Chapter 299: Death (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 299: Death (2)
Seo-jun planned to follow True Human Heo-do’s advice and seek out the Taiji Sword Immortal once more to ask his questions.
To be precise, he had only gotten as far as making the plan.
Overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of information, his 'Acute I-Hate-Studying Syndrome' had flared up. He felt the desperate need to cool his head first.
Since he had True Human Heo-do, a Wudang local, and Mu-hye right there, Seo-jun asked them for a tour of the Wudang Sect.
Heo-do and Mu-hye readily agreed.
More accurately, Heo-do agreed enthusiastically, while Mu-hye simply tagged along behind him.
"Many believe the Wudang Sect is completely severed from the secular world, but surprisingly, that isn't entirely true," Heo-do explained. "Within Wudang, there are those specifically tasked with handling interactions with the outside."
As he spoke, Heo-do pointed to a plaque that read Azure Affinity Pavilion.
From what Seo-jun understood, the people of the Azure Affinity Pavilion served as a bridge for communication with the secular world.
Then, a question occurred to him.
"Are you part of this place too, Gramps?"
"I am not."
"But I see you outside pretty often."
Heo-do gave a sly grin at that.
"That is because I have a great deal of interest in the world beyond. There is no fixed path in the Tao. As long as one has no assigned duties, everyone is free to do as they please."
"Aha."
As they wandered through the various parts of the Wudang Sect, a loud growl erupted from Bi-yeon’s stomach.
"Oh dear. This old man got so excited he lost track of time."
Heo-do invited the group to his quarters and offered to treat them to a meal.
How could the movements of a Super Peak master ever be compared to those of an ordinary man? The dishes Heo-do whipped up were remarkably luxurious considering how little time they took to prepare.
Though the seasoning was light, the food was delicious. Surprisingly, there was a variety of meat dishes as well.
After finishing the meal, Seo-jun asked while sipping his tea, "I thought Taoists were supposed to abstain from cooked food. Was I wrong?"
"That, too, depends on one's own will. There are those who do not touch food prepared with fire, those who do not eat meat, and conversely, those who eat nothing but meat."
"It’s very free."
"Indeed. While there is a Tao that Wudang pursues, that does not mean everyone’s Tao must be the same. Wudang is simply a place where those walking similar paths gather."
For someone who accepted lunch and dinner recommendations without a second thought, he sounded remarkably like a true Taoist.
Seo-jun let out a short laugh and took another sip of his tea.
Sitting across from Heo-do and looking out into the yard, he saw Bi-yeon swinging a wooden sword. She hadn't skipped a single day of training since arriving at the Wudang Sect.
Perhaps thanks to the Sense-Controlling Divine Art engraved into her body, her swordsmanship had shown visible improvement. (Strictly by Bi-yeon’s standards, of course.)
Perhaps her curiosity was piqued by the sight, because Mu-hye stepped up and asked Bi-yeon for a spar.
Since she didn't intend to use the spar as an excuse to beat Bi-yeon up, it naturally turned into a teaching session.
"No, why would you do it like that...?"
Unfortunately, the sword path of the untalented Bi-yeon was a pinnacle of disaster that the genius Mu-hye simply could not comprehend.
Tilting her head in confusion, Mu-hye offered Bi-yeon a bit of advice. She was flustered the first time when Bi-yeon failed to understand her words at all, and flustered a second time when there was absolutely no improvement in the sword path she displayed next...
Anyway, by the time she had been flustered about ten times or so, Seo-jun stood up from his seat.
"Should we let the kids play and head out for a short walk?"
"Ho ho, that sounds lovely."
Those who joined Seo-jun for the walk were Heo-do, Ju Won-jang, Chun-bong, and Namgung Su-ah.
Somehow, they were a group of five again.
As they strolled, Seo-jun repeatedly performed teleportation using the principles of Taiji he had newly realized. Since the realization had stemmed from Heo-do’s words, he wanted to demonstrate the principle to the old man.
"What do you think? If you look closely, doesn't it seem like you could figure it out?"
"Hmm... I simply cannot understand how you achieve harmony between one piece of land and another. To begin with, how can one harmonize a distant land with the ground beneath one's own feet?"
"Oh, exactly."
"...?"
"That’s why I can’t go too far. I can only travel as far as my domain reaches."
"I am at the Super Peak Realm, so I cannot manifest a domain."
"Ah, right."
Flustered, Seo-jun fell into deep thought. Soon, he reached a conclusion.
"It doesn't have to be the kind of domain used in the Transcendent Realm. Even at the Super Peak, you know, there’s that thing called a martial artist’s 'reach.' Like the distance a sword can strike. If you try to work that primitive domain together with your Qi sensing..."
Surprisingly, Seo-jun had a talent for teaching others.
Usually, those called geniuses assumed that others could easily replicate what they themselves found natural, but Seo-jun was different.
The reason was simple.
It was because no one ever understood him the first time he explained something...
Consequently, Seo-jun had developed a tendency to explain things—especially regarding martial arts—in a way that even a passing five-year-old could understand. There was no way a Super Peak master like Heo-do could fail to grasp such a thoughtful explanation.
"Hmm... I understand the concept, but why on earth does it actually work?"
However, he had only understood it conceptually.
