Chapter 448
Chapter 448
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 448
Chapter Title: Coincidence and Inevitability (2)
I was in a position where I needed to stick close to the Murim Alliance as much as possible right now.
'That's why Yong-myeong went in my place to follow Elder Taegong.'
Of course, Wang Sam, who had left first, wasn't there when Yong-myeong departed.
However, having once served as the Haomen Leader, he surely understood why I needed to stay at the Murim Alliance.
I voiced the thought that came to mind right away.
"Did something go wrong on your trip, by any chance?"
In the midst of that, I realized my assumption was off-base.
The Mok Yeom-yak I had met was a benevolent man.
He fit the archetype of the virtuous general often spoken of.
But one couldn't run an organization like the Haomen with mere leniency alone.
If things had gone south with the elder, there was no way he would have let him live.
"No, that can't be. Otherwise, you wouldn't have returned safely like this, right?"
When I spoke my mind without filter, Wang Sam let out a hollow laugh and opened his mouth.
"You little punk. Saying I wouldn't return safely—sounds like you hoped I'd die!"
"...I've wanted to say this for a while, but Elder seems to have a bit of a twisted personality."
At my words, my Eon brothers nodded quietly.
Wang Sam bristled and shot back.
"What? Why are you all nodding?!"
"We're worried about you. Think about it. Why else would we have fixed the Seven Stringed Qin for you?"
"Ahem. Anyway. The Leader was in Luoyang. The talks went well. And that's where we're headed now too."
"Luoyang? I can go there, no problem, but I need to know what it's about and how long it'll take so I can sort things out here. Is there some reason you can't tell me?"
"Nothing like that. I've taken some measures, but for Haomen movements and Heavenly Demon Divine Cult intel, hear it from the Leader when we get there. My task is just to deliver something to you."
At Wang Sam's continued words, I threw back a question.
"...Deliver something?"
"I heard before that you're the sword successor of Sword Demon Wi Cheol-jin. Then, naturally, doesn't that make Manbak Mendicant Monk your grandmaster?"
With that, unexpectedly, the story of Manbak Mendicant Monk, the founding patriarch of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect, came from Wang Sam's mouth.
- …….
"...Right?"
At the unexpected tale, I nodded while pondering why he was bringing this up now.
Reading my expression, Wang Sam spoke again.
"Manbak Mendicant Monk. In his lifetime, he wandered the world as a wandering physician. Along the way, he healed the sick, but also mended flawed martial arts. All the ones he fixed that could be obtained right away—I gathered them. Thinking they'd be useful to you."
- The Heaven-Splitting martial arts aren't solely from my master. After Master passed, much of it was my own interpretation and creation from his words. It'll be helpful.
As Wang Sam's story ended, my silent master finally spoke.
- You're swimming in the vast sea of Flower Realm yourself, so you get it. Try anything at that stage. Get complacent, and you'll drift forever in the endless ocean.
I addressed both my master and Wang Sam at once.
"Helpful or not, I'm grateful and touched. I never expected this... but how is this even possible?"
Even a tiny village has at least one inn, and Haomen disciples are scattered everywhere, countless beyond reckoning.
Considering the Haomen's power, it wasn't impossible—but far from easy.
I voiced my thoughts immediately.
"Someone from over a century ago, not even a big name in the jianghu... how did you gather all that?"
Wang Sam answered right away.
"Not everything, really. Just the 'immediate' ones. I scoured the bookstores in nearby major cities—Kaifeng, Luoyang, Chang'an—and where major brokers are placed."
Yin Xia Lian corrected Wang Sam's slight deviation.
"What Young Master Eon means is, how did you verify these manuals were ones Elder Manbak Mendicant Monk worked on?"
I nodded at her words, and Wang Sam spoke again.
"In a way, it was coincidence. Like how you and I met."
"Coincidence?"
"Yes. Back when I was Haomen Leader, we were desperate to gather any weaknesses of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families. Don't misunderstand—we weren't plotting anything. Knowledge is power for us, so we hoarded what we could."
With that opener, Wang Sam glanced at my Eon brothers and continued.
"Anyway, that led us to learn of Shaolin's pimple being Manbak Mendicant Monk. Digging into him got us one book."
Finishing, he pulled a worn book from his bosom and handed it to me.
『Three Talents Sword』
I carefully flipped through the manual I received.
One of my Eon brothers crowding around to peek, Yin Ha-seong, piped up critically.
"Pfft. This is just the Three Talents Sword Technique! You can buy it on the street for three copper coins—trash!"
Ignoring Yin Ha-seong, Wang Sam told me,
"Check the very last page."
I turned to the final page as instructed.
There, the characters "Dong-rim" were written.
- That's Master's handwriting, alright.
As my master examined the script,
I deciphered the inscription on the last page.
"In the jianghu, 'rim' means Shaolin. Revering Shaolin or missing it... something like that."
Wang Sam spoke again.
"That's Manbak Mendicant Monk's pen name. So this Three Talents Sword Technique was originally called Dong-rim Three Talents Sword. But since it was so well-compiled, the original faded, and this became the standard Three Talents Sword Technique. Familiar to you all."
Then Zhuge Seol-ji spoke up.
