“It’s cold.”
“Right?”
At the cold wind brushing against the backs of their hands, the Chung disciples let out a collective heavy sigh.
Their gazes shifted to the scenery of Hwasan spreading out below the peak.
“Ugh. It hasn’t even been that long since summer ended.”
“That’s just how it is here.”
“I heard hoarfrost settled yesterday.”
“Already?”
“What are you acting so surprised for? It happens every year.”
“Haah……. Soon we will have to go halfway up the mountain to fetch water.”
Especially around this time of the year, the wind suddenly turned cold, so even martial artists often felt the chill of the early morning air.
“I feel chills when I come out for dawn practice.”
“Maybe I should brew some tonic or something…….”
At that moment.
“Cold?”
“…”
At the sound of a voice from behind them, the Chung disciples flinched and slowly turned their heads.
There, a face they very much did not want to see was staring at them, his head tilted crookedly.
“Ch–Chung Myung?”
The Chung disciples shuddered upon spotting Chung Myung, whose face was plastered with irritation. That bastard, what’s he trying to pick a fight about now…….
“Wow, times sure have changed. Even those who claim they’re learning martial arts are saying they’re cold.”
“…”
“In my day, huh? Even in the dead of winter, we’d stand under a waterfall as cold as ice, swinging our swords while saying, ‘Oh-ho, that’s refreshing!’”
Sighs burst out one after another from the Chung disciples.
‘When on earth is this “back in my day” he keeps talking about, anyway?’
‘Like I’d know?’
Knowing that even a small retort here could set off a real tantrum, the Chung disciples resisted Chung Myung’s nagging by staying silent and avoiding his gaze.
But if he were the type to let them off just like that, he wouldn’t be called Hwasan’s Mad Dog.
“If you’ve just finished training, your body should be blazing with heat and the taste of blood should linger in your mouth. What? Cold? Want me to fix that for you?”
“…”
“How half-assed does your training have to be for you to say you’re cold…”
“Yes! We are sorry.”
“Oh dear, we still have more training to do.”
“Anyway, I think the Sect Leader was calling us!”
“Yes, that’s it!”
Chung Myung watched them scurry away with an incredulous expression.
“Uh….”
He blankly stared at their retreating figures, which disappeared in an instant, then let out a faint chuckle.
“Running away like that.”
These days, they’re getting so bold that they try to run off as soon as he opens his mouth.
“Tsk, tsk. It wasn’t like that in my day. Back in my day!”
When he was still a fresh youngster, if Sahyeong said anything, he’d snap to attention. Whenever he got nagged, he’d sit properly and focus on each and every word, trying not to miss a single one…
-Have you no conscience at all. Seriously.
“Ah, come on!”
Chung Myung suddenly shouted at the innocent sky, then somewhat sheepishly shifted his gaze towards the scenery of Hwasan.
“…It’s autumn.”
Now that he thought about it, the weather had indeed gotten a bit chilly.
Sure enough, the mountain below was tinted here and there with patches of red.
Chung Myung scratched his head roughly at the sight.
‘Something feels a little off.’
He couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but looking at that scene gave him the feeling that he was missing something. Not that there was anything in particular he’d left undone.
“Hmm…. I don’t know.”
Chung Myung quickly turned his head and walked towards White Plum Hall [백매관(白梅館)].
And from a short distance away, five heads and one bald head, which had been quietly watching his departing figure, looked at one another, then gave a small nod.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Huuuh.”
Having washed up and returned to his room, Chung Myung looked around with a listless expression.
The room was exceedingly bare.
No, calling it bare might not be enough – it actually looked downright desolate. Since there were hardly any belongings, the room managed to stay neat without much effort.
Chung Myung’s expression briefly grew complicated as he stared at it.
“Hmm…”
He scratched his cheek a couple of times, let out a small chuckle, and headed for the bed. It was about time for him to sleep so he wouldn’t be drowsy during the early morning training session.
In the past, he would’ve run off without a second thought about morning training and found some corner to guzzle liquor in. But now, he couldn’t really afford to do that.
“Still, maybe I’ll have a drink?”
