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Chapter 5

On the one hand, Hong Go understood Hye-man's anger, but on the other hand, he could not understand it..

The sin of not first informing the public of the news of the transfer of the divine power, which should be reported as zero priority, is certainly a serious one..

However, I couldn't understand why I was scolded and even held accountable for burning the blood root system before that..

Prajna Zen practice is important, but wasn't the opportunity to clear Shaolin's irreparable shame also important?.

No matter how much of a pact was made with the Murim League, there was a relationship between Kangho and the benefactor, and the fact that the Shaolin of the world was just passing over was difficult for Honggo to understand..

So I couldn't bear to see something like this happen, so I skipped reporting and called him separately..

He had no resentment toward the monk he had silenced..

No matter how much it was for the sake of Shaolin, I ignored the report and committed a crime arbitrarily, so on the contrary, I thought it was the right action..

“wooden amitabha buddha.”

What happened today was an act I did with the full risk of being disowned..

It was a shame that I didn't get that much of an answer..

“Master, is it true that you promised??”

Hong Go narrowed his eyes and glanced at Hye-man and asked, and Hye-man answered by nodding his head up and down..

“If you win the battle with Lord Siju, I will not only absolve you of your sins, but I will also allow you to ask any questions you have. However, if you don't win, you will have to resolve your bad feelings towards Lord Siju and apologize..”

“Amitabha Buddha.”

Honggo joined the class and recited the fire sign..

“So, please take care of me, my lord..”

“I would like to ask you to take care of me.”

Joo Seo-cheon scratched his head and answered with four fists..

“I'll give you three seconds..”

Honggo said as if it was obvious..

Before the fight began, Hye-man warned that he would not be able to win easily, but Hong-go did not listen to his words..

Even though Plum Blossom Jeonggeom was a recently emerging deity, it was impossible to believe the rumors..

Rumors about powerhouses are usually exaggerated, and I heard that Hwasa Iljang, Maehwajeonggeom's opponent during the battle for the blood root system, was already exhausted at that time..

Above all, for Honggo, other than the upper distribution, defeat is an absurdity..

This is an area that has never been permitted..

There was even a time when he beat a master who was an official disciple from the old group and was ranked above him..

For Hong Go, who had accumulated countless experiences by playing in the powerhouse, Joo Seo-cheon was just a junior with slightly outstanding talent..

“Then I will do that..”

Joo Seocheon decided not to decline..

‘Let's control our strength well.’

If you give your all, it's not a problem to take him down in one second, but then Honggo's face will be lost..

For the sake of future relationships, it would have been better to show an acceptable match..

‘To what extent was Baekbo Kwon Seung’s inaction when he was young??’

Still, in his past life, he was a hero and a super expert in the game..

Even though I was young, I didn't look down on it..

While I was inadvertently trying to spread the ghost wave I had become accustomed to, I naturally changed my steps and switched to a new walk to narrow the distance..

“Inhale!”

But the speed is not normal.

Thanks to the ghost skill, even the sound of footsteps became faint due to increased stealth..

Honggo, who was implicitly or openly looking down on Joo Seocheon, was quite surprised by the unexpected move..

The young Taoist monk appeared in front of the monk, and whether he was surprised or not, he struck with dazzling speed with the sword in his hand..

It wasn't any kind of herbivore, it was just a stab, but the power and speed that Hwa-gyeong used was extraordinary..

Honggo looked surprised at this, but maintained his composure and stood in place like a statue of gold..

No, it moved slightly enough to create the illusion that it looked like it was standing still..

Paang!

The sword pierces the atmosphere, drawing a trajectory like a meteor..

At the end was Hongo's chest..

However, strangely, before the sword strike, Honggo's body, which was clearly within the range, was pushed backwards..

No, it would be more correct to say that it moved rather than being pushed..

If Ha Ha had been here, Hong Go would not have moved and he would have thought that Geomgeuk had stopped in front of him..

‘Geumgang Floating Body Method)!’

Joo Seocheon let out an exclamation, “Ho!”.

Although the Geumgang Fudongshinbeop, which is also a season of Shaolin, is clearly a method of moving the body, it appears to be stationary..

It stands like a mountain, unwavering for a long time, as if it were a pillar supporting the sect..

Joo Seocheon himself might have seen it that way if his martial arts level had been low..

But it was clear in his eyes.

‘avoided?’

Meanwhile, Honggo, the person responsible for the incident, was equally surprised..

He said he would give up three seconds, but he did not intend to avoid, but to block..

The act of avoiding itself is due to hurt pride..

But for some reason, my body moved reflexively..

‘Is it a coincidence??’

Hong Go thought that Ju Seocheon was below him, but he did not look down on him..

If a swordsman reaches his peak and puts all his effort into a stab, it is sure to be a threatening blow..

‘No, is it full power??’

It seemed like the next herbal meal would follow right away, but that wasn't the case..

I glanced at Joo Seocheon, whose eyes were wide open as if he was slightly surprised..

Even if you are a vegetarian, if you give your all, you will start to sweat, but there will be no change even in your breathing..

I suddenly felt anxious that the mission might be more difficult than I thought..

‘must respond with an attack.’

An alarm bell rang in my head..

But I couldn't do that because I was told to give up three seconds..

“after!”

Joo Seocheon retrieves his sword and changes his posture..

