The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 37

When people who don't know much about the Shaolin Temple think about it, they might think that the Shaolin Temple is located on the middle of a rugged and steep mountain, but in reality, that's not the case (that kind of place is Wudang...).

Since it is a place where many Buddhists who do not know martial arts also frequent, once you reach the entrance of Shaoshi Peak, there are wooden stairs tightly packed, making it easy to climb up to the Shaolin Temple.

"Martial Uncle. But, what are we here for in Shaolin? You said you would tell me when we got here."

"Yes. I did."

I asked, comfortably climbing the stairs.

These stairs are not only used by martial artists.

Therefore, if you go up too fast, you might bump into commoners who don't know martial arts, so you can't use footwork to go up quickly.

I had run until my lungs felt like they were going to burst while coming here, so what's the big deal about climbing these stairs?

"I don't know if you've heard of it, but our Wudang and this Shaolin have an event every ten years where we exchange our martial arts."

"Ah! I've heard of it. In the end, it's about choosing representatives from the younger generation of Shaolin martial monks and our third-generation disciples to compete in martial arts, right?"

"Yes. In summary, that's right. But, it's not just about competing to see which disciples are more outstanding through a spar, but it's also a place where we can get inspiration for stronger martial arts by showing each other's martial arts. And also a place to share friendship."

Although the Martial Uncle said that, in fact, the spar between Shaolin and Wudang, called the Dao-Buddhist Great War, is a quite famous event.

It's understandable, since Shaolin is, in name and reality, the head of the Buddhist sects, and it's no exaggeration to say that Wudang represents the Taoist sects.

Therefore, the clash between these two sects is also a competition to see which is stronger, the martial arts of Buddhism or the martial arts of Taoism, and most decisively...

'The number one sect of the orthodox faction. It's a place where they fight with that name on the line.'

Although it's not a spar where something is actually at stake, it can be said to be a quite meaningful martial arts competition because the sect that wins this spar takes the lead in the orthodox martial world.

"Anyway, that competition is called the Dao-Buddhist Great War, and that event is next year. But, there's something that our Sect Leader Martial Uncle and the Shaolin Abbot don't agree on, so I came to coordinate that."

"You kept that reason a secret from me?"

"Ahem... yes. Actually, it's nothing to us, but by any chance, it shouldn't be revealed to other sects that we are sending messengers to each other and having serious talks because of the Dao-Buddhist Great War."

"Why?"

"The other sects think that our Wudang and Shaolin are on very good terms. But, if it becomes known to people that we are having a war of nerves like this, the orthodox martial world could be divided in two in the worst case."

I think I understand why the Martial Uncle was so careful.

If Shaolin and Wudang, which can be said to be the two pillars of the orthodox martial world, are at odds, it's obvious that they will take sides according to their respective religions, beliefs, or if not, according to their interests.

Shaolin and Wudang seem to be thinking about the orthodox martial world more sincerely than I thought.

"But, do we have to have this name for the competition? There are many cooler ones. Like 'Dragon and Tiger Fighting Each Other', 'Dragon and Tiger Competing'. Can't we change the name of the event while we're at it? What's with 'Dao-Buddhist Great War'?"

"Haha. It's an event that's over a hundred years old, so it must be because the people of old couldn't think of such a cool name."

I was being serious, but the Martial Uncle laughed it off, thinking I was joking.

"But, who won ten years ago?"

"Ten years ago?"

The Martial Uncle's face turned slightly red.

Even without hearing a separate answer, I can easily guess that Shaolin won.

Ten years ago would have been when the Martial Uncle was a third-generation disciple, and he must have lost in the competition.

"Ahem. We lost."

"Not only you, Martial Uncle, but you lost even with outstanding Martial Uncles like Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong and Martial Uncle Hyeonhak?"

"Yes. The teachings of Shaolin are very outstanding. To the point where it's called the origin of all martial arts."

"Oh-ho, it would be nice to experience it once if I get the chance."

