With my scalp freshly moisturized, Jaheo and I arrived at the place where the Dalai Lama had previously waited for me.
As we reached the entrance, there they were—palms together, the Dalai Lama, Dorje, and countless monks.
“Heavenly Master! We’ve been waiting for you!”
“We’ve been waiting!”
I couldn’t help but be a little startled.
I had only intended to briefly greet Dorje and the Dalai Lama and then head back, but it looked like the entire upper echelon had assembled.
Everyone Dorje had introduced as the core leadership of Podarlap Palace was inside.
I hesitated at the sight of the crowd inside, but Dorje stepped forward to meet me and guided me to the front, toward the Dalai Lama.
“Heavenly Master, this way.”
“Yes... Though, um, there are quite a lot of people here.”
“Well, if the Heavenly Master wished to speak with us, of course all the high monks had to gather.”
Why did they have to make it so burdensome by bringing in this many people?
I had only come to say I was leaving.
Of course, I did want to stay a few more days.
I mean, I had a conscience—how could I just bolt after obtaining a spiritual beast?
I didn’t particularly want this role of Heavenly Master, but since I had been granted the title, I figured I should at least maintain some proper relationships.
If I said I was leaving right after gaining the spirit creatures, it might look too obvious.
But I couldn't wait any longer.
Yeoncheon and Yeonji, who I had acquired this time, would try to make poisonous spines sprout from the monks' shiny bald heads whenever they saw them. And Hwa-eun had also been subtly pressuring me.
Earlier, as we walked to the quarters, Hwa-eun had looped her arm through mine and guided me to the rear of our group, her smile beaming as she whispered telepathically:
[So-ryong, now that everything on this side is settled, all that’s left is to return to the Tang Clan, yes?
Now, I—I will forever be yours, So-ryong... Hehe.]
She ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) meant we should hurry back to Sichuan and finalize the marriage documents.
She had waited long enough.
With some coaxing, she might have agreed to wait a few more days, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it anymore.
After all, ever since that accident that got me registered with the Beast Heart Art, Hwa-eun’s obsession had only intensified, and I had kept delaying her repeated suggestions to “go all the way,” using excuses like hunting spiritual beasts or needing to return to the clan.
They say when Buddhists reach a deep level of cultivation, sarira form in their bodies. By now, I was pretty sure Hwa-eun had an entire sack of sarira inside her.
As for me, well, I didn’t care much about the rest—but I was seriously interested in the wedding night, so I too was eager to return.
“Speeding,” she said. Me? I was the best defensive driver even in my past life. But hey—this wedding night? I was seriously looking forward to it.
‘Speeding or not... Just this once, I’ll be a little shameless.’
Though I was flustered by the monks' stares, my mind had already wandered to the wedding night, and in that moment—resolving to be shameless just once—the Dalai Lama’s voice rang out.
“Then, is there perhaps a decree you wish to deliver?”
Not a conversation—he was asking if I had commands.
Under the gleaming eyes of the monks, I smiled apologetically and replied.
“Yes, well... Actually... I believe it’s time for me to return.”
At those words, the monks’ previously eager faces all sank into disappointment.
They had been expecting me, now the Heavenly Master, to issue some great mandate, it seemed.
“Y-you’re saying... you’re leaving?” Dorje asked, clearly flustered.
I quickly delivered the explanation I had prepared.
“Yes. The Five Venoms Clan could stir up some bloody catastrophe in the Central Plains by leading the Blood Cult... so I can’t just stay here idly.”
I was doing something huge for the sake of the Central Plains.
To the people of this world, the Central Plains were the center of civilization. Protecting it was the same as protecting the world.
Just as I’d planned with Ji-ryong in advance, I emphasized that point. But unable to lie completely, I added the real reasons too.
‘My conscience pricked me...’
“They’re even creating locusts in the Western Regions now—that news needs to be shared with the Central Plains. And the spirit beasts I’ve gained don’t take kindly to the monks of Podarlap Palace, so I can’t leave them here. Lastly, and this one’s not too important, but... my wedding is fast approaching... Ahem.”
“Y-your wedding is approaching!?” someone exclaimed.
“Yes. Well, that’s right.”
As the word wedding came up, the monks began exchanging glances.
Was it so strange that a Heavenly Master was getting married?
Should I mention the rumors that even that one had three wives?
