Located on Songshan, Shaolin Temple was the leader of the righteous martial world. It proudly claimed to be the origin of all righteous martial arts and was known for its emphasis on virtue and compassion. Countless monks resided there, and for those who had devoted themselves to Buddhism, visiting Shaolin Temple at least once was considered a cherished wish. This sentiment was shared by martial artists of the righteous sect as well. Many believed that forming a connection with the martial monks of Shaolin was a lifelong aspiration. Thus, Shaolin Temple became a destination for many martial artists.
However, despite its fame, Shaolin Temple was still a monastery. It was a place where ordinary people came to offer prayers for their wishes, and there were many areas designated for such offerings. One of these places, Banyadang, was currently gathering people.
- *Tok-tok-tok-tok.*
A young man dressed in green robes slowly lowered himself. In sync with the sound of the wooden fish drum, he bowed reverently and then raised and lowered his hands slightly. Others followed suit, bowing in unison—men, women, the elderly, and children—all diverse in appearance.
They prayed for their family's health, hoped for the birth of a son, and wished for their family's prosperity. Many others offered sincere prayers before the Buddha statue. As the young man at the front bowed again, many followed suit.
"**Hengxin banyabaramida...**"
The old monk striking the wooden fish recited scriptures in a solemn voice. Hearing his voice, the people bowed once more. Despite it still being dawn before sunrise, everyone was earnest in their prayers. Among them stood only Dang Yuhwa with her arms crossed, silently observing.
"Are you not going to pray, Shizhu?"
"Dizhu."
Upon hearing the calm voice, Dang Yuhwa quickly turned around. When she clasped her hands in greeting, Myohae reciprocated and smiled contentedly while watching Banyadang.
"It's been a long time since I've seen so many people here praying so earnestly."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. The essence of Shaolin Temple is its monastery. Many come to accept the compassion of Buddha and follow him... but how did it come to be that false martial names took precedence?"
"Isn't establishing righteousness through martial arts also a way to accumulate merit?"
"That's true. However, wishing earnestly is also a form of merit."
Myohae wore a calm smile. The one leading this earnest prayer in Banyadang was none other than the young man bowing at the front.
"Unlike Seon-yu Hall, this place is where those who are struggling come to offer prayers. As such, there have been quite a few who are deeply troubled."
Having offered their prayers yet seeing no results led many to question why they had to suffer or why their wishes remained unfulfilled; some expressed their anger loudly. However, that was merely a story from several days ago. In just a few days, Banyadang had become significantly quieter.
"That person is quite persuasive..."
"Haha..."
"Isn't Shizhu affiliated with Tang Sect? Haha! It seems Tang Sect is gradually leaning towards Buddhism..."
"That's not it; Seoyun came here personally because he had something to wish for..."
As Seoyun completed his final bow, everyone else finished as well. After placing the scriptures read by the old monk aside and striking the wooden fish to signal the end, they all respectfully rose.
Exiting also involved bowing respectfully and solemnly. As they left Banyadang and clasped their hands together towards her, Myohae returned the gesture with equal respect.
Though they wore shabby clothes, all were sincere believers offering their prayers. How could one dismiss them simply because they were poor or powerless? Myohae smiled warmly as he watched Seoyun emerge from his bow with an old monk.
"Seoyun Shizhu, you've worked hard."
"No need to mention it, Venerable Master. What difficulty or hardship could there be in praying to Buddha?"
Seoyun took out some silver from his robe pocket and respectfully placed it into the donation box before bowing once more towards it. "With Shizhu being this earnest in prayer, we cannot help but feel at ease."
"No need to say that."
"Do you perhaps have any thoughts about entering Buddhism? Our Shaolin Temple also needs someone who can care for people's hearts. What you accomplished last time was something we could not easily do... We are truly grateful for your excellent work."
Just five days prior…
While offering prayers at dawn, a drunken middle-aged man had come crying out loud about how his son had been killed by a cart while offering prayers daily. He lamented where Buddha was and how such things could happen in this world; he questioned why living righteously didn't bring blessings.
The monks of Shaolin Temple could do nothing as they witnessed his grief over losing his son; how could righteous martial artists restrain someone overwhelmed by sorrow? While they were at a loss as to how to respond, it was Seoyun who stepped forward.
After finishing his three thousand bows, he took the middle-aged man outside and returned some time later. Following this incident…
The middle-aged man also came to Banyadang and began his own three thousand bows while shedding tears.
How could anyone not be surprised? While anyone from Shaolin Temple could overpower him physically, opening someone's heart was not something just anyone could achieve.
