Chapter 386: The Monk of Goodwill
Tang Mujin studied the monk from Solreum Temple who had introduced himself as Seonnaseung. The monk carried no visible weapons, but that didn’t mean he was harmless. Monks from Shaolin or Emei often focused on martial arts rather than blades, so it was likely Seonnaseung had honed his body into a weapon itself. Still, the absence of a weapon eased Tang Mujin’s wariness slightly.
More importantly, Seonnaseung exuded a serene aura and a kind demeanor. Tang Mujin couldn’t help but think of the Three-Eyed Buddha. If the Three-Eyed Buddha represented one extreme of monkish appearance, Seonnaseung was surely the other.
Since the atmosphere wasn’t immediately hostile, Tang Mujin decided to engage in conversation. “What is it you wish to discuss?”
“I want to find a way to reduce meaningless sacrifice and death,” Seonnaseung replied.
Tang Mujin was skeptical. Calls to prevent unnecessary sacrifice were often preludes to demands for surrender in wartime. “Are you asking us to surrender?”
Seonnaseung shook his head. “It would be ideal, but I know it’s impossible. Even if you approached the Kunlun sect to discuss surrender, they wouldn’t accept it.”
His assessment was accurate. Seonnaseung continued, “I know you’re hiding somewhere in the Kunlun Mountains.”
Tang Mujin and Hyungong didn’t respond, aware that any answer could be a clue. Seonnaseung didn’t seem to expect one anyway. “I’ve heard the Kunlun sect has been holed up in the mountains for over a year. You must be lacking in many things—food, clothing, firewood.”
Having only recently arrived at the Kunlun Mountains, Tang Mujin and Hyungong weren’t fully aware of the supply situation. But hiding in such rugged terrain meant farming was out of the question. Even creating a small field would require setting up protective formations.
Farming was virtually impossible, and gathering or hunting would be severely limited by the need to avoid detection by the demonic cult’s warriors. The situation was far from ideal.
Tang Mujin and Hyungong reached the same conclusion. “Are you proposing a trade for supplies?”
If the conversation went smoothly, it could lead to a favorable outcome. However, Seonnaseung’s response was unexpected. “No, a trade is impossible.”
He wasn’t refusing to trade; he was saying it couldn’t be done. “Why not?”
“I can’t provide you with supplies. But I won’t stop you from going out to gather them.”
Instead of providing supplies, he was offering the opportunity to obtain them. This wasn’t a bad offer. The key was what Seonnaseung wanted in return.
Tang Mujin asked, “What do you want in exchange? I’ll relay your message.”
Seonnaseung’s answer was surprising. “I don’t need anything in return.”
“That can’t be true. You must have a reason for approaching us.”
Hyungong’s skepticism was met with Seonnaseung’s calm reply. “I want the people of the Kunlun Mountains to be healthy, to live without hunger, and to avoid meaningless deaths.”
”…?”
“When I was young, I became a monk to escape hunger. Hunger helps no one. As a Buddhist, I don’t want you to suffer such pointless pain.”
Tang Mujin and Hyungong tried to discern any hidden motives in Seonnaseung’s words but found no deceit. Hyungong, too, was left puzzled.
Seonnaseung continued, “I can’t provide supplies or allow you to break through the encirclement to the east. That would go against the leader’s intentions. But starting tomorrow, every five nights, I’ll pull back the demonic cult’s warriors surrounding the Kunlun Mountains.”
“What does that mean?”
“You can search nearby villages for supplies without interference. On those nights, no one will enter the mountains. You can hunt or gather freely.”
The Kunlun Mountains were rugged and cool, but they were rich in wildlife. The animals, with their fatty meat, would provide sustenance for several days if they could hunt freely every five days.
Tang Mujin asked one last time, “What do you want in return?”
“Nothing.”
With that, Seonnaseung clasped his hands together in a gesture of peace and quietly departed. Tang Mujin and Hyungong watched his retreating figure, bewildered.
Tang Mujin and Hyungong gathered their belongings and headed back to the Kunlun Mountains.
“Is anyone following us?” Tang Mujin asked.
“No,” Hyungong replied.
Tang Mujin had suspected Seonnaseung might have approached them to set a trap, but there was no sign of that. As they carried their heavy bags, they discussed the situation.
“Why did Seonnaseung approach us? He must have some motive,” Tang Mujin pondered.
Hyungong mimicked Seonnaseung’s voice, “Because he dislikes meaningless sacrifice and doesn’t want people to suffer from hunger.”
Tang Mujin chuckled. “That can’t be it.”
Perhaps Seonnaseung was a truly virtuous monk, genuinely concerned for their well-being. But Tang Mujin and Hyungong were reluctant to entertain that possibility. Trusting others could lead to vulnerability.
Tang Mujin speculated, “I think Seonnaseung is setting a trap.”
“What kind of trap?”
