Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 129 : Private Audience

Private Audience

"......!"

The abbot of Shaolin had referred to someone as a guest.

That could hardly be a trivial matter.

The fact alone that the winner of the duel tournament—where elites from all sects gathered—was rewarded with a private audience with the abbot said as much.

It was only a few days ago that it became a hot topic when the tournament winner finally had a private meeting with the abbot.

And yet, a young man whose support was vastly different—why would he be the abbot's guest?

Even someone utterly ignorant of the ways of the martial world would find it hard to believe.

And now, it was happening right before their very eyes.

As the Shaolin monks stared, eyes wide in disbelief,

Mu Jung turned his head and spoke once more.

"Do-un, you come along as well."

"...... Yes?"

Do-un started in surprise when his dharma name came directly from the abbot's mouth.

He even looked a bit dazed.

The gaze that had been fixed on Jeong-un quickly shifted to Mu Jung at that very moment.

It was to be expected.

Unlike the senior monks from Shaolin who had just arrived, those present here had seen with their own eyes that Jeong-un's appearance had changed.

They remembered perfectly what his face had looked like before, and what his previous identity was.

'He was said to be the benefactor at Shin Clan Manor...!'

'He was certainly that young man Cheon Pung of the Baek Sword Gate. But now, with that face, and that martial skill—what on earth?'

There were many people staring at Jeong-un with their eyes wide open.

Right now, only Shaolin monks were on this cliff, but on the other peaks, there were also plenty of martial artists observing the scene.

With the abbot right there, no one dared to intervene.

Still, they were surely straining their eyes, desperate to figure out what was really happening.

And yet, the abbot had just called him his guest.

Step, step.

After Mu Jung finished speaking, he started walking away without another word.

The silent message was clear: do not ask, just follow.

"......."

Jeong-un watched Mu Jung's back for a moment, then began to move.

Do-un hurried after them as well.

The remaining Shaolin monks looked on in bewilderment, watching the three fading figures recede into the distance.

* * *

"So...."

Once again, it was the abbot's quarters—a place most would find difficult to enter even once.

For Jeong-un, this was already his second visit.

Mu Jung simply continued down the mountain in silence.

Jeong-un and Do-un quietly followed behind, saying nothing.

Only after they arrived and took their seats did Mu Jung finally speak.

"In the end, it was you who helped."

Hearing this, Jeong-un shook his head in response.

"I barely managed to move at all. I couldn't cut him down, nor did I protect the brazen bell he was after."

Was it belated disappointment settling in?

His voice was somewhat subdued.

He hadn't consciously felt dejected, but his words came out sounding that way.

"......."

Mu Jung gave a soft chuckle.

This made Jeong-un look at him with some surprise—it was an unaffected, almost playful smile, hardly what one expected from someone who had just endured a great ordeal.

"Wasn't it your actions that saved someone? Unlike some useless old man who just holed up in his room."

"...... Master."

At Mu Jung's words, Do-un lifted his head and spoke quietly.

The leader of a great sect humbling himself like this—Do-un, as his disciple, felt a desire to preserve his teacher's dignity.

Mu Jung looked at him and asked,

"How many times did you strike the bell today?"

"...?"

It was a random question.

After all that had occurred, this was the first thing he asked?

On top of that, didn't the bell essentially disappear?

Do-un hesitated, unsure why, but finally replied.

"Twice."

"Only twice."

"Pardon?"

"As soon as dawn breaks, go down to the village and procure an iron bell. You can use Shaolin's name and borrow one from a nearby temple. It doesn't matter the size, so long as it's sturdy. Then, finish the remaining 108 times."

"Master!"

Do-un couldn't hide his astonishment.

After all that had happened, he was being told to simply fetch another bell?

He had expected at least some discussion about the situation.

Was that the only reason he'd been summoned—to run errands?

At that moment, Mu Jung continued.

"The local benefactors are probably anxious."

"Pardon?"

