Chapter 470

Chapter 470

The outer walls symbolizing the Tang Family’s exclusivity disappeared.

The narrow paths of the outer estate that had been like a maze also changed to be open.

Though many leaders were concerned about Tang Ha-ran’s radical decision, the concerns quickly subsided.

As the Tang Family’s transformation became known in the martial world, people began coming on their own.

While some came curious about the Tang Family’s interior that had long been closed to the public, the majority were those who felt disgust and doubt about how the martial world was operating and came seeking an alternative.

The Tang Family of Sichuan. The Poison Dragon of Sichuan.

That was the only alternative in the current martial world.

“Goodness… were this many people harboring discontent?”

Woon-jeong gaped at the procession of martial artists coming day after day.

“It’s surprising they’ve been quiet until now.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Woon-jeong.

“Why are you still not leaving?”

Woon-jeong flinched and made excuses as they came out.

“I’m not just playing around. I’m here to preach the Dao to those people.”

“I’ve never heard of preaching the Dao instead of Buddha’s teachings.”

“Hehehe.”

Woon-jeong glossed it over with laughter. Having mingled with Bian Bu for so long, maybe he only learned bad things from the increased nonsense, but among the rigid Qingcheng Sect Taoists, having one Taoist with flexibility wouldn’t be bad.

So-so was busily finding work to do as always. Whether kitchen work or housekeeping, she did it perfectly, so many people liked So-so. They felt sorry that So-so couldn’t speak, and after learning the circumstances, they felt even more heartbroken.

“What’s the big deal if you can’t speak? Dear, if you have nowhere to go, come to my house. Become my daughter-in-law.”

When people doted on So-so and said they’d make her their daughter-in-law, Woon-jeong was deflated.

Woon-jeong became gloomy and went to sit in a corner. Then So-so looked back at Woon-jeong, gathered her sewing, and went next to him. Then she held cloth up to various parts of Woon-jeong’s body and began sewing.

Then Woon-jeong would glance at So-so and smile.

Woon-jeong and So-so were precious jade that brought small smiles amid the chaos of the Tang Family beginning its transformation.

Jin Ja-gang went to find Mu-gak. One of the excommunicated monks who came to the Tang Family was attending to Mu-gak, but the excommunicated monk was outside rather than inside.

“A guest has come to visit.”

“I know.”

A guest had come to visit Mu-gak.

Six River Immortal Yuk Ha-seon of Pleasure Heaven!

She who lost her entire right leg to Mu-gak was together with him.

Jin Ja-gang entered the room.

Inside the room…

Unexpectedly, drinking was underway.

“Wahahahaha!”

“Kkeul kkeul kkeul.”

Mu-gak and Yuk Ha-seon already had flushed faces and were laughing while making silly jokes.

Jin Ja-gang sat down in a seat without saying anything particular.

Mu-gak saw Jin Ja-gang then giggled and pointed with his broken, crooked finger.

“Immortal. When this guy greeted me yesterday, do you know what his first words were?”

Six River Immortal Yuk Ha-seon was dressed as a man and asked with merry laughter.

“What did he say?”

“He said, ‘How is your finger?'”

“Wahaha! That’s truly like the Poison Dragon!”

Yuk Ha-seon held her belly and laughed.

Mu-gak showed his broken, twisted index finger.

“So I said this. It’s usable enough. But you sure ask about people’s well-being in a strange way, don’t you?”

“Then what did Poison Dragon Hero answer?”

“Besides your finger, is there anywhere else on your body well enough to ask about, Monk?”

“Wahahahaha!”

“So I said. You bastard, I also have a mouth. A mouth! Since this mouth that feeds me is more important, from next time ask about my mouth’s well-being first.”

Yuk Ha-seon laughed until tears flowed.

As Jin Ja-gang sat awkwardly, Yuk Ha-seon poured him alcohol.

“Drink, Hero.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t refuse and drank the alcohol in one gulp.

“As expected of Sichuan’s Poison Dragon. Both jokes and drinking are spirited!”

“When have you seen me joke?”

“Oh my, this is a time for jokes. Not a time for blade fighting.”

