Absolute Sword Sense Chapter 273

< Episode 89 Return (2) >

It was a really long, long time.

As soon as I got off the fuse, I flew straight up to the target and identified the location.

The fuse, which is outside the flow of space and time, is constantly moving, so the time and place keep changing.

The moment I left the foggy forest, I knew where I was.

'ah!'

It was about ten li away from the forest where I first entered the fuse.

You could call it fate.

If the distance gets too far and you end up in a different castle or county, it will be difficult to find Sima Ying or his party.

'The distance is close, so does that mean the time error isn't that big?'

I thought maybe that was the case.

But this expectation was nothing more than a vain hope.

In the forest where the fuse had been, there was a thatched cottage that I had never seen before.

What does it mean that there is something that should not exist and that it has been around for quite some time?

Time has definitely passed.

I hoped that not too much time had passed.

however,

"what?"

For a moment I was speechless.

I knew that there would be a margin of error of one or two months at most.

But the words that came out of Asong's mouth exceeded expectations.

“…….It’s been seven months since I disappeared?”

“Where on earth have you been, Master? Why have you come back now? Do you know how anxious I was when I heard that Master Seonne had passed away?”

"ha."

"master?"

“Just wait a minute.”

My head is more complicated than I thought right now.

Much more time has passed than expected.

If there are seven months, then five months will be a year.

In the span of seven months, not just one or two days, countless things would have happened.

I've been through so many things that this reality isn't that shocking, but it makes me sigh.

-oh my god?

There is a very high probability that the projects that were in progress will also go awry.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that even the things I had planned fell through regardless of my will.

We need to know what happened during the past seven months.

First of all,

“Ahsong. Where are Sima Xiaozhu, Song Zuobai, Song Woohyun, and Jang Munryang, the Demon Sword Master?”

“No, my lord. Why am I being excluded?”

“……You are safely in front of me now.”

“……..”

At those words, Asong scratched his head, embarrassed.

“Stop being a jerk and talk.”

In response to my words, Asong told me about what had happened during that time.

“We have been waiting here for over a month since your disappearance. But….

Then, the leader's bodyguard and the left-hand lawmaker Ha Jong-il appeared where they were.

“Ha, what is the law?”

Ha Jong-il was in the middle of carrying out three missions under my orders.

If he came to us, it meant that most of the mission he had been assigned had been completed.

But contrary to expectations,

“What did Ha Jong-il say during the ceremony…? Ah! He told us that negotiations with Nokrim had broken down.”

"what?"

It's different from the news that the left wing law first sent.

Even when exchanging letters, it is said that the Nokrim Towang Gwangshin Army was friendly.

But in the meantime, the relationship broke down?

“Do you know why it broke up?”

“I heard that the Green Forest Fighter King Gwangshin-gun suddenly declared that he would not enter the Blood Cult unless he was judged by his skills according to the laws of the martial arts world.”

“The laws of the martial arts world?”

We were friendly in correspondence, but now suddenly we're talking about the laws of the martial arts world.

Something is strange.

Anyway, it seems that he refused to come under our school's jurisdiction under the pretext of self-respect.

He is the famous Green Forest Fighter King Gwangshin-gun, who is widely known for his martial arts skills that rival those of the Eight Great Masters.

Although Ha Jong-il was a master of the left-handed sword, it seems he was no match for his opponent.

“So what did you do?”

Since I am missing, there is no one with decision-making authority.

Even if he came to report, you cannot give him any further orders, so it would be right to send him back to the main school or have him wait.

however,

“We don’t even know what has happened to Lady Sima and Lord Zuoba, so we can’t rashly announce that the prince has gone missing…”

ah…..

Is it because of the chaos that would arise if I disappeared?

Well, it's been over a month since he disappeared, so things are completely different than before.

Both people's judgments may be correct.

“What did you tell the left-wing law to do?”

“Is it true that you said that if you don’t bring the Green Forest under your control, the Blood Cult will be at a disadvantage in the future war with the Martial Arts Federation?”

“…..That’s right.”

I think that's what I said.

It was such a long time ago that I can't remember it clearly, but that's what I said.

