34 — Then There Is Only One Way. (4)

Crackle. Crackle.

“Zzzzz… Zzzzz.”

The campfire crackled and Chung Myung snored, their sounds echoing through the quiet forest. Night had already fallen, and everyone sitting around the fire watched Baek Cheon and the old man.

“So that’s the way to Shaolin.”

“Hmm. I see.”

The old man nodded as if in understanding.

Seeing that reaction, Baek Cheon unconsciously furrowed his brow.

‘Did I speak too freely?’

Saying it aloud felt strange. He didn’t even know the old man’s identity and suddenly wondered if he’d revealed their story too plainly.

What was stranger was that none of his sajils tried to stop him while he told that long story. Not even the ever-vigilant Tang Soso.

It was probably because of the atmosphere radiating from the old man.

Kind? No, it wasn’t that he looked kind. Rather, something else…

‘Should I say he looks like someone who walks the path of righteousness?’

Maybe ‘the Great Way’ was a better term than ‘righteousness.’ In any case, he gave the impression of someone who would never associate, even for a moment, with anything petty.

If one had to pinpoint it, that was the reason Baek Cheon spoke so easily.

“Hmm.”

While Baek Cheon was lost in thought, the silent old man glanced at him.

“Listen here, Taoist.”

“Yes, elder.”

“If it’s not rude, may this old man offer some presumptuous advice?”

“Rude? I wouldn’t think so.”

“Hmm. Thank you then.”

Even after asking permission, the old man hesitated once more, then sighed and spoke.

“Your plan is reasonable, but from what I know this trip to Mount Song will probably yield little benefit.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

The old man answered after a deep exhale.

“From what I’ve heard, this matter requires the influence of someone quite high-ranking, didn’t you say?”

“Yes. So we were on our way to seek out the Abbot of Shaolin, who holds the greatest authority among those we know.”

“Right. As I said, that idea isn’t wrong. But the problem is… it might be difficult with his power alone.”

“Yes? Why is that? The Abbot surely…”

“Indeed. He is the Imperial Preceptor. That much is undeniable. But the position of Imperial Preceptor is subtle; its authority can rise or fall depending on the time.”

Tang Soso nodded as if understanding.

“It’s not exactly a seat with real power.”

“Precisely.”

“So in the end you must rely on that authority. But now isn’t a time when the Imperial Preceptor can exert such authority?”

“That’s right.”

The old man nodded quietly and continued.

“As far as I know, the current Abbot of Shaolin last entered the court over twenty years ago.”

“Ah….”

“Even if he were to step forward now, how far would that influence reach?”

Even ten years can change the rivers and mountains.

When the Abbot first entered the court, his status as Imperial Preceptor likely drew many who wanted to align with him. But now—after twenty years—would the ties he built then still hold power?

“…I don’t think it will work.”

“Huh. Twenty years would do that. There probably aren’t many who still remember his face.”

“Still, wouldn’t the emperor remember? He did appoint him as a teacher of the court, after all.”

“He’d remember the bald head, perhaps.”

“Ah….”

Tang Soso squinted and said, “But… authority doesn’t have to be maintained by entering the court, right? An Abbot of Shaolin is a sage among those who revere the Buddha. Aren’t there powerful people who would still follow him?”

“That isn’t entirely wrong, but…”

Baek Cheon cut himself off and fell silent.

‘The problem is it doesn’t seem like that alone will solve things.’

If they at least knew who they were up against, Tang Soso’s idea might work. But even if powerful people treated the Abbot’s words as sacred, would they help without knowing who the opponent was? They might even offend someone higher.

No, probably not.

So Baek Cheon found the old man’s words persuasive.

He understood the matter would be harder than expected, but there was no other way.

“Thank you very much for your advice.”

The old man, sensing curiosity in Baek Cheon’s tone, asked, “Are you still going to Mount Song?”

“Yes. For now we have no other option. We’ll do what we can first.”

“It might be a wasted trip, you know?”

Baek Cheon smiled innocently. “I’m used to wasted trips.”

“….”

“If it were merely something we could do, we’d think it over, but this is something we must do. So even if it proves futile, there’s no reason to hesitate. Isn’t it better than doing nothing?”

The old man stared at Baek Cheon. After watching him with an odd expression for a while, he suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.”

“Old man?”

“Ha. Well I’ll be. Ha ha ha ha.”

The old man laughed for a while, then turned his head and looked at Yoo Han-bin.

“If your words are true, you only met that child ten days ago, didn’t you?”

Baek Cheon nodded calmly. “That’s right.”

“And yet you willingly bear such trouble for the child?”

Baek Cheon scratched the back of his head. “Isn’t it more important whether we think it’s the right thing to do than when we met him?”

The old man seemed at a loss for words as he stared at Baek Cheon, then turned his gaze to the others.

They neither affirmed nor denied it. But the old man could tell—their reactions sprang from the fact that Baek Cheon had said something so self-evident.

“…Even the Way has benevolence. Of course. A person should be that way. I was a fool to think human decency belonged only to Confucianism.”

The old man rose and suddenly bowed to Baek Cheon. Baek Cheon was startled and helped him back up.

“No, elder! Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“I’ve learned much today. I never expected to be taught by Taoists. If I held even the slightest contempt for you, I apologize.”

“What are you saying?”

