Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 113 : Shaolin Temple

Shaolin Temple

At Jeong-un's reaction, Shin Soryeong's eyes widened.

"You've never heard of him? Young Hero Peng is the precious young head of the Hebei Peng Clan... He's already made a name for himself throughout the Central Plains."

"... I think I've heard the name."

Jeong-un nodded slowly as he answered.

It was impossible not to remember.

After all, he had crossed swords with him, if only for a brief moment.

It was also during their duel that he first experienced the martial arts of a prestigious clan.

'They called it Primordial Steps.'

Not just that weighty swordsmanship, but also the deep and tyrannical internal energy displayed in those steps—he remembered it vividly.

It was an entirely different martial art from the Powerless Steps that he had named recently, but the truth was, in just that one encounter he had glimpsed the subtlety of footwork techniques.

Shin Soryeong continued.

"It isn't just Young Hero Peng. All the direct descendants of the five great families, including Young Hero Namgung Hui of Namjignye, are here. Essentially, everyone who couldn't enter the Heavenly Martial Hall has gathered here."

"I see."

Jeong-un recalled what Peng Mu-gyeol had said.

That he didn't like how the rising stars attending the Heavenly Martial Hall boasted.

To Jeong-un, it seemed like a roundabout way of expressing the disappointment of not being able to attend the Heavenly Martial Hall.

'He said the heirs of the clan couldn't be sent.'

It wasn't something entirely incomprehensible.

Unlike ordinary sects, martial arts families—which revolved around bloodline—placed extreme importance on each and every member's safety.

If they sent them far away for five long years and something happened, it would be difficult to recover.

"You're familiar with the Heavenly Martial Hall as well, aren't you, Young Master?"

Jeong-un answered somewhat awkwardly at Shin Soryeong's question.

"... I know the basics."

Shin Soryeong nodded and continued.

"These days, all of the rising stars hope to enter the Heavenly Martial Hall. If they're recognized as high-level martial artists and make a name for themselves there, their future roads will be paved with glory."

"Then, are those who fail to enter the Heavenly Martial Hall trying to realize that dream here instead?"

"For them, there's no better place."

Jeong-un pondered quietly on her words about those unable to compete at the Heavenly Martial Hall venting their frustration here.

'Don't the purposes differ?'

After all, raising one's honor in the Heavenly Martial Hall meant subjugating evil factions or the Dark Path. It wasn't just a stage for showing off high-level martial skills.

But here, it was simply showing off one's skills before thousands of spectators.

He wondered how the two could be placed on the same level.

'... Then again.'

Of course, not a few at the Heavenly Martial Hall also prioritized their reputation.

For example, Lee Si-geon, who led Jeong-un and the other one-striped martial artists on their first mission, was like that.

He even tried to return to base knowing that the ones Jeong-un had captured might be linked to other evil faction members.

While he did report the truth to Yeom Baek afterwards, the way he acted spoke volumes.

And there were even two-striped martial artists who had quietly come to the personal practice rooms because they were afraid of losing in front of others.

All of them placed raising their own reputation as their top priority. Jeong-un knew that mentality was pervasive within its walls.

In the end, maybe the martial artists of the Heavenly Martial Hall were no different.

Just because someone was of the orthodox faction didn't mean they were a righteous knight—nor did the disciples of the great sects have to be either.

Even if they belonged to the great sects.

"Thank you for telling me in advance. I feel I owe you a great deal, lady."

"No, anything that may help you, Young Master..."

"That title you use, 'Young Master.'"

"...?"

Unconsciously, Jeong-un interrupted her. Looking at Shin Soryeong, whose eyes widened, he spoke quietly.

"Perhaps it's because of my age, but it feels a bit embarrassing. I'm afraid people might see Shin Clan Manor as lacking dignity."

"... You're even considerate of my own clan."

Shin Soryeong bowed her head to Jeong-un and spoke.

