Chapter 274: Heading to Shaolin

Regardless, the embrace of her self-proclaimed mother was undeniably warm. To Qing, she was a complete stranger, but from the Empress’s perspective, she was holding the body of the daughter who had returned from death.

Qing wondered just where this complicated history had culminated.

Of course, it all started when I followed that strategy guide, trying to have some fun with my hobby without too much trouble.

But was that really so wrong?

What’s so terrible about wanting to admire a well-drawn woman’s figure on screen, slay some enemies, make some allies, and follow the story easily to the end?

Maybe this body was the only one capable of handling all those complex settings, or maybe this was some separate world created just like that. Or perhaps, my original self is still back there, beyond the heavens, beyond the screen, clicking away with that usual tired expression. Damn it. Stop thinking such awful thoughts…

Still, it was a relief to be held in someone’s arms, especially since she was pulled in so fiercely, as if the holder wanted to melt them into one body.

At least having bad thoughts didn’t trigger a breakdown this time.

Just as Qing thought that—

“Yes. I’ve held you for too long. Now then—” the Empress said.

This lady’s timing is terrible.

Falling away now would trigger a breakdown, so this time, Qing squirmed within the embrace.

“Just a little longer,” Qing requested.

“A grown princess throwing such an unseemly tantrum,” the Empress chided gently. “You must remember you are no longer a mere lady.”

There were two ways to become a princess.

First, be born as the Emperor’s daughter and later be appointed as a princess by the Emperor. (Therefore, not all daughters of an Emperor are princesses.)

This is because ‘princess’ isn't just a term for the Emperor's daughter, but closer to a position or title bestowed upon her by the Emperor.

The second way was to be born as the Crown Prince’s daughter, be appointed as a Lady by the previous Emperor, and then naturally be elevated later.

Since Sohal had already received the title of Lady Yeonsul during the previous Emperor’s reign, under the current Emperor’s rule, she was naturally elevated to Princess Yeonsul.

So, the Empress’s words meant, ‘You’re not a child anymore, what’s with this tantrum, young lady?’

Despite her words, she was still hugging her daughter, smiling practically from ear to ear.

This time, Qing felt no resistance and enjoyed the warm embrace. The bad thoughts melted away, and she felt her energy surge.

“Well then, now—” the Empress began again.

“This time, I’m the one who doesn’t want to let go,” Qing interrupted. “Let’s stay like this for just one ke longer.”

Agh. Seriously, her timing is awful.

Eventually, after quite some time, Qing was finally released. After what felt like an eternity, she was finally permitted clothing.

And that was only because a growl erupted from Qing’s stomach, sounding like the world was ending, or perhaps like the wretched screams of the damned from hell.

“The martial artist Heavenly Flower Sword earnestly conveyed to Her Highness that Shaolin, as the pillar of the Orthodox Murim, consists of worldly experts deserving of utmost respect. Her Highness agreed and bestowed her grace upon you, promising not to trouble you further. Be grateful.”

Though not quite the overly saccharine tone unique to eunuchs, the Elder Eunuch’s feminine, soft voice inevitably made listeners doubt their eyes.

Regardless, it was good news for Shaolin.

It was a declaration that she would no longer insist on entering and would return obediently.

Whether it was the mother’s consideration or meddling, she had given Qing the credit, allowing her to gain face.

“Shaolin owes you again. Thank you for speaking well of us to Her Highness,” said Great Monk Muhak, the Greatest Under Heaven.

If he truly wished, he could have focused his hearing and eavesdropped on the conversation inside the carriage.

But would a monk eavesdrop on others?

Moreover, for someone bearing the weight of the title Greatest Under Heaven to secretly listen in on a conversation between women would be a shameful act deserving public condemnation.

Someone of his stature should project Force Compression grandly and demand, “Tell me what you discussed, obediently,” using martial might to achieve his goal.

He shouldn't stoop to eavesdropping like a common thief. That was something the Unorthodox Faction would do. (The future of the Murong Clan looks bleak.)[^Reference to Murong Jun the little child who would eavesdrop on everyone 😭]

Getting caught eavesdropping could even constitute high treason.

However, it might have been better if he had listened.

If he had served the Princess well in advance, nothing bad would have come of it later.

And he wouldn’t have dared to try and work her without even feeding her first.

“Come,” Muhak urged. “The sun will set at this rate. Let us hurry to see the Absolute Sword Wall.”

“Um, Great Monk?” Qing asked. “Could we perhaps get some dinner first?”

“Hmm,” Muhak considered. “Firstly, temple food has no meat. And I heard from that fellow Yuha that after seeing the Absolute Sword Wall, he vomited everything in his stomach. If you eat dinner now and then see it, won’t you just throw up all the food you bothered to eat? Is eating food only to vomit it a proper way to show respect for the meal?”

“No, I just vomited some dead blood…” Qing mumbled.

Or did I? Did I vomit more than just blood?

It was a while ago, so Qing’s memory was hazy.

But Great Monk Muhak wasn't wrong.

