Chapter 319
Chapter 319
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 319
Chapter Title: Worried About Shaolin (5)
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The Eon siblings had finished their preparations, and the freshmen had completed their tour schedule.
With a report from the freshman representative, Namgung Young, the entire group of Righteous Martial Academy cadets departed from the Murim Alliance.
"All cadets, ready for return!"
"You've all worked hard. I hope what you saw and experienced at the Murim Alliance aids your growth."
A large crowd had gathered at the Murim Alliance's main gate to see off the cadets.
As Gongsun Mugeol encouraged the freshmen and presented them with Murim Alliance windbreaker robes as gifts...
"Medicine King, sir. Stay healthy until we meet again."
Dang Ok-gi bowed politely to Medicine King O Gyun-cheon.
"Thank you for pondering my wild ideas with me!"
"Not wild at all. Your fresh young thoughts taught me a thing or two. If you hit a snag, send word anytime."
"Yes, sir!"
"Oh, and..."
"Yes? Do you have special instructions for me?"
"Ahem. Truth is, it's not really for you, Ok-gi. It's for that rascal Yong-un..."
Dang Ok-gi nodded vigorously at O Gyun-cheon's words.
"Yeah, he is a rascal!"
"Right?"
"Totally!"
"That rascal made an appointment with me, then left just a letter behind and ran off with Abbot Gongdeok. All that talk about wanting to see me was just lip service!"
"He didn't even leave us a single letter!"
"That jerk!"
"Damn you, Eon Yong-un!"
For a moment, O Gyun-cheon and Dang Ok-gi bonded like grandfather and granddaughter.
O Gyun-cheon handed Dang Ok-gi a wooden box.
"I wanted to stick him with acupuncture needles, but he bolted. A promise is a promise, so deliver this for me."
"What's this?"
"A Tang Clan breakthrough pill... Your family's physicians must've loaded that kid up with good meds?"
"Oh. Something to melt the energies scattered in his meridians?"
"Exactly. I included a recipe. Most ingredients are non-toxic, so even if it's not for Yong-un, no harm if someone else needs it. Discuss with him and use as needed."
"Then how about this, sir?"
"It's just delivering to that punk. Don't wanna run the errand?"
"No, it's not that. Tell him to get acupuncture too. Then I'll say, 'Medicine King's orders,' and stick the needles in that rascal myself."
"Oh ho? Clever idea. Sharp young mind, as expected!"
"Hehe."
"Heh heh."
As the two conspired...
Zhuge Hye called over Ye Hae-su.
"Hae-su."
"Yes, Grand Strategist!"
"Give this to Ha-yeon. It's documents on the scholarship support."
"Got it."
"And this to Seol-ji. Conference minutes from the Baekbon Association and a transcript of Yong-un's presentation. She'll pass it to the academy's operations committee. Oh, and tell Yong-un the final decision's in—he can proceed as planned."
"Just relay the message to Junior Yong-un?"
"Yeah, that'll do. He'll get it."
Once the Eon siblings and freshmen received their items...
Gongsun Mugeol spoke again.
"Everyone, travel safely."
Finally, Paeng So-jin bid farewell to all.
"Take care, everyone. Tell Yong-un to stop worrying about people."
Eun Ha-seong chuckled dryly at her words.
"Like Brother Yong-un listens to that. Might as well give a message for Brother So-cheon."
"Piggy's got too many shortcomings for one word... You and Yong-un help him out. Kid's got a good heart."
"When are you reenrolling, sis?"
"Master says my basics are solid. Probably back at the academy this semester."
At the mention of reenrollment, the freshman trio chimed in.
"Awesome, Senior So-jin!"
"We'll be waiting, Senior."
"See you then, Big Sis So-jin!!"
Jang Seon's voice rang loudest.
Paeng So-jin flinched briefly at the raw volume but soon smiled.
"Yeah. See you all."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The distance from Luoyang's Murim Alliance to Mount Song was less than half a day's brisk march for experts.
But this journey carried meanings beyond mere distance.
First, their movement signaled Eon Yong-un's confinement had ended.
