The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

There are so many things in this world that cannot be understood through words alone.

The more challenging and significant the matter, the truer this becomes.

Such things cannot be fully comprehended before one begins.

It requires one to practice and realize it directly.

Dealing with the matters of the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering was like that.

The world as seen by those whose bodies are somehow deficient can only be truly understood through experience.

Yi-gang had his hair tied up.

When he mentioned that his rather long hair was getting bothersome, Jeong Myung tied it up for him.

Yi-gang sat quietly with his eyes closed.

But, at some point, closing his eyes had become less uncomfortable.

When he remained still, Yi-gang would close his eyes like this.

Aside from feeling sleepy, there was a certain comfort in it.

There wasn’t a single sound. No footsteps could be heard, nor was there any vibration as someone walked on the temple floor.

Yet Yi-gang spoke softly.

“You’ve arrived.”

Perhaps the time spent with his eyes closed had grown longer without him realizing it.

Although he hadn’t seen anyone, Yi-gang sensed someone approaching.

“I was starting to think I should head back since you hadn’t come in a while.”

However, there was no response.

Yi-gang slowly opened his eyes.

“…”

The temple hall was empty.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Yi-gang cleared his throat.

“Ahem. Hem.”

It had been a misunderstanding that someone had entered.

Creak—

Coincidentally, just a moment later, the door to the temple hall opened.

The Divine Monk entered, brushing off his dirt-covered hands.

“What are you staring at?”

“…It’s nothing.”

He could have arrived just a little earlier.

Thinking that, Yi-gang composed his expression.

“Well, it seems you’re managing just fine here.”

“Yes.”

Yi-gang had arranged to meet regularly with the Divine Monk Grand Master Mu Myung.

The purpose was to report on what he had learned from the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering and to check on his physical condition.

The Divine Monk bragged, asking if Yi-gang knew how busy he was to spare time for him.

Judging by the dirt on his clothes and hands, it seemed he had been tending to the garden, but Yi-gang respectfully expressed his gratitude.

“What are you up to these days?”

“I walk through the valley with my eyes closed.”

“The Clear Water Valley outside the monastery?”

“Yes. The Sitting Buddha guided me there.”

This was what Yi-gang had been practicing lately.

It went beyond merely walking along a path with obstacles while keeping his eyes closed.

Even on summer days, the stream that flowed down the mountain was so cold it chilled him to the bone.

With his eyes shut, he would enter the stream that reached up to his knees.

Then, he would walk upstream against the flow of the water.

“It’s no easy feat, is it?”

“It’s challenging.”

“They say the ancient masters trained their martial arts in such ways. Crude but harmonized with nature, touching on the roots of martial studies, wouldn’t you say?”

If he kept his eyes open, such training wouldn’t be as difficult.

However, climbing upstream in the slippery valley with his eyes closed was extremely difficult.

This was because he couldn’t know what lay beneath his feet.

There could be sharp pieces of wood embedded in the ground, or stones covered in moss, making them slick.

Since he couldn’t use his internal energy, even a skilled martial artist could stumble if they weren’t careful.

In an ordinary situation, it would only result in a shock from the cold water.

“You must have swallowed a lot of water.”

“The taste was surprisingly good.”

However, Yi-gang couldn’t use his arms.

It wasn’t just a matter of difficulty in balancing; once he fell, it was a serious ordeal.

For this, Beop Jin’s teachings had proven helpful.

Using one’s feet tends to be much rougher than using one’s hands.

But Yi-gang had become able to use his legs with the same precision as his arms.

Now, he could walk for a full two hours with only one or two falls.

“But I still wonder if I have abandoned them.”

“…”

“Whether I’ve truly let go of my sight and my arms, or if I’m just replacing them with mere intuition….”

The emotions in Yi-gang’s voice were complex.

The Divine Monk smiled bitterly.

‘This boy, he’s quick to grasp things.’

Yi-gang was progressing faster than he had anticipated.

It was no coincidence that Mu Myung placed Yi-gang by the side of the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering.

The primary purpose, as explained to Yi-gang, was for him to gain enlightenment in martial arts from the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering.

In the Divine Monk’s view, Yi-gang possessed far too much. He had mastered countless divine arts and met exceptionally talented teachers.

His own talent was extraordinary, and he had continuously expanded his capacity, which had kept him safe until now.

But that couldn’t last forever.

Yi-gang needed to empty some of the water filling him from within.

The training with the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering was primitive and basic, but that was precisely why it would be beneficial.

“What were you thinking about this time?”

