“One!”
Haa!
“Two.”
Haaa!
In the middle of the winter, at a large training ground, commands were being given out.
More than a hundred warriors were involved in the training session. Most of them were without shirts, and they were putting in the effort to take the test of Mount Hua and pass in the Sichuan branch to become disciples.
“Huh. Huh…”
“Huk…”
With the status of Mount Hua rising, men flocked over to Sichuan. Their ages, sizes, backgrounds, and everything else differed, but there was one thing they had in common.
Of course, that was to become disciples of Mount Hua. Through the basic training course, those with amazing capabilities could join Mount Hua.
A direct disciple of Mount Hua Sect — the sect was rising in power like the sun in the sky, and it was no different from wanting that as well.
For that reason, even though they were undergoing this tough training, they were devoting themselves with hope and determination in their hearts.
“Excuse me! What are those cheering sounds!”
“Sorry!”
As the commands turned quieter, people passed by were shouting out.
These disciples were not professional instructors. They were those who initiated and adapted faster than those who were currently being taught.
If one thought about it, they were not officially put into the sect, and were just a source of strength. They were those with a few months of experience who were the scariest, and their looks and criticism were the harshest.
“Do it right! Straight!”
“Hmm.”
And there were people wearing uniforms while looking at them. They were Mount Hua Sect disciples who came directly from the main sect to inspect them.
“How does it look?”
The old man who was looking at the training ground in the yard opened his mouth.
It was elder Goo Mun-mok.
He made a huge contribution to quelling the various disturbances which occurred in Sichuan and saving the people by punishing the demons.
Officially he ranked seventh in the Mount Hua Sect. And recently, he was a person who greatly increased the reputation of the Mount Hua Sect, appearing and observing in person.
“Everyone… There seems to be an enthusiasm that isn’t typical of a beginner. I look forward to seeing how Mount Hua will grow in the future.”
And next to him was the person who made his reputation rise.
That was Baek Nan-hyang, the first sword.
The ten clans which compromised the ten groups of the Demonic Sect.
It was known that each sect had its own unique characteristics, but among them, he was a little special.
The loyalty of his subordinates was beyond imagination. To the point where they would throw their lives away for him.
Thanks to this, he was deeply trusted by the End Demon when it came to carrying out their duties. The fact that he came to Sichuan revealed the intention of the End Demon to proceed with the current plan.
“Straight!”
“But, elder Goo Mun-mok.”
Carrying out the training of the disciples, leader Baek opened his mouth.
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“No matter how much an announcement is made through Sichuan, it wouldn’t be easy to gather this many people in a short period of time… is there anything special you’re doing?”
“Ah, well, it was nothing special. If I had to give a reason, it would be trust. There is nothing better than bringing people together through faith.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
“In the end, they are all the disciples under the Mount Hua Sect. A justice sect’s pillar. The Nine Great Sects. And the result of this is the strong warriors. It all comes together.”
“…”
“Leader Baek?”
“No. No.”
Leader Baek had this somewhat subtle expression when he turned back. Because he knew the whole story, he felt like he would burst into laughter.
A pillar of the Justice Faction. Mount Hua’s new reputation, didn’t we make all of it?
It was all false honor and false faith. It was a funny sight, covering the sky with their hands.
What was even funnier was that he even said that to him, who knew everything that was happening behind the scenes.
Anyway, Kangho’s people are interesting.
After working together for several months, leader Baek developed this view of the justice sects. And he got to know a little bit about their thoughts and skills.
It was similar to but different from the Demonic Sect. The world he saw was a world where people put their lives on the line for honor.
And in the process of pursuing such honor, there were some behind-the-scenes operations which were in some ways, even more base and despicable than demons.
Was that not the case with the Mount Hua Sect right now in front of him?
Save Kangho, save the people. For the sake of this honor, they are designated as public figures of the world. Anxious not to join hands with the Demonic sect and establish a fake reputation.