Just as I was considering it, the Dalai Lama spoke in a kind voice.
“I understand what you’re saying. You are undertaking a great task for the world—we cannot stand in your way. But... may we ask a few small favors of you?”
“A f-few?”
I did feel sorry about leaving so soon, but what did they mean, a few favors?
Shouldn’t Podarlap Palace be the one granting me favors, now that I’m the Heavenly Master?
That thought crossed my mind just as the Dalai Lama smiled and said,
“It is not burdensome. We only ask that you allow us to send wedding gifts and congratulatory envoys from Podarlap Palace... and that you visit us from time to time, even if only occasionally.”
“Ah.”
If it was that kind of request, why would I refuse?
If my head ever got too cluttered—or if I ended up in a spat with Hwa-eun—I could treat it like a temple stay and come hang out here for a few days. Not a bad offer at all.
I nodded immediately.
“Of course, I’ll do that. Come to think of it, I should invite you to the wedding, shouldn’t I?”
“Thank you, Heavenly Master.”
As I answered gladly, the monks' faces brightened once again.
Now that the conversation had gone smoothly, I decided it was time to bring out the gift I had prepared.
Originally, I was supposed to mention it first, but I’d been so flustered by the crowd I’d forgotten.
“Well... I don’t know if this will be helpful, but... I’ve prepared a small gift.”
“A gift?”
“For us?”
“Yes.”
At the mention of a gift, the monks looked at my hands—then, seeing they were empty, tilted their heads in confusion.
I looked toward Jaheo, and he stepped forward with a martial salute.
“Some of you may already know me. I am Jaheo, a monk from Songshan Shaolin.”
“Ah, yes, we’ve heard of you.”
The Dalai Lama nodded in response.
Jaheo glanced at me once, then began to explain what I had asked him to.
“I heard that you are currently seeking sutras?”
“That’s right. Many were lost when we were expelled from India, so we’ve been working to collect them anew.”
“Yes. I believe our Shaolin Temple may be able to assist.”
“Shaolin?”
As soon as Jaheo mentioned Shaolin’s help, the Dalai Lama turned to me.
He seemed to be asking me to explain it myself.
I had hoped Jaheo would handle it, but it seemed like these people still held bias against Central Plains martial artists.
“Well, while talking with Monk Jaheo the other day, I learned that most of the Buddhist scriptures in the Central Plains were actually translations of Sanskrit sutras brought from India. So I asked if there were any temples in the Central Plains that still possessed the original Sanskrit versions, and whether we could make copies to share or lend.”
“What!?”
The Dalai Lama looked shocked.
Yes—historically, many of the sutras in the Central Plains were translated from Sanskrit scriptures brought from ancient India.
In fact, it's a well-known historical fact—didn’t Tripitaka of Journey to the West travel to India to fetch the sutras?
It’s such a widely known truth it’s been immortalized in classic literature.
So there was no need to risk entering India, which was now under Muslim control, just to retrieve sutras.
As long as we had good relations with the Buddhists in the Central Plains, there was room for cooperation and sharing of texts.
“Is that really possible? Shaolin would support such a thing? And... forgive me, but I’m not sure of Monk Jaheo’s standing—can he speak on Shaolin’s behalf?”
Dorje looked doubtful.
How high-ranking was Jaheo? Did he even have the authority to make such offers?
I had my doubts too, but Jaheo said that the Shaolin abbot had instructed him to assist with anything that wasn’t against the temple’s doctrine.
So I figured he’d explain that much... but the response I got was entirely unexpected.
“If Young Master So were Buddha himself, shouldn’t we naturally grant his request?”
“Ooooooh!”
“Indeed, indeed. Under the Heavenly Master, we are all fellow seekers of enlightenment.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
‘Hey now, you—didn’t I just share mucus with you earlier...?’
Jaheo, this guy... I had just shared sacred mucus with him, and now he was paying me back by turning me into the Buddha.
I had really only wanted to be the Heavenly Master here...
***
Though I had declared my intention to leave, I couldn't depart the same day. So I spent one more night at Podarlap Palace.
And now, the path out of Podarlap.
As I stepped onto the trail leading down the mountain, I caught sight of a dark swarm below.
“What the hell is that?”
There was something pitch-black at the foot of the mountain. I raised my vision with inner strength, and then I saw them—people. A huge crowd had gathered.
