〈 Chapter 576 〉 The Miracle of Shaolin.
What in the world was this situation?
I had to entertain countless thoughts as I looked at the scene unfolding before my eyes.
No, first, I had to understand before I could think.
‘What is that?’
Why were those old men here?
Sinui, whom I had been trying to find anyway, was here too.
And Paejon, who should have been in Shanxi—why was that man here?
‘What is going on?’
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t understand.
I had come to the lodgings arranged at my request through the Baekhwa Merchant Guild.
Yet not only were Sinui and Paejon here, but what the hell was this situation?
In the moment when I was too flustered to say a word.
Paejon’s eyes, which had been cackling as he looked at the collapsed Sinui, turned toward me.
“Oh.”
Our eyes met. Paejon reacted and smiled faintly.
“It is good to see you. Has it been long?”
“…?”
I wondered why he was speaking in a tone so different from usual, but I immediately realized that Seongyul and Dang Soyeol were right behind me.
Since these two wouldn’t know Paejon’s true identity, that must be why he was reacting this way.
“…Yes. It has been long, very long.”
At my greeting, Paejon broke into a wide grin.
Seeing that smile, I felt cold sweat break out.
‘That man.’
He was definitely angry.
There was one thing I had learned from getting beaten by Paejon for several years.
Namely, that the angrier Paejon became, the more he smiled.
Laughing because something was funny and smiling because he was angry were not the same.
There was a very subtle difference. But if you watched long enough, you could pick up on it.
And when I saw that.
‘Damn it.’
Right now, Paejon was clearly angry.
“How many months has it been? I heard you would return soon. Haha.”
“...”
Hearing that, I thought I understood why that man was so angry.
I had said I would finish my business properly and return to the Gu Clan, but the problem was that I ignored that and came straight to Henan.
‘Damn it…’
It didn’t take that long to get here from Guangdong, but.
Several months had actually passed since I left the Gu Clan.
Because there was something I had to take care of before going to Guangdong.
‘…So that’s why he’s like this.’
If things had gone according to the original plan, I was supposed to handle matters in Guangdong, finish transforming Seongyul, and return straight to the Gu Clan.
Because of that schedule, I had even written in my letter that I would return soon, but.
‘The schedule went awry when I went to Wudang.’
Because of that, I had ended up coming straight to Henan.
‘…And why is that old man here?’
Why were Sinui and even Paejon here in this kind of situation?
Just as my brow was about to furrow on its own at this incomprehensible situation.
[Is it not an obvious matter?]
Paejon sent a telepathic message to me.
[…What do you mean?]
[There was no way you would act as you said. I knew you would come straight here.]
[...]
Meaning… if that was the case….
[…So you mean you came straight here?]
Since it was obvious I wouldn’t listen, did he mean he had come himself?
It was truly absurd.
[No, but you told me to leave before.]
When I was training hard, he had asked every day when I would leave.
Now that I had left, why was he doing this again?
I blurted out in disbelief, and Paejon let out his characteristic laugh and spoke.
[Yes, I certainly told you to leave.]
[Then why are you doing this?]
[It is because that disciple who left like that.]
He let out a low chuckle.
[Seems to be causing utterly ridiculous trouble, that is why.]
[…!]
My breath stopped at those words.
‘No way.’
Could Paejon know something?
It was a voice so filled with conviction that it could hardly be called merely meaningful.
Cold sweat formed.
I shouldn’t have done anything that could be found out by anyone. If he had noticed, how had he noticed?
As I looked at Paejon with trembling eyes, he slightly tilted his head and continued.
[I clearly made sure you were at a level where you wouldn’t go around getting beaten up by just anyone.]
The arrogant gaze Paejon possessed swept over me from head to toe.
[Your body’s condition is no joke. Tsk, tsk.]
[How did you… know that?]
[How would I know? You should have said you gathered your scattered inner gi and hid it.]
That was an unfair accusation.
I had clearly been holding my inner gi together somehow.
Ever since hearing the words of Ubongchwigae, I had been paying considerable attention to my movements as well.
Yet Paejon seemed to have grasped my physical condition just by looking.
‘Does the Siman hold such power as well?’
Paejon was said to always live with his Siman activated. It seemed some secret was hidden within it.
The problem was.
‘More importantly, how does that man know I’ve been causing trouble?’
While I was looking at Paejon in bewilderment.
I had to furrow my brows at something unsettling.
Because Paejon seemed somehow different.
It was difficult to tell, an extremely minute difference, but something had definitely changed.
As I looked at him, a “could it be” thought flashed through my mind.
[Elder…]
[Yes.]
