[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 281

The truck slowly moves forward, treading on the dirt road.

At first, Jeon Ho’s driving was unstable, but now he’s so good that even the best drivers should step aside.

“Jeon Ho, isn’t there a rest stop? I’m craving some egg potatoes.”

“Do you mean a place to take a short break?”

Jeon Ho, sitting in the driver’s seat, calls out through the window.

“Yeah.”

“We’ll arrive in Zhengzhou soon. The iron cart is so good that we’ll probably get there faster than expected.”

As expected of a place where science isn’t advanced, the air is fresh and the water is clear. Thanks to that, even the fluffballs are excited, and it’s making me feel good too.

However, this place is ridiculously vast.

Even though the transportation infrastructure isn’t developed, the land is so wide that it takes a lot of time to get anywhere.

What’s called a “main road” is just a flat dirt path at best.

Because of that, even the same distance seems to take three or four times longer.

—Chug, chug.

“Whew— Danpung, if you keep catching the wind like that, will your head turn into a squirrel’s?”

“Peet!”

As if dreaming of becoming a flying squirrel, Danpung spends the whole day enjoying the wind on the truck’s roof.

In contrast, Baekseol seems tired of the wind and rolls around on my lap, showing her belly.

“Hoho, this iron cart is something else.”

“Do you like it?”

“It’s running so fast, yet I can barely feel any shaking.”

The old monk, fluttering his red robe, smiles happily.

“Really? Sitting in the cargo area, it feels like it’s shaking quite a bit.”

“Is this what you call a lot of shaking?”

“Yep.”

Come to think of it, the first cart I rode here with Grandma shook quite a bit.

Even that was said to be a high-quality cart with a deliberately plain exterior, so I guess I shouldn’t think of it in modern terms.

“Whew— Jeon Ho, isn’t there anything to see around here?”

“If you’re looking for something famous, there’s the Five Peaks.”

“Five Peaks? You mean mountains?”

“Yes, mountains.”

Even though natural scenery is nice, the only thing recommended around here is mountains, despite the fact that the surroundings are nothing but nature.

“The closest of the Five Peaks around here is Sung Mountain, and if you go a bit further, there’s Volcano.”

“Hmm.”

“Peet—”

Danpung still seems excited, not tired at all.

“Let’s go to Sung Mountain.”

“Yes. Huh?”

“What do you mean ‘huh’? I said let’s go to Sung Mountain.”

“No, why…?”

Jeon Ho’s voice clearly shows his confusion.

“Danpung will be even more surprised.”

“Peet?”

“No, let’s play.”

“Peet!”

Danpung’s home is a giant tree. No matter how big it is, it’s still just one tree.

That’s why, after seeing the same thing every day, the constantly changing scenery naturally excites Danpung.

“Um, Han So-jeo. I’m sorry to say this, but we’re almost at the Murim Alliance…”

“I’m not really feeling that, so let’s go to Sung Mountain.”

“……”

“Answer.”

“Yep!”

“Hoho…”

The old monk, who had been watching us, lets out a laugh.

“Since you’re heading to Sung Mountain too, Grandfather, it’s even better.”

“No, it’s not.”

“This monk should welcome you with open arms, but Master Shin Yi, are you sure you don’t want to join hands with the Murim Alliance?”

“Why would I hold their hands? They’re filthy.”

Suddenly, the truck that was moving smoothly starts to wobble.

“Right?”

“……”

“Hey, answer me.”

Thud!

“Ugh!”

As Namgung Woon-hwi, tied up with a rope, gets kicked, he coughs as if choking.

“I, I admit it…”

“You admit it? Does that mean you want to be beaten?”

“I, I admit it!”

The old monk watching this shakes his head.

“Amitabha Buddha. Master Shin Yi, perhaps you could show some mercy in your actions.”

“Mercy?”

Did he see a glimmer of hope here? Namgung Woon-hwi looks at the old monk with trembling eyes.

