Chapter 183: Heavenly Eye (1)

Stories about the Heavenly Eye (Cheonan) are widely spread throughout the Central Plains.

Over time, the Abbot of Shaolin has predicted countless disasters.

They came true without an inch of error.

For example, not only predicting the True Demonic Gate Events occurring throughout the Central Plains.

Besides that, the disasters that could be prevented thanks to the Heavenly Eye’s pronouncements were not just one or two.

As such achievements piled up, Shaolin’s standing, not only in the Central Plains but also within the Alliance, was greatly elevated.

‘It’s not like there’s only one Heavenly Eye.’

Speaking of the alias Heavenly Eye (Cheonan)…

It was similar to the Five Dragons, Three Peaks… no, the Divine Dragon (Sinryong), which has now become Six Dragons.

Generation after generation, the Abbot of Shaolin is a position only those who possess the Heavenly Eye can hold.

Naturally, this includes the current Abbot.

The previous Abbot, even the Abbot before that.

All of them could become the Abbot because they possessed the Heavenly Eye.

There are various theories about how this is possible.

For instance, that it gets passed on to someone among Shaolin’s people when the possessor of the Heavenly Eye dies.

Or that the Abbot can directly pass it on to someone else right before dying, there were many such rumors, but…

Ultimately, since it’s something Shaolin considers top secret, it’s not something one can easily find out.

But that wasn’t what was important right now.

What’s important is that the Abbot of Shaolin, who possesses such an ability, is looking for me.

‘Why is he looking for me?’

Since he was looking for me specifically, it seems like he has business with me.

What could be the reason?

‘Could it be because of the book?’

The book I picked up yesterday, which had Shaolin’s martial arts written in it.

I thought maybe it was because of that, but…

If it were something like that, he probably wouldn’t have sought me out in this manner.

‘The excuse to refuse…’

For now, there isn’t one.

It was hard to refuse by saying I just came for sightseeing, especially since the one who requested this was none other than the Abbot of Shaolin.

‘Tsk.’

Realizing I had no choice, I told those around me.

“Something seems to have come up, so you guys head back first.”

At my words, Tang Soyeol subtly wore a displeased expression, but…

Since the person who interrupted was a senior figure of the Central Plains, it seemed unavoidable.

“You too, head back first.”

“Aww… Can’t I go with you?”

“No.”

As I said firmly, Wi Seol-ah pouted her lips, looking disappointed, but…

It couldn’t be helped.

“Take her and head back.”

When I said this to Hongwa, Hongwa immediately dragged Wi Seol-ah away from me.

“You can go ahead without waiting.”

Since I didn’t know how long it would take, I told them to go ahead, and at the same time, I tried to include Namgung Bi-ah with them.

Namgung Bi-ah was about to follow along without saying much, but…

Gyeolgeukcheonbong spoke.

“The Abbot wishes to meet with Lady Namgung as well.”

At his words, Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head, looking puzzled.

It seemed she didn’t expect to be called.

“…You mean Lady Namgung too?”

To my question, Gyeolgeukcheonbong nodded.

‘Even Namgung Bi-ah?’

At Gyeolgeukcheonbong’s words, I slightly frowned.

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Heavenly Eye Audience.

The 23rd Abbot of Shaolin, and a figure who was discussed for the position of Alliance Leader alongside Nakgeom and Maehwaseon.

While his martial power was the weakest among the three, his influence alone made him an overwhelming figure.

It was obvious.

Because the Abbot of Shaolin was a figure who predicted the calamities of the Central Plains.

Although relatively lacking in martial power, his influence over the Central Plains and the Orthodox sects was immense, so it made sense.

In the end, though, the Alliance Leader position went to Nakgeom.

“I apologize for calling you out so suddenly.”

A thin, old monk sat before me.

His beard had turned completely white.

Age spots dotted his face.

Even his frail body seemed ill-suited for a martial artist.

Shaolin had the most affiliated martial artists among the Nine Sects and Eight Schools.

To think he was the Abbot of Shaolin, whose influence was overwhelming…

He appeared as an extremely frail figure.

“It’s fine.”

I hid my inner thoughts.

Because it wasn’t a world where one could easily let their guard down just based on appearance.

“Rather, I am grateful you called me here. It’s an honor for someone like me.”

[The author is the Abbot…?]

Shin Noyado also let out a flustered voice, perhaps surprised.

‘He does look a bit like that, doesn’t he?’

[Isn’t it more than ‘a bit’?]

Although his appearance was a bit frail, recalling the Sword Saint (Geomjon) who gave off a similar vibe, it was possible the Abbot was also hiding something within.

I don’t know much about this person.

I didn’t meet him often in my past life either.

Furthermore, a few years later, the Abbot would die, and the next person would take this position.

The Abbot looked at me and smiled slightly.

“You resemble the Valiant Hero a lot.”

It started with talk of my father.

I hadn’t expected talk about my father to come from the Abbot’s mouth.

“First, I must congratulate you. I heard you achieved good results at the Martial Arts Tournament.”

“Thank you.”

“Jinryong… Seeing you in person like this, it truly is a fitting alias.”

I didn’t know what he was seeing with his eyes closed, but…

it wasn’t strange when considering the old man’s alias.

Slurp.

A sound came from the side.

It was the sound of Namgung Bi-ah drinking tea, echoing particularly loudly in the spacious room.

I immediately nudged Namgung Bi-ah lightly with my elbow.

“Hm…?”

Namgung Bi-ah looked at me, as if asking why.

