Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Shaolin (1)
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The next morning.
“Well then, we will be on our way.”
Ouyang Jue respectfully cupped his hands to Bai Duanxian.
At the sight, Cheong Ho-won, the head of the Plum Blossom Courtyard, stroked his chin.
“Try not to get hurt this time. Travel safely.”
Song Muk and Gwak Un-pae also added a few words of caution, their sentiment the same.
To an outsider unaware of their positions, it would have seemed like a simple, heartwarming scene.
But this was highly unusual.
‘To think the Sect Leader and three elders would come to see us off…’
Just how worried were they to drop everything and come here?
Ouyang Jue felt a familial affection from them, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment, wondering if they found him untrustworthy.
Then again, this was no ordinary matter.
Unlike before, this was an official invitation from a colossal power: the Shaolin Temple.
They were essentially entrusting Ouyang Jue with a journey they should have undertaken themselves due to various circumstances.
How could they not be anxious?
Ouyang Jue noticed the concern in Bai Duanxian’s eyes and offered a cheerful smile.
“Would it be alright if I caused a bit of trouble at Shaolin this time?”
At his words, Bai Duanxian let out a hearty laugh.
“Are you trying to work me to death? Don’t even joke about such things.”
Then, Bai Duanxian’s gaze shifted to Song Muk, who was standing beside him.
“Elder Song, what do you think about Jue here wanting to cause trouble?”
“If he so much as causes a stir, I will give him a proper scolding, huhu.”
As Song Muk let out a meaningful smile, Ouyang Jue felt a chill run down his spine.
He could handle others, but he had no idea what kind of punishment Song Muk would devise if he truly set his mind to it.
A warrior who was endlessly gentle and soft on the surface, but who could become colder than ice when he needed to be stern.
That was the Song Muk that Ouyang Jue knew.
‘He must be joking, right?’
Just as a tense expression formed on Ouyang Jue’s face, a whistling sound came from somewhere.
“Whew, wheeew…”
“…?”
At the sudden sound, Liu Zhangming was the first to turn his head.
He instantly recognized the familiar whistle.
“You rascal, Mu-rang, what are you doing in the Sect Leader’s presence!”
“…Heh! My apologies, Master.”
Yeon Mu-rang grinned and bowed his head.
Seeing him, Ouyang Jue felt he could read the boy’s mind perfectly.
‘He must be quite relieved that Senior Brother Liu is leaving for a long time.’
He felt a twinge of pity, wondering just how hard Liu Zhangming had been pushing him, but at the same time, he found the boy’s lack of regard for his surroundings truly remarkable.
In a bad way, of course.
No sooner had Ouyang Jue’s brow furrowed than Liu Zhangming turned to Gwak Un-pae.
“Elder Gwak, could I entrust Mu-rang to you while I am away?”
“Hmm? I don’t mind, but I’ve never taught the boy before.”
“Just having him do basic training would be fine. If need be, you can just have him focus on his external arts.”
Perhaps sensing the emphasis Liu Zhangming placed on the latter part of his sentence, Gwak Un-pae glanced at Yeon Mu-rang with a look that said, *Well, look at this one*.
“Haha, my, my. I never thought I’d see the day Zhangming cared so much for his disciple.”
Gwak Un-pae was only human; he had heard the rumors.
That Liu Zhangming had suddenly taken on a disciple, and that the boy had a personality that was difficult, to say the least.
The corners of Gwak Un-pae’s eyes curved into a smile.
“What is your specialty?”
“F-Fists, sir.”
“Fists, you say. That’s not my area of expertise, so it will be difficult for me to teach you properly.”
Gwak Un-pae feigned a sigh.
He even shook his head with a regretful expression, as if there was truly nothing he could do.
“Your name is Mu-rang, was it?”
Sensing a vague unease, Yeon Mu-rang’s voice trembled.
“…Yes.”
“I will look after you while Zhangming is away. So, I want you to be on standby at the Reception Hall at all times.”
“Gasp! Y-Yes, Elder Gwak.”
Yeon Mu-rang, who had been whistling with a relaxed smile just moments ago, was now completely shrunken.
