Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Strange Monk (2)
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As the fisherman had said, after walking a bit further along the river, a place that repaired boats came into view.
It was a terribly rundown spot. In front of a single shack on the brink of collapse, chunks of wood used for boat-building lay scattered about, along with torn and tattered nets strewn everywhere.
"Is anyone here?"
As I called out to announce my arrival, the shack's door creaked open, and a thick-lipped middle-aged man shuffled out.
"What do you want?"
"I'm here to have a small fishing boat built."
"Even rushing it, it'll take about a month. Thirty silver taels. What do you say?"
The thick-lipped man's voice was incredibly curt.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
"Don't bother coming if you're not serious about getting a boat made. It's just a hassle."
I turned away without a word.
I did want a boat, but not from this guy.
Back in the village, I wandered around asking if anyone knew how to build boats.
But I couldn't find a single soul who did.
As I walked the streets in disappointment, a bizarre sight caught my eye.
A young monk sat beneath a roadside wall, his body plastered with scraps of paper.
The papers bore writing like divination, compatibility readings, exorcisms, and fortune-telling.
I'd heard people who did that sort of thing were usually wandering Taoists or fortune-tellers, but this one sitting there had a shaved head and wore monk's robes.
'A temple rat.'
As I passed the monk by, a voice from behind stopped me in my tracks.
"What a calamity. Nothing's going right—there's a demon possessing your home."
'Is he talking to me?'
I started walking again.
"Among demons, this is a great demon."
I couldn't help but stop at those words from the young monk's mouth.
'No way...'
But it could just be the usual sales pitch from a temple rat like him.
Then a slightly louder voice came from behind.
"The great demon's even trying to devour you."
At this point, I had to consider believing this young monk had some strange power.
"Are you talking to me?"
As I approached and asked, the young monk nodded with his eyes closed.
"Who else would be in front of me?"
"What do you mean, a great demon's possessing me?"
The young monk, whose face was round like a steamed bun, replied with his eyes still shut.
"Wouldn't you know better than anyone, young patron?"
Before I knew it, I was squatting right in front of the young monk.
"Can you exorcise that great demon?"
"It's extremely difficult, but not impossible."
"How can it be done?"
The young monk opened his eyes and stared into mine.
They were crystal clear, without a speck of murkiness.
"Buddha, Guanyin, and the heavenly gods must watch over you."
"How would Buddha, Guanyin, and the heavenly gods watch over me?"
"To draw their gaze, you need not only faith in Buddha but sincere devotion as well."
"Tell me the method."
I was desperate.
If I could escape the Great Heavenly Demon's clutches, I'd do anything.
"First, prepare fine food and offer it to them. Also, empty your household stores to show your sincerity."
"How much sincerity...?"
"That depends on your heart."
If it could drive out the Great Heavenly Demon, I'd gladly offer all my wealth.
But I needed certainty.
"You can really exorcise the great demon, right?"
"If this humble monk fails, then I'm no disciple of Buddha. Amitabha."
He was so confident—I figured it was worth a shot.
"Then where should the exorcism take place?"
"Your home would be best."
"I need to shop for food first, so come with me."
"Very well. Amitabha."
As I entered the house laden with food in both arms, Gwang-u greeted me happily.
"Bro, you bought a ton of meat... Huh? Who's that monk?"
The young monk, who had followed me into the courtyard, pressed his palms together toward Gwang-u.
"Amitabha. This humble monk is called Myeong-hae."
"N-Nice to meet you, Myeong-hae Monk."
I left Gwang-u exchanging greetings with the monk called Myeong-hae and headed to the kitchen.
He'd said I needed to show sincerity, so I planned to cook the food myself.
"What's gotten into you, bro? Cooking yourself."
"Just sit quietly—I've got my reasons."
I boiled pork and lamb, then fried chicken and duck.
After washing fruit and arranging it in bowls, I sat on the platform and asked the young monk, who was chanting sutras with eyes closed.
"What now?"
"Set the food out on the platform, place your wealth before it, then sit with me and close your eyes."
"Got it."
My hands trembled as I took a fifty-tael silver note from my money pouch and set it down.
It was precious as blood, but if it drove out the Great Heavenly Demon, it was worth it.
After offering the silver and closing my eyes, the young monk clasped his hands and began chanting sutras.
"Mahaprajnaparamita..."
After chanting for nearly an incense stick's time, he asked me with my eyes still shut.
"Does your body feel any lighter?"
"Not really... no."
"This great demon is even more formidable than I thought. But fear not."
The sutra chanting resumed after a brief pause.
Another half incense stick passed, and the clear recitation stopped.
"It's done. The great demon has retreated, so this humble monk will take his leave."
"I still don't feel anything."
"No, patron. I saw a black shadow fleeing your body with my own eyes."
"Is... that so?"
I couldn't quite believe it, but hearing a black shadow had left planted a seed of hope.
"Thank you for your efforts."
"I'll be at that spot tomorrow too, so if you pass through the village, stop by."
