Chapter 128
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Shaolin Dragon's Inquiry
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Seol Hwa-un asked.
"Why were you waiting for us here?"
Hong Gwang responded to his question with an enigmatic smile.
"Amitabha. This doesn't seem like a conversation for the roadside. Shall we move to another place?"
"Very well."
The four of them headed to a nearby teahouse. They went up to the second floor, took their seats, and Hong Gwang spoke.
"Amitabha. My apologies. As a disciple of the Buddha, I had no choice but to come to a teahouse."
"No need to mention it. It's fine."
Truth be told, the sun was already setting in the sky, making it nearly time for dinner.
In other words, it was a somewhat awkward hour for tea.
"……."
The four quietly poured and sipped their tea.
"Hmm, the tea from the secular world tastes a bit too stimulating, doesn't it?"
Seol Hwa-un picked up on Hong Gwang's words.
"Bi Luo Chun has that quality. What kind of tea did you mainly drink at the mountain temple?"
"Haha, just green tea dried by the disciples at headquarters. Buying it would have been troublesome in many ways."
"I see."
Hong Gwang gazed intently at Seol Hwa-un. It was a burdensome stare, but Seol Hwa-un calmly met it.
Hong Gwang couldn't hide his admiration.
"Amitabha. Truly, your eyes brim with pure light! It's no coincidence that you've become enemies with the Demon Lord's faction."
Dong Ho-won chuckled.
"Hong Gwang, did you wait for us just to confirm that?"
Surprisingly, Hong Gwang nodded.
"Something like that, Donor Dong. Quite perceptive of you."
"Huh?"
"Since the topic has come up, I'll be frank. This little monk was acting on a grave order from the temple and has been waiting for you all."
Eom Mu-hwi tilted his head.
'How did they know we were coming... Ah!'
Only then did he recall the numerous beggars he had encountered here and there in Shanxi Province.
'It was the Beggar Clan. They informed him of our route.'
Otherwise, there was no way Hong Gwang would be waiting precisely here.
Hong Gwang's face turned serious, as if he had never spoken idly.
"Donor Seol, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"I've heard that the North Sea Ice Palace has established a branch hall in Shanxi Province."
His eyes grew chillingly cold.
"Is this the North Sea Ice Palace's advance into the Central Plains... or an invasion?"
"……!"
Seol Hwa-un's piercing gaze clashed with Hong Gwang's transparent one.
'...So that's what this is about?'
Neither the Martial Alliance nor the Righteous Heaven Alliance—now the two great leaders of the orthodox sects—had reacted to the North Sea Ice Palace's branch establishment.
Of course, there was the power struggle among the Three Great Powers of the world. But in truth, that very lack of reaction was the greatest invisible achievement from Seol Hwa-un's recent journey to the Central Plains.
He had forged good relations with the Namgung Family, the core of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, as well as the Jegal Family, the Hwangbo Family, and the Tang Family.
Moreover, the Jegal Family Head had even promised, in the name of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, to accommodate the North Sea Ice Palace.
The Martial Alliance was no different.
During the Flower Clan Conference, Seol Hwa-un had bestowed direct and indirect favors upon Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan. In return, the Martial Alliance had secured the Kunlun Sword's promise of support through Kunlun's representative.
Thus, with the deep goodwill of both alliances secured, not everyone viewed the North Sea Ice Palace's movements favorably.
'The appearance of the Shaolin Dragon—does it represent the will of all Shaolin, or...?'
Though the Undying Divine Monk had ties to Seol Hwa-un, he was publicly considered missing. The chances of him influencing Shaolin were low.
Hong Gwang continued.
"Many elders in our temple are watching the North Sea Ice Palace closely. They worry that your advance into the Central Plains might be a pretext for ambitions of invasion."
"So you came here to confirm that, Hong Gwang?"
Hong Gwang nodded.
"Yes."
"It seems you've gathered plenty of information from the Beggar Clan, yet you claim ignorance of our Taegok branch's situation?"
"I have a general grasp of the circumstances. I'm well aware of the Shanxi conflict as well."
"And yet you ask such an absurd question?"
Hong Gwang said with an expressionless face.
"I'll ask again, Donor Seol. Is it an advance... or an invasion?"
Seol Hwa-un's face hardened.
'Stubborn as they come.'
He recalled the rumors about the Shaolin Dragon.
Hong Gwang, who despised evil like a blood enemy and spoke of throwing himself into hell for the sake of the innocent.
Seol Hwa-un's gaze fell on the staff strapped to his back. The iron staff, forged from black steel, gleamed with an unusually dark red hue.
'A staff soaked in the blood of countless demonic outlaws.'
It was the Evil-Breaking Blood Rod, said to make the wicked tremble in fear.
'Perhaps...'
Seol Hwa-un remembered a secret history of Shaolin unknown to most of the martial world.
Before he could speak, Dong Ho-won bristled first.
"No, this is too much! If you've been watching us that closely, you should know full well. Why bother asking?"
"This little monk asked Donor Seol."
"What?"
Eom Mu-hwi, standing beside him, grabbed his shoulder.
"Ho-won, enough. The Young Palace Lord is in the middle of a conversation."
"……!"
Dong Ho-won turned to Eom Mu-hwi on reflex and flinched involuntarily. His expression was frighteningly stern.
'Ugh, this guy's even angrier than me.'
Once Dong Ho-won finally shut his mouth, Seol Hwa-un slowly opened his.
"If I tell you, will you believe me?"
