Chapter 78
While Ha Hyeon was having a pleasant reunion with Chwiwol Geolgae, the warrior monk guarding the entrance bowed to Ha Hyeon with palms pressed together and spoke once more.
“I see you are Elder Chwiwol Geolgae’s disciple. My name is Wonchul. Amitabha.”
“I am Namgung Ha Hyeon.”
Ha Hyeon formally clasped his hands and greeted him respectfully.
Chwiwol Geolgae looked at the two with disapproval and said:
“Wonchul. Aren’t you also a third-generation disciple?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then you two will have to fight fiercely in a few days, so why are you being so formal with each other?”
“I understood that the reason for our martial contest is not just any fight, but for the development of the younger generation of orthodox sects.”
Chwiwol Geolgae snorted.
“Who said that? Was it Juwon?”
“Yes. Great Monk Juwon said so.”
As he shook his head in disbelief, Wonchul turned to look at Ha Hyeon and said:
“In any case, benefactor. Thank you so much for finding this Buddha statue.”
“Not at all. I brought it without knowing how important it was.”
“That makes it even more meaningful. It is all Buddha’s will.”
During their polite conversation, Chwiwol Geolgae couldn’t bring himself to interrupt and just pouted his lips saying, “It’s not Buddha’s will, it’s my will.”
“Then I’ll see you later. I’ll try not to disappoint you when we meet again.”
“I feel the same way.”
Chwiwol Geolgae waited until they finished their greetings and then took Ha Hyeon into the Shaolin Temple.
“So this is Shaolin Temple.”
He forgot about the earlier commotion with Chwiwol Geolgae and looked around as they entered the Shaolin Temple.
It felt a bit more austere than ordinary temples, but there didn’t seem to be anything special about it being Shaolin.
“Hyeon. You’re thinking it’s not much different from other temples, right?”
“Ah… That’s right.”
“Tsk tsk. I felt the same when I first came here. But it can’t be helped. What you see here is really just an ordinary temple.”
Chwiwol Geolgae gave Ha Hyeon a brief explanation about the Shaolin Temple as he took him to the Guest Quarters where Namgung Min was staying.
“Just because it’s Shaolin doesn’t mean it’s only filled with martial artists like us. No, there are actually more ordinary monks who don’t practice martial arts than warrior monks.”
“Really?”
When Ha Hyeon looked around after hearing this, he suddenly realized that he couldn’t sense any traces of martial arts training from the many monks passing by.
“And most of the people who visit Shaolin are just ordinary Buddhists. Shaolin is different from other sects. This is a place where we coexist with civilians who know nothing of martial arts. There are only two such sects in the entire martial arts world. One is Shaolin, and do you know what the other one is?”
Ha Hyeon answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“It’s the Beggar Sect.”
“That’s right. Half of the Beggar Sect consists of white-clothed beggars who haven’t learned martial arts.”
Chwiwol Geolgae seemed pleased that Ha Hyeon answered immediately and laughed out loud.
After walking and talking for a while.
They soon arrived at the Guest Quarters.
At the door, as Ha Hyeon was about to happily call out to Namgung Min, Chwiwol Geolgae stopped him.
“Wait a moment.”
He crept in silently without making any footsteps.
And inside, as he expected, he found Namgung Min still deeply absorbed in thought.
Ha Hyeon, who followed him, immediately understood what state Namgung Min was in.
“It’s an important moment.”
“Yes. I wonder how many times he’s been like this over the past six days. It’s amazing that there’s still something to realize at his level of martial arts.”
Chwiwol Geolgae quietly took Ha Hyeon to the bathroom.
And he produced clean clothes from somewhere and handed them over.
“Master…”
“Just because you’re a beggar master’s disciple doesn’t mean you need to look like a beggar. Wash yourself thoroughly and come out.”
“Thank you.”
Ha Hyeon gratefully accepted the new clothes and entered the bathroom.
In the bathroom, as if knowing when Ha Hyeon would arrive, a wooden tub was filled with hot water.
The truth was that although Chwiwol Geolgae had scolded Namgung Min whenever he worried about Ha Hyeon, he had actually been drawing hot water every day waiting for Ha Hyeon’s return.
As he poured the hot water over himself, it felt like all the fatigue from the past six days was washed away at once.
Ha Hyeon felt a bit guilty and muttered to himself.
