Chapter 79
“Do you know my mother well?”
“Probably among Mu-ryong ‘s… that is, your grandfather’s close friends, I likely knew Yeong-ryeong the best.”
“How so?”
Chwiwol Geolgae, who had been listening from behind, burst into hearty laughter and said,
“Yeong-ryeong caused a moderate amount of trouble when she was young. Mu-ryong sent her here for a while, thinking that if she trained at Shaolin, her temperament might soften a bit. She stayed for about six months, didn’t she?”
“Yes. She was here about that long. Those times… were not easy for me either.”
Juwon shook his head.
Usually, Ha Hyeon heard stories about his mother from Namgung Mu-ryong or Gi-cheol and Gi-hyeon, but hearing stories like this gave him a different feeling.
“Did my mother cause that much trouble?”
“Don’t even mention it. Even then, Yeong-ryeong stayed not at The Guest house but at Yangsimdang.”
Master Juwon explained that Yangsimdang was a place where high monks researched higher levels of Buddhism, then continued.
“But the head of Yangsimdang at that time said that if this child was released into the martial world as she was, she should have her head shaved and be sent to Amifa, that’s how bad it was…”
Ha Hyeon chuckled.
Chwiwol Geolgae laughed along and added,
“If Yeong-ryeong had really gone to Ami back then, you might not even exist, Ha Hyeon.”
“No. This is why I say you don’t know Yeong-ryeong well, Chwiwol.”
“What don’t I know?”
“If it had been Yeong-ryeong, even if she was sent to Amifa, she would have definitely escaped somehow.”
Chwiwol Geolgae slightly furrowed his brow.
“Hmm… you might be right.”
Ha Hyeon listened to their conversation with interest and turned his head to look around the inner courtyard of Shaolin.
Until just a moment ago, he had only thought it was an impressive place, but now he suddenly wondered if his mother’s breath might still linger here.
“Juwon. Come to think of it, speak properly. To be honest, you didn’t actually intend to give her the nickname Poisonous Heart Beautiful Flower, did you?”
Juwon chuckled at Chwiwol Geolgae’s words and said,
“The day Yeong-ryeong left Shaolin. I called her Poisonous Heart Beautiful Flower to tease her about her harsh temperament. But then, wouldn’t you know, Yeong-ryeong liked it so much!”
“Yes. She said it expressed her so well.”
“And so, well, that became her nickname.”
Ha Hyeon suddenly recalled his mother when they lived in Shin Village.
She was certainly more frightening than his father, but he didn’t think she was as harsh as they were describing.
“It’s fascinating because the mother I remember was somewhat different. She was strict with me, but she was a virtuous and wise mother.”
Master Juwon smiled gently at Ha Hyeon’s question and said,
“That’s all thanks to your father.”
“My father?”
Ha Hyeon was a bit surprised this time.
Until now, he had heard various stories about his mother, but this was the first time anyone had mentioned his father.
“Yes. Shin… was it Byeong-gwan?”
“Yes! That’s right. He used the character ‘Byeong’ (ç ) and ‘Gwan’ (每).”
“How should I put it… He was truly a polite and broad-minded young man. If I hadn’t known him because of his marriage to Yeong-ryeong, I would have wanted to make him a Buddhist disciple and have him walk the Buddhist path.”
Ha Hyeon nodded without realizing it.
His father was virtually unknown in the martial world, so there was nowhere to hear his name.
But he had always thought that his father’s heart was second to none in the Central Plains.
“Before their marriage, they came to Shaolin together, holding hands tightly, to greet me.”
“The two of them came here as well?”
“Haha. How surprising it was then. Where had Poisonous Heart Beautiful Flower gone? A gentle lady came to see me instead.”
Master Juwon smiled warmly as if recalling that time.
Ha Hyeon could clearly feel his affection for his mother.
Chwiwol Geolgae also smiled as if remembering that time and said,
“You should have seen Mu-ryong ‘s expression when Yeong-ryeong, who was in the midst of her wanderings in the martial world, suddenly said she was getting married.”
“Grandfather?”
“Yes. I was there at that time too. After his daughter returned home after several years, all she said was that she had found someone to marry. Mu-ryong must have been quite dumbfounded.”
