Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: The Martial Monk (1)
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“Isn’t that the Plum Blossom Cloud Dragon?”
“‘That?’ Watch your tongue, man!”
The closer Liu Zhangming got to the Shaolin Temple, the more people began to recognize him.
Ouyang Jue followed his back, maintaining a certain distance.
Not only could he not reveal his identity here, but he also intended to remember anyone who looked at Liu Zhangming with malicious eyes.
But whether they were martial artists or mere enthusiasts, they all looked on with admiration; those who were envious or jealous were few and far between.
‘I suppose his reputation is different from mine.’
No matter that he had destroyed the Black Dragon Gang and become the hero of various tales, opinions on Ouyang Jue’s personal character were divided.
In particular, his actions at the Martial Alliance had left a few martial artists with a sour taste in their mouths.
But Liu Zhangming was different.
A righteous hero who always upheld justice and morality, who always moved for the weak.
On top of that, there were no unsavory rumors about him in the streets, making him a Taoist master anyone could admire.
Ouyang Jue listened to the chatter of the martial artists, lost in thought.
‘While I was running amok all over the martial world, my senior brother wasn’t just sitting around, I see.’
Though it wasn’t a feat that shook the entire martial world, he had made it so that everyone acknowledged the character of the man named Liu Zhangming.
And at the tender age of twenty-two, no less!
It is said that a good reputation is harder to build than fame. Ouyang Jue watched his senior brother’s back with a faint smile.
Just as they reached the top of the stairs.
“Welcome to the Shaolin Temple, Young Hero Liu.”
Numerous Buddhist disciples greeted Liu Zhangming.
* * *
Liu Zhangming followed Master Jeokwon, who stood at the very front, toward the Main Hall.
He occasionally glanced back to see where Ouyang Jue was, but he was nowhere in sight.
Yet, he wasn’t anxious.
Knowing his junior brother’s usual cunning, it was more reassuring that he was erasing his presence like this.
He also had faith that Ouyang Jue would surely step forward if needed.
‘Unlike me, my junior brother is flexible in his thinking.’
Without realizing it, Liu Zhangming looked down at the ground with a faint smile.
The unique colors of a Buddhist temple, different from a Taoist monastery, were painted there.
Seeing it, his mind went completely blank.
This was a foreign land that could turn into enemy territory at any moment.
“...Hoo.”
Letting out a small breath, Liu Zhangming wiped the smile from his face.
He then lifted his head.
His expression was one of resolve, yet at the same time, it was exceedingly firm.
However, Master Jeokwon simply stroked his beard, thinking his guest must be nervous.
It was too late to lighten the mood with a joke; they were already at their destination.
“This is the Main Hall of the Shaolin Temple.”
At his words, the warrior monks standing on either side of the entrance slammed their staffs down.
*Thud!*
It was a single, flawless moment.
Muttering to himself that this was Shaolin indeed, Liu Zhangming stared beyond the opening doors of the Main Hall.
The faint scent of lotus seemed to ride on the gentle light of the lanterns.
Just then, the two warrior monks who had struck their staffs moved again.
*Thud! Thud!*
No sooner had the staffs struck the ground twice more than the candles in the center of the hall, in front of the reclining Buddha statue, blazed to life.
“...Hmm.”
Liu Zhangming frowned at the suddenly brightened hall.
But he quickly had to smooth his expression.
“Young Hero Liu, welcome.”
Liu Zhangming looked at the old monk standing before the reclining Buddha statue.
From the thick prayer beads around his neck to the worn monastic robes he must have worn for decades, his frame appeared particularly small.
But the wisdom and virtue felt in his deeply etched wrinkles seemed to show the old monk’s extraordinariness.
Liu Zhangming immediately clasped his hands together.
“Junior Liu Zhangming of the Mount Hua Sect offers his greetings.”
“Heh heh… Do you know who I am?”
At those words, Liu Zhangming’s lips moved without raising his head.
