Had he truly been this strong? (1)
“Wooooaaaaah!”
Jo Geol flung himself away in horror. He had avoided the surging river of plum blossoms. As the terrifying sword energy barely grazed past him, his jaw dropped.
The plum blossoms that had poured forth like a raging torrent swept away all demonic cultists who had been charging forward in an instant. Countless petals wrapped around them, dragging along even those who struggled desperately, forcing them back again and again.
“W-What is this…..”
Completely stunned, Jo Geol stared blankly at the sight before him.
Was it destructive? Not really.
If this sword energy were truly destructive, then demonic cultists caught within it would have been torn to pieces immediately.
But that was precisely what made this sword energy all the more incredible. Sword energy that could push back an opponent without destroying them… no, to be exact, sword energy that could drive the opponent away despite lacking the power to destroy them. He could not even begin to guess what kind of principle and insight it contained.
“…No, when did that guy learn to do something like this….?”
And what made it even more unbelievable was that the one who had unleashed this sword was not Chung Myung, but Baek Cheon.
Of course, there was no denying that Baek Cheon was a formidable martial artist. But this was something else entirely. Just because Baek Cheon was strong, who could have imagined that one day he would suddenly create such an utterly absurd sword technique seemingly out of nowhere?
“No, isn’t this a little unfair?”
“Well… because it’s Sasuk, after all.”
“That’s not something you can just casually accept and move on from, you know? I’m saying, can someone just suddenly become like that?!”
Watching Jo Geol beat his chest in frustration, Yoon Jong wore a bitter smile.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand Jo Geol’s sense of injustice. They had put in the same effort, yet it must have felt as though Baek Cheon alone had suddenly leapt off into another world.
But still……
‘When you think about it, it’s not all that hard to understand.’
A Taoist takes up the sword in pursuit of the Tao. In other words, once a Taoist has surpassed a certain level, their future progress is determined by how much deeper their understanding has become.
Of course, Jo Geol was remarkable as well. Jo Geol’s sword had already clearly surpassed the existing standard [식(式)] and principles [법(法)], and had reached the realm of artistry [예(藝)].
But Baek Cheon had surpassed even that. His sword had gone beyond the realm of artistry, reaching the stage where it carried his own enlightenment within it. Yes… there was no doubt that he had stepped onto the threshold of the Tao [도(道)].
Martial arts are something that one continuously and steadily accumulates day after day. However, that accumulation does not mean simply passing through a set series of gates one by one in order.
Depending on what one experiences, realizes, and accumulates, even those who walk the same path can arrive at completely different destinations. That was the nature of martial arts.
“To be fair, no one suffered through that last war more than he did.”
“T-That’s true, but….”
“Physically and mentally, he’s someone who practically went to hell and back. If he hadn’t gained even a single realization from that, it wouldn’t have been worth it.”
“But he already underwent a complete body transformation!”
“Well, if you’re that jealous, why don’t you shatter your dantian and rebuild it too?”
“Ah, no, that’s a bit much.”
Jo Geol hurriedly waved his hands. That was not something one could willingly do.
“I can’t deny it. You’re right about that, but…”
And yet, his insides were still boiling.
Jealousy? No, it was not such a petty emotion. If he had to put it into words, it was a burning competitive spirit. The feeling directed at a martial artist who was ahead of him.
Jo Geol clenched his teeth and looked at Baek Cheon.
He had only just thought he’d caught up, yet before he knew it, Baek Cheon had already pulled far ahead again. The gap between them had widened so much that he couldn’t even begin to imagine what he would have to do to close it once more.
Perhaps sensing exactly what was on his mind, Yoon Jong spoke calmly.
“Don’t be impatient.”
“…”
“You are walking the right path as well. Regardless of when, you will eventually reach that place.”
“What a painfully obvious thing to say!”
Jo Geol shouted, sounding slightly irritated.
“So what? It’s just one more sword form! Just watch – I’ll add ten more forms to the Plum Blossom Sword Technique!”
“…At that point, I don’t think it would still be the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, but sure. Anyway, it’s good that you’re so full of motivation.”
Yoon Jong’s gaze grew slightly more solemn.
“But listen. First, you have to make it out of here alive. Otherwise, we won’t even get the chance to dream about things like that.”
“Huh?”
Following Yoon Jong’s gaze, Jo Geol turned his head. Demonic cultists beyond the reach of Baek Cheon’s sword energy were slowly closing in around them.
‘What a pain.’
Until just a moment ago, it had been a sight that placed an indescribable pressure on Jo Geol. But now, it did not feel particularly frightening or hopeless.