“He might be planning to ambush us while pretending to pull back the demonic cult’s warriors. He could be trying to locate our hideout or attack those who venture out to gather supplies. Or he might strike while we’re away from the temple.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Yet, Hyungong couldn’t shake his unease. He was usually good at detecting lies, but Seonnaseung’s words seemed genuine. His offer to pull back the warriors and his disdain for meaningless sacrifice felt sincere.
Hyungong scratched his chin, frustrated. Without knowing what Seonnaseung wanted, they couldn’t leverage or manipulate him. “I prefer dealing with people who have clear motives.”
The two arrived at the temple where Wonpyeong Do-in resided. Tang Mujin tested the danhwaseon, a medicinal herb, to ensure its quality.
“This should do,” he concluded, brewing a small batch and offering it to Wonpyeong Do-in. However, the monk declined, writing on the ground, “As a Taoist, I must avoid foods with fiery energy.”
Tang Mujin glanced at Hyungong, who was also a Taoist but never avoided fiery foods. Hyungong smiled wryly. “I wanted to avoid fiery foods too, but traveling companions can’t be picky. I accepted the fiery energy for your sake.”
“You never mentioned that at the Tang family estate,” Tang Mujin teased.
“How could I refuse a meal prepared with care? It’s not like the cooked meat would come back to life if I didn’t eat it.”
In short, Hyungong wasn’t picky. Wonpyeong Do-in smiled faintly at their exchange, writing, “As a practitioner of the Left Dao, I must be more stringent in avoiding fiery energy.”
Avoiding fiery energy meant no decoctions or roasted herbs, and no leisurely drying of ingredients. But Tang Mujin wasn’t worried. He crushed the danhwaseon, producing a pungent green juice.
“What’s it taste like?” Hyungong asked.
“Let’s see.”
Both tasted the juice with a finger, immediately spitting it out. It was exactly as they imagined—slimy, bitter, and astringent, with a nauseating aroma.
“Not my problem since I’m not the one drinking it,” Tang Mujin thought, offering the juice to Wonpyeong Do-in. “Please drink. It should help.”
Tang Mujin and Hyungong watched eagerly, hoping to see Wonpyeong Do-in’s face contort in disgust. To their surprise, he drank it with apparent enjoyment—a skill more astonishing than any concealment technique.
”…”
Tang Mujin waited, observing Wonpyeong Do-in’s condition. While not a cure, the juice seemed to ease his symptoms and calm the fiery energy in his head.
Relieved, Tang Mujin said, “It’s more of a temporary relief than a cure, but it seems to help. We have plenty of danhwaseon, so there’s no need to worry for now.”
Wonpyeong Do-in smiled contentedly. Tang Mujin and Hyungong mused, “Perhaps mastering the Left Dao means losing one’s sense of taste.”
Dang Mujin and Hyeon Gong went straight to Namgung Jincheon and Yuyu Do-in to relay the story of Seonnaseung.
”…That’s what Seonnaseung said before he left.”
“Hmm.”
They waited for Namgung Jincheon’s reaction more than Yuyu Do-in’s, as he had met Seonnaseung in person before.
Namgung Jincheon spoke up. “I got a similar impression from Seonnaseung. He felt more like a scholar than a warrior. Maybe that’s why we could have an honest conversation. If he had been a typical martial artist from the demonic cult, one of us might not have survived our first encounter. Or perhaps neither of us would have.”
Even though Namgung Jincheon had recently admitted defeat, he chose his words carefully, unwilling to fully concede again due to his pride.
Dang Mujin didn’t bother pointing that out.
“It seems Seonnaseung didn’t make the same proposal to you, sir.”
“At the time, I wasn’t staying with the Taoists of Mount Kunlun. Besides, I wasn’t interested in such matters. I was there to find someone to fight, not to lend a hand.”
It was a story as irresponsible and somewhat childish as Namgung Myung’s.
You reap what you sow, thought Dang Mujin and Hyeon Gong, nodding in agreement.
“So, do you think it’s right to accept Seonnaseung’s proposal, sir?”
“That’s for Yuyu Do-in to decide, not me.”
All eyes turned to Yuyu Do-in.
They expected a long deliberation, but Yuyu Do-in’s decision came surprisingly quickly.
“We have no choice. Even if it’s a trick, we have to take the risk.”
“Why is that?”
“The food we’ve been eating was the last of the Kunlun Sect’s reserves. We’re almost out.”
Since arriving at Mount Kunlun, Dang Mujin hadn’t seen anyone eat anything other than porridge.
“The remaining food will last no more than ten days. We need to find food outside, whether it’s fruits or game. Anything will do.”
“What if this is Seonnaseung’s trick?”
Yuyu Do-in thought for a long time before shaking his head slightly.
”…We can only hope it’s a gesture of goodwill.”
That evening, Dang Mujin, Hyeon Gong, and Namgung Jincheon climbed a high peak of Mount Kunlun to survey the surroundings.
