Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Shaolin Temple (2)
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"Do you know them, Divine Martial Envoy?"
Eom Ak cautiously asked, scanning his subordinates with sharp eyes.
Eom Ak was one of the top five experts among the chiliarchs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jo Ryong's most cherished subordinate.
"Not exactly..."
Jo Ryong trailed off and subtly gathered his energy toward Sima Geon and Cheol Woo, who were just passing through the mountain gate.
It was an aura that ordinary people, or even most skilled practitioners, wouldn't sense at all.
But Sima Geon and Cheol Woo, as the targets, were different.
Cheol Woo's brow furrowed slightly at the overt, chilling killing intent.
[What the hell is that bastard, boss? He's pulling some funny prank.]
[Don't mind it. Just keep going.]
[You think he's onto our identities?]
[As if he knows who we are. He's just probing because we look suspicious.]
[Yeah, probably. Still pisses me off.]
Sima Geon swallowed the words 'It's because you stand out too much' that rose to the tip of his tongue.
"Hm, maybe not?"
Jo Ryong tilted his head when there was no reaction to the killing intent he'd deliberately sent.
The people around might not notice, but it was intentional killing intent from the start.
It was so potent that a martial artist not sensing it would be the strange thing, yet they showed no response.
'Two possibilities. Either they don't know martial arts, or they've caught my intent.'
Jo Ryong pondered for a moment before quietly speaking.
"Um Chiliarch."
"Yes."
"Those guys."
Jo Ryong pointed toward Sima Geon and Cheol Woo, who were vanishing into the crowd.
"Better put someone on them."
Eom Ak's eyes flashed coldly for an instant.
"They're bothering you?"
"Not bothering so much as... a bad feeling."
"Understood."
Eom Ak knew better than anyone how accurate Jo Ryong's instincts were, so he accepted without question.
"Oh, right. When does Lady Ilhwang-suk arrive?"
"Not until late afternoon tomorrow, I think."
Yang Hu-gu, standing to Jo Ryong's left, answered.
"Your brother is escorting her? It's been a while."
A faint smile played on Jo Ryong's lips.
"No. Word is the Escort Commander can't come along."
Jo Ryong, who had smiled recalling his comrade from the northern battlefield where they'd shared hardships, now looked disappointed.
"Something come up?"
"Not sure. Just that his schedule changed."
"Then who's escorting her?"
Yang Hu-gu hesitated at Jo Ryong's question, glancing around before answering.
"The Commander himself is coming."
Jo Ryong's lips twisted at the news that the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was coming personally.
"That bastard?"
"Divine Martial Envoy!"
Eom Ak and Yang Hu-gu cried out in alarm simultaneously, then quickly checked their surroundings in case anyone had overheard.
Jo Ryong snorted at their reaction and asked jokingly.
"Should I just cut his head off while I'm at it?"
Eom Ak and Yang Hu-gu's faces paled instantly.
"Haha! You should see your faces. It's a joke. Relax, everyone."
Jo Ryong laughed it off, but their stiff expressions didn't ease. They knew all too well it wasn't just a joke.
The first to welcome Sima Geon and Cheol Woo after passing the mountain gate was the Heavenly Kings Hall.
Sima Geon looked at the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings inside and chuckled.
"The Four Heavenly Kings look the same everywhere. Even resembles you a bit."
"Where? I'm better looking."
As if he'd heard similar teasing many times before, Cheol Woo mimicked the statue's pose and replied shamelessly.
Standing before the incense burner in front of the Heavenly Kings Hall, Sima Geon picked up an incense stick.
When Sima Geon offered one to him, Cheol Woo shook his head disinterestedly.
"Nah. Normal folks do that stuff. What's the point for a guy like me with a one-way ticket to hell? Buddha'd probably turn away."
"Heh heh, fair enough."
"Funny, boss. You're no saint yourself."
"Who said I was? But this isn't for me."
"Then?"
"For the kids. Gotta pray they're fully cured."
Sima Geon turned and lit the incense devoutly. Cheol Woo, who had snuck up quietly, lit his too.
As Sima Geon turned back, Cheol Woo grinned sheepishly.
"For the kids too. And figured we should get a head start asking forgiveness for what we're about to do here."
The two shared a laugh and moved on.
Behind the Heavenly Kings Hall was a training ground, leading straight to the Great Hero Hall.
Ginkgo and pine trees lined the training ground, each spanning over ten paces wide, easily centuries old.
"Impressive."
Cheol Woo threw his head back and exclaimed.
"They've grown alongside Shaolin's history. Check this."
Sima Geon pointed to holes gouged in a ginkgo trunk. Not just that one—every tree around bore marks left by Shaolin warrior monks.
"Tsk tsk, poor trees. What did they ever do? I can see the suffering."
Cheol Woo stroked the polished, bark-stripped trunk and laughed.
"Over there."
Sima Geon nodded with his eyes, drawing Cheol Woo's gaze behind them.
"Ah! That must be the famous Luohan Hall."
Among countless martial sects, Shaolin reigned supreme. And within Shaolin, none was more renowned than Luohan Hall. Especially the Luohan Formation of the 108 Arhats, an invincible absolute formation undefeated to this day.
Cheol Woo nodded as he closely observed the young warrior monks coming and going from Luohan Hall.
