Looking at where the Heavenly Buddha disappeared, Yoon-seok’s eyes grew wide as he finished organizing his thoughts. Then, he looked to Cheon-ma, who quietly stood next to him and unfolded a soundproof screen with her mana.
“From what that Lowly Monk said, something must have happened to you. Seeing you so lost in thought.”
It seemed that she also thought that he was enlightened.
“So, what did you get?”
“I originally had something in mind, but I only have clues.”
“Clues… can I hear it in detail?”
Normally it was taboo to ask about enlightenment or anything like that between warriors, but he wasn’t in that type of relationship with Cheon-ma. In the first place, Yoon-seok’s ideology was always different from that of the Moorim people. While they were at it, Yoon-seok told Cheon-ma about the topic of real and fake.
“So, that’s what the Sword Sovereign said?”
“It wasn’t just words. He showed me he could cut down the Invaders with his sword.”
“Hmm.”
Cheon-ma began to pat her chin, and Yoon-seok asked cautiously.
“By the way, he said he paid off his debt to you with that. Did you have anything to do with him before?”
“Anything like what? We’ve only exchanged swords once or twice while passing by.”
“…I see.”
Come to think of it, that was what she said when they first met.
‘Well, that’s why I was taught by her in the first place.’
“So what does that have to do with what that crazy Monk said?”
When Cheon-ma asked, Yoon-seok returned to the main subject. However, when he tried to explain how the Heavenly Buddha attained enlightenment through mental victory, it was so absurd that he felt himself growing emotional. And did she notice?
Cheon-ma smiled like when she saw something cute such as Asura or Yongyong.
“Fufufu. Don’t be so angry. That’s how crazy he is.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. He’s just talking, but what is he talking about?”
That was true. He said he met the Buddha and reached that realm, but it was no ordinary Buddha. According to Cheon-ma, he didn’t formally devote himself to the Buddha.
“It is a very famous story that the head of Shaolin Temple, who was having an argument about the Buddha with the Heavenly Buddha, fell ill and was consigned to his bed.”
Apparently, despite how the Moorim people usually worshipped the strong, the Heavenly Buddha was thoroughly treated as a heretic among the monks. There was even a time when the Shaolin Temple, one of the Moorim sects that followed the Buddha, studied how that crazy Lowly Monk became stronger, saying they didn’t understand.
“But how could a normal person understand what a madman thinks? In the end, everyone gave up.”
If so, did that mean even Cheon-ma didn’t know why or how the Heavenly Buddha grew so strong? Yoon-seok asked carefully, and Cheon-ma shook her head with a grin.
“Everyone goes crazy because of the nonsense that the Heavenly Buddha became strong with the Buddha’s virtues. But how come there needs to be a reason for a warrior to become stronger? It’s just talent.”
Yoon-seok unconsciously agreed with that assessment. Although he thought there was a line, he still hadn’t found a way to cross it. But what about the Heavenly Buddha? As soon as he realized a line, he crossed it straight away.
Why was there such a difference?
‘Talent, huh…’
The Heavenly Buddha was a weirdo, but at the same time, he had exceptional natural qualities. Of course, he must have put in a lot of effort and pain that couldn’t be explained by talent alone.
After all, that’s what talent is.
“…”
Yoon-seok finally realized something. Before entering the Tower, he didn’t dare to try it, and after he came here, such things never happened, so it was too late to notice…
‘I’m jealous.’
After admitting it, he felt a little stuffy. It wasn’t a point of comparison, to begin with. Even though it was by an unorthodox method, the Heavenly Buddha was an absolute master who had been living in Moorim and honing his martial arts for decades. There was also a difference in the density of their lives in looking at the world.
‘Let’s not be in a hurry. There is still plenty of time until then.’
“Anyway, I should think a little more about this.”
She didn’t say anything, but Cheon-ma’s expression was heavy. She looked heartbroken that she couldn’t be helpful as a teacher.
Yoon-seok shook off his dark thoughts.
“Yes. I’ll know when the time comes. Thank you for thinking about it with me.”
“What are you thanking me for? It’s indeed an interesting story.”
Looking at Cheon-ma’s expression, they didn’t seem like empty words.
“Real, fake, and belief…”
Yoon-seok followed Cheon-ma out of the rubble. He continued to mull over what happened.
“Mother!”
“Oppa! Sister!”
Lee Su-yeon and Yongyong, who were waiting, welcomed them warmly. Yoon-seok felt a strange emotion as they approached. Contrary to the expectation, they would meet easily; after several twists and turns, the fixed members were all gathered together.
“It’s been a long time. How have you been?”
“Yes! Sis, you’re not hurt either, right?”
“Of course not.”
Cheon-ma looked at Yoon-seok after receiving a brief greeting from Lee Su-yeon.
“What are you going to do now?”
She proudly asked him for a plan.
* * *
“There are three things we need to focus on from now on.”
Yoon-seok calmly started the briefing. Recruiting the healing specialist, tracking Henigus, and time farming. It was the same as before, but with one addition.
“Lastly, I think we need to find out why the old man Heavenly Buddha came here.”
He was skeptical from the start about why the Heavenly Buddha had come to this distant place. Yoon-seok had a hunch that it couldn’t be for anything good.
“It must be for a serious purpose…”
“Oh, I don’t know about anything else, but I roughly know about that.”
“…You know?”
“I asked, and he just told me. Is it something to be surprised about?”
