Shaolin Temple
'... No, that can't be.'
Soon, Jeong-un slowly shook his head.
There was no way that the attire and norigae charm provided by the General Affairs Departnt had co undone.
The General Affairs Departnt was a place where no mistakes were tolerated when it ca to the preparations of warriors heading out on a mission.
Above all, the item had been personally imbued with a spell by Zhuge Cheon-woo, the chief strategist of the Heavenly Martial Hall.
It was impossible for Shin Soryeong, who was only at the level of a rising star, to mistake Jeong-un for soone else in just one night.
Having finished his chain of thought in a brief mont, Jeong-un opened his mouth.
"It seems Lady Shin is experiencing so misunderstanding. Benefactor, you say?"
"No. Young hero, you are indeed the benefactor of —no, of my entire clan."
Shin Soryeong answered firmly. Her gaze was steely.
She stared so intently at Jeong-un with those two eyes that it was almost burdenso.
She continued.
"The other day, you gave many pieces of advice about my clan's sword technique."
"Yes, as we were speaking, you abruptly left, so I wondered if I had sohow committed an offense..."
At Jeong-un's words, Shin Soryeong's eyes widened. She quickly shook her head and said,
"Not at all. Thinking back, I was the one who was rude. What you said enlightened so much that..."
"Enlightennt?"
Jeong-un couldn't hide his look of surprise as he repeated her words.
Enlightennt?
He wondered if there was really sothing in that short conversation that could bring such profound insight.
Above all, what he had said were just offhand remarks.
If one was pursuing sword mastery as a swordsman, it was a thought that would co to mind at least once.
"You told to break down the boundary between fist-and-palm arts and sword technique. Even though I had swung the sword countless tis daily, I had never considered that before. As soon as I heard those words, my mind beca almost dizzy. I hurried back to my quarters and practiced, and I gained deep realization. How could you not be my benefactor?"
"..."
Jeong-un fell silent for a mont. He pondered on how he should compose himself at this mont.
It seed that, thanks to a few of his casual words, Shin Soryeong had managed to break through so sort of wall.
'If she was able to gain insight from re words like those...'
It would've been a wall she would have overco by herself eventually.
He had rely helped her find that opportunity a little sooner with a few words.
Normally, he would have pointed this out and waved the praise away.
Being called a benefactor was quite burdenso, too.
'However...'
Now, he was no longer Yu Jeong-un of the Heavenly Martial Hall.
He was posing as just a disciple of the Baek Sword Gate, so rural, minor sect.
This identity was just a mask he wore to observe the movents of the Divine Thief, who would soon visit Shaolin again. In that case, his attitude should be different as well.
After all, part of the reason he'd said those things was to get closer to Shin Soryeong.
Having collected his thoughts, he nodded.
"It was an idea that occurred to during two years of blocked-door training."
"During your training...?"
When Shin Soryeong asked again, Jeong-un nodded and replied.
"There are countless martial arts in this land. My sect's techniques, and yours as well, are just among them."
"...?"
He continued.
"However, as they say, 'All martial studies originate from Shaolin.' If the root is the sa, then making such detailed distinctions may be aningless. What really matters is the person. A swordsman wields a sword, a taoist wields a blade. What aning is there beyond that?"
"...!"
"If you gained any insight at all from my shallow thoughts, lady, I doubt it's really because of . Even with my limited perspective, your sword technique was already complete on the path of the blade. I suspect you just needed so sort of trigger. I rely helped that mont co a bit sooner. For , that is an honor."
He subtly denied that the credit was entirely his, while at the sa ti, heaped praise on her.
He also made sure to complint Shaolin.
Sure enough, the faces of the Shaolin monks observing quietly lit up with a peculiar pride.
"..."
Shin Soryeong stared at Jeong-un with wide, quivering eyes.
He had pinpointed a problem her clan had long wrestled with.
It felt as though he was telling her that all she had to do was move forward.
