The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 81

Shinmaeuiseon (81)

Cho Ak-ryang, having arrived at the outhouse, hid himself in the shadows as the guiding monk departed.

Given the tense atmosphere of Shaolin, with monks stationed everywhere, there was no reason for the guiding monk to linger.

“If it’s about Beomgyewi…….”

Cho Ak-ryang left the outhouse, thinking of Beomgyewi.

Moving past the outhouse, a broad vegetable field spread out below the steep slope.

He crossed this field and infiltrated the temple grounds again.

Hiding his presence as much as possible, he remained concealed for a moment.

Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“That would be good.”

It was Shaolin’s pagoda, the first thing visitors would see upon entering.

Though not of historical value, it held great significance as the first stone tower seen by those entering Shaolin.

Just as Cho Ak-ryang set his target and began gathering his immense inner strength into his fist,

A voice calling out a familiar epithet was heard from afar.

“Is that the Mangsang Choja’s [Mad Monk’s] signature weapon?”

“The Arhat monks’ staffs are heavy, but this is beyond comparison. How can anyone wield this?”

“It’s an ominous object, so don’t pay it any mind. That’s just fame built on blood. How many lives have been lost under that wicked thing?”

Cho Ak-ryang, hearing their conversation, changed his plan.

‘This would be more like Beomgyewi.’

Following the voices, he saw monks carrying something while conversing.

Though wrapped in cloth, its length and weight made it clear that it was Beomgyewi’s Daechojagon [Great Pestle Staff].

“Do you really think he appeared here?”

“It’s none of our business. We just need to take it to the warehouse as ordered.”

As the monks who had entered and exited the warehouse disappeared, Cho Ak-ryang moved.

Infiltrating the warehouse, Cho Ak-ryang confirmed Beomgyewi’s Daechojagon and took it out.

Looking around to gauge the direction for a moment,

Cho Ak-ryang unleashed his movement technique.

In the blink of an eye, Cho Ak-ryang, who had leaped nearly a hundred yards, spotted a building.

The Daeungbojeon [Great Hero Hall], the largest structure in the very center of the Great Temple (大伽藍).

Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes flashed with a momentary eerie glint.

At the same time, Beomgyewi’s Daechojagon had already become a streak of light.

The Daechojagon, released from Cho Ak-ryang’s hand, hurtled straight towards the Daeungbojeon.

Kwaang!

With a sound that shook the earth, the Daechojagon pierced through the wall and disappeared.

‘That’s the interest on the debt for messing with me.’

It was then that he noticed figures running towards the Daeungbojeon.

Judging by their swift movements, they were definitely Arhats [enlightened disciples].

The thought of rushing at them and collecting the principal surged within him.

But doing so would ruin Dan Ak-seon’s purpose.

‘I’ll let it slide for now.’

Suppressing his rising bloodlust, Cho Ak-ryang landed on the ground.

‘This should be enough to clear suspicion, right?’

Cho Ak-ryang smiled quietly, thinking of Beomgyewi, who must be on pins and needles by now.

Most of the monks would think that Beomgyewi had thrown the Daechojagon. However, Beomgyewi was staying with the visitors under the watch of the guiding monks.

It was a method of diverting attention and clearing suspicion, a so-called feint to the east and attack to the west (聲東擊西) [a diversionary tactic].

Cho Ak-ryang retraced his steps to the outhouse, changed his expression, and leisurely returned to the building where the visitors were.

But the atmosphere there was as chaotic as an overturned anthill.

The guiding monks were sweating profusely, trying to appease the anxious visitors, replacing the head of the guiding hall who had rushed to the Daeungbojeon.

At that moment, Beomgyewi approached Cho Ak-ryang and asked in a low voice.

“What on earth did you do?”

“I went to imitate you a bit.”

“Imitate me?”

“Yes. Now they won’t suspect you.”

Beomgyewi, after hearing Cho Ak-ryang’s explanation, burst into anger.

―Hmph! So you just went to have fun by yourself?

―Do you have a better way than this?

