Chapter 25: Shaolin Honorary Disciple
“If I were to stop being an outsider to Shaolin, entering as a lay disciple would be the easiest way, but it isn’t a fundamental solution. Having a lay disciple know the contents of such a divine art would also be problematic.”
Lay disciples could not learn martial arts of the same level as main temple disciples. Having experienced life as a lay disciple, I knew that well.
But for a mere(?) lay disciple to know a martial art that could be considered one of Shaolin’s greatest divine arts?
Of course, as Master Bodhidharma had said, this Heavy Earth Divine Art and my Heavy Earth Divine Art would be different, but there would still be similarities. If rumors began to spread from there, it might cause problems in the future, even if not right now.
“Besides, lay disciples also have duties they must bear, even if they aren’t excessive.”
Above all, if I became a lay disciple, there would be things I had to shoulder, though not as much as a main temple disciple. I did not want that.
Furthermore, and most importantly, even as a lay disciple, if I became a disciple of Shaolin, Master Zhang Sanfeng somehow did not seem like he would let it slide.
“So?”
“I heard there is such a thing as an honorary disciple in Shaolin.”
“An honorary disciple… Are you talking about the one from the Great Beilan War?”
“Yes. I heard it is a position bestowed upon those who have shown great benevolence to Shaolin.”
Shaolin had maintained its position as the center of the orthodox Martial World for a long time. Since the unorthodox factions targeting the orthodox Martial World considered it a presence they absolutely had to break, it was not without a history of suffering great losses.
When the fate of the nation was divided and its foundation changed, back when they fought against the country alongside the northern bandits, Shaolin had once been burned down.
Having little to give to those who stepped forward to restore it, Shaolin registered them as honorary disciples in their records and praised their virtue.
“Was there such a way? Since it was such a long time ago, not many people would remember it.”
“My grandfather liked stories of the Martial World.”
He was a grandfather who encountered the Martial World as a scholar. Because of that, he enjoyed various secret histories of the Martial World, and I, being by his side, grew up listening to those stories.
“Hearing about those bastards suddenly makes me annoyed.”
Shouldn’t he be happy now that a way had been found? Somehow, he got annoyed first rather than agreeing. It was quite scary.
Did I ask for too much?
Sensing my reaction, Buddhist Monk Hye-won spoke up.
“Please understand. In fact, that incident was the reason Shaolin began to take interest in martial arts with similar attributes. Truthfully, though it was blocked in advance and not known to the Martial World, there are still those who secretly plot against us even now.”
“Hmph! If the roots are strong, we can block such things at any time.”
He was probably talking about the trickery Beom-gak had displayed.
An expedient to easily defeat opponents, which did not align with the essence of Shaolin.
It meant there was a reason why such a thing had been created.
Listening to Buddhist Monk Hye-won, I could understand.
“An honorary disciple… If it’s Great Master Bodhidharma’s final insights, it is certainly valuable enough.”
Having calmed his annoyance, this crazy old monster also nodded in agreement, seemingly willing to accept the proposal I had put forward.
Then, he held out the bamboo scroll of the Heavy Earth Divine Art.
“I get it, so read it now.”
“Right now?”
“Hmm? Ah, the kids in the back. Right, we should dismiss them before starting. Since there is an outsider and one who lacks qualification.”
He was back, the lunatic.
The way his eyes gleamed again was just like when I first saw him.
But that wasn’t the reason I mentioned it.
“It’s not that, but first, after I am officially recognized as an honorary disciple…”
“If I say it’s done, it’s done. I’ll just go find the Abbot and grab him by the collar a few times, and it’ll be settled.”
“Ah, yes.”
He was terrifying, this lunatic.
I couldn’t even imagine it.
To ordinary martial artists, the Abbot of Shaolin was practically the heavens. To think there was someone who would openly grab such a heavens by the collar.
Well, as this crazy old monster just said, if it was indeed the final insights Master Bodhidharma left on this land, it would certainly have enough value, so there shouldn’t be any problem.
“You guys, get out of here quickly.”
Perhaps impatient, the crazy old monster spoke while subtly releasing his pressure toward those behind me.