“How long did my mother wander the martial world?”
“About… eight years, I think?”
“Eight years…”
Ha Hyeon suddenly thought it might be good to look for traces of his mother and father as he set out on his own journey through the martial world.
Master Juwon stared intently at Ha Hyeon, who was momentarily lost in thought, and spoke.
“Namu Amitabha… I don’t sense any killing intent from you.”
“Killing intent?”Â
“It is remarkable. Actually, when you first brought up the story about your parents, I was worried that there might still be a desire for revenge… It was just an old monk’s needless concern. Do you no longer have a desire for revenge?”
Ha Hyeon smiled faintly.
This was because he had received such a question from Namgung Mu-ryong before.
At that time, he had said that he no longer had much intention for revenge.
However, having grown more mature since then, Ha Hyeon now said this:
“I do want to avenge my parents.”
“Hmm…?”
But the face of Ha Hyeon that Juwon saw was not one consumed by vengeance.
He waited for Ha Hyeon to continue speaking.
“However, I do not wish to live my life solely for revenge, falling into an indiscriminate desire for vengeance.”
“…!”
“I have come to think of revenge not as the goal of my life but as merely a point along the way. I will not live for that moment, but when that moment comes, I will not hesitate.”
After Ha Hyeon finished speaking, Juwon did not answer for a while.
He only closed his eyes and repeatedly chanted “Amitabha…” invoking the Buddha’s name.
“See? I already said he’s an old soul,” said Chwiwol Geolgae with a giggling laugh.
His laughter contained a sense of pride.
“I have learned something. I made the mistake of judging you by your appearance. But it seems Buddha already resides within you.”
“No. I am still far from that.”
Master Juwon smiled faintly as if understanding something.
“So, that’s why you are trying to become so strong? Hahaha.”
“Yes. Because whenever an opportunity comes, one needs strength not to miss it.”
“Hoho. Amitabha!”
Master Juwon admired Ha Hyeon and continued speaking.
“The day after tomorrow, we’ll be able to see if your strength matches your words.”
“Rather than definitely thinking I must win, I just want to see my current level.”
“Have you forgotten that you need to win to receive the Small transformation pill?”
Ha Hyeon grinned.
“Even if we lose, I believe you will give us one out of consideration for a friend and Buddha’s compassion.”
“My, is this your roundabout way of asking for one even if you lose?”
He let out a laugh, seemingly not disliking Ha Hyeon’s brazen words.
“Just continue to cultivate as you are now. I haven’t seen the donor for long, but it seems you are on the right path.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Ha Hyeon bowed his head deeply.
At that moment, Chwiwol Geolgae, who had been waiting silently, cut in between the two and said:
“Come on. How long are you going to stand here and argue? Don’t you have anything to do?”
“Chwiwol. You may not know, but everything I do and say here is practice to understand Buddha’s will.”
“Practice my ass! I suppose eating food and taking a dump are also considered practice?”
“How did you know? If Buddha’s will resides in all actions, then they are all practice. Namu Amitabha…”
Chwiwol Geolgae clicked his tongue as if exasperated at Master Juwon who was even doing a prayer gesture while invoking Buddha’s name, and then said to Ha Hyeon:
“Do you see that high hill behind the path going up there?”
“Yes. I see it.”
“If you go over that hill, you’ll find the real Shaolin. Not the Shaolin Temple, but the Shaolin Sect.”
Ha Hyeon gazed at the hill that wasn’t even visible in the distance.
It seemed as if he could feel an inexplicable reverence emanating from there.
“But they don’t usually allow people to see it. So, let’s go down now.”
“Yes, Master.”
Chwiwol Geolgae went down first with a swaggering gait, and Ha Hyeon bowed deeply to Master Juwon before following him.
Master Juwon merely waved his hand at Ha Hyeon without saying anything else.
After Ha Hyeon and Chwiwol Geolgae had completely disappeared from sight:
“Wonjin. Come over here.”
He called for Wonjin, who was busy practicing martial arts in the training ground.
Although he spoke gently and not too loudly, Wonjin heard him immediately and rushed over to him, displaying his movement technique.
