Seol-Hwi was so surprised that he felt his heart jump into his mouth. Because of the fact that the End Demon, the First Disciple had appeared right this moment.
What is he… wasn’t it an act he did to avoid getting his attention?
The First Disciple of the Demonic Sect and the best of Mount Hua. There was too much power on their side.
Although they were making needed transactions with each other, on the surface, it was just a facade.
So, the contact so far had been thoroughly carried out with no one knowing.
But what is this?
“End demon? This man!”
“How dare you step into this place!”
Tadaak. Rumble!
Some of the elders saw the face of the End Demon for the first time. Looking at the reaction of those of Mount Hua, it did not seem like they had planned it.
And the disciples who did not seem to know the ties of Mount Hua and them, pulled their swords out and stepped ahead.
“Back away! Back away! You are no one to fight against!”
Of course, Goo Jong-myung was scared and made a loud noise.
“E-Elder Goo…?”
“Look now! You! what is all this!? In the middle of this sacred place!”
Goo Jong-myung was quite nervous as he stepped ahead. As if to protect his young and hot blooded disciples.
Seeing him like that, the End Demon laughed.
Goo Jong-myung had his trembling expression. On the faces of Mount Hua elders was shock.
“I will ask again. What are you doing here?”
Goo Jong-myung asked.
Less people knowing the secret was better. No matter how important their deal was, even if they knew the weakness of each other, one could never know who would backstab the other first. It was a treaty that presupposed such an unspoken promise, but the End Demon broke that rule.
“We are facing a war. At least once, I wanted to see you face to face and greet you. I have something else to tell you.”
“If that is the case, you should have sent a person as usual and set a time and place separately. No! This time! In here! Why did you have to show up and make a mess!”
“A mess? It is so hard for my ears to hear this. Elder Hoo, are you that ashamed of the fact that we joined hands?”
“This…!”
Goo Jong-myung’s face turned red at the words of the End Demon.
Of course, it was shameful. It was embarrassing. But it was impossible to say that.
If it was asked why they joined hands with such a shameful opponent, it would be like he got spit on his face.
“That… sasuk? When did this happen…”
“Wait now. I will explain it later.”
“B-but…”
“Be quiet! Do not open your mouth! No one will!”
Whisper
The buzzing sound of whispers from the disciples from behind, there was this uneasy throb. The face of Goo Jong-myung went stiff.
Kuk
As if the dizziness was funny, the End Demon shook his head.
“Well, your Justice faction people… even Elder Goo must be having a hard time with so many things to handle.”
“But you don’t seem to be caring about it all?”
“What is it? The sect is a place with strong esteem. Anyone who disobeys the orders is to be killed. Either for the sake of work or to show an example.”
“Those words sound…”
Goo Jong-myung grinded his teeth. He felt it again. This man did not consider the position of opponents he worked with.
An alliance which will never last long, it felt like he would take down all of them. But things were not in a good way now.
In a situation with the entire elders of the sect there, the First Disciple decided to take the decisive move of a surprise attack. Which meant that everyone else was in a bad spot, and if they neglected this place, the enemy of tomorrow would turn into the enemy of today.
“Well, it seems that I am not welcome here. So, we also tried to say a couple words and leave… what is with him?”
The End Demon pointed at Seol-Hwi.
“You didn’t know that the man there is the subordinate of the Fourth Disciple? Our common enemy. What kind of trick are you doing by dragging such a person into this? Who would have thought that Mount Hua would betray our faith and do such a thing behind the scenes?”
“…Ahem.”
At the words of End Demon, Goo Jong-myung could not say anything.
Certainly, he could take issue with what happened. But there was a bigger problem with this side than the Demonic Sect.
“Why are you silent?”
“…”
Things went horribly wrong. In the first place, because of the Purple Cloud Divine Arts, he could not ignore Seol-Hwi, and he was not even sure about Seol-Hwi being an enemy to them or not. Perhaps, if it had not been for just that one moment, if only Seol-Hwi did not perfectly recreate it, they would have handed him over to the End Demon.
One thing changed the entire situation.
What do I do now…
Goo Jong-myung closed his eyes tightly.
It was impossible to explain the situation without a misunderstanding.
No, he could not explain it even if he wanted to.
The long cherished wish of the Mount Hua Sect which was more earnest than being the best sect of the world. And he could not even tell the End Demon about the biggest secret of their technique as it was not a thing anyone outside the sect could know, and he would not do it even if he had to die.
“Why are you not speaking?”
The End Demon raised his voice towards Mount Hua with this expression of displeasure.
Glance
The End Demon’s eyes turned to Seol-Hwi and for some reason, he walked there.
Damn it…
Meanwhile, Seol-Hwi was already using his head. It was also because of the presence of the End Demon, but there was something more serious.
<You have broken the last remaining cause and effect by establishing a deal with Mount Hua Sect’s Goo Jong-myung.>
This window popped up in front of him, announcing the final mission.
The proposal to negotiate with the End Demon and Goo Jong-myung.
All the conditions had been satisfied. He guessed that it might be because of a chance in his feelings, but he could not figure it out right now.
What will happen in the future?
Brrrr
Above all, the flaring energy of the Purple Cloud was pushing around in his body. The Mount Hua Sect’s energy was in his body, and it was colliding with the Demonic Sect’s internal energy.
