Heavenly Demon Cultivation Simulation-Chapter 453: Emergency Training (3)

“We can’t just sit still!”

“Let’s use this opportunity to show that we rank among the top five in the Nine Great Sects!”

Mumble, mumble.

Inside the grand hall where important matters of the sect are handled, all the elders of the Qingcheng Sect were gathered.

Upon hearing the agenda of the meeting, they each burned with determination.

The proposal to determine the top master within the three sects was readily accepted by the Kongtong Sect and the Kunlun Sect.

Originally, this competition was sparked by the fame of the great disciples of Qingcheng, and should have centered around the first-class disciples.

However, ever since the Training Hall Leader of Wudang came to Qingcheng, the situation completely changed.

His presence, known as the Number One Under Heaven after breaking through the Profound wall, incited the competitive spirit of the three sects, which were considered the bottom rank in the Nine Great Sect.

They regarded the Training Hall Leader as the long-awaited presence who could judge the level of martial arts within the sect.

Eventually, it reached a point where elders directly expressed their intention to participate, and with the agreement of the two sects, the competition proceeded smoothly.

It transformed into a festival where the highest-level warriors could freely compete in martial arts and be evaluated.

However, due to this, the martial arts competition for the first-class disciples was pushed to a lower priority, and there was even talk of canceling the second-class disciples’ competition.

“Now, let’s first pick the individuals we need to be wary of.”

As Cheong Su, representing the elders, stood on the podium and spoke, the elders raised their hands one by one.

“First, there are three individuals from Kunlun that we need to pay close attention to. They are Do Gan, the Infinite Sword, Do Yeop, the Soul-Stealing Silver Sword, and Do Hwa, known as the Invincible Divine Blade.”

“That’s correct. Among them, the Invincible Divine Blade, Do Hwa, is known to be the best. There are rumors that they reached the Supreme State.”

“Recently, there have been talks that a person named Do Yeop has also reached the Supreme State, so we should watch him closely.”

At that, two elders seated on the opposite side stood up to respond.

“These are just rumors circulating in the market, so we can’t fully trust information that hasn’t been confirmed by the Beggars Union Sect.”

“Even if the rumors are true, isn’t warrior Cheong Mu, one of the three Great Hall Leaders, present here? He can handle it sufficiently.”

Upon hearing this, the elders directed their gaze toward an individual seated in the back row.

The warrior Cheong Mu, with his youthful appearance and an ageless face.

Known as the foremost sword of Qingcheng, he was an undisputed top fifty warriors of the world who has reached the Supreme State.

It was said that he had attained a significant level, though not quite the Supreme State, having repeatedly gained enlightenment in the Supreme State.

Qingcheng’s confidence in victory was due to this very warrior Cheong Mu.

There were elders who personally acknowledged that he had broken several walls of the Supreme State.

“Now, now, that’s enough about Kunlun. Let me speak about the Kongtong Sect this time. We’ve narrowed it down to two important figures: the Demon Slayer Sword, Jang Jin, and the Seven Killing Sword, Jang Yang.”

The Demon Slayer Sword and Seven Killing Sword were the main warriors of the Kongtong Sect.

Usually, when warriors are attached with a nickname, it can be said that an honorary title is given to a master of a class.

“Among them, Jang Jin is the most dangerous individual. As the saying goes, ‘Do Hwa of Kunlun, the Cheong Mu of Qingcheng, and Jang Jin of Kongtong.’ The Kongtong Sect’s confidence stems from this very person. He broke through the wall of the Supreme State from the State of Transcendence ten years ago, and since then, has been solving the unresolved challenges of the Kongtong Sect.”

As the representative elder spoke, other elders chimed in.

“It seems the match won’t be easy.”

“Indeed, would the Taoist Cheong Mu easily concede?”

“Surely, the greatness of Qingcheng will be demonstrated in this tournament.”

Everyone was smiling as the atmosphere warmed up.

Around that time, there was a sound outside the door.

“Announcing the arrival of the Training Hall Leader.”

“Let them come in.”

With the elders’ permission, two individuals were guided in by a disciple.

It was none other than the Training Hall Leader and Seol-Hwi.

“Oh? Why is everyone gathered here…?”

It was a natural question from the Training Hall Leader, who hadn’t been informed in advance about the reason for the gathering.

As the Training Hall Leader looked flustered, an elder on the platform stepped forward.

“Welcome. Just in time, the three sects have agreed to hold the martial arts tournament.”

“Already?”

“The sooner, the better, wouldn’t you agree? As previously mentioned… will you participate as the mediator?”

“Oh? Ha ha ha.”

The Training Hall Leader was taken aback.

He had laughed it off at the time, but now it was clear that wasn’t the case.

They had already assumed his consent and prepared everything.

“Have the participants been decided?”

At that moment, Seol-Hwi, who had been observing the situation, stepped forward and asked.

“Attendance is open to anyone present who wishes to participate.”

“Ah… Is that so.”

Even in conversation, Seol-Hwi observed the people inside.

Then, after looking around at everyone, his expression turned sullen.

It seemed that the seating was arranged according to rank.

While that wasn’t particularly important, it was unfortunate that someone who should rightfully be present at such a gathering was missing.

Someone who should have been seated at the very front.

“Master. Can you see how many there are?”

Hyuk Jin waved his hand while staring intently at Cheong Heo.

Since last night, Cheong Heo’s gaze had been unusual, and this morning he walked outside by himself.

