Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 443

Hwa-un was shocked.

“Sh-Shaolin?!”

Shaolin Temple.

The position of Shaolin within the martial world was truly immense.

‘All martial arts under heaven come from Shaolin.’ This saying proves the impression people have of Shaolin.

However, if you look at it from a different perspective, the story changes completely.

Shaolin Temple boasts the highest reputation, regardless of whether it’s the righteous or the evil path.

However, within the Buddhist community of the Central Plains, Shaolin’s status far transcends its martial arts reputation.

It is said that Bodhidharma, who brought Buddhism from distant India and spread it in the Central Plains, attained enlightenment through nine years of wall-gazing at Mount Song’s Shaoshi Peak, where Shaolin is currently located, and founded Zen Buddhism. [Zen Buddhism is a school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing meditation and direct experience.]

Although there are many branches of Buddhism, there is not a single branch that does not respect Bodhidharma. Naturally, Shaolin Temple, built where Bodhidharma trained, was like a sacred site for the Buddhist community of the Central Plains.

No matter how outstanding Bota Hermitage’s swordsmanship is, could it compare to Shaolin?

No matter how great Bota Hermitage’s reputation is, could it compare to Shaolin?

That is the power that the name Shaolin holds. Even if there were a Buddhist sect with martial arts superior to Shaolin, they would not dare to touch Shaolin.

Naturally, Hwa-un froze like a stone in front of the suddenly appearing Shaolin monk.

Woowoowoowoong.

Beom-oh raised a half-palm in front of his chest, paying his respects.

The half-palm salute was a unique custom of Shaolin. It was said that Hui-ke, a disciple of Bodhidharma, cut off one of his arms to attain enlightenment and became one-armed, so Shaolin’s half-palm salute was a way of carrying on Hui-ke’s spirit.

“Did you just say Beom-oh?”

“Yes, that is my Dharma name.”

Beom-oh.

Even if she didn’t know much about the world, she couldn’t help but be well-informed about the news circulating within the Buddhist community.

Hwa-un’s eyes trembled.

“The next head of the Arhat Hall…?” [Arhat Hall is a hall in a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Arhats, enlightened disciples of the Buddha.]

Beom-oh shook his head.

“Amitabha. I am a monk who is so lacking that I have not yet grasped even the edge of the Dharma. I am far too inadequate to take on the position of head of the Arhat Hall at the temple.”

Scary.

Jeong-an felt fear from Beom-oh’s calm tone.

‘…How can there be someone like this?’

It stemmed from the inhuman realization she had first felt, that Beom-oh’s words and emotions were perfectly aligned.

There was no falsehood in Beom-oh’s words. Even a single word, or even a single letter, contained meaning, but there was no other emotion or intention to be found besides that meaning.

The look in his eyes, his voice, and the words he spoke were all true.

And that was a power that could oppress the opponent far more strongly than the murderous roar of a blood-soaked killer.

Not forcefully, but very gently and naturally.

Yeon Ho-jeong asked.

“What do you think of these two people, monk?”

Beom-oh looked at Jeong-an.

He didn’t even make eye contact with Hwa-un, who was looking at him with trembling eyes.

Beom-oh, who was looking at Jeong-an, smiled. It was a benevolent smile.

“Their talent and purity are exceptional, so they would be considered extraordinary wherever they go. However, I also see the wisdom to realize their own path without being attached to evaluations.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“However, there is no guarantee that their purity will necessarily be confined to the Dharma.”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t the Dharma not something that can be attained by learning, nor something that cannot be reached by not learning? However, the eyes of the candidate for the ‘Sword of Wisdom’ are truly connected to the world, regardless of their purity, so even if they were to struggle with the secular world rather than the Dharma, they would not stray from the path of Buddha.”

“Ah….”

“Go where your heart leads you. Even if a thorny path lies ahead, if you do not lose your heart, how could this harsh world only show you an unfavorable side?”

“….”

“I hope you will continue to cultivate your serene heart. Even if you gain a thousand gold and achieve the greatest fame in the world, it will be meaningless if you lose that pure heart.”