Knowing exactly why that happened only made him more irritated.
“Damn it.”
Smack!
Jo Geol struck both of his own cheeks with his hands. Hard enough to snap himself back to his senses.
“What are you doing?”
“There’s a limit to how pathetic a man can be.”
“…Well, it’s fortunate that you’ve realized it now, at least.”
Jo Geol grabbed the sword he had driven into the ground and bared his teeth.
“Let’s finish them in one go, Sahyeong!”
“…Go easy on me.”
“Here I go!”
“Listen to what I’m saying…”
Watching Jo Geol charge forward, Yoon Jong let out a deep sigh.
⠀
“…Amitabha.”
As he watched Baek Cheon’s overflowing sword energy, Hye Yeon quietly recited the Buddhist invocation in a deep voice.
What drew his attention was not the power or magnificence of that sword, nor even Baek Cheon’s growth.
‘It is different.’
His gaze was drawn to the clear difference between that sword and Chung Myung’s sword. Though it was undoubtedly based on the same sword technique, it felt so foreign that it was almost like the sword of an entirely different sect.
But could it then not be called Hwasan’s martial arts? The answer to that could be given with certainty. No. That sword was undoubtedly Hwasan’s martial arts. It simply possessed a different quality from Hwasan’s martial arts that had existed until now.
That fact alone dealt Hye Yeon a tremendous shock.
‘Something…….’
Jo Geol had focused on Baek Cheon’s skill and growth, but what Hye Yeon saw was entirely different. He was never obsessed with determining victory or defeat against Baek Cheon. What he saw was martial arts itself.
If there were a thousand people, there would be a thousand martial arts. Even if they learned the same thing, the true meaning contained within those martial arts could not help but differ for each person.
“Just as the ocean has but a single taste, so too do my Dharma [법(法)] and Vinaya [율(律)] have but one taste – the taste of Moksha [해탈(解脫) – liberation*].”
The Buddha had spoken thus.
But those words did not mean that all who attained enlightenment became the same. Liberation was the act of washing off the stains of the worldly realm and returning to one’s original nature. And that ‘original nature [innate true state of a person]’ was different for every person.
In the end, both the Dharma of liberation that seeks one’s true nature and the eighty-four thousand Dharma Gates [八萬四千 法門**] leading to that liberation are all bound to differ from one another.
‘Then what about me?’
His fist was something he had learned through Shaolin’s teachings and continued to awaken to through his own efforts. Then, had Hye Yeon truly developed something of his own? Was he not merely remaining within Shaolin’s teachings, but walking the path towards discovering his own original nature?
“Graaaaaah!”
At that moment, demonic cultist charged towards Hye Yeon.
“A…. mitabha.”
Hye Yeon quietly assumed the half-palm stance.
Seeing his defenseless posture, demonic cultist sank his teeth straight into Hye Yeon’s shoulder like a wild beast. Yet Hye Yeon merely closed his eyes gently, as though he could not even feel the pain.
‘The Abbot sought to make the world a better place.’
Some would say that Beop Jong had left the world in ruin.
Hye Yeon had no intention of denying that fact either. The method chosen by the Abbot was undoubtedly an unorthodox path***, and it was not befitting of a Buddhist practitioner. It had gone so far as to destroy the reputation Shaolin had built over hundreds of years.
But at the same time, Hye Yeon knew. Even within that unorthodox path, the Abbot’s sincerity had undoubtedly existed.
He truly believed that only that method could bring peace to the world. He believed that only his way could save more people. Because he carried out his beliefs and his will without harboring even the slightest doubt, he ultimately fell into delusion.
Then what of Hye Yeon’s path now? Was he truly carrying through with what he himself believed in?
“Seek above to strive for enlightenment, and below, transform and save all sentient beings****.”
Above, seek enlightenment. Below, save all sentient beings.
Then he had to ask himself. Were these beings before him truly sentient beings, or were they demons [mara – 마라(魔羅) buddhist demons]?
“Amitabha.”
Hye Yeon slowly opened his eyes once more. The gentle light of the Buddha shone within his gaze, making it appear more auspicious than anything else. Forming a mudra [수인(手印)] reminiscent of Avalokitesvara, he closed his eyes again.
“Please forgive me.”
Crack!
In that instant, the head of the demonic cultist who had been biting into his shoulder burst open.
“Haah…!”
Tang Soso, who had hurriedly rushed to Hye Yeon after seeing him being attacked, flinched and froze in place. Her already big eyes widened until they were as big as lanterns.
“M-Monk?”
Of course, it was not as though Hye Yeon had never killed before. In the brutal battlefields they had experienced, maintaining the principle of not taking life [불살(不殺)] had been impossible from the very beginning.
