Secrets of the Poetry Anthology (2)

Repentance Cave.

The place for repenting sins and reflecting on one's misdeeds.

Originally, Repentance Cave was used to imprison and punish Shaolin monks who had broken the precepts.

But as time passed, its purpose changed.

It was revealed that Shaolin Temple imprisoned those who disrupted the order of the Murim or massacred the innocent in Repentance Cave.

There was one incident in particular that made Repentance Cave infamous.

The Black Mist Twin Swords brothers, who roamed between Luoyang and Kaifeng committing evil deeds, vanished without a trace one day.

Over a dozen years later.

A villain from the Black Dao was captured by Shaolin and thrown into Repentance Cave.

But in the cave prison lay two half-rotted skeletons, long dead.

What was shocking were the words carved into the cave wall using a broken bowl. The inscriptions were weathered by wind and rain, hard to read, but one went like this:

"The day I leave this place, the Black Mist Twin Swords will slaughter every Shaolin monk and burn Shaolin Temple to the ground."

A phrase that revealed the depth of their vengeful spirit.

About midway up the wall, another inscription:

"Today, my brother died."

And at the bottom of the wall:

"Ten years have passed. If I can just get out of here, I'll do anything."

A few years later, the villain was finally released after begging for mercy through endless suffering. He spread word of what he'd seen throughout the Murim.

People scoffed at it as a tall tale, but after that, no one in the jianghu ever saw the Black Mist Twin Swords again…

From then on, villains of the Black Dao and unorthodox sects trembled at the mere mention of Shaolin's Repentance Cave.

And now, Abbot Mu Hye was ordering Cheon-un thrown into Repentance Cave.

For Cheon-un, it was like a bolt from the blue.

"A-Abbot Mu Hye… Please reconsider, considering my past contributions…"

"It's cold out. Take him away quickly."

Cheon-un hung his head and was dragged off by the Shaolin monks in charge of precepts.

Cheon-un, who had grown the Joint Faction's funds with his exceptional memory and secured them a place in the Central Plains Murim.

It was the lonely exit of a once-renowned Murim elder.

Mu Hye scanned the room and spoke.

"Shaolin Temple will interrogate the sinner in Repentance Cave."

As he did, he subtly glanced at Seo Baek.

The two had devised their plan with just a look, exposing the spy hidden in Shaolin.

Seo Baek tore open his collar and handed Mu Hye the book he'd prepared in advance.

"This is the book from Shika Manor for Shaolin Temple."

"Amitabha."

All eyes focused on the book.

The idea that this worn, shabby tome contained the secret to stopping the revenant outbreak…

As the book left his hands, Seo Baek was swept by complex emotions.

Relief at completing his mission, but regret at handing over something more precious than his life.

On the day Shika Manor fell to the revenant horde.

His master had passed him the book recording all he'd discovered. No one else—not even his wife or senior brothers—knew its contents.

His master had devoted his life to compiling it, keeping it secret even from Shika Manor folk.

And to let Seo Baek escape with it, everyone in Shika Manor sacrificed their lives blocking the horde.

The others were interested in the book for its secret against the revenant outbreak, but not Seo Baek.

This book held the blood and tears of Shika Manor.

Master, I've fulfilled the mission you entrusted.

Seo Baek whispered in his heart, but no reply ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠came…

Then Song Hyeon also handed Mu Hye a book.

"A copy of the Black Wolf Secret Book."

"Amitabha."

Song Hyeon didn't mention acquiring the copy from the Jegal Clan. It was almost certainly Joint Faction Elder Cheon-un who'd leaked it from Shaolin.

But Jegal Seong couldn't be ruled out entirely—not until his innocence was proven beyond doubt.

With Jegal Seong present, Song Hyeon decided to hold off and gauge the situation later.

"Then this monk shall examine Shika Manor's book with the elders. Jin-mun, escort the guests."

Mu Hye bowed and left the abbot's chamber, followed by the Murim Alliance elders.

Seo Baek's group returned to their room. As before, the guest-receiving monk brought tea.

"Rest comfortably."

Jin-mun closed the door and left.

Seo Baek's group understood Mu Hye's intent.

They weren't qualified to see Shika Manor's book, so they were being isolated for now.

The tea from the guest-receiving monk was the premium Huangshan Maofeng.

