Chapter 79
‘Whether he’s bold or arrogant. To show such an attitude in front of my master…’
—Well, we can just have a good fight.
So-ah’s words were beyond Gwang-won’s expectations, even beyond his imagination.
Who was his master?
Wasn’t he a great man whose seniority was so high that even the Martial Alliance Leader would step back, and whose martial arts were peerless?
But So-ah, even with such a Great Master Gong-seung in front of him, seemed not to care and spat out words that were extremely arrogant.
As expected, the Great Master Gong-seung felt a great emotional turmoil for a moment.
‘That confidence… he resembles the God of War in his youth.’
At the same time, forgotten memories of the past flashed through the Great Master Gong-seung’s mind like a revolving lantern.
The first and last defeat of his life.
He projected the image of the God of War, Moyong Cheon, who had given him that miserable scar, onto So-ah.
Just then, So-ah’s words continued.
“The number one in the world, the greatest talent of the era. I’m not interested in such things. But I certainly understand Shaolin’s intentions.”
“Young Master Jin…”
“Well, it’s understandable. A hidden Shaolin master who has just reached the age of majority and has broken through the Arhat Hall. If it becomes known to the public, the Jianghu will praise Shaolin for a while. I will also gladly support the Great Master Gwang-won’s debut. But.”
“…”
“I have no intention of becoming a line in the Great Master Gwang-won’s achievements.”
“Young Master Jin. What do you mean by that…”
“That’s enough, Gwang-won-ah.”
“Master!”
Gwang-won tried to refute So-ah’s firm voice, but the Great Master Gong-seung stopped him and stepped forward instead.
“Amitabha… you are truly direct.”
“I apologize if it sounded rude.”
“No. That’s probably for the better.”
“…”
“As I said, you and Gwang-won can be called the rivals of the era. It is a fate that you must face one day. If we can hasten that time, it would be an honor for Shaolin.”
It was a series of shocks.
Even if it was So-ah, to think that even the Great Master Gong-seung would so openly reveal his fighting spirit.
“Master!”
“Gwang-won-ah.”
“…Yes.”
“Are you prepared to fight a duel with Young Master Jin?”
At his master’s unexpected question, Gwang-won looked at So-ah for a moment with a troubled gaze.
‘That person…’
So-ah’s eyes.
Seeing those eyes, which seemed detached but held a pride that looked down on all things, a deep fighting spirit began to rise in a corner of his heart.
“Your disciple will not avoid it.”
‘What a great spirit. Hmph.’
So-ah received Gwang-won’s gaze fully.
At this moment, Gwang-won’s eyes were burning like the sun.
Just then.
“Well done. As a senior in the martial world, I am extremely happy. Just imagining the wonderful duel between the two who will lead the Jianghu, regardless of victory or defeat, is overwhelming…”
As the Great Master Gong-seung murmured softly, So-ah asked.
“Then what about the time and place?”
“What are your thoughts, Young Master Jin?”
“I don’t mind even right now.”
“Then let’s do this. The place is here, Shaolin. How about the fifteenth day of the month, two months from now?”
At a glance, it was a condition that was disadvantageous to So-ah.
Because as they say, even a stray dog has a 30% advantage in its own neighborhood.
But So-ah didn’t care.
“Alright. The fifteenth day of the month, two months from now. I will visit Shaolin again.”
“Amitabha… I wish you good luck.”
So-ah performed a respectful cupped fist salute to the Great Master Gong-seung.
Of course.
‘You damn monk, I’ll make you shit blood, so just you wait.’
He completely hid his vicious thoughts.
***
“The once-in-a-thousand-years prodigy of the Namgung Family, student Namgung Mun. I have some unfortunate news to deliver. Keke.”
‘What is it now?’
‘What’s his scheme?’
‘Judging by his expression, it seems he’s got something…’
As soon as he returned to the guest hall, So-ah gathered the students in one place and slowly opened his mouth.
Namgung Mun, at So-ah’s incomprehensible words, tilted his head and asked.
“Instructor Jin. What do you mean by that?”
“Originally, student Namgung Mun was evaluated as the number one rising star of the Orthodox Path. But he was crushed by me, right?”
“Ugh…”
‘Suddenly?’
‘Why is he saying such things without any warning?’
