The Return of the Crazy Demon-Chapter 270: Watch Your Step Around the Rocks

As he ascended the narrow trail, Dong-su arrived outside a small cave barely large enough for one person to enter and exit. With a bright expression, he called out.

“Senior Brother, I’m here. Senior Brother, are you inside?”

A subdued voice drifted from within the cave.

“You’ve returned, junior.”

Dong-su smiled as he replied.

“Yes, I’ve come back.”

“I’m currently serving a punishment, so I won’t be able to show you my face. Have you returned safely?”

Dong-su sat down in front of the cave and responded.

“I’m unharmed. But why are you in meditative confinement again, Senior Brother?”

“It was the Abbot’s command.”

“For what reason?”

“Recently, Old Man Tak’s son was passing through Yeorae Mountain when he was ambushed, stripped naked, and found impaled on a spear, all his goods and trade items stolen.”

Dong-su’s expression hardened.

“...Who was responsible?”

“It was said to be the band of the Golden-Haired Demon who’ve settled in Yeorae Mountain.”

“What... happened to them?”

The voice from the cave responded with indifference.

“I happened to have business nearby and was passing through Yeorae Mountain when those bastards appeared and demanded my alms bowl.”

“...Goodness.”

“As you know, I only have the one, so I refused. Then they tried to kill me. How could I, a follower of the Buddha, willingly let my body be defiled and cause secular people to commit the grave sin of killing?”

“Mmm.”

“In order to prevent them from committing murder, I swung the bowl around a few times... and when I came to my senses, the entire area was a sea of blood. Unfortunately, I’ve no idea what became of the secular people who had been pressing me.”

“Yes.”

“While staring at that bloodbath, I thought, ‘If my junior returns, I’m sure he’ll scold me again.’”

At the end of the voice from within the cave, a faint chuckle could be heard.

“What did the Abbot say?”

“He, too, was quite saddened, as he has long-standing ties with Old Man Tak. He scolded me less than usual. He only ordered a hundred days of meditative confinement, so I consider myself lucky.”

“Yes.”

“So I told him myself. A hundred days felt insufficient, so I said I’d make up for the rest when you returned by having you scold me instead.”

Dong-su let out a sigh before answering.

“How could I possibly scold you, Senior Brother...”

“Seems I assumed I’d be the only one scolded.”

“Senior Brother, upon returning, I brought with me a martial artist to stay at the guest house.”

“An outsider? How long could someone like that endure this dull life? But I suppose you had your reasons.”

Dong-su nodded.

“He was an evildoer who had guided martial criminals. The martial experts I was associated with fought those criminals, and this man was the only survivor. He knows how to play the flute. Honestly, if I hadn’t brought him here, I think those martial experts would’ve killed him too.”

The senior brother clicked his tongue.

“A needless interference. Guiding criminals is no different from lighting a lamp for evildoers. You’ve gotten involved in something troublesome again.”

“That’s why, on the way here, I destroyed his dantian. While his body has recovered, he’ll never regain his martial arts.”

“...”

Silence fell from within the cave.

Dong-su tilted his head and asked,

“Senior Brother?”

“You said you destroyed his dantian? You struck him?”

“Yes.”

“That’s strange. What drove you to do that?”

Dong-su let out a small sigh.

“Exactly. I meant to save the man’s life, but bringing him here wasn’t easy. He tried to deceive me, even attempted to run away. I wondered what you would’ve done in my place. What the Haomun Master I once met would’ve done. And in the end, I destroyed his dantian.”

“And how did that turn out?”

“He followed obediently.”

“Even if he follows, his heart likely still lingers in Jianghu.”

“I’m sure it does.”

“What kind of place is Jianghu?”

Dong-su thought of the view from the Zaha Guest House and laughed.

“I don’t know. Even if I went back, I still wouldn’t understand it.”

“You don’t know, yet you still want to return.”

“Yes.”

Laughter echoed from the cave.

“To think even the stubborn pride of the Guma family can be moved. It’s quite a place. Did your advance scouting yield any results?”

“I originally intended to settle on a mountain near Chang’an and translate the scriptures to spread their teachings.”

“And?”

“I realized that simple translation won’t move people’s hearts.”

“So?”

“I concluded that I need to experience people’s lives directly and understand their thoughts to carry out the translation. What power would the words of a secluded monk hold over non-believers?”

“But the content of the scriptures won’t change.”

“That’s true. But I think I will. And if I change, the spirit I infuse into the translation will change as well. I want to study the scriptures deeply, memorize them without missing a word, and return to Jianghu.”

“It’s a hard road.”

“Senior Brother, it’s one worth walking.”

“Your thoughts are always humble and filled with compassion. Do as you will. Staying with us is merely a part of your training—not its entirety. When you are ready, leave at any time.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

“I’ve heard there are many vicious demons in the Central Plains. I was never free of the worry that you might not return safely. It wasn’t just me. The Abbot, who promised your mother he would look after you, felt the same. We often had similar dreams and prayed you would return unscathed. We didn’t expect your pure heart to survive in a world overrun by villains. But it turns out prophetic dreams are just human worries.”

“You’re right, Senior Brother.”

“Still, what possessed you to lay hands on a secular man outside a formal duel? That’s something you’d never have done before.”

“That’s just it... I was so incredibly frustrated.”

The cave filled with laughter, and the senior brother spoke.

“I often felt that way watching you.”

“Senior Brother, the owner of the Zaha Guest House, who also leads a group called Haomun, became someone I got to know. He’s younger than me, yet it seemed I frustrated him often. He’d yell over the smallest things, frown constantly. If we’d gotten any closer, I might’ve been smacked in the head a few times.”

“Hahaha...”

