The Bait of Human Desire
Lee Cheol-goi led Seong-jin into the depths of the mountain.
As he took the lead, the trees parted their branches to clear a path, the jagged rocks shifted their weight to step aside, and the winding mountain trails folded neatly, as if the destination were reaching out to meet them.
‘Is this the Immortals’ Art of Shrinking the Earth?’
Indeed, the true Taoist arts of a genuine immortal possessed a mystical quality far beyond the martial arts, which merely relied on running fast or smashing through obstacles.
After walking only a few steps, they arrived at a banquet hall hidden within the forest. A feast was already laid out before them.
"Eat," Lee Cheol-goi commanded.
Seong-jin stared at the food, which was steaming as if it had just been freshly prepared, and asked, "Are you speaking to me?"
"Who else is here?"
"But Sunyangja told me to forage for wild herbs, specifically those that are not part of the Five Pungent Vegetables. There must have been a reason for his instruction—dare I ignore it?"
At Seong-jin’s words, Lee Cheol-goi raised an eyebrow, then spoke as if he understood.
"Everything that grows from this soil is imbued with the spiritual energy of the Immortal Realm. If you, an outsider, were to consume it recklessly, it would be dangerous. Even a common dandelion becomes a spiritual medicine once it absorbs the energy of Mount Bongnae."
Seong-jin nodded. "They say medicine and poison are but a hair's breadth apart."
"That is likely why Sunyangja told you to forage for those specific herbs. The Five Pungent Vegetables have long been known to hinder a Taoist’s cultivation; they have the property of scattering one’s energy, so even if they age, they do not become spiritual medicine."
"Are you saying that because they are no different from those in the outside world, there is no risk of them causing harm?"
"Correct. Sunyangja likely said that to prevent you from eating something strange by mistake, but these dishes were brought from the outside world, so they are perfectly fine."
Since an immortal had deemed them safe, there was no reason to refuse. Having consumed nothing but cold water since arriving, Seong-jin accepted the kindness without further hesitation.
"Then, I will eat with gratitude."
The food laid out was so vivid that it was hard to believe it was being eaten in the middle of a mountain. It was warm, moist, and steaming. Who would have expected to taste such freshly prepared cuisine in the heart of these deep, rugged mountains? Even though he was full, it didn't seem to be one of those folktales where everything turns out to be an illusion once you regain your senses.
"Come back whenever you are hungry. If you wish to find this place, the trees will show you the way."
After filling Seong-jin’s belly, Lee Cheol-goi sent him off with an invitation to return whenever he was in need.
‘As expected of the founder of the Beggar Sect, he is a man of true warmth.’
With a full stomach and a basket of fruit in his arms, Seong-jin returned home, expressing his sincere gratitude.
‘Still, a man must have some sense of shame. I cannot simply think of being a burden to an immortal.’
Not wanting to trouble Lee Cheol-goi, Seong-jin waited three days before returning, his stomach growling with hunger.
"...From now on, don't suffer in silence. Just come find me."
"My apologies. I had no idea that merely foraging for herbs would be so difficult."
"It is difficult for a reason. Do you not know how powerful the life force of these plants is? In a place where ordinary grass must struggle to grow amidst flora that has neared the state of spiritual objects by absorbing the energy of a sacred mountain, how could it be easy?"
It was true. For the past three days, Seong-jin had thought that once he recovered his strength, foraging for a few roots wouldn't be hard. But he had been taken aback by the complete absence of the Five Pungent Vegetables. Because their energy was weak, they were the only things an ordinary person like Seong-jin could safely eat. Naturally, following the law of survival of the fittest, such plants were on the verge of extinction here on Mount Bongnae.
"I understand. Even so, I cannot continue to be a burden to you, Immortal."
"If you are worried about being a burden, why not help me with my work?"
"Your work, Immortal?"
"Do you remember the herb garden where we first met?"
Lee Cheol-goi explained, "I am often away on other business, and there are many times when I cannot manage the garden despite having gone to the trouble of cultivating it. If you manage the garden in my stead while you stay here, accepting food in return will hardly be a burden."
It was a suggestion to earn his own keep. Surely, a man of an immortal’s stature wasn't struggling to find labor. Seong-jin was overwhelmed by such pure consideration.
"How can I ever repay this kindness..."
"Do you take me for a merchant? I did not do this expecting a reward, so you need not fret over how to pay me back."
Lee Cheol-goi watched Seong-jin’s expression as he spoke. This was the boy who had come to Mount Bongnae claiming he could no longer commit the sin of unfilial piety. Seong-jin was acting like an old man who had little time left and wanted to settle all his affairs before the end.
"But, will I be able to cultivate spiritual medicine?"
"Do not worry. In this place, filled with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, they grow well even if you leave them alone. You only need to guard them so that no one steals them."
"Steal? Who would dare to steal an immortal’s spiritual medicine?"
"Demons or spiritual beasts."
Lee Cheol-goi continued, "You may have heard many stories about Taoists and demons, but before coming here, you had never actually seen them in the outside world, had you?"
