Shaolin fist techniques had magnificence and discipline as if imbuing even the soul’s power.

Though seemingly simple at first glance, they weren’t. The principles entering the strikes were profound and complex.

However, he had seen enough of Gak Jeong’s fist and leg techniques.

Jeong Yeon-shin didn’t wait for an answer. He turned from his heel.

Simultaneously he felt the flow connecting from his waist to his right arm. It was free and powerful.

Whoosh!

Though looking simple, he generated great power with small movements. He had raised the principle of four ounces moving a thousand pounds by himself.

Originally it was a martial arts principle of receiving a great strike with very small power. Now was different. He extended a powerful straight punch with a short true step.

Puhk!

Gak Jeong’s body, twisted to his back side, staggered. His eyes widened in shock.

Even to Jeong Yeon-shin who struck, it was quite a heavy fist.

For Gak Jeong, it must have been strange that he couldn’t feel any energy wave.

A barrage began. Complex trajectories and afterimages of hands and feet tangled.

While exchanging moves, Jeong Yeon-shin took more hits. From the start, there was no comparison in experience and martial arts depth.

However, it was enjoyable. The fist and leg technique moves struck without Radiant Demon techniques supporting the moves felt very fresh.

Meanwhile, the impact of the opponent’s fists and feet didn’t enter deeply. There was no pain, only the fun of striking.

His physical body had already surpassed even the Little Divine Monk.

Flutter- Thud!

Jeong Yeon-shin feinted with his wide left sleeve. Simultaneously his right fist crumpled Gak Jeong’s shoulder clothes.

The rough sensation of the kasaya entered deeply. Gak Jeong staggered each time he took Jeong Yeon-shin’s single strikes.

An aged voice was heard from afar.

“Did he take the forms and moves of the Shaolin Five Fists? No, no. The principles are just similar. Rather, it’s a level above. The application range of fist technique foot force has increased. How can this be possible. This is like creating a new martial art…”

Hyeon Won-chang glanced at Master Won Jong who was continuously muttering beside him.

Not all Shaolin masters made their names known. There were many monks besides warrior monks.

Like martial way monks researching martial theory and scholar monks devoted to Buddhism.

Master Won Jong. Unlike Little Divine Monk Gak Jeong. It was a dharma name he had never heard before.

“I suppose one can become like that when single-mindedly pursuing a field in the mountains. Don’t you think?”

“Hm? Hmm…”

Hyeon Won-chang approached the magistrate beside him pretending to be friendly and whispered.

Though the Xinye County magistrate couldn’t hide his uncomfortable expression while avoiding his head, he didn’t mind.

“Those who know about Sir Jeong’s body know. Even in our Radiant Demon Wing he’s counted as having supernatural strength. There was once such an incident. It was when Sir Jeong was bathing. The maidservants managing the pavilion were drawing water, and would you believe they left and secretly came back to peek? Anyway, they were quite brave as Desolate Sect people too. And then what happened was… Hm? Why are you like that?”

“I’m not that curious.”

“Huh, others listened very interestedly.”

While they were talking, the match was decided.

Gak Jeong and Jeong Yeon-shin stepped back simultaneously as if they were mirrors reflecting each other.

“If we continue, one of us will really need to use the Clear Righteousness Pill.”

“I learned a lesson. Let me hear the monk’s dharma talk.”

At Jeong Yeon-shin’s calm words, Gak Jeong laughed loudly.

“Your character is truly plain. How nice it would have been if I had a disciple like Sir Jeong under me. In reality, they’re all so arrogant that scolding with martial arts and dharma doesn’t work at all. Anyway, I too couldn’t defeat you. Honestly…”

Gak Jeong’s smile that had been like Skanda, the guardian deity of Indian Buddhism, was strangely stiff.

He slowly continued speaking.

“I was also afraid. As the fist moves gradually stopped working, it seemed they would be broken down one by one soon. Since this is my defeat too, if Sir listens to the dharma talk, I too will listen to one request from Sir whenever.”

“Good.”

Jeong Yeon-shin readily nodded.

He had gained three things today. All were big.

Experiencing Shaolin’s fist and leg techniques with his body would be great fertilizer for his martial arts.

The famous miraculous medicine Clear Righteousness Pill could save a life once.

The right to ask the Little Divine Monk for murim matters was also a great asset.

‘Xinye White Martial Faction. How connections continue like this.’

Feeling the mysteriousness of murim affairs, he walked together with Monk Gak Jeong.

Beyond the hazy light clusters of sunset, the moon was rising white. It seemed wrong to return to the guest room today.

Before they knew it, he directed with his chin the black path underlings who were watching them with terrified eyes.

They decided to listen to the dharma talk and stay overnight in the quickly cleaned pavilion.

The Xinye County magistrate fled with a pale face.

