Chapter 238
Chapter 238
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: The Path (1)
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Woncheol grasped the hand I extended.
The guy stood up, caught his breath for a moment, and chuckled.
"Heh."
He raised our clasped hands high toward the audience.
"?!"
Cheers erupted from all directions.
"Waaaaah!!!!!"
"Monk Woncheol acknowledges the Demon Dragon!"
"The world's greatest junior expert is Eon Yong-un!!"
That was when the Azure Bamboo Pavilion members came rushing out.
The first to arrive were Yin Ha-seong and Woo So-ryeong.
"As expected of Brother Yong-un! Like the Buddha's Palm Strike! Wow, even I thought that was dangerous no matter who you are, but that bright red energy bursting from your body!"
"And! The way Regret slashed through the air in Brother Eon's hand!!"
"Ugh! Sis, I'm not going back to the dorms tonight!!!"
"Me neither!!"
In the midst of the excited group, Brother Gyeongryong grimaced with reddened eyes.
"Sniff."
Beside him, Senior Go Wansan had equally red eyes and patted Brother Gyeongryong's shoulder.
Woncheol swallowed dryly at the sight and tried to pull away.
"...W-Well then, this monk will head back to where the Shaolin disciples are."
But Ye Haesu blocked Woncheol.
"Wait a moment! Monk Woncheol!"
She restored Woncheol's hand, which had left my arm, to its original position.
"Just like this! Stay like this for a bit!"
"A-Amitabha?"
She then pulled out her ever-present notebook and quickly sketched me and Woncheol.
Ye Haesu kept her eyes fixed on the notebook as she asked Yin Ha-yeon.
"Administrative Deputy? This honestly needs illustrations. Admit it, right?"
At Ye Haesu's words, Yin Ha-yeon smiled faintly and nodded.
"I'll support the painters and engravers for it."
Among the gathered Azure Bamboo Pavilion members was Professor No Sam, who had somehow come down from the VIP seats.
The professor laughed uproariously on the training ground and danced.
"Hahaha! This is a victory for Azure Bamboo, but also for the Beggars' Clan! Are you watching from heaven, Elder Namgae? Your descendant has defeated Shaolin!"
...Isn't this straight-up roasting someone in public?
I conveyed to the professor that he should restrain himself a bit.
"...Professor, is it okay to act without dignity like that?"
To my words, Professor No Sam replied proudly.
"What dignity do beggars have? We never kept that stuff to begin with!"
"...Still, Monk Woncheol is right there."
To that, the professor suddenly asked Woncheol.
"Does it bother you?"
Woncheol gave a dry laugh at the professor's question.
"...Ha. Haha. Th-This monk is fine."
"He says he's fine."
"Of course he'd say that if you ask him directly!"
"C-Can't you show some compassion? I don't have any grudge against Shaolin. I'm just happy, purely happy. Even if you've only stayed on Mount Song, you've heard the old rumors about Azure Bamboo, right? There were times we thought we'd never see the light of day..."
...He has no intention of stopping.
I tried to get Brother Gyeongryong to stop the professor.
But the brother himself was grimacing deeply, shedding tears of emotion.
Letting out a light sigh, I said to Woncheol.
"Monk Woncheol, go ahead. Sorry for putting you in a tough spot."
To my words, Woncheol waved it off.
"No, it wasn't troublesome at all. Azure Bamboo... is nice."
"You looked pretty flustered for that."
"It's true I was flustered because I'm not used to this atmosphere. But it wasn't troublesome or unpleasant. If anything..."
"If anything?"
"It was fun."
"Fun? Over something so trivial."
"A day at Shaolin starts and ends with training, excluding morning prayers and meals. Plus, I live in the master's hermitage, and my rank is unnecessarily high, so the younger monks are intimidated by me..."
"No friends, huh?"
"......"
I hit the nail on the head, and Woncheol was at a loss for words.
I chuckled and said.
"Want me to hook you up with some friends?"
As Woncheol brightened and was about to reply.
Yin Ha-yeon urgently spoke up.
"Th-That! Monk Woncheol?"
"Yes?"
"This could be a life-changing decision! I think it's fine to take some time to think it over."
At Yin Ha-yeon's voice, my younger siblings nodded one by one.
I furrowed my brow and opened my mouth.
