roccoschili Chapter 288: The Prodigies At Mount Song (3)
Chapter 288: The Prodigies At Mount Song (3)
What exactly did Shaolin want?
Why was Shaolin summoning the prodigies of each great sect?
Only the major sects had received some level of explanation about this.
It could be said that the Nine Sects One Gang, Azure Forest, and Seven Great Clans were the main targets.
Of course, not all the major sects of the orthodox Murim belonged to these groups, and a few independent major sects also received invitations.
The Divine Monk claimed he would transmit his internal energy to the orthodox prodigies and grant them a Small Recovery Pill.
With such promises, the major sects sent their successors to Mount Song.
The fact that the proud major sects made such a choice was solely because these words came from Shaolin.
If, at the very least, the sect leader of Mount Hua had said the same, the sects would not have sent their talents.
‘What are they trusting?’
Disciples, raised with the pride of their respective sects, represented the future of their sects.
Sending the future of their sects based solely on another sect’s words—did that make sense?
The claim of transmitting the internal energy of a great master was no different.
Even the recipient would decline such an offer. Transferring internal energy was a dangerous and complicated process.
Everyone had learned different cultivation techniques, and receiving internal energy from another sect could lead to adverse effects.
However, such concerns were dispelled by the mere mention of the words ‘Shaolin’ and ‘Divine Monk.’
Shaolin, the symbol of the orthodox Murim, had made a promise.
The internal energy transmission of the Divine Monk, the strongest fist master and the Murim Alliance Leader.
The major sects willingly sent their disciples.
And now, those prodigies of the major sects were climbing Mount Song.
“Mount Song is steep. Is it always like this?”
Noh Shik, a Beggars’ Gang member, muttered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
However, true to his beggar-like appearance, his ragged clothes were so filthy that they left a black mark on his forehead instead.
A woman frowned as she looked at him.
She was a swordsman wearing a red plum blossom-shaped ornament in her hair.
“This is probably how it always is. Unless you think the mountain became steeper just because we arrived.”
“That’s true. What I meant was, do sects located in mountains always choose such steep places?”
Noh Shik’s appearance could never be called handsome.
With features resembling a weasel, his face could easily come off as sly under normal circumstances.
However, his adherence to the values of the Beggars’ Gang managed to balance out that impression.
“Have you ever been to the Mount Hua Sect, young master?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“When it comes to being steep, Mount Hua is even worse. It’s a rocky mountain. Plum trees are surprisingly hard to find there.”
“That’s different from what I imagined.”
“The sect elders planted plum trees, so there are quite a few within the sect grounds. But it’s not enough to say the mountain is brimming with plum blossoms.”
“Perhaps that’s why the plum blossoms are more cherished.”
“You’re quite eloquent.”
The chatty swordswoman from the Mount Hua Sect was Hwa So-so, also known as the Plum Blossom Radiance, who had previously participated in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
The two were traveling together due to a past connection from that event.
“Young Lady Hwa, instead of staying over there, why don’t you join us and walk together?”
A young, stylish swordsman called out to Hwa So-so.
He was Ok Yeong-cheol, also known as the Heavenly Wind Noble, a swordsman of the Qingcheng Sect.
He was slightly older and more renowned than both Hwa So-so and Noh Shik.
Hwa So-so smiled gently and declined.
“I’m currently chatting with Young Master Noh Shik.”
“Hmm.”
At that moment, Noh Shik caught a glimpse of Ok Yeong-cheol’s face twisting into a frown.
It seemed he was displeased that Hwa So-so had refused his suggestion.
Noh Shik continued to observe Ok Yeong-cheol closely.
He frowned, as if about to say something, but then turned his gaze away.
At the end of his gaze stood a man leading the group.
It was Hwa Mu-cheon, Mount Hua’s Divine Sword.
Known as Mount Hua’s greatest prodigy, he was a senior to those who had already reached the Supreme Peak during the previous Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
Furthermore, the Plum Blossom Radiance Hwa So-so was his younger sister. Both siblings had entered the Mount Hua Sect.
