Chapter 020
The boy had been ordinary.
A child who would have lived a life unconnected to martial arts if only the Japanese pirates hadn't raided his hometown.
But now his home had been reduced to ashes.
The woman who had just arrived to eliminate the pirates painfully noticed the bodies of the child's parents abandoned in front of what remained of their home—nothing but charred ruins.
She was too late.
Despite her haste, she had arrived too late.
"Such a tragedy…"
By the time she received the request and reached this place, the Japanese pirates had already swept through. Nothing remained but ashes and corpses.
During her search of the village, she found the child frozen like a statue in front of his parents' bodies.
"I'm sorry, child."
Ban Yuran knelt down and wrapped her hands around the stiffened shoulders of the child.
She couldn't save them.
If she had hurried just a bit more, dozens of lives could have been saved.
The thought weighed heavily on her heart.
"I came too late."
Self-reproach filled her words.
Dozens of lives had vanished like morning dew.
How great must be the shock of the child left alone in this place?
Drip.
The sky, which had been clear until just moments ago, had somehow darkened. Raindrops tapped against the back of Ban Yuran's hand.
"Let's send them off now."
"Send… off?"
The child's mouth opened for the first time.
The raindrops falling steadily seemed to pool in the child's eyes, then stream down his cheeks.
The eyes that turned to look at Ban Yuran were filled with cold resentment.
The rain flowing down the child's cheeks carried emotions he couldn't fully express.
Eyes full of resentment that couldn't be released.
'…If only you had come a little, just a little sooner…!'
Ban Yuran didn't avoid the eyes that spoke those words.
She had met far too many people with such eyes.
Perhaps it was the fate of a wandering warrior drifting through the world like duckweed.
Even when she came to help, facing those who blamed her was a familiar experience.
If the rescue had been completely impossible, perhaps they would have understood.
But when rescue came too late, the arrows of resentment inevitably pointed not at the enemy, but at those who came to save them.
A faint hope.
When that hope turned to despair, the arrows were aimed not at the enemy but at those who came to rescue them.
"What couldn't be saved couldn't be saved, but those who can be saved must be saved. If we stay here, the pirates might return."
And so.
Ban Yuran could remain composed.
The dead cannot be brought back.
They cannot be revived.
Even with unorthodox arts, this remains true.
The dead are dead.
The living are living.
Such was the law established by the Heavenly Emperor.
"Let's send them off now."
The rain poured down heavily, beating against their shoulders and soaking their bodies.
In that downpour, the child bent over and silently released his tears.
The child's reluctance to accept his parents' death was heartbreaking.
Ban Yuran struck the empty ground with her palm.
A muffled boom buried in the downpour.
She placed the parents' bodies in the depression she had created, deep enough for two corpses to lie side by side.
But the child still couldn't let go of his dead parents' clothes.
"Let's go."
"Where…?"
As the child turned to look at her, Ban Yuran pulled his hands away from his parents' clothes and answered.
"Home."
The eyes of the child who had lost his way trembled.
Could there be a place in this world to replace the home that had vanished?
Eyes that wondered such things.
Ban Yuran took the child's hand.
"Come along now."
...
When writing, one always keeps copies or backups.
It's also the most important habit for a writer.
There's nothing more infuriating than losing your work to a blue screen or similar mishap.
The advice to make saving a habit, whether in Notepad or a word processor, exists for good reason.
Baek Sugyeong hadn't abandoned this habit even after falling into the Central Plains.
Namgung Somin had just finished reading the original manuscript of "Little Immortal's Chivalrous Journey" with Baek Sugyeong's permission.
"So Senior Bang became Ban Yuran, and her disciple is the unnamed child…"
"It's merely a prologue to the story."
Baek Sugyeong took back the original manuscript of "Little Immortal's Chivalrous Journey" from Namgung Somin.
He smiled as he tucked the book into his chest.
"Did you enjoy the writing?"
"It's still just a prologue, so it's too early to discuss its entertainment value."
"That's certainly true. What a piercing comment!"
There was a hint of pleasure in Baek Sugyeong's voice.
Namgung Somin smiled shyly.
