Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Shaolin's Fallen Elite
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He gripped the drawn sword tightly, letting the action speak for his answer.
Akbi grinned wickedly.
"What... not an unexpected reaction. But it's not the right path either. Valuing pride over your own life? Everyone like that dies young. Red Cloud. And you'll tread the same road."
"...I'll hear the rest later."
"The rest of the story. Too bad, but whether you hear it isn't your call, Red Cloud. It's mine."
Akbi rose to his feet.
"Buljon. Tonight, you'll become a fallen precept-breaker just like your old master. You'll shoulder the truth behind every disappearance. And the Murim Alliance inspector dies here-as payment for seeing through the fallen monk's secrets."
".......!"
"Even I can't turn all of Shaolin into living puppets. Handling Grandmaster Cheonil alone is strain enough. But turning people into living puppets isn't limited to the Ghost Spirit Soul-Subduing Great Law. To enlist the Eighteen Arhats and Four Vajra Guardians, the Sutra Repository Chief and Arhat Hall Chief as allies..."
Akbi laughed.
"Money sufficed."
---Snap.
Akbi flicked his fingers. The howling wind ceased.
The surroundings fell silent. I sensed the frenzied air currents within it vanish.
The formation dissolved in an instant.
At the same moment...
Numerous presences swarmed in.
"Behold. Shaolin transformed."
---Thud.
Monks landed atop the towering ridge.
Shaolin's symbol, famed for its harshest training regimen.
The Eighteen Arhats.
Four absolute masters dubbed the Sutra Repository Chief's other blade.
The Four Vajra Guardians.
With them arrayed behind him, Akbi laughed openly, shoulders shaking without a hint of concealment.
"A touch early, but time to honor our deal. Sutra Repository Chief. Arhat Hall Chief."
"...Namu Amitabha."
"Senior Brother. Pity it came to this."
Buljon's eyes quivered at the sight of the last two emerging atop the crag.
"Sutra Repository Chief... Arhat Hall Chief... surely not... blackmail...?"
"Blackmail? Come now, monk. We're equal partners. Each got what we sought. I received puppets; they, a rival removed."
Sutra Repository Chief.
The stern-faced man spoke.
"Senior Brother, how often must I say it? Shaolin can't huddle in this cramped corner-we must reach outward. Yet you refused."
"A monk cultivates Buddha's heart to save souls. How dare he chase power and swell coffers!"
"To redeem all, someone must lead. We, honed by Buddha's heart, deserve the pinnacle of the Nine Great Sects. Teachings flow top-down. We claim the heights to save the masses, no? You denied plain truth, Senior Brother."
"Fool! While we bully outward, are the people's blood and tears Buddha's will too?!"
"Necessary losses. Results will make them see."
Arhat Hall Chief.
The sharp-featured man spoke.
"You've never suited evolving Shaolin, Senior Brother-like old-era chains. World changes; Shaolin adapts or dies. Some concessions inevitable to keep pace."
"Flowery drivel! It's greed eclipsing Buddha's heart, nothing more!"
"You grasp nothing, Senior Brother. The able must hoard more to dispense below, yes? Spreading Buddha's heart demands this rite-one we can't skip."
"For petty greed... forsaking Buddha's law... corrupting Shaolin...!"
"Corruption? Tsk tsk. We sustain Shaolin now. How did you treat us, Senior Brother? Nattering to quit ventures, revert to yesteryear? Scarcely abbot-worthy, peddling vapors... Ask these lads. Did we coerce them?"
Sutra Repository Chief and Arhat Hall Chief laid hands on massive rosaries.
"Your exit serves Shaolin. Meant to slay after scandals mounted... but events force our hand."
"You'll perish as the flesh-mad lunatic, monstrous monk who silenced witnesses to cannibalism. Rest easy-Shaolin thrives atop your corpse."
"To snare me... how much innocent blood...?"
"Nitpick? Hardly blameless. Vagrants leech without labor, Senior Brother."
"Lives weigh differently; we minimized civilian toll. Vagrants... scarcely human."
"You mad dogs!"
Buljon's composure shattered. Beside him, I steadied my breath.
Eighteen Arhats. I knew them-Shaolin's emblem. United, they toppled rival sect heads with ease.
Four Vajra Guardians' fame blanketed Murim. Shaolin's finest sans abbot; together, no evil endured.
Plus those two.
Sutra Repository Chief and Arhat Hall Chief. Frontline Grandmaster Cheonil matched Gongbaek at least-from that prior strike, clear.
Dire straits.
...Yet.
Enemies overlooked one thing.
Viewing me as Heavenly Demon's spent pawn.
That I'm...
>>
Far stronger than they fathom.
They know me, yet not wholly.
Unaware Master's discipleship, my forged path.
Thus, your verdict errs, Akbi.
From first to last, utterly wrong.
"...Hoo."
I breathed into the blade's tip. Sought my potential in the blood sword.
One year's odyssey. Tireless strides to Murim Alliance.
Training transcended mere swordplay.
Endless practice. Imagery eased every sinew; I beheld amplified self.
