Chapter 379
Chapter 379
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 388
Chapter Title: Smiling Monks and the Temple Invitation
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Namgung Hyeok gazed at the pill hall with a satisfied smile.
The Radiant Dragon crew, lined up beside him in front of the pill hall, gaped in astonishment.
Ha Baek grinned from ear to ear beside them, shrugging his trapezius muscles.
“Heh, heh heh heh! Heh heh heh heh heh!”
The others stared at him blankly.
But it was easy to see why Ha Baek was so delighted.
In just three days.
That ramshackle single-story warehouse of a pill hall had transformed into a majestic five-story pavilion.
It exuded perfect balance without a single flaw, its exterior harmoniously carved with the Four Heavenly Kings and Buddhist lotus flowers.
A simple yet sturdy structure radiating unyielding resolve, built in a mere three days.
Paeng Jung-hyuk muttered,
“......Do they teach carpentry at the temple or something?”
“They turned a remodel job into a whole new building? Is that even possible?”
“They say Shaolin monks are men of iron. They hammered away for three straight days without sleep.”
Hwangbo Chung mumbled in a daze, while Tang Myeong-jin let out exclamations of admiration one after another.
Their gazes turned to the top of the five-story building.
Red robes fluttered from the rooftop, accompanied by a resounding voice.
“Amitabha!”
Thud thud!
“To all Buddhas—!”
Thud thud thud!
“Amitabha!”
Thud thud!
“To all Buddhas—!”
Thud thud thud!
Each time a gleaming bald head bobbed on the rooftop, an exuberant hammering echoed down.
Watching the Shaolin monks, Tang Myeong-jin muttered,
“......The monks are smiling?”
They were smiling.
Smiles lingered on their lips.
The smiles wouldn’t fade...?
Was this even possible?
“They’re building a whole pavilion in five days without the Mad Dragon cracking the whip?”
“And smiling while they work!”
“What kind of nonsense is this!”
Even without Namgung Hyeok driving them.
Even without beatings!
Even without nagging!
Even without that madness!
“How can they enjoy this?”
That was what left the Radiant Dragon crew stunned and shocked.
Namgung Hyeok chuckled.
‘......The Mad Dragon is laughing.’
A chill ran down their spines.
The others averted their eyes, and just then, the Shaolin monks who had finished the final touches descended, red robes billowing.
Led by Hye-gong, Deok-jin and the first-generation disciples approached Namgung Hyeok.
“Amitabha!”
Namgung Hyeok greeted Hye-gong and the others with a warm smile.
“Oh dear! You’ve all worked so hard.”
“Hohoho! If you think it’s hard work, it is. If you don’t, it isn’t. It all depends on your mindset, doesn’t it?”
“As expected! As expected! Truly enlightened beings! May you achieve Buddhahood!”
He just sends them off like that.
Casually dropping “achieve Buddhahood.”
“Hohohoho! Our thanks.”
Hye-gong laughed and performed a half-bow.
The first-generation disciples behind him bowed their heads as well.
Deok-jin spoke.
“Amitabha! For upholding Elder Goeng-mok’s legacy, Shaolin has received a great favor from the Namgung family!”
Namgung Hyeok nodded.
Goeng-mok, wow.
Was your name worth this much?
The Shaolin disciples have grown well, very well.
No hair, but plenty of loyalty!
Rubbing his ascending cheek, Namgung Hyeok said,
“Oh come on, that’s no big deal. Just doing what needed to be done.”
“Hohoho!”
“So, what are your plans from here?”
Hye-gong replied in a calm voice.
“We’ve confirmed Elder Goeng-mok’s legacy, and there are still plenty of materials left, so we must return to Shaolin for now.”
“Oh.”
“We’ll also have Shaolin monks study Elder Goeng-mok’s pill refining secrets, mobilize the lay disciples for material supplies, and establish a proper system. It’ll take some time, but not too long.”
The Namgung family had expanded the pill hall, but much was still lacking.
The original equipment sufficed for a few users, but with Shaolin monks joining, more would be needed.
Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly.
“Take your time, take your time.”
“We can’t be negligent in upholding Elder Goeng-mok’s legacy. We’ll return as soon as possible.”
“Haste makes waste, and rushing your meals leads to indigestion. Take it slow! Thoroughly! Prepare everything properly before coming back!”
