Just as the distance between Suju and Mudang Mountain isn’t far, neither is the distance between Suju and Shaolin Temple. However, there weren’t many paths leading from Suju to Shaolin Temple, as is often the case with short distances.
Not long after they began their journey to Shaolin, Hong Gilgae voiced a concern.
“We’re not going to run into the cult leader on the way to Shaolin, are we?” “Surely not,” Namgung Myung replied, though he couldn’t help but glance at the people ahead, just in case.
But as they made their way toward Shaolin, Hong Gilgae’s worry became a reality.
Amidst the unsuspecting travelers heading north, there were three figures that stood out.
”…Isn’t that the cult leader and his guards?” “Looks like it.”
It was fortunate they spotted them before getting too close. Had they stumbled upon the cult leader and his guards without realizing, it would have led to a deadly confrontation. And they wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Namgung Myung and Hong Gilgae assessed the pace of the cult leader and his entourage from a safe distance. Thankfully, they weren’t moving quickly, just walking briskly as if they were in a hurry.
‘At that pace… they’ll take a while to reach Shaolin.’
If Hong Gilgae and Namgung Myung used their martial arts skills to travel swiftly, they could reach Shaolin in about a day. This meant they would have at least a day before the cult leader arrived.
‘Not bad.’
A day wasn’t a long time, but it was enough to devise a plan and take action.
The two decided to take a different route to avoid crossing paths with the cult leader and headed toward Shaolin Temple.
As they moved swiftly, they talked.
“How long do you think it will take for the people from the Unbeknownst Sect to reach Shaolin?” “If they’re in good condition and move quickly, maybe five or six days.”
This meant that even after the cult leader arrived at Shaolin, it would take three or four days for reinforcements to show up.
“We can’t rely on help. We’ll have to find a way to deal with this ourselves, even if it means retreating with the people.”
Hong Gilgae muttered, and Namgung Myung replied confidently.
“Don’t worry. With you and me working together, we can handle most problems.”
Despite Namgung Myung’s confident tone, Hong Gilgae wasn’t entirely convinced. There had been only one other time when they tried to solve a problem on their own—when they attempted to rescue Tang Mujin from the Demon Sect.
Back then, they were nearly captured by the sect’s warriors and were only saved thanks to Tang Mujin.
Namgung Myung’s expression turned wistful, as if he was recalling the same memory.
Upon reaching Shaolin, they were greeted by the serene sounds of nature, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The temple felt even more peaceful, perhaps because many had left for the Great Martial War.
Thinking about the impending conflict weighed heavily on Hong Gilgae’s heart. It felt like throwing a stone into a perfectly still lake.
’…There’s no choice.’
Soon, they arrived at the Abbot’s quarters. As they were led inside by a monk, Hong Gilgae recalled where he had heard of the Abbot before.
Tang Mujin had once spoken highly of the Abbot.
Tang Mujin wasn’t one to give praise lightly, so the Abbot must be someone special.
Inside, they met the Abbot, an elderly monk with a stern and stubborn demeanor. He didn’t seem particularly welcoming, perhaps even a bit difficult.
“Please, have a seat.”
As Hong Gilgae and Namgung Myung settled on the cushions, the Abbot got straight to the point.
“The world is in turmoil. What brings you to Shaolin?”
Namgung Myung answered directly.
“The cult leader and his guards are on their way to Shaolin. We realized the situation and rushed here.”
“The cult leader and his guards… I see.”
After a brief pause, the Abbot asked another question.
“Why do you think they are coming to Shaolin?”
It was a question that had puzzled both Namgung Myung and Hong Gilgae. Namgung Myung shared his thoughts.
“There are two possibilities. First, the cult leader is systematically attacking and destroying all the martial sects. The Qingcheng and Emei sects have already fallen. The Kunlun, Wudang, and Huashan sects have suffered severe damage. The Wudang sect managed to hold out, but it’s precarious. Now, it seems Shaolin is their next target.”
“And the second reason?”
“I’ve heard that the Shaolin Temple is harboring members of the Sama family. Is that correct?”
The Abbot nodded, aware of the situation as he was responsible for the temple’s affairs.
“Is there a grudge between the cult leader and the Sama family?”
“I’ve heard the cult leader holds a grudge against them. I believe he’s coming to kill them.”
