Chaos of the Mixed Battle (1)
Seunghyeon Jinin, who had been sipping his tea, suddenly turned his head toward the window.
Gong Gong Dae-sa looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“What is it?”
“……”
“Jinin.”
“Hoo.”
Seunghyeon Jinin shook his head.
“It seems I really have grown old. Now I’m even hearing things that sound like auditory hallucinations.”
“Hallucinations? Of what sort?”
“Hehe. A long time ago, at your request, I once passed on a small realization to Young Master Yeon—ah, to Commander Yeon.”
“Ah, I remember now.”
“Commander Yeon’s past and present were drenched in blood. To be honest, judging solely by the amount of blood he has shed, it would not be an exaggeration to call him one of the greatest demonic sovereigns of all time.”
Gong Gong Dae-sa nodded heavily.
It was true that Yeon Hojeong had seen a great deal of blood. But how could anyone condemn him for it? The fact that his life had been stained with so much bloodshed might very well be the fault of the elders of the jianghu—including themselves. Not just possibly. It is the truth.
Yeon Hojeong’s abilities were outstanding. And not in just one area.
As the saying went, a pearl shining in the dark cannot be hidden. How could the Martial Alliance possibly leave such a prodigy alone? More than half the blood he had spilled had been at the command of the Martial Alliance. How truly shameful.
Gong Gong Dae-sa suddenly let out a sigh.
Even though he had simply heard the well-known fact that Yeon Hojeong had seen much blood, he felt ashamed of himself for allowing a young man’s hands to become so stained.
At least Seunghyeon Jinin had passed on some of Wudang’s realizations to Yeon Hojeong for the sake of his peace of mind. But he himself had done nothing for the boy.
Whether he knew how Gong Gong Dae-sa felt or not, Seunghyeon Jinin continued in a calm voice.
“In truth, even someone with considerable mental fortitude would have had their emotions greatly worn down. Killing would have become easier, and the smell of blood would no longer feel repulsive.”
“It is a lamentable thing.”
“But Commander Yeon was different. While such aspects were not entirely absent, his eyes remained remarkably clear and deep, unlike those of a warrior who has seen much blood. In some ways, they were even clearer than those of the monks at our main temple.”
“Hehe.”
“It seemed he had skillfully steadied his wavering heart. Of course, the help of those around him must have played a large part, but Yeon Hojeong’s character—his willingness to listen seriously to others’ advice without fearing change—must have contributed as well.”
Seunghyeon Jinin smiled faintly.
“Whether by coincidence or not, just now I thought I heard Commander Yeon’s voice outside the window. And with it, the sound of the few dharma teachings I once passed on to him.”
Gong Gong Dae-sa spoke in a benevolent tone.
“Your realizations lie in a realm this humble monk cannot even imagine. Surely, your sincere concern for Commander Yeon has reached his heart.”
Seunghyeon Jinin waved his hand dismissively.
“Do not gild this old monkey’s face. Realization? That’s a nice word for it. In the end, after going in circles, I have only now begun to follow teachings that even the youngest daodong already know. And yet they call me the sect leader of Wudang. Well, my own master was quite the eccentric, I suppose.”
Accumulating knowledge is a grueling endeavor.
But truly understanding that knowledge is even more difficult, and transforming what one has understood into new wisdom is more difficult still.
This was why Gong Gong Dae-sa acknowledged Seunghyeon Jinin not merely as a martial artist, but as a true Daoist. Seunghyeon Jinin had taken knowledge everyone knew and elevated it into wisdom rather than stopping at mere awareness.
If that was not realization, then what was? Though it was embarrassing, Gong Gong Dae-sa believed he had not even reached the hem of Seunghyeon Jinin’s robes.
And it was precisely that attitude that made Gong Gong Dae-sa truly worthy of his title. Of course, he himself would never realize it.
Seunghyeon Jinin spoke in a cheerful tone.
