Chapter 52: Peach Blossoms Bloom in the Mountain Temple
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52: Peach Blossoms Bloom in the Mountain Temple
April had come to an end.
In the streets of Xinxing County, the spring blossoms had already withered and fallen.
The people whispered amongst themselves in the shadows.
“Did you hear? About Hang In-woo’s White Dragon Gang. It turns out Lee Yu-baek was the one who set him up in business in the first place.”
“Is that true?”
“It is. Hang In-woo had no foundation in Xinxing County. Without help, he would have been at a total loss for how to make a living.”
“I suppose he would have been.”
“So Lee Yu-baek gathered porters and herb gatherers for him, helped him pioneer paths to avoid the bandits, and even arranged banquets to introduce Hang In-woo to the county’s notable martial artists. It was all thanks to Lee Yu-baek’s patronage.”
“Good heavens… and despite all that…?”
“He’s no human. That Hang In-woo was a beast in human skin.”
For some reason, everyone spoke in hushed tones.
Sorrow. Grief. Bitterness.
The atmosphere was so heavy that no one dared to speak with any hint of excitement.
“So, is Mount Cheonro a lost cause now?”
“It is.”
“The entire martial arts community of Xinxing County has been shattered. What more is there to say?”
“Still. If knight-errants from other regions came to help…”
“And why would they? The very people who should be leading the charge are all laid out flat in coffins.”
“Ah. Is that how it is?”
“That’s how it is. Adding flowers to brocade is a joy everyone wants a part of, but bringing charcoal in the snow is nothing but hardship.”
Everyone had been secretly nursing a hope.
If the Mount Cheonro Bandits were subjugated and the mountain passes opened, Xinxing County would have flourished.
Guangdong was a coastal province. Its greatest competitive advantages were salt and seafood—the bounties of the ocean. Thus, the people of Xinxing County had always yearned for the sea.
Although Xinxing itself was nestled deep in the mountains, the coast wasn't entirely out of reach. One only had to cross Mount Cheonro to reach Eunpyeong, from where they could take a river straight to the great coastal city of Yangjiang.
Yangjiang—a city of salt, producing endless quantities thanks to its high salinity and vast mudflats. A port city where deep, calm waters allowed massive, far-sailing vessels to bring in a ceaseless supply of seafood.
If Xinxing County could connect directly to it through Mount Cheonro, the region’s wealth would have doubled overnight.
Acquiring cheap salt and seafood in Xinxing would have been just the beginning. They could have traded those goods further inland. Considering that the prices of salt and seafood increased exponentially the farther one traveled from the coast, the profits for Xinxing would have been astronomical.
Thus, the disappointment of the people was immense.
“…Hah. What a waste. Such a tragic waste.”
“So many righteous knight-errants, fallen like scattered petals…”
“No flower blooms for ten days, I suppose. The mood was so promising for a while.”
“I thought our own fortunes were about to bloom, too. Those damned bandits.”
“I heard there’s going to be a funeral for the fallen at Gugeunsa Temple.”
“We should go.”
“We must.”
“…I especially want to pay my respects to the Great Hero Shin Ja-eon, the Severing Sword Sect Leader. He lost his life fighting a battle that wasn't even his to win.”
“You’re right. Great Hero Shin Ja-eon… I never knew he was such a man of justice. I truly never knew.”
“That bastard Hang In-woo…”
“It only brings bitterness to speak of him. Let’s stop.”
“Yes. Let’s leave it at that.”
“…It will be a sorrowful funeral.”
A heart-wrenching, bitter feeling hung over the county. Still, there were stories that offered a small measure of comfort to those aching hearts.
“I heard Young Hero Yeon Seon-hong’s performance in this battle was incredible.”
“I have a friend in the Severing Sword Sect, and he told me it was Young Hero Yeon who personally slew Hang In-woo.”
“Get out of here! That’s impossible.”
“No, he swears it’s true… he said that anyone who so much as touched Young Master Yeon just dropped dead.”
“My, my. What an exaggeration.”
“Right. That’s a bit much.”
“…I thought so, too. But that’s what I heard. I was a bit skeptical myself.”
“Does it make any sense that people would die just by touching someone in a fight between experts?”
“Exactly. He must have made a big impression by fighting bravely amidst the chaos, so people are remembering it with a bit of flair.”