Second, Shaolin disciples traveled with them.
"Agh. Aghhh."
"Ugh. Master, please slow down a bit."
"Quiet! After causing that mess, you dare complain of pain?!"
Among the Shaolin disciples were some still on stretchers from the brawl at the Murim Alliance.
"Amitabha. My apologies, patrons. You must want to inform the Dragon of his confinement's end swiftly."
"Primeval Lord of Heaven. No need. I know the official release is tomorrow. We'll arrive today, right?"
"Yes. See those three jagged peaks? That's Mount Song. We'll make it by evening."
Thus, the Eon siblings walked the official road without haste.
As Won-gyeong, leading the Shaolin group, apologized and departed...
Wu So-rung cautiously spoke up.
"Daoist Jeong-hyeon. Mount Hua is on Mount Hua, so it's Huashan Sect. Wudang is on Wudang Mountain, so Wudang Sect. Why's Shaolin on Mount Song still called Shaolin?"
"Ah. The central peak is Jun-geuk Peak, east is Tae-sil Peak, west is So-sil Peak. Named Shaolin for the forest on So-sil Peak."
"Aha."
"That's the origin. Though the main temple's on So-sil, now there are hermitages on Jun-geuk and Tae-sil too, plus Zen halls at the base."
A bit further, even from afar, throngs of pilgrims and monks greeted them with palms together.
Inns flew flags promising no meat or five pungent roots.
"!"
"!?"
The region revolved around Shaolin.
The massive temple complex, spanning tens of thousands of pyeong, awed the Eon siblings, new to the place.
"Whoa."
Even Eun Ha-seong, who'd only known Hwi-ju before meeting Eon Yong-un, felt dwarfed.
"What kinda temple's as big as my house... Hell, the whole neighborhood's Shaolin. Badmouth the baldies here and..."
"Eun-hyung!"
"...One wrong word and it's a beating."
Namgung Yun spoke at Eun Ha-seong's words.
"Mind your words, Eun Ha-seong."
"Hah. Even Brother Palg-yun's charmed?"
"Charmed? Manners are basic anywhere. And this isn't my first time at Shaolin."
"Tch. Showing off."
"...Not showing off. Just saying 'cause you're the one charmed."
Ignoring Namgung Yun's retort, Eun Ha-seong turned to Jeong-hyeon.
"Forget Palg-yun. What about you, Daoist Jeong-hyeon? No lies—I saw you swallow hard."
"Ah, that was just... Entering Shaolin territory made me worry for Brother Eon again."
"Pfft, worry about the right people."
"Think. Brother Eon's spirit won't bend, let alone break. Shaolin disciples have pride too... Makes you wonder if nothing happened."
At Jeong-hyeon's words, the Eon siblings furrowed brows in unison.
Thus burdened with worry, they walked on.
Nearing the northern forest of So-sil Peak, home to Shaolin's main temple...
A familiar whistle reached their ears.
Pip-pip-eek!
"Oooone!!!"
Pip-pip-peep-eek!
"Twwwwooooo!!!!!!"
The Eon siblings quickened pace, entranced.
They arrived at Shaolin's grand training ground.
"Eagles' voices too weak! Wanna crawl to Tae-sil Peak today too?!!"
"Noooo sirrr!!!!!"
There unfolded a scene eerily like the Righteous Martial Academy, rendering prior worries laughable.
Wu So-rung and Ye Hae-su gaped.
"W-We are at Mount Song, right? Not Dan River Valley?"
"...Our faith in Junior Yong-un was lacking."
Dang Ok-gi and Eun Ha-seong rubbed eyes.
"...Why're Shaolin monks acting like this? What happened?!"
"Eagles, not owls or chicks. Baldies... And they're taking it."
As senior Eon siblings marveled in disbelief...
The juniors exclaimed in awe.
"As expected of Senior Yong-un..."
"President..."
"Incredible!"
Watching, the seniors spoke in unison.
"Primeval Lord of Heaven."
"The future of murim..."
"Is..."
"...bright. So bright."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It'd been a while since leaving the academy.
