Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 83



Only Krnovel

83. Linked branches (3)

The heat of the grand battle took a long time to subside. My sudden growth in power was a power, but the understanding and compromise we showed each other seemed quite impressive.

“So, what does Your Majesty the Qingyou Jin think about this food?”

“Of course I disagree. What are you asking?”

Of course, that doesn’t mean Cheong-yu turned to my side. He just understood. He said that he thought the same way as I did.

That doesn’t mean nothing changed. The shaman I showed me clearly gave his disciples something to think about seriously.

“A shaman who lives in the secular world and dwells in the lower chamber.”

“Water always flows downwards, so isn’t that a wrong statement?”

“You’re doing that because you want to eat that food!”

“No way?”

There still seem to be kids who are entranced by the smell of food, though.

Of course, this was a matter of discipline, and it was up to the elders and the elder council to decide. However, it was natural for the disciples to influence the elders’ judgment. Compared to other sects, shamans were less obedient to orders, and the elders were not very dogmatic.

Even if you look at Cheongyu, who was the most difficult for me at the time, didn’t you understand and not be stubborn when I gave you a convincing proof?

“What are you going to do, Jang Moon-sa-hyung?”

Cheonghwa asked Cheongui.

Cheonghwa’s face was also slightly refreshed. He couldn’t help but be happy that I, his disciple, had shown such outstanding achievements.

Also, I feel like no matter what I do now, he will take my side.

“Listen, you shaman’s disciples.”

Cheong-ui, who had been quiet until now, opened her mouth.

The roaring stopped and everyone’s eyes were fixed on Cheong-ui’s mouth.

“Originally, Taoists were prohibited from eating meat. In fact, only raw food was allowed. However, due to changes in diets over time and difficulties in transporting and preserving food, it was impossible to avoid eating with fire, so eating with fire was allowed. Since eating with fire was allowed, eating alcohol and meat outside of the shaman sect gradually became permitted.”

Everyone focused on Cheong-ui’s words. The elders also looked tense. Perhaps we were witnessing a historic change in shamanism.

“There are two things we can learn here. One is that even strict precepts cannot help but change with the times, and that is a natural process, like the flow of water. The other is that once a precept is broken, it cannot be reversed.”

There was a seriousness in Cheong-ui’s voice. I was determined to understand whatever Cheong-ui said.

Just as Cheongyu understood me, I was able to understand a part of Cheongyu. To be exact, my respect for shamans grew.

“Therefore, the shaman’s precepts will be respected. Is there a shaman’s disciple who has thoughts contrary to this?”

Everyone was quiet at Cheong-ui’s words. Naturally, no one refuted Cheong-ui’s words. Only those who had respected shamans were here.

Cheong-ui slowly looked around the room and opened his mouth again.

“The time we spent teaching you was not in vain. What is important is the heart to keep the shaman’s precepts. If you have that heart, you will also accept the temporary exceptions that are unavoidable due to the situation with a heavy heart.”

At those words, the disciples’ expressions began to brighten like flowers. Naturally, the corners of my mouth also split without me realizing it.

“The precept of abstaining from meat consumption within the main sect will remain. However, it will not be a precept created by our ancestors in anticipation of our starving to death. We have a duty to respect the will of our ancestors and protect the disciples who will become future shamans. In that sense, we allow meat consumption for a short time until this situation is resolved by the Jangmuninyeong. Is there any disciple of a shaman who goes against this?”

“doesn’t exist!”

All the shaman’s disciples shouted together as if they had planned it. The conservative elders, including Cheongyu, smiled bitterly, but they did not seem to have any intention of stopping them. This was because they were also adults who loved and cared for the shaman’s disciples.

I had to work hard to hold back my laughter. As I had declared, I was going to transform the shaman. This was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Hwiyoung-ah.”

At that moment, Cheongyi suddenly called me. I was surprised because I didn’t know that he would call me in this situation.

“yes?”

“I didn’t know you had such affection for shamans.”

I couldn’t understand the words for a moment, and then my face turned red. I don’t know what the meaning is, but my body contains the soul of an old man. Expressing my true feelings tends to become more embarrassing as I get older.

“He who normally looks like he has an iron plate on his face is embarrassed at times like this.”

“… … Ahem.”

“Did you say you wanted to change the shaman?”

“yes.”

“It won’t be easy.”

Cheongyi smiled.

“It wasn’t easy for a shaman to change you.”

I felt like I had been hit. Yes. In fact, I was the one who changed first between the shaman and me. Thinking about it like that, I felt a strange sense of defeat. It wasn’t a bad feeling, but it was a really strange sense of defeat that was refreshing.

“All right.”

“okay.”

Cheongyi took his gaze away from me and shouted at his disciples.

“Let’s all stop practicing today and come together to eat some food.”

The disciples cheered at Cheongyi’s declaration. Seeing the children with their bones touching each other rejoicing made me feel good too.

Suddenly, I remembered the time when I was a top lord in my previous life. Sometimes, as we live, there comes a time when we feel doubtful. A time when no matter what we do, it is no fun. A time when we lose our will to live.

At that time, I spent a lot of money to cheer myself up. I made a lake out of alcohol, piled meat up like a mountain and ate it, and bought expensive things like jewels and paintings.

I did that, but it didn’t make me feel better. Eventually, I had no choice but to wait until that period passed.

The money I spent on the non-partisan kids now wouldn’t even be one-hundredth of what I spent then. And yet, I felt twice as good as I did then.

This was also the joy that the shaman had told me. As Cheong-ui had said, the shaman had certainly changed me. And now I was trying to change the shaman.