Whenever they spoke of Yeon So-wol, it was as if they had all agreed to cast off their gloom and speak with passion.
“It’s possible Young Hero Yeon killed Hang In-woo. But even if he did, Hang In-woo must have already been in tatters after fighting Great Hero Lee Yu-baek and the other experts.”
“True. I heard there was a significant difference in their cultivation realms.”
“But there’s no doubt he played a major role. They say many more would have died if not for Young Master Yeon.”
“That must be true. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? For a ridiculous rumor like ‘people die with a single touch’ to be circulating, he must have done something truly spectacular.”
“Vivid Red, Yeon So-wol. Yeon Seon-hong! He shone alone once again. Another great hero is being born right here in Xinxing County.”
Rumors often exaggerate the truth, but sometimes, they can also diminish it.
*
Blink.
Kang Mu-hyeok opened his eyes.
The ceiling was unfamiliar. The smell of medicinal herbs was overpowering.
“Are you awake?”
He turned his head and saw Lee Yu-baek sitting by his side.
“Master.”
Kang Mu-hyeok slowly tried to sit up.
“Stay down.”
“It’s all right. I must have been lying here for quite a while. It doesn’t hurt as much as I expected.”
“You’ve been treated with high-grade golden wound medicine for three days. Everything has been handled in the meantime. The bodies have been moved to Gugeunsa Temple, washed, and placed in coffins. We’ve also distributed gold taels to the families of the deceased.”
“Ah. I should have been the one to do that…”
“It’s done. All that’s left is the funeral. It will last for ten days, as we expect people to travel from afar once the news spreads.”
“I see.”
“You should rest.”
“No, sir. I’ll participate. I’ll take it easy.”
“I said rest.”
“It’s all right. The funeral is at Gugeunsa Temple, isn’t it? The monks there are skilled in medicine, so I can recuperate there while showing my face.”
“…Fine, then. But do not overdo it.”
“Yes. Thank you, Master.”
Kang Mu-hyeok started to bow his head, then stopped and gave a bitter smile.
“This is a problem, though.”
“What is?”
“The fact that I’m alive.”
“…What kind of nonsense is that?”
“The Severing Sword Sect lost its leader and its youngest direct disciple, didn’t they? And they came to help us in a fight that wasn’t even theirs… If the master and all the direct disciples of our Pungryu Martial Arts Hall survive, we’ll lose face. People might mock us, saying we didn't fight hard enough.”
“…”
“If I, the eldest disciple, had at least fallen, we could have saved some face, however little…”
“Mu-hyeok.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Shut up and lie down. Before I smack you myself.”
“Yessir.”
Kang Mu-hyeok quickly lay back down and pulled the blanket up to his nose.
*
Gugeunsa Temple was located a long way up the Jipseong River from Xinxing County.
It was the birthplace of the Sixth Patriarch, Huineng. In his later years, Huineng had returned to his hometown, founded Gugeunsa Temple on the site of his birth home, erected the seven-story Boeun Pagoda, and entered nirvana.
The title “Sixth Patriarch” signified that he was the sixth patriarch of Zen Buddhism. The first patriarch was the legendary Bodhidharma. As Bodhidharma was the great master who founded Shaolin, Huineng was a naesason—a fourth-generation disciple—who inherited the direct lineage of Bodhidharma.
Huineng, in particular, had established a new system centered on the Southern School of Zen’s "sudden enlightenment," superseding the Northern School’s "gradual cultivation" method. He had spread Zen to the masses, making him a teacher to all Buddhists under heaven. Consequently, Gugeunsa Temple became a holy site, a place of pilgrimage even for the monks of Shaolin, the Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the martial world.
Despite its fame, this was Yeon So-wol’s first visit to Gugeunsa Temple.
“It’s cool here. The flowers are still in bloom.”
After a long journey up the Jipseong River and a climb up the slopes of Mount Cheonro, Gugeunsa Temple finally appeared. Though the slope was gentle, Mount Cheonro boasted one of the highest altitudes in Guangdong Province, and a cool breeze constantly flowed down from its peaks.
Thanks to this, the mountain temple remained chilly. Unlike in Xinxing where the flowers had withered, the peach blossoms here were only now reaching full bloom.
