Chapter 155
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 155
Chapter 155. Visiting the Wudang Sect (2)
When I asked him who he was, he called himself Jinmu Daeje and seemed slightly embarrassed, but then he laughed heartily.
“Yes, what do you want?”
“Is there anything you can give me...?”
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“...”
I opened my eyes.
I sat up and tilted my head.
What was that just now? Was it a dream? It felt like I was dreaming.
I tried to recall the memory, but like any other dream, only a vague memory remained.
It didn't seem like a bad feeling...
While we were having breakfast at one of the restaurants in the guest hall, the Hall Leader of the guest hall approached us and informed us that the disciples who would be our guides would arrive in the afternoon.
Then we could look around the area open to visitors until our guides arrived.
After finishing my meal, I left the guest hall with my bodyguards.
“Just like yesterday, the view of the Wudang Sect in the morning is quite beautiful.”
Seo Woo nodded in agreement with Pal Gap's words.
“We get to visit the Wudang Sect, one of the two major orthodox sects of the martial arts world! I'm so excited.”
The other three bodyguards nodded in agreement. Seeing this, I understood what the Wudang Sect meant to orthodox martial artists.
However, more than half of this place had been destroyed in my past life, and only about half of my disciples had survived.
Thanks to the surviving masters, the sect was not completely wiped out, but the already struggling Wudang Sect declined to the point where it had difficulty operating.
As a result, Green Forest Bandits rose up around the Wudang Sect, causing trouble for those who came and went.
Before that, the Green Forest Bandits would never have dared to operate in the Wudang Sect's territory.
At that time, our Trading Company also suffered considerable damage.
The more I think about it, the more bitter I feel.
With feelings different from those of others, I looked around the area where visitors to the Wudang Sect were allowed to enter.
Even though it was only a small part of the entire Wudang Sect, it was so large that by the time I finished looking around, it was already lunchtime.
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After lunch, the disciples who were our guides came to find us.
They were Gong Lun Dao and Muun Dao, who had come to meet us yesterday.
“It's nice to see you again.”
“We were ordered to guide you and your party.”
“Thank you very much.”
With that, we entered the inner sanctum, which was off-limits to ordinary visitors.
We wore the tokens we had received from the guest hall leader earlier around our necks.
We were able to receive them thanks to the permission we had obtained from the Sect Leader yesterday.
Without these, only members of the Wudang Sect would be allowed to enter the inner sanctum.
Looking at the tokens around our necks, we recalled our visit to the Sichuan Tang Clan.
I wonder if Miss Tang and Mr. Cho are doing well.
We passed through the gate that separated the inner and outer areas. At that moment, a world that was similar yet different spread out before our eyes.
“This is...”
“Yes, this is the true form of the main building.”
The buildings were a little old but well maintained, giving them an antique feel.
And on the smooth blue stone floor, disciples of the Wudang Sect were practicing martial arts with loud shouts.
“This is truly wonderful.”
At my words, Gong Lun Dao looked a little embarrassed and said, “The martial arts being practiced over there are Tai Chi, the pride of our Wudang Sect, and over there is the Three Swords Technique.”
“The Tai Chi and Three Swords Technique that I know?”
“Are you referring to Tai Chi and the Three Swords Technique that I am familiar with?”
Tai Chi and the Three Swords Technique are representative examples of cheap martial arts books often sold by itinerant merchants in the market.
Of course, they are fakes with only the same name.
If the real secrets of Tai Chi and the Three Swords Technique were circulating, the Wudang Sect would not have remained silent.
“The real thing is different, as expected.”
Gong Lun Dojang nodded proudly at my words.
“Of course.”
With that, we headed toward a building, and Gong Lun Dojang asked for our understanding.
“Please wait a moment. I need to inform them inside that we have visitors.”
“Understood. We'll wait here.”
With that, Gong Lun Do entered the building, leaving Mu Un Do with us.
I glanced at the disciples practicing Tai Chi and the Three Swords Technique, then said to Mu Un Do.
