Chapter 45:

Chapter 45:

‘That’s right. He almost attained Nirvana.’

His grandfather was such an extraordinary master that he often forgot it because of his poor health.

‘Wait a minute. Then why is he still receiving treatment from the Head of the Jurisdiction Department and Master Uncle Hye-dam?’

Naturally, such a question arose, but Mu-jin decided not to ask. He figured his grandfather had his reasons.

Instead, Mu-jin looked at the old woman and the Sangdanju.

“Hohoho. Now I see that you are a very distinguished person.”

The old woman, seemingly unaware of martial arts, spoke to Hyun-gwang with a childlike astonishment on her face.

“Hahaha. It’s just a trivial skill.”

The ability to perform such a ‘trivial skill’ was something only Hyun-gwang could do on the entire continent.

Creating both thunder and fire energy in his hands simultaneously using natural energy was indeed a ‘trivial skill.’

The Sangdanju, who seemed to have some common knowledge about martial arts, stared at Hyun-gwang with an uncharacteristically unguarded expression for the first time today.

‘I don’t know if she’s the mastermind or not, but for now, I don’t think she would dare to touch the Shaolin Temple.’

Watching the old woman’s pure reaction, it was hard to think of her as a mastermind, but one could never be too sure. However, seeing the Sangdanju’s reaction, Mu-jin was certain that they would never touch the Shaolin Temple.

‘Could it be that grandfather subtly showed his skills for that reason?’

While Mu-jin was lost in thought, the Sangdanju asked Hyun-gwang with a slightly trembling voice.

“Did you say your Dharma name was Hyun-gwang just now?”

“Hahaha. Indeed, I did.”

“Hyun-gwang... Hyun-gwang...”

As if trying to recall a memory, the Sangdanju repeated the name several times.

Suddenly, with a look of astonishment, he exclaimed.

“The Greatest Talent Under Heaven! Shaolin Saint Monk Hyun-gwang! Are you saying that you are that revered monk!?”

As Ryu Ji-gwang was forty-nine years old, he remembered hearing that name when he was young.

However, it was said that he became a cripple thirty years ago due to the demon cult, and since then, no further stories were passed down, so he was forgotten.

Perhaps reading the look in Ryu Ji-gwang’s eyes, Hyun-gwang answered the unasked question with a gentle smile.

“Shaolin Saint Monk is just an empty title. Amitabha. And as you recall, I became a cripple at that time. Hahaha.”

“Then... have you finally regained your martial arts?”

To Ryu Ji-gwang’s question, Hyun-gwang shook his head. And he gave an answer that sounded like a Zen koan.DiiScôver new stories on no/v/e()/lbin(.)c/o/m

“It’s not that I regained them, I just let go of my stubbornness. Amitabha. And this Mu-jin here healed my body. Hahaha. Through the treatment you two are now receiving.”

Hyun-gwang’s answer made Ryu Ji-gwang look at Mu-jin with a surprised expression.

‘Is this really true?’

Of course, being a seasoned merchant, Ryu Ji-gwang did not blindly believe Hyun-gwang’s words. It could simply be a way to elevate the young talent of Shaolin.

While Ryu Ji-gwang was lost in such thoughts, Hyun-gwang subtly spoke to Yeon Ga-hee.

“And since our Mu-jin has one more treatment to teach you, why don’t you go through with that one as well? Hohoho.”

“Hohoho. I came to Shaolin to pay my respects and ended up getting medical treatment instead.”

As the old woman willingly lay down, Hyun-gwang generated Extreme Yang Energy in his hands and directed it at her ankle and calf.

After some infrared therapy, he held her ankle and calf with both hands and sent a slight amount of Thunder Energy through them.

“If it becomes too painful, please let me know. A slight tingling sensation is said to be the most appropriate intensity.”

“Hohoho. It feels very refreshing.”

Listening to the conversation between the two elderly people, Mu-jin thought.

‘What is this? A romance in their later years?’

Somehow, it felt like he had arranged a match for them.

Well, considering Hyun-gwang had achieved great enlightenment as a monk, such a thing would never happen.

Shortly after the treatment of the old woman Yeon Ga-hee and the Sangdanju Ryu Ji-gwang was completed.

“Novice Monk Mu-jin. Could you possibly guide me to Chubodang?”

‘Huh... That money-devouring monster brought in such a huge sum. Amitabha.’

