Yardstick
In his previous life as the True Heavenly Demon, Jeong Gwang had despised the righteous Murim.
He saw them as hypocrites with flowery words, fools who spouted ideals without understanding reality.
But after reincarnating in Kunlun, his views had changed dramatically.
The Kunlun Taoists were truly Taoist-like.
And though it wasn't his intention, their steady tempering through the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's attacks had given them a solid grasp of reality.
'Though their bone-crushing poverty was a real downer.'
But stepping into the Central Plains, most of the prestigious righteous sects matched the prejudices he'd held in his past life.
'Well, Hebei Pang Clan is decent enough. Sacheon Dangga, Beggars' Sect, and a few others are usable too.'
He hadn't dealt with people from every sect, but he could tell just from their auras.
It was as expected, but it still soured his mood.
Being lumped together with those types grated on him.
'Even the half-assed cunning of the Namgung lot would be better. What the hell are they even doing?'
Different from those pitiful sects were the truly pathetic ones: Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect.
Holy sites of Buddhism and Taoism, the twin pillars of Central Plains Murim, vying for supremacy among the Nine Great Sects and One Gang—yet in Jeong Gwang's eyes, they were utter disappointments.
This wasn't about their martial arts, but their fundamental attitude.
'Acting like they're above the worldly realm.'
It wasn't arrogance on his part.
They shunned worldly affairs to an extreme degree.
Even those at the Murim Alliance just occupied seats.
Occasionally spouting vague, pie-in-the-sky principles.
'If that's the case, why come down from the mountain?'
The monk before him now was the same.
His nickname was none other than High Dragon.
No different from the Shaolin monks Jeong Gwang had seen.
'No, from that earlier talk of "hand strength," he's even worse.'
An stubbornly obtuse rock of a man, in the most unconventional way.
So he'd spoken bluntly, but this guy took offense.
"Your words are excessive, young hero."
"Hm. Wall-climbing monkey, then?"
"...Are you picking a fight right now?"
"Huh? Me?"
"That's how it seems."
Instead of defending himself, Jeong Gwang turned to Baek Seung-mu and Jao.
"Junior brother, did I just pick a fight with him?"
"No, you didn't."
"What about you, Jao? Your thoughts?"
"That was the usual True Jade Dragon."
Jeong Gwang shot Gong-u a see? look.
"There you have it. Nope."
"..."
Gong-u eyed Jeong Gwang's group in disbelief, flicking between them.
Then it hit him.
They genuinely believed that.
Probably because Jeong Gwang was just that kind of guy.
'...Rude and self-willed, but the rumors fall short.'
Gong-u decided to cut ties with Jeong Gwang.
As a cultivator, associating with this man would bring no good.
"This little monk apologizes for the rudeness."
"Yeah."
"...Farewell, then."
"You too, monk."
Jeong Gwang halted mid-step.
"Oh, almost forgot."
"...?"
"What about those guys?"
He meant the Blood Union Hall thugs Gong-u had acupoint-sealed.
"Amitabha. We must give them a chance to repent."
Jeong Gwang let out a small sigh and muttered.
"Knew it."
"...?"
Jeong Gwang's body blurred faintly.
At the same instant, the frozen thugs screamed and collapsed.
Each with a limb twisted out of shape.
"...!"
Gong-u's eyes widened.
'So fast!'
He hadn't seen it clearly, but he felt it.
Jeong Gwang had dashed in with lightness skill, snapped their limbs, and returned.
Shock fueled outrage.
'I told him! And he does this!'
His calm face hardened.
It was as good as insulting him—and all of Shaolin.
"True Jade Dragon. Why use such brutality?"
"Brutality? It was light."
"...That's not the point. Are you mocking this monk and Shaolin?"
"How'd it turn into that?"
"Didn't you say they needed a chance to repent? Aren't you a Taoist? Don't you have any intent to reform them?"
Jeong Gwang's eyes widened slightly.
"Reform?"
"Yes."
Jeong Gwang eyed Gong-u like he'd spotted something absurd.
"Them? How?"