“How is your mastery of Tai Chi and the Three Swords Technique?”
“I have not yet achieved complete mastery.”
He continued.
“It has been almost five years since I became your disciple, but it is not because I lack talent that my progress in Tai Chi and the Three Swords Technique is slow. It is because I will continue to practice only these two martial arts until the next disciple arrives. My progress is quite slow because I repeat the same techniques for months.”
“I see.”
I heard that the Wudang Sect formally accepts disciples once every eight years.
“Then you have to practice the two martial arts for another three years.”
“Yes, that's right.”
Perhaps because he had no one to talk to about this, or perhaps because no one would sympathize with him, he poured out his heart.
“To be honest, I'm tired of it. Repeating the same thing over and over again.”
“I can see why.”
“Why do they make us practice the same two martial arts over and over again...?”
As he was venting his frustration, he suddenly covered his mouth with his hand.
He realized that I was an outsider.
He was still a young disciple, so it was probably just a mistake.
“Please ignore what I just said. It was nonsense.”
I tilted my head at his words.
“I don't understand what you mean. Did the master say something to me?”
I asked the bodyguards.
“Did you hear what Master Muun said?”
“We didn't hear anything.”
I then turned to Pal-gap and asked him.
“Did you hear that?”
“What did he say?”
Mu-woon then clasped his hands together and said.
“Thank you.”
I smiled and naturally changed the subject.
“What do you think of the Wudang Sect?”
"Of course, the Wudang Sect boasts a long history. I am proud to be a disciple of the Wudang Sect.“
”As you say, the Wudang Sect is a wonderful place. They wouldn't emphasize the two martial arts for no reason. I think there must be a reason for it.“
”Do you have any idea why that might be?“
”In my limited knowledge, I think it's because the two martial arts are the foundation of all martial arts in the Wudang Sect."
I continued.
“Think about a tower. The taller the tower, the larger and stronger the bottom part is, right?”
“Ah...”
“I think the Wudang Sect wants all of its disciples to reach a higher level, so they spend a long time laying a solid foundation.”
My words made Master Mu's eyes light up.
“I was foolish. Thanks to your words, Master, I think I have found my path.”
“I am glad that my humble words were of help.”
I smiled and accepted his words.
In fact, the reason why I had been practicing Tai Chi and the Three Swords Technique for eight years was not only because they were the foundation of all martial arts of the Wudang Sect.
Of course, learning only two basic martial arts is a boring and tedious series of repetitions.
However, learning martial arts itself is a series of tedious repetitions.
If you cannot overcome that tedium, you will never reach a high level.
And people's tendencies do not change easily.
In other words, it is also to select disciples to whom I will teach martial arts in earnest.
From what I heard in my previous life, before accepting the next disciple, he tests the achievements of his recent disciples.
I heard that if they do not reach a certain level in Tai Chi and the Three Swords Technique, they cannot continue learning martial arts and must leave the mountain.
Becoming a disciple of the Wudang Sect was difficult in the first place, but the process of becoming a full-fledged member was even more arduous.
“What an interesting conversation.”
I suddenly heard a voice behind me, and I broke out in a cold sweat.
I hadn't sensed him at all.
I quickly turned around and saw an old man standing in front of us.
When Mu-un saw him, he quickly clasped his hands together and bowed his head.
“I am Mu-un, the 26th disciple. I am here to see the Elder.”
Upon hearing this, I realized who he was, and we also bowed our heads in respect.
“My name is Eun Seo-ho, the captain of the Eunhae Trading Company. It is an honor to meet the Elder of the Wudang Sect. The men beside me are my attendants and bodyguards. With the permission of the Sect Leader, we have been touring the Wudang Sect.”
“I see. My name is Jin-jing.”
After introducing himself, Elder Jin-Jeong bowed his head slightly to me.
“I heard that you made a considerable donation to the main temple.”
“It is not much, but I hope it will be of help to the Wudang Sect.”
“It will be very helpful. Thank you.”
