As Prophet - Chapter 150



Only Krnovel

Episode 150. The Office of the Sogeuk

A person who appeared to be a Taoist student pulled himself out of the pavilion. He was slow and listless, and had nothing to do.

“How did you come here?”

“I came here to look at some books.”

“This is not that kind of place.”

“A place like that?”

“I’m saying this isn’t a place where you can look at books and lend them out.”

“Yes. It is a place where Taoists study and perform rituals.”

“Yes. If you are looking for a bookstore, go to the back street of Jonggak.”

They try to kick you out without even trying to find out the reason. They know you want to distance yourself from the world, but it may be an unkind attitude.

“That’s not what I’m looking for.”

The young boy’s speech was strange. The cadet’s eyes twitched. It didn’t seem like it would end easily, so one of those gathered inside the hall, who seemed to be the head of the group, came out. He respectfully put both hands forward and bowed, and he smelled like a Taoist.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from Taebaek.”

“You’re looking for a book?”

Even after hearing the word Taebaek, there was no change, as if he did not know the status of Taebaek in the mountains. He was not a mountain person. Then, where did he learn it? It is not something that can be studied alone. If he had learned Taoism, he should at least know Taebaek. He should know that the sage came down and opened the world under the Shindansu tree, and Taebaek was at the center of it. However, he seemed to be looking at a person from a completely different country. You cannot criticize someone for not knowing.

“If there’s a library, there’s something I want to look into… … .”

“I know this may be presumptuous of you to ask, but may I ask why you are so confident?”

“Of course not. It would be right to scold you separately for not knowing what you should know, but since the matter is urgent, I will get to work first. Could you please guide me to the library?”

When talking to the mountain people, they use informal language, but when they think of a common person and ask for advice, they use formal language. Sangdo (a position in the Sogyeokseo) bowed at the strange sense of incongruity.

“I apologize if I was rude. I don’t think it’s normal for someone to come to me so suddenly.”

“If you come from Taebaek, you should understand.”

“What does that mean?”

“This is the headquarters of Taoism in this land. Should we call it the beginning?”

“Ah! I didn’t recognize you. How about I introduce you to the head of the press office first?”

“Please come.”

“The study is over there. Since there is no separate study room, we have set up a study on one wall of Guyu-dang (九曜堂)*. If you are watching, I will invite the master.”

* Guyodang: The name comes from Guyo, which is a combination of the two gods of Il and Wol and the five constellations of Hwa, Sud, Mok, Geum, and Sat, and the two constellations of Nahu and Gyedo among the four nights.

“No need.”

Dalcheon entered the Guyudang right away. The statues of the two gods of the sun and moon, including the eleven gods, were enshrined in the front, and one side was used as a study room. They must have done so because there were not many books. The four-story bookshelves were connected and placed in two long rows. The old books were covered in dust. They should have cleaned out the books first thing every day, but they did not have the time to do so, because the upper part was covered in white dust. Since it was someone else’s house, even such things were noticeable.

Most of them were books from the Central Plains. This is because the tradition was cut off. Since there was no way to continue the tradition, they sought out books from the Taoist school of the Central Plains and distanced themselves from the Taoists in the mountains who were shunned by the world due to discrimination. They probably thought that it would not be much different from the Tao of the Taoist school. This is also because the Tao of the Central Plains was passed down for a long time.

Joseon originally did not call it Do (道), but Seon (仙) or, in the old days, Seon (仙道). When the capital was established in Asadal and the Poongbaek, Usa, and Unsa displayed their talents to make the world a place worth living in, we call that Do Seon (仙).

The Taoism of the old Joseon was transmitted to the ten countries, so it is true that it went to the Central Plains as well. However, it is a little different. It may be a feeling, but in their speech, there is less feeling for the people, and the laws of the old Joseon are for the people. We are careful when talking about things that are the same but different. We do not necessarily distinguish between the differences or say the order of precedence because they are all for the people. Whether it is helpful in this way or that way, if it is for a prosperous tomorrow and a free world, I hope that virtue will spread widely by actively adopting and utilizing it.

As Dalcheon was looking through the book, he shook his head at the strange sense of incongruity that arose in his mind, and then Jejo appeared in front of Guyodang.

“I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Now that I know, it’s okay. I have to study hard. Even if I’m a student at the lower level, I can’t be that indifferent.”

He blamed his shallow studies for not being able to recognize the truth. So, I can’t help but think that he was unable to properly respond to the criticism of the Confucian scholars.

The man in his early fifties already had a gray beard and wrinkles on his face, as if he had been through a lot. He looked more like a peddler who had been worn down by the world than a Taoist. He bowed his head deeply at Dalcheon’s accusatory expression, whether he knew it or not.

“I have only studied the Tao in depth, and there are too many things I do not know. Are you perhaps one of those true beings who are renowned in the world?”

“He is a person unknown to the world. Anyway, I was looking for a book… … I remember seeing it before.”

“Please tell me what it is about.”

“There was a secret technique that allowed you to apply something to your face and see what it was like inside, so you could tell whether it was the same as what was said, but I don’t remember where I saw it.”

The manufacturing company burst into laughter.

