Chapter 20
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Those Who Leave Must Return 3
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How much time had passed like that? Finally, the match was decided.
U Cheonso, whose entire body had transformed into pure white aura, pierced through the golden aura of Supreme Great Ability surrounding Hyeonjin at a speed like light itself.
An enormous explosion erupted from within immediately.
Kwaaaang—!
The golden aura lost its light in an instant, and the surroundings were briefly enveloped in a white flash capable of annihilating the universe before vanishing in a moment.
Baek Musang couldn't see a thing even with his eyes open, due to that tremendous flash.
A brief time passed without him even realizing the world had darkened again, and slowly, the scene in that darkness revealed itself.
There lay Hyeonjin collapsed in the gloom, with U Cheonso standing silently before him.
The moon had risen before he knew it.
It was a crescent moon.
Under that cold moonlight, Baek Musang rushed over at the sight of Hyeonjin's wretched state and embraced him, checking his pulse.
"Heh heh... I'm fine, you rascal."
Hyeonjin, confirming Baek Musang's face, murmured quietly on.
"Even Supreme Great Ability at its peak couldn't stop him. He's not human at all."
Seonwoyong, who had approached unnoticed, said calmly.
"You're exaggerating as always, Hyeonjin. Your Supreme Great Ability truly wasn't of this world."
"I never imagined Northern Sea Divine Art could wield such power. So the title of Holy Lord does mean something, after all."
"Well then, let's finish our conversation. Where is that child?"
Hyeonjin, cradled in Baek Musang's arms, mustered all his strength to rise.
"Urgh..."
"Uncle Master. Are you alright?"
"You fool, can't you see? It's not fatal, so don't make a fuss. Haha..."
But contrary to his forced smile and bluster, black dead blood trickled from his mouth and nose, and his whole body trembled.
U Cheonso silently watched the scene, waiting for him to speak.
After steadying his qi and blood for a moment, Hyeonjin tossed out a single remark.
"The friend Leader U seeks isn't here."
Baek Musang, startled by the words, glanced at U Cheonso's expression.
There was no particular change.
"The child isn't here? Are you trying to toy with me now?"
"Heh heh... Would I lie to Leader U? It's clear now—you haven't met him yet."
"Naturally."
"That friend was your son too, Leader U. And the leader of the Ming Cult as well. After taking Northern Sea Divine Art at its peak head-on today, I finally understand. He too had mastered Northern Sea Divine Art to its peak, and with it, he broke the seal of sealed acupoints and meridians I placed on him himself. A divine art that turns one into light with the power of light... What in these heavens could contain light?"
Seonwoyong furrowed his brow.
Hyeonjin's words felt truthful.
"Tell me in detail. What happened?"
"It's simple. Twenty-six years ago, a group came swarming to this Mount Yaksa. Your friend U Gyeongcheon was staying in a certain cave down below, under the seal of sealed acupoints and meridians I'd placed on him. I got preoccupied with that mysterious group and left the cave for a while.
"Then... at that time?"
"Amitabha. Yes. After confirming they were your Ming Cult people and giving them a little lesson to drive them off, I returned to find—literally—that friend had vanished."
"Even your discerning eye couldn't track him as he just slipped away? But why haven't you or Shaolin searched for that child all this time...?"
"Heh heh... Who in this current world could chase him down? He's already become light. Probably no one but you, Leader U, could hunt him down and subdue him in this world. Cough..."
Hyeonjin, who had been speaking for a while, suddenly spewed a dark red clot of blood and collapsed.
Baek Musang, guarding his side, immediately supported Hyeonjin's form, as Hyeonjin waved a hand toward U Cheonso.
"Now, please leave. I've suffered a great loss at your hands today, Leader U. With your son not in my hands either, what business do you have left with me?"
U Cheonso nodded at his words.
"Of course, I have no more business with you. But was there really any need to clash with me? Wouldn't it have been fine to just tell me earlier?"
"Haha... This poor monk may be a fake, but I'm Smiling Buddha Hyeonjin. If I revealed the truth without first crossing hands with you, what would become of my face? Haha..."
U Cheonso turned his body.
"I hope we never meet again. Take care. I'll be off."
"Farewell. But hurry and find your son. If you leave him be, a bloody storm will sweep the world once more. That's why even I, at this age, have thrown aside nirvana and all to endure this hardship."
"Eldest Brother. Go down to my quarters first. I need to check on Uncle Master Hyeonjin's condition a bit more before heading down."
"Do that."
U Cheonso's form shot down the mountain like an arrow.
The moonlight atop Mount Yaksa grew even brighter.
"Musang. Did you enjoy the show?"
"Yes. It was beyond the heavens."
"Indeed. Beyond the heavens, exactly. Train harder yourself. In my view, the blood chaos covering the world will soon erupt again."
"Understood. I'll keep Uncle Master's teachings in mind."
"Come on... help me sit. Before you go down, stand guard for me. Settling this internal injury will take at least two days, so you'll have to stay with me for one."
"Don't worry. Please start circulating your qi to heal right away."
U Cheonso returned to his previous spot and rekindled the extinguished campfire.
