Chapter 157
Gakjeong had said that the appearance of the Heaven-Slaughter Star followed a certain cycle, and that the time for it was approaching again. With that, he left Shaolin Temple.
And indeed, according to the memories from before the regression, the Heaven-Slaughter Star appeared a few years later and turned Yunnan Province into a wasteland.
“If what Master Gakjeong discovered is true... then that’s quite something.”
Had he succeeded in uncovering even a portion of the secrets of the Heaven-Slaughter Star, something no one in the history of Murim had ever managed to do?
That was undeniably a remarkable achievement.
Although it seemed Jeonghyeon had a slightly different perspective.
He gave a bitter smile and slowly shook his head.
“I’m not so sure. Of course I want to believe in my master, but more than that, I just want him to spend his remaining years in peace. Thankfully, he no longer has inner energy. Lately... my master’s been so obsessed, it’s a wonder he hasn't succumbed to qi deviation.”
“Obsessed, you say?”
The most important tenet of Buddhist teachings is said to be letting go of attachments. But to hear that someone who once served as the head of Shaolin is now so consumed with obsession that even his disciple worries about qi deviation—it was hard to believe and made one pause for a moment. Still, Jeonghyeon, eyes fixed forward, continued.
“Namu Amitabha. To my master, a disciple was like a child. And unless a person has truly attained enlightenment, they will, in the end, live bound to the secular world. So, I don't blame my master... I just hope he finds peace.”
“What do you think will happen if Master Gakjeong really finds the Heaven-Slaughter Star?”
“It won’t end well.”
He might succeed in killing the unawakened Heaven-Slaughter Star this time, or, as in the past, he might try to suppress the killing intent and raise the child himself.
Either way, it didn’t seem like Gakjeong would find a happy ending.
Considering his age, he might not even live long enough to see what becomes of the child if he does take them in.
In the end, he’d spend the rest of his days full of regret and lingering attachment until the moment he closes his eyes.
That is the very attitude a Buddhist should most avoid, and as a disciple, Jeonghyeon likely wished to stop his master from walking a clearly thorny path.
The mood grew heavy for a moment. As if to lighten it, Tang Sowol spoke up in a somewhat exaggeratedly cheerful tone.
“Ah! That’s right, Master Gakjeong reached the base of Mount Song, but then said he had something to attend to and left ahead of us. Except for Sister Hwarin, none of us even noticed—so we were a bit surprised. I did see him from a distance during the Yongbong Meeting, but... Shaolin’s martial arts really are incredible!”
“Heh heh. Come to think of it, I haven’t even asked the benefactors why you came. Though you’re still considered late-stage second-class, you're clearly proper martial artists, so I doubt you came just to sightsee.”
“Well... I suppose I was hoping to get a look at Shaolin’s martial arts, if possible...?”
“If that’s the case, you are welcome. Shaolin monks rarely leave the temple, and even if they do, they seldom leave Henan Province. So this would be a great chance to gain new experience. Especially for Benefactors Cheon and Tang, even more so.”
Indeed. How often would one meet someone who emanates such strong killing intent that it could fool even Gakjeong, who had raised the Heaven-Slaughter Star himself, or someone skilled in poison and hidden weapons?
“I’ll make arrangements separately, so rest well today. ...And Master is probably visiting his disciple’s grave. He should return in a few days, and then we can formally thank you again for your assistance.”
“We only did what was natural, so there's no need to go that far... but we’d very much like to see Master Gakjeong again, so please call for us.”
“Fufu, I never thought I’d get to witness Shaolin’s martial arts, so my heart’s pounding a bit.”
Seo Mun-Hwarin placed her hand on her relatively flat chest and smiled as if excited.
Jeonghyeon, who had been about to leave, stopped and turned back with a stern face.
“Hey now, it’s a bit much for an adult to meddle when the kids are playing... don’t you think?”
“Pft.”
“I’ve heard about your situation from the Murim Alliance, Benefactor Seo... but hm. If I step in myself, it’ll turn into a matter of pride. How about testing your skills against one of Shaolin’s Vajra Warriors instead?”
Seo Mun-Hwarin silently clenched the hand she’d had resting on her chest.
She looked like she had a lot to say, but couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Vajra Warriors referred to Shaolin monks who had mastered external martial arts and achieved the Invincible Vajra Body.
There might be none or several in a generation... but currently, there were four.
Even if Seo Mun-Hwarin defeated one, it would just be laughed off as a good match.
In response to Jeonghyeon’s mature suggestion, Seo Mun-Hwarin reacted childishly.
She pouted, tapped her toe on the floor, and showed her displeasure in the most obvious way.
“Is it alright if these kids observe as well?”
“If we allow three of Shaolin’s own disciples to observe, I see no problem.”
“I don’t mind.”
With their next match scheduled, Jeonghyeon finally parted ways.
Just as everyone was about to head to their rooms to unpack, Seol Lihyang, instead of going into hers, ran straight over to me.
Standing on tiptoe, she whispered into my ear.
“Cheon Hwi, Cheon Hwi.”
“What is it?”
“This time, I’m going to spar with a monk who's around my level, right?”
“I guess so.”
“Is there any reward if I win?”
“...?”
Isn’t winning the duel itself reward enough? It boosts your mood and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
“You’ve got that weird look again... but I need an incentive to get motivated, right? Even something simple is fine, so think of something for me.”
“If you want something, just say so.”
“It’s not that I want anything in particular. I just want to receive something, okay? So you think of it.”
A completely unreasonable request. But this wasn’t the first time—I'd dealt with plenty of this in my past life.
