novelraw Chapter 136 : Chapter 136
Chapter 136 : Chapter 136
Chapter 136. When It Rains, One Must Take Shelter
The Sword Saint was not the only one who was surprised.
The elders of the Nine Sects One Gang and the clan heads of the Five Great Families who attended the meeting were also quite surprised.
“Cl-closed gates?!”
“Why close the gates…”
Closing the gates meant suspending all external activities of the sect, a decision that was a great burden for a large sect like Shaolin.
It went without saying that they would have to give up most of the interests they held, and since they would not be active at all, their influence would diminish.
In an era where Taoist sects were already dominant, Shaolin was already evaluated as not being as powerful as it used to be. And now, they were even declaring to close their gates?
If things went wrong, they could be pushed out of the Nine Sects One Gang for the first time in Shaolin's history.
“No, Great Monk. Why did you make such a decision?”
“Amitabha.”
Great Monk Musang answered the Sword Saint's question.
“From now on, Shaolin will be a Shaolin that focuses on the Buddhist path rather than martial arts.”
“……?”
For a moment, the Sword Saint almost said, ‘What kind of nonsense is that?’
Shaolin focusing on the Buddhist path rather than martial arts?
It was nonsense that not even a three-year-old would believe.
Of course, the foundation of Shaolin was undoubtedly a temple, and as the origin of the Zen school, it was undoubtedly a sacred place of Buddhism in the Central Plains.
However, the true strength of Shaolin, no matter what anyone said, was its martial arts.
Why else would Shaolin have reigned as the Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the Murim for a thousand years?
How many divine arts and supreme techniques did they possess, and the number of masters they had was overwhelming compared to any other sect.
And now, to suddenly declare that they would focus on the Buddhist path and close their gates?
“This humble monk believes that in the past, Shaolin disciples have been too engrossed in martial arts rather than focusing on the Buddhist path, and have lost their true duty as monks.”
“Everyone knows that the Buddhist faith of Shaolin disciples is deep, so why do you think so, Abbot?”
“It is a shameful fact, but it is not so. The reality is that they are closer to martial arts training than chanting, and martial arts manuals than scriptures. Is this not a situation where the cart is put before the horse?”
“Hmm.”
“This is a difficult decision I have made as the Shaolin Abbot, so I hope the Alliance Leader will be generous and understanding. Amitabha.”
Great Monk Musang made a half-bow towards the Sword Saint.
“……”
The Sword Saint was at a loss for how to react and remained silent for a moment.
‘What ulterior motive does that old monk have to suddenly declare the closing of the gates?’
The Sword Saint was deeply curious about Great Monk Musang's intentions.
Of course, if Shaolin closed its gates, it would be a gain for the other sects.
The vacuum left by Shaolin's closing of gates would naturally be filled by the Taoist sects.
The problem was that there must be an intention behind declaring the closing of the gates, knowing this full well, but he just couldn't figure it out.
Shouldn't there be some basis or a plausible reason to just accept it?
‘Now that they've even declared to close their gates, I can't force them to send disciples.’
Thinking so, the Sword Saint said to Great Monk Musang.
“If that is the Abbot's will, then you must do so.”
“Amitabha. I am grateful for the Alliance Leader's consideration.”
“However, as you have declared to close your gates, you must not have any external activities.”
“How could I not know? During the period of closing our gates, Shaolin will not only refrain from any external activities but will also absolutely not interfere in the affairs of the Murim. Amitabha.”
The Sword Saint narrowed his eyes and looked at Great Monk Musang, but he just quietly closed his eyes and rolled his prayer beads.
“We will have to proceed with the discussion excluding Shaolin. First of all…”
The Sword Saint's gaze swept over the assembly.
“From the Emei Sect, how many disciples can you send?”
As expected, the Sword Saint's choice after Shaolin was the Emei Sect.
***
After a long, long meeting, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance concluded by resolving to dispatch about five hundred masters from each sect and family to attack the Demonic Cult's bases.
“Everyone has worked hard.”
