novelraw Chapter 55 : Chapter 55
Chapter 55 : Chapter 55
Chapter 55 Wudang is Taiji (2)
The group, following the two across the wooden bridge, advanced while looking around eagerly.
“Wow. There’s nothing but Taoists!”
“Because it’s Wudang.”
“Over there, over there! A Taoist wearing a sword.”
“Because it’s Wudang, it’s only natural!”
Beside Baek-myo who was excitedly looking around, Hyeon-dam’s eyes, while pretending to be nonchalant, were also rolling around.
The Taoists, watching the two, smiled quietly and slowed their pace a little.
The group, having sufficiently toured the Wudang pavilions spread widely here and there at the foot of the mountain, began to slowly climb up the mountain.
The Taoists, who had been walking up for a long time, changed direction toward a small pavilion visible in the distance, and Jaun, following behind, frowned slightly.
“Foreign Affairs Hall Master. No matter if the Foreign Affairs Hall is in charge of secular affairs, how can you do something like requesting help from the Murim Alliance without the Inner Affairs Hall knowing?”
“Inner Affairs Hall Master. It’s not just any matter, but the disappearance of twenty-two third-generation disciples. Since the Inner Affairs Hall is making no progress at all, we should receive help even from outside.”
“It was just a lack of time; it is a matter we can sufficiently handle!”
“Because you are dealing with it complacently like that, isn't it true that we can't even find a trace?”
“Haha. Are you going to be like this, Foreign Affairs Hall Master? Why don’t you understand that this blemishes Wudang’s name. We would rather mobilize all personnel of the Inner Affairs Hall and search for them ourselves. Inform the Murim Alliance again that support is not needed.”
“It is already too late. If it’s support personnel……. It seems they have already arrived.”
The Foreign Affairs Hall Master and the Inner Affairs Hall Master turned their heads simultaneously and looked at the group coming up from below.
“Second-generation disciples Dam-hyeon and Dam-hu greet the Hall Masters.”
The two Taoists, having received the greetings of the second-generation disciples, glared at each other for a moment and then slowly walked down from the pavilion entrance.
“Primordial Celestial Worthy. Welcome, everyone. This poor Taoist is Un-gak, in charge of Wudang’s Foreign Affairs Hall. Fellow martial artists of the Jianghu call me by the undeserved title of Cloud Peak Sword .”
“This poor Taoist is Iron Wise Calculator Un-jin. I oversee the Inner Affairs Hall. Did you come from the Murim Alliance?”
The aura naturally radiating from the two gently shook the surrounding energy.
Baek-myo, rolling her eyes, poked Hyeon-dam in the side.
“That…… It is an honor to meet the two Elders. I am Hyeon-dam of the Anti-Demon Squad under the Murim Alliance.”
“I am Gwak Ye-ryeong! Please call me Baek-myo.”
“I am Han Jaun.”
“I am Ban Cheol-hwi, a scholar-daoist from Mt. Zhongnan. It is an honor to meet the sages of Wudang.”
When the group’s brief introductions ended, Un-jin, the Inner Affairs Hall Master, tilted his head.
“……Did perhaps other adults come with you?”
“No. We are all.”
At Hyeon-dam’s words, Un-jin sighed softly, glanced once at Un-gak, the Foreign Affairs Hall Master, and nodded slowly.
“You must have suffered coming here. Rest for now. I will call you when the time comes. Dam-hu, Dam-hyeon. Escort the guests to the Guest Hall.”
“Yes. We will do so.”
The two, having bowed with courtesy, turned around.
“Since we have paid our respects, please follow us, Taoist masters.”
The two took the lead and guided the group downwards.
Un-jin, who watched the group descending with a stiff expression, turned his body and signaled Un-gak, the Foreign Affairs Hall Master, with his eyes. Un-gak followed Un-jin back into the pavilion.
Jaun, who was slowly following the Taoists down, carefully expanded his energy, and the voices of the two people inside the pavilion could be heard faintly.
“Did you make such a fuss just to receive help from children like that who don’t even have a title? Isn’t the Anti-Demon Squad just a simple combat unit that fights the Demonic Cult? Besides, one is a scholar-daoist! Can the investigation of the missing disciples be done properly with them?”
As if that wasn’t the end, the Inner Affairs Hall Master raised his voice.
“Moreover, that child called a scholar-daoist is gasping for breath, having exhausted all his stamina just climbing the mountain! Tsk tsk. It would be fortunate if they don’t just hinder the investigation.”
“According to the Strategist’s message, they are the most suitable personnel for this investigation, so please watch the progress for a bit.”
“Primordial Celestial Worthy. Like this, how can Wudang save face? Even if we were to receive help, receiving help from such children is a shameful thing. For a Foreign Affairs Hall Master to be so short-sighted.”
