The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 116

“D-did you just say the Lankavatara Sutra?”

Among the gathered monks, one monk raised his head as high as he could and asked in a shouting voice.

“Yes, it’s the original Lankavatara Sutra.”

Seeing how startled they were by my words, they certainly knew the true value of the Lankavatara Sutra.

“Move aside! Everyone move!”

“A-Abbot of Janggyeonggak!”

Oh, that monk must be the abbot of Janggyeonggak.

Janggyeonggak was the place where Shaolin’s Buddhist scriptures and martial arts manuals were stored and managed. For the abbot of such a place to be so excited was only natural.

“Hurry up and move aside!”

“…G-Gong Hye Dasa!”

As expected, the ‘Gong’ generation. That would make him Gong Hye Dasa.

He pushed through the gaps between the monks and came running toward me with his eyebrows flying.

His gaze was so fierce that I unconsciously stepped back a couple of steps.

‘My goodness, he looks ready to devour someone.’

If Eok I-geon hadn’t supported me from behind, I would have retreated three or four more steps.

“Is it truly the Lankavatara Sutra? The one from the Second Patriarch?”

“That’s correct.”

“Amitabha! Amitabha! Ah, Amitabha!”

At my confirmation, Gong Hye Dasa stamped his feet and chanted the Buddha’s name.

‘What an unusual person.’

Since I had the preconception that monks were generally calm, Gong Hye Dasa momentarily seemed like an eccentric to me.

A monk of that age spinning in place and unable to control himself.

Though somewhat bewildering, I felt relieved that we seemed to have come to the right place.

“Abbot of Janggyeonggak.”

Gong Heo Dasa, who was on the platform, called to him.

“Yes, Elder Brother Abbot.”

Even in his excitement, Gong Hye Dasa immediately responded to the abbot’s call.

“I understand your feelings, but please calm yourself.”

He was indirectly saying to please show some restraint since many eyes were watching.

But Gong Hye Dasa’s eyes were actually a bit unhinged.

Stopping his spinning, he now openly demanded of me.

Benefactor, please give it quickly.

I must examine it right now!

The atmosphere was such that if I hesitated even a moment, he might pounce, so I took out the precious Lankavatara Sutra from my embrace.

“…Should I give it to you now?”

“Aaahhh!”

Suddenly, Gong Hye Dasa screamed.

“H-how can you touch such a precious thing with bare hands! Don’t you know how harmful the oils from human hands are to books?”

“I-is that so?”

I had no idea.

“Then…”

I hurriedly bent down to place the Lankavatara Sutra on the floor.

“Benefactor Dang!”

Then Gong Hye Dasa jumped and shouted.

“How can you irreverently try to place that precious book on the floor? Dust is so bad for ancient books… Amitabha! Oh, Buddha!”

Gong Hye Dasa raised both hands above his head and called upon Buddha as if he couldn’t believe this situation.

“…I apologize.”

I had no choice but to pull the Lankavatara Sutra back into my embrace.

“Hah!”

Gong Hye Dasa’s sigh deepened. He seemed displeased with my every action.

‘But I’m the one who brought this back.’

I was even starting to feel guilt I shouldn’t have had.

“Take your hands off the book, Benefactor! And don’t put it on the floor either!”

Don’t touch the book, don’t put it down either.

Then what exactly do you want me to do?

Should I perform some levitation technique?

Exasperated, I looked at Gong Heo Dasa for help, but he was just shaking his head and chanting Buddha’s name.

His disciple was probably quite embarrassing.

“Here, here!”

Then Gong Hye Dasa took off his kasaya and spread it on the floor.

“Y-yes…”

I quickly placed the Lankavatara Sutra on it, reading the situation.

Only then did Gong Hye Dasa breathe a sigh of relief, then wrapped the Lankavatara Sutra in the kasaya and moved busily somewhere.

He probably needed to verify whether it was authentic or not.

Eok I-geon, Eok Grandfather, and I accompanied him. Gong Heo Dasa and several other monks hurriedly followed as well.

“Muso.”

“Yes, Sifu!”

The place we arrived at was the Janggyeong-gak Scriptorium.

When Gong Hye Dasa extended his hand, Muso, who was his disciple, handed him a white cloth.

Gong Hye Dasa covered his mouth with it, then even put on gloves.

While the master prepared himself mentally, Muso carefully fanned to dust off the Lankavatara Sutra.

