Bab 44: Heavenly Flow Merchant Group(1)
The fact that the money coming from the Lay Disciples sect had decreased over the years was surprisingly related to Mujin.
More precisely, it was related to Mujin and Mokyeong.
About two years ago.
The incident where Mokyeong, a disciple from the Lay Disciples sect, who was being harassed, was rescued. Shaolin resolved the matter very equitably.
They destroyed the source of the harassment against Mokyeong, preventing them from practicing martial arts, and after realizing that the sect had been collecting money by harassing the local residents, they abolished the martial arts of the sect's warriors and returned all the property to the local residents.
But ironically, that was the root of the problem.
While Shaolin's intentions were lofty, most of those living in the secular world were not interested in such high-minded intentions. That included even Shaolin's lay disciples.
Those tainted by the secular world distrusted Shaolin's method of rejecting lay disciples rather than dealing with the sect that had harassed the residents.
It was a distrust that they too could be rejected at any time.
Therefore, despite being lay disciples of Shaolin, some sects were reluctant to join other sects under Shaolin's control.
Naturally, since they had joined other sects, they did not send donations, and Shaolin's failure to sanction them led to further departures.
As a result, nearly half of the lay sects had left over the past year.
"As expected, we should have prevented those who left at that time, Master."
"Huh... It was the choice of the abbots. And isn't it trying to punish innocent people to drive out those who are not guilty, just because they are Shaolin disciples?"
"Why did they join other sects? It's because they felt guilty about something."
"That's nothing but a guilty conscience, Amida Buddha."
Even the abbot of the Blacksmith Workshop, who expressed dissatisfaction, secretly entertained thoughts similar to his disciple's.
However, Shaolin's method was such that they couldn't punish them.
Even though winter was approaching, despite not having enough money to feed the disciples.
---
The daily routine of the three disciples of Shaolin was quite simple.
They woke up early in the morning, greeted the abbots and masters who shared the hall, and headed to the meditation hall.
Just like in their novice days, the three disciples trained their bodies in the training hall they shared. After morning practice and breakfast, they studied scriptures and practiced martial arts.
Once they finished their practice in the meditation hall, the afternoon routine of the three disciples involved cleaning the temple grounds or welcoming visitors.
However, Mujin had been exempt from these duties for some time. His task was to treat Hyun Kwang.
Hyun Kwang had reached a tremendous level, mastering natural energy, but his body was still not fully healed.
Mujin couldn't understand why, but even though Hyun Kwang had reached such a high level, he didn't exhibit the miraculous transformations or reversals seen in martial arts novels.
So, Mujin dedicated his afternoons to treating Hyun Kwang, and in the evenings, he would visit Hye Gwan's meditation hall to refine his martial arts through sparring.
And about a month later.
"Mujin, from today onwards, I will take care of Master's treatment again, so how about you joining the other three disciples?"
It was Beop Geon, who was officially Mujin's master and Hyun Kwang's grand-disciple, who made this proposal to Mujin.
"Are you serious, Master?"
Mujin asked Beop Geon with a face that seemed to say, 'Really?'
"I know your feelings, both me and Master do. However, as a disciple of Shaolin, understanding the duties of a disciple and understanding how our Shaolin operates are also very important."
Beop Geon explained, thinking about Mujin's future.
Beop Geon also understood that Mujin was a talent who could become the backbone of Shaolin. Therefore, it was even more necessary for him to frequently interact with his peers.
According to rumors circulating within Shaolin, Mujin still only socialized with a few who were close to him during his novice days.
There were still rumors circulating about how the previous children who became third-generation disciples before Mujin were still struggling.
Of course, from Mujin's perspective, as long as he took care of Hyun Kwang or the third-generation disciples who were his martial brothers, it was enough, and as long as he saw the ending of the novel reasonably, it was enough.
Mu-Jin, it seems like this old man also shares the same thoughts as Geon regarding this matter."
As Hyun Kwang also joined them, Mu-Jin found it hard to refuse.
"Hehehe. I've roughly understood how to use these tools over the past month. Even without you, Geon and I can handle it."
Hyun Kwang pointed to various tools laid out on the main porch.
There were foam rollers made by thickening leather on iron cores, elastic bands made of natural rubber, barrels with leather added to wood, and even reformers that used a combination of springs, wood, and elastic bands.
Having truly started to develop muscles, Hyun Kwang had recently been learning rehabilitation exercises (Pilates) from Mu-Jin.
"If there's anything you don't understand, don't worry, I'll ask you about it in the evening," added Hyun Kwang at the end, leaving Mu-Jin with no choice but to accept their proposal.
---
The next afternoon.
Mu-Jin was overseeing the duties of the three disciples of The Hall of Arhats as instructed by Hyun Kwang and Geon.
Word had it that they were receiving visitors at Shaolin.
Before being a martial arts sect, Shaolin was a temple that had been around for thousands of years. Naturally, many visitors came, but it wasn't feasible for the martial arts sect to keep its doors open at all times.
Therefore, Shaolin only partially received visitors from noon until afternoon (13:00-17:00).