Chung Myung was pondering this and shook his head, about to lie down on the bed, when it happened.
“Hey!”
Thud!
The door practically burst open.
Jo Geol stuck his head in, narrowing his eyes in confusion, completely ignoring Chung Myung’s baffled expression as he turned around.
“No matter how I think about it, something’s off.”
“…What is?”
“There’s no way your room should be this clean. Judging by the way you act, I’d expect it to be some kind of lair fit for five giant snakes.”
“…”
“It really is susp… Agh!”
Clutching his head, Jo Geol rolled on the floor. Chung Myung, who had hit Jo Geol on the head for spouting nonsense, twisted his face as he spoke.
“Cut the crap. What’s with you all of a sudden?”
“Ah, well…”
Jo Geol glanced at Chung Myung cautiously and spoke.
“I’ve got something on my mind, so could we talk for a bit?”
“Go on.”
“…Huh?”
Jo Geol looked startled, glancing back and forth between Chung Myung and the room.
“Ah, no. Not here, somewhere…”
“Sahyeong.”
“Yeah?”
Chung Myung smiled brightly.
“Stop messing around and get out if you don’t want to die.”
“N–No! Hey! Your Sahyeong said he’s got some worries!”
“No. This Sahyeong can’t have any worries. He’s not the kind of person with enough brains for that.”
“…”
Jo Geol looked at Chung Myung with a deeply wounded expression, but Chung Myung didn’t even snort.
If it were Yoon Jong, Chung Myung might at least give it a thought. But Jo Geol? Not a chance.
“So quit spouting nonsense and get out.”
“…Guess that didn’t work.”
Jo Geol was sure he would understand his deeper intention and go along with it…
Jo Geol looked at Chung Myung with a determined face.
“Then there’s no other way.”
“Huh?”
“Sasuk!”
“Eh?”
As Jo Geol shouted while looking behind Chung Myung, Chung Myung reflexively turned his head.
Smack!
In that instant, Jo Geol whacked Chung Myung on the back of the head without hesitation and took off running with all his might.
“If you feel wronged, try catching me!”
“…”
Chung Myung rubbed the back of his head, looking blank.
“Ah….”
The phrase ‘speechless at the sheer absurdity’ must have been made for moments like this.
Chung Myung, utterly flabbergasted, let out a hollow laugh.
“Ah, so you want to play, huh?”
At the same time, a vein popped out on his forehead.
“Alright. Then I’ll play with you properly.”
Chung Myung shot forward like the wind.
“Eeeek!”
Seeing Chung Myung closing in on him in the blink of an eye, Jo Geol’s face went pale.
“D-Don’t come any closer!”
“You told me to come!”
“The sword! Chung Myung, put the sword down!”
“Yeah, I’ll put it right down on your head!”
“Aaagh! I told you this was a bad idea!”
Jo Geol ran off in a panic.
Hwaeeeek!
“Ah, I said don’t swing that!”
He could feel the terrifying sensation of the hem of his robe being sliced off. Practically on the verge of wetting himself, Jo Geol crawled into the dining hall on all fours.
“Aaack!”
Tripping over the threshold, Jo Geol turned his head sharply to look at Chung Myung, who was walking towards him.
“So lately you think you can just walk over me, huh.”
“I-I’m your Sahyeong, Chung Myung. ‘Walking over’ is…”
“Oh, yes, you’re my Sahyeong. Who said otherwise?”
Chung Myung licked the blade of the sword in his hand.
“But you see, my specialty is ‘Deceiving your master and dishonoring your ancestors.*’”
“Ah.”
“Die!”
Just as Chung Myung was about to pounce Jo Geol.
“Ta-daaa! Surprised?”
“Happy birthday, Sahyeong!”
“Chung Myung, happy birthday!”
“Congrats.”
“Siju! Congratulations!”
All of a sudden, the dining hall brightened, and the Five Swords came in beaming, carrying food in both hands.
Then…
“What are you two doing?”
They looked back and forth, wide-eyed, between Jo Geol, who was scared to death, and Chung Myung brandishing his sword.
“…”
A single manly tear rolled down from Jo Geol’s eye.
