NOVEL NEXT Chapter 644
“Shaolin isn’t looking so hot…”
Shaolin Leader, Jagwang Seung, muttered under his breath.
During the Spring Festival, the Shaolin Temple is open to tourists for a week.
During big events, various crimes inevitably occur, from public urination to pickpocketing, robbery, fights, sexual crimes, and drug trafficking.
That’s why the Shaolin Temple assigns monks to every area to enforce strict rules and often throws criminals into the detention cells.
But this year has crossed the line by a long shot.
On the third day of the festival, there’s no room left in the detention cells.
“Give me back my money, you frauds!”
“After scamming the public, you still want to hold a festival? You all will fall into hell!”
People were ranting as if they could break the iron bars.
One had damaged a top and the other waved a bottle at the young three great disciples.
One person had their head split open and was rushed to the hospital, reportedly needing twenty stitches.
‘What could possibly be wrong with kids…’
Thud-thud-thud-thud—
Faced with this painful reality, Jagwang Seung struck the wooden fish.
These people had even given up seeing their families for the Spring Festival.
No, they probably stopped by Shaolin because they couldn’t even show their faces to their families.
Even at this moment, outside Shaolin, many people with nothing left to lose were spread out everywhere.
Their anger boiling over, they wept as if mad.
“Arrest warrants?”
“Fortunately, they were dismissed, Leader.”
“They should at least have some shame.”
The Chinese prosecution had identified Jagwang Seung as the ringleader of a large-scale accounting fraud and had applied for an arrest warrant.
However, as the leader of Shaolin, he was under public scrutiny and criticism.
Considering this, the court determined that concerns about evidence tampering were not enough grounds for an arrest.
“Let’s temporarily use the Discipline Institute and the Repentance Cave. Together, they can accommodate at least 300 people.”
“Yes, Leader.”
“Amitabha. Amitabha.”
With a troubled heart, Jagwang Seung chanted as he left the detention center.
Evil begets evil, after all.
Most tourists were enjoying the Spring Festival festival without any problems.
“Leader!”
A Shaolin elder rushed towards Jagwang who had just exited the leader’s room.
Jagwang Seung, known as the best-looking monk in Shaolin.
It was rare to find someone in China’s 1.5 billion population who didn’t know him, and he was the one who started the trend of Shaolin Coffee.
Even past the age of forty, his appearance shone as much as his smooth head.
“What brings you here, Yeondam Seung? What happened to the martial arts festival’s closing ceremony?”
“It was finished early because it’s supposed to hail tonight. But is it true?”
“What is?”
“That the Securities Regulatory Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation are combing through Shaolin like a hawk.”
“Well, there’s nothing we can do since the government has decided to investigate. We all have to suffer for the next three months.”
“Many people depend on Shaolin for their livelihood. We need to take action quickly—”
“Action? What kind of action? Did we cause this mess?”
Jagwang’s eyes gleamed ominously.
Yeondam flinched in reflex.
Then he looked at Yeondam again with a disinterested gaze.
“It’s all because of NoName Wizard’s triggered short-selling, isn’t it?”
“W-Well, that’s true…”
The panic sell is ongoing.
Had it been just NoName, the millennium Shaolin wouldn’t be in such a state of worry.
That’s why Jagwang couldn’t understand it.
What credibility could a ten-year-old girl’s words possibly have that the public is in such an uproar?
The world is going mad.
“Combined, a total of 30 billion yuan (5 trillion won) has evaporated. Those companies were listed with great difficulty, despite opposition from the elders.”
“Ugh… What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Shaolin Coffee is still hanging in there, but… signs of a boycott are beginning to emerge for other areas. Furthermore, the construction side is facing a stream of contract cancellations. For now, the issue that NoName Wizard is raising is not about Shaolin as a whole but concerning Shaolin Energy, so how about we seek cooperation from them to recover our image?”
“You want us to ask NoName Wizard for help?”
“As a temporary measure—”
“Yeondam, then you can be in charge of that.”
“Wha—?”
“Try giving some of Buddha’s mercy to this Pasoon (波旬) who is taking away Shaolin’s future.”
Jagwang coldly retorted.
If you want to persuade NoName, you should just leave for Korea right now.
‘Shouldn’t it be NoName who should be showing mercy instead…’
In that moment, Yeondam’s face became stiff.
*
[Then we’ll see each other on Monday! Let me know how many tickets you need!]
I was meeting with my academy friends and was deep in thought.
‘I’m fine without it for now. But what about Luri?’
We had our hot pot, shopped for 30 minutes at the design mall, and enjoyed capsule vending before parting ways.
And now, Luri had a white horned rabbit plushie in her arms.
Swoosh-swoosh—
On the way home, Luri occasionally flapped her collar forward.
At first glance, it looked like she was just cooling off.
“Are you hot? Do you want me to carry your padding?”
“No, I’m not hot. It’s actually a bit cold.”
“Oh, okay.”
I pondered several times if I should say this.
We had become family now, but it’s not something families talk about very often.
Besides, Luri was someone I’d known for ten years in a superior-subordinate relationship.
You could say our relationship was similar to that of Cao Cao and Guan Yu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
You can care for a subordinate more than your own family.
Yet, work life shouldn’t seep into the private realm.
But now we are family, so I decided to muster my courage.
“Does it, um, feel tingly or hurt there?”
At my words, Luri’s eyebrows shot up to the sky.
“Ah! Uh… Ugh… It’s a bit uncomfortable, but it’s definitely not enough to interfere with my daily life. It’s a symptom I’ve experienced a few times before, and I’m really sorry for making you worry.”
Luri rapid-fired in Imperial Language.