Baek Mu-ho, Beom-gak, and the others looked at the bamboo scroll with regretful faces for a moment before rising.
“If you linger nearby to eavesdrop, I will split your heads.”
“…Haha, of course not.”
It was a perfect threat. Since a display of force had already been properly shown, Baek Mu-ho and Beom-gak backed away with awkward laughs.
They were planning to do it, those guys!
Realizing it instantly from their reactions, Buddhist Monk Hye-won personally led the two of them out.
“Hurry up and start.”
Then the crazy old monster’s urging started again.
Looking impatient, it felt as if he was threatening to split my head too if I didn’t read it quickly.
For now, I unrolled the bamboo scroll.
Needless to say, I could not read the contents inside.
It looked like Sanskrit, or perhaps a local language from another region.
Indeed, if it could be easily read, there would be no reason for that crazy old monster to be so desperate for me. Looking at his actions, it seemed he had tried to decipher it in various ways but failed.
In any case, Master Bodhidharma would tell me. I just had to listen to him and speak.
Now, please read it to me, Master Bodhidharma.
[Ahem!]
Master Bodhidharma? Why is there no answer?
Hurry up. Otherwise, your cute disciple’s head will explode.
Can’t you see the madman over there whose eyes are turning red?
Even though I wanted to urge him, I couldn’t carelessly open my mouth in my current situation, so I was panicking when a deep sigh sounded in my ears.
[It is karma. Amitabha.]
“Can you not read it?”
“No, just a moment…”
Master Bodhidharma!!
[Things I had completely forgotten are coming back to me. Hoho, is this how it feels to flip through a diary thrown away in one’s childhood?]
What are you talking about! Never mind karma, my head is about to explode!!
This lunatic is serious!
Look at those fingers of his twitching over there!!
[I understand.]
Fortunately, having composed himself, he soon recited the words of the bamboo scroll in my head.
The preface was said to be written like this.
“As heaven and earth are chaotic and the world is in turmoil, a hundred laws divide and a thousand teachings contend for righteousness. Thus, knowing that many wander in search of the correct path, I leave this writing for the seekers who thirst for enlightenment.”
My hands and feet cringed as I spoke.
Master Bodhidharma, although there’s no way it’s true even for you, by any chance, did you create this martial art when you were around fifteen?
The sentiment is almost exactly like that.
Now I understood why he hesitated.
“Ohhh! As expected of Great Master Bodhidharma!”
This fellow is quite young at heart too. He liked it very much.
At any rate, the mnemonic for the Heavy Earth Divine Art followed.
It was certainly as Master Bodhidharma had said.
The Heavy Earth Divine Art written here was somewhat inferior in grade compared to the one I had learned.
If the one I learned was something perfectly refined without a single flaw, this was like something riddled with gaps here and there.
Even so, it was clearly something worthy of being called a divine art.
The change was being felt right before my eyes. Suddenly, the room felt narrow.
Every time the mnemonic left my mouth, I could clearly feel this crazy old monster undergoing a transformation.
And when the contents of the bamboo scroll ended, I could see the old monster looking at me with a much deeper gaze.
“You wanted to be an honorary disciple because you don’t want to be bound to Shaolin, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then, if you ever find yourself in trouble in the Martial World, use my name. Those who remember me will not dare to treat you lightly.”
How am I supposed to use your name when I don’t even know who you are?
“Excuse me, but what is your Buddhist name?”
“Gong-ryo.”
“Ah, Gong-ryo… Gong-ryo?!”
It was a Buddhist name I had heard before.
“Divine Monk Gong-ryo?!”
Because it was a name often mentioned by my grandfather whenever Shaolin was brought up, I could recognize it.
Was it the previous generation, or perhaps the generation before that? In any case, it was definitely a Buddhist name that had gained fame a long time ago.
“Hehehe.”
Was he amused that I recognized him? That crazy old monster, an existence who was once called a Divine Monk in the Martial World, let out a faint laugh.
“Now, you leave as well.”
Along with his laughter, Divine Monk Gong-ryo issued an eviction order, his eyes slowly closing.