“Did you hate being with me that much? Should I mercifully send you to the afterlife?”

“Gasp! No, no! Absolutely not!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, yes! I’m having so much fun!”

“That’s right.”

Hearing Namgung Woon-hwi’s answer, the old monk lowers his head deeply.

“Anyway, those Namgung pests only come to their senses after a good beating. Don’t you all think so too?”

The colleagues who were originally with Namgung Woon-hwi try hard to ignore him.

“Amitabha Buddha……”

***

Rustle.

“Are they completely insane?”

Swear words naturally slip out of Jeon Ho’s mouth as he reads the official document under the moonlight.

It’s an official document from the Murim Alliance, a massive organization that no one dares to mess with.

Moreover, it’s a document stamped with the seal of the Alliance Leader.

The content of the document is unusually humble for the typically high-handed Murim Alliance, pleading for Shin Yi to come to them. But for Jeon Ho, the current posture wasn’t the issue.

‘They want us to treat that lunatic?’

After finishing the document, Jeon Ho looks ahead.

There, under the moonlit night, Shin Yi is walking somewhere, holding an iron rod, looking fierce.

“……”

The Murim Alliance knew too little about Shin Yi.

No, even he didn’t know before experiencing it himself. But now he knows.

He knows just how crazy that person with the peach-colored hair, shaking his head and walking with a red face, really is.

“Did a document from the Murim Alliance arrive?”

“Ah, Master. Yes, it’s for Shin Yi.”

“Huh? But why did you, the patron, read it first?”

“It’s for Shin Yi, so I had no choice but to read it first.”

“Understood immediately.”

If Shin Yi had seen this first, the direction he would have headed wouldn’t be over there, but towards the Murim Alliance.

Of course, he would still be holding that iron rod.

“Sigh……”

Jeon Ho sighs and locks eyes with Master Hye Neung.

Perhaps Master Hye Neung, also known as the Virtuous Buddha or the Living Buddha, could solve this problem.

But to do so, the Murim Alliance’s dirty laundry would have to be aired, though for Jeon Ho, it was a trivial matter compared to Shin Yi.

“Master. Do you happen to know about Namgung Cheon-woo?”

“Isn’t he the first grandson of the current Alliance Leader? I’ve heard his behavior is quite bad.”

Using the same wise rotation as the Shaolin Temple’s room master, there’s no one in the Central Plains who can ignore him, Master Hye Neung.

It was said that Master Hye Neung was someone even the Murim Alliance leader would bow to, unless you were at that level yourself.

And yet, a negative story immediately spilled out of Master Hye Neung’s mouth.

At this point, it seemed even Shin Yi couldn’t hide it.

‘It seems they sent an urgent official document to Shin Yi after hearing I was going to Gaebong…’

“Patron, please speak freely.”

“Ah, I apologize. I was lost in thought…”

Deputy Inspector Jeon Ho, who had been deep in thought, quickly apologized to Master Hye Neung.

Considering his status, even the Murim Alliance leader would be flustered by Master Hye Neung, so keeping him waiting was a major breach of etiquette.

“Haha, this humble monk is fine.”

“It’s an official document sent by the Murim Alliance leader to Shin Yi, asking for the treatment of Namgung Cheon-woo.”

“Not fine at all.”

When Jeon Ho looked at him incredulously, Master Hye Neung subtly avoided his gaze.

“He was practicing martial arts with a woman while drunk, and it seems his meridians were completely shattered by a surprise attack.”

“Better off dead than living as a martial artist like that. Might as well get hit by an iron club and go straight to Buddha’s side.”

Master Hye Neung turned his head, but when his eyes met Jeon Ho’s, he quickly looked away again.

“May he be reborn in paradise.”

“Master, he’s not dead yet.”

“Haha, dark clouds loom in the sky.”

“Master, it’s night.”

***

“Did you eat something bad? Why are you so restless?”

“Uh, last night…”

“What about last night?”

