novelraw Chapter 5 : Chapter 5
Chapter 5 : Chapter 5
Chapter 5. Great Master Beom Yo Said That?
Lady Jeong and Lady An were in the middle of a deep conversation in the rear garden when Na Yeon arrived, holding Na Eun's hand. Na Yeon had already changed her clothes. The two of them were chattering away without a pause, looking at each other as if they had a mountain of things to say.
“Mother. How does Yeon look? She is pretty, is she not?”
“That is because you picked out such a good outfit for her, Eun.”
Since Na Eun and Na Yeon were both twelve years old, they addressed each other comfortably with nicknames. It was also because their personalities matched well; Na Eun was active and lively, while Na Yeon was demure and kind.
“You look lovely.”
“Thank you, Aunt, for giving me such beautiful clothes.”
“I was the one who gave them to you, but Mother is the one getting thanked?”
When Na Eun joked, everyone present burst into laughter.
“I am the one who bought those clothes, so why are you trying to take the credit?”
“Ah, now that I think about it, Mother is right. But since Father is the one who paid for them, Yeon, you should thank Father later.”
Everyone laughed once more at those words.
“Honestly, you are far too good with your words. Please understand, Sister. She is quite the spunky one, so she acts like this.”
Lady Jeong smiled as she looked at Na Eun. She was grateful that the girl got along so well with Na Yeon despite it being their first meeting. At that, she took off the jade plaque she was wearing at her waist and gave it to Na Eun.
“Thank you, Great Aunt.”
“You are a good girl.”
“Sister. By the way, how did you end up coming to Seowon Temple?”
When Lady An asked, Lady Jeong spoke as indirectly as possible. It would surely be looked upon unfavorably if she said that her youngest, Na Jin-an, had come to see Great Master Beom Yo because he was possessed by a ghost.
However, Lady An was surprised by something else entirely.
“What? You met Great Master Beom Yo? So-an is no ordinary child. To have caught that man's eye....”
“Is Great Master Beom Yo truly that incredible?”
“It would be a waste of breath to even explain. Everyone knows that nine out of ten people who visit from the Yeonnam Prince's Manor are turned away. To receive teachings from such a person is truly a great blessing.”
Lady Jeong knew the Great Master was extraordinary, but seeing Lady An's reaction made her realize it anew.
“Furthermore, seeing as he told you to leave the boy for a hundred days, he might even take him as a disciple. If that happens, who would dare look down on the child?”
“That is far too much praise. I have no intention of letting So-an enter the priesthood.”
“He does not necessarily have to become a monk to be a disciple. Just like the Shaolin Temple accepts secular disciples.”
Now that she thought about it, that was true. However, it was not something that could be forced through greed, so Lady Jeong simply smiled.
Lady An felt frustrated by that reaction and added one more thing.
“They say Great Master Beom Yo has deep enlightenment and can see the future. Do you know how many people cling to him for that reason? To be honest, I even asked my husband and went there several times myself. I never managed to meet him even once, though.”
“Is that so?”
Just then, Na Jin-seong arrived carrying the youngest, accompanied by Na Jin-mook. Na Jin-sang followed a short distance behind, looking quite pleased with himself. It was because he had won the earlier sparring match against Na Jin-mook.
“Come here.”
Lady An smiled as she saw Na Jin-an and reached out her hands. When Na Jin-an hesitated for a moment before letting her hold him, Lady An was so overcome by his cuteness that she did not know what to do.
Her own children were all grown up, so it had been a very long time since she had held a child this young.
“I hear you are receiving teachings from Great Master Beom Yo?”
“When the Great Master recites the scriptures for me, my heart feels at ease.”
Na Jin-an spoke while staring back with wide, clear eyes. At that, Lady An’s face brightened.
“Is that so? That is because you are a kind soul. You have been blessed.”
“Mother told me that if I receive something to be grateful for, I must definitely repay it. So I bowed to the Great Master, but he said I could not be his disciple.”
“Such a thing happened?”
Lady An, who had been secretly hopeful, was greatly disappointed. She had hoped to benefit a little from the fact that the Great Master was teaching Na Jin-an.
