The Youngest Member Chapter 49

The monk managing the first gate heard the news of the Small Pill and hurriedly ran inside.

About half an hour had passed since then.

"Where, where is he!"

"It's them, senior brother!"

The monk who had gone up was sliding down the stairs with a middle-aged monk who looked just like him.

At that sight, Song Yiyeon, who felt sowhat sorry, said in a low voice.

"We should have just waited."

"Umm..."

Cheon Woojin, who had urged him by saying it was a fluke and then presented the Small Pill with his own mouth, just let out a dry cough.

Soon, the monk who had approached as if sliding on an ice plate cleared his throat and then said in a benevolent voice.

"You say you have found the Small Pill."

Song Yiyeon and Cheon Woojin cupped their fists at the sa ti. Judging by the ki he felt, he seed to be a scholar monk, not a martial monk, but anyway, all the monks of Shaolin were seniors.

"I am Song Yiyeon from the Black Tortoise Unit of the Martial Alliance."

"I am Cheon Woojin."

As the two revealed their identities, the monk hurriedly continued with a look of 'oops'.

"Ahem, ahem, I was in such a hurry that I forgot my manners. I am ashad. I am Myeonghye, a first-generation disciple of Shaolin."

Song Yiyeon's eyes widened.

"If you are Master Myeonghye... aren't you the head of the scripture pavilion?"

"Ah, you know ?"

"Of course I do."

Song Yiyeon nodded his head repeatedly. Although Master Myeonghye was a scholar monk, his knowledge of martial arts was said to be unparalleled in the world, so he was a monk who was treated as a top guest by each sect and family.

Just by the fact that he was in charge of the scripture pavilion, which could be called the history of Shaolin, as a first-generation disciple and not an elder, one could tell his prestige.

Myeonghye, who scratched his bald head as if embarrassed by that strong reaction, guided the two inside.

"First, let's go inside and talk in detail."

"Yes, I understand."

* * *

Cheon Woojin walked along the path of Mount Song with Song Yiyeon. Since it was a shrubbery path leading to Shaolin, there were many people coming and going, and the road was comfortably paved.

Just by breathing in and out, it felt as if the ki in his body was flinching. The ki that was spread throughout Mount Song, centered on Shaolin, was that extraordinary.

'My master's words were true.'

Although the world praised Shaolin and Wudang as the two great sects of the world, calling them 'Northern Revered Shaolin, Southern Honored Wudang', the White Master always said that Shaolin was the best among them.

Just by the ki of the martial monks faintly felt from above, he could tell that those words were true.

After passing the first gate and crossing the second gate, no one blocked their way. It was a matter of course since they were with Myeonghye, the head of the scripture pavilion of Shaolin.

Cheon Woojin looked at Myeonghye, who was walking ahead. Although he seed to be trying to maintain his composure, his steps were getting a little faster. It seed that the Small Pill was a more precious treasure than he had thought.

Even though he was walking fast on the mountain path, his steps were not disheveled, which made him think for a mont that even the scholar monks of Shaolin had good balance.

How long had they walked like that?

A familiar face ca into view. It was the third head escort of the Henan Escort Agency, who had passed the first gate earlier. The escorts and porters seed to have had a hard ti moving the heavy luggage, as they were sitting on the dirt floor and cooling off their sweat.

"Oh?"

The third head escort's eyes widened, and he pointed at Cheon Woojin and Song Yiyeon with his index finger. At that, Myeonghye turned his head and asked.

"Are you perhaps with them?"

For a mont, the third head escort's eyes shone. He also knew Myeonghye's face as the head escort of an escort agency that regularly traded with Shaolin. If he helped, he would be able to enter Shaolin right away.

If the work ended quickly, he would be able to stop by a tavern and drink a cool Dugangju before returning to the escort agency.

Cheon Woojin, who t that expectant gaze for a mont, said calmly.

"No."

Strictly speaking, they were not a party. However, the third head escort glared at Cheon Woojin as if he were looking at an ungrateful subordinate.

In his head was the Longjing tea he had given to the two. As befitting a rchant, he was thoroughly calculating all his actions.

Cheon Woojin just shrugged his shoulders. Myeonghye, who saw this, nodded his head and then hurried his steps even more.

* * *

"Hoo..."