I lowered my body slightly and stood on tiptoes..

Taat!

The dust rose upward..

Footprints were left indented where Joo Seo-cheon had walked..

The body, shot like an arrow, narrowed the distance with Hongo again and flew away until it was very close..

Joo Seo-cheon, who activated his body's mobility with energy throughout his body, flew like a butterfly and entered Hong Go's arms..

As soon as the two-herb eating, Plum Jipmu, is finished, it is immediately followed by the three-herb eating, Plum Toyeom (梅花吐艶)..

The blade of sword energy spit out from the sword rose up fiercely, engulfing Hongo's vision..

“her! Twenty Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique!”

Hye-man recognized it at a glance and exclaimed..

I was surprised when the season, which was only allowed for plum blossom swordsmen, unfolded..

Above all, I was amazed to see the plum blossoms blooming more beautifully than any I had seen during my cruise around Gangho..

‘People in the world said that I was lucky enough to take an elixir and become a master, but it turned out to be a lie. It really is more than that.!’

It was more amazing than I thought.

That's not something that can be achieved with an elixir..

In my mind, Geomseon, the master of volcanoes and one of the Ten Chairs of Heaven, passed by..

Honggo also learned about the twenty-four plum sword technique..

In the past, I experienced this through interactions with late-stage exponents..

However, among them, no one was able to unleash the sword of plum blossoms as well as Ju Seo-cheon..

‘this!’

Honggo’s steps became busier..

The number of sword energy was too large to be avoided with the Diamond Floating God Method..

In the lower part of the battle, Jeongsunhan Naegong, the centerpiece, moved..

As far as safety is concerned, the martial arts of the political faction is certain..

Thanks to Shaolin's inner gongsim method, there is no problem even if it is raised rapidly..

Hongo did not hesitate and issued his first command..

He didn't just shout, he spread his power wide and blew the wind..

Wind blew from the tip of my outstretched fist and collided with a bundle of flying sword energy..

puff puff puff!

The number of swords is not small, but it is not that difficult to block..

As the air power was dispersed, it was scattered by the wind..

‘I gave up all three seconds.!’

Plum earth salt is not enough.

The previous attack was only possible if it reached the sedge-eating island..

Honggo, whose restrictions were lifted, moved quickly..

My pride was hurt, but I knew it was dangerous if I didn't give it my all..

‘It has to be finished right away!’

Honggo felt uneasy for some reason..

Even when I went outside the river, I rarely felt this kind of anxiety and danger..

So I decided not to hide my power for now..

As a monk, he did not have murderous intent, but his fighting spirit was considerable..

Move your body, well-trained like a diamond, minutely..

There was little movement, but strength was felt in every single thing..

Take a step, raise a fist.

The rugged muscles, clearly visible even on the robes, moved and exerted strength..

That firm fist reminiscent of diamonds advanced..

As the air exploded in the area he passed, he tried to drink heavily, but even that was crushed by the strength of his fist..

Diamond Kwon)!

Geumgangkwon itself is not Choi Sangseung’s martial art..

It was not even the highest season of Hongo, which included all the rolls..

However, when using Geumgang Budongshinbeop, it boasted the highest efficiency than any other martial arts method..

Its strength was so hard that it was like a diamond, so it was given this name. Although its speed was slow, it was very strong..

Above all, it was extremely useful when maintaining an appropriate distance and engaging in all-out warfare rather than exploration warfare, such as now..

If it's far away, the range is short and you won't be able to reach it, but if it's close, the motion is so big that you can't unfold it properly..

Even if the distance was reasonable, it was easy to avoid during a search battle due to the slow movement..

However, if the distance is reasonable and the situation is not one of exploration, there is no martial art more appropriate than this..

‘Is this the priesthood?.’

I see a fist flying. There was a priesthood behind the fist.

I looked at the flying fist. It reminded me of the past.

Contains a flying fist. An exclamation flowed out..

In that one power, no Madou or Sima Wei Dao could withstand it..

This fist will later be used to save Murim..

It was a fist I had never seen before, but I saw it before my eyes..

I only glimpsed the shadow from afar, but not anymore..

Even though it is a history that has now become a fact that never existed, for some reason, something stirred up my heart when I recalled that memory..

‘iced coffee! It is truly the fist of Seongsan.!’

It was nice to take that punch head on..

For some reason, the corners of my mouth suddenly rose slightly..

Joo Seocheon smiled slightly, then changed his expression and moved his body..

Only then does the world move.

There was little trace of his footsteps, perhaps due to the influence of the ghost magic, but even so, his movements from the steps to the movements were as good as Hwasan's..

I don't avoid it. I just took a stance to respond..

In line with the power wrapped around his fist, he increased the pressure of the energy contained in the sword and cut into the surrounding area..

The plum blossoms that bloomed from the sword were in full bloom and soon gave off a plum scent, stimulating Hongo's sense of smell..

By the time I realized what that scent was, the sword and fist clashed..

Kwa-ang!

The shock was fully transmitted to the sword and fist..

Joo Seo-cheon didn't mind because he had expected it, but for Hong Go, the shock went not only to his body but also to his mind..

Even though the Diamond Fist was not the best season, Honggo's life was completely imbued in that fist..

You had to always stand firm, unwavering, and have the strength to overwhelm everything..

