Chapter 240

Woon-jeong asked back in surprise.

“Pack your things? Leave Qingcheng? Master, what do you mean?”

However, Taoist Bok-cheon wasn’t generous enough to explain everything in detail.

“If I tell you to do something, just do it without so many questions! Go up quickly!”

Bian Bu asked with confusion.

“But you said you would resist with all your might…”

“This is our method of resistance.”

Indeed, scattering throughout the Central Plains would be more troublesome for their opponents than gathering in one place on Qingcheng Mountain.

“Still, it’s a bit…”

“This is a document written by the sect leader senior brother, so don’t ask me any more questions. And Woon-jeong, you were told to go up and pack, so what are you doing?”

Woon-jeong hung his head.

“Then at least… let me say farewell.”

Taoist Bok-cheon didn’t prevent even that.

Woon-jeong bid farewell to Bian Bu and Jin Ja-gang.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but I have no choice but to follow my master’s words. I hope we can meet again someday.”

“Can’t be helped. If there are meetings, there are partings, and if there are partings, there will be days to meet again.”

Bian Bu also felt regret as he had grown quite fond of Woon-jeong, but had to let him go.

Woon-jeong hesitated particularly in front of Soso, dragging out the time.

“Miss… stay healthy. Perhaps… ah, no. Everyone take care!”

Woon-jeong, who had been about to say something more, shouted and ran to Taoist Bok-cheon.

Taoist Bok-cheon also left a word for Jin Ja-gang and the others.

“It would be best for you to leave as quickly as possible too. There will be no Qingcheng sect on Qingcheng Mountain anymore.”

Bian Bu gathered courage to ask.

“Then where is the Qingcheng sect? Is the Qingcheng sect disappearing?”

“No. The Qingcheng sect will still remain. You just won’t be able to see it on Qingcheng Mountain. The Qingcheng sect exists everywhere in the martial world.”

After Taoist Bok-cheon and Woon-jeong left, Jin Ja-gang repeated Taoist Bok-cheon’s words.

“There is no longer a Qingcheng sect on Qingcheng Mountain…”

Tang Ha-ran picked up his words.

“They’re evacuating. It seems tremendous danger is coming to Qingcheng Mountain.”

Bian Bu grumbled.

“The great Qingcheng sect abandoning their main base and fleeing? People in the world will laugh, geez.”

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“If the Qingcheng sect is avoiding danger to this extent, just how dangerous is it?”

“Either real danger is coming, or they’re avoiding getting swept up in it. Many of the Qingcheng sect’s Taoists have turned their backs on the mundane world, so they dislike complicated matters.”

Either way, it was certainly not good news for Jin Ja-gang and his companions.

“Damn, we can’t even move until Fairy Maiden comes out…”

That was the biggest problem. Even though it was already past time for her to emerge, she still hadn’t come out, making those waiting increasingly anxious.

* * *

The Evil Sect members who had been demonstrating at the bottom of the mountain were also confused.

“What, what’s this?”

Suddenly, Qingcheng sect Taoists were pouring out of the temple, so they couldn’t help but be surprised.

The Evil Sect members tensed up and drew their weapons.

“Are these guys finally showing their true colors?”

“Trying to drive us away by force? Not a chance!”

“We won’t retreat a single step until Fairy Maiden comes out. You’ll have to make us into corpses to carry us away!”

There were about thirty Evil Sect members gathered. Some were bold and skilled enough in martial arts to enter while avoiding the eyes of Sichuan’s Three Rivers.

Leading the front was naturally Gu Ryun of the Eight Flying Demon Heroes. Not only did he like fighting, but he specialized in defense using his shield. He was suitable for instantly breaking and dulling the sharp edge of roughly charging enemies.

Gu Ryun lowered the shield from his back and set it up in front.

“Come at me!”

The Evil Sect members prepared firmly, raising their internal energy and waiting.

However, Taoist Bok-cheon, who was coming down at the front, stood in front of Gu Ryun and said.

