Chapter 34
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: No Way... It Was Real
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In the world...
I never imagined it was actually real.
Yi Ho-chang shook his head inwardly and turned his gaze back to the problem book.
The problems didn't look all that difficult.
There were sixty-seven of them in total, so not an overwhelming amount either.
'I can finish this quick.'
Yi Ho-chang closed the book, placed it on the go board, and spoke up.
"It looks like I can solve them quickly."
"Really?"
"Yes. But since I'm solving them for you, what will you give me in return?"
"...What?"
"Isn't that how it works? If I'm doing something for you, there should be something coming back my way."
"Are you saying even the Summoning Pill isn't enough?"
"Come on, Master. You gave me that because you lost our betting game."
"..."
Nangyo fell silent at Yi Ho-chang's words.
He couldn't exactly argue with that.
Just as the exasperated Hyeon Yong Abbot was about to say something, Nangyo cut in.
"How about this, then?"
"What?"
"If you're not giving me anything else, tell me what you know about the Ten Go Precepts board. That'll be enough for me to help you out."
Yi Ho-chang had never intended to ask for more in the first place.
But he was curious about the Ten Go Precepts, so this was his way of prying for information.
As soon as he mentioned the Ten Go Precepts, Nangyo's eyes changed.
"...Why do you want to know about that?"
Because of Immortal Assembly Valley.
But he couldn't say that outright, so after a moment's hesitation, he answered.
"Because it's the path I must walk."
"The path you must walk?"
"Yes, well... something like that."
His answer felt so vague that Yi Ho-chang gave an embarrassed smile.
But surprisingly, it struck Nangyo differently.
"..."
Silence from Nangyo.
The reason he went quiet was that Yi Ho-chang's words brought a nostalgic face to mind.
'That person said something similar...'
His skills, his way of speaking...
Yi Ho-chang oddly overlapped with that figure in his mind.
Was that why?
Suddenly, all of this didn't feel like mere coincidence.
As the images briefly merged, Nangyo chuckled softly to himself.
"Heh heh. Perhaps all this is the Buddha's will after all..."
With his mind made up, Nangyo waved the others out.
"Everyone out. Everyone except this kid."
"Senior Brother? Why all of a sudden...?"
"Ah, just go. I'm not going to eat him, so quit your needless worrying."
They wondered at the sudden dismissal, but seeing the upturned corners of his mouth, Hyeon Yong Abbot quietly withdrew.
As Hyeon Yong Abbot left, the others followed suit.
All of them wore baffled expressions.
Hyeon Yong Abbot was no different.
But he withdrew in silence anyway, because of that smile on his senior brother's face.
It had been far too long since he'd seen him smile so genuinely.
Yes.
Perhaps the first time since that incident.
*
Leaving Yi Ho-chang behind, the others departed the Scripture Depository Hall first, following Yu Kyung and Hwan Jo.
Hyeon Yong Abbot, descending the stairs last, spoke to Wi So-so, who had been waiting alone for him.
"We showed some embarrassing sides of ourselves in front of Shaolin's guests."
Wi So-so responded to his sheepish words.
"Not at all. I actually liked it."
"Liked it?"
"This was a chance to see the human side of those eminent monks I thought were always so solemn. It made them feel more approachable and warm."
"Ho ho, is that so? Then I'm glad. By the way..."
As he continued, Hyeon Yong Abbot looked up at the top of the Scripture Depository Hall.
"It's truly wondrous."
"What is?"
"I've hardly ever seen my senior brother open his heart like that before."
"Ah..."
"Personally, I hope this young patron can fully melt away the walls around his closed heart."
Wi So-so smiled in agreement.
"It surely will happen. This young hero has a mysterious charm about him."
"Heh heh, watching from the side, I can see he certainly does."
As the two walked on, Wi So-so suddenly voiced her curiosity.
"Abbot, if it's not rude, may I ask one question?"
"Ask away."
"Why is that eminent monk called Nangyo staying in that place?"
"The reason he's there..."
Hyeon Yong Abbot, walking ahead of her, looked up and answered steadily.
"It's a burden on his heart."
"A burden?"
"Yes. That's why my senior brother still swims amid that pile of chains in the abyss."
Having heard the answer, Wi So-so asked no more.
His expression seemed strangely fragmented and lifeless.
She simply nodded in silence.
*
Nangyo said to Yi Ho-chang.
"Are the kids outside all gone?"
"Yes, they're all gone. But why send them away? Especially Abbot Hyeon Yong—he could've stayed."
At Yi Ho-chang's jab, Nangyo chuckled and began clearing the stones from the go board.
"What's the point of keeping around someone who can't help?"
"If you're saying he's no help because he can't play go, then the same goes for you, Master."
"This brat...! Fine! So what got you so curious about the Ten Go Precepts board?"
With the topic shifting, Yi Ho-chang refocused on his original goal.
After pondering Nangyo's question briefly, he fired off his first one.
"Who made the Ten Go Precepts board?"
Nangyo paused for a moment before answering.
"The Go Immortal."
"The Go Immortal?"
"Yes, the Go Immortal."
The Go Immortal.
In other words, the immortal of go.
If that was a title, it struck Yi Ho-chang as awfully arrogant.
Narrowing his eyes, Yi Ho-chang pressed with his second question.
"Then why is a board made by the Go Immortal here at Shaolin?"
"Kid, do you know who Abbot Bodhidharma is?"
"Yeah, I've heard the name."
"They say the Go Immortal and Abbot Bodhidharma were friends."
"Friends?"
Nangyo nodded.
