novelraw Chapter 42 : Buddha, My Ass
Chapter 42 : Buddha, My Ass
The Great Master Hyeryang sat facing Master Muso with a serious face. Master Muso was surprised anew. It was the first time he had seen such a troubled expression.
Master Muso asked carefully.
"To lift the seclusion at a single word from Young Master Cheon. What on earth is the Red Buddha Hermitage?"
Declaring a re-entry into the martial world is not an easy decision for a sect that has been in seclusion.
Seclusion is a self-defensive measure to protect the sect.
Because it means that they will not engage in any martial world activities.
But lifting the seclusion means that they will engage in martial world activities.
It is only when they have the strength to protect the sect on the blade of the martial world that they lift the seclusion.
Master Muso found it difficult to understand.
At Cheon Mubaeck's first proposal to lift the seclusion, Master Muso and the Great Master Hyeryang had shaken their heads as if it were out of the question.
But at Cheon Mubaeck's following words, the Great Master Hyeryang had made the decision to lift the seclusion after 40 years.
"He said he would get rid of the red light of the Red Buddha Hermitage? I have been training at Shaolin my whole life, but I have never heard of the Red Buddha Hermitage."
"That's what's strange. Young Master Cheon, an outsider, knows a place that even the head of the hall has not heard of. Moreover, he even knew its hidden meaning."
"..."
"Originally, it was a cave where many high monks had trained. A cave where a Buddha statue was placed."
"Aren't there many such caves on Mount Song?"
"If it were just that, I would not have made this decision at Young Master Cheon's proposal. The Red Buddha Hermitage is a place that was sealed at the time of the declaration of seclusion, 40 years ago."
"Sealed?"
"During the righteous-demonic war, the Heavenly Demon and the demonic beings had directly attacked Shaolin."
"That's right. Didn't Shaolin decide to enter seclusion after suffering a devastating blow in that incident?"
The Great Master Hyeryang slowly nodded his head.
Although they were master and disciple, Master Muso was at least ten years younger than Hyeryang.
At the time of that incident, Master Muso was a brat who was not even ten years old, but Hyeryang was twenty, so he remembered that time clearly.
"At that time, the previous generation of seniors, before declaring seclusion, had heard the news that the Demonic Cult would attack and had gathered all of Shaolin's secret manuals and elixirs and had hidden them."
At that point, Master Muso's face hardened.
He had belatedly realized what the Great Master Hyeryang's words meant.
"Are you saying that's the Red Buddha Hermitage?"
"That's right. The history and records of the Shaolin Temple for thousands of years, all the elixirs and treasures are sealed there."
"How did Young Master Cheon...?"
A complicated light appeared on Master Muso's face. Hyeryang sighed with a heavy face.
"Although I feel a Buddhist energy from Young Master Cheon, whether he has a connection with Buddhism..."
"While investigating this incident, I investigated the Azure Star Escort Agency. There is also information about Young Master Cheon, but it is just strange. They say that just half a year ago, he just enjoyed instruments and calligraphy in his room."
"Eum."
"How would such a Young Master Cheon know about the Red Buddha Hermitage? Even I didn't know..."
"Only I knew. Then... it means that Young Master Cheon heard it from the previous abbot, or the seniors of the previous generation."
"..."
"After the Red Buddha Hermitage was sealed, a red light has been emanating from the Buddha statue inside. So the previous abbot said that the time when that red light disappears is the time when we should lift the seclusion."
"Eum!"
"The seal is complicated. 40 years ago, the strongest of that time, the Azure Sky Sword God, Teacher Myo, who was praised as the best formation master at a young age, and the abbot of that time, the esteemed Cheonseung, did it together."
"...!"
"To undo such a seal is something that is only possible after Shaolin has regained its past strength, like in its glory days, even if it goes out into the martial world. So to lift the seclusion when the red light disappears would mean that Shaolin has regained its past strength to the point where it can undo their seal."
"Eum!"
"But... if Young Master Cheon can truly undo the seal completely, wouldn't that also be a fate arranged by Buddha?"
Master Muso shut his mouth.
In fact, it was not that the Great Master Hyeryang had simply heard those words and had made the decision to lift the seclusion. Putting aside Cheon Mubaeck's knowledge of all the secrets of the Red Buddha Hermitage, Cheon Mubaeck had stepped forward and had shown him himself.
A location that only the Great Master Hyeryang knew. He had gone to the location of the Red Buddha Hermitage himself and had dismantled half of the formation.
The Great Master Hyeryang, who had witnessed that with his own two eyes, had no choice but to accept Cheon Mubaeck's proposal.
'This too must be a fate arranged by Buddha...'
* * *
Immediately after Shaolin declared its re-entry into the martial world, numerous gazes were focused on it.
