<Episode 82: Shaolin Temple (3)>
‘…There’s no doubt about it.’
Meng Wuyak swallowed dry saliva with trembling eyes.
Meng Wuyak who belonged to the intelligence department directly under Huizhou was familiar with a lot of information inside and outside the Heaven and Earth Association.
Because he was like that he could immediately tell who the three old monks who appeared in the square were.
‘Three monks of Shaolin!’
They must have been the famous Shaolin monks.
Unlike other sects the masters of Shaolin Temple were neither attached to the secular world nor engaged in martial arts activities so there were few masters whose reputation was known.
However with just one match Shaolin once again made its mark after a long time.
It was because of a great evil person with the nickname Nine Destroyers who appeared fifteen years ago.
The nine annihilation apocalypses were so outstanding in their inaction that they were called the next six heavens.
But then one day he suddenly went crazy and started murdering people indiscriminately.
The reason was unknown but the crazed Gu-annihilation massacred everything living in sight and in order to stop this many political faction leaders tried to subdue him but failed.
Because of this even Shaolin who did not often participate in worldly affairs eventually came forward.
‘A joint technique that made even an expert comparable to the Six Heavens kneel.’
Shaolin famous for its numerous martial arts was also skilled in joint techniques like Nahanjin and these three who were considered the best Shaolin masters of the time defeated the Nine Destroyers in just over a hundred seconds with their exquisite joint techniques.
It is said that it was a match so great that the experts who watched it at the time were mesmerized.
Taking this as an opportunity the Murim people called these three old monks the Shaolin Three Monks.
‘To make matters worse they said it was snowing.’
Mong Muyak clicked his tongue.
The sight of Nahan Gakju and the monks surrounding him was just as daunting.
But now that the Shaolin Three Monks known as the best Shaolin masters had appeared it could be said that the situation was the worst.
In response Meng Wuyak came closer and spoke in a low voice.
“My lord. “They are called the Three Monks of Shaolin and they are the highest experts and adults of Shaolin Temple.”
“The best Shaolin master and adult. okay.”
“…Master. You must avoid quarreling with the Shaolin monks.”
Meng Muyak warned in a voice of concern.
At that time among the three old monks who were walking through the pavilion the kind-looking Buddhist monk Janggyeonggakju who was in the middle opened his mouth in a warm voice.
“Amitabha Buddha. It’s been a while. Deokmun.”
“Master Shi!”
Jaejeong Jeong an apostate monk couldn’t help but be moved when his teacher immediately recognized him.
Outside he was called Samgwang and called crazy but he followed his teacher like his own parent.
However this long-awaited separation was broken by Ambassador Daedeok from Gyeyulwonju.
“Amitabha Buddha. Footnote to the chapter. “That donor is no longer a Buddhist so how can you call him by the name he had when he was apostatized?”
Hearing his words Jae-jae-jeong glared at Ambassador Daedeok from Gye-yul Won-ju with disappointed eyes.
Although he is said to have been apostatized he was once a disciple of Shaolin.
However he couldn’t help but feel disappointed when the line was drawn so cruelly.
Ambassador Janggyeong-gakju Gongjeon also seemed to be dissatisfied with this and was about to say something to Ambassador Daedeok of Gyeyulwonju but quickly changed the subject.
“Amitabha Buddha. “Who is the savior who gave me a harsh scolding just now?”
In response to his question Hangma Gakju and Nahan Gakju naturally pointed to Mo Gyeong-un with their eyes.
Then Master Daedeok of Gyeyulwonju who was next to Master Gongjeon put his hands together frowned and said.
“Amitabha Buddha. How can this be expressed as a rebuke? Footnotes to the Tripitaka Koreana.”
To this Ambassador Jang Gyeong-gak replied with a grin.
“I said the right thing so of course it can be said to be a scolding. If there is a cause there is a result and if there is no cause there is no result. The young donor pointed this out so how could I deny it? Isn’t it? “Hangma footnote.”
“Amitabha Buddha.”
