NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30
It all started with the three disciples.
Life as a disciple of Mount Wu is tough.
They kick off each day with some Qi Breakfast. After that, they spend the entire day training and cultivating.
The young disciples who have just recently joined Mount Wu often find themselves too weak to even lift their chopsticks by dinner time.
The pride of the Nine Great Sects & One Alliance: ‘A man stands above Mount Wu.’ Becoming a disciple of that sect isn’t as easy as it sounds.
As a result, the little sleep they get is extremely precious to the three top disciples.
Dare anyone interfere with the sleep of the three top disciples? If anyone dared, even the ancient celestial beings would surely be met with their wrath.
But wouldn’t you know it, Cheong-song, who borrowed the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes from Un-hyeon, made a scene! He screamed in the middle of the night, waking everyone else up.
“Ah crap, who is it!”
“What happened!”
“Sorry! Just had a nightmare.”
Dammit, Un-hyeon! No, handsome Un-hyeon. Challenging the instigator of bullying to a duel like that.
Cheong-song had intended to just read a bit of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes and go to bed. But he couldn’t possibly sleep without finishing the duel scene.
What if he showed off his coolness right there? To use the Mysteious Heavenly Technique so early after becoming a disciple of Mount Wu!
He couldn’t help but cheer at the thrill of it all.
“No, wait. That was cheering, right?”
“Did that jerk just yell while reading a book?”
“Hey! Cheong-song was reading an erotic novel and screamed!!”
“Shut up! Let me get some sleep!”
The whole dormitory filled with the 10-year-olds among the three top disciples turned into chaos; Cheong-song sensed the situation was spiraling out of control. Everyone was tired, so the atmosphere calmed down, and they returned to bed. But the real problem arose the next day.
“What were you reading yesterday?”
The next day, a hearing was held for Cheong-song. What should he say? He hesitated for a moment. Should he say it was an erotic novel or a spring painting?
Of course, everyone secretly does read erotic novels or paintings outside. But bringing an erotic novel into Mount Wu was a different story.
If one of the three top disciples who had been sleep-deprived snitched, Cheong-song would be in big trouble.
“I screamed because I was reading a story that my senior Cheong-yoon lent me, and it was just too interesting!”
In the end, Cheong-song decided to confess honestly. Cheong-yun, who is known among the three disciples for being exemplary and having good character.
Being a senior, he was respected among the young ones still in their teens. If he borrowed Cheong-yun’s name, he could probably get away with it.
“Did you say a book lent by Cheong-yun was interesting? Honestly saying you watched an erotic novel would at least be persuasive.”
One of the three top disciples looked at Cheong-song pitifully. Oh no. Cheong-song forgot that while Cheong-yun was a respected figure among the three top disciples, his taste in books was another story.
“No! I swear! This is the first time I’ve ever seen a novel like this in my life!”
Cheong-song presented the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes that he had been hiding in his arms to the three top disciples.
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes? Doesn’t seem like an erotic novel.”
“Wow, look at that crummy book. Where did Cheong-yun get something like that?”
“Did Cheong-yun really yell because he found that book interesting?”
The three top disciples began to murmur among themselves.
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll read the whole book today, and I’ll be the one to lend it to whoever wants it. It’s a truly epic book!”
Cheong-song believed that anyone who read the book would have the same reaction as he did.
“It looks way too boring…”
“Maybe Cheong-song’s taste in books got messed up being around Cheong-yun?”
Most of the three top disciples were skeptical about Cheong-yun finding the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes entertaining.
But let’s be real, life as a disciple of Mount Wu was pretty dull. There are always those craving a new spark.
“Alright, if you finish, then I’ll read it.”
One of the three top disciples raised their hand.
“Then me next!”
“If the two guys in front of me say it’s fun, I’ll read it too.”
“Don’t waste your time on junk!”
“I’ll probably fall asleep just reading it.”
While some were trying to dissuade, others eagerly began reserving their turns for the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“No, you gotta return it, so I was gonna lend it to just one person… Ah, forget it. I’ll lend it to everyone.”
