Arrival at Shaolin Temple (1)
Wang Yi Sam came rushing up to Seo Baek in a fluster.
"Junior brother, where the hell have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"I was finishing up some business."
"What kind of business?"
"Paying back what we owed the Underground Hall."
Seo Baek nodded toward the passage leading to the Underground Hall.
Wang Yi Sam peeked over the edge, only to jerk his head back in shock at the blast of heat billowing up from below.
"Whoa, hot! It's on fire?"
"We wiped out the Underground Hall and torched it. Even if any remnants come back, they won't be using these tunnels for a while."
"Why go that far...?"
"They shot crossbows at me and the Shaolin monks. They failed to kill me, so now it's their turn to die."
"......"
Wang Yi Sam swallowed hard. Seo Baek's retribution against those who blocked his path was as cold and merciless as ever.
Still, it put his mind at ease in a way. He confirmed once more that Seo Baek, who had fallen from that thousand-foot cliff, had returned alive. That's more like it—now that's my junior brother!
Seo Baek explained to the group what Gil Sang-baek and the Underground Hall had been up to: trafficking refugees and trying to isolate Shaolin Temple.
When he finished, Seo Baek asked, "What have you all been doing in the meantime?"
"Looking for you, of course."
The group had gone down along the plank road searching for him.
They hadn't been able to find him easily, but they could guess he was alive.
The canyon was littered with the corpses of revenants that someone had sliced apart.
It had been Song Hyeon's idea to come to the Underground Hall.
He'd figured that once Seo Baek recovered, he'd come to settle the score—and he'd been right.
Everything after that was common knowledge.
"Whew, you have no idea what we went through. We couldn't even light a fire for fear of revenants spotting us—had to fill our bellies with dried moss and jerky."
Wang Yi Sam waved his arms dramatically as he complained.
"And that damn jerky—tough as leather!"
"It was made for Chorang, so of course it's tough. Besides, you ate more than half of it."
"Is it the fire? Why's it so damn hot in here...?"
When Joo Eun-ri pointed it out, Wang Yi Sam averted his eyes and pretended not to hear.
Having savored the joy of reunion, the group set off once more toward Shaolin Temple.
But just as they took their first steps, Shaolin monk Jin-mun glanced back and asked, "That man trailing us looks like one of the refugees we met on the plank road... Was he traveling with you, layman?"
The figure following at a distance was, needless to say, Dang Ryong.
"No. He's an assassin from the Sichuan Tang Clan sent to kill me."
"What? Then we can't just leave him like that!"
"You think I want him here?"
Wang Yi Sam blurted in alarm, and Seo Baek explained everything that had happened with Dang Ryong.
Even after the story ended, Wang Yi Sam looked skeptical.
"So, you saved his life, so he'll repay the favor by saving yours once. Then he'll cut your head off. That's the deal?"
"Yes."
"What kind of crazy bullshit is that?"
"Exactly."
Song Hyeon's reaction, however, was unexpectedly serious.
"There are those in the jianghu who are hypersensitive to favors and grudges. We can't just dismiss it outright."
Seo Baek then turned to each of them in turn.
"I was going to ask what you all think we should do about him anyway. What do you say, Senior Wang?"
"You kidding me? Block him—he'll come lunging for your throat someday!"
"And you, Lady Joo?"
"Just let him tag along. We've got the numbers on our side—what could go wrong? Plus, he's pretty handsome."
Wang Yi Sam exploded at Joo Eun-ri's words.
"Handsome assassin? What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Better than an ugly one, isn't it? Though I suppose an unpopular old monk would object to a handsome guy joining us."
"What did you say?!"
Seo Baek quickly intervened to stop their bickering.
"What about you, Senior Song?"
"......"
Song Hyeon pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Is he suited for stealth operations?"
"Perfect for it."
"Then I approve."
"Understood."
There had to be a reason Song Hyeon asked about Dang Ryong's stealth skills. Seo Baek decided accordingly.
"Two out of three approve, so we'll let him follow."
"I'm against it! What if he sneaks up when you're alone?"
Even as Wang Yi Sam protested vehemently, Seo Baek replied calmly.
"Then I'll deal with him. You don't think I'd lose, do you?"
"Well, no, but..."
Wang Yi Sam, who knew Seo Baek's martial prowess well, fell silent.
And so, the group pretended not to notice Dang Ryong as they resumed their journey.
Wang Yi Sam couldn't hide his unease, glancing back furtively.
Dang Ryong had clearly overheard everything, yet he showed no reaction, following a hundred paces behind as if they just happened to be heading the same way.
Wang Yi Sam sighed inwardly.
Another lunatic's joined the party.
A underworld master who wielded his sword like a ghost.
A haughty woman who handled talismans and monstrous strength.
An absurd assassin who vowed to save his life before taking it.
As far as Wang Yi Sam could tell, none of the people who got tangled up with Seo Baek were normal.
Wait, there was one, wasn't there?
That clueless directionless guy was the most normal of the bunch.
Wang Yi Sam suddenly missed Yu So Un, whom they'd parted ways with along the route. If Yu So Un knew, he'd be thrilled.
* * *
The group climbed the cliff face again and traversed the plank road.
The path to Shaolin Temple had been sabotaged by the Underground Hall, who had cut the rope bridges. They had to cross makeshift sections that had been abandoned midway.
