Chapter 299 – Demonic Beast (1)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Heavenly Demon. I am Heavenly Demon.”

‘!?’

The moment Mok Gyeong-un finished speaking, the kindly smiling expression on Gongjeon Grandmaster’s face hardened.

“Heavenly… Demon? Hoh.”

Gongjeon Grandmaster had reacted to the word demon in the name.

Out of all possible names, why attach such an ominous word as demon?

If taken literally, the name meant a demon of the heavens.

It did trouble him somewhat, but there was no rule that a name could not contain the word demon, nor was that alone enough reason to think poorly of it.

‘There must be some reason the patron gave himself such a name.’

At that, Gongjeon Grandmaster relaxed his expression and said,

“Hehehe. Amitabha. Heavenly Demon… Truly an extraordinary name. In the Buddhist school, great fame and reputation are but dust, yet I pray that your name may endure for a hundred years, a thousand years.”

“Thank you for saying so. I hope it turns out as you say, old reverend. My grandfather used to say something similar.”

“Something similar?”

“Yes. He said there are two ways for a person to live forever.”

“Ways to live forever? Hooh. And what did he say they were?”

“He said the first was to leave descendants behind so that one’s will would continue from generation to generation, and the second was to leave behind a name and live on in people’s memories.”

“Hehehe. That is true indeed. If that is not what it means to truly live forever, then what is? Your grandfather was truly wise.”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un merely smiled in silence.

By the time that conversation ended, they had finally reached the front of the Demon-Subduing Cave.

The Demon-Subduing Cave stood directly beside the Wall-Facing Cave.

There, waiting in front of it, was the Demon-Subduing Hall Master, who had gone ahead saying there were things to prepare.

“Amitabha. You have arrived?”

“Amitabha. Have the preparations been completed, Demon-Subduing Hall Master?”

“Yes. I have already instructed the demon-subduing monks guarding the cave the patron must enter, just in case. I will accompany you myself, so there is no need to worry.”

“Then if there is anything the patron should be careful of, would you explain it to him?”

“Yes. Understood.”

The Demon-Subduing Hall Master looked at Mok Gyeong-un and then pointed toward the Demon-Subduing Cave.

“Patron. Once you enter the cave, you will see the entrances to many sealed caves. Their entrances are blocked, but demon-subduing monks are chanting the Demon-Subduing True Mantra before them, so you must not disturb them.”

“So you mean I am simply to pass by them.”

“That is correct.”

“The cave you will go to lies at the very innermost part, and within it is an extremely savage monster. That monster was captured from Xiaoxian Mountain north of Daehamsan, and it is so strong, with demonic power so great, that even the Arhat monks had to be mobilized, and only by using the Green Jade Buddha Palm together with thirty-six demon-subduing Dharma artifacts were we barely able to subdue it.”

“It sounds like you captured it with great difficulty.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, one of the Demon-Subduing Hall Master’s brows twitched upward.

It seemed his pride had been slightly pricked.

But then he let out a sigh and said,

“Hoo. That monster’s demonic nature is so strong and savage that even this humble monk, who has confronted numerous monsters, could never handle it alone.”

“If it is that dangerous, I am surprised you managed to catch and bring it here. Would it not have been better simply to kill it?”

“Amitabha. Killing is the very last resort. How could one as a disciple of Buddha do such a thing without first attempting to reform it?”

“So you lock it up and keep chanting scriptures at it?”

“That is so.”

“Has there ever been a monster reformed by that method?”

“……..”

At that question, the Demon-Subduing Hall Master gave no answer.

That was a clear negation.

The demon-subduing monks took turns chanting the Demon-Subduing True Mantra day and night to weaken the demonic nature of the monsters, but not a single one had ever had its essential nature changed.

Rather, as their demonic nature and demonic power weakened together, many monsters simply died before the Hundred and Eight True Mantras could even be completed.

In the end, the reform of monsters was, in practical terms, impossible.

That was why, even though the demon-subduing monks still attempted reform, inwardly they considered it impossible.

‘That composure of his will soon disappear as well.’

He too was well versed in dharma power, and he could estimate the demonic power of that monstrous bird that had fallen into the plaza of Arhat Hall.

He acknowledged that it was incomparably stronger than ordinary monsters, but what Mok Gyeong-un was about to see was on an entirely different level.

It was not merely strong and savage.

It even possessed the intelligence to toy with humans, which was why they had imprisoned it in an even deeper cave than the others.

“Well, it seems that locking things up does not really mean much anyway.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s mocking words, the Demon-Subduing Hall Master joined his palms and replied,

“Amitabha. Then please prove that, through those occult arts contrary to principle, you are capable of controlling a monster.”