Murderers of innocents.
Kidnappers crafting human fare.
Brainwashers forging living dolls.
Now trampling inhumanity...
Defiling the slain for aims.
Sword slanted low. Heart's thrum pulsed.
Meridians bloomed sequential. Vortices churned my ire within.
Shaolin.
Putrid Shaolin.
A girl's plea to save her father echoed. Shattered vow streaked mind.
What, then, must I do?
"......"
Retribution.
Avenge the slain sans struggle.
Shield the wailing child.
None else will-if not me.
No voice here speaks for them.
>>
I must.
>>
"......"
>>
Hearken heart's drum.
Sense life's fire.
Where stand you, Red Cloud? What might you wield?
"...All of it."
Gongbaek flinched. Gazes wheeled, horror-struck.
Trainees recoiled. Guard stances gripped unwitting, hands quaking.
I ignored them. Felt alone.
Even Akbi's lurking cackle.
"Kuhuhu! More startling than guessed! Hidden ace indeed! Heavenly Demon prized you wisely! Eyes true-you're useful, Red Cloud!"
Beast mask donned.
For duty's sake.
Stride forth. Suppressed qi erupted dantian-bound, sheathing flesh.
Heavenly Tribulation murmured. Hide no more?
I declared.
"I'll shatter all."
No further concealment needed.
...
Myochoa kicked the door wide. Clashed with Geumpyeong bursting out likewise.
"...You felt that too?"
"Aye."
Sought slumber. Clinging to stalled probe seemed wrong.
Yet off-kilter. Sudden colossal qi brunt swept flesh fleetingly.
Ephemeral, yet vivid.
Beast's howl vowing restraint's end.
"...Source known?"
"Nay. Fleeting wisp. Buljon stirred? Yet that force... unclean-tinged."
Gazes locked midair once more.
Together they lunged, hurling doors ajar.
"...Damn."
Red Cloud vanished.
"No way... that surge was him...?"
"Alliance Leader vetted his qi personally. Unlikely."
"Then who?"
"...Outsider...?"
Third-party master infiltrated Shaolin?
Reason why?
Context baffles. Intel scant.
Lately stalled-felt safe...
Red Cloud unearthed secret solo?
"...To Shaolin we go."
"I'll join."
Unwelcome tandem. Yet unavoidable.
That qi ripple. Unthinkably...
Peerless master's bellow akin.
Foe if so...
Solo doom certain.
"What madness unfolds...?"
...
Countless later disciples beheld.
Buljon's naming origin.
Aliases magnetize like demons. Fame swells, moths flock for lessons.
Gongbaek repulsed all. Taught the deficient; sparred sincere when apt.
None matched truly.
Thus Venerable Buljon born.
Heavenly Fragrance Hermit too.
Wall surmounted, dimly grasped: scant worthy clashes lingered.
Most organization crowns. Motions roil tempests-untouchable.
Yet sporadics emerged.
Pure martial seekers.
Surprise-forging warriors.
They towered. Nicknameless some; all aces veiled.
Chills sporadic. Mere shivers.
None eclipsed Buljon's renown amid obscures.
Quad-venerable moniker. Weight...
Gongbaek knew deepest.
But this?
What transpires?
Rippling crimson qi sensed. Beast ferocity pent thrilled frame.
No terror. 'Martial' etched innate stirred.
Red Cloud.
Layered external force bearer.
Yet no. Beyond externals dwelled.
Blade-tip clung qi... viscous pure blood essence.
Demonic absent. Sole battle-will.
Realms quaked. Liver chilled.
Clash-breeds utterly alien.
This...
Fangs graze even him...?
"You...!"
Cult infiltrator.
Heavenly Demon's warrior.
Yet prowess defies mere pawncy. Unbelievable discard.
"Who are you truly...?!"
"Stances diverge; purpose aligns now."
Stowed predator purred in blood-qi flux.
"Duty calls, elder."
"......!"
Gongbaek whirled tardy. Shock-stalled, truth forgotten confronted.
Buddha-forsakers steeped in power-glory, self-slain master.
Desecrated shades.
"...Master."
"......."
Answerless eyes brimmed haze. Vacant stare beheld mute.
「White Child. Slay me.」
...Ultimately.
Last master's dying charge unmet too.
Gongbaek gulped tears surging. Entombed hesitance total.
Temper thus.
Misfit claim.
Excuses wheeled to perch before eyes.
Abbot-duty shirked, gaze averted-regrets legion.
He tainted.
Duty slothful, final behest flouted-all wrecked.
...Hence.
"...Undutiful disciple accepts Master's final words."
Regret ends.
"Shaolin's eighteenth abbot, Gongbaek."
Boundless power streamed Gongbaek's form. Swept environs insufficient-crushed all.
"Buddha's heart rests here; belated duty commences."
Final glance rearward. Cult spy eyed.
"...Back secure?"
"Watch."
---Thud.
Crimson blood sword kissed earth.
Ground cracked instant.
As crushing mass plummeted.
"I'll end it all."
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