The Sword Saint opened his mouth with a thoroughly exhausted expression.
Presiding over a meeting was a very tiring task.
The Emei Sect, unable to withstand the Sword Saint's pressure, had agreed to dispatch the most disciples, but the other sects and families were not so compliant.
Each sect and family was prone to making this and that excuse to dispatch as few disciples as possible, and the Sword Saint had to request and coordinate with those sect leaders and clan heads to somehow get them to send disciples.
‘Like a bunch of cunning snakes.’
The Sword Saint shivered inwardly as if his teeth were chattering, but he did not show such emotions on the outside.
“The attack on the Demonic Cult will proceed as soon as the disciples of each sect have gathered, so I will see you all again then.”
After saying so, the Sword Saint left the meeting room, and Abbess Hyeonchok of the Emei Sect hastily caught Great Monk Musang and asked.
“Why did the thousand-year-old Shaolin choose to close its gates?”
“Amitabha. It is exactly as I said.”
Great Monk Musang replied to Abbess Hyeonchok's question with a half-bow.
“Buddhist disciples are prioritizing martial arts over practicing the Buddhist path. How can this be said to be desirable?”
“Is that truly the reason for your decision?”
“Amitabha, Amitabha.”
Great Monk Musang replied, chanting a Buddhist prayer.
“Would this humble monk have lied in front of the various sect leaders and clan heads?”
“But…”
“It is only to concentrate on the Buddhist path according to the will of the Buddha, so I would appreciate it if the Abbess would not ask any further.”
After saying so, Great Monk Musang conveyed his thoughts to Abbess Hyeonchok through one of the Seventy-Two Supreme Arts of Shaolin, the Radiant Wisdom Heart-Word.
The Radiant Wisdom Heart-Word was not a method of speaking with one's mouth, but of conveying one's will as a heart-word, so no matter how profound one's martial arts were, it would be nearly impossible to eavesdrop.
- When it rains, seeking shelter is the wisdom of life.
“……?”
- I cannot give you the details, but I advise you not to send disciples, even if it means closing your gates. Amitabha.
Abbess Hyeonchok did not understand the meaning of Great Monk Musang's words at all.
Her position within the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was already shrinking due to the pressure from the Taoist sects, and now he was telling her not to send disciples, even to the point of declaring a lockdown?
She could reduce the sacrifice of her disciples for now, but how was she supposed to handle the retaliation from the Taoist sects later?
- That is all this humble monk has to say, so I hope the Abbess will think carefully and make a decision.
With those words, Great Monk Musang sent no more heart-words, quietly performed a half-bow, and then turned his steps to leave the meeting room.
“……”
Abbess Hyeonchok was at a loss as to what to do and stood blankly for a while, lost in thought.
There must be a good reason why Great Monk Musang declared the closing of the gates, but to naively send disciples to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance felt so unsettling that it was beyond words.
***
Having arrived in Sichuan, Jin Cheon headed to the designated place to meet with the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief.
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief was waiting for Jin Cheon at a shabby inn named the Seochok Inn, which was also a secret branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult planted in Sichuan.
“It has been a long time, patron.”
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief, disguised as an old monk, joined his palms towards Jin Cheon.
“……A monk this time.”
Jin Cheon was once again amazed by the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief's Disguise Art and acting skills.
The Disguise Art was one thing, but it would not be an easy task to perfectly replicate the unique speech patterns, voice, and even the hand and foot gestures of a monk.
Moreover, wasn't the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief a woman of the same age as Jin Cheon?
But now was not the time to admire the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief's Disguise Art, so Jin Cheon decided to get straight to the point.
“So, the mission?”
“What do you take this humble monk for, to ask such a question, patron.”
“……?”
“Isn't this what you wanted, patron?”
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief grinned and took out the Wind and Cloud Trigram from her bosom, showing it to Jin Cheon.
Indeed, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief.
She had succeeded in safely stealing the Earthly Center Trigram that was stored somewhere in the Qingcheng Sect.
“You succeeded.”
“Of course. Did you think the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief couldn't steal something like this?”
