This Taste Is That Taste (1)
Jinheo gathered his wits.
It can't be the real thing.
The festive mood. Overlapping good fortunes. His sudden appearance. All these had combined to momentarily loosen his guard.
He'd forgotten that countless Daeseung Beomcheon Banya Simgong manuals had appeared before. Naturally, they were all fakes.
The real one!
It's in the Namgung Clan. Still, he couldn't help his heart leaping every time one showed up, just in case. This time too.
"Patron, your jest has gone too far. Normally, I'd administer the disciplinary staff and send you on your way, but since it's a joyous day, I'll let it slide this once. Leave the mountain now, and we'll pretend we saw and heard nothing. Forget today's events."
Jinheo spoke with the intimidating presence befitting Shaolin's abbot. And all his junior brothers behind him had witnessed the entire scene.
Again.
Another one.
Tsk tsk, hauling it out every year.
It was the emergence of yet another fake Daeseung Beomcheon Banya Simgong—familiar now to the point of annoyance.
"You sure you want to send me away? You'll regret it, you know?"
Jinheo's patience snapped at the playful retort.
"Hah! Must you force my wrath before descending? Do you even know where you are, daring to peddle your fraud here? Three strikes and you're out—this is your last warning. Begone!"
"For real, for real! Send me packing without even a peek? You might regret it, I'm telling you."
Jinheo unleashed his aura at the young man before him.
"If you're brazen like this banking on that meager martial prowess!"
Whoosh. A heavy pressure like the vast sea, worthy of Shaolin's abbot, crashed over Namgung Daeso.
"I could pulverize you right here on the spot."
I shrugged it off my shoulders. It wasn't easy—befitting Shaolin's abbot—but I'd grown used to auras like this.
A bit tough, though.
The pressure intensified. Know what's most crucial in fishing? A good lure? Casting far? A prime spot? Those matter, sure, but the moment after the fish bites is key. The first three rely on luck, but what follows is pure skill and technique.
A battle of strength.
Lose here, and I'd just waste a perfectly good lure. My opponent was shark-tier from the ocean—stronger than me, obviously. Tug stupidly with brute force, and the line snaps or the rod breaks.
Now it was my turn to give line.
"Just for you, Abbot, I'll show you once. Then do whatever—pulverize me, staff me, up to you. How about it?"
"Overconfidence! Natural for the young to have such spirit, but don't you think it'll hasten your doom?"
"I'm used to staking my life on things by now."
Meanwhile, Jinheo was inwardly impressed.
Brushing it off without a flinch.
Not full sincerity, but enough pressure to crush most. And this young man was deflecting it while shielding an untrained youth.
Who is he?
A figure that young with such prowess? Nothing came to mind. Or rather, one did—but he was in secluded training.
Namgung So!
No way he was here. The one he'd met before wasn't this lighthearted. And he was a head taller than this youth.
Jinheo extended his hand.
"If it's fake, you won't leave this mountain intact."
"Got it already!"
Instead of handing over the book right away, I pulled another from my bosom. A copy Namgung Je-cheon had transcribed overnight—the first half of the Daeseung Beomcheon Banya Simgong.
Jinheo eyed me suspiciously.
"This is a copy. Just the first half. Afraid you've been burned before!"
Ugh...
Twenty-five times duped.
"Can't have you monks getting greedy and snatching it after a peek. How would I get it back then?"
"How dare you! Whatever—hand it over."
The book left my hand for Jinheo. Those watching from behind grew furious.
"Senior Brother! Again? Just staff him already!"
"Ugh! Wasting time. We need to induct new Ten Precepts inside!"
"Amitabha... Senior Brother still can't let go."
No patience!
I shot a glance at the monks behind and turned to Jinheo. He wore an utterly delightful expression—too good to keep to himself.
Oh! Not alone!
Namgung Je-cheon, face hidden by his hat, was stifling laughter beside me.
That guy's no normal either.
At that moment, Jinheo pored over every character in the book the youth had given him. At first, he'd planned a quick skim, scold the kid harshly, then discuss new Ten Precepts all night with his juniors.
[This seat's name is Hye-ga.]
How shocked he'd been at the first page's name. Hye-ga was none other than Damo's first disciple. Only past Shaolin abbots knew that.
Still.
Just a coincidence, same name.
Dismissed it—until the next pages.
[The Great Victory Brahma Prajna Heart Method was created by Shaolin in a time of great crisis...]
Jinheo silently turned the pages.
[To protect those who had taken refuge in the Buddha...]
With each page, he gasped in admiration or chanted sutras alone.
[And to watch over all...]
His juniors grumbled behind, but he ignored them, eyes glued to the book.
Page after page.