“Understood.”

* * *

Thus, under the Demon-Subduing Hall Master’s guidance, Mok Gyeong-un entered the cave.

-Uuuuuung!

The moment he entered, Mok Gyeong-un frowned.

-What is wrong, all living beings?

Blue Spirit asked.

-…….It feels very similar to when I came into contact with Innate True Qi.

-Innate True Qi? Do not tell me the inside of the cave…

-The dharma power is far stronger in here than outside.

Mok Gyeong-un was able to find the reason in the cave walls.

The entire wall was carved with passages of the Demon-Subduing True Mantra written in gold, and because of that, the place overflowed with dharma power from every direction.

That dharma power had a nature opposed to the death aura and demonic aura inside Mok Gyeong-un’s body, and it caused those energies to churn violently.

It was even giving him a headache he had not had before.

-Do you think you can endure it?

-More or less.

The energies were stirring, but not to a degree where it was unbearable.

It was simply that being in this space itself felt unpleasant.

And on top of that,

-Om somani somani hum arihanna arihanna hum arihanna banaya hum banaya hum baabam baara hum batak.

Just as the Demon-Subduing Hall Master had said beforehand, demon-subduing monks were chanting the Demon-Subduing True Mantra before each cave within the Demon-Subduing Cave, to the point that his ears ached.

Enduring that discomfort, he made his way to the deepest part of the Demon-Subduing Cave.

Along the way, the Demon-Subduing Hall Master said,

“The thirty-six caves here in Shaolin’s rear grounds are all connected. Therefore, if by any chance you leave the guided path and go the wrong way, you may lose your way. So I ask that you take care, patron.”

“Thank you for the warning.”

“And we will arrive shortly, but if any problem arises once you go inside, shout loudly. That monster’s legs are bound by Dharma artifacts, but its demonic power is so strong that things may still become dangerous.”

“Understood.”

At last, they arrived at the cave at the very innermost part of the Demon-Subduing Cave.

Its entrance was so massive that it could not even be compared with the other caves.

On the iron gate sealing it, too, the letters of the Demon-Subduing True Mantra had been inscribed in gold.

-Om somani somani hum arihanna arihanna hum arihanna banaya hum banaya hum baabam baara hum batak.

Before that entrance stood only a single demon-subduing monk, reciting the mantra.

When they arrived, the monk stopped and joined his palms.

“Amitabha. You have come, Hall Master?”

“I told you to stop chanting the mantra and wait for a while in the adjacent cave, so why are you still here, Deoksu?”

“I dropped my prayer beads at the entrance and came back for them, and the monster, which I thought had fallen asleep from exhaustion, woke and began causing a commotion, so I was calming it down.”

“Hoh.”

At those words, the Demon-Subduing Hall Master looked worriedly toward the cave entrance.

He had warned them in advance, but the monster inside was truly dangerous.

That was why he had intended to send Mok Gyeong-un in only at the time when the dharma power was at its peak and the monster was most exhausted by the Demon-Subduing True Mantra.

But if the monster had awakened and started causing an uproar, there was no choice but to worry.

If things went badly, Mok Gyeong-un might be the one overwhelmed instead.

The Demon-Subduing Hall Master spoke cautiously.

“Patron. Could you wait a little first? It seems we will need to chant the Demon-Subduing True Mantra for a bit longer to calm the monster.”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head.

“Would that really change much? Just let me in.”

“Hoh. Patron… this is also for your own sake. No matter that this is to prove something, I cannot knowingly put you in danger.”

“I understand what the Reverend is worried about, but we do not have much time either.”

Shaolin Temple was quite close to the imperial capital Kaifeng.

If the imperial palace sent troops or pursuers, they could arrive very quickly.

That was why Mok Gyeong-un had no choice but to hurry.

“Can you not at least grant us two gak?”

“If it truly seems too dangerous, I will say so. Just let me in.”

“Hoh.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s stubbornness, the Demon-Subduing Hall Master clicked his tongue and then stepped toward the locks on the tightly shut iron gate.

Because the iron gate was so large, there were a total of five locks upon it.

Taking a key from his waist, the Demon-Subduing Hall Master said,

-Clang!

“Patron. This iron gate is made of black iron, so no matter how high one’s martial arts are, it cannot be cut or broken. So if it seems dangerous, shout at once.”

“I will do that.”

-Clank!

After unlocking all but the last strangely long lock, the Demon-Subduing Hall Master handed Mok Gyeong-un one of the torches hanging on the wall.

