novelraw Chapter 2 : Chapter 2
Chapter 2 : Chapter 2
Chapter 2. Is His Head a Flower Garden?
It took nearly fifteen days to reach Mount Hwang District, where Seowon Temple was located. Moreover, it was a difficult journey by carriage because of the children. However, Lady Jeong felt as though she could breathe again now that she did not have to see Gang Myeon-uk.
“Mother. Look outside.”
Hearing her daughter’s voice, Lady Jeong emerged from her thoughts and pulled back the fabric hanging over the carriage window.
The vast river and the canyons rising on both sides looked like a painting. Although they had come because of her son, she felt she would have regretted it if she had not come.
Na Hyeon-seung’s family got out of the carriage and walked along the mountain path. Seowon Temple was crowded with people who had come to offer incense, pray, or listen to sermons. It was like this even though it was not a special day.
“You have come to see Great Master Beom Yo?”
“That is correct.”
Na Hyeon-seung requested to stay in the guest quarters and told his business to the young monk who was guiding them. The monk tilted his head in confusion.
“I do not know what business brings you here, but it has been a long time since Great Master Beom Yo has met with any guests.”
“A few years ago, Great Master Beom Yo told me that I must come find him, which is why I am here. He will surely remember, so please just pass along the message.”
When Na Hyeon-seung pleaded so earnestly, the young monk looked annoyed but said he would do it. He thought to himself that even high-ranking officials and prestigious families could not meet him, so these people should know their place.
However, once the message was delivered, Monk Gong Yeong, who attended to Great Master Beom Yo, came out and guided Na Hyeon-seung’s family.
The young monk was greatly surprised to see this and reflected on his actions. One should not judge people based solely on their appearance or status.
As they followed the narrow path, the sound of bamboo swaying in the wind could be heard occasionally.
The hermitage where Great Master Beom Yo resided was located in the middle of a bamboo forest, where sunlight filtered through the gaps in the dense leaves.
The gray roof was worn by time, dew gathered on the edges of the eaves, and the small stone lantern in front of the brown pillars was covered in moss, creating a quiet atmosphere. There was a sense of peace, as if even time was flowing slowly.
“We greet the Great Master.”
As soon as Na Hyeon-seung and Lady Jeong saw Great Master Beom Yo, they knelt and bowed.
“Please stand up. There is no need for this.”
“Great Master. Do you remember when you told us to come find you if something unusual happened to the child?”
“Of course.”
Great Master Beom Yo looked intently at the child in Lady Jeong’s arms and let out a soft sigh. Because of this child, there would be a change in his peaceful life. His training would be delayed by that much.
But how could one perform good deeds without encountering demons?
That, too, was a part of training.
“Leave the child here and come back for him after one hundred days.”
“Pardon? For one hundred days?”
Na Hyeon-seung asked back in surprise. Then, Lady Jeong hurriedly called out to him.
“My Lord!”
Looking at Lady Jeong, Na Hyeon-seung realized the mistake he had just made. It was a matter of great gratitude that Great Master Beom Yo was looking after his son as promised, yet he was complaining.
“I am sorry. I was momentarily overwhelmed. I will do as the Great Master says.”
After Na Hyeon-seung and Lady Jeong offered their greetings and returned to the guest room, Great Master Beom Yo looked down at the child for a moment and spoke.
“Follow me.”
The prayer hall of the hermitage contained only a small table and a cushion. There was not even a Buddhist statue.
“Sit.”
When the child sat down, Great Master Beom Yo closed his eyes and recited a scripture. His voice was extremely clear and resonated so strongly that, although he was listening with his ears, it felt as if the words were being carved into his mind one by one.
However, it was infinitely difficult for a young child to understand. Seeing that Na Jin-an had fallen asleep before he knew it, Great Master Beom Yo quietly went outside.
The next day, and the day after that, Great Master Beom Yo recited scriptures from early morning all day long. He even did so while the child slept, so the sound of the recitations had to serve as a lullaby.
“What does it mean?”
After three days had passed, Na Jin-an asked. The child was now four years old. It was impressive enough that he did not cry or throw a tantrum because he missed his parents, but he also sat still while Great Master Beom Yo recited the scriptures. He did not try to play tricks or do other things, and even when he went to the outhouse, he came back immediately after finishing his business.
However, the first thing he said after three days was to ask for the meaning of the scripture.
“There is a scripture left by Bodhidharma, who attained enlightenment after nine years of facing a wall, while he stayed at the Shaolin Temple. They are the Bone Altering Scripture, the Muscle Change Scripture, and the Marrow Cleansing Scripture, and these are referred to as the Dharma’s Three Sutras.”
Great Master Beom Yo watched Na Jin-an listening intently for a moment before continuing his words.
