The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

What exactly did Shaolin want?

Why was Shaolin summoning the prodigies of each great sect?

Only the major sects had received some level of explanation about this.

It could be said that the Nine Sects One Gang, Azure Forest, and Seven Great Clans were the main targets.

Of course, not all the major sects of the orthodox Murim belonged to these groups, and a few independent major sects also received invitations.

The Divine Monk claimed he would transmit his internal energy to the orthodox prodigies and grant them a Small Recovery Pill.

With such promises, the major sects sent their successors to Mount Song.

The fact that the proud major sects made such a choice was solely because these words came from Shaolin.

If, at the very least, the sect leader of Mount Hua had said the same, the sects would not have sent their talents.

Disciples, raised with the pride of their respective sects, represented the future of their sects.

Sending the future of their sects based solely on another sect’s words—did that make sense?

The claim of transmitting the internal energy of a great master was no different.

Even the recipient would decline such an offer. Transferring internal energy was a dangerous and complicated process.

Everyone had learned different cultivation techniques, and receiving internal energy from another sect could lead to adverse effects.

However, such concerns were dispelled by the mere mention of the words ‘Shaolin’ and ‘Divine Monk.’

Shaolin, the symbol of the orthodox Murim, had made a promise.

The internal energy transmission of the Divine Monk, the strongest fist master and the Murim Alliance Leader.

The major sects willingly sent their disciples.

And now, those prodigies of the major sects were climbing Mount Song.

“Mount Song is steep. Is it always like this?”

Noh Shik, a Beggars’ Gang member, muttered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

However, true to his beggar-like appearance, his ragged clothes were so filthy that they left a black mark on his forehead instead.

A woman frowned as she looked at him.

She was a swordsman wearing a red plum blossom-shaped ornament in her hair.

“This is probably how it always is. Unless you think the mountain became steeper just because we arrived.”

“That’s true. What I meant was, do sects located in mountains always choose such steep places?”

Noh Shik’s appearance could never be called handsome.

With features resembling a weasel, his face could easily come off as sly under normal circumstances.

However, his adherence to the values of the Beggars’ Gang managed to balance out that impression.

“Have you ever been to the Mount Hua Sect, young master?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“When it comes to being steep, Mount Hua is even worse. It’s a rocky mountain. Plum trees are surprisingly hard to find there.”

“That’s different from what I imagined.”

“The sect elders planted plum trees, so there are quite a few within the sect grounds. But it’s not enough to say the mountain is brimming with plum blossoms.”

“Perhaps that’s why the plum blossoms are more cherished.”

“You’re quite eloquent.”

The chatty swordswoman from the Mount Hua Sect was Hwa So-so, also known as the Plum Blossom Radiance, who had previously participated in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.

The two were traveling together due to a past connection from that event.

“Young Lady Hwa, instead of staying over there, why don’t you join us and walk together?”

A young, stylish swordsman called out to Hwa So-so.

He was Ok Yeong-cheol, also known as the Heavenly Wind Noble, a swordsman of the Qingcheng Sect.

He was slightly older and more renowned than both Hwa So-so and Noh Shik.

Hwa So-so smiled gently and declined.

“I’m currently chatting with Young Master Noh Shik.”

“Hmm.”

At that moment, Noh Shik caught a glimpse of Ok Yeong-cheol’s face twisting into a frown.

It seemed he was displeased that Hwa So-so had refused his suggestion.

Noh Shik continued to observe Ok Yeong-cheol closely.

He frowned, as if about to say something, but then turned his gaze away.

At the end of his gaze stood a man leading the group.

It was Hwa Mu-cheon, Mount Hua’s Divine Sword.

Known as Mount Hua’s greatest prodigy, he was a senior to those who had already reached the Supreme Peak during the previous Dragon-Phoenix Conference.

Furthermore, the Plum Blossom Radiance Hwa So-so was his younger sister. Both siblings had entered the Mount Hua Sect.

Ok Yeong-cheol, who had seemed ready to voice his complaints, glanced at Hwa Mu-cheon and then forced a smile.

His internal deliberations were so obvious that Noh Shik couldn’t help but suppress a smirk.

Yet, Ok Yeong-cheol did not give up on pestering Hwa So-so.

“If you don’t want me to join, then I’ll come to you instead. What’s so fascinating about the conversation between you two?”