"They do look skilled."
"Overall level is high."
"Doesn't matter anyway. They wouldn't keep it in a place like that, right boss?"
"No way."
Sima Geon shook his head and slowly walked on.
They looked like any ordinary pilgrims sightseeing, but their hearts were far from it. Their sole goal: the Great Reversion Pill.
There are many ways to obtain a desired item.
The easiest is paying its worth in money. Or trading an equivalent item, or appealing to sentiment.
The problem was valuing the Great Reversion Pill was impossible.
Crafting one required unimaginable cost and time.
In Shaolin's long history, it had been completed only three times—the last over two hundred years ago.
Doubtful if any remained, and even if they did, Shaolin wouldn't part with it. Not a matter of money.
Thus, from the moment Sima Geon left Sohyung, his method to obtain it was set.
"Let's look around slowly first. Start with the Great Hero Hall."
Sima Geon headed toward the hall before them.
"Small for a Great Hero Hall. Demon Buddha Temple's was three times bigger."
Cheol Woo's comment drew a headshake from Sima Geon.
"This is normal size actually. And those Demon Buddha bastards weren't normal—completely insane."
"True. Monks worshiping Buddha, craving human flesh."
Cheol Woo shuddered at the mere thought, revolted.
The Great Hero Hall enshrining Shakyamuni Buddha teemed with more worshippers than anywhere else.
While waiting in line, Sima Geon spotted another line and politely asked the old man ahead.
"May I ask what that line is for?"
"Ah, that's for those wanting to join the tile renovation service."
"Tile renovation? What's that?"
Cheol Woo poked his head between them to ask.
The old man startled at Cheol Woo's fierce face and stepped back involuntarily.
"Haha! Don't be scared. His looks are rough, but he's harmless."
Sima Geon yanked Cheol Woo back by the ear. The old man forced a smile and continued.
"You know the Samantabhadra Hall dedication ceremony underway."
"Yes. That's why so many visit Shaolin."
Sima Geon didn't show his ignorance of details.
"Right. But the tiles on the new Samantabhadra Hall are quite worn, they say. So they're replacing them too."
"Replacing tiles, hence tile service. And that's the line to join."
"Exactly. They engrave participants' names on each tile for the roof. Hence the fuss. Can't blame them. Sentient beings crave merit that way. Deep faith, perhaps."
"I see."
Sima Geon nodded solemnly.
"Tch, pathetic. Merit from a name on a tile? Ridiculous. Right, boss?"
As Cheol Woo scoffed disdainfully, Sima Geon had already bowed to the old man and joined the 'ridiculous' line.
"..."
Meeting the old man's awkward gaze, Cheol Woo smacked his lips and followed Sima Geon.
The line was long—over fifty waiting, at least.
"Man, this can't be real. Never imagined you'd do this, boss."
Cheol Woo kept chuckling incredulously at himself and Sima Geon queuing for tile service.
"Just putting the kids' names up. Not sure if it works, but it's Buddha's temple. Haven't done much for them, so this much."
Sima Geon gestured Cheol Woo's head down and whispered.
"Also, like you said, getting advance forgiveness for what we're about to do."
"Heh heh! That's key."
Cheol Woo burst out laughing as if to say 'knew it'.
"One more reason, of course."
"What's that?"
"You'll see."
Sima Geon smiled and shut his mouth.
Nearly half a shichen later, it was their turn.
The young monk handling registrations asked for names, ages, birth dates, and hours. Sima Geon racked his brain to answer.
"And the donors' names and ages, please."
Sima Geon lightly shook his head at the monk's request.
"We're good. You?"
"Pass. My name would curse it."
The monk's expression turned strange at Cheol Woo's grinning reply, like he'd seen a madman. Youth or lack of training showed plainly on his face.
"Understood. Just the three then. For registration..."
The monk, about to state the minimum fee for tile service, suddenly clamped his mouth shut.
His eyes trembled toward the slightly open pouch on the table.
"D-Donor. This..."
The monk looked back and forth between Sima Geon and the pouch, unsure how to react.
Inside were two gold ingots.
Each looked worth at least ten taels of gold.
The fee for one tile was less than half a tael of silver—an unimaginable sum.
"Is there a fixed amount?"
"N-No, but this is far too much. This novice doesn't know what to do."
"Then accept it."
"But..."
"It's fine. Please take it."
Sima Geon spoke calmly after placing the two ingots, but the monk hesitated repeatedly despite checking them. The many waiting noticed, and murmurs spread.
"Gwangyeon, what's the commotion?"
Mu Ho approached with stern eyes, having stepped away for guest quarters business.
"W-Welcome back, Martial Uncle."
Gwangyeon, flustered by the gold, brightened.
"What happened?"
Mu Ho asked Gwangyeon but eyed Sima Geon and Cheol Woo—especially Cheol Woo's massive build and fierce face—with guarded caution.
"These two donors registered for tile service. But..."
"But what? Some problem?"
Mu Ho, inwardly worried about a fight, relaxed and asked.
"Th-The amount is too large."
"Too large? What do you..."
As Mu Ho frowned in confusion, Gwangyeon slyly opened the pouch.
"This is what the donors gave."
"A-Amitabha!"
The Buddha's name burst from Mu Ho's lips involuntarily.