Seol Lihyang often made vague, out-of-the-blue demands like this, and no matter how I responded, she never made a big fuss.
Still, there were definitely things she especially liked.
Recalling those somewhat old memories, I nodded.
“Alright. I’ll come up with something. Just win first.”
“Heehee, got it. And actually, that wasn’t the main thing...”
That wasn’t the main point?
I tilted my head, puzzled, and Seol Lihyang shook hers.
“If you’re going to spar with Sister Seo again before bed, you should cheer her up a little afterward.”
“She didn’t seem that upset, though?”
“Tsk! Just do it when I say. It’s not like it costs you anything to do something for her, right?”
“Well, sure... but what should I do?”
“Hmm... maybe give her a shoulder massage? Elders like that kind of thing.”
Honestly, maybe Seol Lihyang was the most disrespectful of us all.
I held back the urge to laugh and nodded, relieved that Seo Mun-Hwarin wasn’t around.
“Alright.”
***
Seol Lihyang’s advice was quite effective.
Seo Mun-Hwarin, who had been noticeably down, visibly brightened after receiving a brief massage before bed.
Now the only thing left was to figure out what to give Seol Lihyang if she won her match.
Unfortunately, that would have to wait a bit.
“Would you follow this humble monk for a moment? There is something important I must discuss about your martial arts.”
“Huh?”
At some point, Gakjeong had returned to Shaolin Temple, and early in the morning, he spoke to me like that.
“But didn’t you already confirm that I’m not the Heaven-Slaughter Star, Master?”
“I suppose the head monk must have told you about me.”
“More or less, yes.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not because I suspect you to be the Heaven-Slaughter Star. I simply wish for us to exchange a bit of help.”
“Help...?”
What help could I possibly offer Gakjeong?
Unless it’s like last time—protecting him from an enemy he couldn’t face due to his age—he’s far more renowned and skilled in martial arts than I am.
I tilted my head, puzzled, and Gakjeong shook his head slightly.
“You harbor immense killing intent, yet you’ve managed to control it well. Could you teach me how? In exchange, I’ll not withhold my own teachings.”
“That is...”
Simply put, he was proposing we exchange martial arts knowledge to help each other grow.
Naturally, this would benefit me.
The Raging Wave Death-Stealing Art, barely a century old, versus Shaolin martial arts, the towering cornerstone of orthodox Murim with a history spanning centuries. And the one offering this exchange was a former head monk.
If all went well, this could be a chance to deepen my lacking martial arts foundation.
Having gained some insights during my previous spar with Namgung Dowi, I might find new understanding through this exchange as well.
Whish, whish!
Still, I was already scheduled to spar with other Shaolin monks alongside my companions today, so I looked to them first.
They nodded desperately in unison, as if they had rehearsed it. I chuckled softly.
“Understood. Where shall we go?”
“There’s something I’ve been working on in my spare time. Let’s head there.”
I followed Gakjeong deeper into Shaolin Temple... into areas guests normally weren’t allowed to enter.
After walking in silence for some time, we reached a path even the Shaolin monks seldom used. Then, Gakjeong finally spoke.
“I can guess what the head monk told you, but let me ask again. What did Jeonghyeon say about me?”
“He said he just hoped you could find peace.”
“Of course. That child is a model student, unlike me. Then what do you think of me, Benefactor?”
“I think you’re admirable.”
“...Oh?”
“The Heaven-Slaughter Star is a mysterious constitution—no one knows how it’s formed, nor how to suppress its nature. That’s why killing them early to avoid future calamity is often considered the best course. But you didn’t choose that.”
You chose the harder path, even knowing the end would not be pleasant.
You gave your heart, and when that heart was broken, you fell.
Someone who could have spent his final moments peacefully and respected by all, instead gave it up to do what he believed was right.
“I don’t think such a person is foolish. I see no reason to dismiss such natural affection as mere obsession. I simply respect someone who stuck to their path.”
“I didn’t expect such a generous view. However... there’s one thing that must be corrected.”
Gakjeong smiled bitterly as he turned down a small side path.
“I never told anyone this... but I wasn’t able to face myself—or the Buddha within us—until the very end.”
Branches overgrown onto the path from lack of upkeep. Within the grassy shade, he continued.
“My disciple, Jeong Shim, at the final moment, suppressed his killing intent and cultivated pure Buddhist inner energy. But I did not.”
“What...?”
“Whether it was from the blood on my hands over the years, or the overwhelming killing intent of the Heaven-Slaughter Star... the moment I believed Jeong Shim had been devoured by that destiny, killing intent began to seep into my martial arts.”
Jeong Shim, who resisted until the very end, may not have been fully awakened—or may have been the first to break free from the fate of the Heaven-Slaughter Star.
But Gakjeong failed.
Unable to bear the sight of his rampaging disciple, he gave up... and directed killing intent at him.
“Jeong Shim’s death was not because of the Heaven-Slaughter Star... it was because of me.”
The reason Gakjeong destroyed his own dantian wasn’t grief, but guilt.
At the end of that narrow, shaded path was an open clearing.
There stood numerous statues of child monks carved from stone and wood.
They were of various ages, but all resembled the same person.
They were likely depictions of Jeong Shim—from childhood until the moment of his death.
“In my twilight years, I no longer seek Nirvana. I only hope no one else repeats my foolishness.”
Surrounded by the many child monk statues, Gakjeong sat down with a heavy thud.
“So, would you tell this old monk?”
“Tell you what?”
“About the hell within you.”
His gaze pierced through me, eyes gleaming between his aged wrinkles.