"Yes. If you're lucky, it might be so."

I let out a small laugh at those words.

Since I'm a guest from Wudang now, unless I'm extremely unlucky and get into a strange argument, I won't even have a chance to exchange blows with the Shaolin martial monks, but to express that as being lucky.

Should I say it's just like the Martial Uncle?

"Lucky? I'm worried I'll get beaten up if I step forward for no reason."

"Beaten up? Who. You?"

The Martial Uncle looked at me as if that was impossible and chuckled.

Actually, I also think so.

I was confident that I could win unless it was a very strong master, and if worse comes to worst, I could just run away.

"Stop talking nonsense and just follow me. At this rate, the sun will set again."

"Yes, Martial Uncle."

Although the Martial Uncle couldn't use footwork, he climbed the stairs two at a time to hurry, and I diligently followed behind him.

***

Finally, we arrived at the Shaolin Temple.

Despite being on such a high mountain, a huge red-painted wall and a plaque with the words 'Shaolin Temple'  hung above the main gate.

'It's been a while.'

But I don't just feel happy.

I had only been here twice.

The first time was when I was just starting to make a name for myself as the 'Self-Reliant Sword Master', and the second time was after I was recognized as a considerable master in the martial world.

'All the rising new masters had to pass through here once.'

As far as I remember, from now until the Demonic Cult invades later, Wudang has never won the Dao-Buddhist Great War even once.

That's why for that long period, it was Shaolin that led the major and minor affairs of the martial world, and the Shaolin Abbot became the highest person in the orthodox martial world.

So the Shaolin Abbot would call all the young masters who were starting to make a name for themselves or who were showing prominence in any field to Shaolin and have tea with them once.

'It seemed like he was trying to check their character and disposition.'

As if to check how a young master would grow up in the future.

According to rumors, there was even a joke that if the Shaolin Abbot judged that a person had the disposition and character to harm the world, they would be locked up in the Shaolin Temple and have to do wall-gazing training every day.

"You may enter. Amitabha."

While I was lost in old thoughts looking at the Shaolin Temple, the Martial Uncle showed his identification plaque to the muscular monk guarding the entrance and then entered through the main gate that he opened.

As I followed him and slipped into the Shaolin Temple, the first thing that caught my eye was the incredibly large sparring stage set up on the open space, large enough for hundreds of people to train at the same time without it being crowded.

It seems to be made of granite, and it looks sturdy even at a glance.

And surrounding it, quite a few buildings stood.

"The place you see in front is the main hall where not only the martial monks but also the monks who haven't learned martial arts, and even the Buddhists from outside visit. It's also called the Great Hero Treasure Hall. The large sparring stage in front of it is called the 'Bedrock'."

The Martial Uncle continued to explain about this place as we went further into the Shaolin Temple.

The Scripture Pavilion, where not only the Buddhist scriptures but also the secret manuals are kept.

The Guest Hall, where visitors like us stay and eat.

The Yangxin Hall, where only the old monks who have been recognized for their long period of Buddhist training in the Shaolin Temple can enter and practice a higher level of Buddhism, and so on...

He explained it as naturally as if he were introducing his own home.

"You know a lot about Shaolin too, Martial Uncle."

"Yes. Because I've been coming and going from this place since I was your age."

The Martial Uncle answered lightly as if I had asked something not so important and continued to walk deeper into the Shaolin Temple.

After that, we passed the Precepts Hall, the Eight Great Guardian Halls, and the Shaolin Thirty-Six Chambers, and when we reached the deepest place that was in contact with a dense forest, the Martial Uncle finally stopped.

Here, there was a small hut that seemed too small for even one person to use, and I knew well what that small building was.

'The Abbot's Room.'

Unlike the heads of most sects who live in large and tall pavilions, the residence of the Shaolin Abbot is so small and shabby.

In the first place, the title 'Abbot' itself originated from the fact that the high monks of old used to practice Buddhism in a narrow space of about one 'zhang' (a unit of length) in length and width.

