Severing the Vermilion Flame
A clear dawn light washed over Huashan.
The full moon faded weakly, and the wind drifted the scent of plum blossoms lightly along the mountain's flanks.
Wol-yeon held Hagun's hand tightly in both of hers as they descended the mountain. Hagun, without thinking, squeezed her hand just as firmly in return. Ahead of them, Yeong-hwa whistled with bright good humor.
The road to the Huashan Sect that had once felt endless now seemed all too short to the young man and woman.
Hagun, who had walked in silence, finally spoke.
"Wol-yeon Daoist, the Southern Heaven Gate is in sight."
"Yes…"
Hagun continued carefully.
"Now…"
Wol-yeon answered before he could finish.
"We should let go of each other's hands, shouldn't we?"
She smiled softly as she looked up at him.
"Thank you so much, Hagun Daoist."
Embarrassed, Hagun scratched the back of his head again and again.
"It was all Yeong-hwa…"
Yeong-hwa cut him off at once.
"What did I do?!"
His voice turned teasing, almost delighted.
"This was all because Senior Brother Hagun's drumming was so magnificent…"
Furious at the mockery, Hagun raised his drumstick to strike Yeong-hwa over the head.
"Yeong-hwa!"
"I'll go on ahead, Senior Brother!"
Yeong-hwa unfurled the Cloud-Treading Steps and dashed toward the Huashan Guest Reception Hall.
Left alone, Hagun spoke with an awkward look.
"There will be a gut tomorrow."
"A gut?"
"Think of it as a ritual Yeong-hwa is going to perform."
The expression that had always been heavy with melancholy and despair brightened beyond measure. The beauty that had been veiled until now bloomed with it. Hagun found he could not look at her straight on.
Wol-yeon smiled and met his eyes.
"It's all because of me, isn't it?"
"Don't worry, Wol-yeon Daoist!"
Hagun gathered his courage and held her gaze.
"Yeong-hwa will put everything right."
"I will do my best as well."
At her calm voice, Hagun smiled quietly in return.
"It would be better if Wol-yeon Daoist went first."
A look of regret crossed her face, but she nodded. Then, treading the Dark Fragrance Steps, she vanished toward the Southern Heaven Gate like scattering plum blossoms.
Hagun stared blankly after her retreating figure.
Slap—
He struck both cheeks with his palms.
"Get a grip…"
Yet his eyes still followed only the path she had taken.
While Hagun passed through the Southern Heaven Gate and made his way toward the Guest Reception Hall, deep in a dark and secluded cave of Huashan, a Vermilion Bird painted in blood covered the stone wall. Before it, a man offered prayer.
"O Vermilion Bird God who protects our sect."
Rage and madness twisted his face into something dark and ugly.
"Annihilate those detestable Wudang bastards."
His brow contorted hideously.
"And protect Wol-yeon, the future of Huashan."
He bowed over and over in a frenzy, repeating the same words without cease.
"Please, please, please, please help me."
Whoosh—
Plum-blossom flames rose and took the form of the Vermilion Bird.
"Have I not already given you power?"
The god's voice sounded displeased.
"It is not enough. This lowly creature's martial talent is worthless…"
"You are remarkably skilled at excuses."
Thud— thud— thud— thud— thud—
The man pounded the cave floor with his fists.
"What am I supposed to do?!"
He glared into the rising flames.
"Did you not see yesterday?"
His voice had grown hoarse and raw.
"I have nothing."
He cried out in despair.
"Neither the divine power of that Wudang Daoist, nor Wol-yeon's martial talent."
At that, the Vermilion Bird God burst into mad laughter.
"Is there not one more thing left to you?"
"What?"
"You have something as well."
"Don't tell me… my life?"
"Do you truly wish to possess Wol-yeon?"
The voice touched the raw nerve of his desire; he nodded again and again without thinking.
"I am asking whether you can truly offer everything!"
"Only leave me one year of lifespan!"
"Why? What for?"
"I want to live happily as husband and wife with Wol-yeon for just one year."
Ecstasy flooded his face.
