Chapter 137: All the World's Martial Arts Stem from Shaolin
[...The thief is at Shaolin Temple?]
Pa Cheon spoke in a tone of utter disbelief.
I gave a small nod and answered inwardly.
'Yeah.'
[You mean the Shaolin I know?]
'That's the one.'
In wuxia tales, there's a saying that's often repeated.
All the world's martial arts stem from Shaolin.
The martial arts of the world all originate from Shaolin.
Shaolin's prestige in the jianghu was that immense.
Regardless of righteous, evil, or demonic factions, the mere mention of Shaolin commanded bowed heads and respect.
And fittingly, Shaolin lived up to that reputation with its fairness and integrity.
'A place where the righteous faction hypocrite cliché doesn't fly.'
In Return of the Murim Master, even though the protagonist Mu Jin was a Demonic Cultist, he survived thanks to the Shaolin abbot's mercy and the Blood Interrogation Technique.
Shaolin valued life above all and held the Buddha's teachings supreme.
'Which is exactly why going there now makes no sense.'
In the original story—likening it to a game—Shaolin was like the last village you visit before facing the final boss.
Heading there at this point in the plot?
Another issue was the geography.
Shaolin was in Henan Province. And right below it, in Hubei, sat the Murim Alliance headquarters.
The Alliance itself wasn't frightening. It was looser than one might think right now, and I had tokens from Kunlun and the Tang Clan anyway.
But Meng Wi-hak was the problem.
Meng Wi-hak roamed the jianghu freely even now. Coming to Gansu had involved some risk, but I'd left the Divine Cult because I'd heard he'd returned to the Alliance.
Henan was different. To Meng Wi-hak, it was practically his front yard.
With the Alliance's intelligence network, word of the Eastern Sword Dragon appearing at Shaolin would reach them in less than half a day.
'And if Sado Gwang eggs him on...'
What if Meng Wi-hak heard and came looking—and I caught his eye?
Meng Wi-hak had eyes that could see energy.
He might not peg the energy in this body as the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, but he wouldn't just overlook something this vast and potent—pure demonic qi.
Sa Wol's Holy Fire Divine Art might pass as safe since it didn't feel demonic, but sharing the fire attribute could pique his interest anyway.
Meng Wi-hak's interest was a disaster.
I had Mugyeok-i as backup, but that was just insurance—not a fundamental counter.
'Of course, knowing Sado Gwang's personality...'
With his temperament, he'd watch me squirm rather than strike immediately. He'd probably sit back with a grin, expecting me to strut around more.
After all, time was on his side, or so he'd think.
Still, better safe than sorry.
[What are the odds we'll run into him?]
'Don't say that.'
If Pa Cheon winced when I struck it, I'd have flicked its hilt.
'I told you not to jinx it.'
In the cliché-ridden world of Return of the Murim Master, words like "what are the odds," "no way," or "easier than expected" were absolute no-gos.
Case in point right now.
If Pa Cheon hadn't said it was "easier than expected," Muyoung Sintu wouldn't have shown up.
[Exaggeration.]
'Sado Gwang jumped off a cliff, got a fateful encounter, and came back to life.'
[...I'll shut up.]
'Good.'
Finally, one more thing.
I glanced at Sa Wol, who was biting her lip in frustration. Shaolin was off-limits now because of her.
Because the moment we went and she met him, predicting her reaction was impossible—
My thoughts cut off there.
"In that case... shall we depart at once, heir of Yak-seon?"
Dang Mugi addressed me.
Daydreaming mid-conversation with the Poison King was absurd.
"No rush."
"The thief might devour all of Yak-seon's elixirs left behind."
He won't.
Muyoung Sintu never touched what he stole. He was a pervert who just admired them—and that was canon, unchangeable.
But I couldn't say that outright. It might paint me as an accomplice.
Dang Mugi wouldn't act rashly, but it'd crimp my future moves for sure.
The best play here?
Let them misunderstand on their own.
"He won't open the vials easily."
Dang Mugi nodded in admiration.
"Indeed. Designed to destroy the contents without a special method, I presume."
"..."
"Makes sense. Yak-seon foresaw the true heir of Black Ox Thread appearing a century later—he wouldn't leave the elixirs unguarded."
[Are they all idiots?]
'Protagonists get plot convenience.'
Sure enough, they nodded along, conveniently filling in the blanks for my benefit.