The carriage rattled along the main road, leaving the village where they had stayed for four days and heading toward Mount Song.
Baek Sugyeong spoke up.
"Do you know anything about Shaolin?"
"It's famously known as the foremost sect in Murim, and also one of the 'Southern Wudang, Northern Shaolin' famed for its Buddhist methods and Arhat formations."
"Southern Wudang, Northern Shaolin" referred to the saying that in the south, Wudang is revered, while in the north, Shaolin is highly respected.
This indicated the high status both sects held in Murim.
"And the current Shaolin is embroiled in various controversies."
"Controversies?"
"Yes."
After taking a breath to compose herself, Namgung Somin continued.
"Teacher, have you perhaps heard of something called the Bright King Society?"
"…First time hearing of it."
He wasn't joking but completely serious.
He hadn't lived with much interest in Murim affairs.
Baek Sugyeong explained apologetically.
"Even when I was writing 'Wudang Sword Hero,' I was a person trying to live a life unentangled with Murim. I'm not well-versed in Murim politics. My knowledge is limited. Please understand that."
In truth, there were many points one could challenge in his statement.
But Namgung Somin nodded in agreement.
Bringing the conversation back to the original topic, she continued.
"The Bright King Society is one of Shaolin's branch sects, composed of monks who have broken Shaolin's precepts. Teacher, have you ever seen monks with blue precept marks on their foreheads?"
"…I have."
Hearing Namgung Somin's words, he remembered something.
The first Murim practitioners he saw after falling into the Central Plains.
He had assumed they were Shaolin warriors because of the precept marks on their heads, but it seems they were actually warriors of the Bright King Society.
Having a precept mark on one's forehead signified being a disciple of Buddha who had received the precepts.
But if they used blue marks instead of the red cinnabar marks, did that mean they were proudly declaring themselves as precept-breakers?
A slight shadow crossed Baek Sugyeong's forehead.
"Are they proud of being precept-breakers? Is that what the blue marks mean?"
"There's not much known about that… but they've become Shaolin's headache because they commit murder without hesitation, cause trouble, and create public nuisances."
"They're all warrior monks, correct?"
"Yes."
The Shaolin sect is unique.
Because two types of people coexist within one sect.
First, the Dharma-protecting warrior monks who have taken vows to protect the temple.
Most who venture into Murim are from this group.
Their duties include not only protecting Shaolin but also subduing those who disturb the peace of the martial world and bringing them to Shaolin.
Second, the scholarly monks who research Shaolin's Buddhist scriptures, establish regulations, and focus on academic research and repentance.
Going a step further, Shaolin also embraces meditation monks who focus on attaining Buddhist enlightenment through meditation.
According to martial arts novel clichés, the abbot of Shaolin was usually both a meditation monk and a warrior monk.
Sometimes the abbot might be a scholarly monk with little connection to martial arts, but this was rare.
Baek Sugyeong asked.
"I wonder if there's friction between the warrior monks and scholarly monks. That's what comes to mind. What do you think, Lady Namgung?"
"I understand it's an internal Shaolin matter rarely discussed outside."
"Martial arts and scholarship are inseparable characters."
Namgung Somin gave a bitter smile at Baek Sugyeong's words.
"Martial arts is learning, and learning is application."
This was an unavoidable saying when discussing martial arts in Murim.
It was even mentioned in "Wudang Sword Hero."
"You're referring to 'martial arts is learning, and learning is application'?"
"Yes. That's shortened to 'martial learning.' Isn't there a golden saying that there's no end to the path of martial arts?"
Thus they say "the sea of martial arts is limitless."
The sea of martial arts is so deep that even with endless training, its depths are difficult to fathom.
This is another cliché often used in martial arts novels.
Baek Sugyeong said.
"Friction between warrior monks and scholarly monks… so the Bright King Society consists of those who rebelled against Shaolin's current regulations and left the mountain?"
"More precisely, they're the type who fled because they found Shaolin's regulations stifling. But since they're masters who have learned Shaolin's profound techniques…"
"Have you crossed hands with the masters of the Bright King Society, Lady Namgung?"
Namgung Somin showed an affirmative expression.
