Mountain Entrance Examination (4)

"Hehehe. Ah, it seems you are naturally inclined towards our side."

With a sinister smile that received more than mere consent from the audience, Hyu Gwan spoke to Mu Gyeong. However, Mu Gyeong was not really registering his words at the moment.

With the sudden halt in the sparring match, Mu Gyeong's excitement had subsided. It was now that he realized that hundreds of senior monks were watching him and amidst it all, he had displayed madness.

It was truly a spectacle of madness.

"Hehehe..."

Returning to his senses, Mu Gyeong made a strange noise, bowed his head deeply, and shuddered, not daring to look at anyone else.

"Hahaha."

Watching Mu Gyeong's behavior, Hyu Gwan burst into laughter.

"This is something. In living, I've encountered someone even crazier than myself."

A person who would fight fiercely and unleash madness against opponents during a fight, but be terrified of making eye contact with people when he returned to his senses. Hyu Gwan, including himself, knew many crazy individuals within the Destroyer of Demons Division, but never before had he seen such extremes of madness.

"It seems there's even more fun in nurturing you. Hehehe. I'm looking forward to it."

Saying so to Mu Gyeong, Hyu Gwan, as if he had lost interest in the mountain entrance examination, disappeared beyond the walls of the Arhat Pavilion.

---

For a moment, there was confusion due to the events involving Hyu Gwan and Mu Gyeong during the mountain entrance examination. However, perhaps because most of the monks were deeply cultivated, the confusion quickly subsided, and the examination resumed shortly after.

And as most of the novice disciples completed their examinations,

"Hmm. In terms of talent alone, it seems that Mu Gyeong, who has become Hyu Gwan's disciple, stands out the most. Arhat Palm."

Hyun Chun Daesa, who had observed the examinations of nearly forty children, said with a satisfied expression.

All the children who had taken the examination so far had passed and were selected as the three disciples of Shaolin. Since Hyun Chun entered Shaolin, there had never been such a record-breaking year.

It was truly the best cohort ever, and among them, Mu Gyeong's talent was exceptional.

If Hyu Gwan could just handle his madness well, Mu Gyeong would grow into a significant pillar of Shaolin, thought Hyun Chun Daesa.

However, why?

In response to Hyun Chun Daesa's words, Hyun Sung replied with a strange expression.

"Indeed, Mu Gyeong's talent is truly remarkable. However, if someone were to ask who the best disciple of this cohort is, I would choose that child without hesitation. Abbot Sahyung."

As Hyun Sung spoke, his gaze turned to Mu Jin, whose name was finally mentioned, as he walked out to the Yeonmujang.

Following Hyun Sung's gaze to Mu Jin, Hyun Chun Daesa turned to him again and asked.

"Is that child even more exceptional than Mu Gyeong?"

"If you ask whether Mu Jin is more exceptional than Mu Gyeong, it's both true and false, Abbot Sahyung."

"Both true and false..."

"Yes. If we look only at martial arts talent, Mu Gyeong may be superior to Mu Jin. Mu Gyeong is indeed a child with the potential to master Shaolin's martial arts."

Upon hearing Hyun Sung's words, Hyun Chun also nodded his head.

In terms of understanding martial arts alone, it was a reasonable judgment since the madness and killing intent shown by Mu Gyeong had subsided. However, this raised more questions. That a child with such talent as Mu Gyeong's would be surpassed. What kind of statement was that?

"Well, what about this child, Mu Jin?"

"Mu Jin..."

Pausing briefly, Hyun Sung smiled contentedly as he spoke his overall assessment of Mu Jin, whom he had seen for some time.

"He's the child who will advance Shaolin further."

Upon hearing Hyun Sung's response, Hyun Chun turned his head back to look at Mu Jin, who was standing in the center of Yeonmujang.

'A child who will advance Shaolin further...'

Hyun Chun realized a subtle difference in Hyun Sung's words. It was the difference in the subject.

'A child to master "Shaolin" martial arts.'

'A child to advance "Shaolin."'

It was an expression that was similar yet significantly different.

'It's like he's talking about someone else.'

For some reason, the name of a person came to Hyun Chun's mind from that expression.

"Let the examination begin!"

With Hyu Jong's shout, the final mountain entrance examination commenced.

---

The grounds of Shaolin, with grand halls in place.