But even fine tea couldn't soothe their hearts. Though the same as before, it tasted bitter now.

Wang Yi Sam, the most hot-tempered of the group, exploded first.

"What the hell? They say we don't qualify to see the book?"

"That's right."

Song Hyeon replied matter-of-factly.

"I've heard Shika Manor was created at the request of Shaolin's previous abbot to a Western Region expert."

The group perked up at this new information.

"I don't know who in Shika Manor it was. But since Shika Manor is connected to Shaolin, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠book can be seen as a secret letter between them."

Song Hyeon paused, glanced at Seo Baek and the others, then continued.

"It's true we came all this way to Shaolin. But we have no right to see the book."

"Tch, they say even kings, marquises, generals, and ministers aren't born noble, so what right do we have for a damn book?"

Unable to logically refute Song Hyeon, Wang Yi Sam grumbled to himself.

As Wang Yi Sam quieted, Joo Eun-ri stepped forward, glaring fiercely.

"Why hand over the Black Wolf Secret Book copy?"

"I told you before. I obtained the Black Wolf Secret Book myself and gave it to Shaolin. I can't let a spy's leaked copy circulate freely in the Central Plains."

"The Shika book, fine—they were waiting for it. But the Black Wolf copy? You didn't have to give it up when we weren't even sure it existed."

Joo Eun-ri stubbornly pressed on, unconvinced.

"Hmph, putting a pearl necklace on a pig—must feel good."

"Exactly! The bear does the work, but someone else pockets the money!"

"For once, you say something right."

A rare moment of agreement between Wang Yi Sam and Joo Eun-ri.

Then, from the corner, someone muttered.

"You're so noisy, ruining the tea."

It was Dang Ryong. While the group argued, uninterested in tea, he sipped away with his usual apathetic face.

Wang Yi Sam startled, realizing Dang Ryong was there.

Thinking back, since arriving at Shaolin, Dang Ryong had stuck close like one of the group.

To outsiders, he probably looked like part of it…

Dang Ryong's perpetual indifference made him easy to forget until he spoke.

Somehow, Wang Yi Sam felt he was like a garden stone. Weirder if the stone talked.

"With all this chaos, how can you swallow tea?"

Wang Yi Sam shot back undaunted.

He sniffed out the strong like ghosts and bowed, but with Seo Baek and Song Hyeon beside him, Dang Ryong didn't scare him.

You're Sacheon Tang Clan's assassin? I've got Left Blue Dragon and Right White Tiger experts by my side!

Dang Ryong ignored him and drank his tea, like a tiger dismissing a puppy's bark.

But after finishing and setting down his cup, Dang Ryong spoke to Wang Yi Sam.

"You really want to see that book?"

"If I could, of course."

"Want me to show you?"

"You? How?"

Shhk. Blades slid from both of Dang Ryong's sleeves.

Shaolin hadn't confiscated weapons after the Salgye ceremony, so the sleeve blades remained.

"Kill all the bald donkeys and take a look."

"…!"

Dang Ryong's indifferent tone made it creepier, like he'd start a massacre if Wang Yi Sam agreed.

Flustered, Wang Yi Sam deflected.

"Not saying fight… No, typical Sacheon Tang—first thing you suggest ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is killing?"

"Don't you want to see the book?"

"I do."

"If you want to see someone else's thing, stake your life. If not, follow Shaolin's orders."

"…"

Dang Ryong's words were extreme but logically sound. Wang Yi Sam shut his mouth, stumped.

Then Dang Ryong grimaced.

"The baldies served good tea, but now you're ruining the taste."

"Huh? I didn't say anything?"

Wang Yi Sam shrugged, baffled.

But Seo Baek and Song Hyeon's eyes had turned icy cold.

Seeing that, Wang Yi Sam sensed trouble. These were peak experts who could hear a needle drop on sand.

"Junior brother, what's wrong?"

"I don't know yet."

Creak.

The door opened, revealing Abbot Mu Hye. Behind him stood the Murim Alliance elders.

"Phew, thought it was big trouble."

Worried about an assassin ambush, Wang Yi Sam sighed in relief at Mu Hye and the elders.

"We read the book."

"What does it say? Ah…"

Wang Yi Sam interrupted but quieted at the others' silence.

