The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 275

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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 29

Seeing Eok Hwi-gyeom collapse, the Bongwang-dae members hurriedly found their seats and sat down.

In the process, most of them turned their backs, seemingly reluctant to face the Buddha statue.

Elder Buljon said nothing about this and took his seat at the very front. Then he had Eok Hwi-gyeom sit beside him, telling him to listen well and learn.

The guy sent me pleading looks, begging me to save him, but I flatly refused.

Not having the courage to refuse, Eok Hwi-gyeom eventually had to learn the wooden fish from Elder Buljon with a tearful expression.

“Seo-ryeon.”

“Yes.”

At my command, Seo-ryeon broke apart the Dae Hwan Dan and distributed pieces to the members.

“Let us begin.”

Once preparations were complete, Elder Buljon struck the wooden fish.

Tok-tok-tok-tok—

A clear, thin sound echoed throughout the Dharma Hall.

In time with that sound, the Bongwang-dae members all put pieces of Dae Hwan Dan in their mouths and swallowed.

Seo-ryeon and I, who had already taken Dae Hwan Dan before, along with Yang Ha-rin and Yu-un who had been from Jeongpa, joined in spirit from the back of the hall.

Tok tok tok tok tok—

The wooden fish sound grew increasingly loud and clear.

Whooooom!

Then came a certain moment.

The Buddhist power within me resonated with the wooden fish’s vibrations and awakened on its own.

“Gasp!”

I hadn’t done anything.

Completely independent of my will, the Buddhist power surged as Elder Buljon guided it.

“Gae-gyeong-ge mu-sang-sim-sim-mi-myo-beop baek-cheon-man-geop-nan-jo-u…”

Buddhist power harmonizing with the wooden fish filled the Dharma Hall.

It wasn’t mine alone.

Energies both strange and familiar.

One, two, three… seven, eight, nine.

The Bongwang-dae members, Eok Hwi-gyeom, Seo-ryeon, and me.

And… what?

Why eleven instead of nine…?

Surprisingly, two flowers bloomed shyly among the lotus flowers of Buddhist power.

They were the energies of Yu-un and Yang Ha-rin.

I couldn’t understand how Buddhist power could bloom from those two who hadn’t even taken Dae Hwan Dan.

“Won-hae-yeo-rae-jin-sil-ui om a-ra-nam a-ra-da…”

Our Buddhist powers united as one with Elder Buljon’s chanting.

Like rope, they intertwined, crossed, amplified, and gradually became one.

The energy that had become vast now whirled through the interior of the Dharma Hall like a storm.

Only then did I seem to understand.

Elder Buljon was drawing out our power through sutra recitation, then binding it into one great intention before guiding us onto the path of enlightenment.

Forcefully, yet very precisely.

Like pottery being meticulously and carefully shaped by an artisan’s hands, enlightenment was injected into me.

Jjjjjjang!

Heat piercing through my chest, light brightening my mind, and things beyond that struck relentlessly without pause.

Could enlightenment originally come in this way?

‘Aah!’

I had no strength left to endure the unbearable vastness and profundity.

The world turned white and my consciousness gradually faded.

“Gae-gyeong-ge mu-sang-sim-sim-mi-myo-beop baek-cheon-man-geop-nan-jo-u a-geum-gyeon-mun-deuk-su-ji won-hae-yeo-rae-jin-sil-ui…”

Just as they were about to begin the sectarian council meeting, Gong-heo Daesa and the other leaders hurriedly came outside upon hearing the magnificent sutra recitation echoing from the sky.

The source of the sound was the hermitage where Elder Buljon Gak-yeon resided—Musim Hermitage.

“A-Amitabha.”

“Namu Amitabha!”

At the deeply Buddhist sound, the high monks all raised their palms together without exception.

The resonance of the recitation was so magnificent it couldn’t be looked upon.

‘Master…’

The Abbot, Gong-heo Daesa’s heart stirred.

If even he felt this way, how must the others feel?

Why had Master bestowed such high teachings not upon the monks of the main temple, but upon Benefactor Tak and Cheon-sin-mun?

There must surely be a proper reason, but Gong-heo Daesa felt a bit resentful.

Feeling my consciousness gradually returning, I slowly opened my eyes.

After blinking my eyelids several times, my blurry vision quickly became clear.

The first thing I saw was the ceiling of the Dharma Hall. At the same time, I remembered the last moment before losing consciousness.

‘Elder Buljon!’

As I hurriedly sat up, someone approached.

“Here.”

It was Beok Gab-woong, the youngest of Sanseosam-don.

“It’s medicinal tea to clear your mind.”

Sanseosam-don couldn’t have prepared this tea. Elder Buljon must have made it in advance, knowing this would happen.

I drank the medicinal tea while looking around.

‘It seems I woke up first.’

Everyone was lying down neatly as if sleeping. Judging by their steady breathing, there seemed to be nothing particularly wrong.

