Chapter 26: Ill-Fated Relation, Destiny, Miraculous Encounter, and a Monkey

Yin Si-hoo was not in a good mood.

Honestly, it was because he did not like coming to this place in the first place.

At some point, the disciples of the Nine Sects and One Gang had begun to regularly hold events to promote harmony and cultivate their righteous spirit.

Normally, someone in Yin Si-hoo’s position being invited to such a gathering was out of the question.

Apart from Yin Si-hoo’s family, Yin Si-hoo himself was merely a very common lay disciple.

Since it was a gathering of the most prominent disciples from the Nine Sects and One Gang, even average main temple disciples were often unable to join. It was a place that riffraff could not even dream of.

It meant the place was full of high-and-mighty fellows.

Even the lowest-ranking person here was higher in status than Yin Si-hoo.

That was the first reason Yin Si-hoo did not want to participate in this gathering.

Among the lay disciples of the Wudang Sect, Yin Si-hoo was the most outstanding and authoritative.

In fact, he could drive out anyone he disliked just by dropping a few subtle hints.

But not here.

Even if he disliked someone, he had to smile, and he had to read the room. He had to act like a dead man and hold his breath.

Trying to show off in a place like this would only lead to embarrassment.

But he couldn’t even get embarrassed as he pleased.

The second reason.

‘Yin Seung-hwan.’

Yin Si-hoo’s younger brother.

The younger brother, who was a year younger, was a genius.

When they were young, he was just an ordinary kid with similar comprehension, but suddenly from a certain moment, he transformed and began to display an unbelievable genius.

As if it wasn’t innate, but rather something received from someone afterward.

But even if it was acquired, talent was still talent.

The talent of Yin Si-hoo’s younger brother, Yin Seung-hwan, who was born a genius, shone like the sun.

Even among the rising stars of the Nine Sects and One Gang who showed off their brilliant talents, his talent did not fall behind.

Everyone recognized that talent.

Even his family.

Honestly, Yin Si-hoo had thought that his younger brother, Yin Seung-hwan, would join the Wudang Sect like him.

However, the family sent Yin Seung-hwan to the Zhongnan Sect.

Having gone to the Zhongnan Sect, Yin Seung-hwan became a main temple disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.

Yin Si-hoo easily understood the reason.

It was a well-known story that the founding patriarch who established the Zhongnan Sect under the influence of the Quanzhen Sect was a military general.

Perhaps because of that, the Zhongnan Sect had been one of the places where the boundary with the secular world was blurry since ancient times. Although located in the mountains, main temple disciples from the Zhongnan Sect frequently returned to the secular world to enter the military.

A sect where even if one entered as a main temple disciple, they were no different from a secular person.

The family thought that Yin Seung-hwan could rise rapidly in the Zhongnan Sect to aim for the position of Sect Leader, or enlist in the military as a main temple disciple to seek a high-ranking position. That was why they chose the Zhongnan Sect.

Unlike himself, who was treated like a tagalong, this move showed that the family was pondering deeply about Yin Seung-hwan’s future.

Actually, everyone knew this.

That was why his heart ached even more.

An older brother inferior to his younger brother.

Those words pierced his chest, making him vomit up something rotten.

“So, you are Seung-hwan’s older brother?”

Yin Si-hoo turned his head at the familiar words.

Since it was familiar, he could reflexively perform the reaction he should display after hearing these words.

“Yes, I am Yin Si-hoo.”

“I heard you are a Wudang Sect lay disciple.”

“Haha, compared to my younger brother, I am lacking in many ways.”

Yin Si-hoo was momentarily flustered. Usually, not many people pointed out that he was a lay disciple of the Wudang Sect.

However, Yin Si-hoo hid his feelings with a familiar attitude.

Such a Yin Si-hoo was patted on the shoulder by the person who spoke to him.

“Well, it must be tough for you too. To have a younger brother like that. An older brother inferior to his younger brother… It’s certainly not a pleasant thing to hear.”