The wealth he had received from the Xinye White Martial Faction seemed quite substantial. Jeong Yeon-shin hoped Ma Jin would play his role.

“The First Patriarch of Chan Buddhism in the Central Plains, First Generation Patriarch Bodhidharma said…”

The day ended with Gak Jeong’s dharma lecture.

It was an anecdote about Bodhidharma telling Huike that an anxious mind has no substance.

The many fierce bloody battles at a young age were tempering Jeong Yeon-shin’s spirit like a sword blade.

Conversely, his heart numbed to others’ lives intertwined with his terminal life to emit killing intent.

They said Chan Buddhism transmits dharma through oral tradition. One dharma talk didn’t immediately remove Jeong Yeon-shin’s anxiety.

However, he could learn the intent penetrating Buddhist martial arts. It was a new world. For a moment, sky-blue light brushed past Jeong Yeon-shin’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Master Won Jong had been watching him strangely from a corner of the bed.

* * *

Everyone woke up when dawn could still be seen as twilight.

While having breakfast together, they watched Won Jong and Gak Jeong’s argument.

Jeong Yeon-shin and Hyeon Won-chang silently listened to the two monks’ war of words while moving their spoons.

Though it seemed like a common occurrence, the administrator’s complexion was pale as if he couldn’t even breathe.

“‘Destroying evil and revealing righteousness’ isn’t just part of abstract dharma teachings. It was real power. The dharma power that annihilates the power accumulated by evil groups like the Blood Flame Sect! Techniques and martial arts were originally one. The ancients’ unfathomable skills were divided and called two things!”

“You’re creating martial arts to kill the Blood Flame Sect leader. You who took refuge in the dharma.”

Gak Jeong leaned over and whispered to Jeong Yeon-shin as if for him to hear. Even Jeong Yeon-shin himself didn’t know when they had become this close.

‘It doesn’t seem enough to show the sect’s shame.’

The behavior of the two who could be seen as grandfather and grandson was quite childish.

Enough to break vague impressions about Shaolin.

“How is that wrong? It’s something that must be done even for all living beings under heaven!”

“Fine. If there’s a chance, we should certainly open the precept of killing! But master uncle, aren’t you pouring your life into killing people! It’s a life with hell right here. How can you not consider the hearts of your senior and junior disciples!”

“My affliction cannot be resolved through insight. I realized through over ten years of wall-gazing. The Blood Flame Sect leader must die for me to live.”

Jeong Yeon-shin was slightly surprised. Wall-gazing was a famous training method.

They said it was practice of meditating while only looking at a wall.

It originated from the story of Bodhidharma gaining enlightenment after sitting before a wall for nine years.

‘Did the Blood Flame Sect annihilate his family too? Like me.’

However, Gak Jeong seemed composed. He opened his mouth as if he had heard the same words dozens of times.

“From the start, our sect’s Great Power of Wisdom and Supreme Great Power are enough to counter blood techniques. Shaolin martial arts were originally strong against blood techniques. There is no greater opposing relationship.”

“Isn’t the Blood Flame Sect leader still alive because that’s not enough!”

“What master uncle wants is to create a completely new system. Even a hundred years wouldn’t be enough.”

“Dharma power martial arts were originally one of Shaolin’s martial arts. Haven’t I said many times? The lost Guanyin Blue Steel Hand could certainly crack the skulls of evil sect blood demons!”

“Master uncle, your words and actions… And how could a lost martial art whose secret manual was burned… No, never mind.”

Only after Gak Jeong shook his head did the meal end. Five people stood up in an awkward atmosphere. Only Jeong Yeon-shin’s expression was intriguing.

‘Guanyin Blue Steel Hand.’

Just hearing about it, it seemed it would display extreme power in fierce battles with the Blood Flame Sect.

Martial arts containing Buddha’s dharma power. He became interested. Additionally, he newly learned that martial arts had opposing relationships.

There existed fundamental differences in nature beyond breaking techniques.

‘Martial arts specialized for one side. Interesting.’

There were many masters including blue and black levels.

For Jeong Yeon-shin whose martial arts level was still lower, it was a new clue.

Just knowing such things existed seemed enough to create something.

The principles contained in Shaolin fist techniques’ forms and movements. The meaning that penetrates Shaolin Zen Buddhist thought.

He knew the forms of the moves and the intent filling true energy. To Jeong Yeon-shin, it was no different from being given everything.

That’s when it happened.

“I wondered why you hadn’t returned until morning. You wouldn’t fall to mere black path types.”

Ma Jin approached in one go with amazing body technique.

Behind him, Radiant Demon Wing masters crossed the Xinye White Martial Faction’s main gate. Ma Jin looked over Won Jong, Gak Jeong, and the administrator before speaking again.

“So Shaolin monks were here. Being surrounded, there’s no leisure for greetings.”

“Did you say surrounded?”