“Ah, nothing.”

“How bland.”

After climbing the mountain for a while, the entrance to a quiet building began to appear in the distance, accompanied by a faint scent.

“Han So-jeo, that’s Shaolin Temple.”

Jeon Ho pointed to where a group of well-trained individuals stood guarding the entrance.

Judging by their shiny heads, they were probably monks.

“Amitabha Buddha, you’ve arrived. Was your journey safe?”

“Haha, thanks to you.”

“Truly a relief. The abbot was quite worried since you left alone.”

“I should go and ease his worries.”

The old monk who had been conversing with the monk turned his gaze to me.

“What’s wrong, grandfather?”

“Novice monks are the future pillars. Please take good care of them.”

The old monk clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

The monks’ eyes nearly popped out seeing this.

“Yep.”

Feeling like I should return the gesture, I clasped my hands and bowed. When I looked up, I saw the old monk smiling warmly.

“Hehe. Am I doing this right?”

“Haha, I thought you were Buddha.”

The old monk, who had been laughing happily for a while, took off the prayer beads from his wrist and handed them to me.

“Could you keep this for me?”

“What is this?”

“If you carry this, those who disturb Shin Yi won’t bother you.”

“Ah, okay. I’ll return it to you later.”

“Haha, I appreciate it.”

A faint woody scent rose from the beads, lifting my spirits.

“This person is…”

“A guest we went through great lengths to invite. Please ensure their path isn’t hindered.”

“I’ll take special care.”

“I just came here because I wanted to, on my own two feet.”

“Ahem! I have some business to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”

The old monk cleared his throat, turned his back, and disappeared with quick, short steps.

*Bang!*

Meanwhile, Jeon Ho clapped his palm and fist together.

“It’s an honor to meet the renowned Pasabul.”

“Do you know this monk?”

“How could I not?”

“But, who might you be, patron?”

“I’m Jeon Ho, currently serving as the Deputy Inspector in the Murim Alliance. Right now, I’m acting as this person’s attendant.”

“Ah!”

The monk turned to me and clasped his hands together.

“Amitabha Buddha. This humble monk is called Gong Hyo, also known as Pasabul.”

“Hello, monk. My name is Han Ga-eul.”

“Nice to meet you, Patron Han.”

“Nice to meet you too. But, monk, you seem to be in really great shape.”

Gong Hyo looked dazed for a moment, then broke into a kind-looking smile.

Probably no one had ever complimented the monk like this before.

“This monk has undergone rigorous training, so that must be why.”

“No, it’s not that… It’s like there’s a demon clinging to your body.”

Gong Hyo jumped in surprise, leaping backward.

That’s not a physical feat you’d expect from someone who eats mountain herbs.

“Oh-ho…”

“P-Patron! What are you talking about?!”

When they talk about demons in the temple, they’re referring to Mara Papiyas.

“Miss Han. Such words are almost taboo in the temple…”

“Is it like Voldemort? What’s the big deal about saying it?”

“Patron Han! You shouldn’t casually spout such blasphemous words!”

“If anyone’s going to curse, it should be me. It’s annoying when you say it like that.”

Suddenly, dark clouds began to gather in the sky.

*Rumble—*

**《Mara Papiyas says he has never possessed a monk like that.》**

“Don’t talk to me.”

**《Mara Papiyas asks if you’re going through puberty.》**

“Ah, seriously!”

I reached into the space, and the special carrying frame made by the goblin lumberjack brothers came out.

“Let’s head to the Sung Mountain Filial Piety Tourist Shop.”

**《Mara Papiyas feels disappointed.》**

Unless it’s a sacred demon, even talking consumes an enormous amount of energy. He’s been silent all this time, and now he’s suddenly spouting nonsense.

*Ding!*

[The end begins.]

*Ding!*

[The destruction accelerates.]

“Kyaaah! Your very existence is a disaster! Break! Everything’s breaking, just go already!”