Mistaken for a Fairy
ch13

[Shaolin (3)]

The Mountain Gate of Shaolin.

The front yard of the Shaolin Temple was filled with travelers seeking to admire the scenery and people offering thanks to Buddha for a bountiful harvest. Incense sticks burned everywhere, and the sound of chanting faintly echoed.

However, the atmosphere within Shaolin's inner sanctum was quite different.

In the midst of an intense silence, only the faint sounds of monks' footwork and fist strikes cutting through the air could be heard. The sight of dozens, even hundreds, of monks moving as one was spectacular in itself.

And in the deepest part of the inner sanctum, the Arhat Hall.

There, where Shaolin's elite monks resided, the Eighteen Arhats began to appear one by one. It was time for their regular meeting, held every fifteen days.

But those who were Eighteen Arhats were the first to step forward when turmoil arose in the secular world. Not only did they frequently travel, but they also had to teach their juniors and devote themselves to training to break through their own limits, so time was always scarce.

Naturally, few attended the meetings. Usually, it was difficult to gather more than four.

But today was different.

More than half of the Eighteen Arhats, the masters Shaolin boasted, were present.

They were highly skilled monks, capable of gaining the upper hand against the leaders of prestigious sects if they all gathered. Even without intending to, they exuded a heavy and imposing aura that seemed to ripple the air around them.

Thud.

However, that weighty atmosphere vanished as if by magic the moment a benevolent-faced old monk stepped through the door.

It was Cheongjin, one of the Four Great Vajras, the four most outstanding masters among Shaolin's monks.

A combat monk who was bound by nothing except the Great Three Precepts of Shaolin and the Abbot's orders.

Even Cheongjin, with his gentle face, had been a calamity for the warriors of the Demonic Sect and the heretical sects in his prime.

Soon, Cheongjin's voice resonated throughout the hall.

"You have all heard the rumors circulating in the Henan area recently. Regardless of their truth, rumors that attract public attention are usually followed by wicked individuals."

As befitting a high monk of Shaolin, Cheongjin's voice was deeply imbued with the spirit of subduing evil and upholding righteousness.

"No sect would recklessly move in this land of Henan, which the Imperial Family is watching closely. But the unorthodox sects are different. They will surely be lurking beneath the surface, waiting for an opportunity."

The Arhats lowered their heads and responded quietly.

No one dared to question him. It had only been a day since the heads of each hall and the Vajras present had met with the Abbot.

This gathering was only to receive instructions, not to discuss differing opinions.

"Whether that person is the Divine Doctor or a thief who stole the Sword Saint's Emblem, it is of no importance to me. However, I will never tolerate bandits and heretics running rampant in this Mount Song."

"What would you have us do?"

Cheongjin, having finished speaking, looked around the room.

The Eighteen Arhats.

Although only about half of them were gathered, each one was a figure whose name could shake the Martial World.

But their opponent was also extraordinary. It was someone who had boldly displayed the Sword Saint's Emblem, no less. It was certain that they were no ordinary person.

The more they delayed, the more anxiety would grow, and when anxiety grew, even the flow of the world would be disturbed, so it was necessary to settle things quickly.

"I will go myself."

Cheongjin declared loudly.

"Unbaek, Unchang, and Unhyeon will guard the mountain gate, and the rest of the Arhats will follow me. We will depart immediately."

Swish!

No sooner had he finished speaking than Cheongjin's figure vanished like a gust of wind.

The Arhats' bodies also moved without a single subtle breath. Red Monk's Robes sliced through the trees and rocks as they raced.

As ten people leaped as one, the ends of their Monk's Robes rippled like waves, and the forest was pressed down by the aura of the warriors, silently splitting apart.

It was such swift lightness skill that passersby on the road mistook their presence for the wind.

In a few steps, they leaped over cliffs dozens of yards high, and in a single breath, they crossed valleys.

Even the rugged terrain of the steep Mount Song was no different from flat ground before the Arhats' lightness skill.

In the end, it took them less than half an hour to reach the opposite side of Daesil Mountain.

The fact that they had not shed a single drop of sweat despite running without rest was astonishing.

Cheongjin, having scanned the mountain terrain, commanded.

"Form teams of three and take charge of one direction each. I will take the front."

"Yes!"

With a short response, the Arhats scattered at once.

Red Monk's Robes split in all directions, cutting through the forest, and Cheongjin stopped alone, gazing at the ridge of Daesil Mountain with a deep gaze.

