such a situation, the Training Hall Leader made a bold decision to showcase Wudang’s techniques instead.
And he demonstrated three martial arts containing the essence of Taiji.
Of course, there was confidence that even if shown, it would not be easily imitated or dared to be copied, but his main purpose was to create a justification so that Seol-Hwi could comfortably teach Hyuk Jin.
“And according to the Training Hall Leader, I’ve heard that Master Myung Hwi has already reached the heights of achievent.”
“You flatter .”
“You are modest. Since it’s co up, could you et separately when you have the ti? You see, my disciple is participating in this martial arts tournant.”
“If I can be of any help, I will certainly visit.”
“Thank you.”
Cheong Gyeong smiled with an exceptionally bright expression.
And then, after bowing once more, he glanced back slightly before leaving the place.
Watching him disappear, Seol-Hwi approached Hyuk Jin, who was standing a step back, and spoke.
“Let have that.”
It was the decoction he had brought with him when he ca here.
To avoid any misunderstandings, he had temporarily entrusted it to Hyuk Jin.
“May I enter for a mont?”
“Ah. Please do.”
Seol-Hwi accepted the decoction, opened the door, and slowly went inside.
“You’ve arrived.”
Cheong Heo, despite not seeing well, imdiately recognized it was Seol-Hwi.
In truth, he wasn’t completely blind, and having t several tis, he could faintly recognize the figure.
Thud.
Seol-Hwi placed the decoction in front of him and spoke.
“Please try this.”
It was the decoction he had said he would prepare.
Cheong Heo, perhaps overwheld by the unfamiliar warmth, let out a shallow groan.
Then he shook his head.
“I am very grateful for the thought, but unfortunately, my condition cannot be healed with dicinal herbs.”
“Still, it’s better than doing nothing. Just try it as if you’re being deceived by the truth.”
As Seol-Hwi repeatedly suggested, he no longer refused.
The effort of obtaining the herbs and preparing the decoction was not light enough to rely accept the sentint.
So he accepted the decoction Seol-Hwi handed over and drank a bowl.
“Slurp.”
As he swallowed it in one go, Seol-Hwi spoke again.
“May I briefly diagnose your ridians?”
“Please do.”
Cheong Heo readily allowed it, even though he knew what Seol-Hwi’s actions implied.
He seed sowhat confident that the man before him wouldn’t harm him.
Thud.
Seol-Hwi first placed his hand on Cheong Heo’s back and then infused qi.
Typically, when transferring internal qi, one uses the Life Gate Point on the back, but that was not the intention now.
It was rely to send a weak current to check his physical condition.
‘Hmm.’
As expected, the circulation of qi through the dantian was not smooth. It moved sluggishly.
It wasn’t that the acupoints were blocked; the qi itself was weak.
‘Indeed, there is no vitality.’
Seol-Hwi sighed inwardly.
Cheong Heo’s condition was far more serious than he had anticipated.
The fundantal life force was nearing its end.
Even as Seol-Hwi, who had reached the Heavenly Beyond state, it had co to a stage where he could do nothing.
‘What on earth happened for his body to be in such a depleted state…?’
His forr master had lived much longer than this. Moreover, there were no long-term illnesses to cause him to be bedridden.
What could have possibly changed his life so drastically?
“Master Myung Hwi.”
While Seol-Hwi was lost in thought, Cheong Heo spoke up.
“Yes.”
“It seems that the heavens did not grant the ability to get along well with others.”
At those words, Seol-Hwi slowly removed his hand from his master’s back. He then listened quietly to what he had to say.
“In truth, when I was young, I was sotis told I had exceptional talent. Hard to believe now, but I even achieved great success in martial arts.”
Of course, Seol-Hwi knew this.
Cheong Heo was one of the top martial artists in Qingcheng.
So when he heard that Cheong Heo’s position was not good in the sect, it made no sense to him.
“At this point, I don’t know what to do. How should I get along with people, and what should I do for Qingcheng?”
