Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: An Uninvited Guest
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On the road to Shaolin Temple.
At the very back of the long procession of pilgrims climbing the mountain was Beom Gye-wi.
A heavy load was slung over his shoulder.
He had volunteered to be a porter to blend in naturally with the pilgrims.
With the pilgrims' luggage added to Beom Gye-wi's already extraordinary frame, he looked like a small mountain on the move.
Glancing at the excited, chattering pilgrims, Beom Gye-wi spotted Cho Ak-ryang far ahead.
"Brother Cho, do we really have to go this far?"
At Beom Gye-wi's telepathic message, Cho Ak-ryang turned his head.
"Thanks to this, we've blended in with them, haven't we?"
Just then, something caught Cho Ak-ryang's eye.
Sticking out from the items Beom Gye-wi was carrying was a long iron staff.
His signature weapon, the Great Thistle Staff.
"Why don't you just openly announce that Beom Gye-wi is here?"
No matter how clueless the Shaolin monks were about the ways of the world, they couldn't possibly fail to recognize Beom Gye-wi's identity after seeing that physique and the Great Thistle Staff.
"Ah, this?"
Beom Gye-wi pulled out the Great Thistle Staff and threw it toward the forest.
At a glance, it seemed like a careless toss, but the Great Thistle Staff soared through the air and landed precisely on a large, old tree.
"I'll just come back for it later."
After dealing with the potential source of suspicion, the two men blended back into the group of pilgrims and arrived at the front of Shaolin Temple.
As if it had been arranged beforehand, a guest monk came out to greet them, and under his guidance, the two calmly passed through the gates of Shaolin.
***
*Clack.*
The door opened, and Dan Ak-seon, having finished the treatment, appeared.
He seemed to have exhausted a great deal of stamina during the all-night treatment; his complexion was pale, and his body was drenched in sweat.
Han Seol-hwa quickly ran to Dan Ak-seon as he staggered forward.
Her eyes, as she supported him, were filled with pity.
Seeing this, Zen Master Hyegong showed a slightly surprised expression.
"To think the world's Ice Jade Fairy is capable of making such an expression."
Only then did Beopyeon recall what Zen Master Hyegong had said.
Hadn't he said she never knew how to treat people warmly? Yet her face as she looked at Dan Ak-seon was so gentle and warm it was hard to believe she was the same cold Ice Jade Fairy.
Dan Ak-seon smiled brightly at Han Seol-hwa, who lifted her sleeve to wipe the sweat from his face.
"I succeeded."
"I believed you would."
At her firm reply, which held not a trace of doubt, Dan Ak-seon smiled once more.
"Um…"
Just then, the head monk of the Medicine King Hall spoke cautiously.
"How is the condition of the Master of the Discipline Hall...?"
"You can go in and see. He has regained consciousness."
With a surprised look, the head monk led the physician monks of the Medicine King Hall into the room.
"Amitabha!"
Facing Beopryo, who was sitting in meditation with his eyes faintly open, the monks of the Medicine King Hall couldn't help but chant the Buddha's name.
For nearly a year, they had tried all sorts of methods, but he had shown no improvement. For him to open his eyes like this in just one day!
It would have been impossible without the Buddha's protection.
The name of the Medicine King Hall originated from the compassionate deeds of the Medicine Buddha, who was said to cure the illnesses of all living beings and eliminate calamities. To them, Dan Ak-seon felt like an incarnation of the Medicine Buddha sent by the Buddha himself.
"He will still be confused. Please help him slowly grasp the current situation and rest as much as possible until his body recovers."
"We will do so. Thank you, Benefactor Dan."
Truly impressed by Dan Ak-seon, Beopseong, the head monk of the Medicine King Hall, bowed his head with utmost respect.
Beopyeon also approached Dan Ak-seon, his face bright as he clasped his hands.
"Thank you, Benefactor Dan. Thanks to you, I've been able to shake off my inner demon."
"I'm still a long way from catching up to my parents."
After showing his respect with humble words, Dan Ak-seon turned his head and looked at one person.
"Hello. Are you by any chance Zen Master Hyegong?"
Hyegong nodded with a benevolent smile.
