Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: Shaolin's Begging Pilgrimage
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Cheonhwi's group enjoyed a smooth journey.
No, it went beyond smooth—they were savoring the trip more than ever before.
From the day they set out, Cheonhwi had shed his sect robes and visited every famous inn in Henan that he hadn't been able to stop at before, eating, drinking, and reveling to his heart's content.
A few days passed like that.
As the group headed west to return to Mount Hua, they safely reached Dengfeng County in Henan Province.
They decided to spend the night at an inn called Silver Clarity.
After unpacking his bundle, Cheonhwi gazed out the open window.
"Hm, is it always this crowded?"
Was it because it was broad daylight?
Or was there something else?
The streets were packed with people.
There were so many that carriages couldn't even enter, forced to stay at some distant inn instead.
"But it's strange. With all these martial artists gathered, no one's even thinking of avoiding them."
Cheonhwi's eyes scanned the crowd.
The more he looked, the odder it seemed.
Amid the tangled throng on the street, there were plenty armed with swords or spears—obvious martial artists.
Normally, ordinary folk would shrink away in fear and give them a wide berth.
To avoid getting entangled.
But not here.
No one paid them any mind as they passed, not sparing them a glance.
Some were even hawking their wares right at the martial artists.
"Hey, handsome young man!"
A youth who looked rich at a glance, with an expensive sword at his side and a hero's sash, glanced around nervously and stammered,
"Are you talking to me?"
"Of course! Who else would I mean but you? You're the only handsome young man around here. Come closer, have one of these candies. They're quite sweet!"
The candy vendor, clearly used to dealing with martial artists, teased relentlessly until the youth was flustered.
Clink— clink—
Moments later, the vendor handed over the candies with a hearty laugh, after fleecing the naive youth.
"I'll pack the rest separately. Give them to a girl you like later—she'll melt for you."
Seeing the youth buy an armful of candies in one go, Cheonhwi rested his chin on his hand and chuckled.
"Wow, doing business with martial artists like that? What guts."
It was laughable.
Martial artists of the jianghu lived by the sword over the law. Slip up with your tongue around them, and you'd likely lose your head.
Yet here, ordinary folk boldly pushed their sales on them.
"This many people, a knife fight wouldn't be surprising..."
Cheonhwi quickly scanned the other martial artists.
Most seemed accustomed to it, ignoring the scene, but a few, like the candy-buying youth, were getting skinned alive as easy marks.
Of course, not everyone was.
Some shot irritated glares at the hawkers.
A few even leaked faint killing intent, angered by the persistent pitches.
But even those showing strong reactions held back from acting.
They seemed to pull back a step instead.
"I'll pass."
Cheonhwi watched a martial artist raise his hand in refusal, then straightened from where he'd propped his elbow on the windowsill.
"No sign of it turning ugly."
Pulling his gaze from them, Cheonhwi turned to stare at Mount Song in the distance.
"Probably because of that place, huh?"
Compared to the steep, towering Mount Hua, Mount Song was gentler but still majestic.
Gazing at its grandeur, it was worthy of being called a famed mountain.
But something even more imposing and massive loomed on the mid-slope of Lesser Room Peak on Mount Song.
Shaolin Temple!
There sat the jianghu's Mount Tai, boasting a thousand years of history.
"Even among the Nine Great Sects, Shaolin's prestige is overwhelming."
Just from a brief look at the streets, one could gauge Shaolin's status in the Central Plains.
Cheonhwi scratched the back of his head.
"Tch, this is why a sect needs power. Look how even wild martial artists don't dare run amok."
Even among the Nine Great Sects, the gaps were vast.
If Wudang had its Sea Sword Manor, Shaolin had turned Dengfeng County into a bloodless land, free of strife.
"When they crawl on their own like that, it's a sight to behold. Wish we could make the area around Mount Hua like this..."
Thinking of the Black Dao forces cowering in Huayin County and the Evil factions rampaging in Shaanxi, Cheonhwi clicked his tongue and rubbed his chin.
"That'll take time, though. Mount Hua's history is longer than most sects', but shorter than Shaolin's, and we nearly fell once."
No deep thought needed.
Reality spoke for itself.
"Maybe I should train harder? If I push just short of dying, I'll improve by leaps and bounds..."
Cheonhwi rose from his seat, musing on thoughts that would horrify Mount Hua's disciples if they heard.
"Eh, whatever. I'll think about that later. Food first."
He closed the wide-open window and headed for the door.
Creeeak—
The moment he opened it, his face naturally scrunched up.
"Damn, so many people."
Weaving through the packed first floor full of guests, he headed upstairs.
"Senior Brother!"
Danmokin, who had reserved a table ahead, spotted him and waved.
Cheonhwi walked over and said,
"You unpacked quick."
"Not much to unpack."
"Yeah?"
Cheonhwi sat across from Danmokin.
The table already had food, a bottle of liquor, and cups ready.
"Looks tasty."
Cheonhwi's eyes lit up.
As he reached to pour a cup,
"Tch, what a crowd."
A tongue-clicking voice came from behind.
Cheon Ig-ae, the last to come up, sauntered over with a swagger, sat down, and peered out the open window.
"Of all days, it had to be today."
Danmokin asked curiously,
"What day is it?"
"Shaolin's annual begging pilgrimage."
"Really?"
Her voice rose a pitch.
Seeing her excited like a child, Cheonhwi paused pouring and glanced at Cheon Ig-ae, mouthing,
"What's that day?"
Cheon Ig-ae looked incredulous.
"You don't know?"
"That's why I'm asking."