Jeong Yeon-shin asked.

“It’s the Blood Flame Sect. Information leaked. Hao Sect seems to have definitely betrayed us, but first we need to survive.”

His tone wasn’t relaxed. There was tension too. It was hard to think these were words from a Desolate Sect black-level.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced around subtly.

He finally felt the realization of facing the Blood Flame Sect’s true forces.

At some point, the sounds of mountain birds in the surrounding forest had ceased.

“……”

Suddenly a soft whistling wind blew. A feeling of creeping into his cheeks. The sound brushing his ears was eerie.

They said martial world forces’ encirclements had wide regional coverage.

There was even something called heaven and earth net. It was compared to a net spread across heaven and earth.

“We break through the main gate.”

Ma Jin said. He was already holding a large sword.

The Radiant Demon Wing martial artists drew their weapons. Jeong Yeon-shin felt it.

Even masters who hadn’t made sword-drawing sounds were tense.

Cheong Myeong and Baek Mi-ryeo stuck close to him. Hyeon Won-chang was with them too.

“If you happen to leave the formation, let’s meet at the Righteous Heaven Sword Family. They’re a murim family at Mount Pingding. Since they also serve as Desolate Sect’s Henan branch, you can receive generous treatment if you survive.”

“Was that meant as a joke?”

Before people could even smile at Cheong Myeong’s casually thrown words.

With a bang, the wall surface shattered.

There was a presence walking with clear footsteps as if whatever blocked the front was like an open gate.

Step.

It was a woman beautiful enough to be strange. Black hair and red eyes. An appearance never seen before.

“Hello.”

Casual, informal speech and behavior.

Her hair fluttering in the breeze was pitch black. Not just ordinarily dark.

Like the black robe she wore, it felt deeper than the night sky.

Conversely, her lips were red as if constantly holding blood. It contrasted starkly with her white skin.

The energy surrounding her entire body was sinister. Even her fluttering robe hems felt ominous.

‘That’s.’

Jeong Yeon-shin could tell immediately upon seeing.

They said Blood Flame Sect martial artists’ red hair gradually turned black as their martial arts increased.

Her hair was truly like pitch darkness.

A Blood Flame Sect apostle. If a woman, she must be the seventh apostle.

Her powerful martial prowess and vicious nature were already famous.

“Seventh Apostle.”

Ma Jin’s voice was like a growl scraped from deep in his abdomen.

“How stupid. Not even knowing about the ambush.”

Her voice was clear like jade. The Blood Flame Sect’s Seventh Apostle walked forward with a bright red smile.

Though her steps were light, seductive dignity and terrifying energy waves emanated together.

There was an atmosphere reminiscent of a swamp. She was on a different level from Blood Snake Swords.

“So you’re Lightning Flash. Desolate Sect’s future.”

Her gaze stopping ten steps away turned to Jeong Yeon-shin.

Eyes like smooth jade made with blood. Interest seemed to swirl in her extremely red pupils.

She smiled.

“What a pretty nape.”

“Look at me, Seventh Apostle.”

The Seventh Apostle glanced at Ma Jin who stepped forward and turned her gaze away indifferently.

When she lightly moved her long fingers, Blood Flame Sect members revealed themselves from all directions. Jeong Yeon-shin felt his vision turn red.

There seemed to be easily a hundred red-haired people, and even twenty Blood Swordmasters could be seen.

“Here.”

The Seventh Apostle moved her lips.

“I’ll kill Radiant Demon Wing’s future and present.”

“…!”

Simultaneously her hand blurred. It was while Radiant Demon Wing and Shaolin masters were assessing the enemies’ forces.

She rushed like blood-colored lightning along with an ominous energy.

A bright red dagger flashed as if about to dig into Jeong Yeon-shin’s brow in an instant.

Whoosh!

Jeong Yeon-shin grabbed it while turning his body. His physical body seemed to react to the evil power before he could recognize it.

The force’s aftermath was monstrously strong making him step back, but the energy remaining in his grasp felt unfamiliar.

It dissipates the blood technique’s true energy imbued in the dagger. The dharma talk he heard from Gak Jeong all night seemed to ring in his ears.

-Forever eliminate the three poisons and always keep the six roots pure.

The Buddhist scripture’s meaning and Shaolin fist technique’s moves were transforming into some old technique.

Is this how Bodhidharma also created? There was an incomplete martial art sprouting at this moment.

The Radiant Demon Wing masters who turned their heads in surprise flinched. The sky-blue that occasionally shone in Lightning Flash’s eyes had strangely turned blue.

“So apostles also use Blood Flame Sect martial arts.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said.

The Seventh Apostle was smiling as if amused. Jeong Yeon-shin, who had been quietly staring at her, slowly opened his mouth again.

“Your martial arts are easy to handle.”

He said while his blue eyes flashed.