For some reason, the sight struck Yeon So-wol’s heart with a sharp pang. The vibrant peach blossoms reminded him of the oleanders from that bloody day.
“So-wol. You don’t look well.”
Yeon So-wol avoided Lee Yu-baek’s gaze.
“It’s just… the world feels a bit cruel.”
“What about it is so cruel?”
“…My father tried so hard to subjugate Mount Cheonro, only to be betrayed like this. The knight-errants of Xinxing died in vain. The subjugation is off the table… It all feels so senseless.”
“Is that so?” Lee Yu-baek gave a faint smile. “But I don’t think it’s over yet.”
“…You’re right. As long as we hold onto our will, it’s not over. Someday, we’ll try again.”
“No. That’s not what I mean…” Lee Yu-baek, who had been about to explain, simply let out a soft laugh instead. “Well. You’ll see. For now, let’s focus on the funeral.”
“Yes.”
This was the first funeral he had attended since arriving in this world. No—this was the first funeral in Yeon So-wol’s entire life that he had to personally help manage.
Watching people die around him was not something a high school senior from the Republic of Korea was prepared for. As such, Yeon So-wol poured his entire heart into the rites. He felt that if he didn’t do things perfectly, he would dishonor the dead.
Throughout the funeral, Yeon So-wol was a blur of activity. He woke at dawn and bathed in freezing water. He replaced the incense in the funeral hall every hour. He wore coarse hemp mourning clothes, and every evening, he beat the garments with a wooden paddle to wash them.
He didn’t just do his own; he collected the clothes of Lee Yu-baek and his fellow disciples as well, washing them with Mo Cheong, the youngest, and ironing them smooth with a hot iron to prepare for the next day. Since it was unthinkable to use fragrance pouches at a house of mourning, it was vital to wash and iron the clothes daily so they carried only the faint, clean scent of fire.
“I’ll help.”
“Jin Geol? No, this is our duty…”
“Let me help.”
While he worked, Jin Geol would often jump in to lend a hand. Grateful, Yeon So-wol gave his shoulder a firm squeeze.
Yeon So-wol’s main duty was to greet the guests. Throughout the entire ten days, he never once smiled or made a careless move. He stood ramrod straight, greeting guests without wavering, his fire-scented mourning clothes always boasting razor-sharp creases.
One day, two days, three days passed.
Initially, they thought the number of guests would dwindle after the third day. For three days, the people of Xinxing would come, so it was bound to be crowded. After that, they expected it to be relatively quiet as only those from other regions would arrive.
But they were wrong.
On the fourth and fifth days, the number of guests only continued to increase. Yeon So-wol was puzzled, but in the midst of his exhaustion, he had no energy to ponder it. He simply spent his time receiving guests, performing chores, and maintaining his composure.
However, a pattern began to emerge.
“You must be Young Hero Yeon.”
“So we meet at last, Young Hero Yeon.”
“Young Hero Yeon. How great your sorrow must be.”
Strangely, with each passing day, more and more people recognized him. They were clearly people he had never seen before, yet they would approach him to cup their fists, clasp his hands, or pat his shoulder.
Yeon So-wol greeted each of them with solemnity. Sorrowful, but not despairing. Friendly, but never straying from propriety.
“Hah…”
“I thought the rumors were exaggerated.”
“The foster father and the foster son both… how could someone do that to such upstanding men?”
“I was aghast just hearing the stories. Seeing him in person truly makes my blood boil.”
For some reason, the guests seemed extremely moved by Yeon So-wol’s demeanor.
The final day of the funeral arrived. By then, Yeon So-wol was finally starting to grasp the atmosphere. It was impossible not to. There were far, far too many people who had traveled from other regions to attend.
Why are so many people from the Jianghu here…?
A significant number of them were martial artists.
“My heart pounded when I heard the story of the boat party led by Great Hero Lee Yu-baek.”
“Me too. I thought, this is the Jianghu. I’ve wanted to meet Great Hero Lee Yu-baek ever since.”
“The boat party was one thing, but I was truly impressed when I heard he met with the Chief Daoist of Yanggwang alone and obtained the military tally. Ah. This man truly follows the Great Cause!”
