Chapter 85

“It’s regrettable, Clan Leader Seo.”

A venerable monk with a long beard and brows leaned on a stone staff and spoke.

“How did the world come to hold such a poor image of the Brahmacharya Clan? I won’t speak at length. The head temple is watching this matter closely.”

“I am ashamed.”

The monk’s dharma name was Jong Haeng.

Brahmacharya Clan’s sect master, Seo Tae-gon, simply nodded in response to Great Master Jong Haeng’s words.

Before him he could offer no excuse or protest. Why? Because Great Monk Jong Haeng was the Yuddhajaya—the Fighting‑Victorious Buddha—said to possess the strongest martial skill among the Shaolin warrior‑monks.

The reason the head temple had sent the Yuddhajaya was clear: they would not listen to any defense from the Brahmacharya Clan.

“Then what punishment will Shaolin impose…?”

Seo Tae-gon clung to a final hope.

What tormented the Brahmacharya Clan were baseless rumors drifting through Suzhou province.

Even as everyone pointed fingers, he knew the truth. He had never committed lewd acts.

Therefore he believed Shaolin would act justly. How long had the Brahmacharya Clan served Shaolin?

But Jong Haeng’s answer did not meet his expectations.

“We will have to close the Brahmacharya Clan’s gates for a time.”

“…!”

Seo Tae-gon felt darkness descend before his eyes.

The sealing of the gate!

It was the worst punishment the head temple could hand an affiliated family.

In a trembling voice, Seo Tae-gon asked Jong Haeng.

“Could you reconsider…?”

“There is no reconsideration.”

Seo Tae-gon’s head dropped in despair.

But who was speaking? The Yuddhajaya. His words meant that if the Brahmacharya Clan resisted, they would be forced—by arms if necessary—to follow the head temple’s will.

Seo Tae-gon felt powerless. Over mere rumors. Would they close the Brahmacharya Clan’s gates because of a single rumor spread by that author…

“We will follow the head temple’s… will.”

He had no other choice.

“You made a hard decision.”

Great Master Jong Haeng nodded slightly.

But then.

“No, Father!”

Seo Tae-gon’s daughter, the only child remaining at the main house, Seo Nak-yeon, burst in and shouted.

“Seal the gate? Absolutely not! If you close the clan like this, what will the world think of the Brahmacharya Clan? Until my father’s name is cleared, under no circumstances—no matter what—may you seal the gates!”

With reddened eyes, Seo Nak-yeon yelled fiercely at Great Master Jong Haeng.

“How can Shaolin do this to us! You didn’t even properly investigate the facts! Are you going to abandon the Brahmacharya Clan, which has followed Shaolin for generations, just because of worthless street rumors sullying your reputation?”

“Seo Nak-yeon! What do you think you’re doing right now!”

“Have I said anything wrong, Father!”

“Show respect to the Great Monk! This is not a matter for you to interfere in!”

Unyielding, Seo Nak-yeon glared viciously at Great Master Jong Haeng.

“Do you know how much wealth the Brahmacharya Clan has offered to the head temple over the past decades? And yet you would seal our gates? Drive us out like this? Don’t you understand that if you close the sect, the rumors will be accepted as fact! People will remember the Brahmacharya Clan for life as a disgraceful sect in the world! Is that what Shaolin wants?”

Thunk!

Listening quietly to Seo Nak-yeon’s words, Great Monk Jong Haeng struck the floor with his stone staff and said,

“The head temple’s decision is fair. If there is guilt, there will be punishment; if not, there will be none. If you truly care for the Brahmacharya Clan, sit quietly and await Mount Song’s judgment.”

Overcome with injustice, Seo Nak-yeon collapsed and began to cry.

“Hey! Is there no one out there? Take Nak-yeon out at once!”

Only after Seo Nak-yeon had been dragged out did Seo Tae-gon bow his head to Great Master Jong Haeng.

“I’m sorry for showing such an unseemly display.”

“Do not apologize.”

But did Seo Tae-gon willingly accept Shaolin’s will?

The one most tormented was the sect master of the Brahmacharya Clan himself.

“…But if we follow Shaolin’s will—if we follow their will, will that wash away the Brahmacharya Clan’s shame? I swear to the Buddha I did not commit any lewd acts. The rumors spread by that author are, as my daughter said, all false. Will Shaolin truly handle this matter impartially…?”