“I didn’t come to fight with blades, but seeing the atmosphere, I seem to have come at the wrong time.”

Mu-gak laughed.

“Grudges in the martial world are deep yet shallow. They may be held in the heart for generations, yet sometimes melt away like snow with a single cup of alcohol.”

“That’s not a story for you to tell, Master.”

Yuk Ha-seon interjected.

“How can one blame each other for fighting over each other’s positions? Since it’s a past matter, we decided not to hold it in our hearts anymore.”

“We agreed she’d make me break my precepts by getting me to drink.”

“Since I made a enlightened high monk break precepts, one leg is due in hell.”

Though difficult to understand, perhaps in a battle of convictions… or perhaps not regretting an arm or leg in magnanimously brushing it off and strengthening friendship is the true appearance of the martial world.

“Actually, if we’re being strict, isn’t the grudge between me and you, Poison Dragon, deeper, having killed many of my disciples and grand-disciples?”

“That’s right. That’s why I came to ask.”

Jin Ja-gang’s expression suddenly became heavy. Already possessing the authority of a first-rate patriarch, just changing his expression made the air in the room become weighty.

“Why did you come to find me?”

“You ask a foolish question. Don’t put on airs and look outside.”

Mu-gak hiccupped and gestured outside with his chin.

“For the same reason they came.”

“You’re different, Master. You’re the Breaking Sect’s most senior elder and were the vanguard of the righteous practices.”

“About that…”

When Mu-gak paused briefly, Yuk Ha-seon fed Mu-gak alcohol.

“Keu.”

After drinking, Mu-gak said.

“Great Buddha threw me into a manure pit and spoke in my ear. If you’re so confident, try saving the world from inside the manure pit. I almost ate feces and died but was saved by a devout Buddhist’s hand and survived.”

Though subtle to call it rebellion, in Shaolin Temple, Great Buddha Beom-bon of the Embracing Sect, which had been pushed back by the Breaking Sect, raised a rebellion and succeeded.

The Breaking Sect within Shaolin Temple was annihilated.

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“Did you have nowhere to go?”

“No. Since there was absolutely no way to save the world from inside a manure pit, I came to find someone to save the world instead of me.”

“Then I’ll ask one more thing.”

Jin Ja-gang’s expression became even heavier.

“How much does Shaolin Temple know about the Hungry Ghost King?”

Then Mu-gak’s mouth shut tight. Yuk Ha-seon held a cup to Mu-gak’s mouth, but Mu-gak slightly moved his head trying not to drink.

“What are you hesitating about as an excommunicated monk?”

Yuk Ha-seon forcibly grabbed and made him drink. Mu-gak struggled then ended up drinking repeatedly. Later he gave up and drank for a long while.

“Puhaaa! Damn. Shaolin…”

Mu-gak spat curses then laughed heartily.

“No, since it’s not our Shaolin anymore, I should call it Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple knows almost everything.”

“Then why didn’t they intervene until now? Isn’t it true they didn’t step forward even while watching the martial world’s corruption?”

Mu-gak shook his head.

“Shaolin Temple is large and broad. Deep and high. Each step of Shaolin Temple’s path affects the entire martial world. Therefore it’s always slow and cautious. However, they were continuously moving beneath the surface.”

“It sounds like you were concerned the martial world would be influenced by Shaolin Temple.”

“The vitality of the martial world isn’t created arbitrarily. It always self-purifies. Look, didn’t a great figure called the Poison Dragon ultimately emerge from that hell-like place?”

“If Shaolin Temple had the power to encompass the martial world, they should have intervened before that. Then more people wouldn’t have been hurt.”

“Poison Dragon.”

Suddenly Mu-gak called Jin Ja-gang in an affectionate voice.

“What do you think of spiders spinning webs throughout the temple? Should we remove the spider webs thinking of the insects that will die caught in them?”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t answer hastily.

There was no need to ask if spiders and insects were the same as people. Shaolin Temple would say all life is the same. People die and reincarnate as insects, as animals, so ultimately life is the same, they would say.

“If there are many sparrows pecking at rice grains, the harvest decreases and troubles the farmers. Then should we chase away and kill the sparrows? Do you think you could then harvest rice abundantly?”

