Heavenly Demon Cultivation Simulation - Ch 410
Rumble!
A powerful wind pressure, with lightning flashing between the gusts.
It easily shattered the ceiling of the underground prison, piercing through not only the first basement floor but the entire building above.
Boom!
As the thunder echoed in people’s ears, the shocking reactions of those inside became apparent.
The fist wind created by the unfamiliar intruder was a force that far exceeded common sense.
The wind pressure generated as soon as it struck the ground created a strange phenomenon of a vortex.
But when it took the form of being wrapped in lightning, they felt fear before surprise.
Even Demon Lord and Fang Spirit, who had seen the Thunder Demon Arts and Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts of their sect, felt the same.
The technique the man demonstrated was not merely creating thunder, but a martial art that could make one mistakenly think the wind was summoning the thunder.
“Where does a lowlife like you act as if you’re an immortal?”
Seol-Hwi brushed off the sand and checked his attire.
Even in the final moment, he seemed full of dissatisfaction towards his opponent who had cast an arrogant(?) glance.
“What kind of martial art was that just now…?”
Yu Pae, who had been standing dazed behind Seol-Hwi, quickly came to his senses and asked.
At first, it appeared to be Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts, but it didn’t seem to be that.
There was no demonic qi felt.
Songhwa was the same, but Yu Pae’s mouth was almost splitting wide open.
“Ah, this…”
Seol-Hwi turned slightly and said.
“It’s Qingcheng Sect’s martial art.”
“Qingcheng Sect?”
“Don’t you know the Qingcheng Sect? The Taoists who wield swords. The Qingcheng Sect of the green shade.”
Because of the watchful eyes, he avoided the Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts, and intentionally excluded the martial arts of Wudang or Shaolin, so the martial arts of Qingcheng naturally manifested.
‘Of course, I didn’t think it would contain thunder qi either…’
What Seol-Hwi displayed was the martial art of the Qingcheng Sect, called the Wind Thunder Palm.
Despite its name, the Wind Thunder Palm was not a technique that accompanied the power or force of thunder.
It was named after the great strength likened to thunder, and surprisingly, when executed at the level of mastery over all things, the phenomenon of manifesting thunder qi appeared.
‘Come to think of it, I wonder if my master is doing well.’
As he performed the martial arts of Qingcheng, Seol-Hwi thought of his old master.
In a way, this martial art he realized now could be the martial art of thunder qi, which is the pinnacle of the Qingcheng Sect’s pursuit of the Clear Wind.
It was ultimately a confirmation that the martial arts pursued by Qingcheng touched the realm of the profound, while also making them realize once more that their long-cherished wish was not easily attainable.
“Songhwa. Come with me. The path has been conveniently cleared for us to leave.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Of course, you. Unless… Do you want to be used by them here?”
“Ah…”
Only then did Songhwa understand the reason why the stranger had risked such great danger to come here.
Of course, whether the sole purpose was to rescue him was uncertain, but at least it seemed better to go with the man in front of him than to stay here.
“Understood—Aaah!”
As Seol-Hwi slung him over his shoulder in the middle of his response, Songhwa screamed.
Regardless, Seol-Hwi held on tightly and was about to move when he suddenly stopped.
He had something to say to the Bloody Troops Leader, who was just staring blankly.
“Yu Pae.”
“…?”
“The debt I owed before. I’ve repaid it with this.”
Yu Pae blinked.
He wore an expression that showed he didn’t understand the meaning of the man’s words, who had demonstrated earth-shattering martial prowess.
In truth, whatever words were spoken might not have registered well in his ears.
He was simply in awe of the martial skill that could stand up to even the cult leader.
But Seol-Hwi clearly remembered.
The benefactor who once saved his life in a crisis. And the generous offer to join him.
To Seol-Hwi, Yu Pae was such a person.
“Let’s meet again next time. Smile a bit then.”
Paat.
Before he could even respond, Seol-Hwi leapt into the space that had been pierced open.
Yu Pae, who was watching him, and not only him but also the surviving captains.
Even Demon Lord and Fang Spirit couldn’t stop him.
In that silence, what woke their minds was.
Boom!
A loud noise.
With the previous strike, part of the prison’s ceiling began to collapse again.
“The ceiling is collapsing!”
Only at someone’s shout did everyone seem to come to their senses and start moving busily.
Seol-Hwi headed to the office of the Earth Demon, in Heavenly Library.
Considering Songhwa’s safety and location, this seemed the safest place.
“Stay here.”
After reaching the top floor of the Heavenly Library, Seol-Hwi spoke first.
Then Songhwa waved his hand.
“With all due respect, my master’s safety is…”
Songhwa was worried about his master.
It was understandable. In his short life, he had received great help from that person, hadn’t he?
“Don’t worry. I will ensure that he is taken to a safe place. You should rest first.”
At those words, Songhwa seemed slightly relieved.
Perhaps it was a belief born from witnessing his martial prowess.
‘He looks tired.’
Even at a glance, Songhwa appeared exhausted.
Having exerted strength beyond his capabilities, it was only natural. He must avoid any techniques that require significant qi accumulation for the time being.
“Why are you trying to help me…?”
Despite looking as if he might collapse from exhaustion, Songhwa asked the reason.
He was anxious. And unfamiliar with it.
Receiving kindness from a stranger, which he had never experienced outside of his master, must have felt foreign.
Seol-Hwi felt it was necessary to reassure Songhwa here, for the sake of his health.
“Do you know how to read fortunes?”
“…I have some skill in it.”
“Did the fortune also mention someone who would save you?”
“……”
Contrary to expectations, Songhwa hesitated at that point, causing Seol-Hwi to tilt his head in puzzlement.
It was a curious matter.
