Chapter 251: Emergence of the Divine Dragon

After her match ended, Qing spent the evening soaking in the Purgatory Bath, absorbing its medicinal properties, before lying down on the Lithe Grace Refinement training platform.

Then, after three shichen(6 hours) of sophisticated torture, Cheon Yuhak collapsed onto the floor, leaving Qing to her own devices.

Every single part of me aches, Qing thought as she regained control of her bound body. Just how much did I struggle?

Her joints and tendons naturally hurt since he'd intentionally pushed them to the brink of ruin, but the aching and spasming throughout her entire body was the result of her desperately trying to escape during the Lithe Grace Refinement procedure.

That mental parasite acts all high and mighty, calling himself the Heavenly Demon Supreme and whatnot, but he’s the biggest whiner I’ve ever met.

Just three shichen of Flaying Muscles and Squeezing Bones, and he threw a complete fit. Gods, I’m sore.

The funny thing was, Qing herself, who was grumbling now, had bawled her eyes out with snot bubbles during her previous regression.

The mental parasite would have felt unjustly treated if he knew, but the vicious vengeful spirit who had plunged the world into sorrow four times over during the great war between the Righteous and Demonic factions was now nothing more than a mind shattered by pain.

In Qing’s opinion, whining about wanting to die after only suffering for about a year was a bit much. Especially coming from the one responsible for turning the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult into the Demonic Cult.

After completing her rewarding Lithe Grace Refinement training and getting some sleep, she woke to find the sun high in the sky.

She went downstairs, wondering who might be visiting today. Oh.

“Well, look who it is. Hmph.... Made quite the climb, didn't you? But where's the mighty peak? I don't see any challenge here... Oh! It's you, San? The great mountain himself? When are we finally going to have a proper match!?”

“Kuhk.”

“What? This wasn't the mountain you scaled? Which pathetic little hill did you manage to crawl up then, San, that I can't even see it from here? Haha, looks like Mount San still has a long way to go!" [^His name, 'San' (山), means 'mountain'. T/N Darn, word plays in korean are hard to translate to english. Don't MTL kids.]

“...That’s enough,” Peng Daesan muttered.

“Hm. Looks like Yoye was stronger than you thought.”

“That woman.”

Peng Daesan frowned deeply.

Qing frowned right back at him.

“‘That woman’? Can’t you be a little friendlier? She’s just shy, but she’s actually really kind.”

“That’s not it. Hmm.”

Peng Daesan’s eyebrows twitched, and he hummed, then twitched again. He looked deeply conflicted about whether to say something.

Qing asked him straight out.

“Why? What is it?”

“I don’t know if I should tell you this.”

“What is it? If you started, you have to finish. Do you want to see someone burst from frustration?”

“Hmm. Let me say this upfront, this isn’t an excuse. It’s just something I think you should know too.”

“Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”

“She was drawing on her innate True Qi. It seems she’s learned some special kind of martial art that requires it.”

“Who? Yoye?”

Peng Daesan nodded.

“Huh? She’s using her innate True Qi? You mean she’s shaving off her lifespan to use her martial arts?”

Qing understood why he’d said it wasn’t an excuse.

He meant she shouldn't interpret his loss as being solely because Gongson Yoye resorted to using her innate True Qi in the match.

Although, to Qing’s ears, it sounded like there was a slight hint of that intention.

“I just thought you should know. I lost fair and square, and I hold no grudge, so stop looking at me like that.”

Seeing Qing’s suspicious gaze, Peng Daesan emphasized it again.

Qing said with a serious expression.

“Hmm. I need to talk to Yoye.”

Why would she need to risk her life—no, literally burn away her life force—for a tournament match?

Was winning the tournament really that important to her?

Compared to her, I…

…

…

Qing was deep in thought when…

“Unni! Gaga big-sis!”

“Oing? That voice. Where are you!”

With the pitter-patter of short legs running, something suddenly wrapped around Qing’s hips.

“You little rascal! Xiangie!”

Qing lifted Zhuge Xiang high and spun around in place, once, twice, three times…

“Kya-ha-ha-ha!”

Oblivious to dizziness, Zhuge Xiang burst into the clear, bright laughter unique to children.

Venerable Monk Muhak was on his way to the Mucheon Pavilion.

Hmm, how should I begin when I get there? Asking for their Buddha Palm manual seems rather graceless.

Besides, dealing with Ximen Surin’s nagging won’t be easy.

Thus, Muhak’s steps grew slower and slower, until he looked like the most leisurely loafer imaginable.

Entering the Mucheon Pavilion’s training grounds, he saw young people sweating and focusing on their sparring on this fine day.

Truly, a wonderful time to be young, Muhak thought as he searched for Qing. Her striking beauty made her easy to spot.

She was sitting casually on the grass, holding a tiny girl tightly in her lap.

