Revelation Of The Hidden Story (1)

An Arhat, who was observing the newbie monk, tilted his head.

“I think his blood point got sealed.”

“Who would do such a thing…?”

In the deepest place of Shaolin, the Repentance Cave, what reason could there be for a monk to faint?

No matter how much he pondered, it seemed impossible.

Just as a wave of anxiety washed over their minds…

“I did it!”

This declaration came abruptly. Simultaneously, Yu Jinsan’s hand reached for the uvula of the monk before him.

Chak!

One of the 18 Arhats fell to the ground, taken aback by the unexpected attack. The Arhats surrounding the monk were all shocked, turning their gaze to Yu Jinsan.

“…?”

Their disbelief was palpable.

Could a young monk, seemingly the youngest among the disciples, attack an Arhat? Their shock was inevitable.

But this was merely the beginning.

While everyone’s attention was on Yu Jinsan, an explosive burst of qi erupted behind the Arhats.

Swish!

“…?”

The qi was so powerful it sent shivers down their spines. The Arhats, already stunned by Yu Jinsan’s actions, realized there was another presence among them.

But it was too late for regrets. Yu Seol was already behind them.

Her hand moved so swiftly that it was like a flurry of punches, almost as if the Thousand Armed Avalokitesvara, said to possess 40 hands, had entered the fight.

Tuk! Tuk! Clench!!

Six men were thrown back simultaneously, as if struck by a powerful gust of wind. They had no time to scream.

Before they could react, Yu Seol had slipped through their defenses and pivoted. At that moment, her left foot rose in the air and struck the chin of the Arhat facing her.

Tuk!!

It was a hit as swift as lightning and so precise that there was no room for error. The Arhat, whose neck bent at a grotesque angle as though it would snap, collapsed in an awkward heap.

And before anyone realized it, the bamboo pole that he had been holding was now in Yu Seol’s hand.

“Seven!”

She had defeated them in the blink of an eye. For the Arhats guarding the cave, the entire situation was like a nightmare. No, it was something their unconscious minds wouldn’t even dare to dream of.

“Ah, this cannot be…”

“Just what is happening…?”

There were ten Arhats remaining.

The number was insufficient for their formation, yet they were not the kind to simply step back.

The one who appeared to be the leader among them gave orders to the Sajaes.

“Do not let your guard down and attack!”

Divided into groups of five, they rushed at both Yu Jinsan and Yu Seol.

Yu Seol looked completely calm, but the problem was Yu Jinsan.

The coordinated attack by such Peak Master warriors was not something he could ignore. Having been quickly handed a bamboo pole, he decided to focus on defense.

Kwakang! Kwakang! Kwakang!

Bamboo poles infused with qi clashed constantly with roars raging, and neither side yielded an inch.

It was a tense fight with no clear indication of who would win or lose, but there was no need to worry too much.

“Eight!”

His granddaughter continued to shout.

Everyone understood what that meant.

Every time Yu Seol’s voice rang out, he could feel the Arhats pressuring him becoming flustered.

‘Those people will break.’

Yu Jinsan calmed down, concentrated on defense, and waited for his granddaughter to handle her adversaries.

“Nine!”

He had thought it would end instantly, but it was taking longer than expected, and the reason wasn’t hard to guess.

Perhaps Yu Seol, finally able to use her strength after a long time, was relishing the fight.

They weren’t on a strict time limit, but they couldn’t afford to waste time either. This was because the noise could attract other enemies.

“Finish it swiftly, or you’ll get hurt!”

Did his urgent sentiment reach her?

Kwakang! Kwakwang! Kwakang!

The dull sound of blows echoed one after another, and soon Yu Seol was shouting happily.

“Ten, eleven, and twelve!”

All five Arhats fighting against Yu Seol were defeated. As the situation unfolded, those opposing Yu Jinsan turned desperate.

“Disperse, everyone!”

They likely intended to bring in reinforcements.

But behind them lurked the evil monster who had defeated Moyong Seong.

Escape was never an option for them from the start. Yu Seol, holding the bamboo pole, spun like a top and darted into the gap.

Her movement was as swift as a beam of light.

Her speed, as fast as lightning, was too much for the Arhats fighting against Yu Seol to handle.

Chuk! Tuk!!

“Kuaak!”

“Kuak!”

“Ack!”

With a series of strikes, the 18 Arhats were quickly subdued.

Yu Seol shrugged her shoulders and walked over to where they had fallen and were groaning.

“I did 17, right, Grandpa?”

Why ask when she already knows the answer? It must have been for praise.

“You did well. Thank you. Grandpa did two, including that one.”

He was referring to the newbie monk whom Yu Jinsan had struck earlier.

