Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 27
Perhaps it was the aroma of meat seeping deep into my very bones?
Before I could stop myself, my mouth flooded with saliva.
‘How long has it been?’
It might seem absurd that a Buddhist monk would savor meat, but truthfully, I ate meat even during my training at Shaolin.
If asked whether I had broken my vows, I could honestly say no. Shaolin permitted moderate meat consumption not only for novice monks but for Martial Monks as well.
Of course, the problem was that the standard of “moderate” varied wildly from person to person.
‘Hmm.’
In any case, the precepts did not forbid it.
I steadied my racing heart as I gazed upon the lavish spread before me.
‘Amitabha Buddha.’
Buddhism teaches the principle that all phenomena arise from the mind alone.
It means everything depends on one’s intention. As I calmed my mind and looked again, the dishes on the table appeared in perfectly measured, neither excessive nor insufficient portions.
Kang Hyun regarded me with a bewildered expression.
“What? Of course you eat openly. Who’s here to stop you?”
Yi Ma-je was also looking at me from across the table with a puzzled gaze.
“Ha, I misspoke. There’s this Physician who’s been making a fuss about how I should eat only rice porridge for a while… I got confused for a moment.”
I had no choice but to throw Sa Ma-ryang under the carriage. I apologized inwardly, but meat was what I needed right now.
“Are you injured somewhere?”
“Just some internal injuries, nothing serious now.”
Yi Ma-je spoke in his characteristic blunt manner.
“Dig in.”
“Yes.”
“I shall eat well.”
The moment Yi Ma-je picked up his chopsticks, I reached out as if I had been waiting for permission.
I grabbed a piece of Dongpo pork first and took a bite.
‘Oh? This is quite good.’
It wasn’t just impressive in appearance—the taste was exceptional.
Rich seasonings and savory meat juices burst forth explosively. I barely chewed before the tender pork melted away on my tongue.
Having eaten something chewy for the first time in so long, I felt goosebumps rise across my skin.
Suddenly, it occurred to me that Yi Ma-je might have kept Kang Hyun by his side precisely because of his culinary skills.
I could not imagine the fierce-looking Yi Ma-je standing before a stove cooking.
After grueling training, what becomes of one who returns to find no food? One would have to chew on things like grain-abstinence pills to suppress hunger. Under such circumstances, maintaining that robust physique would be impossible.
It all made sense now.
‘It was the cooking all along.’
Having reached my conclusion, I was about to serve myself some noodles when Kang Hyun suddenly thrust a cup of water toward me.
“Master, please eat slowly. Why are you eating so aggressively? Anyone watching would think a starving ghost had possessed you.”
This fellow even had keen perception?
“Ahem, thank you.”
I coughed awkwardly and drank the water.
“Still, we’ve come this far in training—we should finish it properly.”
“Training, you say?”
Yi Ma-je spoke in a low voice.
“Eat with focus.”
“…Yes.”
As I lifted my head when satiation finally washed over me mid-meal, my eyes locked directly with Yi Ma-je’s.
“It seems you’re quite versed in external cultivation.”
“Pardon?”
“You grasped the technique remarkably quickly. There are aspects difficult to explain in mere words, yet you adapted with surprising ease.”
“Well, I’ve become somewhat familiar with it.”
No matter how unconventional Yi Ma-je’s training methods were, my prior experience with weighted sandbags meant nothing felt entirely foreign.
“Then, what are your thoughts on external cultivation? The consensus in Jianghu is that it has distinct limitations.”
“…?”
Why would he ask such a thing? I regarded Yi Ma-je intently.
“There’s no need to overthink it. I’m simply curious about your perspective.”
I nodded slowly, gathering my thoughts.
“Well… to be honest, I believe external cultivation has clearer constraints than internal cultivation.”
“Explain in detail.”
“When training ceases, one regresses. Even with daily practice, efficiency drops without increasing intensity. This differs considerably from internal cultivation, which deepens merely through accumulation.”
External cultivation isn’t merely about training muscles—it refers to martial arts that elevate the body’s perfection.
However, since bodily perfection naturally improves through accumulating internal energy or practicing techniques, many warriors don’t bother investing time in it.
“Precisely. That’s why many treat external cultivation as an inferior skill.”
“Yes, there are certainly no shortage of ignorant Jianghu folk who don’t understand what matters and neglect it. When I see them glossing over such things, I just want to smack their shiny…”
A faint glimmer of interest appeared in Yi Ma-je’s eyes.
“So you recognize its flaws yet don’t think of it that way?”
“Internal cultivation has flaws too, doesn’t it?”
Yi Ma-je’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Flaws in internal cultivation?”
“How many warriors fall into demonic obsession, unable to resist impatience? To properly utilize accumulated internal energy, the body must reach that same level. If you harmoniously elevate martial prowess, eventually you must delve into external cultivation as well, mustn’t you?”
“Well, that’s only true if one has unlimited time, isn’t it?”
“…?”
“As with all things, a warrior’s time is finite. To see even one martial art through to completion, every moment demands choice and focus. Today’s decisions alter tomorrow’s training and your future path.”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“What if you honed only external cultivation and then faced an opponent with profound internal energy? If your blade couldn’t reach and you were helplessly pushed back into a defensive position, the path you’ve walked might feel hollow.”
“…”
I couldn’t precisely grasp why he suddenly broached this topic.
It could be his personal interest, an attempt to understand me, or perhaps instruction for Kang Hyun.
