Chapter 91
Chapter 91
The Divine Monk (2)
Once the two had calmed down somewhat, Se-woon immediately made his request.
He asked them not to tell anyone that he had woken up for the rest of the day.
"Hmm, understood. That would certainly be more comfortable for the Young Lord."
"Right, Se-woon, you should focus on recuperating as much as possible."
The two nodded in understanding.
It was obvious that if word got out about Se-woon's recovery, all sorts of people would come swarming in.
There might be those like Alliance Leader Yoo Jin-hak or Chief Strategist Jegal Hoon, who would visit out of genuine concern for Se-woon.
But the majority would just be flies drawn to shit.
Without a doubt, most would be trash trying to latch onto Se-woon's newfound fame from the recent Blood Turmoil.
This was no time to waste on such utterly useless matters.
Even expressing his gratitude to Ha-young and Do Ye-cheon, to whom he owed his life, had to be postponed.
Se-woon rose from the sickbed without hesitation.
Though it had been four days since he last moved, his body felt refreshed and perfectly fine—likely thanks to the Divine Water Sutra.
Ha-rin and Yeo-seon were taken aback by his sudden movement.
They pleaded with him to rest, but—
"I'm truly fine now. Still, shouldn't I at least express my gratitude to the Divine Monk for saving my life?"
Strangely, the two looked puzzled at his words.
"...What do you mean?"
"Young Lord, aside from the physician who treated you, no one else has entered this room."
Their words were startling.
They claimed that in the past four days, while they had been guarding outside, no one had come in or out.
The sincerity in their eyes left no room for doubt, and Se-woon found himself momentarily bewildered instead.
Had it not been for the lingering energy of the Divine Water Sutra in his body, he might have dismissed it as a fever dream.
'But if it was that Divine Monk...'
Surely, he must have wielded some unfathomable, mystical power beyond Se-woon's understanding.
With that, Se-woon organized his thoughts.
The monk known as the Divine Monk, Great Master Gongseong, was revered and respected not just by the martial world but by common folk as well.
Not because he had once been the former abbot of Shaolin.
The old monk was far closer to the essence of Shaolin—a true monk—than a martial artist, having devoted his entire life solely to the salvation of all living beings.
But twenty years ago, when Great Master Gongseong passed the position of abbot to his disciple, Great Master Gakgong, and completely withdrew from the martial world and secular affairs...
The orthodox martial artists had lamented one thing in particular.
It was said that after decades of ascetic practice, the old monk had attained profound enlightenment and gained divine powers beyond mortal reach.
'Prophecy, wasn't it? I thought it was just a baseless rumor...'
But as mentioned earlier, the old monk had stubbornly left Shaolin despite his disciples' pleas, vowing to sever all ties with the secular world.
Since then, he had lived alone for decades in the Jamyun Pavilion, prepared for him by Yoo Jin-hak.
'...In my past life, he never emerged even during the Blood Cult's uprising.'
In his past life, the old monk had never stepped out, even as chaos engulfed the martial world.
Yet last night, he had suddenly sought Se-woon out.
Why?
Why him?
Just as Se-woon's mind was tangled in these thoughts—
Creak.
He finally arrived at the place where all his questions might be answered.
'...This is it.'
Before him stood a solitary, tranquil pavilion.
Compared to the grand and resplendent halls of the Martial Alliance, it was as small and unassuming as a thatched cottage.
Even the plaque beneath the eaves bearing the name Jamyun Pavilion had faded and blurred with age.
Thud.
The moment Se-woon stepped into the courtyard—
"Amitabha."
'...!'
A solemn incantation reverberated in Se-woon's ears.
It was definitely not the Divine Monk's voice—multiple voices overlapped in unison.
Yet there was no sign of anyone around.
"State your affiliation, name, and purpose for visiting, benefactor."
"If you do not answer immediately...!"
BOOM!
WHOOSH!
Eight powerful energies erupted around Se-woon, overwhelming in their intensity.
It was an awe-inspiring Buddhist pressure, as towering as Mount Tai.
"As the saying goes—'None who come are good, none who are good come'!"
"You shall not escape unscathed, benefactor!"
In that instant, Se-woon instinctively recognized their identities.
'The Eight Great Guardians!'
The elite protectors of Shaolin, standing even above the Eighteen Arhats—the eight warrior monks who guarded only the abbot.
Naturally, the gap between their strength and Se-woon's was incomparable.
But if he had been invited, why should he not stand tall?
WHOOSH!
Instead, Se-woon calmly withstood their pressure and spoke with dignity.
"I am Se-woon of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"[...!!]"
As soon as Se-woon revealed his identity, silence fell over the space.
But only for a moment.
Sssss...
The air shimmered like a heat haze.
'...A concealment formation was in place.'
From within it, a single warrior monk materialized.
"...Follow me."
Though Se-woon had yet to state his purpose, the monk guided him inside.
Had the Divine Monk already informed them in advance?
But as he followed, Se-woon noticed something strange.
'Why at me?'