Baek Cheon firmly sat the old man back down. “We’re not extraordinary. Rather, we’re lacking; that’s all we know to do.”

“That’s a remarkable thing.”

The old man silently tipped his empty cup, drank deeply, then set it down and looked at Yoo Han-bin.

“So… is this boy a descendant of the Shandong Yu family?”

“Sorry?”

Baek Cheon opened his eyes wide in surprise and stared at the old man. He had refrained from revealing Yoo Han-bin’s surname for fear of causing trouble, yet the old man guessed his identity from the general circumstances.

“How… ?”

The old man, wearing a cryptic expression, chuckled softly. “Seeing his face, I couldn’t help but know.”

“….”

Baek Cheon looked at the old man with slight displeasure.

“Since I’ve received great teaching today, I intend to repay you.”

“Repay, you say?”

“How about this?”

The old man’s expression suddenly grew serious. Overwhelmed for a moment by that intangible presence, Baek Cheon straightened without realizing it.

“Not the uncertain method you know, but if there is a way to definitively resolve that boy’s situation—would you join me?”

“What?”

Baek Cheon looked at the old man, bewildered.

He thought the old man unusual, but he hadn’t expected such an offer.

“You say there’s a certain method now?”

“Indeed.”

The old man nodded quietly. “I’m a little ashamed, and I have some ties to the Shandong Yu family, so I’ll help once.”

“But…”

Baek Cheon hesitated.

Could this old man solve something even the Abbot of Shaolin couldn’t easily fix? Could he be trusted? If not, they’d only waste time.

At that moment, Tang Soso asked, as if to ease Baek Cheon’s worries, “If it’s not rude, may I ask your name?”

“What’s difficult about that? I am So Jung-Gyeong.”

“Ah….”

Tang Soso smiled brightly and nodded.

‘He hasn’t heard of him.’

When Baek Cheon understood from Tang Soso’s expression and was about to politely decline the old man’s offer, it happened.

“So Jung-Gyeong, So Jung-Gyeong… Wait? C-could it be? So Dang-Baek? Teacher Dang-Baek (Silly Uncle)?”

“Huh?”

Jo Gul’s face went pale and he opened his mouth wide, then hurriedly asked So Jung-Gyeong, “Are you Teacher Dang-Baek?”

“Ha ha. I was called that once.”

Baek Cheon asked, bewildered, “Gul. Do you know him?”

“You mean, do I know him?”

Jo Gul’s look—half ‘you ignorant fool’—had become almost familiar. “Do you mean you don’t know Teacher So Dang-Baek, the former Grand Scholar?”

“…He must have been very learned.”

“Grand Scholar is an official title! Aaaah! This is maddening—these ignorant people!”

Jo Gul thumped his chest, exasperated.

After Jo Gul explained with great anguish, Baek Cheon learned that the Grand Scholar was one of the top three offices in the court and that So Dang-Baek had served as Grand Scholar about twenty years ago before retiring, and he nodded strongly.

“I see! I fully understand now.”

“…You still don’t seem to know.”

“But how did you know that?”

Jo Gul replied sheepishly, “When I studied letters long ago, my master told me repeatedly that the retired Grand Scholar, Teacher Dang-Baek, was a paragon for all Confucian scholars. I heard it so often it stuck in my ears.”

Baek Cheon nodded as if he now understood.

Jo Gul also looked at So Jung-Gyeong with a slightly flustered expression. It felt strange to meet the one he’d heard about from his master in the guise of a Taoist.

“If he truly is Teacher Dang-Baek, he should have a way. He once held a very high position.”

“Ha ha. No, that’s in the past by twenty years. Now I’m just a scholar cut off from the court.”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, what you spoke of happened after I left the court, so I have no direct means to help.”

“Then how do you intend to help?”

So Jung-Gyeong smiled lightly. “I may no longer have power, but I know those who do, so it’s worth a try.”

“Ah….”

“I can’t say whether they’ll listen to you—that’s up to you. But at least those I will introduce now can probably offer more practical help than the Abbot of Shaolin. I vouch for them.”

Baek Cheon turned and looked at the Five Swords.

Those who had been exchanging glances all nodded in unison.

“Then we should go for now.”

“It doesn’t look like a bad idea.”

“Other than that, isn’t it better than bowing to the Abbot?”

“Amitabha. I also think this is the better option.”

Baek Cheon nodded. His thoughts weren’t much different. For one thing, this was a former Grand Scholar. The office of Grand Scholar isn’t lower than the Imperial Preceptor’s and even has real power the Preceptor lacks.

Since both entered the court over twenty years ago, wouldn’t this one be more helpful than the Abbot of Shaolin?

Having made up his mind, Baek Cheon turned his head to one last place.

Chung Myung, who had naturally risen from his seat, stared at So Jung-Gyeong with a curious look.

“Interesting.”

“Hm?”

Chung Myung grinned. “That means the place we’re going from now isn’t an ordinary place, right?”

“Depending on how you think about it, yes.”

“Good.”

A strange flash lit Chung Myung’s eyes. “Let’s go and see. Whether ghosts or monsters appear.”

A chilling smile lingered on Chung Myung’s face. The disciples of Mount Hua watching him whispered.

“He seems pleased he doesn’t have to go to the Abbot.”

“Yes. To anyone.”

They all shook their heads as if in agreement.