It seemed the two had conversed before Yoon-seok and the others arrived.
“Can you tell us in detail?”
“…Well, so it was suddenly when a single eye popped out of the ceiling. That’s when the Lowly Monk’s complexion changed.”
If it was about the eyeball, that should be Henigus’s ability. Was its name the Eye of the Watcher? Anyway, as soon as it appeared, the Heavenly Buddha, who had burst the eye with his fist, had said:
—Old Maiden, can you please stop this and let me go? If I waste my time like this…
—What, are you pretending to have an urgent business?
—It will be too late after this heinous crime is over…
—Enough!
Yoon-seok was stunned for a moment after hearing the recap. She said she knew roughly about it, but her understanding was rough. It was frustrating that she didn’t establish a conversation…
Still, Yoon-seok had an idea.
‘A heinous crime…’
An important keyword appeared. Undoubtedly, the Heavenly Buddha visited the Space-Time World to stop Henigus. Of course, there were questions about how he knew about it in advance, but come to think of it, it was the same when he appeared at the Moorim League.
‘Even then, he knew in advance I was coming there.’
Perhaps the Heavenly Buddha had a helper who possessed precognition or a similar ability.
‘So, why is he trying to stop Henigus?’
Simply to save millions of lives? No. The Heavenly Buddha wasn’t an ordinary monk but a madman who followed the Buddha only with his mouth. It could never be for such a moral reason. Rather it might be because there was an item that he needed to purchase by gathering time.
‘But if it were for that, he wouldn’t have used the phrase heinous crime.’
As Yoon-seok mulled over what Cheon-ma had recounted, he realized one thing.
—It will be too late after this heinous crime is over…
Looking at the nuance from that alone, it seemed that the problem wasn’t the heinous crime, but after that. Thinking about it, even for Henigus, the heinous crime was just a means. The ultimate goal was to breathe life into the Space-Time World, wasn’t it?
‘…Will it be a big deal if Henigus achieves his goal?’
“These days, you think a lot by yourself.”
Finally, Yoon-seok awoke from his thoughts. It was somewhat awkward that this was already the second time today he had drifted off in front of other people.
“What are you so worried about?”
“I don’t think I’m at the stage to tell you yet.”
“Hmm. So what are you planning to do first?”
After thinking for a while, Yoon-seok answered.
“I intend to do all three at once.”
Three people and one dragon. There was no reason to stick to just a single thing.
* * *
Efficient distribution of personnel was a time-saving shortcut. In that sense, it was a waste for the three to go together.
“Su-yeon, you go around and find the healing specialist. If you find them, don’t contact them and tell me first.”
“Yes.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Follow Su-yeon around and help her.”
“Hmm, we don’t know where that crazy Monk is going, so you must feel insecure letting her go all by herself.”
Yoon-seok quickly divided the groups. Lee Su-yeon, who was good at work and would do her part wherever she went, was paired with Cheon-ma, who could make up for her lack of force.
“Good. I will take good care of her.”
‘If it’s Su-yeon, she will take good care of her so that she doesn’t make any trouble.’
As he felt in the last mission, Lee Su-yeon and Cheon-ma complemented each other’s shortcomings.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to try to find that Lowly Monk with Yongyong. In the meantime, I’ll also earn time by slaying monsters.”
“With Yongyong?”
Cheon-ma looked like she wanted to ask why they were divided into groups like that, but the reason was simple. Yongyong could find Cheon-ma, making it easier for them to regroup later.
“Fufufu, of course, a man should have this kind of side.”
“Yes?”
“You have become very reliable.”
“Yes…”
Yoon-seok didn’t know, but it sounded like a compliment.
Yoon-seok looked to Lee Su-yeon, avoiding Cheon-ma’s proud eyes.
“If anything happens, contact me right away.”
“Do not worry.”
—I will take good care of Big Sister.
Seeing Lee Su-yeon, who even noticed the hidden intentions of his personnel distribution, made his heart feel lighter.
“Even if there is nothing special, I will contact you regularly.”
“Alright.”
“Sister, let’s go!”
He wondered if there was a place where she suspected the healing specialist might be in this chaos. After Lee Su-yeon headed off with Cheon-ma, Yongyong changed back to his dragon form and flapped his wings.
“Father! Let’s go too! Hurry up and get on my back!”
Perhaps because Cheon-ma wasn’t there, his tone sounded a little lighter. Or was he just a little excited because it was his first time hanging out alone with his dad?
‘…I think it would be faster and more convenient to just run. I haven’t decided where I’m going yet.’
After hiding his honest feelings thoroughly, Yoon-seok carefully climbed aboard Yongyong’s back.
And then-
Khieeeeek.
The ground nearby rose, revealing a space hidden below. Yoon-seok sat still, wondering what was happening, and before long, a three-eyed alien stuck his head out.
“Chief! Fortunately, the monsters seem to have left… huh?”
Yoon-seok gave a friendly smile so that the alien wouldn’t be intimidated. However, since their culture was different, was his meaning conveyed incorrectly?
“Hiiish! P-put the shutter down!”
Bang-!
“…”
The door closed.
“I wondered why there was no one in this big city, so everyone was hiding underground… ‘
Yoon-seok got off Yongyong’s back and approached where the door had been.
“That’s amazing…”
At this size, it wouldn’t be noticeable when closed, and it was so natural that you couldn’t find a single seam. Above all, once it was closed again, the presence under the ground was completely blocked.
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