Hearing these words Hangmagakju put his hands together and could not help but feel embarrassed.
When Master Gongjeon one of the three senior monks with the highest distribution in Shaolin says something like that he admits that it is all his fault.
Even if it happened by mistake.
However not all three seemed to have the same thoughts.
“Huh. How can you blame this on anti-magakju? He did what he was supposed to do as a governor. “Who knows whether there will be people riding on that strange thing up there in the sky?”
In response to the defense of Master Daedeok of Wonju Hangma Gakju nodded his head.
That was what he wanted to say.
If you ask them to take responsibility for what happened or to apologize they can do whatever they want.
However it was absurd to leave it alone when a monster was passing right above Shaolin and how could anyone know whether a person was riding the monster?
“Gyeyulwonju. This is a dangerous statement. “If you don’t know anything can happen.”
“Amitabha Buddha. Don’t misunderstand it too much. Binseung just wanted to tell you that Hangmagakju didn’t do it on purpose. “I hope the donors will be generous and forgive me.”
With him Master Daedeok of Gyeryul Wonju put his hands together and bowed his head to Mok Gyeong-un and his companions.
It seemed like he was clearly bowing his head and apologizing but his companions couldn’t help but click their tongues inwardly at his attitude which didn’t feel the slightest sincerity.
Then Master Jang Gyeong-gak-ju opened his mouth.
“Even if you practice Buddhism the path and enlightenment that each person accepts is different so please don’t be too offended. In any case as the mayor here said the head office is not without responsibility for this matter…”
“Footnote to the chapter. “You sure you’re not trying to get that monster out are you?”
His words were interrupted by Ambassador Daedeok of Gyeyulwonju.
“The city owners have suffered great hardship due to a mistake made by the head office so shouldn’t they be let out?”
“I have already apologized for that and I am willing to make other repayments if you wish. But sending out a monster is a different matter.”
“Huh. “How can you say such a thing?”
“Are you planning to break the headquarters’ rules? “A monster that causes harm to humans has entered our headquarters and we are going to let it go.”
“What are you going to do if I do that?”
“You have to catch it. What do anti-horse riders do? “Can’t we subdue that monster right away?”
At the shout of Master Daedeok of the Preceptor Wonju the Hangma monks again held the Diamond Jewel and prepared to recite the Hangma mantra.
Then the Great Master Jang Gyeong-gak shouted.
“You anti-horse riders stop this immediately. “This is the responsibility of headquarters and cannot be resolved through discipline.”
-Roaring!
The horse-riding monks were left confused not knowing what to do.
This was also the case for Hangmagakju.
He also had a hard-line nature so he was of the same opinion as Master Daedeok of Gyeul Wonju but since they clearly made some mistakes he found it very difficult to subdue the monster.
“Huh. Do you really have the qualifications to be an anti-demon monk to hesitate even though there is a monster in front of you that harms and eats people? “No that won’t work.”
-Sigh!
As soon as he finished speaking Master Daedeok of Gyeyulwonju stretched out his hand.
-Ugh!
“Huh?”
Then due to his profound true energy the Vajrayana came out from the hands of the three anti-horse monks.
-Shoo shoo shoo!
Soon it flew towards Heumwon the cowering beast.
But at that moment something surprising happened.
When Mok Gyeong-un lifted his hand up while holding the sword the evil sword on his waist came out of its sheath on its own and flew away as if it was alive.
-Chaekchaeng!
At the perfect moment he deflected three Geumgangjeo flying towards the monster Heumwon.
As soon as Mok Gyeong-un pretended to pull the sword the sword that was thrown away flew back and returned to Mok Gyeong-un’s sheath.
-Good!
‘!!!!!!!!!!’
Soon the room was agitated.
Any martial artist who had learned martial arts could not fail to notice this.
‘Fighting swordsmanship?’
It was none other than the art of swordsmanship.
‘How can this be?’
‘My lord is using swordsmanship?’
Mok Gyeong-un’s subordinates who saw this also could not hide their surprise.
