The Divine Thief's Grueling Training and the Shaolin Abbot's Unexpected Visit

After the Dragon's Emergence sparring match ended, Cheong spent the evening soaking in the medicinal bath at the elixir palace, greedily absorbing every last drop of medicinal efficacy. Then she lay down on the Flowing Softness Softening Refinement training platform.

And after three full hours of meticulous torture, Cheon Yuhak abandoned her and sprawled out on the floor.

Cheong, having regained control of her body while still bound, thought to herself, Wow, there isn't a single spot on me that doesn't hurt. Just how much did I thrash around to end up like this?

Her joints and tendons had been deliberately pushed to the brink of ruin, so the pain there was expected. But the way her entire body's muscles were throbbing and convulsing came from the desperate struggle to escape during the Flowing Softness Softening Refinement procedure.

This mental parasite had gone on and on about being the Heavenly Demon Supreme or whatever, acting like he was the greatest thing in the world, but his whining was on another level. To throw such a tantrum just from three hours of bone-and-tendon separation? Aigoo, it hurts so much.

The one grumbling like this was the same person who, in the previous round, had sobbed with snot bubbles in her nostrils. If the mental parasite had known, he would have felt wronged. But the vicious vengeful demon who had plunged the world into grief four times across four Righteous-Demonic Great Wars was now nothing more than a spirit shattered by pain.

In Cheong's opinion, screaming to be killed after suffering for barely a year or so was a bit much. Especially for the very bastard who had turned the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult into the Demonic Cult.

After completing such a rewarding session of Flowing Softness Softening Refinement, she slept soundly and woke up to find the sun high in the sky.

Wondering who might be waiting today, she went downstairs.

Oh.

"Well, well. Look who it is. Ugh, grrr, rrrgh. Why did you come up if the mountain isn't here? Mountain! When are we going to have a proper fight?!"

"Ugh."

"What? Was this not the right mountain? Mountain, which mountain did you climb that I can't see you? Haha, looks like the mountain is still far off."

"...That's enough,"

"Hmm. It seems she was stronger than expected."

"That woman."

Paeng Daesan furrowed his brow deeply. Cheong furrowed hers in response.

"That woman? We're pretty close, you know. She might be shy, but she's incredibly kind."

"That's not what I meant. Um."

Paeng Daesan's eyebrows twitched and twitched again. He let out a low hum, then twitched once more. It looked like he was deeply conflicted about whether to say something.

Cheong simply asked, "Why?"

"I'm not sure if I should tell you this."

"What is it? If you're going to bring it up, then say it. Do you want to watch me die of curiosity?"

"Hmm. Let me preface this by saying it's not an excuse. I just think you should know."

"Why are you making it sound so dramatic?"

"She was drawing on her Innate Qi. It seems she learned some special martial art that requires it."

"Who? Yoye?"

Paeng Daesan nodded.

"Huh? She used Innate Qi? You mean she burned away her lifespan to use her martial arts?"

Cheong understood what he meant by it not being an excuse. He was telling her not to take it as Gongson Yoye only losing because she had gone so far as to use her Innate Qi in the match.

Even to Cheong, it sounded like there was some of that intention behind his words.

"I thought you should know. I lost fair and square, and I hold no grudges, so stop looking at me with those impure eyes."

Having noticed Cheong's suspicious gaze, Paeng Daesan emphasized it once more.

Cheong put on a serious expression and said, "Hmm. I should probably talk with Yoye."

Just what was so important that she had to risk her life in a spar, burning away her actual lifespan? Compared to that, Cheong herself was...

...

...

While Cheong was lost in thought, a voice rang out.

"Unnie! Gaga Unnieee!"

"Oing. That voice... Where are you?!"

With the sound of short, pitter-pattering footsteps, something threw itself around Cheong's waist.

"You little rascal! Hyang-ah!"

Cheong lifted Jegal Hyang high and spun her around once, twice, three times...

"Kyahaha!"

Completely unbothered by the dizziness, Jegal Hyang burst into the clear, ringing laughter unique to children.

Abbot Muhak was on his way to the Mucheon Pavilion.

But, hmm, how exactly should he bring up the subject? Asking for the Yeorae Shinjang outright felt rather undignified. Not to mention, Seomun Su-rin's temper was no joke. As a result, Abbot Muhak's steps grew slower and slower, making him look like the most leisurely idler in the world.

Passing through the gates of the Mucheon Pavilion and heading to the training grounds, he saw young talents sweating profusely and focusing on their sparring on this fine day. What a wonderful time to be alive, he thought, searching for Cheong.