Ouyang Jue found the sight quite amusing.
‘Bringing him here was a really good decision.’
He’d felt it when they first met, but if he hadn’t brought the boy here, he would have surely grinned at some master somewhere and ended up suddenly dead.
Conversely, it meant he was a warrior with an innate nature to not bow down to the strong and to instead ignite his fighting spirit.
How well that nature was tempered.
That would determine how far the warrior named Yeon Mu-rang, Mount Hua’s future one-of-a-kind fist master, would make his name known.
Finally, Liu Zhangming, laden with a large bundle, bowed his head deeply.
“Then, we will really be on our way now.”
“Travel safely.”
Bai Duanxian stood in place for a long time, watching until the two figures disappeared from Mount Hua.
* * *
After descending from Mount Hua, Ouyang Jue briefly glanced in the direction of Mixian, where the Omniscient One was likely to be.
He was a friend he had promised to meet again.
But he couldn’t this time.
Not only was it impossible to bring a sorcerer like the Omniscient One to the Shaolin Temple, but they also needed to arrive as quickly as possible.
So, the reunion would have to wait.
Ouyang Jue forced himself to look away from the direction of Mixian.
“Let’s get going, Senior Brother.”
“Let’s.”
Liu Zhangming squinted at the spot Ouyang Jue had been looking at before continuing.
“I’ll leave the route to you this time as well.”
“You can trust me.”
At his words, the two martial brothers looked at each other and chuckled.
The place they arrived at was Chang'an, at the Golden Ring Merchant Guild, which had grown into a massive enterprise.
This time, however, Bai Chuan was already outside waiting for them.
“Welcome, Great Warrior Liu.”
“Great Warrior is too much praise. You are the one who has the air of a great merchant, Guild Leader Bai.”
While Liu Zhangming and Bai Chuan exchanged compliments, Ouyang Jue privately surmised that the Golden Ring Merchant Guild had grown even more.
‘It seems someone informed him that we passed through the east gate… He’s not the type to waste his guild’s manpower, so he must have connections with the officials.’
Although Ouyang Jue had certainly helped him in a few significant ways, building the guild to this point was entirely Bai Chuan’s own achievement.
Ouyang Jue looked at Bai Chuan, whose hair was beginning to turn white, and let out a deep sigh.
“Please refrain from overworking yourself, Guild Leader Bai.”
“What good is it to grow old idly? This body will fail eventually. I’ll have no regrets if I can achieve just one thing before I wither away.”
Smiling softly, Bai Chuan guided Ouyang Jue and Liu Zhangming inside.
His office, too, was decorated brightly, a stark contrast to its formerly humble state.
That confirmed it for Ouyang Jue.
Bai Chuan must have invested a fair amount to get close to officials, who were fond of outward appearances.
Bai Chuan, who never spent money on useless things, would have no other reason to decorate his office.
As he was lost in thought, a clear sound brought Ouyang Jue back to his senses.
*Clink…!*
“This is a flower tea that has recently become popular, spreading from the Huguang region.”
“…Ah, the aroma is certainly nice.”
As warm as Bai Chuan’s smile, the gentle fragrance rising from the flowers rode the air and tickled his nose.
Liu Zhangming, who had always enjoyed tea even at Mount Hua, was also greatly impressed.
“My throat was starting to feel a bit dry with the coming of spring, but this feels wonderfully refreshing.”
“I’m glad it suits your palate.”
As Bai Chuan watched Ouyang Jue and Liu Zhangming enjoy the tea, he brought out a sword from his safe as if he had just remembered it.
At that, Ouyang Jue stopped savoring the aroma.
The Dragon’s Tear Sword.
A masterpiece forged from the fang of a Black Dragon, impossible to create in the current era, and a demonic sword whose sharpness was second only to Severing Manifestation.
‘Originally, I planned to give it to him after his condition stabilized…’
But who knew what might happen at the Shaolin Temple?
Fortunately, Liu Zhangming’s current level of achievement was beyond imagination.
His character was righteous to the core, so Ouyang Jue judged that he would not be swayed by the demonic energy of the Dragon’s Tear Sword. He thought there would be no problem in giving it to him now.
