Chapter 612

Chapter 612 – The Lazy One Faces (2)

Do you know what happens to someone who faces war?

Huh? You say you don’t know because you’ve never experienced it?

Are you kidding me right now? So, is all the history you research things you’ve personally lived through?

Huh? You say humans get very agitated?

No, that’s not it.

You’d normally think that. But it’s not really like that. Because humans are animals capable of learning.

—In war, the one who gets agitated loses.

This is a phrase I’ve heard since I was a child, and it’s too obvious to me.

That’s how humans are. Whether they study on their own or not, what they hear countless times inevitably stays in their minds.

That’s why I try not to get agitated.

Everyone tries hard to stay calm.

And shouldn’t that be enough?

Tsk tsk, this guy…

Do you know how to become a martial master?

If you don’t know, I’ll tell you. From today, take martial arts seriously, reduce your sleep time, and dedicate yourself to training. If you train and reflect much more than others, you can become a master.

Who doesn’t know that?

That’s exactly what I’m saying, friend.

“Who doesn’t know that,” you say.

In war, you have to stay calm, if you get agitated, you lose, war requires a cold, ice-like rationality to achieve victory.

Is there anyone who doesn’t know that?

But the problem is that humans can’t put everything they know into practice, that’s why they’re human. There is no one in this world who doesn’t know what they should do right now or how they can become a martial master.

The problem is that they can’t put what they know into practice, that’s what I’m saying.

Do you understand what I mean?

At that moment, we believed we were calm. We controlled ourselves, so we naturally believed it.

But that’s how things are in this world.

Isn’t it true that whoever gets agitated doesn’t realize it? When you realize you’ve gotten agitated, it’s already after the situation is over. At that moment, you don’t know it.

That’s why we couldn’t know it.

…No, maybe not. Now that I think about it, maybe it wasn’t like that.

Maybe everyone knew it, but they just didn’t want to face it.

What do I mean?

We didn’t think about it.

We’re not just dealing with Baekgeom Fortress.

* * *

Mount Song.

One of the Five Great Sacred Mountains, also known as one of the Five Peaks.

Mount Song is famous enough for its impressive landscapes and majestic peaks, but the real reason for its fame was another.

The Shaolin Temple on the Small West Peak of Mount Song.

The Millennial Shaolin.

The Shaolin, regarded as the beacon of the martial world that has sustained martial arts for centuries, had a weight that inspired reverence just by hearing its name.

The main gate of the Shaolin.

A small and old gate that did not match the great name of the Shaolin. In front of that gate, a group of people appeared.

“Shaolin…”

A rough and sharp voice like metal scraping.

“How ironic. In the past, no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t reach this place, but now we reach it so easily.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

A white-haired old man turned his head. When his gaze met that of another old man behind him, he smiled mockingly.

“It seems you’ve lived long enough. The way you long for death.”

“You better shut up, Smile Demon.”

The old man called Smile Demon widened his smile.

“The Shaolin is a perfect place to be a Bishop’s tomb.”

“Perhaps. But I have no intention of dying here.”

“You…”

“Shh.”

The man put a finger to his lips.

“It’s natural for old men to talk a lot, but they should know when and where to shut up. We came here with a purpose.”

“I have enough time to kill you.”

“Perhaps. But do you think He would allow it?”

At the mention of “He,” the Smile Demon’s smile disappeared.

He was always called Smile Demon because he never stopped smiling. It was said that not even at the moment of his death would that smile disappear, but the weight that came with the mention of “He” erased even the slightest trace of a smile from his face.

“…We must do what we came to do.”

“It seems you still have a brain to think with. What a relief.”

“This…”

“Let’s not waste any more time.”

The Smile Demon gave a cruel smile.

“War Demon, you will die in pain. I assure you.”

“Death is death. It doesn’t matter if it’s peaceful or painful.”

The War Demon’s eyes flashed.

“And I’m not afraid of death. If you’re afraid of returning to the Sacred Flame, it’s a sign that you still lack faith. What I fear is displeasing Him and being trapped in a state where we can neither live nor die.”

The Smile Demon nodded.

Although they did not share the same mentality or get along well, the subject of “He” united their hearts.

Fear.

The Bishops of the Demon Cult, who had plunged the world into terror, trembled with fear at the thought of a single person.

“Normally, I wouldn’t say anything no matter what you did. But now it’s different. Smile Demon, focus on your task. If, because of your recklessness, I fail to fulfill His orders, I won’t touch a hair on your head.”

“Shouldn’t you say you’d kill me in such a case?”

“I can’t allow you to escape His punishment by dying. I will take you alive before Him.”

“Damn it.”

The Smile Demon twisted his face.

Although it sounded absurd, it was an effective threat.

At the thought of “He,” the Smile Demon’s whole body trembled.

“Why does the Heavenly Demon want this?”

“We don’t need to know.”

“…”

“What the Heavenly Demon does is the truth itself. There’s no need to question why, just as you don’t question that water flows downwards.”

“I guess so.”

