“Wudang’s Sect leader… you mean Elder Hae Woo?”
When Ack Bi asked back, Seol-Hwi nodded.
Elder Hae Woo, his title is “Towards Taiji Heaven.”
He was a Taiji Swordsman, who brought the Wudang Sect close to its peak around 30 years ago. However, lately, he rarely appeared in public and avoided meeting people, to the point where there were rumors about him suffering from a disease or he passed on his position and moved out.
They just assumed that he was still serving as there had not been anyone else officially declared as new sect leader.
And Seol-Hwi knew why he was avoiding meeting people. To be precise, it would be right to say that most people in the Demonic Sect knew why.
It is because of the End Demon’s actions.
Twenty years ago, the End Demon, who had become a disciple of the Heavenly Demon, killed one of the top 100 warriors in Kangho to make himself known, and that was Elder Hae Seon, the elder of the Wudang Sect, the former Wudangs Sect Leader.
Shockingly, he was beheaded in front of the Wudang Sect’s front gate, in front of countless disciples.
This incident had shocked all the righteous sects, and it was even shocking to the Wudang Sect themselves, which were aiming to be a higher ranking sect.
Hae Woo, the current sect leader was the sajae to Hae Seon, and for that he blamed himself, saying, “I drove sahyung to his death because of my greed.”
Then, some time later, the Murim Alliance suddenly started distributing and learning martial arts such as Taiji ones, and people speculated about it.
With the authority of the Sect Leader, he gathered the best in the Wudang Sect and sharpened his sword. It was not known how it actually was, but it was an easy guess.
In the first place, the Wudang Sect’s sect leader roamed around, and there was no way that he was involved in the event. He either turned a blind eye to things or saw it coming.
“They make their hair long like a horse’s mane, and they don’t have a usual style. Be careful not to get caught in the nonsense.”
Ack Bi expressed his concern. The other persona was a sect leader who represented a major sect in the land, and Seol-Hwi was just someone who followed the Fourth Disciple.
No matter how much he said he was there to help, he was still the same in the eyes of the Wudang Sect, because their enemy was the End Demon.
“Which is why I am thinking a little.”
“…?”
Drrrr
Slowly, tilting the glass, Seol-Hwi took a sip of the tea and opened his mouth.
“What kind of person would give a better result when meeting face to face?”
“C-camouflage? What is this! No matter how much the sect leader doesn’t want to meet others, he must meet with the sect once or twice for the sake of issues. Then…”
Cho Ah-ran intervened and questioned.
“All we need to do is disguise ourselves and decorate the procession or something, but what will you do about what is within you? The eyes of the Wudang Sect leader aren’t blind…”
“I am learning.”
“…”
There was silence for a while and Cho Ah-ran looked flustered.
“Well, anyone beyond a first rate warrior can imitate normal techniques.”
It was Ack Bi who spoke this time,
“The same is true of Taiji. There are already known sermons of harmony between Yin and Yang, and where softeness overcomes the strong. But in front of the real deal, wouldn’t a fake get revealed?”
“So I learned the real thing.”
“What?”
“…!”
“…!”
Shock. Beyond that, it all felt so absurd. And Ack Bi with Cho Ah-ran glared at him. It was like asking “what are you even saying!”
“Even if you were lucky enough to learn the techniques, once you learned it, the demonic qi would not be hidden anymore. Even if you had already reached a high level. Don’t you know what that means?”
Cho Ah-ran asked when Seol-Hwi did not answer.
“You just need to erase the demonic nature from your internal energy.”
“…How? In the first place, the sect uses demonic energy, right?”
Swish
Seol-Hwi got up. And as everyone was watching him, he raised his gaze ahead and changed the state according to the situation.
<Supreme Master [ON]>
“Huk!”
When his state changed like that, Cho Ah-ran reached swiftly. She rose like she kicked her chair and was wide eyed.
“W-what did you do now? It isn’t that the demonic nature was held back, but instead vanished…?”
“W-wait, show me your hand.”
Ack Bi hurriedly pinpointed the veins in the hands of Seol-Hwi. Actually, it was a rash act, but Seol-Hwi just let him do it.
“Demonic energy… isn’t there? What is this…?”
At those words, the people around them followed his gaze. And they realized that Seol-Hwi’s words were true.
“What new thing did you learn?”
“Just, something of luck.”
“Ha. Hahahaha.”
Cho Ah-ran laughed.
It was a laugh a little girl would never have but no one cared.
“Hey, give up. It is out of reach.”
“Me too. It isn’t once or twice he surpassed everyone’s expectations.”
It was a bit funny, but most of the people gathered had already accepted that they could not judge the growth of Seol-Hwi.
Both Cho Ah-ran and Ack Bi were happy.
They felt proud of their disciple a little too late, saying that they deserved to come out of the reclue because of all this.
“Elders, protect the Hidden Truth Corps. There is a possibility of the other side moving first.”
“I get it.”
“Do not worry.”
Cho Ah-rang and Ack Bi answered, and Seol-Hwi turned his face to the Four Emperor Troop’s captain.
“Hwa Sun?”
“Yes.”
“Among the people who have enemies within the Wudang Sect, find one who is the most eccentric and tell me about it. As a person who doesn’t usually contact them, they will not know what to do.”
“Do not worry. It will spread widely in the Kangho, so wouldn’t it be better to find the right bunch and mix in?”
