Chapter 275

청 was standing there, his eyes merely blinking, blinking again.

“Hey. Are we not going to space this time? Hmm? Space? Why space? When did I ever go to space? What’s this, it’s like I almost remember something.

But no, I shouldn’t think about it.

If I do, I’ll end up crossing some irreversible intersection. That feeling isn’t just a feeling. It’s a certain conviction.

But for some reason, I just can’t stop thinking.

It’s as if someone is forcibly pulling my thoughts—

“Whoa! You figured it out! Yes! Definitely the Nine Forms! The Nine Forms, right!?”

“Uh-oh.”

Suddenly, a booming voice grabbed my arms, cutting my thoughts off abruptly.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Ugh.”

청’s beautiful face scrunched up in confusion.

With such a heavenly face, it was a shame how clumsily 청 was handling things.

“What’s wrong!?”

“Great Master Muhak, my arm, my arm…!”

“Your arm? But it looks fine. More importantly, what about that insight? It’s definitely the Nine Forms, isn’t it?”

“Ugh! My, my arm!”

청’s right arm began to spasm uncontrollably.

It’s no wonder.

That arm was carrying the weight of the world.

Even if it was just a dream, the memory was clear enough to leave an impact.

From the rotator cuff down through the triceps and biceps, and deep into the forearm muscles, all the way to the fingertips, every tendon was overloaded at once.

One could say it was like the whole arm was cramping at that moment.

“Oh my, what’s the matter here?”

Great Master Muhak poked at 청’s arm urgently. He aimed to block the energy flowing through the arm and induce numbness.

“Ack! Ack!”

“What’s going on? Why isn’t the flow responding? And shouldn’t you insert the protective Qi? I’m not trying to harm you.”

“Ugh, that’s automatic. I… ack.”

What’s happening to 청’s protective mechanism!?

Now that it had evolved to match the realm, every poke from Muhak’s finger would unleash the majestic energy to fiercely defend against the Number One in the World.

In reality, though, there was no way to affect a blood channel that was already dead, rendering both Muhak and the protective mechanism completely useless.

“Wait, you’ve already reached a level of training where the protective Qi unleashes mindlessly? What kind of secret techniques does Sulin have? Could she actually be skilled in teaching her disciples?!”

Geez, this hurts like hell!

While someone’s practically drowning in this hellish pain, here’s someone beside me marveling at it all.

So that’s why they call my master a monk in vain!

Trying to follow the Great Master Mucheondae and getting my pants torn was already the second time. Considering the first encounter with Jeolgeumbyeok, this was the third time.

But during the tempest of change, I was just so inexperienced that I lacked the ability to perceive or experience it well—compared to the Great Master Mucheondae, I was like a bug, so it didn’t hit too hard.

However, after reaching the Supreme Martial Artist, I began to vaguely understand that sensation, and the recoil hit me.

So, 청 wiped away the spit and snot.

Still, it wasn’t painful enough to make me cry, so maybe there’s still a bit of luck in that.

Then, 청’s lovely hand—naturally the most villainous and beautiful of all—was nowhere to be found, swollen twice over like a pig’s trotters.

It looked like the flesh had logged an inch in every direction.

Thanks to being covered by my sleeves, I could tell this was the situation from my shoulder all the way down my right arm, as the dull, tingling pain revealed it instantly.

Looking at this, Muhak asked.

“So, what is the Shaolin’s ultimate form? And of course, it would be the Nine Forms, right?”

“Could you at least pretend to care about my arm? Ugh, gulp.”

Suddenly, something shot into my mouth, hitting the roof and falling deep down my tongue.

When something rises to the back of the throat, human instinct kicks in, and 청, likewise, swallowed it whole.

“It’s the Mi-hwan-dan! The leftover from making the summoning pills, all lumped together! So, what do you think?”

“I wasn’t trying to brag. And um, it’s not the Nine Forms…”

“It’s not the Nine Forms…?”

Great Master Muhak’s shoulders slumped.

He seemed not to care, but it turns out he was surprisingly invested in it.

“It was the Single Form of the Dokkogu Sword—the piercing blow called ‘You Are Alone in This World.’”

At this, Muhak thought for a moment before replying.

“Ah, then perhaps the Single Form is better, since the essence of martial arts originated from Shaolin—it must be the foundation. But, ‘You Are Alone in This World.’ Can you break that down?”

“Hmm. I’ll just speak as I saw it…”

청 described what he saw in his vision.

Then, Muhak smacked his forehead with his palm, sounding quite chipper.

In fact, this was the long-lasting tradition of Shaolin passed down from the one-armed Hye-ga.

“The cliff approached you, and you cut it yourself. Stillness equals movement. Truly. Truly.”

“Eh, honestly, doesn’t that sound ridiculous? You’re believing it just like that?”

At this, Great Master Muhak smiled brightly.

“When you swing your sword and slash your enemy, think of yourself not as a person, but as the sword. Did the sword move itself, severing its prey? No, didn’t it feel like the enemy came right in, offering themselves up?”

If 청 were a science major, he might find great interest in this conversation.

There were actually folks back in 청’s hometown who would argue that moving objects and stationary ones could not be distinguished, given how similar they are when they collide.

In job classifications, you’d get physicists, insurance investigators, self-harm frauds, and those weird little bug-like humans who want to tow your vehicle.

“But I’m not a sword.”