A young monk was walking between the halls with an elderly monk on his back. It was a scene that might seem common but also quite peculiar. Carrying an elder on one's back was a highly natural act, especially considering the concept of filial piety. However, this was Shaolin Temple, a place where most monks were proficient in martial arts, with few exceptions of those who did not practice. Particularly, the elders of Shaolin, being renowned figures, usually did not need to be carried by anyone.

The elderly monk who was orchestrating this peculiar scene spoke to the young monk carrying him.

"It seems unusually quiet today."

"Everyone seems to be attending today's mountain entrance examination, Master."

"Ah, today is the day of the entrance examination."

"Yes. It is said that as many as forty people are taking the examination this year, so quite a few people have come to watch. Master."

"Hahaha. Shaolin's prosperity is at its peak."

The elderly monk, carried on the disciple's back, let out a shallow groan. After a moment, he caught his breath and spoke again.

"Beogun, as my top disciple, shouldn't you be admitting your own disciple?"

"Will there not be an entrance examination next year as well? I enjoy taking walks like this with you, Master. Hahaha."

Upon Beogun's response, the elderly monk expressed a look of regret, but Beogun couldn't discern the expression behind the elderly monk carried on his back.

The elderly monk knew.

He knew that Beogun had given up attending the entrance examination to take care of him.

Therefore, the elderly monk devised a plan.

"Well then, let's walk to the Hall of Arhats, where the entrance examination is being held."

"But Master..."

In response to the elderly monk's words, this time it was Beogun who wore a worried expression.

"Hahaha. I just want to take a little longer walk for a change. Don't worry, it's been a while since we've walked this far."

To the elderly monk's words, Beogun could only express a resigned expression.

"I will be as careful as possible, Master."

"Hahaha. You always suffer because of me."

"What are you saying, Master? No one in Shaolin would blame you for any request you make, Master."

Responding in this way, Beogun carefully moved his steps to avoid shocking the elderly monk carried on his back.

Being cautious in his movements meant that he could only move slowly, and it took them some time to reach the Hall of Arhats.

Beogun's expression couldn't help but turn melancholic at the shallow groans coming from the elderly monk on his back.

Then, the elderly monk carried on Beogun's back took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

"Hoo. Shouldn't we go a little further in?"

"I think this spot will be sufficient, Master."

"Wouldn't it be difficult to properly observe the sparring from here?"

"Hahaha. As your junior disciple is still inadequate, I'm not sure if selecting a proper disciple is possible even if we observe closely. So, why not let you decide after seeing it, Master?"

Beogun judged that it would be unreasonable to go further to accommodate the elderly monk, who seemed to have reached his limit. And indeed, the elderly monk carried on his back could see enough of the sparring from a higher position, more than enough for him to observe.

From that perspective, even though his internal energy had declined and his body had aged, the elderly monk was at a level that Beogun dared not to follow.

However, fortunate or unfortunate, by the time they arrived at the sparring area, the entrance examination was almost over.

As they arrived, Mu Jin, the last candidate for the examination, was advancing towards the sparring area.

"Ho."

Unintentionally, a sigh of admiration escaped from the elderly monk being carried on Beogun's back as he watched Mu Jin's steps.

"At such a young age, to have such perfect balance."

Once known as the top master of Shaolin until an incident caused him to lose his martial arts, the elderly monk could discern that Mu Jin's physique was quite exceptional just by watching his steps.

At that moment, Hyu Jong's resounding shout announced the start of the sparring.

"Begin!"

With Hyu Jong's shout, Mu Jin charged straight towards the top disciple.

With the addition of the leg strength cultivated through the Nine Palace Step, Mu Jin's attack was explosive.

However, the top disciple remained unfazed, calmly trying to read Mu Jin's movements.

To deceive the top disciple's gaze, Mu Jin used a small movement as he had been taught by Mu Gung, then unleashed Chain-Linked Fist and Heart-Mind Fist simultaneously.

Chain-Linked Fist and Heart-Mind Fist in a split second.

It was the most basic strike learned upon entering Shaolin Temple.

Therefore, the essence of Heart-Mind Fist was very simple. It was just a matter of sending Qi to the opponent's acupoint in the correct order.

However, the elderly monk observing the sparring let out a groan as Mu Jin unleashed Heart-Mind Fist.

"Absurd…"

The elderly monk's Qi gathering was disrupted to the point that he could not gather internal energy, but he did not lose the sense of Qi flow.

