Chapter 31: Jang Mun-gyeong

Although she maintained her composure in her own way, Jang So-wol found the unfolding situation absurd.

It was a situation where unexpected events were popping up one after another.

Getting caught up in the incident where a descendant of an ancient prestigious demonic sect invaded and attacked Mount Song, where Shaolin was located, was something that could be dismissed as simply having terrible luck.

Although the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions were in a truce while avoiding all-out war, minor conflicts still continued even now.

Although the place was what it was and this matter could not be called minor, it was not as if such battles did not exist at all.

The problem was this young expert who appeared afterward.

The domineering martial art he showed when he first appeared was hard fist itself.

The moment she saw it, the first thing that came to mind was, as expected, Shaolin.

Since the location was Mount Song, she thought he was a disciple raised by Shaolin. Although he had a full head of hair for a Shaolin disciple, she assumed there must be some story behind it. It was not as if Shaolin did not have lay disciples.

However, what he showed next was beyond Jang So-wol’s imagination.

It was the martial arts of the Wudang Sect, executed with an immense level of proficiency.

Although one might think she had mistaken it for another similar type of martial art, Jang So-wol was certain.

It carried an excessively strong scent of the Wudang Sect.

Jang So-wol’s father, Jang Mun-gyeong, was a figure who had done everything possible to perfect his sword. Knowing how his martial art, the Peak Sword Tao, was evaluated in the Martial World, and considering that Jang So-wol had learned her father’s Peak Sword Tao, her discernment was clearly beyond the ordinary level.

That discernment was certain.

It was definitely the Wudang Sect’s martial art.

Shaolin Fist and Wudang Fist.

The martial arts, openly revealed as if he had no intention of hiding them, were clearly those of the two giants of the orthodox Martial World, the Revered Wudang of the South and the Venerated Shaolin of the North.

It was to the point where she wondered if he was a genius secretly raised by Wudang and Shaolin joining hands.

Come to think of it, there seemed to have been a similar story among the old tales her father had told her.

At any rate, one thing was clear.

Kwaaaaang!

The single exchange where a swordsman’s life-staking sword and an ultimate strike collided shook Jang So-wol’s heart.

It was not a girlish sentiment. Jang So-wol herself was far from such things.

However, she was a martial artist. It was certainly a sight worthy of admiration as a martial artist.

This person stood out.

There were people like that. Those who merely moved the way they always did, yet what was ordinary to themselves appeared extraordinary to those around them.

A person who was red alone among ordinary white.

Jang So-wol licked her upper lip with her tongue.

“I’ve grown interested.”

Her father had said. Considering Jang So-wol’s current standards, there would be no one who could capture her interest, even among the geniuses of the Nine Sects.

Her father was wrong.

There was. Someone who captured her interest.

“Both of them.”

And not just one, but two.

The strike that crushed the sword stance revealing the true meaning of the Nether Void Tremor Strike, along with the sword itself, was shocking, but the sword that showed a presence not yielding to such a strike was also not to be underestimated.

Jang So-wol let slip a strange smile.

***

It was a natural course of events that Shaolin was thrown into an uproar.

It was shocking enough that a group of the demonic faction had launched an attack, but a disciple had even died after getting caught up in it.

To make matters worse, the one who died was also a prominent figure.

A rising star who was expected to bear the future of the Zhongnan Sect had died.

Since it happened on Mount Song, it was an event that occurred under Shaolin’s influence. From Shaolin’s perspective, it had become a headache.

“I heard you were quite active.”

Returning to the premises of Shaolin, I smiled sheepishly at Monk Hye-won, who had come to visit.

At Monk Hye-won’s words, a feeling that I had not felt when I was actually running wild came over me.

Looking at my hand, Monk Hye-won frowned.

“You got hurt.”

“Yes, well.”

It was the price of dealing with the last sword strike unleashed by the leader of the enemies who had confronted Jang So-wol with my bare hands.

Although it was a minor wound considering it was the price of directly crushing a strike that would cut even steel like mud.

“You really should realize by now that doing crazy stunts gets you hurt.”