Mu-gak shook his head with great difficulty.

“Not so. When the natural enemy called sparrows disappears, pests will swarm and the fields become ruins. Sparrows merely share part of the crops people grew, but pests devour all the crops.”

Mu-gak looked at Jin Ja-gang and asked.

“You said it. Who is good and evil? Where is greater righteousness? Looking at the situation so far, one could say the Hungry Ghost King is evil and the martial world is good. However, who can say the Hungry Ghost King isn’t a sparrow?”

“Wasn’t Shaolin Temple’s long observation to determine that?”

“Correct. It took until now to conclude the Hungry Ghost King isn’t a sparrow. And ultimately pests swarmed in the martial world. However, there was the people’s greed to not share what’s theirs and take even a bit more for themselves. They killed the sparrow. Thus the Hungry Ghost King could establish himself.”

Jin Ja-gang fell into thought. Taoist Haewol said the martial world had been rotting from long ago.

Perhaps that wasn’t the Hungry Ghost King’s fault…

“Mud dropped in a pure land immediately shows. But mud dropped in muddy water doesn’t show.”

You cannot save the world from inside a manure pit!

Mu-gak again moistened his lips with the alcohol Yuk Ha-seon gave.

“That’s what Great Buddha said. Great Buddha said he himself must enter the manure pit to become manure.”

“Didn’t the Breaking Sect choose righteous walk to remove the muddy water?”

“Righteous walks aren’t about removing muddy water but overturning the entire soil. Taoist Haewol tried to save the soil by cutting out rotten roots and branches, but righteous walks aim to change the entire soil so the Hungry Ghost King cannot live.”

“However, Great Buddha hasn’t stopped righteous practices even after erasing the Breaking Sect. Rather, he joined hands with the Righteous Alliance that protects the existing order.”

“The Breaking Sect and Embracing Sect pursue the same purpose. To spread Buddha’s teachings, save sentient beings, and guide them to enlightenment. There’s only a difference in method.”

“You’re saying they’ll purify the world with the Hungry Ghost King’s methods? From rotten soil?”

Mu-gak paused briefly then continued.

“If the Breaking Sect sought to deny the Hungry Ghost King’s order and purify the world to spread Buddha’s teachings, Great Buddha seeks to acknowledge the Hungry Ghost King’s order and rather spread Buddha’s teachings in that world.”

“I cannot understand. Seeing a world where the Hungry Ghost King’s order remains as proper.”

“Impermanent world. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. The moment of enlightenment, everything surrounding us becomes emptiness and meaningless. Whether the Hungry Ghost King’s world or the existing world, if one can attain enlightenment, it doesn’t matter at all. Great Buddha rather sees now as the best opportunity to spread Buddha’s teachings…”

Where is right and where is wrong?

Where is the limit and end?

If you just change perspective slightly and look differently, everything appears right.

Just as Taoist Haewol said.

Each righteousness is clashing.

And at that moment, Jin Ja-gang realized.

Great Buddha Beom-bon had watched the martial world for a long time. Even until the Breaking Sect couldn’t endure and rose up.

But finally decided to make Buddha’s teachings bloom in the Hungry Ghost King’s world.

Shaolin Temple, which says of itself that it moves so slowly as to be cautious.

Even within that Shaolin Temple, Great Buddha Beom-bon who watched the martial world the longest.

That he insisted on the Hungry Ghost King’s methods.

That’s never a decision made in an instant.

That is…

Jin Ja-gang got goosebumps.

He opened his eyes wide and stared at Mu-gak.

“Is… is what I’m thinking right now correct?”

Mu-gak quietly looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang gradually even raised killing intent.

“Answer me, Master Mu-gak. You know. If you don’t speak, you die.”

There was no falsehood in Jin Ja-gang’s threat. If he said he’d kill, he would kill, and that was known.

However, not out of fear of death but by his own will, Mu-gak opened his mouth.

“That’s right…”

Mu-gak sneered with his twisted face.

“Great Buddha himself is the Hungry Ghost King, or at least knows who the Hungry Ghost King is.”