“It will be dark inside, so take this with you. There is a bracket inside where you can hang a torch.”

“Understood. But why do you leave that one lock unopened?”

“Just in case.”

“Just in case?”

“That lock was specially made so that the iron gate opens only enough for a person to barely pass through.”

“Ah.”

“If it were opened wider, the monster might try to rush out. The monster in there is not merely savage, but cunning as well, so be careful.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Then return safely. Amitabha.”

-Kiiiiiiik!

The huge iron gate opened and, just as the Demon-Subduing Hall Master had said, created only a gap wide enough for a person to barely squeeze through sideways.

Using that gap, Mok Gyeong-un entered with the torch in hand.

The moment he entered, the demon-subduing monk outside immediately shut the iron gate.

-Kiiiiiiik! Kung!

They had closed it as carefully as possible, but because the gate was so large, the sound of it shutting was still quite loud.

Paying it no mind, Mok Gyeong-un raised the torch to illuminate the inside of the cave, the cavern itself.

‘It is big?’

The cavern was far larger than he had expected.

How large was it?

So large that even the torchlight could not illuminate all of it.

Part of the cavern lay buried in shadow,

-Tak!

and instead of carrying the torch all the way there, Mok Gyeong-un stuck it into a bracket beside the iron gate.

Then he looked toward the area swallowed by darkness.

There was no need to go searching for it. Strong demonic power was pouring out from there.

-Can you see it?

-Yes. I can.

He could see the eyes of the demon beast staring at him, blinking faintly in the dark.

They glimmered with a red light, and the size of those eyes alone hinted at how huge the creature must be.

“Kikikikikik.”

Then a creepy laugh came from the shadows.

The voice was naturally unlike that of a human. It was closer to the sound of someone scraping at their own throat.

At that, Mok Gyeong-un formed a sword seal with his right hand and prepared a technique.

They had said it had already endured ninety-nine days of the Demon-Subduing True Mantra, but the demonic power spreading from it was so strong that it was hard to believe it had weakened at all.

-What level does it seem to be?

-It looks above the level of a demon beast.

-Above a demon beast?

-Yes.

-Then do you mean it is a demonic beast?

The strange beings known as anomalies are classified by their level of danger.

The lowest rank is vicious beast, and above that they rise to monster beast and then demon beast.

Even Qinyuan, whom he had taken as a shikigami, could be said to fall into the demon-beast class, but the level of demonic power he felt now was far stronger than that.

Then, from the shadows, a voice came together with laughter.

“Kikikikikik. I suppose I should thank those damned bald monks. After being shut in here for ninety-nine days while they droned on with that loathsome scripture, they have finally given me such delicious food.”

Astonishingly, this anomaly could speak aloud.

Its voice sounded like a throat being scraped raw, deeply eerie, yet it could convey its meaning with precision.

-Thump!

The sound of footsteps echoed through the whole cave.

-Thump!

The cave floor trembled.

At last, it stepped into the range lit by the torch.

‘Ah?’

It had horns on its head and resembled a dragon.

Its whole body was covered in red fur, while its physique looked like a mix of dog and ox, yet it had the hooves of a horse.

Its size was so immense that one had to tilt one’s head back to look up at it.

The instant she saw it, Blue Spirit cried out in surprise.

-All living beings… It is Yayu.

-Yayu?

-When they said Xiaoxian Mountain, I had my suspicions. These mad bald monks really captured a demonic beast and locked it away.

Blue Spirit sounded dumbfounded.

Even skilled occult practitioners needed to gather in dozens to barely stand against a being as dangerous as a demonic beast.

The fact that Shaolin had captured one and locked it up proved its strength was no ordinary thing.

But the situation had become serious.

-It is serious. Strong is one thing, but demonic beasts also possess intelligence.

-I will have to try subduing it first.

Whether controlling it or making it into a shikigami, both required subduing it first.

Still, at least one fortunate thing was that, among all the strange beings he had encountered of late, this demonic beast’s demonic power was not the worst.

Perhaps because he had already faced things worse than this.

It was then.

“Kiririririk!”

-Kukukukukung!

The demonic beast Yayu, which had been walking forward slowly, suddenly launched itself at Mok Gyeong-un with startling speed.

‘Fast for something that size.’

At that, Mok Gyeong-un moved and tried to open distance so he could unfold the Six-Direction Formation.

But as it charged, the demonic beast Yayu abruptly stopped.

-Pat!

Then it pulled back instead, and with trembling eyes opened its mouth.

“Kiriririk. You… what are you? Why do you… smell like that monstrous fox?”

‘!?’