[Could it be…]
I paused hesitantly for a moment before immediately continuing my question.
[…Have you crossed the wall?]
[Hm.]
Paejon showed a shallow reaction to the question, then let out a low laugh.
[Rather than crossed. Would it not be more correct to say I have reclaimed it?]
[…!]
I widened my eyes the moment I heard those words. It was an answer no different from confirmation.
Meaning.
‘Paejon has touched the Hwagyeong.’
It meant that Paejon, who had remained at the peak of mastery, had now touched the Hwagyeong.
No… to be exact, as Paejon’s words indicated.
‘He has reclaimed his realm.’
It would be correct to view it as him having reclaimed a portion of the realm he had lost.
[When on earth… when…]
[Hm, it seems it was not long after you left.]
Hearing that, I unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.
One might wonder why I was reacting this way to Paejon’s rising realm.
The reason was none other than this.
[I had originally intended to take it slowly.]
Right now was the time when my realm had risen and my skills had grown, so I had finally started getting beaten less by Paejon.
The fact that Paejon’s realm had risen here meant.
[My disciple was growing so quickly that I could not do so. Heheh, once his head got big, he started getting a bit cocky.]
It meant that just when I thought I might finally escape, I was going to end up getting beaten again.
[When did I get cocky again?]
[Even now, when your master’s realm has risen, you should offer congratulations, yet are not your eyes full of discontent?]
That’s because my eyes are alight with joy at the thought of getting thrashed by you.
Those were the words that had risen to my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to spit them out.
[…Congratulations.]
I offered belated congratulations, but Paejon’s expression only soured further.
Ha.
The short sigh that rang out was one that Paejon let out.
[Still, your discerning eye seems alive yet, so I shall let it pass.]
[It’s not just my eyes; other parts haven’t died either.]
[If they haven’t died, shall I kill them for you?]
[…They do hurt, though.]
It was at the very moment when I thought things might get a little easier.
To end up like this again was truly unbearable.
Ignoring my throbbing headache, I asked Paejon.
[…So, how did you end up like this with him?]
It was a question asked while pointing at Sinui, who had fainted from anger.
By the way, did he really faint?
I wondered just how angry he must have been to faint.
‘And he’s an old man at that.’
Paejon didn’t seem to care about such a Sinui, not even looking at him.
[I happened to run into him when I arrived.]
I did wonder what the odds were of Paejon and Sinui running into each other in Henan, but I didn’t dig deeper.
[Both had nowhere to go, so Sinui asked the Baekhwa Merchant Guild leader. Thus, a place to stay was prepared.]
I had to entertain countless thoughts upon hearing that.
‘So Lady Mi knew those two were staying here.’
It also meant she had deliberately sent me here despite knowing that.
In other words.
It also meant I had to spend the next three months here.
It wouldn’t be impossible to find separate lodgings if I didn’t like it, but.
‘…Would this man let that happen?’
Paejon was the problem.
Staying with Sinui was rather a positive aspect since I could receive treatment, but.
Staying with Paejon came with many problems.
‘I was thinking of taking a bit of a rest this time. With this, it’s all ruined.’
For the past few years, I had been holed up in the family estate doing nothing but training, so this time I had planned to take care of my schedule while resting.
Even if not for that, since I had suffered internal injuries, I thought I should rest for a while while receiving treatment.
But with Paejon present, that became impossible.
‘Because he won’t overlook it just because I have internal injuries.’
Do you know what’s scary about Paejon?
If you say you can’t do it because it hurts.
He will find training that you can do while in pain.
And if there is no such training.
‘He would create one and bring it.’
He would make something new and use it on me.
‘Damn it.’
A sigh was about to escape, but I had to endure.
I didn’t know what would happen if I sighed in front of him.
As I kept facing Paejon like that, I felt Dang Soyeol and Seongyul’s gazes from behind.
So, just when I thought I should show some reaction in a different way.
“Greetings can wait. It would be best to unpack first.”
Paejon said to me with a smile.
“In the meantime, Young Master Gu, come with me somewhere.”
“Huh? I’d rather not?”
At the refusal that came out instinctively, Paejon’s eyebrows moved.
Crap. I had done it without thinking.
“…Well, shouldn’t I unpack too?”
“But you appear to have the least luggage.”
“...”
I had no words to refute it.
Because Paejon was right.
Seongyul was already carrying my meager luggage.
‘Damn it.’
Who knew this would become a problem like this?
Just when I was wondering if there was no way out.
[Shinui will take a while to wake anyway. Follow quietly.]
“...”