“I am pondering the difference between discarding something and lacking it.”

Mu Myung’s guess was correct.

There was more to learn from the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering than just martial arts.

It was a ‘true exploration of emptiness.’

Once he achieved that understanding, Yi-gang would advance to the next level and reclaim the use of his arms.

What Yi-gang was contemplating was the distinction between emptiness and nothingness.

This implied that his thoughts had already reached the essence.

The Divine Monk suddenly raised his voice in reprimand.

“Stop that! They say one cannot judge the flavor of boiling soup. Do not act hastily. Every matter has its proper order and rules.”

“…Yes.”

Yi-gang nodded in response.

His expression was not particularly cheerful.

Living with the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering wasn’t going as smoothly as he had hoped.

He had concerns.

“Um… about Venerable Beop Jae.”

The Ugly Buddha—the second of the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering—still hadn’t opened his heart to Yi-gang.

Now, he was even avoiding Yi-gang, dodging him at every chance.

Normally, Yi-gang wouldn’t have cared. It’s childish to assume that everyone in the world would like you.

However, there was something he needed to gain from the Ugly Buddha as well.

The condition set by the monk was to earn the approval of all the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering.

At this rate, that seemed far off.

After listening to his explanation, the monk replied.

“You’ll have to win Beop Jae’s favor.”

He said it as if it were a trivial matter.

It seemed he had no intention of directly reprimanding or persuading Beop Jae himself.

“He outright refuses to talk to me, so how am I supposed to change his mind?”

Yi-gang had learned sign language. Yet, even though he could now understand the Ugly Buddha’s signs, the Ugly Buddha continued to avoid any conversation.

“You fool. Do you only communicate with words?”

“…”

“Cause and condition are like tangled threads, complex but ultimately connected. There is bound to be a connection between you and Beop Jae.”

“Are you saying…?”

“Simply put, if you want to change Beop Jae’s mind, do something to make it worthwhile. Give him a gift or something. Since Beop Yun and Beop Jin are as close as brothers, maybe they know something.”

He had provided all the hints.

It seemed Mu Myung intended to leave it at that and fell silent.

Yi-gang, too, closed his mouth and thought deeply.

He had never considered it from this angle.

How does one win over someone who dislikes them for no particular reason?

In his position, he had no choice but to offer ‘kindness’ to win them over.

He decided he would ask Beop Yun and Beop Jin about something that might sway the Ugly Buddha’s heart.

With that thought, Yi-gang rose to his feet.

“Thank you. I’ll be going now.”

“It would be best for you to achieve great success and heal your arms before the autumn leaves turn on Mount Song.”

“…”

Yi-gang bowed slightly and departed.

Only after he had completely left did the Divine Monk clear his throat.

“Ahem, that Beop Jae….”

He was well aware of the wounds Beop Jae carried.

After all, it was he who had refused to grant the Great Recovery Pill to the young novice suffering from a fever.

However, one thing was certain—Yi-gang would surely gain something valuable from Beop Jae.

The monk believed that, among the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering, Beop Jae possessed the most exceptional talent.

For Yi-gang, it would be something tremendously beneficial.

‘A true pearl hidden in the mud, indeed. I once considered giving him the title “Pearl Buddha.”’

But Beop Jae, calling himself ugly, had chosen the title the Ugly Buddha instead.

The Divine Monk felt compassion for such a sorrowful soul.

‘If only Beop Jae would open his heart, it would be good for Yi-gang as well.’

What Yi-gang needed was to empty himself.

Someday, when he undergoes body transformation, the Ugly Buddha would be of great help to him.

Mu Myung was certain of his decision.

“It’s about time… to send a letter to the Murim Alliance.”

He planned to retire from his position as the Murim Alliance Leader.

He had already conveyed his intention to pass the leadership to Baek Ryu-san.

However, stepping down without taking any action would be seen as shirking responsibility.

Mu Myung wished to leave a gift for the Orthodox Murim.

‘A peace treaty with the Unorthodox Union.’

With dirt on his hands, he walked slowly, appearing like an ordinary old monk.

“My old bones…”

But even in his shrunken old frame, his remarkable gaze could not be hidden.

He made his way to the abbot’s office.

And then there was Beop Jae.

The Ugly Buddha sat by the edge of the valley.

Seated on a rock, he looked at his reflection in the water’s surface, seeing himself mirrored perfectly.

Disgusted by what he saw, Beop Jae felt a deep sadness.

‘Damn it.’