“I thought the rumors must be exaggerated, but coming here and seeing him in person—and even seeing his foster son—I get it now. His reputation is well-deserved. It was all true.”
The people of Xinxing, unable to contain their anger and sorrow, had spread the rumors far and wide. And before long, those rumors had set the entire province of Guangdong ablaze.
“Has there ever been such a son of a bitch in this world?!”
“Betraying his own sworn brother?!”
“A man of justice acknowledged by the Chief Daoist of Yanggwang!”
“Hang In-woo. You dog-like bastard. My only regret is that you are already dead.”
Lee Yu-baek and Yeon So-wol had already been a hot topic in Guangdong. The news of their betrayal was beyond sensational; it was electrifying.
“A sworn younger brother betrays his sworn older brother? How could I possibly stand by after hearing that!”
“The most despicable man under heaven!”
“Should a man of justice have his will broken by some piece of trash?! I ask you!”
“Though all I have is this humble body and a dull sword, if they are needed, I must gladly rush to offer them!”
“I ate and drank at that boat party. How can I pretend I don’t know what happened?”
Even after paying their respects, the guests did not leave. They gathered in small groups, whispering, seething with indignation, and showing their fiery spirit. If not for the solemnity of the funeral, shouts and cheers would have erupted. The atmosphere was growing hotter by the hour.
“Once the funeral is over, let’s persuade Great Hero Lee Yu-baek.”
“Yes, let’s! If that doesn’t work, let’s just sweep away the Mount Cheonro bandits ourselves!”
“Let’s do it!”
And so, the ten-day funeral finally came to an end. The coffins were buried, mounds were built, and gravestones were erected.
And yet, Gugeunsa Temple was still teeming with martial artists. Many who had attended the boat party were present, but there were far more who had only heard the stories.
Just as the restless energy of the crowd began to simmer, Lee Yu-baek climbed onto a stone embankment.
“My fellow comrades of the Jianghu.”
The noisy grounds fell silent in an instant. Every eye turned toward Lee Yu-baek. For some reason, goosebumps prickled Yeon So-wol’s skin.
The peach blossoms were in full bloom. When the wind blew with a soft roar, a rain of red petals showered down upon them.
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
Lee Yu-baek was not angry, not excited, and not sad. He simply cupped his fist in his hand and bowed deeply before the assembly.
“For the 49-Day Memorial Ceremony, I wish to make an offering with the blood of the Mount Cheonro bandits. I implore you—please help me.”
A chill ran down every spine. It was what they had desperately wanted to hear. The moment Lee Yu-baek uttered the words everyone had been holding back, the grounds were silent for a heartbeat, and then—
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“This is it!”
“Justice! Let’s make an offering with the bandits’ blood!”
“…But a memorial rite is a Buddhist service. Is it okay to offer blood?”
“Even the Buddha will rejoice at the blood of those monsters!”
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The temple grounds erupted with thunderous cheers. Mount Cheonro echoed with the roar, mountain birds took flight in a panic, and from every shaking peach tree, blossoms rained down like snow.
The funeral, which was expected to be a somber end, had transformed into a grand send-off for a military campaign.
What is this…
Yeon So-wol was at a loss for words. The martial world of Xinxing had been devastated, yet here was a scene where even more martial artists than Xinxing had ever known were stepping forward to fight in their stead.
Jin Geol patted Yeon So-wol’s shoulder.
“The world is cruel. But there are always righteous people to be found.”
Even Jin Geol couldn't hide the excitement on his face. Yeon So-wol silently nodded. The world was vast, and it constantly defied his expectations.
Suddenly, Jin Geol recited a line from a classic poem.
“In the human world, April's fragrance ends,
But in the mountain temple, the peach blossoms begin to bloom.”
“The fragrant blossoms of April have all faded in the world of men, but here in the mountain temple, the peach blossoms are only now beginning to burst forth.”
“Wonderful!”
Lee Yu-baek glanced back slightly. A thick, knowing smile was spread across his face.
As if to say, I knew this would happen.
*
Full Poem:
In the human world, the fragrant blossoms of the fourth month fade,
But here in the mountain temple, the peach blossoms have just begun to bloom.
Long I lamented that spring had vanished, leaving not a trace,
Unaware it had simply moved to find a home in this place.
—Tang Dynasty Poet, Bai Juyi