Episode 90: The Lotus Crisis
In the secular world, he was known as Wi Jong-sun. His Dharma name was Hyangbaek, and he was currently the head of the Ami Sect.
Hyangbaek found himself in an incredibly awkward situation.
Out of nowhere, his grandmaster—his master’s master—had appeared.
And to make matters worse, the grandmaster was now scolding him about a subordinate’s mistake.
”…So, do you know what this rascal said to me? ‘You insolent woman! I’ll tear you to pieces!’ Can you imagine? I was so taken aback that I chanted a mantra for the first time in fifty years.”
“Amitabha.”
“Yes, I chanted, ‘Amitabha. Let me explain the situation, please call Hyangbaek.’ And then, shamelessly, he claimed he didn’t know you. Can you believe it?”
Myeongryeon, the subordinate in question, was known for being inflexible and stubborn, but he wasn’t disrespectful or aggressive. It was hard to believe he would have spoken so harshly.
Hyangbaek glanced at Myeongryeon, who was kneeling beside him. Though he remained silent due to the tense atmosphere, his expression was full of indignation.
Part of a leader’s role is to protect their subordinates. Hyangbaek mustered the courage to defend Myeongryeon.
“Grandmaster, it’s only natural that Myeongryeon doesn’t recognize you. He’s forty-five this year and joined the sect thirty-six years ago. When you left the Ami Sect, he hadn’t even been born, let alone taken his vows.”
“No, Jong-sun. It’s not that I’m upset he didn’t recognize me. But how can someone who claims to be a Buddhist monk start with such foul language?”
The grandmaster clicked his tongue, muttering about “kids these days.”
To Hyangbaek, it seemed the grandmaster was simply sulking. He had likely expected a warm welcome after returning after so long, and was disappointed when he didn’t receive it.
But that wasn’t Myeongryeon’s fault. Many didn’t even know the grandmaster was still alive, let alone recognize him, especially since he was wearing a straw hat.
‘Does achieving eternal youth make one’s mind childish too?’
It was a plausible thought.
The grandmaster seemed to catch on, narrowing his eyes.
“Did you just sigh?”
“Of course not, Grandmaster. I must have been breathing heavily due to my chronic condition.”
“Hmm.”
Before the grandmaster could latch onto his words, Hyangbaek quickly continued.
“Regardless, Myeongryeon’s actions weren’t out of malice. He’s young and inexperienced. If you could forgive him this once, I promise to guide him well.”
The grandmaster studied Hyangbaek’s face intently.
In the wrinkles around Hyangbaek’s eyes, the grandmaster saw the face of a child—a young novice who had just taken her vows, still more familiar with the name Jong-sun than Hyangbaek.
“Alright.”
The grandmaster turned away, feigning reluctance, and Hyangbaek allowed himself a small smile.
In truth, this wasn’t the first time Hyangbaek had faced minor inconveniences because of the grandmaster.
Traditionally, the head of the Ami Sect was referred to as “Shinni,” a title denoting the highest-ranking nun. However, this tradition was disrupted by the grandmaster’s presence.
Despite leaving the sect and abandoning her Dharma name, the grandmaster’s existence made it awkward for subsequent leaders to use the title. As a result, the previous head was known as Taepyeong Satae instead of Taepyeong Shinni, and Hyangbaek had to forgo the title of Hyangbaek Shinni as well.
Most outsiders and even many within the sect believed this was due to the humility of Taepyeong Satae and Hyangbaek Satae, but they were unaware of the true reason.
Hyangbaek longed to be called Hyangbaek Shinni, and the grandmaster could sense this desire. She remembered her own joy when she was first called Hwayeon Shinni.
Breaking the silence, the grandmaster got to the point.
“Bring Dang Mujin here.”
“Understood.”
Myeongryeon left with a sullen expression and soon returned with Dang Mujin, who looked bewildered by the situation.
“Dang Mujin, come here, roll up your sleeves, and lie down. Myeongryeon, extend your hands.”
Though the grandmaster had been harsh with Myeongryeon, she didn’t intend to be petty.
With the previous head of Geumjeong Pavilion gone, Myeongryeon had done his best by confining Dang Mujin.
As Dang Mujin lay down, the grandmaster guided Myeongryeon’s hands onto his back.
Dang Mujin seemed unfazed, but Myeongryon hesitated, having never touched a man’s bare skin in his forty-five years. It felt both embarrassing and wrong.
The grandmaster chuckled at his reaction.
“Still a child at heart.”
She placed her white palm on Myeongryeon’s back, gently pressing down until his hands met Dang Mujin’s back. Myeongryon’s hands twitched slightly.
The grandmaster began to teach in place of the previous head.
“Now, close your eyes and focus. Feel the flow of Dang Mujin’s energy and internal power.”
“Yes.”
“When someone seems possessed by a demon, which points should you check first?”
“I’m not sure.”
“There are many, but three are crucial: the Fengfu at the back of the head, the Yutang at the chest, and the Qihai in front of the dantian.”
The grandmaster’s energy guided Myeongryeon’s to these three points on Dang Mujin.
“These points are related to demonic behavior. What do you think the connection is?”
Myeongryeon pondered but couldn’t answer.
Instead, Dang Mujin, lying down, ventured a guess.
“If demonic energy invades the Qihai, internal power becomes unstable. If it settles in the Yutang, temperament becomes volatile. If it penetrates the Fengfu, it affects the brain, leading to uncontrollable actions?”
The grandmaster smiled.
“Exactly. As a physician, your intuition is impressive. Myeongryeon, do you sense any traces of demonic energy in these points?”
