Chapter 543
“I’ve been sipping tea with Dokgo Seong.”
Honestly, I’ve only come to this temple to catch a quick nap or wash up near the waterfall, never really had a proper rest.
Dokgo Seong claims our tea today must be made from a fine blend, as its delightful aroma certainly clears the mind.
He then said, “I actually expected you to reach the Sword Demon Realm. Your martial arts skills are no joke, so I figured you’d grasp it eventually; just took a bit longer, that’s all…”
I replied, “Well, I’m satisfied since I got it in the end.”
He cleared his throat. “For now, savor the tea. This is a premium tea brewed only in the Dragon King’s Valley.”
And sure enough, the tea was delicious. It had a slightly bitter taste, but that’s how you appreciate tea, right? So I sipped happily.
A serene moment passed as we enjoyed the silence over our tea, and then Dokgo Seong opened his mouth again.
“When you reach the Sword Demon Realm, I promised to tell you about Master Ha Taek.”
“That’s right,” I nodded.
“Honestly, it might not even be that significant, but do you want to hear it?”
I nodded eagerly. “I want to hear it.”
“Heh. Well, sitting alone in these mountains for decades makes me want to brag about what I learned to anyone who’ll listen.”
With a self-deprecating laugh, Dokgo Seong used Void Object Manipulation to pull a dusty old book from the shelf. It looked ancient, with its cover nearly falling apart.
He pointed at the title. “It’s called ‘Bodhi’.”
“Oh, I see,” I said, remembering my studies.
“Do you know what ‘Bodhi’ means?”
Thinking for a moment, I recalled my school days. “I believe it refers to the enlightenment achieved through Buddhist practice.”
“That’s right. There used to be a tree called the Bodhi tree, closely linked to Buddha, and over time, ‘Bodhi’ came to symbolize enlightenment itself.”
“Is this book also a sutra?”
“I thought so too,” said Dokgo Seong, looking puzzled.
“You ‘thought so’?” I raised an eyebrow.
“This book can actually be seen as an essay containing the thoughts of Master Ha Taek during his later years while hiding out here in Dragon King’s Valley. So it can’t quite be classified as a sutra.”
“Hmm… But isn’t anything written by a high monk considered a sutra?”
“Ha Taek was well-known but didn’t possess high moral virtue. There’s a specific reason I call this a mere essay instead of a sutra.”
He paused for a moment before continuing. “There’s an ancient tale in Buddhism. When the Fifth Patriarch Hongren passed on his robe and bowl to Shinsū, they say there was a rivalry between Shinsū and Hye-nung. Shinsū’s teachings later became the foundation for the teaching sect, while Hye-nung, as you’re aware, is one of the figures in Zen Buddhism.”
“Certainly.”
“At that time, a skilled monk, Shinsū, gave this interpretation of ‘Bodhi’.”
Dokgo Seong concentrated and slowly wrote on the stone floor with his finger.
“The body is the Bodhi Tree, the heart is like a bright mirror platform; constantly moving to dust off, do not let it bring in dust.”
“That was Shinsū’s interpretation.”
He then began writing something else right next to it.
“Bodhi originally has no tree, the bright mirror is also not a platform. Originally there’s nothing at all; where would the dust arise?”
“This was Hye-nung’s interpretation.”
“……”
I scrutinized the two verses. There was definitely a distinction between them, highlighting the difference in perspectives regarding ‘enlightenment’ between the teaching sect and Zen Buddhism.
Although I hadn’t studied the Buddhist scriptures in depth, I could gather a general understanding. Curiosity bubbled up, prompting me to ask Dokgo Seong.
“Um… Is there a problem with these interpretations?”
“As I mentioned before, Master Ha Taek was originally a disciple of Shinsū, but he changed sides to become a disciple of Hye-nung. Many believe he was more attracted to the teachings of Zen, but…”
Dokgo Seong smiled bitterly. “According to the essay, he was a vulgar man masquerading as a monk. He tried to profit from the ambiguous teachings of Zen. In fact, Master Ha Taek used his reputation as a high monk to engage in all sorts of wrongdoing and ended up becoming a wealthy man with a fortune so vast he amassed over five hundred golden guan.”
“……”
“Being a late essay, it serves as a record, so it can’t be dismissed as a lie.”
He muttered that before pausing momentarily. Then he continued, “Yet, despite accumulating such wealth and fame, Master Ha Taek ultimately retreated to this remote Dragon King’s Valley, building a small temple to live out his days.”
“That’s strange.”
“Right. Originally, he planned to use his wealth to maintain a double life and enjoy luxury close to Chang’an.”
“So he had a reason to end up hiding in the Dragon King’s Valley?”
Dokgo Seong nodded. “Because of his master, the Sixth Patriarch Hye-nung.”
“……?”
I felt puzzled, pondering the implications. After a moment, I speculated aloud. “Was the Sixth Patriarch Hye-nung actually a legendary martial arts master? Since Dharma is the founding ancestor of the White Lotus Sect, Hye-nung, who is a descendant of Dharma, must have been formidable too…”
“Surely not. Hye-nung wasn’t a martial artist like us.”
