Chapter 168

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Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 168. But I'll walk with you. (3)

Chung Myung walked to Namyung as if he was possessed.

Where he headed is the already collapsed Sword Tomb.

Arriving at the foot of Jeokgongsan Mountain by walking neither quickly nor slowly, he began to climb the path with a blank face.

In the end, if Immortal Medicine tried to leave his mark, it meant that it could never be in Sword Tomb.

As a result, weren't all they found in Sword Tomb was rotten Divine Weapon?

Then.

Where are the traces of Immortal Medicine that aren't Talgeum Muehun-un’s?

‘It leads to a single path.'

It is said that there were several other mountain path in Jeokgongsan in the past. But at some point, it was said that only this path was left due to a natural disaster.

As if those who climb Jeokgongsan Mountain are bound to pass through the place where Sword Tomb is located.

Chung Myung, who climbed the mountain as if he was half awake, saw a wide and deep hole.

He stood right in front of the pit and looked down with blank eyes.

‘Sword Tomb.’

This is Sword Tomb.

A place where anyone who climbs this mountain has no choice but to arrive.

"Tao (道). Fei Tao (非道). The path. Not the path."

Those who walk somewhere other than the path cannot reach this place, and only those who walk the path arrive here.

"……did you realize something?"

At the words of Baek Chun, who secretly asked, Chung Myung shook his head.

The fiery gaze startled Baek Chun.

"Sasuk."

"Yes?"

"What did they do when they found Sword Tomb?"

"What are you talking about?"

"What did they do when they found it?"

"Well……."

It was a random question, but he have to answer it for now. Chung Myung's question must have come from the process of organizing his thoughts.

"They will go inside."

"How?"

"No, what are you talking about? Of course, open the door and go inside...…."

Baek Chun closes his mouth.

Open the door and go in.

"The entrance (入門)." (I think it could be also interpreted as sect, maybe.)

It can be used in many ways. However, there was only one thing that functioned as entrance here.

"A door in the shape of a sword aimed at each other."

"Yes, entering sects." (The raw is "그래. 무학에 입문한다.")

Chung Myung said, distorting his face.

"What was behind that?"

"A long and narrow path. With traps in between."

Jo-Gol clapped his hands.

"I see! That's the training!"

"Yes, it's training. Training is like walking on a narrow path. Everyone starts off on a wide path, but eventually, they can't handle the narrow path and start falling behind one by one. Only those who overcome it could move on."

"In the midst of great obstacles."

Chung Myung nodded his head.

It's obvious now.

"In other words……."

Baek Chun summarized the situation.

"Sword Tomb symbolizes the process by which a person enters sects and cultivates martial arts."

"Maybe so."

Only then could Baek Chun understand the grotesque form of Sword Tomb.

"But the path are divided in the middle."

"The same goes for learning martial arts. Even if you're a beginner, you'll all choose different paths depending on your preferences. But what happened at the end?"

"……the path comes together again."

"Manryu Gwijong (만류귀종이지). Even if we go down different paths, in the end we have no choice but to follow the one with the greatest meaning." (To make it easier to explain, it is meaningless to consider properties because damage is 9999 when the level is 99 whether you use fire or ice properties. Source from namu)

Baek Chun said with a groan.

"……it's the completion of martial art."

"Right."

A huge joint cave where Chung Myung fought with Cho Myung-san and Samsalgwi.

The path, which had been divided into several parts, was brought back together there. It's as if the warriors with different will have no choice but to move towards a single goal in the end.

"What was behind that?"

"...a long, dark cave. And Gangshi."

Yoon Jong said with a groan.

"It's Inner Demon (心魔)."

"Yes, the darkness that must come before you complete the martial arts. Inner Demon."

"And what about the cliff? Going up after going through Inner Demon...…."

The answer came from Baek Chun's mouth, not Chung Myung.

"The Deungseon Path (Path to Immortal/ 登仙之路)."

Baek Chun is now able to see the full meaning.

"The brilliant light from the far end of the cliff means the completion of the martial arts. In Taoism, it is Ascension to Immortal (羽化登仙), and in Buddhism, it’s Nirvana (解脫)."

But there were some things that had not been solved yet.

"Then what about Divine Weapon and the empty wooden box? You have to accomplish something if you're taking the lead."

