Chapter 024
What should I do about this? Baek Sugyeong felt deeply conflicted. How much more should he interfere in matters that weren't his concern? Was it appropriate for him to be involved in creating Shaolin's mental cultivation method?
His deliberation was lengthy, but his answer was brief.
"All I can offer is a topic for contemplation."
"I wish to hear your guidance, Teacher."
Baek Sugyeong sighed and said:
"Martial arts are learning, and learning is application. Since the foundation has been distorted, not only will Shaolin's martial lineage be affected, but eventually Shaolin's future itself will be warped."
A single statement that pierced Muwon's core. To the young Arhat destined to carry Shaolin's future on his shoulders, Baek Sugyeong's words carried immense weight.
Baek Sugyeong continued:
"Though it will be difficult to correct a distorted foundation, once properly aligned, that foundation will endure."
Baek Sugyeong looked at Muwon. His eyes were profound. The scholar's pupils were as deep as the night sky.
"An Arhat is one who is worthy of offerings, and one worthy of offerings is an Arhat. To pave the way for an Arhat who has attained enlightenment and earned others' respect, appropriate attire is needed."
That was a metaphor.
"If the mind is the body and martial arts the clothing, if you need a foundation to cultivate your body, it is right to attain enlightenment yourself rather than seeking others' help."
"You mean..."
"Even if the path forward is one of thorny hardship, if you advance without fear, you will attain the Buddha's teachings and discipline. If you retreat in fear, you will decline."
To Muwon, every word Baek Sugyeong spoke sounded like the Buddha's teachings. These were insights that required deep knowledge of Buddhism.
"Seek enlightenment above, transform sentient beings below. One must first attain enlightenment to guide sentient beings in the right direction."
"...!"
"Great Master, you have already attained it. Therefore, you need neither seek answers from me nor request my assistance."
Though his speech was long, Baek Sugyeong's message was contained in that final statement. Even without his help, Muwon was more than capable of reaching the result he desired.
"However, if that mental cultivation method needs a name."
Baek Sugyeong concluded:
"The name 'Arahan' would suit it well."
"Arahan. Arhat. Good. Truly excellent."
Muwon smiled.
This was the moment when the name was established for what would later become known as the "Arhat Divine Art," Shaolin's representative cultivation technique.
...
Monk Musang sipped his tea leaf brew while watching Baek Sugyeong and his group descend the mountain gate, saying they had business in Dengfeng County.
Beside Musang sat Monk Baek Mi, Muwon's teacher.
As Monk Musang set down his teacup, Monk Baek Mi asked:
"Did you anticipate this outcome from the beginning, Venerable Elder?"
"Beopsang's words were merely the catalyst."
Monk Musang picked up his teacup again. Though the tea had grown cold, he didn't seem to mind.
Monk Musang said:
"Wudang has changed, Baek Mi."
"That's widely known, Venerable Elder."
No matter how secluded they might be in Shaolin's mountain gate, Shaolin's ears were not deaf.
Though sitting on Mount Song they couldn't see a thousand li away, they had people who served as Shaolin's hands, feet, and ears. And all that information eventually reached Monk Musang.
In response to Monk Baek Mi's answer, Monk Musang said:
"Wudang's gates, once sealed in isolation, have opened, and people have begun knocking on their previously closed doors. All created by a single novel. Isn't that peculiar?"
"Venerable Elder..."
"A single book changed Wudang, which had been dissolute for generations. It's not strange that this old monk thought to borrow Sugyeong's strength after hearing Beopsang's words."
Watching Monk Musang press his palms together, Monk Baek Mi swallowed a sigh.
But Monk Musang wasn't finished:
"Many hardships will befall Teacher Sugyeong in the future. Shaolin must become his wall."
"Even without Shaolin, there's Wudang. Why do you say this, Venerable Elder?"
"He's a teacher who single-handedly reorganized Wudang's martial arts. Who wouldn't covet such martial talent? The unorthodox factions aren't stirring without reason."
At Monk Musang's words, Monk Baek Mi found himself nodding unconsciously.
There was truth in those words. A talent that could summarize Wudang's martial arts in just a few lines of text, making the verbose explanations of previous masters seem futile.
"Wudang Sword Hero" was an extraordinary work, hardly classifiable as mere fiction.
Monk Musang continued:
"It's a sect called the Thousand-Year Wudang because it has supported the martial world for ages alongside our temple. To be able to reorganize such a sect's martial arts so decisively, with just a few lines of text..."
"Even calling it heaven-sent martial talent seems insufficient, Venerable Elder."
"Indeed."
Monk Baek Mi stroked his beard.
"So that's why you specifically sent Teacher Sugyeong to Muwon."
"I thought a few words from Teacher Sugyeong would lead that child to a new realm."
"Heh heh..."
Such profound calculation!
Monk Baek Mi truly admired Monk Musang's planning. Especially since Monk Musang's intentions had aligned perfectly.
Monk Baek Mi chanted a Buddhist invocation:
"That Teacher Sugyeong came to end that child's long wandering must surely be Buddha's blessing... Amitabha."
"Teacher Sugyeong is heaven-sent."
"Are you also aware that Muwon broke through his barrier in just a few days, Venerable Elder?"
Monk Musang nodded.
"He said he would create a new mental cultivation method. He came to me first to seek my approval."
"A mental cultivation method..."
"It's true that our temple's mental methods and martial arts have gradually diverged. Muwon's attempt to correct this must have been greatly influenced by Teacher Sugyeong's words."