“Then was he a sorcerer skilled in Buddhist techniques?”
“Not that either. A monk simply seeks to learn the Dharma, and they don’t feel the need to build martial skills like us. Much less a great monk known as the Sixth Patriarch…”
He dismissed my notion and continued, “The Sixth Patriarch Hye-nung spent his last days teaching disciples and spreading enlightenment on Jokesan Mountain. His words became revered under the sutra titled ‘Dan-Gyeong’. However, the closest observer, Master Ha Taek, ended up feeling fear and fled.”
“……?”
I was astounded and asked hesitantly, “Did I misunderstand? Fear?”
“Indeed.”
“Why would such a fake monk fear a mere monk with no martial skills or sorcery?”
“Because Master Ha Taek harbored doubts about this interpretation of ‘Bodhi’ from the very start, and those doubts grew into conviction.”
Pointing to the Bodhi interpretation on the ground, Dokgo Seong spoke darkly. “Master Ha Taek claimed he had witnessed Hye-nung writing the Bodhi explanation on the wall with his own eyes. It was said to be a private moment between just the two of them. At that time, an aura of inhuman darkness radiated from Hye-nung.”
“……”
Darkness! The hair on the back of my neck stood up at the thought of that word. Dokgo Seong, either noticing my reaction or oblivious, excitedly continued, “I suppose no one realized it, but for Master Ha Taek, who had lived in the shadows, that shouldn’t have been unusual. While he had intended to take advantage of Hye-nung, he felt an increasingly alien sensation.”
“An alien sensation…?”
Something clicked in my mind, prompting me to listen closely. Dokgo Seong glanced at the Bodhi interpretation and then said, “In Master Ha Taek’s writing, he speculated that Hongren, the Fifth Patriarch, was of the same kind as Hye-nung. After all, only Hongren himself, who paid no attention to Shinsū’s flawless interpretation, could understand Hye-nung’s writings.”
“Understanding…”
“In any case, he started hiding his anxiety and engaged in vile deeds. Then one day, while observing Hye-nung’s teachings on Jokesan, he was greatly shocked.”
Dokgo Seong took a moment to pause for emphasis. “Each time Hye-nung spoke, chaos surged across the skies, and darkness rippled across the mountains as he witnessed how words were able to dominate humanity. Thousands of followers were said to have been manipulated by Hye-nung’s words like sleepwalkers.”
“……!!”
“It also stated that Hye-nung’s body sometimes transformed into something reminiscent of darkness or chaos. That greatly fueled the anxiety and terror Master Ha Taek felt, causing him to abandon all his wealth in Chang’an and flee to Sichuan, ultimately hiding in the most remote place, Dragon King’s Valley.”
“……”
Silence enveloped the space. After some time, I cautiously spoke, “So you’re saying… that the Sixth Patriarch Hye-nung was an inhuman existence?”
“That’s most likely the case.”
“Could there be a chance he was a monster?”
“Perhaps a great demon, but that would be too lowly given his reputation. It’s hard to believe a figure hailed as the future patriarch in the central temple would be a demon without anyone noticing.”
“Hmm.”
“That man must have been something that surpassed even the great demons. So overwhelmingly powerful that humans twisted their own perceptions to protect themselves…”
Dokgo Seong crossed his arms. “You may not know, but those who are not human occasionally surface in this world… They cannot even be classified as demons. I’ve seen that creature the White Lotus Sect mentioned with my own eyes, so I believe in the existence of a hidden world.”
“……”
“I’m not sure what those beings are, but if Hye-nung was from that side, it kind of makes sense.”
The other side. Inhuman. Basically – the world of the Otherworldly Race and demons, alongside the Old Ruler.
I knew that world all too well to the point it sent chills down my spine, allowing me to grasp these new revelations even better than Dokgo Seong.
‘Yeah, that makes sense. Perhaps…’
When I thought of the Sixth Patriarch Hye-nung as a descendant of Dharma, it felt even more plausible. After all, Dharma was the first patriarch of the White Lotus Sect and understood the darkness and truths of this world better than anyone. Ultimately, he fell into madness, creating the Non-Birth Mother’s teachings before vanishing into chaos, but if Hye-nung claims to be Dharma’s heir – maybe he and the Zen lineage knew something about the Non-Birth Mother’s teachings!
Suddenly, a theory sparked in my mind, and I hurriedly spoke to Dokgo Seong. “Elder, may I take that essay, ‘Bodhi’?”
“Feel free. I’ve memorized it anyway,” he cackled.
“Hahaha! Well, no matter how great things were back in the day, that’s at least eight or nine hundred years ago. I hope you find it as entertaining as I did!”
“Haha…”
I laughed weakly. ‘Dokgo Seong knows the hidden world exists, but he probably doesn’t realize how terrifying it is.’
