The Azure Dragon's Price
A deafening crack tore across the heavens—CRAAAAACK-BOOOOOM—
Azure clouds unfurled over the once-clear sky. In the same instant a torrent of blue energy poured down from above.
One of Yeong-hwa’s eyes, which had been stained black, shifted to a vivid, piercing blue.
“Hoooo… haaaa…”
Yeong-hwa gasped for breath. The Black Tortoise was drawn into his right hand; from the heavens, blue celestial energy crashed into his left.
Hyeolhokmyeongseon watched, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
“Divine possession, is it? Not bad at all.”
With a sharp snap of his fingers, Cheongu and the hundred ghosts were sucked into his body.
Shhhhing—
Yeong-hwa drew the Songmun Ancient Sword. Azure celestial energy whirled around the blade. He opened his left hand and thrust it forward; a cutting wind coiled about his palm.
Assuming the opening stance of the Taiji Thirteen Swords, Yeong-hwa crooked a finger at Hyeolhokmyeongseon in open invitation.
The sorcerer’s wild hair whipped in every direction. Ice bloomed in one hand; flame roared in the other.
Namgung Shin and Hyeonsong, who had only just subdued Moyong Cheon, stared with mouths hanging open. Every other martial artist present was equally dumbstruck.
Namgung Shin turned to Hyeonsong.
“What… what in heaven’s name is this madness?”
Hyeonsong pressed Moyong Cheon’s pressure points as he answered.
“It is a battle of the gods, Clan Head.”
His gaze lingered on Yeong-hwa, heavy with worry.
“Evacuate everyone at once.”
“Understood, Sect Leader.”
At the Clan Head’s command, every fighting unit seized the subdued Moyong warriors and withdrew from the great training ground. The moment the last man left, Namgung Shin strode to Wi So-yeon, who was coughing blood at the corner of her mouth.
“So-yeon.”
“Cough… cough…”
She looked up at him through the blood.
“You will live. Trust only me.”
When he tried to lift her onto his back, she pushed him away with what little strength remained.
“Just… go…”
“So-yeon!”
Her blood-smeared hand rose weakly and brushed his cheek.
“Shin… cough. You… will never be able to forget me now.”
Her hand fell limp to the ground.
“That… is enough.”
“So-yeon!”
A strange, faint smile still lingered on her face.
BOOOOOOM—
Yeong-hwa stepped between the weeping Namgung Shin and the storm of flame and frost Hyeolhokmyeongseon was hurling.
“Clan Head, go—now!”
Namgung Shin gathered Wi So-yeon’s body into his arms and launched himself away with light-footwork. Watching them flee, Hyeolhokmyeongseon threw back his head and laughed madly.
“Is it not amusing? The joys and sorrows of mere humans!”
Bang— bang— bang— bang—
He poured out internal energy without restraint, driving Yeong-hwa back with relentless force. Yeong-hwa answered with the Taiji Azure Pine Steps, tracing the Nine Palaces as he continued only to evade.
“What, has fear finally found you?”
A blood-red curtain erupted from Hyeolhokmyeongseon’s entire body, sealing every escape route and crashing down upon Yeong-hwa.
Then—
Sizzleeeee—
A strange hiss rose from the blood energy that had swallowed the boy.
“What is this—?”
BOOOOOOM—
The blood energy detonated. Azure celestial light flashed in every direction. Yeong-hwa dusted the residue from his robes with an irritated click of his tongue.
“I’ve never handled celestial energy before either, you know.”
Clear blue light now blazed along his sword. He lunged, blade thrusting straight at the stunned Hyeolhokmyeongseon.
CLANG—
The sorcerer wrapped his remaining hand in water energy, but Yeong-hwa’s form vanished. A voice drifted down from the air above.
“Can you take this one?”
Slash—
Heavenly Bird Cascading Waterfall
Yeong-hwa’s sword fell like a bolt of light and sheared off one of Hyeolhokmyeongseon’s hands.
SPURT—
Blood fountained from the severed wrist.
“AAAAAARGH!”
The sorcerer hurled ice with his remaining left hand even as Yeong-hwa’s palm technique struck. Soft cutting winds coiled around Hyeolhokmyeongseon, swelling in an instant into a colossal storm—the Soft Palm that was Wudang’s pride. The winds shattered the ice and drove him backward; the shards reverse-impaled his body without mercy.
