As the morning sun began to rise, Dang Yuhwa arrived at Seoyun's house and noticed the words written on the ground, prompting her to head towards the stream. There, she found Seoyun seemingly deep in meditation.
"Did you come?"
"Yeah. What are you doing?"
"I'm getting ready for a bath. Today is the day we go to Shaolin Temple, right?"
"That's not funny. Are you serious?"
"Should I announce that I'm making a joke before I actually joke? But I'm serious."
When she heard what he said yesterday, she thought it was just a joke. Suddenly talking about performing three thousand bows was unexpected.
"Is this because of your guilt over Sa Yunyung? Because someone died? If that's the case, don't think like that."
"The guy who should have died is dead; where's the guilt in that? It's not like that."
Ignoring Dang Yuhwa's grumbling behind him, Seoyun made his way to the stream. After dipping his hands into the icy water, he loosened his clothing.
"I really need to get ready for my bath."
"So?"
"Are you going to keep watching me?"
It wouldn't matter much if he saw, but it felt awkward nonetheless.
"Okay, okay. Oh, and your clothes are ready."
Was that the bundle she had been holding earlier? That was good to hear. His clothes had been torn in various places because of Sa Yunyung. He had hoped for something nicer as a reward for attendance, but yesterday's reward was just a small trinket for a child. It was a welcome gift for Seoyun, who had been contemplating whether or not to buy new clothes.
When Dang Yuhwa did not go all the way, Seoyun checked the rising sun.
It was the time when darkness recedes and the sun rises, a period he learned from Hano that is filled with positive energy and good fortune. If that's the case, he needed to make use of this time.
"I'm going to take off my clothes."
"Go ahead."
Without hesitation, Seoyun stripped off his upper garment, revealing numerous scars on his body. They were not just cuts from various injuries; there were many burn marks and even some deep gouges. Dang Yuhwa tilted her head in confusion as she looked at him.
"What happened to you?"
"Um... This scar is from when I got caught during my first water diversion practice. This one happened while learning moxibustion. And this one was from an experiment with Gwang..."
Dang Yuhwa nodded with a somewhat awkward expression. Most of her own scars were from training, but Seoyun's wounds were remnants of his struggles to survive in Hatung. As she watched him grab his pants, she laughed.
"Ha! Why did you stop?"
"Oh, come on. Are you really going to keep watching me?"
"I'm just going to enjoy the show."
"What kind of unmarried lady behaves like this?"
"Don't underestimate the female warriors of the martial world. Cutting off the head of a villain is what a female warrior does."
"Really? I'm serious about taking them off now. Don't be surprised if you see the black dragon wriggling."
"Black dragon? More like a sea worm from Namhae."
"Oh, I'm really going to get angry."
"Seriously, what's so special about it? Hmph."
Seeing her smile brightly and act as if she was looking forward to it made Seoyun finally lose his temper. Only then did Dang Yuhwa leisurely return to Seoyun's hut. After she left, he was finally able to calm his mind.
"Sigh..."
To perform three thousand bows, he first needed to cleanse both body and mind. After taking a refreshing bath in the stream filled with morning dew, he put on the green martial outfit that Dang Yuhwa had brought him. It was a bit loose, but still nice.
"I didn't expect silk clothes..."
Of course, it wasn't the luxurious attire worn by Dang Yuhwa or Dung Wang; it was simply durable fabric dyed green. However, it was far better than the servant's clothes he had been wearing before. After tying back his messy hair with a string, Seoyun arrived at the moor where Dang Yuhwa was sitting on the porch, swinging her feet. She seemed quite bored.
"What are you doing?"
"It's not 'what are you doing.' When are you going to learn the Three Yang Water Techniques? I can't write them down for you since there's no secret manual for it. Learn as quickly as you can; time isn't infinite."
"Ah... then how about we do it at night? I'm planning to head to Shaolin Temple soon. If you're okay with it, let's go together."
"Sure. We need to stop by other places anyway. Let's go. And there's still no news about the orcs?"
"Yes... Well, I've already informed the Justice Alliance, so that should be fine."
Seong Jung-mo had them both in a compromising position. Although they had paid a price, it still felt uncomfortable. Deciding to make better use of their information network, Dang Yuhwa nodded at Seoyun's words.
