Chapter 239 – The Wind of Blood Blows Regardless of Place (2)
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The Boundless Monk’s cremation ceremony took place in the Pagoda Forest.
The Pagoda Forest contained stupas enshrining the relics of Shaolin Temple’s historical great monks, with heights and shapes varying according to their lifetime achievements.
About thirty people gathered at the Pagoda Forest. Most were senior monks of Shaolin Temple, but there were also many others. They were either renowned masters among Shaolin’s inner disciples or highly respected warriors from outside.
They all looked at the Boundless Monk’s body with solemn expressions.
“Amitabha! Amitabha!”
The Shaolin monks continuously chanted Buddha’s name with their eyes gently closed.
To them, the Boundless Monk wasn’t just a senior, but a spiritual pillar. His death brought them extreme emptiness and loss.
Among them, the one who felt the greatest loss was Gwangcheon, the abbot of Shaolin Temple.
“Amitabha! This is a great loss for both Shaolin and the world. To send off Master Boundless like this.”
Though he had excellently led Shaolin Temple for decades, he felt powerless in the face of the Boundless Monk’s death.
Despite passing away yesterday, the Boundless Monk’s body still looked alive. This made his death even harder to believe.
“It’s infuriating. To hold such a modest cremation ceremony for Shaolin’s greatest elder.”
Arhat Hall Master Gwangmun burst out in anger.
It angered him that instead of holding a grand ceremony gathering all major figures of the world, they were conducting it in utmost secrecy with only a few people.
“Amitabha! Calm yourself, fellow disciple.”
“This isn’t right, Great Master.”
“I understand. But remember Master Boundless’s usual words? He didn’t want his cremation ceremony to be grand.”
Gwangcheon consoled Gwangmun.
“But Great Master…”
“Enough! What use is there in discussing further? Let’s send him off now.”
“I… understand.”
Gwangmun reluctantly agreed.
Gwangcheon looked around. Most were aged warriors, but one person was different.
“Socheon.”
“Yes, Great Master.”
A young monk answered with a bow.
His dharma name was Socheon, a member of the Nine Martial Dragons and Shaolin’s pride of the millennium.
“Pay your final respects to Master Boundless.”
“Yes!”
At Gwangcheon’s words, Socheon approached the Boundless Monk’s body.
The Boundless Monk was wearing tattered monk’s robes. It was his frugal appearance from life. This made the atmosphere even more solemn.
Just as Socheon was about to bid farewell to the Boundless Monk.
Thud!
Soft footsteps echoed through the Pagoda Forest.
“Who is it?”
Gwangcheon and others frowned and turned their heads at the footsteps breaking the silence.
Two people were walking from the entrance of the Pagoda Forest. One was Gwanghae, whom they knew well, and the other was an unfamiliar figure they had never seen before.
But the moment they saw his walk, everyone recognized who he was.
“Is that… Fist Demon?”
“Hmm!”
The all-black attire and the distinctive uneven gait of slightly limping on one foot were symbols of Fist Demon Dam-ho.
By now, most warriors would first think of Dam-ho when they saw a limping warrior.
“Why is Fist Demon here?”
Puzzled expressions appeared on people’s faces.
Though they had heard that Fist Demon had entered Shaolin Temple, they hadn’t expected him to attend the Boundless Monk’s cremation ceremony. It was a natural assumption for them who didn’t know that Dam-ho had met the Boundless Monk.
Gwanghae hurriedly approached them.
“Great Master.”
“What is the meaning of this, disciple? Why are you accompanying Fist Demon?”
“In life, Master Boundless desperately wanted to meet Master Dam. So I wanted to show him on Master’s final journey.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Hmm!”
Gwangcheon wore a displeased expression at Gwanghae’s answer.
Dam-ho was known for his cruel methods, marked as a public enemy of the martial arts world. It was naturally displeasing to have someone who always brought bloodshed present in this sacred Buddhist ground.