***
Only after walking a certain distance after coming outside could I see Baek Mu-ho, Buddhist Monk Hye-won, and Beom-gak waiting for me.
Buddhist Monk Hye-won treated me with a mixed expression of joy and regret.
“It did not turn out as I expected, but you have indeed become a disciple of Shaolin in some way.”
“That’s how it turned out.”
Even if he didn’t expect me to inherit Divine Monk Gong-ryo’s legacy, I guessed he thought I would be moved by the old monster’s martial arts and become a disciple of Shaolin, since we shared a common tendency of pursuing the source of Shaolin.
Well, if it weren’t for Master Zhang Sanfeng or Master Bodhidharma, I might have tolerated that crazy temperament.
No, in the first place, if I hadn’t come into contact with the two of them, such a connection wouldn’t have been formed, would it?
Anyway, now that I had given everything I should, I had to receive what I deserved, right?
“Ah, excuse me.”
“Speak.”
“Since this is my first time at Shaolin, may I look around the surroundings?”
Master Bodhidharma said there would be something left in Shaolin to help my growth. That meant I had to wander around Shaolin’s territory. Since there might be places that were awkward to enter alone as a guest.
If I happened to find a treasure and got caught, it would be difficult to claim ownership.
I had to take care of my own share too.
Buddhist Monk Hye-won smiled warmly.
“You are now an honorary disciple of Shaolin. You are also someone who has definitely caught the eye of the Grand Patriarch.”
“That means I have permission.”
“It means there would be no problem even if you went to the Abbot’s bedchamber.”
“That sounds good.”
Now, no matter where the thing Master Bodhidharma said he would give me was hidden, I could search for it without worry.
If anything, I had to worry about the other side.
Shaolin was said to have collapsed once and been rebuilt, so I worried that whatever Master Bodhidharma had hidden might have been lost in the process.
[If it were hidden in such a way, I wouldn’t have even mentioned it.]
‘Aha!’
It would definitely remain. Nodding at Master Bodhidharma’s confident words, I smiled brightly.
Since it could look like I was happy about being able to walk around Shaolin, Buddhist Monk Hye-won also seemed quite pleased.
“Then, feel free to look around.”
With that, Buddhist Monk Hye-won turned around and took care of his disciple, Beom-gak.
Did he feel something ominous? Beom-gak threw a tantrum.
“Since it’s their first time, I should guide…”
“Let’s start by removing the venom lodged in your tongue.”
“Hieek!”
It seemed Beom-gak was destined to be dragged away.
Yes, return as a new man.
I waved my hand at Beom-gak, who was being dragged away by his earlobe.
Baek Mu-ho stealthily approached.
“Now, since it’s just the two of us, tell me about this Heavy Earth Divine Art.”
Since it was Master Bodhidharma’s legacy, his interest seemed to be piqued.
I was sorry, but this was something I could not talk about.
“Do you want to cut your head?”
“You mean hair, right?”
“If I open my mouth, one of the two will definitely be cut. Only you.”
“Che!”
Baek Mu-ho clicked his tongue and stepped back.
Perhaps he asked half-jokingly, as he did not cling to it.
Come to think of it, that meant the other half was serious, though.
Although I didn’t know what Master Bodhidharma had left behind, if it was something that could be shared, I should consider sharing it.
Since he was a fellow I would bump into a lot during my long life, if the gap widened too much because I only took care of myself, our relationship might become tangled.
If he drifted away from my side in that manner, it would leave a very bitter taste.
“Huh?”
I was lost in sentiment for no reason, when suddenly I felt a gaze from somewhere.
It was not a passing glance, but a gaze filled with intense emotion.
Turning my head in the direction of the gaze, I could see why such intense emotion was felt from it.
Yin Si-hoo.
The bastard had spotted me.
The look he cast this way was tightly packed with an easy-to-recognize emotion.
‘Are you going to pick a fight?’
It was a look that seemed ready to pick a fight at any moment.
“Well, that’s fine by me.”
Because I was no longer the me of the past, who had neither backing nor skill.