Return of Mount Hua Sect Chapter 1083

Episode 1082. That’s the way of a Taoist. (2)

The memorial service was held in a simple manner.

There weren’t enough supplies to hold a formal ancestral rite at the temple. Wasn’t it a situation where they couldn’t even prepare the most basic incense and incense burner?

Although they did not have all the formalities, the attitude of the Hwasan disciples reciting the congratulatory message and chanting the Taoist scriptures was extremely pious.

In the end, rites are just courtesy to the dead. No matter how splendid the rite, it is not worth more than a sincere nod.

The disciples of the volcano also knew this fact well, so they put their sincerity into each and every action and word they uttered. They prayed that those who died here would find peace even after death.

Never, ever forget that before they were unmanned, they were Taoists pursuing the Way.

But even the disciples of the volcano sometimes forget who they are. This place was a place to honor the souls of the victims and to reclaim their duties.

Cheongmyeong, standing at the back, looked at the backs of the disciples reciting the Taoist sutra.

From Dang So-so, who was standing on the far left, to Baek Cheon, who was standing on the far right, Cheongmyeong took in the backs of all of them without leaving a trace, and quietly closed his eyes.

‘capital punishment.’

In the past, the volcano often held a ceremony to honor the master. Cheongmyeong tried to avoid the boring ceremony, but Cheongmun tried to catch him and make him sit in a corner whenever he wanted.

– You are a Taoist before you are a detective.

– It is no different from the sword of a black bandit without any agreement. You, and no one else, must not forget your duty as a Taoist priest.

-Follow the Way, whatever, but the basis of Jinhon (鎭魂) is compassion. If you are not born with it, you must learn it by watching. That is the first thing you must have as a disciple of Hwasan.

“… … The same old nagging.”

Yes, that’s what I thought in the past. I wondered what the point was of such boring rituals that were repeated the same way every time.

When a person dies, he or she is gone. What is the use of offering reverence to those buried in the earth, and what value is there in the tears shed for them?

‘That’s right.’

Cheongmyeong slowly opened his closed eyes.

At that time, Cheongmyeong could not understand. He did not know the value of Tao and did not climb the volcano to learn more about it, but was someone who was abandoned by the volcano.

He grew up listening to the Taoist scriptures like a lullaby, and watching Taoist ceremonies like a game. So, to him, all of this existed naturally, without any need to think about its meaning.

That’s why I didn’t know.

Why do people draw and commemorate those who will never return?

Because he who had nothing from the beginning cannot lose.

‘Death penalty, I… … .’

What he lost was not something he had held onto from the beginning, but something he had created while living. No… … . Even though he didn’t want it, it just stayed around as if it was natural.

That’s why I found out. After I lost it.

That there is meaning even for the dead who cannot return. What kind of feelings do those who are left behind have when they come to the temple?

And there are those here who understand its meaning. There are those who know what the old Qingming did not know, and who seek to protect what he failed to protect.

The sound of the young disciples of the volcano reverently reciting the sutra spread loudly throughout the desolate land.

The one in the lead, Ungeom, placed his remaining hand in front of his chest and saluted. Every movement of his was filled with sorrow for those who had died here.

As he began to recite the Taoist scriptures again, the disciples of Hwasan followed suit. Cheongmyeong, who was standing at the very back and watching, slowly closed his eyes. The Taoist scriptures flowed out of his mouth.

It was a sight that was neither particularly special nor remarkable. However, anyone who knew who Cheongmyeong was would not be able to simply think of this scene as such.

Cheongmyeong has participated in countless ceremonies, but he has never recited the Taoist scriptures with his voice. Even though the Taoist scriptures are so familiar to him that he can recite them with his eyes closed, he has never recited them even once.

I was embarrassed and awkward, and I thought it didn’t suit me.

But at this moment, Cheongmyeong was reciting the Taoist scriptures with all her heart. It wasn’t just a verse that she knew the meaning of, but a verse that she hoped and hoped for.