"The Vermilion Bird God can do that, can you not?"
At that mad obsession the god's laughter stopped.
"Very well. The bargain is struck."
The flames that had been burning around him drove straight into the center of his chest.
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
He writhed in searing agony.
"Endure it…"
The Vermilion Bird looked down on him with a thin, bloody smile.
"In exchange I will grant you boundless power."
"Guh— guuuuuh—"
Clutching his chest, the man rose. He closed his eyes and stretched out his hand. Plum-blossom flames coiled around it at once.
"Heh… heheheheheh!"
He gazed upon the god's plum blossoms that had descended upon his palm as though they were the most beautiful thing in the world. He muttered in a frenzy.
"Now I can have her."
The monologue continued without pause.
"I will not give up…"
He looked toward the distant Ancestral Hall of the Huashan Sect.
"If everyone dies, Wol-yeon will have no choice but to rely on me."
Then he clutched his stomach and bent double.
"Kuh— kuhkuh— kuhkuhkuh— kuhkuhkuh—"
He covered his mouth and swallowed the laughter, yet the desire that forced its way out still spread through the cave as a low, wretched howl.
That evening, before the Ancestral Hall of the Huashan Sect, a straw mat was spread. A ritual table was set upon it, laden with meat, side dishes, and every sort of offering. Unusually, a cow's head and a pig's head sat side by side. In front of them stood incense burners and two spirit tablets.
Yeong-hwa moved among the Huashan disciples, gently directing them as he completed the gut platform. Watching from the Sect Leader's quarters, Jaheo spoke to Hyeonsong.
"A strange ceremony."
"I was astonished the first time I saw it as well."
"Did Yeong-hwa Daoist perform this gut even within the Wudang Sect?"
"He did…"
Bitterness crossed Hyeonsong's face as he continued.
"Thanks to it, we cut out the festering wound within Wudang."
"Hyeonsong, my expectations are high."
Hyeonsong fell silent a moment, then spoke again.
"Senior Jaheo… a gut is…"
"Speak freely. It is all right."
"It is a ritual whose outcome no one can know."
"What do you mean by that?"
Hyeonsong sighed.
"How can we mere humans know the will of the Infinite Buddha, the Primordial Heavenly Lord?"
"But did everything not go well at Wudang, the Hebei Peng Family, and the Namgung Family?"
"People judge only by what they see on the surface."
A thousand emotions moved across Hyeonsong's face.
"No one ever knows the circumstances that lie behind."
Jaheo gave a hollow laugh.
"As long as Wol-yeon regains her senses, what more could I ask?"
He looked down at the gut platform before the Ancestral Hall.
"I simply fear for the future of our sect."
"How could I fail to understand Senior's sincerity toward Huashan?"
"Thank you, Hyeonsong."
"Yet gods always lie beyond the bounds of men."
"Were the guardian deities you met like that?"
"Gods are beings who cling desperately to balance."
Hyeonsong's voice trembled faintly.
"Therefore, Senior Jaheo, prepare your heart firmly."
"I understand."
The two launched themselves with lightness skills toward the gut platform where the torches flickered. Upon arrival they took the seats prepared at the front.
Jaheo projected his voice with internal energy.
"Close the Southern Heaven Gate!"
Boooooom—
The massive gate that guarded the entrance of Huashan swung shut.
Shuf— shuf— shuf— shuf—
Yeong-hwa, clad in pure white mourning robes, entered the gut platform, long sleeves trailing. Hagun followed close behind. When Yeong-hwa paused a moment, the crowd of Huashan disciples gathered below the platform parted. Wol-yeon and Elder Jangjin stepped onto the gut platform.
Elder Jangjin took Yeong-hwa's hand and spoke with urgent sincerity.
"Yeong-hwa Daoist, I entrust this to you."
Yeong-hwa smiled brightly.
"Do not worry, Elder."
Once Wol-yeon had taken her place at the center and Elder Jangjin withdrew, Hagun lit the incense. When he set the sticks into the two burners, smoke rose in quiet columns.
"Infinite Buddha."
