Chapter 686 – Origin (4)

It reminded him of when he faced the first Heavenly Demon.

It wasn’t like this.

“……!”

His senses violently stirred. The feeling of all body hair being forcibly plucked from every inch of skin. His entire body’s energy perception opened on its own, then began pouring out like wildfire into the pitch-black cave.

The sensations behind and on both sides became hazy like fog.

He had instinctively distinguished the gravity of the situation.

This was clearly not normal. Because it was something that would only happen when encountering mortal enemies.

Jeong Yeon-shin immediately contemplated internally.

‘Luminous wheel!’

Among the three rings, there was one completed by another’s power. Namely, the first luminous wheel created from Bodhidharma’s spiritual energy, that is, fragments of true energy.

At this moment.

Whooom!

It was on the verge of scattering on its own, like when firmly manifesting defensive energy with the entire luminous wheel. He even had the intuition that after decomposing like fragments, it would flow into the Wall-Facing Cave.

“Urgh.”

The internal energy breathing of Luminous Wheel That Transcends Law Technique roughly escaped through his teeth. It was truly irresistible.

‘…Is it trying to return?’

To its origin.

Jeong Yeon-shin quickly understood.

He couldn’t feel even a trace of Buddhist teachings represented by the word emptiness. Rather than such principles of void, there was only intense pain. The tremendous suction force seemed like it would tear out his heart.

‘If the luminous wheel is taken away like this…?’

What would that thing become after devouring the ring of light?

Would it be the manifestation of Bodhidharma’s original spiritual body? Or perhaps a typhoon that devoured all of Shaolin’s study power? Whatever it was, it would clearly compete for the greatest mystery of ancient and modern times.

Whoosh.

Some human shadow was still hazily rippling in the cave. Even its outline was visible, albeit very faintly.

A body more solid than even Yao tribe, with a transcendentally powerful-looking bald head. It was the robustness that Jeong Family Dynamic Technique could only obtain after surpassing some critical point. It was absurd.

“Benefactor Desolate Day Extinction?”

It was the voice of Shaolin’s Fist Demon.

Though it rang from right behind him, Jeong Yeon-shin couldn’t turn around. Glaring at the modestly small cave was his limit. Because he had to suppress the rapidly swelling first luminous wheel.

Crack—

The sound of stone being roughly scraped away. The pitch-black cave walls were carved and crumbled by harsh winds.

When he began enduring the unprecedented suction force with his whole body, suddenly a giant hand grasped Jeong Yeon-shin’s shoulder. At the same time, long sleeves flowed down from thick wrists and struck the ground.

Coiling Zen Sleeves.

Crash!

The roar embedded stuffily into his head. His body was led backward while repelling the forward suction force. Instantly, tremendous grip strength was felt from the hand that had pulled his shoulder, enough to remind him of Literary Star for a moment.

“Are you alright?”

The middle-aged Yao tribe high monk asked bluntly.

Then he immediately removed his hand from the shoulder, seeming worried that his own tremendous strength might have crushed meridians along with bones. Perhaps because of this, seeing Jeong Yeon-shin’s body perfectly fine as if nothing had happened, he rarely showed a surprised face.

“…Mount Song is a thousand-year spiritual mountain, and it was originally full of strange occurrences. However, just now was of a different caliber. Also, Benefactor’s well-being is a major temple matter, so if Master Abbot had been here, I would have immediately reported it.”

Jeong Yeon-shin, who nodded and turned around, respectfully clasped his hands to Master Won-mu. The speech that alternated between informal and formal address was nothing.

“I have received great grace from Master.”

“It would be better for Benefactor not to enter the Wall-Facing Cave. There would be no gain, only losses. Like the northern registry that Benefactor also knows.”

“Did you have a connection with that bat?”

[TL Note- The bat here is referring to Southern Emperor]

“When I was young transcribing demon realm registries, Master Abbot leaped into a conference of various Northern Kings. Along with the current Wudang Sect Leader and Joint Sect Leader, and former Qingcheng Sect Leader and Divine Sword Group’s Resonance Spirit Leader. That day, Master Abbot brought the starving children of our tribe to Mount Song as novice monks. Without the Ming imperial family or Three Direction Grand General knowing.”

The story was that Master Won-mu was one of those Yao tribe children at the time. Jeong Yeon-shin asked while calming his internal energy breathing.

“Is that all? The process…?”

“I just said it.”

It meant no further elaboration was needed. Because he had mentioned four of the Nine Sects’ leaders and the mysterious Brilliant Command Leader.

“Did you enter Shaolin out of gratitude for that?”

“The fasting pills were delicious.”

The era seeped through his voice without highs and lows. Deep hunger can make even those without Buddhist faith into monks.

Jeong Yeon-shin untied all his baggage and handed it to Master Won-mu.

“May I ask you to keep these? If you could just hang this one at the Wall-Facing Cave entrance, I’ll take the rest when I descend the mountain. Having experienced it once, I don’t know what I might encounter inside.”