"...Well, there were Taoist sects in the Murim world."
"But they do not learn or practice Taoist magic. They merely use Taoist studies as a foundation to temper their bodies and practice martial arts, do they not?"
That was certainly true. Great sects like the Nine Great Sects always had stories of past masters who had reached the state of 'Ascension to Immortality,' but he had never heard of them actually wielding Taoist magic.
"The reason is that after the Covenant of the Gods, all immortals and demons left for the Immortal Realm, and all knowledge regarding Taoist magic was forbidden."
"What is the Covenant of the Gods?"
"Even if immortals or demon-immortals destroy their physical bodies, their souls remain, and they can be resurrected at any time. Imagine such beings running rampant in the world. Could people live in peace?"
Even martial artists who had mastered the arts would not want to live in a place crawling with ghosts and demons. If that were true for them, what about ordinary commoners?
"That is why the Covenant of the Gods was established—to banish immortals and demons from the mortal realm so that the people of the mortal realm could live among themselves."
It was certainly strange that beings who appeared so frequently in old stories were nowhere to be seen these days.
"The immortals of Mount Bongnae, myself included, have descended to carry out the task of capturing the demons newly born on earth, replacing the immortals who have departed."
"Then, is that why you are often away...?"
"Yes. I have been traveling the outside world for this task. When I discover a demon disrupting the world, I capture it and bring it to Mount Bongnae."
"Do you not exterminate them?"
"Demons are also beings that naturally appear following the cycle of Yin and Yang. Therefore, rather than blindly exterminating them, we prefer to help them repent, accumulate merit, and settle their karmic debts."
Because of this, the demons captured by the immortals lived on Mount Bongnae.
"At night, that girl Seo-heun manages them, so you only need to watch during the day to ensure no one covets the spiritual medicine."
"Since you put it that way, I am even more doubtful whether I can protect the medicine from demons..."
"Do not worry about that. I shall bestow teachings upon you."
"Are you speaking of the teachings of an immortal?"
"It is not exactly Taoist magic. Teaching Taoist magic to a person of the mortal realm is forbidden by the Covenant of the Gods."
But if it wasn't Taoist magic? Lee Cheol-goi handed two books to Seong-jin.
"However, if it is not the teachings of the Immortal Cheol-goi, but the teachings of the martial artist Lee Cheol-goi, then it is acceptable."
Eight Drunken Immortals Steps.
Dragon-Subduing Palm.
It could not be a coincidence that the names of the secret manuals handed over by the founder of the Beggar Sect were the same as the martial arts of the Beggar Sect.
"Well? Will you learn them?"
Seong-jin bowed to Lee Cheol-goi. Thus, Seong-jin began to serve his first master on Mount Bongnae.
[Master-Disciple Bond Established]
Master: Lee Cheol-goi
Disciple: Seong-jin
* * *
Having exterminated the Tiger Demon, Seong-jin descended the mountain with Shin Suran.
"You called yourself a demon hunter, Benefactor. Does that mean you wander the world exterminating creatures like that Tiger Demon?"
"That is about the size of it."
"Goodness, I had thought demons were things that only existed in stories until now."
Seong-jin, drained by Shin Suran’s incessant chatter, had stopped responding halfway through.
"To think you were doing such work in places people don't even know about. You are a true hero, Benefactor!"
"You flatter me. I am merely doing my job, just as a farmer clears the land or a wild ginseng seeker climbs the mountain. If there is anything truly great, it is the common people."
Upon arriving in the village, Shin Suran tried to repay Seong-jin’s kindness by buying him new clothes.
"Repayment is unnecessary. I would have exterminated the demon even if it hadn't been for you, Young Lady Shin."
"Even so, I cannot simply ignore the debt of having my life saved!"
At those words, Seong-jin recalled the sight of Shin Suran storming into a fabric shop and abruptly pulling out a lump of silver, not even coins. It didn't seem like she was overextending herself for the sake of appearances. He didn't know how grand the Shin Clan was, but as long as they were called a 'Clan,' they wouldn't be lacking in petty cash.
"If you must, then that place would be fine."
He pointed to a gisaeng house named the Blue Moon Pavilion.
"B-Benefactor, at your age, why would you...?"
"Do you think it is insane for a young man to enjoy wine and women?"
"..."
"If it is a burden, you may just give me the money and leave, or we can pretend the repayment never happened. I didn't do this expecting a reward in the first place."
"Ugh, don't make me out to be a scoundrel who doesn't know the meaning of gratitude!"
Shin Suran seemed shocked to see the benefactor she had secretly admired heading straight for a gisaeng house the moment they arrived in the village, but Seong-jin’s resolve was firm. Eventually, the two headed toward the Blue Moon Pavilion together.
When they arrived, the bouncers guarding the entrance blocked his path.
"This isn't a place for a brat like you."
"I believe I have come to the right place."
