Chapter – 70
The tiny dot at the ridge’s summit gradually grew larger.
Thud—
Kang Yoo and Yeon Baek-rim had arrived near Shaolin.
Yeon Baek-rim, slung over Kang Yoo’s back, dangled like a puppet with its strings cut.
He had fainted, eyes rolled back.
“Sir Divine Dragon. Divine Dragon.”
Yeon Baek-rim snapped awake.
A pair of round eyes filled his vision.
“You must have been very tired. You fell asleep as soon as I carried you.”
“……”
Even in his dazed state, Yeon Baek-rim stared at Kang Yoo as if drilling holes through him.
He’d thought this child was merely a peak-level master who defeated the Six Freaks of Henan.
He had been wrong.
The boy leapt over mountains and crossed valleys with a single bound.
Of course, Yeon Baek-rim didn’t know the exact standards of lightness skill realms.
But based on stage props in the opera troupe—ditches, valleys, mountains—the kid wasn’t anywhere near the “peak” realm.
At least one level above.
At minimum, the realm of an ultra-peak master, one who could dominate an entire province.
I… I’m going to lose my mind. How did I end up tied to such a monster…?
Where had everything gone wrong?
“Maybe you weren’t sleeping?” Kang Yoo asked.
“……”
And now the child was throwing vague, suspicious questions at him.
For someone with no martial arts, it was enough to drain all the blood from his body.
Yeon Baek-rim recalled one of the iron rules of the Sun and Moon Divine Sword.
3. Even if you’re dragged into a tiger’s den, you’ll live if you keep your wits about you.
He barely managed to feign composure.
“Your body technique is so steady I must have dozed off without realizing. Remarkable.”
The monster blinked.
“Body technique… that’s like the way you run, right? Lightness skill too?”
As if he didn’t know himself. What kind of act was this?
But he couldn’t show any sign of suspicion.
In times like this, pretend ignorance… and sprinkle in a compliment.
“Ordinarily, yes. But your movement is so uncanny that it deserves another name. Not body method (身法), but divine method (神法).”
Blinking again, the monster scratched his head.
“Hehe. Really?”
Whew.
Seeing Kang Yoo beam, Yeon Baek-rim released a breath of relief.
Every second with this creature was a path of thorns.
At this rate, he would die of stress before dying by the sword.
He needed to separate from this monster—fast.
“So why were you going to Shaolin, Sir Divine Dragon?”
Why else?
Because of you.
“I came to pay respects. Since I’m in Henan, I should stop by.”
“Oh. You aren’t originally from Henan?”
“My origin is Shaanxi, but I grew up in Sichuan.”
“I see. I was in Sichuan until recently too.”
“What business took you there?”
“Work. I’m a porter at a bodyguard agency.”
“……”
Yeon Baek-rim snapped fully awake.
Another trap?
This wasn’t just an unusual kid—he laid traps casually in normal conversation.
What?
You? A monster like you? Working as a pack-carrier?
Not even an escort, just a guy who moves luggage?
He didn’t know what the boy was scheming, but a chill crawled down his spine.
“Every job has dignity. The world runs thanks to laborers like porters.”
At Yeon Baek-rim’s carefully crafted reply, Kang Yoo blinked.
“I never thought of it that way… Thank you. I’ll work harder.”
“……”
While they exchanged small talk, their steps eventually reached the Shaolin Mountain Gate.
Ohho.
Yeon Baek-rim’s gaze deepened as he viewed Shaolin.
A place often featured in martial arts dramas as the birthplace of orthodox martial arts—seeing it in person was moving.
However, contrary to its fame, the temple wasn’t very large.
Most pavilions were single-story, blending with the mountain, and even the walls were only head-height.
Simple overall.
A monastery of aged redwood built by time itself.
That was Yeon Baek-rim’s first impression of Shaolin.
“……”
As he soaked in the atmosphere, noise arose from ahead.
The commotion came from the mountain gate where visitors gathered.
“Why won’t you let me in?!”
“I told you already! Visitors must provide clear identification!”
“I DID tell you my affiliation and name!”
“And I’m supposed to believe that?”
“Are you calling me a liar?!”
Kang Yoo was arguing with one of the gate monks.
Yeon Baek-rim considered slipping away while the monster was distracted.
But after witnessing the child’s lightness skill?
If Kang Yoo so much as decided to chase him, escape was impossible.
With the feeling of walking into a tiger’s mouth, Yeon Baek-rim stepped forward.
“Great heavens…”
The gate monk rubbed his temples.
Because of the bizarre identity Kang Yoo claimed.
“So you say you belong to the Golden Bell Unit?”
“Yes!”
“And you’re here to see the Abbot?”
“Yes!”
The monk’s gaze swept over Kang Yoo’s thin frame and plain clothes.
Even assuming he ignored the frail body—what was suspicious was the claimed identity.
Which sane Golden Bell member would proudly declare themselves…
to a gatekeeper, of all people?
True, the wooden plaque he presented was skillfully crafted.
A withered golden lotus was carved in exquisite detail.
But the monk had only heard descriptions—never seen one himself.
So he didn’t know if it was real.
“If you don’t believe me, just call him! Call the Vice Abbot—Master Musung!”
Absurd.
A clearly suspicious boy demanding they summon the Vice Abbot?
“What does Master Musung look like?”
“I know! Bald-headed, a bald—”
Kang Yoo glanced inside the gate.
“Hmm. They’re all bald.”
The monk sighed heavily.
“Your entry is denied. You should have just said you came to pay respects.”
“Why would I lie at a temple?”
