Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: The Burning Shaolin Temple (1)
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The Eighteen Arhat Formation had been broken.
Mu Ja Bae's Arhat Formation held strong, but Gwang Ja Bae's crumbled, and even the last one standing fell to the onslaught of the Poison Blood Demon charging in from outside.
With the Arhat Formation that anchored the center of the battlefield collapsing, and the key figures meant to lead the coalition warriors tied down by Iron Blood Palace elites, chaos reached its peak. Above all, Gong Jin's defeat at the hands of Yin Jeok So had been a fatal blow.
"Retreat!"
Wudang Sect Elder Hyun Jin clutched his wound, blood dripping steadily from it, and shouted. Having lost his left arm in the recent clash with Ma Uk, he hadn't even properly staunched the bleeding as he desperately tried to restore order amid the battlefield's turmoil.
"Retreat?"
"We can't retreat."
Seorae Hall Leader Mu Sang and Jaun Hall Leader Mu Hyun rushed over, protesting sharply.
"If we don't retreat, what? Are you saying we fight to the death—all of us?"
Hyun Jin turned toward the terrified coalition warriors and bellowed.
The coalition forces that had once overwhelmed Iron Blood Palace had dwindled to a third of their number in no time, and even that remnant was shrinking rapidly.
"More than anything, there's no way to stop that monster."
Hyun Jin pointed at the Poison Blood Demon slaughtering the coalition warriors.
With the Eighteen Arhat Formation broken, no one remained who could hold back the Poison Blood Demon.
"I'm not saying we just run blindly. We fall back first, regroup, and reorganize our lines. At this rate, we'll be annihilated."
"Ah!"
Mu Sang let out a despairing groan upon seeing his Seorae Hall disciples clumsily attempting to form an Arhat Formation only to be swept away in an instant.
Seorae Hall disciples scattering in all directions, pursued relentlessly by the Poison Blood Demon.
"You bastard!"
Mu Sang roared and launched himself forward.
"Junior brother!"
Mu Hyun, startled, tried to grab him but was too late.
Resolved to throw himself into the infernal flames for his disciples, Mu Sang unleashed the Ruyi Staff Technique and charged at the Poison Blood Demon.
His momentum was impressive.
Channeling his Prajna Heart Technique to its limit, he unleashed the Great Power Diamond Palm, slamming into the Poison Blood Demon's sturdy frame.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amid powerful impact sounds, the Poison Blood Demon staggered and fell under the barrage of Great Power Diamond Palms.
He had felled the Poison Blood Demon and saved his disciple, but Mu Sang's expression wasn't a happy one.
His hands, which had struck the Poison Blood Demon like hammering an impenetrable wall of brass, throbbed with numbness. And as if poisoned, both hands began discoloring rapidly.
"Amitabha!"
Mu Sang uttered a despairing Buddhist invocation as the Poison Blood Demon, struck down by the Great Power Diamond Palm, rose casually as if nothing had happened.
"We won, Palace Lord!"
Jong Yo, who had anxiously watched the fight from behind, saw the coalition retreating and came running with a face full of ecstasy.
"Of course we did. Did you think I'd lose?"
Yin Jeok So asked incredulously.
"No, but... the weight of the Shaolin name carries a lot."
"They were strong, sure. But what's important is that I'm stronger."
Yin Jeok So nodded, thinking of the Shaolin elites who had resisted to the end, unlike the coalition crumbling in moments. Especially Gong Jin, who had actually wounded his near-indestructible body like an adamantine Buddha, and the Arhat Formation that had blocked the Poison Blood Demon—they had lived up to their fame with remarkable skill.
"Did you check on the fight over there?"
Yin Jeok So jerked his chin toward the opposite mountain.
"North Sea Ice Palace seems to have the upper hand, but it looks like it'll take a bit more time to wrap up."
"Still? I had high hopes after they razed northern Hebei and Shanxi, but disappointing."
A sneer curled on Yin Jeok So's lips. Seeing it, Jong Yo started to say something but clamped his mouth shut. But Yin Jeok So's sharp eyes caught it.
"What? Spit it out."