It was the highest form of respect a martial artist from another sect could show.
“Are you not Master Munjeong, the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple?”
“It is a title far too grand for me.”
Master Munjeong, with a benevolent smile, waved his hand, gesturing for him to dispense with the formalities.
Even that gesture resembled a half-twisted old tree, but Liu Zhangming did not underestimate Master Munjeong in the slightest.
The dizziness he felt when the lanterns lit up.
The distant Buddhist energy that had flowed on the faint scent of lotus was still swirling around him.
‘Did he accumulate this level of power through cultivation alone?’
Liu Zhangming softly chanted a Buddhist prayer and walked up to Master Munjeong.
Then, Master Munjeong spoke.
“Are you acquainted with the janitor?”
At those words, Liu Zhangming narrowed his eyes.
“The janitor… are you referring to the layman who was holding the wicker broom?”
“That is correct.”
Fearing he might be questioned about it, Liu Zhangming hesitated in his response, but Master Munjeong let out a hearty laugh.
“It is not a particularly important question. I only ask because you were traveling with that janitor for a long time.”
“…”
“He was the one who found one of our novice monks collapsed and brought him here, yet he refused gold and even the offer to be taught martial arts. So I wondered if you knew the janitor’s identity.”
“I see.”
Liu Zhangming maintained a calm expression and finished his reply.
“Since you have asked, Master, I should answer… but I am afraid I have a prior promise with him.”
“A prior promise?”
“He asked me not to reveal his identity, even if someone were to ask.”
Liu Zhangming met the eyes of the numerous warrior monks who had appeared at some point, one by one.
Of course, it wasn’t an easy thing to do. The guilt of deceiving them suddenly reared its head.
But to catch the villain who had harmed a child, he was prepared to become a liar at any time.
‘Even if the whole world curses me.’
Liu Zhangming looked at Master Munjeong with clear eyes.
Master Munjeong, who had been listening quietly, smiled gently.
“Just as the rumors say, Young Hero Liu, you possess a righteous character.”
“…”
“Very well. I, Munjeong, will no longer doubt you. Please let me know when the preparations for the friendly spar are complete.”
At those words, some of the warrior monks clenched their jaws so tightly that their chins wrinkled.
They must be sworn brothers with the novice monk Ouyang Jue had brought.
Liu Zhangming guessed as much inwardly and straightened his clothes.
Here, he carried the honor of the Mount Hua Sect.
Therefore, he could no longer hesitate, nor was there any reason to.
“I am ready.”
“Understood.”
At his words, a warrior monk with a displeased expression strode forward.
He had expected this, having heard the situation from Ouyang Jue.
‘So he’s from the side that believes Shaolin should take a more radical path, unlike the Abbot, Master Munjeong.’
Frankly, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.
He was essentially fighting a proxy war between the radical and moderate factions.
‘But I cannot lose.’
Liu Zhangming raised the Dragon’s Tear Sword straight up.
At the same moment.
With a *thump*, the warrior monk executed a movement technique.
Contrary to his brawny muscles, the monk’s movements were incredibly light.
Was there even a sound when his knee hit the ground, or rather, was there even a visible motion?
Liu Zhangming contemplated the martial arts Shaolin had built up and smiled warmly.
“Impressive.”
At his words, the warrior monks maintaining their formation exchanged glances that said, *of course*.
No matter how much the Mount Hua Sect was flourishing these days, Shaolin had enjoyed a golden age several times longer.
It was plain to see they thought there was no way Shaolin could lose to Mount Hua.
It seemed as if the monk’s fist would strike Liu Zhangming’s sword and subdue him in an instant.
Finally, Liu Zhangming and the warrior monk crossed paths.
*Clang!*
The Dragon’s Tear Sword and the monk’s palm collided, making the entire Main Hall hum.
It was as if the steel had struck not flesh, but stone.
A triumphant smile appeared on the monk’s face.