“You’re in the way, so move aside.”

“What?”

When the Evil Sect members didn’t move aside, the Qingcheng sect disciples ignored them and simply split to both sides, beginning to descend the mountain.

“Be careful, Elder.”

“My goodness, it’s been decades since I’ve gone down from the mountain gate… it’s changed so much.”

Young disciples supported elderly Taoists as they went down, while sturdy disciples carried various bundles here and there. Most had book chests on their backs containing scriptures or scholarly implements for long journeys. It was like a procession of refugees.

The Evil Sect members could only watch the procession of Taoists passing by them in bewilderment.

Flower Snake Divine Woman asked with an incredulous face.

“Hey? What kind of trick is this?”

Taoist Bok-cheon ignored Flower Snake Divine Woman’s words. He just stood blocking between the Qingcheng sect disciples and Evil Sect members, controlling things so no unnecessary conflict would arise.

Human Demon Gam Chung put his hands behind his back and tilted his head.

“Did an earthquake happen, or a landslide? Is some divine spiritual beast jumping out of Laojun Pavilion to devour the Taoists, and only we don’t know about it?”

Laojun Pavilion is an octagonal-roofed pavilion situated at the peak of Qingcheng Mountain.

Already over a hundred disciples had descended. Some glanced at and glared at the Evil Sect members, but most paid no attention.

However, among them, an elderly Taoist being supported as he descended saw the Evil Sect members and stopped walking.

“Who are those ignorant fools?”

The disciple supporting him answered.

“They’re Evil Sect members who came asking for their comrade back, but you needn’t worry about them.”

“You fool, that’s not how people should act. Everyone here will die, so why leave them like that and go? Aren’t Evil Sect people still people? Quickly release their comrade or whatever too.”

The Evil Sect members brightened at those words.

“If you release Fairy Maiden as that old man said, we too will no longer cause problems and withdraw.”

However, after speaking, thinking about it, the former rather than the latter statement seemed somehow strange.

Remnant Wind Guest stroked his bushy beard and asked back.

“Listen here, Taoist sir. What do you mean everyone will die?”

“A bloody wind will blow. If you want to leave even a cornerstone from the war calamity, it’s better to take shelter now.”

“The Qingcheng sect taking shelter from a bloody wind? Do you think we’ll believe that? What do you take us for, telling such lies!”

The old Taoist got angry.

“Why are you shouting, you uneducated bandit! My ears aren’t deaf yet!”

Rumble rumble rumble.

The old Taoist’s words carried tremendous internal energy, making the entire area vibrate greatly.

Remnant Wind Guest was also startled and stepped back.

“Geez, damn! If you have energy to shout, walk by yourself instead of being supported. You confused me!”

The old Taoist pointed with his walking stick.

“Whether I crawl or get supported, you didn’t contribute to my energy, so what’s it to you!”

“The temperament of these stubborn Qingcheng Taoists really…”

This time the old Taoist laughed.

“Heh heh heh, has our temperament become famous? This is embarrassing.”

Flower Snake Divine Woman came forward holding a baby.

“Taoist sir, Taoist sir, Taoist sir with miraculous powers. Could you take pity on us and tell us what’s happening? Please save us.”

Flower Snake Divine Woman’s voice was gentle yet pitiful, making it unbearable not to answer.

However, the old Taoist clicked his tongue.

“Oh my, turns out these are fools who can’t even take care of their own lives. You should take care of your own life, who are you asking to save you? Geez, idiots. Such fools should just be left to die.”

It wasn’t teasing, and after just saying to save them, now he was saying to leave them to die. The Evil Sect members’ faces turned red and blue. Flower Snake Divine Woman also retorted sharply.

“Old Taoist, your words are harsh. Are only your lives precious while our lives aren’t worth even maggots rolling in a dung heap?”

The old Taoist got furious.

