Chapter 10 : His Grand Scheme? -03

Chapter 4: His Grand Scheme? -03

Creeeak.

Along with the sound of old hinges, a wooden door that carried the weight of long years opened.

At the same time, the smell of old books and the distinctive scent of wood rushed deep into his nose.

“It’s been a while, Scripture Pavilion.”

Ban Hojin grinned as he came to the Scripture Pavilion after finishing his personal training.

The unique smell of the Scripture Pavilion felt familiar to him.

In the past, it had truly been one of the places he hated coming to the most, yet today, without anyone telling him to, he had come here on his own.

“I’ll look at the Buddhist scriptures or Daoist texts another time.”

As long as Shaolin’s history was, the number of books piled up in the Scripture Pavilion was enormous.

Even so, everything was neatly organized.

That was thanks to the disciples who managed the Scripture Pavilion, who cleaned and organized it every single day.

Ban Hojin was newly impressed, especially by how exceptionally well the classification was done.

“Even when I look again, it’s incredible. It’s managed incredibly well, too.”

Being neatly organized to the eye also meant that an immense amount of care had been poured into it.

Given that a considerable number of Buddhist scriptures and martial arts manuals came in every day, sorting and organizing them was by no means an easy task.

One also needed keen discernment.

Yet none of that had caught his eye in the past.

“Well, back then that was normal. I didn’t have any leeway either.”

The Ban Hojin of the past had spent most of his days training, and most of that training had been devoted solely to the Three Dharma Swords.

Because of that, he had no room to do anything else.

No one had urged him on, yet strangely, the Ban Hojin of that time had immersed himself only in martial arts training.

“Let’s see.”

Having finished his reflections, Ban Hojin slowly looked around the interior of the Scripture Pavilion.

Although he was a disciple of Damhyeon, the Abbot, he was a Lay Disciple, so the rooms he could enter were limited.

No matter that it was Ban Hojin, he could not see the martial arts manuals of the Seventy-Two Ultimate Arts, nor the secret manuals and annotations left behind by the successive Abbots and elders of Shaolin.

Thus, the only places permitted to Ban Hojin were the rooms open to Lay Disciples.

“Hmm.”

From one perspective, it could be called discrimination, but from Shaolin’s standpoint, it was only natural.

Even if they were both disciples, True Mountain Disciples and Lay Disciples were bound to be different.

And rather than wasting time sulking over what one was given, it was better to put in more effort.

Slide. Rustle.

Mastering martial arts and increasing inner energy both required time.

Since rushing would not restore the power of his previous life overnight, Ban Hojin did not grow impatient.

He knew well that rather than stacking a tower clumsily, building it slowly but solidly was, in the end, faster.

That did not mean the realm he had achieved would run away anywhere.

For that reason, Ban Hojin recovered his martial path steadily, without haste.

“As expected, the Scripture Pavilion really is the Scripture Pavilion.”

That said, Ban Hojin had not come here just to stroll around.

Although there were limits to the martial arts manuals a Lay Disciple could see, classification was still done by people.

Even the Head of the Scripture Pavilion could not accurately judge the value of every single secret martial arts manual.

Just as the difference between what one knew and what one had realized was vast, once one reached Ban Hojin’s level, one’s discernment far surpassed ordinary standards.

“Oh, this one’s not bad.”

In his past life, he had gone through a great many trials and errors.

Those eventually became nourishment that led Ban Hojin to the Transcendent Realm, but it was also true that he had wasted no small amount of time.

This life, however, would not be like that, which was why Ban Hojin had come to the Scripture Pavilion.

He wondered if there might be a martial arts manual that could be of help.

“Not bad.”

Ban Hojin did not believe that what he knew was everything.

In the past, he had been like that, but now he was different.

A genius merely had slightly more talent than others; it did not mean they knew everything.

The moment one thought oneself different, believed one knew everything, one fell into arrogance and stubbornness, and growth ended there.

If one realized that, one surpassed the level of a genius, prodigy, or rare talent to become a master who dominated the world; if not, one would naturally be forgotten by the world.

Genius and omniscience were completely different words to begin with.

Yet there were surprisingly many who did not understand this.

