Chapter 316
Chapter 316
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 316
Chapter Title: They're Worried About Shaolin, Huh (2)
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"It's Gong Son Mu-gyeol. Word from Medicine King Hall is that all the later-generation disciples, except for Gak-pil and So-rim's few students, have recovered their energy."
In the situation where Eon Yong-un and Won-cheol were seen as having received severe punishment.
"Therefore, today I will inform you of the disposition regarding the other later-generation disciples who got into a fistfight with the two we announced a few days ago. Fighting with fists in the Murim Alliance is not something to take lightly, but considering various circumstances, the Alliance has decided to have those later-generation disciples experience the new training regimen for the Strike Force starting next year. Does any delegate have objections?"
"...It seems an appropriate disposition."
"Then, that concludes the announcement."
The disposition for the other later-generation disciples who had fistfought with those two was decided swiftly.
"Medicine King Hall says they're all better. But my bones still ache."
"My body's fine, but every night, Eon Yong-un's devilish hands appear in my dreams. Training in the middle of this..."
After receiving word of their disposition, the later-generation disciples gathered at the training ground in the most remote part of the Murim Alliance.
"Tell me about it. Whew. My father said this was lenient compared to what Eon Yong-un got. He even threatened to strike me from the family register if I caused any more trouble here."
"My master said something similar. But what's different about this new Strike Force training regimen?"
"I heard it adds training to build grit and teamwork to the existing regimen, plus countermeasures for poison arts that were the talk after the incident in Sichuan Province?"
Toward them, the Eon Family's little brothers wearing red hats came charging out in a group and stood rigidly at attention with hands behind their backs.
The one in the center, Namgung Yun, opened his mouth in a resolute tone.
"Which sect's owl is chattering?!"
At Namgung Yun's sudden charge and shout, murmurs leaked out from among the later-generation disciples standing in the training ground.
"...Owls?"
"Aren't those the guys who followed Eon Yong-un around like ducklings?"
At once, Namgung Yun bellowed.
"Shut your mouths! I and those beside me are training officers assigned by the Murim Alliance to drill the owls."
"......"
"From now on, mutual address will be 'Instructor' and 'Owl.' Any unauthorized questions or remarks will be deemed insubordination. If you have complaints, raise your hand. I'll exclude you from training immediately."
At his shout, the later-generation disciples instantly folded like folding fans after turning from people into owls. Namgung Yun continued.
"No complaints, then. Let's begin training. Owls have no thought for the world in their hearts. A martial artist who doesn't think of the world is nothing but a brute and a thug. Everyone, put your arm over the shoulder of the owl next to you! Execute!"
"Ex, execute."
"One: sit while thinking of the world. Two: stand while thinking of the world. One."
"The world."
"Voices too small! Drop and give me push-ups in that position!!!"
Dang Ok-gi and Ye Hae-su had separate duties and weren't acting as instructors; they watched the scene from afar.
At Namgung Yun's rigidly intense demeanor, different from Eon Yong-un's, Dang Ok-gi stuck out his tongue.
"...Wow. Who knew Gong Yun's world spiel could be this spot-on. With the Namgung family background, his overbearing tone, and the mindset soaked in Eon Yong-un's influence, he looks completely in his element, right, Senior Hae-su?"
"Yes. But, Junior Ok-gi?"
"Yes?"
"Is it okay for you to be here? Have you finished checking the chemical weapons division?"
"...Ack. With Eon Yong-un gone, now you're the one nagging me, Senior?"
"Not nagging—just you have a lot to do."
"I've checked the chemical weapons facilities and the poison smoke bombs to be used!"
"What about the Ten Thousand Poisons Pill research?"
"......"
"I'm worried. I don't want to get an earful from Junior Yong-un when he meets you. Plus, as solidarity responsibility, we might suffer too... You know."
"Kek! No one without water here! I'm going! Go!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, in Shaolin's abbot's quarters.
As Gong Hyo and Gong Deok shared tea, a wizened voice announced itself.
"Abbot Senior Brother! It's Gong Ryang!"
He was Gong Ryang, a Shaolin disciple known as the Chivalrous Monk who wandered the world mending his tattered robes.
At the voice, Gong Deok opened the door to the abbot's quarters behind him.
"Has Junior Brother Gong Ryang come?"
"Aigoo. Senior Brother Gong Deok is here too?"
Toward his beaming junior brother, Shaolin's Abbot Gong Hyo spoke.
"What brings you here, Junior Brother?"
"What brings me? You're oppressing this old monk. Just because I like wandering by nature, now you're not letting me set foot at Shaolin's gate?"