Chung Myung revealed his teeth.

"I mean, no."

"Huh?"

"It's the light, but also the fall. There's nothing you get for fighting and killing people In the first place, learning martial arts doesn't mean anything.  Sword Tomb was not built by Immortal Medicine to test martial artists, but to embody his ideas of martial arts."

Yoo Iseol's words were the clue.

Immortal Medicine is a doctor.

There was no way for such people to have a good view of martial artists who injure and kill people. No, maybe he regarded them as enemies. The more someone loved and cared for people, the worse the hatred would have become.

"That's why he becomes Talgeum Muehun-un and let martial artists of his time know that their martial arts mean nothing. Taking away Divine Sword, the symbol of the martial arts. Immortal Medicine was well versed in pill refinement to create Chaos Origin Pill, so even if he lacked martial art skill, he was able to defeat martial artists of his time with a huge Internal Strength." (The raw is 애병을. I changed it to Divine Sword)

"……but nothing has changed."

"Yes, the invincible obsession with martial arts is beyond imagination. That's what Immortal Medicine wanted to say. That their martial arts are just harm that kills people. No matter how much you wrap it up, there's nothing at the end."

Baek Chun grabbed his shoulder as if he was getting goosebumps.

It's terrifying tenacity and madness. He can't believe Immortal Medicine would create a ridiculous place called Sword Tomb just to convey that one thing. How persistent was Immortal Medicine?

“Then you mean there was no way there was anything in there in the first place?”

"Right."

"...then it’s all in vain."

Now that they realized the true nature of Sword Tomb, they all sighed.

"But why are we here? To confirm that?"

"No."

Chung Myung shook his head firmly.

"I told you, Sword Tomb wasn't Immortal Medicine's grave. This is grave of Talgeum Muheun-un. Immortal Medicine didn't think of himself as Talgeum Muheun-un. It’s a fake. It's nothing compared to the refinement method and medicine of Immortal Medicine created, it's all just fake identity."

"……."

"What about those who have fallen apart for what they aimed?"

"...will try to find others goal again."

Look up.

Everyone couldn't take their eyes off the collapsing ceiling, and even Chung Myung looked for the light pouring from the sky the moment the cave collapsed. As if there is still hope (light).

"But he who finds it fleeting sees the bottom. On the bottom... There is life on the there that is the lowest and most martial artists wouldn’t not see. There is survival. There are people who live."

Chung Myung muttered incessantly.

His words were not meant for his Sahyung. The thoughts that burst out like a stream of water were merely flowing out in the shape of a horse.

"And what about those who realize? What should they do?"

"Going back?"

"No."

Chung Myung slowly began to move his feet.

"Moving forward. The one who set the wrong goal from the beginning. The one who hurt people by walking on the path of martial art. If they are alive, they can move on."

He was headed for a mountain path that led beyond the pit.

No one went to that place.

Countless people gathered here, but none of the people who found Sword Tomb tried to move their feet to the path leading to it, and no one thought it strange.

Their goal is right there.

"There were countless clues. A land in the middle of a mountain where no grass grows. For those who are driven by the desire to find treasure, it may seem like land made of gold, but...… It's just a dead land.

"Oh...."

When they hear the word "dead land," it feels like everything becomes clear.

Looking back, there were so many clues, and it was explained in the kindest way. The massive desires for Chaos Origin Pill and Divine Dragon prevented them from thinking about anything else.

Even Mount Hua's disciples jumped in with them as soon as they came here, and turned around without regret after Sword Tomb collapsed.

For those who came only for Sword Tomb, there was no point in going further.

Chung Myung moves on as if possessed again.

A place that has now become a great pit in a dead land, where everything has collapsed and returned to nothing.….

But towards the path that continues.

He walks through the overgrown bushes.

'This is what you wanted to say.'

The emptiness of martial arts is not the end.

Walk.

But still walk.

Even if you've lost a goal that you've been trying to achieve for all your life if you don't despair of it and find out what's under your feet…. It's not too late yet, so move on with those two feet.

For the sake of living, not of martial arts.

Chung Myung's steps become serious.

Chung Myung does not agree with Immortal Medicine's ideas. But he couldn't help but pay tribute to this formidable arrangement that Immortal Medicine had made with all his life.

Soon.

They arrived in another open space.