“Whew.”

Gong Hye Dasa held thin chopsticks like tweezers and carefully turned the first page of the Lankavatara Sutra.

The sight of him handling the ancient book with his mouth covered and using chopsticks looked just like a scene from a medical drama.

Seeing him go to such lengths made me understand his earlier commotion a little.

Experts are different wherever you go.

“Amitabha! Hehehe! Amitabha!”

Gong Hye Dasa continuously exclaimed in admiration as he turned each page of the book.

His body trembling and not knowing what to do suggested the Lankavatara Sutra was proving to be authentic.

“Close all the doors and light the lamps!”

At Gong Hye Dasa’s instruction, Muso first lit the oil lamps and closed the windows.

When even the cracks where light seeped in were blocked, the room relied solely on one small lamp.

“Let’s see.”

Gong Hye Dasa held the Lankavatara Sutra under the lamplight and examined the shadows cast upon it.

“Amitabha! Amitabha!”

Soon he let out exclamations of joy and emotion.

“Elder Brother!”

“Yes, I’m here! Is it authentic?”

Gong Heo Dasa, who had been sitting with eyes closed just turning his prayer beads, asked with a tense face at his disciple’s call.

Gong Hye Dasa nodded, almost tearfully.

“The handwriting is identical to Patriarch Huike’s. Look at these characters. The way certain strokes curve and bend like this was Patriarch Huike’s habit.”

Gong Heo Dasa carefully examined the part Gong Hye Dasa pointed to with the chopsticks, and his expression filled with emotion.

“Also, the fading of the ink is identical, and most importantly, here!”

“…Where are you referring to?”

There was nothing at the spot Gong Hye Dasa indicated.

“Come over here and look.”

Gong Hye Dasa led his elder brother Gong Heo Dasa to where he had been standing.

What is it? What!

It would be troublesome if only you two knew!

I was concentrating on listening to his explanation when I quietly moved behind them to look at the surface of the book.

“…!”

“Can you see it?”

“Yes, I can see it!”

Oh, I can see it too.

Like the marks left on the back page when you press down with a ballpoint pen, traces of letters appeared in the shadows.

“It’s gakpil (stylus writing).”

Ah, so this is called gakpil.

I’d only heard about it, but seeing it in person is fascinating.

“Master Huike used gakpil to make his annotations more convenient. The stylus marks left here match his work.”

But why didn’t he use ink and instead deliberately left pressed marks?

“Benefactor, are you curious?”

“…Yes.”

When the question suddenly came my way, I answered reflexively.

“Using ink directly on scriptures had to be avoided to prevent damage to the original text. So Master Huike filled in the lacking parts with gakpil. Amitabha.”

“Ah.”

I see.

But how did you know I was curious about that?

“Ten out of ten people who see gakpil for the first time are curious about it.”

Now I see that Master Gong Hye is a kind monk.

Earlier he was just momentarily stunned seeing the original Lankavatara Sutra.

Right, I brought such an amazing item?

Then I should be a bit more confident, shouldn’t I?

“Excuse me, Master Gong-heo.”

I spoke while meeting his eyes, trying to appear as modest as possible.

“Master, I’m so worried about my grandmother’s safety. Now that you’ve finished verifying the original, could I meet my grandmother as soon as possible?”

“I make the same demand. Since I’ve broken through the One Hundred and Eight Arhat Formation, I’ll take Ryeong-i as promised!”

Huh?

What’s this about now?

I looked up at Grandpa Am-wang as if asking what this meant.

“It’s as you heard. This great-grandfather made a deal that if he won against the One Hundred and Eight Arhat Formation, they would release your grandmother.”

“…So that’s why earlier?”

It wasn’t just a simple fight.

You challenged the One Hundred and Eight Arhat Formation for grandmother’s release.

Like father, like daughter.

You’re as wonderful as Shin Geum.

Moreover, I heard you broke through Shaolin’s One Hundred and Eight Arhat Formation.

The meaning behind this short sentence is far from simple.

The Ten Martial Arts Masters, called the ten strongest in Gangho.

Soon one of those positions will change.

If he broke through the One Hundred and Eight Arhat Formation, he already has sufficient qualifications.

The day when the Dang Family, which was falling apart due to grandmother’s false accusations, will be revived is not far off.

‘Farewell, Dang Yong-jin!’

Forget about the clan leader position, just try to preserve your life.

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