Mu Hye gazed at Seo Baek a moment before speaking.

"Layman Seo Baek created a fake letter to flush out the spy."

"Yes."

"But this book is the real letter from Shika Manor to Shaolin."

"…?"

Seo Baek couldn't grasp Mu Hye's meaning.

Mu Hye held up the book toward Seo Baek's group and flipped the cover.

"See for yourselves."

The group's eyes locked on the book. Wang Yi Sam, especially curious, stepped forward unconsciously.

On the first page, four characters:

"Great Tang Poetry Anthology? This is the revenant secret?"

Wang Yi Sam muttered, tilting his head.

"A collection of poems by Tang poets like Li Bai and Du Fu…"

Seo Baek replied, his usually calm voice trembling with bewilderment—uncharacteristic.

"A poetry book? Oh ho, they disguised the secret book as poetry to fool us!"

Wang Yi Sam exclaimed as if enlightened.

Mu Hye turned the next page, revealing a poem.

"That's a poem?"

"I said it was a poetry anthology."

Seo Baek recognized it from a single glance—no need to read the whole page.

Quiet Night Thoughts. One of Li Bai's masterpieces from the Tang poetry collection.

His master's wife loved it, reciting it with Seo Baek under the moonlit sky.

"Yes. It's a Tang poetry anthology."

Mu Hye kept turning pages, revealing more of Li Bai's poems.

Seo Baek knew them all by heart from their titles alone. Even Shika Sword Technique's names came from Li Bai's verses.

Seo Baek realized the book was the poetry anthology his master's wife cherished. Its original cover had been replaced, fooling him at first.

Why wrap a separate cover?

He couldn't fathom his master's intent.

Mu Hye rapidly flipped through the pages.

At the end, unlike the poems, the final page held different words.

"This book has only one page without poems—the last. I believe this is Shika Manor's letter to Shaolin."

Mu Hye read the final inscription:

The group froze, unmoving.

All except Wang Yi Sam, who didn't grasp the meaning.

Seeing Seo Baek and Song Hyeon's grave looks, he whispered to Joo Eun-ri.

"What's Body Transfer Skill mean?"

"The Murim Alliance experts receiving Seo Baek's internal energy."

"Transfer internal energy? Possible?"

"Yes. Extremely difficult, though."

"Then junior brother loses his energy?"

"That's not the issue."

Joo Eun-ri's voice was ice-cold.

"Performing Body Transfer Skill will kill Seo Baek."

Black Knight.

Cheong, Yeongyeong, Soso, and Mimi were pushing their husband too hard, so he stepped out to calm his wives.

"Ten strikes on the buttocks—isn't that overkill? Brother seems stressed too."

In his previous life, adding up all the spankings from school, ten would make him snort and take it.

From experience with hockey sticks, cut canoe paddles, billiard cues, baseball bats, and more—ten butt strikes were a bargain compared to death.

Not lethal, and with the disciple title, brother had to consider the people's eyes, so full acquittal was impossible anyway.

Thus, it felt like a fair judicial deal.

But as he spoke casually, his wives flinched back in shock.

"T-Ten strikes!? Y-You're not serious, right?"

"Gaga! What are you saying! In this world! Not even one!"

"Benefactor… I'm ashamed for you."

"H-Husband? You really think that? You misspoke, right?"

Their intense reactions made him think he'd said something wrong.

Ah, in this Confucian society, maybe women see butt-spanking as humiliating?

In the Confucian-rooted Central Plains, women's buttocks were sensitive territory.

Tang Dynasty women bared upper chests as fashion, but Song era wrapped tight.

Panicking at his slip, Cheong tilted her head at his expression.

"Could it be… Benefactor, you've never seen a woman caned?"

Of course not—this body from remote rural Liu Manor in Fuzhen, never near officials during travels. A model of goodness.

He nodded.

"Y-Yes?"

His wives relaxed and approached again.

"Phew, scared me. Gaga, you startled us."

"Me too. Benefactor wouldn't. As expected."

"Husband, you scared me."

Then, drawing close, they chorused one phrase:

"""Stripped and caned."""

Translator's Note: (he pulls down his pants and spanks his buttocks)

Stripped and caned.? Clothes depart, receive staff? What?

Literal translation made no sense.

He looked to Cheong for explanation.