This is a prayer for the dead and a consolation for those left behind.

And perhaps it is a hand reaching out to those who cannot stay anywhere.

All of the swordsmen retreated to the left. Then Hye-yeon, who had been waiting at the back, cautiously stepped forward. He solemnly stood in front of the class and slowly began to recite the Buddhist scriptures.

What we believe in is different. What we pursue is different. But at this moment, our hearts will definitely be the same.

While the clear sound of Hye-yeon’s Buddhist scriptures spread far and wide, the disciples of Hwa-san followed behind without letting their postures drop. An indescribable sadness filled their eyes as they looked at the devastated Hangzhou.

Baekcheon lightly clenched his fists. So that the emotions that were currently welling up in his chest would not disperse. So that he would not forget.

Jo Geol, Yun Jong, Yu I Seol, and Dang So So also had similar expressions on their faces.

Finally, Hye-yeon’s long reading ended. Hye-yeon bowed deeply and deeply. He turned around with a sad face and stood next to the Hwasan disciples again.

Baekcheon naturally looked at Ungeom. Then Ungeom smiled brightly. As if he was saying that this was the end of his guidance.

At that moment, a deep sigh escaped Baekcheon’s mouth.

‘I am…….’

His fists were clenched.

‘No one could save him.’

Their goal when they came here was to stop the Demonic Cult and save those who were still alive here. But soon, all their minds were focused on just surviving.

I survived, I was happy, I was relieved.

But now I know, that wasn’t supposed to happen.

For me to be happy about my own safety is too great for them to protect me here.

I was about to step forward, but I just stopped there. Now is not the time to preach to them. It is the time to stand on the same level and speak.

A calm voice came out of Baekcheon’s mouth.

“… … If the long-time leader were here… … he would have shed tears for those who died before anyone else.”

The disciples of the volcano lowered their heads.

“If the elders were here, they would not have forgotten the victims while fighting the enemies.”

The voice was so calm that it seemed a little sad.

“The reason we can’t do it is because we are weak.”

The pride, relief, and childish heart that had been lost are now replaced by regret.

“It is not because they lack strength, but because they are weak. They say they are Taoists, but they do not pursue the Tao. They say they are for others, but they do not truly look out for others.”

Everyone slowly nodded their heads at those painful words.

“The strength that Jang Moon-in wants from us is… … not the force that can subdue the opponent. It is the strength that can look after those weaker than me even when my life is in danger… … Yes.”

Baekcheon’s voice was slow but firm.

“It’s probably my strength as a human being.”

He paused for a moment and closed his eyes quietly.

I fought with all my might and defeated the enemy. But the reason my heart still feels so empty is because there are things that cannot be filled with strength alone.

“We will have to go through many things in the future.”

Everyone looked at the devastated land of Hangzhou.

“Next time… … . Yes, next time, let’s never forget. What we’re fighting for. Why we must fight.”

Ungeom bowed his head and recited the Tao. As if it was a signal, the disciples of Hwasan all recited the Tao, containing their inner strength. May it spread throughout this vast land of Hangzhou without a trace.

Hye-yeon also cried out loud in agreement with them.

Discontent is something that is prayed for by oneself, and hope is something that is desired by oneself.

It is a cry for salvation. It is also like a candle lit by a weak human being who forgets what he should not forget as he lives, so that he will not forget his path.

The Doho they left behind was bigger and clearer than ever.

And as loud as the sound was, their heads naturally dropped, feeling heavier than ever.

There was silence for a moment.

I gained a lot, but in fact I gained nothing. Only after my mind calmed down did I see the true nature of this tragedy, which can hardly be called a war.

A soft, clear voice was heard in their ears.

“… … Let’s go back.”

“huh…….”

Everyone slowly turned their feet. A little while ago, they wanted to run away right away, but strangely, their feet wouldn’t move. Perhaps it was because of their regret for not being able to protect themselves.

“Next time… … .”