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The outer walls symbolizing the Tang Family’s exclusivity disappeared.

The narrow paths of the outer estate that had been like a maze also changed to be open.

Though many leaders were concerned about Tang Ha-ran’s radical decision, the concerns quickly subsided.

As the Tang Family’s transformation became known in the martial world, people began coming on their own.

While some came curious about the Tang Family’s interior that had long been closed to the public, the majority were those who felt disgust and doubt about how the martial world was operating and came seeking an alternative.

The Tang Family of Sichuan. The Poison Dragon of Sichuan.

That was the only alternative in the current martial world.

“Goodness… were this many people harboring discontent?”

Woon-jeong gaped at the procession of martial artists coming day after day.

“It’s surprising they’ve been quiet until now.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Woon-jeong.

“Why are you still not leaving?”

Woon-jeong flinched and made excuses as they came out.

“I’m not just playing around. I’m here to preach the Dao to those people.”

“I’ve never heard of preaching the Dao instead of Buddha’s teachings.”

“Hehehe.”

Woon-jeong glossed it over with laughter. Having mingled with Bian Bu for so long, maybe he only learned bad things from the increased nonsense, but among the rigid Qingcheng Sect Taoists, having one Taoist with flexibility wouldn’t be bad.

So-so was busily finding work to do as always. Whether kitchen work or housekeeping, she did it perfectly, so many people liked So-so. They felt sorry that So-so couldn’t speak, and after learning the circumstances, they felt even more heartbroken.

“What’s the big deal if you can’t speak? Dear, if you have nowhere to go, come to my house. Become my daughter-in-law.”

When people doted on So-so and said they’d make her their daughter-in-law, Woon-jeong was deflated.

Woon-jeong became gloomy and went to sit in a corner. Then So-so looked back at Woon-jeong, gathered her sewing, and went next to him. Then she held cloth up to various parts of Woon-jeong’s body and began sewing.

Then Woon-jeong would glance at So-so and smile.

Woon-jeong and So-so were precious jade that brought small smiles amid the chaos of the Tang Family beginning its transformation.

Jin Ja-gang went to find Mu-gak. One of the excommunicated monks who came to the Tang Family was attending to Mu-gak, but the excommunicated monk was outside rather than inside.

“A guest has come to visit.”

“I know.”

A guest had come to visit Mu-gak.

Six River Immortal Yuk Ha-seon of Pleasure Heaven!

She who lost her entire right leg to Mu-gak was together with him.

Jin Ja-gang entered the room.

Inside the room…

Unexpectedly, drinking was underway.

“Wahahahaha!”

“Kkeul kkeul kkeul.”

Mu-gak and Yuk Ha-seon already had flushed faces and were laughing while making silly jokes.

Jin Ja-gang sat down in a seat without saying anything particular.

Mu-gak saw Jin Ja-gang then giggled and pointed with his broken, crooked finger.

“Immortal. When this guy greeted me yesterday, do you know what his first words were?”

Six River Immortal Yuk Ha-seon was dressed as a man and asked with merry laughter.

“What did he say?”

“He said, ‘How is your finger?'”

“Wahaha! That’s truly like the Poison Dragon!”

Yuk Ha-seon held her belly and laughed.

Mu-gak showed his broken, twisted index finger.

“So I said this. It’s usable enough. But you sure ask about people’s well-being in a strange way, don’t you?”

“Then what did Poison Dragon Hero answer?”

“Besides your finger, is there anywhere else on your body well enough to ask about, Monk?”

“Wahahahaha!”

“So I said. You bastard, I also have a mouth. A mouth! Since this mouth that feeds me is more important, from next time ask about my mouth’s well-being first.”

Yuk Ha-seon laughed until tears flowed.

As Jin Ja-gang sat awkwardly, Yuk Ha-seon poured him alcohol.

“Drink, Hero.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t refuse and drank the alcohol in one gulp.

“As expected of Sichuan’s Poison Dragon. Both jokes and drinking are spirited!”

“When have you seen me joke?”

“Oh my, this is a time for jokes. Not a time for blade fighting.”