"We must try, even if it's hard."
"Easier to skip the effort."
"...It's what must be done, no matter the difficulty. If reform fails, punish them then."
Jeong Gwang shook his head.
"Wow. Feels like talking to a wall."
Chatting confirmed it.
This bald monk needed a reality check.
"Hold on."
Jeong Gwang excused himself from Gong-u and asked the crowd.
"Anyone think those guys will repent? Raise a hand."
No one did.
"Feel pity now that their limbs are busted?"
The pilgrims and Great Unity Sect disciples hadn't seen Jeong Gwang act—only Gong-u's involvement made them skeptical.
'...Pity?'
The crowd stared at the crumpled thugs.
Soon, satisfaction gleamed in their eyes.
'Those vicious unorthodox scum! Serves 'em right!'
'The immortal has delivered heavenly punishment!'
For powerless commoners, government officials and black-path thugs were the greatest fears they could ever encounter.
Seeing one type laid low? Pure gratitude.
The Great Unity disciples felt the same.
'So that's Kunlun's True Jade Dragon—an immortal!'
'Dealt with those vicious bastards so fast we couldn't even see it. Well-deserved reputation!'
Pity? Bullshit.
Just moments ago, they'd nearly lost their homes and lives.
No matter their Buddhist devotion, pity for attempted murderers?
A living Buddha might, but none here were.
Pilgrims and disciples alike gazed gratefully at Jeong Gwang—no hands raised.
"As expected."
Jeong Gwang turned back to Gong-u.
"See?"
"..."
"No one buys it. Seeing their broken limbs just makes folks happy. Can't blame 'em—I'd feel the same."
"..."
Gong-u fell silent for a long beat before speaking.
"...Too harsh. Denying them any chance is excessive."
"Did they give Great Unity a chance? They were gonna slaughter everyone."
"...Still..."
"Think they'll be touched and reformed? Nah, they'll rampage at anyone who saw their humiliation today."
"...Then this monk won't stand by and will punish..."
"Don't promise what you can't keep—you're not sticking around. I'm cleaning up before I leave. Between you and me, who's better for Great Unity County?"
"...But..."
Gong-u trailed off, unable to retort.
Jeong Gwang's pitying gaze stopped him.
Truth be told, Jeong Gwang wanted to smack him.
'Shaolin from my past life wasn't this bad. Was it always like this and I didn't know?'
Any longer, and it'd be more than one smack.
"Monk, you know Beggars' Sect's Vice Leader Yu Jeong-pung?"
"...We've met."
"He says true heroism is self-sacrifice."
"..."
"But you think sacrificing the weak and innocent is heroism."
"...!"
"This isn't Shaolin—don't judge by Shaolin's yardstick."
Gong-u's eyes twitched faintly.
"If you're gonna force an out-of-touch standard on the secular world, stay on the mountain."
Jeong Gwang shook his head.
"Gonna be dawn soon. Let's go."
He walked off with Baek Seung-mu and Jao.
The pilgrims watched their backs, silently pressing palms together.
Great Unity disciples too.
Complex emotions flickered in Gong-u's eyes.
Jeong Gwang's group toured Lingyan Temple and Yungang Grottoes before returning to Apricot Flower Spring Wind Inn.
Having wasted time blessing the commoners, night had fallen.
Jeong Gwang ordered enough dishes and liquor to break the table legs.
"Alright. Tomorrow we head to Wutaishan. Skipping lunch, so eat and drink hearty."
"Yes, senior brother!"
"Got it, True Jade Dragon!"
The lively dinner started strong, but...
Baek Seung-mu and Jao only touched the food, barely sipping liquor.
Even when Jeong Gwang offered.
'They loved the braised pork before. What's up now?'
Why? All because of Jeong Gwang.
Baek Seung-mu and Jao ignored the aromas, screaming inwardly.
'Can't get drunk today! Not abandoned on the table again!'
'One slip and who knows what hell awaits! Jao, stay sharp!'
No rowdiness—just silence.
Jeong Gwang, who hated noise anyway, lost his appetite at the quiet.