Especially coming from the Poison King—it'd spread as gospel. Dang Si Hyeok, Paeng So So, even Dang Si Yul looked convinced.
"Then there's something to settle."
Dang Mugi said.
"Heir of Yak-seon, what is it you desire? Speak it."
This was my chance.
The Poison King himself. What an old master like him could offer was endless.
'Short-term gains aren't the priority.'
Even if he gave me something now, it'd just be lesser elixirs—useless without Yak-seon's.
Slitting the golden goose for one egg? Better to own the goose.
Something helpful for future plans would be ideal.
'Future plans mean shelving Shaolin for now.'
At least until I had a solid way to evade Meng Wi-hak—or he left the area.
Not that I'd abandon Yak-seon's elixirs.
There was a way.
"Invite me to the Tang Clan."
"...You're serious?"
"Yes."
"Do you grasp what it means for the Small Tang Token's master to visit the Tang Clan?"
Dang Si Yul looked like he wanted to speak but stayed silent, frustration etched on his face after repeated warnings.
"Of course. It means officially endorsing the token's master."
Anyone could accept the Small Tang Token. It didn't imply support for its bearer.
But showing up at the Tang Clan with it? That declared you'd make them young lord.
"Even as Yak-seon's heir, you'd become entangled in our family's interests."
"I know. But I have one request."
"What is it?"
"Spread a rumor that a special jade was found in Yak-seon's ruins."
Muyoung Sintu hated missing his targets.
No word on elixirs, but rumors of a jade?
Most would scoff at the trap.
Muyoung Sintu would scoff too—for different reasons.
'He'll come sniffing. To the Tang Clan.'
That much confidence he had.
'Then we catch him.'
Right now, without prep, it was dicey. But with proper setup? No big deal.
Once captured, getting him to fetch the elixirs was child's play—a dozen ways.
"Heh."
Dang Mugi let out a hollow chuckle.
"So you want our clan as your umbrella against the jianghu's hounds."
The Divine Cult worshipped the strong outright, but the jianghu was survival of the fittest everywhere.
Especially treasures from a legendary Eastern sage like Yak-seon—once word spread someone claimed them (the truth of his identity as the First Heavenly Demon would cause pandemonium), wolves would swarm.
Sa Wang Castle, Kunlun Sect, all factions would learn of me.
Pursuers would dog my steps throughout this jianghu tour.
'Even back at the Cult, some would follow.'
But allying openly with the Tang Clan changed everything.
The Tang Clan was vicious.
Messing with me meant tangling with them—meaning you couldn't thrive in the jianghu.
That alone neutralized most threats.
Of course, the Tang Clan would suffer losses.
Lowlifes aside, with Kunlun and Sa Wang Castle expecting shares, they'd have to protect me instead of selling me out.
A hefty price, but the Tang Clan kept their word.
[Lure the thief, secure safety. Two birds with one stone? As expected, your cunning's Super Peak level.]
'Thanks.'
[The issue's Dang Si Yul, no?]
The Tang Clan crushed external threats ruthlessly but tolerated internal squabbles.
No other clan held young lord contests like this.
So once inside, Dang Si Yul would scheme against me.
'No problem. Honestly, too easy.'
The foes I'd faced were monsters like Sado Gwang or Chu Tae-su.
A scheming psycho with some brains? Child's play.
'The prerequisite for all this...'
The Avoid Poison Jade at my throat.
'Only possible because I pried it from Dok Ma.'
Poison in food was the biggest risk, but this made it safe.
[Anyone with brains wouldn't poison Yak-seon's heir anyway.]
Dang Si Yul's face didn't scream deep thinker.
Still, no complacency. I'd crush him thoroughly.
'The Heavenly Demon wants him subjugated, but bigger results would earn leniency.'
Delaying my Cult return as long as possible, of course.
"Very well. Heir of Yak-seon, Eastern Sword Dragon Kim Dong Yun. I invite you to the Tang Clan as Small Tang Token master and my guest."
"No need for such formality."
"Impossible. By seniority, Yak-seon's heir stands my equal."
"Even so, it's been ages, and as I said, I'm not the true legitimate heir. It's fine."
"Then we'll leave it at that."
I smiled faintly and offered a fist salute to Dang Mugi.
"Looking forward to it, Poison King."
And so, I became...
The first from the Divine Cult to enter the Tang Clan.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon