Arhat Divine Art
O-gong Seonsa, Beop-neung, and the guardian monks who had followed them all froze in stunned silence for a moment. And it wasn't just them. Even Namgung Som-in and Jin-myeong wore expressions of utter incomprehension. If those around them were shocked, how bewildered must the man at the center of it all, Baek Su-gyeong, have felt?
"Don't joke around."
"Hm? Did it sound like a joke to you?"
Baekri-sa narrowed his eyes slightly. The sharp gaze peeking through his sly, snake-like slits was piercing.
"I've brought a message from the Chairman. Take it yourself."
Baekri-sa drew a letter written by Gal Yeom from his sleeve cuff and infused it with inner energy before tossing it over. Namgung Som-in, who had stepped in front of Baek Su-gyeong, caught it instead. The strike carried considerable power, sending a sharp tingle through her hand. It wasn't a casual toss—if he'd infused that much energy just to lob it over, it had to be a probe directed at Baek Su-gyeong.
Namgung Som-in's icy expression turned toward Baekri-sa.
"How dare you..."
"Oh dear. You're quicker than I expected, Jade Sword Flower of the Namgung family."
"You knew I follow my teacher, and you still pulled this stunt?"
Namgung Som-in's hand drifted toward her sword hilt, as if ready to draw it at any second. Baek Su-gyeong blocked her hand.
"Enough."
"But, Teacher..."
Her voice softened unwittingly. Though she quickly regained her composure, Namgung Som-in made no move as Baek Su-gyeong held her hand in place.
'Teacher held my hand...'
"Don't draw your sword rashly, Lady Namgung."
"However, Teacher."
At her plea, Baek Su-gyeong shook his head firmly. It wasn't hard to grasp his intent in stopping her from unsheathing her blade. This was Song Mountain, the heart of Shaolin's home. For a mere guest to draw steel here would be a breach of etiquette.
That had to be why.
"...Understood, Teacher."
Namgung Som-in obeyed his will. She wasn't foolish enough to wound the heart of the man she respected by defying him.
Baekri-sa watched the exchange with curious eyes.
'He reins in the Jade Sword Flower? A mere scholar?'
He hadn't anticipated Namgung Som-in intercepting the letter he'd tossed to test Baek Su-gyeong, but to make the renowned Throwing Sword Maiden back down with mere words? That suggested a master beyond imagination.
'Interesting.'
As Baekri-sa's eyes gleamed, Jin-myeong rushed to Namgung Som-in with a shocked face.
"Miss! Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine. This is nothing."
Brushing off Jin-myeong's worry, Namgung Som-in stepped aside and handed the letter to Baek Su-gyeong.
He took it and spoke.
"Lady Namgung, let's get that hand looked at later."
"No need, Teacher. It's nothing."
"If you get hurt because of me, I'll die of guilt."
With that short quip, he silenced her and turned to Baekri-sa. Waving the tossed letter, he said,
"If I hadn't caught this, something terrible would've happened. You knew that when you threw it, right?"
"Of course."
"Then you wouldn't have much to say if I tore it up right here."
"You're refusing the head council's invitation?"
Baek Su-gyeong smirked.
"After nearly getting kidnapped by assassins in Xuchang, I made a resolution. Know what it was?"
"What?"
"Better to live like a sturdy bamboo and snap when I break than be a fool who takes martial artists' words at face value."
Riiip!
With absurd ease, Gal Yeom's letter tore apart.
Flutter, flutter.
The shredded pieces fluttered skyward like paper cranes. Baek Su-gyeong fixed Baekri-sa with a cold stare amid them.
"There's a limit to treating people like fools. No reason to play along with your probing games. Be on your way."
"You'll regret it."
"What nonsense."
Baek Su-gyeong's eyes had chilled, as if he'd already seen through their intentions.
"You're not the one in a hurry—Myeongwang Society is. Got the guts to keep pushing?"
There was nothing left to say. Baekri-sa was convinced: Baek Su-gyeong was more than he'd imagined. For an ordinary scholar to stand so boldly, there could only be one reason.
'This guy's confident in his skills.'
Even the hot-tempered O-gong Seonsa behind him hadn't stepped forward. Sure, Beop-neung was holding him back, but the fiercest of the Three Pilgrims staying put meant that much trust in Baek Su-gyeong.
Yet no energy emanated from him. That had to mean he'd already reached a realm far beyond Baekri-sa's own achievements.
No gambling against a master like that. He had no choice but to back down.
"I'll apologize properly for today's rudeness at a later time."
-Baekri-sa Gong! You plan to retreat just like that?!