In fact, there were quite a few people who fell to their knees due to that fist..

The experts also frowned and most of them retreated..

But not this time.

Instead of frowning, Joo Seocheon somehow smiled with satisfaction..

For some reason, that smile appealed to me..

What was even more shocking than anything else was the fact that a young man, who was more than 20 years older than me, did not feel anything when he received the punch and did his best to give it his all..

‘no! Not yet!’

Hongo stepped back, swinging his arms as hard as he could..

‘wooden amitabha buddha!’

I tried to shake the distracting thoughts from my mind..

I erased my surprise, regained my composure, and gave strength to my whole body..

It's not just muscles that wriggle.

It's not just the purple veins that protrude from the skin..

The energy, which is based on the technique taught by the master, flows through the energy vein and gives strength..

The next thing to be unfolded was a sword that was longer than a sword and could strike within a hundred paces..

“Honggo!”

Hye-man saw that Heung-go's mood had changed and quickly shouted..

Even if you were a master of the Flower Sutra, it was dangerous to receive the Hundred Treasures Divine Power with all your might without any preparation..

You never know what might happen if you request to subdue your student without harming him and the other person desperately attacks you..

Hye-man also looked like he had no idea Hong Go would do something like this..

Bimu became a matter of life and death in an instant..

‘can't lose!’

For Honggo, defeat was unacceptable..

Because that is insulting the monk, not yourself..

Shaolin's martial arts skills must be invincible, especially if the opponent is a 9-fighter..

The obsession with not losing.

Hongo rejected the very source that made up the human being and paralyzed reason..

The moment before everything falls apart.

Joo Seocheon just greeted him calmly and was filled with emotion..

‘ah!’

To me, Honggo was from a far away country..

To him, Baekbo Shinquan was a martial art he had only heard of..

I feel like I'm in a history book with old stories written down..

Could it be that this is a dream and in fact Elder Hwasan Oh, who has no powers, fell asleep while reading a book?.

While thinking about such trivial things, I raise my sword..

‘Plum blossom fragrance)’

It happened in an instant.

Clearly, it was Joo Seocheon who reacted late..

This was before Honggo unfolded the Hundred Step Divine Fist..

Even if you throw yourself at it, it will be too late by then..

Baekbo Shinquan is such a martial art..

A fighting technique that allows you to hit the enemy even from a distance.

Unless you are in the Ten Seas of Heaven, you cannot attack before that..

But strangely, the black plum blossoms danced and moved forward to stroke Hongo's shoulders..

“Wow!”

Puhet!

A long line was drawn on the robes..

The cloth opened and the skin inside cracked and blood splattered..

Honggo's body, which was just about to throw the Hakubo Shinken, stopped..

Pain is not a problem.

The problem was what would happen if I stretched out my fist like this..

In Honggo's mind, he punched his fist and then saw his arm flying up after being cut by the sword..

“Unbelievable……”

I was attacked before I even responded to the attack.!

A shiver ran down my spine when I thought about what would have happened if I had aimed for the neck or bloodletting instead of the shoulder..

Honggo was horrified by the blow just now, but could not keep his mouth shut at the fact that he had been struck without even touching him..

It was the voice of his teacher, Hye-man, that awakened his thoughts..

“Have you realized how arrogant you have been all along?.”

Honggo's body had no intention of moving..

Straighten your back and bend the knees of your slightly spread legs..

The moment he was about to unleash the power of his fist by taking power, he was stopped before the Hundred Steps Divine Power could be unleashed..

The face of the middle-aged monk is still in disbelief, his mouth open..

The posture that seemed like he was going to stretch out his fist at any moment was broken only when Hye-man came up and said a stern voice..

“Amitabha Buddha. There is no separate expression for ‘Jeongjeongjiwa (井中之崩圭)’. Thinking that Shaolin was everything, how did it feel to have such limited insight that you were unaware of the wide world??”

“This is not because Shaolin’s martial arts skills are lacking! It's all because of the shortcomings of this ugly Theravada.!”

Heunggo belatedly rebelled by establishing Jeongseon..

“Ugh, this poor student hasn't come to his senses yet..”

Hye-man clicked his tongue and scolded Honggo severely..

“When did an old monk say that the martial arts of Shaolin are inferior to the martial arts of Hwasan?.”

“Ha, if you come……”

“In the first place, although there are differences in studying, there is no such thing as up and down. Not only have you dismissed studies other than Buddhist studies as nothing special, but you have also shown a tendency to look down on temples other than Shaolin, even though you are in the same middle school. Isn’t that just uchi (愚擬)?!”

Uchi, foolish heart.

Honggo bit his lip and couldn't say anything..

“In the Eightfold Path, you must be careful about right speech, and right view and right thought are lacking. From now on, you must focus on this and devote yourself to study..”

The Eightfold Path refers to the eight paths of practice to liberate oneself from suffering and suffering and enter nirvana..

Honggo is not lacking in action..

On the contrary, as a member of the middle class, he is behaving more properly than anyone else..

He went to the rivers and lakes to relieve suffering people, such as the poor, and to help sentient beings who were in trouble..

I learned to be respectful and humble towards those above me, regardless of whether they were monks or not, and I was kind to those below me..

Unfortunately, there was a tendency to look down on studies other than Shaolin, and always considered Shaolin to be the best..

