Chapter 390 [390] Wudang[2]
An old man sat on a withered chair, The sight around him was depressing, once marble and wood of the highest quality were now destroyed and rotten, and the corpses of the people he once cherished lay beside him, everywhere in the hall.
The once simple but beautiful decorations that filled his sect had now been reduced to ash.
The man, although infected by the power of shadow, his figure remained pure.
Unlike the rotting corpses of other martial artists, he was able to preserve his mind and body somewhat. He was strong enough to be capable of that.
This man was the leader of Wudang! It would be disgraceful to the sect if he was unable to do this.
"Another appears."
His voice rang throughout the hall, and he opened his eyes.
They were pure black, It seems he was not able to escape the influence of the Shadow completely.
Although his hair and skin were not in good condition, it was normal for a man of his age.
He walked outside the hall with a graceful gait, the ends of his robe sweeping against the ground but not getting dirty in the slightest.
"..."
The man grew silent as he saw the wasteful sight of his sect.
"..."
Destroyed buildings and shattered grounds. The once beautiful Wudang sect had been reduced to rubble.
Would one believe that this was once known as the most beautiful Sect?
The most righteous sect?
The cleanest sect?
The home of Tao?
None would. Not when they gazed at the state it was in.
The black eyes of the Wudang sect leader gazed at a particular training ground in the ruined sect.
"Haha…"
He let out a laugh, was that not the place where he had dueled the Heavenly demon? Where the principles of Wudang had been understood in under ten strikes?
Yes, it could be said that was why Wudang fell.
"It"s all in the past now."
He said as he marched towards the gates of Wudang, at the bottom of the Mountain.
The experience of being beaten by the Heavenly demon was…hard to bear for him but he got over it quickly.
He would not be a Taoist if he hadn"t. He just accepted things as they were and left it alone. He had lost, that was the end.
Although multiple of his disciples had not shared the same feelings, he had scolded them and instructed them on the straight path.
"Disciples…"
The word had no meaning now.
Every disciple was dead now.
Wudang was no more.
The sound of his rhythmic steps descending the stairs was quite melancholic, the ambiance in the silent mountain was calm and peaceful, and there were none left to occupy it... So why would it matter?
Although he had walked slowly, he had reached the end of the mountain in a flash. Truly, although he was but a walking corpse he still had some power left.
And now, he will wait for the challenger to come and defeat him.
It was just the way of the world, the flow.
He had already been convinced that Wudang had fallen, the principles that governed the world had been broken by a mortal and devoured by shadows.
"Ma Cheon."
He muttered the name of the heavenly demon, It was not in a disrespectful manner like a snarl or growl, but it carried respect.
Of course, he would respect the Heavenly demon, who was the strongest martial artist of them all.
"I wonder when you will let us die in peace."
How long until you consider someone worthy enough to end Murim?
Have we not suffered for long enough?
Decades of solitude? Slowly being eaten by the shadow? We are not you Ma Cheon, we are weak.
He let out a sigh as he stared at the dead lands and skies.
"These were filled with endless flowers and shrubs...now nothing."
He muttered, reminiscing of the beauty the beauty the Mountain of Wudang once held. Now it was nothing but rubbish.
He held his sword in his embrace and sat down on the steps...and went to sleep.
Could it be helped? He was tired, Not just him but everyone was tired.
Everyone, who was still alive and in their senses was tired, even the Heavenly demon. Patiently waiting for their end to come into the hands of a worthy, honorable individual.
It hadn"t been long before he was forced to open his eyes. The "challenger" had come.
A young man with fierce yin energy, wielding a spear of yang energy.
"What an interesting combination."
He thought and stood up, wielding his broken blade, once a priceless treasure of Wudang.
The only thing that remained pure was the hilt of the blade, a symbol of Yin and Yang, the blade had been shattered and most of it was broken.
"Which sect do you belong to, Young man?"
His aged voice escaped, Alan looked at him with a curious gaze and answered.
"Twilight."
He answered, but the Wudang sect master was unaware of such a sect.
"So you are an outsider..."
Muttered the old man, He took upon a stance that was as wide and tough as a Mountain, representing the? flow.
"I believe we should start."
Said the Wudang sect master, as he urged Alan to come forth and fight. To end his miserable existence.
"You will fight me with that?"
Asked Alan, looking at the miserable state of his weapon.
The master laughed and asked.
"Why? Does it not seem threatening to you?"
Alan pondered for a while and said.
"No, please use something else."
His mind was clear now, no longer filled with an intense urge to destroy everything and fight to his heart"s content.
He was no longer focused on fighting the opponent no matter what the state.
"Hoho, I am quite alright. This is the sword that has accompanied me since the start of my journey. It is quite alright to use it."
"Then what about the rest? Am I gonna be swarmed with thousands of Shadow beings?"
"..."
The Wudang sect master fell silent upon hearing Alan"s words. A hidden rage awakened inside him.
He unleashed his power, the force of his martial arts, and the Symbol of Yin and Yang appeared behind him, the symbol of Taoism. The power he unleashed was so immense Alan instinctively
"A martial artist needs not a weapon nor a comrade to defeat his opponent."
I alone am enough.