Encounter with the Black Rock Taoist
Simply because of some lowly herb gatherers, the spirit eagles wouldn't have issued a warning. Recalling the original novel's content, I assumed a combat stance. If the spirit eagles were warning me, it had to be someone with serious skills.
Rustle!
The sound of tall grass up to my ankles being trampled rang out. One of the eagles that had been watching from the sky landed on my shoulder. It was the one that had guided me earlier and gotten a taste of my meat. With its wings spread wide atop my shoulder, the beast's majesty was truly impressive.
But fucking hell, those razor-sharp talons digging into my shoulder hurt like a bitch.
Rustle!
The man who emerged from the bushes was a middle-aged guy in a gray Taoist robe. His topknot was thick with white hair, and his face was completely hairless. In his left hand, he gripped a staff made from lightning-struck jujube wood. If he just had a long beard, he'd look exactly like a village schoolmaster.
The term immortal aura suited him perfectly.
"Tsk tsk. To think someone besides me knows of this place. Even that Han guy has no clue about it."
I immediately recognized who he was. Among those dwelling on Jangbaeksan, the original novel only featured a limited cast.
'It's the Black Rock Taoist. Lucky break. He's from the original story.'
Black Rock Taoist—even in the original, his real name never came up. He was close friends with Han Kangwoo, but unlike Han Kangwoo, who mastered supreme martial arts, this guy was a Taoist expert in all sorts of odd techniques and spells. Especially in crafting exotic artifacts, he was described as surpassing even Jeon Galjo Hu, the head of the Jeon Gal family.
'The one who gave Gong Wooseon the Mukhyeol Yeomju. Perfect. I was planning to seek him out, and here he is.'
The Black Rock Taoist was one of the fortuitous encounters I aimed to claim.
"Greetings, elder. I'm Jongchil, from the Central Plains."
"Tsk tsk. You came all the way from that distant land? Then you must be here to see that Han fellow."
He plopped down casually on the ground I'd torn up.
"But what were you doing to turn this scenic lake into such a mess?"
'Even the Black Rock Taoist doesn't know about the Azure Jade Oil.'
I replied as if testing him.
"In a famous mountain brimming with such potent spiritual energy, wouldn't there be at least one spirit herb? I was searching in case there might be some Azure Jade Oil."
"Heavens! What blind Azure Jade Oil would catch the eye of an outsider like you? I've spent half my life on Baekdu here, and I've never even seen a thousand-year snow fungus, let alone Azure Jade Oil."
"That's surprising. A place this rich in spiritual energy, and no spirit herbs?"
"It's all because of those damn herb gatherers. They sweep everything clean with fire in their eyes, so snow fungus is all under a century old, wild ginseng is completely extinct, and even the stone azure is depleted. I'd love to set up a formation across all of Baekdu to drive out those wretched herb pickers, but that Han guy always shields them, so I can't. And here you are, doing the same annoying shit as those herb scum."
I clicked my tongue. There was no upside to crossing the Black Rock Taoist. I had no idea of his combat prowess since he never fought in the original, but as a master of miscellaneous arts, he'd be a nightmare as an enemy. And even without that, there was plenty to gain from him.
"My apologies, elder. I got carried away by greed for a moment and did wrong."
I bowed my head sincerely in apology. Seeing this, the Black Rock Taoist tsked and turned away.
"Well, you've come all this way from a foreign land, so a bit of curiosity is understandable. At least you apologize right away—unlike those herb bastards. That's refreshing."
Luckily, my apology worked.
"Master!"
Then a new voice came from the direction the Black Rock Taoist had appeared. This one belonged to a woman.
'A woman? In the original novel, the only women on Jangbaeksan...'
I mentally tallied the characters. No one came to mind.
"Sawol! Is it dinnertime already?"
"Master! Didn't I tell you to put your clothes in the basket when you take them off!? And stop stuffing your socks in upside down!"
'Sawol...? Sawol...? Someone I don't know... Ah! Could it be Jin Sawol?'
A pretty young woman in her late teens poked her head out from behind the bushes. With brown hair just brushing her shoulders and a cute cat-like face, she put her hands on her hips like Superman and scolded the Black Rock Taoist. Compared to Seol Hwarin, Moses Yeong, or Dan Yu-hwa, she fell a bit short, but she was attractive enough to call a beauty.
She was Jin Sawol, the Black Rock Taoist's female disciple.
'In the original, Jin Sawol was already dead. Wait! Is this before she dies?'
I turned my gaze to the woman scolding her master.
*-*-*
"Stop slacking and head back. There's a mountain of chores piled up."
"Ugh. Can't tell who's the master and who's the disciple anymore. Tsk tsk..."
The Black Rock Taoist stood using his staff. Like a child outsmarting a parent, or a disciple besting a master?
Her gaze, now turned to me after scolding her master, was filled with curiosity. Her wide-eyed stare was quite beautiful.
"Huh? Who's that guy? First time I've seen anyone here besides Master."
"He's, uh, trying to become that Han guy's disciple. Came all the way from the Central Plains."
"Disciple of Master Han? That's a rough road ahead."
Jin Sawol stared straight at my face. Her innocent expression showed no trace of the scolding from moments ago. She looked like a playful cat eyeing me—or maybe more like a wildcat?
'Different type from Sera.'
In the original novel, Jin Sawol was only mentioned by the Black Rock Taoist. By the time Gong Wooseon met him, she was already dead, so I didn't have detailed info on her.
'She definitely died to some spirit beast.'
The prayer beads the Black Rock Taoist gave Gong Wooseon had originally belonged to his disciple, Jin Sawol. My eyes naturally drifted to her wrist. There, on her left arm, were dark red beads—the Mukhyeol Yeomju that Gong Wooseon would claim later.
"You there."
Jin Sawol pointed at me with her finger.
"Me?"
"If you're here to learn martial arts from Master Han, give up now. I've seen so many come this far, I can't even count on two hands. They all start confident, suffer for days, then leave."
"Tsk tsk! That Han guy has to be picky, right?"
The Black Rock Taoist chimed in from the side.
"He's a house builder—of course he needs that precision. The house Master Han built us is so sturdy!"
"Tsk tsk! Great craftsman, terrible person. People need flexibility, you know."
"That's why the mountain folk call you 'Pig-Nose Taoist,' Master."
"Call me whatever, those bandits—I don't care!"
The Black Rock Taoist crossed his arms with a stubborn glare. Their relationship was completely casual. None of the formal master-disciple heaviness from typical wuxia tales. More like grandpa and granddaughter? Now I got why the Black Rock Taoist was so glum in the original.
"Thanks for the advice, miss. But I have zero intention of giving up and going home. The Sword Ghost told me to bring him a golden spring."
I subtly hinted that I'd reached the final stage of becoming his disciple. The Black Rock Taoist's eyes went wide. As Han Kangwoo's close friend, he'd know this was the last test.
"If that guy demanded that much, you must've passed the others. You're no ordinary punk."
"Just got lucky."
I played humble, and he shook his head.
"Matching that picky bastard isn't just luck. The guy's such a pain—picks on martial artists like they're fragile girls. If he doesn't want disciples, just say so nicely instead of these weird tests that break people on their own."
"What's this 'golden spring,' Master?"
Jin Sawol seemed clueless about Han Kangwoo's final test too.
The Black Rock Taoist glanced at me once, then turned away sharply.
"I don't like that Han guy, but if he wants to pick his own disciple, I can't interfere. He has to figure it out himself."
"Then just tell me."
"No. You've got a loose mouth!"
"Eek! My lips are sealed like a thousand catties! Words of a woman are worth a thousand gold—you don't know that!?"
They bickered playfully. Jin Sawol, throwing a tantrum for the answer, switched tactics and turned her back.
"Hmph! Fine. You don't know either, do you, Master?"
"Shallow provocation, disciple. At my age, tricks like that don't work."
"Ugh! You only act mature when it suits you—annoying. Anyway, let's go back. Dishes are your turn tonight."
"Ugh... Tell you the answer, and you do them?"
"Too late!"
They turned toward the opposite side of the lake. I couldn't let them just leave. My goals were two: build ties with the Black Rock Taoist to snag his artifacts, and Jin Sawol.
'Looks are just a tiny bit disappointing, but she's not bad. B+ grade? Plus, disciple of the Black Rock Taoist—must be talented. Gotta fuck her for sure!'
"Huh? Why're you following us? Go solve that Han guy's homework."
The Black Rock Taoist swung his jujube staff like a cudgel.
"Any chance for a hint... no, a clue? It's impossible on my own."
I knew the answer, but needed an excuse to cozy up. Perfect pretext to butter him up. But he shot it down coldly. Not that I'd expected otherwise.
"One fierce disciple's enough for me. You have to solve it yourself for it to mean anything."
"Not even a tiny hint?"
"No!"
His defenses were ironclad. How to crack this stubborn old coot? He was a minor character in the original with scant info—just handed off artifacts to Gong Wooseon and vanished, unlike Han Kangwoo who popped up later.
'Right, he was the booze-and-meat-loving Pig-Nose Taoist.'
I dredged up the sparse details from memory. Drunks are easy to handle.
"Taoist! Got some fine Western liquor—how about a trade?"
His steps halted at "liquor." His head snapped toward me.
"Liquor!?"
"Master!"
Jin Sawol yelled at the same time.
"How can a Taoist take bribes with booze!? That's why they call you Pig-Nose!"
"Booze 'n whatnot!? That's why you tossed the pine-sleeping wine I worked hard on! Doesn't it hurt seeing the lake turn that vibrant blue from drinking my booze!?"
"The lake was always blue. Cut back if you wanna live long, Master."
"Hmph! Life's short—why quit booze for some glory?"
In the original, Jin Sawol died before the Black Rock Taoist. Knowing that, I couldn't hide my smirk at their banter. Irony of life?
"Sorry, but no dice! Master blacks out after one sip and binges till he drops."
"Ugh. Shame. Rare Western brew."
I feigned regret and backed off. Seeing his lingering expression, he'd come sniffing soon enough. No need to push and sour things. He'd make the first move.
They vanished into the mountains. Bait cast—now wait for the bite.