It was because the Sapa faction had to be unified to be able to balance its power to some extent.

“Because of that, if the young master was there, he would have taken them into the mountains by any means necessary, so the young masters of the Left Baek and Right Hyeon, and the old master Jang Moon-ryang left for Nokrim with the Left Guardian.”

I see.

Did they go in your place?

But if that was five months ago, why isn't it here?

“Don’t you know what the result was?”

“I’ve been waiting here, but there’s been no news.”

“No news at all……”

Did something happen?

If I had fought against the Green Forest King and won, I would have entered the Blood Cult.

But the fact that he hasn't come back yet…

'shit.'

I am concerned.

“Where is Lady Sima? She didn’t go with them, did she?”

If it were Sima Ying's nature, he would have waited for me until the end.

But why can't I see her?

At my question, Asong carefully observed my darkened expression and spoke.

“Young Lady Sima was with me until three months ago. This room is yours. But then you went to a nearby county and came back, and suddenly something happened to your father and he was seriously injured…”

“Father-in-law?”

I couldn't help but be surprised by those words.

Who is the craftsman?

He was one of the five great villains and one of the five strongest men in the Central Plains who could surpass the walls of the world.

The last time I saw him, he was in good spirits, ready to fight the evil Papa.

I couldn't believe that he was injured.

“Did you hear who said that?”

“Even Lady Sima said she didn’t know about that. I just heard that your father’s internal organs and bone marrow were filled with cold air, and that he was being treated by a master from Yanggang, a temple called Guyang, for some reason.”

“Your entire body and even your marrow are filled with cold air?”

For a moment, someone flashed through my mind.

-You're not that woman, are you?

Among the current martial arts schools in the Central Plains, there is no one who has the martial arts skills to handle cold energy throughout history.

However, the Bukhae Ice Palace, a sect outside of the world whose whereabouts are now unknown, was renowned for its martial arts skills in controlling cold energy.

The person from the North Sea Ice Palace is Seolbaek.

'no way…..'

During the period of persecution in the martial arts world, she entered the service of the Lord of the Realms, also known as the Golden Emperor.

So, has she also been a subordinate of the Lord for hundreds of years?

I can't be sure, but there used to be quite a few masters with extended lifespans under the Golden Emperor, who is now called Jonju.

To some extent, I couldn't ignore that possibility.

-So, was Geum Sang-je after your father-in-law?

If Seolbaek is right, then that could be the case.

But we can't conclude everything based on Asong's story alone.

Anyway, if it's as Asong said, the old man is receiving treatment at a temple to drive out the cold air that has penetrated his internal organs. What is it called Guyang? Guyang… Where have I heard it…

'Guyangjinkyung!?'

For a moment, I was surprised and asked Asong.

“……Did you say that temple was Shaolin Temple?”

Asong answered, clapping her palms together.

“That’s right! I’m sure it was Shaolin Temple.”

'under!'

Shaolin Temple.

-Isn't that one of the old sects of the Jeongpa?

right.

It is the origin of the Central Plains martial arts world and is a symbol of the sect.

-No. Your father-in-law is called a villain, so how on earth are you getting treatment there? If it's the righteous faction, wouldn't you rather think it's right to kill your father-in-law?

no.

different.

Although Shaolin Temple is a symbol of the sect, it does not intervene in the affairs of the martial arts world.

-What does that mean?

Unlike other sects, Shaolin Temple is famous for not interfering with even martial arts affairs, considering them worldly affairs.

Shaolin Temple has been more faithful to its role as a Buddhist temple than as a martial arts school.

That is why, while producing excellent masters, they do not get involved in the affairs of the martial arts federation at all.

I heard that they only engage in worldly affairs for the sake of the people.

-So your father-in-law is safe?

I don't know.

Whether it's safe or not.

-huh?

I told you earlier.

Shaolin Temple stands up for the people's livelihood.

They say that they will step forward if they judge that something is harmful to the people's livelihood, and the craftsman is also called a murderer who killed countless people in the martial arts world.

By Shaolin's standards, it would be considered harmful.

-What do they do with those people in Shaolin Temple?

