Chapter 345 – Wudang's Heaven Is Not the Martial World's Heaven (2)

Yeon So-ha climbed Wudang Mountain.

She had climbed up and down Wudang Mountain countless times. The ascending stairs and the large trees standing by the roadside remained unchanged in their places, yet today they somehow looked different.

Yeon So-ha quickly climbed the rugged Wudang Mountain and arrived at the Wudang Sect. The first sight she encountered when reaching the training ground was martial artists filling the entire space.

It wasn't just Wudang Sect's Taoists. Numerous martial artists who had come to the Wudang Sect to fight against the Demon Cult were all gathered together. And they were stirring.

"Is it true? They're attacking the Fist Demon?"

"Didn't they say Taoist Cheong-jin's both arms were broken? The Fist Demon must be insane. How dare he break a Wudang Sect elder's arms."

"I didn't see him that way, but the Fist Demon is no good either. At a time when we should unite our strength to fight the Demon Cult, he attacks the Wudang Sect, which is also an orthodox sect. It wasn't for nothing that his nickname contains the character for demon."

Most martial artists were condemning Dam Ho.

Their faces clearly revealed the light of anger. They were accepting what happened to the Wudang Sect elder at Dam Ho's hands as if they themselves had been insulted.

Especially for martial artists based in Hubei Province, the Wudang Sect was a sacred and inviolable domain. Therefore, they accepted the Wudang Sect's affairs as their own and were prepared for battle.

"Sigh!"

Yeon So-ha let out a quiet sigh while looking at such people.

Just standing still, she could feel the collective madness. In the past, she could have passed it off as nothing, but now just standing in this place made her feel suffocated.

Yeon So-ha shook her head and passed by them, heading toward the Purple Heaven Palace.

As she expected, the Wudang Sect's leadership had all gathered inside the Purple Heaven Palace.

Sect Leader Taoist Cheong-wol, Strategist Taoist Cheong-mu, and many elders and disciples filled the space without a single empty seat.

In the center was Taoist Cheong-jin. He was passionately speaking with splints on both arms.

"That fellow is a scoundrel beyond reasoning. Look at these arms. See what he did to me when I only wanted to talk. He attacked me suddenly and broke both my arms. Does this make sense? Even if I displeased him, how could he break the arms of a Wudang Sect elder like this? He is an irredeemable demon. If we tolerate him like this, countless fellow martial artists will surely look down on the Wudang Sect."

"Mm!"

At Taoist Cheong-jin's passionate speech, Taoist Cheong-wol and Taoist Cheong-mu wore troubled expressions.

Especially Taoist Cheong-wol was frowning deeply while glaring at Taoist Cheong-jin.

'In the end, Cheong-jin caused trouble.'

Like it or not, they had been together for decades. Therefore, he was confident he knew Taoist Cheong-jin's character better than anyone.

Taoist Cheong-jin always turned red-faced and spoke passionately only when something disadvantageous to him occurred.

Now his face was glowing red like a furnace. That meant Taoist Cheong-jin had picked a fight with Dam Ho first.

Taoist Cheong-wol looked at Taoist Cheong-mu. It meant Taoist Cheong-mu bore responsibility for letting things reach this point. Then Taoist Cheong-mu lowered his head to avoid his gaze.

Taoist Cheong-mu hadn't anticipated that Taoist Cheong-jin would return with both arms broken.

It was a super-scale incident far beyond what he could handle.

'This is troublesome. Whatever the case, Senior Brother Cheong-jin's both arms are broken. If we just let this pass, the Wudang Sect's prestige will fall to the ground.'

For massive sects like the Wudang Sect, external face was more important than anything. Losing face was equivalent to revealing the sect's weaknesses.

Martial world warriors don't respect those who reveal weaknesses. Rather, they tend to bite even more fiercely.

It might seem trivial, but even a dam bursts starting from one small hole. Therefore, massive sects like the Wudang Sect had no choice but to act more harshly to prevent weaknesses from being exposed externally.

It was the same now.

Taoist Cheong-jin was simply complaining about his broken arms, but the Wudang Sect had no choice but to punish Dam Ho to maintain face.

It was like being checkmated in chess.

Though he found Taoist Cheong-jin annoying for babbling without even recognizing this fact, there was no way to stop him now.

"We must punish the Fist Demon. Otherwise, fellow martial artists will look down on the Wudang Sect."

It was when Taoist Cheong-jin finished speaking like this.

"Uncle Master!"

Suddenly a clear voice echoed through the hall.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the voice's owner. The voice's owner was precisely Yeon So-ha.

