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Chapter 554: Wudang

It had been about four days since we started our journey together.

Along the way, we encountered some demon beasts to hunt, but nothing particularly dangerous happened.

We could have picked up the pace, but there was no need to rush, especially since there were a few things I wanted to sort out.

And so, four days passed.

As we set up camp repeatedly, time wore on, and eventually, we found ourselves staring at a towering mountain.

“Wow….”

Gu Ryeonghwa exclaimed in wonder, clearly captivated by the mountain before us, while I couldn’t help but wear a bewildered expression.

“Isn’t it strange for you to be amazed by a mountain?”

Given that Gu Ryeonghwa was a disciple of the Hwasan Sect, she should have been accustomed to the lofty peaks of that region.

It was surprising to see her so awestruck by Wudang Mountain.

In response to my statement, Gu Ryeonghwa pouted her lips.

“…Not all mountains are the same, you know.”

Well, that’s true. But to me, that mountain looked quite similar to Hwasan.

A mountain is a mountain, after all.

I turned to Yeongpung, who was by my side, and asked, “Where to next?”

He replied, “I’ve already made contact in advance, so someone will be coming.”

“Hmm.”

After hearing that, I glanced around again.

We would have to wait until someone arrived, it seemed.

“By the way, Gu So-hyeob,” Yeongpung continued.

“Yes?”

“I’ve heard there is business to attend to here, so are you alright staying with us?”

“Oh, yes. It’s not something urgent, really.”

It was true.

Understanding how the current situation was unfolding was far more important than whatever was happening.

Raising my gaze, I stared at the towering mountain before us.

This was the domain of a prominent sect.

‘Wudang.’

The Wudang Sect.

This was one of the Gu Sect’s locations and home to the current leader of the Martial Alliance, Wudang’s Sword Master, who served as the Sect Leader.

Moreover,

‘I should have brought Woo Hyeok along.’

He was the only person I could truly consider a friend associated with this place.

If anything stood out to me,

‘It felt drastically different from my previous life.’

The Wudang I experienced in my past life was nothing like the vibe here.

This region was directly managed by the Wudang.

As I recalled, the Gu Sect previously managed this area, and while it was developed in its own right…

‘It wasn’t like this.’

Now it had changed beyond comparison to my past life.

‘The inns are lined up one after another.’

The number of inns had multiplied, and the stalls were brimming with activity.

Adults and children alike were packed into the area.

‘It could easily rival Hanam.’

Currently, Wudang Mountain had flourished enough to stand against the Shaolin and the Martial Alliance’s headquarters in Hanam.

Recalling how little the Hwasan Sect had grown compared to this made the difference immense.

And,

The reason for such a transformation was likely….

‘The Martial Alliance, perhaps.’

It must be due to the fact that the current leader of the alliance was the Wudang Sect’s leader.

‘No, it must run deeper than that.’

Even if the leader’s position shifted, such a substantial change wouldn’t have occurred.

Comparing it to instances from the previous martial alliance leader, Nakgyeom, made it clear.

Just because he sat in the chair of leadership, it didn’t mean the regions managed by Taesaeng underwent such drastic changes.

But how did the Wudang change so much?

The reason was simple.

‘Times have changed.’

Just a few years ago, we had been lounging through a peaceful era.

Yet, the emergence of the Red Demon Gate caused a rift.

With that rift came change, leading to unease.

Even the so-called masters were in danger.

The Red Demon Beasts consumed even those who were called masters.

This indicated they were vastly different from the Blue Demon Beasts, which could be easily hunted by the elite.

As peace shattered, unease rose.

Those feeling the most insecurity would naturally seek stability.

‘In a world where demon beasts could attack at any moment, true stability was hard to find.’

Reflecting on this as I gazed at the bustling street, the sheer number of people gave away their pursuit of safety.

‘The current leader of the Martial Alliance is here.’

This implied effective management, suggesting they would respond the quickest should a situation arise.

If demons did appear, their leaders would likely manage a swift response, making it relatively safe.

Thanks to the intertwined issues of the times and Wudang’s leader’s position, the streets were now alive.

That was my reasoning.

‘In reality, it wasn’t only here.’

Not just Wudang but the Hwasan region and even Kunlun were seeing changes.

Of course, the transformations seemed most pronounced here.

‘A grand shift has already begun.’

The risk had begun to reshape the world.