"Twisting my words... Doesn't wherever you stay end up being at least half a year? I asked because it's not even four months since you left a single letter saying you'd stay in Sichuan Province."
"It was where the Great Demon appeared, so I went to see if any civilians had been sacrificed... Apart from the disciples of Ami, Qingcheng, and the Dang Family who died or were injured, the common folk suffered almost no damage."
"Fortunate amid misfortune."
"Yes. On the way back down the Yellow River, I heard the Black Dragon had come to Song Mountain, so I came to see the face of my lifesaver."
When Gong Ryang said this, Gong Deok raised an eyebrow and spoke.
"Lifessaver? Junior Brother. Are you referring to Black Dragon Donor with those words?"
"Yes. Don't you remember the story I told after coming back from the North Sea? This monk nearly met disaster due to carelessness, but that friend Eon Yong-un saved me. Isn't Black Dragon Donor at Song Mountain?"
"The donor is here, but don't go around saying such things lightly. It could burden the young sprout."
"Senior Brother must not know Black Dragon Donor well, but that friend's temperament is exceptionally steadfast. That much won't..."
"Regardless of his own steadfast heart, it could shake others or breed envy. Junior Brother, you heard Black Dragon Donor came to Song Mountain, but not Gak-pil's story?"
"That punk Gak-pil, I've said from before his prospects were yellow. Won-gyeong kept him close for being unusually good with numbers for a monk, and I knew he'd cause trouble someday."
"Hey. I'm not bringing up Gak-pil to discuss him."
"They say you become a master after being shaken hundreds, no, thousands, tens of thousands of times. Why rebuke me so? It even feels harsher than toward Won-cheol."
It was then that Gong Hyo spoke again.
"Debating martial arts in front of Junior Brother Gong Deok? Enough grumbling. And Won-cheol is Shaolin's disciple, one in our fold; Black Dragon is not, so we must be cautious. Don't you know why?"
"Ahem."
"How can your eyebrows be so white with age and yet lack maturity? If you act like this, what will others think of Shaolin?"
"I only act this way in front of you seniors; outside, I maintain the dignity of an old monk. Anyway, understood. So, where is Black Dragon now and what is he doing?"
"It's been about seven days since he entered Avici Hell."
At Gong Hyo's words, Gong Ryang was astonished.
"Avici Hell?! You let someone who's not even a Shaolin disciple into Avici Hell?"
"There's no precept saying only Shaolin disciples can enter Avici Hell. You've wandered the world saying the state of affairs is suspicious many times, and Junior Brother Gong Deok constantly worries about the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, doesn't he? We need every promising later-generation disciple we can get."
"I'm not criticizing putting Black Dragon in Avici Hell. It's just that a guy who lived a life far from meditation might fall to heart demons."
Hearing this, Gong Deok spoke again.
"From what I've seen, his temperament can endure the seven gates that Shaolin disciples must pass."
"...Then, did you tell him to exit after the formation once the seven gates are done? The later gates would be hard for Black Dragon, raised in the secular world. Even Shaolin disciples rarely pass them."
"If we told him that, it wouldn't be an opportunity to broaden his vessel."
"...Heh. Then where is he now?"
"Won-cheol, raised pure under me from childhood atop a clean mind and firm resolve, took a full fortnight to finish the seven gates."
"Isn't Black Dragon's martial prowess better than Won-cheol's?"
"His prowess may surpass Won-cheol's, but the donor was raised in the secular world... He's probably struggling through the fifth gate right now. After that ordeal, he'll walk out on his own after the seventh."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ He passed the fifth gate, said to make even Buddha sit back down.
And after clearing the sixth and seventh gates.
Rumble—
The closed door opened, revealing the exit.
- Looks like it's okay to leave now?
"Since the Hell Pilgrimage is modeled after Buddhism's hells. After breaking through the seven hells... If we consider me truly dead, it's about the time the forty-nine days end and I stand before the reincarnation gate, right?"
- So, will you go out?
"No. Having broken through Yama's Hell, there's nothing scary anymore. Feels like if I delve a bit more, I can grasp something. Also like the time inside flows differently from outside."
With that decision to stay longer, the iron door closed again.
And soon, the eighth gate began.
This trial placed him in the midst of myriad flowers and rain, as needles and nails poured down thickly.
Clang! Clang!!!
Clang clang clang clang!!!!
Take what must be taken, parry what must be parried, enduring for a long while.
The shower of needles abruptly stopped.
"Is it over? But why doesn't the surroundings return to normal this time?"
As that doubt crossed his mind.
The materialized form of his master appeared before him.