“We’ve delayed enough. Let’s begin.”

The War Demon walked towards the main gate of the Shaolin.

BOOOOM!

“What was that?”

“What’s going on?”

Everyone looked towards the main gate at the roar.

The Shaolin is a huge place.

Although most of the monks had left for the decisive battle against Baekgeom Fortress, they could not leave the temple completely empty. The Shaolin is a temple before it is a martial sect. The monks who study the sutras and receive pilgrims are not involved in the affairs of the martial world.

That’s why they left a minimum number of guardians. Their gazes turned to the main gate.

An old man entered walking through the dust-covered gate. Then, he threw something he was carrying in his hand inside.

Thud!

The Shaolin monks opened their eyes wide at the sight of the round object that fell to the ground.

A head.

The round object was a human head. The decapitated head of the main gate guardian.

“Amitabha!”

“What a cruel act!”

Those who witnessed the horrible scene could not contain their indignation.

Where are we?

In the Shaolin. Exactly, the Shaolin.

Who would dare to invade the Millennial Shaolin and do something like this?

“The Demon Cult!”

Only the Demon Cult would do something like this. And the demonic energy they emanated confirmed it without a doubt.

“Keke. Shaolin monks, long time no see.”

The War Demon slowly turned his head.

“The good ones are gone, and only the waste remains.”

“We knew that before we came.”

At the words of the Smile Demon who followed him, the War Demon nodded.

“I knew it, but it’s a pity. It really is. I thought after so long I would taste the blood of monks.”

“I’m sorry too.”

The War Demon licked his lips.

The martial arts of the Shaolin are strong. Even they recognize it. Especially the techniques specialized in destroying heresies and suppressing demons, which gave a clear advantage against the followers of the Demon Cult.

But that wasn’t all.

The Shaolin is feared because it is not afraid of death. Like the Demon Cult, the Shaolin does not believe that death leads to total annihilation.

Isn’t the Buddhist teaching that by sacrificing this life, a new one is gained?

Those who fight without fear are always strong. That’s why the Shaolin has always been strong.

“What are you doing?!”

An elderly monk dressed in a yellow robe suddenly appeared.

“Ohhh?”

“How dare you cause disturbances at the gates of the Shaolin?”

“Who are you?”

At the War Demon’s cold question, the monk pursed his lips. There was no need to answer such an absurd question, but at that moment what worried him was something else.

This is not normal.

All followers of the Demon Cult are cause for caution. But among them, those old men did not seem ordinary.

The demonic energy emanating from them closed his throat. If this was the level they normally showed, he could not imagine the terror they would unleash if they decided to use their demonic arts in earnest.

If he could not measure the enemy’s power, he had to buy time.

“This humble monk is Gong Ryeong.”

“Gong Ryeong… How long has it been. That someone like you is in charge now.”

“It makes sense. Those of the older generations must have died.”

“Yes, that’s how it was. I think I killed several myself.”

Gong Ryeong’s eyebrows twitched.

The meaning of his words was too clear.

“Could it be…”

Gong Ryeong swallowed and spoke.

“Are you Bishops?”

“It seems the boy has eyes.”

“It’s a good time to die. It’s much better than dying old and decaying.”

Gong Ryeong closed his eyes tightly.

Bishops. Two of them.

If those guys had come together, the fate of the Shaolin was obvious. Even with all the arhats led by the abbot, they could not guarantee victory. How could the Shaolin, now empty, face them?

“I must save at least the student monks.”

The same applied to the novice monks.

“May I ask the reason for your visit?”

“Don’t waste time with nonsense.”

The War Demon spoke coldly.

“Your cheap tactics are obvious. And there’s no need for that. We came to make a deal.”

“A deal?”

“Yes. Open the Sutra Hall. Half an hour is enough. If you let us in, we won’t hurt anyone and we’ll leave.”

Gong Ryeong’s face hardened.

“The Sutra Hall?”

What was there for them to ask for it to be opened?

“Open the Sutra Hall to save everyone?”

It wasn’t a bad offer. Of course, there were the treasures of the Shaolin. From the Muscle and Tendon Change Classic to the Seventy-Two Unique Arts, all the secret manuals were kept in the Sutra Hall.

Opening that place to demons was unthinkable.

But after all, they were just objects.

What importance did those manuals have compared to human lives?

After much thought, Gong Ryeong made a decision and spoke.

“I can’t do that.”

“…You can’t?”

Gong Ryeong nodded.

“If you are followers of the Demon Cult, your intentions are obvious. I could tolerate the essence of the Shaolin being corrupted, but I cannot help you stain the world with blood.”

“Ah, yes?”

The War Demon smiled slightly.

“I expected you to say that. After so long, I will taste the blood of monks.”

The War Demon charged without another word.

**Conditions Met:**

* All names have been preserved.
* Terms like ‘Espada del Héroe Justo’ have been translated according to your list.
* Instances of “holgazan” have been replaced with “Lazy”.

**Character Considerations:**

*I tried to keep the translation as accurate as possible while maintaining a natural flow in English.*