I looked over the bustling crowd before shifting my gaze away again.

I had no desire to linger on a backdrop that wouldn’t last long anyway.

And besides,

‘This isn’t the time for sightseeing.’

I allowed my gaze to drift a little further away.

The chattering from the crowd registered in my ears.

It seemed like they were arriving.

The once bustling crowd began to move swiftly.

The space between them formed a single path, and through it, a group approached from afar.

The sound of footsteps resonated together and.

The combined presence filled the air subtly as it enveloped us.

With each step, the light blue robes they wore billowed.

Their postures reflected firm bodies and solid training, along with the dense Taoist Qi radiating from them.

In addition, the confident pace showcased their pride.

– W-Wudang Sect…!

Someone whispered, and the words echoed loudly.

Yes, the ones approaching were them.

The successors of the renowned sect, the Gu Sect.

‘Wudang Sect.’

Recognizing their identity, it wasn’t long before they stood before us.

There were precisely ten of them.

Feeling out auras, it was clear they were formidable masters.

‘All of them passed the peak stage.’

Some looked like seasoned veterans of the peak.

What appeared to be a simple greeting seemed overly elaborate in nature.

As the crowd scrutinized with attentive eyes, the leader stepped forward.

“Greetings, esteemed guests from the Hwasan Sect.”

Immediately upon hearing those words, Yeongpung moved to take a stance.

I grabbed his arm, preventing him from making a move.

Clang-!

“…!”

Yeongpung’s expression turned to one of surprise, but I ignored him and continued to speak.

“Indeed.”

“I am Ji Cheol, the Second Disciple of Wudang. I received a mandate to escort our guests.”

Hearing Ji Cheol’s introduction, I finally released Yeongpung’s arm.

“I am Yeongpung, the Third Disciple of Hwasan.”

“I am Gu Ryeonghwa, the Second Disciple of Hwasan.”

Once the two finished their introductions, Ji Cheol’s gaze shifted back to me.

His eyes seemed to be asking, “And who might you be?”

“Ah, I am Gu Yangcheong. This is my baggage carrier; pay him no mind.”

“…!”

I gestured to Seongyul, who was indeed carrying my baggage.

As Ji Cheol heard my name, his eyes widened slightly. I wondered what that was about when voices emerged from behind.

– Gu Yangcheong… the Gu Yangcheong? And there’s the Sword Dragon right beside him?

– Sword Dragon, indeed! Just as the rumors say, he’s a handsome young man.

– And that must be So Yeomra, right?

– They say his eyes resemble some demon—it turns out that rumor’s true…

It seemed they recognized not only Sword Dragon but also my name as they figured out my identity.

‘And who said that last part?’

I couldn’t believe how rumors had spread.

‘I tried to stay under the radar, but remnants of it still linger around.’

Suppressing my rising annoyance, I felt Ji Cheol’s curious eyes scanning me.

I narrowed my eyes in response.

‘What’s up with him?’

I thought he might be looking at me out of curiosity, but his gaze carried a hint of annoyance.

Of course, it was only fleeting.

Ji Cheol soon averted his eyes, but I didn’t miss that moment.

‘This guy…’

As I quietly chuckled to myself, Ji Cheol spoke.

“You are the renowned So Yeomra, then. I have heard much about you. They say you possess remarkable late-stage talents.”

The way he emphasized “late-stage talents” felt particularly rhythmic.

“I was informed through correspondence that you had business here. I hope you have a pleasant stay.”

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

As I smiled and replied, Ji Cheol nodded slightly.

“For now, considering your long journey, would you prefer to rest in a comfortable place? What do you say?”

“I would appreciate that.”

With the formalities concluded, it seemed we were headed to the Wudang Sect.

“Please follow me.”

However, where we ended up was surprisingly not Wudang.

After walking for a bit under Ji Cheol’s lead, we entered a building.

An inn that looked quite upscale from the outside.

The interior was quiet, suggesting it might have been closed off, and it was well-maintained, but I couldn’t help but wear a puzzled expression as I entered.

‘What’s going on?’

We’d come all this way to visit Wudang, only to find ourselves in an inn instead.

Casting a sidelong glance, I noticed Yeongpung’s expression wasn’t looking so good either.

And who could blame him?

‘After coming for business, we end up in an inn instead of the sect itself.’

They pretended to treat us as guests, but this was clearly dismissive behavior.