“Look at that… that wicked woman who looks like she devours men wagging her tongue? You should definitely die here to save at least a few more innocent men.”

Waaah! Waaah!

Flower Snake Divine Woman shouted angrily.

“You’re making our baby cry!”

“Where’s the baby that you’re making a fuss, you wench!”

Flower Snake Divine Woman’s face turned bright red. She was speechless and couldn’t continue.

“Let’s go, Elder.”

“Geez, Evil Sect kids have no manners now just like decades ago.”

The elderly Taoist spat out curses and left.

The Evil Sect members were angry and incredulous, wanting to pick a fight, but the Qingcheng sect disciples wouldn’t engage with them. They treated them as if they didn’t exist and hurried down.

Remnant Wind Guest couldn’t stand it and raised his sword forcefully.

“These weak things have been ignoring people after I’ve been watching and watching…! Until you hand over Fairy Maiden, you can’t take a single step…”

At that moment, all the Qingcheng sect disciples passing by drew their swords simultaneously.

Clang clang clang!

Hundreds of swords gleamed with crystalline light, flashing brilliantly in the sunlight. It was so bright that it was hard to see ahead.

“Geez, damn…”

Remnant Wind Guest found himself as if surrounded in the middle of a mountain of blades and forest of swords.

Gu Ryun of the Eight Flying Demon Heroes scolded Remnant Wind Guest.

“Stop it. Rats fleeing from a flood will bite even tigers when cornered.”

When Remnant Wind Guest grudgingly lowered his sword while grinding his teeth, the Qingcheng sect disciples also sheathed their swords and resumed their journey as if nothing had happened.

Gu Ryun of the Eight Flying Demon Heroes called to Taoist Bok-cheon.

“Hey. It doesn’t matter if you don’t tell us what’s happening, but what about Fairy Maiden then? If you continue ignoring our words, I swear on my name that from now until the day I die, I’ll hunt down Qingcheng sect Taoists one by one and cut off all their heads.”

Taoist Bok-cheon crossed his arms and looked back at Gu Ryun.

“She’s very safely in the middle of cultivation, so it’s better not to worry. The most trustworthy person in the world is standing guard. So worry about yourselves. If you plan to keep waiting, it’s better to pray that Fairy Maiden finishes her cultivation and comes out quickly before you all die.”

Most of the Qingcheng sect disciples had already passed, and no more were coming out. Woon-jeong came running with a bundle on his back and said to Taoist Bok-cheon.

“Master, there’s no one left in the temple grounds.”

“Then let’s go too.”

Taoist Bok-cheon and Woon-jeong were the last.

Remnant Wind Guest blocked their path and asked.

“Wait a minute! Who is the person standing guard for Fairy Maiden!”

Taoist Bok-cheon frowned irritably at having his path blocked.

“You should know well too.”

“Venerable… Woo-am…?”

Taoist Bok-cheon and Woon-jeong passed by Remnant Wind Guest. Remnant Wind Guest looked back at the Evil Sect members with a dumbfounded face.

“If the Qingcheng sect leader is staying alone, isn’t this really serious?”

A proper sect would never have its leader flee under any circumstances.

The leader is the last bastion remaining in the sect and simultaneously the one responsible. The reason massive authority is normally given to him is because that much responsibility is demanded.

So the fact that the Qingcheng sect leader remained meant he had already prepared for death, and the Qingcheng sect was no different from a ship that had been wrecked and was about to sink.

Gu Ryun frowned and shouldered his shield again.

“Let’s go up.”

The Evil Sect members passed through Qingcheng Mountain’s gate and climbed along the sloped ridge where countless temples were located.

The silence was eerily quiet.

It was desolate. The temples were completely empty. No one remained.

“Damn…”

The Evil Sect members got goosebumps.

Still, they couldn’t abandon Fairy Maiden and leave.

“Are we really left with no choice but to wait for Fairy Maiden to come out as quickly as possible?”

The Evil Sect members’ faces darkened.