On the surface, it was just an ordinary forest. Even when focusing, not a single strange aura could be detected.

But Cheongjin felt even more strangeness because of that.

'…How curious.'

Just as he was about to take a few steps with suspicion, the straight forest path twisted strangely, and the trees began to move as if they had legs.

"…!"

It was a change that would have been impossible to detect even for someone with transcendent eyesight.

Before he knew it, he had entered a formation.

If he were someone with shallow martial arts, he would have been deceived into thinking he was walking on flat ground, only to be led to a strange place out of nowhere. If he were even more insignificant, he would have lost even the memory of getting lost.

But that was not the end of it.

When he tried to jump onto a tree, his feet were back on the ground. When he tried to dig into the ground, only empty air lingered at his fingertips.

It was an absurd formation.

'Who are these guys?'

In the language of the secular world, they could be called crazy people. To set up such a formation in Mount Song, which was said to be the origin of Shaolin, no less.

It was no different from a declaration of war against Shaolin.

Should he be thankful that the formation did not contain murderous intent? It only blocked access to the center of the formation, and there was no intention to harm people at all.

'…Perhaps she really is the Divine Doctor.'

Perhapss he was saving someone who had been seriously injured in the middle of the formation. If she had deployed the formation to prevent external intrusion and was only concentrating on medical treatment, it was not something he could not understand.

But was that important?

It was not important.

From the moment the Four Great Vajras had stepped forward, it was no longer something that could be taken lightly.

'The other Arhats must be wandering around as well.'

Even if they had entered all at once, it would not have been different. The formation was that advanced and subtle. Even Cheongjin himself could not sense the direction, let alone the exit.

If the Abbot, who had attained the divine eye, had come forward, it would have been different, but Cheongjin did not have such abilities.

Soon, Cheongjin calmed his breathing and suppressed his breath.

Kwaaaang!

A palm strike imbued with the weight of a thousand pounds shook the earth. A strike that condensed the aura of Primordial Palm Technique swept through the area. The earth twisted, the old trees were torn to pieces, and the bedrock was shattered, spitting out pebbles.

But a hollow laugh soon escaped from Cheongjin's lips.

"Heh heh!"

The formation was intact.

Not only that, but the outline of the forest, which he thought had been broken, was slowly returning to its original state.

Broken branches reattached themselves, and the dug-up ground was covered as if rewinding.

"…Interesting. Very interesting."

Primordial Palm Technique? Not enough. Subduing Demons and Taming Tigers Palm? That was also insufficient. What about Arhat Fist? Disappointing. He needed more power.

Cheongjin's eyes flashed with fighting spirit.

"Good. Let's see how long you can hold out."

Cheongjin grinned.

Slowly, but firmly, a massive internal energy gathered at the end of his clenched fist.

The air was stretched taut, and even the void seemed to hold its breath, and soon an invisible pressure formed at the end of his fist.

Cheongjin thought.

This place was a maze. It was difficult to even gauge left and right, and the more he moved, the deeper he fell into the swamp of darkness.

If he tried to find a way out, he would only be more confused.

Then.

Cheongjin's fist slowly rose. It was not aimed at the earth or the forest.

The sky.

To be precise, it was the illusionary shell that covered the sky.

In the next moment, the mysteries of the Hundred Steps Divine Fist unfolded, and the space distorted as if pierced. The fist energy, shot out at a speed that was difficult to even estimate with the eyes, relentlessly surged like a waterfall.

Dudududududu!!!

The atmosphere screamed. Fallen leaves, unable to withstand the wind pressure, scattered and shattered. The speed of destruction was twice as fast as the speed of restoration.

Chwaajwajwajwak!

Cheongjin's movements did not stop.

Dragon Claw Hand, Tiger Claw Hand, Eagle Claw Hand.

Continuous Strikes, Iron Chain Skill, Shaolin Palm.

He unleashed the martial arts of Shaolin that he had accumulated for decades in succession.

The space, which had been twisted to its limit, could not withstand it and began to pour out cracks. Just as a corner of the formation was about to shatter like glass,

"I see the Demon-Subduing Tiger Monk of Shaolin."

A young girl walked out through the gap that was about to split open. The girl gathered her hands neatly and paid her respects.

Cheongjin obediently stopped his attack. He thought that if he knocked long enough, the owner of the formation would reveal himself.