That understanding likely accounted for the expressions both Yeongpung and Gu Ryeonghwa wore.

As the tension sank in deeper with sour expressions, Ji Cheol sat at a table and opened his mouth.

“First, I’d like to apologize.”

He started with an apology.

“Normally, we would have brought you directly to the main sect, but given the current chaotic situation there, we had no choice but to bring you here.”

It seemed Ji Cheol was aware of the awkwardness of the situation as he began explaining.

“Is that so?”

Yeongpung frowned slightly and asked, causing Ji Cheol to elaborate further.

“That’s right. Currently, it’s difficult for us to welcome outsiders brazenly, so I ask for your understanding.”

“…What does that mean?”

“It means, once the verification process is complete, we’ll take you out of the inn and up to Wudang, so I hope you’ll cooperate with us.”

Yeongpung’s expression showed he was quite taken aback.

Well, given how unexpected this was, such a reaction was expected.

I too felt like tilting my head in confusion.

Verification process, huh.

‘Has something happened at Wudang?’

From the way he spoke, it seemed something indeed was amiss.

But separating that from the current circumstances, things looked unfavorable.

‘He said the atmosphere is tense, but that we weren’t simply here to welcome them.’

It was as if they came overflowing with presence.

‘Maybe they aim to establish dominance.’

From the very first meeting, I could tell it was off.

Ji Cheol intentionally delayed introducing himself.

Given that Yeongpung was his junior, it made sense for him to take the initiative first.

However, it was clearly established that we all came from different groups; yet they attempted to impose their expectations from the start.

‘They want to take charge here.’

This was indeed a tactic to assert that they held the upper hand.

That was why I’d stopped Yeongpung earlier.

‘It could be a simple misunderstanding.’

But judging from Ji Cheol’s behavior, it didn’t seem like that was the case.

‘You can tell just by observing their conversation.’

Listening to Ji Cheol’s words directed at Yeongpung, it was clear he was trying to maintain a facade of politeness.

Still, there was a condescending attitude layered beneath it.

Not to mention, he seemed to be compelling us to understand his demands without prior notice.

As if intending to subtly force cooperation with the threat of cooperating would allow us access to Wudang properly.

To me, it felt as though they were trying to sabotage us on purpose.

The issue was that.

“…What is it you’d like us to cooperate with?”

Yeongpung appeared unable to appropriately handle this situation.

‘Tsk…’

Being from the Central Plains, Yeongpung was naturally a bit naive.

From my perspective, it was quite frustrating.

‘This won’t do.’

Seeing Yeongpung floundering, I sighed lightly.

I had intended to watch how he would navigate this, but at this rate, we could end up in dire straights.

‘This isn’t the time to stand back.’

I didn’t want to jump in, but it seemed unavoidable.

As Yeongpung wore a frustrated expression while questioning Ji Cheol, Ji Cheol’s lips curled up slightly as he continued.

“First, I would like to address the individuals from Hwasan…”

“Before that, I have a question to ask.”

As I interrupted the conversation, Ji Cheol’s face contorted in displeasure.

Clearly, he wasn’t pleased with the interruption.

He held his expression, shifting his gaze in my direction, eyebrows furrowing in inquiry.

“…You?”

His question dripped with discomfort.

“I’ve been curious about something. Figured I should ask.”

“What is it?”

Feeling Ji Cheol’s glare, I smiled brightly and asked.

“Are you perhaps from the demonic faction?”

“…?“

Ji Cheol’s expression was blank, seemingly at a loss for words.

Did I hear that wrong?

“…What do you mean…?”

“No, it’s just the way you handle things feels distinctly like those from the demonic faction, so I thought I’d ask.”

“What?”

“The way you speak feels like it’s been twisted around and makes others uncomfortable, which strikes me as similar to your kind. Forgive me if I’m mistaken; I guess I may have been misled. Haha!”

I smiled and gestured casually, but then—

Ji Cheol’s expression began to tighten ominously.

Just as he seemed about to leap up in anger—

“Pfft….”

Out of nowhere, a short laughter echoed, and the atmosphere immediately chilled.

All eyes shifted towards the source of the laughter.

There stood Gu Ryeonghwa, with a look of regret on her face as she covered her mouth.

“…Ah, I’m sorry… it was unintentional…”

Gu Ryeonghwa mumbled awkwardly, but it was already too late to take it back.

 

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