Chapter 87
“Phew…! This is why people have to live!”
Immediately after submitting his resignation, So-ah avoided Seongdo and crossed the rugged mountain pass at full speed to reach Samryun Peak.
The estate, which he had visited after a long time, was overgrown with weeds and tangled with unkempt giant trees, creating a desolate scene.
“Shall I clean up a bit first?”
He rolled up his sleeves.
So-ah, who had lived with his grandfather since he was young and was well-versed in cleaning, cooking, and laundry, did not take long to erase the traces of time that had settled on the estate.
Thwack, thwack, thwack!
‘I’ll cut some wood too!’
Papapapapapat!
‘And clean up the weeds.’
Swish, swish—
‘And wipe the rooms, and clean the main hall neatly.’
Kya!
It became perfect.
The same appearance, the same smell as before!
After diligently sweeping and wiping for about a shichen, the estate of the time when he lived with his grandfather was recreated.
So-ah sat on the edge of the hall, looked at the sky of Samryun Peak unfolding in front of him, and fell into thought for a while.
‘It brings back a lot of old memories.’
From the days when he was beaten for two shichen every day, to the day he first soaked his body in the medicinal water.
The moment he sat on a giant rock and practiced the Great Whale Heart Law, and through enlightenment, achieved the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and the Five Qis Returning to the Origin.
The moments when he ate delicious meals with his grandfather’s simple but deeply flavored side dishes, and ran around Daeak Mountain with Huin-dung-i.
Sometimes boring, sometimes happy, sometimes joyful.
And the nostalgia and memories of the past days when he sometimes felt ecstasy tickled So-ah’s heart.
“Grandpa. How is the celestial realm? Is it a good place to live?”
A low murmur flowed from So-ah’s mouth.
—Hoho. You don’t need to know yet, you brat!
For some reason, it felt as if his grandfather’s voice was echoing in his ears.
***
<Tomb of the God of War, Moyong Cheon>
<Tomb of the Heavenly Demon, Wi-ji Un>
The tombstones of the two, erected in a place about seven li away from the estate.
So-ah poured the Golden Cask Liquor, which he had bought with a large sum of money, on the tombstones once, and then naturally brought the liquor bottle to his mouth.
Gulp—
“Kya. As expected, expensive liquor is the best!”
The scent of the Golden Cask Liquor, which commoners could not even see, pierced his nose, and his mood became strangely excited.
So-ah, who was soaked in intoxication for a while, soon performed a deep bow to the graves of his two grandfathers.
“Grandpa. And Grandpa Wi-ji. Please don’t fight in heaven, saying things like ‘number one in the world’ or ‘number one of all time.’ Haha.”
After that, after neatly cleaning up the overgrown weeds and dust around the graves, So-ah turned his steps back to the estate.
‘I guess Brother Chan hasn’t come once. I wonder how he’s doing. Should I try to contact him?’
Suddenly, he missed Wi-ji Chan.
But he soon shook his head and had to erase the thought.
“That’s right. I still have things to do. Later… later…”
If he had his way, he would like to go up to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and tilt cups with Wi-ji Chan all night.
But he couldn’t do that yet.
At least, as long as the homework of Gwang-won remained.
***
The night passed.
And looking at the rising dawn, So-ah sat in a cross-legged position and operated the Great Whale Heart Law.
In addition, he drew a duel with one person in his head.
This was a training method that the late Moyong Cheon had emphasized, a way to rule out unexpected situations in real combat as much as possible through a virtual duel and lead the match to an imagined aspect.
It had been a long time since So-ah had entered ‘meditation training.’
When he was fifteen, he had imagined a virtual duel with the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong, for a while after experiencing his amazing martial arts, but after experiencing fortuitous encounters, he had never been nervous about anyone, so in fact, there were not many occasions to even meditate.
But.
‘To have overcome the Arhat Hall single-handedly at the age of twenty is proof that Gwang-won is at least the most outstanding talent in Shaolin in 100 years. He’s definitely not an opponent to be taken lightly.’
So-ah had that thought.
Everyone has a habit of overestimating their own abilities and underestimating the abilities of their opponents.
In particular, it would be even more so for martial artists who possessed martial arts that could rule the world at a young age like So-ah.