She turned her head and glanced behind her.
Then, after eting the eyes of one of her companions, nodded.
Then, facing Jeong-un, she bowed deeply with a resolute face.
Her companions followed suit and bowed at the sa ti.
"From this day forth, we shall honor you as the benefactor of our clan."
"..."
Jeong-un gazed thoughtfully at their bowed crowns.
Whispering voices murmured around him without end.
Before he knew it, even the Shaolin monks' gazes had grown sowhat warr.
They seed truly pleased as they watched.
'This should be all right.'
Though their reaction was a bit excessive, he did not show his surprise.
In any case, hadn't he succeeded in drawing closer to them?
* * *
Shaolin Temple is the root of Zen Buddhism in this land.
Ever since Bodhidharma imparted Zen to the temple, Shaolin had weathered the rise and fall of many dynasties.
Now, in the Ming Dynasty, it was thriving greatly.
It was said that several mbers of the imperial clan had converted to Buddhism—that said it all.
"This way, please."
Passing under the antique plaque at the main gate said to have been built in the Yuan period, they entered.
Another monk soon appeared and offered to guide them to their lodgings.
He was a young warrior-monk nad Jinmu.
He led them slowly, giving brief explanations of various parts of the temple.
'The scale is enormous...'
Stepping into the most renowned temple under the heavens, Jeong-un murmured a short impression to himself.
Just because his remark was brief didn't an he was unimpressed.
Shaolin Temple occupied a territory so vast it couldn't be considered just a simple monastery. Jinmu explained that thousands of monks resided here, studying scriptures and cultivating mind and body.
That number itself said much.
After all, to feed and house that many, an enormous amount of resources would be required.
It was a glimpse into the overwhelming influence Shaolin wielded.
'Moreover...'
Jeong-un slowly swept his gaze over the surroundings.
It was a writhing sea of visitors from all walks of life and backgrounds.
Yet nowhere was there a loud disturbance.
Despite the crowd, all those people kept their lips tightly sealed and stepped quietly, for that was how heavily the na and presence of Shaolin weighed upon them.
'So this is what it's like...'
He truly felt how high Shaolin's status was in the martial world.
Favored martial artists from across the land were now gathered here.
Even a re glance at their bearing showed that they were surely of prestigious birth, and their eyes flashed with clear expressions at each other from all directions.
Yet despite the lack of anyone explicitly maintaining order, discipline prevailed.
That was simply because this was Shaolin.
"Where is the site for the bell striking ceremony?"
When Jeong-un asked this, Jinmu smiled warmly and answered.
"Is this your first ti witnessing Shaolin's bell striking ceremony, young hero?"
"This is my first ti out in the martial world, so I don't have much experience."
"Still, you carry yourself with great dignity. Your mind and body seem very at ease."
"You flatter ."
Jinmu regarded Jeong-un with a rather pleased expression.
"The Shin Clan Manor is very close to us at Shaolin. There is frequent contact. Now, if Lady Shin calls you her benefactor, that ans you also have ties with us. I expect we'll see each other often in the future."
At that, Shin Soryeong, who had been following quietly, nodded and spoke up.
"That's right. We've already sent word to my father. I told him you've solved our clan's fate. He'll be very pleased."
"..."
"Oh, and I'll send a letter to the Baek Sword Gate as well. I'll fully detail the favor you have bestowed upon us."
Jeong-un managed a slightly awkward smile and simply nodded.
Any letter addressed to the Baek Sword Gate would wind up in the hands of the Heavenly Martial Hall.
How the General Affairs Departnt would judge after reading such a letter was difficult to guess.
Jinmu answered Jeong-un's question.
"The bell striking ceremony is held outside the temple."
"Outside the temple?"
Jeong-un asked, and Jinmu nodded.
"As you can see, many people have co. It would be chaos if all of them gathered in one place. So among the commoners might even be injured."