Work was handled perfectly for any tour extension, with Zhuge Seol-ji and Yin Ha-yeon left in charge—no worries.
But couldn't hole up in Shaolin forever.
I now bore the mission of imparting the academy's spirit and drills swiftly.
Pip-pip-eek!
Fortunately, the Shaolin eagles' minds and bodies outlasted prior owls or chicks.
Pip-pip-peep-eek!
They endured harsher training without collapsing, letting me train them like a fish in water.
Mid-whistle as usual, I spotted the entering Eon siblings.
- Your brothers are here.
'Ah. Yeah?'
- Hm? Official confinement ends today, yet you seem wistful?
'Means time to return to the academy.'
- Regretting leaving Shaolin? Grown attached? Hmm, doesn't seem so...
'No good partners to drill with lately. Purely miss it. Eagles train so satisfyingly.'
- ...First time pitying Shaolin monks in my life.
As I chatted with Master...
The twisting eagles noticed the arrivals, sighing in relief here and there.
"Phew."
"Fi-nally."
"Dragon... leaves."
"Ha, haha."
Hearing that, I raised a brow.
"Who said that?! Still slack after all that? Crawl to Tae-sil! Prep!"
"Ack!"
"Voices weak! Jun-geuk too! Prep!"
"Aaaah!!!!!!!"
Leaving the siblings dumbfounded, I hit the other peaks with the eagles and returned to So-sil.
Back, Abbot Gongdeok approached.
"Dragon patron."
"Yes, Abbot."
"Call today's training here? Your confinement ends, academy cadets visit—Abbot Brother arranged a modest worldly feast for dinner."
"Yes. Was wrapping up anyway."
"Then rest and come to the guest hall."
"Yes, sir."
"Shaolin disciples, prepare to greet guests at the hall."
"Ack— I mean, yes!"
At the guest hall, prepared were lavish dishes—dumplings of tofu and vegetables—like a banquet.
Abbot Gonghyo spoke.
"Shaolin and Righteous Martial Academy exchanges were superficial. This event taught this old monk much. Hoping true bonds between our disciples and righteous murim's youths, we prepared this. Lacking compared to worldly fare, but accept our sincerity."
Gonghyo first took chopsticks; all began eating.
The Eon siblings bombarded me.
"What gives, Eon Yong-un?! What scam'd you pull here?"
"Yeah, Brother Yong-un! Hypnotize the bald—er, monks?"
"Curious!"
"More than that, your vibe's changed. Enlightened in that short time?"
"I sense it too. What realm did you attain at Shaolin?"
"Classic Yong-un Senior!"
"Congrats, President!"
"...One at a time."
I skipped enlightenment—they'd learn in the cave too.
Told of the 108 Arhats bout and Gongdeok's words that day.
"Primeval Lord of Heaven. That's enlightenment."
"Enlightenment my ass. Total scam."
Then...
Gongryang Abbot, absent earlier, approached with liquor bottles between fingers, placing them before us and the disciples.
"!"
"Hm?"
We and the monks widened eyes.
Gongryang put a finger to lips.
"Abbot Brother should've prepped grain liquor for a night like this. Mendicants gotta sip a cup or two anyway—why so stiff?"
"Junior Gongryang!"
Gongryang hugged Gonghyo playfully.
"Aigoo, Brother. This junior leaves Shaolin tomorrow morn. Just juniors? Play a go game with this junior after ages."
"No, what you just put on the table..."
"Tut tut. Old fogeys cramping style keeps 'em from bonding. C'mon. You too, Gongdeok Brother."
The three elders left.
I grabbed a bottle and rose.
Wu So-rung asked.
"Going for that?"
"Yeah. You kids hang out."
Enlightened, at Shaolin, wanted to share a drink with Master—thus I slipped out.
"Dr-Dragon!"
Someone hurried after; turning, it was Won-cheol.
"Monk Won-cheol? I want some alone time. Urgent business?"
"Uh, well... Could you look at this? Just once?"
Straight to the point, he flustered and pulled a crumbling ancient book from his robes.
- Hm? That's Master's handwriting?