And underneath it all, there was this sense of inferiority and jealousy over not being able to surpass Shaolin and Wudang, the two strong walls of martial arts.
Well. If we have to replace fear with trust and authority with honor, it might not be much of a difference.
This experience would provide one with a lot of preliminary studies to know which method would be more efficient when using a powerful person in the world of the Demonic Sect in the future.
“Then, please keep up the good work.”
Drrr
When leader Baek stood up, all the dozen seated people got up.
When he left after a short bow, five or six subordinates left together.
“Hmm.”
Nearly half of the seats were empty, and by the time elder Goo Mun-mok sat down again, an old man behind him approached.
“Elder Goo Mun-mok. I wonder if it is alright to bring them to an official event like this.”
It was elder Goo Jun-seok.
“Why? Do you see a problem here?”
“Because I have the eyes to see. They have dubious origins too… I am concerned about when they might make an unexpected move.”
“That is why we need to keep them by our side even more.”
In response to Goo Jun-seok’s words, Goo Mun-mok, stroked the white beard of his and said,
“What they want isn’t much. To make us look at it along the same lines, you would think that would be a gift.”
“But their origins…”
“That is what you want. Sitting in the same position, we are the same as them. If we tell them humans are no different, they will like it. Do you know what it means to bring out the good feelings within them?”
“…What does this mean?”
“More bloodshed and more deaths. All the evil things which they are drenched in. And we will obtain a reputation of recognition that no other sect has. But…”
Elder Goo Jun-seok continued speaking,
“It is enough to place a flower next to those who will die soon. Shouldn’t we be treating them like this?”
“…Well. That is true. Right, you are right.”
When elder Goo Jun-seok responded with a bright expression, Goo Mun-mok tapped him on the shoulder and stood up.
Drrr
Then, he stared at the training hall, trying to take a step.
“Um, elder.”
A man standing in the back spoke up, making Goo Mun-mok, who was frowning, change to a happy expression when he saw the other person’s face.
“Oh. Isn’t it Dujin?”
“Yes. Elder.”
“Hoh. Right, you are here for?”
“That is… because the payment hasn’t been deposited yet.”
“Payment?”
He glanced around and elder Goo Jun-seok approached and spoke,
“This time, there are new disciples and many places being used. First, let’s start with repaying what needs to be repaid first…”
“Is that so?”
He nodded and said to Dujin,
“The one you introduced… where is he?”
“A place called the Exemplary Fame King.”
“Right him…”
As he glanced away, someone whispered into his ear. Goo Mun-mok’s bright face contorted. He quickly answered with a cold voice,
“Isn’t it, at best, a money laundering business? Do not make a fuss and tell them to wait. It takes time.”
“Ha. But Elder, the deadline has been missed. Moreover, since you borrowed a lump sum amount at once, the interest is high…”
“Shut it! Isn’t it the money which has been bought by unlawful acts like stealing it away from the common people! Tell him to wait until we give it back! Tell them that if they cannot wait, then we will have to show our skills.”
“Ahh…”
Crack
The expression of Dujin changed into a rotten one. The payment should be given back today, but this man’s attitude had changed so much since the first payment.
Perhaps now, in four months, they would abandon them.
I didn’t think their side was normal either…
Did he not personally experience who they were? They did not seem to have it easy either… so he said nothing.
The fist in front of him right now and the sword of Mount Hua, was closer.
Winter came—
In the meantime, Imugi and Yorim left the Seol-Hwi family, and the unexpected number of family members decreased to four.
There were two maids who helped with household chores, such as cooking and cleaning, as well as an herbalist and nanny.
The servants selected those with good hearts among those who had nowhere to go due to the chaotic events, and the herbalist came on their own.
And the servant was hired and paid in advance. This was in case Seo Ryeong gave birth to a child in the future.
Chang!
In the yard, sparring was happening in full swing, even though it was the middle of winter.
Yong Jin and Jeok Song, the two were using their weapons and were seriously competing. And there was Seol-Hwi, who looked at the scene seriously.
