Grandpa Has Something To Say (2)

The bustling streets of Kaifeng.

The memory of them walking down the street, hand in hand with her grandfather, echoed in her ears.

It had to be good because they watched a play together and ate lots of delicious food. When has there ever been such a day?

As they stepped onto the stone bridge adorned with lotus lanterns, dozens of street stalls lined both sides.

“Grandpa, do you want to try it?”

The stall his granddaughter pointed to sold a snack known as ‘Fried Cauliflower.’

It was made by extracting plenty of juice from the cauliflower and then boiling it down with sugar before making it crispy for the children to enjoy.

Yu Jinsan nodded without hesitation.

“Sure, let’s eat whatever you want today.”

What’s gotten into her grandpa?

A bright smile never left Yu Seol’s face.

“Hehe.”

Since he had received a few silver coins from the Black Night Clan, he had enough for snacks.

Yu Jinsan purchased the fried treat and handed it to her, watching as she devoured it with a grin.

The crunchy sounds she made suggested she enjoyed it.

“Is it tasty?”

“Yes, it’s really delicious! Grandpa, have a bite too!”

Yu Jinsan took a small bite and glanced around.

Eventually, one stall caught his eye.

“Stay right here and finish eating!”

“Uh? Where are you going?”

Yu Jinsan hurried off.

The stall he darted to sold an expensive drink called ‘sorbet.’

It was a fine ice powder sweetened with plenty of honey.

In the past, ice was as valuable as gold, but now, thanks to martial artists, those with money can afford it.

Yu Jinsan bought one and rushed back to his granddaughter.

“Now, try this. This is the sorbet that can only be tasted in Kaifeng.”

The bright colors of the liquid used on it were so appetizing to look at. His granddaughter, who was enjoying all the sweets, looked shocked.

The sweet ice melted in her mouth. She couldn’t believe such refreshing food existed.

Tears almost welled on her eyes from the taste.

“…so delicious.”

“Right? If Seol wants it, I can buy as much as you want. Go on; have it to your heart’s content.”

He waited calmly until his granddaughter finished eating the sorbet and the fried food.

After a while, her face showed that she was happy.

“Everything was tasty, Grandpa.”

Then Yu Jinsan said, wiping her mouth with his sleeve.

“There are many unique stalls in Kaifeng. They are goods that come from faraway nations.”

“For real? I want to see them!”

“Sure, let’s go there now.”

Yu Seol began to hum with excitement as she walked, linking arms with her grandpa.

It felt as if she were flying through the sky.

Half an hour passed.

His granddaughter was holding a bunch of gifts in both hands. Apart from clothes, most were food items.

Their steps back to the Snow Mountain Escort Service were light and joyful.

“But why did you buy so much food?”

“Uh, this? For Hyun-hee Unnie.”

“I see. But if you think about it, it isn’t fair, then.”

Yu Seol tilted her head, not understanding.

“Why?”

“Our Seol is not just pretty but is kind at heart. And she always listens to her grandpa.”

This was truly the best day for her.

She had never been praised like this by her grandpa before.

“I like Grandpa the most in this world.”

Now that his granddaughter was in the best mood, this had to be the perfect moment. So, observing her for a moment, he asked,

“Then… Grandpa has something to ask. Will you do it?”

“Uh? What is it? I will listen to anything!”

The main base of the Black Night Clan was within the Snow Mountain Escort Service.

A child with an unusually pretty face sat on the chair, tears dropping down.

Spotless, fair skin, and a shiny head. The tears did not dry in her big eyes.

“…hic.“

Of course, it was something she had agreed to, but it seemed she didn’t like it after having her head shaved.

Meanwhile, she tightly held the bundle of gifts she had brought from the market between her legs.

“Grandpa feels cool and comfortable, but why are you crying?”

“…”

“Hair grows quickly. Maybe it will grow back in just 10 nights.”

Yu Jinsan, who looked the same next to her, tried to comfort her, but Yu Seol couldn’t forget this so easily.

As soon as he finished speaking, his granddaughter began to wave her arms and pouted.

“Do not lie to me! Hm!”

Yu Seol’s crying never stopped.

It had to be that way since he had shaved her head to disguise her as a monk.

Even though he achieved his goal, how could he feel happy seeing her cry like this?

Yu Jinsan felt like he was breaking down at the sight of her.

After a while, finally, the long-awaited reinforcements arrived.

“Oh my, how can your head be this cute?”

They were five women led by Hyun Hee, the vice leader of the Black Night Clan.

“You are so cute. Can I hug you?”

“How can one’s skin be this fair? I am so jealous~.”

“How can a bald head look so good on a person?”

“Woah~ look at that pretty face I can see it clearly now. Your beauty is shining out.”

Their aim was to lighten the child’s mood, but the women’s words weren’t wrong either.

Yu Seol had undergone an entire change and risen to the rank of Grand Master, and she had amazing skin.

In addition, those big eyes, which took up 30 percent of her face, and her clear features. Even without her hair, she looked so adorable that anyone would want to hug her.

Did the endless compliments make her feel better?

Yu Seol, who had already stopped crying, asked tearfully.

“…really?”

Yu Jinsan replied, stroking her shiny head.

“Then! If there is a more beautiful woman in this world than our Seol, ask her to come out!”

The women who were watching joined in the praise.

“If I were as pretty as Seol, I would shave my head right away.”

“Me too!”

“Hoho, we can’t do it because our faces are ugly.”

Yu Seol smiled slowly, her tears stopping.

Did she feel better now?

His granddaughter asked, picking up the bundle she had been holding between her legs.

“… Unnies, would you like to have this with me?”