Thud!

Great Monk Jong Haeng struck the stone staff on the floor once more.

Beneath his thick white eyebrows his gaze was sharp.

“Clan Leader Seo, are you doubting Shaolin right now?”

“…I am sorry.”

Jong Haeng, who had stared at Seo Tae-gon’s bowed head for a long moment, spoke again.

“Everything will be set right for the sake of Shaolin. Rest assured.”

“….”

The Yuddhajaya never once said he was acting for the Brahmacharya Clan’s sake.

Seo Tae-gon felt the anxiety in his heart churn.

“Everything has slipped from my hands.”

Left alone, Seo Tae-gon sat in the main hall and met the gaze of the Birojana Buddha.

The Birojana Buddha statue enshrined by the Brahmacharya Clan was uncanny.

When misfortune came it seemed to frown; when good fortune came it seemed to smile.

The curves of the statue’s eyes and mouth shifted with the viewer’s mood.

“So, how are you today?”

Seo Tae-gon clasped his hands and looked up at the Birojana Buddha.

“O Birojana Buddha, can the Brahmacharya Clan rid itself of this disgrace?”

The Birojana Buddha gave no answer.

As it always did.

“…Amitabha Buddha.”

Seo Tae-gon felt wronged.

It was unbearable that all the virtuous deeds the Brahmacharya Clan had amassed across generations collapsed over a single rumor.

He had done everything he could to clear his name.

His daughter, Seo Nak-yeon, must have knocked on the doors of every garden and household in Suzhou.

Those who knew Seo Tae-gon’s character pledged to his daughter that they would help clear his name.

Yet still the rumors did not subside. Day by day, more people pointed at the Brahmacharya Clan.

The rumors began to take on flesh.

Even those once certain the sect master could not have done such things were gradually infected by doubt.

Friends who had trusted him began to turn away. No garden would open its doors to him anymore.

And the conclusion of these rumors was this: Shaolin’s decision to seal the gates.

“O Birojana Buddha, how can such a thing happen in the world?”

He had lived his whole life following the Buddhist path.

He wouldn’t glance at things not of the Way, wouldn’t eat them, wear them, see them, or listen to them.

He swore to the Birojana Buddha he had never molested a woman or threatened anyone.

He was a Buddhist following the Buddha, a father to one daughter, and the master of a Buddhist sect.

In Buddhism they believe in karma.

If he had performed virtuous deeds all his life, heaven would not forsake the Brahmacharya Clan like this.

…It shouldn’t be so.

“Amitabha. O Birojana Buddha, grant us the strength to overcome this calamity. If my power is insufficient, send a benefactor to help us…”

For the first time in his life, Seo Tae-gon prayed to the Birojana Buddha for deliverance.

He fervently wished the situation would unwind like a tangled thread and that the Buddha would send a benefactor to the Brahmacharya Clan.

Seo Tae-gon’s chant of the Buddha’s name stretched longer than ever.

While he was deeply engaged in recitation, someone came to see him.

“Master, a guest has come.”

“A guest at such a time? Tell them the Brahmacharya Clan no longer accepts visitors.”

At present, hosting guests would only spread ill luck.

Wasn’t it enough for the Brahmacharya Clan alone to bear misfortune? At least Seo Tae-gon thought so.

“It’s not that…”

“Hm?”

“Young Master Seo Nak-il has… come to visit.”

“What did you say?”

He was the eldest son who long ago ran away from home, saying he could not follow the Buddhist path.

He had hoped that fate might bring them together again someday—why, of all times, was it now?

“Should I send him away?”

Seo Tae-gon’s tightly held sigh burst forth.

Is it Buddhist to show the disgrace of a family on the brink of ruin, or is it Buddhist to turn away a son who has returned from afar?

“O Birojana Buddha, what should I do…?”

The Birojana Buddha answered nothing. As always.

Seo Tae-gon rose, weary, and said,

“Show him in. I will go out to meet him.”

After Seo Tae-gon left, in the main hall where no trace of human warmth remained,

only the Birojana Buddha remained, casting that strange smile.

“What brings you here?”

For a greeting to a son returned after years, the words were cold.

Seo Nak-il’s expression, looking at his father after years, was not exactly cheerful either.

“Your mother sent a letter.”