At Cheonhwi's brazen attitude, Cheon Ig-ae was dumbfounded but soon shook his head. It wasn't the first time Cheonhwi acted like this.
"Once a year, Shaolin monks and novices come down to Dengfeng County for alms rounds. It's the day you might see Shaolin's renowned high monks, so people flock from all over."
Cheonhwi let out a soft "Oh ho" of admiration, eyes gleaming.
"Who's coming today?"
"No one knows till the day. They decide at Shaolin..."
Cheon Ig-ae, having poured and downed a cup, continued,
"Kuh, last year, one of the Ten Precepts Ten Monks, Venerable Wonjeong, led the rounds. So this year, probably someone of that caliber..."
As Cheon Ig-ae spoke,
"Waaah!"
"Shaolin!"
Cheers erupted from below.
The packed street parted like waves, revealing a group of monks approaching from afar.
Yellow robes with red kasaya.
Ten monks in Shaolin attire led ten novices and stopped before a shopfront.
A middle-aged woman emerged with a basin of rice, as if waiting.
"You've come. This rice was set aside just for today."
The elderly monk at the front cupped his hands.
"Amitabha. Thank you, benefactor."
"No, no. We're grateful for Shaolin's help."
As the woman waved it off,
"Wi-ah."
The elderly monk murmured softly, and the novice called Wi-ah hurried over, pressing palms together and bowing.
"Amitabha. Thank you, benefactor."
The middle-aged woman chuckled unwittingly at the young novice's solemn greeting in his childish voice.
"Where shall I put it?"
"Here, please."
The novice's eyes sparkled as he unfurled the cloth on his back.
The woman poured the rice onto the patched, worn cloth.
It wasn't much.
But as if it sufficed, the elderly monk cupped hands again and turned away.
He repeated the exact same at the next shopfront.
Cheonhwi watched while pouring liquor and said,
"Real alms begging, huh?"
"Didn't I say it was?"
Cheon Ig-ae narrowed his eyes.
"Though that's not the true purpose, of course."
"Yeah, figured."
Their gazes followed the Shaolin monks making their rounds from shop to shop.
"It's a warning to the people, right?"
"Pretty much."
Not a bad method.
Cheonhwi scanned the surroundings quickly.
The townsfolk of Dengfeng looked pleased, but the martial artists' faces were stiff.
It made sense.
Shaolin was openly declaring through this public alms round that they were indebted to Dengfeng County.
Should Mount Hua try this?
As Cheonhwi pondered,
"Amitabha."
The Shaolin monks had reached their Silver Clarity Inn.
"Please accept this."
As the innkeeper offered rice,
"Huh?"
Cheonhwi eyed the one on the far left among the monks, whose bamboo hat was pulled low.
That aura feels familiar...
Just then, his eyes met the elderly monk's, who had glanced up absentmindedly.
Yeorae Divine Fist Won-eum...?
Won-eum recognized him too, eyes widening as he sent a transmission.
『Dokgo young hero?』
Calling him by the alias Cheonhwi had used before, Won-eum's eyes sparkled.
『Long time no see.』
『Glad you're still alive.』
Won-eum sent a relieved transmission, gazing intently at Cheonhwi.
"Elder..."
The novice beside him fidgeted, calling to the unmoving Won-eum.
"Sorry. I was lost in thought."
Won-eum patted the novice's head, then looked up at Cheonhwi again.
『I'll visit later.』
With that transmission, he resumed the alms round.
Meanwhile, Cheon Ig-ae, having caught the exchanged glances, immediately asked as he left,
"You know Yeorae Divine Fist?"
"We crossed paths before."
At the curt reply, Cheon Ig-ae looked exasperated.
Didn't know about the pilgrimage, but acquainted with one of Shaolin's elders, Yeorae Divine Fist...
He wanted to ask more but saw Cheonhwi focused on eating and just shook his head.
He knew well how much Cheonhwi hated interruptions during meals.
Later, then.
The meal resumed, and after about an incense stick's time, a commotion stirred on the first floor.
"Gasp! Venerable Yeorae Divine Fist?"
"Why is Venerable Won-eum here..."
Cheonhwi looked toward the stairs.
Won-eum approached with the same benevolent smile as before.
"Amitabha. Young hero, long time no see."
"Yeah, long time."
Danmokin quickly stood and offered a respectful fist salute.
"This lowly one, Lin of the martial world, greets Venerable Yeorae Divine Fist Won-eum."
"Ho ho, pleased to meet you."
Smiling, Won-eum naturally turned to the remaining one, Cheon Ig-ae.
"And this benefactor..."
As he studied Cheon Ig-ae, he unwittingly tilted his head.
The face seemed familiar.
I've seen him somewhere...
Cheon Ig-ae said incredulously,
"Me..."
But as he spoke, he realized his current state and broke into a cold sweat.
Oh no! My appearance right now is a mess!
Too accustomed to his look lately, he'd momentarily forgotten how odd he seemed.
He hurriedly changed tack.
"Ahem, staring too hard. You'll burn a hole in my face."
Won-eum hastily pressed palms together.
"My apologies. You resemble someone I know, so I stared blankly."
"Ahem, it's fine. Just be more careful next time."
Cheon Ig-ae whipped his head away.
Phew, didn't get caught.
As he relaxed,
"So, what's up?"
Cheonhwi spoke in his usual nonchalant tone.
"Young hero, do you recall our promise from before?"
Won-eum turned to Cheonhwi with a bright smile.
"The one about visiting our mountain."
"Of course."
Cheonhwi's lips curved up.
Why unpack in Dengfeng County at this hour, a place he'd normally pass by?
All for one thing.
Time to see Shaolin martial arts!