Though his intent remained unclear, formulating an answer wasn’t difficult.
“There’s nothing hollow about it. If despite doing my utmost, such a gap exists, then losing is simply the correct outcome.”
“…Simply accept defeat?”
“Yes. External cultivation is ultimately a branch of martial arts, and I was defeated in martial arts, was I not? The issue was density, not the direction of training, so I see no need to dwell on it shamefully.”
Since my rebirth, I had never devoted myself to external cultivation, so I wondered if I could even say such things.
With a body still frail from barely overcoming internal injuries, wouldn’t it sound hollow?
“A branch of martial arts, you say….”
Yet Yi Ma-je seemed quite impressed, his eyes widening with genuine surprise.
In truth, as one who inherited Shaolin’s true transmission, such words came naturally to me.
When naming the most renowned sect in the Realm, Shaolin undoubtedly held the foremost position.
The towering peak of Jianghu, the Thousand Year Shaolin Temple.
Thanks to its illustrious reputation, all eyes were perpetually drawn to it, and countless talents throughout the Realm knocked upon its gates seeking admission.
What was the first thing such talents did after entering?
Brutally simple external cultivation training.
Even those who boasted some skill would first correct their posture, gradually increase their sand bags, and rigorously refine external cultivation alone.
At the root of Shaolin, which gained renown through transcendent martial arts and formidable techniques, lay power manifested through external cultivation as its foundation.
Thus, in the Central Plains where Shaolin’s influence spread widely, scarcely any sect neglected external cultivation—but the Demonic Sect appeared to be different.
“I’ve never heard such an interpretation before.”
“Do you not regard external cultivation as a branch of martial arts, Yi Ma-je?”
“Of course not. I too believe that when taken to the extreme, it becomes a supreme martial art. Only… I simply hadn’t heard it expressed in words.”
I rolled my eyes, studying Yi Ma-je carefully. Since his reaction didn’t seem negative, I asked directly.
“Is there perhaps another reason you asked about external cultivation?”
Yi Ma-je answered in a measured tone.
“Nothing special. I was merely curious about what martial philosophy you held.”
“My martial philosophy?”
“When I traveled abroad on behalf of the Elder Council, I often heard news of you. I’ve long wished to have a conversation with you.”
“News, you say… Ha, I wonder what slander someone spread about me?”
“Far from slander. It concerned your spiritual aptitude. It didn’t seem to be baseless talk.”
Kang Hyun, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
“Master, what exactly is spiritual aptitude?”
“It’s a general term for martial talent such as bone structure and natural disposition. You could also call it an innate sense for martial arts.”
“Ah, I see.”
“How did you hear our conversation so far?”
Kang Hyun paused briefly before answering.
“Every word seemed perfectly sound, so I’ve committed it all to memory. There’s nothing I can afford to overlook.”
“Good.”
Yi Ma-je nodded and looked at me.
“Then, what is your reason for coming here? It must have been quite a distance.”
Finally, the moment had arrived. Thinking Yi Ma-je could leave without delay, I spoke directly.
“I intend to oppose the Great Sect. Can you help me?”
“….”
Yi Ma-je regarded me silently.
His stern expression revealed nothing. As the silence stretched, anxiety began to seep through.
Should I have beaten around the bush instead?
‘If the Chief Military Commander’s information were true, wouldn’t the response be more positive?’
At that moment, Yi Ma-je pointed toward Kang Hyun.
“Why did you come with this boy?”
I met Kang Hyun’s gaze. He winked as if asking me to grant his earlier request.
-Master, please keep the matter of Ja Gwi Moon confidential.
-Why?
-Truth be told, it’s almost like I’m barely scraping by there, and I didn’t want to reveal matters that could be seen as flaws, so I didn’t mention my revenge. I’ll tell you about it separately later, so I’m asking for your understanding.
Since I’d already enjoyed a generous meal, I decided to grant his request.
“I happened to meet him and we had a conversation. Since he mentioned being your disciple, I asked for his guidance.”
Yi Ma-je looked at Kang Hyun.
“Is that true?”
“Yes, sir. This is my first time meeting the successor, but unexpectedly our conversation flowed well and there seemed to be much to learn from him. I didn’t think it would cause any harm to you, Master.”
“I see.”
Even though I hadn’t provided detailed explanations, Yi Ma-je didn’t press further. It seemed the rumors about him living without concern for trivial matters were true.
“I heard you’re discussing an advance into the Central Plains. Yet you oppose it…”
Yi Ma-je’s voice dropped low.
“We had no particular connection, so what brought you to seek me out?”
“The Chief Military Commander offered his counsel. He suggested that if my opinion—that the advance into the Central Plains is premature—aligned with yours, I should meet with you.”
Yi Ma-je’s eyes flickered.
“…The Chief Military Commander?”
“Yes.”
In that instant, a pitch-black aura swirled in Yi Ma-je’s eyes. That quiet gaze made my breath catch in my throat.
‘…Is this the Sovereign of the Demonic Sect?’
His presence was no less formidable than the elders of the Nine Sects and One Faction or the Five Great Families.
He broke the silence and asked.
“Are you confident you can accomplish it?”
“I must accomplish it no matter what. Even if my feet catch fire, I will see it through.”
“Then I shall lend you my support.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said I would lend you my support. Isn’t that what you came seeking?”
“Well, yes, but…”
It resolved more easily than expected, which left me bewildered, but his next words made me think, ‘Of course.’
“However, there is one condition.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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