If I’m likely to vomit after eating, I shouldn’t eat in the first place. But I hate being hungry. I should have just insisted to Her Highness the Empress that we eat together at Shaolin. Somehow, I feel like I’ve suffered a huge loss…

However, the statement that temple food had no meat also struck a powerful chord.

What meaning could a meal without meat possibly hold? Thinking about it that way, perhaps this was his consideration, telling me to endure the hunger a bit longer and then savor delicious meat even more later.

“Let’s hurry up and see it so I can eat,” Qing said resolutely. “My stomach and back are practically about to stage a dramatic reunion of separated families.”

“To my eyes, you look like you could starve for two months without issue,” Muhak remarked dryly, “but very well, let’s go.”

Just as Qing was about to follow the hurrying Great Monk Muhak, Seol Iri subtly slipping back caught her eye.

“Young Lady Seol?” Qing called out. “Where are you going? Weren’t you following me?”

“To eat,” Seol Iri replied simply.

What the—! While someone else is starving!

Qing studied Seol Iri’s expressionless face.

It was impossible to tell from her face whether she was teasing or simply stating a fact impassively.

Just because she poked my side and told me the answers, I thought we’d gotten a little closer.

As Qing suspiciously examined her face for any hint of amusement, Seol Iri added one more word.

“Meat.”

“Agh,” Qing groaned.

Okay, I’m pretty sure she’s teasing me now.

Seol Iri skipped off, declaring she was going to eat meat, leaving Qing alone to clutch her empty stomach and follow Muhak.

Shaolin Temple occupied the entire northern foot of Mount Song, and the Absolute Sword Wall had been carved by her senior, the Celestial Martial Emperor, onto the Southern Peak.

In fact, because of this, Shaolin monks had to stand guard all the way at the Southern Peak to protect the Absolute Sword Wall. Considering this, maybe the reason he carved it far away, instead of within the sanctum forbidden to women, was indeed out of consideration to let female martial artists see it too.

Thus, upon arriving at the entrance of the secluded gorge leading to the Absolute Sword Wall, they saw two Shaolin monks.

One was doing push-ups while in a handstand, and the other was pointlessly pounding his fists against the cliff face.

“Tsk, tsk,” Muhak clicked his tongue. “I told you to stand watch, yet you couldn’t resist slacking off?”

“Ah, Great Monk!” the first monk exclaimed. “I was merely viewing things upside down, but still diligently standing watch, ahem.”

“Isn’t training one with the Buddhist path? Ahem,” added the second monk.

The Shaolin monks, attempting their excuses, immediately started coughing awkwardly and turned beet red the moment they saw Qing.

Then they acted as if they had discovered something suspicious on the ground.

Hmm. So that was slacking off.

Certainly, they were sent to guard, but one was upside down and the other was facing a wall punching it, so they were indeed slacking off.

“Tsk, tsk. So bashful,” Muhak muttered. “At this rate, if you even brush against flesh, you’ll surely break your vows.”

“Brush against flesh…” one monk stammered.

“Namu Amitabha Buddha! Worldly Afflictions! Begone, Worldly Afflictions!” the other chanted hastily, punching the wall again.

Qing’s benevolent beauty was already discussed as being the greatest under heaven. Though the Shaolin monks possessed divine arts making them the greatest under heaven martially, as men, they were third-rate and simply couldn't withstand it.

“Tsk, tsk. Let’s go,” Muhak said.

“Um. Keep up the good work,” Qing offered a greeting and followed Muhak into the gorge.

Following the steep path left and right, her footsteps echoing cheerfully behind him, a wide basin suddenly revealed itself.

“Well. How is it? Do you see anything?” Muhak asked.

“Uh… That part over there is split?” Qing pointed.

On one side of the basin, a tall rock cliff face was vertically split down its length. The cross-section was smooth and straight, clearly not a natural phenomenon.

No way, did that old man just split cliffs with his sword?

Previously, at Mount Hua’s Absolute Sword Wall, tens of thousands of Sword Force petals had scratched it. While awe-inspiring, it was Sword Force, so naturally, it would leave marks on rock.

But here, the setting sun shone clearly through the split cliff, a marvel showing that the massive rock wall had been cleaved entirely through to the other side, perfectly dividing it east to west.

“Here. Do you see this footprint?” Muhak asked, standing near the center of the clearing and pointing to the ground.

A large footprint was clearly imprinted deep into the stone floor. Around it, fine cracks radiated outwards in a large circle nearly three chi wide.

“He must have stood here, held his sword like this, stomped his foot thusly, and cut down the cliff. Go on, try matching your foot to it,” Muhak instructed.

Qing obediently placed her foot inside the footprint.

Instantly—

Ah. Right. It was like this.

<Read the latest updates at Celestial Pavilion>

The world lost its color, turning entirely gray.

Qing looked around for the figure of the brilliantly shining old man amidst the grayness, but, hmm? What?

Her body wouldn’t move.

To be precise, it wasn’t that it wouldn’t move, but that it moved on its own.

Her vision automatically spun around, and a monk she had never seen before came into view.

He didn't seem to be the Celestial Martial Emperor; he was colorless, just a gray, bald head.

“Hey, you bald monk.”

Qing was startled.

No, I only thought it, I didn’t mean to say such rude words out loud!