Ok Yeong-cheol, who had seemed ready to voice his complaints, glanced at Hwa Mu-cheon and then forced a smile.
His internal deliberations were so obvious that Noh Shik couldn’t help but suppress a smirk.
Yet, Ok Yeong-cheol did not give up on pestering Hwa So-so.
“If you don’t want me to join, then I’ll come to you instead. What’s so fascinating about the conversation between you two?”
Ok Yeong-cheol casually placed a hand on Hwa So-so’s shoulder.
“That means...”
“I’ve heard that the Immortal Divine Dragon has been recuperating at Shaolin. It’s said that Grand Master Mu Myung has been personally taking care of him.”
Noh Shik quickly scanned the group’s reactions.
About half seemed already aware of this information.
“As for the rest, I don’t know.”
Noh Shik decided that revealing this much was enough.
Fortunately, Hwa Mu-cheon did not press further and returned to the front of the group.
It was a situation where the embarrassed Ok Yeong-cheol might lash out in frustration.
However, Ok Yeong-cheol was smiling instead.
“So, the Divine Monk plans to transmit his internal energy to the Immortal Divine Dragon?”
“Well, it’s possible.”
“Care for a wager? Whether that’s true or not. I’ll bet it’s not.”
“A wager is a bit...”
“What a pity.”
Ok Yeong-cheol clicked his tongue as he stepped back.
Noh Shik frowned, feeling uneasy.
Ok Yeong-cheol, who had been flustered earlier, suddenly seemed confident. Did he have some information?
Until they reached Mount Song, no particularly meaningful conversation arose.
Once they passed through the gates guarded by the Arhats, they arrived at Shaolin Temple.
As they were guided inside by a monk from the Guest Hall, the successors suddenly stopped in their tracks.
“...Huh?”
Hwa So-so frowned.
Her expression indicated she had encountered something both familiar and strange at the same time.
Noh Shik and the other successors followed her gaze.
There, they saw monks repairing a broken wall.
It wasn’t unusual for Shaolin monks to perform such menial tasks.
Unlike secular sects, Shaolin considered labor a form of training.
Every action contained Zen. Drawing water was Zen, and even cleaning the latrines was Zen.
Why wouldn’t laying bricks for a damaged wall also be considered Zen?
However, what caught the group’s attention was something else entirely.
“They seem to be unwell.”
There were four individuals laying the bricks.
However, none of the individuals there appeared to be ordinary.
A monk who seemed blind was stirring mortar for adhering the bricks. Another, whose legs seemed damaged, was seated on the ground, applying mortar to the bricks and handing them over.
Then, a monk with a hunched back silently placed the bricks into position.
“Their skills are impressive.”
But the most astonishing sight was a man who couldn’t use his arms.
He pressed the bricks into place, ensuring perfect alignment and balance, using only his feet.
Despite this, he still managed to organize the scattered tools around him with ease.
“...Huh.”
Noh Shik let out a dumbfounded noise.
The man who couldn’t use his arms wasn’t a Shaolin monk.
No Shaolin monk would tie their long hair back like that.
Perhaps it was the coarse clothes he wore now that made him unrecognizable at first glance.
Or perhaps it was because his pitch-black arms, hanging limply like slabs of meat, drew too much attention.
But how could one not remember that face?
The swordsman who had once led the prodigies through the Five Elements Tomb.
“The Immortal Divine Dragon...?”
At that moment, Yi-gang turned to face the successors.
It seemed natural for him not to use his hands, as he wiped the sweat from his cheek with his shoulder.
Even that seemed odd.
How could a martial master, said to have reached the Supreme Peak, sweat from such simple labor?
Noh Shik felt a creeping unease crawl down his spine.
He had heard rumors that Baek Yi-gang was recuperating at Shaolin after sustaining injuries.
But this... this was something else entirely.
“He’s become a cripple.”
Ok Yeong-cheol muttered with a smirk.
Noh Shik felt as if the air had been knocked out of him.