Since Cheong-yun had already read it a lot, it should be fine. Cheong-song changed his mind the moment he saw the disciples’ eyes light up.
“Oh, and Cheong-song!”
“Huh?”
“You’re cleaning the toilet alone today.”
“…Okay. Got it.”
Guess there’s a price to pay. Too bad it wasn’t a week. Cheong-song nodded in agreement.
And so, the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes began circling among the three top disciples.
That night.
“Wow!”
“Hey! Is it Cheong-song again today?”
“Nope! I finished it all during lunchtime!”
“Who did it?”
“Sorry! I’ll clean the toilet alone tomorrow!”
The next night.
“Whoaaa!!”
“Can you stop reading at night!”
“What the heck is this for the third day in a row!”
On the third night.
“Wow!” “This is insane!” “So cool! Next page, next page!”
“Now three of us are reading together.”
“How good could Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes be for this?”
As the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes spread among the three disciples, curiosity began to replace their resignation towards the nightly outbursts.
———————
As the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes spread among the three disciples, a strange atmosphere formed.
After finishing their training for the day and having their free time for study, instead of meditating or studying the Daoist scriptures, they found themselves talking about a different topic.
“What could the identity of the woman Un-hyeon met at the end be?”
“She was being chased by demons, so she must be the daughter of a wealthy family, right?”
“No way! Why would a wealthy daughter be chased by such skilled martial artists? That can’t be true.”
“Then how about a noble family’s daughter in the martial arts world?”
“Now that makes some sense.”
The three disciples were having a discussion based on the content of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“I haven’t seen it yet, so don’t talk about it here!”
“Who told you to watch it so late~”
The disciples who had seen the book mocked those who hadn’t yet.
“Hey, those yelling at night! What are you doing not reading!”
Not reading would be a mistake. They were young and sensitive to trends, even though they might one day become the subject of seclusion.
The disciples who hadn’t read Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes yelled at others who were writing something in the corner.
“We’re diligently copying here!”
“Yeah! Every single stroke we write is filled with dedication!”
In one corner, some other disciples had sleeves dripping with ink.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out they were writing the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes on the paper that had originally been meant for copying scriptures.
“Hurry up! We’ve only got three volumes of copies now. Write faster!”
“Then why don’t you come and copy it with us!”
“If I copy while reading, I’ll lose my concentration and it won’t work.”
“Ugh… We’re guilty for screaming at night. Guilty.”
With the shouts demanding them to quickly finish the copies, the hands of those copying became even busier.
“What the heck is going on here!!!”
When the second-generation disciples of Mount Wu came to check on the three disciples, they shouted at the chaotic scene.
“Senior disciples!”
Oh no. They had to hide the book. All the three disciples who were holding the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes had the same thought. They hurriedly hid the book in their own ways. But the second-generation disciples were quick on the uptake.
“What were you hiding?”
“Were you looking at erotic novels instead of studying the scriptures?”
“Hand it over!”
The second-generation disciples swiftly snatched the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes away from the three disciples.
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes? Doesn’t seem like an erotic novel. Is it a storybook?”
“……”
The three disciples couldn’t say anything as they knew whoever spoke up would face a lot of trouble.
“You’re wasting your time reading such trivial stuff that disrupts your training! All of these books will be confiscated!”
“Since your minds have become slack, you’re reading such books. Everyone to the training grounds now!”
“Yes, sir!”
The three disciples rushed to the training grounds.
“Mount Wu’s future is really bright. Bright.”
One of the second-generation disciples sighed as he looked at the three disciples.
“What on earth is causing multiple copies to pop up among the three top disciples?”
“Just some silly storybook. Let’s burn them later.”
“Huh… I’ll have to check on them first. They’ll be burned tonight.”
“One person’s likely to go easy on time. Alright, let’s burn them tonight.”
No one could predict the ripple effect that would stem from the decision of one of the second-generation disciples.
———————-
A few days later, in the training grounds where the second-generation disciples of Mount Wu were gathered.
“So what!! You should NOT start the Eight Trigrams Swordplay like that!”