“Still, was the body slam on my master too much?”* * *
While Ha Hyeon finished his bath and completed his energy recovery through breath regulation, about an hour had passed.
And at that moment, Namgung Min opened his closed eyes.
He saw Ha Hyeon in front of him and smiled.
“So Hyeon has arrived.”
“Yes, brother. Have you been well?”
Namgung Min nodded with a smile.
“You look unharmed.”
“Yes. I’m not injured anywhere. Just a bit tired.”
“Haha. But you definitely learned what the formation is, right?”
Ha Hyeon made a disgusted expression.
“Yes. Now I don’t even want to hear the word ‘formation’ anymore. Master is really strong. When he created the formation, he used boulders as big as houses and giant trees.”
“Haha. He mentioned several times how much effort he put into it.”
Just then, Chwiwol Geolgae appeared silently from behind.
“It was all for your own good. Why are you so full of complaints?”
“No! I have no complaints!”
“Tsk tsk. Who would have thought that a disciple I gained in my later years would climb all over his master like this.”
Ha Hyeon opened his round eyes wide and said:
“Climb all over? Where would you find a disciple as respectful and good as me?”
“Would such a person give his master a full body slam?”
“That was because I was so happy to see you that I tried to hug you…”
Ha Hyeon scratched his head awkwardly and let his words trail off.
Chwiwol Geolgae clicked his tongue a few times at Ha Hyeon and then turned his gaze to Namgung Min.
“Min, have you figured something out now?”
“Yes, Elder.”
Chwiwol Geolgae stepped closer to Namgung Min, who was nodding with a smile, and asked:
“What did you realize?”
“I realized that I can trust myself a little more.”
Chwiwol Geolgae smiled at him too.
Because he understood what Namgung Min meant.
“Yes. That’s it. Trust yourself. Not your head.”
“Yes. Thank you for the teaching.”
“Then shall we try it once?”
“I would not refuse.”
Chwiwol Geolgae asked lightly as if suggesting they share a cup of tea, and Namgung Min answered just as lightly.
Namgung Min stood up casually and walked toward Chwiwol Geolgae.
Ha Hyeon could easily infer what was about to happen from their conversation.
It was clear that the two were going to spar.
*Chuk-*
Chwiwol Geolgae and Namgung Min came out to the yard and stood facing each other at arm’s length.
“Don’t you need a sword?”
“No. Right now I don’t think I’ll need one.”
“My goodness. How impudent. Well, do as you please.”
Namgung Min stood with his arms hanging down without taking any particular stance.
And in that moment when Chwiwol Geolgae blinked briefly.
*Swoosh-!*
Namgung Min’s left arm poured out like a whip toward Chwiwol Geolgae.
Chwiwol Geolgae quickly turned his head to avoid Namgung Min’s arm.
*Whoong-*
Immediately, Namgung Min swung his remaining right arm horizontally in a wide arc.
A truly lightning-fast speed.
It didn’t look easy for Chwiwol Geolgae to avoid it.
But the opponent was Chwiwol Geolgae.
*Pak!*
Chwiwol Geolgae stamped his foot on the ground and bounced backward.
It was a movement that applied his specialty, footwork, to combat.
“Wow…!”
Ha Hyeon was so absorbed in their sparring that he unconsciously let out an exclamation.
It was common knowledge that Chwiwol Geolgae was an extraordinary martial artist.
But this was the first time he had seen him sparring like this right before his eyes.
*Shuk Shuk Shuk-*
Namgung Min’s arms seemed to have a life of their own as they chased after Chwiwol Geolgae, but they didn’t reach him, as if attacking a ghost.
“Good! You’re clearly striking based on what you’ve honestly observed!”
“But I still haven’t touched you!”
Although Namgung Min was acknowledged as a skilled fighter throughout the martial arts world, there was still a huge gap between the two.
*Swish- Swish-*
But Ha Hyeon could gradually feel it.
As the sparring continued, Namgung Min’s hands were getting closer and closer to touching Chwiwol Geolgae.
Chwiwol Geolgae seemed to sense this too and tried to distance himself from Namgung Min, but while swinging his arms, Namgung Min continuously stepped with the Infinite Step to stay close to Chwiwol Geolgae.
*Boong!*
At that moment, the sound coming from Namgung Min’s arms changed.
It was definitely faster and heavier than before.
A slight confusion settled in Chwiwol Geolgae’s eyes.