"Done? Let's call it."
"Yes, senior brother. Sleep well."
"Yes, True Jade Dragon. See you tomorrow."
As they headed to their rooms, Jeong Gwang grabbed them.
"Where you going?"
"...Huh?"
"...To our rooms...?"
Jeong Gwang wagged a finger.
"Slacking already. Time to train."
"...!"
A storm of training began.
By dawn, Baek Seung-mu and Jao lay fainted on the floor.
Jeong Gwang smiled faintly at them.
Progress showed.
'They're improving steadily.'
Their talents weren't bad.
Still, compared to Nine Great Sects disciples, they lagged.
But Baek Seung-mu's grit and Jao's tenacity made up for it.
'Look at them—they mesh well.'
Baek Seung-mu charging with zeal, Jao striking persistently.
Righteous and unorthodox seemed mismatched, but their personalities and arts fit nicely.
'Hmm. Could be useful. Why not craft something?'
Inventing new martial arts was fine entertainment.
Satisfied with the result, Jeong Gwang nodded.
'Good. Time to test it.'
At dawn, he lounged in the rear garden chair, enjoying the warmed dishes.
Thanks to the two, hotter than yesterday.
"Junior brother, what're you doing? Dig in. Jao, no picking—eat up."
"...Yes, senior brother."
"...Understood, True Jade Dragon."
After breakfast, Jeong Gwang had them draw weapons.
They paled.
"N-no, sparring with you, senior brother?"
"W-we won't make it to Wutaishan. We'd be bedridden for days."
Jeong Gwang reassured them.
"Iron grows stronger when hammered."
"...We're people."
"...Please spare us."
He reassured them again.
"Gonna teach you something good. You'll love it."
They didn't buy it.
It was Jeong Gwang, after all.
His "good" wouldn't match theirs.
"...Senior brother, no need to trouble yourself."
"...I agree. More meat?"
But his next words changed their faces.
"It's a solid joint attack technique."
"...!"
"Master it right, and you could take a Nine Great Sects elder."
Baek Seung-mu and Jao shouted in unison.
"We're in!"
Three days passed.
Each faint, they dreamed of sewing their own mouths shut three days prior.
On the fourth day.
Jeong Gwang's group headed to Wutaishan.
Training continued en route, of course.
Amid their screams.
Wutaishan was strikingly beautiful and bizarre in its terrain.
Fitting a Buddhist sacred mountain, it hosted countless temples, the most famous being Xiantong Temple.
Gazing at the temple above, Jeong Gwang recalled book lore.
'Long ago, the Indian high monks Kashyapa Matanga and Dharmaratna entered the Central Plains, built White Horse Temple in Luoyang, and this was their second.'
Deep history meant much to see.
Anticipation quickened his steps, but...
He sensed a familiar aura from before.
Only difference: this one dwarfed the prior by far.
Curiosity lit Jeong Gwang's eyes.
'The Shaolin monk who came to Xiantong Temple with Gong-u?'
Looking up confirmed it.
An old monk gazed down.
"You're Kunlun's True Jade Dragon?"
His voice boomed like a bell.
"That's me."
"This old monk is called Bul Jon."
"Ah."
Jeong Gwang stared in surprise.
One of the Ten Supremes, Murim's mightiest warriors!
...Not that; the old monk's look clashed wildly with the title.
'Looks like a street performer, no matter how you slice it.'
Muscles bulging through his robes.
Who'd buy this geezer as a monk?
Unable to hold back, Jeong Gwang asked.
"Amitabha. How much meat do you eat daily?"
"...Amitabha. None."
"Come on, no way. No meat, yet built like that?"
"..."
"Anyway, keep up the good work."
Jeong Gwang brushed past Bul Jon.
Baek Seung-mu and Jao followed cautiously.
Bul Jon watched their backs in bewilderment.
'Hah...'
Yet despite his supreme status, no offense taken.
'As Gong-u said. Beyond unconventional—seems half-mad?'
In that case...
Worth probing further.
Bul Jon's figure vanished.