I heard that Shaolin Temple prohibits killing except in the most extreme cases.

That is why they said that those who were considered harmful to the people were locked up in a place called Hoegeumdong (悔禁洞) and were reformed through Buddhist scriptures.

-So your father-in-law is being treated at the Shaolin Temple and is locked up?

I heard that Shaolin Temple's Yeokgeun-gyeong and Guyangjin-gyeong are said to be the best among the Jeongjong.

In particular, the Yeokgeun-gyeong has the effect of treating serious internal injuries, and the Guyangjin-gyeong, which is called the internal martial arts of the Yanggang, can expel cold energy.

It seems that what Asongi Guyang Motsigi said is Guyang Jinkyung.

If Shaolin Temple did not value life lightly, it would not have neglected the injury even if the craftsman was a villain.

-But if you're locked up, don't you give him medicine and a bottle?

…….From our point of view, yes.

From Shaolin Temple's perspective, they have fulfilled their mission.

It's about saving lives and imprisoning evildoers.

-Then, it could be that Sima Ying hasn't come back until now because he wanted to save his father.

I think so.

He is Sima Ying's only blood relative.

There was no way I could leave my father like that.

Maybe she was trapped along with him while struggling to save him.

-There's something to be done right away.

I have to save Sima Ying and Jang In-eoneun.

* * *

Sungsan Mountain in Deungbong-si, Hanam-seong.

There is a Shaolin Temple there, which is called the Martial Arts Academy.

Although it is called the origin of martial arts, the interior of Shaolin Temple is no different from any other temple.

There are a shrine, a bell tower, a drum tower, a Catholic church, the main shrine, and the Daeungjeon.

The inside of the hermitage was filled with Buddhist scriptures made from bamboo and paper, boasting of its history, and there were a thousand Buddhas with elaborate murals.

Up to this point, this is the only place where civilians visiting Shaolin Temple are permitted to enter.

The Yeokgeun Gyeongjeon Hall, which stores the 108 martial arts that can be considered the true face of Shaolin Temple, and the 36 caves called the Samshipsukdong, which have various purposes, are off-limits to anyone except monks of Shaolin Temple.

Among the 36 caves, there is one called Hoegeum-dong.

Inside Hoegeumdong, the sound of reciting sutras echoed outside.

“Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva practices the perfection of wisdom and again views the five aggregates as empty, and attains all great wealth and sariṇa. Form is empty, emptiness is form, and emptiness is form. Form is empty at the time, emptiness is form. When he reverses his actions and conduct….”

The sound of reciting the sutra was overflowing with energy.

In front of the Hoegeum-dong where such a loud noise was coming from, there was a peerless beauty biting her lips.

She was none other than Sima Ying.

'father…..'

The reason she was loitering around this entrance was because her father, the Wolakgyeom Sima Zhao, was inside.

She heard some shocking news three months ago.

It was said that Shaolin Temple was holding his father in custody in a place called Hoegeumdong.

At first, it was hard to believe.

Does it make sense that my father, one of the top five martial arts masters in the world, would be locked up in Shaolin Temple?

I thought so, and it was true.

It was said that Sima Zhao, who was badly injured, entered the Shaolin Temple on his own two feet.

And the rumors were true.

She came here and was able to see her father's face just once.

-Ugh!

Sima Ying gritted his teeth and glared at the white-bearded monk guarding the front of Hoegeumdong.

The monk called Hoegeumdongju was in charge of guarding this place.

Hoegeumdongju looked at her and said.

“Amitabha. Bodhisattva, please step aside now.”

“……How can I leave with peace of mind when my father is imprisoned here? Monk.”

To her words, Hoegeum Dongju replied by putting his hands together in prayer.

“I tell you this every day, but the more you cling to it, the more it will hinder the teachings of Sima Shiju.”

"iced coffee!"

It's always been like this.

After confirming that her father, Sima Zhao, was here, she did not hesitate to use any means necessary to rescue him.

At first, they tried to use force, but Shaolin's force was on a different level from that of other sects.

Even in the case of the Hoegeumdongju in front of her, she was a top-notch master who was considered a candidate for the next chieftain, and she had no way of dealing with him with her weapons.