Perhaps Liu Zhangming also sensed that this was no ordinary blade.
“W-What is this?”
“It is yours, Senior Brother.”
At those words, Liu Zhangming turned to Ouyang Jue.
But his expression held neither the admiration a swordsman might feel, nor any gratitude.
“I don’t understand why I should have this.”
As if he had no greed at all, Liu Zhangming firmly shook his head, even when faced with a peerless sword.
“Though my eye for swords may be poor, I am not so blind as to not recognize a blade of this caliber. Does this sword not have a significant history?”
“…”
He had expected this, but his senior brother was truly stubborn.
Ouyang Jue couldn’t decide whether to laugh or frown.
‘Senior Brother really never changes.’
He himself would have taken it without a moment’s hesitation.
Even if it wasn't him, the Dragon’s Tear Sword was an item that anyone who knew its value would covet.
And yet, this was his attitude.
Ouyang Jue shrugged.
“Have I ever done anything wrong to you, Senior Brother? Or have I ever been a burden?”
“…”
“Just as you trust me, I trust you as well.”
If he’d had the time, he could have explained everything one by one, but there was none.
Therefore, Ouyang Jue presented Liu Zhangming with trust.
He tried to use the trust they had built together to cover for the lack of an explanation.
He might think it suspicious… but that didn’t matter.
He never intended to be a righteous hero who saved everyone.
It was enough to protect the Mount Hua Sect and the people he cared for.
“…Is that so.”
Liu Zhangming offered a bitter smile.
“I’ll trust that you will tell me someday.”
“…I will, Senior Brother.”
Ouyang Jue immediately fastened the Dragon’s Tear Sword securely to Liu Zhangming’s belt.
He then turned to Bai Chuan and made a difficult request.
“Could I ask you for false identities and nameplates?”
“…!”
Bai Chuan’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t expected those words at all.
Not only him, but Liu Zhangming also wore a displeased expression.
“Why must we do that?”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand.
The idea of abandoning their identity as disciples of the Mount Hua Sect to move around impersonating others would not sit well with Liu Zhangming.
But there was a compelling reason to do so.
“Because martial artists are not allowed to ride horses. Even the Wudang Sect, which is under the protection of the Ming Dynasty, is forbidden from doing so.”
“Is there a need to hurry so much?”
“Then let me ask you this in return.”
Ouyang Jue murmured the same question he had posed during his conversation with Bai Duanxian.
“Why would the Shaolin Temple, the great pillar of the martial world, and specifically the former Guardian Monk, Great Master Wu Seong, invite you, Senior Brother, for a friendly duel?”
“Well, it’s not unheard of for Buddhist and Taoist sects to have friendly exchanges, is it?”
Aren’t you being too sensitive?
As Liu Zhangming voiced such a sentiment, Ouyang Jue firmly shook his head.
“If that were the case, they would have invited the Sect Leader or the elders. Why would they single you out, Senior Brother?”
Moreover, the invitation didn’t say anything about inviting numerous members of the younger generation.
Only Liu Zhangming.
To Ouyang Jue, the wording made no sense at all.
“You may believe in the principles and righteousness of the martial world, Senior Brother, but I do not.”
Ouyang Jue clenched his right fist, his gaze turning sharp.
“Until I understand for what reason Shaolin has invited you, and what kind of process this friendly duel will entail, I will not comply.”
“…”
At his words, Liu Zhangming stared at Ouyang Jue in silence.
Just then, the sound of a door opening was followed by a sly voice.
“Well now, did I come at a bad time?”
*Buuurp.*
The newly arrived unwelcome guest let out a loud burp and casually took a seat.
He then proceeded to lie down as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Plum Blossom Cloud Dragon, I’ve heard the rumors, but your head is far too empty, kekeke. You’ll get yourself killed by a sword that way!”
“Who are you?”
As Liu Zhangming’s face hardened, the unwelcome guest sat up straight and grinned.
“We’ve seen each other in passing, but this is the first time we’ve sat down and introduced ourselves. A pleasure to meet you. I am Iron Wind Beggar of the Beggars’ Sect.”