As the sun dipped below the western ridge, figures in orange robes appeared.
Their distinctive attire made it easy for Dang Mujin to recognize them.
“They seem to be the monks who traveled with Seonnaseung.”
“They’re his disciples. They left Solreum Temple to follow their master.”
As the monks moved, the martial artists of the demonic cult, scattered here and there, followed them.
Like sweeping dust with a broom, the cultists vanished from the plains of Cheonghaeseong, trailing behind the monks.
”…Have they really withdrawn?”
“It seems so, for now.”
Yet, the three remained cautious, watching the plains from the peak throughout the night.
There was always the chance the cultists might sneak back under the cover of darkness.
But they did not return.
Time passed slowly.
Finally, as the next day’s sun rose and climbed a hand’s breadth above the horizon, the scattered cultists reappeared in the distance. Seonnaseung had kept his promise.
Only then did the three leave the peak and return to the Taoist temple.
A faint scent of blood lingered in the air outside the temple, though it wasn’t human blood.
Yuyu Do-in and the most skilled martial artists of Mount Kunlun had spent the night hunting game, which now lay piled in the temple’s courtyard.
The variety of animals was vast, from small creatures like rabbits to larger ones like deer and boars.
The quantity was impressive, enough to last five days on meat alone.
Those skilled in butchering sat before the animals, busy preparing the meat, while children drooled at the sight of the raw flesh.
Yuyu Do-in approached the three with a bright expression and asked Namgung Jincheon in a friendly tone, “Did the cultists come close?”
“No need to worry. They didn’t return for a long time after sunrise. We didn’t leave any traces, did we?”
“We caught the animals far away and washed away the blood scent at the stream. They won’t easily track us.”
“Well done.”
Dang Mujin looked around. Everyone’s faces were bright.
Even the children must have known the porridge was getting thinner by the day.
So, being able to eat their fill of meat instead of thin porridge was a cause for joy.
Dang Mujin asked Hyeon Gong, “If you were the one plotting, when would you make your move?”
“About fifteen or twenty days from now would be appropriate.”
Though they had successfully secured food once, no one fully trusted Seonnaseung’s words.
Blind trust always leads to danger.
Life was uneventful. With time on their hands, Dang Mujin and Hyeon Gong spent it sparring with Namgung Jincheon.
A month passed, then another half-month.
The children’s cheeks, once a bit hollow, filled out, and the people regained their color.
The cultists continued to vacate the area every five days.
The people of Mount Kunlun had forgotten hunger. Compared to the days before the cultists’ arrival, they felt they were eating even better.
As optimism spread through Mount Kunlun, Banyup approached Dang Mujin and Hyeon Gong.
“The strange moss that Senior Wonpyeong used to eat… Danhwaseon? Anyway, it’s all gone. Could you get more?”
Banyup’s tone was much more respectful than when Dang Mujin and Hyeon Gong first arrived at Mount Kunlun.
Wonpyeong Do-in and a few other Taoists, whose health had suffered from using their powers, had been managing with the Danhwaseon juice Dang Mujin brought.
The fact that their condition hadn’t worsened was a great relief, and the Taoists of Mount Kunlun bowed and showed their gratitude whenever they met Dang Mujin and Hyeon Gong.
“Of course. We’ll go tonight.”
That night, Dang Mujin and Hyeon Gong left Mount Kunlun and headed south into the forest.
Soon, they arrived at a forest filled with short birch trees.
Before long, they sensed a small presence. Turning around, they saw Seonnaseung.
Seonnaseung greeted them first. “Have you been well?”
His eyes were still clear, his demeanor calm.
”…Thanks to you.”
“I was worried you might not trust me… I’m relieved.”
Seonnaseung spoke with a gentle smile, as if he were the one grateful.
Dang Mujin almost bowed to Seonnaseung but then remembered something.
The people in the demonic cult were often those who had committed crimes and were outcasts.
But Dang Mujin knew not everyone in the cult was evil. Many in his own clan had once been part of the cult.
’…Could Seonnaseung have sought refuge in the cult to atone for some sin?’
With that thought, Dang Mujin asked Seonnaseung, “Why did you leave Solreum Temple and seek refuge in the cult?”
Seonnaseung gave a bitter smile. “I was merely devoted to my practice. I wanted to achieve enlightenment and reach Nirvana. But those who envied me found reasons to expel me.”
”…I see.”
“My lack of practice was the problem, as I couldn’t embrace those who harbored envy.”
It was a humble and relatable story.
There are always those who envy the achievements of the talented.
Dang Mujin couldn’t even begin to count how many martial artists might envy his own prowess.
“I hope you achieve enlightenment and return to Solreum Temple with pride.”
When Dang Mujin said this, Seonnaseung smiled warmly and joined his hands in gratitude.
“May you both also find enlightenment.”
With those words, they parted, exchanging well-wishes that seemed out of place given the circumstances.