“Gaga big-sis, what kind of blanket do you like? Xiangie really loves light and fluffy goose-down blankets.”

Gaga big-sis? What a strange form of address.

Venerable Monk Muhak tilted his head.

Well, maybe women call each other that when they’re close, he reasoned.

“I just need the lining to be good. Hmm. Light blankets have their own fluffy feel, and heavy ones have a cozy weight that’s not bad either, so it’s a toss-up. But why do you ask about blankets? Are you going to give me one as a gift?”

“Heehee. I’m working on my dowry list these days.”

Venerable Monk Muhak tilted his head again.

Dowry? Between women? No, more importantly, what is this child, who looks about ten, talking about?

“Ahem.”

“Ah.”

Qing finally noticed Muhak.

A flicker of alarm went through her – how could she not have sensed him despite her heightened senses in the open air? But seeing his shiny bald head quickly put her at ease.

“This lowly monk is called Muhak. You’ve surely heard my name, haven’t you?” the monk announced himself, perhaps a bit too formally for someone claiming to be 'lowly'.

“Ah! The Greatest Under Heaven!” Qing started, but Zhuge Xiang blurted out first, “Good day. This little girl is Zhuge Xiang.”

Zhuge Xiang blurted it out without even pausing to count, causing Qing to miss her chance. What, wasn’t shouting it out on the second beat the law of the land?

Qing also stood up and bowed respectfully.

It was then that Muhak got a close look at Qing’s eyes.

Beyond the clear, profound energy of the Daoist and Buddhist paths he sensed in her, there was a glimpse of something else… some horrific madness, a frenzy…

This Rabid Bitch, this mad dog! Muhak raged internally, thinking of Ximen Surin.

How could she pick up and raise the Heavenly Slaughtering Star!

Other experts might assume the madness was inherited because she was the Rabid Bitch’s disciple, but the eyes of the Greatest Under Heaven saw the essence clearly.

The most ominous starlight in the world was crushed between two hands, held fast.

One hand was the pure Immortal Path of Daoism; the other was the compassionate Righteous Mind of Buddhism. It was as if the very Dao of the world was barely restraining the most heinous nature.

“Hoho. Hmm. This old monk has something to discuss with this child. Young lady of the Zhuge Clan, would you mind giving us a moment?”

“Ah. Yes…”

Zhuge Xiang bowed, then looked around frantically, spotted her large older brother, and dashed off towards him.

“Hmm. Yes. I came because I have something to tell you. Shall we move somewhere else?” Muhak asked.

The Mucheon Pavilion also had a tea room. After they sat down and waited for a Mucheon Pavilion attendant to bring tea, Muhak remained silent, his expression grave.

Qing spoke first.

“Venerable Monk. Did you perhaps come because of the Divine Art? I should have visited you first; I am truly sorry.”

“Hmm. No, no. Isn’t it proper for the one with business to come first? Should an elder exploit a junior… well, hmm, being an elder, I suppose I might exploit them sometimes.” Venerable Monk Muhak said this, looking at Qing.

The ominous star destined to drown the world in blood was right before him.

That Rabid Bitch, singing songs about female struggles and whatnot, she’s truly crossed the line this time.

No matter how much one suppresses an innate bloody destiny, how can a person defy their Mandate of Heaven?

Ultimately, she is a great evil, a calamity that will make the world weep tears of blood. I should end her life right here.

The Buddha Palm, whatever, now is hardly the time to worry about such things—

“Then, shall I recite the oral formulas for you now? Or I could write them down in a secret manual.”

“Eh? You’ll just give me the Divine Art?” Muhak asked.

“It’s not really giving, more like returning it, isn’t it? Since it originally belonged to Shaolin, it only makes sense to return it to its owner.”

“...Is that your thought, or Surin’s… I mean, your Master’s thought?”

“My Master said it wasn’t her destiny to have and that I should handle it as I see fit.”

Her expression held not a trace of doubt; she spoke calmly and sincerely.

Venerable Monk Muhak’s mind snapped back to clarity.

“If you wish, I will gladly give you the treasures of Shaolin. How about it? Will you still hand it over for free even then?”

“Eh. What would a Daoist practitioner do with wealth? The Divine Maiden Sect isn’t poor, and I personally don’t really need money.”

“Hoho. Then how about elixirs? You know what a precious thing the Great Restoration Pill is, yes? The Tae Yak Hall currently has twelve of those and over fifty Sohwan Dan. I can give you all of them.”

“Hmm. My Master said my internal energy already rivals that of a Profound Realm expert, so I’m not really desperate for elixirs. Ah. But maybe if you could give me one, no, maybe two pills, that might be nice.”

“Why two pills?”

“One for my Master. And one for, uh, a friend who uses a martial art that consumes True Source Qi.”

“You mean the child from the Gong Clan.”

