Heavenly Demon Cultivation Simulation - Chapter 303
303: Face To Face (2)
Shrouded in fog all year round, its shape soared high into the sky like an incense burner.
Wudang Mountain—
One of the five mountains in the Central Plains, known as the Five Peaks.
It was known as the sacred place of Taoism and was home to numerous spots like the red cliffs, canyons, deep caves, and the springs around. It was known to have beautiful scenery and had mysterious energy so many ordinary people visited it.
The top of the Golden Peak was constantly visited by the people throughout the year.
However, in recent years, people who visited Wudang Mountain were rare. The uneasy atmosphere was added as the Taoists blocked their entry. To the Wudang Sect, it was one of the most precious things to them.
The Southern Edge and the other sects had collapsed one by one, and there was a dark cloud of fear that the Wudang would be attacked next.
“It is blocked here too.”
Said Seol-Hwi, who found the entrance to the sect, sighed after leaning against a tree the dim moonlight.
It was the third one. The mountain gate leading into the temple was locked and sealed.
Even before entering Wudang Mountain, there were no people in the place on the side of the roads, but as soon as they reached an entrance to the mountain, it felt stern.
This was a part that can show how the Wudang Sect felt about the atmosphere of the Central Plains right now.
“Shall we look for some other place? No…”
Thinking whether to just enter, Seol-Hwi turns around again. If all the gates of Wudang Sect were blocked, there would be no way to respond to the situation at hand.
Perhaps the core, the most important aspect, was blocking it by placing people and not buildings. Then, he should head elsewhere.
Because he had a reason to face the sect directly.
“Do you see people?”
“I don’t. Who will come here tonight?”
It was as Seol-Hwi expected. On the way to Wudang’s place, people wearing their robes were around, standing guard. Seol-Hwi slowly approached them head on. He deliberately made them notice him.
“Uh? What is it?”
The young Taoist who saw the stranger and asked in a surprised tone. Judging from the fact that he hurriedly introduced himself, it was probably a person who was used to the place.
Judging from the fact that he hastily acted, this Taoist was a newcomer, a low rank disciple.
“I came because I had a business…”
“Ah, right. Please wait a moment.”
Tuk
He stood next to the guy, who looked a year or two younger and was very nervous, and sat down as he picked the brush up.
“Tell me your name, origin, sect, and then enter.”
“….?”
At that moment, Seol-Hwi thought he heard it wrong.
They were not stopping those who came in and instead just asked about the details and let them in. Seol-Hwi, who had been absent minded for a moment, gave the identity he had prepared in advance, while looking at him with a shocked look.
“Please head in.”
Seol-Hwi was a little puzzled and walked along the path, they were just going to send them, with nothing to say.
Namyang Palace…
In Buddhism, “Temple” was added to the end of the name of their buildings, but in Taoism, they added in “Palace.”
He heard it beforehand, but the path to the palace was really tough. The road was quite narrow, and windy too, as they went through the deep valley.
It did not seem like a lie to say that tourists would be exhausted climbing this land.
Of course, Seol-Hwi had no issue with it. With just a few steps, he was able to cross the cliff.
“Wait.”
He stopped himself.
It was because three middle aged people jumped out of this little place on the side.
“Whose disciple was it?”
This question—
And the attitude which was so different from the young people he met at the gate.
“I said it was Taoist Hae Myung.”
“Hae Myung?”
“Hmm…”
When he answered, they made odd faces. Was it lack of practice or was it just unexpected? Their faces held this odd discomfort.
“What? Did he say Hae Myung?”
An old Taoist suddenly showed his face there.
So fast, clearly the presence within this place had reached in an instant.
“Right.”
“Ah, you are that damned guy’s disciple?”
“…”
Did he have someone even higher than him? It was a tone which made him reluctant to answer, but Seol-Hwi soon accepted. Because there was no reason to say anything else now.
“Right.”
“Huh… Look at him. He has this dirty temper like his master.”
Hehehe
He had a long beard which went until his waist. Judging from his appearance, he thought he would be peaceful, but the attitude of him looking at Seol-Hwi up and down was… like picking a fight.
When Seol-Hwi tried to speak—
“Follow me.”
“I am… uh?”
“I said come over,”
Came the voice from somewhere. After that, the man walked farther away. Seol-Hwi hurriedly followed him. The old man’s steps passed the cliff and went deeper.
The slope was so steep that it could not be called a path anymore. It was a rough and slippery terrain where if you missed an inch ahead, you would fall straight down.
But Seol-Hwi finally felt a little normal.
A test.
He thought it was strange that they would believe the identity he had given at face value. Now that he saw it, it must be because this old man was confirming it.
Whether or not the person here was really Wudang’s.
I might have to show footwork now.
Seeing that they deliberately chose just rough places to pass through, it seemed that they were inducing him to use footwork. Seol-Hwi lightened his body and took a calm breath.
It was the footwork he had seen in the heavenly library, but it was the first time he had ever used the method of Wudang.
Light Cloud Step—
The mysterious technique of Wudang which one learned when they reach first class. The ability of Wudang which allowed them to stay in the air by distributing their weight around, as if walking on the air.
Huk. Huk.
Seol-Hwi’s body swayed in the air. The steps were so minimal, and it was a step on the air and not the ground.