"...Little Yin? What do you mean by that? And why are you all nodding?"
Yin Ha-yeon clapped to get everyone's attention and changed the subject.
"Okay, everyone, calm down a bit. Young Master Eon and Monk Woncheol just finished their match. There's an awards ceremony soon, so both of you should circulate your energy and rest."
After a short break.
The awards ceremony, doubling as the closing ceremony, began.
The junior experts who participated in the Uprightness Tournament lined up again.
The Murim Alliance Leader spoke.
"In the Uprightness Tournament, the seniors gathered their intentions, the juniors gave their all, and the audience sent hot cheers and support. This Gong Son Mu-gyeol expresses his gratitude on this occasion. Thanks to you, we could glimpse the future of the world."
After opening remarks, Gong Son Mu-gyeol immediately brought out the championship flag and continued.
"Now, announcing the Uprightness Tournament winner! The champion is Azure Bamboo Pavilion!"
Perhaps because he'd shed his tears earlier.
Brother Gyeongryong composedly came forward to receive the flag.
"Next, announcing the tournament's top junior expert! Eon Yong-un of Azure Bamboo Pavilion!"
Then my name was called.
As I walked to the stage.
Gong Son Mu-gyeol smiled and sent a transmission.
[You said you'd leave it to me. You really took the championship flag. Congratulations.]
[I try to keep my word whenever possible. Thanks for the congrats.]
[I'm grateful too.]
[What did I do for you?]
[You did. Your win is a great occasion for Azure Bamboo, but it means a lot to me too. You, with faint orthodox faction colors, taking the overall victory carries great implications. Especially since you bested Shaolin's juniors without mercy.]
Finishing the transmission, Gong Son Mu-gyeol put on a stern expression and spoke again.
"Disciple Eon Yong-un of Azure Bamboo Pavilion. You participated in the Uprightness Tournament and greatly contributed to Azure Bamboo Pavilion's overall victory through your talent and martial prowess in various events. Thus, you are selected as the top junior expert and commended. The additional prize will be awarded by Abbot Gong Hyo."
He then called Abbot Gong Hyo forward and stepped aside.
Abbot Gong Hyo stood before me, took a wooden box from his sleeve, and spoke.
"The Demon Dragon's path, proven with your body—I shall seriously consider it."
"I'd be grateful if you did."
That was when the Great Reversion Pill entered my hand.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The awards and closing ceremonies ended, and the audience dispersed.
The Uprightness Tournament had drawn to a close.
However, given the tournament's purpose, the most important event under the name of 'banquet' remained.
One might wonder what eating and drinking has to do with importance.
"This Gong Son worried much about whether we could properly host the Uprightness Tournament. But thanks to the distinguished guests, friends from beyond the outer regions, and the juniors here who gave their all, those worries proved unfounded, and we succeeded."
Gong Son Mu-gyeol and the Grand Strategist had pushed for the tournament despite political burdens and risks to shift the backbone meeting's dynamics and strengthen ties with the outer regions.
"The tournament is over. But concerns for the world remain. I hope we can open our hearts and share our worries here."
Thus, this exchange venue—filled with lavish dishes and fragrant liquors—was the true main event.
"Sect Leader. This is the Demon Dragon's maternal uncle."
Gong Son Mu-gyeol's words about Azure Bamboo Pavilion's win with faint orthodox colors carrying great implications seemed true.
Gong Son Mu-gyeol went around brightly, connecting Yin Young Uncle at the center with outer region figures and new faction leaders.
"I am Yi Yun-young."
"Oh ho. Iron Bow Sect Leader Yagul Su. This is my boy. Wei, greet the lord."
"Yagul Wei greets the lord."
"To think this kid is sworn brothers with the Demon Dragon—makes us practically brothers too. Hahaha."
Seeing that, I thought I could step away for a bit.
'The outer regions' juniors are busy paying respects to the Alliance Leader.'
I grabbed a jar of liquor and stood.
But Dang Ok-gi opened her lynx-like eyes and spoke.
"Where to? You can't drink today! It's not like you have zero internal injuries?"
Dang Ok-gi in full physician mode.
"I'm not the one drinking, Doctor."
As I replied.
Jung Hyeon added a word.
"Going to pour liquor on your sword, right?"
"Exactly."
Dang Ok-gi nodded.