“……Although they look younger than expected, the Murim Alliance wouldn't have sent them without any thought. We should try trusting the Murim Alliance once.”
“When things are handled this way, how can I not speak up. If you were going to call someone, you should have sent people worthy of Wudang’s name, why such green children…….”
Despite the Foreign Affairs Hall Master’s persuasion, the Inner Affairs Hall Master disparaged Jaun’s group from the Alliance as if they weren’t even worth considering.
“Tsk. It can’t be helped. Since it has come to this, just let them rest roughly in the Guest Hall, show them Wudang’s mountain scenery or something, and send them away. I will finish sorting out the disappearance case in the Inner Court.”
At the voices of the two coming from afar, Jaun smacked his lips bitterly.
“Seniors.”
“Huh?”
“Ah, by any chance, um…… do you not have separate titles called in the Jianghu?”
“Title? We don’t have anything like that? Who is there to give us a title when we only fight with Demonic Cult kids every day.”
“I have one, Baek-myo. I made it myself, isn't it cute? Do you want to have a title too, Youngest? Shall I make one for you?”
“No. It’s okay. I just asked out of curiosity.”
‘Title, huh.’
In fact, judging only by skill, Hyeon-dam and Baek-myo here were at least at the level of first-generation disciples, and Jaun possessed skills at the level of an Elder at the very least.
With that level of skill, it would be normal to have at least one plausible title, but since they had no special Jianghu activities, they were in a situation where they weren't receiving recognition worthy of their skills.
While thinking it was a natural reaction in a way, Wudang’s rashness in judging opponents easily only by name and appearance was regrettable.
‘I hope this doesn't cause trouble for the investigation…….’
With a worried heart, Jaun followed Wudang’s guidance.
***
“Nice room.”
Hyeon-dam, who settled in the Guest Hall, looked around the interior.
“The scenery is no joke either. Just open the window and Wudang Mountain’s scenery comes into view at a glance. Living in a place like this, I guess that’s how they attain enlightenment and such, right?”
Baek-myo opened the window and looked down outside.
Jaun, pondering between the two who were looking around the room here and there, slowly approached Ban Cheol-hwi.
“Young Hero Ban.”
Jaun raised his hand and pointed to the sky.
Stars could be seen twinkling in the sky which was getting dark little by little as the sunset settled before they knew it.
“How is it? Do you feel anything?”
“Ahem. Didn’t I tell you earlier that celestial signs are not something seen when you want to see them like that? One can only catch a glimpse of a part of it briefly when the heavens permit.”
Jaun, shrugging his shoulders at Ban Cheol-hwi’s words, looked down at Wudang’s panoramic view visible outside the pavilion.
‘If there is nothing special……. I have no choice but to examine it myself.’
Jaun, approaching Dam-hu who was quietly leaving the room after guiding the group, opened his mouth.
“By any chance, when can we start the investigation?”
“If you rest, the superiors will notify you separately when needed.”
Dam-hu answered in a calm voice.
“Hmm……. Then I will ask just one question. Where did the third-generation disciples disappear?”
“That is…….”
Dam-hyeon, smiling, approached Dam-hu who was hesitant and unable to answer due to awkwardness.
“I think we can only tell you that they disappeared on their way back from training outside Wudang. Please hear the details separately from the Elders later.”
Dam-hyeon turned his body after finishing speaking, and Jaun looked at that figure with a bitter expression.
***
Late evening.
Jaun spoke to Hyeon-dam and Ban Cheol-hwi who were getting ready to rest in the room.
“I will go for a walk for a moment. Please rest first.”
Ban Cheol-hwi, nodding without much thought, opened a book on the bed.
Hyeon-dam, hearing Jaun’s words, came to his side and tapped Jaun’s arm.
“I know what you are thinking, but don’t be too impatient. Nothing changes with a day or two difference.”
“Yes.”
“This is Wudang. You know the saying 'Shaolin is revered in the North, Wudang is respected in the South' right? That fame wasn't made for nothing, so you can trust Wudang and leave it to them. Well, I’m sure you’ll handle it appropriately yourself.”
Hyeon-dam, tapping Jaun’s shoulder once again, threw his body onto his bed.
“I’ll just rest. Ah, good. When else would I get to stay in Wudang like this.”
Jaun, looking once at Hyeon-dam rolling on the bed giggling, carefully opened the guest room door and came out.
‘Traces might disappear, so I should look around first.’
Wudang, where all pilgrims had left and darkness had settled, was silent.
Torches shining intermittently were heightening the elegance of Mt.
Wudang to the fullest.
Jaun, who came out of the Guest Hall slowly as if sightseeing, pictured the path he passed during the day in his head.
