Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 364

364. Reunion at Shaolin

Yunhyun and his group departed from Mount Wudang, making their way towards Shaolin.

Clatter, clatter.

“Fortunately, Shaolin and Emei seem to have suffered minimal damage from the Soul-Sealing Pill,” Yeonghojun commented, his expression grave.

“But the Soul-Sealing Pill itself was discovered,” Damsoha said, a frown creasing his face as he examined the letter.

“There were also some individuals who were poisoned, though the number is small. But it’s safe to say there’s no real widespread damage.”

“The bigger problem is what comes next,” Inspector Jo Gwan stated, his face stern.

“If the Soul-Sealing Pill spreads throughout the world, the damage will be enormous.”

Yunhyun nodded in agreement.

Damsoha pondered aloud, “For now, there are two countermeasures. First, we must prevent the drug from reaching the Il Dae Merchant [One Great Merchant, a powerful trading organization], and second, we must locate the place where the Soul-Sealing Pill is manufactured.”

Yeonghojun added, “If we can figure out the route the drug is taking, we can also find out where the Soul-Sealing Pill is being made.”

“Once we know the location, suppression won’t be difficult,” Inspector Jo Gwan’s eyes gleamed with determination.

“If we mobilize the government troops and strike swiftly, we can wipe them out.”

“Well, but isn’t it possible that the manufacturing site is in a remote area or overseas, where people can hardly reach?” Damsoha questioned.

Yeonghojun shook his head at Damsoha’s concern.

“If their purpose is to spread it throughout the world, they wouldn’t have settled in such an isolated place. Wouldn’t they rather hide near a large city, facilitating distribution?”

The three discussed countermeasures against the Soul-Sealing Pill with increasing intensity.

“Esteemed Guest Elder.”

Yunhyun turned to Gyaekong, asking, “How much of the Soul-Sealing Pill should we have on hand for those already addicted?”

There is no antidote to the Soul-Sealing Pill.

To calm those who are already addicted, they must be given the Soul-Sealing Pill, at least a minimum dosage to manage their withdrawal.

“That’s the correct approach for now,” Gyaekong replied calmly.

“But soon, we will be able to create a substitute drug.”

The three who had been deep in conversation turned to Gyaekong in unison, their faces showing surprise and hope.

Gyaekong continued indifferently, “I was already analyzing the ingredients of the Soul-Sealing Pill. Of course, it’s just a mimic, so the effect is greatly reduced, but the harm is also very small. That should be sufficient for treatment purposes.”

“Wow!” Damsoha exclaimed, his expression one of astonishment.

“When did you do that? Amazing, Elder! You’re the best!”

“When you were sleeping. And…,” Gyaekong turned to Damsoha, his expression serious, “I’m always the best.”

“Yes!” Damsoha nodded enthusiastically, his face beaming.

Gyaekong’s expression softened, as if satisfied with the reaction.

Yunhyun smiled, relieved and impressed.

Clatter, clatter.

The rhythmic sound of horseshoes filled Yunhyun’s ears.

The carriage carrying the group was heading purposefully towards Dengfeng County, Henan Province, the location of the Shaolin Temple.

***

The individuals who greeted Yunhyun at the Shaolin Temple’s reception hall were the elder Yeongheo Seonsa [Seonsa is a respectful title for a senior monk] and Hyechen, who had been with him on Mount Emei.

Hyechen was already familiar with Yunhyun, but the fact that the elder Yeongheo Seonsa himself greeted Yunhyun signified that Shaolin was officially welcoming the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance.

The elderly Yeongheo Seonsa offered a gentle smile and paid his respects with a bow.

“I am Yeongheo. My unworthy disciple is now paying respects to his granduncle.”

Yeongheo Seonsa was of the same rank as the headmaster Taeheo.

In terms of seniority within the order, Yunhyun was his granduncle.

“I am Yunhyun. I apologize for not arriving sooner,” Yunhyun responded, returning Yeongheo Seonsa’s respects politely.

“Would you like to greet the former Great Patriarch [a highly respected former leader of the temple] first?”

“Yes. I should.”

He felt it was proper to visit the former Great Patriarch, the Lying Buddha, first.

“I understand. Then I’ll see you after that,” Yeongheo Seonsa said with a smile.

“There will be good news for you, Granduncle.”

Yunhyun could surmise what he was implying.

“Yes, thank you,” Yunhyun replied softly.

He quietly left the reception hall.

