Chapter 75 : Affection Going Back and Forth
Chapter 75: Affection Going Back and Forth. -02
At Nan Hui-ju’s gaze as she cautiously read the mood, Ban Hojin smiled gently.
It was because he truly felt no displeasure.
Bi-yeong had merely been faithful to her role.
Moreover, since it had not crossed any bounds of courtesy, Ban Hojin genuinely had nothing to feel offended about.
Even if their positions had been reversed, Ban Hojin would have acted exactly the same as Bi-yeong.
What he could trust, even a little, was not Shaolin.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Not at all. It wasn’t such a difficult matter, and from my standpoint, it also helped prevent unnecessary conflict in advance.”
In the martial world, the place called the Taesan Bukdu was Shaolin.
It was difficult to call it merely a single temple given its immense scale, but because it was fundamentally a monastery, not only martial artists but also ordinary people visited it in great numbers.
Because of that, there were many variables.
Even Shaolin could not possibly know all the grudges and enmities of the Hao Clan.
“Thank you for thinking of it that way.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Nan Hui-ju grasped those meanings from Ban Hojin’s brief words.
Because of that, she bowed her head even deeper.
And the Hao Clan Lord standing beside her looked at that scene with a meaningful gaze.
Alternating her gaze between Ban Hojin and her disciple.
“From here is where the outer grounds begin. To be precise, you could say this is the beginning of Shaolin.”
“Wow.”
After passing through the Four Heavenly Kings Gate and arriving at the outer grounds, the Hao Clan group parted their lips slightly.
They had finally arrived at Shaolin, which they had long awaited.
They had heard many stories and knew the structure to some extent, but since this was the first time seeing it in person, not only Nan Hui-ju but even the Hao Clan Lord looked around with sparkling eyes.
There were many incense flower guests, but precisely because of that, the Hao Clan group found even more enjoyment in sightseeing.
“That over there is the Guest Reception Hall. Visitors who come to Shaolin usually stay there.”
“It looks like the biggest building in Shaolin.”
“Since it’s where guests stay. I understand that it was gradually expanded as the number of visitors increased. Still, the number of people who actually stay isn’t that many.”
“Why is that?”
“Some people find temple food suits their taste, but most don’t eat more than four meals.”
Nan Hui-ju and the Hao Clan Lord nodded.
In particular, the two focused on the words ‘four meals’.
That meant they stayed only one day before going down to Dengfeng County.
“Gastronomy is an indispensable part of life, after all.”
“Indeed. Experiencing temple food is enough with one day. That over there is the Great Buddha Hall. It’s one of the places visitors seek out the most.”
“It’s magnificent.”
Ban Hojin guided them while matching the Hao Clan Lord’s stride.
Given her age, her walking pace could not help but be slow.
Her body also looked uncomfortable.
Yet even so, the Hao Clan Lord showed no sign of fatigue, her eyes shining like a young girl as she toured Shaolin.
‘Has the demonic hand not reached yet?’
Even while guiding the Hao Clan group, Ban Hojin kept a close watch on the Hao Clan Lord.
So far, his relationship with the Hao Clan had not been bad, but that did not mean he trusted them completely.
A certain degree of trust had been built, yet relationships could always change depending on interests gained or lost.
Thus, Ban Hojin believed, but did not place full trust.
‘I’ll know by watching.’
That said, he did not harbor blind suspicion either.
He kept all possibilities open and focused on the present.
If needless suspicion were to ruin a good relationship, that in itself would be a loss.
That was why Ban Hojin simply accepted the present as it was.
“It’s truly wonderful.”
“It feels even better than what I heard. It’s like the history seeps out into the atmosphere.”
“Yes. It really does feel that way.”
Unaware of Ban Hojin’s gaze, the master and disciple clasped their hands tightly and exclaimed in admiration again and again.
Not knowing when they might come to Shaolin again, the two filled their eyes with the surrounding scenery.
In particular, the Hao Clan Lord thought of this trip to Shaolin as her first and last.
“Let’s come together again someday.”
“Will that be possible?”
“Master’s age is still in her prime. If you take good care of your health, you’ll be able to come again.”
“I hope so too.”
Since it meant wishing her to live long, the Hao Clan Lord smiled softly.
But she knew.
That her remaining lifespan was not long.
And just being able to come to Shaolin this time was enough to satisfy her.
“It will definitely happen. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Ho ho ho. Heaven’s decree is not something humans can control. There are fates that can be changed, but there are also fates that cannot be changed.”
The Hao Clan Lord gently stroked the back of Nan Hui-ju’s hand.
She understood her disciple’s heart, but heaven’s decree could not be defied.
The moment one violated it, it became defying the heavens.
So rather than clinging to what could not be done, it was far better to strive for what could be changed.
‘A life like this is more than satisfying.’
It wasn’t that the Hao Clan Lord lacked desires.
She simply knew the end of excessive greed, and thus also knew when to stop.
And now, for her, it was no longer a time to run toward goals, but a time to put her life in order and look back on it.
Running toward goals was the role of Nan Hui-ju beside her.
‘Still, I want to accomplish just one more thing.’
The Hao Clan Lord’s gaze turned toward Ban Hojin, who absolutely did not look like a man in his twenties.
“Nice to see you all.”
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
After finishing their tour of Shaolin, the Hao Clan Lord’s group headed straight to where Ban Hojin’s quarters were located.
And there, they encountered familiar faces.
Meanwhile, for the Hao Clan Lord, who was meeting them for the first time, she smiled and greeted each of the four young men one by one.
Ku-woong! Kung!
Outside, meanwhile, screams rang out as escort warriors pitched tents.
They were in the middle of directly building the place where they would stay.
‘Each and every one of them is a talent.’
The Hao Clan Lord, who greeted Seonwu Bang, Seo Joun, Murong Cheok, and Jeong I-ryong, let her eyes shine.
In her view, all four were anything but ordinary.
In particular, the Hao Clan Lord found Seo Joun and Jeong I-ryong desirable.
Seonwu Bang and Murong Cheok were from prestigious families, leaving no room at all, but those two were different.
‘Young Master Jeong’s background is unclear, but given Young Master Ban’s personality, he wouldn’t keep just anyone by his side.’
The Hao Clan Lord’s small eyes, hidden behind deeply wrinkled skin, gleamed sharply.
Up until a moment ago, she had been a single wandering guest.
Now, she was different.