“Shut up.”

Baek Mu-ho, who had been staying quiet, grumbled and chimed in.

When I snapped back, he turned his head away, but with his lips pouting, he did not look to be in a good mood.

Watching the two of us bickering, Monk Hye-won chuckled softly.

“It’s a good thing I brought this.”

Monk Hye-won pulled out a small box about the size of two fingers from his robe. Inside the box, something was wrapped in oiled paper, resembling a black ointment.

[‘It is the Mysterious Deep Body-Nourishing Ointment. It should be an item of the quasi-elixir grade?’]

Judging by Master Bodhidharma’s words, it seemed to be a fairly good medicine.

“It seems like a precious item…”

“It is precious indeed. So, wouldn’t it be meaningful?”

Monk Hye-won scooped a tiny bit of the ointment with his fingertip and applied it to my injured hand.

Following a stinging pain, a refreshing, cool sensation spread over the wound.

As expected of a quasi-elixir, it already felt like the pain was disappearing.

[‘When you undergo harsh training, your body is bound to get damaged easily. The Mysterious Deep Body-Nourishing Ointment is the most effective medicine among those that aid Shaolin’s harsh training.’]

The kind of training where muscles tear and bones break, you mean?

It was truly worthy of being called a quasi-elixir.

I wished I had at least one of those as well.

This was because I had a premonition that Master Zhang Sanfeng would do something crazy with my body sooner or later anyway.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to take it?”

“Pardon?”

“Use it sparingly. It is a precious item, just as you said.”

Monk Hye-won, who had only taken out a tiny amount of the content, closed the box and handed it to me.

Although I coveted it, was it really alright to accept it?

“Is it really alright for me to accept this?”

“I received permission from above. Strictly speaking, you are no longer someone who can be considered an outsider to Shaolin. Most of all, every single thing you have done for Shaolin is not a small matter.”

There was the transmission of Master Bodhidharma’s martial arts, and there was also the fact that I had prevented the disciples of the Nine Sects from suffering heavy casualties this time.

Although it was not without casualties, the atmosphere of Shaolin would have been noticeably different from now if I hadn’t been there.

Considering that, it felt like it might actually be a small reward.

No, but even so, isn’t the way they are giving this reward a bit strange?

“Ahem! I am also a bit injured here…”

“Just put some spit on it.”

“Tch!”

Seriously, he had a real knack for spoiling the mood.

How far was I thinking?

Ah, the way of giving.

“Do you have something you want to say?”

“I do.”

Indeed, there was something.

Considering the merit I established, it would be beneficial for Shaolin to promote me extensively. As Monk Hye-won said, it was perfectly fine to view me as already belonging to Shaolin.

My intuition is pretty good too, right?

I looked at Baek Mu-ho triumphantly. But why was his mouth shaping the word ‘dumbass’?

“I felt it wasn’t something to decide unilaterally. It seems the decision will vary depending on your opinion.”

“Is it about the aftermath of this incident?”

“Correct. Considering the strength of the opponents who launched the raid, this was certainly a defeat of the enemies with few casualties. However, of all things, the one who died is the problem. Since their cherished rising star died, the Zhongnan Sect will definitely make a move. Especially now, when the voices of the pro-war faction claiming that peace has been too long are growing louder. They will also act in unison.”

“It seems to be a political issue.”

“Indeed. If you continue to stay here, you will get caught up in it as well.”

“Mmm…”

For my part, since I was in a position of having established merit, neither Southern Edge nor Shaolin would treat me poorly, but judging by Monk Hye-won’s mention, I felt I might get entangled in a matter that could be the prelude to a headache.

It seemed there was a pro-war faction within the Nine Sects who claimed that the unorthodox and demonic groups must be annihilated, and this incident was the perfect excuse for them to use.

My position or voice, having established great merit in this incident, was perfect for them to exploit.

“If you are greedy for success or power, it might be an opportunity.”

“I don’t have much interest in that sort of thing.”

“I thought you would say that. If you had been interested in such things, you wouldn’t have kicked away the position of the Grand Ancestral Master’s disciple in the first place.”