"Now you just have to internalize it step by step."
"A sound argument. Ho ho, thank you. To be honest, what I said wasn't even that special."
"Whatever it was, it’s the realization I gained from it. It’s not that big of a deal."
"No, it actually is a big deal...?"
Anyway, it was while they were strolling through the Wudang Sect in that manner that it happened.
"Huh?"
Seo-jun suddenly stopped in his tracks. He listened intently for a moment, then looked at Heo-do.
"Is something happening in the Wudang Sect?"
"Happening? I haven't heard anything in particular."
"I hear the sound of mourning."
It wasn't an artificial wailing. Perhaps 'the sound of weeping' was a more accurate description.
As if possessed, Seo-jun moved toward the direction of the sound.
He arrived at a humble residence. It was a house similar in shape to a thatched cottage, and several people were standing outside with solemn expressions.
One of them spotted Heo-do and pressed his palms together in greeting. Heo-do seemed to realize something upon seeing them and asked with a darkened expression.
"I recall this being Jin-myeong’s residence..."
"Yes, True Human Heo-do. Jin-myeong’s lifespan has reached its end today."
"I see..."
Jin-myeong was an ordinary Taoist of the Wudang Sect. He had entered the sect as a child and trained; never discouraged by his mediocre talent, he had devoted his entire life to self-cultivation.
He had reached the Peak Realm at an age that was neither fast nor slow, respected by many Taoists for enjoying the study and discussion of the Tao far more than martial arts.
However, the lifespan granted to a cultivator who reached the Peak Realm was only about two hundred years. Thus, Jin-myeong had passed away today, having lived to the age of two hundred and thirty-two.
Heo-do finished this brief explanation for Seo-jun and paid his respects to the departed. Seo-jun followed suit, quietly observing the people around him.
Muffled sobbing could be heard from inside the building, and those outside had bloodshot eyes. Yet, some of them were singing songs with a forced air of cheerfulness, despite their red-rimmed eyes.
Watching them intently, Seo-jun couldn't understand their behavior. One of the Taoists beside him noticed and offered a bitter smile.
"They are trying to follow the final words left by Martial Uncle Jin-myeong."
"His final words...?"
The Taoist relayed Jin-myeong’s will in a slow, steady voice.
"It was... something like this."
*
"Before I was born, there was originally no such thing as life. Not only was there no life, but originally there was not even form; not only was there no form, but there was not even Qi.
"While blended in a state of wondrous chaos, a change occurred, and Qi was born. Qi changed, and form was born. Form changed, and life came to be. And now, it is simply changing once more into death.
"This is like the changing of the seasons. It is a proper principle, and I merely follow the natural providence.
"I became a man from the Tao, and now I return to the Tao once more. Thus, this is not a matter for sorrow.
"I return to the Tao that I have sought all my life. It is a Return to the Tao (歸道).
"My life has finally reached its end and I have attained the Tao, so how can this not be a joyous occasion?
"Therefore, everyone, please rejoice in my death. Rejoice in my Return to the Tao.
"I have finally attained the Tao."
*
"And so, saying that he, who had branched off from the Tao, was finally just returning to it, Martial Uncle Jin-myeong passed away peacefully."
The Taoist bowed slightly with his palms pressed together. Seo-jun returned the greeting, and the Taoist quietly departed.
Seo-jun stared blankly at those singing with forced cheer.
It looked like a desperate struggle to be happy about something they were told should be joyous.
‘He’s not wrong.’
If this world originated from Primordial Unity, then complete annihilation did not exist. One did not die and vanish; one merely returned to be a part of Primordial Unity.
The soul of the deceased Jin-myeong would head to the Underworld, and from the Underworld, it would be reborn as something else through reincarnation.
Seo-jun, too, did not fear death.
However, that was not because he rejoiced in returning to the Tao, but simply because he felt no emotion toward it.
Jin-myeong’s death. Those forcing themselves to be happy. Returning to the Tao.
Watching all of this, Seo-jun felt an uncontrollable fear.
It wasn't fear of his own death—that didn't matter. It was the fear he felt when imagining the deaths of Chun-bong, Namgung Su-ah, and the others he had formed bonds with.
Jin-myeong wasn't the only one who had accepted death gladly. Seo-jun knew one other person who had died happily: Namgung Jin-cheon.
His father-in-law had regarded death as merely a journey to meet his other half.
Watching that man’s departing back, what had he—the one left behind—felt?
Because Jin-myeong had died with a happy heart, did that mean those left behind had to be joyful at his death?
Seo-jun imagined Chun-bong and Namgung Su-ah closing their eyes with happy hearts, saying they were merely returning to the Tao.
An unbearable sadness and a rage directed at no one in particular filled his chest, forming a stifling knot.
Seo-jun quietly closed his eyes. A deep selfishness took root in his heart. If that was their happiness, he wanted to strip it away from them.
‘What can I do for them?’
Opening his eyes, Seo-jun looked once more at the few Taoists forcing themselves to be happy.
‘It’s a foolish thing.’
Turning his back, Seo-jun began to walk away.
His chest felt heavy.
Rather than wasting time, he felt it would be better to meet the Taiji Sword Immortal right now.
Chun-bong and Namgung Su-ah quietly followed behind him.