"……!"
"Even if I say no, do you think those who sent you will take my word at face value?"
"That's..."
"Ten thousand words mean nothing without action to back them up. One can easily discern intent from deeds, no?"
"……."
"But if you insist on a direct answer, I'll give it. Our palace intends to take root in the Central Plains. Ideally, in harmony with the people here."
Seol Hwa-un's eyes shone clearly.
"Does that answer your question?"
Having listened silently, Hong Gwang rose from his seat.
"Amitabha. Thank you for answering this little monk's rude question."
A faint smile appeared on Hong Gwang's lips.
"I fully agree with Donor Seol's words. That said... may I make one more request?"
"A request?"
"I wish to accompany Donor Seol on this trip to the Righteous Heaven Alliance."
"……!"
"I want to observe you up close. Will you allow it?"
* * *
In the end, Seol Hwa-un ended up heading to the Righteous Heaven Alliance with Hong Gwang.
He had wanted to refuse at first due to his unease, but the monk trailed persistently behind, leaving him no choice.
'I was ready to coldly reject him if he were hostile...'
"Hahaha!"
Dong Ho-won's laughter boomed unusually loud.
"Hong Gwang, you're quite the joker."
"I'm serious. Honestly, Donor Eom and Donor Seol are too pretty. A real man should be rugged and bold like Donor Dong, don't you think?"
"Hahaha, come to think of it, Hong Gwang has that manly aura about him too."
"Hohoho, what good is a handsome monk? Nowhere to use it."
They burst into laughter continuously, chatting as if they were the best of friends.
"……."
Seol Hwa-un shook his head at the sight.
'Simple fellow.'
Whether intentional or not, Dong Ho-won was already completely won over by Hong Gwang.
The stern-faced interrogator who had grilled Seol Hwa-un was nowhere to be seen.
'To think such a man is called the Demon-Exterminating Monk.'
It was another moniker for the Shaolin Dragon, Hong Gwang.
'Perhaps he himself isn't thrilled about seeking me out.'
Thus, the now four-person group proceeded smoothly and arrived in Hangseong after four days.
Hangseong was a city they had passed through on the previous Central Plains journey. Beyond it lay Anhui Province, home of the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
After settling dinner at the inn, they decided to retire to their respective rooms.
"Sleep well, Young Palace Lord."
"Have a peaceful night."
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly at Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi's farewells.
"You too, rest well."
The two headed up to their rooms, but Hong Gwang remained on the first floor.
"……?"
He gave Seol Hwa-un a faint smile.
"Amitabha. Tomorrow we finally enter Anhui Province."
"Indeed. While we're on the topic, let me ask: how long do you plan to follow us, Hong Gwang?"
"Hahaha, already tired of this little monk?"
"Just curious."
Hong Gwang replied nonchalantly.
"Watching for a few days hasn't revealed your full character, Donor Seol. I plan to stay by your side until you return to your palace's branch."
"……."
"More importantly, I can no longer hold back, Donor Seol."
"What do you mean?"
"Could you spare some time for this little monk?"
"That's no trouble."
Hong Gwang smiled faintly.
"Grant me the chance to witness the North Heaven Dragon's martial arts."
"So that's what it was, after all."
Seol Hwa-un couldn't help but chuckle.
He had felt Hong Gwang's eager gazes several times during the journey.
'Well, I've heard the Shaolin Dragon is a martial arts fanatic himself.'
In truth, no one among the Dragon-Phoenix generation lacked passion for martial arts.
'Otherwise, they wouldn't have reached this level.'
In Seol Hwa-un's eyes, Hong Gwang's realm was impressive.
'He wouldn't fall short compared to Eom Mu-hwi or Dong Ho-won.'
He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Heavenly Dragon Namgung Hyo or Sword Dragon Song Guk-il, the pinnacles among the later generation.
'I heard he barely made it to the top eight in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.'
As expected of someone who cultivated Shaolin arts, he seemed the late-blooming type.
Orthodox martial arts tended toward that, but Shaolin's were especially so.
"Are you challenging me to a spar right now?"
"Yes. There's an open area I spotted on the way. If we go there..."
Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
"No."
"Huh?"
"What would I gain from sparring with you, Hong Gwang?"
"Ugh!"
It was a blow to Hong Gwang's pride.
In truth, he already knew. Seol Hwa-un's aura was beyond anything he could handle.
In a bout between novice and master, the novice gains much, but the master gains little.
'But to say it so bluntly...'
Still, Hong Gwang desperately wanted the spar.
'I want to experience the absolute prowess that felled the Blood Sound Corps Leader and the Mad Blood Sword Lord!'
He wanted to shout it but held back. Antagonizing Seol Hwa-un would ruin even the chance.
'He must be quite anxious.'
Guessing his thoughts, Seol Hwa-un relented.
"Hmm, if Hong Gwang is so eager for a spar with me, I suppose I can't refuse."
Hong Gwang's face brightened slightly.
"P-Please!"
"But on one condition."
"What is it? Surely not telling me not to follow you?"
"No. Answer my question honestly, Hong Gwang."
"Question?"
"Yes. Do we have a deal?"
Unsure what Seol Hwa-un would ask, Hong Gwang just blinked.
'Unexpected. Donor Seol has something he's curious about from me.'
He didn't think much of it. The spar meant that much to him.
Without hesitation, Hong Gwang nodded.
"We have a deal!"
"Good. I'll ask after the spar."
A meaningful smile curled on Seol Hwa-un's lips.