Let's Live Among Ourselves - 2
The Bota Sect was a quiet, peaceful Buddhist sect. They didn't strictly seal themselves off or shun all contact with the secular world, but being located on islands rather than the mainland naturally limited their interactions with outsiders. In this era, when even leaving one's hometown was rare, venturing out to an island was an extraordinarily uncommon occurrence. The Zhoushan Archipelago, where the Bota Sect resided, was quite close to Hangju as well. Unless someone had specific business with the Bota Sect or the islands themselves, it was far more likely they'd head to Hangju for sightseeing instead. No one bothered coming all the way to Zhoushan.
That was the daily life of the Bota Sect—neither turning away visitors nor clinging to those who left. But alas, "The peace of Zhoushan is a thing of the past."
Unfortunately, the information I had was outdated and hadn't been updated.
"Mount Bota has long been revered by Buddhists as one of the four great sacred mountains. Of course, with famous mountains on the mainland as well, few make the trip specifically to Mount Bota. But devotees from south of the Changgang often visited."
Jin So, a nun of the Bota Sect, wore a gentle smile that embodied the ideal of a Buddhist sister. Her expression brimmed with pride and affection for their home—Mount Bota, the Zhoushan Archipelago, and the sect itself. If I hadn't just seen her beating foreigners with a ghostly ferocity, I might have thought her the perfect nun.
"The notion that Mount Bota was serene stems from the Mongol occupation. Those barbarians, steeped in Tibetan Buddhism, strictly forbade pilgrimages to the mountain. As a result, Zhoushan and Mount Bota became remote backwaters that even the wind avoided."
"A tragic affair."
"Indeed, a matter that would make Buddha himself sigh in sorrow. Yet after our Founding Emperor accomplished his great undertaking, the restrictions lifted, and Mount Bota regained its vitality."
With a small sigh, Jin So continued. "However... the pent-up energy exploded all at once, bringing excessive bustle in its wake."
She glanced disdainfully at the foreigners still sprawled on the restaurant floor and sighed again. "From Great Song's perspective, Zhoushan is a peripheral region. But for those entering Hangju, it's an ideal staging point. The deep waters make it perfect for anchoring ships."
Aha. That explained the Bota Sect's plight.
Mount Bota might welcome countless pilgrims as a Buddhist holy site, but at its core, it was a place of pilgrimage. Devotees wouldn't cause a ruckus while cultivating at their sacred mountain. The influx brought life, but not disorder. But what if foreigners got involved?
What if capitalist monsters, far removed from spiritual practice—worshippers of money with no interest in Buddhism—saw Zhoushan as the gateway to Hangju?
"It must have been chaos."
Inevitably, disorder would follow. When outsiders of different nationalities, races, ideologies, and values flooded in en masse, no place could maintain its tranquility.
"Sadly, yes. Mount Bota, once filled with the sound of sutra recitations from pious Buddhists, now echoes with haggling merchants. Zhoushan, harmonious with laughter and courtesy, overflows with the greed of money-mad fools."
Jin So's face now bore a mix of regret, sorrow, and faint anger. I understood. It was like a farmer quietly tending crops with neighbors, only to see foreign capital pour in, erecting skyscrapers and entertainment districts. Questionable analogy, but roughly the same. Having one's birthplace sullied by outsiders was universal pain.
"Yet we accepted it as the flow of the times. Merchants' greed couldn't overcome devotees' piety, and Zhoushan's growth as a hub undeniably eased pilgrim travel. Besides, wasn't it the will of the Founding Emperor and His Highness Dong-gu Wang to make Hangju a hub for traders?"
Forcing a smile, Jin So framed Zhoushan's turmoil as inevitable, without blaming the authorities. It was minor noise for the greater good, proof of a new era—she was consoling herself. The other nuns likely felt the same, tolerating the disturbance.
"His Highness Dong-gu Wang even sent words of comfort to the Bota Sect."
Crucially, a founding merit sect's troubles would reach the ears of Dong-gu Wang right next door. Fortunately, he wasn't one to ignore a public servant sect's plight. He'd surely offered substantial compensation. With justification for the greater good, tangible rewards, and the nuns' patience, the chaos became tolerable. A minor annoyance one could laugh off.
It had to be that way.
Then why those guys? My gaze drifted to the beaten foreigners. Even nuns securing both principle and profit had resorted to violence. Even if this weren't Zhoushan but Hangju—no, precisely because it was Hangju, away from their home—they should have been more cautious.
"Those foreigners, drunk and spirits possessed, molested women."
Shouldn't have stopped her. Instant comprehension.
The Bota Sect already viewed foreigners dimly. Drunken antics before their nuns? Getting beaten to death would be natural causes. Still, somewhat surprising. I'd assumed religious clash with the Buddhist nuns, but no.
...Their religion is money, since they're here to earn it. Not shocking, just unexpected. Merchants loved money more than faith or patriotism anyway. Hitting a cash cow with drunken stupidity was astonishing. Alcohol in excess was truly perilous.
Kki-ing...
Kki-ong~
As Jin So finished explaining, Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i, who'd been loitering behind me, let out pitiful cries. As if saying the talk was over—time to eat.
"Lord Inspector, these creatures...?"
"They travel the Central Plains with me. They're just hungry now—pay them no mind."
Jin So stared at the deer, nodded slightly, and pressed her palms together in greeting. "If it's not an imposition, may this poor nun treat the Lord Inspector and your companions?"
Kki-ing!
Kki-ong!
The two deer promptly began licking Jin So's face vigorously. Treating them to food meant she was a good person, apparently. The kebab's first taste since reincarnation was extraordinary. Living in Kaepyeong, I could see visiting Hangju a few times just for this.
After filling our bellies moderately, bidding Jin So farewell, and handing the still-unconscious foreigners to patrolling soldiers, I mulled over her words. "With so many people, every kind of incident pops up."
Put five people together, and at least one is trash. If those five differ in nationality, race, and language? They're all trash to each other. Even one normal person among them would be a miracle.
"Can't be helped. Fewer people in a bustling trade city would be weirder," said Ak I-yeon, gently shaking her head as she wiped kebab sauce from Kki-ing-i's mouth.
True. Even small-town markets drew all sorts. Demanding silence in a nationally promoted international trade hub was madness. And actual quiet would spell disaster—national policy failure, Great Song's economy in ruins. Dizzying to imagine.
"Still, we can't ignore it. The more Hangju prospers, the more people flock here. Frequent brawls—who'd want to come?"
This incident couldn't be overlooked. Even Bota Sect nuns had snapped and beaten someone. The only violence I'd witnessed since arriving, but similar clashes elsewhere or other times were likely. Hangju's gains drew merchants now, but turning into an international gangster haven? Foreign traders exchanging goods would flee a hellhole of global scum.
Worse problems than Goryeo. My head throbbed. Goryeo's ginseng campfires were child's play. At least those stayed within business bounds.
...Intensify patrols? No, excessive policing could unsettle merchants. Lax was bad; overkill worse.
Divide zones by nationality to prevent clashes? No. Segregating by origin defeated international trade.
So what? Jail or kill suspicious merchants on sight? Effective, but it'd kill Hangju's vibe dead.
Insane. Witnessing the brawl firsthand forced this headache.
"Lord Inspector."
"Yeah?"
"His Highness Dong-gu Wang knows Hangju's realities better than we do. Wouldn't it be best to report this to him and leave it to his judgment?"
Jo Wi-cheo's words halted my racing thoughts.
"The inspector's right. Hangju's under Dong-gu Wang's rule. No need for us to step in," Ak I-yeon agreed, and cold sweat trickled down my back.
Right. Hangju had its own governor, and Dong-gu Wang surely knew of the incident. Why was I agonizing? Just report it.
Slave mentality... Tears nearly welled up. Years of dogged toil conditioned me: incident nearby? Mine to fix.
Damn it. I closed my eyes in dismay. Shedding this ingrained servility might ease my future.
That thought crumbled soon after.
"You conscienceless bastard! Trading pepper for that burnt bean water? Makes any sense!?"
"What? Burnt bean water!? Apologize to my coffee right now, you prick! Daring to compare pepper—which ruins the pure flavor—with coffee!?"
"A Muslim who doesn't know pepper's taste dares!?"
"What, you Hindu bastard! Keep bitching, go back home and cling to Brahman pants!"
After Central Plains vs. foreigners, now foreigner vs. foreigner. Laughter bubbled up unbidden. Couldn't understand the foreign tongues, but clearly no friendly chat. Dumping it all on Dong-gu Wang carefree? Tough now...