But So-ah was not arrogant.
Was it said that arrogance and confidence were a fine line?
So-ah’s relaxed attitude in front of any enemy was not arrogance, but confidence, and at present, So-ah was in the process of composing himself to maintain a certain level of tension ahead of the duel with his rival, Gwang-won.
But unfortunately.
“Ah! But no matter how much I think about it…”
No matter how much he thought about it.
“I’m too strong, aren’t I?!”
It was difficult for So-ah to rearm himself mentally.
“I, who fought with Brother Beon-pal, am nervous about a mere young monk of twenty? Hah… it doesn’t make sense.”
That’s right.
No matter how much he lowered himself and praised Gwang-won, he just couldn’t get nervous.
“Damn it! You bald-headed monk without any guts. I’ll really make you shit blood.”
The reason he had climbed Samryun Peak despite his busy schedule was, first, to visit his grandfather’s grave, and second, to calm his mind and body as a person facing a duel.
But for some reason, although he had achieved the first purpose, the second purpose seemed to be a complete failure.
***
Time flows quickly like flowing water.
And before long, the promised day came, and the day of the duel between So-ah and Gwang-won arrived.
“Wow… I’m the one who’s nervous.”
“Me too…”
“What’s there to be nervous about? That monster will win easily.”
“But it won’t be easy. The Great Master Gwang-won overcame the Arhat Hall.”
“Is the Arhat Hall the problem? That monster would snort and crush even the grandfather of the Arhat Hall. Kikik.”
“Well… hahaha.”
The former ‘students,’ who had come to see So-ah’s duel. And now, the Human Division and numerous rising stars who had become respectable temporary officials, had come to Shaolin.
Not only the rising stars, but also the key figures of the Nine Great Sects, and even the old masters who did not show their faces in most matters, had climbed Mount Song. Just by looking at their faces, one could see how great the interest of the Orthodox Path people was in So-ah and Gwang-won.
“I sincerely thank all the comrades of the Jianghu who have come to Shaolin. As you know, today, a friendly duel between the monk Gwang-won of our Shaolin and Young Master Jin So-ah of the Moyong Family will be held. I would be grateful if the distinguished guests would take a seat below the stage and watch the duel between the two masters with a willing heart. Amitabha…”
As befitting a duel that was the focus of intense interest, the person in charge of the duel was also the Great Master Gwang-yeong, who had the status of the Gwang generation.
The Great Master Gwang-yeong was renowned for his outstanding martial arts, so the people naturally had a look of reverence.
Of course, So-ah was not one of them.
‘Let’s get this over with quickly.’
It was a thought that would get him in trouble if anyone heard it.
But that was So-ah’s true feeling.
Just then.
Moyong Baek’s low words flowed out.
“So-ah. Did you have a good trip to the estate?”
“Yes. I also cleaned up around the tombstones of my grandfather and Grandpa Wi-ji. I just cleaned up here and there and came back.”
“You’re not nervous?”
“Hey! Uncle. You’re quite a joker, aren’t you?”
“Keke! I can’t stop you, I can’t stop you. There will be no one else in the world who is as calm as you before a duel.”
“Nervousness is for people who are usually lazy. As for me, I still run 100 li at dawn. Would I be nervous? Haha.”
“That’s right. Anyway, I believe you will do well. The spirit of our family depends on you.”
“Don’t worry, Uncle.”
At that, Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su also threw a word at So-ah.
“Senior Brother! You know what happens if you lose, right? You’ll die.”
“The moment you lose, I will become the ‘returned hell instructor’ and discipline you, Senior Brother! Hahaha.”
The junior sister and junior brother, who had felt so young just a while ago.
Now that they had graduated from the academy and had become respectable officials, So-ah smiled at their nagging.
“You brats. Watch carefully.”
“…”
“I’ll show you clearly what the price of challenging the Ten-Second Invincible Arts is.”
“Of course! Who is Senior Brother? There’s no way he’ll lose.”
“That’s right. Senior Brother will surely win.”
And.
So-ah, as if he was afraid someone would hear, whispered to his junior sister and junior brother.
“There’s no way I’ll lose to a bald monk who eats grass, right? Kikikik.”