In the past, hadn’t he said that someone not mentioned in the fortune would save him?
Seol-Hwi asked again.
“Why are you hesitating?”
“I don’t know.”
“What is it that you don’t know?”
“Whether it is… a good thing or not.”
What could this mean?
For Songhwa, who was renowned for accurately interpreting fortunes, to say such a thing.
“To be honest, my feelings are a bit complicated. Although I was aware of changes in my fate recently, I haven’t obtained a clear answer on whether it is beneficial or harmful. Both death and life are looming over my path, neither one falling away by much.”
“……”
“But upon meeting you in person, I have some conjectures.”
“What are they?”
“You are someone not bound by any laws.”
It’s all incomprehensible talk. Someone not bound by laws.
“I look into coincidences through divination, but more accurately, I depict the changes of nature inherent in astrology through spells and draw them in my mind. That’s why I want to ask. Are you…?”
Songhwa asked again with a serious expression different from before.
“Are you human?”
“……!”
The moment Seol-Hwi’s eyelids subtly trembled, Songhwa hurriedly bowed his head.
“If I was rash with my words, I apologize, but that was the only answer I could find. Human emotions are emitted into the universe in some form, and if one doesn’t express those emotions, I can’t find the answer. That’s why I thought you might not be human.”
“…….”
Seol-Hwi did not respond.
Still, he was quite surprised. No, more precisely, as Songhwa said, it was a surprising situation, so he was recognizing it as such himself.
It wasn’t that emotions arose as Songhwa said, but Seol-Hwi himself was trying to perceive them that way.
‘Could this phenomenon be happening because I’ve surpassed the current realm?’
When he thought about it, that possibility existed.
At some point, his emotions no longer flared up hot or cooled down coldly like before.
The feelings were mainly drawn from past experiences in the form of emotions that were recognized in his mind.
The gaze towards Songhwa was the same.
To him, it was about saving him due to lingering emotions from old memories, not because he felt sorry for him or believed he must help him.
After transforming his upper dantian into a universe, it was as if the six desires and seven emotions had disappeared.
The voice of two people echoed faintly.
At that time, he said he simply wasn’t swayed, but many emotions remained within him.
But now that he thought about it, that was a lie.
It was not something that arose naturally, but emotions created and self-brainwashed or learned through hundreds of lives.
Perhaps Songhwa pointed that out.
Therefore, he was unable to express his emotions, and ultimately, it was something that even a fortune could not reveal.
“Songhwa. Perhaps I am in such a situation as you said.”
“Pardon?”
“Although I came to change the future, in reality, I am in a state where I cannot feel any emotions in my heart.”
Songhwa’s eyes widened.
In fact, this statement is not something that can persuade the other.
Nevertheless, Songhwa seemed to have a slight understanding.
“If you stay with me, you will naturally realize the cause. To know that truth, isn’t there a reason for you to be with me?”
“…Yes. If that’s the reason, I would also like to be with you, sir.”
Even for Songhwa, who possessed natural talent, finding out what kind of existence Seol-Hwi was would be important.
Perhaps he didn’t know that he might become a figure influencing his destiny, or as he put it, the future.
“Rest. There should be a bed in the corner.”
Seol-Hwi said this and then turned away. His mind was complicated.
It felt like discovering a state of himself that he hadn’t looked into closely, perhaps out of unexpectedness or fear.
Above all.
‘Emotion.’
Even in this situation, he was surprised once more at himself for feeling no emotion.
Late at night.
Jeok-pa was taking a brief rest in his office.
Around this time, there was a personnel shift within the Hidden Troops.
Especially, it was necessary to balance by selecting those slated for promotion and those at the captain level who showed less than expected abilities.
Moreover, the training plan had to be reorganized.
The methods and content to teach varied for each unit, and he felt like he was losing all his hair.
The man who had been slumped got up hastily from his seat.
He saw someone entering through the suddenly opened door.
“Isn’t it Earth Demon!”
“Have you been well? Instructor.”
Seol-Hwi arrived at the Hidden Troops in the guise of Earth Demon.
In this guise, it was easier to command his subordinates.
Of course, Songhwa’s master had been instructed to be escorted to a safe place by the secret warriors.
“How come you are at this humble place at such a late hour… Is there a matter?”
“I just wanted to ask something.”
“Please, have a seat here.”
Seol-Hwi thought as he watched the instructor quickly offer a chair that this person was originally so obsequious.
“It’s alright. I just came to ask one thing and then I’ll leave.”
“Ah, I see. Please ask anything.”
The instructor, who spoke while bowing his waist, had etiquette ingrained in him.
“Do you know the names of my subordinates in Hidden Troops?”
“Of course. After all, I’m the training officer. I know them all without exception.”
“Is that so? Then…”
Seol-Hwi paused for a moment before asking.
“Do you know someone named Seo Ryeong? She might be among the newcomers…”
“Seo Ryeong? Seo Ryeong… Seo Ryeong…”
Jeok-pa, as if in deep thought, rubbed his forehead but couldn’t easily come up with an answer. Then he said,
“If my memory serves me right, there isn’t anyone by that name among the trainees yet. But I’ll make sure to check just in case.”
“Alright. I was just asking, so don’t worry too much about it.”
Seol-Hwi nodded upon hearing that.
Come to think of it, she might not necessarily join the Hidden Troops anymore.
He didn’t know where her starting point was either.
“Good work.”
Seol-Hwi slowly walked towards the door.
But his steps halted at Jeok-pa’s sudden words.
“Ah, here it is.”
He couldn’t help but stop.
Jeok-pa, while quickly scanning through the reports and past records, grabbed one of the books and continued speaking.
“They are dead.”
“……”
“It says here that the one who died during the martial arts exam was named Seo Ryeong.”