At my simple reply, Monk Hye-won nodded as if he had expected it.

That was why he had arranged this meeting.

“I am sorry to say this, but if that is your intention, it would be best for you to leave before you get held back.”

No, I’ve already obtained everything I wanted to get from Shaolin, though.

While that was my perspective, it seemed Monk Hye-won thought differently.

From Monk Hye-won’s perspective, he had intended to bring me to Shaolin and teach or transmit something to me in his own way. But since he could not do so, he seemed to feel extremely sorry.

It made me feel even more apologetic instead.

“And so…”

Monk Hye-won pulled out one more thing from his robe.

“Take this as well.”

What he pulled out was something like a bracelet. It was an object made of an ink-colored metal that looked crude but sturdy.

“It will be of small help to your training in the future.”

“What is it…”

“The Grand Ancestral Master told me to deliver it, saying it is a gift from Shaolin. I heard that if you wear it and cultivate your internal energy, a more pure energy will gather. For you, who still have plenty of room to grow, it will be helpful in many ways.”

If true, it was no different from a treasure.

If it was such an item, I could not refuse.

“I will use it well.”

I accepted the object carefully.

From the bracelet that touched my hand, the unique coldness of metal was felt. I wasn’t sure if it was because of what I just heard, but it felt like my mind was clearing up a bit?

[‘Hoho.’]

Suddenly, the laughter of Master Bodhidharma was heard in my ears.

He seemed to know what it was.

[‘Does that still remain?’]

Did it still remain?

Considering that the person called the Grand Ancestral Master possessed Master Bodhidharma’s final legacy, could this also be…?

Did I hit the jackpot?

***

Mount Hua.

A natural territory called the most treacherous mountain under heaven.

However, even in that extremely rough mountain, people lived.

People who were respected and revered by many lived there.

A bird flew in, seeking one of those beings.

A figure whose appearance looked as if he had just popped out of a painting of immortals—truly fitting the phrase ‘Taoist bones and immortal demeanor’—stroked the bird that landed on his finger and felt its leg.

Soon, a small letter was held in his hand.

Wrinkles formed on his jade-like face as he checked the letter.

“Hoho, a failure.”

A clear voice rang softly in the room.

“To think the only one who died was merely a kid of the Zhongnan Sect. I knew they were like insects, but in reality, were they worse than insects?”

However, the words coming out of his mouth contained content that did not match his clear voice.

Fwoosh!

Subsequently, flames surged from his hand, and the small letter he was holding instantly turned to ashes and scattered.

Watching the ashes scatter completely, he let out a small sigh and gazed into the distance.

“Still, it is a relief at least. The Zhongnan Sect are not gentle fellows. It might not be the best, but it will be the next best option.”

Muttering as he looked at the sky, he waved his hand.

Poof!

The bird that had been sitting quietly until a moment ago suddenly lost its form and vanished.

***

The target that the Heavenly Demon, who was frying sinners in hell, was exceptionally obsessed with was the demons from the Demonic Cult.

No matter how busy he was, and even if he was tired and annoyed, he took personal charge of that area.

It was because the way they played, calling themselves the demonic path, was total shit.

You know how it is. It’s annoying to look at, yet you can’t turn your eyes away.

“Right, how many years are you guys in for?”

Throwing a pile of demons into the dung pit, the Heavenly Demon, who was examining the Mirror of Karma to check the personal info of the scoundrels who had come to hell, stiffened his face.

“Ultimate Extreme Strike?”

It was a martial art that should not exist in the present world.

That was because the place where that martial art was perfected was not the present world.

The place where that martial art was completed was the heavens.

Furthermore.

“Genuine Wudang Sect martial arts?”

A brat executing martial arts that should no longer exist in the present world, down to his body movements and footwork, was revealed in the Mirror of Karma reflecting the end of the demons.

The Heavenly Demon stared with dumbfounded eyes across the dung pit at Zhang Sanfeng, who had been drafted to hell as compensation because he had been slacking off frequently lately.

“You, what the hell are you doing with that bastard Bodhidharma?”