“Anyway, let us continue what we were saying. So, you sent Beom-oh and Authority Holder Kwon to Guangdong?”
“To be precise, I sent Authority Holder Kwon, but Beom-oh volunteered to accompany him.”
“Hehe. I heard you gave your grand-disciple quite a harsh scolding some time ago.”
Gong Gong Dae-sa gave a bitter smile.
“When I think back on that moment, I feel ashamed all over again. At the time, I believed I was thinking of my grand-disciple’s future, but looking back, it seems I was quite narrow-minded myself. No matter how great one’s expectations, there is no need to feel disappointment when they are not met. Yet I failed to properly manage my own heart, unlike a true practitioner.”
In truth, Gong Gong Dae-sa had never given anyone such harsh advice before the way he had scolded Beom-oh that day.
Perhaps it was because, after emerging into the world again after so long, he had seen many outstanding individuals in various fields and begun to notice things he had never seen before.
There was no need to even mention Yeon Hojeong. Even Moyong Woo was far younger than Beom-oh, yet he was carrying out all sorts of missions alongside Yeon Hojeong and was called one of the two greatest young masters of the world.
There was simply no comparison with Beom-oh. And this time as well, after realizing that such comparisons were not only meaningless but could wound a growing sprout, he had reflected deeply on himself.
Ever since entering the Martial Alliance, he had come to reflect on himself a great deal.
Seunghyeon Jinin gave a small smile.
“I, too, once visited Commander Yeon for a similar reason.”
“Ah, you mean Ok Cheong?”
“Indeed. To think that I would go straight to him and demand answers without considering the situation, even though he is a cherished junior. It seems all my years of cultivation have been in vain.”
Gong Gong Dae-sa gave a mysterious smile.
“Now that we speak of it, everything seems connected to Commander Yeon.”
“So it is. They say that no matter how vast the world may be, only one true hero is born in each generation. And that hero shakes the heavens and brings peace to a chaotic world.”
Seunghyeon Jinin clicked his tongue.
“I am beginning to think that Commander Yeon may become the central figure of the next generation.”
“I feel the same. He is certainly talented enough to deserve such evaluation.”
“Ah, I keep letting the conversation stray. So, why did you specifically dispatch Authority Holder Kwon? While Lee Cheol-gyeong of the Diamond Fist Clan is a renowned expert known throughout the world, Shaolin has countless experts who could be considered even greater, does it not?”
“That is true.”
“Is there something else you are aiming for?”
Gong Gong Dae-sa’s expression grew slightly serious.
“In Foshan of Guangdong Province, there are reclusive Buddhist elders connected to Shaolin who live in seclusion.”
Seunghyeon Jinin’s eyes widened.
“Buddhist elders, you say…?”
“Mm. This is a story unknown to the outside world, so I would ask that you keep it to yourself.”
It was a story known only to Shaolin.
To speak of such a matter in such a calm tone naturally made the listener feel good. It meant they were being shown great trust.
However, Seunghyeon Jinin felt inwardly tense.
To hear a story known only to Shaolin? It was both a mark of great trust and a terrifying restriction. If this story were ever to leak from Wudang, Seunghyeon Jinin would never be able to face Gong Gong Dae-sa again.
“I shall do so. I will seal my lips completely.”
“In truth, if those elders were to step forward directly, Commander Yeon or the Justice Army might notice their connection to our temple.”
Gong Gong Dae-sa gave a bitter smile.
“The fact that I still wish to ask for their help despite that risk shows just how thoroughly I have been bewitched by Commander Yeon.”
“Hehe.”
“In Foshan of Guangdong Province, several of our temple’s previous-generation elders and other Buddhist elders scattered across the Central Plains have gathered.”
“……?”
“And the reason they reside in Foshan is to protect a Buddhist legacy that has been passed down for hundreds of years.”
“A Buddhist legacy, you say?”