“……So that’s what this is about.”
Chung Myung scratched his head as he looked at the spread of food laid out before him.
“Birthday?”
“Yeah. Today is your birthday.”
“…”
Baek Cheon shrugged.
“We realized we’ve never really celebrated your birthday properly up until now.”
Yoon Jong nodded in agreement.
“Those who have families go back home to celebrate their birthdays, and those whose home is Hwasan celebrate here. Now that I think about it, we haven’t properly celebrated that guy’s birthday for years.”
“Not our fault.”
At Yu Iseol’s words, Yoon Jong nodded.
“Right. If I hadn’t listened carefully and remembered the date he casually mentioned, we probably never would’ve celebrated it at all.”
“Exactly! If you didn’t know, that’s one thing, but if you do, you have to celebrate! Right, Sago?”
“Mm.”
When Yu Iseol gave a curt nod, Tang Soso picked up the bundles she had placed on the floor.
“These, these, and these are the presents. Open them, Sahyeong!”
Chung Myung scratched the back of his head again.
“Uh… this seems kind of pointless.”
“Pointless, you say.”
Baek Cheon, sounding more stern than usual, spoke.
“It’s not pointless to us.”
Everyone nodded at those words.
Feeling awkward, Chung Myung wondered what to say. Just then, Baek Cheon quietly pushed a bowl towards him.
“Here. Eat.”
“Huh?”
“It’s hoegwayuk [회과육 – chinese stir-fried pork dish**]. I remember you saying several times that you have to eat hoegwayuk on your birthday, so I got some ready.”
Muttering, ‘Of course, the head chef of Hwaeum did the cooking,’ Baek Cheon then set a bottle of liquor in front of Chung Myung.
“Wow, Sasuk. You’re really going all out. Even bringing out the liquor.”
“…Because it’s your birthday.”
Chung Myung was about to let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the cup in front of him when.
“But.”
“Yeah?”
Jo Geol scratched his head.
“Why is it you have to eat hoegwayuk on your birthday? I know you like it, but liking it and needing it on your birthday are two different things, aren’t they?”
“…”
Watching Jo Geol mutter, ‘It’s weird enough that an orphan even knows his birthday,’ right before Yoon Jong kicked him, Chung Myung kept his eyes on the hoegwayuk in front of him.
‘So…’
Why was that, again?
❀ ❀ ❀
“Is this a room or a pigsty? No, even pigs wouldn’t live like you!”
“…”
“A Taoist must diligently cultivate the profound Tao that lies beyond reach! Yet you, who can’t even keep the single room within your reach tidy, what Tao do you think you’ll ever find?”
“…”
“Are you listening?”
Chung Myung’s lips jutted out.
Right before his eyes, a horned devil was spewing fire from its mouth. And all the while, it kept rambling on about the Tao or whatever…
“I was going to clean it…”
“When? Right before I walked in, sneaking it in at the last moment again? Haven’t I told you countless times that tidying up should be done regularly? No one can seek the Tao on your behalf, and a Taoist is someone who…”
It’s starting again…
Chung Myung’s eyes turned to the distant sky.
‘Is he possessed by a ghost that died because it couldn’t clean its room…?’
Now he’d have to endure at least another half an hour of nagging.
“Where do you think you’re looking right now?”
“Oh, nowhere.”
“Tsk.”
Chung Mun glared at Chung Myung disapprovingly, then finally shook his head, looking drained.
“Well then.”
“Yes!”
Chung Mun eyed Chung Myung with suspicion.
“Have you finished all the training I assigned you?”
“Of course!”
“You’re not slacking off, are you?”
“Come on. Me? As if.”
Chung Mun’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You haven’t caused any trouble, right?”
“Anyone listening would think I’m still running around making trouble.”
“…”
He still looked unconvinced, but for now he had no proof. As Chung Mun was about to nod, that’s when it happened.
“Sa-Sahyeong!”
Someone rushed up to the peak where they were. Judging by the pallor of his face, it seemed something quite serious had happened.
“What is it?”
“Th-That is….”
