Chapter 685 – Origin (3)

The story that one could avoid hunger with temple meals is an old tale.

This spring was so cool it seemed a small glacier had been overlaid on the sky, and there were even rumors that some temples secretly caught and ate the common people who came to offer prayers.

In an era when no one would disparage demon realm jianghu as uncivilized, those who still bothered to seek out temples must have had deep Buddhist faith.

Shaolin’s Guest Reception Hall was the same.

“……”

It was a place where incense and flower bearers briefly stayed. All walls were hung with old and massive Buddhist paintings, and the scene of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in those aged pictures gazing down at visitors.

Jeong Yeon-shin thought.

‘They say Shaolin doesn’t distinguish between commoners and nobles.’

That rumor was true as could be seen from the spacious hall. Because all kinds of people sat in the same place.

Wealthy merchants and local nobles wearing silk clothes that gleamed with oil despite the poor harvest, commoners wearing only sleeveless hemp robes like sackcloth, and jianghu people who carried no weapons but were wrapped in formless energy waves.

Though their attire was varied, their temperament was similar.

“Purple robes with the Desolate character and that appearance, the Divine Sword Group Leader at Shaolin…? Namo Guanshiyin.”

“Be quiet. Don’t even announce it.”

“Is that head a villain’s severed head…? He was more wild-looking than the rumors. Reliable.”

They were dignified like Mount Song itself. They even felt nobility beyond composure.

Most incense bearers were like this. No one particularly raised their voice, and few got excited about seeing the Divine Sword Group Leader.

“Oh my, I feel Buddhist devotion from those commoners’ Three Talents Cultivation Method.”

Heaven Conquering Sect Leader, who had been limping behind Jeong Yeon-shin, shook his head back and forth. Of course, the shadow of his bamboo hat danced frivolously on the floor.

“I’ve long disliked the solemn air of dharma halls. It’s common sense, but Buddhist teachings and blade work don’t match. What madman would reach the idea of implementing Buddhist devotion in sword techniques?”

“……”

“Any decent blade wielder would think like me. That being a contemporary martial artist with scoundrels who swing around Buddha’s teachings in their blades is great fortune.”

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head slightly. He was sitting cross-legged on the wide wooden floor.

“Aren’t they pioneers?”

“Temple incense always smells stuffy no matter when you smell it. Original Dharma, Original Dharma…”

Though he seemed to babble as his mouth moved, his words naturally emanated profound sword path study. When discussing blade work like now, Unorthodox Finest Sword was inevitably someone no one could disparage.

It was after deciding to reconsider the fundamentals of Jeong Family Dynamic Technique at Jeong Family Manor’s gravesite.

He intended to examine everything: the compatibility between Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law Technique and sword strikes, mental images befitting Radiant Wing Nine Steps and Radiant Wing Ten Steps, methods for Three Luminous Wheels unification, and so on. To step into the limits of what heaven permits humans.

‘…Like Master and Fighting God.’

After a full watch period when no incense bearer spoke to them continued, an empty sleeve opened the Guest Reception Hall’s door along with clear air.

It was Master Beom-heo.

“Though there were only matters requiring deep discussion among our temple’s monks, fortunately the conversation ended well. All of you.”

Heaven Conquering Sect Leader tilted his head sideways. Simultaneously wiggling his one ankle, he asked.

“Are you saying you’ll teach me the Muscle-Changing Classic?”

Though his tone was leisurely, it was also words with underlying meaning of disbelief. Several incense bearers also drew light breaths.

“No. If you shaved your head I might consider it, but it doesn’t seem like Unorthodox Finest Sword would keep the precept of not killing. Moreover, the Muscle-Changing Classic is study that can only be taught after recognizing generosity of mind and body.”

Conquering Heaven Asura spoke calmly.

Swoosh.

Heaven Conquering Sect Leader, who rose with Void Treading Step, leaned on Winter Dream like a cane and asked.

“Then what do you propose?”

“I’ll teach you the internal energy technique of ‘Formless Hands and Feet.’ How quickly you master it is entirely up to you.”

“Setting aside the matter of aptitude.”