“Hah… hah… hah…”
Yeong-hwa regarded the bleeding figure.
“So you are one of those Blood Cult remnants my senior brother always warned me about during training at Wudang?”
Hyeolhokmyeongseon only repeated a bizarre chant, cackling.
“Blood God Descend, Blood Heaven Over All Worlds!”
He lifted his intact left hand. A razor pillar of ice formed upon it.
“My remaining brothers will surely punish you.”
He drove the ice straight into his own heart.
THUNK—
He collapsed. Yeong-hwa sighed and hurried forward. With a grave expression he clasped his hands above the fallen man’s head and intoned a true mantra.
By the decree of the Supreme Clarity Heavenly Worthy,
may every dwelling be blessed with all good fortune.
Dragon and Tiger of the Subtle Realm, each in rightful place,
this disciple of the same Way now severs the ghostly altar.
Transform into blood-water;
by the command of the Supreme Elder Lord, the Jade Emperor, and the Holy Hosts,
execute at once without delay.
Om, swiftly as the law commands, svaha.
A single strand of blood energy slipped from Hyeolhokmyeongseon’s heart and hardened into a shard. It clinked softly onto the ground. Yeong-hwa carefully sealed the blood-jade fragment inside a pouch of salt, then exhaled and murmured,
“Azure Dragon God… what price do you demand?”
At those words the celestial energy clinging to the Songmun Ancient Sword poured free and coiled into the form of a vast blue dragon. The god who ruled the East and brought the spring, the sovereign of every dragon king, manifested before Yeong-hwa.
Ryu-ryu— ryu-ryu— ryu-ryu—
With the cry of a divine beast, Cheongu also appeared. Unlike before, the Heavenly Dog’s eyes now shone pure white. Scratching its head with a forepaw, Cheongu spoke first.
“I am sorry.”
“There is no need.”
“Not only did a ghost gate open within the clan I protected—I myself was beguiled.”
Watching the apologetic Cheongu, the Azure Dragon God chuckled with amusement.
“Well, if one is sorry, there must be a price. Is that not so, young Taoist?”
Cheongu looked pained; Yeong-hwa quickly chimed in.
“Even the gods do not give gifts to humans without expecting something in return, do they?”
The Azure Dragon nodded.
“You speak true.”
Yeong-hwa dropped to both knees before the two divine beasts and cried out,
“Please lengthen my short lifespan a little!”
The Azure Dragon traced a circle in the air, examining him. Cheongu waved a forepaw as well. The two gods began to whisper.
“How shall we settle the price for lending you my power?”
“That shall be offset by the debt of saving the Namgung Clan I protect.”
“Then what of me?”
“Must I state the obvious? The Moyong Clan under your care owes this Taoist nothing.”
“Ugh… the Jade Emperor will surely scold me later…”
“Do you intend to break the laws of the gods, then?”
“No… I will do it…”
Looking thoroughly dejected, Cheongu slowly raised a forepaw and laid it upon Yeong-hwa’s head. Red and blue energies flowing through the divine beast’s body were drawn into the boy.
Ryu-ryu— ryu-ryu— ryu-ryu—
In a weary voice Cheongu said,
“I have lengthened your lifespan by five years.”
Color flooded Yeong-hwa’s face. Feeling it unfair that only he had paid the price, Cheongu turned to the Azure Dragon.
“This Taoist has received only the Black Tortoise’s power; his yin energy is far too strong.”
When the Azure Dragon pretended not to hear, Cheongu promptly smacked him on the head with a paw.
“Ow! Why strike me?”
“Give him some of your internal energy as well. Then yin and yang will balance of their own accord.”
“Ahem.”
The Azure Dragon stroked his whiskers, then looked at Yeong-hwa.
“This will hurt a little.”
The familiar phrase made Yeong-hwa’s eyes go round.
“Surely not… surely…”
The Azure Dragon swept his hand downward. A pillar of blue light crashed from the heavens and struck Yeong-hwa’s body.
“AAAAAARGH!”
Yeong-hwa screamed and collapsed where he stood. Cheongu shook its head at the sight.
“If you are going to give, just give. What a nasty temper—tsk.”
“If you are going to scold, return to your clan already.”