"N-no, nothing."
As Jong Yo hemmed and hawed, Yin Jeok So's eyes narrowed.
"You know what I hate most. Don't hide it—speak."
Startled by the warning, Jong Yo bowed his head.
"S-sorry."
"No need for apologies. What were you going to say?"
Pressed repeatedly, Jong Yo could no longer hold back.
"North Sea Ice Palace is struggling, but there's a reason."
"What reason?"
"Shaolin's core elites moved not here, but to block North Sea Ice Palace."
"......"
Yin Jeok So's gaze turned icy. Sensing his anger, Jong Yo dared not lift his head.
Reviewing the battle so far, Yin Jeok So nodded slowly.
"Makes sense. There weren't many elites comparable to the old fogeys from Wudang or Huashan. For a place like Shaolin."
Yin Jeok So's eyes turned to the Shaolin disciples felled by the Poison Blood Demon.
"Even those blocking the Poison Blood Demon weren't the elites."
"They were all relatively young overall."
"Third-rate scrubs, then."
Yin Jeok So summed it up neatly and gave a wry smile.
"Shaolin's Abbot must have gone there too."
"Yes. But the real powerhouse was someone else."
"Real powerhouse?"
Yin Jeok So showed interest.
"The North Sea's top expert, the Ice Palace Lord, lost to an old Shaolin monk. If not for a sudden ambush attack on the monk, he'd have lost his life."
"Shaolin lives up to the name. But an ambush?"
"Yes. Probably to save their Palace Lord when he was in danger."
"Kekeke! I get it, but his pride must be crushed. Anyway, should I be happy about this or pissed?"
"What do you mean?"
Jong Yo asked cautiously.
"Reducing damage by facing scrubs is good, but it feels like they underestimated us."
"I'm sure they didn't mean to underestimate."
Jong Yo shook his head firmly.
"They sent scrubs?"
"Instead, Wudang and Huashan—who stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Shaolin—were here. Zhongnan too. Especially Huashan and Zhongnan hold deep grudges against your palace."
"They did come at us viciously."
"Yes. That's why we redirected our main force to North Sea Ice Palace. Without the Poison Blood Demon's overwhelming performance, your palace would have struggled greatly too. In the end, the difference between your palace and North Sea Ice Palace boils down to having absolute weapons like the Poison Blood Demon."
"Doesn't sit right with me, but I get it."
Jong Yo's explanation rang true, and Yin Jeok So's expression softened considerably from before.
"Anyway, the fight here's over. While North Sea Ice Palace flails, shall we move in and fully take Shaolin Temple?"
"We need to secure the Sutra Repository first."
As Jong Yo spoke, Jwa Geom, who had crept up slyly, furrowed his brow.
"Sutra Repository?"
"Yes."
"What for? Buddhist scriptures?"
Jwa Geom asked with a face implying nonsense, and before Jong Yo could respond, Yin Jeok So tsked.
"Tsk tsk. Must've lost your mind after that brief trip before King Yama."
Jwa Geom flushed, recalling how he'd nearly died to Wudang Sword Sage Hyun So after charging ahead boldly.
"It was risky, but not Yama-level. What's this about?"
"Shaolin's Sutra Repository, of all places. You think it's just sutras? It's Shaolin!"
"Ah!"
Finally grasping their meaning, Jwa Geom let out an embarrassed exclamation.
"Resistance will be much fiercer once we enter Shaolin proper. But ignore that—secure the Sutra Repository. Make sure North Sea Ice Palace doesn't snatch it."
"Leave it to me. Ugh!"
Jwa Geom suddenly cried out in pain.
He had prodded the injury to his chest from Hyun So.
"Ha! Can I really trust you?"
A sigh escaped Yin Jeok So involuntarily.
About five li north of Shaolin Temple.
A massive boulder twitched, revealing a cave large enough for a man to pass through.
Someone peeked out from the cave.
Cautiously scanning for any unexpected threats, it was Reception Hall Head Mu Yo. After carefully checking the surroundings, he concealed the cave entrance with surrounding vines and vanished.
Mu Yo reappeared after about half an incense stick's time.