Beomgyewi, at a loss for words, awkwardly turned his gaze towards the Daeungbojeon.

“By the way, will it be alright?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Doctor Dan. I’m worried that the commotion just now might mess up his visit here.”

Cho Ak-ryang flinched.

After thinking seriously for a long time, Cho Ak-ryang suddenly opened his mouth.

“One thing is certain.”

“……?”

“All this mess happened because of you.”

“What?”

Cho Ak-ryang avoided Beomgyewi’s gaze.

“I’m innocent.”

“How cowardly!”

As Beomgyewi became agitated, several visitors and monks turned their heads towards them.

Beomgyewi had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Cho Ak-ryang as well.

He did his best to ignore Beomgyewi’s sharp, dagger-like gaze.

A room prepared in one side of the Jigyeokdang [Hall of Serenity].

On the bed, which should have been hard, a soft mattress was laid.

It was Shaolin’s consideration for their benefactor.

Han Seol-hwa sat next to the bed, quietly watching the sleeping Dan Ak-seon.

Dan Ak-seon was sleeping motionlessly, exhausted.

Han Seol-hwa looked at such Dan Ak-seon with pitiful eyes and quietly reached out her hand. Then, she brushed back Dan Ak-seon’s hair, which was wet with sweat and stuck to his forehead.

How much time had passed like that.

“……?”

Han Seol-hwa’s gaze suddenly turned towards the ceiling.

She had spread a net-like sense of energy in all directions to protect Dan Ak-seon.

‘What on earth is he doing?’

The distant height of the sky.

The fierce currents swirling there were clearly Cho Ak-ryang’s.

At that moment.

Kwaang!

The shockwave that struck with a roar shook the Jigyeokdang’s building.

Han Seol-hwa’s eyes turned cold for a moment.

The sleeping Dan Ak-seon had opened his eyes from the shock.

At this time, the door opened and a Jigyeok monk entered.

“Are you alright?”

“What’s going on?”

At Han Seol-hwa’s question, the Jigyeok monk wore a troubled expression.

“A man named Beomgyewi attacked the Daeungbojeon. So I came to check just in case.”

“What?”

Han Seol-hwa doubted her ears for a moment.

The person captured by her senses was clearly Cho Ak-ryang.

“The abbot has personally stepped forward with the Arhats, so the situation will soon be brought under control. So please wait here until then. Please be careful as he is known to be very violent.”

The Jigyeok monk politely paid his respects and stepped back.

Then, Dan Ak-seon tried to get up.

Han Seol-hwa stopped him and opened her mouth.

“You need to rest more.”

“I think I heard Uncle Beom’s name just now?”

“It’s nothing, so don’t worry. I’ll explain when you wake up. So rest assured and sleep more.”

Dan Ak-seon, blinking his bloodshot eyes, nodded. Then he soon fell asleep again.

“What on earth are these idiots doing?”

Han Seol-hwa began to stretch out her senses to find Cho Ak-ryang’s traces.

But his presence had already been erased like a lie.

Han Seol-hwa sighed softly.

‘Should I have just sealed his blood points and come?’

She blamed her foolishness for believing that they would wait quietly in the first place.

But there was nothing she could do right now.

She could only hope that they would not cause any more major accidents.

At the same time.

“Amitabha…….”

A mournful Buddhist invocation escaped from Beopyeon’s mouth.

The decades of practice he had accumulated since becoming a Buddhist disciple.
The death of his disciple Ryo-beom. And even the illness of his fellow disciple Beop-ryo, the slightest composure he had maintained was collapsing entirely at this moment.

No matter how hard he tried not to be captured by the afflictions of the sudden disaster, it was not easy to do as he wished.

The tragedy unfolding before his eyes was that shocking.

Batal Seonsa (跋陀禪師) [an Indian monk], who came from India during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei.

The head of the Buddha statue, which had been guarding the lotus pedestal in the center of the Daeungbojeon for over a thousand years since the founding of Shaolin Temple by him, was lying on the floor.

It was a wooden statue of Sakyamuni, enshrined as the main Buddha.