"That's the Abbot's Room. I don't know if the Abbot is here now, but let's knock on the door."

The Martial Uncle walked briskly towards the Abbot's Room and knocked on the door.

For some reason, I felt my heart pounding.

The Shaolin Abbot is a master who is recognized in the martial world to the point where he can be compared to the Saber King whom I met a few days ago.

And on top of that, I have a lingering impression of him being quite scary when I met him before.

Screeech—

Soon, the door, which was so old that it made a loud noise, opened, and a monk in a kasaya with a skinny build opened the door and came out.

'Grandmaster Gakil. He was the abbot of Shaolin at this time too.'

The abbot I met when I was the Self-Reliant Sword Master was Grandmaster Gakil.

Although he looks a little younger than when I met him, his impression is not much different from then.

Although he is a monk, I don't feel any mercy, but rather a sharpness.

His skinny body and rough skin even make him feel like a walking tree branch.

But, the aura emanating from his body is unusual.

It can't be explained by just the word 'strong'.

It even felt like there was a sense of antiquity that only emanates from a high monk.

"I greet the Abbot. Have you been well?"

"It's Hyeon Yang. I was waiting. You usually come a few days earlier than the day you said you would, but today you didn't come until the promised day, so I was worried."

"Hahaha. You're probably the only one who worries because I came on time, Abbot."

"It's because you usually came so early."

But the moment he opened his mouth, the frozen air felt warm again.

Although his voice was shrill, I could feel the mercy and goodwill towards Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang in it.

"By the way... who is the almsgiver behind you?"

"I should have introduced him first, I'm late. That child is my junior. He is a third-generation disciple of our Wudang. Hwi-ya. Come and greet him."

"Hello. I am Unhwi, a third-generation disciple of Wudang, Abbot."

I ran to them and bowed my head deeply in greeting.

Actually, I wasn't planning to go this far.

But, as I was trying to make eye contact with the Abbot, I just bowed my head to avoid his eyes.

For some reason, it felt like he was seeing right through me.

"Hehe. At a glance, he seems like a very smart child."

"Yes. That's right. He's a child I have high hopes for."

"But, did you say he was your junior and not your disciple a moment ago? You're also at the age to take on a disciple."

"A disciple is still too much for me. I think I can take someone on only after I've devoted myself more to martial arts and cultivated myself."

"Hehe. You say that, but. In reality, it sounds like you don't want to lose the time you could be using for your own martial arts training to raise a disciple."

"As expected, I can't deceive you, Abbot."

Grandmaster Gakil smiled brightly and then slowly approached me.

I tried to avoid his eyes, but since he was approaching me like that and staring into my eyes, I had no choice but to look straight into his eyes.

"Oh-ho...?"

He let out an exclamation full of interest and then continued.

"If it's not a discourtesy, may I examine your body for a moment?"

When I secretly glanced at Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang, the Martial Uncle gave a slight nod.

It was a look that said to let him do as he pleased.

But, I didn't follow the Martial Uncle's words.

"Then I also have something I'm curious about, may I ask one thing?"

"Something you're curious about?"

"Yes. It's nothing special. If you don't want to answer after hearing it later, you don't have to."

"Hehehe. Yes. I understand."

Unlike the Martial Uncle, who was a little flustered as if he didn't expect me to come out like this, Grandmaster Gakil, as if he had become even more interested, laughed and approached me.

And after touching and feeling my body here and there, he soon moved away from me.

"Almsgiver."

"Yes, Abbot."

"I'm just saying this just in case... is there anyone close to you who has a connection with our Shaolin?"

"Um... not particularly."

"Really...?"

He had an expression as if he couldn't understand.

Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang hurriedly approached him and asked, "Abbot. What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Then he shook his head and said, "No, it's not a problem, but... Almsgiver Unhwi seems to have learned our Shaolin's Muscle-Tendon Change Classic."

(End of Chapter)