“How was it?”

Yugang asked brightly.

Looking at him, Seolhwa was reminded of Seop Mugwang scolding her for damaging the fine roots.

She slightly furrowed her brow at the memory.

Yugang grew flustered.

“W-What... are you... mad?”

“I’m not mad.”

Seolhwa suddenly stood and brushed the dirt from her hands.

Yugang quickly stood as well to follow her.

Just as Seolhwa began walking and Yugang moved to follow—

She suddenly turned around with a whip, her gaze locking onto him.

Then she stepped ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) forward—step, step, step—until she was right in front of his nose.

There was something sharp in her eyes that made Yugang swallow dryly.

“It was the tool’s fault.”

“Huh...?”

“I can preserve the fine roots too.”

“Huh?”

Yugang blinked.

Then, slowly, his lips began to twitch as he realized what she meant.

Ah, it was about that?

Yugang smiled softly and raised both hands beside his face.

“Yeah. It was the tool’s fault. You’re way better at it.”

“....”

Seolhwa furrowed her brow again.

Still frowning as if something didn’t sit well with her, she turned around and walked off.

“Hey, wait up—wait for me—”

Yugang followed after her, grinning from ear to ear.

Wishing, just a little, that Monk Gwangcheon would keep delaying the reply.

****

“Monk Gwangcheon had two disciples. One of them is the current Shaolin Abbot, Monk Beopgong.”

While roughly trimming the greens they’d picked that morning, Yugang chattered on.

Seolhwa sat on the porch, chin in hand, quietly watching him.

She had tried to help prepare the meal, but Yugang had insisted she rest.

“They say the other disciple was expelled for violating the precepts. But apparently, he was originally chosen to be the next Abbot—he was that strong.”

“Ah.”

Is this about the Green Forest King?

‘His age should be similar to Beopgong’s.’

If he was strong enough to be considered the next Abbot over Beopgong, then it had to be him.

In her past life, once it was revealed that the Green Forest King was a defrocked monk, it had caused a massive scandal.

‘Though Shaolin itself remained silent.’

Or rather—maybe it was more accurate to say they had to remain silent.

At the time, Beopgong had died at the hands of the Blood Demon, and Shaolin, having lost their Abbot, had sealed the temple.

Yugang went on.

“Because of that, Monk Gwangcheon stepped down from the Abbot position and came here. That’s also when he started his vow of silence.”

Even if a disciple goes astray due to their own disposition, the master still bears responsibility.

To be chosen as the next Abbot, he must’ve been raised and taught from a very young age—yet the Green Forest King chose the path of paedo (the twisted path).

A form of penance for misguided teachings.

Any master, when their disciple commits disgraceful acts, would feel the need to shoulder the blame.

A true master does not merely teach martial arts, but also guides the spirit and path of a martial artist.

Normally, stepping down as Abbot would suffice—but Gwangcheon chose to bear a heavier punishment.

He confined himself deep in this forest and sealed his lips, completely severing ties with the mundane world.

“A vow of silence... in a way, it’s a punishment he gave himself.”

“How do you know all that?”

“My master told me before I came here. Told me to serve the monk with utmost sincerity.”

Yugang smiled as he placed the trimmed greens into a basket.

“Wait here a moment. I’ll go to the stream.”

“Okay.”

Carrying the basket of greens and some rice, Yugang headed outside.

Seolhwa sat on the porch, retracing the memories of her past life.

Gwangcheon, Beopgong, and the Green Forest King.

In her past life, the Green Forest never sided with either the Blood Demon Cult or the Orthodox factions.

Even when many of the Black Path martial artists submitted to the Blood Cult, they remained steadfast.

Was it because he had once been a monk of Shaolin?

Even if he was a defrocked monk, perhaps he’d remained loyal in his own way, since his old fellow disciple, Beopgong, was killed by the Blood Demon.

“Hm...”

Then what had Gwangcheon been doing all that time, until Beopgong’s death?

Why had he never appeared?

Now that I think about it, Monk Gwangcheon does seem... familiar.

An old monk... an old monk...

Though she tried to recall fragments of her past life from time to time, not every moment came back clearly.

She sensed someone approaching the hermitage.

Assuming it was Yugang, Seolhwa casually lifted her gaze—

“!”

She shot up to her feet.

A man she had never seen before was approaching the hermitage.

Like Yugang, his robes were worn to tatters. His short hair was gray.

There was no energy emanating from him.

But Seolhwa knew, instinctively.

A master.

Having just met a Hyeongyeong-level master like Gwangcheon the day before, she couldn’t not know.

This tingling sensation all over her body.

“You’ve got good instincts.”

“...Are you Elder Guyangdo, by any chance?”

“That’s right.”

Seolhwa respectfully cupped her fists.

“I greet a great senior of the martial world. I am—”

“Namgoong Seolhwa, is it?”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

He knows me...?