"Thank you for bringing my pitiful disciple, who was trying to selfishly devote himself to the Buddha, back to my side."
Dan Ak-seon was momentarily flustered by the extremely polite honorifics. But there was something he had to do first.
Because as soon as the tension eased, sleepiness washed over him.
It was happening right now.
He was forcing his heavy eyelids open as they kept trying to close.
"I came because I have something to tell you. I actually have a favor to ask..."
At that moment, Han Seol-hwa cut in, interrupting Dan Ak-seon.
"I think you should rest first."
"What? But..."
Han Seol-hwa turned her head and cast her gaze toward Hyegong.
Hyegong nodded in response.
"Please do so. This time, I will be the one to wait."
Only then, as if reassured, did Dan Ak-seon smile with a tired face. And then his head slumped forward.
Han Seol-hwa caught Dan Ak-seon as he lost consciousness and collapsed.
"You worked hard."
After brushing back Dan Ak-seon's sweat-dampened hair, Han Seol-hwa turned to look at Beopyeon. Her gaze, which had held a gentle warmth, was now as icy as if it had never been otherwise.
"I will escort you."
Guided by Abbot Beopyeon, Han Seol-hwa headed to the quarters prepared for the two of them.
***
"Huh? H-huh?"
At the sight of Beom Gye-wi making strange noises in obvious confusion, Cho Ak-ryang gave him a quizzical look.
"Shh! What are you doing all of a sudden?"
At Cho Ak-ryang's telepathic message, Beom Gye-wi raised his hand and pointed.
Following Beom Gye-wi's hand, Cho Ak-ryang turned his head and froze on the spot.
In the distance, among a group of moving monks, he could see Han Seol-hwa.
"Those damn monks, they finally...!"
Spotting Dan Ak-seon limp in Han Seol-hwa's arms, Beom Gye-wi growled with a fierce expression.
Just as Beom Gye-wi was about to leap forward, his eyes met Han Seol-hwa's.
"Why are you here?"
In response to Han Seol-hwa's message, Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi sent their own.
"What's going on? Why is Physician Dan like that?"
"Who is it? Who did that to our Physician Dan?"
Seeing the two of them looking like they were about to go on a rampage, Han Seol-hwa furrowed her brow.
"He just fell asleep."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Only after receiving confirmation several times did the two finally feel relieved.
Suddenly feeling Han Seol-hwa's dagger-like gaze, Cho Ak-ryang laughed awkwardly.
"Is the job going well?"
"As long as you idiots don't interfere."
Then she coldly withdrew her gaze.
"So get lost."
"That...?"
Beom Gye-wi flared up but quickly suppressed his rising anger. For Dan Ak-seon's sake, it wouldn't do to cause a disturbance.
"Now that we've confirmed Physician Dan is safe, let's go back."
At Cho Ak-ryang's words, Beom Gye-wi reluctantly nodded.
However, in the martial world, there were places that were easy to enter but not so easy to leave.
One of those few places was Shaolin.
***
Thirty minutes ago.
In the forest surrounding Shaolin Temple, a fierce territorial dispute was in full swing.
The laws of nature were not so lenient as to meekly permit an outsider's trespass.
*Squeak!*
A squirrel, having been soundly defeated by the local tough, fled across a branch.
Then, at one point, it slipped.
It had mistakenly stepped on a smooth iron staff instead of rough tree bark.
The squirrel, dangling precariously from the end of the staff to keep from falling, began to struggle to pull itself back up.
The iron staff swayed slightly.
The more the squirrel struggled, the more the staff's up-and-down oscillations began to grow.
Then, in an instant.
The iron staff, slick with melted snow, slipped and crashed to the ground.
*THUD!*
A heavy impact sound shook the forest.
At almost the same time, a young novice monk who was passing nearby appeared.
"Huh? What's this?"
From its appearance, it looked like a flail, but the sharp spikes on its head didn't seem suitable for threshing grain.
Had he known it was the signature weapon of Mang Mountain's Thistle, designed to crack skulls and tear flesh, he would have fled without a second glance. But the young novice, with no experience in the martial world, had no way of recognizing it.
"I should find its owner."