"You cannot even count the number of people who endure the whole year relying on the sound of that bell. You should spare a thought for those who depend on our name for their survival."

He wasn't scolding.

Mu Jung's tone was calm, almost as if reciting scripture, as he continued.

"It's only cultivated power infused with the Tendon Changing Classic, mixed into the sound. At most, it provides a bit of comfort to those worn in body and mind. But for them, that's all they look forward to each year. They firmly believe that the sound keeps them safe. But with just two tolls, the ringing was cut off—how do you suppose they feel now?"

"......."

Do-un's jaw dropped open.

In the urgency of the situation, he hadn't thought that far.

What, after all, was the true purpose behind the bell ceremony?

He bowed his head in shame.

His face set, he nodded.

"... I'll depart at dawn."

"Thank you."

Mu Jung smiled softly. Then he turned to Jeong-un once more.

"You've found yourself in quite a bind, haven't you?"

His tone actually had a trace of mirth in it.

Just as Do-un had looked perplexed earlier, Jeong-un now glanced at Mu Jung with some confusion as well.

Mu Jung's expression did not resemble someone who had just lost something precious.

'He even let him get away.'

Jeong-un was overcome by a sense of self-reproach.

After all this time spent watching over things while Shaolin Assembly was underway, all his efforts had come to nothing.

What had it all been for?

Jeong-un spoke slowly.

"I completely failed my mission. Not only did I fail to stop him, I couldn't even carry out the plan my headquarters had prepared."

As he spoke, he reflected once more on what had happened.

The bell pavilion where the brazen bell was raised sat atop a cliff, well up the slopes of Mount Shaoshi.

The sight was renowned for its majesty.

In retrospect, if that brazen bell had always been the target, it made sense for the thief to aim for it when it was on the cliff, rather than when it was inside the temple's bell tower.

It simply had never occurred to Jeong-un that anyone would covet the bell itself.

Not when all of Shaolin's top experts had spent the entire bell ceremony inside the monastery.

'That's why I couldn't inform Gwak Gyeong either.'

Gwak Gyeong, his designated contact, had also been waiting at the Shaolin monastery.

When the thief appeared, Jeong-un had no way of leaving to report to him.

'But most importantly....'

The real issue was the thief's identity.

Jeong-un had expected it wasn't merely a common thief, but could never have imagined that it was the very cult leader he had already faced before.

In hindsight, the whole martial world had underestimated him.

The man wasn't just a Divine Thief with an exceptional body-strengthening art—he was an overwhelmingly powerful figure.

Honestly, even if Jeong-un had managed to notify Gwak Gyeong in time, he doubted they could have captured the cult leader.

Worse, the martial artists of the Heavenly Martial Hall might have simply charged in and suffered terrible losses.

That was why, as they followed the abbot down the mountain, Jeong-un hadn't sought out Gwak Gyeong.

At that moment, Mu Jung spoke up.

"I hope you're not too deeply attached to the organization you belong to. From what I hear, it's not a place you'll serve for long anyway."

"Not too attached, you say...?"

"Don't you all judge the value of your actions solely on success or failure? How tragic that is."

Tragic?

Mu Jung had just mentioned the Heavenly Martial Hall, but now he was telling him not to reduce work to mere success or failure.

Jeong-un couldn't help but be a bit puzzled.

Mu Jung continued.

"You did everything you could. Even if your superiors interpret what you did today as a failure, don't let it trouble you. In my eyes, you're not only commendable but downright admirable. In fact... if your superiors try to reprimand you, I'd be tempted to write an affidavit on your behalf using my name."

"...!"

It was Do-un, sitting beside them, who looked most shocked.

The more he listened, the more astounding it all sounded. He was practically doubting his ears.

Finally, unable to contain himself, Do-un interjected.

"S-so, you mean this young hero's identity is really...?"

He turned to look at Jeong-un.

The face was unfamiliar; it was hard to believe, even seeing it with his own eyes.