Seong-jin looked at Shin Suran, who quietly took out a pouch and placed it in the bouncer's hand. When the bouncer opened the heavy-looking pouch, large lumps of silver spilled out. The sheer weight of the silver, incomparable to mere coins, had the effect of silencing the bouncer instantly.
"If I really have come to the wrong place, please tell me where I should go instead."
"No! You have come to the right place!"
They quickly changed their attitude. "We shall escort you to the best room."
"No, I dislike stuffy rooms. Set the table in an open area."
"Do you perhaps require female company as well?"
"A drinking party is only fun when it’s lively. Tell everyone who is free to come out."
"Are you planning to host a feast?"
"Is the amount insufficient?"
"No, it is plenty."
In a gisaeng house, anyone who pays is a guest, regardless of gender, age, or status, and if it is an advance payment, they are a VIP. The bouncer, having received the money, stuck to Seong-jin’s side as his dedicated attendant.
The drinking table was set in an instant. While it wasn't filled with rare delicacies hard to find elsewhere, the sheer number of dishes made up for it. There were not only freshwater fish but also dried seafood, and the meat dishes included not just chicken and pork, but pheasant and beef as well; it seemed they had put quite a bit of effort into it.
"That was quite fast. Did you prepare all this just now?"
"Rumors that a tiger spirit has appeared in the vicinity have drawn many martial artists here, so we have stocked up on food and alcohol that are usually hard to find."
"You are lucky."
"Haha, thanks to that, we are serving only the freshest items, so you’ve hit the jackpot by coming to our house at a time like this."
"Not me, but the Blue Moon Pavilion. The martial artists who would have ordered this will all be leaving soon, so if it weren't for me, you would have been unable to sell it and would have had to throw it all away."
"Pardon?"
Seong-jin, as if he had no obligation to resolve the bouncer’s confusion, sat naturally at the head of the table and picked up an empty cup. As the bouncer hurriedly poured him a drink, Seong-jin asked, "What is your name?"
"Bang Gil."
"Very well, Bang. Go and tell the guests that I am paying for all the drinks today, so they should order as much as they like."
Shin Suran was startled, but Seong-jin didn't care.
"Are you serious?"
"If you need to, you can go out to the marketplace and bring in more guests. If you run out of alcohol, you can borrow some from the neighboring house."
"A-alright."
As instructed, Bang Gil went around the pavilion, spreading the word of the free alcohol to the guests. Upon hearing the rumor, the guests opened their doors one by one and waved at Seong-jin. Seong-jin watched them and lifted the cup Bang had filled.
"May those who suffered the tiger’s wrath find peace in the afterlife."
"May they find peace!"
The guests, already intoxicated, toasted along with Seong-jin’s toast without even knowing the meaning.
[Gong-gwa-gyeok Record]
📍 Good Deed: +1 (Honoring the souls of those consumed by the Tiger Demon and performing a ritual of blessing.)
🎁 Current Score: 69 Points
Meanwhile, the gisaengs entered, but seeing the guests all toasting together while looking at a single child, they all seemed unable to grasp the situation. Seong-jin looked at the gisaengs and said, "The drinking party is too quiet. Is there no one here confident in their talents?"
He placed a lump of silver into a cup and filled it with wine. As he held it out, one person stepped forward from among the gisaengs who had been watching cautiously. The gisaeng holding a pipa took the cup, downed it in one gulp, tucked the remaining silver between her breasts, and said, "This girl, So-hyang, shall perform a song."
So-hyang, as she introduced herself, played the pipa right there, and the melody could be heard with eerie clarity even amidst the noisy pavilion. Seong-jin tilted his cup alone and only opened his mouth after the performance ended.
"Excellent. It is so good that I must pay the balance."
Seong-jin tucked a lump of silver between So-hyang’s breasts. With every performance, the silver kept popping out. Having confirmed the guest’s generosity, the gisaengs began to show off their talents one after another. Thanks to Seong-jin having opened all the doors wide earlier, guests in other rooms also enjoyed the performances.
Seong-jin, who had turned the pavilion into a festive atmosphere in an instant, repeated this for several days. From a certain point on, he didn't just spend money on alcohol and women; he even started gambling games among the guests in the pavilion. Seong-jin consistently lost money in these games, so no one appeared to take issue with it. Since everyone was making money, who would complain about the person losing?
Three days were enough for the boy who constantly showered the pavilion with money to become a local celebrity.
"U-um, Benefactor..."
By then, Shin Suran also began to fidget, perhaps because her own finances were becoming precarious.
"How much longer do you intend to do this...?"
"Until the demon appears."
"Pardon? But there is no way a demon would appear in a place with so many people."
"Demons tend to gather where people gather. And people gather where money gathers."
Seong-jin said this as he looked down from the top floor of the pavilion. As money called for more money and people called for more people, a 'Hundred Demon Night Parade' of humans had been created there, growing on its own even without Seong-jin’s intervention. It was the perfect bait to lure out a demon.
"It seems they are arriving."
At that same moment, the gisaeng So-hyang and Bang Gil appeared.