How did he know her name?

Guyangdo slowly pulled something from inside his robe and extended it toward her.

“...!”

Seolhwa’s mouth fell open before she realized it.

Dangling from his hand, squirming and flailing—

[Put me down! You insolent brute! How dare you grab my neck! Let go this instant, you fool!]

It was the Imugi.

“Found it in the mountains. Heard it had taken a liking to you.”

“Ah... yes. That’s correct.”

“What have you been feeding it? It’s so fat now.”

At that moment, the Imugi bit down hard on Guyangdo’s hand.

When he let it go, it slithered down to the ground and crawled straight to Seolhwa.

[That arrogant bastard. I greeted him after so long and this is what I get? I knew he had a nasty temper, but now it’s completely rotten...]

The Imugi muttered nonstop as it climbed up Seolhwa’s shoulder.

Still dazed, Seolhwa answered Guyangdo’s earlier question a beat late.

“It likes candied fruit.”

“Candied fruit? So much for a proud Imugi.”

[Does dignity put food on the table? For someone that old, you're disgustingly ignorant.]

“....”

Listening to the deadly exchange between Guyangdo and the Imugi, Seolhwa stayed silent.

Then, all of a sudden—

Whoosh—

“!”

Before she could even blink, Guyangdo was right in front of her nose.

Seolhwa stared at him in shock.

He grunted as he inspected her up and down.

“Give me your hand.”

Seolhwa obediently held it out.

It was considered rude to ask for a martial artist’s hand, but there was no refusing this man.

Guyangdo took her wrist.

“So that’s how it was stored. At least it won’t damage the body.”

[I am an Imugi. Do you think I’d damage my vessel?]

“Interesting.”

[You’re still far from worthy of keeping up with me, human.]

The Imugi’s head swayed smugly.

Guyangdo quickly examined all her meridians, then let go and stared at her.

“Your grandfather—is he well?”

“He’s in good health.”

“Your eyes resemble his.”

“Thank you.”

Just then—

“Master!!”

Yugang came running up from the stream, his face lighting up the moment he saw Guyangdo.

“When did you arrive? Just now?”

“Yes. Just now.”

“Have you finished your business?”

“Not yet. I came by to see Gwangcheon.”

“Ah...”

Yugang’s expression quickly fell.

“The monk is out at the moment.”

“I know. He’ll be back soon. But what’s this girl doing here?”

“She came to deliver a letter from Shaolin. She’s waiting for the reply.”

Guyangdo looked back at Seolhwa.

“I see.”

With that short reply, he walked over to the porch and sat down heavily.

He didn’t even remove the massive weapon strapped to his back—he simply crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

Seolhwa looked at Yugang.

Yugang smiled and nodded gently.

“That’s a relief. He said the monk will return soon.”

“Yeah.”

While waiting for Gwangcheon to return, Seolhwa helped Yugang prepare the meal.

Just as they finished cooking—

Rustle.

Soft footsteps approached the hermitage.

As Guyangdo had said, Gwangcheon had indeed returned.

Until then, Guyangdo hadn’t moved a muscle, eyes closed—but now he opened them and smirked at the monk.

“You’ve aged even more since I last saw you.”

“....”

Gwangcheon simply gave a slight cupped-fist salute with his usual smile.

“Ganga.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Set the table.”

“Yes.”

Guyangdo and Gwangcheon entered the room together.

Yugang carried in a small table with enough food for the two of them, then stepped out.

Immediately after, a thick energy seal enveloped the room.

A seal set by a Hyeongyeong-level master erased all sound and presence—it was as if the room no longer existed.

What are they talking about...

What kinds of conversations do Hyeongyeong-level masters have?

“Let’s eat too.”

Yugang held out a bowl piled high with rice.

Seolhwa accepted it without thinking and said,

“There’s no utensils.”

As if waiting for it, Yugang pulled two wooden utensils from inside his robe.

“I made them yesterday!”

He beamed, proud.

Looking at his eager-to-be-praised expression, Seolhwa couldn’t help but laugh.

****

How much time had passed?

The sun had set again, and dusk slowly crept in.

Finally, the door opened.

Seolhwa and Yugang, sitting on the porch, rose at once.

It was Gwangcheon.

He held a single piece of paper in his hand.

He approached Seolhwa and handed it to her.

Seolhwa extended both hands from below the porch.

As the paper passed from Gwangcheon’s hand to hers, his index finger briefly brushed the back of her hand.

Ping—

“!”

Seolhwa staggered. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“Seolhwa!”

Yugang quickly caught her as she tilted.

...What...was that...?

Seolhwa looked down at her hand.

Then she lifted her blurred gaze to look up at Gwangcheon on the porch.

Her hands were trembling.

All the meridians in my body...

They were sealed.