"Did you create this formation, Benefactor?"

"I am sorry. I cannot reveal it."

"Then what is your name, Benefactor?"

"I cannot reveal it."

"…Your sect?"

"That also cannot be revealed."

A slight wrinkle formed on Cheongjin's forehead.

"Are you trying to play games with me, Monk?"

Chwaak!

Cheongjin's figure instantly approached the girl's nose. But the girl did not move at all. She stood still, without a single breath disturbed.

"Please forgive me for not being able to say it myself."

Cheongjin let out a short laugh. But his eyes were like those of a hawk with its claws sharpened.

'She is no ordinary child.'

Cheongjin scanned the girl's entire body with sharp eyes. Judging from the fact that the aura of subduing evil and upholding righteousness did not react at all, she did not seem to be from the Demonic Sect.

Hoo—

The sound of an owl hooting was heard from somewhere. The girl narrowed her brow as if she was bothered by the owl, and then continued.

"We are not ready to receive guests yet. Please return now."

"…Benefactor. What did you just say?"

"I am asking you to return."

"It does not seem like the attitude of someone making a request."

"If I had intended to notify you, I would not have revealed myself like this."

"Heo…"

Cheongjin swallowed his admiration inwardly. How could a child be so bold?

At this point, admiration preceded his anger.

He wondered if she had a reliable backer, but he could tell from her eyes that she did not. She trusted in her own abilities and knew that Cheongjin would not use force.

"Since Benefactor says so, I cannot help but be even more suspicious. I think I will have to see it with my own old eyes to be at ease."

"Would you retreat if I told you that you are not qualified to see the person I serve?"

Not qualified?

It was truly a laughable statement, but Cheongjin was not an easy person to deal with either.

"Then I will ask. Even if that statement is true, if we are to judge by rank as martial artists, I am above you, Benefactor, so for what reason are you trying to turn me away?"

"……."

How about that? Will you be able to counter this as well?

Cheongjin looked at the girl with eyes that could not hide his interest.

He did not know who had taught her, but her spirit alone was unparalleled. That was why he was even more interested.

Hoo—

The sound of hooting echoed again in the silence. The girl's voice seeped through the gaps.

"…I clearly told you to return."

"Heh heh, you cannot answer. If I say I will not return—"

—Cheongjin closed his mouth just as he was about to ask, "Do you have the ability to stop me?"

Hoo—

He had only closed and opened his eyes, but Cheongjin's two feet were already standing outside Daesil Mountain.

"…!"

The Arhats who had entered with him were also the same. All of them were looking at each other with bewildered expressions, not knowing what was going on.

Not only that.

It seemed that no more than a quarter of an hour had passed since they had entered, but the sky in the mountains was already dyed deep into the night.

Cheongjin's brow furrowed deeply.

'What is this…'

In Cheongjin's ears, a familiar voice echoed.

-I will serve you when I am ready to receive guests. It is late tonight, so please return now. It is cold.

The tone was polite, but the tone still had no retreat.

In effect, it was no different from an order to leave.

"Heh heh……."

Cheongjin quietly exhaled. He felt completely played, but he did not dislike the feeling.

-Well done. That monk was completely fooled.

Wi Hwa-ryeon glared at Yuheon with a sullen face. It was the Demon-Subduing Tiger Monk, no less. He had chased such a person away, saying that he was not qualified. It would not be strange if his head exploded at any moment.

"…You seem to be happy even though you have dumped the burden on to a child."

-Of course I am.

Yuheon chuckled and landed on Wi Hwa-ryeon's shoulder.

-The Four Great Vajras, which Shaolin boasts, could not even enter the center, let alone overcome the formation created by a servant, and were chased away. What would they think then? They will worry about how great the master that servant serves must be. Since the matter has become serious, the Abbot himself may step forward.

"It is not even a formation that I created."

-Originally, humans only believe what they see on the outside. Your atmosphere was plausible, so you will be able to deceive them for the time being.

"Still, Shaolin… Haa. I do not know. I guess Master will take care of it."

-You still do not trust the person you serve. It is understandable. You have not even seen a glimpse of it yet.

It was another random sound.

Wi Hwa-ryeon sighed and returned to the hut at a trot.

Seo-yeon, who was leaning back on a chair that seemed to have been naturally twisted from a giant tree trunk, slowly raised her head.

Their eyes met.

Seo-yeon was not wearing her usual veil.