But, unlike the first place they saw, everything is in harmony.

Water flows through the rocks, and the surrounding area is overgrown with grass. The tree grows naturally, and animals running freely in between run away in surprise when they find Chung Myung.

Nothing but a natural place.

But that's why Chung Myung can be sure this is the land that Immortal Medicine truly chose. This is because it is in perfect contrast to the dead land where they first arrived.

"Those who don't know what Immortal Medicine will not think of anything when they get here."

"I suppose so. It's just...… It's really just a mountain."

Chung Myung's eyes were fixed on one spot from the beginning.

On one side of the vacant lot, there is a gap in the rocks where water flows out.

That place is probably the water source of this Jeokgongsan Mountain.

"The water is weak."

Chung Myung murmurs low.

"The thin, shallow water soon merges with other waters to form a stream and flows into the sea in the form of a river. In doing so, it supports countless lives."

In the end, it's Tao.

And humanity (仁/Virtue/Benevolence).

"If Immortal Medicine was really trying to convey his message, he would have had to overcome his pride and fear."

Sword Tomb is his fear.

Then what is Immortal Medicine's pride?

"I..."

Chung Myung muttered as if he had become Immortal Medicine.

“What I have achieved will spread like water into the world and be the starting point for saving countless people."

What a crazy idea.

But...

If this arrangement is really by Immortal Medicine, he deserves madness.

Chung Myung walked slowly and approached the gap between the rocks where the water was flowed out.

If his idea is correct.

If what Immortal Medicine was trying to convey to his descendants in the distant future was delivered to Chung Myung now.

What he's trying to convey is...….

It's right here!

Chung Myung pushed his slightly trembling hand into the crevice of the rock where the water was flowed out. A narrow gap that can barely fit a couple of human hands. He shoves his arm up to his shoulder in it and starts groping inside.

His body was instantly wet with water.

This is Suwon (수원).

It's the source of life.

This is the only place if it was placed somewhere. No! It should be here!

'Those who have not been frustrated do not know.'

Anyone who doesn't know how futile martial art is, can't realize what Immortal Medicine is trying to convey. At the end of his life, he felt deeper emptiness than anyone else, and yet he could see what Immortal Medicine was trying to say because he was moving forward again.

It’s here!

It has to be right here!

It was that moment.

Tok!

Chung Myung caught something at his fingertips.

The sound of fingertips. It is not a rock. Obviously this...

‘Metal?’

Chung Myung pushes his hand further in. The sense of straight and refined metal is clearly felt.

He pulled out the clump of metal in his hand with a lot of force.

Kruruk!

At the same time as the water gushes out, a square iron bar is pulled out of the rocks!

Chung Myung couldn't breathe and looked at the iron bar he pulled out.

Box.

His hands are starting to shake.

His Sahyung couldn't even open their mouths, staring at the box that Chung Myung had pulled out as hard as a stone.

A box tightly sealed with metal remained intact even though it was clear that it had been in the water for two hundred years.

Just looking at it, it's definitely something unusual.

Chung Myung's fingertips slowly headed towards the box.

Click.

Chung Myung, who opened the lock at once, takes a deep breath. Then he slowly opened the box with a trembling hand.

Creak.

The box opens with a tiny sound of friction.

Before the eyes could check the box, the indescribably pure scent penetrated the tip of Chung Myung's nose.

"Uh...…."

And then in a completely open box

Chung Myung looked clearly with his eyes.

In that small box, there are about twenty small tablets and antique brochures.

"Gasp."

His heart aches.

His legs are shaking.

He checked the title of the booklet by forcing his eyes that has started to blur.

The secret to Chaos Origin Pill (混元訣)?

"Chaos……."

Out of consciousness.

"Ha……Ha…… Ha...Woaaah!"

"What?"

"We founnndd iiiiitt!!”

"Uoooohhh!"

"Crazy, we found it! We found it!"

Chung Myung gave a loud shout to the sky.

"Woohhh! Immortal Medicine bastard! I found it! I have fooouund iiit!!”

Chung Myung foamed  and slowly moved back.

‘Sahyung!’

‘Chun Mun Sahyung!’

‘D*mn it! d*mn it! I did it!’

Chun Mun’s smiling face seemed to come to mind in the increasingly blurred vision.

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