"Uncle Master says we must punish the Fist Demon, but I oppose it."

"What nonsense are you talking? This isn't a place for you to interfere."

Taoist Cheong-jin shouted in surprise. His face was full of anger. Usually, he was such a stern uncle master that she wouldn't dare even look at him directly. But not a trace of wavering existed in Yeon So-ha's eyes looking at him.

"Uncle Master!"

"You?"

"Uncle Master attacked first."

"What nonsense are you talking?"

"Though he may have a bad relationship with our sect, that doesn't mean it's bad enough to treat him carelessly. Even if our hearts don't align and we can't be together, we should have shown proper courtesy."

"Are you daring to insult your uncle master?"

"I don't intend to insult Uncle Master. I'm stating facts."

"Shut up! We spoiled you by being nice, and now you don't know your place and climb up. Is that how you speak to a sect elder?"

"Uncle Master!"

"What are you doing? Disciples, quickly drag that girl out."

Taoist Cheong-jin shouted at other disciples. The disciples looked at each other uncertainly.

At that moment, Taoist Cheong-wol rose.

"Stop it, Junior Brother."

"Sect Leader!"

"Didn't I tell you to stop? Stop it."

"Yes!"

When Taoist Cheong-wol's voice rose slightly, Taoist Cheong-jin quickly bowed his head. His face had turned deathly pale.

Taoist Cheong-wol appeared gentle and mild on the outside. But he knew best how strong-willed and decisive his character was.

If he fell out of favor with Taoist Cheong-wol, it wouldn't stop at being pushed to a minor position. Being treated as if he didn't exist was minor, and in the worst case, he could be pushed out of his elder position entirely and ordered into secluded cultivation.

Though it sounded nice to call it secluded cultivation, it was no different from exile. Unable to come out until Taoist Cheong-wol called for him.

There were quite a few martial artists in secluded cultivation after falling out of Taoist Cheong-wol's favor. Taoist Cheong-jin definitely didn't want to become one of them.

"So-ha, you stop too."

"But…"

"So-ha. I know too."

"Excuse me?"

"How impatient Cheong-jin is. And how authoritarian. But the Fist Demon is someone on whom authority doesn't work. His actions until now prove that fact. So they clashed. It's natural when those who never back down meet."

"……"

"It's no one's fault. But even so, we absolutely cannot just let it pass."

"Sect Leader."

"We are the Wudang Sect."

It was a simple statement. But the weight and meaning contained within it were different.

Everything was contained within those words 'Wudang Sect.'

Hundreds of years of history, pride, status, and values that must be protected were contained within.

The position of Wudang Sect Leader was a position that protected all of that.

Sometimes wrong decisions had to be made, and this moment was one of those times.

The value that took priority over everything else for him was precisely the name 'Wudang Sect.'

"Cheong-mu."

"Yes! Sect Leader."

"Bring the Fist Demon here. Very courteously."

"Understood."

"Move personally."

"I will do so."

"Don't make mistakes this time. Absolutely not!"

"Yes!"

Taoist Cheong-mu bowed deeply. Cold sweat flowed down his spine.

Taoist Cheong-wol's gaze turned toward Yeon So-ha.

"You rest."

"Sect Leader!"

"It's an order."

That was the end.

The Wudang Sect Leader never went back on his word.

Yeon So-ha's face hardened. Just as she was about to say something more, four first-generation disciples surrounded her. They completely blocked any chance for her to speak.

Yeon So-ha closed her eyes.

'In the end…'

Though she had thought no words would work anyway, when it actually became reality, it was only disheartening.

***

There was an empty field on the outskirts of Jun County that people rarely visited.

Azure Sky Escort Agency's escorts had gathered in the field that had long been unvisited. In the center of the field were dozens of platforms built high with tree branches.

On each platform lay the body of an escort who died in this escort mission. They intended to cremate them here.

"Sigh!"

Nam Woo-saeng let out a quiet sigh while looking at the scene.

Though he thought his grief had sufficiently passed during this time, his heart ached again.

The bodies had already decomposed to the point where even their faces were unrecognizable. They planned to cremate them before further decay and return them to their families' embrace.

Everyone had come here except for a few escorts left to guard the Jun County branch.

"Begin!"

At Nam Woo-saeng's command, the escorts lit fires on the platforms built from tree branches.

Whoosh!

Tremendous flames instantly rose and consumed the bodies. Tears welled up in the eyes of the escorts watching.

They too were martial world people who made their living by the sword. Though they were always prepared to throw away their lives, watching the cremation of colleagues who returned as corpses left a strange resonance in their hearts.