It was a set time to accommodate visitors, and if they were received in the morning or evening, there would be too many injuries from stumbling on the dark mountain paths.
Anyway, Mu-Jin greeted the visitors who came at that time with a commercial smile.
One sight caught Mu-Jin's attention.
"Ah, aye, aye."
It was an elderly woman walking with a slightly bent back, leaning on a cane.
Mu-Jin wasn't the only one who noticed the elderly woman. And as true disciples, many novice disciples and three disciples approached her.
Mu-Jin was just the fastest.
As with Hyun Kwang, for Chae Kang-hyuk, respect for the elderly was not a moral concept. It was something ingrained in their instincts.
Approaching the elderly woman as if using a tactical maneuver, Mu-Jin, with a gentle smile, spoke to her.
"Grandma, you must be uncomfortable. How did you manage to come all the way here?"
"Oh, I came here to pay my respects to Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha, of course. Hohoho."
With a welcoming tone as if greeting her own grandson, the elderly woman gently laughed and responded to Mu-Jin's worried question.
"If it's Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha, you mean the Great Hall, right? I'll carry you there!"
As Mu-Jin moved abruptly towards the elderly woman and bent down, the elderly woman shook her head slightly.
"Hohoho. My boy, there's no need to strain yourself because of this old lady."
"Hahaha. Don't worry, Grandma! I'm also a disciple of Shaolin. Do you know how hard I've trained?"
Mu-Jin rolled up his sleeves and showed off his steel-like practical compressed muscles.
"See? Grandma, I can lift you with just one hand! I'm trying to carry you because I thought you might be scared!"
As Mu-Jin flexed his muscles, the elderly woman, unable to resist, eventually got on Mu-Jin's back.
"Huh? Are you lifted? You're so light! Hahaha."
After lifting the elderly woman, Mu-Jin shook his muscles once more, and the elderly woman burst into laughter.
"Hohoho. You're such a lovely young man. I feel like introducing you to my granddaughter. Oh my, this old lady said something inappropriate to a young man like you."
"Why? It'd be nice to introduce us. If you come to Shaolin with Grandma like this, you can pay respects to Amitabha Buddha together and read scriptures together, right?"
"This Grandma can't stand it. Hohoho."
Afterwards, the two headed to the Great Hall, chatting as if they were close relatives.
After Mu-Jin helped the elderly woman down from the Great Hall, she entered the temple and bowed towards the statues of Amitabha Buddha and Sakyamuni Buddha.
Watching her, Mu-Jin felt a pang of sympathy. It was uncomfortable to see the elderly woman, leaning on her cane, bowing.
He couldn't help but worry about how much pain her knees and back must be in.
In the end, Mu-Jin waited until the elderly woman finished her bowing and then greeted her as she stepped out of the temple.
"Grandma! It must have been tiring to bow. Did you know I know an amazing massage technique?"
Saying that, Mu-Jin massaged the elderly woman's knees and back, which must have been sore from bowing.
"How does that feel? Refreshing, right?"
Having led countless members into the world of physical therapy in modern times and even ensnared Beob Gang and Hyun Kwang here, Mu-Jin's massage was remarkable. The elderly woman couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Ohoho. That feels really refreshing. The needles that the doctors who visit our house put on can't compare to your hands, young man."
After exchanging various conversations and relieving tension from the elderly woman's body, Mu-Jin opened his mouth with a worried expression.
"If you come here to bow again, I'll make sure to massage you again. But if possible, I hope you don't come. It's hard for you to climb this rugged mountain when your body is in pain."
Because the elderly woman also had life experience, she noticed that Mu-Jin's concern was genuine.
So, the elderly woman smiled happily and replied, "Hohoho. You don't need to worry about that. Climbing Sosilbong isn't that difficult."
With words that seemed to imply she would definitely come again, Mu-Jin sighed inwardly and said, "Please do come to bow again. I'll treat your body, Grandma!"
"Hohoho. I'm really looking forward to it."
The elderly woman smiled brightly in response to Mu-Jin's words.
With that, Mu-Jin carried the elderly woman back to the mountain gate. And only after they arrived at the gate did Mu-Jin understand the meaning of the elderly woman's words.
The meaning of saying that climbing Sosilbong wasn't difficult.
In front of the mountain gate of Shaolin, eight sturdy men each held a leg of something.
A magnificent palanquin was placed there.
The elderly woman, who had descended from Mu-Jin's back, naturally nestled her body inside the palanquin, as if it were obvious.
"Hohoho. Mu-Jin, my boy. Please take care tomorrow as well."
However, Mu-Jin couldn't properly respond to the elderly woman's gentle laughter.
It wasn't simply because the old woman was an unexpected wealthy person.
Rather, it was because of the four characters written on the palanquin.
Cheonryu Sangdan (Heavenly Flow Merchant Group).
Part 2 of the novel Mujin had read. It was one of the top five merchant groups in the world, appearing in The Chronicles of the Unorthodox Tyrant, and the top merchant group in Henan where Shaolin is located.
And above all, it was one of the main antagonist groups that clashed with the protagonist of The Chronicles of the Unorthodox Tyrant."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone