A Monk Wants to Live as a Monk - 3
As Samshik poked its head out from under the covers upon waking, Hyun-seung gazed at it with distant, wistful eyes. Myeong-seung, who had just returned with tea, did the same. The two monks began staring intently at Samshik side by side.
What the heck?
It was baffling. Sure, Samshik was a rare three-headed snake among spirit beasts, but there was no need for them to look at it with such longing unless they were poison collectors like Nang-jung Wang or beast fanatics from Baek-su-mun. And yet, Shaolin's top two leaders were fixated on Samshik, their eyes reminiscent of someone reminiscing over lost family or old friends.
"Samshik. Come down here for a moment."
Normally, I'd brush it off, but this was right after hearing about Hyun-seung's guilt and pain. When a man like that looked at it so earnestly and forlornly, I felt inclined to cooperate a bit.
- Shiiik?
At my sudden command, Samshik tilted its head, glanced at Hyun-seung and Myeong-seung, then obediently slithered down from the desk.
Samshik might be a small, gluttonous little thing, but it was still a spirit beast. It had the intelligence and intuition to read human hearts and moods to some degree—enough to instantly sense that these two unfamiliar monks posed no threat.
- Shiiik!
- Sieeek!
- Shiuuuk!
Once it slipped free from my sleeve and onto the desk, Samshik reared up all three heads proudly and let out its cries. It was a small gesture, but somehow touching. That's gotta be a greeting to Hyun-seung.
The shy Samshik taking the initiative to greet someone else? As its owner, I was thrilled.
"Heh heh. What a cute little one. Pure white like snow, untainted by the world's impurities—just like a spotless heart."
His words made me chuckle reflexively. Spot on. Samshik was pure, alright. Clinging to its master without letting go, happily devouring whatever food I offered. A pure soul through and through.
"Among the spirit beasts with me, this one's especially white and innocent. I've got four white ones including it, but as you say, Abbot, this seems to be the purest."
Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i, the white deer. Kkieak, white as snow. Those three were just as pristine, but purity? Not quite. Thinking back to Hengshan days with Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i, innocence was the last word that came to mind. Kkieak had no rap sheet of mischief, but calling it pure was a stretch. More like an idle Baek-su-mun elder lounging around.
"Four white spirit beasts alone. It speaks volumes about how loved you are by them, Benefactor."
Hyun-seung stroked his beard, chuckling heartily as he stared fixedly at Samshik, committing every detail to memory—as if he'd treasure the image forever, even if they never met again.
"Benefactor. Is this child harmless even for ordinary folk to touch?"
"Ah, yes. In fact, even its bite is harmless."
"My goodness. Far too young and gentle a soul."
A venomous snake harmless even if it bit? It was such a novel phenomenon that Hyun-seung's smile deepened even further.
"This temple rarely encounters spirit beasts. In all my years, I've seen but one—and even that was fortunate compared to others. Meeting you has shown me how meager my own ties were."
"Ties know no size. If heaven grants it, and solely to me, isn't that the greatest bond of all?"
"Indeed. With such a heart, no wonder heaven itself is moved by your path."
With that, Hyun-seung extended a finger toward Samshik—not to touch it directly, but pausing just short, like someone inviting a dog to place its paw.
"Come, ask me."
- Shiiik?
Samshik's three heads tilted in unison at the abrupt request. Not to touch it, nor to climb onto the hand—just to ask something? Probably a first in its brief snake life.
"Abbot. Its venom may be weak, but poison is poison. A bite would still itch enough to bother you."
This was uncharted territory for me too. No sane person willingly poisons themselves unless they're poison-mad.
"Worry not, Benefactor. This dull monk has gained a minor enlightenment, forging a body that merges with venom. A bite brings a thrill, but no pain."
"Immunity to myriad poisons?"
"'Myriad' shames me. Immunity to a thousand will suffice."
It was staggering nonetheless. I was at a loss for words. High cultivation boosts resistance, sure, but true venom ignores that—even peak experts could perish. If realm alone granted poison immunity, poison arts would be pointless. What would that make Nang-jung Wang, poison master supreme?