Having already reached a high level in the past, the elderly monk could read the determination behind Mu Jin's fist.

'Combining the essence of Nine Palace Step and Autumn Wind Step from the Nine Palace Step, starting from the legs to maximize the flow of power, utilizing the essence of Shaohong Fist to strengthen the body's center and withstand its power, or rather, amplify it. And finally, amplifying it once again with the essence of Shaohong Fist in a split second from the shoulders.'

It was just a simple exchange of techniques on the surface, but within it, various introductory martial arts were intricately mixed together. And simultaneously, those diverse techniques unfolded, merging into one.

Bang!!!

Something mighty enough to shatter rocks was completed.

"Ugh."

Unintentionally, a groan escaped from the top disciple who blocked Mu Jin's strike. It was instinctive. After all, Mu Jin was just an introductory disciple. Naturally, the top disciple had only intended to use about five years of skill to face Mu Jin. But Mu Jin's charging speed and the intimidating feeling of his punch, even considering the Chain-Linked Fist, were daunting. And yet, despite bringing forth ten years of skill, this was the result.

Although bones weren't broken, his forearm throbbed with pain as he repelled Mu Jin's strike, finding himself pushed back about a foot. And then, as he was pushed back, Mu Jin's second fist came flying towards him.

Already having been pushed back once by the force of the previous strike, he urgently twisted his torso to evade it, but the second punch was a feint. Anticipating the top disciple's movement, Mu Jin's fist, aimed at his shoulder, changed trajectory.

Sensing Mu Jin's hand flying towards his shoulder, the top disciple also increased his skill to meet it with a technique called Guan Yin's Hand, but...

"What kind of strength is this!?"

The sensation of his fingers clashing against Mu Jin's, tingling through his bones, conveyed the overwhelming force. In the end, he had no choice but to increase his skill even further.

Initially intending to match the opponent's level, he ended up bringing forth fifteen years of skill, only then achieving parity with Mu Jin.

"Did you take some miraculous potion before entering Shaolin?"

Naturally, such a question arose in his mind, but for Mu Jin, it was an absurd misunderstanding.

"If such a convenient thing existed, wouldn't that be great?"

Having answered the opponent's question appropriately, Mu Jin suddenly released their intertwined fingers and delivered a swift kick.

Barely evading the kick with the technique called Cheolpan Bridge, cold sweat trickled down the top disciple's forehead. It was because of the formidable strength emitted from Mu Jin's kick that passed by his face.

"He's not an opponent I can go easy on!"

Although they had only exchanged a few moves, the top disciple had already made a judgment. Normally, during the entrance examination, it was common to use about five years of skill to assess the level of the opponent. But if he held back against this kid, he would be overwhelmed by force, broken both physically and mentally.

Like an introductory disciple, he used basic martial arts but decided to increase his skill a bit more.

Kwang!!

As Mu Jin's fist collided with the top disciple's forearm, a refreshing sound reminiscent of the clash of hammers echoed out. In fact, Mu Jin hadn't just relied on a potion; thanks to his diligent training, he had accumulated internal energy much faster than other introductory disciples. Due to his efforts over the past year, he had reached the stage of cultivation known as Bulsim Gong after mastering the Ban Ya Sim Gong following Bul Sim Gong.

However, even with these efforts, he had only amassed internal energy similar to that of a kid from the Wu family. Nevertheless, the elderly monk could easily deduce why Mu Jin could generate such formidable strength.

"Sigh... with just my level of experience, I couldn't generate that kind of power."

Fist, palm, leg, finger, step. If we exclude the Chain-Linked Fist, that child has at most mastered only one martial art."

"Among them, Fist Techniques, Foot Techniques, and Step Techniques were the introductory martial arts, Shaohong Fist, Autumn Wind Step, and Nine Palace Stance."

"In the end, among the basic martial arts, there were only three: Arhat Palm, Guanyin Hand, and Stone-Crushing Finger."

"Although it may seem like an unremarkable number."

 He had learned the basics of each, combining them to create something new.

Just as the first strike with the Chain-Linked Fist had been, although it looked the same, all six martial arts were completely different. Or more precisely, they had merged into one new martial art.

Instead of following the given path, this kid was creating a new path based on what he knew. It was truly the path of a great master.

"Is that young boy already walking that path...?"

A groan escaped from the elderly monk as he watched the sparring, almost as if he were seeing his past self.