Ok Yeong-cheol casually placed a hand on Hwa So-so’s shoulder.

Hwa So-so naturally brushed off his hand and replied, “Oh, nothing much. I was just asking Young Master Noh Shik about how things might unfold at Mount Song.”

“How they might unfold?”

“About Shaolin’s intentions and who will ultimately claim the Small Recovery Pill.”

“Now that’s an interesting topic!”

Noh Shik let out a hearty laugh.

They had never discussed such things.

Even if Hwa So-so had asked, Noh Shik would have deflected and avoided answering altogether.

Indeed, compared to the overly transparent Ok Yeong-cheol, the Plum Blossom Radiance Hwa So-so was a far more challenging figure to deal with.

“Oh, if it’s the opinion of Noh Shik from the Beggars’ Gang, who’s said to be even more remarkable than Hu Gai, then I can’t help but listen.”

“Haha, that’s an exaggerated rumor.”

“Well then, let’s hear it. Isn’t everyone curious?”

Before they realized it, everyone in the group was paying attention to what Noh Shik had to say.

The prodigies from the Diancang and Zhongnan Sects, and even Mount Hua’s Divine Sword, were now focused on him.

Internally, Noh Shik gave a bitter smile as he began to speak, “The fact that Shaolin gathered these talents must mean they had a need to do so.”

“Hmm…”

“It must mean there’s something that requires the young talents of the Orthodox Murim to gather.”

Ok Yeong-cheol’s face twisted in irritation.

Yet, he couldn’t help but smirk sarcastically as he spoke, “What an obvious thing to say. Of course, they need to gather candidates if they’re going to award the Small Recovery Pill and transmit the Divine Monk’s internal energy.”

“Haha… Is that so?”

Noh Shik merely smiled and let it pass.

However, unlike Ok Yeong-cheol, Hwa So-so did not let it slide.

“Are you saying, Young Master Noh, that the purpose of gathering the talents is not the reason Shaolin provided?”

“Well… who knows.”

“…I see. Actually, I found it strange as well.”

The people in the group could be divided into three categories.

One group nodded as if they understood, another group wore puzzled expressions.

And then there were those, led by Ok Yeong-cheol, who seemed frustrated.

“Then what’s the other reason? Why do you think gathering the talents isn’t the real purpose?”

“Even if the Divine Monk is the Murim Alliance Leader, would Shaolin really grant a Small Recovery Pill and internal energy to the successors of other sects?”

“That’s entirely possible! This is Shaolin, after all!”

“You’re so naive.”

“What did you say?”

When Ok Yeong-cheol’s face contorted in anger, Noh Shik inwardly realized he had made a mistake.

No matter how much he tried to suppress his temper, it occasionally slipped out.

As if to prove he wasn’t foolish, Ok Yeong-cheol shouted with conviction, “There’s still a sense of righteousness in the orthodox Murim! Do you know nothing of what happened in Wudang?”

None of the prodigies from Wudang were present here, which made Ok Yeong-cheol speak so confidently.

“The Sword Emperor didn’t pass down his legacy to Wudang disciples but to a prodigy from another sect. During uncertain times like these, he prioritized the greater good over personal gains.”

“Ah…”

“And the Divine Monk was a close ally of the Sword Emperor. Do you think it’s impossible that he’s making a similar decision in his later years?”

“I knew the story of the Immortal Divine Dragon would come up.”

Noh Shik finally couldn’t hold back and let out a smirk.

“Wudang ultimately refused to formally recognize the master-disciple relationship. What the Sword Emperor passed down wasn’t Wudang’s sword technique. And naturally, no internal energy or elixirs were given.”

“…”

“The personal decision of the Sword Emperor and the official stance of the Wudang Sect are entirely different matters. But isn’t it obvious when you look at Shaolin? Shaolin announced this as a sect-wide initiative.”

“Well…”

“Giving out a Small Recovery Pill might be one thing, but internal energy transfer? That’s utterly nonsensical. If Shaolin were to transfer internal energy, it would only make sense to find a successor within their own sect.”

“Maybe they don’t have a suitable candidate.”

“This is Shaolin!”

Noh Shik ended his argument with that single statement.

Ok Yeong-cheol, who had been trying to think of a rebuttal, eventually remained silent.