Yu Jinsan pondered what to do with the Arhats.

‘Hmm. There is no need to kill those who are incapable of fighting.’

He adhered to a code when it came to killing. It was either for his and his granddaughter’s safety or if the opponent had committed a crime.

The fallen Arhats met neither condition.

“Child, once you’re done, let’s take them to the side.”

“I get it. And where is Grandpa going?”

“I will step inside for a moment and come back. Make sure to block the entrance so that no one gets in.”

“You’re going to look for the treasure?”

“Yes. I’ll be back soon.”

He couldn’t linger too long inside. Now that the Arhats have been defeated, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone discovered them.

Yu Jinsan hastened towards the entrance of the Repentance Cave.

Tatak!

Was it because it was a prison within the temple?

The walls inside were covered with scriptures he knew nothing about.

Moreover, near the entrance, there were monks reciting Buddhist scriptures. Being here for too long made him feel like it would drive him insane.

Yu Jinsan began by taking down the monks. Since he had already taken down the Arhats, these Buddhists reciting prayers were nothing to him.

And there were three opponents.

Yu Jinsan moved past them like a flash.

Chak! Kuak! Ack!

The monks lost their senses and fell to the ground.

Whoosh!

Then there was no one left to disturb him.

There were beads that glowed in the dark cave. Each one was actually a Night Pearl Lamp, the most expensive kind.

Had a wealthy disciple made donations to this place? Well, whatever it was, he couldn’t just pass by them.

‘I will gift this to my granddaughter.’

He selected one and slid it into his sleeve before continuing on.

As he ventured deeper, he saw the prison cells all lined up, and the iron bars, made of an unknown metal, were impervious to his sword.

The prisoners sat cross-legged, radiating either killing intent or demonic qi. It was an unpleasant place.

‘They’ve captured so many.’

Yu Jinsan had no interest in them. He merely scanned the prisoners, searching for Won Gang.

Contrary to his expectations, it wasn’t difficult to find the man among the prisoners because he was the only one not chained up.

Moreover, the door to his cell was wide open. Unless he had entered inside of his own will, it would have been an impossible situation.

“…”

The man was sitting, facing the wall, and praying incessantly. Judging by the dust around him, it seemed like he hadn’t moved in a long time.

It wasn’t impossible. Once one reached the highest state in martial arts, one could burn their body’s waste and release it into the air without needing to visit the bathroom.

“Master Won Gang.”

The monk, whose mouth had been constantly reciting prayers, stopped. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly from behind.

“I was waiting.”

Did he just say he was waiting? Yu Jinsan couldn’t understand.

“What do you mean?”

“I have known that this day would come. I will not resist… Hurry up and give me the karma I deserve.”

His family’s enemy was the Blue Dragon Troops.

And there was Master Won Gang, the one who had guided their training, standing right before him. He seemed like he had once been a great warrior, but considering his current state, it didn’t seem like defeating him would be difficult now.

Perhaps because his reaction was unexpected?

The first emotion that came to Yu Jinsan was not anger, but confusion.

“I am Yu Jinsan, a member of the Yu family. Please tell me what connection you have with the Blue Dragon Troops that destroyed my family.”

“I was one of those who trained them. So, I am one of the sinners who had a hand in hurting your family.”

He appeared to be someone filled with regret and guilt. What had made this man such as he was?

He was being forthright with his answers, as if he had decided to confess everything, so Yu Jinsan had to gather as much information as possible.

“I am sure it wasn’t just the Yu family that suffered because of this. How could you have committed such cruel acts when you were part of the Justice Faction?”

“We needed children with the best bodies and qualities to raise for the next generation of the Blue Dragon Troops.”

The Blue Dragon Troops—this secret group was located at the darkest level of the Murim Alliance.

And according to what the monk said, most of them were children kidnapped at a young age.

“If that’s all there is to it, why did you have to kill all my family members? What wrong had they done?”

“There was a need to make it look like the Demonic Cult or an Evil Faction had come in. If we just take the kids, the Murim Alliance would fall under suspicion.”

Yu Jinsan punched the cave wall.

Kwang!!

The cave shook, a cloud of dust rising.

Tears streamed down his face.

“…Were my children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren really murdered just for such a trivial reason?”

Monk Won Gang sighed and lowered his head.

“How can I atone for the karma I’ve created? I will go to hell as an apology after informing them.”

Part of him wanted to snap the monk’s neck right then and there, but he had so many questions.

Yu Jinsan finally composed himself and asked,

“What is the purpose behind those troops?”

“To protect the Central Plains from the One Heaven Cult, which has unified the new world of martial arts under Ancient India.”