‘How can…’
‘Senior Brother’s way of thinking is different from the start. Hah…’
Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su looked at each other and let out an absurd smirk.
***
The two who had stepped onto the duel stage.
So-ah and Gwang-won stood facing each other.
Gwang-won’s eyes were a tangled mess of indescribably complex emotions.
‘The spirit, honor, and history of our main temple are on my two fists!’
Gwang-won’s determination was extraordinary.
Because he had a reason why he had to defeat So-ah.
The Great Shaolin.
Since the founding master, Bodhidharma, it had never not been the strongest, the very source of Central Plains martial arts.
For him, who had become the representative of such a Shaolin, to be defeated by a disciple of a mere martial family, not even one of the Nine Great Sects, was an unacceptable thing.
Gwang-won’s shoulders were filled with uprising and resolution.
On the other hand.
‘He has a look that could eat a person. Whoa…’
So-ah, who maintained a playful attitude, showed no will or pride in his body.
Gwang-won was displeased with such an attitude of So-ah.
“Donor Jin. Your eyes seem to be asserting victory.”
“Ah. Well, it’s more like… well, that’s what it is.”
“What?”
“Oops! I’m sorry if you were offended. Anyway, aren’t we martial artists? A single punch is better than a thousand words.”
“I agree with that part.”
“Then.”
Soon, So-ah performed a cupped fist salute to Gwang-won.
It was a sign to start the duel.
At that.
“Waaaaaaaaah!!”
“It’s starting!”
“The disciple of the God of War and the disciple of the Great Master Gong-seung. Two young masters… what an amazing picture.”
“Has there ever been such a picture?”
“There hasn’t. Even when the God of War conquered the Orthodox Path, he was over thirty at the time. For them to possess such earth-shaking martial arts at that age is an impossible thing, isn’t it?”
“I heard that Young Master Jin achieved a draw with the Green Forest General Fortress Lord, Jang Beon-pal.”
“No matter how much of a peerless master the Great Master Gwang-won is, who overcame the Arhat Hall, it will be difficult for him against Young Master Jin.”
The people, who had formed a sea of people below the duel stage, murmured as they faced the clash between the two.
Although there were those who expected Gwang-won’s victory, most seemed to be betting on So-ah’s slight advantage.
In that moment.
“Amitabha… I ask for your kind consideration.”
It was the moment when Gwang-won also announced the start of the decisive battle by performing a half-bow to So-ah.
And…
Papapang—
As soon as the greetings were over, So-ah’s Swift Whale Step erupted with a rough roar and was shot at Gwang-won with an amazing speed.
“What? No opening stance?”
“Crazy… is he planning to end it at the start?”
“To not even have an opening stance in a friendly duel. The young friends these days are scary.”
The people could not help but be surprised.
It wasn’t even a life-and-death duel, so how could such a rough start be made in a friendly duel without even the common opening stance?
But.
Kwagwagwang!
Gwang-won, as if he had no intention of performing a preliminary move in the first place, also unleashed a fist strike with tremendous force at So-ah.
‘Gasp…!’
For a moment, So-ah’s eyes widened.
Although it was a simple initial move, his own fist just now had contained a considerable amount of internal energy.
But Gwang-won had also nullified his attack by throwing a punch with the same technique.
‘So it’s a fist for a fist. Good.’
Gwang-won’s response set So-ah’s heart on fire.
Because a fist-to-fist duel.
That was the aspect that So-ah liked the most.
In that instant.
“Haap…!”
With a short breath, a faint golden light erupted from Gwang-won’s twin fists.
At the same time, his fists, which were wrapped in a golden light, were unfolded a total of 108 times in a row, covering So-ah’s entire body!
Kwagagagagagagagang!
“Th-The Hundred Steps Divine Fist!”
“The Hundred Steps Divine Fist from the start?”
“This is crazy, this duel is really crazy!”
Those with weak martial arts could not even properly see the trajectory of the fast and accurate fist strikes.
Fortunately, So-ah also blocked Gwang-won’s Hundred Steps Divine Fist with a series of Heaven-Shattering Consecutive Cannons, but smoke rose from his hands and forearms.
‘Wow! He’s strong. This is strong! Hahaha.’
The corners of So-ah’s mouth twisted slightly.
(End of Chapter)