Chapter 988
Chapter 988
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 988
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Path
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“One victory down, but we haven't achieved our goal yet. To pass this trial, we need one more flag. Let's target the next one right away.”
Hwangbo Gahye spoke in front of Team 55. At her words, Team 55 moved out without a moment's rest and ambushed the lurking Team 101.
I took the lead again this time. It wasn't like me to step up like this normally... but My Lady Hwangbo Gahye was watching from behind. If I wanted points, I had to rack up merits.
“I am Sung Yu-jin, the son-in-law of the great Namgung family! Drop your weapons and hand over the flag!”
I even showed some mercy. But the enemies didn't so much as acknowledge it.
“Amitabha.”
Someone stepped forward from the enemy lines.
He was a man with a shaved head, clad in monk's robes. His body was gaunt, but that only made his solid muscles stand out more.
Climbed to the 9th floor of the Myriad Martial Tower? He's no ordinary monk. A martial monk?
Martial monks brought Shaolin Temple to mind immediately. They were that famous. He clasped his hands in greeting and bowed to me. But his eyes gazing at me were as sharp as a honed blade.
“This humble monk is Jeong Bin. I sense your eyes brimming with killing intent, benefactor. I shall step forward to stop you.”
“Jeong Bin!! The Shaolin Temple's Gourmet Monk is here?!”
The reaction came not from me, but from Hwangbo Gahye. He must be pretty famous.
“...This monk's roots lie in Shaolin, but I have no ties to them now. Please regard me merely as a single monk.”
“Shut up and block me if you can.”
Shadow Heaven Style: Thunder Light.
Shaolin or monk, whatever—he was my enemy. No reason to hold back. The tip of my sword drew a red arc straight for Jeong Bin's throat.
The next instant, Jeong Bin's entire body turned a golden yellow.
Clang!
The Flame Lotus Sword aimed at his neck bounced off. I was stunned. My blade hadn't severed his throat. Just a scratch at best.
“Amitabha... A ferocious strike. Even with the Diamond Sutra, my skin was cut.”
“Not your average guy.”
I knew from that single clash. He was a Five Qi warrior. I let out a deep sigh and charged at Jeong Bin.
Crackle.
Red lightning coursed along my blade. This time, I'd sever that neck with raw power, not speed. Jeong Bin didn't stand idle. He deflected my sword with the palms he'd held clasped. The technique was exquisite. True Shaolin palm art.
By realm alone, I feel like I'm a bit ahead... Damn, this is tough. Can't break through easily.
No matter how I swung, he parried everything with his palms. His arms and legs seemed forged from metal, not flesh.
Rumble!
A thunderbolt struck Jeong Bin's gleaming golden tonsure. Useless. The lightning couldn't halt the golden martial monk even for a second.
Damn. Lightning doesn't work? Fine, try this.
Heavenly Demon Overlord Step.
I planted my foot. The invisible pressure it generated bore down on Jeong Bin.
“Urgh. This wicked aura...!”
Jeong Bin suddenly muttered something. Then, pure white light emanated from his eyes.
“Guh?!”
My legs faltered. The demonic energy within me wavered under the aura from Jeong Bin. My demonic qi recoiled from that pure energy.
“This is Anti-Demon Divine Skill. A divine art to counter demons. It's why all the world's fiends fear Shaolin. I advise you: retract your demonic qi and face me with pure martial arts.”
“Anti-Demon? Screw that.”
Was Heavenly Demon Divine Art cowed by something like that? The name Heavenly Demon demanded more.
I channeled my Heavenly Demon qi instead. Black demonic energy ignited and coalesced along my red blade.
“Hmmm... Demonic qi this sinister... What in the world are you, benefactor...?”
“Block it with your precious Anti-Demon if you can.”
“It's Anti-Demon Divine Skill, not Anti-Demon.”
Jeong Bin thrust his palm forward. Demonic-repelling energy rippled from it. Just looking at it soured my mood.
I feinted a swing and unleashed my demonic qi.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art: Heavenly Demon Divine Palm.
The Heavenly Demon Palm plummeted from the sky toward Jeong Bin's bald pate. Boom! Shockwaves spread, dust billowing up.
“Kuh!”
Jeong Bin endured. His back bent slightly, but he shook off the Heavenly Demon Palm as if nothing happened and clasped his hands again.
“...Amitabha.”
“This time, I'll slice you with my sword.”
“Young Hero Sung!! The battle's over!! We've got their flag!!”
Hwangbo Gahye shouted. I froze mid-swing. Should I ignore her and keep going? After three seconds of debate, I lowered my blade. No matter what, I couldn't afford to clash with her over this.
Aftermath cleanup began. We'd lost three on our side, gained three from theirs. Jeong Bin included, naturally.
“Yu-jin, you look pissed. You okay?”
“I'm fine.”
Sung Ji-gon approached and asked. I'd been scowling since earlier; he must've noticed. I relaxed my expression.
He's been rubbing me wrong since that Anti-Demon crap. ...Is this the Heavenly Demon Divine Art's influence?
The weather was hot, making me irritable. But realizing it might be the art affecting me only worsened my mood.
“That monk Jeong Bin... Should we sneak and kill him later? We could pull it off together.”
“Nah. That'd just put Hwangbo Gahye on guard. We need to win her over.”
“Plan?”
“First, gain her favor. Then do her favors... Time together will build affection, and naturally, she'll be mine.”