Her striking beauty made her easy to spot. She was sitting casually on the grass with her rear planted firmly on the ground, holding a tiny little girl tightly in her arms.

"Gaga Unnie, what kind of blanket do you like? Hyang likes goose down blankets because they're light and fluffy."

Gaga Unnie? What a strange way to address someone. Abbot Muhak tilted his head in confusion. Then again, he supposed close women might call each other that.

"I like anything as long as the lining feels good. Hmm. Light ones have a soft, airy feel, while heavy ones have a cozy, warm weight to them. It's hard to say which is better. But why are you asking about blankets? Planning to give me one as a gift?"

"Hehe. I've been making a list for my trousseau lately."

Abbot Muhak tilted his head again. A trousseau? Between women? And more importantly, to a child who looked about ten years old?

"Ahem."

"Ah!"

Only then did Cheong notice Abbot Muhak. Even with her sharp senses enhanced by the wind, she hadn't detected him, which made her instantly wary. But the moment she saw his shiny, gleaming bald head, she relaxed completely.

"This old monk is called Muhak. Surely you've heard my name before?"

"Ah! The First Under Heaven! Hello. This young lady is called Jegal Hyang."

Jegal Hyang had blurted it out so quickly that Cheong missed her chance. What the—? Isn't it supposed to be three beats before speaking in this country?

Cheong stood up and offered a polite greeting as well.

It was then that Abbot Muhak finally looked closely into Cheong's eyes.

Beyond the clear, profound energy of the Daoist and Buddhist paths, there was a faint, sinister madness gleaming through. Madness... This, this mad dog! How could she have picked up and raised the Heavenly Killer Star?!

Other masters might assume she had inherited the madness from her master, the Mad Dog of Shandong, but the eyes of the First Under Heaven saw the truth clearly.

It was as if the most ominous star in the heavens had been crushed between two hands and held tightly in place. One hand was the pure, refined guidance of the Daoist path, and the other was the great compassion and serene mind of Buddhism. In essence, the world's righteous paths were barely managing to restrain its most vicious nature.

"Hehe. Hmm. This old monk has something to discuss with this child. Little lady of the Jegal Clan, would you mind giving us a moment alone?"

"Ah. Yes..."

Jegal Hyang bowed politely, then turned her head this way and that before spotting her large older brother and running off with quick, pattering steps.

"Hmm. Right. I came because I have something to tell you. Shall we move to a different location?"

Cheong ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spoke first. "Great Monk. Did you come because of the divine technique? I should have visited you first. I'm truly sorry for the delay."

"Hmm. No. Isn't it proper for the one with business to come first? Though as an elder, I suppose I could order my juniors around. Well, since I am an elder, I will do just that."

As Abbot Muhak said this, he looked at Cheong. A being capable of drowning the world in blood stood before him. That Mad Dog of Shandong had sung her songs about women's struggles or whatever, but she had truly crossed the line. No matter how much one suppressed an innate blood calamity, how could a person defy their own heavenly mandate?

In the end, she was a great evil, a calamity whose tears would flow as the blood of the world. He should cut off her breath right here and now. The Yeorae Shinjang or whatever else didn't matter at a time like this—

"Then, shall I recite the formulas for you now? Or I could write them down as a manual."

"Eh? You're just going to give me the divine technique?"

"It's not so much giving as returning it, isn't it? Since it originally belonged to Shaolin, returning it to its rightful owner is only proper."

"...Was that your own thought, or Su-rin's—no, your master's thought?"

"My master said it wasn't her karma and told me to handle it as I saw fit."

There wasn't the slightest hesitation in her expression; it was the calm sincerity of someone speaking the truth. At that, Abbot Muhak's mind snapped awake.

"If you wish, Shaolin will gladly hand over its treasures without reservation. How about it? Will you still give it away for free?"

"Aww, what would a Taoist do with such treasures? The Goddess Sect isn't poor, and I personally have no need for money."

"Hehe. Then how about spiritual medicines? You know how precious the Great Rejuvenation Pill is, yes? The Medicine Repository currently has twelve of them, and over fifty Summoning Pills. I could give you all of them."

"Hmm. My master said my internal energy is already comparable to that of a Profound Realm master, so I'm not particularly in need of spiritual medicines. Ah. Still, one pill—no, maybe two would be nice."

"Why two?"

"One for my master, and one for... um, a friend who uses martial arts that consume her Innate Qi."