In the end, I had no choice but to nod at Paejon’s gentle tone laced with threat.
******************
Night had fallen on the streets.
As the sun set, even brighter lights filled the streets.
Moreover, no matter how late the hour grew. The number of people filling the streets continued to increase.
It was truly a bustling street.
In such a street. I was walking down the road holding a skewer.
“Have you been well?”
Paejon, who was walking beside me holding food, asked.
“Yes… well enough.”
I answered briefly to his greeting, and Paejon let out a chuckle.
“You clearly don’t look like you’ve been well. Yet your answer comes so easily.”
“...”
“Did you go out only to get beaten up somewhere?”
“…I didn’t exactly get beaten up.”
I spat out words like an excuse, and Paejon immediately spoke.
“Then it means you stupidly failed to control your strength.”
“...”
“You used it, did you not?”
Though he asked without even looking at me.
There was nothing I could deny.
“…Yes.”
The graft of Tuapa Cheonmu.
I expressed affirmation to the question of whether I had used it.
Paejon nodded upon hearing that.
“It seems you luckily did not use the next one.”
I smiled awkwardly at Paejon’s words.
He had noticed that I hadn’t used the third and fourth forms either.
“…It wasn’t exactly a situation where I needed to use them.”
“Hm.”
Upon hearing the answer, Paejon’s head turned toward me.
“Then again, that means your body ended up in that state.”
“...”
Even though I hadn’t used it since the graft, I had suffered internal injuries.
I heard Paejon click his tongue shortly.
“As I said before, once you learned my martial art, I said I would not interfere no matter what you did.”
“I remember.”
That once I learned Tuapa Cheonmu, how I used it was up to me.
Paejon had certainly said that.
“As the meaning of these words suggests. I will not unnecessarily interfere no matter what deeds you perform.”
“...”
I felt that those words contained multiple meanings.
Just how much had Paejon figured out? It unnerved me without my realizing it.
“Judging by your condition, it seems you did not use ‘that’.”
I momentarily paused at Paejon’s mention and answered.
“…That is correct.”
“Good. I have said it repeatedly, but do not bring it out unless you are certain.”
I nodded at the words spat out firmly like a warning. I knew why Paejon had come out like this.
“That cannot be used unless you reach the mental realm. I understand your desire. But you must not be impatient.”
“…Yes, I know that as well.”
A power that even Paejon, who had created the radical martial art Tuapa Cheonmu, warned me about.
That was how dangerous a power it was.
In fact, I had once tried to use it in front of Paejon and experienced my internal organs rupturing.
But.
Even if it was such a dangerous power.
‘I must use it someday.’
I had to put in every effort to control even this. Because it was a time when I had to use everything available.
Quelling such lingering thoughts, this time I asked Paejon.
“Elder.”
“Yes.”
“So, what is it you want to talk about?”
At my question, Paejon narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“Your perception is not bad.”
I didn’t feel particularly good hearing the praise.
It was only natural.
The reason we had come out just the two of us as soon as we met.
I believed it was because he had something to say to me.
Moreover, since my injuries were internal, I also judged that he was being considerate by sparing me from having to use telepathic transmission.
In fact, the moment we stepped outside the residence, I could feel Paejon erecting a gi barrier around us.
This was clearly something he had done thinking of me.
It also meant there was something others shouldn’t hear.
‘We did talk about this and that until now, though.’
The main subject hadn’t come out yet.
There hadn’t been words worth such trouble.
Then what on earth was he trying to say?
‘If Paejon is going through this much trouble, it seems like something important.’
Surely, was he going to directly mention me causing trouble wherever I went?
If so, what excuse should I make? Or should I answer honestly instead?
He had said he wouldn’t care no matter what I did.
If his disciple messed up the Alliance a bit while running around, he probably wouldn’t care much.
Or on the contrary….
‘…Would he try to tie knots with my joints, asking what kind of nonsense that is?’
It was something that old man was fully capable of.
Countless thoughts flashed through my mind in a short moment.
I had already identified escape routes in case of an unexpected situation.
Meaning I was ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.
While raising my guard like that, Paejon spoke to me.
“Ah, it is nothing major.”
Words uttered somewhat hesitantly, unlike Paejon.
I pricked my ears and focused at the uncharacteristic sight.
At that moment.
“The martial arts tournament the former Alliance is opening….”
Paejon, who had been speaking, and I looked in one direction simultaneously.
Because something annoying had registered in my senses.
I hoped this was my imagination, but seeing Paejon react together, it didn’t seem to be.
And as if to prove this, not long after.
—Kyaah!
A noisy scream was heard from afar.