Myeonghye, who let out a long breath, placed the teacups filled with tea in front of the two. Although it was not as expensive a tea as the Longjing tea that the Henan Escort Agency had given them, the unique, simple pine scent made one's heart feel at ease.

Cheon Woojin imdiately took out the Small Pill and placed it on the tea table.

Myeonghye, who confird this, let out a series of groans and then asked the two in a serious tone.

"How did you co to obtain this?"

"Senior. Please speak comfortably. I, a distant junior, don't know where to put myself."

As Song Yiyeon spoke as if his tongue were oiled, Myeonghye nodded his head.

"I understand. So, how did you juniors co to obtain this Small Pill? Four months ago, it disappeared in the middle of being sent to commorate the Sword King's birthday, and we had such a hard ti..."

Cheon Woojin, who wet his throat with the tea, calmly explained the process of obtaining the Small Pill. From the diation mission of the Yicheng Escort Agency and Heungsan Fortress, to the plague when passing through Bogang County, and the Poisonous Hand.

As the story continued, a strange light gradually ford in Myeonghye's eyes, and in the end, it was shining like a star.

"Hah, how can such a blessing co to the Martial Alliance...!"

Myeonghye, with a truly moved expression, was staring at the two with warm eyes, as if looking at his own children.

It wasn't just that he was looking at them fondly. In it was a pure admiration.

These young alliance mbers had subjugated a mountain stronghold, saved many lives by solving a plague, and even subdued the public enemy of the martial world, the Poisonous Hand, and had retrieved the Small Pill from his grasp.

It was a truly surprising course of action.

"This won't do. I must tell the abbot about this right away and praise your hard work. No, no. Should I send a ssage to the Martial Alliance first?"

Myeonghye found the two very lovely. Even after accumulating such contributions and taking the Small Pill, he had heard that they had waited for a considerable amount of ti at the first gate.

How could there be such upright children?

"By any chance, is there anything you want from our Shaolin? If the juniors' wish is within my power, I will surely repay you."

At that, Song Yiyeon suddenly had a Buddha-like smile on his face, and he politely put his hands together in a prayer.

"How can I perform a virtuous deed to obtain a reward?"

"What! How...!"

Myeonghye was thrilled at the thought that proper martial artists had appeared in the white path martial world. Even the children of Shaolin were not this deep in thought at this age.

"By any chance, are you a Buddhist?"

"Not , but my father is a Buddhist. I know that he sotis visits Shaolin."

"Oh, really? What is his na?"

Myeonghye thought that a man who had raised such a son must be a great man. Song Yiyeon, as if embarrassed, moved his lips a few tis and then said.

"He runs a small rchant family in Anhui."

"Anhui? You said your surna is Song, right?"

Myeonghye, whose thoughts had reached that point, slapped his knee and said.

"Hah, you an Family Head Song Habaek is your father? No, that little brat has grown up so much?"

Song Yiyeon's eyes widened. He had only visited Shaolin a few tis holding his father's hand when he was young, but to think he rembered that.

Myeonghye, who read his expression, burst into a hearty laugh.

"Hehehe, don't underestimate the scholar monks of Shaolin. Just as the martial monks train their bodies, we do not neglect this training. We rarely forget what we have seen once."

Myeonghye tapped his head with his index finger. At that sight, Song Yiyeon hurriedly waved his hands.

"U-underestimate, you say. It's a misunderstanding!"

"It's a joke, a joke."

Song Yiyeon let out a sigh of relief, stroking his dizzy insides. Myeonghye, who was laughing as if it were funny, turned his gaze to Cheon Woojin.

"Does alliance mber Cheon not have anything he wants?"

Song Yiyeon inwardly thought 'oops'. He had tried to get on Master Myeonghye's good side and had talked a bit, but because he had said so, young hero Cheon was in a difficult situation. Because it was a situation where it would be embarrassing to say he wanted sothing.

However, unlike Song Yiyeon's worries, Cheon Woojin was a person with a firm will. Since he had found the Small Pill, he thought it was natural to receive a corresponding reward.

"I have nothing I want from you, Master. But if possible, I would like to witness the staff arts of Shaolin."

"Oh, our staff arts?"

Myeonghye's gaze naturally turned to the dark iron staff behind Cheon Woojin.

