The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 119

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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 119

Shaolin Temple Abbot’s Chamber.

As we entered, Abbot Gong-heo Daesa and Janggyeonggak Head Gong-hye Daesa were already seated.

Grandmother, Eok Grandfather, and I naturally took seats across from them, while Gong-gak Daesa, who had entered with us, sat beside his fellow disciple Gong-hye Daesa.

‘It looks like we’re picking sides.’

Coincidentally, the seating arrangement was three against three, which gave me that impression.

“First, I must offer my apologies.”

The conversation began with Grandmother’s quiet apology. She bowed her head toward the three monks, clearly expressing her remorse.

Then Gong-hye Daesa waved his hands dismissively, declining Grandmother’s apology.

“Hehe, thanks to Benefactor Tang, a priceless treasure beyond measure has returned to our temple. Rather, our temple has received great grace. Amitabha!”

Gong-hye Daesa’s gaze toward me was extremely warm.

From his perspective, I must be precious beyond words.

“What do you mean by that?”

On the other hand, Grandmother, who couldn’t understand what was happening, had no choice but to ask.

Ahem.

Should I step forward at this point?

“Grandmother, you see, what happened was…”

I told her very simply and clearly about how I had obtained the original Lankavatara Sutra from a bookstore in Deungbong County.

“…Is that really true? Seolha, you returned such a precious thing to Shaolin?”

“That’s right, Grandmother! Gong-hye Daesa, please tell her. It seems our grandmother doesn’t believe what I’m saying.”

When I asked for help, Gong-hye Daesa immediately jumped in and took my side without a moment’s hesitation.

“Benefactor Tang, your granddaughter speaks the truth. As Janggyeonggak Head, I now have no more regrets. Amitabha!”

You heard that, Grandmother?

Your granddaughter is this amazing!

I grinned at Grandmother and held my head up proudly.

I wonder if you understand this feeling of wanting to be praised.

“How can our temple ever repay this kindness…”

“Ahem!”

Gong-gak Daesa cleared his throat as if telling him to stop and gave him a warning look, but he couldn’t succeed in silencing Gong-hye Daesa.

“Even if we gave you ten, no, a hundred Daehwandan pills, it wouldn’t be enough to express our gratitude.”

‘Ooh!’

Finally, the words I’d been waiting for came out.

How much I had held back from bringing it up myself first.

You see.

I don’t even hope for ten or a hundred.

Just one would be enough, like in the original story.

‘Hehe.’

But Gong-gak Daesa seemed to have no such intention at all.

As soon as the word Daehwandan was mentioned, he poked Gong-hye Daesa in the ribs and immediately made him watch his words.

He even scolded him with stern eyes, as if telling him not to act rashly.

‘Gong-gak Monk is being too much.’

No matter how precious Daehwandan is, what I brought was the original Lankavatara Sutra, the original!

‘If you like free things too much, your head will really go bald, you know? There’s a difference between shaving what’s there and actually having nothing, right?’

If you’re going to be this petty, it’s troublesome for both of us.

“Senior brother, please don’t do this. This is the original Lankavatara Sutra left by our second-generation ancestor Hye-ga Daesa. What we lost through our mistake has been found by this benefactor.”

Wow, Gong-hye Daesa is saying everything I wanted to say!

As expected, the only one I can trust is the Janggyeonggak Head.

However, Gyeyul-won Head Gong-gak Daesa was frowning as much as possible.

He still didn’t want to give the Daehwandan.

‘What kind of monk is so petty?’

Perhaps sensing this, Gong-hye Daesa added forcefully.

“We should be grateful just that it has safely returned to our temple!”

Well done!

Gong-hye Daesa, you really are a warm person after all.

I’ll erase the memory of that eccentric first impression from my mind.

“How could I not know how precious Daehwandan is? Though I walk the path of a scholar monk rather than a warrior monk, as a monk of Shaolin Temple, I’m not ignorant of Daehwandan’s value. However!”

Gong-hye Daesa continued with emphasis.

“Daehwandan can be made with effort. The knowledge and methods are continuously passed down.”

Oh, good.

That’s persuasive.

“But the Lankavatara Sutra is different. It’s not something we can obtain just because we want to make it or acquire it. It’s the only original copy. The weight of the scales is completely different.”

“I also fully understand that. However, Benefactor Tang tried to steal the Daehwandan…”

“That’s enough.”

Abbot Gong-heo interrupted and settled Gong-gak Daesa’s words as he was pointing out Grandmother’s fault.

“That matter was already concluded with the match against Benefactor Eok. Don’t bring it up anymore.”

