Chapter 274 – Let Go (1)

Yi-gang was momentarily flustered.

Even when the Heavenly Demon was resurrected, he hadn’t been this bewildered. That was an event he’d prepared for.

However, he hadn’t expected that the first thing he would see upon opening his eyes would be the Divine Monk feeding him what looked like goat dung.

Whether it was due to some acupoint sealing technique, he found himself unable to muster any strength.

Thankfully, what the Divine Monk was feeding him wasn’t actually goat dung.

Yi-gang, who had been trying to spit out whatever was in his mouth, stopped resisting.

“Keulk keulk…”

The Divine Monk chuckled, watching as Yi-gang opened his eyes wide in shock.

The round pill quickly dissolved.

A very bitter taste spread in his mouth, but a refreshing aroma pierced his senses, clearing his head.

The pill, which had liquefied almost instantly, slid down his throat into his stomach.

A warm heat radiated from his chest, spreading throughout his body.

The Divine Monk removed his hand from Yi-gang’s mouth.

“…What is this?”

“Something good for your body.”

“No way…”

Yi-gang could be considered something of an authority on elixirs.

Among the successors nurtured with great expectations from the Murim sects, few had consumed as many elixirs as Yi-gang.

As an authority in such matters, he intuitively recognized that the pill he just consumed was far from an ordinary elixir.

And if it was one of Shaolin’s supreme elixirs…

“Is it… Great Recovery Pill?”

That was an extraordinary elixir, ranked above the best of Taoist sects’ elixirs like Violet Sky Pill and Grand Purity Pill.

The Divine Monk burst into hearty laughter.

“Absurd! Do you think the Great Recovery Pill would be given to just anyone in the world?”

“Then… is it the Small Recovery Pill?”

“Heh heh.”

The Divine Monk merely smiled slightly in response.

“…Thank you.”

Yi-gang expressed his gratitude. Even if it was a Small Recovery Pill, there was nothing to be disappointed about.

Though considered inferior to the Great Recovery Pill, it was still a top-tier elixir, held in similar regard as the Violet Sky Pill or Grand Purity Pill.

He needed to immediately circulate his Qi and meditate to absorb the energy of the recovery pill, but for some reason, his True Qi remained unresponsive.

“Don’t be so hasty. What you’ve already swallowed isn’t going anywhere. Until it’s expelled as waste, it’s entirely yours.”

“…Waste?”

“Is waste so dirty?”

“It’s certainly not clean.”

“The ancient sages once said, ‘Even in a dry dung stick, there is Buddha.’”

“A rather… filthy Buddha, I presume.”

“Keulk keulk.”

Only then did Yi-gang take a moment to look around.

It was clear that he had arrived at Shaolin Temple, but this wasn’t a grand hall with a solemn Buddha statue; it was simply a plain room.

It reminded him of the humble straw hut where the Sword Emperor used to live.

The only difference was a small wooden Buddha statue and an incense burner on one wall.

“This is my meditation room.”

“…It’s just like Sword Emperor’s room.”

The friendship between the Sword Emperor and the Divine Monk was well-known.

When Yi-gang murmured this, the Divine Monk’s eyes widened.

“To think that friend would ever become a Buddhist…”

“…”

Yi-gang didn’t mean it that way, but he didn’t have the energy to correct him.

His physical condition was truly awful.

Though he was accustomed to his body feeling off after a possession, today was different.

Not only could he not move, but even his True Qi was stagnant.

With his hazy mind, Yi-gang looked at the Divine Monk.

“The Great Recovery Pill is not given to just anyone.”

“…Yes.”

“Do you know why?”

As Yi-gang was drifting off to sleep, the Divine Monk asked the question.

It was as if he was trying to keep him from falling asleep.

“I don’t know.”

“The Small Recovery Pill also isn’t given to just anyone, but the Great Recovery Pill is another matter. Even if I were dying of illness, the abbot wouldn’t give me a single Great Recovery Pill.”

“…”

“It’s the same in other cases. When the training of the Four Great Vajras, who will lead Shaolin’s future, was obstructed, not a single Great Recovery Pill was given to them.”

“…Yes.”

“Even when the emperor demanded a Great Recovery Pill to extend his life, it was denied.”

Just how precious was the Great Recovery Pill, that it was withheld even then?

In fact, there was no Great Recovery Pill even in the imperial palace’s medicine vault.

Although Yi-gang had already consumed the Small Recovery Pill, he became curious about the Great Recovery Pill. If it was that precious…

As Yi-gang closed his eyes, the Divine Monk clapped his hands.