Cheon Woojin nonchalantly nodded his head. Even his Black Master, who rarely acknowledged the white path, had said that the staff arts of Shaolin were very outstanding.

* * *

"Umm..."

Cheon Woojin, who was standing in the middle of the great training ground of Shaolin, let out a dry cough. Master Myeonghye was a more aggressive monk than he had thought. He had just asked to see the staff arts of Shaolin with his eyes, but to think he would even arrange a duel.

A little further away from Cheon Woojin, a martial monk who seed to be of a similar age was standing with a shining head. The intelligence that filled his eyes seed to represent the prestige of Shaolin.

He spun the wooden staff in the air a few tis and then took a stance. Even in that short movent, he could instinctively feel that his staff arts were quite outstanding.

However, Cheon Woojin was in a difficult situation.

'Is this okay?'

There were already many young martial monks who had co out to watch. Furthermore, Master Myeonghye was constantly nodding his head with a very satisfied expression.

The problem was that that wooden staff was too flimsy compared to the Crescent Moon Staff. It was obvious that it would split in half if he hit it, and he was worried if it was okay to break a monk's staff like that in Shaolin.

As Cheon Woojin stood awkwardly, the young monk who had taken a stance said, "What's wrong?"

Cheon Woojin scratched his head and then pointed at the wooden staff.

"I am holding an iron staff, isn't it unfair?"

"Haha, thank you for your concern, but the staff arts of Shaolin are not so weak."

His eyes were full of confidence. It was understandable since his level was outstanding for his age, but...

Cheon Woojin was not so inclined. Soon, Myeonghye, who was watching, noticed Cheon Woojin's worry and said.

"It's alright, so feel free to display your martial arts."

"Yes, if you say so..."

Cheon Woojin trailed off. At that, the ki of the monk opposite him changed in one go. The heavy and upright energy unique to Shaolin martial arts pressed down on the scene.

Cheon Woojin also took a stance. It was not polite to drag it on any further.

"Just by looking, it seems that alliance mber Cheon's level is by no ans low. I will not bother to yield the first move."

Cheon Woojin nodded his head. Soon, the two took a step at the sa ti, without anyone going first.

The difference was that Cheon Woojin had just taken one step forward, and the martial monk opposite him had instantly closed the distance and entered an offensive.

If Wudang was softness, Shaolin was strength. It was domineering but had a weight that was not excessive.

Cheon Woojin looked at the wooden staff that was rushing towards him in an instant and just lightly waved the Crescent Moon Staff.

Crack-

The wooden staff crumbled in half like a charcoal stick.

"..."

"..."

A strange silence fell on the scene.

"I-I lost."

The martial monk, who was staring blankly at the half-remaining wooden staff, bowed his head. Although it was incredibly absurd, it was clear that he had lost.

In the eyes of the martial monk, who had been full of confidence, only bewildernt and self-reproach were present.

Cheon Woojin, who saw this, felt an unknown sense of guilt.

- If soone asks about the future of the white path, have them raise their heads and look at Mount Song.

One day, his White Master had said so after eating the Small Pill sent from Shaolin, in a very good mood.

For so reason, Cheon Woojin could not wash away the feeling that he had shattered the future of the white path with his own hands.

In the awkward atmosphere, Myeonghye was startled and ca to his senses and said.

"I-I'm sorry. It seems I underestimated alliance mber Cheon. Think of this duel as a warm-up, and now, a proper..."

Myeonghye quickly searched for the next dueling opponent. If the duel ended like this, it would be a disgrace to Shaolin. Soon, the martial monk who had been chosen by Myeonghye went up to the training ground with a determined look.

At that sight, Cheon Woojin instinctively felt that sothing was going wrong.

'I brought up a useless topic...'

He had just wanted to see the staff arts of Shaolin with a pure heart. However, at this rate, he would have no choice but to trample on the dreams and hopes of at least three or four people.

Even if he wanted to go easy, it was not easy. Because if the opponent swung with all his might, the wooden staff would crumble just by touching the Crescent Moon Staff.

Before that thought could even finish, the martial monk who had introduced himself as a third-generation disciple rushed at Cheon Woojin.

"Uuuuum..."

Cheon Woojin's low groan echoed pitifully in the training ground.

(End of Chapter)