Chapter 221: Chapter 221

Cheon-hwi’s party’s journey was smooth.

No, beyond being smooth, the party enjoyed the journey more than ever.

From the day they left, Cheon-hwi, who had thrown off his Taoist robe, visited the famous inns of Henan that he hadn’t been able to visit without missing a single one, and ate, drank, and enjoyed himself to his heart’s content.

A few days passed like that.

The party, moving west to return to Mount Hua, reached Dengfeng County in Henan Province without any issues.

The party decided to stay overnight at an inn named Euncheong. After unpacking his bundle, Cheon-hwi looked out the open window.

“Hmm, are there originally this many people?”

Was it because it was broad daylight?

Or was there something else?

The street was packed with people.

There were so many people that carriages couldn’t even enter this street and had to stay at another inn far away.

“But it’s amazing. With so many martial artists gathered, they don’t even think about avoiding them.”

Cheon-hwi’s gaze swept over the people.

The more he looked, the stranger it was.

Among the crowd tangled complicatedly on the street, there were quite a few people who clearly showed off that they were martial artists by carrying swords or spears.

Usually, if such people approached, ordinary people would get scared and avoid them.

To avoid getting involved as much as possible.

But there was no such thing here.

They didn’t pay attention or care whether they passed by or not.

Rather, there were even people touting to those martial artists.

“Hey, handsome young man over there!”

A young man wearing a hero’s bandana and carrying an expensive-looking sword shook his head, looking around in bewilderment, and said.

“Are you speaking to me?”

“Ehe-i. Then who else would I be talking to besides you? You’re the only handsome young man here. Come, come closer. Try eating one of these sugar candies. It’s quite sweet!”

The merchant selling sugar candies was accustomed to dealing with martial artists, as he kept talking non-stop and distracted the young man.

Jingle… Jingle…

A moment later, the merchant, having squeezed money from the naive young man, laughed heartily and handed over the sugar candies.

“I’ll pack the rest separately. If you give it to a young lady you like later, she’ll swoon over it.”

Seeing the young man who had purchased an armful of sugar candies in an instant, Cheon-hwi rested his chin on his hand and chuckled.

“Wow, moreover, to have the guts to boldly do business against martial artists, how brave.”

It was a funny thing.

Those closer to swords than the law were the martial artists of Jianghu. If one wagged their tongue incorrectly against such people, they were liable to lose their lives.

However, here, ordinary people pushed martial artists confidently.

“It wouldn’t be strange if a sword fight broke out at this rate…”

Cheon-hwi quickly scanned the other martial artists.

Most of them were letting the current situation slide as if they were used to it, but some were stripped after becoming suckers like the young man who bought the sugar candies.

Of course, not everyone was like that.

Some showed irritated expressions toward the merchants who were touting right now.

Angry at the continuous touting, some even leaked subtle killing intent.

However, even those showing such intense reactions didn’t move rashly.

Rather, they seemed to take a step back.

“I refuse.”

Watching a martial artist raising his hand and spitting out words of refusal, Cheon-hwi dropped the arm he had been resting his chin on against the window.

“There’s no sign of that happening.”

Cheon-hwi, withdrawing his gaze from them, turned his head and stared at Mount Song in the distance.

“It’s probably because of that place, right?”

Compared to the steep and high Mount Hua, Mount Song was gentle but had a magnificent mountain range.

Looking at that majestic sight, it was indeed worthy of being called a famous mountain.

However, something even more magnificent and huge existed right in the middle of Shaoshi Peak of Mount Song.

Shaolin Temple!

The Mount Tai of Jianghu boasting a thousand years of history was located there.

“They say it’s the same Nine Great Sects and One Gang, but as expected, Shaolin’s reputation is overwhelming.”

Just by looking at the street for a moment, he could tell what Shaolin’s status in the Central Plains was like.

Cheon-hwi scratched the back of his head.

“Tsk, this is why a sect’s power needs to be strong. Look at how those unruly martial artist bastards can’t even run wild.”

Even within the same Nine Great Sects and One Gang, there was a stark difference.

If Wudang had Sword Disarming Ponds, Shaolin turned Dengfeng County into a Bloodless Land, a land free of blood and strife.

“It’s so nice to see them grovel on their own like that. We should make Mount Hua’s surroundings like that too…”

Recalling the Unorthodox Factions that had been running wild in Shaanxi and the underworld members hiding in Hwayin County, Cheon-hwi clicked his tongue and stroked his chin.

“That will take some time. No matter how much longer Mount Hua’s history is compared to other sects, it’s shorter than Shaolin’s, and we almost fell into ruin once.”