‘They said the disciples returning from training outside disappeared, right? Then the last traces seem likely to remain in the training ground.’
Recalling the direction of the training ground he saw while passing by, Jaun moved his steps there.
Taoists encountered occasionally passed by with a light bow without paying much attention, as if they had already heard Jaun’s story.
Jaun, moving his steps downward, confirmed the wide training ground and moved his steps there.
Only torches were swaying in the empty training ground.
Jaun, slowly sweeping the training ground floor with his feet and looking around, shook his head.
‘There are no special traces. No remnants of demonic energy either.’
Jaun, examining the training ground floor paved with blue steel stone here and there, slowly nodded.
Places on the hard blue steel stone were worn here and there from friction, and from those traces, the magnitude of sweat Wudang had shed could be confirmed.
‘Meaning it is a giant tree that has protected the Jianghu together with the thousand-year Shaolin.’
Jaun, having looked around once, sighed.
‘Twenty-two third-generation disciples of such Wudang disappeared at once. It certainly doesn't seem like an ordinary matter.’
Jaun, looking around here and there, moved his steps out of the training ground without much gain.
Just as he came out of the training ground, Jaun discovered a small path stretching next to the well-paved main road.
Examining it closely, there were traces too organized to say animals had passed.
Jaun, lost in deep thought for a moment, glanced around and changed direction toward the small path next to the training ground.
With the thought that he might discover something, Jaun slowly went up along the path.
Jaun, who had been walking up for a long time, discovered a small pavilion quietly prepared at the tip of the mountain peak.
[Thought Clearing Pavilion ]
Jaun, looking up at the old signboard written in powerful calligraphy, moved his steps up to the pavilion.
Standing on the pavilion located at the tip of the peak, Wudang’s panoramic view could be seen at a glance.
Jaun, who couldn't find any special traces here either, sat down with a thud and looked down at Wudang for a moment.
‘Perhaps because it is a holy ground of Taoism, the energy is truly clean.’
Jaun, soothing his frustrated heart with the clear energy he inhaled, soon fell into thought.
He couldn't discover anything within Wudang, and he couldn't find any particular traces on the way to Wudang either.
‘Moreover, considering the attitude of the Elders earlier, it seems hard to expect active support from Wudang…….’
At the thought that there might be no big gain from this visit to Wudang if things went wrong, Jaun let out a big sigh.
‘There isn't much time.’
Jaun raised his head and looked up at the sky.
“Piling up worries in a place made to clear thoughts.”
At that moment, an old man’s voice was heard from behind Jaun.
Jaun, who hadn't felt any particular presence, flinched and looked back.
“Who…… are you?”
The old man, who didn't give a particular answer, walked to Jaun’s side, looked down below the pavilion, and said.
“How is it. A breathtaking view, isn't it? Time has settled deeply on buildings made by humans, harmonizing with nature for a long time. I haven't found scenery like this anywhere else.”
The old man sat down with a thud next to Jaun and took out beef jerky from his bosom and threw it.
“It is dried wild boar that grew up eating the spiritual energy of Mt. Wudang. The taste is very good.”
The old man, taking one for his own mouth as well, chewed the beef jerky vigorously.
Jaun, unable to dare open his mouth at the massive aura flowing minutely from the old man, stared blankly at the old man.
“Hm? Ho. I thought I hid my energy, but you felt that? You are quite impressive for a young age.”
The old man, tapping his waist, turned his head toward Jaun.
“Aren't you going to eat? It is an item made with difficulty.”
Jaun, having looked at the old man for a long time, quietly brought the beef jerky to his mouth.
As the old man said, it was beef jerky that was clean yet savory.
“It’s okay, right? Chuckle. Since it is food this old man made with great care for a long time, chew it thoroughly.”
Refreshing energy was felt from the beef jerky passing down his throat.
Jaun, feeling it was not ordinary beef jerky, turned his head toward the old man.
“Hehe. Since the bribe has gone down the throat, now I can take a breather.”
The old man laughed heartily and tapped Jaun’s thigh.
“So, how is the taste of Wudang.”
At the old man’s question, Jaun fell into thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“Clear but not lofty, calm but roughness was felt.”
The old man nodded.
“Your words are correct. If you felt that, it is enough. Follow me.”
The old man got up from the pavilion, stepped on the railing, and took a step toward the empty air just like that.
Jaun opened his eyes wide, watching the old man falling slowly as if stepping on clouds with light movements.
‘Cloud Ladder Step .’
Wudang’s unique lightness skill, unrivaled in the Jianghu.
Jaun, unable to take his eyes off the stable yet profound movements the old man showed, watched the old man’s movements for a long time.