At Hagun's recitation of the sacred name, Yeong-hwa, as though he had been waiting, offered a respectful cupped-fist salute to Jaheo and Hyeonsong.
"I shall begin."
Both sect leaders nodded.
Yeong-hwa fixed his gaze upon the spirit tablets before the cow's head and the pig's head, and one corner of his mouth lifted in a cold, thin smile.
"This gut…"
His voice, cold and piercing, took hold of the entire platform.
"…is a Spirit-Suppression Gut."
"Ptooey—!"
Jaheo, who had been pouring wine at the liquor table, spat it out in shock. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and demanded of Yeong-hwa,
"You mean to tear the Vermilion Bird God who protects our sect away from Wol-yeon?"
"That is correct, Sect Leader Jaheo."
Jaheo considered for a moment.
"Then what of Wol-yeon's martial talent?"
"What she originally possesses will remain."
Yeong-hwa still wore his smile.
"However, she will never again behold the Crimson Flame Plum Blossoms."
"Ah—"
Jaheo sighed and stroked his beard.
"If we surrender only that, will her madness vanish?"
Yeong-hwa answered with a simple nod.
After a brief silence Jaheo spoke again.
"Begin, Yeong-hwa Daoist!"
At once Hagun's drum exploded into sound as though it would tear the air itself.
Dudududududududududududung—
Like a scream that sought to sever something, the drumsticks never paused.
In the center of the platform Wol-yeon knelt. Her expression was utterly at peace.
Yeong-hwa walked lightly toward her, sleeves fluttering. He circled a straw rope around her as the center point. Four talismans hung and swayed above it. Upon each, characters written in cow blood and pig blood read:
Binding · Suppress Flame
Protect Soul · Sever Realm
Yeong-hwa went to the ritual table, seized a handful of red beans, and cast them over Wol-yeon.
Swish—
Next he took a handful of salt from the pouch and sprinkled it over her head.
"Ugh… ugh… uuuugh—"
Wol-yeon bit her lip against the pain of her body burning.
"You must endure, Wol-yeon Daoist."
She nodded.
Yeong-hwa brought his palms together and chanted the mantra in a great voice.
Keeping time with the drum, Yeong-hwa whirled his sleeves and circled Wol-yeon, singing in a pure, clear voice. Hagun's drumming blanketed Huashan; Yeong-hwa's ringing song seemed ready to split the mountain itself.
Upper Origin, Three Pure Ones,
Middle Origin, Six Paths,
Upper Origin, Seven Stars.
Let man not offend the god;
Let the god not invade man.
Soul of Wol-yeon—
Return to your rightful place.
Yeong-hwa's taryeong raced toward its end. He danced more fiercely still; Hagun beat the drum like a man possessed. Wol-yeon trembled violently and fixed her eyes upon the ritual table. Her irises turned crimson.
Chaaang—
Seizing the instant, Yeong-hwa drew Songmungo's Sword and slashed the empty air between Wol-yeon and the ritual table.
Kaaaang—
A strange metallic crash rang out and the blade rebounded as though it had struck invisible iron chains.
"Kuaaaaaargh—!"
Wol-yeon began to vomit scarlet blood.
"Wol-yeon!"
Elder Jangjin tried to rush onto the platform, but Hyeonsong appeared at once and held him back.
"If you enter the gut platform now, both Yeong-hwa and Wol-yeon will die."
"But, Sect Leader Hyeonsong—!"
"Trust them."
Jangjin could only stare at Wol-yeon with a face full of dread.
Kaaaaaaaaang—
Kaaaaaang—
Kaaaang—
Kaang—
Yeong-hwa struck again and again between the table and the girl; the sound grew fainter with every blow. Sweat poured from him like rain. At last he recited the final scripture as though it were the last thing he would ever utter.
Om. Swiftly, by the command of the Law. Svaha.
Just as Yeong-hwa raised his sword for the final cut—
Whooooosh—
Someone burst from among the onlookers onto the gut platform and seized Yeong-hwa's blade with a bare hand.
Yeong-hwa looked at him and smiled a thin, cold smile.
"So it was you."