Chapter 597
Episode 597 End of Washin Counseling (3)
Mount Cheongseong was on fire.
The center of the Sichuan region, which boasted of its lush green mountains, collapsed, unable to withstand the disaster of the devil.
Originally, mountain sects do not gather around one area like sects in the secular world. Although there was a main building, there were many cases where training centers were built in various directions or closed centers were built and spread out across the mountain.
The Qingcheng faction was also like that. Although there is a main temple, the Taoists spread out to countless temples and hermitages, each focusing their efforts on training.
Maybe it was like that in the past. They are one of the best factions, called the pillars of the martial arts faction and one of the old factions.
But the current Cheongseongsan Mountain was not like that. Taoist monks who lost their dignity as practitioners and turned their eyes to the secular world under the spell of Damsayoung regarded practitioners who had not lost their innocence, unlike themselves, who had become corrupted, as a thorn in their eyes.
Even though the main building was on fire and the entire Qingcheng Mountain was groaning, the small number of Qingcheng scholars spread across the mountain peak did not come forward.
They shed tears of blood as they watched hundreds of years of history collapse, but they could not bear to go there.
It is obvious that if you go to the main building, you will be aiming your sword at the alumni, not the demon god who is spreading the power of disaster everywhere.
Because it would be better to be completely burned by the demon’s wrath than to be swept away by desire and reduced to a sect that commits all kinds of evil things.
Practitioners who do not come forward even though they are alumni. This was a passage that showed how egregious the leaders of the Cheongseong faction, who had enjoyed wealth and fame together with Dam Sa-yeong, had committed.
Googoo googung!
Dozens of headquarters conduits collapsed.
Originally, all of the Qingcheng faction’s conduits were archaic. The conduits, which could clearly feel the passage of time, were close to a work of art in themselves.
However, after Cheongseong Jang Mun-in joined hands with Dam Sa-yeong, the conduits of Cheongseong main building were all newly built. The buildings, which had been transformed into splendid exteriors, looked like palaces where high-ranking officials lived, not government offices.
And none of those gorgeous buildings were in good condition. It was swept away by the thunderstorm emitted by Xiliang and was completely destroyed.
“Whew.”
Seoliang, who had completely blown up the main building, touched his shoulder and descended the mountain.
“This is pretty annoying.”
These were not words for someone who had annihilated hundreds of Taoist monks and blown up dozens of Taoist temples.
Seoryang, who was coming down Cheongseongsan Mountain, came to a stream and stopped.
“Just come out.”
About a dozen Taoists appeared as if they had been waiting.
He was completely different from the Taoist monks who lost their lives at the hands of Seo-ryang in the main temple. While the magistrates at the main mountain had dull eyes that put to shame the splendor of their uniforms, the monks who appeared now, although wearing old and plain uniforms, had eyes as clear as those of children.
Xu Liang’s eyes lit up.
“Are they Qingseong practitioners?”
The Taoists remained silent.
Seoryang, who had been watching them quietly, seemed to have lost interest and started walking again.
At that time, a Taoist monk opened his mouth.
“Did you say you were the leader?”
Xiliang looked back.
The middle-aged Taoist monk who broke the silence lowered his head.
“My name is Songheon, the head of Jeokhaam, Cheongunbong, Cheongseongsan Mountain.”
Seo-ryang, who was looking at Song Heon, opened his mouth.
“This is Seoryang, the 36th leader of the Heavenly Demon Church.”
Silence came again.
Soon, Songheon sighed and lowered his head again.
“Thank you for doing what we should have done.”
Seo-ryang’s eyes sparkled.
“Of course, it was something you had to do. At the same time, it was something you could never accomplish with your current strength.”
“….”
“However, they were also Taoists who ate together with you, so they don’t seem to have any intention of revenge.”
Song Heon shook his head.
“What we all could not have done, Master Seo has finished alone. Neither power nor justification can touch you.”
For an instant, Seoryang’s eyes became cold.
“Even if your mouth is crooked, you still have to speak straight. It’s not a matter of power or justification, is it? Haven’t you already lost your affection for the Taoists in the main building?”
“…exactly.”
Song Heon sighed.
“What the Seo leader said is correct.”
“As you are mountain ascetics, it must be difficult for you to be well-versed in the dirty methods of the world. Still, you had to do something. Even if the end of the path was death.”
“….”
“It is definitely the fault of Damsayoung and the Taoist masters of the main building that Cheongseong has deteriorated to such an extent. It is not your fault.”
“….”
“But you also don’t seem worthy of carrying the name of Cheongseong. If you had known how much the people of Sichuan suffered while they were wreaking havoc, you would have stayed in your hermitage and cried out for the glory of the Primordial Heavenly Father. It didn’t work.”
The monks’ faces turned red.
Song Heon gritted his teeth.
“What excuse can we make? It’s just that we thought it was right to come before the leader now and express our gratitude to you for doing what we had to do.”
Xu Liang frowned.
“I didn’t do this for your benefit, so you don’t have to thank me.”
“….”
“However, if you are truly ashamed of your actions, do not entertain vain thoughts of continuing the legacy of the clan or reproducing the glory of Cheongseong, but serve the people of Sichuan even now. That will be enough. ”
At that time, one of the Taoist monks suddenly spoke up.
“Only when Cheongseong survives can the lives of the common people be stabilized.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Xu Liang chuckled.
“Is that why the Taoist masters in the main building have been acting like that all this time?”