Not only the prestigious orthodox sects that had been dominating the martial world, but also the black-way and the unorthodox sects that had been rampant while the power of the orthodox sects had weakened began to get nervous.
Moreover, people paid attention to the justification that Shaolin had declared for its re-entry into the martial world.
'It's not just a simple plague!'
'It's a plague spread by a cult called the Blood Demon Sect!'
'Shaolin has broken its seclusion to destroy the Blood Demon Sect and to save lives from the plague!'
A declaration of re-entry to destroy the cult that was throwing the Central Plains into chaos.
It was a sufficient justification.
In particular, the Mount Hua and Wudang sects of Shaanxi Province, where a province had almost collapsed due to the plague, began to move quickly to contact the Shaolin Temple.
But the first to visit Shaolin were not the martial artists of the orthodox sects, nor were they the ronin.
"Oh my, Buddha!"
It was the commoners who were nearby who had visited Shaolin first.
They had come through the ruggedness of Mount Song, which was difficult for even Neung-heo, who had learned some martial arts, to climb.
They had a desperate reason to do so.
"It's a plague patient!"
"Eum!"
"The plague patients who were nearby are flocking here. There is also the meaning of praying to rely on the mercy of Buddha, but since they were the first in the Central Plains to reveal the identity of the Blood Demon Sect, perhaps..."
"They must know that we can treat them."
Hyeryang swallowed his saliva.
Fortunately, he had heard from Cheon Mubaeck that it was not a contagious plague but a poisoning.
If it was a poison, it could be driven out with internal energy.
If so, the available manpower of Shaolin would be greatly reduced.
"How is the Master of the Pine Truth Sect acting?"
"He is quietly silent in his quarters."
"Eum!"
First, manpower was being drawn away for the surveillance of the Master of the Pine Truth Sect, who he had been suspicious of, and a considerable number was also needed for the investigation of the Blood Demon Sect.
Although he had lifted the seclusion as per Cheon Mubaeck's proposal to get rid of the red light of the Red Buddha Hermitage and to solve the incident, Hyeryang and Master Muso had purely wanted to inflict a divine punishment on the Blood Demon Sect.
"There's no choice. Since they are people who have come to rely on the mercy of Buddha for the last time, we can only do our best. Where are the patients?"
"They are gathered in one place. But, are you going to go yourself?"
"Since we are short of even one hand. If not now, when will I use the internal energy I have accumulated so far?"
Hyeryang said so and immediately moved.
But when he arrived at the place, the Great Master Hyeryang could not help but stop in his tracks.
"Neung-heo, I'm out of acupuncture needles."
"So?"
"Go get some."
"Where do I get acupuncture needles?"
"Why should I worry about that?"
"Wow. You're really inconsiderate. If Buddha saw your behavior, he would jump up and shout, 'You rude bastard!'"
"Neung-heo. Can't you see the patient who is in pain here?"
"You son of a bitch. You always pretend to be nice at times like this."
"Then shall I be a bad guy only to you?"
The Great Master Hyeryang stopped in his tracks as he saw Cheon Mubaeck talking with Neung-heo.
To be precise, it was because of the scene that was unfolding before his eyes.
Numerous sickbeds. On top of them, the escort warriors of the Azure Star Escort Agency and the monks of Shaolin were moving busily.
Cheon Mubaeck was moving from one sickbed to another, applying acupuncture needles.
Although his tone was blunt, it was only when he was dealing with Neung-heo.
"It's okay. It's okay. If you get acupuncture and rest well, you'll be all better."
"Thank you. Thank you!"
"Don't worry too much, grandmother. The child is healthy, so by tomorrow, it will be hard to handle him causing trouble all over the place."
Cheon Mubaeck reassured the patients and applied the acupuncture needles with quick hand movements.
Hyeryang looked at Cheon Mubaeck with surprised eyes.
Although he was not well-versed in medicine, even he could feel that Cheon Mubaeck's hand movements were extraordinary.
He was amazed at how he was applying the acupuncture needles without hesitation while constantly moving between the sickbeds.
What was more surprising was the reaction of the patients. Not long after the acupuncture needles were applied, a look of comfort appeared on all their faces.
Hyeryang's body trembled at the energy that was suddenly felt in the surroundings.
'It's warm...'
The atmosphere was so warm and bright that it was hard to believe that it was a place where plague patients were.
Hyeryang felt that all this was the unique qi wave and atmosphere that was flowing out of Cheon Mubaeck.
"I heard he had the nickname 'Henan Divine Physician'..."
At that moment, Master Muso came up and muttered quietly.
"Henan Divine Physician?"
"Yes. He was famous in Wonyang County. There were rumors that he had cured the foot of a servant who could not walk, and so on. I had believed that it was just an exaggerated rumor, but..."
"He's a divine physician."