"Then shall we go?"
Clothing is also a form of identity proof for people. Unlike when he wore servant clothes, wearing the attire of the Tang Sect drew different looks from others. He began to understand why everyone felt tense around prestigious families.
"Oh, please go ahead, sir."
"Um, thank you."
As Seoyun passed by a middle-aged farmer who made way for him, he stepped forward confidently. "Sir," he thought; how far he had come from living a trashy life in Hatung! Walking with an air of light arrogance, Seoyun was observed by Dang Yuhwa as if she found him pitiful.
"You look really out of place."
"I think so too. It seems true that people should live according to their station."
Trying something new felt like it might give him hives. Dropping the pretense of being a scion of a prestigious family, Seoyun glanced around and noticed quite a few people present—not just ordinary farmers but also officials and martial artists as well.
"Is it just lower-class people here?"
"It seems so; there are also some troublemakers among them who are not exactly harmless either. There are two paths leading up to Shaolin Temple: this one is for lower-class folks while the other side is for those from wealthier households; you'll see monks along that route."
As someone from a prestigious family herself, Dang Yuhwa seemed quite familiar with this path. When Seoyun expressed curiosity about it, she scratched her cheek and said, "I've come this way several times with my grandfather's dog before; just up those stairs is the Mountain Gate, and beyond that is the Zhi Guest Hall."
"Oh!"
"And if you apply at Zhi Guest Hall, you can offer prayers there... But are you really going to do it?"
"What? Three thousand bows?"
"Yes! Who prays for something important by doing three thousand bows? Most people finish up around three hundred bows."
At Dang Yuhwa's question, Seoyun simply smiled back at her instead of answering verbally. She let out a small sigh in response to his silence: "Sigh... Then let's go." She didn't ask any more questions and simply led him along the path.
Upon passing through Shaolin Temple's Mountain Gate and arriving at an old-looking building that seemed somewhat shabby compared to what one might expect from Shaolin Temple, they encountered a middle-aged monk who was bowing in greeting to some visitors inside.
"Aren't you Tang Shizhu?"
"Myohae!"
Upon seeing Myohae—the owner of Zhi Guest Hall whom she had met several times—Dang Yuhwa clasped her hands together in greeting while Seoyun followed suit behind her.
"Nice to meet you! May Buddha's blessings be with you... But what brings you here? The Abbot is still in seclusion."
"Oh no; it's nothing like that—this guy here has business with me."
As Dang Yuhwa introduced him, Seoyun stepped forward confidently and bowed slowly with both hands together in respect.
"Venerable Master, I am Seoyun from Tang Sect who has come seeking connection between our sect and worldly matters."
"Pleasure to meet you! While it's said that connections made in this world are trivial affairs, how could they possibly be insignificant? From your attire, I see you're affiliated with Tang Sect as a servant."
"Yes indeed; please feel free to speak comfortably."
"Haha! That may not be possible."
Though he was indeed a servant associated with Tang Sect—and since he was personally brought by Dang Yuhwa—he wasn't someone one could easily overlook either; no matter how humble Shaolin Temple might be considered, they never looked down upon anyone.
The Venerable Myohae gazed softly at Seoyun before smiling gently.
"But Shizhu! What about your learned techniques..."
"The Three Calamities Technique and Cloud Form Technique..."
It was odd for him to suddenly ask about techniques upon their first meeting; noticing Seoyun's confusion caused Myohae to tilt his head slightly.
"Have you met Master Chae?"
"Master Chae... Are you referring to Chae Jisoo?"
"Haha! That's right! Though he belongs to the secular world now, he's connected with our sect... So you've learned the Three Calamities Technique from him!"
"That's correct!"
"No wonder..."
Myohae nodded while Dang Yuhwa looked on curiously.
"How did you know?"
"The Three Calamities Technique belongs to Daoism but seems infused with Buddhist principles somehow; only Master Chae teaches others while firmly adhering solely to Buddhist teachings—so I thought perhaps..."
'Could it be that persistent torment and suffering mixed with Buddhist teachings!?'
Seoyun felt shocked as Myohae nodded knowingly and chuckled awkwardly.
"Master Chae can be quite relentless but has a truly warm heart; please don't speak ill of him."