“Hoho! Wise words! Haste makes waste. We’ll keep it in mind, time and again!”
Hye-gong smiled contentedly.
In the three days staying at the Namgung estate, Hye-gong had seen how diligent and earnest Namgung Hyeok was.
From dawn until bedtime, he trained, helped others, and oversaw every corner of the household—radiating genuine kindness.
And his steady care for the Shaolin disciples only improved his impression.
‘Hoho, I worried over the Mad Dragon.’
He wasn’t what they’d feared; kindness shone through. That was enough, wasn’t it?
“When you return, may we continue learning Elder Goeng-mok’s cipher with Shaolin disciples?”
Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly.
“Yes, it’s tough learning together.”
“Hoho, thank...... Huh?”
As Hye-gong blinked, Namgung Hyeok waved it off lightly.
“Nah, reading that thing once is no joke. Feels like my head’s splitting. Oof, I’m dying. It drains your mental energy like crazy. Shaolin knows, right? Even a full decade of study might not unravel that cipher.”
“Huh, hohoho! A-Amitabha.”
“Oh man. Just thinking about it hurts. Anyway, safe travels. Bring some Great Reversion Pills next time for bonus points.”
Heh heh.
Seeing Namgung Hyeok grin slyly, Hye-gong chuckled along.
‘......Wise one, on hold.’
Hoho.....
Hohoho.....
“What’s wrong? Don’t like it?”
“......No, no. Hohoho, if it’s for research, we must bring it, right? I’ll seek the abbot’s permission!”
“Oho! As expected of the Precepts Master! Then I’ll recover my mental energy fully and keep deciphering the cipher!”
“Hoho! Th-thank you!”
“Haha! It’s the least I can do.”
“H-Hohoho!”
“Hahaha! Great Reversion Pills. Don’t forget!”
“H-Hohoho!”
“Hahaha!”
Deok-jin, who had been watching the two laugh heartily, suddenly interjected.
“Precepts Master. The Namgung family’s benefactors have treated us with such warm hospitality—why not invite them to Shaolin in return?”
Hye-gong flinched.
You fool, Deok-jin.
Didn’t you see it from the sidelines?
Don’t you see those greed-soaked benefactors, those hungry ghosts!
Veins bulged on Hye-gong’s shiny bald head.
“Hohohoho! Deok-jin, these benefactors are busy with construction, aren’t they?”
“It’s a chance to exchange with Shaolin disciples and discuss the Golden Thread Group. Isn’t it a great opportunity, Precepts Master?”
“Hohohohoho! Deok-jin. Can’t they do that here at the Namgung estate?”
“Many benefits come from broad exchanges and learning from many sources, don’t they?”
Hye-gong sweated profusely at Deok-jin’s gentle smile and words.
But contrary to his expectations(?), Namgung Hyeok’s eyes gleamed with greed, though his expression remained nonchalant.
‘A temple? Shaolin?’
Are you insane?
Why go there?
Nothing but weeds to eat there, right?
We can trade here—why trek all the way to Shaolin?
As Namgung Hyeok moved to refuse.
Ha Baek, who’d been shimmying his shoulders, jumped in.
“Uhahaha! If Shaolin invites us, we go running in our socks!”
“What socks?”
“Socks!”
“I’ll snap those socks in half?”
Undeterred by Namgung Hyeok’s half-hearted(?) threat, Ha Baek pressed on.
“Even if they snap, I’m going! So let’s go!”
“No booze rivers or meat forests—just a temple full of weeds, why bother......”
“It’s Shaolin! If they invite us, we go right away!”
“Ah, temples give me the creeps as soon as I step in. Why would I go to a place full of baldies...... Mmph!”
Ha Baek clamped Namgung Hyeok’s mouth shut, grinding his teeth with bloodshot eyes.
“Please, send me to Shaolin!”
“Mmph! Why? Gonna shave your head?”
“No! When will I ever see Shaolin’s pill hall? Please take me! I want to go. I really, really do!”
“Just......”
“If you don’t, I won’t work! No work! I’ll throw myself into Shaolin!”
Wow, turning it into blackmail like that?
Deok-jin smiled faintly at the bickering pair.
“Ha Baek benefactor is eager for Shaolin too—please allow it, Precepts Master.”
“Urgh!”