Standing beside me to see me off, Dorje explained who they were.
“They came to bid farewell, now that the Heavenly Master is returning to the Central Plains.”
Podarlap Palace and the villages surrounding it felt like something out of a fantasy setting, almost like a religious capital. Religion seemed to dominate society, economy, and politics here. And since I was leaving, it appeared every last person in this city had come out to send me off.
As I descended the staircase and stood before the crowd at the base, the people bowed their heads and put their palms together in reverence.
“Heavenly Master, please return to us again!”
“Please visit us again!”
After they bowed, they began showering us with flower petals made of red, yellow, and blue paper. The expression on Hwa-eun’s face turned radiant with joy.
[So-ryong, now I understand why women always want to marry a man who’s made it big.]
[Well... I wouldn’t say I’ve made it exactly...]
It was a position I’d received for free, but I couldn’t help but feel my shoulders puff up a little.
Leaving behind the monks and people of Podarlap Palace, who were seeing us off with showers of petals, we began heading back toward Mount Meili Snow.
We were making our way toward the place where we’d docked the boat.
As we traveled from Podarlap Palace back in the direction of Meili Snow Mountain, a considerable distance passed.
It was the season when winter approached, but Sichuan didn’t fall below freezing even in midwinter. The farther we traveled, the warmer it got, and the expressions and movements of the group became livelier.
With the thawing weather and renewed energy, the group started chatting more. Then, from beside me, Brother Gwiseong, who had been stealing glances, quietly asked Yeoncheon and Yeonji, our newest companions:
“Um... Elder Yeoncheon, forgive me, but... could you perhaps tell us about Hwamu-jin?”
At his question, Yeoncheon turned her long gaze toward him.
[That is what you're curious about?]
“Yes. Since I also practice the Dao, I thought... perhaps there might be some martial insight to gain...”
Since Hwamu-jin was said to have ascended to immortality, he was probably hoping to pick up some kind of clue related to martial cultivation.
Yeoncheon replied without hesitation.
[Very well. It’s no trouble at all.]
“Oh! Thank you so much!”
As soon as she said she’d talk about Hwamu-jin, everyone flocked over.
The children who had been walking by my side were pushed to the back, and all the martial artists gathered around me.
Bini, who had been crawling beside me, was pushed aside and grumbled.
—Szzzzz. 『Hey! That spot next to Daddy is mine!』
Normally, people would freeze at Bini’s sharp screech, but this time, everyone just apologized and stayed where they were.
“Sorry, Bini. It’s a really important story.”
“Yes, sorry.”
And so began the story of a grandmaster from three hundred years ago.
[Very well. What exactly are you so curious about?]
At Yeoncheon’s question, Brother Gwiseong was quick to respond.
“We heard that Hwamu-jin became an immortal. Did you, by any chance, witness his ascension?”
Naturally, every martial artist dreams of becoming immortal, so that was what he most wanted to know.
Yeoncheon nodded.
[Of course. My wife and I were with him until the end.]
“Ohhh! Then, as the legends say, did the gates of Heaven open, and immortals descend to receive him?”
[Hm? Gates of Heaven?]
“Yes, that’s what we’ve been told.”
At his answer, the Five Dragon Fangs and everyone else nodded in unison.
That’s how the scene of ascension was usually described.
But Yeoncheon, having actually witnessed it, answered in a slightly awkward tone.
[It seems the ascension you speak of and the one I witnessed are... different.]
She said it felt different.
“Different, you say?”
[Ascension... doesn’t it just mean dying?]
“Eh? Dying? Not rising into the sky?”
[Yes. He died and was buried in the secret chamber he had prepared.]
“Whaaaat?”
Everyone had believed Hwamu-jin had become immortal, but now she was saying he died? They all stared at each other in disbelief.
Then Hwa-eun asked,
“Then, Senior Yeoncheon... do you know where that secret chamber is?”
“...”
A brief silence fell as everyone waited with bated breath.
And then Yeoncheon replied.
[Of course. My wife and I are the ones who sealed the chamber where he was buried.]
The moment she said that, the quiet atmosphere suddenly felt like it was about to ignite.
Everyone’s eyes seemed to glisten with a fiery gleam.
‘W-what the hell?’
It felt like I was staring at a group of people just like me.