But Tang Soso knew. Even when Hye Yeon had no choice but to harm someone, he had always done so in a restrained and defensive manner, never stepping beyond that boundary.
That was why this single move [일수(一手)] from Hye Yeon felt so unfamiliar.
“Amitabha.”
Hye Yeon’s quiet voice reached the ears of the stunned Tang Soso.
“What a Buddhist needs is wisdom and compassion.”
For a Buddhist disciple, compassion did not mean merely feeling pity for someone or having affection for those who were suffering.
It was the practice of saving even one more sentient being. That was compassion.
Then had Hye Yeon truly shown genuine compassion until now?
No. He had not.
His path had been a path towards enlightenment. It had been nothing more than a journey of washing away the countless impurities of the world and advancing towards becoming a Buddha himself.
Therefore, if he truly wished to practice compassion…
“One must not seek their own peace.”
A single tear fell from Hye Yeon’s eye.
“Monk?”
“Step aside.”
A golden Buddhist radiance gathered around Hye Yeon’s fist. It was no different from before. There was no reason for it to be different.
Even so, Tang Soso immediately noticed the change. This was not the same heavy yet warm aura he usually carried. The radiant Buddhist light surrounding him now unmistakably contained killing intent. A killing intent that had never once appeared in Hye Yeon before.
“Hye Yeon!”
At this change, even Yu Iseol’s expression hardened as she shouted. But Hye Yeon’s face didn’t not show a slightest change as he thrust out his fist.
Arhat Divine Fist.
The Arhat’s fist that had already been unleashed once here.
An Arhat was one who had attained enlightenment. Even evil spirits and rakshasas were not beings an Arhat would readily seek to kill and destroy. For an enlightened being could still reform and teach even them.
But Hye Yeon was a Buddhist disciple, not an Arhat.
Trying to reform even these beings was nothing more than greed from someone who had not yet reached that level. He could not turn away from the tragedy unfolding before his eyes simply to do more, simply to satisfy his own desire.
Booooooooom!
The Arhat Divine Fist, carrying an intent [심의(心意)] that was unmistakably different from before, crashed into demonic cultists. This was no longer a fist imbued with the will to refrain from killing and push them away. This fist carried a clear intent of annihilation [멸(滅)], crushing and bringing down demonic cultists.
With this single strike, nearly a dozen demonic cultists collapsed in a gruesome state.
Even while looking upon the horrific sight, Hye Yeon was no longer tormented by inner conflict.
“Monk…”
A worried voice reached him.
Hye Yeon turned to Tang Soso and spoke calmly.
“Siju. If I intended to save these beings, would you truly try to let them go?”
“…”
Tang Soso could not give any answer. Hye Yeon smiled faintly.
“I knew. I knew that in the end, they could only be killed. But I did not wish to do so. Even knowing that I was merely pushing the burden of slaughtering them onto everyone else, I still wished to uphold my own shallow interpretation of the Buddhist path.”
“But that is…”
“That will no longer happen. Rather than accumulating the burden of murder myself, forcing all of you to bear that burden must be the greater sin. I have only now come to realize that.”
Hye Yeon smiled, that smile carrying a very complicated mixture of emotions. Then he began walking towards demonic cultists.
“Then let us go. Even if it is a path I do not wish to walk, I will not turn away from it – I will walk it nonetheless. That shall be my Buddhist path.”
A deep, radiant light rose from behind Hye Yeon. Soon after, a Buddhist radiant light even more intense than that light wrapped around both of his fists.
“Amitabha.”
With a faint ache of unwillingness in his heart, Hye Yeon’s fist was once again driven towards the followers of the Demonic Cult.
Special Spinoff Chapter 70 >>>
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*Dharma – the teachings of the Buddha and the universal truths about the nature of reality and the path to liberation from suffering. Vinaya – monastic rules, general guidelines with the sole goal of creating harmonious environment that would help one achieve enlightenment. Moksha – the final liberation of the soul or consciousness from samsara and the bringing to an end of all the suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of reincarnation.
**Dhammakkhandha-sahassāni, the traditional Theravada description of the complete Buddha’s Teaching.
***Here unorthodox means directly contradicting Buddhist teachings 외도(外道) non-Buddhist.
****上求菩提 下化衆生. 上求菩提 – looking upward towards the Buddha’s state of mind, working to sever personal delusions, and achieving supreme, perfect enlightenment. 下化衆生 – armed with the wisdom sought from above, the practitioner reaches back “down” into the mundane world with immense compassion to teach and free all living souls from the sea of suffering.
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