“Master…”
“That’s why I suddenly thought, maybe I’m not soone who can do those things. Even if I had good eyesight, I might not have been able to teach my disciples well.”
Cheong Heo’s voice was gradually trembling.
Seol-Hwi sowhat understood his feelings.
Opening up to a stranger might have felt warm, like the warmth from a dicinal decoction.
In reality, it might have been more because there was no one trustworthy among his own sect to open up to.
“From the beginning, I might have had feelings of envy or jealousy in my heart to protect what’s mine. So naturally, I beca soone stingy in giving my heart and teachings.”
Cheong Heo was blaming himself.
Seeing him like this, Seol-Hwi suddenly felt that life was intricately intertwined.
Depending on whom you et and what environnt you are in, many things can change.
“May I ask you sothing?”
Seol-Hwi waited quietly for Cheong Heo’s intense emotions to calm down before speaking.
“Go ahead.”
“What kind of place is Qingcheng?”
“……”
Was it a completely unexpected question?
Even though Cheong Heo seed ready to speak, he couldn’t easily open his mouth.
After taking a mont, he answered with a sense of futility.
“Qingcheng is… Qingcheng.”
He knew it was a foolish answer, but that was the only way he could respond.
In a brief mont, countless thoughts ca to mind, and as he erased them one by one, only that remained in the end.
Of course, he was also aware that to an outsider, it would sound like a truly funny story.
However.
“In my brief thoughts as well, Qingcheng is indeed Qingcheng.”
“…….”
Rather, Cheong Heo was surprised at the words of the Wudang Taoist who accepted it as if it were only natural.
Surprisingly, it seed that the disciple of the Wudang Sect understood the aning of the phrase “Qingcheng is Qingcheng.”
“Qingcheng, known in the martial world, is ever-changing sword techniques, and a fierce wind embracing the green forest. Sotis known as a sect that displays marvelous martial arts, but it was only when I ca here that I truly realized it. To be precise, it was when I saw the Taoist nad Hyuk Jin.”
“Myung Hwi…….”
“Qingcheng is not about such splendor or ever-changing nature, but about steadfastness. Although it may not live up to people’s expectations now…….”
Seol-Hwi continued as he closed his eyes.
“The truly important things are invisible. Believing in oneself as a Taoist of Qingcheng and continuing to strive. That spirit is Qingcheng. In that sense, Taoist Cheong Heo has truly chosen his disciple well.”
“…….”
Cheong Heo bowed his head deeply in silence.
Seol-Hwi saw his shoulders tremble slightly.
Though he hid his expression, he could not hide his heart.
‘Even as ti passes, the spirit has not changed.’
Seol-Hwi too felt a twinge at the tip of his nose. There are things that remain unchanged despite the changing world and environnt.
It is the philosophy of the master.
Even with outstanding disciples within Qingcheng, such as talent and ability.
Just like the saying “The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains”, where a clumsy yet persistent person discovers a clear path, I saw a similar quality in Hyuk Jin.
“Master Myung Hwi…….”
As the solitude gradually dispersed, Cheong Heo asked,
“Please speak.”
“What kind of person was your master?”
“…….”
“Oh, I didn’t ask with any particular intention. It’s just that the more I converse with you… the more curious I beco about your master.”
At the ntion of the word ‘master’, sothing stirred deep within Seol-Hwi.
Even though it was just a learned emotion, the mory from that ti vividly resurfaced.
“The one who showed the way to be here.”
The person who paved the way to penetrate the imnse wall the system had erected, enabling a decisive battle with the Creator.
The person who taught the thod of persistently moving forward even when it’s tough.
“They must be a truly wonderful person.”
“Yes, indeed. And so…….”
“……?”
“It is also why I ca back here.”
Cheong Heo didn’t understand the aning of the last words, but it didn’t matter.
In Seol-Hwi’s mind, Cheong Heo’s bright future was already being envisioned.
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