Shrouded in fog all year round, its shape soared high into the sky like an incense burner.
Wudang Mountain—
One of the five mountains in the Central Plains, known as the Five Peaks.
It was known as the sacred place of Taoism and was home to numerous spots like the red cliffs, canyons, deep caves, and the springs around. It was known to have beautiful scenery and had mysterious energy so many ordinary people visited it.
The top of the Golden Peak was constantly visited by the people throughout the year.
However, in recent years, people who visited Wudang Mountain were rare. The uneasy atmosphere was added as the Taoists blocked their entry. To the Wudang Sect, it was one of the most precious things to them.
The Southern Edge and the other sects had collapsed one by one, and there was a dark cloud of fear that the Wudang would be attacked next.
“It is blocked here too.”
Said Seol-Hwi, who found the entrance to the sect, sighed after leaning against a tree the dim moonlight.
It was the third one. The mountain gate leading into the temple was locked and sealed.
Even before entering Wudang Mountain, there were no people in the place on the side of the roads, but as soon as they reached an entrance to the mountain, it felt stern.
This was a part that can show how the Wudang Sect felt about the atmosphere of the Central Plains right now.
“Shall we look for some other place? No...”
Thinking whether to just enter, Seol-Hwi turns around again. If all the gates of Wudang Sect were blocked, there would be no way to respond to the situation at hand.
Perhaps the core, the most important aspect, was blocking it by placing people and not buildings. Then, he should head elsewhere.
Because he had a reason to face the sect directly.
“Do you see people?”
“I don’t. Who will come here tonight?”
It was as Seol-Hwi expected. On the way to Wudang’s place, people wearing their robes were around, standing guard. Seol-Hwi slowly approached them head on. He deliberately made them notice him.
“Uh? What is it?”
The young Taoist who saw the stranger and asked in a surprised tone. Judging from the fact that he hurriedly introduced himself, it was probably a person who was used to the place.
Judging from the fact that he hastily acted, this Taoist was a newcomer, a low rank disciple.
“I came because I had a business...”
“Ah, right. Please wait a moment.”
Tuk
He stood next to the guy, who looked a year or two younger and was very nervous, and sat down as he picked the brush up.
“Tell me your name, origin, sect, and then enter.”
“....?”
At that moment, Seol-Hwi thought he heard it wrong.
They were not stopping those who came in and instead just asked about the details and let them in. Seol-Hwi, who had been absent minded for a moment, gave the identity he had prepared in advance, while looking at him with a shocked look.
“Please head in.”
Seol-Hwi was a little puzzled and walked along the path, they were just going to send them, with nothing to say.
Namyang Palace...
In Buddhism, “Temple” was added to the end of the name of their buildings, but in Taoism, they added in “Palace.”
He heard it beforehand, but the path to the palace was really tough. The road was quite narrow, and windy too, as they went through the deep valley.
It did not seem like a lie to say that tourists would be exhausted climbing this land.
Of course, Seol-Hwi had no issue with it. With just a few steps, he was able to cross the cliff.
“Wait.”
He stopped himself.
It was because three middle aged people jumped out of this little place on the side.
“Whose disciple was it?”
This question—
And the attitude which was so different from the young people he met at the gate.
“I said it was Taoist Hae Myung.”
“Hae Myung?”
“Hmm...”
When he answered, they made odd faces. Was it lack of practice or was it just unexpected? Their faces held this odd discomfort.
“What? Did he say Hae Myung?”
An old Taoist suddenly showed his face there.
So fast, clearly the presence within this place had reached in an instant.
Seol-Hwi clicked his tongue and hurriedly followed him.
Bad temper was bad but this was something else, but he also felt grateful that he did not ask much, as the old man hurriedly arranged a way to move swiftly and meet the sect leader.
And of course, it was up.
No. but. Maybe I shouldn’t trust him too much.
Seol-Hwi was a little shaken.
The peak, the highest one in Wudang—
And the Great Flame Palace was on top of it. It was one of the best Taoist temples in history, and there was a rumor that all the buildings built there were covered with thin gold.
“Is this your first time? To come and see this.”
“Ah, yes...”
Due to the location of the palace, it was usually overlooked when looking at the entirety of Wudang Mountain. And this position with a good view, of course, had the most highest ranking person in the sect.
...Wasn’t it something that needed more qualification?
Thanks to it, he felt a little bit of anxiousness. Seol-Hwi meticulously memorized the place he moved through. He also memorized the names and uses of each place and the map of this land, along with the maze-like alleys.
Looking at the map, it seemed very difficult to get to.
The Great Flame Palace, the place where the head of Wudang lived. However, it is right in front of his eyes.
“...”
“Why are you glancing at it like that? Like some village boy? Ah, waist now.”
“...Ah, yes.”
This old man brought him, whom he met for the first time today, in front of the sect leader of the sect—
Without doubts or any anxiousness.
Does he really believe me? Couldn’t he just be pretending to trust me and pull me into a trap?
Things had gone smoothly from a while back, and that made Seol-Hwi feel uneasy.
Had he ever solved a mission this easily?
Drrrr
Not long after waiting, the door to the palace opened up. And one young Taoist bowed his head.
“Sect Leader is inside. Please come in.”
“...”
So easy?
So different. This is different from what he knew. In the information he got beforehand, he learned the Wudang Sect’s sect leader had been refusing to meet people for close to 20 or more years.
“What is it? Come in.”
“Ah. Yes. Yes.”
“Haha. Is it difficult to meet the sect leader, even for the disciple of Hae Myung who is such a fool?”
“...”
Seol-Hwi had nothing to respond to it. It felt slightly different. It definitely felt like a burden to the sect leader.
Why is he rushing...?
It was the first time he did not have to wait long to get things done. As Seol-Hwi tried to enter the place, each step felt so heavy, as if standing in hell.
What on land did they believe in for them to be this defenseless? Did they have the confidence to handle anything?
Or was it a trap?
There aren’t many presences around, so it cannot be an ambush... Suffocation... no.
Seol-Hwi tried to shake off any doubts he had. He had experienced too many things before, but this was the first time to enter a place this easily.
If it was the main sect, it would be already on the look out for a long time... It would have taken close to a year, but are all sects like this?
...Tak.
Seol-Hwi, who was thinking about it, stopped. This elderly man was sitting and looking down the mountain.
It was amazing.
As if the light of dawn was rising on the land, countless green things shone through the fog.
Did the disciples of Wudang see it every day when training?
...For a moment he hoped he could see such a sight too.
Shhh
The old man moved. Judging from the fact that he had an old fashioned silk robe, he was probably Hae Woo.
“Hae Myung. That bastard’s disciple?”
“...!?”
The first thing which came from the mouth of the Wudang Sect leader was a curse.