“I didn’t come to fight with blades, but seeing the atmosphere, I seem to have come at the wrong time.”

Mu-gak laughed.

“Grudges in the martial world are deep yet shallow. They may be held in the heart for generations, yet sometimes melt away like snow with a single cup of alcohol.”

“That’s not a story for you to tell, Master.”

Yuk Ha-seon interjected.

“How can one blame each other for fighting over each other’s positions? Since it’s a past matter, we decided not to hold it in our hearts anymore.”

“We agreed she’d make me break my precepts by getting me to drink.”

“Since I made a enlightened high monk break precepts, one leg is due in hell.”

Though difficult to understand, perhaps in a battle of convictions… or perhaps not regretting an arm or leg in magnanimously brushing it off and strengthening friendship is the true appearance of the martial world.

“Actually, if we’re being strict, isn’t the grudge between me and you, Poison Dragon, deeper, having killed many of my disciples and grand-disciples?”

“That’s right. That’s why I came to ask.”

Jin Ja-gang’s expression suddenly became heavy. Already possessing the authority of a first-rate patriarch, just changing his expression made the air in the room become weighty.

“Why did you come to find me?”

“You ask a foolish question. Don’t put on airs and look outside.”

Mu-gak hiccupped and gestured outside with his chin.

“For the same reason they came.”

“You’re different, Master. You’re the Breaking Sect’s most senior elder and were the vanguard of the righteous practices.”

“About that…”

When Mu-gak paused briefly, Yuk Ha-seon fed Mu-gak alcohol.

“Keu.”

After drinking, Mu-gak said.

“Great Buddha threw me into a manure pit and spoke in my ear. If you’re so confident, try saving the world from inside the manure pit. I almost ate feces and died but was saved by a devout Buddhist’s hand and survived.”

Though subtle to call it rebellion, in Shaolin Temple, Great Buddha Beom-bon of the Embracing Sect, which had been pushed back by the Breaking Sect, raised a rebellion and succeeded.

The Breaking Sect within Shaolin Temple was annihilated.

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“Did you have nowhere to go?”

“No. Since there was absolutely no way to save the world from inside a manure pit, I came to find someone to save the world instead of me.”

“Then I’ll ask one more thing.”

Jin Ja-gang’s expression became even heavier.

“How much does Shaolin Temple know about the Hungry Ghost King?”

Then Mu-gak’s mouth shut tight. Yuk Ha-seon held a cup to Mu-gak’s mouth, but Mu-gak slightly moved his head trying not to drink.

“What are you hesitating about as an excommunicated monk?”

Yuk Ha-seon forcibly grabbed and made him drink. Mu-gak struggled then ended up drinking repeatedly. Later he gave up and drank for a long while.

“Puhaaa! Damn. Shaolin…”

Mu-gak spat curses then laughed heartily.

“No, since it’s not our Shaolin anymore, I should call it Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple knows almost everything.”

“Then why didn’t they intervene until now? Isn’t it true they didn’t step forward even while watching the martial world’s corruption?”

Mu-gak shook his head.

“Shaolin Temple is large and broad. Deep and high. Each step of Shaolin Temple’s path affects the entire martial world. Therefore it’s always slow and cautious. However, they were continuously moving beneath the surface.”

“It sounds like you were concerned the martial world would be influenced by Shaolin Temple.”

“The vitality of the martial world isn’t created arbitrarily. It always self-purifies. Look, didn’t a great figure called the Poison Dragon ultimately emerge from that hell-like place?”

“If Shaolin Temple had the power to encompass the martial world, they should have intervened before that. Then more people wouldn’t have been hurt.”

“Poison Dragon.”

Suddenly Mu-gak called Jin Ja-gang in an affectionate voice.

“What do you think of spiders spinning webs throughout the temple? Should we remove the spider webs thinking of the insects that will die caught in them?”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t answer hastily.

There was no need to ask if spiders and insects were the same as people. Shaolin Temple would say all life is the same. People die and reincarnate as insects, as animals, so ultimately life is the same, they would say.

“If there are many sparrows pecking at rice grains, the harvest decreases and troubles the farmers. Then should we chase away and kill the sparrows? Do you think you could then harvest rice abundantly?”