The other students, rather than Namgung Mun, had more dumbfounded expressions at So-ah’s sudden personal attack.
“But what should I do? Another one has appeared. A rising star who is much, much stronger than you. He’s just a monster, a monster.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Instructor! Say something we can understand.”
“Ah! Well, what a frustrating person. Are you telling a riddle now?”
The students, who felt a question at the ambiguous words, burst out with complaints.
Only then did So-ah, with a reluctant face, slightly move his lips.
“Would you believe it if I said that a young man who has just reached the age of majority has single-handedly defeated the Shaolin Arhat Hall?”
“…”
“And he’s the top disciple of the Great Master Gong-seung. If he’s a disciple, then in terms of seniority in the Jianghu, he would be at the level of a respected leader of a sect, right?”
“…Hey. If he’s the top disciple of the Great Master Gong-seung, his seniority is at least at the level of a respected leader of a sect. A young man who has just reached the age of majority. And the Shaolin Arhat Hall? Pfft… you have to be moderate with your jokes.”
“It’s true.”
“…”
“A monster like that has really appeared.”
It was truly an unbelievable story.
But the students, seeing So-ah’s serious eyes,
‘That expression… it’s real.’
‘In the first place, Instructor Jin wouldn’t make such a bluff.’
They were so astonished that their mouths hung open and they couldn’t continue their words.
At that, So-ah, with the corners of his mouth slightly turned up, opened his mouth again.
“As they say, a monster is best when it’s beaten.”
“What do you mean by that…”
“For example, even if that monster is a monk wearing the mask of Buddha. Keke.”
‘Don’t tell me…’
‘That human…’
‘Did he do it again?’
For some reason, the students felt like they knew what was going on without having to hear any more.
***
So-ah’s group, on the next day, after paying their respects to the Shaolin abbot and the high-ranking monks of the Gwang generation, immediately set off on their journey and returned to the academy a few days later.
And soon, the entire academy was in shock.
—During the mission, Instructor Jin fought a duel with the Green Forest Demon Emperor, Jang Beon-pal, and although he admitted defeat in the end, in fact, anyone could see that it was a draw or a slight advantage.
—And he became sworn brothers with such a Jang Beon-pal and had a drinking party all night.
—A hidden young master of Shaolin has appeared. He is the top disciple of the Great Master Gong-seung, and he has performed the feat of single-handedly defeating the Eighteen Vajra Arhats of the Shaolin Arhat Hall.
All of them were hard to believe.
But since the subject of this strange rumor was So-ah, people could not help but believe it.
‘If it’s Instructor Jin…’
‘It’s plausible enough…’
‘Because he’s the type of brat who would do more than that.’
As it was, the aftermath of So-ah’s exploits, such as the subjugation of the Great Desert Mad Wind Sand, his heroic tales in the North Sea, and the ‘Liaoning gangster cleanup operation’ in cooperation with the great man Bao Qingtian, had not yet subsided.
But as if to add fuel to the fire, he had brought an even bigger incident, so even the Martial Alliance officials and the academy instructors could not help but be terrified.
Above all.
—Instructor Jin has promised to fight a duel with that absolute master of Shaolin!
This part was not something that could be dismissed as just the deviation or exploit of an eccentric instructor.
The absolute master of Shaolin, who had reigned as the great mountain of the Orthodox Path.
And the great disciple of the Moyong Family, who was currently shaking the Jianghu.
The entire Martial Alliance was boiling with excitement at the announcement of a duel that might draw a great line in the history of the martial world.
In the end, So-ah was soon summoned by the Martial Alliance Leader.
***
Martial Alliance Leader’s Office—
In the room, only two people.
The Martial Alliance Leader, Ha Won-sang, and So-ah were seated.
“Chief Instructor Jin So-ah.”
“Yes, Martial Alliance Leader.”
“Is it true that you fought a duel with the Green Forest Demon Emperor, Jang Beon-pal, won, and even became sworn brothers?”
“It is true that we became sworn brothers, but it is not true that I won. Because I admitted defeat.”
“I heard that although the result was that, it was as good as you winning.”
“It is true that I intentionally admitted defeat. But if we had fought to the end, it was a fight where I could not guarantee what would have happened. It was that fierce.”
In that moment.
“Kekeke!”
Ha Won-sang could not hold back his laughter.
