Chapter 142 Shaolin (4)

Chapter 142 Shaolin (4)

Only after completely erasing the child’s demonic energy did Gu Yangji exhale a sigh of relief.

Yet his mind was filled with countless thoughts.

‘Could it be that Master Museong was Palma’s puppet?’

Considering the strength he possessed, calling him Palma wouldn’t be an exaggeration, but Gu Yangji frowned.

It made no sense for the former Guardian Monk of Shaolin Temple to be Palma.

To become a Guardian Monk, one must pass over twenty-eight trials, and their origins are thoroughly investigated.

There was no way Palma, who had existed for hundreds of years, could have any personal records.

Having reached this conclusion, Gu Yang-jeok shook his head.

Of course, his doubts weren’t completely gone.

‘I should have Cheolpunggae look into it.’

Above all other information, this must come first, as quickly as possible.

Gu Yangjeok hoisted the unconscious novice monk onto his back and immediately whistled.

Wheee-!

In response to the sound, a falcon hidden deep within the forest revealed its beak.

It was the Thousand-Mile Falcon, cherished so dearly by the Sect that they would even give up their own meals for it.

Compared to other birds of prey, its intelligence was said to be exceptionally high, bordering on that of a spirit creature.

True to its reputation, the Thousand-Mile Falcon did not fly over immediately. Instead, it watched Gu Yangjie from a high tree.

Seeing this, Gu Yangjie pulled a token from his inner robe.

“……Pii!”

The Earth Tablet, an item only the third-level disciples of the Sect could possess.

The moment Gu Yangji produced the object transferred to him by the Iron Wind Demon, the Thousand-Mile Falcon soared in with a graceful maneuver.

Gu Yangji stroked the falcon’s head and, despite his awkward posture, wrote a single line straight and steady.

First Class, Master of the Martial Arts.

Though the seal script could not convey detailed information, Cheolpunggae would understand and handle matters at his discretion.

Just as he was about to send the Thousand-Mile Hawk flying.

Gu Yangjeok glanced at the young monk on his back and paused in thought.

His deliberation was brief.

He untied the plaque he had hung and carved additional characters onto it.

A child, possessed by a demon spirit, in critical condition.

Prioritize investigation.

The characters were so small they were invisible without mastering the Eye Technique.

But since Yu Zhangming was there, there was no worry about him failing to recognize them.

Gu Yangji sent the thousand-mile hawk soaring into the sky, hoping for a swift reply.

“Piiieek!”

As the messenger bird soared through the clear sky, Gu Yang-jeok glanced at the young monk’s profile.

To say he wasn’t embarrassed would be a lie.

He had come in as a mere laborer, yet now he was carrying an unconscious disciple. Naturally, they would ask what had happened.

Moreover, the pattern on the young monk’s palate indicated he was under a spell.

Discovering this too could lead to misunderstandings beyond mere awkwardness.

Gu Yangji smiled weakly.

He was utterly exhausted from expelling the demonic energy without causing the young monk any internal injuries.

“But I can’t just abandon the child here.”

Gu Yangji set off for Shaolin Temple, carrying the young monk on his back.

* * *

“I hope you delivered the child safely.”

As Yu Zhangming muttered this, Tie Fengcai clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“You know how cunning your disciple is, right? There’s no need to worry.”

“Still, he’s wandering around the inner courtyard of Shaolin Temple.”

Yu Zhangming’s regret at not having gone with him was palpable.

Watching this, Tie Fengge chuckled inwardly.

‘That’s perfectly normal.’

Lately, the only Taoist he’d met was Gu Yangji, so sometimes he wondered if all Taoists were like that.

But watching Yu Zhangming’s actions now, Gu Yangji seemed like the odd one out.

Cheolpunggae belched and wore a relaxed expression.

“Why should I care? Gu Yangji acted on his own, and we just wait for the outcome.“

”But if we get caught…“

”Wouldn’t it be worse if we went? Can you handle the consequences?“

Facing Cheolpunggae’s sharp glare, Yoo Jang-myeong didn’t back down, straightening his shoulders.

”Instead of debating whether we can handle it, we should just go first.”