One of the second-generation disciples swung a sword before his eyes as he spoke.
The second-generation disciples had also finally fallen for Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
As if asking when they had last practiced the scriptures, the second-generation disciples began discussing the content of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“Isn’t it a Mount Wu technique? Basic principles like you should start it right.”
“It’s a technique that seeks versatility. It should definitely start with circling.”
If the three disciples were made up of teens and those in their twenties, then the second-generation disciples were those just crossing into middle age in the martial world. They were deeply engaged in discussions about the Eight Trigrams Swordplay that appeared in the book.
“Tsk tsk. Looks like you haven’t read the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes properly. This is why one-time readers…”
“What! Have I said something wrong?”
“This swordsmanship begins with Mount Wu’s Taiji and then pursues versatility. Do you think you can just flail around?”
“When the fifth generation’s leader commanded to wield it for the secular world, of course, it’s about drawing it first to subdue the villains! How can one defeat them one by one if all you do is observe?”
“This kid, I hadn’t seen it like that… I can’t let that slide. I’ll show them my version of the Eight Trigrams Swordplay!”
“Come! I’ll defeat you with my Eight Trigrams Swordplay!”
—————
A month later, the Mount Wu sect master, Hyeon-cheon Jin-in, caught wind of the chaotic atmosphere among the disciples.
“What in the world is happening!”
The current master of Mount Wu, Hyeon-cheon Jin-in, burst into an uproar among the elders in the Jiaoso Palace.
“For something as trivial as a mere story to disrupt the training of the great Mount Wu’s disciples!!”
It was frustrating for the master of Mount Wu to see disciples who should be discussing the Dao wasting their time talking about a mere story.
The elders of Mount Wu found themselves unable to speak in reply to Hyeon-cheon Jin-in’s frustration. Before they knew it, there were hardly any disciples left in Mount Wu who hadn’t read Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“Just a trivial story? That sounds a bit too harsh.”
One of the elders, who secretly peeked at the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, raised an objection to the master.
“They’ve become so lax after reading such stories, this is why the disciples who should set a good example are not practicing their techniques, but instead rambling about the Eight Trigrams Swordplay, which is nothing but nonsense!”
“That’s not true. The swordsmanship might not have a detailed description, but surely what’s written inside contained the techniques of Mount Wu.”
“Elder!! Are you defending that absurd book? Are you captivated by that trivial story!?”
“I’d like to argue that it isn’t a trivial book.”
“Even you, Elder, are supporting that book? How could the disciples of Mount Wu ever engage with such foolish tales!!”
“It’s not worthless. In fact, the number of disciples who have become serious about their training after reading the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes has increased. It’s definitely not just a trivial book.”
“If it’s not a trivial book, does that mean it’s a miraculous one!? How could something like that exist? A demon comes to Mount Wu, fights with a demon, and falls off a cliff to meet the body of the past master. What kind of absurdity is that!?”
“How do you know so much about it, Master?”
“……”
Being watched with suspicious eyes from the elders, the master cleared his throat awkwardly and continued with his speech.
“Anyway!! Confiscate all storybooks in Mount Wu! And any disciple who speaks of the stories contained in that book will be disciplined. Any disciple who keeps talking about that book in the future will be sent to receive punishment!!!”
The master shouted out loudly as he issued his order.
Though there were elders who were unhappy with the master’s declaration, they couldn’t oppose him in this situation.
“We’re in big trouble!!!!!!!!!!”
At that moment, one of the second-generation disciples burst through the door of the meeting room while breathing heavily. It was rude behavior, but seeing his urgent expression, the master decided to ask him for an explanation.
“What’s wrong? Did a demon appear?”
What kind of urgency would cause someone to barge in like that?
Was a demon really showing up? Or perhaps a martial world hero? Could it be the devilish followers or Color Demons?
Or had some horrific event happened in the martial world?
The expectations of the master and all the elders were at fever pitch as they focused on the second-generation disciple.
“It’s not that!! The third disciple, Cheong-yun, while exploring the cliffs of Mount Wu, has found the eighth generation master’s corpse along with a secret technique!!”