The monk's gaze was icy and cold.
And within that gaze, Se-woon clearly sensed hostility directed at him.
"...Wait here, benefactor."
The monk left Se-woon outside the room where Great Master Gongseong resided and departed.
And in that moment—
"Master! If we do not open the gates of slaughter, how can we quell the chaos in the martial world and eradicate evil?!"
"...!!"
A furious shout came from inside the room.
There was only one person in the martial world who could call the Divine Monk, Great Master Gongseong, Master.
"Gakgong... you fool, Gakgong..."
It was none other than the current abbot of Shaolin—the Heavenly Fist Tathagata, Great Master Gakgong.
The Divine Monk continued in a sorrowful voice, addressing his disciple, who was pouring out his rage.
"Have you now resolved to break even the precept against false speech?"
"[...!!]"
"Not a single word you've spoken holds even a grain of truth. You seek only revenge for that child, Il-yun."
Il-yun.
The former Nine Dragons and Single Phoenix disciple whom Se-woon had failed to save—and Great Master Gakgong's sole disciple.
"By what authority do you judge evil, to the point of slaughtering and exterminating them?"
"They are evil!!"
Great Master Gakgong's voice, choked with fury, burst forth.
Rage.
Sorrow.
Resentment.
His voice, like a scream, was laden with a tumult of suppressed emotions.
"How can you say such things, Master?! Did you not watch that child grow up from the moment he was abandoned at our temple's—"
"...Amitabha."
WHOOSH!
'...What?!'
The Divine Monk's incantation felt like a miraculous Sound Art or the legendary Wisdom Light Heart's Whisper resonating in his mind.
Just hearing it calmed his heart and spirit.
And it wasn't just Se-woon.
The overwhelming pressure exuded by Great Master Gakgong—one of the Ten Great Masters of the World—had also subsided into tranquility.
"Leave now."
"...My resolve will not change."
"I know."
After a brief silence following the Divine Monk's words—
Creeeak.
The door before Se-woon swung open.
Great Master Gakgong was a towering figure, his massive frame reminiscent of a general leading an army.
"You—!"
"Se-woon of the Tang Clan pays his respects to the Abbot."
The two were equally startled upon seeing each other.
Se-woon's surprise wasn't due to the immense internal energy the man radiated or his status as Shaolin's abbot.
'...Is this really the same Great Master Gakgong from my past life?'
Because the man before him was nothing like the Great Master Gakgong he remembered.
When the Blood Cult had risen in his past life, Shaolin had not hidden away.
The abbot, Great Master Gakgong, and his disciple Il-yun had joined the Anti-Blood Alliance, fighting alongside Sword Empress Do Ha-young on the front lines.
Yet even then, Great Master Gakgong had never ruthlessly slaughtered his enemies—he had sought to save even the most wicked, believing in their potential for redemption.
But the monk before him now...
Had the unmistakable eyes of an avenger.
'He's become a completely different person from my past life.'
Just then, Great Master Gakgong spoke to Se-woon in a chilling voice.
"So, it was because of you."
"...?"
...Because of me?
As Se-woon stood bewildered by the cryptic words—
"The evil of the unorthodox sects took my disciple, and now you come to take my Master."
"—!!"
An even more shocking statement followed.
What on earth did that mean?
That he was taking the Divine Monk?
It made no sense, but sensing the unmistakable hostility, Se-woon secretly gathered his energy.
If the other suddenly attacked, he would be ready to defend himself.
But fortunately, that was the end of it.
After staring at Se-woon for a long moment, Great Master Gakgong forced out his final words.
"I shall watch until the end... to see if you are worth it."
"..."
Se-woon offered no reply, silently meeting his gaze.
With that, Great Master Gakgong walked past him and disappeared.
Even though the other had shown hostility without reason, Se-woon let it pass for one simple fact.
'...He must be in unimaginable pain and sorrow.'
Because Se-woon knew the grief and loss of losing family to unexpected enemies.
For some reason, Great Master Gakgong overlapped with his own past self.
"Enter."
"...!"
At that moment, Great Master Gongseong's voice echoed out.
Se-woon took a deep breath and slowly stepped inside.
There, he saw the old monk sitting cross-legged with his back turned.
He was the polar opposite of the towering Great Master Gakgong.
His small, frail frame was reminiscent of a roadside stone Buddha.
'...This is impossible!'
Yet the unfathomably deep and mystical energy radiating from him made him seem like a giant.
Se-woon immediately bowed with proper etiquette.
"Martial arts novice Tang Se-woon greets the former Abbot of Shaolin."
"Former Abbot? I'm just a useless old monk now."
Hearing him speak clearly now, there was no doubt—the one who had visited his room last night was undoubtedly the figure before him.
"Well, then I shall address you as Great Master."
"Heh heh, as you wish."
With a chuckle, Great Master Gongseong turned around.
'...What?!'
The moment Se-woon laid eyes on the Divine Monk for the first time, his pupils trembled violently, as if struck by an earthquake.