The Abbot pondered for a moment before responding.
“There is one more possibility, but I understand. How do you think Shaolin should respond?”
“The most urgent thing is to evacuate the monks.”
With many of the skilled monks away, those remaining were mostly students and novices, unable to defend against the cult leader and his guards. Evacuating them to minimize casualties seemed the best course of action.
The Abbot agreed.
“A wise decision. Any other suggestions?”
“I think it would be best to hand over the Sama family to the cult leader.”
This time, there was no immediate response. Namgung Myung pressed on, explaining his reasoning.
“The members of the Sama family haven’t committed any crimes worthy of death. If we can’t stop the cult leader, handing them over might appease him and reduce the damage to Shaolin.”
Namgung Myung’s argument was logical, but the Abbot shook his head.
“That won’t do.”
“Why not? We can’t stop the cult leader.”
“Whether we can stop him is irrelevant. The Sama family is not in a prison but in a place of repentance, and I cannot hand them over.”
Both Hong Gilgae and Namgung Myung were puzzled by the Abbot’s words.
“What do you mean?”
“Other sects imprison criminals, but Shaolin places them in a cave of repentance. Do you know the difference?”
”…Isn’t it just a different name?”
The Abbot calmly explained.
“A prison is a place of punishment, where people are confined like animals. But Shaolin’s cave is not a prison; it’s a place for repentance.”
“It’s still confinement.”
“A prison is for punishment and revenge, a place where the power of the sect is used to exact retribution. But Shaolin waits for the sinner to repent and become a new person.”
The Abbot looked at Namgung Myung and continued.
“You said the cult leader wants to eliminate the Sama family, that he will kill them.”
”…Yes.”
“That’s the problem. If they die without repenting, I cannot hand them over.”
Namgung Myung frowned, struggling to understand.
Hong Gilgae, though not the brightest among his friends, suddenly grasped the Abbot’s point. It was thanks to the teachings of Master Damjeong, who had spent his life in the cave of repentance, understanding the weight of shame and the path to redemption.
From shame, reflection blooms. Reflection brings the greatest insight to the one who reflects, but it also offers lessons to those who witness it. Through reflection, people ponder what is right and gain understanding. Only those who have contemplated and grasped what is right can remain steadfast amidst the world’s tumult.
The Abbot of the Precepts wished for the monks of Shaolin to retreat from calamity, hoping that in doing so, the legacy of Shaolin would endure. Yet, he also hoped that the monks would not forget Shaolin’s mission to guide sinners towards redemption. But if they were to hand over Sima to the cult leader, how would the monks of Shaolin come to terms with that? Given the circumstances, they might resign themselves to thinking it was inevitable. Those who deserved to die would meet their end, as it was the natural order of things.
Amitabha once vowed, “I will not enter Nirvana until I have guided all beings to righteousness and led them to Nirvana.” This was not only Amitabha’s wish but also the aspiration of Shaolin. The Abbot hoped the monks would not forget their goal to lead people towards righteousness.
The Abbot was determined to anchor Shaolin against the tides of the world, even if it meant sacrificing himself.
Hong Gilje looked at the Abbot. The Abbot seemed slightly surprised but soon smiled gently, realizing that Hong Gilje understood his message.
Hong Gilje asked, “Do you intend to release the people Sima has captured?”
“I don’t believe releasing them is the answer, but sacrificing them to appease the cult leader is not right either. We must consider what is truly best with the time we have left.”
“I understand.”
With that, Hong Gilje left the Abbot’s quarters, accompanied by the bewildered Namgung Myung.
Namgung Myung, seeking to rest, sat under the shade of a tree within the Shaolin grounds. However, Hong Gilje did not sit beside him.
Namgung Myung asked, “Where are you off to?”
“There’s a place I haven’t visited in a long time.”
Hong Gilje made his way to the Hall of Repentance, where Master Damjeong once resided. As expected, the hall was empty.
He climbed the wall of the Hall of Repentance. On the small clearing above, bright yellow helianthus bloomed in abundance.
The scent of the flowers was dizzying.
Amidst the helianthus, Hong Gilje recalled Master Damjeong’s teachings and practiced the drunken eight immortals stance, swaying gently.
Then, he sat quietly among the flowers, contemplating the wisdom of Master Damjeong.