〈Episode 185〉Cheonan (Heavenly Eye). (2)
‘It seems he isn’t hiding it.’
The very fact that he was letting me know to this degree itself implied that the Abbot wasn’t hiding anything from me.
If I thought about it based solely on the Abbot’s words, Yuseong was an organization created by the Alliance to prepare for the Blood Calamity. He wanted us, capable juniors, to join it.
And Jang Seonyeon belonged there.
‘Jang Seonyeon.’
The moment I recalled him, thoughts of the Blood Demon immediately came to mind as well.
The Abbot had said that if one joined Yuseong, one would be able to gain much.
‘He said I could look toward higher places?’
Thinking about the energy the Blood Demon had fed me through Jang Seonyeon, questions were bound to arise.
Where had Jang Seonyeon obtained it? Moreover, Namgung Cheonjun had also possessed that same energy.
‘Could Namgung Cheonjun also…’
If even Nyoryong belonged to Yuseong, it felt like my blurred vision regarding the source of that energy was becoming clearer bit by bit.
‘Though it’s not certain.’
If those two belonged to an organization called Yuseong.
‘Did they receive the Blood Demon’s energy from Yuseong?’
This was ultimately nothing more than delusion, but for some reason, I couldn’t shake this doubt.
“It seems you need time to think.”
The Abbot said.
Setting aside the flood of thoughts, I answered the Abbot first.
“…Yes, I apologize.”
“Not at all. I called you out so hastily; it’s perfectly understandable.”
I studied the eyes of the Abbot speaking in a benevolent voice.
‘Does Cheonan also know about the Blood Demon?’
If, as I suspected, the Blood Demon was related to an organization called Yuseong.
Naturally, there was no explaining it other than the Abbot being entangled in it as well.
‘If not.’
I would rather that were not the case.
No matter how tainted the Alliance had become, it was an unpleasant fact that Shaolin, called the eye and spirit of the righteous faction, had fallen to such depravity.
Even though I knew it was already too late from the very beginning.
[You say it’s a hypothesis, but it seems you’re already convinced.]
‘…’
[Cheonan, was it? That bald monk’s nickname.]
I affirmed inwardly at Noya’s words.
[Cheonan, you say…]
It was a somewhat vexed voice.
‘What is it?’
[Hmm… No. Let’s speak of this separately later.]
It was a voice that seemed caught on something.
If I could see Divine Noya’s true form, he was probably making the same expression as I was.
Pretending to be lost in thought, I took another sip of tea.
‘Asking the Abbot directly about the Blood Demon would be dangerous.’
Right now, I couldn’t afford to show even the slightest hint that I knew something.
“As you said… I would like to think it over a bit.”
“Very well. I will send a separate letter to your parents.”
Did sending a letter to my father mean it wouldn’t matter much if I outwardly expressed my thoughts on this?
‘Even if not the truth, outwardly, under the Eye of Heaven, it was because I held the justification of preparing for the Blood Calamity.’
Recalling the Abbot’s words, it seemed my father also knew about the organization called Yuseong.
‘I’ll have to ask him separately when I return.’
Though it was doubtful whether my father would answer.
“Is the one beside you the same?”
The Abbot’s question was directed toward Namgung Bia.
Namgung Bia, who had kept silent without a word even as the conversation went back and forth, turned her gaze toward me and asked.
“…Will you do it?”
At Namgung Bia’s question, I had to let out a sudden cough.
I hadn’t expected her to suddenly ask me.
“I said I’m thinking about it. Why are you asking me?”
“…Then I’ll do the same….”
From the start, Namgung Bia seemed uninterested in the talk, appearing rather unimpressed.
Rather than talk of Yuseong and whatnot, she probably wanted to return and swing her sword immediately.
She had always been that kind of person, and having gained enlightenment the other day, she had been swinging her sword all day long.
To think she could do that immediately after her body had recovered somewhat—it was nothing short of amazing.
“Tsk, tsk.”
Because of Namgung Bia’s words, the Abbot let out a laugh.
It could be seen as a discourteous act, so I had to rack my brains over how to respond.
“Yes, think it over comfortably.”
Fortunately, the Abbot did not seem to mind.
“You must be busy; I apologize for this old man taking your time.”
“Not at all. I am merely sorry I could not give a favorable answer.”
Though it was a short conversation, the Abbot spoke no further, as if there were nothing more to discuss.
Since he seemed to be suggesting we rise comfortably, I stood up, pulling Namgung Bia with me, paid my respects to the Abbot, and led myself toward the door.
“I do hope we stand together. For the future.”
I momentarily halted at the Abbot’s words as I was about to open the door and leave.
‘Together.’
I had to be careful because my expression seemed to harden unconsciously.
Had Namgung Bia noticed my expression?
