Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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“Once the capital moved to Chang'an Fortress and the nobles began vying for power, it was cast aside. They chose swords over harmony.”
“Power triumphed over dreams, then.”
“That's about right. They lost their dreams, and with them, their strength.”
For the first time, I found myself nodding along to something Go Jeong-ui said.
Goguryeo, having lost its dreams, vanished in the end.
One of Geom Mojam's subordinates, leading the way ahead, shouted that the Gukdong Cave was in sight.
I shook off my thoughts and lifted my head. A cave came into view between the mountain paths.
“So that's it.”
I murmured without thinking, and Go Jeong-ui dismounted his horse as he replied.
“It's a sacred place, so it's best to proceed on foot.”
I halted my horse and stepped down from the stirrups. Geom Mojam raised his hand to stop his men, then dismounted himself.
Once he confirmed that Geom Mojam and his subordinates had all gotten off their horses, he began walking slowly along the narrow path.
It feels like strolling through the fir grove path at Woljeong Temple.
Dense trees, moss-covered rocks, and a breeze from who-knows-where brushed against us.
The Gukdong Cave was a tunnel-like cavern carved into the mountainside.
Sunlight filtering through the cave scattered light along the winding path. Even without any decorations, it brimmed with sanctity.
Go Jeong-ui, usually so talkative, clutched his collar closed and followed in silence.
Geom Mojam moved quietly as well. As we headed toward the Gukdong Cave, I suddenly remembered something I'd forgotten.
“I don't see the Celestial Maiden.”
At my question, Geom Mojam looked flustered.
“I made inquiries, but we couldn't find any trace of her.”
“Maybe she didn't know I was coming?”
“I sent word ahead of time.”
Geom Mojam trailed off with an apologetic expression.
Figuring there must be some reason, I told him it was fine and glanced at Go Jeong-ui.
“Since we're here, let's take a look around the Gukdong Cave.”
Then the three of us—myself, Go Jeong-ui, and Geom Mojam—approached the cave.
A flat rock lay before the entrance, clearly smoothed by human hands.
I tapped the ground with one foot and said,
“They leveled this rock. Must have been a space for rituals.”
Go Jeong-ui nodded at my words.
“They'd perform the rites here and bring out the wooden statue of the Buyeo Goddess from inside the Gukdong Cave.”
“And then take it to the Yalu River and set it afloat?”
“Yes. It reenacts the Buyeo Goddess Yuhwa Lady meeting the water god Habaek.”
“And the Celestial Maiden oversees the whole thing?”
“Correct. From start to finish.”
“That's a position of tremendous authority.”
“Especially the current Celestial Maiden—she's said to be extraordinary.”
“Rumors?”
“They say she has miraculous powers: bringing the dead back to life, foreseeing the future.”
“Coming from you, that's hilarious. You never believe that kind of talk.”
Despite my jab, Go Jeong-ui answered earnestly.
“I don't buy baseless nonsense, but there's no reason to dismiss rumors like these.”
“Still not like you.”
“Even my master always spoke highly of the Celestial Maiden.”
We chatted as we entered the Gukdong Cave.
It hadn't looked that big from afar, but inside, it was surprisingly spacious. The ceiling was especially high—three times a man's height, at least.
Deeper inside, another smoothed stone platform rose like a pedestal. Atop it stood a wooden statue draped in white cloth.
The cloth obscured it, but I caught a glimpse of a woman's face. Seeing it, Go Jeong-ui and Geom Mojam dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
I knelt on one knee as well. Inwardly, I felt a pang of regret.
I let out a deep sigh, and Go Jeong-ui asked,
“Do you feel regret?”
“I was hoping the Celestial Maiden here could provide answers to what the shrine maiden in Liaodong told me.”
“I feel the same disappointment.”
Overcome with regret, I examined the interior of the Gukdong Cave.
Light seeped in, illuminating the depths where the weight of ages pressed down.
“Centuries of rituals have left human footprints everywhere.”
“They held rites here continuously while the capital was at the domestic fortress. Of course, even after the capital moved to Chang'an, the rituals continued—but it fell out of favor.”
Because of Go Jeong-ui's explanation, a sense of desolation settled in. As I gazed absently, a voice suddenly came from behind.
“Welcome. You've had a long, arduous journey.”
Startled, Geom Mojam whirled around, hand on his sword hilt.
The speaker was a woman dressed in flowing white robes like a cape, reminiscent of the shrine maiden from Liaodong.
A loose golden belt cinched her waist, and a necklace of curved jade hung around her neck. Her face was heavily made up, and in the dim cave, her age was hard to guess.
Geom Mojam hastily released the hilt and dropped to one knee.
“Celestial Maiden, forgive my rudeness.”
She took a step forward and said,
“No need. Your lord is a most important person—protect him well.”
“I guard him with my life.”
Hearing Geom Mojam's reply, the Celestial Maiden turned to me.
I could sense Go Jeong-ui tensing up beside me. She looked at him.