Beom-oh bowed his head.

“I sincerely pray that the blessings of Sakyamuni be with the enlightened one’s future.” [Sakyamuni is another name for the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.]

“Th-thank you.”

It was not a greeting or blessing to be taken lightly. Jeong-an bowed her head, putting her palms together.

‘It’s difficult.’

Even Jeong-an, who had read and interpreted many scriptures, found Beom-oh’s words to be somewhat ambiguous.

However, just listening to them made her heart calm, and it was as if a ray of light was shining into her mind, which had been full of confusion.

Jeong-an pondered Beom-oh’s words. She engraved them firmly in her mind, so as not to forget a single word, and so that she could recall Beom-oh’s words and seek answers when she faced difficult situations in the future.

Even that appearance seemed pure to Beom-oh. Beom-oh burst into a hearty laugh.

“No matter how great the words are, how can they fully capture one’s will and heart? It is said that ‘a flower was held up.’ If my intention and sincerity have been conveyed, then I am satisfied.”

“Ah, yes!”

“And….”

Beom-oh’s eyes turned from Jeong-an to Hwa-un.

Flustered!

Hwa-un was noticeably flustered.

It wasn’t because Beom-oh was stronger than her.

‘Why is Shaolin here!?’

She was flustered. Because a monk who had learned and grown up in the greatest sacred site of Buddhism was here.

And she was also flustered. Because she didn’t know why she was flustered.

‘Why? I don’t need to be like this….’

At that moment, Beom-oh’s voice seeped into Hwa-un’s ears.

“The cycle of reincarnation that Buddha spoke of is a principle of the universe, which is the cycle of life and the rules of the world. Those who do not know the Dharma well probably only know that much.”

“….”

“However, it does not seem to this lacking monk that you, esteemed monk, are killing people with reincarnation in mind.”

In an instant, Hwa-un’s face turned pale.

That’s right. Only then did she realize why she was so flustered.

It was because she knew she had done wrong. And she had committed that wrong in front of a Shaolin monk, who was the founder of Zen Buddhism, no less.

In front of others, and in front of a Buddhist monk whom she could not control with the name of Bota, she had revealed her worst side. Hwa-un’s heart was pounding like crazy.

Beom-oh continued.

His voice, which had been full of warmth and comfort, had become as clear as a mirror.

“I am not familiar with the affairs of the martial world. I have only swung my fists my whole life. But I know this much. It is not common for a monk who has devoted himself to the Dharma to say that they will kill people.”

“B-Beom-oh, that’s a misunderstanding.”

Beom-oh’s eyes deepened.

“Do you not admit it?”

“Pardon?”

“Have you forgotten that admitting your mistakes and changing is the shortcut to all forgiveness, and the best opportunity to draw closer to enlightenment?”

“…!!”

“You seem to be clearly aware of your own mistakes, so why do you not admit it and tremble with fear? Is it that difficult to admit that fact?”

“I…!”

“A lifetime of cultivation can be ruined by a single mistake. Likewise, ruined cultivation can be regained with a single enlightenment.”

Beom-oh shook his head.

“It is not my place to comment on Bota’s entry into the martial world, or the conflicts between sects. I am simply looking at a person who has collapsed, and I only hope that that person will admit their mistakes and regain their duty as a practitioner.”

“….”

“Now, look back at yourself.”

Hwa-un gritted her teeth.

She could also sense that there was a strange power in Beom-oh’s voice.

That’s right. Beom-oh was an enlightened one.

She couldn’t know how sublime that enlightenment was. The important thing was that she couldn’t even begin to fathom the depth of the monk Beom-oh with her own eyes.

No, it was far beyond the level of being difficult to fathom.

For a moment, Hwa-un wanted to kneel down without realizing it.

She wanted to kneel down, put her palms together, and beg for forgiveness for her mistakes. She wanted to beg for forgiveness not to Beom-oh, but to herself.

However.

‘…?!’