Perhaps due to the bitter taste of the medicinal tea, I definitely felt my mind becoming clearer.

After completely finishing the tea, I quietly got up from my seat and went outside the Dharma Hall.

“Elder Buljon is inside.”

As if waiting for me, Gwang Pung-woong, the second of Sanseosam-don, told me where Grandfather was.

I immediately ran over and called for Grandfather in front of the door.

“Elder Buljon.”

But there was no answer.

“Elder Buljon!”

I called a bit louder, but it was the same.

Had he gone somewhere in the meantime?

There shouldn’t be anywhere to go in this small hermitage.

Thinking he probably hadn’t gone far, I sat on the wooden platform and waited for Elder Buljon.

How long had I been there?

“Come in.”

Suddenly, Grandfather’s voice came from inside.

Having felt no presence at all, I opened my eyes wide and opened the door.

“You were inside?”

My joy was brief.

“G-Grandfather!”

Elder Buljon was sitting with difficulty, using the wall as a backrest.

His complexion was also dark.

His eye sockets were deeply sunken, his lips were dry, and his wrinkles had increased terribly.

“It’s alright.”

As I panicked and just opened and closed my mouth, Grandfather raised his hand as if telling me to calm down. Even that gesture had no strength at all.

“I just pushed myself a bit too hard, so there’s nothing to worry about. Just bring me a cup of water.”

“Yes, yes! Water!”

Finally coming to my senses, I quickly ran to fetch some water.

I wished he would drink it all refreshingly, but Elder Buljon only lightly moistened his lips.

“Are you crying?”

Tears naturally welled up in my eyes.

Why hadn’t I realized it before?

No matter how great Elder Buljon was, there were eleven of us.

And what we possessed wasn’t pure Buddhist martial power, was it?

Except for Yang Ha-rin and Yu-un, our main internal energy was demonic energy.

Elder Buljon knew all of this, yet he carefully coaxed and guided us so that no one would get hurt, and even transmitted enlightenment to us.

Though it was still a shallow enlightenment like barely scratching the surface, thanks to it, the Phoenix Corps could now perfectly conceal our demonic energy.

Now no one would ever suspect us of being demons.

“You’re crying even though I said I’m fine.”

As I shed tears, Grandfather instead smiled and comforted me.

What am I that you would go this far for me?

That damn Heavenly Demon Star and Heavenly Mandate Star and all that nonsense – I resented it all.

“Don’t lean against the wall uncomfortably, please lie down.”

I roughly wiped my tears and quickly spread out the bedding.

“Good.”

What was so good about thin bedding? Elder Buljon looked at me and smiled again.

“Wait just a moment. I’ll go make some porridge.”

As soon as I covered him with the blanket, Elder Buljon fell asleep.

That made me choke up again, so I fled from the room.

“I, I’ll do it.”

When I entered the kitchen, Sanseosam-don was stamping his feet, not knowing what to do.

“It’s okay. I have to do this myself.”

I didn’t want to entrust Grandfather to their hands.

I made the porridge with more care than ever before.

Elder Buljon remained bedridden for three full days after that.

“Why are you worrying so much? This old man’s vessel is just large, so it takes a long time to fill up.”

Fortunately, just as he said, Elder Buljon visibly regained his health as time passed.

Indeed, he wasn’t one of the Ten Martial Arts Masters for nothing.

My heart, which had been going crazy with guilt, finally found relief.

“The porridge is truly delicious.”

During the three days he was bedridden, Elder Buljon really enjoyed the porridge I made.

“I should have stayed sick for a few more days.”

Grandfather, who had gotten up and dusted himself off, smacked his lips while looking at the empty porridge bowl.

“No way!”

I glared at him, telling him not to make such jokes.

Do you know how worried I was!

“Heh heh heh.”

Still, I was happy that we could bicker like this. Even this was only possible because Elder Buljon had recovered his strength.

How many old masters had I seen in novels who died after forcibly transmitting their internal energy?

Though Elder Buljon hadn’t performed Gyeok Che Jeon-gong on us, given the circumstances, I had imagined all sorts of things.

“Thank you.”

“I’m more grateful.”

“Then let’s say we’re both grateful.”

“You’re getting the short end of the deal, Elder Buljon.”

“When will we see each other again after I leave?”

While Elder Buljon was getting up and dusting himself off, the Phoenix Corps members had also made the Buddhist martial arts their own.

It was time to leave Shaolin Temple.

“I’ll definitely stop by again before returning to the Shin Sect.”

Though I was reluctant to leave due to my attachment, I had things I needed to do.

“You must stay healthy until then! You understand!”

As I came down from the hermitage, I waved my hands and shouted loudly.

“Yes! Don’t forget to stop by!”

Elder Buljon also waved both hands and shouted back at me.

I barely held back my tears and kept waving until Grandfather was no longer visible.

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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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