“You are not enough!”
“…”
Maintaining a stoic expression at the shout, Liu Zhangming immediately spun his body in the direction the monk had pushed him.
Was this what they called the soft overcoming the hard?
As the Dragon’s Tear Sword instantly flew toward the monk’s throat, the monk stomped his foot.
‘I can’t lose so pathetically!’
It was to regain his lost balance and strike the Dragon’s Tear Sword away before it reached his throat.
But just then, Master Munjeong let out a Lion’s Roar.
“Enough!”
“…?!”
Startled, the monk retreated, still in the posture from his stomp.
A fierce wind blew over him.
*Whoosh…!*
The sword pressure from Liu Zhangming’s swing had grazed the monk’s skin, leaving it scraped and red.
And what of the palm that had collided with the Dragon’s Tear Sword?
It was so swollen that he would lose the use of his hand if he didn’t apply medicine immediately.
Despite this, neither Master Munjeong nor the other hall masters could say a word, for one reason only.
‘If Young Hero Liu had even the slightest intention of harming his opponent, it wouldn’t have ended like this!’
Unlike his disciple, Liu Zhangming had treated the fight strictly as a spar, befitting the term “friendly spar.”
With everyone’s eyes on him, Liu Zhangming cupped his fist to the monk.
“Thanks to you, my eyes have been greatly opened. Thank you for showing me the martial arts of Shaolin.”
“…Hmph.”
At those words, the monk couldn’t utter a single rebuttal, his face turning red.
In a way, his actions deserved a harsh rebuke.
After being complimented, he had gotten carried away by a momentary advantage and said his opponent was not enough.
Seeing a lesser Buddha in Liu Zhangming, the monk was filled with great remorse.
“It is I, Yeoncheong, who is impressed by Great Hero Liu!”
Announcing his Buddhist name, Yeoncheong left the Main Hall, groaning.
Only then did everyone realize.
‘Even though his opponent was rude first, Young Hero Liu was considerate enough not to injure him.’
‘With his skill, couldn’t he have easily made a fool of Shaolin’s next generation…!’
Furthermore, as far as they knew, the Mount Hua Sect had been on the verge of collapse until recently.
That they had nurtured such a reputable martial artist even in that situation was truly remarkable.
Master Munjeong, in particular, looked at Liu Zhangming with quiet admiration.
‘While we were divided over our future, the Mount Hua Sect raised such a hero.’
While Master Munjeong unknowingly glanced at Master Muno, the head of the radical faction, the cold atmosphere of the Main Hall gradually softened.
Amidst it all, there was only one person.
Ouyang Jue, who was secretly watching, found Liu Zhangming’s actions deplorable.
‘Was my explanation insufficient?’
Ouyang Jue’s face wrinkled into a deep frown.
‘Telling him to win overwhelmingly against the hall masters wasn’t meant to create this kind of atmosphere…?’
The situation Ouyang Jue had hoped for was chaos sparked by the clash between the moderate and radical factions.
But Liu Zhangming had purely showcased his martial arts and respected the Shaolin Temple.
Thinking this far, Ouyang Jue shook his head.
“Still, if he keeps losing, Shaolin will eventually push Senior Brother Liu away, I’m sure.”
And that hope was shattered in vain.
Even in the continuous fights, Liu Zhangming never showed any signs of struggle, and he didn’t even fall behind in his bouts against the hall masters.
It seemed he had forgotten about winning overwhelmingly at some point and was simply enjoying the exchange of martial arts.
“………Hoo.”
Is it time for me to step in?
Just as Ouyang Jue, having decided to end his janitor disguise, was about to put on a Taoist cap.
“What is the meaning of this!”
A newly appeared old monk roared.
At that, Master Munjeong opened his mouth to welcome the old monk.
“You have finally returned, Senior Brother Museong.”
Ouyang Jue, who had been tying the knot of his Taoist robe, immediately focused his hearing on the Main Hall.