“I cannot speak any further on that. However, you need only know that this legacy is extremely important and that protecting it has already taken three hundred years.”
“Three hundred years…!”
Three hundred years. It was a period so long it left one’s mouth agape. Ten years could change mountains and rivers, so three hundred years was more than enough time for the landscape to change thirty times over. It was an era long enough for dynasties to rise and fall.
“Among them are elders who were once warrior monks and elders who were scholarly monks. But what is important is that their influence is truly immense.”
“Immense influence?”
“For three hundred years, retired elder monks have ended their lives there. How many great masters must have passed into the next life in Foshan? And before they did, how much benevolent influence must they have exerted on those around them?”
“……!”
“Of course, they do not wish to be revealed to the world. In fact, even the sect leader of Wudang does not know of their existence.”
“Hehe.”
Gong Gong Dae-sa clicked his tongue.
“Authority Holder Kwon’s great-grandfather is currently the greatest elder there. The reason we accepted Authority Holder Kwon into Shaolin as a secular disciple was because of the long-standing connection between that family and our predecessors. Of course, even taking that into account, Cheol-gyeong’s talent was exceptionally outstanding.”
Seunghyeon Jinin asked urgently.
“Then, are you saying that if those venerable elders lend their strength, it would be of great help to the Martial Alliance?”
Gong Gong Dae-sa shook his head.
“It may be. Or it may not.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“These are people who have upheld the Buddhist legacy in Foshan for a full three hundred years. Even among the previous-generation elders of Shaolin, only an extremely small number were permitted to travel to Foshan.”
“……”
“Do you understand? They are people who do not move easily. They have set aside even the teaching to benefit the world and are living out their remaining lives upholding a legacy from three hundred years ago. I wonder whether my request will have any effect on such people.”
Seunghyeon Jinin let out a sigh.
“If that is the case, why not secretly attach high-level experts from Shaolin? If you had told me, this humble one could have lent his strength as well…”
“The forces dispatched by the Martial Alliance must end with the Justice Army. That is how it should be.”
“Mm.”
“However… perhaps that decision stems from deep trust in Commander Yeon and Commander Moyong.”
Gong Gong Dae-sa gazed out the window.
Although he had admitted he was inferior to Seunghyeon Jinin as a practitioner, when it came to seeing the world, his eyes were far ahead.
“This humble monk believes he has done everything he could. Commander Yeon will do the same, and so will Authority Holder Kwon and Beom-oh.”
Do everything humanly possible and wait for heaven’s will.
“I can only earnestly pray that they safely complete their mission and return.”
* * *
“So, Young Master Yeon—no, Commander Yeon—said that?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Ga Deuk-sang rubbed his hands together and grinned.
“It’s been a while since we had a joint operation. I wonder if we’ll mesh well. Shall we turn things upside down in one big sweep?”
It was then.
“J-Junior Leader!”
“Huh? What is it?”
“It’s a disaster!”
“Then tell me what the disaster is so I can understand! We’re wasting time, so spit it out! You know Commander Yeon hates it when we’re late!”
“There was an earthquake!”
“……”
“What?”
“The place where we received the report that the man called Hong Gwan was hiding—there was an earthquake and a landslide! The entire area has been completely devastated! It’s an urgent report!”
Ga Deuk-sang stared blankly at the beggar.
“What the hell are you talking about? An earthquake? A landslide? All of a sudden?”
“The exact circumstances are unknown! We wanted to investigate, but assassins are monitoring the area from all directions, so we cannot get close…!”
At that moment, another beggar came running in.
“Out of the way! Junior Leader! Urgent news!”
“What is it this time!!”
“A letter has arrived!”
“Damn it! Letters come every other day! Who is it from?!”
“They say it’s from the disciple of the Sound Demon?!”
“Huh?”
“The disciple of the Sound Demon!”
Ga Deuk-sang let out a hollow laugh.
“……What the hell? Why is everything suddenly going to shit?”