At that moment, Dam-ho was still intently observing the Boundless Monk’s corpse.
As Gwanghae had said, there were no signs of murder on the Boundless Monk’s body. His expression was peaceful, as if he had indeed died of natural causes.
‘Did he really die of natural causes?’
Though outward appearances suggested so, it was somehow hard to believe. Like Gwanghae, Dam-ho too felt something unsettling in his heart.
As Dam-ho turned around, his eyes had grown even colder.
Gwangcheon approached Dam-ho.
“Amitabha! I am Gwangcheon, the abbot of Shaolin. On behalf of Shaolin, I thank you for attending Master Boundless’s cremation ceremony. Master Boundless must be pleased in the afterlife.”
“What will you do now? His absence will leave a big void.”
“Nothing will change. Master Boundless hasn’t been involved in temple affairs until now anyway. Shaolin will continue preparing for war against the Demonic Cult as before.”
“Is that so?”
“Would you like to have some tea after Master Boundless’s cremation ceremony?”
“No need.”
“Patron Dam, please don’t be like that…”
“I know I’ll only be a burden if I stay.”
“Amitabha!”
“This isn’t a place for me. A Buddhist sacred ground doesn’t suit me. I came only because the Boundless Monk wanted to see me.”
“Do you perhaps know why Master Boundless wanted to see you?”
“No!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
Gwangcheon peered intently into Dam-ho’s eyes. But it was impossible to discern the truth from Dam-ho’s eyes.
“I understand. Then may I ask where you’re heading?”
“I’m going to Mount Zhongnan.”
Dam-ho’s voice scattered in the wind.
***
Mount Zhongnan was a famous mountain stretching over five hundred li across Shaanxi, Gansu, and Henan provinces.
While it never lacked visitors year-round for its beautiful scenery and landscapes, what made Mount Zhongnan even more famous was the presence of the Zhongnan Sect, one of the Nine Great Buddhist Sects.
Along with the Mount Hua Sect, the Zhongnan Sect was one of the two major powers in Shaanxi province, and it was currently enveloped in intense tension.
Like Shaolin Temple, the Zhongnan Sect was accommodating martial artists from the Martial Alliance who had retreated from Shaozhou*. Security had been strengthened several times over, and the leadership was holding daily meetings to devise countermeasures.
T/Note- Shouzhou has been changed to Shaozhou. It was a mistake. Although a bit late, it will be Shaozhou now.
Zhongnan Sect warriors were standing guard at the mountain’s entrance. Their faces showed clear signs of tension as daily strategy meetings were being held at the main mountain.
Cho Cheongeum gave instructions to the warriors.
“Everyone stay focused and don’t get distracted. Don’t let anyone suspicious pass through.”
Cho Cheon-geum was one of the Zhongnan Sect’s first-generation disciples. Known for his strong martial arts even among first-generation disciples, he was assigned to guard the entrance.
He had about a hundred warriors under his command, all relatively skilled in martial arts.
While Cho Cheon-geum was speaking to the warriors.
“Se-Senior Brother?”
Suddenly, one of the warriors called out to Cho Cheon-geum.
“What is it?”
“Th-there?”
The warrior pointed at the main road. Cho Cheon-geum’s eyes widened as he casually looked in the direction the warrior was pointing.
Someone was walking towards them from far down the road.
It was an old man with white hair wearing white clothes. To strangers, he might have been mistaken for an immortal, as he exuded an otherworldly presence.
Though he appeared to be walking slowly as if taking a stroll, the old man had already reached within arm’s length of the Zhongnan Sect warriors.
‘A master.’
Cho Cheon-geum’s pupils shook.
The old man who arrived before him opened his mouth.
“Child, let me ask one thing. Are there any warriors from the Hundred Battles Sect here?”
“Why do you ask?”
“There’s only one reason why unfamiliar guests visit in the murim. The same goes for me.”
“Wh-what is that?”
“Vengeance.”
The old man, Cheon Oh-gyeong, answered.