"Indeed, that's very likely."
"If you go past the pagoda forest at the back and climb the mountain a ways, you'll find a precipitous cliff. There's a small bell pavilion up there for the iron bell. The ceremony is held there."
"At the edge of a cliff...?"
It was a location he had never expected. He had vaguely thought it would be held in the center of Shaolin.
Instinctively, Jeong-un's gaze traced the distant ridgeline.
The ntion of an iron bell ant it must be incredibly heavy.
So, they would carry it up the mountain.
Noticing his gaze, Jinmu grinned.
"When the bell is struck from there, its sound reaches not only Mount Song but even a hundred li away. Anyone nearby can hear the bell and find peace of mind and body."
"Amazing."
Jeong-un was genuinely impressed. Clearly, Shaolin's bell striking ceremony was no re formality.
Carrying a huge bell to the edge of a cliff to ring it for all to hear was no ordinary feat.
"It's an iron bell forged during the Yuan period. Since then, the bell striking ceremony has been held every year. It is a bell imbued with the wishes of countless people."
"It really is renowned for its effects."
"Effects, you say?"
At Shin Soryeong's added comnt, Jeong-un turned to her and asked.
She smiled faintly and explained.
"Grandmasters who have mastered the Tendon Changing Classic strike the bell. Their internal energy is embedded in the sound, so those who listen find peace in both body and mind."
"Internal energy in the bell sound..."
It was astonishing.
Even if the effect wasn't dramatic, for commoners it would be more than enough to be of great help.
For martial experts to do such a thing for the people every year—Jeong-un thought that was truly great.
'Is this a kind of sound-based martial art?'
To use one's martial arts for the sake of the people—such a thing was, in itself, extraordinary.
Once again, Jeong-un realized the truth behind Shaolin's reputation for caring for the people.
At the sa ti, he recalled Yeom Baek's words—that even Shaolin kept a wary eye on the growing power of the Heavenly Martial Hall.
"Here we are."
At last, they arrived at the accommodations for their stay.
Beyond the low wall, the roofs of two large pavilions could be seen.
Above the small gate in the center of the wall, there was a plaque reading "Hall of Standing in the Snow."
"It is said that in the past, master Huike stood outside the door, knee-deep in snow, seeking Bodhidharma's teaching. This place was nad in the hope that visitors who travel far may gain even a small enlightennt during their stay."
"Thank you for guiding us."
When Jeong-un offered a martial salute, Jinmu returned a respectful bow and turned to leave.
Jeong-un glanced inside through the gate.
It seed the two pavilions were divided between n and won.
Already, voices could be heard from inside.
Just as he was about to enter, Shin Soryeong spoke.
"This is your first ti at a Shaolin Assembly, isn't it?"
"Yes, as I ntioned."
At that, Shin Soryeong faintly raised the corners of her mouth and continued.
"The Shaolin Assembly is more than just a simple duel. In front of countless spectators, one fights fiercely, staking the honor of one's sect and oneself. So truly step onto the arena prepared to stake their lives."
At those words, Jeong-un recalled Shin Soryeong's own duel.
Even her match in the middle of the market streets had been intense to that degree.
With thousands watching, the pressure would surely be even greater.
"And the event begins now."
"Begins now?"
Jeong-un asked again, and Shin Soryeong turned her gaze toward the inside of the gate.
"All those inside are young martial artists participating in the Shaolin Assembly. They're all considered prodigies in their regions. It's only natural that they keep each other in check."
"I see."
Jeong-un replied without much interest.
'Prodigies?'
He had been at the Heavenly Martial Hall.
In Baek Il-gang's words, that place was so full of prodigies you could trip over them.
It was hard for him to expect much.
"In particular, you can say that the heirs of all the prestigious families have gathered. For example, the young hero Peng Mu-gyeol from Northern Zhili—"
"... Who did you say?"
Jeong-un inquired again.
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