Although it sounded like comfort, every word he spoke strangely clawed at his insides.

‘This guy’s insides must be quite rotten too.’

He was doing it on purpose.

They were of the same kind.

Yin Si-hoo recalled the name of his interlocutor from memory.

‘Was it Mae Gyeong-pung?’

He was a detestable fellow.

“Cheer up.”

Even the words of comfort sounded unpleasant. Because he knew they were not meant as comfort.

While he was suppressing his anger like that.

“Endure it.”

An even more detestable voice was heard.

Having approached at some point, his younger brother Yin Seung-hwan spoke commandingly.

“He is an unpleasant guy, but he isn’t someone you can afford to pick a fight with, Brother. Especially since Jang So-wol is participating, there are many famous people here, so don’t make a big scene.”

“…I know.”

Jang So-wol.

The daughter of a monster who was said to be among the top ten swordsmen in the entire Martial World, both orthodox and unorthodox.

Although she had the body of a woman, her martial arts prowess was already evaluated as beyond the level of her peers, making her a prominent rising star. Her beauty was also outstanding, attracting many pursuers.

She was an existence that even his younger brother, Yin Seung-hwan, could not easily approach.

Perhaps she was also a woman his younger brother was aiming for.

Shifting his gaze, he saw Jang So-wol, who was mingling with the disciples of the Nine Sects despite not being from one of them.

A woman whose reality surpassed all rumors was there.

She was beautiful. Clear features and hair draped like ebony. Her facial structure and body proportions were perfect.

Yet, what was disparate despite such a beautiful appearance was the atmosphere surrounding her body.

Though beautiful, instead of the typical softness of women, she exuded the spirit of a man.

Her back and shoulders were straight and upright. She possessed qualities different from ordinary women. The duality, a mixture of feminine beauty and a swordsman’s strength, strangely exuded even a gender-neutral charm.

She was a flower of steel.

A flower that would not be easily broken.

For those with a desire to conquer, she possessed a charm that made them want to tame her.

No wonder the high-and-mighty gathered over there were anxious.

In fact, the reason why such a large crowd had gathered was largely due to Jang So-wol’s participation.

Whether it was because Yin Seung-hwan had come here, or because Yin Si-hoo’s gaze was felt.

Sensing a few gazes shifting in this direction and fearing eye contact, Yin Si-hoo turned his gaze elsewhere.

“…!”

In Yin Si-hoo’s view as he turned his head, something unexpected appeared. A truly unexpected figure was there.

For a moment, he had to blink his eyes repeatedly, wondering if it was an illusion.

“This…”

How dare he show his face here.

Yin Si-hoo felt something boiling inside him.

However, he could not show it.

If he made a scene for no reason, he would have to reveal his relationship with Yeon Cheong-un, and if Yeon Cheong-un opened his mouth, it would be Yin Si-hoo himself who would be humiliated.

The one here now was not the unrestrained Yin Si-hoo of Mount Wudang. He was the lowest of the low, a trifling and insignificant existence out of the question.

Yin Si-hoo’s stomach churned, but he had to endure it.

***

“Tch! He isn’t attacking.”

“Who? That Yin Si-hoo guy?”

“Yeah. He wasn’t someone with that much patience.”

Judging by his eyes, he looked like he wanted to rush over right away.

But he did not do so.

His angry gaze blazed like fire, but he was trying his best not to show it on his face.

I hadn’t even laid a finger on him, but just being here felt like tormenting him.

“Mu-ho.”

“Yeah?”

“I guess I am no saint either. This is quite fun.”

Watching Yin Si-hoo struggle desperately not to reveal his emotions was rather entertaining in its own way.

Some people talk about revenge being base or futile, but unfortunately, it seemed I was not enough of a saint to agree.

“What is with that look?”

Baek Mu-ho’s expression was strange.

“Fortunately, you haven’t completely lost your mind.”

“What did I do?”

“Put your hand on your chest. If you think what you just said isn’t crazy, then either your head or your conscience is not normal.”