"You mean the child from the Gongson Clan."

"Ah. You knew?"

"The Xuanuan Sword is the Emperor's Sword, is it not? For a human to wield the Emperor's Sword, no matter how high their realm, how could there be no price?"

Here, 'Emperor' did not refer to the Son of Heaven. Originally, the term 'Emperor' referred not to a ruler of men, but—in the terms of Cheong's homeland—to a god. How could one wield a god's power without paying the price?

The gold border seems a bit too grandiose, doesn't it? Cheong thought. However, she didn't consider that it might have been downgraded to gold precisely because of that drawback.

"Hehe, hahaha!"

Abbot Muhak suddenly burst into hearty laughter. In the end, she wasn't asking for herself. She wanted two pills—one for her master and one for her friend. As if the Great Rejuvenation Pill were some kind of candy.

"Then, what about the divine technique? You must already know the effects of the Muscle Tendon Change Classic well."

"Ah. About that. Actually, I've already learned it..."

"What?!"

Abbot Muhak, still seated, somehow managed to leap a full foot into the air before landing again. His thick eyebrows sharpened into a fierce angle as he fell into thought, then nodded.

"Since the Yeorae Shinjang has reached you, it is not strange that the Muscle Tendon Change Classic has as well. Then, have you learned any other Shaolin techniques?"

"Just those two."

"Then, how about receiving another divine technique in exchange for returning the Yeorae Shinjang? Since you've learned the Muscle Tendon Change Classic, you should be able to use it without issue. You've experienced the Hundred Steps Divine Fist, haven't you? What about the White Lotus Divine Fist, the Great Strength Vajra Palm, the Lotus Platform Nine Grades, the Buddha Shadow Immortal Steps? Is there any martial art you desire?"

"I'm a swordswoman, and I already possess what could be called supreme movement techniques. You saw me use the Wave-Treading Micro-Steps, didn't you?"

"I knew you'd say that."

Abbot Muhak nodded and said, "Amitabha. They say there is no coincidence in the world's connections. Perhaps it was also inevitable that the teachings of Buddhism would reach you. That Buddha's disciple is still so far from the path."

It was true. Abbot Muhak felt ashamed. How could a disciple of Buddha say that humans cannot overcome their heavenly mandate? The Buddha's teachings—to sever all worldly afflictions and escape the cycle of reincarnation—could be seen as defying the heavenly mandate by breaking the great cycle of existence.

He had spent his entire life defying the mandate and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pursuing completion as a being of non-self, yet how could he have declared that a young person with a bright future ahead could not do the same?

Rather, she was a child of great virtue for embracing the Heavenly Killer Star and still standing firm. According to the Sutta Nipata—one of the earliest scriptures among the initial sutras and part of the Three Baskets—the Buddha taught to rely on non-possession, to hold the unconditioned wisdom in one's heart, and to overcome the afflictions of desire. He said to overcome the world's afflictions by not being greedy.

Of course, it was true that Cheong had no particular greed for spiritual medicines or martial arts. She didn't need the former, and she learned the latter only when necessary. But aside from that, she was a vessel overflowing with desire.

He wouldn't have to look far. If Abbot Muhak had simply watched Cheong eat, or if the attendant had left some snacks on the table, he would have recognized her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hideous gluttony. And in the shape of the snacks being mercilessly crushed between her teeth, he might have seen a burning world.

But how could Abbot Muhak know that? He only felt embarrassed, sorry, and ashamed. Yet he was also grateful and impressed by the child's willingness to return what was rightfully hers without hesitation.

"Hmm. Right. Since you're returning it anyway, go ahead and write down a copy of the Yeorae Shinjang manual for me."

"Ah. You want me to write it? Honestly, I thought you'd ask me to recite it right away."

"Do you intend to make this old man memorize even more? I plan to store it in the Scripture Pavilion in your handwriting, so you must write it with care and beauty. In return, I won't mind if your name is prominently displayed on the binding."

"Yes..."

Cheong answered, looking slightly deflated. Look at this kid—no, this girl.

Abbot Muhak chuckled softly. In truth, having one's name on the binding was no small matter. It meant that every Shaolin disciple who learned the Yeorae Shinjang in the future would have to pay respects to her as one of their ancestral masters.

The Grand Matriarch would probably snort at such conditions but wouldn't object. And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Abbot Muhak wasn't finished speaking.

"Memorizing is for the young, not the old. Listen well, child. I will recite one formula for you, so commit it to memory."