Because he had experienced something great, he had to enter all the more. Because among all the ascensions he had experienced, none had been without hardship following. Moreover, if he could face traces of Bodhidharma, he wouldn’t lack even if he volunteered.

Master Won-mu looked at Jeong Yeon-shin steadily for a while, then slowly spoke.

“…Are there many precious items in the baggage? Since novice monks remain in the grounds, they would keep them better than this humble monk with rough observation skills.”

“Besides writing materials and swallow feed, extra salt, there are books strangely imbued with northern spirituality, and Senior Zhongnan Sword Immortal’s sword manual.”

“How long do you expect to be in seclusion? The temple has no leisure, so fasting pills might not be sufficient.”

Master Won-mu, who had firmly tucked Jeong Yeon-shin’s baggage in his arms and even wrapped gentle yellowish-green defensive energy around his front robe, asked.

‘I heard that among the Seventy-Two Arts, Indra’s Dharma Robe looks like that.’

Jeong Yeon-shin, who had taken a step, slowly opened his mouth. While firmly restraining the first luminous wheel with the two luminous wheels in his heart.

“I don’t have deep patience like the Masters, so I haven’t done long seclusion training. Though I couldn’t sit for nine years like Master Bodhidharma… this time it might be quite long.”

“Honestly, even nine years is short. Senior Brother Won-jeok had already been facing the wall for decades before entering Shaolin. Though he was an idiot for long years from Zhang Sanfeng’s single technique.”

Another unknown story.

The mysterious past of the Nine Sects like old books, Zhang Sanfeng and World Tree’s noble clans, and Master Bodhidharma. The higher one climbed to the peak of world jianghu, the more stories unfolded like magnificent scenery.

Therefore, Jeong Yeon-shin decided to turn his back on everything for a while. To reach a realm where he could carelessly uncover countless secrets.

“Master should also descend the mountain. You must guard the vast Shaolin grounds and Mount Song alone, yet you’ve greatly delayed time because of me.”

Step.

As he walked into the cave, he felt Master Won-mu’s bowing movement from behind. Also the presence of the Yao tribe high monk who rustled in place a few times then dispersed with Vajra Immovable Divine Method.

“I wish you martial fortune.”

Master Won-mu’s words were briefly buried in the cliff’s wind, then Jeong Yeon-shin faced the mist that had risen again in the pitch-black cave. The whitish human shape instantly grew dozens of times larger, then simultaneously grabbed the front of his purple long robe.

Chillingly hazy and fragmented movement.

“……!”

Because there was no sound of footsteps, it was immovable, and because it didn’t scatter, it was vajra.

Yet it felt completely inhuman, and at this moment it slowly shook its head before Jeong Yeon-shin’s face. The abyss-like cave darkness slowly swayed back and forth accordingly. A temperament that would inevitably send trembling racing down any human’s spine.

‘Why does it look at me like a wicked fellow…?’

The next moment, the shadow dragged Jeong Yeon-shin by the collar and sank into the darkness.

* * *

Bright light poured into rice sacks.

There were easily over a hundred.

Of course, Shaolin Temple’s vast grounds began bustling with unexpected crowds, and the outside of temple walls had long been filled with jianghu people resting without weapons. Some of them even pressed palms together toward the dharma halls.

It was the bearing of noble aristocrats.

“This is offering rice.”

A woman in blue palace dress hanging down to her toes bowed her head to a short old monk. Her raised hand with only one palm up was a half-palm that exactly mimicked Shaolin’s etiquette.

Peony Immortal Xing Lan.

One of four wives accompanying Great Righteous Alliance Leader, she was said in rumors to be the person who laid the foundation for Nang Seong’s uprising. This was why scholarly monk Beom-heul had let her into the grounds.

“Amitabha… With such offering rice to care for Dengfeng County, even Buddha would be full. You have come well.”

“How fortunate that the grounds happen to be empty? I was worried it might be bothersome. It seems the warrior monks have gone out?”

Her curved smile stood out. Sharp yet gentle eyes like blades. Beom-heul immediately saw through his opponent. That she would have insights in reading situations and assessing circumstances.

Not just her alone.

Behind Peony Immortal stood a gaunt swordsman with an expressionless face, who would obviously be Seven Treasures Divine Lord Gao Jie, known as Great Righteous Alliance’s second-in-command. Someone difficult to oppose now when full strength was poured into the gate and Won-jeok.

Great Righteous Alliance Leader’s other wife, Great Black Immortal Lady Han, was also looking around the grounds. Like this moment when her face was hidden in a black winter cloak with hood, she was a woman whose name wasn’t even known. Only rumors were abundant that she had lived like an assassin while preparing Great Righteous Alliance’s uprising for a long time.

“It’s truly empty. This is outside normal scope, but if it becomes like this…”

The muttering was natural. She couldn’t help but seem mad.