If she could even catch a glimpse of Great Master Beom Yo’s face through this, she could brag about it everywhere, and it would give her husband, Na Hyeon-gwang, some prestige as well.
“Instead, he told me I could come whenever I wanted.”
Lady An looked at Lady Jeong. It was a look asking if she understood the weight of what Na Jin-an had just said.
Naturally, Lady Jeong understood as well. If the Great Master would not even meet people from the Yeonnam Prince’s Manor, telling someone they could come whenever they wanted meant he already considered them a disciple.
“Oh my, you are truly a bundle of blessings.”
Lady An hugged Na Jin-an tightly and patted his bottom.
Na Jin-an’s face turned red at Lady An’s unexpected action. No matter how much she was his aunt, it was embarrassing to have his bottom patted like that.
‘How old do you think I am.... Tsk.’
As Na Jin-an received all the affection, Na Jin-sang frowned slightly. He had also heard of Great Master Beom Yo.
He could not understand why such a great person would show grace to a mere brat like that. He was envious and jealous.
“You said So-an would receive teachings from Great Master Beom Yo for a hundred days, right?”
“That is right.”
“Then will you be staying at Seowon Temple the whole time?”
“Actually, I am worried about that very thing. My Lord’s leave of absence is almost over, so he has to return soon. I cannot bring myself to leave if it means leaving the youngest behind alone.”
“Oh dear, how could you? He is so young; you must stay by his side to look after him, Sister.”
“I would like to, of course.”
Lady Jeong let out a deep sigh.
Lady An, who had been watching her quietly, spoke with sparkling eyes.
“Sister, why do you not stay here instead?”
“Oh, I could not possibly. I cannot be a burden to your household.”
“A burden between family? We have rooms to spare; do you think there would be no place for you to stay? If you ask my husband, I am sure he will tell you to do so.”
Lady An was efficient in her handling of matters. She was the type to act immediately once she made up her mind.
However, Lady Jeong’s hesitation was frustrating. Still, pushing too hard might make it seem like she was forcing her, so she asked Na Jin-an, who was in her arms.
“So-an. What about you? You want to stay with your mother, do you not?”
Na Jin-an knew what his mother was worried about. She was afraid of appearing materialistic by suddenly relying on the family after having no contact for so long.
However, now was not the time to be picky about such things. While searching for a way, something came to Na Jin-an’s mind.
“Mother.”
When Na Jin-an called, Lady Jeong looked at him with a smile.
“The Great Master said something. He said Mother must not go to the North.”
“What? Great Master Beom Yo told you that?”
Lady Jeong asked back in surprise. The place where Na Hyeon-seung’s family lived was Jeokgye District, north of Mount Hwang, while this place, Mount Hwang District, was to the South. Therefore, to go home, they had to head North.
“He said Big Brother must stay in the South. Otherwise, he might die.”
“Jin-mook might die?”
Lady Jeong’s eyes widened. It was shocking that Great Master Beom Yo had actually said such a thing. He would not have said it because of her or Na Jin-mook; it was surely because of Na Jin-an.
“Goodness! Sister, how could he be so accurate? Great Master Beom Yo really must be able to see the future. That is why he told So-an those things.”
Lady An made a fuss. Lady Jeong was trembling. At this point, she was the one who had to ask for the favor.
“Sister, I know this is shameless of me, but....”
“Not at all, Sister. It is good to have the children bustling about. I will be happy to have someone to talk to as well. Please speak well to the eldest brother. I will speak to my husband as well.”
Na Jin-an, who was quietly listening to the conversation between the two women, smiled secretly when things went according to his plan.
Since I said it was the Great Master’s word, they do not even have a shred of doubt. I should use this tactic often in the future.
***
The next day, as Lady An handed a hangover soup to her husband, Na Hyeon-gwang, she told him about what had happened the previous day.
“I cannot tell you how lovely the children are. Jin-mook has a serious personality, and Yeon is kind and considerate. The youngest, So-an, is so bright that Great Master Beom Yo treats him like a disciple.”