Monk Baek Mi stroked his beard.
How far ahead had Monk Musang seen, and how much had he anticipated?
"The teacher's existence will cause great waves in the martial world. The martial world will be shaken by Teacher Sugyeong's actions."
"Amitabha. Amitabha..."
"It's not common. Rare indeed is one who neither flaunts nor reveals his abilities, but simply wishes to live ordinarily."
"The phrase 'honey in mouth, sword in belly' comes to mind, Venerable Elder."
"Baek Mi, do you see Teacher Sugyeong as such a treacherous person?"
Though quiet, Monk Musang's words carried weight.
Monk Baek Mi shook his head.
"Of course I don't think the teacher is such a person. I merely thought that if he were to waver... couldn't one man bring ruin to the martial world?"
"You're trying to see too far ahead. It's not a good habit. Human life is finite, Baek Mi."
Monk Musang gently admonished:
"If the teacher had such intentions, the martial world would already be thoroughly shaken. He would have manipulated Wudang from behind and seized the Murim Alliance from the front to shake the world."
"Hmm..."
"But despite his heaven-sent martial talent, the teacher harbors no such ambition."
Amitabha.
Monk Musang's low Buddhist chant resonated through Dragon Bamboo Hermitage.
Monk Baek Mi seemed to agree to some extent and changed the subject:
"Venerable Elder, did you perhaps gain enlightenment through 'Wudang Sword Hero'?"
"The saying 'If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha' truly resonated with me. It was shocking. Amitabha."
As Monk Musang answered, an invisible energy seemed to ripple through his entire body.
Monk Baek Mi wore an astonished expression.
"S-such blasphemy."
"But isn't it true? If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha; if you meet a god, kill the god. One cannot move forward while trapped in their shadow."
Only then did Monk Baek Mi feel the veil of delusion lifting from his eyelids.
Simultaneously, he gained new insight into Monk Musang's presence — a mountain-like existence disproportionate to his small frame.
"Amitabha."
Monk Musang's Buddhist chant awakened Monk Baek Mi's mind.
"Muwon has set his resolve, and that is truly good."
Monk Musang's voice, tinged with a smile, echoed through Dragon Bamboo Hermitage.
...
"Haaah..."
Baek Sugyeong left the Guest Reception Hall.
He worried whether the impromptu words of wisdom he'd offered would actually help Muwon. The concern weighed on him, making him sigh unconsciously.
He had mixed in impressive-sounding terms he'd memorized as a martial arts novelist to make his advice sound more profound. But he wasn't sure if it had truly been helpful.
What a headache...
Still, Baek Sugyeong thought that Shaolin wouldn't bother him further.
Shaolin's affairs were for Shaolin to handle. There was no reason for an outsider like Baek Sugyeong to intervene further. In fact, he shouldn't intervene at all.
Having been shown some of the sect's internal confidential matters, Baek Sugyeong couldn't speak freely about it anywhere. It was practically Shaolin's private business.
Even though their internal conflict was publicly known, he couldn't speak of it firstly because the other party was Shaolin, and secondly because he might be silenced.
"I should keep my mouth shut."
Baek Sugyeong decided not to utter a single word about Shaolin as he walked away.
His tour of Shaolin was over anyway, and all that remained was returning to Wuhan.
He was thinking of taking it easy and resting a bit when he spotted Namgung Somin approaching with Jin Ming.
Her gait seemed slightly more urgent than usual.
A question formed in Baek Sugyeong's eyes.
"Lady Namgung?"
"So you were at the Guest Reception Hall, Teacher!"
"What's the matter? Why such hurried steps?"
"The Mingwang Society has sent another letter."
At those words, Baek Sugyeong's face crumpled.
Why those people again?
He had already stated he had no intention of mediating between Shaolin and the Mingwang Society.
"I already expressed my refusal. They sent another?"
"Yes."
Namgung Somin held the familiar letter in her hand.
Baek Sugyeong furrowed his brow.
"Why are they so fixated on me?"
"I suspect they're trying to improve their relationship with Shaolin by borrowing your name, Teacher."
"Master Jin."
"To call a mere escort warrior 'Master'..."
Jin Ming seemed slightly moved.
Hearing his words, Baek Sugyeong paused his deliberation about whether to tear up the letter.
If he was going to be continually bothered by these people anyway, it would be better to deal with them before returning to Wuhan.
Feeling an intense longing for his ordinary life conversing with So Ssanga, Baek Sugyeong sighed.
"If they truly wish to see me, tell them to come to the Drunken Moon Pavilion in Luoyang. The Chairman himself."
"T-Teacher, that is..."
Namgung Somin's expression was so dismayed that it was clear this was an unreasonable demand.
But Baek Sugyeong was quite exhausted from the forced march through the Murim Alliance, Dark Mist Society, and now Shaolin.
With the Mingwang Society clinging to him on top of all that, his irritation was understandably reaching its peak.
What good was people's kind treatment and attention when his fundamental stress remained completely unresolved?
The root cause of Baek Sugyeong's demand to bring the Chairman was his fatigue.
"If they're truly in a desperate situation, they'll comply."
Weariness was thick in Baek Sugyeong's voice.
"So please relay that message. I need to rest for a while."
With those words, Baek Sugyeong shuffled away, leaving behind the astonished faces of Namgung Somin and Jin Ming.
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📚 Author's Note:
Thanks to Rigchel for the 1 Power Stone!
🐧