“You are aware of your shortcomings and are working hard, but just because you humble yourself does not mean you are not prideful. You think that Shaolin, which you are part of, is independent of infants, and that is also arrogance. Amitabha Buddha.”

Hye-man chanted Buddhist prayers and touched the prayer beads..

“Don't you know that the change of generation is just around the corner, and even Shaolin is in disarray? If it continues like this, how can I give you my seat with peace of mind?.”

There are not many Shaolin first-generation disciples left, and the distribution of second-generation disciples Hyeja has reached the age of retirement..

For your information, the reason Honggo was able to follow Hyeman's progress was not simply because he was a disciple..

Hongo's excessive pride or arrogance in Shaolin was not evident on the outside, so he was greatly respected..

It is natural that not only was his martial arts outstanding, but he also worked hard to help the common people and was busy running around to negotiate..

“……”

Hongo bit his lip tightly..

As if trying to quell the bad feelings rising in my heart, I recited a curse..

‘It'll be okay?’

Joo Seocheon felt a little uneasy when he saw Honggo unable to raise his head..

A past life that no one remembers, Honggo's excessive pride in being called a priest will heal with time..

But I don't know why it disappears.

It may have disappeared on its own due to merit and experience, or something may have triggered it..

“Thank you, Master, for thinking of my poor student and teaching me.……”

Honggo bowed with his hands joined in a weak voice..

It wasn't sarcasm, it was pure gratitude..

Ju Seocheon saw that and was inwardly impressed..

‘It's not for nothing that I'm being chosen as the next host..’

It would have been unpleasant to be scolded in front of a young man who had just appeared in the Gangho, but it was nothing like that..

No matter how much of a monk he was, a martial artist, especially a master, would have great pride, so I was surprised to see such a reaction..

If it had been anyone else, no matter how much he was a teacher, he wouldn't have been able to hide his displeasure..

“Lord, I apologize for my rudeness so far. Please forgive this ugly person with great generosity..”

“it's okay. I really received a lesson today. If I had been a little late, I wouldn't have won either. Indeed, thanks to Shaolin Temple, I was able to develop insight..”

Ju Seo-cheon also responded to Hong Go's apology with a gun..

‘Good thing, you don't look upset..’

Joo Seocheon sighed in relief..

‘okay. There is also a Shinseung, so there is nothing to worry about..’

If Ambassador Hyeman had passed away, the situation might have been a little different, but now that I have Shinseung, I decided not to worry about unnecessary things..

Moreover, there was no war, so nothing major would happen..

Joo Seocheon smiled slightly, relieved..

The sun in the middle of the sky is slowly disappearing, staining the ground red..

Joo Seo-cheon, standing in front of the back gate of Naewon after leaving the mountain gate where a long line was still visible, greeted Hye-man..

“If you do, I'll just leave. It's short, but I owe you a lot..”

“What is your situation? Didn’t you go along with this old monk’s stubbornness? Thank you.”

“Also, there is something I forgot to tell you..”

Joo Seocheon carefully took something out of his arms, and it was a wooden box..

‘Tsk.’

You don't know how much I thought about whether to pass this on or not..

I wanted to keep it a secret, but I couldn't let it go because of the teacher's face that appeared in my mind..

“This……”

When the wooden box was opened, Hye-man opened his eyes wide..

“I discovered it with Prajna Shingong..”

It was a single summoning party..

‘Master told me to return at least one pill.?’

Originally, there were ten eggs in hand..

Four of them were taken by Joo Seo-cheon and Zhuge Seung-gye, two each..

Of the remaining six, four were entrusted to Lee Ui-chae, and the remaining two were originally intended to be gifts to the teacher..

However, Yoo Jeong-mok refused, saying he could not take stolen goods without permission..

Originally it was only two pills, but I had no choice but to take one as it was urgent..

Joo Seo-cheon advised Yoo Jeong-mok to take the remaining pill, but Yoo Jeong-mok did not accept it in the end..

Even if I tried to use it somewhere else, Yoo Jeong-mok said I had to return it, so I decided to pass it on without any choice..

Anyway, I still have four pills left, so it doesn't matter if I hand over just one pill..

Since Yoo Jeong-mok also doesn't know about the existence of the four eggs, I felt at ease if I only had to deal with this one egg..

“It's late to ask, but where did you find Prajna God??”

Hye-man stroked his beard and looked curious..

“Before the Seven Swords War, I picked it up in a deserted mountain valley while touring the river. At that time, I had been starving for quite some time, so I was in a state of panic and headed toward the village. To be honest, I don't remember much..”

The Prajna God Gong was in the archives of the Three Eyes God, but the Three Eyes God Tu did not infiltrate the Shaolin Temple and steal it..

Shintu was active 300 years ago, but Prajna Shinkō was practiced even before that..

There are no records left as to why it was put into action..

Although all kinds of efforts have been made since before, we were never able to find it and it remained only as a long-cherished wish..

This is why Hye-man is complicated and subtle to Joo Seo-cheon..

I wasted the opportunity to fulfill my long-held wish, but at the same time, it was truly ambiguous as I was the benefactor who granted my long-held wish..

“Sorry for not being helpful.”

“Don't say that. Thank you for finding it and passing it on to me..”

Although Hye-man was suspicious, he did not inquire further..