That's when a black figure appeared in the field. It was Dam Ho.

The moment he appeared, everyone's attention focused.

"Great HeroDam!"

"Great Hero!"

The escorts cupped their fists and stepped aside in succession.

A path was instantly created.

They weren't moving aside because of Dam Ho's intimidating presence. They were voluntarily opening the way out of respect that welled up from their hearts.

Their eyes looking at Dam Ho were full of reverence.

They could hold this cremation because Dam Ho had intervened. Without him, they wouldn't have had the chance to collect their colleagues' bodies and cremate them.

Dam Ho passed the escorts and headed toward the burning platforms. As he approached the platforms, tremendous heat could be felt. His hair and eyebrows were about to burn, but Dam Ho paid no attention.

Dam Ho silently watched the escorts' bodies turning to ash. He looked at the body of the young escort who had asked him to remember him.

'Jo Su-gwang.'

Dam Ho repeated that name.

He would not forget.

He would never forget his promise to him.

He had come to this place to keep that promise.

The escorts were moved by Dam Ho's appearance. They hadn't expected such a great figure as the Fist Demon to visit this place to keep a promise with a mere escort.

'To come here to keep a promise with insignificant escorts like us.'

'That person is truly…'

They felt something surging up from deep within their hearts.

That's when it happened.

"Immeasurable Buddha!"

Suddenly a quiet voice echoed through the field.

Then numerous Taoists appeared. They were precisely Wudang Sect's Taoists. At their head was Taoist Cheong-mu.

Taoist Cheong-mu walked toward Dam Ho and spoke.

"Immeasurable Buddha! This humble Taoist is called Cheong-mu. Are you the Fist Demon Great Hero Dam?"

Dam Ho silently looked at Taoist Cheong-mu. Then Taoist Cheong-mu smiled.

"I heard my senior brother committed a discourtesy. We'd like to apologize and host you at the Wudang Sect. What do you think, Great Hero Dam?"

"……"

"It's a courteous invitation. To the Wudang Sect."

"This is a solemn occasion. Keep your mouth shut."

"What?"

"Or else recite prayers for them."

The Wudang Sect Taoists momentarily doubted their ears. Then they became angry.

"How dare!"

They surrounded Dam Ho.

The three people hurried along their path urgently.

Since only half a day’s distance remained, if they hurried they could arrive within two hours.

“From here is Zhuma Station. The entrance to Grand Harmony Courtyard is behind that alley.”

A village at the entrance of Zhuma Station.

Behind houses and walls, a mountain path led upward. It was a small mountain path behind houses, densely covered by tree branches beginning to sprout new buds. Until coming around behind the houses, it was the kind of place one could pass by carelessly without even knowing a path existed.

The group entered the mountain path following An Ryeong’s guidance.

After continuously climbing a narrow mountain path that only one person could pass through for about one watch period, a wide open road appeared. It was a main road artificially created along the mountainside.

To the left was a cliff, and to the right was a nearly vertical mountain slope.

“Wow… there was such a wide road inside.”

Though Woon-jeong admired it, it wasn’t the time for Jin Ja-gang or An Ryeong to respond.

Jin Ja-gang examined the ground.

Having passed through the damp mountain path shaded by thick tree branches, wet soil had fallen on the ground. But from there onward, there were no footprints from the Great Power Divine Nail technique.

It was strange that Shaolin monks with high martial arts didn’t use light movement techniques because cliffs made it dangerous. Once they emerged from the mountain path, they should have naturally run.

But they hadn’t walked either. From that point on, no footprints remained at all.

“The traces are cut off.”

An Ryeong went toward the slope and examined upward.

“Wall Tiger technique.”

Holes like finger marks were scattered throughout the rocks on the slope.

“They climbed the slope to save time.”

Jin Ja-gang’s Capturing Dragon Claw was originally also a technique for climbing trees and cliffs. But it wasn’t to the degree of piercing rocks with fingers like Wall Tiger technique.

Jin Ja-gang checked whether he could climb by grasping tree roots and rock crevices in the slope. Then he began staring upward.

An Ryeong asked.

“Are you going to climb up this way?”

“No. I can’t go.”

Jin Ja-gang said while looking upward.

“Someone is standing guard.”

An Ryeong and Woon-jeong were startled and looked up. They made eye contact with someone.

About ten zhang up the steep slope, on a protruding rock, a Shaolin monk was looking down with tiger-like glaring eyes.

It was a Shaolin Arhat monk in gray robes.

The Arhat monk opened his mouth.

“Interference with Shaolin’s business will not be tolerated! Return the way you came!”