He really spoke without filter.

But I admitted it.

To put it nicely, I could be called diligent and sincere; to put it mockingly, I could be called tenacious.

But I was not of a personality to be called a saint.

“Anyway, is that Jang So-wol? I can see why they’re gathered.”

When I didn’t counter, Baek Mu-ho, who was observing the direction where Yin Si-hoo was, spotted someone and nodded.

It was not difficult to tell who he was talking about.

The disciples of the Nine Sects, who were counted among the greatest geniuses under heaven. Even in the place where such people gathered, there was one who stood out distinctively.

“Is she famous?”

“She isn’t a disciple of the Nine Sects, yet she is present at their gathering. That should tell you enough, right?”

It meant she was extremely famous.

And there was a good reason for it.

“Still, she falls short of Sister Seol-ah.”

“…Now I am sincerely worried about your head, my friend.”

At my words, Baek Mu-ho’s expression turned sour. He looked genuinely pitying.

Considering Sister Seol-ah hadn’t beaten a fellow like him to death, she was practically an angel in my eyes.

“Anyway, unless you’re going to fight, stop that cheap-looking staring contest and let’s go somewhere else.”

“Shall we?”

Thinking about the fundamental reason I chose to come to Shaolin, it was not good for me to clash with that guy here either.

Since Divine Monk Gong-ryo agreed to back me up and I had become an honorary disciple of Shaolin, most accidents could be covered up, but if I caused trouble in that manner, eyes would inevitably follow.

It would be better to cause trouble after obtaining what Master Bodhidharma mentioned.

“See you next time.”

At a distance where he couldn’t hear, I promised a next time to Yin Si-hoo.

I will climb higher than I am now.

You just stay stuck down there.

***

Mount Song is largely composed of three peaks: the center is Jungeuk Peak, the east is Taesil Peak, and the west is Sosil Peak.

Shaolin was named so because it was settled at the northern foot of Sosil Peak.

All the minor peaks attached to those three peaks combined are called the Seventy-Two Peaks of Mount Song.

The place I was currently heading to was a slope of Jungeuk Peak, the center.

[Circulate the Heavy Earth Mind Method here.]

As evening came, the sun set, and darkness fell upon the mountain. I moved quietly under the cover of night.

The reason I specifically chose to come to Shaolin was to retrieve what Master Bodhidharma had left in Shaolin—or rather, Mount Song.

Fortunately, he seemed to have left it outside Shaolin. That was why he was confident it would remain without being lost.

By the way, was there some sort of mechanism or formation installed? Why was he telling me to operate the Heavy Earth Divine Art here?

“Why did we come here?”

This fellow would surely find it strange.

Like a needle and thread, there was no way Baek Mu-ho wouldn’t follow wherever I went.

Since I planned to share if I obtained something anyway, I brought him along. But what should I say?

“Just wait.”

For now, I had no choice but to make an excuse.

And first, I had to do as Master Bodhidharma instructed.

I immediately began to operate the Heavy Earth Divine Art.

Since it was a martial art in which I hadn’t even achieved the first stage, I sat cross-legged and closed my eyes to concentrate more deeply.

“Hey… Hey, wake up.”

Suddenly, Baek Mu-ho called out to me.

Wondering what was happening, I opened my eyes.

“An ape?”

A large ape with golden fur, whose body was about one torso larger than a human, approached and stared at us.

It was not in an aggressive stance, so Baek Mu-ho did not draw his sword to engage immediately, but he looked quite tense.

However, I could observe the golden-furred ape without feeling tense at all.

It was because I understood why Master Bodhidharma had told me to operate the Heavy Earth Divine Art.

It was probably to call this ape, which appeared to be a spiritual beast.

If so, she had to be a creature with a connection to Master Bodhidharma.

“She looks reliable.”

“Is this the time for that?”

“It’s fine. That broad-chested fellow…”

[She is a female.]

“…That lady, so… what?”

That is, that large, solid, broad chest…

Oh my.