She too was a martial artist.
Naturally, she wasn't one to avoid fights with strong opponents.
Her nickname "Fighting Fairy" behind her title "Jade Sword Flower" represented this aspect of her character.
"How do they compare to Shaolin's masters?"
"They're comparable. It's difficult to determine superiority. No matter how much talent has leaked from the Dharma-protecting warrior monks, Shaolin is still Shaolin."
There are two mountains in the martial world.
One is Mount Song, high and lofty.
The other is Mount Wudang, where those who practice martial arts rightfully gather.
No matter how many people or techniques Shaolin has lost.
The shadow of Mount Song, where Shaolin resides, doesn't even show the slightest movement.
"Shaolin is still Shaolin."
"Just as one cannot casually take Wudang's sword, taking Shaolin's martial arts doesn't mean one can take its spirit… That's what people say."
"How does Lady Namgung see it?"
"Trying to carve down a thousand-year-old boulder with a small chisel is foolish."
Though a metaphor, her meaning was clear.
Even if the Bright King Society rises and tries to oppose Shaolin.
It would take a very long time to challenge Shaolin, which has preserved its history and traditions for so long.
Baek Sugyeong nodded.
"The issue is the internal friction within Shaolin."
"Indeed."
This is getting complicated in a strange way.
Baek Sugyeong rubbed his forehead.
He felt a strong sense of unease, as if things were going to get oddly tangled.
'…Could he focus on his writing?'
With such thoughts strongly in mind, Baek Sugyeong looked up at the increasingly close Mount Song.
Shaolin was right ahead.
...
"Sugyeong? Baek Sugyeong has left Xuchang and is coming to Mount Song?"
"Yes, Chairman!"
"Why are you only telling me this important fact now?!"
A man with a massive build like a great mountain.
His skin was as black as if he wore armor made of black iron all over his body.
The man with a striking blue precept mark on his black skin had a completely shaved head that shone like a bald mountain.
This was Gal Yeom, the Black Maitreya, chairman of the Bright King Society.
"You were the one who said not to mention a single word about that book to anyone, Chairman."
The man correcting the mistake with a cool voice also had a blue precept mark on his forehead.
"Military Commissioner!"
"Getting angry at me won't change the facts, Chairman."
"Ugh."
Gal Yeom groaned and sat down heavily in his chair.
A slight shadow fell across his forehead.
"But isn't this an opportunity? It's none other than Master Sugyeong. The man who stripped away Wudang's spirit of salt-free martial arts."
"You said you weren't interested in the book until recently, but you've been reading it secretly, I see."
"Ahem."
He tried clearing his throat with a solemn face, but it was futile.
The young monk with pale skin looked at Gal Yeom with sharp eyes and said.
"So, what do you want to do when you meet Baek Sugyeong?"
"What else? Something like an image improvement project."
"An image improvement project…"
A subtle emotion appeared on the face of the young monk, Baekri Sa.
"You've finally decided to do that, Chairman?"
"Ahem, It's a fact that our society's membership has been decreasing."
Baekri Sa gave a bitter smile as he watched the chairman bring up such a serious issue with a solemn face and nonchalance.
Gal Yeom said.
"Besides, we can't stay at odds with Shaolin forever."
"Especially considering that our society's roots are in Shaolin."
"That's why I'd like to meet Master Sugyeong."
"Are you thinking of asking him to build a bridge for us?"
Gal Yeom nodded.
"Didn't Master Sugyeong publicly declare in Xuchang that the protagonist of his next work would be Shaolin?"
He had never actually declared such a thing.
Somehow, words Baek Sugyeong had blurted out in anger had become his public declaration.
If Baek Sugyeong knew this, he would have grabbed the back of his neck in frustration.
Gal Yeom smiled slyly.
"Wouldn't it be good for us to improve our society's image and renew our relationship with Shaolin?"
"Then I'll find out how long Master Sugyeong will be staying at Shaolin."
Baekri Sa's eyes flashed with light.
And so, unknown to Baek Sugyeong, others were reaching out toward him.
---
📚 Author's Note:
Big thanks to Ilaube for the 2 shiny Power Stones!
🐧