Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: A Mad Dash and a White Lie
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Neung Un-bi ran with only one thing in sight.
The back of Hyang-i, who ran ahead, guiding him.
He didn't need to worry about anything else. Jeong Hwa would be holding down the fort at Shaolin.
Thinking of Jeong Hwa, Neung Un-bi grinned.
* * *
“What? Wall-gazing?”
“Uh? Uh-huh…”
Jeong Hwa answered Gong Mun’s question evasively.
“No, why wall-gazing all of a sudden?”
“…How should I know?”
“You don’t know? While you’re standing guard right in front of the cave Benefactor Neung entered for wall-gazing?”
“Ah, well… you could say it’s for Benefactor Neung’s safety.”
“His safety?”
“Well… ah, right. You saw it yourself, didn’t you? How the children treat him just because he’s from the Demonic Cult.”
“That’s true…”
“Who knows what other reasons they’ll find to bother Benefactor Neung. So, I’m just trying to prevent any unnecessary trouble. By keeping others from approaching this place.”
Jeong Hwa’s words were understandable.
But he couldn’t shake off the absurdity of it all.
A disciple of the Demonic Cult wall-gazing at Shaolin?
What kind of utter nonsense was that?
And only for three days, just until the Nine Dragons Tournament begins?
“Hah…”
Gong Mun was simply flabbergasted, but what could he do? His master had said so.
Besides, hadn’t Jeong Hwa done his fair share of nonsensical things until now?
“I understand. In that case, I will stand guard, so please go back and rest, Master.”
“Hmm? You will?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Jeong Hwa, who had been staring at Gong Mun, shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“How can I ask you to do something I was entrusted with? I must do my own work.”
“…”
At those words, Gong Mun’s eyebrows twitched.
*The man who… has never done his own laundry once?*
After dumping all sorts of tedious and trivial tasks on him all this time…
“Are you going to bring him the grain pills yourself?”
“Uh…”
“And the drinking water?”
“Mm.”
“Then, are you going to leave your post each time?”
“Ah!”
“Honestly, you don’t even know how to tend to someone who is wall-gazing… Just go down. I’ll do it.”
“No! This is my job! You can just bring the grain pills and water to me!”
“…”
Slightly startled by the sudden outburst, Gong Mun looked at Jeong Hwa with a puzzled expression.
But how could he tell the truth?
That there was no one inside that cave.
And that’s why I absolutely must stand guard…
Having needlessly promised to grant the favor, Jeong Hwa now found himself on the verge of breaking the precept against lying.
Amitabha, Amitabha…
“Haa, I understand. Who can argue with your stubbornness, Master?”
Wasn’t this the same Jeong Hwa who hated troublesome things so much that he’d even rejected the position of Abbot?
“By the way, where did that maid named Hyang-i go?”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t see her leave.”
“Well… she went in with him. To wall-gaze.”
“Whaat?”
At Jeong Hwa’s words, Gong Mun’s eyes widened.
“They went in together? A young man and woman? Into that small cave?”
“…”
“Master! What are you thinking? In the sacred halls of Buddhism… that… that… that…”
As Gong Mun stammered, unable to finish his sentence, Jeong Hwa smacked him on the head.
“You rascal!”
“Ouch!”
“I can see exactly what you’re thinking. This brat is possessed by a demon of lust. So what if they’re in the cave together? You think something’s going to happen?”
“This disciple was just… wondering if…”
“Silence, you fool! The Buddha is always in your heart!”
“…”
“Don’t you know that such thoughts alone violate the precept against lust! And you call yourself a monk who has received the ten precepts, tsk tsk.”
Scolded by Jeong Hwa, Gong Mun pouted and grumbled.
*And you…*
*You’re always getting scolded by the Sect Leader for drinking and eating meat.*
And he was the disciple of that same man. They were cut from the same cloth.
“You should be the one to go down. I’ll stay here and guard.”