She softly wrapped her arms around mine.
As if telling me to calm down.
Thanks to that, the voice that seemed like it would tremble if I spoke felt somewhat steadier.
“Thank you for your words.”
The voice that spoke with a forced smile fortunately did not show signs of mixed emotions.
Clack—
When I came out after closing the door, the outside was still greeting me with a pleasant sky.
‘Whew…’
Only then did I let out the sigh I had been holding back, even if only inwardly.
Because the meeting with the Abbot had been that sudden and bewildering.
As I felt the wind, a soft sleeve appeared and wiped my forehead.
“Sweat…”
“What sweat?”
Perhaps because I possessed fire arts, it was a body that did not heat up unless I moved truly vigorously.
‘…Is it not? Did I sweat a little?’
If so, I wondered if it was because I had been thinking so much recently with a head that didn’t even work properly.
“What are you going to do standing there blankly like that?”
When I tossed the words casually at Namgung Bia, she tilted her head.
As if she had never been spacing out.
“Did you hear what we were talking about earlier?”
“Huh?”
“…Never mind. Forget it.”
Since when had she been spacing out?
In my opinion, it was probably from the moment she entered the room.
Leaving behind Namgung Bia, who expressed her drowsiness with a yawn, I walked among the trees of Shaolin.
‘I hadn’t expected to meet the Abbot.’
I had been able to obtain useful information from this short conversation.
Most of it was speculation, though.
‘The Blood Demon is related to the Alliance.’
And much more deeply than expected.
As I walked slowly forward, Noya asked.
[You said Cheonan.]
‘Yes.’
It was the question Noya had asked during my conversation with the Abbot earlier.
[You said it’s a nickname held by the Abbots of Shaolin for generations.]
‘That’s correct.’
At Divine Noya’s question, I asked back this time.
Because something felt strange.
‘Noya, the reason you’re asking that…’
[It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.]
At those words, I immediately recalled that Cheolyeong’s nickname had not been Cheonan, but Hwangabulyeong.
‘So there was no Cheonan back then?’
It was a fact I hadn’t properly looked into.
Not that there had been any particular need to look into it.
Since they had called it Cheonan for generations, there had been no reason to question that it was Cheonan.
Because the perception had seeped in so deeply.
[If your guess is right, it means that Blood Demon bastard is scheming in the Alliance right now.]
‘It’s just a guess.’
[Ha, even though you’re already fully convinced.]
‘Perhaps it might not be.’
At my words, Noya snorted.
[Likely story.]
‘…’
[It is merely my worry.]
‘What is it?’
[That an eye which sees the future truly exists. And that it has been passed down through the generations in Shaolin.]
I thought I understood the worry contained in Noya’s words.
‘…Could it be, you think it’s related to the Blood Demon?’
Enough time had passed for several generations of Abbots to change.
Those who possessed Cheonan for generations had made great contributions to the peace of Murim. Wouldn’t thinking the Blood Demon was entangled in that be too far-fetched?
As if Noya knew this, he added:
[It is truly nothing but delusion.]
‘Cheonan and the Blood Demon…’
Noya’s words were the same as saying the Blood Demon had bestowed Cheonan, or that the Blood Demon was covering the Abbot’s eyes.
If that were the case, not only Shaolin but the entire Murim Alliance might already be in the palm of the Blood Demon’s hand.
If I recalled Jang Seonyeon, the Alliance Leader’s son, right away, it would be a bit more credible.
‘Then it becomes too difficult.’
The Heavenly Demon alone was a disaster, but if even the Alliance, which I had thought would at least stand against the Heavenly Demon if nothing else, was in a state of being devoured by a being called the Blood Demon.
It meant there were truly enemies on all sides.
‘At this rate, it might really be better to join hands with the unorthodox faction.’
From the beginning, I hadn’t harbored the arrogant thought of capturing the Heavenly Demon alone.
Having seen and experienced the Heavenly Demon directly, I knew all too well myself that it was a nonsensical notion.
[That’s why I asked what you’re going to do.]
At Noya’s question, I moistened my dry lips with my tongue.
It wasn’t something to judge and conclude quickly.
But there was one path that wasn’t bad in reality. Though I was still contemplating it.
Since they had laid the groundwork first from that side, trying it wasn’t bad.
I answered Noya bluntly.
‘Since they invited me, shouldn’t I go and see for now?’
[Hmm?]
At my words, Noya showed a reaction as if he didn’t understand, but…
[…Brat, don’t tell me.]
He seemed to have read my inner thoughts right away.
‘They’re asking me to come from all sides; isn’t it worth going to see?’
..
..
…
..
If I didn’t know about the enemy, the fastest way to find out was right before my eyes.
Namely, entering Yuseong with my own two feet.