Hiding behind the vines that masked the entrance, he listened intently for signs of life, then quietly parted them.
Once fully out, dozens of warriors followed him one by one. It was the Crouching Dragon Squad from the Zhuge Clan, rushing to aid Shaolin.
The Crouching Dragon Squad spread out on Zhuge Ho's hand signals, securing the perimeter.
Once they had full control of the area, Zhuge Ho nodded to Mu Yo.
"Hurry."
Mu Yo said quietly toward the cave. No sooner had he spoken than dozens more monks and young novice monks emerged.
The last to exit was none other than Pharmacy Hall Head Gong Cho, who had been tending battlefield wounded, along with the Four Heavenly Kings who had clashed bloodily with North Sea Ice Palace's White Wolf.
On the Four Heavenly Kings' backs were Heavenly King Hall Head Gong Hu, gravely wounded from defeat against Buk Ri Deung, and the warrior slated to be the next Dharma Hall Head, carried piggyback.
"Iron Blood Palace scum have entered the temple grounds, senior brother."
"We must hurry."
Mu Yeon and Mu Yeong, covered head to toe in blood, spoke in unison.
"Before sealing the secret passage, we confirmed flames engulfing the Sutra Repository."
Mu Jun's words brought somber expressions to all.
They thought of Gong Gong, who had stubbornly insisted on staying behind to share the Sutra Repository's fate.
"What are you all doing? You going to waste everyone's efforts?"
Gong Cho bellowed.
"Sorry, martial uncle. L-let's hurry."
Mu Yo soothed the anxious group, but his eyes met the warrior on Mu Un's back.
"Things were too hectic earlier to ask properly. Why is our youngest junior brother on your back? Did he suffer a grave injury like Gong Hu martial uncle?"
At the warrior's question, Gong Cho snorted.
"Injury, my ass! Right after martial uncle passed, he went berserk. Even as he lay dying, martial uncle urged him not to yield to the monster in his body."
Gong Cho sighed, recalling Mu In exploding with killing intent and losing all reason after Won Jin's death. Gong Su and Won Il had barely subdued him; otherwise, the blade meant to protect Shaolin might have broken before fully forged.
Understanding, Mu Yo released Mu In's sealed blood points.
"Hey! Releasing his blood points now..."
Gong Cho tried to stop him in alarm, but Mu Yo had already undone the seals binding Mu In. Mu In sprang up like a released spring, glaring resentfully at Gong Cho and the Four Heavenly Kings.
"What a glare."
Gong Cho tsked with displeasure.
"Want to go back?"
Mu Yo asked.
"May I?"
Mu In countered. He seemed ready to bolt at a word.
Mu Yo said nothing, so Mu In bowed his head.
"I'll take that as permission."
As Mu In turned to leave, Mu Yo spoke in a deeply sunken voice.
"If you wish to abandon Shaolin's future, then go."
"What..."
"You know the Dharma Hall Head is Shaolin's sword of protection. With Won Jin grand martial uncle passed, you are now that sword."
"I know. That's why I'll fulfill that role now."
"With what ability?"
"Pardon?"
"What can an unsharpened blade do? Rampage mindlessly again, losing your reason?"
Mu Yo's gaze and tone were as sharp as a well-honed sword.
"Regrettably, there's nothing you can do right now. Same for me."
Mu Yo slammed his held Emerald Jade Buddha Staff into the ground harshly.
Only then did Mu In notice it was the Abbot's sacred relic, and his body froze.
"The Abbot gave this unworthy me this staff. I didn't want it. I wanted to fight to protect my master, martial uncles, brothers, and Shaolin. But the moment I took the Emerald Jade Buddha Staff, that freedom vanished. Look at them."
Mu Yo pointed to the young monks and novices who had exited the cave ahead.
"They are Shaolin now. The people I must lead and you must protect."
"......"
"This is an order as Abbot. Mu In, as Dharma Hall Head, protect them—protect Shaolin."
Seeing the tears streaming from Mu Yo's eyes, Mu In couldn't lift his head. He merely bit his lips until they bled, over and over.