Chapter 45: Reunion (1)
Unlike Master Zhang Sanfeng or Master Bodhidharma, there was some sort of psychological distance when it came to Master Heavenly Demon.
If I had to classify my roots, they were closer to the government, inheriting the lineage from my grandfather.
However, since the place I entered was the Wudang Sect, I had to be considered part of the Orthodox faction.
The Demonic Sect and demonic practitioners stood at the polar opposite of the Orthodox faction, and Master Heavenly Demon was the being they revered the most.
‘It would be stranger not to feel a distance.’
Still, it was clear that as a martial artist, he was someone to be respected.
Furthermore, since Master Zhang Sanfeng and Master Bodhidharma did not seem to care at all, I could accept him as one of the masters to respect without any issue.
Only.
“Are you two… well, how should I put it…”
[Close?]
“Yes, well. So to speak?”
Why was it such a difficult word that I could not bring myself to say it?
The answer came back so refreshingly that my hesitation felt strange; as expected, my prejudice was uncalled for…
[A while ago, I ripped off that fellow’s arm.]
[Hoho! Why do you leave out the story of your leg being crushed afterward?]
“……Haha.”
Yeah, no.
Listening to the conversation flowing naturally, aren’t they practically mortal enemies?
My face must have stiffened without me realizing, as Master Heavenly Demon chuckled and spoke.
[What is so strange about martial artists sharing martial arts? Such things happen when you fight and compete.]
[It was the only thing he and I could share. In fact, it is also the foundation on which we can coexist. Closeness… Haha. Yes, that is the kind of relationship we have. Though I do not know if you would consider that closeness.]
Martial arts that existed beyond ideology.
I felt that something existed between the two of them, something so vast that it made me think it was beyond my ability to fully fathom.
“You two are mature adults.”
[Bullshit.]
[Hahaha.]
Seeing how the reaction was half-hearted, it seemed to be my misunderstanding, though.
[By the way, you applied what I taught you in an interesting way?]
“Pardon?”
[Stepping on empty air, that is.]
“Ah…”
It was a technique I used almost unconsciously. It sort of popped out without my knowledge while my instincts were running wild.
It was to the point that I only realized what I had done after the situation was over.
At any rate, one thing had become clear because of that.
It meant that I could display Master Heavenly Demon’s Heavenly Demon Calamity-less Hand without necessarily entering a dangerous stage.
Of course, it would not exert the same power as when wiping out the bandits, but it seemed possible to draw it out to a minor extent.
Perhaps that was the level Master Heavenly Demon intended to pass down to me. Since the Heavenly Demon Calamity-less Hand must also have its basic stages.
Huh? But, wait.
“You saw it?”
The masters, busy with their main jobs (?), had decided to watch over me in turns. Yet, Master Heavenly Demon, who was not present at the time, spoke as if he had witnessed my movements directly.
[Emptiness and void are my specialties. Even I do not know how this Zi-Wu Mirror penetrates the Great Deity-Sealing Barrier to manifest such wonders on earth, but if it is inside the heavens, within the barrier, joining spaces together is not difficult. If I just get a suitable treasure and connect it to the Zi-Wu Mirror, I can watch as much as I want.]
“……”
He casually spoke of something incredibly unfathomable.
[To do such a thing…]
[Who cares? If they do not like it, let them dismiss me. That would be fun too. However, would those noble higher-ups be willing to dip their hands in boiling sewage instead of me?]
[Heh!]
Looking at the flow of the conversation, it seemed Master Bodhidharma did not know about Master Heavenly Demon’s actions either.
[It is not particularly bad, is it? With that, you can also watch the kid during your off-hours. Even that fellow Sanfeng gladly accepted it.]
[Umm.]
[Anyway, the problem is that you have a needlessly serious side. That is why even after spending all that time… Tsk.]
Master Heavenly Demon?
He said something without a subject, but how should I say it…
Master Bodhidharma also has quite a temper, you know?
[Hahaha! It seems you want to crawl on the floor after a long time.]
Like this.
[You too seem to have forgotten whom you are acting insolent in front of.]
Ah, this side was Master Heavenly Demon.
[Bam! Kaboom! Crash!! Bang!!]
A moment later, noises loud enough to split my head began to resound.
Sigh, why is it that ominous premonitions never miss the mark?
***
The Mount Hua Sect was bustling from early morning.
It was understandable since there were unidentified bastards poking around the surroundings.
“Should I help?”
If they wanted to defend all the villages around Mount Hua, even the Mount Hua Sect would be short-handed.
However, hearing my muttered words, Baek Mu-ho shook his head vigorously.
“There is no need to step forward and help?”
At my answer, Baek Mu-ho raised his arms above his head to form a circle.
Since I told him not to speak, he was replacing words with body movements.
“Indeed, if two green fledglings say they will help because the situation looks difficult, their pride might be hurt.”
Baek Mu-ho nodded, agreeing that my words were correct.
Then he made a running motion in place and tilted his head.
“Where did you suddenly learn lightfoot art?”
When I asked back, Baek Mu-ho laughed silently and widely, then raised his arms to make a circle.
Even though I made him unable to speak, he was enjoying himself.
He was a cheerful guy.
No matter where he was thrown, this fellow would play fun.
Then how would he react to this answer?
“I met Founder Zhang Sanfeng and Great Master Bodhidharma in my dream, and they taught me.”
