[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 282

Kurung─!

The sky, which was on the verge of chaos, clears up in an instant as if nothing had happened.

“Wh-what on earth is going on…?”

Pasabul Gonghyo, who had been staring blankly at the sky, slowly lowers his head.

His well-trained body, visible even through his loose monk’s robe, is trembling.

“What’s wrong, Monk?”

“I think I just felt an energy that’s hard to comprehend.”

“An energy that’s hard to comprehend?”

“Whether it should be called an extremely evil energy… I’m not sure myself.”

As expected of a monk called Pasabul, he seems to have faintly sensed the energy of Mara.

Right now, I can’t tell if Mara was trying to hide his energy or reveal it.

If he had truly unleashed his energy, this world would have probably already collapsed.

“Jeon Ho, did you feel anything?”

“All I know is that dark clouds suddenly gathered, and Han So-jeo got really angry.”

Jeon Ho stands there dumbfounded, as if wondering what’s going on.

Looking at that, it seems the meaning of his title, Pasabul (破邪), which means “destroying evil,” is fitting.

“Om yak san na na ya jeon nara da no bal ya ba sa ba sa sa ba ha. By reciting this mantra, evil, be gone!”

‘Even if he were hit by the Mountain-Splitting Tathagata’s Divine Palm, his head wouldn’t crack. What can a monk really do?’

─Chik, chik.

“Hoo─”

“Om yak san na na ya─”

“Uh, Han So-jeo…”

“Shh.”

He’s sweating profusely while chanting mantras into thin air, and he looks so serious that it’s hard to stop him.

“Pii♬”

Danpung, who seems to think it’s time to sing and play, wags its tail and joins in with harmony.

“Danpung, let’s sing and play later?”

“Piiit!”

The longer we spend time together, the more I learn about this little friend.

Sunflower Seed loves to stuff its cheeks until they bulge and then crack them open one by one.

It also seems to enjoy being in the wind and taking care of plants.

Especially, being a chatterbox squirrel, it particularly loves singing.

“Danpung is such a smart squirrel.”

“Piii….”

When I gently scratch Danpung’s chin, it flops like a freshly steamed rice cake.

Meanwhile, Pasabul’s chanting finally seems to be coming to an end.

“Ba sa ba sa sa ba ha. By reciting this mantra, evil, be gone!”

“Hoo─”

“Huff…! Huff…!”

It just looked like an ordinary chant, but as soon as it ends, he looks as exhausted as if he had just sprinted full speed.

“Are you done?”

“I’m not sure.”

Even though it seems like Pasabul held back as much as possible for my sake, he’s practically dying.

“Phew, if he had even blinked, the Shaolin Temple would have been turned upside down.”

“Whew… Han So-jeo, what do you mean by that?”

“Nothing.”

Pasabul, who had been glaring at the sky as if to kill it, finally shakes his head.

“Amitabha Buddha. What on earth is going on here…?”

“If you’re done, could you guide us to where the novice monks are?”

“Ah! That’s right. Understood.”

Pasabul, who had glanced at the sky once more, starts walking.

“Whew—”

*Thud!*

As he slams the handle of his smoking pipe onto his palm, the ashes fall off.

“Let’s follow.”

“Yes, Han So-jeo.”

As we pass under the massive signboard that reads “Shaolin Temple,” a refreshing energy fills the air.

There are old temple buildings lined up alongside an endless wall.

“Monk, this is the Shaolin Temple, but I see a lot of ordinary people here?”

Hearing my words, Pasabul turns his gaze and nods.

Even though monks should have shaved heads, there are patches of dark, long hair here and there.

“That’s correct. Those patrons over there are pilgrims.”

“It looks like there are more ordinary people than monks here.”

“Haha, it’s said that pure energy flows through Shaolin Temple, so there are especially many pilgrims.”

“Oh-ho.”

Among them, I occasionally see people with swords at their waists, but the passing Shaolin monks don’t seem to mind at all.

“Han So-jeo, those pilgrims play various roles at Shaolin Temple.”

“What roles?”

“The money that pilgrims voluntarily donate covers the operating costs of Shaolin Temple.”

“So they’re like money bags?”

“Ahem!”

Pasabul, perhaps having overheard the conversation with Jeon Ho, lets out a loud cough.

“Han So-jeo, Shaolin has always been known for its integrity, giving more than it receives. The money left by pilgrims is always used to open the granary for the hungry common folk.”

“Oh-ho. Not my style, but pretty good, huh?”

“So, it’s not something to talk about when Pasabul is around, but Shaolin is also famous for being poor.”

“Ahem!”

Pasabul coughs again.

But he doesn’t seem too upset.