His son U Gyeongcheon had been free for twenty-six years already.
He sank into silent thought.
What, exactly, was the heavenly mandate given to him?
The mandate of heaven, or of man?
Jeong Yeongyeong's face, left behind, floated up again.
The time when her grandfather Jeong Seongyu and father Jeong Yeonggyo vanished was exactly when U Gyeongcheon had left this place.
It couldn't possibly be coincidence.
The net of karma he had to unravel was slowly revealing itself.
He began to listen anew to the luxuriantly flowing valley stream.
'Blocking it isn't easy at all. Damn...'
* * *
A few days later.
In the deepest corner seat of an inn in Deungbong County.
Seonwoyong and Baek Musang sat facing each other, tilting their cups.
"Really, do ya gotta do it that way?"
"No can do! Then I can't wander free as I please. Look at you. Anyone in the Central Plains martial world who sees ya knows it's Wide-Eyed Layman Baek Musang, right?"
Baek Musang scratched his head at Seonwoyong's scolding.
"Well, yeah, but..."
"Word'll spread through the entire Central Plains martial world in ten days flat. 'Shaolin's strongest master Baek Musang has emerged into the rivers and lakes on some secret mission with an unidentified young expert!' or some such."
"Haa... Can't I just disguise myself a bit and go? That bald head of mine's gettin' tiresome too, y'know... This little brother's been puttin' up with that stinky monk smell for decades all for Eldest Brother's sake, ain't he?"
"How's that my fault? Ya just got sick of that musty monk stink and started cravin' savory meat smells, that's all."
"Anyway, ya really sayin' no?"
"No. And think about your status. Ya ditched the robes, but you're still Shaolin's representative master, ain't ya? The path ahead'll inevitably run into those smelly, stuffy orthodox sect folks... It'll be a real hassle."
"Hmm... Big Brother?"
Baek Musang, smiling slyly unlike his appearance, called to Seonwoyong.
"What?"
"That, uh, Shedding Bones and Rebirth thing—mind teachin' me how? I ain't interested in gettin' stronger or nothin', but I got this itch to live a new life in a fresh body like you..."
"Heh heh... What, ya think Shedding Bones and Rebirth is some pet name? I dunno either, ya fool. It just sorta happened. Heh heh..."
"Ah, damn it, world's so unfair... Uncle Master Hyeonjin too, and now Big Brother... Two folks I know already. Tsk..."
"Shedding Bones and Rebirth—what ya plannin' to do with it anyway?"
"Ah, y'know, become some dashing peerless beauty-magnet young hero, or maybe a wicked demon lord, and just... y'know, with the ladies... heh heh..."
"Oh dear... Ya broke your precepts, but that's all ya got in that head? And after eatin' all those pork ribs too. Heh heh heh..."
"Aw, Big Brother. Ain't funny. This little brother ain't practiced any virgin arts or nothin'—still single at this age. What kinda pitiful life's this?"
"That's your problem. Anyway, can't travel together, so finish that drink and head back to the temple."
"Ain't goin'. If ya gotta go, drink with this little brother three days and nights straight first. Can't let ya leave like this."
"Heh heh... Shoulda snuck out alone..."
As the two sat sharing drinks at that corner table in the inn, the quiet inn's door opened, and a group of martial artists poured in boisterously.
Dressed in dust-covered raincoats from long travel, swords and blades at their waists, they claimed five or six tables, turning the inn rowdy.
"Bring booze first! Whatever ya got, now!"
"Food too—anything quick. My stomach's stuck to my back; might eat you lot instead... haha ha..."
Tossing off their raincoats, they started hazing the waiter from the get-go.
They must've been starving and thirsty as hell.
But catching a glimpse of their attire, Baek Musang shut his mouth with a troubled look and turned away.
"What? Know 'em?"
"Why here of all places..."
Baek Musang tried turning his head to ignore them, but his distinctive features stood out too much.
Before even finishing a drink, one of the martial artists shot up and approached Baek Musang.
"Greetings—hope you've been well. Uncle Master, sir. It's your unworthy disciple Jin Ichang."
That's right.
Jin Ichang of Shenzhou Divine Fist—one of the four later-generation disciples he'd once soundly thrashed.
Now, thirty years later, no longer a sub-branch leader of Shenzhou Merchant Association, but a full-fledged branch leader.
Baek Musang reluctantly returned the extremely polite bow from Jin Ichang.
"Yeah. Been well? You look good. I've heard Shenzhou Merchant Association's grown big under your leadership."
"I'm ashamed. I gained great insight from Uncle Master's teachings back then. Treating everyone with utmost sincerity, high or low..."
"But what's brought you this far? You ain't got time to just pay temple respects, do ya?"
"Happened to have tribute for Shaolin, so escortin' it myself. And while at it..."
"Yeah? Then fine. Get to it."
"Heh heh... Uncle Master, why such harsh words? Work? Now that I'm under Shaolin's shadow meetin' you like this, what could be more important than good booze and snacks in your honor?"
Ignoring Baek Musang's hints to scram, Jin Ichang sat at their table.