Chapter 237 -. The Small Forest Where the Giants Reside, Shaolin Temple (3)
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After Cho Yeon-woon’s junior disciple, Bang Jin-bo, and Muk Il-gwang withdrew, only Dam-ho and Gwanghae remained in the room.
After hesitating for a while, Gwanghae finally spoke.
“Great… Hero Dam.”
“Speak!”
“Truth is, I invited you to Shaolin because there’s someone who desperately wants to meet you.”
“Who?”
“You’ll know when you meet him.”
Gwanghae was extremely careful with his words. His attitude was extremely cautious. He looked at Dam-ho with earnest eyes.
Dam-ho rose from his seat.
“Let’s go.”
There was no reason to hesitate.
“Please follow me.”
Gwanghae led the way. Avoiding people’s eyes, he guided them deep into the Shaolin Temple grounds, far into the interior.
In the silent land where not even birdsong could be heard, there was an inexplicably sacred atmosphere. It felt like a separate world disconnected from everything else.
Gwanghae spoke while looking back at Dam-ho following him.
“This is Shaolin’s Forbidden Ground. It’s a place strictly off-limits to anyone except a few who have received permission. Your entry here is top secret – even the head of the temple doesn’t know about it. Only I, who guided you, know.”
The Forbidden Ground was so secretive that only elder-level monks at Shaolin knew about it. Among them, only a select few had the qualification to enter. The rest, even if they knew of its existence, could never approach this place.
Dam-ho’s gaze deepened.
A profound breathing could be felt from within the Forbidden Ground.
The act of exhaling and inhaling is called breathing. The higher the master’s level, the greater and wider the interval between exhale and inhale.
Dam-ho had met countless masters before. Among them were those who had stepped into the realm of the absolute. Their breathing was incredibly deep and wide. However, the breathing he sensed from within the Forbidden Ground now surpassed even their level.
The interval between exhale and inhale was so wide it seemed like the breathing of a sea turtle that had lived for hundreds of years. Yet it was stable.
Dam-ho unconsciously clenched his fist.
At that moment.
*Woong!*
Like a droplet falling on a calm water surface, the other’s breathing changed. Just as Dam-ho had sensed his presence, He too had become aware of his.
The air changed.
While Gwanghae continued forward unaware, Dam-ho was different.
The air clung sticky to his skin. The humid air pressed and swept across Dam-ho’s skin like a living creature.
Instantly, the Dark Soul Heart Technique moved on its own. The moment the internal energy from the Dark Soul Heart Technique circulated through Dam-ho’s entire body, it instantly burned away the humid air pressing in from outside.
That’s when Gwanghae sensed something strange and looked back. But Dam-ho was still following him with a cold face. So he couldn’t even guess what had just happened to Dam-ho.
Though he was a high-level master as a Shaolin elder, he couldn’t compare to Dam-ho or the unknown person inside the Forbidden Ground.
Gwanghae tilted his head and continued walking inward. Dam-ho followed. The deeper they went, the more vividly he could feel the other’s breathing, almost tangible.
“Here, Great Hero Dam.”
Finally, they reached their destination.
Where Gwanghae stopped was a small clearing in the middle of the forest. Inside the clearing was a humble thatched cottage. From within the rickety wooden cottage that looked like it might collapse at any moment, a subtle immortal fragrance wafted out.
Perhaps because of this, small animals like rabbits, deer, and little mountain birds were gathered around the cottage. However, the moment Dam-ho appeared, the animals fled hurriedly into the forest.
Gwanghae approached the cottage and carefully spoke.
“Master! It’s Gwanghae. I’ve brought Great Hero Dam.”
“Come in.”
With the answer, the door opened by itself. Dam-ho and Gwanghae entered the cottage.
Inside the cottage sat an elderly monk whose age was impossible to guess. His deeply furrowed wrinkles like old tree bark, sagging skin, chest-length white beard, and gray monk’s robe worn to tatters, all suggested he had lived here for countless years.
The elderly monk’s gaze turned to Dam-ho.
“Heh heh! Finally, we meet.”
“Master! This person…”
“I know. We’ve already spoken, haven’t we?”
Between the deep wrinkles, the monk’s visible eyes radiated clear light. Like deep spring water, his clear pupils reflected Dam-ho’s image.
Dam-ho nodded. The elderly monk smiled brightly.
“See there.”
“When?”
Gwanghae looked between the two with an uncomprehending expression. The elderly monk clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk! You’ve always been hard of hearing. Haven’t I repeatedly told you to always listen carefully to the ways of the world?”
“Master!”
Gwanghae made a pitiful face at the monk’s scolding. But the monk continued regardless.
“That’s enough, you may go now.”
“Pardon?”
“There’s no need for you to be here. I have things to discuss with this child alone, so wait outside.”
“Yes, Master.”
Gwanghae made a respectful half-bow to the monk before withdrawing.
The monk watched Gwanghae’s departing figure with a bright smile. When he had completely disappeared, the monk turned to Dam-ho.
“He’s truly a pure-hearted child, isn’t he?”
Dam-ho silently nodded. While others might have found it unpleasant, the monk looked at Dam-ho with willing eyes.
His loving gaze and smile were as warm as a grandfather looking at his grown grandson.
“It’s good to meet you, child. Do you know who I am?”
Dam-ho shook his head.
“My dharma name is Boundless Divine Monk.”
“…”
“I’m twice as senior as Gwanghae. I should have died and become fertilizer long ago, but I’m still alive, needlessly consuming food.”
At the monk’s explanation, Dam-ho’s eyes wavered momentarily.
Being twice Gwanghae’s senior meant the monk was at least over a hundred years old. There probably wasn’t anyone older in the entire martial arts world.