"Stripped and caned means?"

Cheong blushed furiously, embarrassed.

"R-Remove clothes and, uh, cane the buttocks."

"No, such a good… Wait, remove clothes!?"

Remove clothes for butt-caning? Really?

Even in past life, buttocks only for parents or bath attendants. In Confucian Song?

Baring buttocks publicly for caning? A woman?

Staring at brother in disbelief, he explained his earlier sorry face.

"Ahem. Not stripping all women, but for adultery, attempted murder, major crimes Stripped and caned is standard. N-Not fully naked, of course…"

For women guilty of grave sins but with mitigating reasons for leniency, bare lower body for physical pain and shame.

Cheong added:

"Women who endure Stripped and caned mostly suicide from shame. Bite tongues on spot. How could a woman survive exposing herself before crowds?"

Now Soso's "better strangle than cane" made sense.

Death either way—better quick than shamed publicly.

Soso, fainting at kisses, baring for caning?

To ultra-Confucian Soso, crueler than execution.

Leniency that wasn't leniency?

He had to ask brother:

Is this a proper magistrate's ruling?

Brother, this can't be right… Right? Over the line…

"No, brother, I know plotting revenge on parents' killer was wrong, but Stripped and caned? That's as good as death. Making my pitiful disciple suffer that shame? She's my disciple! No, right?"

Brother looked troubled, defending:

"No, as your disciple, I'd acquit, but he escaped, no witnesses—can't. Law dictates…

Good I handled it knowing her side; otherwise, strangulation.

Not minor—attempted murder.

Even this caning risks misunderstanding as faking to save your disciple. Overt favoritism could spark mob riot.

Small favors, silence a few; but major case draws eyes. Everyone knows you're my brother, her your disciple… You're known everywhere in Fuzhen now."

The "uproar" meant riots.

Past favors drew little notice, easy hush; but killer-attempt case spreads fast, all eyes on Fuzhen.

With relations public, ignoring law for acquittal? Public outrage, riots.

Even brother couldn't arbitrary in spotlight.

His growing fame demanded higher morals—no blind favoritism.

Central Plains noblesse oblige? Unfitting term here.

"Ruling Fuzhen ain't easy with ignorant masses?

Didn't you hear crowds demanding why no punishment yesterday?"

Yeongyeong, well-connected, nodded.

"Heard days ago. Crowds daily yelling favoritism for my Gaga's disciple… Thought it'd resolve fine, but catching him failed, now this…"

Fans breed haters.

Harbor folk hyped him; antis raged.

His disciple's arrest? Prime gossip.

Last resort: Yeongseong-gong brother.

Pohyeong said if clearly guilty, no; if wronged, yes.

Parents' revenge—brother could vouch, perfect for special pardon request.

No embarrassment, pretext for innocent woman, fits perfectly.

Yeongseong-gong's plea? Masses wouldn't riot.

Who'd defy spiritual pillar?

"How much time till verdict?"

But needed time for special pardon.

Brother sighed regretfully.

"Past deadline for murder ruling. Mobs might riot soon… Brother, verdict in two days max."

Even sending Mimi, court not instant—one day impossible.

"Haa…"

A sigh escaped.

***

Disciple facing Stripped and caned, Cheon-un sat lost in thought in Pohyeong's office.

As frustrated: his four wives.

Behind, Cheong, Soso, Mimi, Yeongyeong pressed foreheads, plotting quietly.

Agreed to save her if life risked—no ideas.

Not entirely without methods.

Cheong had one.

But they couldn't do it.

Cheong replied gravely:

Brightening at a method, doubting impossibility, Cheong revealed the undareable:

Yes.

Caning fixed, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no mid-switch; but substitute for sin possible.

Other punishments no; caning allows proxy.

Not anyone for money.

Conditions: blood kin or convincingly related.

Not kin, but convincing: master's wives as mother-figures.

Mis-taught disciple— their fault, proxy fine.

But none could bare buttocks for shame to save her.

Women themselves—unbearable humiliation.

As they pondered fruitlessly, clap from front—Cheon-un's voice.

Clap!

"That's it! Black Knight! No—brother! Can't someone proxy the caning? Disciple's fault master's. My teaching failure—let me take it?"

The four squeezed eyes shut.

Most unwanted method unfolding.