"!"
He had experienced it first with others in the fifth gate, but with the naked eye, he couldn't distinguish if the master before him was real or fake.
Especially since his master's existence itself transcended the world's laws.
"I wondered why Master didn't appear in the fifth gate..."
With that, he instantly realized the ninth gate had begun.
It seemed the last three gates offered no respite like a break time.
It was then that his master's form addressed him.
"When we formed master-disciple bond, circumstances led to hastily taking you as disciple... I'll use this chance to properly check if you have the vessel fitting for Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect."
Toward such a master, he tossed a jest.
"What will you do with your only disciple? Our sect's door might close?"
"If you lack the vessel to bear Heaven-Splitting Path, I'll shatter it with my own hands and lock the door."
Even their usual banter was rejected, leaving him with a complex feeling.
In a way, his master had built deeper bonds than blood family or Eon Family brothers.
Click—
First, he set aside those feelings and gripped Regret firmly.
Whether the master before him was fake or real, showing his resolve was the way to pass this gate and a disciple's duty.
"It'd be reckless for you to attack. I'll come at you."
His master immediately kicked off the ground.
Screeeeeam!!!
The pressure felt like a mountain charging.
The swung sword strike, even though it was the familiar Heaven-Splitting sword forms he'd swung until his hands blistered, couldn't be followed in variation.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Clang!!
The sharpness was on another level.
The tuition to realize that fact was his right arm.
Splatter!!!
Yet, even as his right arm was severed, he unflinchingly thrust out his left.
Splatter!
When he lost his left arm too.
He slammed the ground and headbutted simultaneously.
Swoosh!!
But his master effortlessly dodged the strike and kicked him.
Thud!
Crash!!
Thanks to that, as he rolled on the ground, he strained to lift his head.
And crawled toward his master.
His master watched quietly, wondering what he was up to.
Crunch!
As he crawled desperately and bit his master's leg.
Bam!!
His master kicked him away again and clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Pathetic. A Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect disciple... If you'd admitted your shortcomings and begged to broaden your vessel, it'd have been manly. So pathetic and squalid. Without a head, what now?"
"Then I should curse you. A disciple sees through what he sets his mind to. Die if I die, but I won't give up."
"...Not afraid?"
He spoke again while crawling on the ground.
"Heaven-Splitting. How could one fear flesh melting while trying to shatter the heavens and approach the sun? In Master's eyes, this disciple's appearance might look pathetic and squalid."
His master was one who lived like a flame solely to restore Grandmaster's honor.
"As you know, this disciple is quite greedy. Promise with Master, lives entrusted by Eon Family brothers, parents, Alliance Leader, Righteous Martial Academy professors and cadets... Endless to list."
He couldn't be such a flame.
"Pathetic and squalid, some might call it bravado, but I won't fear or bend my will. Even if I melt away, someone will surely carry on my will."
At times murky, occasionally blocked, he would become the stream reaching the great ocean.
"That's this disciple's resolve toward Heaven-Splitting Path."
At such a sight, his master gave no answer.
Silently gripping his sword again.
He instinctively felt the sword would strike down again, but he threw his body once more.
At the same time, his master's sword swung.
Swoooosh!!!!!
Then, the surroundings darkened as if sucked in.
"!?"
In pitch-black space where he alone reigned supreme, his severed limbs had returned.
As the ninth gate ended, the tenth began simultaneously.
"Black Darkness Hell?"
Yet, amid this, his body felt light as a feather.
He moved his body in the pitch darkness.
"Not just a feeling."
Originally, this place robs the practitioner of senses to induce despair.
But what he felt was the opposite.
Apparently, crossing death's gate earlier succeeded another step toward Harmony Realm.
Body control reached its peak; thought became instant action.
'...I get something.'
After moving alone in the black space for a while.
The sight from passing the seventh gate appeared.
Rumble—
With a single ray of light.
The exit opened.
"Has the tenth gate ended too?"
After walking toward it a moment.
"Hm?"
On the way to the exit, another path branched off caught his eye.
And a guy identical to him walked out from that path and spoke.
"Eon Yong-un. Don't you need greater power?"
"......"
"Here, instants stretch like syrup. Experience life-death vicissitudes and seven emotions six desires hard to practice in the present world. A bit more. Just a little more training here, and you could reach higher realms?"
"Power for power's sake isn't it."
"...What?"
"It's not seeking power because needed; it's growing strong because much to protect."
Raising his middle finger, he slashed down with Regret.
"So scram."
Splatter!!!
Having beheaded the figure in his likeness, he headed to the exit without lingering.