“However, the contents were so profound that few people understood them. Fearing that the lineage might be broken, people began to create methods one by one. The seventy-two ultimate techniques passed down in the Shaolin Temple today are for the purpose of training in the Bone Altering Scripture, and internal energy cultivation methods like the Prajna Heart Art or the Peerless Great Ability were created to train in the Muscle Change Scripture. Only the Marrow Cleansing Scripture has been passed down in its entirety. What you have heard for the past three days is that very Marrow Cleansing Scripture.”
‘The Marrow Cleansing Scripture?’
Na Jin-an had also heard of the Dharma’s Three Sutras. In his past life, that is.
In truth, Na Jin-an had already lived one life. It was a miserable life stained with blood, and a difficult life where death always followed him. Naturally, he could not even die when his time was supposed to be up.
However, when he opened his eyes again, he had returned to being four years old in the past.
He had regressed.
At first, he could not believe it and thought it was all a dream. Nevertheless, he was so happy to see his family again that he cried for a full day and night. Afterward, he came to his senses and stayed blank for a while before realizing that it was not a dream.
All of this was reality.
Then, he became afraid. Since he did not know how he had regressed, he was scared that he might go back to the past, and he was despondent as he remembered his exhausted previous life.
As his anxiety increased, his mind gradually became depleted. That was also why he had slapped and cursed Gang Myeon-uk. He should have endured it for the sake of the future, but his eyes had flipped when he saw the man making a move on his mother, Lady Jeong.
However, because of that, he met Great Master Beom Yo, which was certainly something that had not happened in his past life.
The sound of Great Master Beom Yo reciting the Marrow Cleansing Scripture brought peace to Na Jin-an. He did not know the reason, but listening to it made his mind clear and his heart comfortable.
That was why he asked. To know what the content was.
But to think it would be the Dharma’s Three Sutras, known as the secret treasure of the Shaolin Temple!
And the Marrow Cleansing Scripture, which was said to be the most profound of them all!!!
Na Jin-an stared blankly at Great Master Beom Yo. He was curious how the monk knew the secret treasure of the Shaolin Temple.
“Is it something precious?”
“It is not precious. Bodhidharma did not discriminate against those who sought to train to achieve enlightenment. He passed it on to anyone regardless of status or age. It is the greed of humans that made the Marrow Cleansing Scripture precious.”
These were profound words. Taking the opportunity, Na Jin-an also asked about the anxiety in his heart.
“What should I do if water has already been spilled, and I am anxious because I do not know the reason it was spilled?”
“You are anxious because you only look at the cause. Is the fact that the water was spilled not what is more important? You must face reality. Then you will know how to deal with it, and your anxiety will disappear.”
The water was already spilled anyway. Therefore, it meant that he should focus on what to do in the future instead of looking for the cause. It was a message to look at the present and move toward the future instead of the past.
Na Jin-an remained motionless, lost in deep thought for a long time. Seeing a four-year-old acting like that was so cute that Great Master Beom Yo let out a laugh.
The moment enlightenment came, Na Jin-an sprang up from his seat and bowed to Great Master Beom Yo.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Since the Great Master has given me great enlightenment, I intend to serve you as my master from now on.”
“To call me master is out of the question. I do not take disciples.”
“Since I have learned the Marrow Cleansing Scripture, people will ask who my master is, and then I will have to say the Great Master’s name. But would it not be strange if you say I am not your disciple?”
Looking at Na Jin-an, who was speaking clearly with his short tongue, Great Master Beom Yo chuckled.
“Then will you shave your head and become a monk?”
Na Jin-an’s desire to become Great Master Beom Yo’s disciple was partly out of gratitude, but more for the sake of his future. Anyone could see the monk was extraordinary, his enlightenment was deep, and he even knew the Marrow Cleansing Scripture, so Jin-an wanted to form a relationship with him while he had the chance.
However, he did not want to be a monk. Then there would be many restrictions. His range of movement would become narrow, and above all, he would have to stay away from alcohol, meat, and women.
“Uh... that is a bit....”
“And yet you ask me to accept you as a disciple?”
“Is it not possible?”
“I cannot accept you as a disciple, but I will allow you to come here whenever you wish.”
This was a tremendous benefit. Great Master Beom Yo rarely met people privately.
Whether it was a prestigious family or a high-ranking official, or even if someone came from the Yeonnam Prince’s Manor, he turned them away. Great Master Beom Yo only met the people he wanted to meet.
Therefore, it meant that he would consider him like a disciple even if he were not actually one.
Na Jin-an understood those words immediately and bowed deeply before offering the tea that happened to be on the table. That was the etiquette performed when a disciple served a master.
Seeing the child whose eyes were sparkling, Great Master Beom Yo gave a low snort. However, he did not refuse the tea offered by those tiny hands.
***
That evening, Na Jin-an went to the guest quarters and met his family. Lady Jeong held the child in her arms and asked about what had happened.
“The Great Master kept reciting scriptures for me.”