This technique of handling the sword with energy was completely different from the empty-empty object that Daedeok Daesa the master of precepts simply struck with his true energy.
It was only possible to not only overcome the wall but also reach the state as a sword and understand the energy at least to the extreme of the flower world.
-no?
Cheongryeong also couldn’t help but be surprised.
-Middle school student When did you learn the art of swordsmanship?
-After competing with someone who was said to be a Namjin warrior like during Cheonjihoeju I roughly understood how to handle the flow of energy.
-!?
Cheongryeong was inwardly dumbfounded by Mok Gyeong-un’s words.
I was well aware of this guy’s martial arts skills and his ability to see through the flow of energy but I had no idea that he could even master the art of swordsmanship.
And that’s after only going through it twice.
It was an unbelievable talent that I could never get used to no matter how much I experienced it.
Then it happened.
“It’s swordsmanship… The young servant is surprising this old monk. “I haven’t seen many skilled masters in person but this is the first time I’ve heard of a master of the time who practiced swordsmanship at that age.”
Right now Mo Kyung-un was still wearing the human skin mask.
However because Inpimyeongu’s face was only about his mid-twenties even Master Daedeok the head of the precepts was surprised.
“I hope the young lord uses such power for the right purpose but it is truly unfortunate that he is using it for a monster that eats mere people. Amitabha Buddha.”
-Gooooo!
With those words Master Daedeok of Gyeyulwonju revealed a pure yet profound aura.
He was not overbearing like a Buddhist martial artist but his energy was so great that one was in awe of him.
Mok Gyeong-un said to him like this.
“I know that Shaolin doesn’t look favorably on Bangsul but after that monster became a food spirit it didn’t eat anyone. Still do you really need to use your hands?”
“Even if it doesn’t happen right away if that monster escapes the Lord’s control there will definitely be disaster.”
“You’re worried about something that hasn’t happened yet.”
“How can we watch quietly when there is harm right in front of our eyes? “I think we must get rid of that monster both for the sake of the young patron and for the future.”
“If you insist on doing that I can’t help it either.”
Accordingly Mok Gyeong-un also tried to adopt a cardinal method.
Mong Muyak had hoped not to be in conflict with the Shaolin Samseung but when things happened like this he had no choice but to look at Seopchun and Marahyeon and take a rash attitude.
“Master!”
As the atmosphere was about to escalate into a fight the apostate monk Jae-jeong called his teacher Janggyeong-gak-ju in an earnest voice.
Then he tried to step forward as if he thought that even an official ambassador would not work.
But that was right then.
-match!
“Amitabha Buddha.”
The sound of chanting a sutra that resonates majestically with the palm of one’s hands.
As this sound spread in all directions everyone in the square who was cheering up soon stopped and looked at someone.
He was the only monk among the three monks of Shaolin who did not come forward.
‘It’s incredible aerial power.’
‘That old monk is the most powerful of the three.’
Thanks to the energy in Master Wuseong’s voice Mo Kyung-un’s followers realized that Master Wuseong was the one with the most profound inner power among the three Shaolin monks.
I couldn’t help but feel nervous when he appeared like this but the voiceless ambassador opened his mouth in a quiet voice different from before.
“Could the Lords and the two ambassadors please listen to Binseung’s words for a moment?”
When he stepped forward Master Daedeok of Gyeyul Wonju who was somewhat stubborn calmed his momentum and responded in a cautious manner.
“Please speak. line.”
That was because among the three so-called Shaolin monks the one with the highest distribution was Master Wu of the martial arts class.
Ambassador Gongjeon also spoke while putting his hands together out of respect for such silent lines.
“Amitabha Buddha. Do you have any insight? line.”
At this question Ambassador Museong looked at Mok Gyeong-un pointedly.
In response Mok Gyeong-un also put his hands together in a bow and spoke politely.
“Please speak. line.”
Then Master Museong bowed his head once showed respect and then opened his mouth.