Mu-gak shook his head with great difficulty.

“Not so. When the natural enemy called sparrows disappears, pests will swarm and the fields become ruins. Sparrows merely share part of the crops people grew, but pests devour all the crops.”

Mu-gak looked at Jin Ja-gang and asked.

“You said it. Who is good and evil? Where is greater righteousness? Looking at the situation so far, one could say the Hungry Ghost King is evil and the martial world is good. However, who can say the Hungry Ghost King isn’t a sparrow?”

“Wasn’t Shaolin Temple’s long observation to determine that?”

“Correct. It took until now to conclude the Hungry Ghost King isn’t a sparrow. And ultimately pests swarmed in the martial world. However, there was the people’s greed to not share what’s theirs and take even a bit more for themselves. They killed the sparrow. Thus the Hungry Ghost King could establish himself.”

Jin Ja-gang fell into thought. Taoist Haewol said the martial world had been rotting from long ago.

Perhaps that wasn’t the Hungry Ghost King’s fault…

“Mud dropped in a pure land immediately shows. But mud dropped in muddy water doesn’t show.”

You cannot save the world from inside a manure pit!

Mu-gak again moistened his lips with the alcohol Yuk Ha-seon gave.

“That’s what Great Buddha said. Great Buddha said he himself must enter the manure pit to become manure.”

“Didn’t the Breaking Sect choose righteous walk to remove the muddy water?”

“Righteous walks aren’t about removing muddy water but overturning the entire soil. Taoist Haewol tried to save the soil by cutting out rotten roots and branches, but righteous walks aim to change the entire soil so the Hungry Ghost King cannot live.”

“However, Great Buddha hasn’t stopped righteous practices even after erasing the Breaking Sect. Rather, he joined hands with the Righteous Alliance that protects the existing order.”

“The Breaking Sect and Embracing Sect pursue the same purpose. To spread Buddha’s teachings, save sentient beings, and guide them to enlightenment. There’s only a difference in method.”

“You’re saying they’ll purify the world with the Hungry Ghost King’s methods? From rotten soil?”

Mu-gak paused briefly then continued.

“If the Breaking Sect sought to deny the Hungry Ghost King’s order and purify the world to spread Buddha’s teachings, Great Buddha seeks to acknowledge the Hungry Ghost King’s order and rather spread Buddha’s teachings in that world.”

“I cannot understand. Seeing a world where the Hungry Ghost King’s order remains as proper.”

“Impermanent world. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. The moment of enlightenment, everything surrounding us becomes emptiness and meaningless. Whether the Hungry Ghost King’s world or the existing world, if one can attain enlightenment, it doesn’t matter at all. Great Buddha rather sees now as the best opportunity to spread Buddha’s teachings…”

Where is right and where is wrong?

Where is the limit and end?

If you just change perspective slightly and look differently, everything appears right.

Just as Taoist Haewol said.

Each righteousness is clashing.

And at that moment, Jin Ja-gang realized.

Great Buddha Beom-bon had watched the martial world for a long time. Even until the Breaking Sect couldn’t endure and rose up.

But finally decided to make Buddha’s teachings bloom in the Hungry Ghost King’s world.

Shaolin Temple, which says of itself that it moves so slowly as to be cautious.

Even within that Shaolin Temple, Great Buddha Beom-bon who watched the martial world the longest.

That he insisted on the Hungry Ghost King’s methods.

That’s never a decision made in an instant.

That is…

Jin Ja-gang got goosebumps.

He opened his eyes wide and stared at Mu-gak.

“Is… is what I’m thinking right now correct?”

Mu-gak quietly looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang gradually even raised killing intent.

“Answer me, Master Mu-gak. You know. If you don’t speak, you die.”

There was no falsehood in Jin Ja-gang’s threat. If he said he’d kill, he would kill, and that was known.

However, not out of fear of death but by his own will, Mu-gak opened his mouth.

“That’s right…”

Mu-gak sneered with his twisted face.

“Great Buddha himself is the Hungry Ghost King, or at least knows who the Hungry Ghost King is.”

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