Curious about how he managed it but unable to get an answer from either Seoyun or the man—both claimed it was merely Buddha's grace—left Dang Yuhwa wondering as well but Seoyun remained silent about it.
'But perhaps he just charmed him with strange words…'
With no evidence available to dispute that notion, what could be done?
Since then, Dang Yuhwa had visited Banyadang as well to watch him offer prayers.
"Shizhu?"
"Oh! Sorry! I got lost in thought for a moment…"
"What do you think about Shizhu entering Buddhism?"
With anticipation in his voice as he asked this question, Dang Yuhwa shrugged her shoulders while glancing at Seoyun.
As she expected him to respond politely by shaking his head.
"Venerable Master! There are still things I have yet to accomplish in this secular world; there are also matters I have yet to resolve. How can I devote myself to Buddhism with this impure body? Until I sever my ties with worldly matters and return once more—it will be difficult."
"Oh... That's unfortunate; it's truly unfortunate."
"I'm merely grateful for your kind consideration towards someone lacking like me. Namu Amitabha..."
"Namu Amitabha..."
Myohae and Seoyun clasped their hands together in prayer.
As he left with regretful sighs behind him, Dang Yuhwa caught up with Seoyun.
"What on earth are you thinking? This isn't like you."
"This is before Buddha; please be cautious with your words and actions."
"...Ugh."
Even if it were Banyadang, maintaining decorum wasn't wrong.
At Seoyun's calm tone of voice she groaned softly.
"Fine then; let's get going."
"Yes, Miss."
As Seoyun prepared to follow her out when suddenly Venerable Beopju—the old monk who had been striking the wooden fish earlier—approached him.
"Seoyun Shizhu."
When he called out in a clear tone of voice,
Seoyun turned around respectfully.
"Venerable Master Beopju! Did you call for me?"
"Tomorrow will mark the end of your three thousand bows."
"That's right."
Beopju smiled broadly as he pulled out a book from within his robes.
"Thanks to Shizhu I've been able to offer my prayers comfortably; as thanks I'd like you to have this book—please do not forget Buddha's teachings even while remaining in secular life."
"Thank you very much."
Seoyun examined the book slowly as Beopju smiled gently at him,
and upon seeing him walk away,
Seoyun tucked it under his arm.
"What's this? A Buddhist scripture?"
"It's a martial arts manual."
"…A martial arts manual!? What is it?"
Wondering if perhaps he had received some kind of fortuitous gift,
she looked at him curiously while Seoyun handed her the book.
Upon receiving it from him,
Dang Yuhwa frowned slightly.
"…Six Harmonies Fist?"
"Yes; perhaps Venerable Master has been forgetful... He has continuously given me this Six Harmonies Fist secret technique since several days ago."
"Hahaha… So?"
"What do you mean 'so'?"
Seoyun entered Zhi Guest Hall where Myohae awaited him.
Upon receiving back the Six Harmonies Fist secret technique that Seoyun presented,
Myohae said gratefully: "Thank you very much."
"What I received from Shaolin should naturally be returned."
As Seoyun bowed once more,
Myohae returned his gesture respectfully while saying: "If only there were more selfless individuals like Shizhu throughout this world—then there would be no disturbances in society."
"Hahaha… It is precisely because there are differences among people that we exist; because we exist we cultivate our hearts towards Buddha."
"Indeed; may your wishes come true."
As Myohae bid farewell,
Seoyun descended from the Mountain Gate while Dang Yuhwa grumbled incredulously: "Goodness! You claim not to be greedy while hoarding money like that."
"Money is merely a means to an end."
"A means? For what purpose?"
"It's simply following Buddha's will: Namu Amitabha."
"Ha… Just stop already."
---
On the final day of offering prayers...
Beopju had dressed in clean robes early in the morning waiting for Seoyun's arrival.
After exchanging greetings with other visitors,
Seoyun bowed before the smiling Buddha statue saying: "Venerable Master! I am ready."
"…Cough…"
"Venerable Master! Venerable Master!"
Compared to waking up during meditation practice,
this felt much easier.
After saying just a few words,
Beopju woke up abruptly with a wrinkled smile on his face: "Ah! I just went to see Buddha! Hmm… Shall we begin now?"
"Yes! Venerable Master! Since today is my last day... please strike the wooden fish at maximum speed!"
"Understood!"
- *Tok-tok-tok-tok-tok-tok!*
The rapid sound of Beopju's wooden fish echoed throughout Banyadang.
With that cue,
Seoyun along with other worshippers began bowing earnestly.
