Chapter 145 Moo Sung (3)

Chapter 145 Moo Sung (3)

Squeak-

The moment Gu Yangji stepped into the Great Hall, all eyes turned toward the entrance.

For the radical faction’s Master Mun-o, there was irritation mixed with discontent.

For Masters Munjeong and Museong, an indescribable complexity was tangled within.

The only one maintaining composure was Yu Jang-myeong.

Even here, in the hostile territory of Shaolin Temple, surrounded by masters stronger than himself.

Seeing him, Gu Yangji offered a faint smile.

“Janitor, what business brings you to the Great Hall?”

But at the warden’s guarded tone, Gu Yangji wiped the smile from his face.

“I came to speak privately with the Abbot or Master Musung.”

“…Words? And what of that monk’s robe?”

Master Wen Zheng’s gaze had grown icy.

Had the gentleness he’d shown until now vanished somewhere? Or had he merely been masking such a nature?

Gu Yangjie’s mind raced.

If Palma had penetrated so deeply into Shaolin, his position must be high indeed. Even the Abbot himself could not be excluded from that scope.

But he couldn’t openly question him here and now.

The hierarchy, the martial prowess, even the difference in prestige between Huashan Sect and Shaolin Temple.

He held no advantage in any of these areas.

Would anything have changed even if Baidanxian had been here?

Gu Yangji shook his head inwardly. Unless Jin Wuyue came personally, they would be pushed back helplessly.

But the opportunity was now or never.

‘This situation created by the switched letters, the small crack where the moderate faction and the radical faction clash, leaving dissatisfaction exposed.’

It was time for a sharp blade to forcefully pry open that crack.

Gu Yangjie lifted his eyes, which he had briefly lowered.

A flicker of surprise appeared in the eyes of Master Munjeong, whose gaze met his.

What on earth was this man trying to say?

Sensing a slight tension from Master Munjeong, Gu Yangjie unconsciously twisted one side of his lips and sent a telepathic message to Yu Jangmyeong.

-Senior Brother, please reveal that I am a disciple of Huashan.

-……?!

-We simply didn’t know each other.

At those words, Yu Zhangming’s eyes widened in sudden shock. But that shock served to conceal the awkwardness beneath.

“You… you’re not the enemy?!”

“An enemy… Could it be… Plum Blossom Divine Dragon, Gu Yang-jeok?!”

Even the monks standing silently in formation couldn’t hide their agitation.

How much more so for the Abbot of Jieyuan, who had taken him in as a laborer.

The Abbot of Jieyuan felt a strong sense of betrayal and bellowed at Gu Yang-jeok.

“You’ve been deceiving me all this time?!”

“I am truly sorry, Master.”

Gu Yangji bowed respectfully to Master Jiyuan, then turned his gaze to Master Munjeong, who was now displaying even stronger vigilance.

“But there is a reason I came, shaving my head and not informing my elder brother.”

“…Hmm.”

Deep in thought, Grandmaster Wenzheng let out a heavy sigh.

“Since the monk says he came even after shaving his tonsure, I shall forgive you this time.”

“Thank you.”

“However, if the reason is unjust, Young Hero, you shall face the Disciplinary Committee…”

Before he could finish, Gu Yangjie nodded readily.

“I know. I came here prepared for that.”

“Well… very well. So, young hero, why did you sneak into Shaolin Temple, hiding from everyone’s notice?”

As he spoke, Master Wen Zheng secretly studied Yu Zhangming’s face.

Because of that, a momentary worry welled up in his heart.

‘…Was it unfounded?’

Whether through building his reputation or gaining experience in the martial world, his former clumsiness had mostly vanished.

Gu Yangjie drew courage from this.

‘If Brother Yu is striving so hard, I cannot fail.’

The most crucial task was to uncover whether the Eight Palms were present here, and if so, who they were.

Then, to eliminate them alongside Shaolin Temple.

‘If that happens, it would mean the Eight Palms are killed by Shaolin’s power, and our relationship with the Huashan Sect would turn favorable.’

Gu Yangji’s mind raced as he scanned the crowd.