“Guess I won't be helping then?”
“Nope.”
“Might as well train my martial arts.”
Sung Ji-gon grumbled, glancing around boredly. The only woman here was Hwangbo Gahye—no ugly ones even.
Thud, thud.
Speak of the devil—Hwangbo Gahye headed my way. Sung Ji-gon quickly backed off.
“Young Hero Sung... No, I misjudged you. Great Hero Sung. Thank you. Thanks to you, we secured two flags in less than half a day.”
Great Hero. Even if lip service, it lifted my spirits instantly. In this world, 'Great Hero' wasn't tossed around lightly.
“Haha, just did what needed doing. Milady. What's next? With the flags, we just hold for ten days... Fortify?”
“We need more flags.”
“Pardon?”
“To safely defend them for the remaining ten days, we need more people. Flags make perfect gifts for alliances.”
“Ah, alliances. No rule against them, right? Impressive. You grasped the trial's essence right away.”
“So... Great Hero Sung. Scout for me?”
“Haha. If milady wishes.”
That day, Team 55 claimed six flags total, swayed four other teams to massively bulk up, and hunkered down. With 150 combined, passing the trial was assured.
???
I was drinking cola under the night sky when Jeong Bin approached from the right. His gaze fixed on the can in my hand.
“Amitabha... Young Hero Sung, may I ask what that black liquid is?”
“This? Cola.”
“Cola... First I've heard of it. Might I have just one sip... Exactly one?”
Curiosity filled Jeong Bin's face.
Gourmet Monk Jeong Bin. True to his moniker, he was a monk wandering the world in search of delicacies.
“No reason not to. But answer my questions first.”
“Something puzzles you about this monk? Very well. I'll answer honestly.”
“Shaolin Temple origins?”
“Yes. However... I've been excommunicated and am now a defrocked monk.”
“Why?”
Jeong Bin hesitated. I shook the cola can; he soon resolved and spoke.
“...Because this monk ate human flesh.”
“Human flesh? A Shaolin monk?”
My jaw dropped at the unforeseen answer. Shaolin was one of this world's top Buddhist powers. I never dreamed such a thing could happen there.
“...Three years ago. This monk roamed jianghu, slaying yokai and fiends. Entered a black zone and saw a fiend devouring human flesh most deliciously. I'd fasted ten days... Couldn't suppress the surging appetite and tasted it.”
He spoke surprisingly calmly.
“A moment's lapse... or something?”
“No. I could have resisted. Curiosity about the flavor stayed my hand.”
“You're nuts. Excommunicated, yet flaunting Shaolin arts? Don't they usually strip arts from outcasts?”
Sever limbs, cripple dantian. Some sects execute outright.
“Various circumstances aligned.”
“Figured. Stellar connections, plus talent reaching Five Qi at your age.”
“......”
I tossed him a cola can. He caught the cold one and startled.
“Th-this?”
“You wanted cola. Here.”
“This is cola? How to drink?”
I showed him how to open it. Pop! He flinched at the sound, then sipped.
“Oh! Such a thing exists in this world!”
Jeong Bin sipped delicately, not gulping. Finished quick enough.
“Young Hero Sung! Gratitude for sharing such a treasure! Cola! I'll never forget the na—burp!”
“Fuck. Nasty belch.”
“S-sorry. Unintentionally...”
“Whatever. You scarfed it; want another?”
“If more! Gladly!”
“Try cider this time.”
We each held a cider can and drank.
“Ahhhhh, fuck yeah!”
“P-fuck yeah? Meaning?”
“What you say when feeling good.”
“Is so? fuck yeah!”
He mimicked eagerly. fuck yeah with every sip. Excommunicated or not, he looked every bit the monk—amusing.
Then I spotted something horrifying. This mad monk Jeong Bin had been erect the whole time he drank.
Noticing my stare, he flushed.
“Shit, you gay? Gay slayer!”
I whipped out Gay Slayer. Unprepared Jeong Bin jumped.
“Young Hero Sung! Suddenly... Hm?”
And he didn't die. Meaning not gay. Jeong Bin tilted his head puzzled.
“Hey, baldy. Why the erection?”
“...A secret, but this monk gets erections from delicious food.”
“...You cum too?”
“If... too tasty, yes.”
“Not from women?”
“What do you take me for? This monk transcends all desires but appetite. Even the world's greatest seductress couldn't sway me.”
He said gravely.
“Another nutcase like Sung Ji-gon. World's too damn big...”
Now it impressed me. Curiosity piqued: would he really climax from food?
I pulled out a chicken leg and tossed it. No ordinary chicken. Top-grade, raised and fried with care by maids from the Hundred Ghosts world for me.
“What's this? Delicious scent... gulp... Can't resist... May I eat this... chicken?”
“If I say no, you won't?”
“......”
He gaped wide and bit in.
“Ohhh! fuck yeah!!”
His eyes widened... and the rest is omitted. Anyway, I confirmed another lunatic existed in this world.
Afterward, Jeong Bin trailed me everywhere. To sample my tasty foods.
“Can't give 'em free.”
“...What do you want? This monk has little. Ah, I can give 9th-floor trial reward. Please, new tasty food for this monk!”
“Kill someone if I asked?”
“I will. Already excommunicated... Not truly a monk. For true delicacy, ready to forsake humanity!”
Answered without a second's pause. Confirmed madman.