Chapter 554: Wudang (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 554: Wudang (5)
About four days had passed since we began traveling together.
Demons popped up here and there for us to hunt, but nothing proved particularly dangerous. We could have moved faster, but there was no need to hurry. Not only was it unnecessary, but there were also a few things I needed to look into.
And so, four days passed.
After several nights of camping, we finally found ourselves facing a towering mountain.
“Whoa…”
Gu Ryunghwa let out a gasp of wonder. She seemed amazed by the peak before us, and I couldn't help but look at her with disbelief.
“Isn't it strange for you to be surprised by a mountain?”
As a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, she should be well-acquainted with towering peaks. It was odd to see her so awestruck by Mount Wudang.
At my remark, Gu Ryunghwa pouted.
“…Not all mountains are the same, you know.”
I suppose that was true. But to me, this mountain and Mount Hua's looked much the same. A mountain is a mountain.
I looked at the peak ahead, then turned to Yung Pung beside me.
“Where do we go now?”
Yung Pung replied, “I've already sent word, so someone should be coming to meet us.”
“Hmm.”
Hearing that, I looked back at the street. It meant we had to wait until they arrived.
“By the way, Young Master Gu.”
“Yes.”
“You mentioned you had business here. Is it alright for you to be with us like this?”
“Ah, yes. It's… not that urgent.”
It was true. Understanding the current situation was more important than my own business. I lifted my head and gazed at the high mountain. It was home to the sect that represented this entire region.
‘Wudang.’
The Wudang Sect.
One of the Ten Sect Alliance. A Taoist sect whose leader was the Sword of Wudang, the current head of the Murim Alliance.
And besides…
‘I should have brought that bastard Woo Hyuk along.’
It was the sect where the one guy I could almost call a friend belonged.
If there was one strange thing, it was this:
‘It's completely different from my past life.’
The atmosphere of Wudang was vastly different from when I'd visited in my previous life. This was a city directly managed by the Wudang Sect. I remembered it as a place managed by one of the Ten Sect Alliance, so it had been a relatively developed area, but…
‘It wasn't like this.’
Now, it had changed beyond comparison.
‘Merchant guilds are lined up one after another.’
The number of inns had increased, and a single glance revealed countless street stalls. The streets were packed with people—adults and children alike.
‘It could rival Henan.’
Mount Wudang's surroundings had grown to the point where they could be compared to Henan, home to both Shaolin and the Murim Alliance headquarters. Considering that in my past life it wasn't much different from the Mount Hua Sect's territory, this was an enormous change.
And the reason for such a drastic shift was likely…
‘Because of the Murim Alliance.’
The fact that the current Alliance Leader was Wudang's sect leader was the probable cause.
‘No. It must be something deeper than that.’
Normally, just becoming the Alliance Leader wouldn't cause this much of a difference. You could tell by comparing it to the time of the previous Alliance Leader, the Harmonic Sword. Just because he took the seat, the region managed by his native Jang Clan didn't change this drastically.
So, why had Wudang changed so much? The reason was simple.
‘The times have changed.’
Just a few years ago, people were living leisurely in what they called an era of peace. But the appearance of the Red Gate of Demons had shattered that. As cracks formed and changes occurred, it was only natural for anxiety to follow.
In a world where reaching the Peak Realm made you a master, the Red Demons were creatures that devoured even such masters. This meant they were on a completely different level from the Blue Demons, which even a first-rate martial artist could hunt with ease.
As peace shattered and anxiety grew, what people sought first was stability.
‘The kind of stability you look for amid the fear that demons could run rampant at any moment.’
As the thought crossed my mind, my gaze shifted to the crowds filling the streets. Seeing them, I knew this place was the stability they had chosen.
‘The place where the current Murim Alliance Leader is the sect leader.’
That statement carried an implicit meaning: that the area would be managed with absolute certainty. In other words:
‘If something happens, they'll be the fastest to respond.’
It meant that even if demons appeared, the response would be swift, making it a relatively safe place to be. Thanks to this combination of the era's problems and the Sword of Wudang's position, these streets had become incredibly lively.
That was the reason as I saw it.
‘In reality, it's not just here.’
I'd heard that not only Wudang, but also Mount Hua in Shaanxi, Kunlun, and the regions of other noble clans were also changing. It was just that this place had changed to an excessive degree.
‘A great change has already begun.’
The fact that the world had started to change with the arrival of a crisis was undeniable. I watched the bustling crowd for a moment before looking away. I had no desire to stare long at a scene that wouldn't last anyway.
Besides.
‘This is no time for sightseeing.’
I shifted my gaze further down the street. A murmur was rising from the dense crowd. It seemed they had arrived.
The large crowd began to move swiftly, creating a path. In the distance, a group could be seen approaching. Their footsteps gathered into a resonance. Their combined presence intensified, subtly blanketing the air.
Swish.
Light blue robes fluttered with every step. Straight backs, disciplined bodies, and a dense Taoist Qi emanated from their sturdy frames. Moreover, their confident stride seemed to showcase their immense pride.
—The, the Wudang Sect…!
Someone's whisper sounded unusually loud.
Yes, the ones approaching were them. The descendants of the Taoist sect known as one of the Ten Sect Alliance.
‘The Wudang Sect.’
Shortly after I identified them, they arrived before us. Exactly ten of them. Sensing their Qi, I could tell they were composed of considerable masters.
‘All of them are past the Peak Realm.’
I could even see a few who had perfected it. It seemed too grand a reception for a simple welcome.
Leaving the curious gazes of the crowd behind, the man in the lead stepped forward.
“Are you the guests from the Mount Hua Sect?”
As soon as he heard this, Yung Pung moved. He was about to perform a fist salute, but I grabbed his arm to stop him.
Thwack!
“…!”
Yung Pung looked startled, but I ignored him and spoke.
“That's right.”
“…I am Jicheol, a second-generation disciple of Wudang. I have come under orders to escort our guests.”
Only after the man named Jicheol introduced himself did I let go of Yung Pung's arm.
“I am Yung Pung, a third-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“I am Gu Ryunghwa, a second-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”
After the two finished their introductions, Jicheol turned his gaze to me. His eyes seemed to ask, ‘And who are you?’
“Ah, I'm Gu Yangcheon. This here is my porter, so don't mind him,” I said, gesturing to Seong Yul, who was indeed carrying my luggage.
Upon hearing my name, Jicheol's eyes widened slightly. Just as I was wondering why, I heard voices from the crowd behind us.
—Gu Yangcheon… Is that the Gu Yangcheon? And next to him, the Sword Dragon?
—The Sword Dragon, huh. He's as handsome as the rumors say.
—Is that the Lesser King of Hell next to him?
—They said his eyes were like a demon's. The rumors were true…
It seemed that, in addition to recognizing the Sword Dragon, they also knew who I was upon hearing my name.
‘Who was that last guy?’
I was dumbfounded by what kind of rumors were spreading about me.
‘I've been keeping a low profile to erase that reputation, but it's still lingering.’
As I suppressed my rising irritation, I felt a strange gaze sizing me up from the front. It was Jicheol. Feeling his stare, I narrowed my eyes.
‘What is it?’
I thought he might be looking out of curiosity, but for some reason, I sensed a hint of annoyance in his gaze. Of course, it was only for a moment. Jicheol quickly looked away, but I didn't miss it.
‘Look at this bastard.’
As I let out a quiet chuckle, Jicheol spoke to me.
“So you're the famous Lesser King of Hell. I've heard much about you. That you're an outstanding young prodigy.”
He put a particularly strong emphasis on the words “young prodigy.”
“I heard via letter that you came here on business. I hope you have a pleasant stay.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
Jicheol gave a slight nod at my smiling reply.
“First, you must be tired from your long journey, so we'd like to escort you to a comfortable place. How does that sound?”
“We'd appreciate that.”
The greetings seemed to be over. I thought we would head to the Wudang Sect as planned, but…
“Follow me.”
The place Jicheol led us to was, surprisingly, not the Wudang Sect.
* * *
After following Jicheol for about fifteen minutes, we entered a building. It was a rather high-class inn. The interior was quiet, as if the building had been cleared out for us, and it seemed well-maintained.
But I couldn't help but feel puzzled as we entered.
‘What is this?’
They had guided us to an inn, not the Wudang Sect. I glanced sideways and saw that Yung Pung's expression wasn't very good either. It was understandable.
‘We came all this way to another sect on business, only to be taken to an inn instead of being allowed inside.’
They were pretending to treat us as guests, but this was a clear act of disrespect. Yung Pung and Gu Ryunghwa knew it too, which was why they looked so sour.
Just as a chilly atmosphere began to settle over them, Jicheol, who had taken a seat at a table, opened his mouth.
“First, I must apologize.”
He began with an apology.
“Normally, we would have escorted you to the main sect grounds. However, the situation there is currently unsettled, so we had no choice but to bring you here.”
Jicheol seemed to know this was improper, so he began to explain the situation.
“A situation?” Yung Pung asked, his brow furrowed in a rare display of displeasure. Jicheol continued.
“That's right. As it stands, it is difficult to allow outsiders in carelessly, so I ask for your understanding.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Once a simple verification process is complete, you will leave this inn and ascend to Wudang. We ask for your cooperation.”
Yung Pung's expression was one of utter bewilderment. Well, it was an unexpected development, so his reaction was natural. But even I had to tilt my head in confusion.
A verification process.
‘Did something happen at Wudang?’
Judging by their actions, something must be going on. But regardless, the current situation didn't look good.
‘I thought their momentum was sharp. This wasn't just a simple welcome party.’
They'd approached with an unusually overwhelming presence.
‘Are they trying to gain the upper hand?’
It had been grating from the very first meeting. Jicheol had deliberately delayed his own introduction. Since Yung Pung was his junior, it would have been proper for him to show respect first. But in a meeting between different sects, trying to receive that respect without even offering a greeting first…
‘That's what he was after.’
It meant he was trying to establish his superior position from the very beginning. That's why I stopped Yung Pung earlier.
‘It could just be a misunderstanding.’
But seeing how he was acting now, I doubted it.
‘You can tell just from the way he talks.’
I could see it just by listening to how Jicheol spoke to Yung Pung. He coated his words with a thin veneer of politeness, but his condescending attitude was clear. Not only did he act this way without any prior explanation, but he was also demanding our "understanding."
On top of that, he was practically threatening us, saying he'd let us into Wudang properly only if we cooperated. To me, it looked no different from a deliberate attempt to humiliate us.
The problem was…
“…What is it you require our cooperation for?”
…that Yung Pung wasn't handling it properly.
‘Tsk…’
It was natural for Yung Pung to be so naive, being new to the Central Plains. But from my perspective, it was just frustrating.
‘This won't do.’
I let out a small sigh watching him. I was planning to watch for a bit to see how Yung Pung would handle it, but it seemed leaving him be would only make things worse.
‘I didn't want to get involved.’
I was going to let it slide, but it seemed I couldn't. As Yung Pung, looking uncomfortable, asked his question, Jicheol's lips curled into a subtle smirk.
“First, we need the members of Mount Hua to—”
“Before that, I have a question.”
Cut off mid-sentence, Jicheol's face scrunched into a frown. He clearly didn't like being interrupted. Jicheol looked at me, his expression sour. His eyes were filled with a ‘What do you think you're doing?’ look.
“…You?”
His question was dripping with annoyance.
“I've been curious about something for a while. I feel like I have to ask.”
“What is it?”
I looked at Jicheol's face and, with a bright smile, said, “Are you, by any chance, from the Unorthodox Faction?”
“…?”
Hearing my words, Jicheol stared blankly. He looked as if he'd misheard me.
“…What did you just—”
“Oh, it's just that the way you handle things is exactly like those people, so I had to ask.”
“What?”
“The way you talk, like you've got no fucking sense, and how you go out of your way to piss people off… it just has their vibe. My bad if I'm wrong. Guess it was my mistake. Haha!”
I laughed and waved my hand dismissively, but a moment later, Jicheol's expression began to twist into a vicious scowl. Just as he was about to rise to his feet and shout—
“Pfft…”
A short burst of laughter from somewhere made the atmosphere instantly freeze. Everyone's gaze snapped to the source of the sound.
There, covering her mouth with an ‘oops’ expression, was Gu Ryunghwa.
“…Ah, sorry… It just slipped out…”
Gu Ryunghwa mumbled awkwardly, but it was already too late to take it back.