Holy Relic (2)
Winter wind...
Master had told me that it was another way of referring to the Snow Wind Palace.
Did the abbot say that to me because he knew I was from the Snow Wind Palace?
But doubts still lingered.
He'd only said that one thing.
At first, I thought I might have misheard, but there was no way a Super First-rate like me could have misheard.
What on earth had the abbot meant by saying that to me?
In that sound transmission, there had seemed to be a hint of nostalgia...
Could it be that even the abbot was being cautious?
The Snow Wind Palace had been wiped out by mysterious assailants.
Its lineage still survived, so "wiped out" might not be entirely accurate.
In any case, since the culprits remained unknown, Master and the other Snow Wind Palace survivors had stayed on guard all these years.
Those sympathetic to the Snow Wind Palace were likely doing the same.
So maybe he'd just dropped a subtle hint.
Probably meaning that if I had questions about the Snow Wind Palace, I should ask him.
But what if it was a trap?
Still, it didn't feel like a trap... The abbot's energy had been so pure and clear.
Just like Master's.
I'd have a chance to meet him again soon, so I'd probe then.
"Young master."
Palgap entered at that moment.
"Jin Yu Warrior and Myeongjong Warrior just left to switch shifts."
"I see."
It had taken quite a while.
Meaning there was a lot to sort out.
In truth, Yeo Eung-am Warrior already had the experience and skill to reach the Peak realm.
But he still hadn't broken through that wall.
I hoped he'd get good results this time.
Palgap clicked his tongue at the sight of Goldie rolling around on the table, clutching a gold coin.
"Heh, this guy! He really goes nuts for real money!"
With that, he slyly snatched the gold coin from Goldie's grasp.
"Kku... kkui?"
Goldie, robbed of his coin, charged straight at Palgap with a body slam.
"Guhk!"
He must have hit a bad spot, because his body shuddered violently.
"Huuugh..."
"Tsk tsk, I told you not to mess with Goldie's money."
"Kkui!"
Having reclaimed his coin in an instant, Goldie waddled over to me and resumed rolling around happily.
"Seriously, why tease Goldie when he's just sitting there..."
As I thought it over, I pulled a gold coin from my pouch and held it out to Palgap.
"Here, this one's for you."
"Why are you giving me that?"
"Don't you want to play with a gold coin too?"
"I-I'm not on Goldie's level!"
Palgap grinned broadly as he said it.
Oh, he loves it.
A gold coin was incredibly valuable, but giving one to Palgap didn't feel like a waste.
"Well, if you're giving it, I'll gratefully accept."
Are you really a bear?
I suddenly pictured a bear juggling gold coins... but I decided to preserve Palgap's dignity.
Two days passed after that.
I headed to where Yeo Eung-am Warrior was, for the shift change.
Most of the monks who had entered a trance alongside him when he did had already come to their senses.
They had all attained enlightenment: the martial monks' realms had advanced further, and the eyes of those studying sutras seemed even deeper.
Today made the third day?
He was still standing there motionless, eyes closed.
In my case, both my Peak and Super First-rate breakthroughs had come mid-battle.
I'd had plenty of inner energy already, but lacked real combat experience and insight, so those life-or-death fights had triggered the ascensions.
Like my duel with that madman when I acquired the Silver Mist Sword, and the battle against the Demonic Cult's young lord in the North Sea.
Thinking back now, I really had been one slip away from death.
Anyway, Yeo Eung-am Warrior probably lacked the insight, so his realm hadn't risen yet.
That's why he was still sorting through his enlightenment, unable to awaken.
It happened then.
Wuuuung.
Suddenly, a fierce aura erupted from Yeo Eung-am Warrior's body.
With my extensive experience, I recognized the signs.
"This is...? Has his enlightenment reached its end?"
Jin Yu Warrior nodded at my question.
"Yes. This is the critical moment. Myeongjong Warrior, go call the others!
"Yes!"
"I'll help too."
"Young master, please keep that aura from harming those around us."
"Got it."
There were still people nearby who hadn't awakened from their trances.
His unsettled aura could harm them.
I immediately spread my own energy. But my publicly known realm was Peak.
So I limited it accordingly.
We couldn't rule out the possibility of Murim Alliance eyes and ears even here in Shaolin.
In the meantime, Seo-u Warrior and the other guards arrived.
They spread out, projecting their auras or standing protector.
How much time passed like that?
The wild aura gradually subsided, and Yeo Eung-am Warrior let out a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes, they flashed sharply, but the glint soon faded.
"Uh..."
He looked flustered.
We were all staring at him, after all.
I smiled faintly and cupped my hands in respect.
"Congratulations on reaching the Peak realm."
He just blinked blankly at my words, and Seo-u Warrior said to him,
"First, circulate your energy to stabilize it fully."
A short while later.
After finishing his energy circulation, he opened his eyes, unable to hide his astonishment.
"I... I finally reached the Peak realm!"
"Congratulations."
The other warriors echoed my words with their own congratulations.
Lee Pil Warrior, Myeongjong Warrior, and Changun Warrior—who were still First-rate—looked envious but didn't hold back their well-wishes.
I said to them,
"You three will reach Peak someday too. I'm looking forward to it."
They smiled awkwardly.
They could sense it themselves: Yeo Eung-am Warrior had seized the moment when it ripened for him.