“Thank you for listening to the words of the poor monk. “Binseung watched quietly looked into what the problem was and came to one conclusion.”
“What is that?”
“From Shaolin’s point of view due to discipline demons cannot be overlooked.”
As soon as he finished speaking the corners of Master Daedeok’s mouth slowly turned up.
This was because he seemed to take his side due to his high distribution.
But his words were not yet finished.
“However it is also true that the mistakes of Hangmagakju caused inconvenience to the owners. Therefore even though there are regulations from headquarters it does not seem right to enforce them carelessly.”
“line! “You sure don’t mean to just let that monster go do you?”
Ambassador Daedeok frowned and intervened saying he could not tolerate it.
Then Ambassador Museong put his hands together and said.
“Amitabha Buddha. Great Master… Even a hundred people can become Buddha if they let go of the sword.”
“Ambassador: That’s….”
“Just because they are beasts and monsters how can they not be qualified to become Buddha? “Every living thing deserves to become a Buddha.”
“….”
After hearing his words like this Ambassador Daedeok immediately closed his mouth.
He wasn’t very good at discussing something in front of someone who had a higher level of distribution and deeper Buddhist devotion than him.
That’s why he couldn’t open his mouth without a proper rebuttal.
Then Master Museong looked towards Mok Gyeong-un and said.
“This is what the monk thinks but what do you think about it?”
Although he felt a bit puzzled that he was obediently taking their side Mok Gyeong-un responded positively because for now accepting his mediation was the way to avoid fighting Shaolin.
“I agree with what Mr. North said.”
“Hehehe. That’s good. “I would like the donor to prove it.”
“proof? “What do you mean by that?”
“The Master of the Hangmagak here as well as the Lord of the Precepts are very disciplined people so to convince them how about showing them that even if the Lord is a monster it is possible to control the monster?”
‘!?’
* * *
[What and how do you want me to show you?]
[It’s not that difficult. Among the thirty-six caves of the headquarters there is a cave that houses a vicious monster.]
[A vicious monster?]
[Yes. The monster is so ferocious that the Hangma monks have been trying to control the city by reciting the Hangma Mantra sutra for 99 days but there has been no improvement so far. So I hope you can show the two ambassadors here that you can control your voice. Would you like to do that?]
The proposal of Ambassador Museong of Yeokgeun-gyeong and Jeonju was like that.
In order to convince Master Daedeok head of Hangmagakju and Preceptor he asked them to show him how to control the nature of a ferocious monster or monster.
He said that if he showed this he could take Yosu Hemwon with him and leave the Shaolin Temple.
‘hmm.’
Since it was a situation where he could not just fight against Shaolin Temple which was said to be the center of martial arts Mok Gyeong-un had no choice but to accept it.
But there was one problem.
Currently Mo Kyung-un’s food spirits were at full capacity so it was impossible to increase them.
Therefore he may not have been able to show how he subdues Yao-seong by using a monster as a food spirit as suggested by Ambassador Museong.
‘What should I do?’
Mok Gyeong-un was worrying and receiving guidance from Master Gongjeon.
After passing a few pavilions a half-building made up of numerous rock walls appeared toward the back of the Shaolin Temple.
The number of caves was approximately thirty-six.
The names of the caves were written on the main hall which is the entrance to the semi-building.
As I was walking along the square to go towards the cave Mok Gyeong-un stopped midway.
There was a red monument erected there and in front of it I saw a deep footprint engraved.
‘What is this?’
The footprints looked like pounding marks.
But why was this red-painted monument erected in front of the footprints?
Moreover this phrase was engraved on the tombstone:
[Remember.]
As Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head to look at this the Gongjeon ambassador who was guiding him spoke.
“Amitabha Buddha. “It is a monument erected to raise awareness of Shaolin.”
“Awareness?”
“That’s right. “A situation occurred where the 100 eight-strong army which was once said to be perfect collapsed due to the advance of only one unrivaled expert.”
“Advanced? Really?”
“Yes those footprints are the traces from that time.”
‘!!!!!!!’