Although he tried to speak calmly, Cheongmyeong’s words eventually ended in regret. Cheongmyeong, looking at the ruins before his eyes, eventually turned his head away.

“You just have to protect it next time.”

“……okay.”

Baekcheon’s voice, filled with emptiness, spread hollowly.

“That’s right.”

It was when he, trying hard to calm his heavy heart, was trying to lighten the mood by patting his subordinates on the shoulder.

‘huh?’

For a moment, his brow furrowed slightly. This was because he saw Yui Seol’s eyes, who had been standing still looking forward even as everyone else turned around, widen for a moment.

‘enemy?’

Baekcheon, surprised, hurriedly turned his head.

But there was nothing to see. All I could see was that it was still desolate… … .

“uh?”

“Right now?”

At that moment, a surprised voice burst out from the mouths of the Volcano disciples. They immediately closed their mouths and held their breath with stiff faces.

At that moment.

“ah……!”

Everyone heard.

A faint voice that sounds like an auditory hallucination, but is so clear that it is someone else’s voice.

Before I could even think, my feet moved first. When I came to my senses, I was already running at full speed.

And the back of someone who looks more desperate than urgent is the first to run forward and forward.

The Qingming kicked the ground and shot out with all its might. Then, it began to dig through the rubble of the building like crazy. Its wounded hands were shaking.

The disciples of the volcano, who arrived a little late, also rushed in without delay and dug through the mangled debris with their bare hands.

Towards the faint sound of breathing that could be heard inside. Towards the faint warmth that had clearly been here but was only now discovered.

“Ugh! Ugh… … !”

A suppressed groan burst from Cheongmyeong’s lips in desperation. Cheongmyeong’s hands, which had been roughly digging through the rubble, began to become more and more cautious.

Soon, Cheongmyeong’s hand stopped.

“… … Come… … .”

The sound that had been so faint that it was almost drowned out by the wind finally became clearly audible.

“Help me… … please… … .”

Woohoo!

The remains of the building that was in Cheongmyeong’s hands were crushed to pieces. He started to grind the remains into powder in case the buried person got hurt.

How many times did I have to repeat this?

After a series of careful handling that had never been done before in his life, a human figure finally emerged from under the rubble.

No, not just one person.

“Hey, over here!”

“There’s a baby… … . There’s a baby! A baby!”

I saw a woman covered in dust, half-conscious, with a small child in her arms.

The woman was so exhausted that she didn’t even have the strength to open her eyes. Her voice kept leaking out without stopping.

“… … Help me… … please… … .”

“… … .”

“My… … baby… … .”

No one dared open their mouths.

In the silence, Cheongmyeong reached out his trembling hand into the rubble. Then, he carefully held the woman’s pulse and began to push in her energy. The child was the same.

“I survived… … .”

At that moment, everyone saw Cheongmyeong’s shoulders collapse. That strong man could no longer endure it and lowered his head when he discovered the two survivors.

“Alive… … I am… … .”

Cheongmyeong lowered his head and the unconscious woman. And Baekcheon, who was blankly staring at the sleeping child in her arms, bit his lips and looked up at the distant sky.

They must have held their breath. They must have been afraid of the sound of swords clashing. They must have been afraid that the sound of them fighting each other, the loud noise of them clashing, would take the child away.

Even in the darkness where not a single ray of light could be seen, he would have kept his mouth shut and endured it, just in case a scream would escape from his mouth.

What made that woman squeeze out her last bit of strength was not the strength to defeat the cult, nor the sword that pierced the bishop’s neck, nor the mind that threatened and drove out the leader of the sect.

Just a resonating Doho. A regretful Bulho. A voice without any great power, just a desperate wish and hope.

That is why… … it was conveyed to the one who was hurt and trembling with fear.

What ultimately saved the one who could not be saved even by the power of the world… …was the small mindset that they had momentarily forgotten, but should never forget.

Baekcheon’s eyes became wet.

The blue sky was unusually cold, almost hurting my eyes.