It was funny that the words ‘Brother Beon-pal’ came out of So-ah’s mouth, and it was to the point of being absurd that he had actually fought on equal terms with Jang Beon-pal.
“It’s truly unbelievable… not only your martial arts, but your actions are truly crazy. In that respect, you’re the spitting image of the great hero Moyong in his youth.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Well… is this a compliment…”
“How so…”
“The Green Forest is strictly an Unorthodox Path force. Of course, under the leadership of the great hero Moyong, the Orthodox Path has not clashed with the Unorthodox Path for a long time, but they still cannot be mixed.”
“With all due respect, I learned from my grandfather that one’s origin is not a consideration when making friends. I understand the Martial Alliance Leader’s position, but I intend to live according to my grandfather’s teachings.”
For a moment, So-ah’s voice and expression sank heavily and seriously.
At that, Ha Won-sang realized that it would not be easy to persuade So-ah and just let out an empty laugh.
“Hoho… as expected, I can’t break your will. In that respect, you’re just like the great hero Moyong…”
“The fact that I serve the Green Forest General Fortress Lord as my older brother is a personal matter. It will never be a harm to the Orthodox Path, so please don’t worry.”
“Alright. Let’s talk about that part again next time. What is this about a peerless hero appearing in Shaolin?”
Ha Won-sang changed the subject.
At that, a smile appeared on So-ah’s face.
“Haha. I don’t know if he’s a peerless hero, but it’s true that a great master has appeared.”
“He is the top disciple of the Great Master Gong-seung, and a person who has surpassed the Arhat Hall, right?”
“Yes.”
“And you promised to fight a duel with him?”
“Yes.”
“If he defeated the 18 Vajra Arhats of the Arhat Hall single-handedly, his martial prowess would be hard to even imagine.”
“At a glance, he looked amazing.”
“Can you be confident of victory?”
At Ha Won-sang’s question, So-ah was silent for a moment and then answered calmly.
“Someday, I might lose to someone.”
“…”
“But at least not this time.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I will definitely win, Martial Alliance Leader.”
“Hohoho. Really, I can’t stop you. I can’t stop you.”
“I’m a bit strange, right?”
“Alright. Since I’ve confirmed all the facts through your mouth, the Martial Alliance will also issue a statement. And Instructor Jin.”
“Yes, Martial Alliance Leader.”
“It’s a personal request.”
“What is it?”
“Show me a duel that will shake the world.”
***
A few days later.
Moyong Hwa was staring blankly at the night sky.
At that, numerous thoughts began to stir in her mind.
‘Can I win?’
Her heart was heavy.
Although she had never harbored the ambition of mastering a peerless divine art and looking down on the world, the worry about the ‘final student evaluation duel’ to be held tomorrow was disturbing her heart.
Just then.
Her senior brother, So-ah, appeared before her with a smiling face.
“What are you doing? If you want to win, you have to sleep well.”
“Hmm. I’m anxious, so I can’t sleep.”
“Believe in what you’ve built up so far.”
“Huh?”
“The past days when you were beaten to death, ran, rolled, and trained. The sweat you shed. Believe in it.”
“Senior Brother…”
“You’ve worked hard. You, and Su-ya too. The other students as well. You’ve all worked hard, right?”
“Tsk. Are you finally acknowledging it now?”
“Effort does not betray.”
“I guess so.”
“Of course. Tomorrow, you, my junior sister, will win splendidly.”
Why was her senior brother, who usually nagged, despised, and belittled her, being like this?
Although it was a moment of not being able to adapt, for some reason, seeing So-ah’s face, her heart felt much lighter.
“That’s right. I’ve worked hard. Even if I lose, I won’t be ashamed of myself.”
As she changed her thinking, her anxiety disappeared.
Because she had done her best.
But, just then.
“What did you just say?”
“Huh?!”
“Even if you lose, you won’t be ashamed? Did I hear you wrong?”
“Senior Brother…”
“Just you dare to lose. I’ll make you shit blood. You have to win, you brat. How dare you think of losing while wearing the Moyong Family’s sign. If you don’t want to do hell training, win even if you have to bite and tear, even if you have to pull out all your hair. Tsk tsk.”
‘Of course. I was a fool to believe you. Ugh.’
(End of Chapter)