There was no need to think deeply.

Since reality was like that.

“Should I accelerate my training even more? If I just roll them to the point of not dying, they’ll probably make rapid progress…”

Having thought something that would terrify the disciples in Mount Hua if they heard it, Cheon-hwi stood up from his seat.

“Ah, I don’t know. I’ll think about that later, let’s just eat for now.”

He closed the wide-open window and moved towards the door.

Creak…

As soon as he opened the door, his expression naturally frowned.

“There’s a filthy amount of them.”

The moment he passed the first floor of the inn, which was full of customers, and went up to the second floor.

“Senior Martial Brother!”

Danmok Rin, who had grabbed a table in advance, waved her hand upon spotting him.

Cheon-hwi spoke as he walked towards her.

“You unpacked your luggage quickly.”

“I didn’t have much to unpack.”

“Really?”

Cheon-hwi sat opposite Danmok Rin.

Liquor bottles and cups were already prepared along with the food on the table.

“It looks delicious.”

Vitality circulated in Cheon-hwi’s eyes.

Just as he was about to pour liquor into his cup.

“Tsk, there sure are a lot of people.”

A tongue-clicking voice was heard.

Heavenly Ear Beggar, who was the last to come up to the second floor, walked with a splayed gait, sat on a chair, and looked out the wide-open window.

“To think today of all days would be that day.”

Towards him speaking as if he knew something, Danmok Rin asked with curiosity.

“What day is it to be like that?”

“It’s the day Shaolin conducts their alms begging pilgrimage.”

“Really?”

Her voice rose slightly.

Seeing her excited like a young child, Cheon-hwi stopped pouring the liquor, looked at Heavenly Ear Beggar, and smacked his lips.

“What is that day?”

Heavenly Ear Beggar showed an absurd expression.

“You don’t even know that?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know.”

At Cheon-hwi’s confident attitude, Heavenly Ear Beggar was dumbfounded, then shook his head. It wasn’t the first time Cheon-hwi acted like this anyway.

“It’s the day once a year when monks and child monks from Shaolin come down to Dengfeng County to beg for alms. On this day, one can even see high monks of Shaolin with high reputations, so people flock from all over the world.”

Cheon-hwi let out a small exclamation of ‘Oho,’ and his eyes shone.

“Who is coming today?”

“No one knows who will come. I heard Shaolin decides on the day…”

Heavenly Ear Beggar, who had poured liquor into his cup at some point, drank it refreshingly and continued speaking.

“Keuh, last year, Great Master Wonjeong, one of the Ten Precepts Ten Monks, came out and led the alms begging. If so, this year too, someone on par with him…”

Just as Heavenly Ear Beggar was about to continue his words.

“Waaaaah!”

“It’s Shaolin!”

Cheers poured out from below.

At the same time, the street packed with people parted to both sides, and a group of monks could be seen walking from afar.

Yellow monk robes with red kasayas.

Ten monks wearing attire indicating Shaolin led ten child monks and stood in front of a pavilion.

Then, a middle-aged woman came out holding a gourd of rice as if she had been waiting.

“You’ve come. This is rice I prepared separately from a few days ago for today.”

The old monk standing at the very front bowed.

“Amitabha. Thank you, almsgiver.”

“No. We are the ones who are thankful that Shaolin helps us like this.”

When the middle-aged woman waved her hands.

“Wia.”

The old monk let out a low voice, and the child monk called Wia trotted over, pressed his palms together, and bowed his head.

“Amitabha. Thank you. Almsgiver.”

Seeing the child monk sincerely greeting with a childish voice, the middle-aged woman subconsciously laughed heartily and opened her mouth.

“Where should I put it?”

“Please put it here.”

With sparkling eyes, the child monk grabbed the cloth he was carrying on his back and spread it wide.

The middle-aged woman poured the rice onto the old cloth that seemed patched several times.

It was not a large amount.

However, as if that was enough, the old monk bowed again and turned his steps.

And he stood in front of the pavilion right next to it and repeated the exact same action as just before.

Watching that, Cheon-hwi spoke while pouring liquor.

“It’s real alms begging?”

“Didn’t I tell you, it’s alms begging.”

Heavenly Ear Beggar’s eyes settled.

“Of course, that’s not the true purpose.”

“It does seem like that.”

The gazes of the two wandered around the pavilions, chasing the Shaolin monks who were begging for alms.

“That’s a warning to the people, right?”

“Well, yes.”

That method is good.