“Then, who exactly would be given the Great Recovery Pill?”

“Who…”

“The Great Recovery Pill is only given to those who are dying.”

Those who are dying.

The Divine Monk’s gaze fell directly upon Yi-gang.

“The Great Recovery Pill is Shaolin’s price of life. Only three or four are made every hundred years.”

Of course, the method to create the Great Recovery Pill and its ingredients were both unknown.

Only those who were on the brink of death could be chosen to receive the Great Recovery Pill.

Only those whose lives could be saved by it, and who were deemed worthy.

“What you consumed is a Great Recovery Pill.”

“…”

“Tsk, tsk. Your spirit is in tatters.”

Yi-gang could no longer respond.

The reason he couldn’t move wasn’t due to an acupoint sealing technique.

His soul and spirit were, in fact, far from normal.

The countless possessions Yi-gang had undergone placed a burden not only on his body but also on his spirit.

Moreover, the experience of possessing and then dying within the body of the Guardian had left a clear scar on Yi-gang’s soul.

On top of that, the demonic energy originating from the Heavenly Demon had also invaded, making it miraculous that he had survived at all.

“While you sleep, focus on absorbing as much of the Great Recovery Pill’s spiritual energy as possible. It will save your life…”

The Divine Monk’s voice seemed to gradually fade.

“Well… it’s like you once consumed an extraordinary elixir capable of elevating the rank of the soul.”

“The Three-Element…”

“Well, it’s your fortune that the remaining spiritual energy of the Great Recovery Pill is yours to take. You’re a lucky one, aren’t you?”

The Divine Monk chuckled softly.

And with that, Yi-gang lost consciousness.

The effects of the Great Recovery Pill couldn’t be absorbed in just one day.

Yi-gang’s skin began to peel, as if shedding, and he started sweating profusely with a pungent odor.

Even in this state, he couldn’t move at all.

If the Shaolin novices hadn’t come to cleanse and turn his body regularly, he would surely have developed bedsores.

His mind drifted in and out.

Many people came and went in search of Yi-gang.

Jin Mu and Jin Ri-yeon were also there.

“…Yi-gang …must awaken.”

“If he dies… it can’t be…”

The voices sounded like a conversation in a dream.

Every day, Cheongho would curl up and rest on Yi-gang’s chest.

He could feel the warmth of her fur even while sleeping.

The one who visited most frequently was the Divine Monk.

Despite not being a physician, he checked Yi-gang’s condition.

Along with him were the highly esteemed senior monks of Shaolin.

“Perhaps… a body transformation…”

“No… still lacking… If possible… an opportunity…”

“That’s the only… way…”

They exchanged incomprehensible words.

Surprisingly, Dam Hyun did not come to see him.

He only visited once, dressed in travel clothes, seemingly preparing to leave with the senior brothers of the Azure Forest.

Then, Yi-gang’s eyes snapped open.

It was clear this wasn’t waking up from sleep.

And it was just as clear that this was a dream.

If it wasn’t a dream, Dam Hyun wouldn’t be sitting in a palanquin dressed in such elaborate clothing.

“Hey!”

Dam Hyun waved at Yi-gang from the palanquin.

There were several other reasons confirming it was a dream.

One of them was that Jin Mu and Jin Ri-yeon were carrying Dam Hyun’s palanquin.

“Yi-gang, it’s been a while.”

“Senior Brother.”

Also, Cheongho was sitting in Dam Hyun’s arms.

Normally aloof, Cheongho was nuzzling against Dam Hyun’s hand, showing affection.

So Yi-gang asked him, “Is this Senior Brother’s dream?”

Dam Hyun muttered, looking slightly embarrassed, “Is it that obvious?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s not exactly my dream, but more of a spell to send a message to you through a dream.”

“Your skills with sorcery have greatly improved.”

Yi-gang had known of such spells, but he hadn’t expected Dam Hyun to be capable of performing one.

Dam Hyun jumped gracefully from the carriage.

“You’re too lacking in your sorcery skills.”

Yi-gang had no response to that.

An honor flower disciple was one proficient in both martial arts and sorcery.

It’s ideal to master the martial prowess of the martial flower disciple and the knowledge and sorcery of the Taoist flower disciple.

But how did Yi-gang fare?

While he could confidently say he could defeat his senior brother Dam Hyun in martial arts, his skills in sorcery were clearly lacking.

“This time too. If you could handle sorcery as well as I can, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. You wouldn’t have fallen victim to the Demon Cult’s spies.”

“…Yes.”

It wasn’t something he had expected to admit, but Dam Hyun was right.

“Master focused solely on martial arts because your talent there was greater, but I think differently.”

