Chapter 237 : A Man Must Read the Five-Carriage Scroll

Chapter 237: A Man Must Read the Five-Carriage Scroll

Something about the words didn’t add up, and Yong Hwarin’s suspicion deepened further.

“No, not at all. I’ve always been grateful to the reverends. But it seems you’re in a hurry for something—may I be of any assistance?”

As Yong Hwarin subtly asked, Gak Yoo looked toward Daeheo.

When Daeheo gave a nod, Gak Yoo quietly opened his mouth.

“It’s nothing major. We’ve just received intelligence that the forces of the Demonic Path and the Unorthodox Alliance have been gathering in Jeongju. That’s why we have been dispatched by the Alliance.”

Yong Hwarin nodded.

So it turned out they weren’t here to escort Eum Sajeok—they had been sent regarding this issue.

‘They’re leaving Eum Sajeok be, because taking him to the Northern Justice Alliance could provoke conflict with the Heavenly Demon Sect. Even the Four Diamond Vajras, knowing Eum Sajeok is in my hands, have said nothing. That must be the reason. The reason they met Sam Taegong on Goyi Mountain and retreated without a real fight must also stem from some hesitation. Now that the forces of the Demonic Path and the Unorthodox Alliance are gathering in Jeongju, the Northern Justice Alliance may suspect that Sam Taegong is the one orchestrating this turmoil and has dispatched these monks to investigate. That’s why they met with Sam Taegong to inquire about his intent. Otherwise, they would have had no reason to back down from confronting someone of the Heavenly Demon Sect.’

Now Yong Hwarin felt like he was beginning to understand.

Just because martial artists of the Orthodox and Demonic Paths encountered each other didn’t mean blood would always be spilled.

The more important the figures from each faction, the less likely they were to engage in senseless fighting.

‘The Great Martial Battle of Moon and Orthodoxy doesn’t seem likely to break out just yet. But judging from their movements, it will undoubtedly happen someday. The movements of both the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Northern Justice Alliance are unusual. Though they’re trying to avoid direct conflict for now, a violent clash between them is inevitable.’

“It seems we have no business here now, so we will take our leave.”

As Daeheo said this, Yong Hwarin stopped him.

“Please, Reverend. I beg your pardon, but could you stay here just until tomorrow? I would be grateful if you remained until all other factions within the Sky Ocean Merchant Union leave today. The only reason they’re not resorting to force is because you’re here. If you leave, they will surely try to seize the Merchant Union by force. If that happens, the fact that Chairman Hoi Jongbaek recovered will be all for nothing. And I assure you, this favor will be repaid to Shaolin by Chairman Hoi Jongbaek.”

In his final words, Yong Hwarin added a worldly promise—that the Sky Ocean Merchant Union would repay Shaolin’s kindness.

Uncharacteristically for a Shaolin monk, Daeheo burst into a hearty laugh.

“Benefactor Yong, you truly have a knack for turning hearts. Staying until tomorrow isn’t so difficult, is it, brothers?”

“Indeed, Senior Brother.”

As the Four Diamond Vajras all agreed, Yong Hwarin offered a deep bow with a clasped-hand salute.

“Thank you.”

“Where shall we rest?”

Yong Hwarin quickly had his attendants escort the Four Diamond Vajras and the Reverends Arhat to the Guest Pavilion.

Before leaving, Gak Yoo added with a smile.

“This is the first time I’ve seen Senior Brother Daeheo accept someone’s request so easily. Benefactor Yong truly knows how to move hearts. Had you not said that last part, Senior Brother would’ve just left.”

In other words, he was hinting how best to persuade Reverend Daeheo in the future.

The Four Diamond Vajras had long represented Shaolin in the martial world.

Naturally, they understood the value of money and knew that when the Sky Ocean Merchant Union offered patronage, it wasn’t mere pocket change.

“It seems Senior Brother holds Benefactor Yong in high regard. And rightly so, considering Benefactor Yong aided and saved us.”

“No, no. How could I possibly harbor impure intentions in helping the reverends?”

“It’s that pure intent that Senior Brother admired.”

“Regardless, I thank you for keeping your promise.”

“If a man’s mouth is not worth the weight of a book, then what good is it?”

“Wise words, indeed.”

As Yong Hwarin clasped his hands again, Gak Yoo responded with a half-bow and followed the Four Diamond Vajras to the Guest Pavilion.

Yong Hwarin felt pleased to have formed a good relationship with Shaolin.

There wasn’t a soul in the martial world who didn’t know the weight Shaolin carried.

Regardless of family or clan, before the name of Shaolin, all took a respectful step back—that was an unspoken rule of Jianghu.

Meeting the Four Diamond Vajras left a deep impression on Yong Hwarin.

Having glimpsed the dignity of true masters, his blood ran hot.

He realized that compared to masters like Myeong Gojung, the Bookstore Master of Woohak Bookstore, whose strength was overwhelming, or Sam Taegong Lee Kangmin, who exuded a peerless purity, and the Four Diamond Vajras—the path he’d walked thus far was no more than a flicker of a firefly.

‘Someone like Namgung Bi could stand alongside them. But I, who have not even awakened the Boundary of the Upper World, cannot possibly compare. The gulf between the Time-Space Realm and the Upper World Boundary must be that vast.’

With that thought, a fierce desire to obtain the Heaven Sea Divine Art flared in Yong Hwarin’s heart.

‘The Heaven Sea Divine Art is strong enough to annihilate the Heavenly Demon Sect’s main force. Even a fragment of such a martial art might let me reach the level I dream of.’