“Yes…”
“Ah, when you bring breakfast tomorrow morning, bring something soft, too.”
“Pardon?”
“My backside is getting sore from sitting on the bare ground.”
“…”
Gong Mun stared at Jeong Hwa with a blank expression.
*Um, aren’t you Shaolin’s greatest master?*
*Everyone says you might achieve an indestructible body since you passed all seventy-two arts of Shaolin… and your butt is sore?*
“Aren’t you leaving? Want me to give you a good thrashing? It’s been a while.”
“…I-I’m going! Going!”
As Jeong Hwa finally raised his fist, the blankly staring Gong Mun shot off like an arrow.
“Haa… my one and only disciple is getting old and doesn’t listen to a damn thing anymore.”
Shaking his head, Jeong Hwa glanced at the cave and let out a deep sigh.
-Three days will be enough. Please ensure no one knows of my whereabouts.
-I ask this of you. I will not cause you any trouble, Great Monk.
Neung Un-bi had said so before leaving Shaolin with his maid.
“Amitabha… just what is going on…”
The eyes of Neung Un-bi that had looked at him were filled with incomprehensible emotions.
Longing, passion, impatience…
“Hoo, surely nothing bad will happen, right?”
But Jeong Hwa, unable to feel at ease, had to chant Buddhist scriptures all night long.
* * *
“Are you tired?”
“Huh?”
“Should we slow down a bit?”
“…”
Neung Un-bi shook his head at Hyang-i’s words, who had slowed down to come alongside him.
“No, let’s pick up the pace.”
“Are you sure? You keep falling behind. If you’re tired, we can rest.”
“Rest!”
As if to prove a point, Neung Un-bi unleashed his Three Nothings Footwork and overtook Hyang-i.
“Heh, such pride… Hey! Wait up!”
Hyang-i chuckled and increased her speed, chasing after Neung Un-bi.
But the gap, once opened, did not close easily. Neung Un-bi was pushing his Three Nothings Footwork to its absolute limit.
Running like this would consume a great deal of internal energy, but what did it matter?
Tonight, he might get to meet ‘him’.
The one who had been his entire life.
Neung Un-bi had never thought of himself without him.
Thanks to him, Jeong Hwa was probably having a hard time.
Wang Cheon and the Lunar Eclipse Unit, who were staying in Dengfeng County, deceived by his trick, would probably be disappointed.
But he didn’t care.
Meeting him was the most important thing. Right now, he would think only of himself, not anyone else.
Faster!
Even if it meant pouring out all his internal energy!
Otherwise, it felt like this wildly beating heart of his would burst.
*Fwoosh!*
“…That guy!”
As Neung Un-bi amplified his running speed even further and shot forward like an arrow, Hyang-i grimaced.
When on earth did he get so fast?
Wasn’t it now difficult even for her to keep up?
But… does he even know the way?
“Aish, really… I didn’t want to waste my energy.”
Her grumbling was brief. Soon, Hyang-i’s eyes turned white, and her foot stomped hard on the ground.
*Ruuuumble…*
Unlike before, when her steps were light, this single step pressed down heavily on the earth—Thunderous Movement.
*KRA-BOOM!*
The moment her foot left the ground, the earth exploded, and Hyang-i’s figure shot forward like a bolt of lightning striking the earth.
The two ran, leapfrogging each other as if in a race, and arrived on the outskirts of Zhengzhou, where the Orthodox Murim Alliance was located, before the night had fully deepened.
“Hah, hah…”
A forest on the outskirts, away from the city center.
Panting heavily, Hyang-i pointed a straight finger somewhere.
“Over there.”
“Hek, hek…”
Neung Un-bi’s gaze followed the tip of Hyang-i’s finger, and he saw a brightly lit manor.
It was the manor of Hwang Byeong-chan, an elder of the Orthodox Murim Alliance.
“There aren’t many guards. Looked like about thirty of them. Maybe one or two decent ones?”