“It was completely coincidental…!”
“I don’t want to argue and I don’t want to see more blood. So I’ll just ask one question.”
Xi Liang pointed at the Taoist with his index finger.
“Do you really think that only if Qingseong survives will the people also survive?”
“Of course.”
“sincerely?”
“That’s right.”
“I ask again. Are you saying that this decision was made after truly thinking about the world, reading the situation in Sichuan, and seeing for yourself the reality of the common people?”
The Taoist could not open his mouth.
There was life in Seoryang’s eyes.
“In the end, isn’t it because of your desire to value your own clan more than the lives of the common people?”
“that…!”
“The Taoists in the main building must have been just like you. People like you joined hands with Dam Sa-yeong and destroyed Cheongseong’s guild from its roots.”
The Taoist gritted his teeth.
I wanted to say that that’s not the case and that the name of Cheongseong is definitely needed to see far ahead.
But at the same time he knew. That your words will not have any effect on the other person.
The opponent is the leader of the Demonic Cult that everyone despises, but he is a rare charlatan who drew his sword for the world. He is called the incarnation of Yeomra and a living demon god, but in the end, if he had not stepped forward, the world would have been devoured by a rare villain called Dam Sa-yeong.
“Before following the Tao, you must first become human. To become a truly human being means to be honest with yourself. You just want to establish a new voice and are not concerned about the common people.”
“….”
“Looking far ahead? Bullshit. Before looking far ahead, reach out to those who are looking for help in front of you. If you truly want to serve the world, you have to start right there.”
Xu Liang coldly turned his back.
Song Heon shouted at his back as he slowly walked away.
“Do you plan to unify the world?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure that the world you envision will be filled with only peace?”
“Questions like that have no meaning to you now, so I’m telling you to go out into the world. If you really want to hear my answer, come back after you have the qualifications.”
This is how the meeting between Seoliang and Cheongseong monks ended.
After going further down the mountain, we finally saw the carriage.
“Are you here?”
“okay.”
Ma Dong-pil’s eyes sparkled.
“I felt the energy of the Taoist Man.”
Xiliang snorted.
“They only learned the inner skills of the Taoist clan, but they were not truly members of the Taoist clan.”
“okay.”
Ma Dong-pil pointed to the side.
“Thank you for your hard work. Please get some rest.”
“Is that so?”
Resting in the house of someone you destroyed is also something that cannot be done unless you are extremely serious.
However, neither Seo-ryang nor Ma Dong-pil had any hesitation. Not because they read it, but because in their minds, Sichuan was already their land.
“Brother.”
“hmm.”
Joo Seo-yoon welcomed Seo-ryang.
“Young and Yeomin… um, they’re having an argument again.”
“yes.”
“The emperor will be resting in his carriage.”
“that’s right.”
Seoyang sat with his back against the tree.
“It’s good. I still wanted to get some rest.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“What a hardship. Cleaning up empty-headed idiots is something anyone can do.”
Namgungdan stuck out his tongue.
“The only person in the entire world who speaks of them like that is the religious leader.”
“That’s not true.”
Xu Liang said in a serious tone.
“There is no point in learning the Neigongsim method of Buddhism and Taoism simply to increase internal strength or utilize the power of martial arts.”
“hmm?”
“The inner strength of the Buddhist school is based on compassion, and the inner strength of the Taoist gate is based on goodness. Their martial arts, which have been corrupted by desire, only look threatening and do not contain any of the unique martial arts. “It’s just a shell.”
Namgungdan shook his head.
“No matter how much it is, a threat is a threat.”
Xu Liang chuckled.
“Then let’s say those guys were particularly weak.”
“haha.”
Namgungdan also seemed to be quite relaxed. Now I know how to smile in front of others.
“Then what’s next?”
“exactly.”
“Amipara…”
“Why? Do you know anyone there?”
“We all knew each other at one time, although we weren’t really close friends.”
Namgungdan let out a soft sigh.
“I was a coward.”
“What do you mean by that out of the blue?”
“As I said before, if the leader of the cult had not come out into the world, I would not have drawn my sword either. Only after seeing you come to the central plains and cut out the corrupt people one by one did I know that the righteousness of the world had not died.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I’m serious. In the end, I am no different from the practitioners of Cheongseong or the Buddhists of Ami who are still worried about not being able to come forward.”
“It’s different.”
“How do you think it’s different?”
Xu Liang smiled.
“They turned their attention away from their responsibilities. Even though there are things more important than clans, they prioritized reputation and profit.”
“Namgoong’s name is important to me too.”
“Conclusively, even though Damsayoung tried to encroach on countless sects, she could not even touch Namgung.”
“It’s…”
“It’s not because of Noh-bae. In other words, Noh-seopbae is no match for Dam Sa-yeong.”
Xu Liang shrugged his shoulders.
“A power more terrifying than martial arts. That is an unwavering sincerity. Damsayoung knew that Namgung would never corrupt, so she never dared to touch him from the beginning.”
“….”
“So there’s no need to blame yourself so much. Gaju Namgung is the most charlatan-like charlatan I’ve ever seen.”
Namgungdan lowered his head without realizing it. It was because he was embarrassed for some reason.
Seoliang, who was looking at him with a smile, lay down on the spot.
“Whew, let’s rest for about half a day before leaving.”
At that time, the carriage door opened.
“Master Seo.”
“Hmm?”
Zhu Qing said with a stern face.
“Please talk to me.”