Rumble!

With internal energy contained, it made a thunderous sound as if the mountain was echoing.

Small stones clattered and fell from both sides of the slope and cliff.

Woon-jeong and An Ryeong looked up with tense expressions.

Woon-jeong had been afraid of Shaolin monks from the beginning, and An Ryeong seemed somewhat worried about the weight of Shaolin Temple’s name.

Jin Ja-gang spoke first.

“Haven’t we met before?”

The Arhat monk didn’t answer. He only repeated to go back.

An Ryeong asked Jin Ja-gang.

“What will you do? You know what happens if you interfere with Shaolin’s business, right?”

“What happens?”

“Usually later a Shaolin master visits the sect or organization of whoever interfered.”

Woon-jeong perked up and listened carefully to An Ryeong’s words.

“And then?”

“They ask what happened, what your position is, and listen to your explanation. Even if it takes several days, they hear everything and determine right from wrong.”

Woon-jeong breathed a slight sigh of relief.

“Several days is a bit much, but it’s a more ordinary resolution method than I expected?”

“If you refuse to explain, or the explanation is unreasonable, or even after determining right from wrong the other party doesn’t apologize, they start preaching right there.”

“Preaching?”

“For several days.”

“Ugh, preaching for several days!”

Woon-jeong shuddered. It seemed he unconsciously recalled being lectured by Master Bok-cheon.

“Mm, still, that’s somewhat peaceful.”

“I don’t think so. After the preaching ends, they beat up the sect leader and drag him away.”

“…”

“They take the half-dead sect leader to Shaolin Temple, forcibly shave his head, and lock him in a repentance hall.”

“…!”

Woon-jeong hunched his shoulders as if getting goosebumps.

Jin Ja-gang asked An Ryeong while continuing to make eye contact with the Arhat monk above.

“I heard the Embracing Sect and Breaking Sect have different methods. Is what you just described the Breaking Sect’s method?”

“No, Embracing Sect.”

“What’s the Breaking Sect’s method?”

“If there’s someone interfering, they help them achieve Buddhahood on the spot.”

“So as long as that Arhat monk is holding his position, we can’t just pass by.”

“Whether we ignore the warning and climb the slope or just go along the road, he’ll act the moment we try to pass.”

Jin Ja-gang thought briefly then gestured with his fingertips toward above.

“Come down.”

The Arhat monk’s thick eyebrows twitched slightly. However, he didn’t move.

“His immovable mind is impressive.”

“I told you. He’ll move when we try to pass.”

At those words, Jin Ja-gang continued watching above while trying to walk along the road beside the slope.

The Arhat monk suddenly shouted from above.

“UOOOOOO!”

The Arhat monk embraced a tree beside him. His temple points bulged and veins popped out on his head.

Crash!

The Arhat monk uprooted the tree beside him, roots and all. It was a thick pine tree several times taller than himself, too thick to encircle with both arms.

The Arhat monk lifted it over his head and threw it down.

Thoom!

Jin Ja-gang’s path was blocked.

Not only that, he pushed and dropped rocks bigger than people. It was tremendous strength.

Thud! Thoom! Thud!

By continuously throwing trees and rocks, Jin Ja-gang’s path was instantly blocked.

Jin Ja-gang stared up.

The Arhat monk held a thick tree trunk and shouted.

“Go back!”

If they rashly tried to clear the blocked path, he would throw more trees and stones from above.

Jin Ja-gang said to Woon-jeong.

“Could you run up the slope and get past that Arhat monk?”

Woon-jeong was horrified.

“What for!”

“I told him to come down but he won’t come down and is blocking the path.”

Woon-jeong shouted upward.

“Excuse me! Won’t you come down for a moment!”

The Arhat monk glared at Woon-jeong with a frightening expression.

Woon-jeong grumbled.

“If you don’t want to, just refuse. Why look so scary?”

“If you can’t get through, you can come back down.”

“Sigh…”

Anyway, it was a role to lure the Arhat monk. Knowing Jin Ja-gang’s light movement techniques weren’t excellent, Woon-jeong had no choice but to prepare to leap.

Though the slope was steep, Woon-jeong’s light movement techniques could climb it to some degree. The problem was the Arhat monk.

Woon-jeong steadied his breathing several times, then leaped with all his strength and began climbing the slope.

Tap! Tap!

Using rebound by kicking with his feet, he rose one zhang at a time steadily upward. Using trees growing diagonally on the slope, he could climb more comfortably.

The Arhat monk watching from above threw a tree trunk.

Woon-jeong’s body was light, so he immediately moved sideways to avoid the tree trunk.