And their own time hadn't come yet.
I continued,
"Still, don't be too impatient. You're all precious guards to me."
Now three Peak realm warriors among my guards? Solid.
I turned to gaze at Great Master Hyeolgong's holy relic, still in place.
What exactly was this relic that just seeing it plunged him into trance?
Staring at it gave an inexplicable, subtle feeling.
I asked Yeo Eung-am Warrior,
"Yeo Warrior, you entered trance the moment you saw the great master's relic. Can you describe what it was like?"
He nodded.
"First, wasn't the relic facing east?"
"Yes."
"The instant I looked at the great master's face, it felt like he smacked the back of my head."
"Pardon?"
"A shout—yes, with a shout."
"What shout?"
"'You fool! What are you hesitating for?'..."
"Pardon?"
"And... 'Cast aside foolish thoughts'.... It was terrifying."
I looked up at the relic.
"But he's smiling so kindly."
The other guards tilted their heads at my words.
"The great master is smiling kindly?"
"Yes."
"To me, it's eyes of pity."
"Just expressionless to me..."
"Proud, in my eyes..."
Now I understood.
The great master's relic appeared differently to each beholder.
What in the world was Great Master Hyeolgong's relic...?
No such phenomenon at Yeonji Mountain Sword Mound.
It seemed to manifest only after entering Shaolin.
Well, the world was full of things beyond common sense.
Like me dying and returning to the past.
Did the one who blocked returning the relic intact foresee this?
Is that why they obstructed so persistently?
Come to think of it, that black道 guy I tied upside down to the tree confessed: someone commissioned him to spread false rumors about the relic.
A dangerous figure... Who?
No clues, but the Murim Alliance was the prime suspect.
I knew from experience they weren't clean or good.
The current Alliance seemed aimed at dividing and weakening the orthodox sects, not uniting and advancing them.
Of course, on the surface, they stuck to their original purpose...
Plus, they made a big show of fairness and justice.
While being far more cowardly and petty themselves.
Murim Alliance.
As always, countless people bustled about their duties today.
As the center of the orthodox martial world, every incident across the land was reported here without fail.
Thus, their conversations covered a vast range of topics.
But today, everyone was abuzz about the miracle at Shaolin.
"Did you hear? About Great Master Hyeolgong's relic they brought to Shaolin."
"Of course! They say numerous Shaolin monks attained enlightenment just from seeing it?"
"Heh... Jealous."
"Maybe if I saw it, my realm would rise too?"
"Tsk tsk, no way. It's Shaolin's treasure—they won't show it to outsiders."
"Yeah, true."
As everyone shared similar sentiments about Shaolin's fortune,
the Alliance Leader was in a foul mood.
"So, that plan ultimately failed?"
A man before him prostrated and bowed his head at the leader's words.
"My apologies. This subordinate was incompetent..."
"And those who commissioned it?"
"Their mouths are sealed. They'll only open in the afterlife."
"Tch. Understood. Dispose of that corpse somehow!"
"Yes! I will handle it without fail."
After his subordinate left, the leader sat at his desk.
Sweat beaded continuously on his forehead. Ever since he'd laid eyes on Great Master Hyeolgong's relic.
'Damn that bald bastard!'
Upon the report that the relic had arrived at the Alliance, he'd gone to confirm it himself.
The moment he saw it, he realized.
It was an obstacle to his grand ambition.
Because the relic embodied the great master's lifelong will.
To eradicate evil.
Four days had passed since Yeo Eung-am Warrior reached Peak.
We could have left by now, but we received word to wait a few more days.
Hmm...
Probably tangled up over the reward for me.
Shaolin's grounds were still a bit chaotic.
They'd decided to house Great Master Hyeolgong's relic in a hall facing east.
Usually, they'd cremate via fire burial...
Maybe there was a will in the documents I delivered regarding this?
And the great master's breach of precepts had been lifted. So now he was officially a Shaolin disciple, not an expelled monk.
Good.
I headed up toward the guest quarters. There, Shaolin disciples trained.
My guards' skills were impressive.
Even the three still at First-rate weren't low by Shaolin standards.
At the martial monks' request, we were holding sparring matches.
For experience. My guards didn't mind.
Just friendly bouts, with permission from the Precepts Abbot, of course.
I'd approved too.
As I arrived at the training ground, Seo-u Warrior was mid-spar with a martial monk.
Shaolin martial arts were characterized by their bold, sweeping style.
But not purely so.
They could shift fluidly to match the opponent—that was the hallmark of Shaolin techniques.
Though their main goal was defense and subjugation.
Killing arbitrarily violated the precept against taking life.
So my guards had offered to sheath their blades, but the monks refused.
Said it wouldn't count as real combat training.
Fair enough—martial artists' weapons were sharp by nature, and Shaolin monks had to fight such foes.
As I watched my guards spar, my senses picked something up.
Hm?
This energy... black道 energy?
Not deeply immersed, just brushed against a black道 figure.
Since reaching Super First-rate, I could detect even that much.
Normally, I'd ignore it.
Passing black道 folk on the road happened often enough.
But this was Shaolin.
No one with black道 energy should be here.
Pretending to move about, I located the source.
A monk I'd passed several times.
No black道 energy yesterday, but today it clung to him.
Only one conclusion.
He'd secretly met a black道 figure.
What was his intent?