Jeong-un nodded.

There was no reason to hide it, after all those conversations with the abbot.

"I am Yu Jeong-un of the Heavenly Martial Hall. I apologize—I assumed a false identity to participate in the Shaolin Assembly. I am deeply ashamed."

"......!"

The Heavenly Martial Hall, after all.

In this martial world, they were about the only group who so openly talked about missions.

Do-un had suspected it from what he overheard, but wouldn't allow himself to believe it.

Do-un went on.

"S-so, Cheon Pung—I mean, young hero Yu—posed as a disciple of another sect and participated in our head temple's event? And, master, you condoned this—?"

He stared back and forth at Jeong-un and Mu Jung in horror.

It was plain he was hoping they would deny it.

But when Jeong-un nodded, Do-un shut his eyes tightly.

Seeing that, Jeong-un spoke up.

"I have nothing but apologies."

"......."

Do-un seemed too overwhelmed to reply for a moment.

Then, recalling something Mu Jung had just said, he spoke again.

"Then, master, when you mentioned an affidavit, were you really saying you would officially testify to the Heavenly Martial Hall that this young hero's failure was due to extenuating circumstances?"

"If necessary, that is the least I can do."

"...!"

Do-un now looked not simply shocked, but utterly stunned.

And with good reason.

Not only was Mu Jung refusing to reprimand a man who had infiltrated the Shaolin Assembly under false identity—he was even offering to vouch for him.

Do-un stared at Mu Jung in disbelief.

"You cannot do this. I can see you think highly of this young hero, master, but he deceived us and crossed the gate of our sect under false pretenses. How can you think only of your personal feelings and ignore the dignity of our monastery? Only a moment ago you spoke of the many commoners who depend on our good name...!"

"Such an ungrateful boy."

Do-un flinched even though Mu Jung's voice was not loud.

It was because the abbot was frowning at his disciple.

"Do you, of all people, have any right to speak of dignity?"

"Pardon?"

"List for me what you did while the brazen bell was being stolen. I want to hear the deeds of one who speaks so much of dignity."

"... Th-that is..."

Do-un's eyes shifted involuntarily to Jeong-un and his voice trailed off.

Even if he had ten mouths, he would have nothing to say.

The only person who had fought the thief on the spot was Jeong-un.

Mu Jung spoke sternly.

"If it were not for this benefactor, none of you—including yourself—may have survived. Do you really think that man would have left behind any witnesses after taking the bell?"

"...!"

"He alone faced the thief and bought precious time for the rest. And yet you argue public versus private, instead of offering thanks or bowing in gratitude? How disgraceful. Are you truly a monk?"

With Mu Jung's scathing rebuke, Do-un shrank and lowered his head again.

He had only spoken up to defend the temple, but now he'd only ended up getting harshly reprimanded.

Jeong-un looked at Do-un and, inwardly, gave a wry smile.

'... It's not as though he did nothing.'

After all, it was Do-un who launched a forcible stride into the cliff, sending rocks flying.

Jeong-un still remembered the urgency on his face as he called out.

It was thanks to him that Jeong-un managed to spring back up and confront the thief at eye level.

In other words, Do-un had provided significant help.

Jeong-un debated whether to say something but, before he could open his mouth, Mu Jung waved him off.

"You've done enough for now—go get some rest. Before you sleep, contemplate what you just said while facing the wall. Reflect on your words."

With this dismissal, Do-un mustered what little strength he had, stood up, and with a forlorn expression, left the room, closing the door behind him.

And thus, Jeong-un was left alone with the abbot.

'A second private audience...'

If you looked at it that way, it was as if he had won the duel tournament twice.

That silly thought crossed his mind for a moment.

Mu Jung stared intently at Jeong-un and spoke.

"I have something to ask you."

"Please ask whatever you wish."

Jeong-un answered respectfully.

"Are you acquainted with that Divine Thief?"

"......."