I spoke the truth, except for the part about it being a dream.
“……”
Baek Mu-ho looked at me in disbelief. Meanwhile, he spun his finger next to his head, indicating if I had gone mad.
I went out of my way to tell the truth! How unfair!!
“Quiet down. Let’s tour around Mount Hua first.”
The reason I chose Mount Hua for my journey when leaving Shaolin was that Master Bodhidharma recommended it. Considering the jackpot I hit at Mount Song, I could not ignore Master Bodhidharma’s suggestion.
Mouth opening and closing. Swoosh swoosh.
Baek Mu-ho mouthed something, then waved his finger near his ear.
“I cannot even speak, so what is quiet down?”
Nod nod.
“Since your actions are interpreted exactly as they are seen, it is like I can hear them in my ears, punk.”
It must mean we were childhood friends who shared that much understanding.
Having no formalities, even if we swore at each other or put each other down a bit, we understood each other deep down, so there was no reason to get hurt.
Baek Mu-ho, who connected with my words,
“……”
Was making a shy gesture, rubbing his two fists against his cheeks.
Yeah, he is definitely teasing me.
“I will make you do what you are doing right now in front of your older sister.”
“……?!!”
Baek Mu-ho fell to his knees and begged desperately.
He never listens to words.
***
Mount Hua is composed of steep peaks made of granite. Among them, three peaks are called Immortal, Landing Wild Goose, and Lotus Flower, and the Mount Hua Sect is located at the summit of Lotus Flower Peak.
The place Baek Mu-ho and I were heading to was Immortal Peak, which lies past Lotus Flower Peak.
[Immortal Peak? Ah, there?]
When Master Bodhidharma spoke about Immortal Peak, Master Heavenly Demon also spoke as if he knew something about it.
[Since the disciple has also learned your martial arts deeply, unlike at Mount Song, who knows if he might gain something.]
[At the same time, if by any chance the true force of the Metal Deity of the West, the White Emperor, remains, he could try to obtain that too?]
[If that happens, it would be the icing on the cake.]
[Indeed, since heaven and earth were divided by the Great Deity-Sealing Barrier, it is difficult for proper divine power to remain on earth.]
They were calmly sharing opinions, as if their previous fistfight was a lie. There were still many words I could not understand.
Since I had learned from experience that it was best to just let these stories slide by, I let them go in one ear and out the other.
The masters’ stories contained too many out-of-bounds tales, so trying to listen to and think about all of them seriously was exhausting.
Right at that moment.
“Huh?”
Sensing a presence, I turned my gaze toward it.
A disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, looking to be about thirty years old, was lingering around.
Not only was this area rugged, but judging by the traces of bushes nearby, it was a place where human footsteps rarely reached.
Why was a Mount Hua Sect disciple lingering in such a place?
“Is he someone you know?”
At my question, Baek Mu-ho answered by shrugging his shoulders once.
It meant he did not know him.
Well, even though he had been affiliated with the Mount Hua Sect, he was not a main sect disciple, so it was not strange that there were people he did not know.
“Ah, now that I think about it, I think I saw him yesterday.”
He was one of the people who had approached to thank me when I set a punishment for the rampaging Taoist Zabu.
‘The person who gave a bad feeling.’
I did not know the reason, but it felt somewhat uncomfortable. I did not know why I felt that way, but it was like that anyway.
Perhaps he also spotted us, as he approached closer.
“You are Taoists who will receive blessings.”
The man, who wore a good-natured smile, glanced around the extremely rugged surroundings and then spoke again.
“This is a place with few people; what business brings you here?”
I had to make up a reasonable excuse, but how should I answer?
If I spoke the truth that Master Bodhidharma told me to go, he would look at me as if I were a madman, just like Baek Mu-ho did earlier.
“Since I came to Mount Hua, which is known as the most rugged mountain under heaven, I wanted to walk around here and there.”
“Unusual.”
“If you are confident in your lightfoot art, it is fine to be a bit unusual.”
I puffed out my chest and said.
It was a confidence that grew in just one day, but who cared.
“Indeed, since I heard you climbed up a ridiculous place even when you first set foot in the Mount Hua Sect, that might be possible.”
He seemed to accept it.
This time, I asked.
“What brings you to a place like this, mister?”
“I thought that if someone targeting the Mount Hua Sect were to move, they would come by a path with few people. I was searching for places that seemed likely.”
“Ah.”
It was an answer as well-grounded as my own.
“People of your level will not get hurt. Do as you please.”
Watching the back of the Mount Hua Sect disciple walking away somewhere, I furrowed my brow slightly.
“It is happening again.”
This time, too, I felt a lingering discomfort.
He was a person doing dirty work for the sake of the Mount Hua Sect, so I felt sorry for looking at him so suspiciously.
Once again, I felt a desire to help with something.
“There is no way the Mount Hua Sect lacks martial power. If they need anything, it would be information… Should I have captured a few bandits and dug up information?”
Unlike the Red Blood Wolves who had no particular information, the bandits might have had at least one piece of useful information.
It was all useless talk now, though.
Do they not say that the dead have no words? Silencing by killing is not a saying for nothing.
“Huh?”
The dead have no words?
“Wait?”
No, they do.
Thinking about it carefully, there was one place to dig up information.
I muttered quietly, only moving my lips so that Baek Mu-ho could not hear.
“Master Heavenly Demon, you work in Hell, right?”