"Sure. But won't you at least eat before you go...?"
"No. I have an appointment this evening."
The young monk pocketed the note from the table and left the house.
"Take care, monk."
Gwang-u, who had seen him off with me, turned and asked.
"Bro, were you possessed by a ghost?"
"Yeah."
Gwang-u suddenly backed away three or four steps, as if he'd eaten something terrifying.
"What the hell's your problem?"
"So... all that crazy stuff at night was because of a ghost?"
"Yeah."
At my grim reply, Gwang-u dropped to his knees and started sniffling.
"B-Bro..."
"Whatever, that young monk drove out the great demon, so believe it. Let's eat and sleep."
"O-Okay, bro."
Gwang-u and I finished dinner with the food laid out on the table.
Night deepened, and finally, it was time for bed.
It was gone.
As the young monk had said, the Great Heavenly Demon was nowhere to be seen.
Hahaha... Kuhahaha!
Mad laughter burst from my mouth.
I'd finally shaken off the Great Heavenly Demon.
Overjoyed beyond measure, tears streamed from my eyes.
"I was half-doubting, but it actually worked."
I circled the vegetable patch behind the house, gazing up at the sky.
Three sides were walled high, and the remaining side behind the house sloped down to the river.
Just yesterday, I'd encountered the Great Heavenly Demon here, and the day before too.
But now, it was gone from this place.
In my elation, as I paced the patch, a strange thought struck me.
'Why the same dream again?'
The Great Heavenly Demon was absent, but the location was identical to before.
As I pondered this, someone emerged from the slope path.
Kekekeke...
A chilling laugh I never wanted to hear reached my ears.
My face twisted like a vengeful ghost's.
"You... damn temple rat bastard."
I was angrier at being duped by that round-faced, steamed-bun-like young monk than at the Great Heavenly Demon still being intact.
Where in the world was a monk who sold out Buddha himself?
That guy wasn't a monk—he was a con artist.
"Hearing sutra chants after so long felt quite novel."
With a sliver of hope, I asked.
"It had no effect at all?"
"Test it on my body yourself."
The Great Heavenly Demon's voice turned eerie in an instant.
"Damn it."
The great demon was clearly unscathed.
As the last thread of hope vanished like smoke, rage made my body tremble.
"Just disappear already!"
My blade cleaved vertically through the Great Heavenly Demon's dark, sinister-smiling form.
Seok Yang-ho, the family head who had spent a busy day at the elder patriarch's birthday banquet, met a most esteemed guest late into the night.
Seok Yang-ho could hardly believe that the person seated before him had visited his family.
And why not? This guest was the disciple of someone hailed as a legend of the martial world.
The disciple himself was hugely famous in the jianghu—practically everyone knew the name.
But he was so free-spirited and eccentric that few knew his face, and those who did tended to avoid him.
"On behalf of the family, we thank Shaolin."
He never dreamed Shaolin would send a congratulatory delegation timed to the elder patriarch's birthday.
Sending a disciple of the Divine Monk made it the family's lifetime honor.
Chomp chomp... Crunch, crunch...
"N-No need for such words. I just ran the errand. This is delicious."
The young monk with the round, steamed-bun face took the greeting while tearing into meat.
His hands and mouth were slick with grease, but they didn't stop.
Seok Yang-ho had heard rumors about Myeong-gak and knew a bit, but he was shocked at the monk's voracious love of meat.
"Would you like some liquor?"
"Bring it quick."
The polite offer got an unexpected response.
If he hadn't asked, he'd have been accused of poor hospitality.
He had a servant fetch liquor, then personally filled a cup.
"Thank you, family head."
Myeong-gak downed the cup in one go, smacked his lips, then grabbed the bottle and chugged straight from it.
Gulp... Gulp...
Kuh.
"Good stuff. Oh... the bottle's empty."
At Myeong-gak's brazenness, Seok Yang-ho had more bottles brought.
Gulp... Gulp...
Kuh.
"Truly fine liquor, family head. Pack some bottles for my trip tomorrow—oh, and some meat too."
At the shameless demand, Seok Yang-ho inwardly went from flustered to downright embarrassed.
'Heavens... I've met countless people, but this one's a first.'
Yet he showed no sign of it.
He even let a faint smile play on his lips.
"I was surprised Shaolin even knew of our family."
Myeong-gak shook the bone in his hand side to side.
"It's not Shaolin—my master knew. He said there's a gentleman in Huanin County."
Seok Yang-ho was deeply moved.
Myeong-gak's master was called the Divine Monk in the jianghu, one of the Five Kings and the head seat.
For such a great figure to know of him was infinite glory for any martial artist.
"When you return to Shaolin, please convey my regards on behalf of Seok Yang-ho."
"Sure. Write a letter."
Myeong-gak accepted casually, then rummaged in his bosom with grease-smeared hands.
"Where'd I put it... Ah, here it is."
Myeong-gak thrust a fifty-tael silver note in front of Seok Yang-ho.
"Can you change this all to silver for me?"