Namgoong Myung and Hong Gyeolgae quietly slipped out of the cave and returned to the grounds of Shaolin Temple.
Namgoong Myung’s prediction that they would have about two hours of leeway was spot on. The temple grounds were eerily silent, not a soul in sight.
Namgoong Myung shivered slightly.
To think that Shaolin, the greatest pillar of the righteous martial world, was so empty. And somewhere in this emptiness, the legendary Great Elixir was hidden. Such an opportunity would never come twice in a lifetime.
“If we succeed, this will be the biggest thing in my life.”
The fact that there was a time limit only heightened Namgoong Myung’s excitement. It was the thrill of a lifetime, a step towards glory or a plunge into ruin. The tension gripped his heart tightly.
Hong Gyeolgae was equally excited, though his interest lay more in the elixir itself than the act of theft.
“What if the Shaolin monks find out we took the Great Elixir?” Hong Gyeolgae asked, his voice tinged with worry.
Namgoong Myung flashed a rare, sly smile. “It’s just you and me here, right? We can spin the story however we want. Say we snatched it just before the cult leader got his hands on it. Or that we barely escaped with it after he did.”
“It sounds plausible, but… won’t people be suspicious? Will they believe us?” Hong Gyeolgae couldn’t shake his concerns.
Namgoong Myung smiled reassuringly. “Sure, some might be suspicious. But do you think anyone would risk making enemies of the Beggars’ Sect and the Namgoong family over mere suspicion? No one in their right mind would.”
“Hmm…”
“Even if someone is suspicious, it won’t matter. They can’t cause a rift during the martial arts tournament. By the time it’s over, everyone will have moved on. Who’s going to bring up baseless accusations months or a year later? No one.”
Namgoong Myung’s voice was full of confidence.
Hong Gyeolgae felt a mix of relief and a hint of fear. The plan was so meticulous, it was as if he were speaking to a master strategist, not Namgoong Myung.
Shaking off his doubts, Hong Gyeolgae returned to the matter at hand. “Alright, where do you think the elixir is hidden?”
“Let’s start with the basics. We’ll head to the abbot’s quarters.”
The two made their way to the abbot’s quarters, familiar with the layout of Shaolin Temple from previous visits.
The abbot’s quarters were twice the size of a regular monk’s room, with a soft cushion that seemed perfect for meditating and absorbing the elixir’s energy.
But there was a problem.
“The elixir isn’t here,” Hong Gyeolgae noted.
Namgoong Myung clicked his tongue. “Of course, they wouldn’t leave it out in the open. Check the rafters, under the floorboards, inside the wardrobe—anywhere something could be hidden.”
“Got it.”
They searched every dusty corner, but after a thorough search, they had to admit defeat.
“Alright, it’s not in the abbot’s quarters,” Namgoong Myung concluded.
Hong Gyeolgae looked at him with a hint of disbelief, but Namgoong Myung remained confident.
“I expected this. If a thief broke into Shaolin, the abbot’s quarters would be the first place they’d check. The head monk wouldn’t leave the elixir here.”
Hong Gyeolgae nodded, finding the logic sound, especially coming from a thief.
“So, where to next?”
“We’ll try the head monk’s quarters. If he made the elixir, it might be there.”
They searched the head monk’s quarters thoroughly, finding various herbs and items, but no elixir.
Namgoong Myung suggested their next destination. “The discipline master might be involved too. It would be strange if he weren’t.”
They searched the discipline master’s quarters as well, but again, no elixir. Yet Namgoong Myung remained unfazed, satisfied with the process itself.
Just as Hong Gyeolgae was about to voice his unease, Namgoong Myung spoke up. “The head monk was clever. I see it now.”
”…What do you mean?”
“He hid the elixir in the least expected place. Follow me.”
They searched various locations, from storage rooms filled with odds and ends to even the latrines. Hong Gyeolgae’s skepticism grew, but Namgoong Myung’s confidence never wavered.
“Alright, I’ve got it. The head monk hid the elixir where no thief would dare to go.”
Once fooled, it’s a mistake; fooled repeatedly, and you’re an accomplice. Hong Gyeolgae was already too deep to back out.
”…Where is that?”
“The place with the most people—the Great Hall.”
The Great Hall housed statues of Buddha, towering over visitors. It was the largest building in the temple, centrally located, and frequented by monks daily.
Though it seemed unlikely, Hong Gyeolgae found Namgoong Myung’s theory compelling. The best hiding place is often in plain sight, after all.
“Why mention the Great Hall now?”
“I told you, it’s the hardest place for a thief to access.”
Hong Gyeolgae swallowed his retort, knowing Namgoong Myung’s reasoning was sound, even if the idea seemed far-fetched.
”…Alright, let’s check it out.”
They entered the Great Hall, where five massive Buddha statues stood, gazing down with serene expressions. Hong Gyeolgae felt a pang of guilt under their watchful eyes, but Namgoong Myung moved with purpose.
“Plenty of places to hide something here. Let’s find that elixir. Don’t dawdle, Hong Gyeolgae!”
“R-right.”
They began their search, the vast space and numerous decorations making it a time-consuming task.
As they searched, Hong Gyeolgae felt a familiar tingle at the back of his neck.
”…!”
A sensation he’d experienced countless times before—danger. And there was only one possible threat: the arrival of the cult leader and his two guardians.
Hong Gyeolgae immediately looked at Namgoong Myung, who returned his gaze, eyes wide.
“Let’s get out of here!”
The Great Hall had multiple exits, making a stealthy escape possible. But Namgoong Myung hushed him.