Chung Myung glared at him, but the messenger squeezed his eyes shut, avoiding Chung Myung’s gaze, and shouted.
“I-It’s said that all the treasured liquor the Sect Leader was keeping has turned into water. They suspect someone inside is behind it and want you to catch them quickly.”
“Liquor? Liquor, you say? And an inside job at that? If someone wanted a drink, they could just go to Hwaeum and buy some. It’s not like they have no money. Who on Hwasan would steal the Sect Leader’s liquor…?”
Chung Mun fell silent.
Then, very slowly, he turned his head to look at Chung Myung.
“…”
“…”
At the moment their eyes met, an awkward silence settled over them both.
“Could it be…?”
“Heh… Hehehe.”
While Chung Myung’s eyes darted nervously, he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
“Well… I’m not a kid anymore, right?”
“You reckless brat!”
“Eeek!”
“Stop right there, you rascal!”
Chung Myung took off in a hurry, and Chung Mun, broom in hand, chased after him at terrifying speed.
“…Sigh.”
And those watching the scene let out a deep sigh.
“…Did I really do something that bad?”
Exhausted, Chung Myung trudged along, grumbling non-stop.
In the end, he had been caught by Chung Mun and forced to clean the Ancestral Hall until dawn.
“Seriously! What’s the difference between liquor and water if you’re not even going to drink it! I just switched it out a bit….”
He felt so wronged that his frustration soared to the heavens, but what could he do? Within Hwasan, there was no one who could stand up to that cleaning ghost. Even his own Master was wary of this tyrant of Hwasan – before him, even Chung Myung, famous throughout the world, was nothing but a mouse before a cat.
“Eeeh!”
Letting out a deep sigh, Chung Myung kicked a small rock rolling on the ground and trudged off towards his quarters.
Although cleaning the Ancestral Hall was finally done, that wasn’t the end of Chung Myung’s punishment. Never mind tomorrow’s tasks – just going back to that devil’s quarters was, in itself, a dreadful sentence for him right now.
As he neared the quarters, Chung Myung began to soften his footsteps.
‘Please be asleep. Please…’
If the person inside wasn’t asleep yet, he’d be dragged in for another half-hour of nagging. There’s no torture worse than that.
‘I bet those Sapa bastards would be more merciful.’
Sneaking up to his door, almost there, Chung Myung held his breath and grabbed the doorknob.
“Done already?”
“…”
Chung Myung squeezed his eyes shut.
‘Oh, Primordial Lord of Heaven.’
It would’ve been better just to get beaten dead in one blow…
With a dejected expression, Chung Myung turned his head. Somehow, Chung Mun had come outside, hands behind his back, and was looking straight at him.
“H-Hehe… You’re still awake…?”
Chung Mun, staring intently at Chung Myung, abruptly spun on his heel.
“Follow me.”
“Huh?”
“Over here.”
Chung Myung spoke with an awkward look.
“Uh… Sahyeong. It’s pretty late. Are we really doing this now…”
“Hurry.”
At Chung Mun’s stern tone, Chung Myung let his shoulders slump and followed behind him.
‘Might as well kill me, kill me.’
This damn Hwasan. Might as well run away out of disgust. How much does he have to torment me before he’s satisfied?
‘Anyway… It’s not like I came here because I wanted to…’
Chung Myung’s cheeks puffed out slightly.
‘If he dislikes me so much, I’ll just leave, right?’
Tomorrow morning, I’ll run away without even looking back. Just watch.
Chung Myung clenched his small fist tightly.
Tap.
“….Huh?”
Chung Myung stared blankly at the stir-fried pork placed in front of him.
“Eat.”
“……What is this?”
“Can’t you see? It’s food. They call it hoegwayuk.”
“Ah, no…”
Chung Mun spoke curtly.
“You probably haven’t had dinner yet, so hurry up and eat.”
“…”
Chung Myung stared blankly at the bowl in front of him.
A delicious-looking stir-fried pork dish, tinged with a reddish hue, filled the bowl to the brim.
“Wha-why is there meat?”
“Didn’t you practically sing about wanting to eat it?”
“That…… is true, but.”
Meat at Hwasan?