The monk faltered.
The boy was… unexpectedly logical.
“In any case—no is no! Prove your identity or leave! Either bring a proper identity tag or go home!”
“Aagh, fine…”
“Next!”
Visitors behind them impatiently grumbled.
Kang Yoo was about to step away when—
“W-wait! Are you… by any chance…?”
The other gate monk’s eyes widened.
He’d just finished admitting another visitor and finally saw Kang Yoo’s companion clearly.
“H-have you come with… the Sun and Moon Divine Sword?”
“What? The Sun and Moon Divine Sword?”
The entire line turned to look.
People squeezed and leaned to see Yeon Baek-rim.
The first monk whispered to his fellow.
What are you talking about? Sun and Moon Divine Sword??
You don’t know?
Of course I know! I’m asking why you said it!
Who else would I mean? He’s right there in front of you.
The monk looked at Yeon Baek-rim.
A handsome face, solid physique, aura of a master.
Sure enough, he looked extraordinary.
That… that man is the Sun and Moon Divine Sword??
I’m certain. The most handsome man in the central plains, the dual-colored sword. I even saw him in town a few days ago.
“……”
The monk’s expression stiffened with caution.
“Are… are you truly the Sun and Moon Divine Sword?”
“I am.”
The monk’s suspicious gaze shifted to Kang Yoo.
“And… the two of you are together?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
Kang Yoo looked at Yeon Baek-rim.
“Aren’t we traveling together?”
“……”
Yeon Baek-rim quietly swallowed.
He didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if he said “no.”
“Y-yes. We are together.”
“Wha—!”
The monk nearly fainted.
Right now, the two hottest names in the martial world were the Azure Dragon Rising to Heaven… and the Sun and Moon Divine Sword.
A top master wouldn’t travel with a fake.
Meaning the pale boy was truly Golden Bell.
Yet still, something bothered him.
“Are you… by chance… from the Military Office?”
Kang Yoo nodded happily.
Everyone he’d met so far—Tang Huayong, Zegal Sohyeon, Taechunhwan, Hwamu-seong—asked the same.
“Military Office” was bodyguard slang for porters.
“Yes. I’m with the Military Office.”
The monk instantly bowed in panic.
“F-forgive me! My shallow insight failed to recognize someone from the Military Office. I will notify my superiors immediately!”
He ran inside, flustered.
Failing to recognize Golden Bell personnel and offending the Sun and Moon Divine Sword—no wonder he panicked.
As things calmed, Yeon Baek-rim asked carefully.
“You’re… Golden Bell?”
“You know Golden Bell?”
“……”
Who didn’t?
Even children knew the name.
The elite secret force of the Martial Alliance.
Protectors of righteousness.
Though rumor also said they carried out assassinations and executions as needed.
Meaning, if this monster desired, Yeon Baek-rim could vanish without a trace.
He cautiously asked:
“But earlier, didn’t you say you’re a porter…?”
“I did.”
“What?”
“Hmm?”
“……”
After living as the Sun and Moon Divine Sword and the Fractured Light Sword for a while…
Yeon Baek-rim knew one thing:
The martial world was full of eccentrics and monsters.
And the monster in front of him clearly belonged to that category.
“This way, please!”
The monk returned and guided them inside.
Yeon Baek-rim tightened his guard.
“Haha! Welcome! I’ve been seeing you often lately!”
Master Musung greeted Kang Yoo warmly in the reception hall.
Like the rest of Shaolin, the room was plain, with no decorations—but dignified in its simplicity.
He came forward and held Kang Yoo’s hands.
“Sorry about the commotion at the gate.”
“Oh, no, it was nothing.”
A situation that could have been a major insult to a top master—but Kang Yoo genuinely didn’t care.
Master Musung smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Really, it’s fine.”
After smiling again, Musung turned to Yeon Baek-rim.
“And who might this be?”
Yeon Baek-rim bowed.
“It is an honor to greet the Vice Abbot of the Great Shaolin. I am a humble wanderer, Yeon Baek-rim.”
“Yeon Baek-rim?”
Musung tilted his head.
“If you are Yeon Baek-rim… aren’t you the Sun and Moon Divine Sword of Sichuan?”
“That title is undeserved.”
“Hooh.”
Musung examined him.
He indeed had a keen aura and strong presence.
Though something felt slightly off—if he were truly as rumored, Kang Yoo wouldn’t be behaving as he was.
Perhaps a characteristic of his sword art.
“Welcome. I am Musung.”
“Yeon Baek-rim. A pleasure.”
After the greeting, Musung pat Kang Yoo’s shoulder.
“With rising talents like you and the Azure Dragon, there is no need to worry for the future of the martial world!”
At those words, Kang Yoo looked quietly at Yeon Baek-rim.
So he really is the Azure Dragon…
After that simple realization, the three sat around an old table.
Yeon Baek-rim stared blankly at the tea swirling in his cup.
Who am I? Why am I here…?
His eyes dimmed.
Then Musung set his cup down.
“My apologies.”
“Sir?”
“To be honest… I called you here even though I could have handled it myself.”
Kang Yoo waved his hands.
“Agh—what do you mean? Of course this is something we should do!”
Musung smiled gently.
The boy’s sincerity was unmistakable.
“Thank you for saying that.”
“We’re the ones who should be grateful.”
“Oh?”
“When can we pick up the item?”
Musung fell silent.
His fingers, fiddling with the cup, stilled.
“Truth is… the reason you were summoned here is something else.”
“Huh?”
As Musung continued, the air in the guest hall grew heavy.
