episode_0041

“I think I know the habits of Sohyeop to some extent. After fighting a few times, it became natural for me to see it. He enjoys mixing the real and the false, but he tends to deliberately rush in to distract his opponent before forcing him to choose an easy choice.”

“I see.”

“In normal cases, especially in life-or-death situations, you wouldn’t be able to figure out such a habit. You can’t remember every single sword that’s flying right in front of you, and it’s not a big flaw. However, since Bokma Yeorae Sword is a martial art based on Shaolin Buddhism, it’s focused on suppression rather than cutting, so it feels like wearing clothes that don’t fit… … ”

“Aha.”

The fight is over.

In fact, the purpose is not to determine who wins or loses in a duel, but simply to get a feel for each other’s martial arts skills.

Oh my, brother, your sword is still sharp.

Your skills have improved a lot, too!

It’s fun to end the conversation in a friendly atmosphere with a hahahoho like this.

However, since the end of the battle, Lee Seo-ran’s words had been going on for over an hour and a half.

Now I feel like I’m starting to feel sleepy, so the responses that were sincere at first have now become nothing more than a few short words.

“This was the most joyful experience I’ve had swinging a sword in recent times. I must treasure today’s experience. It’s been a while since I’ve swung a sword so freely.”

Lee Seo-ran, who had been talking for a long time without getting tired, clasped her hands together and made a subtle expression as if trying to explain something.

A hazy expression? Or a longing expression? I don’t know what to call it.

One thing was certain: Lee Seo-ran was seriously ill.

Lee Seo-ran said, blushing slightly as if she had come to her senses late.

“Oh, come to think of it, I’ve been holding on to Sohyeop for too long. I started from the main branch, but Sohyeop must have had some aftereffects.”

“Okay. Then, should I get up now? I have to work hard tomorrow too.”

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

Is it a realization that one’s actions were a little excessive?

Or maybe it was a sliver of conscience that told him he couldn’t hold on to me any longer because I looked so obviously tired.

Lee Seo-ran, her face slightly reddened with embarrassment, added as she poked her head out from between the pillars just before disappearing into the room on the other side of the guest room on the second floor.

“If you don’t mind, tomorrow… no, tomorrow is too early. Before we get to Shaolin… … Could I ask you again the day after tomorrow?”

“Uh… … .”

As we live, we often come across cases like this.

There are times when you don’t want to do something, but you hesitate for a moment because you don’t want to say it out loud.

It was exactly that kind of situation right now, but the glaring eyes were directed at me as if they wouldn’t disappear until I heard the answer.

“Oh, yeah. Well, let’s do it one more time.”

“Thank you!”

And after hearing the answer she wanted, Lee Seo-ran made a bright expression and disappeared in an instant.

That’s really serious too.

I don’t know why only weird people are around me.

Suddenly, I made another appointment for today, and I headed to my room with a sigh.

* * *

It was exactly seven days and nights before he arrived at Jeongju, Hanam-seong, Dengfeng County.

If you just consider the straight-line distance, it would be roughly about 1,200 ri.

If you think about the expression, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” it is a truly incredibly long distance.

And China is a country with small people but a large landmass, so it is called China by compromise. It is a place that can be called a neighboring town, but it shows the atmosphere of a continent that is thousands of miles away.

If he hadn’t learned martial arts, it would have taken at least a month, not to mention seven days and nights, considering the poor road conditions.

And while I was covering that long distance in seven days and nights, I engaged in three duels with Isoran to be exact.

“… … .”

And the person who made my life miserable had a blank expression on his face, perhaps saddened by the fact that he would not be able to fight anymore after the last fight yesterday.

Lee Seo-ran was really easy to understand.

Judging from my experience over the past seven days, he usually has a blank expression on his face. And when he does, he doesn’t have much on his mind.

Sometimes, when he laughs strangely by himself, saying “hehe”, or makes a dazed expression, he is reminiscing about his experience of being alone and rejoicing.

Usually there are only two facial expressions, but this time a new one has been added.

At this point, I should change my nickname from Baekran Sword to Jongnam Sword or So Sword.

I know from experience that they wear the white uniforms unique to the Jongnam faction and draw beautiful trajectories that are worthy of the nickname “orchid.”

But since I only think about swordsmanship and martial arts whether I’m awake or asleep, the nickname Geomchi suits me better than Baekran Sword.

“Small business… … .”

“Yes.”

“You said you were going to stop by Jongnam before the Yongbong branch meeting… …but couldn’t you stop by a little earlier, maybe once?”

“I think it will be difficult for me because I have a schedule. Sorry.”

“Then there’s nothing I can do… … .”

Look at that, look at that.

I still can’t let go of my obsession.

Bimu requires more mental and physical strength than you think.

Even for those who say that it is not a real fight, I was willing to let them experience a close combat where I personally sharpened a real sword and wrapped it around my sword, and fought for at least a hundred rounds.

I guarantee you that before you even get to ten laps, you’ll be crying and saying, “I didn’t know that being a slut was this hard!”

“We arrived at Shaolin Temple… … .”

“Isn’t the expression “arrived” a bit awkward?”

“It is of course nonsense to say that I have arrived at my destination, but the process of observing the sword of the small group and reviewing it over the past seven days and nights has been the most enjoyable time of the past few months.”

“… … No, I appreciate it if you think of it that way. But I still have to give you my martial arts bonus, and didn’t you come here to run an errand for So-ran? ”

Instead of answering, Lee Seo-ran made sad eyes like an ox being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

No, don’t look at me with that expression.

Even when you look at me like that, my arms still ache from muscle pain. Even when I was training in the Demonic Cult, I didn’t do three rounds of martial arts a week, you idiot.

No matter how you look at it, the nicknames Geomchi and Geumchi, a fool who only knows the sword, suit him.

Even while I was pledging that if I ever gain fame in the martial arts world in the future, I will definitely spread the word in the neighborhood that Lee Seo-ran’s nickname is Geomchi, Lee Seo-ran answered weakly.

“That’s right. I cannot delay as I have to carry out the order given by the Venerable Master.”

“Yes. It’s good to be a martial artist, and it’s good to learn something new and review it, and it’s all good, but you shouldn’t do it while leaving other things out.”

After somehow calming down Lee Seo-ran, who had sad eyes as if she was trying to comfort a child, we started climbing Mt. Sungsan.

Mt. Sungsan is the central mountain among the five sacred mountains of the Central Plains, and is a famous mountain with a long history where the Bongseon ritual was performed.

I was so busy climbing the mountain that I didn’t have time to enjoy the surrounding scenery.

We finally arrived at the main gate of Shaolin Temple.

The first thing that greeted us was the signboard of the most famous temple in the world, which was said to have been bestowed by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and at the same time, monks from Shaolin Temple came rushing in from somewhere.

“Amitabha. Are you from Jongnam?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It seemed that they had been waiting anxiously for the news that the Bokma Yeorae Sword had already been returned, and the monks who saw the Jongnampa martial arts uniform came running like chickens on fire.

Well, your hair is shiny as always.

It’s shocking enough to see only nuns in the Shaolin Temple, but it’s even more shocking to be surrounded by shiny bald men and be attacked by sunlight reflecting off of them.

While I was reminiscing about the shocking experience, an old nun walked up and took over as the class president.

“Amitabha. The younger brother is called Gongwoo. The relationship that was thought to be cut off has been reconnected, so this must be the Buddha’s blessing. Please follow the younger brother. I will guide you to the abbot’s office.”

“Ambassador Gong Woo!”

I thought he must be someone in a pretty high position, but Lee Seo-ran next to me made a surprised expression.

As I was staring blankly at Lee Seo-ran, Lee Seo-ran whispered softly.

“Master Gong Woo is one of the Shaolin Four Great Diamonds. He is more commonly known by his nickname, Bicheon Diamond.”

“Aha, the Four Great Diamonds.”

When it comes to Shaolin Temple, it has long been associated with the 108 Arhats and the Four Great Diamonds.

Looking at the Gongwoo, it seems that the Confucius boat is probably the elder boat of the Shaolin Temple.

The fact that he had come to return the martial arts that he had practiced was close to a panacea. Even though I was just a rookie and an unknown recruit by the standards of the martial arts world, look how the Shaolin Four Great Diamonds came out to guide me.

Judging from the fact that even the head of the academy came out himself, it seemed that Shaolin’s body was quite heated.

He followed Gong Yu’s footsteps, following the one-armed stance unique to Shaolin, which is derived from the story of the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng cutting off one of his arms to achieve enlightenment.

“If you have free time, I hope you can visit Jongnampa again sometime… … .”

“I will consider it positively when my schedule opens up.”

“Thank you!”

Of course, before that, I broke up with Lee Seo-ran because I had other business to attend to.

Seeing his face brighten at the investigation method of considering it positively, I guess he must be a Taoist who only lives in the mountains, so he is less affected by worldly things.

In fact, this is a euphemism for rejection.

Should I go to Jongnampa earlier than planned to fight with the crazy, crazy, crazy monster that is crazy about fighting?

With that thought in mind, I passed the Iljumun Gate, the Cheonwangmun Gate, and the Bul-ilmun Gate and entered the Shaolin Temple grounds.

The road to the main hall of Shaolin Temple, where none other than the Shaolin abbot is waiting.

As I was walking around the grounds, including the famous Shaolin pagoda forest, in silence, Gong-woo, who had been leading the way and guiding me, opened his mouth.

“Even Hyojingang read the letter sent by King Geumcheongeom.”

“Are you the King of Geumcheon Sword?”

“This is a letter sent by the head of the Jongnam faction.”

“Ah.”

So the name of the Jongnam faction leader was Jin Seong-yeon?

That expressionless face was a result of his priestly background, so it left a strong impression on my mind. I could tell just by looking at him that he was incredibly strong, and since he was the head of the Jongnam faction, he had the nickname of Geumcheon Sword King.

“The King of Geumcheon Swords is not one to speak easily, but he praised him so much that his mouth was dry and worn out. He said that he had already formed a family at a young age, did not tolerate injustice, and acted according to agreement, so he was the one who would lead the martial arts world in the future.”

“… … It’s not that much, but Jongnampa Jang Moon-in put a lot of gold on his face.”

I felt like my hands and feet were going to shrivel up.

So, my true identity is a demonic cult?

Isn’t this exactly how the barber felt when he wanted to shout that the king’s ears were donkey ears? If his identity was revealed, he would be turned away and say, “You’re a sprout of a devil!” But hearing such words in front of him was quite a pain.

It’s not that I feel bad or anything, but my hands and feet start to curl up and my face gets hot for no reason.

Regardless, Gong-woo continued speaking with a big smile.

“The martial arts of the original sect that were lost to the evil demons have been passed on to the rightful successor. Isn’t this also Buddha’s arrangement?”

“I’m really sorry, but even though I’m a bit thick-skinned, I’d be embarrassed to hear something like that right in front of you… … .”

“Amitabha, what is there to be ashamed of when you have done good deeds?”

“There’s also a saying that you shouldn’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing… … .”

“Hmm.”

Oops, I thoughtlessly brought up an idiom that is no longer used in this day and age.

As I was trying to correct my mistake after realizing it, Gong-woo opened his eyes slightly wide and muttered something. Judging from the shape of his mouth, it seemed like he was repeating exactly what I had said, but what was he doing all of a sudden?

Gong Woo, who had been silent for a while, soon smiled and stopped in front of the Shaolin Temple’s abbot’s office.

“Please go in. The host is waiting for alms.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I bowed my head to Gongwoo who had guided me here, then carefully took off my shoes and entered.

When else will you be able to enjoy the luxury of having the Four Great Diamonds as your guide at Shaolin Temple, which is known as the Geumnam District?

The moment I entered the Shaolin Temple’s main temple with those thoughts in mind, my eyes met with someone’s.

“Amitabha.”

The main hall was not particularly large or decorated with anything like golden Buddha statues.

In a space that rather gave off a bleak feeling, a one-armed nun wearing a gray robe was sitting quietly in meditation, looking at me.

The nun, who had been muttering her displeasure in a low voice, slowly opened her mouth.

“The Lord is learning strange martial arts.”

For a moment, my heart sank.

What, you’re a fortune teller and not a monk?