“…Well now, we have a principled Taoist here.”

Though his words were twisted like this, Cheolpunggae actually held a positive view of Yu Jangmyeong.

No matter how rude the other party might be, Yu Jangmyeong always honored them, thereby shining his own dignity.

Unlike Gu Yangji, who adjusted his response depending on the person, Yu Jangmyeong was someone who always knew how to maintain courtesy and propriety.

‘Except for being overly rigid, that is.’

Cheolpunggae suppressed a chuckle as he tore into a chicken leg.

He’d heard that Yu Jangmyeong had studied martial arts and etiquette since childhood under the sect leader Baek Danhyeon, but he’d never met anyone quite as upright as Yu Jangmyeong.

He had seen many Taoist masters over the years, but it was truly rare to find someone like Yu Zhangming who practiced exactly what he had learned.

If anything, one could call him an eccentric.

Cheolpunggae asked Yu Zhangming in a low voice.

“If the Shaolin Temple summoned you to pressure the Huashan Sect, how would you act?”

“Shouldn’t we fairly account for the child’s share as well?”

No sooner had Yoo Jang-myeong delivered his flawless, unyielding argument than Cheolpoongae pressed further.

“Even if your actions ignite a major conflict between Buddhism and Taoism?”

“……”

Closing his eyes briefly to ponder deeply, Yoo Jang-myeong nodded.

“Because that was the purpose of my training.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Exactly that. I trained in martial arts to walk the righteous path.”

Yu Jang-myeong let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“To someone like Master Gu Yang or you, who sees the forest, I probably seem frustrating. Bringing great calamity over trivial matters is something only a fool would do.”

Yet, murmuring those words, Yu Zhangming stared straight at the Iron Wind Blade.

Even if Gu Yang had been there, this resolve would not have changed.

A deep furrow carved itself into the center of Yu Zhangming’s forehead.

“But a child was in critical condition. Had the enemy not detected it beforehand, that life would likely have been taken.”

“……”

“I could never stand by and watch that happen.”

No matter what consequences might come.

Yu Zhangming pulled tight the loosely tied knot of his belt.

As if echoing its master, the Yonglu Sword left behind by Gu Yangji rang out with a clear sound.

Cheolpunggae asked with an expressionless face.

“So you’re saying it’s fine if everything ends because you upheld that principle? Even if it costs you your life?”

“Gladly.”

When Yoo Jang-myeong nodded, Cheolpunggae let out a faint sneer.

“Killing you would be incredibly easy. All I’d need to do is grab a child and have them act as a decoy.”

“I’ve heard that line countless times.”

Cheolpunggae could no longer sneer at Yoo Jang-myeong’s nonchalant response.

Truthfully, even if Yoo Jang-myeong drew his sword, Cheolpunggae would have no retort.

He almost wished Yoo Jang-myeong would.

That would reveal a human side, allowing him to understand what kind of man Yoo Jang-myeong truly was.

But Yoo Jang-myeong showed no anger.

Even after the open-minded hermit himself openly declared his intent to kill, Yu Jang-myeong unhesitatingly acknowledged the possibility.

‘He’s calmly insane.’

Cheolpunggae no longer saw Yu Jang-myeong as human.

‘To walk a path that might be a trap, solely because a child is in critical condition? Good grief.’

Wanderer.

The word, whose true meaning had faded over time, leaving only the name, lingered in Cheolpunggae’s mind.

“What an absurd man.”

Yu Jang-myeong gave a bitter smile at Cheolpunggae’s abrupt remark.

“Is upholding the righteous path truly such an absurd thing?”

“At least in the martial world, it is.”

Cheolpunggae answered without hesitation. Yu Jang-myeong closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.

The face that reappeared was now imbued with resolve and solemn determination.

It was as unshakable as diamond, unmoved by any trap that might come or any situation where the many oppressed him.

“Then I shall shatter that martial world and remake it anew.”

“………!”

What arrogant nonsense!

To destroy the current martial world and remake it anew!

Cheolpunggae could no longer maintain his expressionless facade.

‘If we’re talking about madness, he’s even worse than that bastard Gu Yangjeok!’