The achievements of Jeok Song…
Such amazing growth.
So much so that one wondered whether his talent was only at this level. Of course, behind the scenes, Seol-Hwi’s role was vital.
His group, who had at least reached the level to hold their own strength, was already escaping from the humanity around them.
Watching from the side felt best. It was not that difficult to lead it to a higher level.
Three, Essence Energy and Spirit huh, so amazing.
There was another reason why Seol-Hwi was truly surprised.
When Jeok Song, who was originally at the peak of his martial arts, rose to the next level, it was thought that he would naturally reach the top, Peak Demon.
But surprisingly, he was able to display excellence in all of them.
The top of the Essence, Energy, and Spirit. They were the symbols for Peak Demon, but of the time when he was approaching that level—
That scene made Seol-Hwi reflect on his own level.
Looking at the martial arts skills he had learned so far and the energy he showed while raising them to his current level, it was definitely right for him to ascend to the Peak Demon level. But could something like this happen?
Taiji?
Three Essence?
It was hard to believe that the change occurred simply because of newly learned martial arts. This had to be because of Jeok Song and his demonic arts.
The next stage of the martial arts based on the justice faction’s arts, and the martial arts based on the demonic arts.
It seemed so natural.
But what if the current circumstances were natural? Did this mean that the important framework for raising one’s strength was not internal energy like they thought?
As one rose higher, they gained higher enlightenment.
What was important was how it worked on the basis of nature.
What can be said about it? It was comfortable. In the past, it felt like a sudden change in the body along with, but now, there was nothing anymore. Just comfort.
Seol-Hwi managed to realize the answer to this question from Jeok Song.
Ultimately, the subject of enlightenment was the top dantian. When one saw that, like Jeok Song, the world they see would expand.
A change in mentality would also have brought about a change in internal energy. In any case, the demonic energy was not a pure type of energy, but a transformed one.
If, if I could be Supreme master…
Like Supreme Demon, there would be no extreme effects of touching Demon God. However, to find the right source…
The innate strength for it. If one can do it, then the growth would be exceptional.
If you repeated that process, one might eventually gain this unprecedented power to deal with demons.
It was an approach I never took.
Was it said that one learned by teaching others?
If you wanted to teach someone lower than you, the teaching standards were lowered, and by doing that, you would reexamine things in a simpler manner.
Was this what one called a different type of awareness?
It was a little strange, while trying to live a peaceful life with the subordinates, he received more help than when he trained alone.
It was a future they had no idea about, and the power to fight demons. Now he had a clue about getting it.
If it is the energy of the beginning…
Seol-Hwi recalled the past.
As the Earth Demon was dying, he briefly demonstrated it, darker than darkness, brighter than light.
If one could draw that power from the body… it might be possible to fight the Absolute being on equal footing.
“Kuk.”
It was a time when Seol-Hwi was just coming out of his thoughts.
Yong Jin fell to the ground with his face red.
“It is cowardly to stab. Once again…”
“Then I lose again.”
“Captain.”
When Seol-Hwi stopped, Yong Jin got angry. But there was someone who was more upset.
“While you were running around insanely every day, I was simply training here. Just how do you win!”
“Tsk.”
Yong Jin had no choice but to admit it, because Jeok Song’s skills grew over the year.
While they fought, a servant approached them.
“The meal is ready.”
At their words, Jeok Song took the weapons.
“Let’s have something.”
Contrary to his angry look, Yong Jin did not fight back, and as the three turned around, they heard the sound of a horse galloping.
“Who could it be?”
“Has to be him.”
Despite coming from far, Yong Jin recognized the familiar looking man.
“Now that I think about it, didn’t he have to bring money?”
At Seol-Hwi’s words, Yong Jin clapped his hands.
“Right. It is late too. We need to handle it right.”
Yong Jin was planning to take his anger out on someone else. Because he had not heard any good news yet.