[...for future generations. The latter half begins next...]
Turning the final page, he groaned.
"Ah..."
The end. Jinheo's body trembled as he finished. His juniors fell silent, sensing something.
"It's real."
From Jinheo's finally opened mouth, sutra chants filled Shaolin.
He looked at me and asked, "Are you Namgung So?"
Earlier he'd ruled it impossible, but who else could pull this off and show such might? Bearing the original Daeseung Beomcheon Banya Simgong? In Jinheo's mind, only one in the martial world fit.
"Nope."
I answered. As planned, Namgung Je-cheon removed his hat.
"Hah..."
Jinheo sighed in disbelief at Namgung Je-cheon.
"Abbot, how have you been?"
"I see. This was all your scheme."
Now everything clicked for Jinheo. The initial Hangma Chiljeol appearance. The successive Shaolin Ten Precepts arts. All a meticulous plan to corner Shaolin!
"No way! That madman's plan?"
"All this his doing?"
"Wait! How much money's left in Shaolin?"
"Zero nyang. We're beggar-poorer than the Beggar's Sect."
The juniors caught on too. Every event so far—a trap by that madman! One vicious enough no tiger could escape once bitten.
"What grudge does Namgung hold against our Shaolin?"
From Namgung Je-cheon flowed an arrogance and leisure unseen even in Namgung Clan.
This is it.
Namgung Je-cheon was reaffirming his place after too much mistreatment lately had tanked his self-esteem. Now it climbed two notches.
Then—
Crack!
"Ow, shit! Againnnn!"
Jinheo's eyes bulged once more.
Wh-what!
Smacking the Namgung vice-strategist's daegari! Hard too! Even Namgung So couldn't pull that off.
The youth who'd struck spoke.
"Je-cheon, what good's teasing elders? Picking up bad habits! Sssip!"
"No, Young Master! I wasn't teasing—I just wanted a taste of old times! Did I say anything rude?"
"Hah! Same difference!"
The youth stepped forward. Namgung Je-cheon retreated a step with a wry smile.
Jinheo shot the youth a sharp gaze.
No way! The eldest young master of rumors?
Only he'd dare smack the vice-strategist's daegari so boldly! While the vice just shot aggrieved looks.
Heir to Namgung. Next Tianxia First Person.
The youth approached amiably.
"Sorry for startling you with our madman here?"
He clasped his hands, eyes full of genuine apology. Hard to read.
"Kid's got a good heart deep down, but lately he's been backstabbed so much it's warped him."
"Hm..."
Absurd reason, but plausible.
"So, what's your purpose at Shaolin?"
Jinheo's eyes hardened. The situation hadn't changed. Who he was mattered less now. Some high-up, clearly—daegari-smacking level.
He'd said it first: 500,000 nyang in silver. Buy? Pass?
"You want to corner Shaolin."
"Yes, exactly."
The youth didn't deny.
Jinheo pressed on. "By dangling the irrefusable name of Shaolin's Ten Precepts."
"Spot on."
"No idea how you knew Shaolin's internals, but Namgung involvement explains it. And as my juniors said, we're flat broke."
"Knew it all. That's why I'm here."
Jinheo handed back the book and spoke his final piece. "What if I refuse to buy?"
What else?
"Sell it elsewhere. To someone who wants it."
Probably a line from Henan to Hebi.
"Hah, checkmated."
"That's how deals work, I learned."
"From whom? Taught you too well—makes me wanna smack you."
"Got one. Loves money. Name's got 'money' twice."
Few in the martial world with "money" doubled. And partnering with Namgung? One man.
True lord of Tianxia Merchant Alliance. Money Ghost, Geum Dondong.
"Never heard Tianxia allied with Namgung."
If so.
"Namgung finally swallowing the world?"
What all feared but hadn't happened. What all expected eventually!
"Shaolin first? Fine example."
"Heh~ Naturally, conquering the world..."
Smack!
I swiftly cracked Namgung Je-cheon's daegari to shut him and said, "Overimagination. Our clan head couldn't care less."
Our clan head?
Nah... probably not. Yeah, no. That guy, the Mushin...
Yeah, him.
"Just here to deal."
I only wanted a transaction. Harsh on Shaolin, but it was all I had.
"Want a spar."
"A spar? Why this roundabout way?"
"A fierce one, real-combat style."
"Gaining battle experience?"
"Yes! As expected of the abbot!"
I removed my hat and said, "Spar close to real combat with all Shaolin's third-generation disciples. Even second-gen if you want. Price: this book!"
The true Daeseung Beomcheon Banya Simgong revealed.
"Pass? I'll go elsewhere. Nearby... Hwasan Sect."
Now, time to reel.