“There’s a reason elders always told us to be humble. Well, there might truly be someone who knows everything, but none has appeared yet.”

As a rule, there were exceptions to everything.

Ban Hojin knew that as well, so he did not jump to conclusions lightly.

Tap.

Shaking off his stray thoughts, Ban Hojin soon focused on the task at hand.

He rapidly read through the martial arts manuals that filled one entire bookshelf, selecting those that caught his eye.

However, unlike his expectations, there were no martial arts manuals that made his eyes light up.

“It’s not like that’s my only purpose.”

“What purpose?”

“Senior Brother Jang.”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“Do you have something to say to me?”

The Scripture Pavilion was spacious, but not to the extent that it exceeded Ban Hojin’s sensory perception.

That was why Ban Hojin had known from early on.

That as soon as Jang Pilsang entered the Scripture Pavilion, he had looked around as if searching for someone, then headed this way.

“You’re still as ill-mannered as ever.”

“People don’t change easily.”

“Good grief.”

Jang Pilsang put force into his eyes.

However, Ban Hojin was not someone who would be frightened by mere glaring.

Moreover, knowing what Jang Pilsang had done during the war against the Four Tyrants of the World, Ban Hojin could not bring himself to speak kindly.

“If you have no business, I’ll be on my way.”

“Just because they praise you as a genius, do you not even see your senior brother as a senior brother anymore?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’m talking about your behavior right now.”

As he tried to leave to avoid further conversation, Jang Pilsang blocked his path.

Then he poked at Ban Hojin’s shoulder with his index finger, tapping it lightly.

“Are you saying I didn’t treat you as my senior brother? That can’t be. I showed proper courtesy.”

“With that look in your eyes?”

“What kind of look is that supposed to be?”

“A look like you’re going to devour your senior brother.”

Jang Pilsang growled.

From the first time they met, he had not liked Ban Hojin.

That a mere Lay Disciple had become the Abbot’s disciple, and that his family background was nothing special—everything about it irritated him.

Trusting only in his talent and acting arrogantly was something he found extremely displeasing.

“Do you really want me to devour you?”

“You bastard……!”

What irritated Jang Pilsang even more was precisely this insolent personality.

No matter that Ban Hojin was the youngest disciple of Damhyeon, the Abbot, in terms of seniority Jang Pilsang was clearly above him.

Yet despite that, Ban Hojin had never once shown him respect.

“A Shaolin disciple using crude profanity. Your personality really hasn’t changed. I feel like I’ve been seeing you get scolded for speaking carelessly since a long time ago.”

“Shut up!”

“So now you’re just running your mouth because of first-generation disciple allocation? Or are you acting up because you trust your family? But that won’t be nearly enough, you know?”

“Will you not shut your mouth!”

At Ban Hojin’s manner of speech, which shifted back and forth between informal and polite, Jang Pilsang’s face flushed crimson.

He had grown excessively agitated over a minor provocation.

At the same time, he twitched his arm as if he were about to strike at any moment.

“If you’re going to hit me, don’t hold back. Of course, you’ll have to bear the responsibility that comes with it. Or you could apply for a sparring match fair and square.”

Brrrr!

He was agitated, but that did not mean he had lost his reason.

The moment he used his hands, Jang Pilsang himself knew very well what would happen to him.

It was infuriating and maddening, but in terms of martial scriptures, Ban Hojin was several moves above him.

That was why Jang Pilsang clenched his teeth, his face like that of a malicious ghost.

“……Let me give you one piece of advice. If you keep acting so arrogant, you’ll get seriously hurt someday.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“You should learn how to bow your head at the right time. If you don’t want to be utterly humiliated later.”

“Looks like you’ve taken some under-the-table money from somewhere again. Seeing how you’re enduring that much while steadfastly saying what you want to say. Normally, even if we crossed paths, you wouldn’t have acknowledged me.”

“Hmph!”

With a snort, Jang Pilsang turned his body.

One way or another, he had said everything he needed to say, so it was no different from having granted the request.

The rest was something the other side needed to handle, so Jang Pilsang hurriedly left the Scripture Pavilion as if slipping out of a latrine.