“You must be the disciple of National Academy Scholar Lee Mun-jin.”
“Y-yes. Go Jeong-ui, at your service, Celestial Maiden.”
Go Jeong-ui replied in a voice nearly breaking with emotion and knelt on one knee.
“It's an honor that you recognize me, Celestial Maiden.”
“You have much work ahead for the kingdom—serve your lord well.”
“I already serve him diligently.”
I wanted to say otherwise, but given the atmosphere, I held my tongue.
After speaking with the two, the Celestial Maiden said gently,
“I have urgent matters to discuss with your lord. Withdraw.”
Go Jeong-ui complied without hesitation, as did Geom Mojam, who always stuck close to my side.
As they exited the Gukdong Cave, the Celestial Maiden turned to me.
Her inscrutable gaze weighed heavily on me. Sensing my unease, she walked toward the cloth-draped statue and spoke in a cold, measured tone.
“This is a wooden statue of Yuhwa Lady. Also called the Water Spirit.”
“I heard it's carried to the riverbank during the alliance festival and set afloat.”
She looked up at the cave ceiling in response.
“It symbolizes emerging from this darkness into the bright world. With it, all things revive, and a new era dawns.”
“Setting it afloat reenacts Yuhwa Lady meeting Habaek?”
“Water is life itself. The Buyeo Goddess meeting the water signifies Goguryeo gaining new life.”
Finishing her explanation, she lifted the white cloth with her hand. A wooden statue slightly shorter than a person was revealed.
The finely carved face bore traces of rouge and vermilion, with the patina of ages intact.
“It looks ancient.”
“Usually, a new Celestial Maiden carves one upon arriving here. I came forty years ago, so this one's quite old.”
“Forty years?”
Even if she became Celestial Maiden at ten, that would make her fifty.
No matter the heavy makeup, she didn't look that age.
Sensing my stare, she smiled lightly.
“When one serves the divine, age becomes unimportant.”
I realized there was good reason Go Jeong-ui and Geom Mojam had knelt on sight.
“How does one become a Celestial Maiden or shrine maiden?”
“We search the land for young girls with divine gifts. The shrine maidens meet them personally and bring those with potential.”
“Was it the same for you, Celestial Maiden?”
She nodded.
“I lived on Baekdu Mountain as a child. One day, a shrine maiden found me, and I parted from my family that very day.”
“Wasn't it hard?”
“The grave duty bestowed upon me left no room for thoughts of family.”
“When did Celestial Maidens and shrine maidens begin?”
“It started with one of the shrine maidens Yuhwa Lady met in Buyeo. She helped Yuhwa Lady escape with her son, Prince Jumong. Later, they came to Goguryeo with Crown Prince Yuri.”
“And it's continued ever since?”
She nodded at my question.
“Prince Jumong and Yuhwa Lady ascended to the heavens and became gods. Afterward, shrines and divine halls were built, and we've guarded them generation after generation.”
From personal experience, this was a group with power even secular authorities couldn't ignore.
Buddhism existed, but most common folk believed in the High Gods and Buyeo Gods. Go Jeong-ui and Geom Mojam's deference showed the weight it carried.
“Another force protecting Goguryeo.”
“We split from Buyeo and absorbed surrounding petty states. There were exiles from China, and even from distant places like Baekje, Silla, Wa, and Tujue. The High Gods and Buyeo Gods turned them into Goguryeoans.”
Go Jeong-ui had said something similar. They mingled different bloodlines through the alliance festival.
“Binding them together through the shared worship of the same gods.”
“Yes. It was the force that kept Goguryeo rising from crises without crumbling.”
I recalled the saying that religion is the opiate of the masses. To stake one's one and only life, you need a compelling reason. Religion often provided it.
Lost in such thoughts while gazing at the statue, the Celestial Maiden spoke.
“Foresight is a painful gift.”
“Why? Isn't it good?”
“What if that future is filled with death and destruction?”
Her words brought to mind the tragedy Goguryeo would face in about thirty years.
Countless people killed or taken captive, the kingdom that endured for centuries gone.
Balhae followed, but even it vanished and was forgotten.
In the modern day, most of it lay within Chinese territory—a mere local regime, by their claim.
As I fell silent, she clasped her hands together.
“I hoped it was a dream. Chang'an burning, countless people trampled under invaders' hooves. Goguryeo's symbols destroyed, reduced to ashes.”
“Goguryeo will fall someday. But not for centuries, surely?”
“No. It will happen soon—very soon.”
So Go Jeong-ui's tales of her foresight were true.
I knew the tragedies ahead for Goguryeo. But that was because I came from the future. To these people, it was unforeseeable.
Yet she had divined it almost precisely.
As I remained silent, she caressed the statue's face.
“Even this statue will vanish. Cast into flames. As Celestial Maiden, I have a duty to prevent it.”
“How?”
“By finding the one who can stop it.”
Feeling my true nature on the verge of exposure, I forced a smile and replied,
“Predicting the future is hard enough—finding the one to avert it must be even harder.”