Hyeryang felt that the nickname 'Henan Divine Physician' suited him very well.
He comforted the patients with a smile, and embraced the weak with his atmosphere and warm energy.
Although Hyeryang did not know, it was a situation that had occurred because Cheon Mubaeck had been constantly circulating the Heaven-Shaking Soul Art for treatment.
"Buddha was here."
Before he knew it, the eyes of the Great Master Hyeryang, who was looking at Cheon Mubaeck, were shining brightly.
"What is that guy looking at so intently?"
"I know, right? Should I ask that abbot over there? If he has any acupuncture needles."
"You couldn't get any?"
"They say there are no acupuncture needles left."
"What do you mean there are no acupuncture needles in Shaolin?"
"Aren't they all stuck in the patients' bodies?"
"Is that the end of it, just because there are none?"
"What do you want me to do when there are none? Should I lie and say there are?"
"Go get some. There are still many patients."
"What am I supposed to do when there are none?"
"Neung-heo."
"Yes."
"Wouldn't there be a physician in the village below Mount Song?"
"Are you telling me to go down and come back now? No, I've already exhausted all my energy from going to the inn with the Shaolin monks and bringing that Blood Demon Sect guy. And you want me to go down again?"
"Yes."
"Shit."
Neung-heo glared at Cheon Mubaeck with a crumpled face. Although his face was so shameless to him, the patients were looking for Buddha from Cheon Mubaeck, seeing his smile.
"Buddha, my ass. Damn it."
Of course, to Neung-heo, he just looked like a demon, not a Buddha.
* * *
Even when night came, the lights of Shaolin did not go out.
The rumor that there was a divine physician who could cure the plague at the Shaolin Temple had spread, and the commoners were flocking to it day and night, with the rumor that they could be protected from the cult called the Blood Demon Sect.
Not only the patients, but also the commoners who were visiting the Shaolin that had opened its doors after 40 years were numerous.
As a result, all the manpower inside Shaolin was moving busily. Naturally, it was easy to miss the people who were going out. In particular, Baek Gong-yang, who was outstanding in martial arts, was able to easily leave Shaolin in the middle of the night.
"Damn it."
After leaving Shaolin, Baek Gong-yang hurriedly used his lightness skill.
How long had he been moving with a desperate face?
At some point, Baek Gong-yang stopped in his tracks.
A man in a red cloak was sitting on a rock.
"Why did it take you so long to contact me!"
"I think I told you not to contact us before we contacted you first..."
At the man's languid voice, Baek Gong-yang flinched.
But Baek Gong-yang tried to bite his lip and shouted.
"Things are going strangely. What is your relationship with the Blood Demon Sect?"
"..."
"Suddenly, Shaolin has lifted its seclusion and has announced that it will destroy the Blood Demon Sect, and since then, the way they look at me is strange. They're suspecting me!"
"You have no relationship with the Blood Demon Sect."
"Damn it. The Blood Demon Sect must be your subordinate. But I'm telling you. Cheon Mubaeck is going around, blabbering that there's a backer behind the Blood Demon Sect."
In an instant, Baek Gong-yang firmly closed his mouth.
A terrible killing intent glistened in the languid man's eyes for a moment.
Baek Gong-yang, who had met that killing intent head-on, felt his breath catch in his throat. He hurriedly tried to overcome it by circulating his internal energy, but his whole body was unable to move, as if caught in a spider's web.
"Cheon Mubaeck?"
"W-We had made the youngest son of the Azure Star Escort Agency a scapegoat! That brat seems to have passed on information about the Blood Demon Sect to Shaolin."
"..."
The man looked at Baek Gong-yang without a word for a moment.
How much time had passed?
Suddenly, the man opened his mouth.
"If you learn something you shouldn't know in the martial world, you are bound to die."
Bururu!
Baek Gong-yang trembled at the sticky killing intent.
* * *
"What is there that you shouldn't know?"
Cheon Mubaeck smirked.
His gaze, which pierced through the darkness, was directed at Baek Gong-yang and the unidentified man.
To be honest, Cheon Mubaeck was a little surprised.
The scene he had seen after secretly tracking and following Baek Gong-yang.
In particular, the energy felt from the man in the red cloak, who was presumed to be a person from the Blood Ghost Valley, was extraordinary.
It was unexpected for Cheon Mubaeck, who had thought that he would be at a slightly better level than the elders of the Blood Demon Sect, Gu Jin-hae and Yuk Seong, who had been defeated by Cheon Mubaeck before.
Because he was a skilled person who could not be defeated even if those two attacked together.
But even so, Cheon Mubaeck did not care at all.
On the contrary, he engraved the man's face in his mind with a gaze full of curiosity.
"Anyway, I've caught one."
A bright smile appeared on Cheon Mubaeck's lips.
(End of Chapter)