“I forgot while restoring my martial arts. That there are still things in the sect that need to be cleared out.”

Watching Jang Pilsang’s back recede in an instant, Ban Hojin muttered.

But Ban Hojin’s voice was colder than ever.

Seeing Jang Pilsang reminded him of the actions the man had committed during the war against the Four Tyrants of the World.

That an internal enemy was more terrifying than an external one—Jang Pilsang had shown that fact directly to Shaolin and to Ban Hojin.

“If it were up to my feelings, I’d want to expel him right now, but if I’m going to do it, it’s better to wipe them all out at once.”

Ban Hojin smacked his lips.

It was obvious that even now, Jang Pilsang was secretly doing all kinds of filthy things.

However, as the saying went about striking the grass and startling the snake, if he caught Jang Pilsang now, those who could be called the true roots would surely go into hiding, so Ban Hojin decided to gather evidence while waiting for the right moment.

Within Shaolin, Jang Pilsang’s standing was not particularly great, and since Ban Hojin knew what kind of things he was doing, gathering evidence would not be difficult.

“Well, there’s no reason for me to dirty my own hands either.”

Ban Hojin grinned.

There were plenty of people in Shaolin suited for this kind of work.

And if it were to live up to the name of a pure temple, it would be best to clear out people like Jang Pilsang entirely.

“Anyway, thanks. I’d forgotten.”

In this life, his goal was to live leisurely, but that did not mean he would neglect the duties he had to fulfill.

Doing what needed to be done, yet living with ease and happiness—that was the goal of this life.

“Cha-hap!”

“Yaaah!”

From early morning, vigorous shouts burst out from the training grounds.

While inner energy was important, the foundation of Shaolin lay in external martial arts.

That was why, even to this day, Shaolin did not neglect external training.

“Your fist is wavering. Don’t tell me you’re already tired after just this much?”

“N-no, sir!”

“Don’t just answer.”

Jeong Hyeon and the other Second-Generation Disciples grit their teeth as they unfolded the Arhat Fist.

Children who had only just shed their novice monk status were drenched in sweat, yet Ban Hojin did not even blink.

He thought it was only natural for training to be harsh and exhausting.

If they disliked it, they could give up.

“Uaaah!”

“If it were me, I’d use the strength you’re wasting on shouting to unfold the Arhat Fist.”

“Hup!”

At Ban Hojin’s low voice, which strangely spread across the entire training grounds, the Second-Generation Disciples clenched their teeth.

It was cold, but they thought it was correct.

If one’s remaining strength was limited, it was right to use it as efficiently as possible.

“You don’t need anything else. Just think of one thing. That you’re engraving only the basic form of the Arhat Fist into your body. Applications come after you’ve mastered even the most basic things. If you try to apply techniques before you’re proficient, you’ll end up with neither.”

“Yes!”

“We’ll keep it in mind!”

With hawk-like eyes, Ban Hojin examined the Second-Generation Disciples.

The Arhat Fist was a basic art of Shaolin that even Lay Disciples were taught.

It was also the martial art that formed the foundation of all Shaolin fist techniques.

That was why, for a Shaolin disciple, the Arhat Fist was an exceedingly important martial art.

“Jeong Hyeon. Your foot placement is wrong.”

“I-I’ll correct it!”

“Unfolding the Arhat Fist and the Arhat Steps together is difficult for anyone. There are exceptions, but most people aren’t. That’s why you have to work even harder.”

“Yes!”

Jeong Hyeon immediately understood who the exception was.

In fact, Ban Hojin was famous for having perfectly unfolded the Arhat Steps in just a few days.

Though it was a basic art and, as a Lay Disciple, he had not been taught the latter half, it was still remarkable.

Because of that, it was spoken of in hushed tones, almost like a legend.

“It’s not like I don’t put in effort either. You know that too, right?”

“……I do.”

When it became break time, Jeong Hyeon collapsed onto the ground and nodded.

Within the temple grounds, rumors were still circulating that Ban Hojin had grown lazy, trusting only in his talent.

But Jeong Hyeon, having seen him train, immediately realized what an absurd and baseless rumor that was.

‘That training is insane. To do such simple repetitive training without even resting…….’