Such words were only mouthed silently.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t make any sound at all. He had lost his hearing as a child, not his voice.

He simply didn’t want to speak, as he assumed it would only sound unpleasant.

Beop Jae had tried practicing speech.

Since he wasn’t born mute, he wondered if he could regain his voice.

He tried to learn by watching Beop Yun and Beop Jin’s lip movements as closely as possible.

After a year of practice, he even received some praise for his efforts.

Then one day, he conversed with some visitors who came to Shaolin.

They appeared to be young successors from a major sect.

When he spoke, what he received in return was loud laughter.

They mocked Beop Jae as if they had seen something ridiculous.

Only then did Beop Jae realize his voice didn’t sound ordinary.

Since that day, he gave up speaking.

He only used sign language, communicating solely with those who could understand it.

‘This isn’t right.’

It was around this time that he met Yi-gang.

The Divine Monk, Grand Master Mu Myung had instructed him to stay with Yi-gang and share his teachings.

Beop Jae had insisted he had nothing to teach.

In response, Mu Myung had said that was fine, but if anything came to mind, he should teach it.

Beop Yun could grant others the Heavenly Eye, and the youngest, Beop Jin, taught how to use one’s limbs with his cheerful personality.

But what could Beop Jae offer?

Should he teach this clever and capable young man how to read lips since he couldn’t hear?

Or perhaps he could teach him how to run quickly even with a hunched back.

Beop Jae wasn’t sure.

‘Looking all polished like that.’

He had disliked good-looking people since he was young.

Perhaps it was because seeing them made him feel even more miserable about his own appearance.

In that case, was it not Yi-gang himself that he disliked, but rather his own self?

He suppressed his increasingly negative feelings.

Still, things weren’t entirely bad.

In just a few days, he would be able to leave the temple and descend the mountain.

Once a month, he had the pretext of running an errand for the head of the Dharma Hall, which allowed him to visit nearby Dengfeng County.

This monthly trip was Beop Jae’s source of hope and vitality.

Tomorrow, he could forget everything and relax for a day.

As he thought of this, Beop Jae was startled.

It was because Yi-gang’s reflection appeared in the water’s surface.

“…!”

Even though he couldn’t hear, it didn’t mean he lacked other senses. Moreover, Beop Jae had exceptionally sharp senses.

He had never once allowed Yi-gang to get this close before.

Instinctively, Beop Jae thrust a fist forward.

Just because his back was bent didn’t mean his arms were short.

A fierce punch aimed at Yi-gang’s side where the liver is located.

Thud!

Though he couldn’t hear, the impact from his punch was transmitted through his hand.

The punch was blocked by Yi-gang’s shoulder.

This wasn’t the first time he had sparred with Yi-gang.

Despite saying he had nothing to teach, Beop Jae had agreed to spar with him a few times.

At first, just like Beop Yun and Beop Jin, he had managed to hold his ground against Yi-gang.

Thud, Crack!

But soon, as with Beop Yun and Beop Jin, he could no longer keep up.

Yi-gang had adapted.

Although the talents of the Three Buddhas of Endless Suffering were impressive, Yi-gang was even more extraordinary.

His hands and feet gradually became disoriented…

Thud!

Beop Jae was pushed back.

Beop Jae was startled when he looked into Yi-gang’s eyes, which were gazing down at him with a cold intensity.

Swish!

He quickly retreated.

He signed, ‘Why did you suddenly come so close and startle me like that!’

It was an instinctive reaction.

Naturally, he assumed Yi-gang wouldn’t understand.

But then, Yi-gang struck a peculiar posture.

He lifted his right foot and made three circles with it.

If he had done that with his right hand, it would have meant an apology.

Watching Yi-gang’s lips, Beop Jae realized he was saying he was sorry.

‘So, he learned sign language.’

Beop Jae understood.

At some point, Yi-gang had learned sign language.

It must have been Beop Jin who taught him.

‘Damn it.’

Feeling an uncomfortable sensation he couldn’t quite place, Beop Jae swiftly turned his body away.

This time, Yi-gang didn’t pursue him.

Instead, he headed toward the spot where Beop Jae had been just moments before.

“This won’t be easy.”

It seemed turning Beop Jae’s heart wouldn’t be simple.

However, it felt as though coming here had yielded some results.

“What’s this?”

Earlier, when his hand collided with Beop Jae’s, something had fallen from Beop Jae’s robe.

Yi-gang nudged it with his foot to examine it.

“Why would he have something like this…?”

The issue was that the item, which had fallen from a monk’s robe, was far from ordinary.

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