His lips beneath the bamboo hat drew an arc.

“I would be entering Master Abbot’s lay discipleship.”

“Consider it this old monk’s charity. This is the only way to help you attain peaceful Buddha-hood. It’s difficult to strike the skull of one who overuses Form Shifting Void.”

Master Beom-heo said while shaking his head. Then when Jeong Yeon-shin was about to worry about Shaolin’s reputation, Heaven Conquering Sect Leader passed them while casually throwing out words as if it didn’t matter either way.

“Well, thank you.”

Jeong Yeon-shin insightfully understood those words were directed not only at Master Beom-heo but also at himself. It was clearly unprecedented.

‘Star…’

He shook his head inwardly.

Because there wasn’t particularly great sincerity contained. It felt like a fisherman absorbed in fishing giving perfunctory greetings.

“Follow me.”

Master Beom-heo moved with a peaceful face. Like Master Subodhi who faced Sun Wukong without any expectations as a teacher.

The three people left the Guest Reception Hall.

And passing several wooden halls, all dharma halls had no human presence. Only half-grown pine needles and small pine cones rolled about, substituting for the sound of monks’ straw sandals.

Because most monks had entered Mount Song’s Shaoshi Peak gate. To fill the empty positions of Beom-ryeol and Master Beom-heo.

The scene of only gaunt scholarly monks sweeping the temple grounds with long brooms like scarecrows, then bowing to Master Beom-heo.

The old monk who received greetings fluttered his empty sleeve like an arm, then leisurely spoke to Jeong Yeon-shin and Heaven Conquering Sect Leader as if telling old stories.

“Our temple has no spare capacity lately. What with gates, Won-jeok and World Tree’s unification… so there can’t help but be no monks.”

“I know Thousand-Year Shaolin’s reserves are first among the Nine Sects, but is it to the extent that all warrior monks must vacate their positions?”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s question, Master Beom-heo smiled broadly.

“Before descending the mountain, pushing Won-jeok to the gate came first. That was the only way to protect the benefactors of Dengfeng County. Catching monsters there and also beating Won-jeok’s mind. All 108 Arhats as well as disciples who breathed with Mount Song’s essence are blocking both the gate and Won-jeok. Of course, Beom-ryeol also went to see Won-jeok immediately after returning to the mountain gate.”

Suddenly Heaven Conquering Sect Leader interrupted.

“Won-jeok, you mean that ‘Hundred Years Wall-Facing’ noble clan Four Great Vajra? I was somewhat interested too.”

He was a monk who often got intoxicated by Jeong Yeon-shin’s dharma power. He had once inspired Phantom Wing Steps with his noble Vajra Immovable Divine Method. A warrior monk whose physical training of the Muscle-Changing Classic as well as energy accumulation and observation skills had stepped into peerless realms.

‘If World Tree’s unification ability were added there.’

It would be like Xiahou Wei-jin, who had mastered Jeong Family Dynamic Technique and Wind Body movement technique, finally transforming into a mature peerless master. Perhaps even stronger.

Even Master Beom-heo’s rarely lowered tone showed this.

“That’s the Won-jeok. So Won-mu alone guarded Shaolin. He was a child who used to frequent gates himself, fearing his clan would bring misfortune to the temple… but now it’s meaningless.”

Isn’t fist power the law in today’s Ming Dynasty? The northern Conquering Heaven Asura quietly concluded.

It was then that a large shadow suddenly fell over the group. A heavy voice also scraped down through the air.

“Master Abbot, the Wall-Facing Cave is ready.”

Four Great Vajra Won-mu. With his back completely to the sunlight, his physique stood out more than his expressionless features.

A man only known to have the alias Fist Demon within Shaolin’s grounds. Not only Dengfeng County people, but even figures from jianghu’s highest echelons like Jeong Yeon-shin had only learned of his identity this time.

“Already? The Vajra Bronze Men should have been greatly imbued with earth energy.”

“They have all unified with the earth. Now there are only fragments.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Before they knew it, it was the Pagoda Forest.