“Uh, what is that?”

When she opened it, it was full of all sorts of snacks.

These were the snacks children liked, such as traditional ones, sweets, and dried fruits.

“Woah, so delicious!”

“Did you buy these for your Unnies?”

“As I thought, if you have a pretty face, then your heart must be pretty too.”

Yu Seol had a bright smile on her face, as if she hadn’t even cried.

“Hehe. Have you ever tried this? It’s delicious.”

Seeing her surrounded by the women of the Black Night Clan, it felt like he didn’t have to worry anymore.

Yu Jinsan breathed a sigh of relief, slipped out of the place, and went to see Pungho.

The Clan Leader’s office was located somewhere in the underground maze.

Pungho was looking at a map on the table with some subordinates.

“It looks like you are busy, but I am unsure if I should disturb you.”

Pungho stood up and waved his hand.

“Please, why would I be so busy? Come, sit.”

Pungho, of the Black Night Clan, was laughing heartily.

It might have been because the sight of Yu Jinsan and his clean head made him feel refreshed.

“What is with that smile?”

“Nothing. Well, is Seol feeling alright?”

“Something really big could have happened. How could I have known she would cry so much after agreeing to it?”

“Haha. So, what did I say? Some of our kids have to shave their heads so the crying doesn’t happen.”

Yu Jinsan waved his hand and said,

“Why touch the heads of normal kids? What’s that for?”

The map on the table displayed a vast temple.

“This is a miniature diagram of the Shaolin Temple. It would be good for you to memorize this before you leave.”

“Thank goodness I have this information. What about the Repentance Cave?”

Pungho’s finger moved slowly, pointing to a location on the map.

“Coincidentally, it’s in the deepest part. After entering the temple, you pass through the Mahavira Hall and the Buddhist Texts Library, then head this way. From here, if you go toward the back of the place, you’ll find a cave guarded by monks.”

“No matter how you get there, it won’t be easy to get out.”

“Right. If it’s the place where they also keep prisoners, then an alarm bell will ring throughout the temple, and they’ll hold a baricade at the entrance. So you need to get out before that happens.”

It wasn’t an easy situation.

When he would meet Monk Won Gang, he would have many questions.

It would take quite some time to defeat the monks guarding the Repentance Cave and interrogate him. It seemed like it wouldn’t be easy to escape from there.

Yu Jinsan, deep in thought, found something on the map and traced it with his finger.

“And where does this lead to?”

“It’s the back road that leads to the Three Emperor Forests. But I think it’s better not to consider going there. Even in the Shaolin Temple, they prohibit anyone from heading in that direction, regardless of their stature.”

“For what reason?”

No lines or differentiations were discernible on the map.

Moreover, it was not far from the Repentance Cave. No matter how he looked at it, retreating this way seemed much easier than through the main gate of Shaolin.

“Regardless of the fact that the mountain path is rough, there are crazy evil monks who wander around that area. It’s an old story, and it’s quite famous in Hunan too.”

“Evil monks?”

“There’s this person who is the sahyung of the abbot there, known as Jeong Hye. He’s said to have wandered around Mount Song for decades now after falling into obsession and destroying many places to ruins.”

Yu Jinsan, looking back into his memory, remembered the name.

A long time ago, when he was active in kKangho, he knew of a monk who achieved the enlightenment of a Grand Master and was said to hold strong martial arts skills, making him one of the top ten warriors.

“For someone that strong to lose it, it’s something one can witness only if they live for a long time. It must have been a mess for Shaolin to clear up all the rumors.”

“Right. And there were attempts to capture him too, but the Shaolin martial arts never worked, and they always failed.”

Yu Jinsan nodded as if he understood.

“Is he still in there?”

“They say he never leaves Mount Song. He’s constantly talking about finding treasure, but I think he has entirely lost his mind.”

“What treasure…?”

What on earth was hidden there that he didn’t know how to give up even when he had gone insane?

He couldn’t help but be curious about the reason.

Pungho picked up an old book from the table and opened it.

“The hundred-year-old legends. They are now recorded in the Ancient Indian Empire, which was visited by Hyun Jang a long time ago, who stole these wonderful martial arts from Buddhism.”

Yu Jinsan also knew the name Hyun Jang.

He was a high priest who was active from the late Sui Dynasty to the early Tang Dynasty and was more famous around the world under the name of Tripitaka.

He risked his life to travel to the Ancient Indian Empire and brought back numerous Buddhist teachings, which he then spread around, and his achievements were widely understood.

“It seems like he had his reasons too. Well, does that mean that this supposed amazing martial art is somewhere on Mount Song?”

“That is according to the record. It is said that it was sealed in a cave on Mount Song with a snake dragon to guard it.”

The snake dragon was a spiritual beast known as an evil snake with powers.

And this was just something Yu Jinsan had heard about in legends.

It was just a rumor he would smile about, but he seemed somehow interested.

“If the spiritual beast, which was sealed hundreds of years ago, is still alive today, it must be strong.”

Pungho smiled and slowly closed the old book.

“If it were true, it would have grown into a new one by now. Of course, no one would believe it.”

“Isn’t there just one person?”

“The crazy monk? He has been wandering around there for decades, but until now, the cave hasn’t even been found.”

Yu Jinsan crossed his arms and thought deeply about something before changing the topic.

First of all, he thought about the task at hand.

“But did you find a way to infiltrate the Shaolin Temple?”

Passing through the entrance of the Shaolin Temple wasn’t easy, even if one disguised themselves as a monk.

But Pungho’s face was calm.

“I have prepared it. The elder just needs to decide when to leave.”