Without Seo Tae-gon’s knowledge, his wife had pleaded for help from their son.

Given his wife’s character, she had surely detailed the Brahmacharya Clan’s current plight; otherwise the eldest son would not have returned.

“I’ll have some tea brought; drink and then go back.”

“…”

Seo Nak-il felt a lump in his throat.

Though the main house stood on the verge of ruin, his father told him to leave rather than ask for help.

What transparent pride that was.

The two sat motionless, glaring at each other in silence.

In their place, one person sipped his tea.

“Hm, perhaps because it’s a temple. The tea’s aroma is fine.”

It was Yeon Mujin.

“Who is your guest that came with Nak-il?”

“He is our captain.”

“Captain?”

“He is the captain of the External Protection Troops of Flying Swallow Manor of the Bukgung Family.”

Seo Tae-gon startled and looked at Yeon Mujin.

He didn’t know much about Flying Swallow Manor or the External Protection Troops, but the name Bukgung Family carried weight.

“A guest from the Bukgung Family?”

“Why are you so surprised? The fellow here is also from the Bukgung Family.”

“Who says that?”

“Didn’t you know? Your son serves as the deputy captain of the External Protection Troops of Flying Swallow Manor of the Bukgung Family.”

Seo Tae-gon was astonished once more.

“You became a man of the Bukgung Family? Why did you not tell me?”

“Didn’t Mother tell you?”

Seeing his father’s subtle reaction, Seo Nak-il said,

“You didn’t hear. Mother probably told them not to tell you about me.”

“…”

It was the truth.

Seo Nak-il knew his father well.

“So I too remained completely ignorant of the main house’s affairs until things reached this state. If Mother hadn’t told me, did you intend to withhold news from me until the house fell?”

“This is none of your concern.”

“It is my concern. Even if Father doesn’t think so, Mother is my mother and Nak-yeon is my sister. Did you really think you’d bear the name Brahmacharya Clan alone and let it perish?”

“I’ll tell you when the time comes.”

“When was that time supposed to be? It’s long past—so now you say…!”

Realizing his voice had risen, Seo Nak-il sighed.

He asked again.

“What does the head temple say?”

Seo Tae-gon answered with silence.

“Anyway, even if I don’t hear it from you, I’ll hear it from someone else! How long do you think keeping silent will solve anything? Just speak plainly!”

“Shaolin says…”

Seo Tae-gon finally spoke.

“They have ordered that the Brahmacharya Clan’s gates be closed for a time.”

Bang!

It was the sound of Seo Nak-il striking the tea table.

With his force the table shattered into pieces; teacups broke and rolled.

Yeon Mujin had already picked up a teacup and avoided the breaking.

“Damn it! Have those Mount Song monks gone mad?!”

“Seo Nak-il! What kind of language is that!”

“What kind of bullshit is that! Closing the gates over a baseless rumor—does that make any sense?!”

“From Shaolin’s perspective it’s an appropriate measure. If they do nothing, the reputation of the eight Shaolin‑affiliated houses will be sullied.”

“Fuck, do you think closing the gates will solve the problem? What about our Brahmacharya Clan!”

Living with Yeon Mujin had roughened Seo Nak-il’s tongue considerably.

Seo Tae-gon was barely able to adjust to the changed face of his son.

He called his son’s name in anger.

“Seo Nak-il! What kind of reckless attitude is that!”

“Father and those Mount Song monks are all the same! They hush up the dirty things and won’t step forward to solve anything; they just fold their hands and act like hermits—do they think that helps? Maintaining that attitude is why things came to this! It’s obvious even without seeing!”

“It’s not what you think. Control yourself!”

Seo Tae-gon rose from his seat.

Teacups rolled across the floor as the room became a mess.

“If you’ve finished drinking, go. This is the Brahmacharya Clan’s matter.”

He said coldly.

It wasn’t that he disliked his returning son.

The times ahead for the Brahmacharya Clan would be harsh. He could not drag his son into such matters.

Heartlessness, after all, was fatherly love.

“Sect leader of the Brahmacharya Clan. May I say one thing?”

The man known as the captain of the External Protection Troops spoke to Seo Tae-gon as he was about to leave.

“…?”

He took a sip of the remaining cup of tea, smiled faintly, and said,

“Don’t be foolish—accept help when it’s offered.”