Right.

Since Eok Grandfather won the bet, Grandmother is now free.

I knew that Shaolin kept their promises once made.

‘Just try to find fault with Grandmother again.’

As I secretly glared at Gong-gak Daesa, suddenly Gong-heo Daesa called for me.

“Young benefactor.”

“…Yes, Abbot.”

He didn’t notice me glaring, did he?

I faced him with as demure an expression as possible.

“Is what you desire the Daehwandan?”

Of course.

But if I accept it right away, wouldn’t that look bad?

At times like this, it would look better to decline once.

“I didn’t bring it hoping for anything in return.”

“Didn’t you tell me it was because of your grandmother?”

‘Oops!’

The Abbot is sharp.

To exploit that weakness.

There was a special winning strategy for times like this.

I’m young and don’t know anything.

I had no choice but to flash a charming eye-smile at Gong-heo Daesa and act innocent.

“Hehe, hehehehe. Amitabha.”

As if moved by my effort, Gong-heo Daesa burst into hearty laughter.

“Thank you. Shaolin Temple owes you a great debt.”

His tone felt sincere.

“Not at all.”

I shook my head and waved my hands dismissively out of courtesy.

“I’d like to give you several as a reward if I could, but due to our temple’s circumstances…”

“No. One is enough!”

What I had wanted from the beginning was just one.

Even though Eok Grandfather had won the bet, Grandmother’s sin was great.

Daehwandan was already a heavenly elixir that brought much trouble. Any more greed would be forbidden.

“Thank you for understanding. Instead, for the insufficient part…”

Gong-heo Daesa and Eok Grandfather briefly exchanged glances.

I could easily guess what that meant.

It meant that Shaolin Temple would help with the incident involving Grandmother.

“Grandmother, I’ll go out first.”

Probably it would be more comfortable for them to have their conversation without me present.

In fact, it was content I already knew quite a bit about through the original story.

“Please have your discussion.”

I squeezed Grandmother’s hand once tightly and left the abbot’s chamber.

In the courtyard in front of Shaolin Temple’s abbot’s chamber stood a single massive tree that looked to be well over several hundred years old.

Eok I-geon waited for Seolha with his arms crossed and eyes closed, leaning against the tree.

The tranquil atmosphere of the mountain temple.

For Eok I-geon, who disliked noisy things, it was truly a perfectly suitable space.

“…!”

However, at some point there was something that broke that silence – the sound of a broom sweeping the ground.

Swish swish— Swish swish swish—

The sound of the broom that had been making regular noise stopped in front of Eok I-geon.

“Heh heh!”

Then came the sound of old, eccentric laughter.

Eok I-geon slowly opened his eyes with a frown.

“…?”

Right in front of him, a gaunt old monk was gripping a broom and looking up at Eok I-geon.

It was unpleasant enough to have a stranger staring at him intently, but the head tilting was even more irritating.

It was also uncomfortable because it strangely felt like it was penetrating deep inside him.

Eok I-geon pulled his back away from the tree and stepped aside. Then the old monk followed him and stood in front of him.

“What a strange thing. What strange things happen!”

The monk’s gaze was even more blatant, and accordingly Eok I-geon’s eyes narrowed.

“Your heart has never been as peaceful as it is now, has it?”

A sudden question.

“Don’t let go of that ray of light that has fallen upon you, benefactor. And don’t let it die either.”

He spoke as if he knew the future.

“What do you mean?”

Eok I-geon asked back uncharacteristically, but the old monk didn’t answer.

Instead, he rambled on about other things with a meaningful expression.

“Don’t open the gate of heavenly slaughter. That would be hell for both the world and you, benefactor. Amitabha.”

His voice entered his ears and lodged there firmly.

“But what about the Blood Slaughter Star?”

“…!”

Wait, had he been bewitched by something?

Eok I-geon snapped back to his senses after being dazed.

The old monk who had been sweeping was already long gone.

Then Seolha came running out from the direction of the abbot’s chamber.

“Young Master! Were you waiting for me?”

Seolha approached with a bright smile.

“Don’t let go of that ray of light that has fallen upon you, benefactor.”

Why did the old monk’s words come to mind at that moment?

He turned his head sharply and hurriedly looked for him, but he had already disappeared.

“Young Master?”

“…Yes. Did you get what you wanted?”

“Yes.”

At Seolha’s spirited answer, Eok I-geon was satisfied and patted her head.

“And don’t let it die either.”

The old monk’s words swept through his mind once more.

‘Who would dare.’

Such a thing would absolutely never happen.

He himself would never let that happen.

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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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