Boundless Divine Monk – almost no one in the murim knew this name. Most warriors who had been active in his era had either died or retired.
“Ugh!”
Boundless Divine Monk raised his aged body. Dust fell from his shoulders in a shower.
“Shall we walk for a bit?”
Boundless Divine Monk extended his hand to Dam-ho. Unconsciously, Dam-ho took the monk’s wrinkled hand. Boundless Divine Monk smiled gently.
“How warm. Heh heh!”
Still holding Dam-ho’s hand, he laboriously walked out of the cottage. As if seeing sunlight for the first time in a long while, he briefly furrowed his brow.
“How bright. Let’s go over there.”
Boundless Divine Monk pointed to the forest behind the cottage. Dam-ho nodded and walked with him.
The hand held by Boundless Divine Monk felt burdensome. But he didn’t pull away. Somehow, it felt wrong to do so.
Walking with Boundless Divine Monk, they arrived at a large rock in the forest. The rock, wide like a pedestal, was polished smooth without a single patch of moss.
“I trained here when I was young. I must have troubled it so much that not even moss grows on it. Heh heh!”
“…”
“Ho! May I call you that?”
“Do as you please.”
Dam-ho answered for the first time.
Even meeting someone who could be called a legend of the murim, Dam-ho’s manner of speech hadn’t changed.
Looking at such a Dam-ho, Boundless Divine Monk’s eyes held wisdom that seemed to encompass all worldly knowledge, along with an inexplicable sadness.
“Heh heh! You too seem to have walked a truly difficult path. It must have been very hard.”
“…”
“Though I’ve lived to this age, the principles of the world are too profound for me to understand completely. However, I do sense that enduring years of hardship brings appropriate rewards.”
Boundless Divine Monk reached out with his wrinkled hand and stroked Dam-ho’s head. Like an old grandfather patting his grandson’s head, his touch was filled with such warmth.
Having someone touch one’s head isn’t usually a pleasant experience. But Dam-ho didn’t brush away Boundless Divine Monk’s hand. This was because Boundless Divine Monk’s eyes held both apology and sympathy as he looked at Dam-ho.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“That you, who has weathered such difficult years, won’t be able to rest peacefully even in the future… I’m sorry. The world is cruel to everyone, but it seems especially cruel to you.”
Boundless Divine Monk held and fidgeted with both of Dam-ho’s hands.
“When will the blood scent on these hands disappear? When will the burden on your shoulders be lifted? Feel free to curse this old man who can’t help at all and must instead add to your burden.”
Boundless Divine Monk’s words overflowed with deep emotion. But Dam-ho’s gaze no longer wavered.
His cultivation was deep-rooted and solid as bedrock, unmoved by such things.
“What do you want to say?”
“A very old story. I want to tell you an ancient tale of the murim that people no longer remember. Before I die. After hearing it, the choice will be entirely yours.”
Boundless Divine Monk closed his eyes as if searching through memories. After a moment, he finally spoke.
“Long ago, there were four heroes in the murim. People called them the Four Divine Emperors.”
Dam-ho held his breath at the mention of the Four Divine Emperors.
He had heard this term several times during his murim journey. But no one had ever clearly explained about them.
“People believe the Demonic Cult retreated because the murim united against them. But behind that, without the Four Divine Emperors’ sacrifice, we might still be under demon rule. The murim owes them an unforgivable debt.”
Blood Light Death God Ho Cheon-san.
Wind Moon Emperor Dan Gong-wol.
Western Queen Mother Yong Hwa-seol.
Iron Blood Martial God Lee Gwan.
“Four absolute warriors were born in the same era, when even one could have dominated the murim. By fate’s play, they were connected in various ways. While the murim revered them as the Four Divine Emperors, they considered themselves friends. That’s why they could unite so strongly to lead the murim’s counterattack in its time of crisis.”
Before the Four Divine Emperors’ formidable might, the Demonic Cult’s masters fell like autumn leaves. The Justice Alliance warriors they led achieved continuous victories and raided the Demonic Cult’s headquarters.
“Victory was within reach. If they had pushed just a bit more, the Demonic Cult would have been completely destroyed, never to rise again.”
“Something went wrong.”
“Yes. At the crucial moment, someone… one of the Four Divine Emperors betrayed them.”
“Who?”
“That I don’t know. I only know that at the decisive moment, one of them betrayed the others, stabbing them in the back. Because of this, the Demonic Cult was able to retreat while preserving minimal forces needed for revival.”
Dam-ho’s gaze sank deeply.
It was hard to believe. No one had ever told him about the Four Divine Emperors before. So he had no basis to judge its truth. But he couldn’t completely disbelieve Boundless Divine Monk’s words either.
His eyes were too clear. Their pure gaze, seemingly incapable of lies, appeared to insist on the truth.
“Afterward, the Four Divine Emperors vanished without a trace, never showing themselves again.”
“The probability they’re dead?”
“This old man is still alive and well, so they must be too.”
“…”
“They will surely appear again. Or perhaps they’re already active in secret.”
Boundless Divine Monk’s eyes sank deep in thought.
Dam-ho asked.
“Why are you telling me this story?”
“I told you, didn’t I? Your hardships aren’t over yet.”
“You think I’ll meet them?”
“Absolutely!”
Boundless Divine Monk was certain.
Dam-ho silently looked at Boundless Divine Monk. Boundless Divine Monk calmly embraced Dam-ho’s fierce gaze like the ocean.
“I don’t know who will be your enemy or ally. What I want from you is to be careful. Be careful, and be careful again. The most frightening thing in the world is people. I’m telling you this because I want you to stay vigilant.”
Boundless Divine Monk’s story continued long after, and Dam-ho listened silently.