Cheolpunggae, still startled, fixed Yu Jangmyeong with a piercing glare.

“That’s enough to make anyone who hears it fall into a deep shock! Lower your voice!”

“……Is that so.”

At those words, Yu Zhangming let out a faint smile.

It was because the words he had always heard from Gu Yangji came to mind.

That a martial artist needed strength to protect something, and that the world wasn’t just about righteousness.

He had experienced it firsthand through Cheolgeum Mountain and witnessed it directly from the Black Dragon Sect.

Within that world, he had always been nothing more than one of the countless branches of a tree.

A late-stage cultivator with only a meager talent to rely on, possessing exceptional skill for his age.

But not anymore.

He was now a martial artist of the Huashan Sect, personally invited by the Great Master Wuxing, a thick trunk capable of bringing great change.

He might be lacking compared to Gu Yangjie, who saw the forest, but at least this time…!

‘I won’t just leave it to the master.’

Yu Zhangming raised the Dragon Roar Sword to eye level.

Swish, thud!

He drew the blade to the width of his palm, then immediately sheathed it. Yu Zhangming ended his deliberation with just that.

“I’m going up.”

With that resolute statement uttered with a hardened expression, Tie Fenggai could no longer dissuade him.

But a moment later.

Yu Jang-myeong spotted Gu Yang-jeok and had to bite down hard on his lower lip with his fangs.

* * *

-What the hell was that?

The moment their eyes met, Gu Yang-jeok felt his face flush at the telepathic message Yu Jang-myeong sent him.

‘Should’ve left my head intact…!’

If it were his usual temper, he would have raged about shaving off his scalp too, but apparently his own appearance was just too ridiculous.

The only silver lining was that he’d been assigned to sweep the stairs, meeting Yu Zhangming before he reached the Shaolin Temple.

Gu Yangjie grabbed Yu Zhangming’s shoulder, which was shaking uncontrollably as he tried to stifle his laughter.

-Brother… It was unavoidable to infiltrate the Shaolin Temple.

-I heard they don’t force laymen to shave their heads?

As if genuinely unaware, Yu Zhangming tilted his head and smiled, causing Gu Yangjie to clench his fists.

He was mortified that he, of all people, didn’t know something even Yu Zhangming knew.

That emotion naturally turned toward Yu Zhangming.

-Senior Brother! Didn’t you tell me not to come up until it was certain!

-It had nothing to do with us. Didn’t the child nearly die from demonic energy?

Yu Zhangming wiped the smile from his face, revealing a sharp gaze.

-How could I possibly stand idly by over this? It’s utterly unjust. We must uncover the culprit.

-So, what do you intend to do?

-To uncover their intentions, shouldn’t we play along with what they desire?

-……When there’s an easy path, must you insist on taking the difficult one?

At those words, Yoo Jang-myeong answered without a moment’s hesitation.

-It’s not a difficult path. It’s the path we must take.

-Haa.

Gu Yang-jeok let out a deep sigh and recalled the second plan he had been harboring.

-Then do as you wish, Senior Brother.

-Are you truly certain this is acceptable?

-However, I must ask you first.

Gu Yang-jeok removed his hand from Yu Jang-myeong’s shoulder and looked at him with serious eyes.

-Are you absolutely certain you can overwhelm any monk who might appear? Even if you must duel the Sect Leader himself?

At those words, Yu Zhangming activated his Zixia Energy.

How grueling his training must have been.

Gou Yangji shuddered slightly, watching Yu Zhangming’s Zixia Energy, which resembled mist.

Soon, Yu Zhangming sent another telepathic message.

-Who am I?

At those words, Gu Yangjie set down the bamboo whip he held and stood facing Yu Zhangming with a dignified posture.

-I am Yu Zhangming, disciple of Bai Danxian, the current head of Huashan Sect, and the younger brother of Plum Blossom Cloud Dragon.

-That name is no trivial matter.

Yu Zhangming passed Gu Yangjie and began ascending toward Shaolin Temple.

-I’ll show you firsthand what kind of man your senior brother is.

-…….

Gyu Yangjeok watched his back and silently began to follow.

Yet, he couldn’t hide the pride on his face.