Baekri-sa deliberately ignored the transmission from Ya-noe's informant. This wasn't Myeongwang Society's home turf. Lingering with pride would gain nothing.
"We'll withdraw. Until we meet again with better faces, Teacher Su-gyeong."
"See yourself out."
Baek Su-gyeong offered only those curt words before turning away.
As soon as Baekri-sa and the Myeongwang Society group vanished from sight, Baek Su-gyeong barely kept his legs from buckling by forcing strength into them.
It had been a bluff, banking on O-gong Seonsa's misunderstanding. It seemed to have worked, but it wasn't ideal. If word got out he was a powerless scholar, everything would crumble.
All he could do was hope it didn't come to that.
"Teacher."
"Let's tour more of Shaolin, then head to Luoyang. Need to stop by Yongmun Escort Bureau and see the Chief."
"Yes."
"Then we'll take our leave first."
"Y-yes, go ahead."
Rubbing his stiff nape, Baek Su-gyeong passed O-gong Seonsa and Beop-neung and ascended toward the mountain gate.
As Baek Su-gyeong, Namgung Som-in, and Jin-myeong disappeared from view, Beop-neung spoke.
"No matter how I think about it, Teacher Su-gyeong really seems like a transcendent master, Martial Uncle."
"I agree. If only I could receive even one lesson from him."
"How about challenging him to a spar under the pretext of sword discussion...?"
O-gong Seonsa shook his head at Beop-neung's words.
"No need to drag the teacher into our stubborn ways. He's touring Shaolin and heading to Luoyang—let him go as planned. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
"Yes, Martial Uncle!"
Mu-won's anguish shattered.
What followed his long wandering wasn't mere relief—it was fervor so intense that "fierce" fell short.
The sudden enlightenment breaking his dilemma propelled Mu-won to the next realm, birthing a new heart method.
Shaolin martial arts fundamentally began with forging a sturdy body. Their advanced protective qi arts stemmed from that principle.
But in Mu-won's eyes, while Shaolin heart methods excelled at building resilient flesh, they deviated from the fierce, unyielding foundation of Shaolin techniques.
'As Teacher said, the first step must start with uniting martial and scholarly paths.'
Mu-won gathered his thoughts.
Just as Baek Su-gyeong had advised. Only he, with his position bridging the rift between martial and scholarly monks, could unite them.
After all, Mu-sang Seonsa—practically the leader of the guardians—was his first master, and Baekmi Seonsa, a revered elder in the doctrinal order, his second.
Thus, Mu-won had just come to meet Baek Su-gyeong again.
"You're trying to create a new heart method?"
But why seek his advice? To reiterate, Baek Su-gyeong had been the type to slap together martial arts in his modern days, not meticulously design them. His works often ended up a mess because of it—far from star author status.
Mu-won, oblivious to Baek Su-gyeong's bewilderment, continued earnestly.
"Teacher shattered my delusions."
"What does that have to—"
"To unite guardians and doctrinists, we must start with martial arts."
Mu-won had heard from O-gong Seonsa and Beop-neung that Baek Su-gyeong was an unparalleled martial master. That's why he'd come seeking input.
Of course, to Baek Su-gyeong, it sounded absurd.
But there was no flaw in Mu-won's logic. This was the murim world, where fists spoke louder than words.
"Guardians symbolize martial might, doctrinists scholarship. Shaolin's martial lineage has split: heart methods advanced by doctrinists, techniques by guardians."
"First time hearing that."
To Baek Su-gyeong, it was prime material. But he didn't pull out a brush. The current Shaolin schism alone overflowed with plot fodder. Ideas for Shaolin's arc after Little Immortal Hero Chronicles were already forming in his mind.
Mu-won explained.
"Shaolin heart methods focus on fortifying the body. Exceptional recovery and endurance, if you will."
"Don't most Shaolin arts and methods share that trait?"
"Yes. But doctrinists developing them shifted toward mere health tonics, failing to support our fierce techniques."
A faint crack appeared on Baek Su-gyeong's brow.
"Why would that...?"
"Amitabha, as I mentioned before, the rift runs deep. Doctrinists rebelled, calling guardians brainless fighters. This is the result."
Baek Su-gyeong let out a groan at Mu-won's answer.
Have I seen such mad monks?
Jealousy was one thing, but twisting the heart methods—the root foundation of martial arts?
He pressed his forehead.
"Why in the world...?"
"Guardians aren't fools; they made their own methods. But completion was lacking."
"So you're making a new one."
"It'll also end the feud."
Mu-won clasped his hands and bowed.
"Please help with it, Teacher."