I don't know if it was because he safely delivered the mountain drill, or because he helped teach his students..

“and leave it there.”

“but ……”

“It was not convenient to send the benefactor away without giving him proper treatment. So she take it.”

In fact, even though he was a benefactor, Ju Seo-cheon's position within Shaolin was very ambiguous, so he was treated a little harshly..

Hye-man felt sorry for Joo Seo-cheon, but was also grateful..

“Then I will be grateful..”

Joo Seocheon smiled slightly and said hello..

“Then I'll see you next time..”

With those words, Ju Seocheon came down from Seongsan Mountain..

After some time, Hye-man summoned the leaders and held a meeting..

In addition to the distribution of beneficial children, the distribution of Hongja, who will lead the next generation of Shaolin due to generational changes, was also gathered..

When the monks' patience was running low, when they heard that the awaited Prajna technique had been delivered, everyone started chanting..

The darkness that had built up over half a year ago disappeared, and instead was filled with bright light..

However, their faces also changed in a complex and subtle way upon hearing the name of the messenger..

“Huh!”

“Speaking of Ju Seocheon, he is definitely a plum blossom expert.……”

Maehwajeonggeom, Ju Seocheon. There's no way you don't know that name.

As expected, most people looked confused..

He was the one who did not have a chance to erase the shame of Shaolin by burning the Blood Root Sutra..

But at the same time, he was a benefactor who found Prajna God..

The value of the prajna spiritual practice that was put into practice was not small, so it was difficult to react to it..

Even so, because he burned the blood root scriptures for the sake of peace in the martial arts world, his feelings about him were ambiguous..

“The execution of the head of the room, is it possible that he anticipated this and took advantage of it??”

Hyejeong of Gyeyuwon, the place that oversees the laws of Shaolin, narrowed her eyes suspiciously and asked..

As he is a Buddhist priest, unlike other monks, he is not merciful and has a cold disposition and objective perspective..

Not only the chief but also many high monks cannot ignore the opinion of the preceptor as they must follow the law..

“you're right. He may have abused the fact that he can be forgiven even if he burns the Blood Root Sutra because he possesses divine power..”

The monks who distributed Hongja responded by saying that it was right..

“Wasn't Maehwajeonggeom virtually unknown before experiencing the Seven Swords War? To raise your honor at once……”

“That's overthinking.”

Unlike the stern appearance that Hye-man had shown to his disciple, he smiled mercifully and stopped the fuss..

“But isn't it possible?.”

It's not that Hye-jeong has bad feelings toward Joo Seo-cheon..

However, as the head of the precepts, it was necessary to keep a more distant and cool eye..

If the head of the room cannot discern between right and wrong, Shaolin may go down the wrong path..

Preceptor Wonju exists to guard against such cases and protects Shaolin by law..

“I know what the priest wants to say, but Lord Siju is not the kind of person who would have such intentions. Above all, he has enough martial arts skills to make his name known..”

“I know that he is an expert in oxidation, but I heard that he was very tired at the time..”

The head of the guesthouse countered as if Hong Soo had been waiting for him..

Hongja Bae-bin, who was behind him, nodded in agreement..

‘Where is Mr. Hongo going and what is he doing??’

It was questionable that it wasn't there at such an important time as now..

Originally, Hong Go would have taken the lead in criticizing Joo Seocheon..

But the question was soon resolved..

“Even if Sansan Iljang had been in perfect condition, he would not have been able to defeat Zhou Siju..”

“It's impossible.”

Even though it is Sapain, it is a master with a reputation in its own right..

It was unmanned enough to make even Oryongsambong, the best of the late indexes, nervous..

“No, it's possible. Because I witnessed it with my own eyes as an old monk..”

“what is that……”

“Before he left, he competed with Hong Go and won..”

“Hum!”

The audience widened their eyes in surprise..

Even Hye-jeong’s eyes were shaken severely..

Baekbo Kwonseung, Honggo.

Among the Arhat monks, his strength is the greatest, and not only is he talented, but he also puts in an effort that is tongue-in-cheek..

Not only did he join the Five Dragons and Three Peaks at an early age, but he also became one of the top hundred masters in the world and made a name for himself as a Shaolin master..

It was definitely shocking that Honggo lost to Ju Seo-cheon, who was not even in the Five Dragons Sambong..

“It's the prosperity of the martial arts. Amitabha Buddha.”

Hyejeong closed her eyes and recited the fire..

Maehwajeonggeom, Ju Seocheon.

It was the moment when the name was accurately engraved in Shaolin..

* * *

Shortly after coming down Songshan Mountain, someone approached me..

“This is Geumnyeong (金靈) from Hebeukgok..”

“prohibition?”

Joo Seocheon tilted his head..

Hebeuk Valley is the first ghost valley I visited, but there is no such name in my memory..

“Built by the owner of the top.”

“ah!”

Only then did I realize who it was..

The ghosts were all different ages and sizes, but the problem was that there were so many ghosts I had encountered so it was difficult to tell them apart..

The tone and demeanor are similar, so it might be difficult..

The only ghost I can recognize is the major who always hovers by my side..

“what happened?”

Joo Seocheon’s face immediately hardened..

There are only two ghosts who serve as guard and hand and foot..

I sent one of them, and there was something unusual about it..

The unfolded letter began with the word ‘level’..