This was Shaolin. A place like Shaolin would never lack talented individuals.

Even if they were to look among their lay disciples, there wouldn’t be anyone without potential.

At that moment, someone interrupted, “An interesting discussion. But it seems there’s no proper conclusion.”

It was Hwa Mu-cheon, Mount Hua’s Divine Sword, who spoke with an amused tone.

Mount Hua’s Divine Sword was a far more intimidating figure than the Heavenly Wind Noble, Ok Yeong-cheol.

The tense Noh Shik was addressed by Mount Hua’s Divine Sword.

“Share your opinion. If all of this is merely a play with another purpose, who is Shaolin favoring? And what is the purpose of this play?”

“…Well, I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a play. But isn’t it likely someone who arrived at Shaolin earlier than anyone else?”

“That means…”

“I’ve heard that the Immortal Divine Dragon has been recuperating at Shaolin. It’s said that Grand Master Mu Myung has been personally taking care of him.”

Noh Shik quickly scanned the group’s reactions.

About half seemed already aware of this information.

“As for the rest, I don’t know.”

Noh Shik decided that revealing this much was enough.

Fortunately, Hwa Mu-cheon did not press further and returned to the front of the group.

It was a situation where the embarrassed Ok Yeong-cheol might lash out in frustration.

However, Ok Yeong-cheol was smiling instead.

“So, the Divine Monk plans to transmit his internal energy to the Immortal Divine Dragon?”

“Well, it’s possible.”

“Care for a wager? Whether that’s true or not. I’ll bet it’s not.”

“A wager is a bit…”

“What a pity.”

Ok Yeong-cheol clicked his tongue as he stepped back.

Noh Shik frowned, feeling uneasy.

Ok Yeong-cheol, who had been flustered earlier, suddenly seemed confident. Did he have some information?

Until they reached Mount Song, no particularly meaningful conversation arose.

Once they passed through the gates guarded by the Arhats, they arrived at Shaolin Temple.

As they were guided inside by a monk from the Guest Hall, the successors suddenly stopped in their tracks.

“…Huh?”

Hwa So-so frowned.

Her expression indicated she had encountered something both familiar and strange at the same time.

Noh Shik and the other successors followed her gaze.

There, they saw monks repairing a broken wall.

It wasn’t unusual for Shaolin monks to perform such menial tasks.

Unlike secular sects, Shaolin considered labor a form of training.

Every action contained Zen. Drawing water was Zen, and even cleaning the latrines was Zen.

Why wouldn’t laying bricks for a damaged wall also be considered Zen?

However, what caught the group’s attention was something else entirely.

“They seem to be unwell.”

There were four individuals laying the bricks.

However, none of the individuals there appeared to be ordinary.

A monk who seemed blind was stirring mortar for adhering the bricks. Another, whose legs seemed damaged, was seated on the ground, applying mortar to the bricks and handing them over.

Then, a monk with a hunched back silently placed the bricks into position.

“Their skills are impressive.”

But the most astonishing sight was a man who couldn’t use his arms.

He pressed the bricks into place, ensuring perfect alignment and balance, using only his feet.

Despite this, he still managed to organize the scattered tools around him with ease.

“…Huh.”

Noh Shik let out a dumbfounded noise.

The man who couldn’t use his arms wasn’t a Shaolin monk.

No Shaolin monk would tie their long hair back like that.

Perhaps it was the coarse clothes he wore now that made him unrecognizable at first glance.

Or perhaps it was because his pitch-black arms, hanging limply like slabs of meat, drew too much attention.

But how could one not remember that face?

The swordsman who had once led the prodigies through the Five Elements Tomb.

“The Immortal Divine Dragon…?”

At that moment, Yi-gang turned to face the successors.

It seemed natural for him not to use his hands, as he wiped the sweat from his cheek with his shoulder.

Even that seemed odd.

How could a martial master, said to have reached the Supreme Peak, sweat from such simple labor?

Noh Shik felt a creeping unease crawl down his spine.

He had heard rumors that Baek Yi-gang was recuperating at Shaolin after sustaining injuries.

But this… this was something else entirely.

“He’s become a cripple.”

Ok Yeong-cheol muttered with a smirk.

Noh Shik felt as if the air had been knocked out of him.

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