The Arhat monk struck the ground where he stood with his fist. The ground broke and soil and stones rolled down wildly. Woon-jeong raised his hands to cover his eyes and leaped sideways again to avoid them. Then he immediately kicked off and tried to rush upward to break through the Arhat monk.

The Arhat monk also moved sideways to block Woon-jeong’s path. The Arhat monk glared and clenched his fists.

Gulp.

Woon-jeong swallowed dry saliva. Unable to climb further, he made his feet heavy with Thousand Pound Drop and came down. He stepped on sparsely placed trees in the middle and moved left and right seeking a path to climb, but couldn’t find a way up past the Arhat monk.

“I can’t do it!”

At Woon-jeong’s words, Jin Ja-gang answered.

“That’s enough. Please come down.”

But Jin Ja-gang’s answer came from right below Woon-jeong’s feet. Woon-jeong was startled and almost fell. Jin Ja-gang had been climbing up the slope.

Jin Ja-gang grabbed a protruding stone beside the tree Woon-jeong was stepping on, climbed up, then began leaping up the slope as if it were flat ground.

Tap tap tap!

The Arhat monk opened his eyes fiercely blue and gathered his fists. After Jin Ja-gang leaped to about one zhang in front of the Arhat monk, he crossed both arms in front of his chest.

Rattle. Poison needles protruded between his fingers with gleaming edges.

Jin Ja-gang launched his body and rose into the air. The Arhat monk and Jin Ja-gang came to nearly equal eye level.

Jin Ja-gang spread both arms forcefully left and right while in the air.

Whiiiish!

Ten poison needles flew toward the Arhat monk. The Arhat monk bared his teeth, crouched, and covered his head with both forearms.

“GRAAAH!”

His gray monk robe inflated tautly as Iron Cloth technique took effect. The poison needles hitting Iron Cloth bounced off futilely easily.

After throwing the poison needles, Jin Ja-gang fell downward. Simultaneously, he shook his left wrist to separate Soul Seizing Thread’s ring, grasped the ring and threw it.

White Thread. White Thread’s ring flew long, aiming for the Arhat monk’s legs. The Arhat monk lifted his foot to avoid White Thread. However, White Thread’s ring went up a bit more and wrapped around a tree growing behind the Arhat monk.

Jin Ja-gang was falling when White Thread fixed to the tree, so he pulled the ring and shot upward again. The Arhat monk extended double fists toward Jin Ja-gang’s chest as he rose. Jin Ja-gang gathered internal energy in the palm points of both soles and received the fists.

Bang bang! Soles and fists clashed continuously with explosive sounds. Jin Ja-gang was pushed backward in the air by rebound and pulled White Thread to charge at the Arhat monk again.

Then suddenly he put his right hand fingers to his mouth and whistled.

Piiiii!

It was Chilling Sound.

The Arhat monk’s face contorted. The Arhat monk gathered internal energy and covered his ears with both hands. His body swayed.

Jin Ja-gang forcefully wound and pulled White Thread while trying to kick the Arhat monk’s chest with both feet. The Arhat monk straightened his posture and tried to block with Iron Cloth, but Jin Ja-gang injected internal energy into White Thread.

Slice! White Thread cut through the trunk of the tree it was wrapped around and flew toward the Arhat monk’s back. The Arhat monk quickly lowered his posture.

White Thread grazed past above the Arhat monk’s crown. The Arhat monk shouted and stepped half a step forward, striking Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen with his fist.

Bang! This time too Jin Ja-gang blocked the fist with his sole, but having nothing more to hold onto, he was blown into empty air. Jin Ja-gang spun several times in the air, then threw White Thread’s ring to wrap around a tree in the middle of the slope and landed safely below.

The Arhat monk looked down while touching his head with his hand. The scalp where White Thread had grazed was peeled off. Skin about half a palm’s worth had peeled off and blood was flowing severely. His face instantly became covered in blood.

After recovering White Thread’s ring, Jin Ja-gang once again gestured toward the Arhat monk.

The Arhat monk’s face contorted like a demon.

The enraged Arhat monk leaped down from the slope. Like Woon-jeong, the Arhat monk crossed his arms and used Thousand Pound Drop to fall straight down.

But when he had descended about halfway,

The Arhat monk’s body spun around as if caught on something. Trees on both sides at the height where the Arhat monk was falling bent greatly.

On the face of the Arhat monk spinning in the air, a long horizontal line appeared across the bridge of his nose. The same line appeared between his upper and lower lips.

At that moment, Jin Ja-gang raised his right hand and pulled.