Thus, Hyun-seung's thousand-poison immunity was astonishing. It required years of deliberate exposure to build tolerance.
"The one spirit beast this monk saw was a poison bird. To survive its toxin, my resistance grew. Seeing this child stirred those memories."
As I gawked, Hyun-seung withdrew his finger with a gentle laugh.
"A poison bird?"
"One Elder Cheongseung chanced upon. With his myriad immunity, he carried it tucked in his side unharmed."
Myeong-seung spoke up this time.
"Looking back, that bird must have trembled in terror. Caught mid-flight by my senior brother, as usual. For a flying poison bird, it spent more time walking than soaring."
"Ha."
I couldn't help but laugh at Myeong-seung's tale.
"Mine's exactly like that. Prefers walking over flying—makes you wonder if it's a bird or a chicken."
Kkieak back at Giwangjeo favored strolling too.
"...You have a poison bird with you?"
"Venomless now, like a Baeknok. I avoid calling it that these days."
Hyun-seung's eyes flickered wildly. Confusing, no doubt. A poison bird living in central Kaepyeong? A venomless one? Incomprehensible.
"Born a poison bird, yet it defied its fate. It purged its own venom. Safe to approach, even touch its beak."
"Remarkable."
"Isn't it? Choosing to live among others rather than alone—what pluck."
Hyun-seung fell silent again, gazing wordlessly at Samshik while fiddling with the teacup Myeong-seung brought. My Shaolin visit's purpose was fulfilled. I'd learned why their warriors hid in Repentance Cave, and the abbot promised a personal investigation with results to Dochalwon. Bonus: Samshik had stirred fond memories for Hyun-seung—eyes misty, so surely nostalgic. Unintended, but it boosted his favor toward me.
Official business done; time for personal matters. With Hyun-seung and Myeong-seung seeing me off, I headed to where Han Jin resided.
"Holding up alright?"
"Yes, well... same as always."
A modest thatched hut a short distance from Shaolin. Nearby stream, wild herbs aplenty—perfect for hermit idyll. The kind of real estate any retired high official would covet. And this kid, not even in office yet, living like one?
- Cock-a-doodle-doo!
- Cluck cluck!
"Chickens too, huh."
"They wake me at dawn and lay eggs. Ideal pastime."
"Pastime."
Glancing around the yard, I saw over ten chickens scattering every which way. Pastime? Seemed substantial. Studying animal husbandry lately?
Does husbandry count as agriculture?
Worth pondering. Not commerce or craft, so agriculture by default?
"Want one? Takes a bit to prepare."
"Nah. Shaolin's right there—meat feels off."
I waved off Han Jin's natural offer to serve chicken. Complicated feelings. How did Giwangga's grandson end up raising livestock, ready to butcher and cook? Looked less like study, more like extreme exile training. No—think positive. Nobler than royals, living as common folk. Learning the world through experience, not books. A perfected official like this would bless the realm.
- Shiiik?
"Hm?"
Lost in thought, touring my brother's home, Samshik poked out from my sleeve again.
- Shiiik!
- Sieeek!
- Shiuuk!
It swiftly dropped to the ground and charged the yard's low platform—specifically, the bundled grass atop it.
"What's that, anyway? Drying greens?"
"Poison weeds. Gathered thinking they'd come in handy someday—"
Before Han Jin finished, Samshik reached the platform and began inhaling the weeds.
"Not quite what I expected, but handy indeed."
"Sorry. It's in a big growth spurt—eats a ton."
"No issue. Mountains here overflow with herbs and poisons. Can regather in a fortnight."
Seeing Han Jin dabble in husbandry and foraging felt increasingly odd. Passed a veggie patch en route. His too? Diligent youth...
True farmers rarely master agriculture, husbandry, and forestry. What office did he crave to go this far? Did he build the house himself?
Unlikely, but dread crept in. Mastering farms, eyeing other crafts? Maybe strategizing with chess or Go by night.