“Senior Brother, please laugh more quietly. I think the cave might collapse. Has there been no progress with your Prajna Technique?”

“I’m at peace about it. If no one has ever reached enlightenment through it, then there must be a reason. It’s not something one attains through forced obsession.”

Dong-su smiled lightly and said,

“A hundred days is a short and long time. Should I go into town and bring back some wine?”

“...You’ve really changed. Volunteering for something without being asked. I’m fine.”

“Yes.”

A short sigh came from within the cave.

“Here I am staring at a wall, and yet your heart has grown vast, like a river flowing into the sea. I’m envious and happy for you. Have you seen the other disciples?”

“Yes, they were training just the same as the last time I saw them. But I’m worried. Day by day, I see stronger competitiveness in Second and Third Brothers. Is the position of martial representative really something worth obsessing over? Once you step outside the temple, it’s nothing. You, Senior Brother, aren’t interested in such titles, are you?”

“Leave them be. For now, they need that competitiveness to grow. Even if they clash in petty emotional disputes, when the time comes, they’ll unite. There’s no need to hate them.”

“Yes.”

“Even if they resent me, in the end, I’ll have to overpower them with skill. Junior, everyone says you’re too inflexible, but you’re the only one here who understands me. They all think alike. You’re different. I’ve found you frustrating at [N O V E L I G H T] times, but I’ve never once thought you were weak-hearted. Even if you’re influenced by Jianghu, you don’t need to change your mindset any more than you already have.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“If the essence of a martial monk is to inherit and develop the martial studies of our forebears, then I am not in the wrong. Our disciples are getting stronger every day. Even if I disappear someday, it won’t be a problem. My concerns lie elsewhere.”

“What is it?”

“We were taught that the Prajna Technique is one of the ultimate truths.”

“Yes.”

“But compared to what? I’ve realized that it cannot be the ultimate truth.”

“Why not?”

“Because martial arts depend on the person practicing them. I recently reached the ninth stage, but even so, I still wouldn’t be able to match the top masters of the Central Plains.”

“Surely not...”

“There’s a reason. Prajna is a martial art created by a founder whose level we cannot reach. It’s time to examine other things and create my own martial art. Do perfect martial artists exist in Jianghu? Have you heard of any?”

“Yes. I heard of someone called the Sword Demon. But they say meeting him is difficult.”

“Why?”

“They say if you meet, one of you will die. So you must be thoroughly prepared. But he already lives with death accepted in his heart.”

“A swordsman, then.”

“Yes.”

Dong-su thought for a while before speaking.

“Senior Brother, if you ever consider returning to Jianghu, you should first visit the Zaha Guest House in Ilyang County. That’s where those martial experts I mentioned are.”

“You mean the ones who fought the martial criminals?”

“Yes.”

“Even people here can’t stand my temperament. Why would people in the secular world be any more comfortable around me? It’s best for all if I meet no one.”

“Senior Brother, those people...”

“...”

“...They’re the kind of people ordinary folks can’t handle. Especially those four—they shamelessly call themselves the Four Great Villains.”

“Idiots, then.”

“The first is the Sword Demon, second is Master of Six Harmonies, third is the Haomun Master, and fourth—pardon the term—is the Lecher.”

“What a gathering of demons and degenerates.”

“Yes.”

“They all had ailments of the heart. The Sword Demon is obsessed with his blade. The Master of Six Harmonies is a reformed criminal. The Haomun Master suffers from madness. The Lecher is consumed by lust.”

“And?”

“Even so, I grew fond of them.”

“Why would you grow fond of such demons?”

“Because they held to their principles. Separated, they each lacked flexibility and were fated to die young or alone—like me.”

“Then one of them must’ve gathered the others to keep fate from flowing away.”

“You’re right, Senior Brother.”

“And in your eyes, that person is the Haomun Master?”

“How did you know?”

“You mentioned his alias first. That means he occupies a large part of your thoughts. Thanks to him, you were even able to destroy a martial artist’s dantian. For you to have returned safely, there must be some karmic tie with him from a past life.”

Dong-su grinned brightly and said,

“Exactly.”

“If I ever meet that Master, I’ll thank him for looking after my junior, even if only briefly. It’s a matter of principle.”

“I kept thinking of you when I was around him.”

“A troublemaker, are you?”

“Yes.”

“I only cause trouble near the temple. He causes trouble throughout Jianghu. His vessel is greater than mine. I’ll remember this. Now go spend some time with your fellow disciples and eat dinner. The sun will set soon.”

Dong-su rose and bowed deeply toward the cave.

“Senior Brother, I feel sorry that I get to eat warm food alone. Please stay healthy through the rest of your confinement. I’ll come up from time to time when I don’t have to worry about prying eyes.”

“Let’s meet with smiling faces next time.”

“Yes, Senior Brother. Then... I’ll take my leave.”

As Dong-su turned to go, his senior brother’s voice called out.

“Disciple.”

“Yes?”

“You’ll change people’s hearts through scripture. I will teach martial arts to help followers protect others. But I’ll ensure this martial art is only taught to those who have read your scriptures deeply.”

“If you leave, the Abbot will be furious.”

“He may disagree now, but one day he’ll change his mind. It doesn’t matter. Living off offerings while doing nothing is no better than feeding off others’ misfortunes. Knowing of others’ suffering and still sitting in the mountains banging on a wooden fish is the same as ignoring it. That must never be the essence of our religion. I broke my vows long ago. It’s getting dark. Watch your step around the rocks.”

“...Yes.”

Only after Dong-su had disappeared did the senior brother emerge from the cave entrance. Watching the darkening sky with an indifferent gaze, he took a sip from his gourd and smiled.

“...It was all just a bad dream.”

Now that his disciple had returned safely, the nightmares would cease.