In fact, seeing the slight upward curve of his lips, it seems he’s pleased that his temple is being praised.

“Even though Shaolin refuses to accept it, pilgrims still voluntarily leave money because they know all about these circumstances.”

As we walk and talk.

Jeon Ho, who was continuing his story, pointed to a rough stone pagoda standing nearby with his hand.

“Do you see something sparkling over there?”

“Yes, I see it.”

“Pilgrims often leave silver and gold coins tucked in various places like that. They do it because if they offer it directly, the monks won’t accept it.”

“This place is fascinating.”

Now that I think about it, the old monk’s robe was incredibly worn out.

The robe worn by Pasabul, walking ahead, doesn’t look much different either.

“Why do the pilgrims come here? It’s not just to give money, right?”

“As Pasabul mentioned, some come to receive pure energy and pray for children, while others come to pray to Buddha for the sick. Everyone has their own reasons.”

It seems Shaolin Temple plays a significant role as the spiritual pillar of the martial world.

“Han So-jeo. That’s the place.”

As we walked and talked, Pasabul announced our arrival.

A loud, booming sound came from inside the inner courtyard wall.

Following Pasabul into the inner courtyard, we saw young monks deeply engrossed in their training.

All of them were sweating profusely from their shaved heads.

“Enough!”

With the command from the monk watching them from the platform, the novice monks collapsed in their places.

“Senior Brother, this patron here…”

“Gong Hyo! Why are you bringing outsiders during training?”

Before Gong Hyo could finish introducing me, a stern rebuke came down from the platform.

Unlike Gong Hyo, who has a well-trained physique, the senior monk looks like he’s forcing muscles onto his thin frame.

“Amitabha, Senior Brother, please calm down…”

“Gong Hyo!!”

Despite his thin body, his eyes burn like a tiger’s.

Anyone passing by would probably wet themselves if they met his gaze.

“Monk. I came here at my grandfather’s request…”

“Outsiders, don’t interfere and leave!”

“Don’t you see the prayer beads here?”

“Leave!”

Even though I shook the prayer beads wrapped around my wrist, he didn’t even glance at me and just kept shouting.

He’s a troublesome type.

The ultimate stubborn old man who doesn’t listen to anyone.

—Tsk, tsk.

“Phew—”

“Damn! Smoking in a sacred temple?!”

“That jerk, he really doesn’t listen to people.”

“Gasp! Han So-jeo, please…”

Jeon Ho, standing beside me, flusteredly tried to stop me.

“Amitabha. Han So-jeo, I’m sorry…”

“No, it’s fine. Clearly, that jerk is the problem.”

Thud!

At that moment, in front of me…

With a loud noise, the monk on the stage lands.

“Last warning. Outsider, put out that cigarette and leave now.”

I look up and meet his blazing eyes.

It seems like he jumped down in front of me on purpose, maybe to intimidate me.

“But Grandpa said this would be fine.”

“Ugh…”

Even when I wave my wrist for Pasabul to see, he just lowers his head, speechless.

“I clearly gave you a final warning! Breaking it means…”

“One Buddha coming right up.”

Whoosh—!

“Gasp?!”

As I punch the monk in the stomach, his body folds like a flip phone and floats into the air.

Thud!

When I pull out my fist, the monk, known as the Great Monk, collapses to the ground.

“Phew— Old man cut. Jeon Ho, move this guy to the corner.”

“Gasp! Emergency!”

“Stop talking nonsense and move him quickly. Or do you want to lie down with him?”

Jeon Ho hurriedly lowers his head and drags the fallen monk to the wall.

Pasabul, watching this, just opens and closes his mouth in shock.

“H-how could a monk of my rank be defeated by…”

“I’m busy healing the kids as Grandpa asked, but if you’re okay with it, should I send you to Buddha’s side too?”

“Ah, Amitabha… I’m still too attached to this world, so I’ll stay and help the patrons.”

“That’s good, right? Buddha must be busy too, so you should live a long life.”

“Yes…”

Meanwhile, Jeon Ho approaches from behind.

“Jeon Ho.”

“Han So-jeo, I haven’t converted to Buddhism. I’m very satisfied with my current life.”

“Hmm, really? Too bad. I was going to suggest you meet him.”

“Y-you must be busy.”

While talking with Jeon Ho, I feel someone’s gaze and look to the side. The novice monks are staring at me with incomprehensible eyes.

Judging by the actions of the monk I sent to Buddha’s side, it seems the Great Monk had instilled a lot of fear in the kids.

Now that he’s been taken down, they’re probably looking at me like that.

“Phew—”

Just looking at the novice monks’ bodies, the answer becomes clear without even wanting to know.