Master Zhi Yuan, who still seemed unable to shake his betrayal, glared at him, while Master Wen Wu, leader of the radical faction, wore a look of discontent.

Moreover, the subtle currents between the Monks Wen Zheng and Wuseng before him suggested they were communicating telepathically.

Just as he thought the situation might conclude thus, strength tightened in Gu Yangjie’s hand.

At that very moment, a solution suddenly dawned on him.

‘It carries risks, but now there’s no choice but to make direct contact using the Vajra Armor. ‘

The sacred artifact of the Shaolin Temple, said to have existed since the era when demons ran rampant hundreds of years ago.

Just as it had when he was a novice monk. The Vajra Fist Armor not only possessed the ability to transform internal energy into fire, but also had the power to discern the presence of demons nearby.

Even now, it was sensing the faint demonic energy of the Palm and vibrating. What if it made direct contact with skin?

Gu Yangji looked at Master Munjeong and Master Museong.

‘Before the reversed Jeonseo-gu, I must first identify who can take control of the situation now.’

Choosing one of them to verify first was the right move.

The one who guarded against him most was Master Munjeong, while the one directly connected to Jeonseo was Master Museong.

Both were equally suspicious.

Therefore, Gu Yangjeok first addressed the one who could clarify the matter concerning the young monk.

“Master Museong.”

“Why did you call me?”

“This is actually a matter I should discuss with the Abbot… but I have something to ask first. Might we speak privately?”

At those words, Master Munwo’s lips curved into a subtle smile.

Master Musung’s defense of Master Munjeong had halted the radical faction’s collapse under authority, precisely because it had been stopped in its tracks.

“Young Master Gu Yang, could it be that the young monk’s situation is somehow connected to Master Musung?”

Master Mun-o’s hoped-for answer was immediately grasped by Gu Yang, who evaded it with a vague response.

“I cannot say anything at this moment.”

“……Is that so?”

Master Wen’s eyes narrowed.

“Wasn’t it Master Qingming, the Abbot’s master, who insisted on appointing Master Wuseng as the guardian monk?”

“Don’t speak recklessly!”

Master Wen Zheng shouted in a strong tone. Master Wen retreated a step, smiling quietly.

“No, I merely stated it as fact. Even so, a disciple of the Buddha would never use the sorcery of the Demon Sect.”

“…Enough.”

Master Museong cut off Master Mun-o mid-sentence and looked down at Gu Yang-jeok.

Seeing complex emotions surge like a torrent in Master Museong’s eyes, Gu Yang-jeok swallowed hard.

Amidst this subtle war of nerves, Master Jiyuan suddenly roared.

“How can we possibly trust him!”

“Enough!”

Master Wuseong amplified his voice with inner energy, and Master Jiyuan flinched, halting his words.

Watching this, Gu Yangji suppressed a sneer inside.

A clash between those with differing intentions.

The moderates and the radicals, or Master Wen Zheng and Master Wen Wu.

He had poured poison between them.

The poison of falsehood, an intangible toxin.

“Step outside for now, Young Master Gu Yang.”

At Master Wusheng’s words, Gu Yangjie readily nodded.

Thump, thump.

Following Master Wuseong, Gu Yangji moved his steps toward a corner of the Shaolin Temple.

As he did so, he occasionally memorized the temple’s layout and paths.

He couldn’t commit them to memory in one go, but at least he could learn the routes to avoid. Gu Yangji’s eyes darted about keenly.

Then, the place where Master Wuseong stopped was none other than the abbot’s quarters where Master Wenzheng resided.

In the cramped space, barely large enough for one person to lie down, a Buddha statue and incense burner were neatly placed.

‘So this is the head monk’s quarters of Shaolin Temple.’

Having only heard of it before and never actually entered, Gu Yang-jeok looked around here and there.

“It’s a narrow and humble place, but at least no Buddhist disciples come here.”

At those words, Gu Yangji’s gaze turned to Master Wuseong.

Perhaps because the space was so cramped, even their breaths seemed to touch.

He thought this time he might finally be able to read Master Wuseong’s mood… but there was no opening at all.