Yeonriji (連理枝). It means that two trees are touching and their roots are connected. The shaman and I had different roots, but eventually we became entangled and influenced each other.

I smiled at the sight of the death penalty rushing toward the food. At this moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten about the troublesome future of rotation.

***

“Ah. I ate well.”

“Wow. The food looks delicious.”

“I have never eaten such delicious food in my life.”

“Wow, there are so many dishes in the world.”

The disciples all came to me and said something to me one by one. I was embarrassed and just laughed it off.

Some even approached me hesitantly and asked for my apology, regardless of whether they were the first, second, or third disciples.

“Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“I didn’t think much of you either, like Cheongyu Sasuk. But I changed my mind after seeing your sword. It wasn’t because of food. Really.”

“Okay, you don’t have to emphasize that.”

“Do you accept the apology?”

“People can hate each other. I didn’t even openly bully you. Is that something to apologize for?”

“But even though I used to curse at you behind your back, I still feel bad about eating the food you give me.”

“That’s enough conscience. I accept your apology.”

“Thank you. From now on, call me Death Priest. No matter how much of a lay disciple you are, no one will treat you as an outsider in the Buddhist order.”

One of the first disciples tapped me on the shoulder and left. In fact, the second and third disciples, who were of similar age, came to me and said the same thing.

What is quite remarkable is the influence that the reconciliation between Qingyou and me had on my disciples.

Even among the disciples who were kind and had good personalities, there were bound to be some who did not get along well. This was the case with Myeong-han, Cheong-yu’s disciple, and Myeong-seong, my brother-in-law.

“… … Hmm.”

“uh…….”

Myung-han and Myeong-seong looked at each other but looked away. It seemed like they had met to apologize, but they didn’t know how to start the conversation.

Myunghan, who had been looking at the pitiful sky for a while, was the first to speak.

“hey!”

“uh?”

“… … did.”

“what?”

“… … I didn’t do it.”

“What aren’t you doing?”

“I said I was sorry!”

Myung-han shouted. Myung-sung finally burst out laughing after hearing that. He knew it, but it seemed he was just teasing him. Myung-han’s face turned bright red and he turned around and ran away.

“Just pretend you didn’t hear that! You son of a bitch!”

How can you pretend not to have heard something you didn’t hear?

I walked up to Myeongseong and stood next to him.

“That’s good.”

“Yeah. I just find it annoying that he keeps picking on me.”

Even though Myeongseong was grumbling like that, he seemed to be in a good mood. As expected, Myeonghan wasn’t the only one who was awkward at expressing his emotions.

“Then, I guess your relationship with the Qingyou Jinin has loosened up a bit.”

“Well, the teacher said he would go apologize first.”

In fact, Cheonghwa was a better priest than Cheongyu. If there was going to be reconciliation, it would have been right for Cheonghwa to do it first.

Anyway, a sudden reconciliation and unification took place at the shaman. It must have had something to do with filling one’s stomach with delicious food. Eating delicious food tends to make one feel generous.

The children’s behavior has improved after eating delicious food for a few days. Now, Myeongseong will not collapse while practicing. For the time being, the shaman faction will not have to worry about food.

“Silence!”

Then a shout came from outside. It was a now familiar shout.

I sighed and went outside. When I went outside, there were eight disciples participating in the rotation, including Myeongyeop.

“Where did the teacher go?”

Originally, Cheonghwa was watching our training. Myeongyeop tilted his head.

“I heard you had something to say to Cheongyu Sasuk?”

“ah.”

“He said he’d be coming soon, so we just need to practice.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Hey, where did you get that frozen pork? It’s the best frozen pork I’ve ever had.”

“I don’t feed people food that doesn’t taste good, especially if it’s something I bought with my own money.”

“Wow. Isn’t it cool?”

“This is how I earn money.”

The disciples exclaimed, “Wow!” Even I thought what he just said was pretty cool.

We practiced in an empty space halfway up Mt. Wudang. My Yunshen method and Yunshen sword method were still not in sync.

If I wanted to spread the Yunshin method separately, I could do it separately, and the same goes for the Yungeom method, but they didn’t go together.

However, I did get some clues when I fought with Cheong-Yu. I saw with my own eyes how a master swordsman who had reached the realm used the Yu-Yun sword technique and the Yu-Yun body technique. Although we ended up fighting by chance, the fight with Cheong-Yu was a small coincidence for me.

“Still, it’s a little better than before.”

“Right?”

I felt like if I just did a little more, I might be able to come to some realization.

Myungyeop pushed his disciples, including me, around very hard. It was a difficult task for Myungyeop, who was always full of energy even when he didn’t eat. But my disciples, including me, gritted their teeth and followed him.

After the reconciliation ceremony, even the people who were awkward with each other seemed to have become quite friendly and their bond seemed to have grown stronger. That must mean they have become even stronger.

… … Ah. And the Master came around the time our day’s practice was over.

And I was a little tipsy, too. There was alcohol among the food I brought.

“Oh, our guys are doing really well!”

“You’re at an age where you can do it on your own.”

He didn’t even come alone, he was with Cheong-yu. Cheong-yu didn’t seem that drunk. It seemed Cheong-hwa was weaker at drinking than Cheong-yu.

“Death penalty. Since the four evil spirits are acting as one, we, the private school students, should also become one.”

“Oh, oh. Right. But please speak from a distance. You smell like alcohol.”

“Hey, what are you talking about? I said we have to become one.”

Cheonghwa put her hand on Cheongyu’s shoulder and acted drunk.

We saw it and smiled bitterly.

As things went on like that, the day came when Jegal Se-ga would come to visit the Mudangpa.

The rotation started tomorrow.