Unable to move it alone due to its weight, the novice called over a fellow disciple who was nearby. Together, they pooled their strength and began to move the Great Thistle Staff, grunting with effort.
And so, the two novices disappeared into Shaolin Temple with the Great Thistle Staff.
***
The pilgrims burned incense, offered flowers, and bowed to the Buddha statues.
It was a prayer service filled with the earnest wish that their harsh lives would improve by relying on the Buddha's mercy.
Just then, a young monk of the Gong generation came running in a hurry.
Without even thinking to wipe the sweat pouring down his pale face, the young monk went straight to the Ryo generation monk who was guiding the pilgrims. Then he whispered something.
'What's going on?'
Seeing the monk suddenly startle at whatever he was told, Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi sensed that something was wrong.
And sure enough.
"Go to the Arhat Hall at once and report this!"
Ryoun, the head of the Guest Hall, after giving the order to the young monk, turned to the pilgrims and spoke.
"An unexpected incident has occurred, so please postpone your prayers. This humble monk will guide you benefactors to a safe place."
"What is it, Master?"
To someone's question, Ryoun replied with a grave face.
"It seems a dangerous, uninvited guest has visited our temple."
"Who is it that has you looking so grim?"
Ryoun heaved a heavy sigh.
"It appears to be a ruffian from the martial world known as Mang Mountain's Thistle."
At those words, gasps erupted from all over the crowd of pilgrims.
"Do not worry. This is Shaolin, the sacred ground of the Central Plains' martial world. We will take responsibility for your safety."
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi exchanged glances.
The situation was taking an unusual turn.
"How did they know we were here?"
At Beom Gye-wi's telepathic message, Cho Ak-ryang frowned.
"What did you do?"
"Me? I've been with you the whole time, Brother Cho."
Neither of them had done anything unusual that would have been noticed.
In any case, given the circumstances, the two silently followed the guidance of the head of the Guest Hall. They thus arrived at a separate annex within Shaolin Temple.
"If you notice anything strange or see anyone resembling Beom Gye-wi, please inform us immediately."
At the Guest Hall head's words, one of the pilgrims shouted.
"But we've only heard rumors, we don't know what he looks like."
Ryoun nodded and described Beom Gye-wi's appearance.
"He is seven feet tall, with fierce, tiger-like eyes. His build is reminiscent of an iron tower, so he should be easy to recogni..."
Ryoun trailed off, his gaze fixed on one person.
A man who stood out conspicuously among the pilgrims.
His appearance matched the description of Beom Gye-wi exactly.
And just as expected.
The gazes of the pilgrims also focused on Beom Gye-wi all at once.
"Brother Cho, what do I do? I think they suspect me."
"Well, someone with your looks isn't exactly common."
Beom Gye-wi's eyes flashed coldly.
"Can't be helped."
"What are you going to do?"
"Since it's come to this, I might as well have some real fun before I go."
"This is Shaolin Temple."
"Are the Shaolin monks' heads made of bronze and iron? If I smash them, they'll die just the same, won't they?"
"Be careful. Physician Dan is here."
At the mention of Dan Ak-seon, Beom Gye-wi could no longer insist.
Just then, a guest monk following behind Ryoun tilted his head.
"But that man doesn't have a bristly beard. And he's not bald."
At those words, Ryoun nodded.
Only then did the relieved pilgrims calm their startled hearts.
Perhaps because they were naive Buddhists, they were quick to dismiss their suspicions. However, a few of the Shaolin monks who had entered for protection did not take their eyes off Beom Gye-wi.
It was strange that a man of a similar build had entered at such a time.
"Brother Cho. I think I'm about to be caught."
After much deliberation, Cho Ak-ryang made a decision.
"I'll find a way. Don't move from here."
"Huh? What are you going to do?"
Cho Ak-ryang didn't answer and stepped forward in front of the monks.
"Master, where is the latrine here?"
Guided by a guest monk, Cho Ak-ryang disappeared.
Left alone, Beom Gye-wi felt deeply uncomfortable with the gazes fixed upon him.
'Endure it. For Physician Dan.'
Beom Gye-wi could only manage an awkward smile.