Chapter 77
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: A Visit to Shaolin Temple
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“Why are you grinning like that? It’s creepy.”
Cho Ak-ryang, who had been lost in reminiscence, was pulled back to reality by Beom Gye-wi’s words.
“I was just thinking about how we’ve connected with a more incredible kid than we thought.”
Beom Gye-wi grinned.
“Tell me about it. No point in wasting our breath.”
“Let’s hide ourselves now.”
As renowned as Shaolin Temple was, the stream of pilgrims and worshippers was endless, coming day after day.
Because of this, they encountered quite a few people on their way.
If anyone happened to recognize them, it would only create unnecessary trouble.
The two figures melted into the shadows cast by the forest.
* * *
“The rumors were true.”
At Dan Ak-seon’s words, Han Seol-hwa gave him a quizzical look.
Dan Ak-seon had been deep in thought the entire time they were climbing the stairs leading to Shaolin’s main gate.
But as they reached the top, he suddenly uttered those cryptic words.
Dan Ak-seon grinned and pointed at the stairs.
“The number of stairs leading to Shaolin Temple. There are exactly one hundred and eight.”
The staircase, built to symbolize the 108 earthly desires, was one of Shaolin’s famous landmarks.
Having only heard about it in stories, seeing the stairs for himself made him truly feel that he had arrived at Shaolin Temple.
At his reaction, Han Seol-hwa smiled faintly.
No matter how smart or gifted he was, a child was still a child.
Just then, a receiving monk who was greeting worshippers in the distance approached them.
He was a young monk with a freshly shaven head and clear eyes, and the lack of ordination marks on his scalp suggested he was a novice who had not yet been formally registered.
The novice respectfully performed a one-handed bow.
This was a unique Shaolin tradition to honor the spirit of Huike, who had cut off his own arm to be accepted as a disciple by Bodhidharma.
The reason for wearing red robes was the same.
It was to remember the blood Huike shed that day.
After paying his respects with the bow, the novice quickly spoke.
“May the Buddha’s protection be with you. You have made a difficult journey from afar. Please write your names and the purpose of your visit in the guestbook over there. Once you receive permission from the head of the guest hall, you may enter the temple grounds. You may only stay until mid-afternoon, so please keep this in mind to avoid any inconvenience.”
The way he recited the words in one smooth breath showed it was not the first time he had done this.
“We are here to see Master Hyegong.”
At Dan Ak-seon’s words, a look of confusion appeared in the novice’s eyes.
“Hyegong? There are no masters of the ‘Hye’ generation in our temple.”
Dan Ak-seon checked the book he was holding.
“But it clearly says Zen Master Hyegong here. The abbot of this temple…”
This time, it was the novice who was flustered.
“What? The great abbot? Our great abbot is of the ‘Beop’ generation and uses the dharma name ‘Yeon’.”
Dan Ak-seon thought for a moment before nodding.
He had a guess as to what was going on.
If the abbot had changed before this young novice joined the temple, it was understandable that he wouldn’t know the former abbot.
“In that case, could you please tell the great abbot? The son of the Divine Physician requests an audience.”
“Our great abbot cannot see just anyone. Besides, he has instructed that he will not be receiving any outside guests as he is preparing for an important matter.”
Han Seol-hwa, who had been watching the situation, stepped forward.
“Just deliver the message. Otherwise, you might get in big trouble later.”
The novice flinched at Han Seol-hwa’s cold gaze and voice.
“In that case, I will inform the elders. Please wait a moment.”
The novice monk scurried into Shaolin Temple.
Watching his retreating back, Dan Ak-seon smiled gently.
“That little monk is quite cute.”
Han Seol-hwa let out an involuntary laugh.
There was something amusing about a child calling someone even younger than him cute.
“Don’t trust bald people.”
Han Seol-hwa added another remark.
“Including Beom Gye-wi.”
Dan Ak-seon glanced around and whispered softly.
“If you say things like that so carelessly, you’ll make enemies with a lot of people.”
“I don’t care. What does it matter?”
“Besides, Uncle Beom’s case is different. He didn’t shave his head by choice.”
“That makes it worse. How foul must his temper be for all his hair to run away?”
Perhaps because it had been a while since she was alone with Dan Ak-seon, Han Seol-hwa was unusually talkative.
After about half an hour, a figure walked out from the main gate.
It was a warrior monk with a sturdy build and a rock-solid presence. In his hand, he held a Zen staff that looked heavy even at a glance.
“I have delivered the message to the abbot. He will give his answer soon, so please wait a moment.”
“A Luohan.”
Han Seol-hwa said nonchalantly.
“No need to be scared. All Luohans have that same expression.”
It was the same fifty years ago. And a hundred years ago.
Their faces, as if mimicking the Four Heavenly Kings guarding the Heavenly King Gate, had not changed.
Though he must have heard her words, the Luohan before them showed no change in expression, standing his ground with the same stern gaze and imposing aura as before.
A moment later, another person walked out of the main gate.
He was an old monk, his frail body carrying the weight of years, much like the faded ordination marks on his forehead. His steps seemed precarious, yet despite his gentle expression, his eyes held a sharp, brilliant light.
The Luohan who had spoken first greeted the old monk with utmost reverence.
For he was none other than Abbot Beopyeon, the highest elder of the current generation of Shaolin and the one who decided all its affairs.
*Thump, thump.*
Beopyeon walked, leaning on a Zen staff made of twisted spindle wood. The warrior monks following silently behind him were clearly the elite Luohans of Shaolin.