“Is that so? So-an, Great Master Beom Yo is a person of deep enlightenment. It is a great blessing that such a person recites Buddhist scriptures for you, so you must never forget that grace.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Yes, you are a good boy.”
Lady Jeong stroked Na Jin-an’s head a few times and let out a sigh. After the child fell asleep a moment later, Lady Jeong looked at Na Hyeon-seung.
“My Lord. How can we leave this young thing behind?”
“There are novice monks even younger than So-an here. Since Great Master Beom Yo has a great reputation, you do not need to worry.”
Na Hyeon-seung had taken a leave of absence because of Na Jin-an. However, not many days were left, so he had to return soon.
Lady Jeong was worried about Na Jin-an and wanted to stay behind even if she were alone. But it cost a lot of money to stay for three months, not just a few days. Unfortunately, Na Hyeon-seung and Lady Jeong did not have that kind of money.
The person to look after Na Jin-mook and Na Yeon was also a problem. Lady Jeong was anxious about leaving the children with the servants because of Gang Myeon-uk.
Na Jin-an, who was listening to the conversation while pretending to sleep in his mother’s arms, was also worried. If his mother returned, Gang Myeon-uk would play his tricks again, and his father would still not believe it. Then only his mother would suffer.
However, the next day, a solution appeared unexpectedly. His uncle, Na Hyeon-gwang, had somehow found out and sent a servant.
Listening to the story, an acquaintance of his uncle had come to Seowon Temple and happened to see his father. So, he had passed the word to his uncle.
But his father had lived with ties cut from his family until now because of Gang Myeon-uk. Naturally, his relationship with the uncle was not good.
“Enough. Tell him I have no business with him.”
Na Hyeon-seung showed a look of displeasure and treated the servant sent by his uncle poorly.
Seeing that, Na Jin-an felt like he was going to go crazy from frustration. In his past life, his father had been unjustly killed. His mother, whose body was defiled, had committed suicide, and his older brother had died not many years later. And his older sister was sold as a concubine to an old wealthy man.
All of that was the doing of Gang Myeon-uk.
Na Jin-an, who learned the truth too late, had gone to find his uncle. But his uncle’s situation was not good either. He was living a difficult life after losing his government post.
So, would his uncle have been happy to see Na Jin-an?
Especially since there had not been a single contact in the meantime?
Na Jin-an still remembered the cold treatment he received then. Of course, there were reasons for it, but if the relationship between his father and uncle had been good, the situation would have been different.
Na Jin-an chased after the servant who was about to return.
“Wait a moment!”
“Oh my! Be careful, Young Master. You might fall.”
Even though he had received such treatment from his father, the servant treated Na Jin-an warmly. He was not a narrow-minded person.
Noticing that, Na Jin-an felt relieved inwardly.
“Did you really come because my uncle sent you?”
“Of course.”
“My father said so. That my uncle is the District Magistrate here. That it is a high government post and a great thing.”
It was a blatant lie. His father had never said such a thing. The Na Jin-an of the past life did not even know that his uncle was a District Magistrate until he went to find him.
“Did he really say that?”
The servant crouched down to meet Na Jin-an’s eye level, seemingly surprised.
“Yes. He said my uncle is kind and loyal. But my father has done something wrong, so he cannot see him.”
That, too, was entirely made up. But how would the servant know that?
Hearing what Na Jin-an said, the servant thought that Na Hyeon-seung also wanted to meet Na Hyeon-gwang but was ignoring him because of his pride.
“My mother also said my uncle is a good person.”
“The two of them said that, did they?”
“Yes. So, can I see my uncle?”
“Of course you can. Indeed. I will go and speak well of this.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“It is a promise?”
“Yes. I promise.”
The servant laughed because Na Jin-an, who was checking with wide eyes, was so cute.
As the servant left, Na Jin-an let out a sigh.
It really makes my blood dry up. Truly.
He was lucky this time, but he does not know how it will go next time. There is a limit to handling things with the body of a small four-year-old child. He needs a helper he can trust and use.
Who would be good?
He does not even consider his father. With that frustrating personality, would he listen to the words of a four-year-old? Especially his own son?
His mother is also out. She is introverted and timid, so it is certain she will only worry.
His sister is too kind and gentle, so she is excluded.
Then the only one left is his brother.
The eldest son, Na Jin-mook, was nine years older than Na Jin-an and was thirteen this year. Since it is winter now, he will soon be fourteen. And after one more year, he will be at the age where he can have his coming-of-age ceremony.
Having a coming-of-age ceremony means being recognized as an adult. It is also two years later when his father and mother will die. If he teaches him well from now on to prepare for that time?
“What are you doing here in the cold?”
Na Jin-mook happened to come out. Seeing his brother’s bright smile, Na Jin-an unintentionally felt a slight tension in his brow.
Will it really work?
His brother also takes after their father, so is his head a flower garden?