As he tried to stamp his foot and leap backward again.
“Oh?!”
Chwiwol Geolgae realized that behind him was the wall of the Guest Quarters.
And at that moment. Thwack-!
Namgung Min swung his right arm once more, and Chwiwol Geolgae blocked it with his left arm without realizing.
“Damn it.”
Chwiwol Geolgae uttered a crude word and clenched his remaining right fist.
And as his fist extended toward Namgung Min.
“I concede!”
Namgung Min shouted as he quickly retreated backward, and Chwiwol Geolgae’s fist could only hit empty air.
“What?!”
“I am satisfied with just having my arm touch your body, elder. I have lost.”
“What did you say?”
Chwiwol Geolgae seemed to still have lingering attachment despite winning yet feeling like he had lost, but Namgung Min had already returned to Ha Hyeon’s side.
“My goal was not to defeat you, elder, but to follow your movements.”
“Even so, to end it so unsatisfyingly….”
“Thanks to you, I clearly realized what was wrong when I attacked. Thank you.”
With Namgung Min speaking so respectfully, even Chwiwol Geolgae couldn’t insist on continuing the match.
Chwiwol Geolgae smacked his lips regretfully as he straightened his clothes.
“Damn it. I don’t like this! I’ll go to Juwon and get some food!”
Chwiwol Geolgae abruptly left Jigeokdang, and Namgung Min and Ha Hyeon looked at each other and burst into laughter they had been holding back.
At that time, Namgung Min didn’t realize.
The fact that Ha Hyeon had been watching their match thoroughly, observing every single move.
* * *
Early the next morning.
Chwiwol Geolgae took Ha Hyeon deeper into the Shaolin Temple.
After going far into the mountains and crossing a low hill inside the temple, a scene unimaginable until now unfolded.
On a training ground that looked several times larger than the one at the Namgung family residenceâhow could such a spacious place exist in the mountainsâdozens of warrior monks were standing.
Chwiwol Geolgae looked at the place for a moment, then said to Ha Hyeon.
“It seems they haven’t started yet. Watch carefully. What you’re about to see is the true face of Shaolin, the number one orthodox sect.”
Ha Hyeon looked at them again and remained motionless for a while.
But after a very brief moment.
“Haaap!”
Dozens of warrior monks shouted a battle cry in unison.
It was a thunderous shout that seemed to shake the mountain.
“…!”
Ha Hyeon was startled by the sound.
The overflowing, magnificent inner power seemed to strike his ears directly.
“Each one of them is an incredible master.”
“That’s right. The number of martial artists is second only to our Beggarâs sect.”
Just then, someone spoke from behind them.
“How dare you compare us to the Beggarâs sect? Each of our Shaolin members is a powerful master. Aren’t most of the Beggarâs sect members just chaff?”
“What chaff?”
Turning around, they saw Master Juwon standing there holding a prayer bead, having arrived at some point.
“What brings you all the way here? To spy on us?”
“You damned monk! Spy, you say. For me, there’s nothing to learn from watching such chaff!”
“Chaff? Do our 108 Arhats look like chaff to you?”
The two bickered as soon as they met.
Namgung Mu-ryong had told Ha Hyeon before he left that it would be chaotic when Chwiwol Geolgae and Master Juwon got together, and he was exactly right.
After waiting silently for a while, Master Juwon, having concluded their argument for now, finally began to show interest in Ha Hyeon.
“Hmm hmm. This is our first meeting, but I’ve shown you an embarrassing side. I am Juwon. I’ve heard much about you.”
“I am Namgung Ha Hyeon.”
Master Juwon stared intently at Ha Hyeon, who was greeting him respectfully.
He stared so fixedly that Ha Hyeon touched his face hesitantly and asked.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No. You resemble someone so much that I couldn’t help but stare.”
“Pardon?”
“Especially the eyes, they’re very similar. Almost identical.”
Ha Hyeon’s eyes wavered.
He seemed to know who Master Juwon was talking about.
“Did you know my mother well?”
“Yes. I even gave her the nickname ‘Poisonous Heart Beautiful Flower’… Amitabha.”
Juwon closed his eyes and put his palms together.
“You gave my mother her nickname?”
Ha Hyeon showed emotion not usually seen at the unexpected encounter with traces of his mother.
To Ha Hyeon, the name “mother” represented that much longing.
Ha Hyeon approached Master Juwon to ask him in more detail.
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