Of course, Hwasan doesn’t ban meat entirely, but those stubborn seniors… No, those elders……. still say eating meat isn’t good, so they only give a literal pittance.
Which means this meat was personally procured by Chung Mun. And judging by the lingering heat…
“Did you make this yourself?”
“…”
“This?”
“Khum.”
Chung Mun let out an awkward cough.
“It’ll get cold. Hurry and eat.”
Chung Myung picked up his chopsticks in a daze.
“No. But what sudden whim blew in?”
It wasn’t that he felt sorry after scolding him. After all, Chung Mun had never cooked before – there was no way he could have obtained ingredients and learned a recipe so quickly.
In other words, this was a dish Chung Mun had prepared in advance…
“Isn’t today your birthday?”
“…What?”
Birthday? Nobody even knows the day Chung Myung was born.
“You first entered Hwasan on the tenth day of the tenth month.”
Chung Myung looked at Chung Mun with a blank expression.
“If a birthday signifies the day you were born, then your birthday is none other than today.”
Chung Mun smiled gently.
“That’s what I believe.”
“…”
“Come on, eat up.”
Chung Myung stared quietly at the hoegwayuk in front of him, then picked up his chopsticks and began to eat the meat.
As soon as he put a piece of steaming pork into his mouth, his face twisted for a moment.
‘Salty.’
And spicy. Plus, there was some unknown odor wafting about… This must be…
“Is it good?”
“…”
Without a word, Chung Myung picked up another piece of meat.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp!
“Chung Myung-aaaah!”
“Yes?”
Chung Mun looked at Chung Myung, who was devouring the hoegwayuk, and spoke.
“Do you know why it’s called hoegwayuk?”
“I was just hoping I could eat in peace….”
Chung Myung’s face crumpled at the renewed nagging, but Chung Mun paid no attention and went on.
“On the outside, hoegwayuk might seem like just pork stir-fried in a spicy sauce, but you can’t make proper hoegwayuk simply by stir-frying.”
Under the subtle pressure of his gaze, Chung Myung had no choice but to swallow the meat in his mouth and ask,
“…Then what?”
“You have to boil it once before stir-frying.”
Chung Myung’s face contorted. What was so special about that secret?
“Yes, yes. Thank you. Cooking it twice, how considerate of you to… Ack! Why are you hitting me…?!”
“Listen carefully!”
Chung Myung’s lips jutted out in a pout, but when Chung Mun’s eyes turned fierce, he grumbled yet still listened.
“What’s interesting is that it takes quite a bit of effort just to boil the pork once. Carefully boiled pork itself can be called a fine dish, don’t you think?”
“…Yes, I suppose so.”
“But hoegwayuk is made by thinly slicing that boiled pork and stir-frying it again. That’s how you get that tender yet chewy texture.”
Chung Mun smiled softly as he watched Chung Myung, who couldn’t hold back and was already chewing on more pork.
“Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“Not at all?”
“…It means that there is Tao contained even in this dish.”
“Huh?”
Chung Myung looked at Chung Mun with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Have you been studying nonsense instead of Taoist scriptures?’ But Chung Mun simply smiled, as if he had expected it.
“No matter how well it’s boiled, just plain boiled pork feels lacking somehow. And no matter how well you stir-fry it, stir-fried pork alone isn’t perfect either. But by putting in the effort of those two cooking processes, you can finally bring out this kind of flavor.”
“All right, got it. So can I just eat now?”
“Why do you think a dish like this came into being?”
“…Never mind. Please, go on.”
Resigned, Chung Myung set his chopsticks down with a clack. But at that moment, Chung Mun’s face grew a bit more serious.
“I’ve always thought of it this way: perhaps this dish was invented by some inexperienced cook who messed up the pork while trying to make boiled pork, then tried to salvage the ruined pork and ended up creating this.”
“Eh?”
Somehow, that idea seemed interesting to Chung Myung, who turned to look at the hoegwayuk in front of him.
“If the cook had simply thrown out the failed boiled pork, this dish wouldn’t exist. Even if they had decided to give up on the failure and start from scratch, boiling new pork again, this dish still wouldn’t have been born.”