But the voice that came out was that of a gruff old man.

“Severing the chains of Samsara and entering Nirvana. Does the Buddhist path pursue alignment with fate, or defiance of Heaven? Don’t you say that if one simply waits through eternal Samsara, Maitreya, in the eternal future, will save everyone together?”

Maitreya Buddha is the Buddha predetermined in Buddhism to descend in the future.

This future Buddha, of great compassion and infinite merit, will descend, spread his teachings, and enable all beings in the world to attain enlightenment and enter Nirvana.

(Incidentally, the catchphrase often muttered by a certain one-eyed bald man on the Korean peninsula, “I am Maitreya,” originates from this.)

Anyway, salvation is already planned and decided, so isn’t patiently waiting within Samsara aligning with fate?

That was what the Celestial Martial Emperor was asking.

The monk moved his lips in response, but his voice couldn't be heard.

Then, the Celestial Martial Emperor answered.

“You call it Immovable, but there is no difference between moving and not moving.”

Simultaneously, his right arm shot up.

From the feel of the hilt, the sword was held upright, yet somehow, its weight grew heavier and heavier.

And so, for a long while.

The once endlessly light longsword became the weight of a boulder, a stone mountain, then Mount Tai itself, pressing down on the raised arm, the shoulder, the waist, the foot.

Thus, finally, at a certain moment, the world.

Qing simply realized that she—or rather, the Emperor—was supporting the weight of the entire world in this hand.

Yet, Immovable.

The Celestial Martial Emperor did not move.

But the world moved.

The giant cliff face moved on its own, throwing itself before the Celestial Martial Emperor’s sword.

What moved was not the sword, but the world.

“You pursue Non-self (Mu-a), but I will shout that I exist in the world (Yu-a)! Thus, I wish for the will of man, unswayed by any destiny, to rise as a brilliant sun through my own life and deeds. Thus, man resists his given fate and walks his own path. This is liberation, this is awakening, this is the path of defying Heaven!”

And so, the Celestial Martial Emperor concluded his words.

“Just as Movement and Stillness share the same principle, if erasing myself from the world to not exist is Non-self, then erasing the world so that I alone exist is no different from Self (Yu-a). Therefore, Non-self and Self are one and the same.”

The world, unable to crush or press down the unmoving Celestial Martial Emperor, split in two, leaving the Celestial Martial Emperor standing alone and aloof.

Alone, thus Peerless (Dokjon).
Existing as self, thus Self (Yu-a).

First Form of Dugu Jiujian.

Peerless Self

^{(Yu-a Dokjon)}

(T/N)

Man, that was a lot to take in. Let's break down that final scene with the Celestial Martial Emperor, because it's actually a huge moment. Not only does it reveal his philosophy, but it also explains the deeper meaning behind one of the story’s most iconic techniques — Dugu Jiujian (Nine Swords of Dugu), especially its very first form.

The core of the vision is a philosophical debate (or rather, a declaration by the Emperor) contrasting his worldview with Buddhist principles represented by the silent monk:

1. Fate vs. Defiance: The Emperor questions the passive Buddhist approach of waiting for salvation (Maitreya) within the cycle of Samsara. He advocates for actively defying fate and forging one's own path through individual will and achievement ("defiance of Heaven," "man resists his given fate").
2. Movement vs. Stillness: The Emperor states, "there is no difference between moving and not moving." This culminates in the sword remaining still ("Immovable") while holding the weight of the world, yet the world (the cliff) moves towards the sword to be cut. It implies supreme mastery where intent and presence alone command reality, transcending the physical act of swinging the sword.
3. Non-self vs. Self: This is the climax. Buddhism emphasizes Mu-a (무아 / 無我), the doctrine of "Non-self" – the idea that there is no permanent, independent self, and enlightenment involves realizing this emptiness. The Emperor directly contrasts this with Yu-a (유아 / 有我), asserting "Self" or "I exist." His radical interpretation is: if Mu-a is achieved by erasing the self from the world, then achieving Yu-a by erasing the world so only the self remains is fundamentally the same principle. It's an incredibly dominant, almost solipsistic viewpoint.

This philosophy directly leads to the name of the first form: Yu-a Dokjon (유아독존 / 唯我獨尊).

• Yu-a (唯我): "I Alone" or "Self."
• Dokjon (獨尊): "Am Honored," "Peerless," "Supreme," "Alone am Worthy."

The phrase originates from the story of the Buddha's birth, where he supposedly took seven steps and declared, "天上天下 唯我獨尊". Which translates to "In heaven and on earth, I alone am worthy of reverence." or more literally: "Above the heavens and below the heavens, I alone am supreme."

However, the Celestial Martial Emperor twists this concept. It's not about inherent Buddhahood, but about the supreme assertion of the individual self and will against the world and destiny. It's the ultimate statement of self-reliance and power, derived from his unique interpretation of stillness, movement, self, and non-self.

So, "Peerless Self" captures the essence – the self that stands alone, supreme and unchallenged, having effectively erased or overcome the external world through sheer presence and will. This becomes the foundation for the subsequent forms of the Dugu Jiujian.