Chapter 43:

Chapter 43:

In the past two years, the funds sent from the secular sects had decreased, surprisingly, this was related to Mu-jin.

More precisely, it was related to Mu-jin and Mu-gyeong.

About two years ago.

An incident where Mu-gyeong, who was being bullied by disciples from the secular sects, was rescued.

Shaolin had handled that matter very justly.

They destroyed the danjeon of the children who bullied Mu-gyeong, making it impossible for them to learn martial arts. After realizing that the sect had been collecting money by harassing the surrounding residents, Shaolin abolished the martial arts of the sect’s warriors and returned all the wealth to the residents.

However, ironically, this became the starting point of the problem.

While Shaolin’s intention was noble, most of those living in the secular world were not interested in such lofty ideals. This was even true for Shaolin’s secular disciples.

Those influenced by the secular world distrusted Shaolin’s way of expelling the secular disciples rather than the sect that harassed the residents.

They feared that they too could be expelled at any time.

Thus, some of the secular sects, despite being under Shaolin’s umbrella, did not hesitate to join other sects.

Naturally, once they were under the umbrella of another sect, they stopped sending donations, and when Shaolin did not sanction them, the departures increased even more.

After about two years, nearly half of the secular sects had left.

“We should have stopped those who left back then, Master.”

“Ah, it was the Abbot’s choice. And how could a Shaolin disciple seek to punish the innocent?”

“Why do you think they joined other sects? They left because they had guilty consciences.”

“That is only circumstantial evidence. Amitabha.”

Chubodangju, who also voiced his objections, was inwardly thinking the same as his disciple.

It was just that this was the Shaolin way.

“Intimidating someone and extorting money based on suspicion is no different from the ways of the demonic cult.”

“But...”

“Moreover, if we do that, those sects they joined would raise their voices. If those voices gather, false rumors that Shaolin is tainted by the secular world will spread in the Central Plains.”

“They received grace from our Shaolin and learned martial arts from us.”

“Heimin, how could I not understand your feelings? But our Shaolin does not demand compensation when accepting disciples. If we demand repayment for our grace, it becomes a transaction, not grace. How could a Buddhist hope for repayment and call it grace?”

“....”

“When those who received our grace commit sins against the people, only then do we ask for the price of their sins. We cannot punish them for not repaying our grace. Amitabha.”

So upright and noble. So solitary and lofty.

With such a rigid and inflexible method as Shaolin’s, they couldn’t be punished.

Even when winter came, and there wasn’t enough money to feed the disciples.

The daily routine of Shaolin’s third-class disciples was quite simple.

They woke up at dawn, greeted their masters and seniors who shared the hall with them, and headed to the Arhat Faction.

Just as they did during their initiation period, the third-class disciples trained their bodies in the training hall. After the morning training and breakfast, they studied the sutras and practiced martial arts.

After finishing their training at the Arhat Faction, the third-class disciples’ afternoon tasks involved cleaning the premises or receiving guests.

However, Mu-jin was exempt from these duties. His task was to treat Hyun-gwang.

Despite having reached an extraordinary realm where he could freely manipulate natural energy, Hyun-gwang’s body had not yet fully healed.

Mu-jin couldn’t understand why, but Hyun-gwang, despite his high level of mastery, did not exhibit the miraculous transformations often seen in martial arts stories, such as bone restructuring or rejuvenation.

Thus, Mu-jin devoted his afternoons to treating Hyun-gwang and spent the evenings visiting Hye-gwan’s hall to hone his martial arts through sparring.

“Hohoho. I appreciate the young monk’s kindness, but there’s no need to strain yourself because of this old woman.”

“Hahaha. Don’t worry, Grandmother! I’m a Shaolin disciple too. I’ve trained hard,” Mu-jin said, lifting his robe slightly to reveal his well-developed arm muscles.

“See? I can lift you with one hand! I only wanted to carry you to make sure you aren’t scared!”

With a mix of showing off his muscles and humor, Mu-jin made the old woman laugh, and she eventually climbed onto his back.

“Are you sure you’re on my back? You’re so light! Haha,” Mu-jin joked again, making the old woman burst into laughter.

“Hohoho, you speak so sweetly, young monk. I would love to introduce you to my granddaughter. Oh dear, this old woman is saying things she shouldn’t to a monk.”

“Why not? It would be great if you introduced us. If you visit Shaolin with her, we could all pay our respects to Amitabha Buddha and recite sutras together.”

“This old woman can’t keep up with you. Hohoho.”

The two continued to chat warmly, as if they were close relatives, while heading to the Main Hall.

After helping the old woman to the Main Hall, Mu-jin watched as she went inside to bow to the statues of Amitabha Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha.

Watching her struggle to bow, with her walking stick and bent back, made Mu-jin’s heart ache. He couldn’t help but think about how much her knees and back must hurt.

Mu-jin waited for her to finish her prayers, and when she stepped out of the hall, he greeted her again.

“Grandmother! It must have been hard for you to bow. I know a great massage technique, you know?”

With that, Mu-jin began to massage the old woman’s knees and back, which had endured the strain of bowing.

“How does that feel? Better, right?”

Having guided many clients into the world of personal training in the modern world, and having won over Beob Gang and Hyun-gwang with his massage techniques here, Mu-jin’s skills drew an admiring response from the old woman as well.

“Ohhohoho. It feels wonderful. Even the acupuncturists who visit my home aren’t as good as you.”

After chatting for a while and easing the old woman’s body, Mu-jin spoke with a worried face.

“If you come to bow again, I will give you another massage. But if possible, I hope you don’t come too often. It’s too hard for you to climb this rugged mountain with your health.”

The old woman, wise from a lifetime of experience, noticed the genuine concern on Mu-jin’s face.

With a pleasant smile, she replied, “Hohoho, you don’t need to worry about that. Climbing So Sil Peak isn’t that difficult.”

Her words implied that she would return, causing Mu-jin to sigh inwardly as he spoke.

“Then please do come visit. I will treat your body.”

“Hohoho, I look forward to it.”

The old woman laughed brightly at Mu-jin’s words.

With that, Mu-jin carried her back towards the mountain gate.

Upon reaching the gate, Mu-jin finally understood what the old woman meant by saying that climbing So Sil Peak wasn’t difficult.

In front of Shaolin’s mountain gate, eight sturdy men were holding the legs of a palanquin.

A lavish, eight-person palanquin was there, waiting.

After dismounting from Mu-jin’s back, the old woman naturally reclined in the palanquin.

“Hohoho. Young monk Mu-jin, I’ll be counting on you tomorrow as well.”

However, Mu-jin couldn’t properly respond to her warm smile.

It wasn’t simply because she turned out to be an unexpected wealthy person.

Rather, it was because of the four characters written on the palanquin.

Cheonryu Sangdan.

It was the top merchant guild in Hanan, where Shaolin was located, and one of the major antagonistic groups in “Legend of the Evil Emperor,” the sequel to the novel Mu-jin had read.