"Thank you once again for your thoughtful consideration, young hero."

"... Not at all."

Jeong-un returned the martial salute and averted his eyes. His expression was somewhat complicated.

No matter how much he disguised his identity, he found bearing the title 'Young Master' too much to endure.

* * *

And so, he crossed the threshold of the Hall of Standing in the Snow.

As soon as he entered, he noticed a small wooden signpost dividing the two pavilions on either side, just as he expected.

As expected, the two pavilions were separated by gender.

After parting with Shin Soryeong, Jeong-un walked along the short path toward the pavilion on the right.

Soon, a small courtyard appeared in front of the pavilion.

Several novice monks, holding brooms made from bundled twigs, were sweeping the ground.

One of them spotted Jeong-un and hurried over with quick steps.

"This way, please."

It seemed the child was acting as a guide.

The mature expression didn't fit his appearance, and Jeong-un couldn't help but smile a little.

'This child...'

He could sense the ki quite distinctly.

It was faint, but there was a flow of energy enveloping his body.

He had already formed his dantian and was accumulating internal energy.

'So it's true, the great sects begin training their disciples very young.'

So this was how so many disciples were raised.

Among children like this, some would surely grow up to be called prodigies.

Thus, Jeong-un was guided into the interior of the pavilion.

"Please find an empty room and make yourself comfortable."

"Any empty room?"

Jeong-un spoke with polite formality.

Even if the child was young, he was still a monk devoted to studying the scriptures.

In terms of status, Jeong-un didn't think he should be treated carelessly.

"...."

The novice monk gazed at Jeong-un for a moment, then smiled gently and nodded.

"You may go wherever your heart leads. Any empty room will do."

"I see."

"... The room at the farthest end of the left corridor is a bit larger."

With that, the novice monk added a quiet tip and scurried away.

Jeong-un watched him go, smiling to himself.

He walked down the left corridor just as advised.

Along the corridor with lattice windows were a series of small doors lined up.

From the appearance, the entire pavilion was quite small—the rooms narrow enough that any noise from next door would easily be heard.

Yet it was very quiet inside. There were few energy signatures to be sensed.

That meant that most of the residents had gone out.

'They're not ones to sit still, are they?'

It was only natural.

None came here to quietly stay in their rooms.

Now Jeong-un understood what happened when rising stars gathered from all corners of the land—they would be meeting and exploring each other somewhere.

Jeong-un was not in the position to quietly train his mind inside either.

After all, he was here on a mission.

He needed to gauge the situation and collect any useful information available.

'Where could the informant be?'

The General Affairs Department had said they would send someone to exchange information with Jeong-un, instructing him to wait for their approach.

Jeong-un was reminded anew of his mission.

In a sense, he had tied up matters in Kaifeng for the sake of this assignment.

'They called them the Divine Thief.'

A figure who had been active in the Central Plains for as long as ten years—not just a simple thief, but an expert famed for possessing formidable martial arts.

A martial artist is someone who can achieve miracles with nothing but a human body.

It was not uncommon for some to even have eccentric, even bizarrely deviant habits.

To Jeong-un, gaining fame as a thief in the martial world was just another manifestation of that.

He couldn't imagine what sort of mindset would allow someone to live content with such a reputation.

'To think, they even left a letter outside the abbot's room in Shaolin.'

The abbot was said to be among the top ten peak experts in the Central Plains.

To leave a letter outside such a person's quarters...

Could it be that the thrill of stealing precious items was so addictive?

That was the only way Jeong-un could understand it.

Before long, he'd arrived at the room the novice monk had described.

He slid open the door and stepped inside to find a modest room.

A single neatly made bedding set in the corner and a small table in the middle—that was all it contained. A small lattice window in the opposite wall let in a faint breeze.

Its sparseness was somewhat unexpected.

Given that disciples from prestigious sects had been invited for the duel tournament, he'd imagined they might have at least made some effort, even if the rooms weren't luxurious.