Gu Yangji offered an awkward smile.

“I see.”

” So, what is it you wanted to ask me first?”

Even though Master Musung tilted his head, seemingly relaxing, Gu Yangjeok couldn’t channel his inner energy into his Vajra Fist Armor.

At such close quarters, even the slightest trace of energy would be detected.

Since things had come to this, he had no choice but to ask what was on his mind.

Gu Yangjeok’s lips parted slightly.

“Are you truly not changing the letter, Venerable?”

“Why would I have any reason to change it?”

The Venerable Mu-seong continued with a peculiar smile.

“Even without such scheming, the other monks, including the Abbot, Venerable Mun-jeong, follow me.”

“……”

The atmosphere shifted.

The moment Gu Yangji activated his Jashin Gong, Master Museong placed a hand on Gu Yangji’s shoulder.

It was an implicit signal that he had no intention of fighting right now.

At that moment, the Vajra Fist Armor began to tremble slightly.

‘Surely not.’

Gu Yangji’s eyes widened, and Master Museong, seemingly reconsidering, removed his hand from the shoulder.

“Withdraw now. Otherwise, even I won’t be able to help it.”

“Are you threatening me now?”

“Threatening?”

Master Wuseng’s face seemed to twist for an instant. But when Gu Yangji opened his eyes again, gentleness had taken its place.

This was a different person from the Master Wuseng who had entered Baidanxian.

As Gu Yangji’s expression gradually twisted into horror, Master Wuseong offered a faint smile.

“I’ve seen your struggle, young hero. But it’s only a temporary problem. Ultimately, it’s a wound that will be stitched up.”

“……”

“If you retreat now, I won’t touch the Huashan Sect for the next year. But if you continue to sow chaos in Shaolin with baseless rumors…“

The hem of Master Museng’s monk’s robe fluttered.

He was undoubtedly attempting to pressure him using his formidable internal energy.

Gu Yangjie sensed this and frowned.

”Did you think you could intimidate me into retreating with your insignificant power and reputation?“

”……What?”

Gu Yangji let out a bitter laugh.

“You must have thought roasting a late-stage cultivator like me would be easy. Especially for Venerable Master Museng, the former Guardian Monk and a master of Shaolin.”

“You insolent brat!”

As Venerable Master Museng shed his previous gentleness and revealed his anger, Gu Yangji gripped his sword hilt.

Until just now, he had been shocked by Master Musung’s change, but now he could see through him somewhat.

‘Does he intend to make Shaolin entirely his own?’

He didn’t know what the original contents of the scroll were, but it seemed the reversal had actually hindered Master Musung’s original goal.

Above all, the Vajra Armor was vibrating violently.

Gu Yangji muttered in a low voice.

“How dare a mere demon call a Taoist ‘this bastard’?”

“……!”

CRASH!!

Gu Yangji slammed the wall with five-tenths of his power and burst out of the abbot’s quarters.

He knew he couldn’t handle Master Wuseong at close range, and judged the opponent’s attacks would be swift.

Of course, that prediction proved correct.

“Guess I have to deal with this one first before he goes blabbing to the others.”

Master Musung followed him out the very spot he had exited.

‘If I’d been even a moment later, it would’ve been disastrous…’

Gu Yangjeok brushed goosebumps off his skin as he looked at the scattered stone dust where he had been standing.

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.

“What on earth is going on here!”

“Master!”

Monk Munjeong and Yu Jangmyeong seemed to have rushed over upon hearing the commotion from the head monk’s quarters.

Behind them, Monk Mun-o and other monks followed in succession.

Seeing this, Monk Museong pointed at Gu Yangjeok and shouted.

“This bastard…”

‘An opening!’

If Master Museong truly possessed the Palm of the Eight Palms, the fiery energy within the Diamond Fist Armor would reveal his true identity.

Gu Yangjeok thrust off the ground and swung his fist with all his might.

SMACK!!

As Gu Yangjeok’s fist struck Master Museong’s cheek, the mask-like covering over his face shattered and fell to the ground in pieces.