Yunhyun headed to the Hermitage of the Lying Buddha Seonsa with Yeonghojun, Damsoha, and Jo Gwan, who were waiting outside.

The Hermitage of the Lying Buddha Seonsa remained unchanged.

However, the person sitting on the platform was not only the Lying Buddha.

“So, did you make all the medicine you said you would make in the past?”

At the Lying Buddha’s question, Gyaekong, sitting upright, lifted his teacup and said, “Not yet.”

“Tsk, how long has it been since you said you’d make that…,” the Lying Buddha frowned, adding, “I’m going to grow old and die trying to eat a panacea [a cure-all medicine] that’s good for my body, you rascal. Make it quickly.”

“I never said I’d give it to you,” Gyaekong replied indifferently.

“It’s not like it’ll be made any faster just because you rush me.”

Surprisingly, Gyaekong was using honorifics when addressing the Lying Buddha.

Judging from their interaction, it seemed they had known each other for a long time.

Earlier, Gyaekong had said, ‘I’ll go ahead’ at the entrance of Dengfeng County and had come to this place.

Suddenly, the Lying Buddha turned his head.

“Huh? You guys came?” The Lying Buddha said, noticing Yunhyun, Yeonghojun, Damsoha, and Jo Gwan.

“Yes, Seonsa,” Yunhyun replied with a smile.

“Have you been well?”

“I’m not well,” the Lying Buddha grumbled, frowning.

“You should be my age. My body aches, and I lose strength every day….”

“I brought good tea,” Yunhyun said, and the Lying Buddha’s eyes lit up.

“Really? Is it Yongjing [a highly prized type of green tea]?”

“Yes. I heard it’s the highest grade among Yongjing teas.”

Yunhyun held up a bundle of tea he had purchased from Daru in Dengfeng County.

The owner of that Daru, which he used to frequent, had given it to him, saying that he had acquired it especially.

“Shall I boil it?” Damsoha offered quickly.

The Lying Buddha nodded.

“That’s good.”

“Yes. Wait a moment,” Damsoha took the tea and hurried behind the hermitage.

Having been there with Yunhyun before, Damsoha knew where to prepare the tea.

“How have you been doing lately?” Suddenly, the Lying Buddha asked Yunhyun.

“Your face has brightened up; did you get a woman?”

Yunhyun gave a wry smile.

The Lying Buddha and the Divine Monk Bulyeong were similar in their tendency to make jokes that seemed uncharacteristic of monks.

“I met the Il Dae Merchant,” Yunhyun said calmly.

“And I realized that there is still a long road ahead.”

“A young man is already talking about the road…,” the Lying Buddha pursed his lips and said, “Just get old. That road will look much farther and longer.”

“Tea is here! The boiled water was already there?” Damsoha returned with a teapot and teacups.

“Hmm. Little Brother So is quick-witted and has quite a talent for tea ceremony. Do you have any intention of becoming a monk?”

The Lying Buddha was delighted, saying things that would have horrified most Shaolin monks.

While Damsoha was setting down the new teapot and teacups, Yunhyun removed the old teapot that was already there.

When he opened the teapot slightly, he saw old tea leaves that looked like they had been brewed countless times.

Yunhyun asked, feeling a pang of sympathy, “Seonsa, this seems to have been brewed too much….”

“Ah, that? I’m giving it to this guy,” the Lying Buddha said, pointing to Gyaekong with his chin.

“He must have chewed and eaten all kinds of panaceas and poisonous plants in the world, so it’s meaningless to give him good tea.”

It was a statement bordering on a curse, but Gyaekong showed no reaction.

“Ah, and,” The Lying Buddha said to Yunhyun as if he had suddenly remembered, “When you go back up, good news will be waiting for you.”

When he said to go up, he meant to return to the Shaolin Temple.

Yunhyun tilted his head, puzzled.

“Good news?”

The good news that Yeongheo Seonsa had mentioned earlier was probably about Shaolin joining the Azure Dragon Alliance.

But the Lying Buddha’s words were completely unpredictable.

“You,” the Lying Buddha said with a smile.

“You were working hard in your own way. Hehehe.”

Yunhyun couldn’t understand what he was talking about at all.

***

The good news that Yeongheo Seonsa had spoken of was, as expected, about joining the Azure Dragon Alliance.

The twelve Shaolin Temple elders had decided to join Shaolin’s Azure Dragon Alliance on behalf of the headmaster.

Yunhyun paid his respects politely and said, “I will allow Shaolin to join.”