This was before Joo Seocheon arrived in Shaolin..

“Ahh!”

Lee Uichae screamed when he saw the letter..

“Jeoknim 18 houses, these Horae bastards!”

Lee Uichae's face turned red..

The hand covered in flesh moved to the back of the neck..

“What's going on, Sang-Sang-ju?!”

The guard warrior who was waiting outside came running..

“Ugh, you bastards.!”

Lee Uichae was disgusted and hated it..

Thieves are everywhere in the central plain like beggars..

A place without people is a place where no people live..

No, even in places where no one lives, they block roads and try to steal from others. that's a thief.

Also, although these thieves are people, most of them target the top..

As the scale is large, the transaction amount is usually not small, and if you steal this, you can definitely get a share of it..

It was called a ‘big hit’ because it was an amount that could feed small to medium-sized wild vegetables for several years..

As the amount of money was large, the upper tier also employed ronin or messengers to protect the goods, and the same was true for the geumui upper tier..

Especially as its name has grown in popularity recently, there have been more and more people targeting it..

Even if there was a Geumui Sword Gate, it was not as old as other merchants, so there were many people who looked down on its power..

As a merchant, and especially obsessed with money, Lee Uichae hated these losses rather than death..

If I happened to lose even once, it was a waste, so I couldn't sleep properly for three days and nights..

So I paid a lot more attention to escorting..

Fortunately, after the Seven Swords War, the number of thieves decreased thanks to the warriors of the Geumui Sword Gate who traveled the battlefield with Ju Seo-cheon..

But relief is short-lived.

A while ago, bandits started to become strangely rampant..

At first, I thought that the people were just going out to steal because it was becoming difficult to make a living, but I was wrong..

The number of thieves did not increase..

The number of thieves targeting gold medals has increased to a strange extent..

I sensed something unusual and investigated, and Jeoklim 18chae, Nokrimguchae and Surimguchae, came out..

Everything from roads to mountains and rivers was related to them..

When not one or two but eighteen Jeoklim members joined forces and attacked, it was difficult for even the Jinui Sangdan to hold on..

Since they are active throughout the midfield, their response is also slow..

Even with the Galpungsaggaek, there were limits..

“That's it..”

Lee Ui-chae, who became gray after a week, said:.

My once smooth skin became dull after not much use..

There were dark spots under his eyes, and his keen eyes, which tried not to miss any benefit, were drooping weakly..

“hmm.”

Joo Seocheon was drooling..

It was worth running to Jinan in Shandong in one step..

It was definitely important.

As soon as I arrived, I went to Lee Ui-chae without even saying hello to Nak So-wol..

‘Why?’

Jeoknim eighteen houses. It's not that there are no kites at all..

However, if there was a bad relationship, it was not in the Huashan Sect, the Zhuge Three Branches, or the Golden Sangdan..

Above all, even though he fought against his enemies at the time, wasn't it Gu Feng who was active on a large scale?.

There is no reason to persistently aim for the top prize..

‘Are you looking down on Shinheung? No, no matter what, moving out of Chongqing is a bit excessive..’

Most of the Jeoklim 18-chae are active mainly in Chongqing..

They are also active near where the Yangtze River flows, but they do not go that far..

But this time was a little different.

Strangely enough, they went quite far away from the mountain and looted the top of the gold suit..

‘no way!’

Some possibilities passed through my mind..

“Sang-Sang-ju, do you remember about the person who said crazy things before??”

Lee Uichae shook his head as if he was remembering..

“Ah, you're a hotgu.?”

“Hogu?”

“Since then, I've probably visited fifteen times. At first it was 10 cats, but as time went by, the amount became more than twice as much. However, the business did not change. He told me to obey because I would give him control over all the commercial power in the central region..”

Even as Lee Ui-chae spoke, he had an expression of doubt as if he felt something strange..

At the time, I thought he was just crazy, took the money, listened to the conversation, and kicked him out..

“Seriously, does he have any connection with the Jeoklim Eighteen Houses??”

From his point of view, it was natural not to think deeply..

When you become the owner of the Geumui Sangdan, really strange or crazy people often come to visit you..

Among them, there was one who showed endless confidence and asked for a thousand gold, saying he had an amazing business..

Even though I had waited a long time after gifting expensive money, etc., all kinds of strange business came pouring in..

As a result, Lee Uichae tended to ignore people and let them go unless they were worthy of listening..

‘Private soldiers sent from Cheon Gwon-seong.’

Joo Seocheon frowned as if he was troubled..

Because I was focusing all my attention on Heaven, I forgot and forgot about the approach that might have been Heaven..

‘Since the king didn't even listen to the proposal, he gave up. And did you move to get it by force?.’

I remembered how Amcheonhoe controlled the upper part of the midfield and used it as a source of funds..

In most cases, if an offer was accepted, it was used appropriately as a transactional relationship; if not, it was subdued by force..

The reason why Amcheonhoe did not touch the Golden Sangdan in its previous life was because there were many alternative Sangdans and, crucially, the scale of the Sangdan was not that large..

The time when the Geumui Sangdan began to grow in earnest and make a name for itself was when the Amcheonhoe finished its preparations and started the war..

During the war, the Amcheonhoe was so busy that the Geumui Sangdan had no time to pay attention..

‘Wow, this isn't quite a headache. It has finally come. This is a big, unpredictable trend.’