Land where over six hundred grayish white stone pagodas literally lined up like a grove. It was also where the relics of deceased high monks were stored.

Among them, a stone pagoda belonging to the largest category suddenly released transparent pine wind.

Whooom—

It was tremendously auspicious internal power vibrations. Though mind and body felt washed in clear water, Jeong Yeon-shin had to suppress the trembling that rose from his spine.

“What…?”

“Master Huike… that is, the relic pagoda of Master Bodhidharma’s first disciple. Naturally the spirituality is also very dense.”

“Ah.”

“Perhaps he liked your unique dharma power.”

—Alas, how painful.

At the intention that penetrated his upper energy center, Jeong Yeon-shin glanced left and right. Soon, seeming to be heard only by him, he naturally pretended not to know and moved his steps.

Step.

Master Beom-heo, who smiled broadly, nodded to him and Won-mu.

“Go to the Wall-Facing Cave. Heaven Conquering Sect Leader and I will enter the gate. It will be quite a noisy teaching.”

“Since what we each aim for is great, it’s a situation where we’re both on a hundred-foot pole. Shall we bet on whose achievement will be more advanced?”

Heaven Conquering Sect Leader’s question was very light. Though he was about to step onto land full of Shaolin monks, he truly seemed unconcerned.

‘One more step from atop a hundred-foot pole.’

It was said to be a topic frequently used in Zen Buddhism. It meant that even in dangerous circumstances, one must take a step to become higher, and since Shaolin was the headquarters of Central Plains Zen sect, it had considerable charm.

“Competing in achievement…?”

Jeong Yeon-shin tilted his head as if hearing strange words. Soon he moved away following Won-mu’s guidance, and the one-armed blind man smiled slightly while adjusting his bamboo hat.

* * *

Though they began climbing up the steep mountain ridge in reverse, Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t help but focus on the Yao tribe Four Great Vajra rather than the sharp stone edges. Because the more he looked, the stranger it became.

‘A body like diamond.’

A being born with a body like Jeong Family Dynamic Technique who learned Master Bodhidharma’s Muscle-Changing Classic. His external cultivation alone even had aspects that went beyond being equal to Jeong Yeon-shin and surpassed him.

“Though it’s quite far, distance isn’t a problem.”

All his words and actions reminded him of the Dharma King he had once encountered in the north. But the dignity was different, so the term Great Being suited him well.

Four Great Vajra Master Won-mu.

“Since even my dharma power cannot resist World Tree’s abilities now… as a junior in learning, I can only be grateful for Master’s grace. Immediately after achieving enlightenment, no matter how far the distance, I will quickly return to lend a hand with Master Won-jeok’s matter.”

“Truly excellent! The benefactor is a veritable wilderness, this humble monk is wind like Master Bodhidharma’s reed leaf. Even dozens of li of road are merely wandering.”

“A veritable wilderness…”

It was only briefly that he ran across Mount Song’s vast mountainside with Fist Demon Won-mu.

‘There it is.’

The point that had looked like a dark speck endlessly expanded, then became close enough to transform into a pitch-black cave opening. An ordinary crevice like wild animals would enter and exit to hibernate. The moment it entered his vision, Jeong Yeon-shin was standing at the cave entrance.

Whoooosh!

Reverse wind scraped all kinds of stone edges.

Though cracking sounds spread from the spider web-cracked earth floor, Jeong Yeon-shin found it hard to turn his gaze elsewhere. This was the same even as some military energy began spreading like an earthquake from the remote cliffs of Mount Song at this moment.

Anyone would be like this.

Whether Great Righteous Orthodox Alliance had not only occupied Luoyang but begun coveting even Mount Song, or perhaps Fighting God had stepped into Shaolin grounds, attracted by the saying that “All martial arts under heaven come from Shaolin.”

Whoosh—

“……”

Inside the pitch-black cave.

Jeong Yeon-shin faced a shadow that twisted thinly like smoke from temple incense pouches. The luminous wheel that had been first created in his heart was stopping its rotation on its own.

In an instant, his upper energy center’s spirituality blazed blue and wrote two words in his mind.

Bodhi-Dharma.