“Good things are good, right? He wants it so much.”
Deok-jin, aren’t you a Shaolin disciple?
Hye-gong groaned inwardly at Deok-jin, who seemed like a Namgung spy.
At that moment, Namgung Hyeok, after tussling with Ha Baek, let out a deep sigh.
“Haa, if you want it that badly, no choice. Fine, we’ll go. Let’s visit once—it’s been a while.”
It’s been a while?
The words felt off, but that wasn’t the point.
He hadn’t even approved, yet the man decided on his own.
Oblivious, Deok-jin nodded vigorously.
“Namgung benefactors are always welcome at Shaolin!”
Deok-jin...... time for meditation.
Hye-gong chuckled dryly.
“Pain is pain if you think it so, not if you don’t. Hoho, hoho. Then we’ll go ahead and await you!”
A bitter voice echoed before the five-story pill hall.
Watching the four silently, cold sweat beaded on Hwangbo Chung’s forehead.
‘......Next up, Shaolin.’
Shit.
Not driving the cart again, is he?!
But he couldn’t ask.
It might come true if he spoke to Namgung Hyeok.
“Then we’ll send a messenger.”
And so, Hye-gong, Deok-jin, and the Shaolin monks departed for Shaolin amid the Namgung family’s enthusiastic send-off.
* * *
Namgung Hyeok stretched and cracked his neck side to side.
Crunch crunch!
As Namgung Hyeok chewed jerky, Geum Cheom-sang offered a medicinal brew from the left.
Slurp slurp slurp!
“Feels like I’ve seen more Shaolin monks in these few days than in a lifetime.”
Namgung Hyeok smirked.
With Shaolin monks constantly coming and going for days, it was no wonder.
“Never dreamed Shaolin monks would visit our home. They practically set up house here.”
The Nine Great Sects were more than distant—they eyed each other warily. For Shaolin to visit the Namgung family.
And not just visit, but actively collaborate—truly astonishing.
Even now, Geum Cheom-sang found himself amazed by Namgung Hyeok again.
Namgung Hyeok shrugged.
“This is just the first step.”
“The pill hall?”
“Well, among other things.”
They’d built the foundation for the Golden Thread Group and now secured Shaolin’s support.
Exchanges with Shaolin would continue steadily.
‘My pill refining proficiency will skyrocket.’
Similar to the deal with the Iron Divine Gate.
But a key difference: They were learning Goeng-mok’s techniques here.
Shaolin needed the Namgung family and jumped in aggressively to build friendly ties.
That alone was a massive gain.
The benefits from Shaolin—swaying the world—allying with the Namgung family were countless.
It would boost not just the Namgung family, but the Five Families Alliance immensely.
Whatever.
Namgung Hyeok grumbled.
“Ah, temple food isn’t my thing.”
Ha Baek, you bastard......
Fine, whatever.
‘......Visiting after so long won’t be bad.’
Goeng-mok, I owe you in this life.
Call it even for past favors.
Truth be told, I could’ve bolted with the manual and no one would’ve known.
Namgung Hyeok chuckled.
‘Foundations are solidifying.’
The Namgung family—no, the Five Families Alliance—was gaining sturdy footing.
Weapons, pills, forces......
All falling into place rapidly.
Trials make one stronger.
The same for factions.
Good news.
The Namgung family stabilizing swiftly, surpassing past glory.
But......
“Ah, damn. My nape itches.”
“Ah, your nape.”
Scratch scratch.
Geum Cheom-sang scratched Namgung Hyeok’s nape.
“You punk, not that nape.”
“This side?”
“......Just scratch.”
“So which nape?”
“Never mind. Why explain?”
Geum Cheom-sang grumbled from behind.
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue.
‘......Demonic cultists this quiet? No way.’
How long had it been?
They held massive stakes in his power-building.
Yet too quiet.
Quiet enough to feel ominous.
By now, they should be raging.
Knowing them, they were surely plotting something.
‘......The Beggars’ Sect is busy with the Myeonnanhwa incident.’
Namgung Hyeok shot to his feet.
“Huh? Where to?”
“Heukjeom!”
“Suddenly?”
“Got some questions anyway.”
Namgung Hyeok lightly tapped his demon sword and strode off.
Geum Cheom-sang followed, tilting his head quizzically.