“Haven’t you experienced the Divine Sword Merging already? A weapon is an extension of the body, hence it wouldn’t be wrong to equate it to the body itself.”

This was why martial arts were tricky.

It increasingly bordered on philosophy, metaphysics, and some ideology, leaving one utterly clueless if taken in by mere words.

You had to figure it out on your own; that’s why it’s called enlightenment.

“Hmm…”

“By the way, the distinction between Wuyin and Youyin is blurred. To erase myself from this world is Wuyin, which means if I erase the world, I exist alone—that’s Youyin.”

Great Master Muhak’s expression grew peculiar.

He looked as if he wanted to sneeze but just couldn’t, somewhere between discomfort and puzzlement.

“Oh dear. I suppose I’ll have to try meditation to understand this. My eagerness to serve you is through the roof, yet I’m afraid to miss the thread of insight, so this old monk shall take his leave first.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. Please, go ahead.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Until next time.”

And, who knows how urgent he was, he leapt into action, clearing over three layers of cliff in a single bound, then ricocheting off the steep sides of the gorge, launching himself into the heights until he disappeared.

Then, 청 was left standing alone in front of Jeolgeumbyeok.

The effects of the Mi-hwan-dan he had taken earlier spread refreshingly through his body as the swelling pain in his right arm continued to grow.

But none of that mattered.

Before the Great Master Mucheondae’s profound insight stood 청.

He suddenly realized the most crucial truth.

I’m so hungry…

Grrr!

청’s stomach roared back in response.

—-

Seomun Sulin refers to Shaolin as monks.

Of course, Shaolin’s nature is much clearer as a bastion of the martial world rather than merely a temple.

Moreover, the desolate mountain territory is no joke; the city of Deungbonghyeon has sprawled right up to the gates of the Shaolin Temple.

Thus, just on the other side of the temple wall lies a tourist area filled with tea houses, restaurants, and high-end taverns catering to the aroma seekers.

Naturally, Seomun Sulin didn’t just refer to them as monks for that reason; it’s merely because malevolent bald men kept the ladies from entering.

Hence, 청 saw that there was no need for a long and treacherous journey in search of food.

No need to ponder what to eat.

While 청’s intellect could be labeled as fundamentally poor, there were rare occasions when it shined through.

Even if his intelligence spikes in front of foes due to the Heaven’s Kill technique, he never forgets about food; his mind was alert as if he were floating.

Thus, it’s time for the Buddha Stew!

The Buddha Stew means that even the Buddha jumps over the wall to grab a taste, implying it’s so good that even monks sneak out to eat it.

Originally hailing from Fuzhou in Fujian province, it’s a dish that can be found near famous temples, and it’s incredibly expensive, so not everyone can enjoy it.

The quality of the ingredients alone makes it impossible not to be delicious, as they throw in an assortment of high-grade materials, piled with premium rice wine, simmered until perfectly blended flavors emerge.

So, which restaurant does the best?

As a solitary gourmet, 청 wandered through Deungbong City.

High-end dishes like this depend on quality ingredients; you can’t enjoy them at subpar restaurants.

Initially calming his hunger with a meat dumpling bought off the street, rumors began to spread that a heavenly fairy had appeared in the town.

Thus, as he attracted all sorts of gazes, 청 unexpectedly spotted someone.

It was Seoliri, pathetically dining alone and feasting on meat.

And she wasn’t looking too great, either.

She scanned the area suspiciously, and when he followed her gaze, it zeroed in on a street vendor selling wonton noodles.

What’s going on? Why’s she glaring? Is there a popular eatery there?

But the business didn’t seem to be bustling; they kept yelling about wonton noodles, yet no one was buying.

So, what is it? Does she know someone?

Out of curiosity, 청 asked, “Seol 소저. What’s up?”

“You.”

“Why are you staring longingly? Do you know someone there? Or is it a good place to eat?”

Seoliri fiddled with her mouth, forming her fists and hesitating before ultimately mumbling just loud enough to be heard, “I don’t have any money…”

Given the situation in 빙궁 was rather tight, living in a town where ice was the only specialty meant survival was a feat in itself. There was a lack of resources.

If she had stayed in the Martial Alliance, she would have had lodging, food, and occasional pocket money, but otherwise, there wasn’t much cause for a lady to spend any of it.

The occasional pocket money she did have would get soaked up by necessities, leaving her with nothing left.

In this scenario, while chasing after a sinner, she had learned the harsh reality of poverty.

Seoliri was flat broke.

청 was dumbfounded.

“Wait, you swaggered in here claiming you’d get some meat to eat, only to be broke! Wait, Seol 소저, where are you going?”

“Going hunting.”

It was still short on words, but whether she meant hunting for food or earning money through hunting,청 couldn’t tell.

But one thing was definitely clear.

“You’re going to hunt in a place where a great temple stands? Right in front of Shaolin Temple?”

At that, Seoliri stood frozen in her tracks.

“Is that not allowed?”

“Of course not.”

At that, her shoulders drooped a little.

청 tilted his head, puzzled.

What’s up with her? Is she acting totally clueless?

For 청 to call her a doofus, if the likes of Seolga or Je-gal Lee-hyun heard about it, they would probably rather bite their tongues off than live with such disgrace.

Yet, if someone did bite their tongue off, they wouldn’t die from it. They’d just be cursed out, and that guy 청 would become the perfect example of a doofus.

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