The elders put their hands together at once and chanted the Buddha’s name.

“Granduncle, you have worked so hard,” Yeongheo Seonsa said to Yunhyun.

“Shaolin will also fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the Azure Dragon Alliance, so please tell Granduncle anything, anytime.”

“Thank you. You can discuss the specifics with Great Warrior Yeonghojun, the chief strategist of the Alliance,” Yunhyun said. Yeonghojun, who was standing behind Yunhyun, smiled and bowed his head.

“Great Warrior Yeonghojun of the Plum Blossom Sword was the chief strategist. I understand. I will,” Yeongheo Seonsa chanted the Buddha’s name in a low voice and said, “I hope that this dark time will pass quickly thanks to the Azure Dragon Alliance.”

There was a sincere desire in his eyes.

“Yes. I hope so too,” Yunhyun paid his respects and left the hall.

Now, the remaining task was up to Yeonghojun of the Plum Blossom Sword.

The discussion between Yeonghojun and the Shaolin Temple elders became longer than expected.

Gyaekong was still with the Lying Buddha, so Yunhyun took a walk around the Shaolin Temple with Damsoha and Jo Gwan.

“There are still many pilgrims here,” Damsoha said in admiration.

Unlike the Lying Buddha’s hermitage, the Shaolin Temple was bustling with people.

The area was thick with the smoke from the incense they had lit.

“It’s Shaolin Temple, but there seem to be far more people than the martial monks who train in martial arts. There are also many wives and young ladies who came to bow and pray.”

Shaolin, along with Wudang, is considered the Taesan Bukdu [the two most important and respected sects] of the Jianghu [the martial arts world].

However, since Shaolin is primarily a temple, it was natural that there were many monks and pilgrims who were practicing their faith.

“Wow. That young lady is so pretty……. Huh?” Damsoha, who was talking, suddenly widened his eyes.

Yunhyun, turning his head without thinking, also widened his eyes in surprise.

Sabal, sabal [sound of footsteps].

A beautiful young lady was walking gracefully.

Her elegant beauty stood out, and she was none other than Moyongmi.

“Mo, Miss Moyong…,” Yunhyun said, his eyes filled with surprise.

Moyongmi smiled softly.

“It’s been a while, Scholar Yun.”

Her smile seemed to brighten the surroundings.

“You’re really hard to meet,” Moyongmi said, frowning slightly.

“Is it so hard to stop by the Moyong family while coming to Shaolin?”

“Ah, no, that’s…,” Yunhyun stammered, caught off guard.

Moyongmi’s lips curled into a smile at his reaction.

Damsoha muttered to himself, standing next to him, “The Moyong family isn’t very close from here….”

It was true, but Moyongmi pretended not to hear it.

“Still, it’s a relief,” Moyongmi said with a smile.

“I didn’t miss you this time.”

Yunhyun wondered if he had ever missed her.

Yunhyun had no idea that the two had missed each other from the beginning when Yunhyun visited the Moyong family.

Sabal, sabal.

Yunhyun strolled around the grounds with Moyongmi.

“How have you been?” Moyongmi asked in a bright voice.

Yunhyun paused for a moment to recall.

The time that Moyongmi was referring to was probably from the time when the Azure Dragon Alliance was declared on Mount Emei.

“Ah, so…,” Thinking about it, so many things had happened.

So much that he didn’t know how to begin to explain it all.

Jeobeok [sound of stopping abruptly].

Yunhyun stopped walking.

Moyongmi, who was walking next to him, also stopped and looked back at Yunhyun.

Yunhyun couldn’t continue speaking because of all the thoughts that flooded his mind in an instant.

Moyongmi felt such sympathy for him that she reached out her hand without realizing it.

Sarak [sound of a light touch].

But her hand couldn’t reach Yunhyun.

It was because Moyongmi came to her senses just before her fingertips touched Yunhyun.

“It’s, it’s okay,” Moyongmi said, quickly withdrawing her hand.

“You can speak slowly.”

Yunhyun raised his head.

Moyongmi had her hands clasped tightly together and was looking down, avoiding Yunhyun’s gaze.

“…I’ll wait.”

Her ears were red as she spoke.

Yunhyun also felt embarrassed for some reason and stammered.

“…Yes. Th, thank you,” Yunhyun barely managed to answer.

But for a different reason than before, he found himself unable to speak at all.

In the thick scent of incense that still lingered around them, the two stood silently, their faces flushed.