“Oh my. Could there be such a secret technique? The true man would know it all just by looking at it.”

“Aren’t my eyes objective?”

“If you don’t believe, then you can’t achieve it.”

“That is because there are people who do not use the Tao to save their own lives, but rather seek worldly benefits through the art alone.”

“If you know that, why do you insist on doing it?”

“There is nothing I can do because it is beneficial to the people.”

The manufacture confirmed that this person was a famous jinn in the world. Young, beautiful, upright, and quick.

“Oh, is that so? It has something to do with the chaos happening in front of Gwanghwamun right now.”

“In the midst of a war, we must identify the enemy and the enemy’s spies hiding among our own troops. We must be able to trust our officials. I understand that they have been recruited by the rebels, but I don’t know what they will do. I want to identify them before things get worse.”

The manufacturer smiled without realizing it. There is no such law in the world. I don’t think that such a thing is possible with soju. Suddenly, the thought occurred to me that the mountain man from Taebaek was young. There are people who are excellent but lack experience, especially social experience.

“Is there such a technique? I think it would be a waste of effort.”

“Well, I have seen it. I just don’t remember it because I didn’t study Taoism very hard. In the beginning, people’s minds and faces were one. What they thought and felt was expressed on their faces. As society developed and many people lived together, they began to cover their faces. Otherwise, they could be innocently taken advantage of.

“Seeing that there are still things that can be known without having to express them in words, I can easily guess what ancient people were like. However, people who are different from others have emerged. I think it is because they prioritize social values ​​and seek power and position. I know how worthless this discussion that sets out to understand is in today’s world, but I remember that there was a way to distinguish them back then.”

The manufacturer nodded. I know that ancient people were happier. I know that it wasn’t because of civilization or technology.

“The pulse has been cut off. That’s why I’m studying books from the Central Plains. There aren’t many Taoist students, and their numbers are limited, so it’s not easy to pass on the laws we know. We don’t know the laws of the old Joseon Dynasty that the true man speaks of. I don’t think the book you’re looking for is here.”

“I know that the laws of the Central Plains are also a branch of the old Joseon. Although they have changed a lot, if their roots are the same, you might be able to find something similar. It is a technique that harmonizes expressions and feelings.”

Since the true man is sincere, the maker bows his head. It is not possible to say that such a thing does not exist because one does not know it. It is not possible to not acknowledge history because it does not conform to common sense.

Manufacturing led us to the innermost corner, a section covered in white dust.

“I have read almost all the books here. I have gathered here the things that I do not understand and have difficulty accepting. You must be busy, so please do not try to read them all. Just look at this one.”

Dalcheon smirked at the pride that was evident on his face after reading it all. He wanted to show that he had worked hard.

“Yes, this is a book. It is a Taoist scripture. If it sits there covered in dust because it is not being used, how can anyone else read it? Don’t lament that no one is reading it. Instead, you should dust it off and clean it with the hope that someone will read it and move forward. With the hope of seeking the Tao.”

The manufacturing bowed his waist quickly. He was intimidated by the indescribable pressure. This is what it means to be different in class. It was not easy to bear the obviousness contained in every word he said.

“I will do so from now on.”

“In the future? The future has not yet arrived. There is no future in the present. If you have realized it, you must do it now.”

The words are noble, but it means sweeping and cleaning now.

“Yes, I will do that.”

The manufacturer looked back. Those who had been waiting at the door rushed in and started to dust and clean.

“I am the chief of staff, and this is the second lieutenant and the third lieutenant.”

“Come to Taebaek whenever you have time. You can stay at the Yangju Academy for a while.”

“thank you.”

“After you’ve cleaned everything, clean the floor separately.”

“yes.”

Dalcheon watched indifferently as he took out a book, dusted it off, and wiped it with a dry towel. He glanced at the titles of the books that he saw, but he didn’t touch them and just glanced at them. He frowned and unwrapped his face several times as if he was thinking about something. He told me to bring him the book that the man named Cham Bong had cleaned and the book that one of the students was holding.

He flopped down on the floor and quickly flipped through the pages. The old, thin paper looked as if it might tear. The manufacturer came closer, wanting to see what it was, or if it really existed.

“Please take the time to copy books like this. You lament that the tradition has been lost, so why don’t you make an effort to continue it? Yes?”

“I’m sorry. I will do that. But is there anything you wanted to say?”

Dalcheon told him to bring a writing brush and ink.

“that is…….”

“Shouldn’t there always be a book ready next to the shelf?”

“Yes, of course. I have to. Sorry.”

I couldn’t count how many times I said sorry today. I said it a lot. It was probably the most I’ve said sorry in my entire life.

At the instruction of the maker, two men ran like the wind and took the writing brush and ink, and one of the students sharpened the ink. They laid out the paper and placed it next to them, but the ink stone was in a very poor condition. It seemed that they hardly used it.

Coming to a corner of the house where it is not allowed and doing this and that is also a nuisance. Dalcheon started to write down on the side while flipping through the pages of the book. Medicinal herbs. As he started to write down the names of the medicinal herbs used in the podium, Jejo’s face hardened. He was worried that he would not be able to say anything.