Chapter 160

"No! That man!"

"How dare a defrocked monk come to the main temple!"

The monks were outraged to a degree incomparable to their reaction to Dang Ran-yeong. A defrocked monk wasn't simply someone who had made a mistake. It was a sinner among sinners who had severely violated the full precepts and could never become a monk again. For them, the situation of an expelled person setting foot in Shaolin again was unimaginable.

Having fully anticipated and prepared for this reaction, Nam Gang-ryong's face remained calm. He spoke calmly in front of the Shaolin monks who were giving him hostile looks.

"We have come to demand repayment of Moonlight Flashing Sword Devotee Baek's favor, not Lord Dang's."

The monks exchanged glances as they looked back and forth between Dang Ran-yeong, Nam Gang-ryong, and Baek Ri Cheong-ra, who was bound and slung over a shoulder.

"We have no intention of setting foot in the main temple without permission. So if you could just inform Master Won-jung that we are here..."

Nam Gang-ryong hastily stepped back. A monk stomped his foot hard enough to leave an indentation where Nam Gang-ryong had been standing and shouted thunderously,

"According to rumors, the Moonlight Flashing Sword is suffering hardships after having his weakness caught by the Green-Eyed Poison Dragon. We cannot stand by and watch this seditious act!"

Soon, a strong aura rose from the monks. It seemed they intended to beat Dang Ran-yeong and Nam Gang-ryong first before listening to anything. Nam Gang-ryong, who knew Dang Ran-yeong's martial arts well, chanted "Amitabha." Cheong-ra, who had been anxiously listening to all this commotion, inwardly sighed.

If things go wrong, Dang Ran-yeong's notoriety will only grow for beating up Shaolin monks here... However, fortunately at that moment, someone who had heard the commotion came running.

"What on earth is going on here! How dare you cause such a disturbance in front of the Great Shaolin Temple's mountain gate!"

His voice was exceptionally thunderous, as if he held a high position. The faces of the monks, who had been tense and wary of Dang Ran-yeong, brightened especially.

"Senior Brother! You've come at just the right time! Please help us."

"The Green-Eyed Poison Dragon is here, so more senior brothers need to come!"

Cheong-ra thought the situation would become more serious, but contrary to his expectations, a look of joy appeared on the face of the monk who saw Nam Gang-ryong. The monk who had stopped in his tracks had a contorted expression.

"Won-ho... You've finally returned!"

The monks were bewildered as the reliable senior brother welcomed the defrocked monk instead of getting angry. Complex emotions of longing and joy also appeared on Nam Gang-ryong's face.

"Could it be, perhaps, you..."

Nam Gang-ryong slightly shook his head, knowing well what the other was hoping for, and an indescribable emotion flashed across Won-jung's face before subsiding. Soon, Won-jung, having calmed his agitation, waved his hand at his juniors.

"Step back. Won-ho is not someone you should treat this way."

"...Yes, Senior Brother."

Though they didn't understand why their senior brother welcomed the defrocked monk so warmly, the disciples, true to being members of Shaolin which was strict about hierarchy, immediately bowed their heads and stepped back. Won-jung led the way, guiding Dang Ran-yeong and Nam Gang-ryong. Thus, they were able to pass through the mountain gate safely.

"Won-ho, have you been well all this time? Are you injured anywhere?"

"I am now a defrocked monk, so please don't call me by my dharma name. I am Nam Gang-ryong."

"Nonsense! Won-heo would want me to call you this too."

Won-jung said firmly, cutting him off. Cheong-ra, who had been quietly listening to this conversation, became even more curious. In fact, he had been wondering all along how Nam Gang-ryong, a defrocked monk, could still use Shaolin martial arts. But hearing this, it seemed there was some meaningful story behind his defrocking that wasn't really defrocking. If Nam Gang-ryong had truly committed a terrible sin, Won-jung wouldn't have welcomed him with such an attitude.

"Are Won-gak and Won-dang... doing well?"

"Yes. They're holding up well. It's all thanks to the master."

After exchanging such conversation, Won-jung finally turned to Dang Ran-yeong. Then, unexpected words flowed from his mouth.

"We are always grateful to you, Great Master. Thanks to you, Won-gak and Won-dang have been able to keep their lives until now."

Adjusting Cheong-ra, who was slipping diagonally off his shoulder, Dang Ran-yeong answered in an indifferent voice,

"It was just a transaction, so there's no need to be particularly grateful."

Cheong-ra blinked his eyes, the only part of him that was free, in surprise. For some reason, contrary to public rumors, it seemed Dang Ran-yeong didn't bear a grudge against Shaolin.