As Joo Seo-cheon was lost in thought in silence, Lee Ui-chae looked anxious and anxious..

It was almost the first time he had seen Joo Seocheon make this kind of expression..

‘I don't know who is hiding in Jeoklim 18 Houses..’

Even in times of war, thieves were not left out..

On the contrary, they saw the war as an opportunity and went on a rampage..

Thanks to the constant fighting, the number of warriors decreased day by day, and they did not pay much attention to security..

The thieves took advantage of this opportunity to plunder, and later even moved to the government office, ultimately leading to their destruction..

The only information I knew was something that was written as a throwaway message to the Amcheonhoe..

Among my memories of my past life, I just took advantage of the chaos caused by the war and looted here and there..

‘I think the Geumui Sangdan took advantage of the fact that it was still gaining strength and encouraged it from the side.……’

I thought about this and that, but it was difficult to make a correct guess..

“Hmm, please tell me something about Daehyeop. Is something wrong? Is it really necessary to run away at night??”

“Is that possible?.”

Joo Seocheon smiled bitterly and calmed Lee Uichae down..

“So, how have you been responding??”

“We have increased the number of escorts, but since this is happening all over the country, we are short on manpower. So, a large number of priests and ronin were hired. However, as time goes by and the damage increases, the money is not an easy burden..”

“A large-scale subjugation will be necessary..”

“That's it!”

Lee Ui-chae smiled brightly and agreed with Joo Seo-cheon's words..

The only sure way is to punish the offending Jeoklim 18chae..

But it's easier said than done.

“however… … It's a little difficult to help you this time.

I can give away some warriors, but I have to protect the cargo in each place.……”

Even the Murim League and Sado Cheon were reluctant to step forward because they felt burdened by the Jeoknim Eighteen Houses..

If it was something that could be easily solved, I wouldn't worry about it..

“Don't worry, we just need a little help. Didn’t you call me because of difficult circumstances??”

“Indeed, it is Daehyup! If you pretend, you pretend! I am deeply moved by this small statue and the great spirit of the Great Hyeop.!”

A merchant smiling while rubbing his palms.

He was literally a villain from a story..

Joo Seo-cheon smiled unpleasantly and looked at his favorite Lee Ui-chae with a tired look, then lost in thought..

* * *

The band of thieves operating from the Jeokrim 18 Houses and Chongqing had no place they would not go, including mountains, fields, and rivers..

Most of them were a ragtag group of third or second-rate people, but like Haomun of the Black Island, their numbers were by no means small..

Still, what is better than Hao Wen is that he has his own expert, and some of the bond owners were the greatest experts in the world..

Power was needed to subdue them..

While Ju Seo-cheon was contemplating the formation of a punitive force, what happened at the Shaolin Temple spread throughout the Gangho Prefecture..

“It is said that Prajna God returned to Shaolin Temple.?”

“her! Isn’t Prajna Shinkong a martial art that only appears in legends? Where on earth did you say you found it??”

“I heard that it was discovered by chance deep in a mountain valley. And the location isn't that important right now..”

“Indeed, I'm more curious about who found it. Even though he possesses the divine skills of Shaolin, which is said to be the headquarters of martial arts, he is not greedy. What kind of idiot is this??”

“Joo Seocheon!”

“Joo Seocheon? I mean the plum blossom sword.?”

The powerful people were surprised to hear Joo Seo-cheon's name..

Wasn’t he the one who ended the war about six months ago? After that, he became less active, but he made a name for himself again..

I couldn't help but be surprised that one person achieved two feats that would be difficult to achieve in a lifetime..

“That's amazing!”

“Isn’t this truly a great deal?!”

There was no hero that looked like something out of a book..

Although he was exhausted, he single-handedly defeated a master who was as good as an oxidized sword and burned the blood root scriptures to end the war..

He is not only a martial artist, but he also comes from an excellent background and even has a good appearance..

Not only that, he actually became the benefactor of Shaolin..

People were interested and enthusiastic about this.

New masters, especially young people, always attract attention in Moorim..

“Although Plum Blossom Jeonggeom was his immediate predecessor, he did not yet have a status that could be considered great.?”

“It is said that the teacher, So So-geom, only works outside and does not have any position inside..”

“No progress to be made? What are you doing? Hurry up and get ready for your wedding!”

It was Joo Seocheon who attracted attention from the beginning..

Popularity, which was already high, rose sharply..

Some small and medium-sized clans ranked Joo Seo-cheon as a son-in-law candidate and prepared for marriageable women..

Even if you are a Taoist disciple, you can get married as long as you do not hold a major position and do not teach the seasons..

“Tsk!”

“What's so great about it? I just got lucky!”

“When I heard it, I heard that I had talent even when I was young.?”

“I took a little bit of the elixir.!”

But not everyone liked it.

It's human to feel twisted when your cousin buys land..

Even more so, when someone I don't know prospers, all sorts of times come out..

“Maybe he was aiming for this and used a blood rootoscope.……”

There were also suspicious opinions from Shaolin Temple..

Some people openly disparaged Ju Seocheon..

In that way, Joo Seo-cheon's name began to be engraved not only in Shaolin but throughout the whole of Murim..

Four days later, Ju Seocheon completed preparations in Shandong..