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief shrugged her shoulders as if it were nothing.
“You're not called the greatest thief under heaven for nothing.”
“Indeed.”
Even as she said so, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief looked slightly uncomfortable.
“Of course, it bothers me that I stole something without sending a warning note.”
“You did well to hold back.”
Jin Cheon praised the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief.
“Thanks to you, this world will become a little more peaceful. You contributed to that.”
“What on earth are you trying to do? What great deed are you trying to accomplish that you're even mentioning the great cause and the peace of the world?”
“You'll find out in due time, so don't pester me.”
Jin Cheon shrugged his shoulders and received the Wind and Cloud Trigram.
‘It's done.’
With this, he had obtained all three trigrams necessary to create the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box: the Heavenly Principle Trigram, the Earthly Center Trigram, and the Wind and Cloud Trigram. Only one thing remained.
All that was left was to return to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, complete the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box, and track the first Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Seong.
In effect, he had found a way to prevent the second coming of the evil that would dye the world in blood.
“You've worked hard. Even for the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief, it must not have been an easy task.”
“A deal is a deal.”
“Yes, it was a good deal.”
Jin Cheon offered a handshake to the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief.
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief readily took Jin Cheon's offered hand and accepted the handshake.
Since it was a deal that was sufficiently satisfactory for both parties, the conclusion could only be a warm one.
“What do you plan to do from now on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you plan to wander around with your sister and nephew?”
“……That is.”
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief hesitated, unable to answer easily.
And with good reason; even though the job was done, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief's difficulties were not completely resolved.
Jin Cheon was the only person in the world who knew her appearance, but her sister and nephew were not.
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief could live in the safe houses prepared throughout the Central Plains, but it was no exaggeration to say that her sister and nephew would have to hide for the rest of their lives.
With Gal Mu-wi, the Hegemon of Hegemon Fortress, searching for them with fire in his eyes, would they be able to sleep soundly for even a single day?
Living quietly in hiding has its limits. Living in hiding for a lifetime, unable to even show one's face, might be a pain worse than death.
“Somehow, it will work out. I plan to go far away to live.”
“Far away?”
“For example, Nanman or somewhere.”
“Ah.”
“My sister and nephew can't live in the Central Plains. Not as long as Gal Mu-wi is alive and Hegemon Fortress hasn't fallen.”
“Yes, that's right.”
Jin Cheon nodded his head as if he understood.
If one had made an enemy of someone like Gal Mu-wi, it was practically impossible to live comfortably in the Central Plains.
Hegemon Fortress had an alliance with the Rogues' Guild, which was said to be on par with the Beggar's Gang in terms of intelligence, so it was not an easy task to escape their eyes.
Why else would the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief have mentioned even Nanman?
“Hmm.”
After thinking for a moment, Jin Cheon opened his mouth.
“Why don't you come to our cult instead.”
“What…?”
“Come to our cult.”
“Are you telling me to convert to the Demonic Cult? Right now?”
“No?”
Jin Cheon shook his head.
“I was just saying you could come and live, not that you had to convert. And that reaction is a bit disappointing. Our cult is also a place where people live. Of course, it's true that it's rougher compared to the Central Plains.”
“Ah?”
“And if you think our cult accepts just anyone who wants to convert, you're gravely mistaken. He will only allow those who are qualified to convert.”
“Are you saying I'm not good enough?”
“Your abilities are more than sufficient.”
“Then?”
“I told you. You need to be qualified. Abilities aside, what's important is whether you are a person who can devote yourself to our cult.”
“Ah.”
“Even if you don't necessarily convert, you can stay in our cult. I will guarantee the safety of you, your sister, and your nephew. I say this as the Seventh Young Master of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, so you can believe me. No one will be able to touch you two sisters and your nephew.”
“Hmm.”
The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief seemed to be contemplating and was lost in thought for a moment.
As she was in a situation where she had to wander the world with her sister and nephew to avoid Gal Mu-wi, Jin Cheon's proposal was quite attractive.