“…”
“If it doesn’t work the first time, do it twice. If you fail once, try again. It’s not about doing it perfectly. Even if the result is lacking, you accept that outcome as it is, and then think again. If that isn’t the Tao, then what is?”
Chung Myung nodded in admiration at Chung Mun’s firm words.
“…Well, I’ve figured out one thing.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“That you’re out of your mind – I mean, that you’re a truly outstanding Taoist, Sahyeong. Ha… hahah.”
Seeing Chung Mun pick up the fire poker lying next to him, Chung Myung subtly changed his tune, accompanied by an awkward laugh.
“So even if you fail once, there’s no need to despair. If you fail, you just try again.”
“Yes, yes. Then can I eat now?”
“……Yes.”
“Hee-hee!”
As Chung Myung began devouring the hoegwayuk again, Chung Mun let out a small laugh. It was probably too difficult a story for someone as young as Chung Myung.
He merely hoped that someday, Chung Myung would understand.
For now, he was so naturally gifted that he’d never really faced any serious setbacks, but one day, Chung Myung would surely experience great despair brought on by his own mistakes.
And when that time came, not giving up and starting over would be the true way of a Taoist.
Chung Mun watched Chung Myung literally inhale the hoegwayuk with a satisfied expression.
“Is it good?”
“……Yes.”
A contented smile appeared on Chung Mun’s lips.
“Don’t push the vegetables aside.”
“…”
“Chew them thoroughly.”
“Haaaaa…”
And so, the night deepened for the young man and the boy seated across from each other in the corner of the kitchen, dimly lit by a small lamp.
❀ ❀ ❀
“…”
Chung Myung stared intently at the hoegwayuk in front of him.
The corners of his previously stiff lips slowly begun to curl upward.
“Are you asking why?”
“Huh?”
“Because this is Tao[도(道)].”
“…”
Baek Cheon, Jo Geol, and Yu Iseol all turned to look at Yoon Jong at the same time.
“What the hell is he talking about?”
“Do you understand?”
“Explain.”
Yoon Jong, officially recognized at Hwasan as a true ‘Taoist,’ smiled gently and answered.
“It’s bullshit.”
“Aha.”
“Well, that makes sense.”
“Got it.”
Paying them no mind, Chung Myung picked up his chopsticks and tosses another piece of hoegwayuk into his mouth.
A fragrant aroma and tender texture spread softly through his mouth. It’s certainly the superb flavor crafted by a skilled cook.
“How is it? Is it decent?”
“Hmm.”
Chung Myung, wearing a sullen expression, looked at the plate of hoegwayuk.
“This isn’t proper hoegwayuk.”
“Aaah!”
“We have two people from Sichuan right here! And you still couldn’t manage to get this one dish right!”
“N-No, this is really delicious, though?”
Chung Myung chuckled.
You won’t find it anywhere anymore – that disastrous hoegwayuk, which wasn’t even fit for anyone to eat.
Because it’s now gone forever.
But…
Chung Myung picked up another piece of pork and said.
“Well, in its own way, it’s still something.”
“Really?”
“See? I told you it’s good!”
“N-No. I didn’t say anything!”
“You were picking on me.”
“S-Sorry.”
Chung Myung burst into loud laughter at the same time Tang Soso let out a shout.
Even if something that was once completed turned out to be a failure, what’s already been boiled can’t be undone. Still, if you don’t give up and keep trying, someday it’ll become a fine dish in its own right.
‘That’s what you called Tao, Sahyeong.’
He didn’t understand back then. Maybe he still doesn’t completely understand now.
But someday, he will come to know. What Chung Mun tried to convey. The Tao he wanted to leave behind.
Someone’s scream and cheerful laughter.
A night different yet the same, gradually grew deeper.
________
*기사멸조(欺師滅祖) – Deceiving your master and dishonoring your ancestors – more in ch. 1183.
**回鍋肉 – 回鍋 (to cook again; to heat up; to go back to previous job) – 肉 (meat/flesh/pork). Twice-cooked pork.
________
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Return of the Mount Hua 