"Aha."
She gazed at Regret and smiled faintly.
"Come to think of it, Elder Tak Jong-geon would love this. The guy he entrusted his life's work to has rightfully become the world's top junior with that sword?"
"Top junior? Whatever. Be right back."
Leaving the main hall's banquet, I headed to the rear garden.
This rear garden leading to the guest quarters had a scenic colonnade.
I leaped onto the roof over the colonnade.
Drew Regret and first poured one for Master.
Glug glug glug—
Then, gazing at the moon, one for Grandmaster Tak Jong-geon.
Glug glug—
After pouring the liquor, I spoke to Master.
"Tell me that story."
- What story?
"About Shaolin."
- Why bring up those baldies out of nowhere and ruin the booze?
"Out of nowhere? You've been weird whenever Shaolin came up since before the tournament started. You mentioned bad blood with them when we first met too."
- ......
"Do I have average perception? Try fooling a ghost. Oh, wait, you are a ghost, Master."
- ?
"Anyway, I know you stayed quiet so it wouldn't affect your unworthy disciple's tournament. What happened?"
- ...Hm.
To my words, Master seemed to ponder briefly.
Then he awkwardly opened.
- It's that kind of story.
Having opened, Master began the tale of a novice monk at Shaolin who swept floors and chopped firewood.
"That must be my great-grandmaster."
- Right. A genius of the world. He never forgot what he saw and could piece together a whole book from one passage.
By the words alone, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy.
So how did he fail to rise to elder status at Shaolin, become a wandering mendicant, and end up founding the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect?
The answer was simple.
"...Jealous rivals."
Not all who uphold the Dharma are virtuous.
They're human, so they have greed.
Those who cast it all off are called Buddhas.
At that point, Master agreed and continued.
- Sharp kid. Three baldies who envied my master conspired. They created a nonexistent tiger. Master was framed for stealing martial arts. Because many tried to extract Shaolin techniques that way, he received harsh punishment.
He didn't specify the punishment.
But it wasn't hard to guess even without words.
Shaolin's penalties were severe.
They likely crippled his dantian.
- Thus, Master became a cripple unable to cultivate martial arts. He eked out a living correcting third-rate warriors' techniques, wandering the world until earning the name Manbak Mendicant Monk.
"......"
- The rest is what you told me when we first met. He met me, cared for me, and passed on the Mountain-Shattering Sword Manual, origin of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect...
Overwhelmed by rising rage, I stood.
"Damn these worldly baldies. You should've told me sooner! I was even talking about befriending one. Forget that—I'll go now and..."
As I turned.
- Don't!
Master's stern shout halted my steps.
- It's over a century old, and Master himself forgave it.
"...Is that forgiveness?"
- Meeting me because of it made forgiveness natural, he said. I didn't understand then. So I vented my fury on Shaolin.
...Ah. That must be how Master, initially seen as a righteous swordsman, earned the Sword Demon title.
'And Master's ties with the founding Heavenly Demon Hyeok Ryeon-geum birthed the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.'
The phrase "All the world's martial arts come from Shaolin" felt poignant as Master finished.
- But now, having met you... I somewhat understand what he meant by natural forgiveness.
"......"
- Yong-un. As I said before, walk your own path. Getting bogged down in old grudges would turn me and great-grandmaster into true ghosts.
Master's words had an embarrassing knack for deflating me.
Unknowingly, my words and actions stopped, and I just smacked my lips.
"Tch."
Master seemed similarly affected and irritably snapped.
- See? I told you not to bring up that buzzkill story! Argh! What are you doing? Pour the booze!
I chuckled and poured more for Master.
While doing so, I said.
"I get it. No need to dredge up stale grudges."
- Yeah, no need to drag you into it...
"I won't touch all of Shaolin."
- ?
"But if even one inherits those bastards' mindset, I'll smash them under Heaven-Splitting's name."
- Wait, what did you hear?
"Didn't you say walk my own path?"
- I meant don't walk that path!
"Reforming and purging scum like that is my path."
- ...How do you twist words so freely? Master, now I get why you sighed at me...
As Master and I were deep in talk.
A presence approached from the main hall.
"Demon Dragon? Are you here?"
Someone came to the colonnade looking for me.
It was the Pavilion Master of the North Sea Ice Palace.