"Yes. Back when Abbot Bodhidharma was in the mortal world, he was one of the Heavenly Ten Lords vying for the title of world's best. And they say the Go Immortal was friends with all of them."
"So the Go Immortal was one of the Heavenly Ten Lords too?"
"No."
"Then how did he become friends with them?"
"Through go, obviously."
Ah.
So in modern terms, they bonded over gaming.
But was that even possible?
This was the martial world, after all.
Yi Ho-chang asked.
"Is that even possible?"
"Why not? The Heavenly Ten Lords were undefeated in the martial world, yet they kept losing on that little go board. How could that not pique their curiosity?"
I see.
In other words, competitive spirit turned into friendship.
And the Heavenly Ten Lords...
Ten Go Precepts, ten of them.
It felt like there might be a connection.
Yi Ho-chang continued.
"So the Ten Go Precepts was a gift from the Go Immortal to Abbot Bodhidharma?"
"Exactly. Good guess."
"And it's been passed down at Shaolin ever since?"
"Yes. Abbot Bodhidharma left instructions to keep it safe, guarded by Shaolin's monk with the highest internal energy."
"Then why are you guarding it, Master?"
"Because I've got the highest internal energy, obviously?"
"...Shaolin must be really short on talent."
"Hey, you little—!"
Nangyo flushed red and swung a fist.
But Yi Ho-chang dodged and shot back.
"Whoa? You gonna hit me?"
"Dodge this!"
"Can't win at go, so now it's brute force?"
"Argh! You brat!"
Nangyo swung again.
He was determined to land at least one knuckle rap.
But Yi Ho-chang dodged once more, and eventually Nangyo withdrew his fist, exhausted.
"...You'll have to stay on guard the whole time you're here."
"Looks like it. Next question. Why does Shaolin want to open this board?"
"Didn't Nang Jin explain?"
"Yes."
"Simply put, opening that board is the only way for Shaolin to rise again as the pillar of Mount Tai."
"Rise again?"
"Shaolin has been declining since the Righteous-Demonic Great War."
"Declining how?"
"Just as I said. It's not obvious, but our power is waning. All because of those Blood Cult scum. It started after my senior brother the sect leader... Abbot Gwang Hyang beheaded their cult leader, Baek Ji-gok."
It was exactly as he said.
After losing their leader to Abbot Gwang Hyang, the Blood Cult attacked Shaolin relentlessly out of revenge, causing Shaolin's decline.
Even with help from other sects.
Nangyo continued.
"Their attacks were manageable at first. Shaolin wouldn't crumble from something like that. But they stole two irreplaceable treasures from us. That made the real impact."
"What were they?"
"First, they destroyed all our Great Reversion Pill refining methods. And they hunted down every monk who knew them."
"And the other?"
"Abbot Gwang Hyang went missing. While fighting the Blood Cult's Eight Pillars."
Nangyo's expression turned ice-cold after his answer.
When anger exceeds its bounds, it turns cold—like this.
After a moment of silence, Nangyo spoke again.
"That's why we're searching for and trying to open that board. Abbot Bodhidharma, with his enlightened wisdom, must have left something for future generations."
Hm.
In simple terms, they had no real knowledge—just blind faith.
Yi Ho-chang pondered, then voiced his inner thought.
"What if he left nothing?"
"Doesn't matter."
"It doesn't?"
"No. We monks walk toward the faint light of 'what if' that the Buddha shows us."
Yi Ho-chang couldn't help but smirk at Nangyo's reply.
For the first time, he looked like a real monk.
Was that why?
He seemed a bit different now.
"Still, you really are one of Shaolin's elders..."
"Tch, if there's nothing, we just fall. What other options are there?"
"Pardon?"
"Argh, forget it. Don't bring up depressing stuff. Monks are human too, human!"
"..."
Sigh.
Much for looking differently.
Yi Ho-chang watched Nangyo pick his nose with his pinky and reconfirmed his earlier conviction.
If this man had become abbot, Shaolin would've fallen much sooner.
Nangyo yawned widely and said.
"Yaaawn. So, are the questions done?"
"Yes, that's it. Now let's solve this quick."
"Why do you sound annoyed all of a sudden?"
"Not at all. Don't mind it."
Yi Ho-chang snatched the book from Nangyo and flipped through the pages.
That's when he spotted the wooden box pushed aside in his peripheral vision.
The box containing the Summoning Pill.
'Great Vitality Pill, right?'
Yi Ho-chang pointed at it and asked.
"Master, mind if I take that one?"
"The Summoning Pill? Don't, it'll take too long anyway. Eat it later."
Takes too long?
He meant solving the problems?
Yi Ho-chang frowned.
'Pfft, I can eat it and solve them no problem. These aren't tough for you maybe, but for me?'
Out of spite, Yi Ho-chang opened the box, popped the pill in his mouth, and chewed.
Crunch!
Hm.
Sweeter and tastier than expected.
At that moment, Nangyo shot up in shock.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"It's fine, won't take long. I just don't wanna carry the box around."
"You idiot! Who eats a Summoning Pill like that?! You think it's some market candy?!"
"I know it's a Great Vitality Pill. But I can eat it and solve these easy problems. It won't slow me down."
"What are you talking about?! It takes forever to digest a Summoning Pill! Who's saying solving takes long?!"
Oh, that's what he meant?
But why would digestion take forever from this?
Then, Yi Ho-chang's lower abdomen began to heat up.
He said in wonder.
"Oh. My stomach's suddenly getting warm."
"Argh! For real!"
Nangyo formed a sword finger and circulated his internal energy.
The surging energy thinned into a needle-like point, then struck toward Yi Ho-chang's back.