While he didn’t outright tell Yi-gang to focus only on sorcery, the meaning was clear.

“However, even if you dedicated yourself to sorcery from now on, you wouldn’t catch up to me.”

“That’s fair.”

“So focus on one thing and make use of Treasures.”

Dam Hyun’s advice was highly practical.

“There are countless kinds of spells. Give up on learning them all and focus on the important ones.”

“The important ones…”

“Figure out what they are for yourself. Use Treasures to cover your weaknesses. I’ll leave some with the monks at Shaolin for you.”

Yi-gang remembered that Dam Hyun had taken Treasures from the Guardian.

However, he couldn’t understand why Dam Hyun would go so far as to appear in his dreams to give advice.

“We’re heading back at the Forest Lord’s request. You should focus on healing your body here first.”

Then, Dam Hyun spoke quietly, “There’s something hidden here, on Mount Song.”

“Hidden? What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure if it’s a yokai, but… it’s definitely unusual.”

Even Yi-ryong, who had attempted to resurrect the Heavenly Demon, had said something similar.

If Dam Hyun sensed it as well, it was unlikely to be mere nonsense.

“Stay alert.”

With that, Dam Hyun jumped back onto the palanquin.

In this dream, Jin Mu and Jin Ri-yeon seemed to hold great respect for Dam Hyun.

Dam Hyun gradually moved away, riding the palanquin carried by his senior and junior brothers.

Before disappearing from sight, he turned to Yi-gang and said, “Stay strong in your revival!”

Then his form gently faded away.

Yi-gang pondered over Dam Hyun’s parting words.

“‘Revival…?’”

It was a very ominous word.

It wasn’t simply about “recovery” but rather about “revival.” What could that mean?

However, there was no opportunity to ask about it.

The dream ended, and he fell into a deep sleep once again.

It was several days later when Yi-gang finally opened his eyes.

Someone was wiping Yi-gang’s forehead with a damp cloth.

Birds were chirping.

Since it was nearly summer, the air felt slightly humid.

His awakening was sudden.

“Ha-ah!”

Yi-gang’s eyes snapped open.

He caught sight of the person who had been wiping his sweat.

“Who…?”

“Benefactor.”

It was a young monk, with a trained physique and a sincere expression.

If he hadn’t shaved his head as a monk, his dignified appearance would have easily earned him fame as a martial hero.

However, there was something familiar about him.

“That…”

“I am Jeong Myung, also known by the overly generous title of Shaolin’s First Fist.”

Jeong Myung.

He was the Shaolin successor who had explored the Five Elements Tomb with him.

Yi-gang had heard that Jeong Myung had achieved great merit in the conflict with the Unorthodox Union, and it seemed he had since returned to Shaolin.

“Ah, it’s been a while.”

“It has indeed, Benefactor. I learned much thanks to you back then.”

While Yi-gang held a slightly higher rank among the successors of his generation, he and Jeong Myung were on equal terms.

Still, Jeong Myung greeted him with a noticeably respectful attitude, bowing with his hands together.

“No… but why are you here?”

“The Divine Monk has ordered me to look after you, Young Master Yi-gang.”

“What?”

To think that a successor, one of Shaolin’s future hopes, would be assigned to assist him.

It would have been a blow to his pride, but Jeong Myung seemed entirely unbothered.

“Why would you go so far to personally…?”

“This, too, is a form of alms-giving. Please don’t worry about it.”

Though Jeong Myung told him not to mind, Yi-gang couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

Jeong Myung tidied Yi-gang’s bedding and stepped outside for a moment, asking him to wait.

He then returned with a bowl of plain rice porridge.

“Here, sit up.”

Jeong Myung personally helped Yi-gang sit upright.

Then he scooped some porridge and brought the spoon close to Yi-gang’s mouth.

“Please open your mouth. You need to eat to recover.”

“What are you doing? I can feed myself.”

Yi-gang, feeling embarrassed, tried to take the spoon from Jeong Myung.

“…”

“…I told you not to mind.”

However, he simply couldn’t manage to do it.

He tried to take the spoon, but his hand wouldn’t move.

Yi-gang realized that he couldn’t muster any strength in his arms.

“Now, say ‘Ah’.”

Both his arms had turned pitch black due to the demonic energy of the Heavenly Demon.

A flash of realization struck him like lightning.

A sense of crisis alarmed him.

“No, don’t—”

The spoon was pushed into his mouth.

Jeong Myung spoke calmly, “You’ll be able to recover soon.”

The porridge from Shaolin Temple tasted absolutely bland.

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