Yong Hwarin was determined to reach the Boundary of the Upper World.

Before he knew it, he found himself walking toward the grain storage.

“No, I still have too many things to take care of. I’ll do them first, and then…”

Muttering to himself, Yong Hwarin tapped his own forehead.

“This is what happens when I keep trying to think everything through. I should be doing what I want to do now. I desire the Heaven Sea Divine Art, yet I keep pushing it aside with the excuse of being busy. Hwarin, what is it that you truly want?”

Lost in his soliloquy, Yong Hwarin suddenly clapped his hands and let out a cry.

“Ah! That’s what it meant! That’s what it was all along!”

Suddenly, light filled his mind, and as one question cleared away, he burst into a cheer.

Until now, Yong Hwarin had not understood the meaning behind the phrase left by Hoi Eulshin—A man must read the five-carriage scroll (男兒須讀五車書).

But now, he felt like he finally understood.

And it came from something Reverend Gak Yoo had said.

The words a man’s mouth must not weigh less than a book had sparked his realization.

‘The fact that Hoi Eulshin built a library and left behind the phrase A man must read the five-carriage scroll meant that one must possess the weight of five carriages' worth of books to acquire what he left behind in that library.’

Yong Hwarin suddenly spoke toward a tree.

“Even if you can’t see me, tell Squad Leader Mu not to look for me for a while.”

A voice came from behind the tree.

“Where are you going?”

Standing still for a moment, Yong Hwarin answered.

“I’m suddenly reminded of Duan Ji’s Admonition (斷機之戒).”

Watching Yong Hwarin head toward the Chief Administrator’s Office, the assassin who had been guarding him muttered to himself.

“Duan Ji’s Admonition? How does that even relate to what’s happening now?”

The assassin looked confused for a moment, then turned away.

Knowing that Yong Hwarin was no ordinary man, he figured there must be some meaning behind those words.

Duan Ji’s Admonition was a story everyone knew.

When Mencius once abandoned his studies and returned home, his mother cut the loom she was weaving and scolded him—saying quitting studies halfway was like cutting the cloth she had been weaving. She then sent him back to his studies.

After that, Mencius dedicated himself to learning and became a Confucian scholar rivaling Confucius himself.

Yong Hwarin believed he had been abandoning his martial pursuit halfway, obsessed with trivial matters.

In front of me was the Heavenly Sea Divine Art, a peerless martial art, and yet I was turning away from it to seek out other tasks—realizing I was no different from who I was in my past life.

I, Yong Hwarin, went to find Wang Mu before entering the grain storage.

It was to receive a few permissions.

Half a si-jin later, I came out from the storage library of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union with five carts of books.

“May I take these books with me?”

When I said that while pulling five carts, Wang Mu suddenly thought I had gone mad.

However, since I had recently subdued the forces of Hoi Soyu of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union without bloodshed, he regarded it highly and granted my request.

After all, it was just books—there was no reason to refuse.

I pushed four of the book carts into the grain storage and withdrew all the assassins who had been guarding me.

The last cart I planned to pull in myself.

“What could Hoi Eulshin have left behind?”

As I pushed the cart into the grain storage, my whole body tingled with anticipation and excitement.

Meanwhile, Mu Iso, who had heard the assassin’s report, held the letter in his hand with a troubled expression.

The letter had been delivered by Baekseom and contained the information I had requested on Hae Cheollyeong.

Mu Iso asked,

“Do you know where he went?”

“Yes, I confirmed he went into the empty grain storage.”

“Then let’s go together.”

“Well… Young Master Yong left a message saying ‘Duan Ji’s Admonition’ and not to look for him for a while.”

Mu Iso repeated the words ‘Duan Ji’s Admonition’ several times.

And soon realized that the Small Sect Leader was facing a very important turning point.

With a hunch, Mu Iso went to find Hoi Unkyung and explained my movements.

Then Hoi Unkyung asked with a bright expression,

“You say Young Master Yong said ‘Duan Ji’s Admonition’ as he entered the grain storage?”

“Yes.”

“Then it seems Young Master Yong has finally grasped a clue.”

Hoi Unkyung’s expression was brighter than ever.

“What’s going on? Is it something I shouldn’t know?”

“It’s best to wait. If Young Master Yong didn’t leave any details, he must have had a reason. But what I can say is—he might be about to gain an incredible miraculous encounter.”

Hearing that, Mu Iso no longer wished to disturb me.

Instead, he passed on a request to the assassins to guard the grain storage until I came out.

‘It’s not urgent anyway. Once he comes out, I’ll pass it along.’

Truthfully, there wasn’t anything that pressing in the contents of the letter.

The residence of Hae Deokgong appears to have been abandoned for quite some time. There are traces of destruction caused by internal energy, suggesting a battle occurred. We still have not determined where they went. However, our unit’s martial artists skilled in tracking are searching based on the traces and should locate them before long.

Mu Iso put the letter back into his robe and headed toward the residence.

There was simply too much to do right now.

As Hoi Unkyung recovered and began working, half of the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect were assigned to escort and assist her.

Mu Iso sent five members of the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect to guard the grain storage, vaguely grasping the meaning behind Hoi Unkyung’s words.

‘Will the Small Sect Leader acquire the Heavenly Sea Divine Art?’

Just the thought of it made Mu Iso’s heart race.

Then, upon seeing Jeong Suji approaching from a distance, he quickly turned away.

If he got caught up in something with the Jiral Sword for no reason, it would be a headache.

Lately, she had been harassing him just because Jeong Daji seemed fond of him, and if things went badly, he felt like he might not die a natural death under her pressure.