"As Elder said, the Three Talents Sword Technique spread so widely the compiler's name dropped off. But there are decent manuals with 'Dong-rim' attached: Dong-rim Heaven-Splitting Sword, Dong-rim Secret Rest Fist, Dong-rim Pure Heart Art... I thought they honored Shaolin, but they're all Manbak Mendicant Monk's works?"
Wang Sam shook his head lightly at that.
"There was a time 'Dong-rim' sold like hotcakes. Later, trash copied the name. But real ones exist too. I gathered those."
No need to agonize.
I immediately looked to Yin Xia Lian and Zhuge Seol-ji.
"Looks like I have to go. Handle the Radiant Prosperity Hall and Murim Alliance coordination by dividing tasks appropriately."
"Got it."
"Yes, Yong-un."
"Jeong-hyeon, you lead the training."
"Understood."
After roughly assigning roles, as I prepared to follow Wang Sam,
Dang Ok-gi spoke up.
"Eon Yong-un, take someone with you. Y'know... in case of emergency, we need to know where you are. Us too?"
From her hesitant manner, her usual suspicion flared—she didn't fully trust the Haomen.
Not wrong, though, so I picked one.
"So-rung follows, then returns to tell the others where I'm staying."
Then Namgung Yun spoke.
"How about Won-cheol Monk too?"
At the words of the guy who'd been in a constant battle of nerves with Won-cheol since reuniting in Hanzhong, I smirked and asked,
"This isn't you mimicking Lord Dae-in's grace to get yourself included, is it?"
Namgung Yun's ears turned red as he retorted.
"What do you even take me for?!"
"Namgung Yun, obviously."
"...Ugh. Dong-rim. Your arts trace back to Shaolin roots, right? Among us, Won-cheol Monk knows Shaolin best, so maybe useful. He's skilled too."
"Our Yun's growing up, having thoughts like that."
I patted his shoulder, then turned to Won-cheol.
"Will you come along?"
"If it's alright, I'd gladly join."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ From the Murim Alliance to the Haomen's Luoyang branch was practically next door.
"Leader. Long time no see. Any troubles?"
"Yes. The Invincible Sword had plenty? Congrats on ascending to the top of the Ten Swords Under Heaven."
"Not quite ascended... yes. Well, thank you."
"We can talk later. Go see Father first."
After a brief exchange with Mok Yeom-yak, I sent Woo So-rung back.
Then, following Wang Sam's guidance, I started walking.
Squeak—squeak—
Descending wooden stairs to the underground secret chamber.
I shared a passing thought with my master.
'...Dong-rim. Grandmaster truly forgave Shaolin? How could he? I couldn't endure it.'
- I couldn't either. And I didn't.
'...Boasting.'
- You say you couldn't, then rib me?! What kind of disciple is this?
'This kind. Your one and only.'
- There it is, the invincible logic again. Anyway, Master was that kind of man! Laughing off the world's harshest storms, foolishly kind to drink through it all.
'Really? But doesn't that oppose Grandmaster's will entirely?'
- That's why. Seeing Master's mercy clash with those petty monks' pettiness fueled an unquenchable fire inside. Yet now, Master's 'foolish' life returns like this. So the world turns unpredictably?
During our exchange, we arrived at the secret chamber.
"The nearby ones are intact manuals. The loose sheets were copied for distant transport—keep that in mind."
"Yes, Elder."
The chamber was piled high with books and papers.
As I picked one to examine,
I noticed Won-cheol standing awkwardly.
"What are you doing? Find a spot, Monk. Tell me if you spot heavy Shaolin influences."
"Ah... can I?"
"Most are second- or third-rate you could get anyway. It's about reading Grandmaster's thoughts within. The manuals themselves aren't big secrets."
"Still, it's Manbak Mendicant Monk's..."
"Didn't we settle the past when I stayed at Mount Song?"
"True, but..."
"Jeong-hyeon says it all the time—can I say it to a monk? Seems the world really turns, bringing Shaolin's descendants together."
"...Karma exists."
"Anyway, if you're sorry, just help me well. Please."
"Yes!"
Thus, Won-cheol and I pored over the manuals Wang Sam gathered.
"Won-cheol Monk?"
"Yes!"
"This move here feels like ones you use often?"
"Oh, indeed. It's an application of Arhat Divine Fist."
How long had we discussed and demonstrated while checking manuals?
Suddenly, a picture formed in my mind.
"!"
I madly devoured the stacked manuals for a while.
Then snapped out of it.
'Master. This disciple had a wondrous experience.'
- …….
With no reply from my usually responsive master, I spoke again.
'Master?'
- ...What? You talking to me?
My master responded dazedly.
'You had a similar experience too.'
- What did you see?
At his question, I stood, drew Regret,
and slowly unfolded Heaven-Splitting Sword forms without qi.
Whoosh! Swish!
Whoooosh!
Stopping my sword,
Won-cheol gaped and clapped.
"Without qi coating, it's different... but the unique spirit sharpened, steps firmer."
Yet my master was ambiguous.
- You found fragments of Master's essence in there too.
'Sounds like you saw something else?'
- Too soon to tell. I haven't sorted it yet. When the time comes, I'll explain. Pursue your insight now.
He muttered nostalgically.
- Heh heh... I, who never saw the vista Master did early on, got drunk on myself and named my arts Heaven-Splitting.