In that moment, Hwa-un saw Jeong-an.

Her eyes, filled with pity, yet so clear and deep, the eyes of the successor, were directed at her.

Whoosh.

The flames of desire began to burn again in Hwa-un’s eyes, which had been full of confusion.

‘Why should I?’

What had she done so wrong?

‘It is my fault that I got angry at the arrogance of those who do not know the world! But it’s a problem that can be solved by cultivating more, not a problem that requires me to bow my head!’

Furthermore, many villains kill the weak and live well, full and satisfied.

Compared to them, she was a decent person. Rather, she had decided to come out into the world to punish such villains, so why was this issue causing such a fuss?

A sharp voice burst from Hwa-un’s mouth.

“What do you mean by wrong! As you saw, monk, the arrogant and ignorant one is that person!”

She pointed to Yeon Ho-jeong, who had his arms crossed.

Even when Hwa-un pointed at him, Yeon Ho-jeong’s face was extremely calm. There was no agitation in his heart.

On the other hand, Hwa-un’s face was completely distorted.

Her distorted face resembled the hideous image of Mara, who had personified desire. [Mara is a demon in Buddhism who tempts beings with worldly desires.]

“A person who has not even learned the Dharma is discussing the Dharma and mocking this monk! He has threatened this monk with his petty fame and position!”

“Hwa, each one.”

“A mere young master of a family that governs a single region dares to… me, an elder of Bota who seeks to save the world’s law…!!”

In that instant, a terrifying flame erupted from Beom-oh’s eyes.

“Kaaah!!”

Jjeoooooooong!

Beom-oh’s tremendous roar was like the sound of a temple bell shattering.

In an instant, Hwa-un’s mouth dropped open. The energy of the World-Honored One contained in that intense lion’s roar shook her eyes, which were covered by a veil of confusion and evil. [World-Honored One is a title for the Buddha.]

“Since when has responsibility become the same as power! Since when has position become the same as authority! Are you truly a practitioner who has studied the Dharma for decades!?”

“D-don’t shout so loudly! I…!”

“Look at your heart correctly!!”

Jjeoooooooong!

The sound of a bell shattering echoed once more.

Whoosh!

A faint golden glow began to emanate from Beom-oh’s body.

It was so bright, yet it was a light that did not burden the eyes of the beholder.

The light of enlightenment, the light of wisdom.

The light of the ‘Sword of Wisdom’ itself, which the swordswoman of Bota symbolized, was enveloping Beom-oh like a halo.

Horror spread across Hwa-un’s face.

She had encountered that light emanating from Beom-oh’s body once before in the past.

‘The Great Power of Prajna?!’ [Prajna is the Buddhist concept of wisdom or insight.]

This great power, which only the enlightened ones of Shaolin martial arts could achieve.

Among them, the divine skill of truth, which symbolized wisdom and the Dharma eye, struck Hwa-un’s eyes.

“Aaaah!”

Hwa-un covered her eyes and collapsed on the spot.

Blood was streaming down from her two eyes.

It was a very strange experience. It was so painful that it felt like her soul was leaving her body, yet it was also very refreshing, and even though the streaming blood was covering her eyes, she could still see.

Saaaak!

Hwa-un felt something leaving her body.

Something formless that even those who had mastered the greatest martial arts in the world could not see, something that only those who had attained enlightenment could see.

It was desire, it was confusion.

Beom-oh, who had been looking down at Hwa-un with stern eyes, spoke in a calm voice.

“Open your eyes. And with those open eyes, look at yourself.”

“….”

“Then, you will finally see the world. Hasn’t Bota Hermitage lived by seeing the world in that way?”

Joo roo rook.

Hwa-un wept silently. They were tears of blood, but they looked like tears that were washing away her sins.

Beom-oh sighed softly, then turned his head at a sudden feeling of being watched.

Yeon Ho-jeong was winking one eye and giving him a thumbs up.

Beom-oh shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

Truly, it seemed that even with the power of Prajna, that man’s personality was incorrigible.