At that moment, Gong-Ryun Do came out of the building and quickly clasped his hands in a greeting to Elder Jin-Jeong.
Elder Jin-jeong told us to enjoy the tour, left with a slight smile, and we entered the building.
It was a place to learn about Dao. Since the Wudang Sect is a sacred place of Taoism, learning about Dao is fundamental.
After looking around for a while, we headed to another place.
While looking around the Wudang Sect, I found a place that was strictly guarded by the disciples of the Wudang Sect.
I glanced inside and saw a small pavilion wrapped in chains and gold ropes.
Huh? What is that place?
Suddenly, I remembered the dream I had last night, which was as hazy as fog.
It was definitely the place I had seen in my dream.
In my dream, I saw a man named Jinmu Daeje, and he told me to prevent a bloodbath.
So I...
Ah... I made a deal.
I made a deal even in my dream. I guess I really am a heavenly merchant.
Jinmu Daeje told me to prevent bloodshed at Muwangsan, and I asked him what he would do for me in return.
He said he would tell me one secret.
I didn't know what the secret was, but he said it would help me, so I accepted.
Surely someone like Jinmu Daeje wouldn't try to trick me.
Anyway, bloodshed...
If Jinmu Daeje calls it a blood massacre, it can't be a trivial matter.
And the fact that he told me about it here means that the Blood Cult is being held captive in a heavily guarded place.
“Ah! Don't go near there!”
Moo-woon Dojang pulled me back. Pretending not to know, I asked him, “Where is that place?”
“They say that if you go there, you will become a monster.”
“They say you'll become a yokai if you go there.”
“A yokai?”
Gongryun Dojang continued in response to my question.
“Yes. I heard that a yokai that shed blood in Moo-Dang Mountain in the past is imprisoned there. That's why they say you'll be cursed and become a yokai if you go near there.”
“Then we shouldn't go near there.”
I don't know what he said about the Blood Cult to become a yokai, but considering that they shed so much blood in Mudae Mountain, it's not surprising that they became yokai.
Anyway, we found the place where the Blood Cult members are imprisoned, but how did they get past the heavy security?
The visible security alone is quite impressive, and the invisible security must be thorough as well.
If it were a simple break-in, the Wudang Sect masters wouldn't just stand by and watch, would they?
The problem is how to stay here a little longer.
Usually, people who deliver donations stay for a day or two and then leave.
From the Wudang Sect's perspective, the longer they stay, the more attention they have to pay to them.
Any longer than that, they need a reason.
In order to prevent the Blood Cult from escaping or the Blood Cult from being destroyed, we had to stay here for the time being.
That was when it happened.
“Hey! Watch out!”
Looking up at the voice coming from somewhere, I saw a broken wooden sword flying toward us.
“It's dangerous, young master!”
Pal-gap pushed me out of the way and was hit by the broken wooden sword.
“Oh no!”
“Pal-gap!”
“Oh no, I'm dying! Oh no!”
“I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!”
In an instant, all hell broke loose.
The broken wooden sword flew toward us, but it wasn't strong enough to hit Pal-gap.
Pal-gap, who was learning martial arts from Jin-yu Musha, was agile despite his appearance.
There was no way he couldn't predict where the wooden sword would land.
Even if he couldn't predict it, he could have easily dodged it.
Did he do it on purpose?
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Pal-gap was carried to the guest room, and a physician rushed over.
“Is my attendant all right?”
“Symptoms caused by the impact of being struck by something can usually appear later, so we need to monitor him. Please let him rest for a few days.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The physician said and left the room.
Baek Moon, the head of the guest hall, who was also in the room, apologized to me.
“I am truly sorry for what happened.”
“No, it was an unavoidable situation. The physician said that I should rest, so I think I will stay here for a few more days.”
“Of course, you should.”
The head of the guest hall said he would take care of everything and left the room.
Then, Pal-gap, who was lying on the bed, smiled slightly and said in a low voice.
“Young master, how was my acting?”
Hearing that, I couldn't help but smile.