“Are you the abbot?”
At Dan Ak-seon’s question, Beopyeon’s eyes curved into a gentle smile.
His gaze had been on Dan Ak-seon from the very beginning. The boy, with his handsome features and bright, kind eyes, looked extraordinary at first glance.
But there was something familiar about him.
As Beopyeon studied Dan Ak-seon’s face, he let out a soft exclamation.
“I see it now. Those eyes, that face… he is undoubtedly of his bloodline.”
Nodding deeply, Beopyeon stepped toward Dan Ak-seon.
At this, Han Seol-hwa raised a hand, stopping Beopyeon’s advance.
“Speak from there.”
The Luohans’ eyebrows twitched.
The sudden shift in the Luohans’ aura startled Dan Ak-seon.
The energy of each individual was no match for Han Seol-hwa’s, but when combined, their oppressive presence was truly formidable.
“In my eagerness, I have been discourteous.”
Beopyeon let out a lighthearted laugh and looked at Han Seol-hwa.
“For such an esteemed elder of the martial world to visit our humble and remote temple is truly an honor.”
“You know me?”
“I may have rarely ventured beyond these gates and my experience in the martial world may be limited, but my eyes are not so dim as to fail to recognize a living legend passed down through generations.”
Beopyeon smiled quietly.
“Are you not the Ice Jade Fairy, Elder Han?”
At those words, the Luohans lined up behind Beopyeon felt their minds go blank. They had never dreamed they would be facing a being known as a living piece of martial history.
And who could blame them? Who would look at her appearance and think she was a master over a hundred years old?
Beopyeon turned his head toward Dan Ak-seon and offered a gentle smile.
“May I greet the guest who came to see me?”
Only then did Han Seol-hwa take a step to the side.
Her purpose was to give a warning, and she felt this was sufficient.
“To see the Divine Physician’s flesh and blood like this makes me feel the transience of time anew.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. My father told me a lot about you.”
“Did he? What did he say about me?”
“The Great and Righteous Dharma. He said you were someone who would not walk a path that is not right. He also said you would guide the lineage of Zen to its proper place.”
“Haha. To think he rated me so highly is quite a surprise. He was always so stingy with his praise for people.”
Dan Ak-seon gave an awkward smile.
If the abbot heard his mother’s assessment of Shaolin, he would never use the word “stingy” again.
Even so, he could never bring himself to repeat her words about them being “crazy bastards who believe they get stronger just by shaving their heads” in front of the Abbot of Shaolin.
“So, is the Divine Physician well?”
“He passed away.”
“What?”
Beopyeon’s eyes wavered.
Uncharacteristically for a long-practicing old monk, Beopyeon let out a heavy sigh.
“What was the rush, my friend? Why did you leave so hastily?”
Hearing him murmur those words with a clouded face, Dan Ak-seon felt an unexpected lump in his throat. Here was someone else who genuinely mourned his father’s death.
After a moment lost in thought, Beopyeon asked Dan Ak-seon.
“You must have gone through a lot. So, you said you wanted to see me?”
At Beopyeon’s question, Dan Ak-seon struggled to compose his turbulent emotions.
“I came to see a certain monk.”
“What is his dharma name?”
“Master Hyegong.”
A look of puzzlement crossed Beopyeon’s face, which soon turned into a troubled expression.
“My master-uncle entered seclusion a long time ago. It has been long since he has permitted any meetings, not just with outsiders but with us as well.”
“Ah…!”
Seeing Dan Ak-seon’s disappointed sigh, Beopyeon’s old face clouded over as well.
“Let’s do this.”
Beopyeon proposed.
“I will go and ask him myself.”
Dan Ak-seon’s face brightened.
“Thank you, Abbot.”
“It is a request from the son of the Divine Physician himself; I must certainly make the effort. Think of all the grace he bestowed upon us.”
Beopyeon turned to Han Seol-hwa and spoke.
“Please, come inside. This humble monk will guide you.”
A flicker of bewilderment appeared in the Luohans’ eyes.
But the abbot had already given his permission. They silently stepped far to either side, clearing a path.
Leaving the Luohans behind, Dan Ak-seon and Han Seol-hwa entered the Shaolin Temple grounds.
Dan Ak-seon’s eyes sparkled with exceptional brightness as he surveyed the temple.
He was simply fascinated by the legendary scenery of Shaolin.
As befitted a sacred site of the martial world with over a thousand years of history, everything from the buildings to the plaques and pillars exuded a profound sense of age.
The grand halls emanated power, and the trees, rooted in the earth and stretching toward the sky, possessed a dignified grace.
But what was most impressive among all was something else.
It was the people.
He saw monks who had begun the morning ritual of cleaning the temple grounds in preparation for morning prayers.
Yet, nowhere did he see any sign of weariness.
Regardless of age, they all silently did their best at their given tasks with extremely pious and humble attitudes.
Their uniformly upright gazes were the very embodiment of Shaolin’s unique atmosphere.
It was true of the Luohans he had just met, but even the scholarly monks who did not practice martial arts exuded the aura of true practitioners.
However, from time to time, some monks would look at Dan Ak-seon and Han Seol-hwa and be startled.
Most of them were young monks.
At first, Dan Ak-seon thought they were simply unaccustomed to worshippers. Most visitors would only stay near the guest hall and had no reason to enter this central area.
Above all, for an outsider to be on the grounds so early in the morning must have been a strange sight.
However, this was Dan Ak-seon’s misunderstanding.
There was another reason for their surprise.