As if observing the surroundings, he approached directly and showed his outstretched fingers.

“You rascal! If you wave them that fast, who could even tell?”

“Ah!”

Once he passed his own verification process, he looked at Cheong Heo with eyes full of emotion.

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“Master, finally!”

Hyuk Jin embraced the old man warmly. His master had lost everything when he lost his sight.

Unable to move, he had lost both his muscle movements and vitality.

But now, to recover his sight and walk out on his own.

“You, you rascal… Let go. You’re going to kill your master at this rate!”

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

Hyuk Jin quickly stepped back and bowed his head. Despite the awkward situation, his flushed face couldn’t hide his joy, which brightened Cheong Heo’s expression.

“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

“No, not at all. It wasn’t difficult at all.”

“You rascal.”

Cheong Heo patted his shoulder lightly. Then, he slowly fixed his gaze on one spot and spoke.

“By the way, Master, how did your health suddenly improve…?”

“I received great help from a Taoist of Wudang.”

“…Ah!”

Hyuk Jin recalled a person.

The Taoist of Wudang who approached with an endlessly warm face and taught him from the basics.

These days, he struggled with physical training, but he never forgot his advice.

“What?”

It was then.

He saw the person that his master mentioned slowly walking over.

“Excuse me for a moment…”

“Yes, Master.”

Hyuk Jin quickly left the spot, discerning his master’s intention even before he finished speaking.

Seol-Hwi approached Cheong Heo, who was sitting on the main hall’s floor. Then he naturally sat beside him.

“I received great grace from a noble person.”

Cheong Heo spoke first.

Seol-Hwi waited quietly without responding.

When he waited quietly, he always revealed his true feelings.

It was a memory from a long time ago, and he acted that way because it just came to mind.

Sure enough.

Cheong Heo spoke again.

“For a long time, I was mentally unstable due to the stagnation of my training. I became sensitive over trivial matters, which led to increased impatience.”

“……”

“That impatience led to disaster, and eventually, I lost my sight. I tried to act composed in front of Hyuk Jin, but in reality, everything had crumbled.”

Seol-Hwi also examined his body, but there was no serious diagnosis.

The reason for not moving and suffering from illness might have been a struggle to hide his shame from his disciple.

“It was truly foolish. I should have listened to those around me. Why did I dare to interpret the martial arts of Qingcheng differently, leading to this disaster… Looking back now, they were truly regretful days.”

Cheong Heo poured out his innermost thoughts, believing that the Taoist of Wudang would not understand.

In a way, it was natural.

How could one know the implied meanings filled with various meanings of life?

However, Seol-Hwi remembered each of those meanings in detail.

This was something he could not help but know.

As a companion who had been by his side for a longer period than anyone else.

And wasn’t he the only one who bore fruit?

“Elder.”

After some silence had passed, Seol-Hwi spoke up.

Cheong Heo was momentarily puzzled by the address as a ‘senior’ instead of Taoist, but he did not bother to comment on it.

“I once received teachings from a Taoist of the main sect in the past.”

Seol-Hwi briefly lowered his gaze as if recalling, then looked up at the sky and said.

“The martial arts of Wudang respond slower than the opponent, and sometimes it feels frustratingly slow, but in the end, if you look closely, it will be ahead in time.”

“……”

“It only appears slow to our eyes. Martial arts will always be ahead, they said.”

“Those are truly wise words.”

Cheong Heo also agreed with that opinion.

He too acknowledged the essence of Wudang’s martial arts.

To be precise, it was the perception of most people in the martial world.

To control movement with stillness or pre-emptive strike.

The technique of subduing movement with stillness and overcoming slowness with speed was evaluated as remarkably mysterious.

“During a conversation, I once asked this. Then what is the martial art of Qingcheng?”

Seol-Hwi continued speaking in a calm voice.

“The martial arts of Qingcheng are like a whirlwind, descending from above. That’s why it’s hard to master it, and without the unity of heaven and man, it cannot be perfected. Those who don’t understand what wind is cannot master Qingcheng’s martial arts.”

“……!”

At that moment, Cheong Heo’s calm and serene eyes widened as if in shock.

He was so surprised that his lips trembled slightly.

Seol-Hwi was not surprised by his reaction.

Because these were words he had once said to him in the past.

“The recorded sages of Qingcheng not only reached the state of enlightenment but looked beyond.”

“You… just who….”

“Elder, there’s one thing I always wanted to ask when meeting a Taoist of Qingcheng.”

Seol-Hwi continued, staring into Cheong Heo’s trembling eyes.

“Is Qingcheng’s martial art about looking down from above? Or is it about following the wind?”

“Ah……”

Cheong Heo couldn’t speak.

He couldn’t help it.

In the words he had just confessed, there was a philosophy he had tried to let go of, and a lament for the invisible wall he had acknowledged.

Yet an outsider, a Taoist of Wudang, was asking—Isn’t your philosophy wrong?

“This foolish monk… this foolish monk…”

Cheong Heo couldn’t continue, but a part of his heart was warming.

The path that no one recognized.

The process of endlessly challenging the hopelessly high wall was more painful than hell.

The thought that there was someone on this earth who knew that, the melancholy of it, was so welcome.

“Why don’t you show us yourself, Master? There are many masters here who still do not know the philosophy of Qingcheng. Besides, there’s a martial arts tournament happening soon.”

Seol-Hwi smiled at his old master, Cheong Heo.