“Right, and Bi Gun?”
“Please tell me.”
“You should check into the sect leader of Wudang. Also, if there are any martial arts of Wudang which were compiled or worked on for 20 years.”
“I understand.”
If you lose 100 times, you win 100 times.
They had to learn as much as possible about negotiating with the Wudang Sect Leader to lead a conversation.
The first was their personality. The next was to check their martial arts. It meant the martial arts the individual preferred.
“And… Seo Ryeong?”
“Yes.”
“When the information comes, make sure to put it together and bring it to me.”
“I will.”
“Nice, good.”
Seol-Hwi slowly held his hand out. Now that they came to the guest house, should they not enjoy delicious food?
“Now, let us start with our meal and then work.”
Because all the food he ordered was coming out.
The time when the evening felt long, Seol-Hwi stayed at the guesthouse and enjoyed the time.
Due to the nature of the mission, there was no need to save money, so he booked a nice room with a nice view.
A table with necessary things, rosewood chairs , excellent rooms with furniture such as a wardrobe and storage cabinets, and among them was this chair with leopard skin.
“Huuuu…”
Seol-Hwi was in serious trouble.
So heavy.
His shoulders felt heavy and his neck was stiff, because of the tension.
It was clear that the mission given to him this time was the most difficult and dangerous. If something unexpected happened, how many lives would it claim? No, it can be a situation where nothing goes as expected.
Now, all of a sudden, he regretted not asking more from the AI.
The inevitable fight…
However, it was not that side which Seol-Hwi was worried about, but a more difficult situation.
Because he was not sure about how the world ended after the mission was over.
First, he had to face the Heavenly Demon, the best in the Demonic Sect, and inevitably he would have no choice but to collide with him.
And will that be the end? No.
After killing the Heavenly Demon, he would have to fight a stronger player, the best warrior among those chosen by the system.
This unknown mountain was always ahead. So, will it end there?
…He did not know.
For now, that was all the information the AI had given him. However, Seol-Hwi’s goal would be a world which the AI had never been to.
It felt like drifting in a small boat in the middle of the night without a single light in the open sea.
Kiiik!
“…”
Thanks to the sound of the door opening, Seol-Hwi was brought out of his thoughts.
“Is the investigation done?”
He knew who it was without having to look.
“Yes, first, I am here to report the information we have gathered so far,”
“Right, come and sit.”
Seol-Hwi gestured with one hand.
Seo Ryeong stood there and looked quietly, Seol-Hwi felt strange as he saw her. She was the woman he loved in the previous life.
But this life was different.
Then, of course, the heart was also something which could not rid itself of its emotions… it just was not able to.
That was the reason why he could only glance sideways at her and not look at her directly.
“First…”
To Seol-Hwi, who was enjoying the silence, Seo Ryeong reported in a slightly nervous voice.
“According to the investigation of the Four Emperors Troops, there is a Taoist named Hae Myung. The sect leader is a man who is eccentric and keeps away from people, and since he came to Wudang ten years back, he never spoke to anyone. He is a warrior of the past. It is said that his internal energy is the Taiji Sword, so he seems to be the most suitable person among the ones we looked for.”
“Hae Myung…”
Seol-Hwi took the sheets she handed over. From his childhood to the name, from the sect to the elders who were close to him, it was detailed. Especially the part that Seol-Hwi emphasized later.
The fact that he was a warrior who devoted himself to the Taiji Sword.
“Commander?”
“The personality of the current Wudang Sect Leader seems to be that of a typical hard working man. It is said that he is polite and has amazing manners and is respectful to their ancestors. However, this was recorded 20 years back, so his current nature had changed.”
“…Continue.”
“The last time he was seen was five years back, when a good man from Shaolin passed. There are a total of three copies of martial arts books which are believed to have been compiled by the sect leader of Wudang at the time. I brought it, so I will leave it here.”
The martial arts books she put down on the table were similar to the Wudang Sect’s martial arts books which were normally seen in the market.
Swish
“Captain?”
“…”
“Captain?”
At the constant calls, Seol-Hwi looked surprised. It was only then that he realized he was looking at Seo Ryeong.
“That… right.”
There was a lot of awkwardness in his actions. He quickly got up and turned over the book, and while doing so, looked at her with a glance, which looked dry.
Swish! Swish!
Most of the requirements were known. As soon as he read all three books of the martial arts and put them down, Seo Ryeong bowed his head.
“This is all for today. If more information is gathered in the future, report it.”
“There is no need for that.”
“Uh?”
When Seo Ryeong raised her gaze, Seol-Hwi had gotten up from his place.
Swish! Swish.
And simply packing the clothes, it seemed like Seo Ryeong would leave.
“Captain? If…”
“Right. I have things to do.”
“Right, it is too late.”
At the words of Seo Ryeong, Seol-Hwi shook his head.
“I have what is needed. It is just a promise, and if we try to be too detailed about it, there will be cases where things go wrong.”
“But…”
“Do not worry. Aren’t we good?”
Seol-Hwi looked at her, and she had this dry look.
That was sad.
Seol-Hwi’s heart was in flames, and he was not sure when it would go out. It seemed like it might never go out for him, so he felt lonely.
“Then.”
Seol-Hwi went out to visit them like that.
It was a hike he had not done in a long time, to the Wudang Sect.
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