Frustrated at wanting to properly ask about the situation, Cheong-ra unconsciously wriggled his body, but was startled when Dang Ran-yeong kneaded his thigh. This wasn't even a situation where they were alone, and what place was this! Fortunately, it seemed no one had noticed, but his heart was pounding...

"By the way, is that person on your shoulder really the Moonlight Beauty Sword?"

Won-jung, who had been curious about the person the other was carrying on his shoulder, asked half in doubt, and Dang Ran-yeong answered,

"Yes. I came to ask for some treatment. He's been somewhat out of his mind since being affected by the Blood Cult, so I tied him up. That's why I need to ask Shaolin for a favor."

"Those words, could it be that Devotee Baek..."

Won-jung's voice tensed at the mention of being affected by the Blood Cult. Nam Gang-ryong immediately realized what he was suspecting and shook his head.

"No. Devotee Baek is simply in a state of mental confusion."

"Ah, that's a relief. Just imagining those terrible mind-controlling insects makes my teeth chatter."

Won-jung's reaction was unusual, and Cheong-ra could roughly guess what might have happened to Shaolin in the past. Unlike Mo Yong-hyeon, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Shaolin seemed to have known about the Demon Soul Insects for a long time.

'They could have informed the Martial Arts Alliance about the Demon Soul Insects earlier if they wanted to. Does this mean that both Dang Ran-yeong and Shaolin didn't trust the Martial Arts Alliance?'

Unless there was a way to find and treat them in advance, did they judge that revealing information to the Martial Arts Alliance in this situation would only cause confusion? Or it might have been because the Martial Arts Alliance had become a means of power struggle among the clans, unlike in its early days.

...By the way, when would he be able to get free from these bindings? Dang Ran-yeong had been subtly teasing him out of others' sight for a while now. His fingers moved skillfully and cunningly, and Cheong-ra was having a hard time trying to ignore it.

"The master has always been waiting for you, Won-ho."

"Ah..."

At Won-jung's words, Nam Gang-ryong sighed deeply and fell silent, then his eyes reddened slightly. Cheong-ra could well understand his feelings. When you leave home at a young age and spend decades in a sect, the master naturally comes to feel like a parent. Moreover, spending all day with senior and junior martial brothers and sisters, they felt even closer than family.

It had been several years since Nam Gang-ryong was defrocked. Thinking that he hadn't seen those who were like family for so long, Cheong-ra's heart ached for him.

'No, right now I might be the most pitiful...'

Having been hanging on Dang Ran-yeong's shoulder for so long, the blood rushing to his head was making him uncomfortable. Constantly looking at the ground was making him feel dizzy. It was doubly hard because when he wriggled in discomfort, Dang Ran-yeong would tease him under the pretense of adjusting his position. Fortunately, Won-jung soon guided them to a pavilion.

"Shaolin has not forgotten the debt of gratitude owed to Devotee Baek. So please rest here and wait for a moment, and this humble monk will soon bring a monk who has studied Buddhist law."

"Wait a moment, treatment can come later. I need to see the abbot first."

At Dang Ran-yeong's request, Won-jung's forehead briefly wrinkled. It was understandable, as it was extremely rude to come like this and abruptly request to see the abbot, even if they were benefactors. However, given who the other party was, Won-jung politely declined.

"The abbot is busy and will find it difficult to make time."

This was an expected response. Of course, if they had sent a letter in advance to inform them, it would have saved trouble for both parties. However, if a letter containing such important information were to be intercepted, who knows how things might go wrong. Meeting in person to talk was the safest and surest way in terms of security. Cheong-ra thought this was why Dang Ran-yeong was being so rude.

"If it's a matter of Shaolin's survival, he should make time even if it's difficult."

...Right? That's why he's doing this, right? But why does it seem like he's picking a fight?

Fortunately, Won-jung didn't take the words about Shaolin's survival lightly. As a monk of deep practice, instead of getting angry at the other's rude attitude, he remained silent for a moment before nodding.

"Then this humble monk will go inform the abbot right away. ...And Won-ho, will you come with me? How about looking around the main temple after so long?"

"How could I wander around the temple grounds with a body that has committed sins?"

"So stubborn..."

Won-jung smiled bitterly at Nam Gang-ryong's refusal, shook his head, and then closed the door and left. Only after his presence had disappeared into the distance did Cheong-ra finally manage to make a muffled sound.

"Oh my, Devotee Baek. How uncomfortable you must have been. This humble monk will untie you."

Nam Gang-ryong, who had been feeling very sorry for Cheong-ra for a while, tried to at least remove the gag. However, as Dang Ran-yeong stared at him blankly, he withdrew his outstretched hand. A moment later, Dang Ran-yeong removed Cheong-ra's gag.