A crude iron rod, which looked heavy at a glance, was embedded in the completely shattered neck area.

It was an unprecedented Buddhist affair in the thousand-year history of Shaolin.

Beopyeon was unable to come to his senses from the confusion that went beyond bewilderment before anger.

It was such a sight that he could not believe even after seeing it with his own eyes.

One person bowed his head towards Beopyeon, who was unable to speak due to shock.

It was Ryo-gong, the head of the Arhat Hall, who had rushed ahead, leading his Arhats.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“No. It is my fault for not properly managing it even though I knew that it was Mangsang Choja’s weapon.”

Beopyeon’s eyes, which had been silent, flickered with anger.

“That guy……. Did you find Beomgyewi?”

“We haven’t found him yet. But we are thoroughly searching the surrounding area, so traces will soon be found.”

“We don’t have any major grudges with him, so why would he do this…….”

“Isn’t it because of the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance]? I recently heard that he appeared in the Baekgeommun under the Murim Alliance and caused great damage.”

“Huh.”

In Beopyeon’s eyes, which had let out a sigh, an emotion of regret that could not be hidden arose.

“The debt we owe to the Namgung family is this great.”

Ryo-gong’s face grew heavy as he realized what it meant.

During the Great War between Righteousness and Evil.

Shaolin could not be free from the death of the former head of the Namgung family, who fought alone against the Ma-gyo’s [Demonic Cult’s] offensive.

This is also why they could not refuse Namgung Baek’s request to send Shaolin masters to subjugate Cho Ak-ryang.

However, the past blood debt that took the life of his senior brother Ryo-beom had come back around and brought another disaster.

Beopyeon, who was sighing as if the ground was sinking, recited the Buddhist invocation once more.

It was one person’s voice that awakened him.

“Did the ground sink? Or did the sky fall? Why are you walking towards hell with perfectly good legs?”

“Sasuk [martial uncle]…….”

Hye-gong, who had approached Beopyeon, cast a reproachful gaze.

“Tsk tsk. White frost has settled above your eyebrows, but your heart is still poor, without a place to stick even a single awl. Where on earth did you spill your years?”

“……!”

“Ilmodo-won (日暮途遠) [The sun sets on a distant road]! The road is far, but the day is already setting! In what year will you hand over this old man’s robe and alms bowl?”

Beopyeon’s face turned red.

It was as he said.

How could he not know why he had postponed the transmission of the Dharma until now?

Just as Great Master Majo had done in the past, he was waiting for the Bodhi mind [enlightened mind] to ripen and awaken as a ‘Thousand-ri horse trampling the world.’

Beopyeon, who sighed, gave instructions to those around him.

“Collect the Buddha’s body (佛體) [relics].”

At those words, Hye-gong shouted like a thunderbolt.

“What Buddha’s body! Where does the Buddha-nature reside in that rolling piece of wood!”

The monks flinched at the roar.

While they were unable to do this or that.

Hye-gong stepped forward.

At the same time, he swung the staff he was holding.

Kwaang!

The wooden Buddha, which had maintained its shape below the neck, was shattered into pieces by the blow.

A stern voice poured out towards the people in the hall, who were wide-eyed with astonishment.

“Kill the Buddha if you meet the Buddha, kill the Patriarch if you meet the Patriarch (殺佛殺祖) [transcending all forms of attachment]!”

At those words, the monks, including Beopyeon, bowed their heads deeply.

The teachings of Yimje Ui-hyeon [Linji Yixuan], one of the great patriarchs, pierced their hearts painfully at this moment.

A great ‘gal (喝) [shout]’ to warn against attachment to concepts!

His cry that one must attain enlightenment even if it means committing the five heinous sins (造五無間業 方得解脫) shook Shaolin Temple beyond hundreds of years of time and space.

At that moment.

“Huh?”

Someone in the hall burst out in bewilderment.

As everyone’s eyes focused on him, a young monk pointed to one place with a flustered face.

“Is that perhaps a sari (舍利) [Buddhist relic]……?”