“Right.”
Infiltrating shouldn’t be too difficult then.
“But, it looks like Hwang Byeong-chan hasn’t returned from work yet.”
“Hmm?”
“That building over there was Hwang Byeong-chan’s bedchamber. Seeing as there are no guards in front…”
“Good. Let’s catch our breath and circulate our energy first.”
“…”
Hyang-i chuckled at Neung Un-bi’s words.
“Alright, you go first. I’ll stand watch.”
“Okay.”
Neung Un-bi didn’t refuse and immediately sat down, closing his eyes.
His internal energy was nearly depleted, and the muscles in his legs ached as if they were tearing.
Watching Neung Un-bi begin to circulate his energy, Hyang-i chuckled and leaned against a nearby tree.
It was, after all, an incredible speed.
Hadn’t he arrived at almost the same speed as her, who had been going all out?
His footwork, which she had seen several times, worked by explosively amplifying his internal energy. It produced incredible speed for a short moment, so much so that even she couldn’t catch up, but the energy consumption was too great.
In other words, it wasn’t a footwork technique suitable for long-distance travel.
Still, it was truly amazing. When had the boy, who had seemed like a snot-nosed kid in her eyes, grown so much?
“After coming to the Central Plains…”
It seemed to have started around then.
When Neung Un-bi began to grow explosively.
“Hmm, was it roughly after I gave him advice?”
But it was still surprising. While a master’s advice can always lead to great enlightenment, growth is ultimately up to the one who receives it.
The method to transcend hearing, and sparring for training.
That was all she had done for him.
After that, he found a way on his own to transcend touch, and then even achieved Sword Force.
“At this rate… he’ll achieve Sword Ki soon.”
It was truly a monstrous growth rate.
From Sword Intent to Sword Force, and then to realizing Sword Ki in just a little over a year—did that even make sense?
She had heard his talent was exceptional since childhood, but…
Moreover, watching from the side, she realized Neung Un-bi’s true talent was something else.
A thirst for martial arts, and the tenacity to see things through to the end, no matter how difficult.
Above all, he knew how to win people’s hearts.
She didn’t know if he acted that way consciously, but the Snow Mountain Manor at the cult’s headquarters was like that, as were the branches in the Central Plains.
Was that all?
Not only the people connected to the branches, but also Jin San, Cheong Jin, Dokgo Seong, the Alliance Leader, and even Shaolin.
Those who would turn their heads at the mere mention of the Demonic Cult showed him favor.
“He’s a really interesting guy. Then again, that’s probably why the Cult Leader chose him as his successor.”
Hyang-i found herself letting out a wry smile.
But for some reason, her eyes soon turned melancholic.
*Can we… ever mix?*
The Demonic Cult and… those they have been at odds with like enemies for so long.
Then she wouldn’t have to wield a dagger anymore.
She could adorn herself like other women, browse accessories sold in the market, and laugh with genuine, bright joy…
She didn’t know yet.
But, for some reason, she felt a sense of anticipation that the person named Neung Un-bi could make it happen.
“So… you must become the Cult Leader. No, I’ll make sure you do. Of course… an order might come down later to kill you after you’ve become the Cult Leader.”
Just as Hyang-i, lost in her own thoughts, smiled bitterly.
“What?”
Having finished circulating his energy, Neung Un-bi gathered his internal power and stood up.
“Didn’t you just say something?”
“No, I didn’t say anything.”
“Really? Did I mishear?”
“But you’re already done? Did you recover all your energy?”
“About half? Well, we’re just infiltrating, so that should be fine. Anyway, now it’s your turn. I’ll stand watch.”
“Huh? Uh-huh…”
Hyang-i plopped down and closed her eyes.
Neung Un-bi looked down at her as she began to circulate her energy, a quizzical look on his face.
*What’s with her?*
*Why is she so flustered?*
*Don’t tell me… she was bad-mouthing me?*