As I tucked Master Ha Taek’s ‘Bodhi’ into my cloak and sipped another cup of tea, I told Dokgo Seong, “Elder, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Alright. Be sure to serve the Grand Master well.”
With that, I returned to Jangryeong Valley to find Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang. However, Mangnyang wasn’t around, while Zhuge Sa was sitting down, buried in papers. He noticed me and grinned.
“Did you achieve anything?”
“I reached the Sword Demon Realm.”
“Oh! Look at you, making progress!”
“Where’s Mangnyang?”
Zhuge Sa stood up and replied, “He’s off investigating the Silver Phoenix Fragment in the former territory of Balhae. However, he sent a letter recently, saying he should wrap up soon.”
“Really?”
“Let’s gather everyone and have a chat. We need to see what’s happened in the meantime.”
Eventually, everyone in Jangryeong Valley gathered together. I felt a warm sensation seeing their familiar faces after such a long time, but I noticed Lee Cheong-un was absent, leaving me puzzled.
“Where’s Lee Cheong-un?”
“He went as Mangnyang’s escort.”
“Oh.”
“They’re currently in the territory of the Twelve Joules, so they might run into some experts, which could be troublesome.”
Zhuge Sa continued, “Baek Woong, nothing much has happened here. Everyone kept to their martial arts training, living like hermits, heh.”
“A hermit, huh? What’s that about?” Extreme Tiger spoke gruffly. “You should at least paint it as diligent training!”
Seeing Extreme Tiger, I felt happy and said, “Extreme Tiger, how have you been?”
“Just waiting for the day I can slice through the neck of Cheon Woo-jin!”
He grinned mischievously and added, “Oh, and did you know Miho came to Jangryeong Valley earlier because she was worried about you?”
“Huh?”
That surprised me, and as I looked astonished, Jin So-cheong smirked beside me.
“Brother, you’re going to get chewed out later…”
“Aah, come on! She teased me first!”
While whining, I cautiously asked Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon, “Did you both reach the Absolute Realm?”
Both of them shook their heads.
“Not at all.”
“Heh.”
The Sword Demon chuckled heartily. “Baek Woong, just because our talents are superior doesn’t mean we can jump to the Absolute Realm in just a year and a half. That level is something only those innately gifted can barely achieve even through a life-or-death encounter, so we’re still far from it.”
“But you both seem to have gotten significantly stronger compared to before.”
I expressed my honest impression. It was true; all my companions emitted powerful energy far beyond what I could compare to my own growth. The Sword Demon chuckled. “If we couldn’t even reach this level, we’d be the laughingstock of the town. In any case, reaching the Absolute Realm will take at least ten more years.”
“I see…”
I felt both relieved and overwhelmed by the endless path ahead. Watching my companions strive to reach the Absolute Realm while I had yet to see their growth dulled any sense of inferiority, but it also made me wonder how much effort it would take for such geniuses to finally attain the Absolute Realm.
While we chatted about the events so far, Zhuge Sa spoke up. “Baek Woong, go get Mangnyang.”
“Get him?”
“Mangnyang seemed to have discovered quite a bit. The only thing holding us back now seems to be a lack of information. It’s a long trip of several thousand li from Balhae, so he can’t get here quickly. If you can use the Golden Lamp to bring him swiftly, it would help us immensely.”
“Understood.”
Pa-at!
I went to the vicinity of the North Sea Ice Palace, as Zhuge Sa suggested. A bit further northwest from the North Sea Ice Palace was the Shangjing Yongcheongbu, where the ruins of Balhae could be found. I remembered passing through an area closer to Shangjing Yongcheongbu before but wasn’t entirely sure, so I planned to take my time and check with a map.
Tydaht!
As I traveled a few hundred li, I matched my route to the map until I finally reached Balhae’s land. Asking the Indigenous People for directions and searching around, I was able to reach the ruins of Shangjing Yongcheongbu around half a day later.
‘This is the place.’
The remains of a fallen capital lay bare. Even after Balhae’s downfall, there were revival movements, spawning successors like Later Balhae, Jeongan Kingdom, Yeonpaguo, Xinglioguo, and Dae Balhae, but ultimately, they were also absorbed by the Jin Dynasty. For some reason, these successor powers never attempted to restore the ruins of Shangjing Yongcheongbu into a city.
I rushed inside, looking for Mangnyang’s whereabouts as instructed by Zhuge Sa. Before long, I found the place where Mangnyang was staying and waved at him.
“I’m here!”
“Ah, you made it!”
Seeing Mangnyang after a while, I noticed his beard was scruffy and he looked a bit rough, but his eyes sparkled with vitality, indicating he hadn’t lost his strength. As we shared stories, he remarked, “Congrats on reaching the Sword Demon Realm! Now, can you lend a hand with what’s going on here?”
“What’s going on?”
Suddenly, a loud crashing sound echoed through the area.
Mangnyang heard the noise and sighed. “It’s because of that door that we haven’t been able to investigate further.”