Everyone's lightness skill was exceptional, so there were no major issues.
Only Wang Yi Sam sweated bullets with every leap across the precarious, stepping-stone-like gaps.
On a normal route, they could have followed the ridge safely. But since they'd detoured, they had to descend to the base of the cliff.
Right into the heart of the revenant horde.
Seo Baek had exceeded the time limit of the Shika Heart Method while battling the horde.
But this time, it wouldn't be necessary.
Before descending, Joo Eun-ri handed Seo Baek a talisman.
"Carry this."
"A talisman to repel revenants?"
"No. This one hides a living person's presence from them."
"......!"
If she was right, revenants wouldn't notice them even up close.
It had to be far more effective than the ones she'd stuck around Yongjeong Inn.
"I had her draw it using a copy of the Black Wolf Secret Book."
Song Hyeon explained the circumstances.
He'd planned to deliver the Black Wolf Secret Book copy he'd obtained from the Jegal family directly to the Shaolin abbot. Since it belonged to the Murim Alliance, he had no intention of using it lightly.
But after Seo Baek's fall from the cliff, they'd had no choice but to borrow its power.
Song Hyeon had explained everything to Jin-mun, who readily agreed.
Then it was Joo Eun-ri's turn.
If she could mock even Pyeon Bok Teacher, whom Song Hyeon respected, drawing talismans was child's play.
The only issue was that Joo Eun-ri seemed eager to keep the Black Wolf Secret Book, leading to a spat with Wang Yi Sam.
Sure enough, Wang Yi Sam whispered in Seo Baek's ear.
"That woman's still got the book after drawing the talismans. She might swallow it whole—tell her to hand it over."
"Better she holds it in case something comes up along the way."
Despite the advice, Seo Baek brushed it off with a smile.
"As expected of a young prodigy—such foresight. What would an old monk know?"
Joo Eun-ri welcomed Seo Baek's decision, while Wang Yi Sam scowled.
But her triumph was short-lived.
"In exchange, we hand it over to the abbot once we reach Shaolin Temple."
"Well... yeah, I suppose."
Wang Yi Sam crowed as the tables turned.
"Hahaha, serves you right! Thought it was yours? It's Shaolin property—Shaolin!"
"Manuals belong to those who recognize their value. 'A pearl remains worthless unless strung'—no old monk would get that pearl of wisdom."
"What?!"
Wang Yi Sam and Joo Eun-ri dove into another argument before Seo Baek could stop them.
Seo Baek sighed.
"You two never change. Same as when Brother So Un was around."
"Did So Un and Wang Yi Sam fight?"
"Yes. Every time they opened their mouths."
"I see. But So Un fights villains with arrows and gentlemen with words."
"Agreed."
Seo Baek smiled faintly.
"Any spare talismans?"
"One left. Why?"
Seo Baek took the talisman from Joo Eun-ri and gave it to Dang Ryong.
Dang Ryong asked with his usual listless expression.
"What's this?"
"Hides a living person's presence."
"A Qimen Dunjia expert, huh? That woman?"
"Yes. Her arts rival the Sichuan Tang Clan's techniques."
"Nonsense."
The group proceeded under Jin-mun's guidance.
Song Mountain stretched over a hundred li east to west.
It took a full three days just to go from Tae-sil Peak, where the Underground Hall was, to Jun-geuk Peak.
Wang Yi Sam finally couldn't hold back and asked Jin-mun, "How much farther to Xiao Shi Peak?"
"On horseback across flatland, a day. But given the situation, another two or three."
"Ugh."
The plank roads could have shaved off a day or two, but the Underground Hall had already damaged several sections and rope bridges.
And the revenant horde was too vast.
Even with talismans, they had to keep their distance. One slip, and they'd be swept up in tens of thousands.
Each night, they climbed the cliffs to rest; at dawn, they moved again.
With each passing day, Seo Baek meditated to check his condition.
Strangely, there was no sign of qigong deviation.
A relief, but the lack of issues only heightened his anxiety.
One morning, as if reading his mind, Joo Eun-ri said, "Seo Baek, there's a shadow on your face."
"Why? He looks brighter than ever."
Wang Yi Sam chimed in, but Joo Eun-ri spoke seriously, without bickering.
"Your physiognomy's changed these past few days. Something weighing on your chest?"
"Hmph, physiognomy changes? Isn't it set at birth?"
"It's one-third innate, one-third life path, one-third current state of mind and body. If you need to vent, I'm here."
But Seo Baek couldn't voice his fear of qigong deviation.
His master had warned him repeatedly.
Never reveal the secrets of the Shika Heart Method to anyone.
"Thank you, Lady Joo. I'll tell you when the time's right."
Joo Eun-ri nodded and let it drop.
The Shika Heart Method's limit was half a shichen.
Exceeding it was dangerous, but not an instant deviation the moment it ticked over.
There was a way to test the exact limit.
Keep using it until signs appeared.
But that was suicide. No need to court death deliberately.
Someday, in a desperate battle, the time would come.
I'll test infinite activation then.
If he survived, luck; if not, at least he'd fulfilled his duty.
As Seo Baek pondered, Jin-mun climbed a large boulder and pointed to a peak rising in the west.
"That's Xiao Shi Peak. Welcome to Shaolin Temple."
Months after leaving Sichuan, traversing the Central Plains...
Seo Baek had finally arrived at Shaolin Temple.