“Quiet. Let’s see why the cult leader is here before we leave.”
“It’s dangerous!”
“There are plenty of exits. We just need to be careful.”
It was a risky but potentially rewarding move. Namgoong Myung and Hong Gyeolgae hid behind the statue of Nosana Buddha, peeking out to watch the approaching figures.
Sure enough, the cult leader and his two guardians entered the Great Hall. The cult leader’s expression was somber.
Hong Gyeolgae and Namgoong Myung strained to hear their conversation.
”…The Sama clan was involved in the attack. Was it false information?”
The cult leader’s question was answered by the chief guardian. “It seems not. If even the other monks don’t know, the information must have leaked from somewhere.”
“Is there a traitor among the righteous sects?”
The cult leader opened a wooden box, revealing a large, white pill. Both Namgoong Myung and Hong Gyeolgae realized it was the Great Elixir.
‘We have to stop him.’
But there was no way to intervene. Revealing themselves would mean facing the cult leader and his guardians, a battle they couldn’t win.
As they desperately pondered their options, the cult leader swallowed the elixir without hesitation.
Namgoong Myung and Hong Gyeolgae knew at that moment that the martial arts world was entering a new phase.
The cult leader sat down, crossing his legs to absorb the elixir’s immense energy. Hong Gyeolgae whispered softly.
Namgoong Myung thought for a moment before replying.
Martial artists are most vulnerable during meditation. Even a short session leaves them defenseless, and the longer, more complex sessions like this one could take from half an hour to a full day.
The problem was that there were two guardians by the cult leader’s side, whom Namgung Myung and Hong Geolgae couldn’t possibly defeat.
”…The odds are slim. But if we wait, a chance might come.”
Namgung Myung and Hong Geolgae held their breath and waited.
Just then, a faint shout echoed from somewhere, reaching the main hall of the temple.
Sama Dowan had been confined to the Chamber of Repentance since he was eighteen.
Even now, when Sama Dowan closed his eyes, he often dreamed of those days around his eighteenth year. The time when he was diligently training, eagerly awaiting his debut in the martial world.
Compared to his peers, Sama Dowan’s skills were exceptional. While he wasn’t quite on par with the young master of the Namgung family or Song Yonggeom of the Wudang sect, he wasn’t worried about lagging behind them. First, because he believed he could surpass them, and second, because the elders hinted at a way to outdo them.
“Gowan, once the grand plan is complete, the Sama family will become the most powerful martial clan. You might even become the greatest martial artist of the next generation.” “Really?” “Yes. We don’t know who will be the greatest, but from now on, all the greatest will come from the Sama bloodline.”
Not long after, Sama Dowan received the first lesson of the grand plan from Sama Jugong. From that day, an overwhelming energy began to fill Sama Dowan’s body.
It was painful, but he welcomed it. It was all part of the process to become the greatest. Sama Dowan poured his dreams into his training.
Then one day, monks from the Shaolin Temple stormed in and shattered Sama Dowan’s energy center. He still vividly remembered the sensation of being trapped in that moment of despair.
What was the big deal about undergoing such a procedure? It would pass soon enough. At eighteen, he was too young to understand despair.
Sama Dowan trusted the abbot and the monks of the temple, but the other elders did not. When the monks weren’t around, the elders would murmur in hushed voices.
“Those Shaolin monks will keep us locked up forever. We’ll die without ever seeing the sky again.” “The abbot said that if we endure and control our bodies and minds, we’ll eventually be freed.” “That’s nonsense. Look around and see if anyone’s been freed. I’d bet my life on it.”
The emotions in the elders’ stories were nothing but resentment and despair. Sama Dowan tried to ignore their words and focus on calming his mind.
But it was never easy, and Sama Dowan’s mind was not particularly strong.
Sama Dowan’s heart grew increasingly twisted.
The abbot seemed to notice Sama Dowan’s state and often visited to share deep conversations. He would listen to Sama Dowan’s stories for hours and sometimes secretly took him outside to see the world beyond.
But Sama Dowan’s already twisted heart only grew more cynical.
The abbot’s stubborn attitude seemed arrogant, and his occasional kindness felt like deception.
They broke my energy center back then, and now they want to change their tune? I won’t be fooled.
Six years passed, and the once hopeful eighteen-year-old had become a bitter twenty-four-year-old prisoner. The abbot still hadn’t given up on Sama Dowan and the Sama family, but their hearts had hardened with resentment.
One day, when it seemed like this life would never change, the monks came and began to bind the Sama family members with ropes, leading them out of the chamber.
Sama Dowan asked one of the monks, “Why are you doing this?”
“The cult leader has come to destroy the Shaolin Temple and harm the Sama family.”
“The cult leader?”
“His real name is Yeon Chu. He was once hunted by the Sama family, known for killing people and setting fires.”
It was an incident the Sama family couldn’t ignore, and even young Sama Dowan vaguely remembered it.
“It’s not right for the monks to flee in the face of danger. This is for your own good, so please cooperate.”
It was a reasonable explanation. But emotions often override reason. As his hands were tied behind his back, the hatred Sama Dowan harbored flared up violently.
Of course. They always said they believed in us, but it was all talk. They never called us criminals, only detainees, but now they’re treating us like criminals. I knew it all along. Hypocrites.
But that wasn’t enough. There were many in the Sama family more twisted than Sama Dowan. They shouted in unison.
“The Shaolin monks are hereeeeeee—!”
The collective roar of countless voices spread far and wide.
And that sound, faint as it was, reached the main hall of the Shaolin Temple.