“No, brother. Why do you drag cruel people away??”

The Zhuge succession was disgusted with living in a workshop..

“If you don't work for a day, don't eat for a day. How can you stay quiet when thieves are running rampant? There's a big fight ahead, so I need to borrow some strength..”

The tracheal technique of the Zhuge Dynasty shows its true value not only in the Secretariat of the Three Eyes God or the Tomb of the Demon Demon..

You can tell just by looking at the weapons that you can win without much effort, like the Juktongno or the Dahwahwajeon before..

“If you need a weapon, I'll show you how to use it, so you can just take it..”

Zhuge Heir grumbled as if he was dissatisfied..

“Even though the final destination is a den of thieves, isn’t it still Jeokrim 18 Houses? It's been quite a while since I've been living in Chongqing, so I think there might be some kind of trap lurking around.?”

“Hmm, that's a bit interesting..”

Zhuge Succession smoothed his chin and his eyes sparkled..

Even though I absolutely hate going out of the house, or even my room, my eyes change like this when I'm involved with an institution..

“Don't worry, we're not the only ones going anyway, and you're also not of average skill..”

Zhuge succession took the summons in the past..

Thanks to this, he possessed considerable internal strength and surpassed the normal level..

However, the pure physical ability is only that much, and the overall level of martial arts such as herbivory is still quite low..

“So get ready quickly. Since the upper class's child is burning to the ground, we will leave tomorrow at the latest..”

“Me, me……”

“huh?”

Zhou Seo-cheon and Zhuge Sheng's gaze turned at the same time..

“Ah, Soger.”

It was Mugok’s daughter, Mugokhwa..

I got healthier while we weren't seeing each other..

I was relieved to see that my complexion had noticeably improved..

However, I was concerned that his expression looked somehow worried..

“What's wrong?”

“Could you please take me too??”

“……?”

Joo Seocheon widened his eyes as if he was surprised..

‘What's going on?’

She doesn't know much about wireless, but at least she's not curious enough to take risks..

When I occasionally stopped by the Geumui Sangdan branch and heard news of wirelessization, there was nothing special..

The only news was that he was traveling around the area because he wasn't feeling well yet..

It's not at the level of entering a bandit's den..

“can you tell me why?”

With a worried expression on Mu-duhwa’s face

I shook my head up and down..

“Confucius Zhuge is a person who skips meals if left alone... … I guess I was worried.”

The hands gathered on his chest were holding the hem of his clothes as if he was somehow anxious..

“……?”

Joo Seocheon couldn't believe his ears and repeated what he said just now..

My thoughts couldn't keep up with reality and I was momentarily dazed..

“No, I'm not a kid. Is that possible? I always say this, but I worry a lot..”

“But as you said before, you didn't eat anything for three days and you became gaunt..”

“At that time, I had no choice because I was designing a new institution, and it's okay because I can replace starving with internal energy..”

“I still can't believe it. Eunkong, please take me with you.……”

“Where are you going there? I don't want to be killed by my elders. Please look at me.”

Zhuge Emperor waved his hand with an embarrassed expression, and Mu Mu-hua continued to explain each detail..

Joo Seo-cheon's mouth widened as he looked at the two people, and eventually he looked shocked..

‘no way… … These two are like that.?’

Mudu's view of Zhuge's succession was unusual..

She looked like a wife leaving her husband..

“Well, maybe that……?”

Joo Seocheon finally spoke with difficulty..

“Succession and wirelessization It's like that for Sojeo.……?”

“……?”

Zhuge Succession and Mudu Hwa tilted their heads..

The first thing I noticed was that it was wireless..

“Oh my gosh.”

Mu Mu-hwa's cheeks turned red..

“What are you talking about??”

Zhuge Emperor still tilted his head with a puzzled expression..

“Oh, not yet… … We're not in that kind of relationship..”

“Huh.”

This time I was truly surprised. I can't close my mouth at the word 'yet'.

“ah!”

Zhuge Emperor clapped his hands as if he realized something..

“You misunderstood that it was a priestly relationship..”

“under?”

Joo Seo-cheon made a sincere expression, and a shadow appeared on Mu Mu-hwa's face..

Without even noticing, Zhuge Heungye tilted his back and continued speaking with a slightly arrogant attitude..

“As we were building the institution, Mr. Moo would sometimes come close and take a look. Recently, I have been teaching bronchoscopy. She is the second person, after her brother, to recognize the true value of the institution..”

He turned his nose high with an expression reminiscent of the Zhuge succession and began talking smugly about the institution..

Ju Seo-cheon looked blankly at the Zhuge succession and asked Mu Mu-hwa, who was smiling bitterly next to him..

“Does your father know??”

“Well, not yet……”

Lee Uichae tried to dissuade him by telling him to take it easy, but Mu Muhwa didn't want to do that..

The father was working on behalf of his daughter, but he didn't want to rest..

It seemed like he didn't like Mugok, but he forced himself to do it and started helping him with some tasks..

Then, I happened to have more interactions with the Zhuge family, and as time went by, I opened my eyes to new feelings..

Ju Seocheon was lost in thought, looking at the still-talking Zhuge Emperor with pitiful eyes..

‘It's succession ……’

This is a dance where I became a devil for my daughter in my past life..

I felt sorry for him when I imagined him being caught by that wild-eyed man..

* * *