I thought about giving her a subtle hint, but the Abbot seemed to stop me, saying:

“Heh heh… There’s no need for that. It was I who called you so urgently, so please make yourself comfortable.”

“…Thank you for your understanding.”

“Rather, I should thank you for responding to my sudden summons.”

It was a spacious and empty room.

It was so spacious that speaking would fill the room with echoes.

I took a few sips of tea to moisten my throat.

Even then, I was churning thoughts in my head.

‘It doesn’t seem like it’s about the book.’

It seems even the Heavenly Eye can’t see everything.

While focusing on managing my expression and keeping an eye on Namgung Bi-ah beside me…

the Abbot opened his mouth again.

“Today, you must be curious about the reason I called you so suddenly.”

At those words, I turned my gaze to the Abbot.

“Perhaps, have you ever heard your father mention the word ‘Meteor’ (Yuseong)?”

At the Abbot’s words, my eyes widened slightly.

Because it was a name I had heard before.

It wasn’t my father, and…

‘Sword King.’

Namgung Cheonjun, known as the Sword King in the current era, and Namgung Bi-ah’s father.

It was a name I had heard from Namgung Jin.

I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah, but she was still sipping her tea with a clueless expression.

“I have heard of it.”

I answered for now.

I judged it would be better to say yes.

“How much did you hear?”

“Only that something like that exists.”

The Abbot chuckles at my words.

“I thought the Valiant Hero wouldn’t tell his child about it, but this is unexpected.”

You thought my father wouldn’t tell me…?

Why would you think that?

“The reason I called you is because I want you two to join Meteor.”

“…You mean Meteor?”

At the Abbot’s proposal, my eyes narrowed.

Meteor. It was a subtle name whose meaning couldn’t be gauged.

It felt strange to accept it as it was.

and I couldn’t figure out any other meaning.

I immediately composed my expression.

“Firstly, thank you.”

“Hm?”

“Since you think highly of us, you must have made an offer, whatever it may be.”

The Abbot nods at my words.

Was he smiling? His long eyebrows and beard made his eyes and mouth hard to see.

“However, there is something I want to ask first.”

“Feel free to ask.”

“I want to know what Meteor is first.”

It’s something I hadn’t heard of in my past life.

Of course, I’ve learned countless things in this life that I hadn’t heard of or known before.

Still, things I don’t know remain difficult.

‘It’s not easy to deal with them.’

If it were just one or two, maybe. But there were too many, and…

even their size was considerable.

It was to the point where I wondered how I lived without knowing these things.

“…That’s something I can’t say…”

To my question, Gyeolgeukcheonbong, who stood behind like a guard, answered instead, but…

In the middle, the Heavenly Eye raised his hand and stopped him.

“Abbot…?”

As soon as he stopped him, the Abbot spoke to us.

“Meteor is a small organization created by the Alliance in preparation for the upcoming Blood Calamity (Hyeolgeom).”

Gyeolgeukcheonbong showed a surprised expression at the Abbot’s words.

That stoic-looking monk could show such an expression. Is it that much of a secret?

I focused on what the Abbot said.

‘Blood Calamity.’

This was quite surprising.

The upcoming Blood Calamity… actually, because there had been too many incidents recently, I couldn’t think of it as him specifically mentioning it.

Even so, if the Blood Calamity the Abbot mentioned was about the Heavenly Demon (Cheonma)…

‘Does that mean they were preparing for it?’

It means the Alliance was preparing in advance, knowing the Heavenly Demon would appear.

‘…But they messed it up so badly?’

Of course, even if they were preparing, the results weren’t exactly good.

The important thing is that they were preparing.

“If it’s the Blood Calamity…”

“I don’t know how many years are left, but the Blood Calamity will surely strike in the near future.”

These weren’t just words spoken by anyone; they were spoken by the Heavenly Eye.

Just the fact that the Heavenly Eye was saying it gave the words weight.

I pretended to swallow dryly… and asked the Abbot.

“…I am curious why you want to put us into such an important organization.”

Even though I, or rather we, showed prominence in this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (Yongbongjihwe), we are ultimately late-blooming disciples who haven’t grown properly.

It was incomprehensible that the Abbot himself would try to recruit us into an organization with such a grand cause as preventing the Blood Calamity.

The Abbot, as if expecting the question, answered me.

“Because we see stars like you, with outstanding potential, as more important than the currently accomplished martial artists.”

‘Potential?’

Since he mentioned a few years, I wondered if they intended to recruit and nurture late bloomers in advance, but…

the Abbot must also know that it’s not something that can be resolved in just a few years.

Even if the current late bloomers trained for several years, it was difficult to reach the ranks of the Central Plains’ Top 100 Masters.

‘Then there must be another reason.’

It was also a reason for concern that, even though it’s an organization created to prevent the Blood Calamity, I didn’t know about it in the future where the Heavenly Demon appeared.

“Meteor is a place that can give you more.”

If it’s ‘more’, does he mean elixirs or something like that?

“If you wish, I can help you see a higher world.”

A higher world. As if captivated by this one line, I asked the Abbot.

“…Perhaps, is the Divine Saint (Sinseong) also part of Meteor?”

The Divine Saint was the alias Jang Seon-yeon had been called since the Martial Arts Tournament.

‘Is Jang Seon-yeon part of Meteor?’

To say it suddenly came to mind would be an understatement; I had been guessing as much.

The situations unfolding somehow indicated so.

The Abbot stares at me silently.

The Abbot, who just stared without saying anything, soon shook his head.

“You’ll be able to know that once you join.”

It wasn’t a yes or no, but…

I could find the answer within that.