“Ah. You knew?”

“Isn’t the Emperor Xuanyuan's Sword the sword of the Emperor?[^Referring to the legendary Yellow Emperor Gongsun Xuanyuan, not the reigning Son of Heaven] How could a human wield the Emperor's sword, no matter how high their realm, without paying a price?”

Here, Emperor did not mean the Son of Heaven, the current ruler.

Originally, the term 'Emperor' referred not to a ruler of humans, but, in the terms of Qing’s homeland, a God or divine ancestor.

How could a human attempt to wield the power of a god without paying the price?

Isn’t that a bit grandiose for a gold-bordered technique? Qing thought.

However, it didn’t occur to Qing that it might have been downgraded to gold because of such a drawback.

“Hoho, hahahah!”

Muhak suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

In the end, she wasn’t asking for herself, but asking for two pills to give one to her master and one to her friend.

As if Great Restoration Pills were like candy.

“Then, how about a Divine Art? You surely know the efficacy of the Inverse Marrow Washing Sutra.”

“Uh. About that. Actually, I’ve already learned it…”

“What!?”

Muhak, still seated, impressively jumped a chi (30cm≈1foot) into the air before landing. He then tilted his bushy eyebrows fiercely, seemed lost in thought, and nodded.

“Since the Buddha Palm reached you, it wouldn’t be strange if the Inverse Marrow Washing Sutra did as well. Have you learned any other Shaolin studies?”

“Just those two.”

“Then, how about receiving another Divine Art in exchange for returning the Buddha Palm? Since you’ve learned the Inverse Marrow Washing Sutra, you should have no problem using others. You’ve experienced the Hundred Pace Divine Fist, and there’s the White Lotus Divine Fist, Great Strength Vajra Palm, Nine Grades of Lotus Platform, Buddha's Shadow Fairy Steps… Well? Is there any martial art you desire?”

“I’m a swordswoman, and I already possess movement techniques considered ultimate skills. You saw me use the Wave-Treading Subtle Steps.”

“I thought as much.”

Muhak nodded.

“Amitabha. They say no connection in the world is without destiny. Perhaps it was also destiny that the teachings of Buddhism reached you. This Buddhist disciple still has far to go.”

Indeed, Muhak felt ashamed.

How could a Buddhist disciple say that humans cannot overcome their destiny?

The teachings of the Buddha, seeking to cut off all afflictions of the Desire Realm and escape Samsara, are, in a way, a defiance of the Mandate of Heaven, breaking the great cycle.

Having spent his entire life defying destiny and pursuing the perfection of non-self, how could he declare that this promising young woman, whose future was still bright, could not succeed?

Rather, even embracing the Heavenly Slaughtering Star, she was a virtuous child.

According to the Sutta Nipata,[^A specific collection of Buddhist scriptures, considered among the oldest.] a text from the Sutta Pitaka’s Minor Division, among the earliest scriptures, the Shakyamuni taught: rely on non-possession, hold the unconditioned state within your heart, and overcome worldly afflictions. Overcome the world's troubles by not being greedy.

Of course, it was also true that Qing wasn’t particularly greedy for elixirs or martial arts.

She didn’t need elixirs, and she felt she could learn martial arts when necessary.

However, aside from that, she was a veritable pot overflowing with desire.

Muhak wouldn't have had to look far; if he had merely seen Qing eat, or even if the attendant had just left snacks on the tea table, he would have recognized her hideous gluttony.

And in the image of the snacks being ruthlessly crushed beneath her teeth, he would have glimpsed a burning world.

But how could Muhak know all that?

He simply felt embarrassed, sorry, and ashamed, yet also grateful and impressed by the child’s willingness to readily return what was rightfully Shaolin's.

“Hmm. Right. Since you’re returning it anyway, how about writing down the Buddha Palm secret manual for me?”

“Ah. Write it down? Honestly, I thought you’d ask me to recite it right away.”

“Are you trying to make an old man memorize more things? I plan to store your handwriting in the Sutra Depository, so you must write it neatly and beautifully. In return, I won’t mind if you clearly put your name down as the compiler.”

“Yes…” Qing replied, slightly dispirited at the thought of the work.

Look at this little… girl. Muhak chuckled softly.

In truth, putting one’s name as the compiler was no small matter. It meant that all future Shaolin disciples who learned the Buddha Palm would owe her one of the Nine Bows – the bow offered to a Grandmaster in one's lineage.

Even the Matriarch, upon hearing this condition, would likely just snort dismissively but say nothing else.

And Muhak wasn’t finished speaking.

“Memorizing isn’t for old men; it’s for young ones. Listen here, you rascal. I will recite an oral formula for you, so listen carefully and memorize it,” Muhak said.

(T/N. Sorry for all the footnotes this chapter, genuinely had to put them in because it would have made zero sense without em.)