“The Great Master does?”
“The child is blessed. However, I hear the eldest brother has to return soon for work. That would leave the youngest all alone; imagine how lonely he would be. So, I was thinking, why not let the sister-in-law and the children stay here?”
“Hmm! I do not mind, but would it not be difficult for you?”
“Difficult? Not at all. It is because you did not see them yesterday. Jin-seong acted like such a reliable older brother; it was heartening to see. Besides, if we can form a connection with Great Master Beom Yo thanks to So-an, it will be a good thing for Jin-seong as well. It will be good for you too.”
“That is true. Then do as you wish.”
“However, the sister-in-law is too kind-hearted to ask for the favor. It seemed the eldest brother is the same way, so why do you not bring it up first today?”
“I understand. I will do that.”
Lady An had assessed the situation correctly.
Na Hyeon-seung had also decided to do so after hearing the whole story from his wife, Lady Jeong, but he could not bring himself to ask the favor of the brother he had just met after so long.
But thankfully, Na Hyeon-gwang was the one to bring it up first.
Given what he had heard from Lady An, he felt that looking after his sister-in-law and nephews would improve his relationship with his brother. The house was not small, nor was he lacking money, so it was not a difficult task.
“Then I shall leave them in your care.”
“Do not worry, Brother.”
Na Hyeon-seung took Na Jin-an to Seowon Temple and returned to Jeokgye District two days later.
***
Lady Jeong intended to visit Seowon Temple once every three or four days because she was worried about the youngest.
However, that would be cumbersome and expensive. So, Na Jin-an once again claimed it was the Great Master's word and had her come only once every ten days.
“Did the matter finish well as you desired?”
Na Jin-an, who had used Great Master Beom Yo’s name several times, felt a twinge of guilt.
‘Ah, now that I think about it....’
Na Jin-an remembered what the Great Master had said before they went to the uncle’s house.
‘You will likely use my name for your own gain soon.’
Now he saw that those words meant exactly this.
However, Na Jin-an pretended not to know and spoke nonchalantly.
“Yes. It was resolved well thanks to you, Master.”
Seeing that, Great Master Beom Yo chuckled. It was as if he knew exactly what was in Na Jin-an’s heart.
“Straighten your posture and sit.”
“Yes.”
Na Jin-an, who had been sitting lazily, moved into a half-lotus position. He originally should have done a full-lotus position, but his legs were too short to cross that way.
Great Master Beom Yo recited the Marrow Cleansing Scripture. As the heavy and clear voice resonated reverently, Na Jin-an listened with focus.
“Have you memorized it all?”
“Yes. I can now recite the whole thing without missing a single character.”
“Then how much have you enlightened yourself?”
“When I listen to you recite it, Master, my heart feels at ease and my mind becomes clear.”
At Na Jin-an’s innocent answer, Great Master Beom Yo laughed.
“Your trickery is the only thing growing. From now on, I will interpret the meaning for you, so tell me if there is anything you do not understand or know.”
“Yes.”
Na Jin-an answered energetically, but he was blocked from the very first verse. What on earth did this mean? He was certainly listening, but it was as if it were a language from another country; he could not understand a single thing.
He had not studied literature hard in his past life, but he had learned and mastered several internal energy cultivation methods, and yet it was like this. Was the Marrow Cleansing Scripture perhaps unrelated to martial arts at all?
That could not be.
Great Master Beom Yo had said before that the Bone Altering Scripture and the Muscle Change Scripture were the foundation of the Shaolin Temple’s martial arts. Had he not also said that the essence was contained entirely within the Marrow Cleansing Scripture?
“What is the matter?”
“I have no idea what it means at all.”
“It does not matter, so just keep listening.”
Wait, did you not just tell me to ask if I did not know?
Na Jin-an first listened hard as Great Master Beom Yo told him to. While doing so, he tried to understand even a little bit, but he could not grasp a single character.
By the time he came to his senses, he had already finished a long nap. He had accidentally fallen asleep while listening to Great Master Beom Yo interpret the Marrow Cleansing Scripture.