After some time passed,
when finally completing three thousand bows,
as everyone began leaving just like yesterday,
Seoyun received another Six Harmonies Fist secret technique from Beopju.
Arriving at Zhi Guest Hall holding it tightly,
Myohae smiled broadly: "Please take it back!"
"But this is Shaolin's..."
"Perhaps this too can be considered Buddha's grace; thanks to Shizhu we've rediscovered how important it is to care for people's hearts—please use it wisely! And here is an imperfect statue I carved myself—please take it as a token!"
"For such a precious gift… thank you very much!"
Receiving Myohae's gratitude,
Seoyun carefully tucked away the secret technique into his robe while accepting his carved statue.
"I wish you success in achieving your goals!"
"Thank you very much!"
After exchanging final farewells,
he exited through Mountain Gate.
Once outside Shaolin Temple,
Seoyun headed straight home.
Upon arriving home,
he went down by the stream,
removed his clothes,
and washed himself thoroughly with care.
After looking around cautiously,
he returned home again.
Placing the Buddha statue upon an altar,
he took a deep breath: "Hoo..."
Once calming himself down,
Seoyun slowly opened Daewon Shop.
'Having offered prayers like this... surely something good will come out of it? Please let me obtain just one divine skill...'
Without good mental focus,
he couldn't absorb all powers from elixirs either.
Moreover,
the Three Calamities mental focus certainly had its limits.
To properly utilize martial arts required good techniques without fail.
Thus Seoyun chose 11 consecutive secret technique draws targeting top-tier mental focus or divine skills.
Last time he prayed to Moon Goddess resulting in obtaining Okbongmil (a rare herb).
So after performing three thousand bows ten times up until thirty thousand bows—
wouldn't something better emerge?
With earnestness filling him up,
Seoyun shouted towards Daewon Shop:
"Buddha! Buddha! Buddha!"
After calling out Buddha three times,
he selected 11 consecutive secret technique draws:
[Starting 11 consecutive secret technique draws (main text).]
Like when drawing tickets using draw rights,
the spheres rotated rapidly.
Feeling breathless from tension yet focusing on gray spheres tightly,
[(1 Star) Three Calamities Technique - Main text obtained.]
[(1 Star) Taewon Mental Focus - Main text obtained.]
[(1 Star) Taewon Mental Focus - Main text obtained.]
[(1 Star) Taeguk Fist - Main text obtained.]
[(2 Star) Mara Three Techniques - Main text obtained.]
[(1 Star) Taewon Sword - Main text obtained.]
[(1 Star) Spirit Spear Technique - Main text obtained.]
[(2 Star) Sombre Water Technique - Main text obtained.]
'Oh my god! Is this really what I drew?'
Seoyun's face gradually turned pale.
Despite putting so much effort into this—how could such things happen?
Only first-starred and second-starred techniques emerged making him tremble uncontrollably:
'Not yet... Not yet...'
Three chances remained!
He swallowed hard while glaring at spinning spheres:
[(1 Star) Three Calamities Technique - Main text obtained.]
[(3 Star) Huangqi Buxue - Main text obtained.]
"Please! Please! Please!! Buddha!!"
As he fervently cried out—
something different happened than before!
From within spheres erupted tremendous light!
[Congratulations!]
"What!? Congratulations!?"
Could it possibly be jackpot this time?
As Seoyun grew tense watching spheres halt revealing new screen:
[(5 Star) Absorbing Energy Technique - Main text obtained.]
[Mission: Successfully consumed diamond stones.]
[Mission reward: Free elixir draw rights acquired!]
[Mission reward: Twenty diamonds acquired!]
[A new mission has occurred.]
[New mission: Acquire lightness skill faster than anyone else.]
[Mission reward: Fifty years' worth of Baeksuo.]
Seoyun stared blankly at gray screen before grabbing hold tightly onto topmost book titled Absorbing Energy Technique before throwing against wall muttering:
"I'll pray before Primordial Celestial Lord."
Citations:
[1] https://shaolinkungfulibrary.com/pages/72-arts-of-shaolin-3-striking-with-foot
[2] https://shaolintemple.com/traditional-chinese-medicine/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_Monastery
[4] https://www.shifuyanlei.co.uk/blogs/news/the-7-principles-of-shaolin-martial-arts
[5] https://monsterzone.org/2023/02/10/secret-of-the-water-technique-1984/
[6] https://shaolintemplehenan.com/qigong/
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7x5e5Huahc
[8] https://wildgreatwall.com/shaolin-temple-travel-guide/