“Did you call for me, Great Monk?” “Yes. I know you haven’t been concentrating on your training, and have been paying attention to this place all along.”
“Hup…. I’m sorry.”
Wonjin immediately bowed his head and replied.
It was as Master Juwon said.
He couldn’t stand his curiosity about Ha Hyeon, whom he would face.
“I’ve always told you to maintain a calm mind….”
“I will focus properly.”
“Very well. Since you’ve already seen. What did you think of him?”
“Do you mean Patron Ha Hyeon?”
Master Juwon nodded.
Wonjin thought about Ha Hyeon for a brief moment before speaking.
“He seemed very intelligent.”
“And?”
“His movements were unusual, so I thought his martial arts skills must be above average.”
“And also?”
“Um…. I heard he’s only thirteen, but I was surprised that he was bigger and taller than I expected.”
“And?”
Master Juwon continued questioning Wonjin.
But Wonjin had nothing more to add.
“…I’m sorry. That’s all I observed.”
“Huh huh. I see. Then let me ask you this. If you and Patron Ha Hyeon were to compete now, who do you think would win?”
Wonjin replied with a slight smile.
“Haha. I began training in martial arts as a child monk when I was seven, and it’s been almost twenty years. Wouldn’t I obviously win?”
“Amitabha…. What good are eyes if you can’t see. That’s a knothole.”
“Pardon?”
He clicked his tongue disapprovingly and said.
“Tsk tsk. Among the third-generation disciples, your martial arts are the highest, right?”
“Yes, Great Monk.”
“Then let me tell you. I can declare that among our third-generation disciples, not a single one would be able to defeat Patron Ha Hyeon.”
“What…?”
Wonjin’s expression showed he didn’t understand.
As a disciple of the Great Shaolin, he had practiced martial arts for no small amount of time.
In fact, the time he had spent learning martial arts was longer than Ha Hyeon had been alive.
But he didn’t express such doubts outwardly.
“Tell all the third-generation disciples to train and increase their proficiency in the Eighteen Arhat Formation by tomorrow, even if just a little. We fight with formations, so we still have a chance.”
“Understood, Great Monk.”
Master Juwon was a living legend even within Shaolin Temple.
And while he might confuse one’s mind with his direct words, he was never a person who spoke falsely.
Wonjin thought that if Master Juwon said such things, there must certainly be a reason.
“Tsk tsk. Chwiwol Geolgae. He trusted that child and proposed such a wager. How subtly cunning.”
Master Juwon muttered as he made his way toward Yangshim Hall.
The impression of Ha Hyeon was already deeply etched in his mind.
* * *
“Master. May I ask you something?”
Ha Hyeon, who had returned to The Guest house, asked Chwiwol Geolgae.
“What is it?”
“Why did we go to that place earlier?”
The place Ha Hyeon was referring to was the training ground of the Shaolin warrior monks.
“Why do you ask?”
“We ended up not doing anything there, so I’m curious about the reason. Well, we did meet Master Juwon, so it wasn’t completely pointless….”
“Keke. So that’s what you’re curious about. Well. I went there because I had something to see. And since I finished seeing it, we came back down.”
Ha Hyeon tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
For Chwiwol Geolgae to say he finished his business when he didn’t do anything there.
‘Picking a fight with Master Juwon can’t be what he meant by business.’
Ha Hyeon carefully asked.
“What did you go to see?”
“Well, I wanted to assess the level of his disciples, but now I see there’s nothing to assess.”
“Assess their level?”
Chwiwol Geolgae replied with an expression that seemed to ask why Ha Hyeon was questioning something so obvious.
“Didn’t you see earlier? Those children awkwardly following along in the back row at the training ground. Those are the children you and Min will face the day after tomorrow.”
“Ah! I see. But why is there nothing to assess?”
“Kuk kuk.”
He tried to hold back his laughter, then looked straight into Ha Hyeon’s eyes and said.
“Among those third-generation disciples, not one can defeat you. If you properly handle the Eighteen Arhat Formation, this fight is a guaranteed win.”
Schedule: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun.
Please review this novel @ NovelUpdate.