'Then again.'

Despite being the foremost sect under heaven and a place with imperial attention, it was still a monastery at heart.

In fact, this pavilion may rarely serve as a guest hall.

In a way, it reflected Shaolin's intentions clearly—what more does a martial artist need?

He quickly unpacked his things and straightened his attire.

He checked the uniform of the Baek Sword Gate and the norigae at his waist.

"Time to have a look around."

He had no intention of just sitting around, waiting for the informant.

Would the Divine Thief come again?

That meant he would come to steal something once more.

Shaolin must possess more than a few treasures worthy of the name.

'They must have special security, though.'

It was time for Jeong-un to look into it.

* * *

Shaolin was situated at the entrance to a slope of Mount Shaoshi, one of the peaks of Mount Song.

Though the ground was broad enough to hold a temple in the mountains, just as its name suggested, it was a place thickly wooded with trees.

The temple had been built so as not to harm the trees more than necessary, blending naturally into the forest.

The area behind the twin pavilions of the Hall of Standing in the Snow was no different.

Among the thickest and fullest of those trees stood a small gazebo.

Normally, monks might wander by and sit to talk now and then, but today it was young martial artists who sat there.

All wore silk clothes in a variety of dazzling colors, with embroidery adding to the splendor and many sporting large norigae at their waists.

Their appearances alone made their status clear.

They were martial artists belonging to the five great families of the Central

Plains and the many martial clans across the land.

"There's Young Hero Hwangbo Gyemyeong over there."

"And Young Hero Peng Mu-gyeol of the Hebei Peng Clan is with him."

"Quite a few key figures from the great families of the Central Plains have gathered in one place..."

More people lingered near the gazebo than dared to approach.

They, too, were disciples of renowned sects, but even so, it was hard for them to be compared to the great martial clans who lorded over vast territories.

Their desire to join in, to speak even a word, was written all over their faces; their anxious expressions made that clear.

But since those young elites had gathered together, it made it harder for others to approach.

At that moment, the topic under the gazebo turned to the duel that had happened the day before.

"I heard Lady Shin had a duel at the market streets."

"I heard as well. Apparently she defeated a disciple from one of the sects from a neutral territory."

Shin Soryeong, quietly seated among them, replied.

"Some disciples from Blue Sea Gate were spreading false rumors about Shaolin. I couldn't let it go, so when I stopped them, they challenged me to a duel."

"They say you taught them a real lesson. Word is already spreading far and wide. Even at the guesthouse where I was staying, that was all people talked about."

A handsome peerless young master laughed as he responded—a young man named Murong Song.

The Murong Clan was a prestigious clan famed in Sozhou Prefecture of Namjignye.

While it was said that their fame didn't quite measure up to the Namgung clan, who were renowned throughout all the Central Plains, the Murong Clan had still taken complete control of the wealthy city of Sozhou—no small accomplishment, and their influence here was considerable.

Moreover, Murong Song was a direct bloodline member and heir to the clan.

"He wasn't really that much in terms of martial level. Honestly, I couldn't see what gave him the confidence to talk so big."

The others grinned at Shin Soryeong's sharp assessment.

She possessed outstanding martial arts and striking beauty—a presence hard to ignore even when sitting quietly.

On top of that, she was the heir of the Shin Clan Manor, the most illustrious secular martial clan affiliated with Shaolin.

It was no wonder several of the young men kept stealing glances at her.

However, her eyes carried a sharpness, and her personality was known to be cold.

That made it difficult for anyone to approach her easily.

Just then, one man, carefully gauging the mood, quietly spoke up.

"I heard there was a little commotion at the gate as well..."

At that moment—

Step, step.

Someone pushed determinedly through the martial artists loitering nearby and strode toward them.

It was a young man dressed in blue martial garb.

"Ah."

At the sight, Shin Soryeong sprang to her feet.