Myeongryon focused intently but soon shook his head.
”…I don’t feel anything.”
“Correct. His condition isn’t related to demonic energy.”
“Then why did he fall into this state?”
“When martial artists act violently, people often say they’re possessed or have fallen into a demonic state. But from what I know, there are three main types.”
The grandmaster held up three fingers, folding them one by one as she explained.
“First, those with naturally volatile temperaments. Second, those who lose control while practicing demonic arts. Third, those whose temperament is twisted by a traumatic event. I believe Dang Mujin falls into the third category.”
She continued softly.
“But the most common type is the second. In eight or nine out of ten cases, it’s due to practicing demonic arts. It’s a problem that can be resolved by expelling the demonic energy over time, making the practice of the Clear Mind Fist effective for them.”
This implied that for those with naturally volatile temperaments or those affected by trauma, the Clear Mind Fist would be of no help.
Myeongryeon glanced at Dang Mujin. They had confined him without any real benefit.
However, Dang Mujin harbored no complaints. His underground life was comfortable, the sect’s food was delicious, and his training was fulfilling. It was more like a secluded retreat than imprisonment.
“Then, what should be done in such cases?”
“I don’t know of a cure. But if the symptoms are severe, confinement is usually the solution. We can’t let them harm others.”
“How do you determine if the symptoms are severe or mild?”
The grandmaster thought for a moment before answering.
“The frequency of possession is key. If they react to something they encounter often, it’s serious. I’ve seen people who would have fits just hearing a crowd or seeing metal.”
But Dang Mujin only reacted to masked figures.
Encountering a masked person is a rare event, not something that happens often, so it didn’t seem to fit the grandmaster’s definition of a severe case.
Yet Myeongryeon felt something was amiss.
“Still, simply releasing him doesn’t seem right.”
“True. Unlike other third-rate fighters, Dang Mujin has considerable skill. If he has an episode, it won’t end with just a few injuries.”
The grandmaster didn’t offer a straightforward solution, instead circling around the issue.
Finally, Namgung Myung, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. He had promised Dan Seol-young he would bring Dang Mujin back, and he couldn’t break his word.
“Confining Dang Mujin just to avoid masked figures is excessive. It’s clearly an overreaction.”
Haryeong smiled at Namgoong Myeong.
“Yes, it’s a tricky situation, and perhaps an overreaction. But there’s a way out. You can help.”
“Help, you say…”
“From what I can see, your martial skills surpass Tang Mujin’s. If you keep an eye on him and ensure he doesn’t cause any trouble, it would be reassuring. If that’s too much for you, finding someone else to take on that role could work too.”
“I can do it,” Namgoong Myeong replied without hesitation.
Nothing much would change, after all. Ever since he met Tang Mujin while working as a craftsman, they had been inseparable.
Moreover, after hearing Haryeong’s explanation about the inner demons, Namgoong Myeong had a vague idea of how to help Tang Mujin. He had faced similar struggles in his own childhood.
Haryeong’s voice turned stern as she asked again, “Don’t answer rashly. If I hear that Tang Mujin has harmed someone because of his inner demons, I’ll come for you to pay the price. Hiding won’t help. If you disappear, I’ll go to your family. Are you okay with that?”
Namgoong Myeong’s eyes widened. He hadn’t thought anyone here, apart from Tang Mujin, knew he was from the Namgoong family.
Had someone secretly tipped her off? No, that couldn’t be. The only one who could have was Tang Mujin, and he had barely been out of the underground chamber for half an hour.
Haryeong chuckled softly. “What? Surprised?”
”…Yes.”
“I knew from the moment we met. Your walk, your gestures, even your breathing. They all speak of your origins. You can’t fool my eyes.”
Namgoong Myeong shivered, recalling the advice his uncle Namgoong Jinya had given him before he ventured into the martial world.
“Myeong, there are three types of people you must be wary of in the martial world.”
“Who are they?”
“The elderly, women, and children.”
Only now did Namgoong Myeong realize that Haryeong was all three—a woman, an elder, and a child at heart.
If he had to name the most dangerous person in the vast martial world, it would undoubtedly be Haryeong.
Her threat to come to the Namgoong family and demand justice was no idle talk.
If such a day ever came, Namgoong Jinchun wouldn’t likely protect him. Instead, he would probably punish Namgoong Myeong and cast him out, leaving him forever unrecognized by his father.
Yet, Namgoong Myeong nodded again. “It’s fine. I can do it.”
“Is that so?”
Hyangbaek and Myeongryeon, who had been watching, looked bewildered, as if they couldn’t grasp what was happening.
With a gentle expression, Haryeong turned to them. “Hyangbaek, Myeongryeon, can you release Tang Mujin? Myeong and I will take responsibility.”
The revered elder, instead of commanding, was asking for their permission.
Without hesitation, both nodded in agreement.
“Thank you for your help.”
On the way back to Chengdu from Mount Emei, Tang Mujin expressed his gratitude to Haryeong. Despite the underground confinement not being too uncomfortable, he was undeniably grateful for the assistance.
Haryeong waved it off lightly. “No need to thank me. It wasn’t just out of kindness.”
“Pardon?”
“When we met in Zhongjing, I mentioned that I might need your help someday. Do you remember?”
“Yes, I do.”
“When the time comes, come find me. There’s something you need to do in place of Lee Chung.”
Without waiting for Tang Mujin’s response, Haryeong patted him on the back, flashed a playful smile, and disappeared with the swiftness of the wind.