“Azure Dragon, see you at the heavenly council in spring.”
“Farewell, Cheongu.”
With those final words both divine beasts vanished without a trace.
“Haaaaaa…”
Only Yeong-hwa remained sprawled across the Namgung Clan’s great training ground, groaning in pain.
When Hyeolhokmyeongseon died, every member of the Moyong Clan returned to their senses. Learning that First Lady Wi So-yeon had orchestrated everything, Moyong Cheon flew into a towering rage. Declaring that she was not even worth a funeral, he forced the wedding ceremony to proceed.
After the chaos had been put in order, the marriage of Namgung Sang and Moyong Ran was celebrated with full pomp as originally planned. The body of the criminal Wi So-yeon was not discarded; by Namgung Shin’s order it was laid in the clan head’s private chamber. Moyong Cheon was so furious he did not even reclaim the corpse. There had never been any children of Wi So-yeon’s in the Moyong Clan to begin with, which made it all the easier.
And the very next day after the wedding—
Deep in Huangshan, beside a sunlit valley stream, a man was digging the earth. He had rolled his sleeves to the elbows and was driving the shovel with all his strength. His eyes never left the coffin that waited nearby.
“I am sorry.”
The man stroking the coffin was Namgung Shin. Against the opposition of his entire clan he had insisted on performing Wi So-yeon’s funeral himself. Alone he lifted the coffin and lowered it carefully into the grave he had dug.
“I… never forgot you.”
Rain—or tears—traced paths down both his cheeks.
“I merely kept you safely in a corner of my heart.”
He wept bitterly.
“How could I, the sinner who broke the vow I swore for a lifetime to my beloved… ever forget you?”
His sobs continued.
“I thought if I simply showed you a happy life, you would forget me easily as well.”
He buried his face against the coffin.
“I was a fool. I am truly sorry… so sorry.”
Behind him Hyeonsong quietly recited the Infinite Life Buddha’s name. Yeong-hwa wiped the tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes with his sleeve; Hagun sobbed openly, dabbing his face with his own sleeve.
Hyeonsong helped Namgung Shin to his feet.
“It is time to send the departed on her way.”
At the elder’s glance, Yeong-hwa and Hagun took up shovels and covered the coffin with earth. When the mound had taken proper shape, Yeong-hwa whispered to Hagun,
“Senior Brother, the thing I asked for?”
“Ah—wait a moment.”
Hagun descended the mountain with the Cloud-Riding Steps and soon returned with a bouquet of daffodils in his hands. He held them out to Namgung Shin, who still knelt before the grave.
“Clan Head, please take these.”
“These are…?”
Yeong-hwa spoke gently.
“Daffodils symbolize noble solitude.”
He smiled at Namgung Shin.
“I can think of no flower more fitting for Lady Wi.”
Namgung Shin accepted the flowers and laid them before the grave.
“Thank you, Taoist Yeong-hwa.”
Yeong-hwa waited until the man’s breathing steadied.
“May we proceed with the soul-guiding rite?”
Namgung Shin opened a bundle and set food before the grave—dishes Wi So-yeon had once loved. Yeong-hwa handed the drum he had carried on his back to Hagun.
“Yeong-hwa…”
“Senior Brother! Did you not promise to serve as my drummer in exchange for the secrets of the Taegeukhyekeom?”
Hagun cast a pitiful look at Hyeonsong, who only answered with a hearty laugh. Yeong-hwa said,
“Senior Brother—the Soul-Guiding Scripture of the Departed.”
“I understand, Junior Brother.”
Beside the simple yet elegant grave, the drum began to sound.
Doom— do-doom— doom— do-doom— doom— do-doom—
Clad now in pure white mourning robes, Yeong-hwa sang the mournful air while long white sleeves billowed through the air.
O departed soul guided this day,
this disciple with utmost sincerity
chants the Buddha’s name and recites the sutras,
that your earthly bonds may end.
O soul departing for the afterlife,
by the merit of these sacred chants
cast off the three poisons of the mind,
extinguish the karma of ignorance,
and escape the bitter sea of life and death.
Hyeonsong and Namgung Shin each performed two full prostrations. Yet Namgung Shin remained bowed to the earth long after Yeong-hwa’s song had ended, unable to rise.