“Not that. I just wanted to tell you about the good underwear that even children can wear these days. Wait, I’ll search for it on the Internet and show you.”
“Huh? Okay.”
I had heard there were linen bras in certain regions even in the medieval era, but they couldn’t hold a candle to modern ones.
“This is called a junior bra. If you wear it, it should definitely be less uncomfortable than before.”
When Luri gave me a judging look, I hurriedly found something else to show her.
“If it’s too awkward, there are also ones shaped like this as a tank top.”
“What’s more comfortable?”
“If you’re fine with it, the first one is better. Besides, you’ll eventually have to wear it like this anyway.”
“I’ll go with this one.”
“Really? Okay. I’ll order this then. For the color… Here, you choose.”
I handed my phone to Luri and sped ahead.
So awkward…!
If only I were discussing this with Saetbyeol or Yuna, I wouldn’t feel this way at all.
Both are cute younger sisters who are much younger than me.
But thinking back to the time during the Demon Alliance.
When Luri and I faced the Britannia Guardians in a strategy showdown at Arangkaden Mountain, it was hard to believe I was now talking about junior bras.
“I’ve picked everything.”
“Good. We’re going to the Water Park on Monday, so let’s choose our swimsuits in advance… Is this color okay?”
“Yes. Is there a problem, Unni?”
The basket was entirely filled with black bras like a proper Black Dragon.
“Uh, no problem at all.”
I should buy something in a non-transparent color later.
“Children in this world seem so blessed. They even make special underwear for kids. Moreover, it doesn’t show at all when worn. I didn’t expect you to wear it, Unni.”
“I’m not wearing it.”
“Why not? Ah, I completely understand now.”
Luri nodded reflexively.
Isn’t it better to not wear it right away? So why does this feel off?
Maybe it was Luri’s awkward Korean mixed in, but her tone felt especially irritating today.
*
At Water Haven, the top-ranked water park for domestic visitors.
Although it’s built in a mountain valley in Gangwon-do, reputations aren’t built overnight.
“Wow… Did you see, Na-me? This place is huge!”
“Hey! Did you have a good New Year?”
“This is the indoor pool, and this is the lazy river. Where are the slides? Let’s try all of them!”
As soon as we parked, Seo Yu-na ran over, recognizing our car.
Wearing sandals in this winter, she was already bubbling with excitement.
“Hello, Eomeoni. Thank you for bringing Yuna here all the way.”
“Na-me! So good to see you! Have you been well? You’ve grown so much, and you’re becoming more of a lady!”
“Really? Eomeoni, you look much younger too!”
“Oh, don’t mention it. Every time I eat rice cake soup, more wrinkles appear. Maru! No-eul! Why are you both dawdling? Your boss who’s giving you money is here!”
With both hands loaded with items, Seo Maru and Seo No-eul came out.
“Why is Maru Oppa here? Aren’t you supposed to edit the vlog later?”
“Wow, look at you trying to make me work already! That’s why I brought my laptop! Ta-da!”
“Yo, how are you doing, little Wizard?”
“Hello, No-eul Oppa. You’ve grown taller again. Just give me 50cm from your height.”
“Whoa, not 5cm but 50cm? NoName’s got no conscience, just like Seo Yu-na!”
Thwack!
Eomeoni’s slap on Seo No-eul landed perfectly.
“Hey you! There’s a difference between what you can say to your team owner and what you can’t!”
“Ow! That hurts! Technically, I’m not the owner yet, I’m just a sponsor!”
“Did you win yesterday’s match?”
“No way… I scored 26 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals in the game of my life, and you missed it? I’ll show you Janjeol’s highlights at the water park later.”
“Do whatever you want.”
Seo No-eul has been playing in the Korean Pro Basketball D-League, sponsored by Janjeol, since September last year.
Even after entering university, he continued to grow and is now reaching 196cm.
Had he learned basketball a bit earlier and more systematically, he could have aimed for the first league.
“Hello, Na-me’s Father!”
“Yes, hello.”
“You must always be working hard. I heard Na-me recently took off to China?”
“Don’t even mention it. Everything went dark before my eyes.”
While the parents were chatting, I went up to Cheon Saetbyeol, who appeared to be a bit isolated.
“Saetbyeol, what’s up?”
Saetbyeol, who should be excited, was unexpectedly quiet.
It couldn’t be because she couldn’t snorkel at the water park.
She was leaning against a pillar, engrossed in her phone.
“Hmmm, they should be here soon.”
“Who?”
“Maybe that car? No, is it that one? Oh!”
Saetbyeol’s expression brightened as three girls came running off the shuttle bus, buzzing with excitement.
“Saetbyeol!”
“Da-hee! Min-seo! Yul-hee! You came to rescue me!”
“I got caught too!”
Waaaaah! The butterfly is such a goddess today!
“?”
With otherworldly energy, they pulled all the attention from the parking lot.
Passersby recognized Adella exclaiming, “Wow, isn’t she the one with silver hair?”
Once the tearful reunion was over, Saetbyeol announced:
“These are my high school friends.”
“Ah, I thought they looked familiar. Nice to meet you!”
“How is Na-me so cute! So small and precious…!”
“Saetbyeol, I think I could die today without regrets.”
“Then go ahead and die.”
“How could you say something so adorable!”
Clap-clap—
Saetbyeol’s two claps caught everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Finally, we have the long-awaited debut of Na-me Unni’s dress swimsuit!”
“Wowwww!”
“I’m not playing with you guys. Yuna, let’s hurry inside.”
“Don’t miss it! Chase after them!”
“Ugh, are you pulling all my friends in for this?”
Because of Saetbyeol, my days were starting to feel mortifying.