So, he tried many methods, such as disguising himself as a human face mask, infiltrating, and putting medicine in the monks' food, but they all ended in failure.

'I just need to remove the golden needles embedded in my father's body.'

The seven great gates of Samachak were sealed by something called the Golden Acupuncture Needle.

If the gate had not been blocked and his martial arts skills not been sealed, how could Sima Zhao, a master who could climb over walls, have been captured here?

“Please step aside now, Bodhisattva. If you continue to be obsessed like this, the empty monks will have no choice but to take action. Amitabha.”

Sima Ying, who had been glaring at Hui Jin Dong Zhu with the aforementioned face, suddenly turned around.

Sima Ying, who had been walking as if he was going back, kicked the ground and launched a new attack at Hoejin Dongju at lightning speed.

“Amitabha.”

Hoegeumdongju took the ceremonial seat with a sigh.

It was a technique called Yongjosoo, one of the 108 Shaolin techniques.

When Sima Ying deployed his martial arts, Dongju Huijin blocked it with a defensive strategy.

-Papapapapak!

A strange light caught the eye of the Hwegeumdongju who was blocking her eating.

For three months she had attacked him countless times.

Every time I dealt with her, she was the first woman with such outstanding talent.

'It's grown again.'

Although he was controlling the level of his internal energy, he was now easily able to block the dragon's advance.

I even thought that if we continued to fight like this, Sima Ying might gain enlightenment and reach the pinnacle of his power.

'Blood is scary.'

Indeed, the Wolakgyeom Samachak was the daughter.

But now I couldn't look at her.

An order came down from the head monk.

[If Sima Shiju's daughter continues to cause trouble, she will also be sealed in the gate and imprisoned in the cave of troubles for 100 days.]

“Bodhisattva, please forgive the poor monk.”

Hoegeumdongju, who was unfolding the Yongjosu, changed his fighting style from the Jobeop to the Kwonbeop.

It was the standard form of the Baekboshinkwon, one of the thirty-six martial arts that Shaolin is proud of.

-Pot!

Hoegeumdongju thrust his fist forward.

Then, with a cracking sound, the fist shot forward.

“Tch!”

Sima Ying quickly did a backflip to avoid Hui Jin Dong Zhu's punch.

“Excellent. One!”

But the true meaning of the Baekboshin Kwon was only just beginning.

As Hoe-geum-dong-ju stepped on Jin-gak and repeatedly extended his fists, his fists created numerous fist shapes and covered Sima Ying.

'Even if I only brought a sword.'

Sima Young was unable to avoid defeat in Gwon Yeong.

Since she was not allowed to have weapons in the Shaolin Temple, she had no choice but to rely on the Moon Shadow Flower Jade Palm (月影華玉掌) that she had learned from her father, Sima Zhao.

'You have to hold on.'

Sima Ying gritted his teeth.

I thought of a method of giving away flesh and taking bones.

Fortunately, none of the monks at Shaolin Temple used acupuncture.

She flew straight towards Kwon Young.

“I knew it would turn out like that.”

"oh!"

Hoegeumdongju followed behind her, spreading out her magic like flowing water, and then tried to grab her wrist with Geumnasu's technique.

-Ouch!

For a split second, Hoegeumdongju was startled and stepped back.

Sima Ying, who had escaped the danger of being subdued, could not hide his bewilderment as he opened fire on him.

'Why are you suddenly doing that?'

It was that very moment.

-Phuk!

Something fell from the sky and landed on the ground between Hoe-geum-dong-ju and Sima-yeong.

Sima Ying, who saw it, muttered with reddened eyes.

“Blood Demon Sword!”

Hearing her voice, Hoegeumdongju was startled and asked back.

“Blood Demon Sword? What do you mean? Shi….”

However, Hoegeumdongju could not continue speaking until the end.

It was because of the intense and intimidating presence that suddenly appeared behind him.

If I move even a little bit, it feels like my whole body will be torn apart on the spot.

Hoegeumdongju swallowed hard and opened his mouth.

“……Who are you?”

“The man who will become that woman’s husband.”

ⓒ Hanjungwolya