“One Heaven Cult?”

Yu Jinsan was hearing this name for the first time. It made sense since he wasn’t very interested in worldly affairs.

“The Blue Dragon Troops are being assembled to fight against them. The main objective is to take down the spies from Ancient India and prepare for their invasion.”

Was it because their strength was so formidable that the Murim Alliance was so cautious?

Yu Jinsan recalled meeting the Sword Queen, the greatest warrior in Murim, who had mentioned she had to leave for Ancient India after her retirement ceremony.

The actions of the Sword Queen seemed to have some connection to this.

‘Our ancestors always warned us to be wary of Ancient India.’

The greatest warriors in their family, who passed down the secret martial arts of the Whirlwind Spear—hadn’t even their ancestor, famed as the Spear Ghost, suffered at their hands?

Could it be that they were the reason why the Murim Alliance quickly tried to take down the Evil Faction not long ago? If things went as expected, the invasion of the land would be imminent.

Something unknown was certainly happening, and yet, what mattered to him was not this but his target for revenge.

“Who is the one pulling the strings behind those damned bastards?”

“The troops are under the orders of the Murim Alliance leader alone.”

The Murim Alliance leader. Truly, he was the worst possible enemy. A god-like existence commanding the Justice Factions.

He was someone Yu Jinsan couldn’t even dream of surpassing with his current skills. But Yu Jinsan had no intention of stopping, even if his opponent were God himself.

When he brought out the small sword he hid in his chest…

Tsk! Puak!

The sound of bells rang, and the intervals between the rings kept getting faster.

‘This can’t be! Have they figured me out already?’

There were many more things he wanted to ask, but he could not afford to waste any more time here. His granddaughter was guarding the entrance, which meant she could be in danger now.

As Yu Jinsan infused qi into the sword, a sharp sword qi rose.

Without hesitation, he slashed at Monk Won Gang, who stood waiting to be killed.

Slash!

Then something fell to the ground. It was the thick prayer beads that hung around the monk’s neck.

“…?”

Monk Won Gang looked bewildered, realizing he was still alive. Yu Jinsan continued to speak.

“I have already cut you down.”

A meaningful statement.

Yu Jinsan, with his back turned, could hear his last words from behind.

“Go to Heaven’s Call Peak on Mount Emei. The pitiful children are being kept there. Please, go and help them!”

They were probably the children who would be the next generation of the Blue Dragon Troops, whose families had been murdered.

Yu Jinsan did not respond. There was no reason for him to do so.

All he could think about was his granddaughter’s safety.

Tatata!

As he dashed out of the cave, he suddenly stopped in front of a cell, halted by a chilling voice calling out to him.

“I will help you.”

That chilling voice penetrated his body.

A white-haired old man with long hair sat among the other prisoners. His entire body was clasped in chains, and, as if that weren’t enough, countless needles protruded from his skin.

If he had overheard his conversation with Monk Won Gang, he would know that he and the Murim Alliance were enemies.

“Who are you?”

A cold voice echoed through the cave once more.

“Jeok Un. Once called the Bloody Infernal Divine Demon. We are not enemies, so release me now.”

Yu Jinsan recognized the name from his memory. It belonged to a figure from the Demonic Cult, which had been exterminated in the Justice-Demon War decades ago.

Someone more formidable than the Demonic Cult itself.

Yet, Yu Jinsan was uncertain about releasing such a man.

“Why should I do that?”

“It seems you trust that man over there. Do you take Shaolin so lightly? You people cannot get out of here on your own.”

The fact that this man knew what was happening outside meant he was no ordinary person.

Yu Jinsan didn’t have much time to deliberate.

As long as both parties shared the same goal, a cooperative relationship could be formed. Although the man was dangerous, Yu Jinsan concluded that, in the current predicament, the benefits outweighed the risks.

With a decisive motion, Yu Jinsan’s sword split the bars.

Kwak!

There was no time for leisure. Yu Jinsan swiftly pulled out one of the large needles from his right arm and handed him the small blade.

“I am in a bit of a hurry, so handle the rest yourself and come out.”

Yu Jinsan turned and dashed like lightning toward the entrance of the Repentance Cave.

Moments later, he emerged into the bright sunlight of the world outside.

His lips parted at the scene that unfolded before him.

‘So much has happened already…’

The number of monks lying about seemed to already surpass a hundred.

There were even more of them surrounding the Repentance Cave from all directions. His granddaughter’s back, which stood firm, appeared small.

Yu Jinsan’s eyes turned red with guilt, realizing he had arrived so late.

“Child…”

At that moment, Yu Seol took a deep breath and responded.

“Did you bring the treasure?”