Shaolin Temple was a great temple.

Many who claimed to be Great Righteous Alliance’s subordinates had come and gone. Each sought to gain miraculous energy through Buddhist prayers, but among them, none had been as strict as those visiting now.

It was the same now.

They had eliminated any possibility of being coldly received at the temple with tremendous amounts of relief rice. No one carried weapons, and they only brought necessary porters.

And.

“I spoke with the incense bearers. The only person who had come and gone recently was some madman carrying a human head as baggage. Everyone avoided deep conversation about this, but there was clearly something else that had happened. If you command, I will interrogate further.”

Whispered words from a Great Righteous Alliance martial artist to Peony Immortal Xing Lan. The reason for not using sound transmission was obvious – because there would be something desired from Beom-heul.

“We’re looking for a very important person. Someone worth extending hands to the Nine Sects…”

Xing Lan continued with a broad smile.

“In any case, even if it’s someone carrying a severed head, that alone cannot fault temple guests. We happen to be keeping a head as well.”

“……”

Some tension suppressed even the dusty wind.

An old woman holding a folding fan and an old man hugging a sword like a child were leaning against nearby walls. Beom-heul remembered their young faces from the old Dragon-Phoenix Meeting at Mount Song. Thousand Fan Martial Empress Zhuge Qing, Mad Lord Gongsun Yue. Former Eight Family Heads.

Nang Seong was someone who had risen in rebellion as soon as he commanded four former family heads and four wives. Even absent, his presence was great.

Suddenly Great Black Immortal Lady Han muttered her thoughts aloud.

“The important thing is that Shaolin accepted such a madman as an incense bearer. It would be impossible with ordinary status or connections.”

Fortune, wit, and strength.

Everything fit together remotely well. As if destined heaven’s mandate followed them. Beom-heul chanted Buddha’s name once more. Namo Guanshiyin.

‘Great Righteous Alliance.’

Such people, whether they topple a nation or overturn great political situations, inevitably get greatly recorded and transmitted in history books.

It was then.

Thud—

An earthen storm spread from the mountainside. Along with some outcry, it was resounding as if rising from a giant’s throat.

[I was glad saying it was our tribe, so why are you blocking me? Is today the day to eat monk meat? That’s tough and there’s not much of it.]

[Amitabha.]

[Step aside. What are you protecting?]

Simultaneously, some explosive force seemed to occur.

The aftereffects were tremendous. The temple’s great bell even shook from the tremendous pressure.

Dong— Doong—!

The grounds filled with heavy resonance. Someone causing such natural disasters at this distance – among Yao tribe kings, there were only six stars.

“Shall we go up? Wind General is that way.”

Great Black Immortal Lady Han also pointed in that direction. Beyond the storm toward the peak’s edge. Precisely toward the Wall-Facing Cave direction.

Expression disappeared from Beom-heul’s face.

Seclusion training disturbed by someone was worse than not entering seclusion at all. Because not only energy circulation but mind and body became disturbed.

“Let’s go.”

Over a hundred Great Righteous Alliance masters soared into the air. It happened without any way to prevent it. Scholarly monk Beom-heul’s body also floated up whoosh from Thousand Fan Martial Empress Zhuge Qing’s light fanning.

Zhuge Qing said in an aged voice.

“Since Shaolin is Mount Song’s master, we accompany you thus out of respect.”

Rustle.

Former Zhuge Family Head, who had risen with void stepping, crossed the sky with Beom-heul. Following the Great Righteous Alliance masters who had already landed on the mountainside. Great Black Immortal Lady Han was racing in the lead, while Peony Immortal Xing Lan and Gongsun family’s former head leaped toward Northern Six Star Lords’ direction.

‘They say Great Righteous Alliance equals Central Plains jianghu.’

Too many claiming to be strong. It was dizzying.

When the old monk’s dizziness from a lifetime of staying close only to sutras mixed with mountain wind, suddenly hazy gentle breeze unraveled Beom-heul’s vision. Before he knew it, it was in front of the pitch-black Wall-Facing Cave.

“…Amitabha. After blocking the gate that harms people, we’re blocked behind by people. Human affairs are futile and futile.”

“For the first time.”

The old woman who had been floating Beom-heul in the air like a feather, Thousand Fan Martial Empress Zhuge Qing, smiled faintly.

“Buddhist scriptures touch me. Is it because I sent my son away in vain? Yes, he was a fellow who seemed like he would live forever because he was quick with calculations.”

“Benefactor Zhuge.”

Though Beom-heul called out quietly, Zhuge Qing looked down below without further answer. And her colorless eyes held a different light.

“What is that?”

Some handsome youth’s head was hanging from the cave entrance. Of course, the Great Righteous Alliance martial force that could surround anything and more had hesitated.

The head babbled.

“Greetings? I was going to pretend to be dead if possible, but I cannot endure so many spectators.”

“……”

“I shall perform a tune.”