Hyun-myeong inwardly cursed while thinking.

One yang of gold was worth twenty yang of silver. And one yang of silver was worth four or five sacks of rice, enough to feed a family of four for a month.

The monks and scholar-monks affiliated with Shaolin, along with the temporary disciples living there each year, barely numbered seven or eight hundred. On top of that, Shaolin was frugal, spending money sparingly on everything from food to clothing.

In other words, one hundred yang of gold was equivalent to Shaolin’s annual food expenses.

Recently, Shaolin had been short on funds to feed its disciples during the winter, to the point of debating whether to accept new disciples.

Naturally, accepting that money to sustain Shaolin was the right thing to do.

“I apologize, Sangdanju. Our Shaolin cannot accept this money.”

Without any hesitation, Hyun-myeong conveyed his refusal.

In response to Hyun-myeong’s rejection, Ryu Ji-gwang asked in a calm tone, devoid of any emotional turmoil.

“Why can’t you accept it? Could you enlighten me?”

“It is our Shaolin way. Grace is just grace. Expecting repayment for a favor is something a Buddhist should never do. I am certain that senior brother Hyun-gwang and Mu-jin, who performed the treatment, feel the same way.”

With a look that seemed to ask for agreement, Hyun-myeong glanced at Mu-jin, who thought with a business-like smile.

‘What kind of nonsense is this?’

The treatment was done by his grandfather and himself, so why were they pretending to be so benevolent on their own?

Respect for the elderly only emerged when the other party acted like one. It might apply to someone like Hyun-gwang or Yeon Ga-hee, but not to those who clearly projected, ‘I’m a master,’ such as Jurisdiction Department Head Hyun-gong or Chubodangju Hyun-myeong.

However, he couldn’t just spit out the curses brewing inside him.

As Mu-jin pondered how to tactfully convince this crazy Chubodangju, Ryu Ji-gwang spoke first.

“Hmm. Then how about considering it as an offering, not a repayment?”

“That is a transparent workaround.”

“Hahaha. Then let’s say I’m simply repaying the favor of the treatment. You said that expecting repayment for a favor is not the Buddhist way, but isn’t it also a human obligation to think about repaying a received favor?”

“......”

“Are you intending to turn me into a shameless person who can’t even fulfill basic human obligations, Chubodangju Monk?”

Indeed, the eloquence of an experienced merchant was not something a half-baked administrator who had been secluded in the mountains, chanting prayers, could match.

“Hmm. However, the amount is too large to be considered compensation for the treatment.”

Chubodangju, realizing a complete refusal was difficult, tried to lower the amount as much as possible.

Chubodangju hadn’t intended to reject the money outright without any thought.

It was just that the sum presented by the Sangdanju was too large, prompting him to choose refusal.

Hyun-myeong, who had learned the ropes at Chubodang since his days as a second-class disciple, knew very well that a large sum of money always came with significant strings attached.

Particularly, given Ryu Ji-gwang’s reputation as a prominent merchant on the continent, he believed that such a man wouldn’t offer such a large amount as treatment fees without any expectations.

However, as expected, Ryu Ji-gwang had already made his calculations and responded immediately.

“It is not a large amount at all. I heard that Mu-jin’s treatment method even healed senior brother Hyun-gwang, who had once been incapacitated. Furthermore, after receiving treatment today with my mother, the effects were indescribable. Especially for my mother, who, being elderly, had not seen much benefit from the acupuncture and herbal medicines of renowned doctors. Surely Chubodangju Monk knows how much it costs to bring in famous doctors for treatment?”

“......”

As Hyun-myeong hesitated to respond, Ryu Ji-gwang delivered the follow-up blow.

“The amount on this bill reflects the value of the skill that healed a body even famous doctors could not. Honestly, I regret not bringing a larger bill today.”

After making his case, Ryu Ji-gwang added another intriguing proposal.

“So, I ask you to accept this money as payment for the treatment of my mother and me. Additionally, there is something else I wish to discuss with Chubodangju.”

“Please, speak freely.”

In response to Hyun-myeong’s reply, Ryu Ji-gwang smiled naturally, befitting his status as a great merchant.

“I was thinking of opening a clinic in Deungbong County down there, with the novice monk Mu-jin.”

“!?”

“!?”

This unexpected proposal shocked not only Hyun-myeong but also Mu-jin, who looked at Ryu Ji-gwang with a surprised expression.