Thinking inwardly, Cheon-hwi quickly scanned the surroundings.

The expressions of the ordinary people living in Dengfeng County were good, but the expressions of the martial artists were stiffly hardened.

It was understandable.

Right now, by begging for alms openly, Shaolin was showing through actions and proclaiming that they owed a favor to Dengfeng County.

‘Should I ask to try it at Mount Hua too?’

By the time Cheon-hwi thought that.

“Amitabha.”

Before they knew it, the Shaolin monks had reached the Euncheong Inn where they were staying.

“Please take good care of us.”

Just when the innkeeper was also handing over rice.

“Uh?”

Cheon-hwi looked at the person wearing a bamboo hat pressed down deeply on the far left among the monks.

‘It’s a somewhat familiar aura?’

At that moment, he made eye contact with the old monk who had subconsciously raised his gaze while checking his surroundings.

‘Tathagata Divine Fist Won-eum…?’

Won-eum also opened his eyes wide as if he recognized him, and leaked a sound transmission.

[Young Hero Gu Yeon?]

Calling him by the alias Cheon-hwi had used in the past, Won-eum’s eyes sparkled.

[It’s been a long time.]

[I’m glad you are alive.]

Around the time Won-eum sent a sound transmission mixed with relief and stared fixedly at Cheon-hwi.

“E-Elder…”

The child monk standing next to him couldn’t hide his restlessness at Won-eum, who wasn’t moving an inch, and called him.

“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

Won-eum stroked the head of the child monk who didn’t know what to do once, then raised his head and stared at Cheon-hwi.

[I will come find you later.]

Ending with that sound transmission, he left to beg for alms again.

Meanwhile, Heavenly Ear Beggar seemed to have seen the gaze exchanged between Cheon-hwi and Won-eum, and asked as soon as he left.

“Did you know Tathagata Divine Fist?”

“I had a connection with him in the past.”

At the simple answer, Heavenly Ear Beggar was dumbfounded.

‘He didn’t even know about the alms begging pilgrimage, yet he knows Tathagata Divine Fist, one of Shaolin’s elders.’

Heavenly Ear Beggar was about to ask more about it, but seeing Cheon-hwi focusing on his meal, he shook his head back and forth.

It was because he knew very well how much Cheon-hwi hated being bothered during a meal.

‘I’ll have to ask later.’

Thus, the meal started again, and when about a quarter of an hour passed, a commotion arose on the first floor.

“Gasp! Tathagata Divine Fist?”

“Why is Great Master Won-eum here…”

Cheon-hwi looked toward the stairs.

Won-eum was approaching him, wearing the same benevolent smile as that day.

“Amitabha. Young Hero. It’s been a long time.”

“It’s been a long time.”

At that moment, Danmok Rin quickly stood up from her seat and politely clasped her fists.

“The junior of Martial World, Rin, greets Great Master Won-eum of the Tathagata Divine Fist.”

“Hoho, nice to meet you.”

Won-eum, who was smiling, naturally shifted his gaze to the remaining person, Heavenly Ear Beggar.

“That almsgiver is…”

Scanning Heavenly Ear Beggar, he subconsciously tilted his head.

It was because he somehow looked familiar.

‘He seems like someone I’ve seen somewhere…’

Heavenly Ear Beggar, looking dumbfounded, said.

“I am…”

He, who was about to speak, suddenly realized his own condition and broke out in a cold sweat.

‘Oops! My appearance right now is a mess!’

Having gotten used to this appearance over time, he had momentarily failed to recognize what was strange about himself.

He hurriedly changed the topic.

“Keu-heum, you are staring too much. At this rate, you’ll bore a hole in my face.”

Won-eum hurriedly pressed his palms together.

“I apologize. Great Man, you resembled someone I know, so I unintentionally ended up staring blankly.”

“Keu-heum, it’s fine. However, it would be better to be a bit careful from next time.”

Heavenly Ear Beggar abruptly turned his head away.

‘Phew, I guess I wasn’t caught.’

By the time he felt relieved.

“But what brings you here?”

Cheon-hwi opened his mouth indifferently as usual.

“Young Hero, by any chance, do you remember the promise you made last time?”

Shifting his gaze to Cheon-hwi, Won-eum spoke with a bright smile.

“The promise to drop by our main mountain.”

“Of course I remember.”

Cheon-hwi’s corners of his mouth curled up as he answered.

What would be the reason for unpacking his bags at this time in Dengfeng County, a place he normally would have just passed by?

It was all for exactly one thing.

‘I must see Shaolin’s martial arts!’