Even then, he felt this strange feeling while using it with his own body.
Glance
As Seol-Hwi rose, the old man began to show a little reaction.
“Looks like you were taught something.”
No matter what he did, it was just a grumble. The old man who was looking at Seol-Hwi with a confused gaze was again looking ahead.
“Why is the disciple of Hae Myung coming to visit the Wudang Sect so suddenly?”
It was the question, the start of it at least.
“I came here because I heard that a crisis is approaching Wudang, and I couldn’t stay still.”
“Hae Myung? Did your Master make you do that?”
The old man asked. Seol-Hwi deliberately pretended to hesitate and it felt like this was better.
“Hmm… no. This is the will of the disciple alone. Master… he probably isn’t even aware of us doing this.”
“Right… well, the bastard is heartless.”
The old man sighed and sat down on the mountain and looking at the misty peaks, he asked,
“So, you came to lend an arm to us?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever met the sect leader?”
“…!”
Seol-Hwi was shocked. Suddenly it felt so close to his goal that he thought “I got caught already?”.
But come to think of it, this question might be natural too.
Seol-Hwi’s identity was a fictitious person who was a disciple of Wudang who had been taught by Hae Myung but not registered in the main sect in Wudang Mountain.
Whoever the master was , if they learned the Wudang Sect’ martial arts, their roots must be in Wudang. If a disciple who had a relationship with Wudang had never seen the main sect, it would be a shame.
“I wouldn’t dare to ask, but if Elder would arrange it, I will gladly accept it.”
“Ahh. You suddenly made me embarrassed. How did you know I was the sahyung?”
The old man laughed and stood up.
Well I know it because of that tone.
It is because he called Hae Myung by his name openly.
No matter how bad their relationship was, he would have never cursed if Hae Myung was older in their relationship. And this was Wudang, not some other sect.
“Right. Let’s go. I have to finish it all in one breath.”
Huek!
And without saying to follow, the old man took off.
No. This is…
Seol-Hwi clicked his tongue and hurriedly followed him.
Bad temper was bad but this was something else, but he also felt grateful that he did not ask much, as the old man hurriedly arranged a way to move swiftly and meet the sect leader.
And of course, it was up.
No. but. Maybe I shouldn’t trust him too much.
Seol-Hwi was a little shaken.
The peak, the highest one in Wudang—
And the Great Flame Palace was on top of it. It was one of the best Taoist temples in history, and there was a rumor that all the buildings built there were covered with thin gold.
“Is this your first time? To come and see this.”
“Ah, yes…”
Due to the location of the palace, it was usually overlooked when looking at the entirety of Wudang Mountain. And this position with a good view, of course, had the most highest ranking person in the sect.
…Wasn’t it something that needed more qualification?
Thanks to it, he felt a little bit of anxiousness. Seol-Hwi meticulously memorized the place he moved through. He also memorized the names and uses of each place and the map of this land, along with the maze-like alleys.
Looking at the map, it seemed very difficult to get to.
The Great Flame Palace, the place where the head of Wudang lived. However, it is right in front of his eyes.
“…”
“Why are you glancing at it like that? Like some village boy? Ah, waist now.”
“…Ah, yes.”
This old man brought him, whom he met for the first time today, in front of the sect leader of the sect—
Without doubts or any anxiousness.
Does he really believe me? Couldn’t he just be pretending to trust me and pull me into a trap?
Things had gone smoothly from a while back, and that made Seol-Hwi feel uneasy.
Had he ever solved a mission this easily?
Drrrr
Not long after waiting, the door to the palace opened up. And one young Taoist bowed his head.
“Sect Leader is inside. Please come in.”
“…”
So easy?
So different. This is different from what he knew. In the information he got beforehand, he learned the Wudang Sect’s sect leader had been refusing to meet people for close to 20 or more years.
“What is it? Come in.”
“Ah. Yes. Yes.”
“Haha. Is it difficult to meet the sect leader, even for the disciple of Hae Myung who is such a fool?”
“…”
Seol-Hwi had nothing to respond to it. It felt slightly different. It definitely felt like a burden to the sect leader.
Why is he rushing…?
It was the first time he did not have to wait long to get things done. As Seol-Hwi tried to enter the place, each step felt so heavy, as if standing in hell.
What on land did they believe in for them to be this defenseless? Did they have the confidence to handle anything?
Or was it a trap?
There aren’t many presences around, so it cannot be an ambush… Suffocation… no.
Seol-Hwi tried to shake off any doubts he had. He had experienced too many things before, but this was the first time to enter a place this easily.
If it was the main sect, it would be already on the look out for a long time… It would have taken close to a year, but are all sects like this?
…Tak.
Seol-Hwi, who was thinking about it, stopped. This elderly man was sitting and looking down the mountain.
It was amazing.
As if the light of dawn was rising on the land, countless green things shone through the fog.
Did the disciples of Wudang see it every day when training?
…For a moment he hoped he could see such a sight too.
Shhh
The old man moved. Judging from the fact that he had an old fashioned silk robe, he was probably Hae Woo.
“Hae Myung. That bastard’s disciple?”
“…!?”
The first thing which came from the mouth of the Wudang Sect leader was a curse.