"Oh... Yes! Well... I'm grateful that I learned from Master Chae."
Of course, that process had been torturous.
As Seoyun and Myohae shared warm smiles indicating mutual understanding, Dang Yuhwa watched them with narrowed eyes.
"But what brings Tang Shizhu here?"
"He wants to perform three thousand bows," said Dang Yuhwa casually while introducing him.
"Three thousand bows? If it's just for one day's worth then just do it..."
"I'm planning on doing it for ten days total—ultimately aiming for thirty thousand bows."
Seoyun had intended only three thousand bows but now thirty thousand sounded absurd!
Dang Yuhwa looked incredulous as she stared at him while Seoyun remained unfazed.
Those who offered deep prayers equivalent to thirty thousand bows would typically head over to Zhi Guest Hall on the opposite side instead of this place.
This area catered more toward commoners living day by day.
Performing thirty thousand bows would take at least ten or fifteen days—something ordinary citizens wouldn't even consider attempting.
Myohae stared at Seoyun in astonishment.
"I have something important I wish to pray for; if it's impossible here then I'll go elsewhere..."
"No way! How could we refuse prayer offerings here? I'm just surprised—that's all! Now let me guide you over to Banyadang."
"Hye-won! Hye-won!"
"Yes, Venerable Master!"
A girl who looked about ten years old came running over quickly.
Myohae gently ruffled her hair as she smiled brightly before giving her back a slight push.
"Please guide these two gentlemen over to Banyadang."
"Yes! Venerable Master!"
Though she hadn't shaved her head yet since she was still just a child living at Shaolin Temple,
the girl walked ahead cheerfully smiling brightly.
Following behind her while walking beside Seoyun,
Dang Yuhwa said quietly,
"That girl is Hye-won—the granddaughter of Master Beopju who runs Banyadang; don't treat her carelessly."
"Should we try getting closer?"
"Well for now; Master Beopju likes her very much—and everyone at Shaolin Temple does too."
"Understood."
Seoyun approached Hye-won who walked ahead.
When he got closer she tilted her head adorably.
"What's wrong? Sir?"
"Venerable Master—I believe meeting like this must be due to past life connections; may I offer you a small gift?"
"A gift?"
"It's nothing grand enough for offerings—just a small trinket really; can't we say our meeting today is also due to past life connections?"
"While cultivating one cannot accept such things… Wow…"
Seoyun slowly took out a small trinket.
Though inexpensive—it was jade and finely crafted.
As he respectfully offered it with both hands Hye-won hesitated slightly.
"Offering gifts is merely an act meant for accumulating merit."
"B-but I'm still not yet a monk..."
"Then can we say it's merely a gift meant for our minor connection?"
"…Hehe."
Looking around nervously before extending her leaf-like hand,
Hye-won accepted his offering cheerfully.
Even though she lived at Shaolin Temple—she was still just a child.
After receiving the trinket Hye-won smiled radiantly,
and after clasping his hands together in gratitude,
Seoyun bowed slightly.
"Thank you very much! May Buddha's blessings always be with you."
With bright smiles exchanged between them,
Hye-won walked ahead cheerfully once more.
Watching her retreating figure,
Dang Yuhwa chuckled softly.
"Do kids really love trinkets that much?"
"Shall I give one too?"
"Am I even a child?"
Grumbling under her breath,
Dang Yuhwa followed after Hye-won while Seoyun trailed behind them.
After some time they arrived at an old building that hardly resembled Shaolin Temple anymore.
As they passed through worn-out clothing-clad commoners coming in and out,
Seoyun greeted an elderly monk dressed in robes who stepped out.
"I've heard about Hye-won from her."
"Haha! Just call me Beopju."
"I'm Seoyun."
"So you've made offerings for our Hye-won? That's something worth thanking!"
"It wasn't anything special."
"The value of things varies according to people; yes indeed—if you've come here for three thousand bows..."
"Then let's get started right away! Today we'll begin by teaching how bowing works."
Perhaps because he had heard about Hye-won's offering,
Beopju was quite friendly toward them.
While observing Hye-won fiddling with her trinket behind Beopju,
Dang Yuhwa crossed her arms and watched closely.
"Sigh... What's up with this three thousand bows?"