Even Seol-Hwi could not get a feel for the situation he had never experienced before. He was barely holding on.
“Why did you come here?”
Just in time, the End Demon’s voice came, and Seol-Hwi did not answer, he just looked.
“Well, it is fine. This question will be more accurate than that.”
“…”
“My proposal. Have you thought about it?”
The End Demon asked, but Seol-Hwi did not answer. Then, suddenly, his face went stiff.
<All conditions are met.>
Of course he thought of refusing it, and then this system window came in front of him and—
“Cough!”
Seol-Hwi puked out red blood ,and seeing this End Demon’s eyes widened. It was not some black blood which was filled with impurities but the red blood from the organs.
“What? Blood reflux?”
There was just one thing which could cause this.
Blood reflux, the condition where the energy was running around. A very typical case when the internal energy was raised more than the body could handle, and it ran out of control.
This was a phenomenon which happened when you tried to aim for better martial arts, but you were unable to break through the wall.
“Wait now that you… look at this one?”
The End Demon sensed the energy which was coming out from Seol-Hwi’s body. It was quite different from the usual runaway energy.
It was not intentionally making the qi run away, but a phenomenon in which the energy flowed out and then disappeared. This meant that the internal energy of the body was going through collisions.
That the existing body was unable to handle it.
“What chance was it for… No, um, what even is this?”
The End Demon felt troubled. The fact that the limit the body can hold was expanding. More like escaping.
After passing this hurdle, Seol-Hwi would really be a warrior which the End Demon could not handle anymore. However, right now, he was clearly defenseless.
At this moment, even the softest hit could kill Seol-Hwi right away. Should he be killed? Or should he think of his entertainment by keeping him alive?
This moment is a moment of decision that gets tangled up in the head of even a decent person.
<Simulation starts in ten seconds.>
“…!”
He wondered if something was lacking in the Purple Cloud Divine Arts he learned. And a question arose in front of Seol-Hwi.
This was bad.
Was it because the End Demon appeared that he was being so nervous? He could not even feel the enlightenment happen.
Crack! Crack!
A sound like beans were being roasted rang from his body. The divine and pure energy of the Purple Cloud came from this unfulfilled realization. It was pushing all the energy in Seol-Hwi’s body.
“Kuaaak…”
It was no longer important. He was literally in the state of a perfect change. To make matters worse, a simulation was triggered.
Swishhh—
10… 9…
Could it be because of the energy?
Time was slowly passing.
“Cough! Cough…!”
Seol-Hwi tried his best to clear his mind. Breathing in desperately. It was just a couple breaths.
But he did his best.
“Elder… Goo… Jong… myung…!”
“…!?”
Swish
8… 7…
Crack
Goo Jong-myung whose name was called ran close before he could even open his mouth and asked why.
“If Plum Blossoms are fruits then… the sunset is the process for fruition. The two are one like two sides of a sword… winter before plum blossoms bloom… remember the cold in the snow…”
“W-warrior? Please look…”
The few seconds he had, Seol-Hwi used it for Goo Jong-myung. At least he spoke of the essence behind Purple Cloud Divine Arts.
“Look! Seol warrior!”
His eyes were darker. It was just a couple words, but he oddly believed Seol-Hwi.
Goo Jong-myung was the highest in Mount Hua. He was one who devoted his life to the study of Purple Cloud Divine Arts in practice.
What he lacked so far was a single piece of realization. As long as he passed it on, it was bound to come out.
4… 3…
Breathing heavily, Seol-Hwi spent the last remaining time on Cheon Miryo.
“Cough. Change… plans… save your… energy as much as you… can…”
2… 1…
“Get out… of here…”
Pik!
That was the end.
In an instant it felt like the pain took over his body.
<Simulation started.>
The system notified him of an intervention.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Darkness which took over the vision, forced progress, the moment it felt like he was going to do nothing, it felt so frustrating that he wanted to cry.
Everytime… this happens…
Was he not always in the position of leaving his fate to the others? That too, was such an important moment.
No, I won’t die suddenly right?
He was not sure of anything. What he experienced so far was the simulation mainly finding the optimal value.
In other words, if he died there, it should be seen as saying he could not make an escape. It was a world created by someone else, so he had to accept what was given.
That was why—
Even if Mount Hua is just half of Wudang…
If it was the last arrangement, it is all.
Seol-Hwi realized the intention and essence of the Purple Cloud Divine Arts. And said it to keep it remembered.
The End Demon who appeared suddenly and moved in, had also spoken of what change happened when he coughed up blood, and that would affect the judgment of Goo Jong-myung.
Perhaps, in order to obtain the divine arts as desired, Mount Hua might try to protect him against the End Demon. And if that happened would it not be nice for Cheon Miryo to hide her strength?
I don’t know what will happen…
Too much happened too quickly. It was a situation where there was no other choice left. And while he was regretting it, this thought came…
<…Unknown person who isn’t registered and cannot exist. Identification No. 312-33245.>
Originally she was programmed to live her entire life in the cave. There was no chance she could come here.
<…The situation was restarted for the person who cannot exist. Hundreds of simulations were used to find the right value.> <…Error… try again… error… ignore…>
He could not understand what this was.
This?
Perhaps it was because of Cheon Miryo. The simulation was not working properly. What would the results of this be?
Even Seol-Hwi did not know.
