Chapter 25: The Breath of God Flows Within
They walked on in silence for what felt like a long time.
Yu Gyeongseong watched Beopjin's steady gait, trying to get a read on the man. The monk's attitude made it clear he didn't really want anything from him.
'Well, either way, I'm the one who's curious here, so I guess I don't have much choice.'
With that thought, Yu Gyeongseong was the one who broke the silence first.
"So... you live in the Mogao Caves?"
"That's right."
"You mentioned it's a cave temple. Is there a particular reason for that?"
It must've taken a hell of a lot of effort to carve out a mountain like that, so there had to be a good reason for going through all that trouble.
"It's because of the heat. The desert sun scorches you alive out here. Shazhou is a desert region just like this place. Mingsha Mountain, where the Mogao Caves are located, is the same. Of course, there's an oasis, so people can live there."
Come to think of it, the Six Demons had mentioned something about this. They said the Righteous Alliance switched all their mounts to camels in Shazhou. That must be where the real desert begins.
"What brought you to Tianzhu?"
"The Buddha was born in Tianzhu, but his teachings flowed eastward. And as they spread, the translations became distorted and the regional interpretations grew twisted. When the sounds change, the true meaning is lost, and when that happens, the principles become warped. I feel it’s my calling to set things right.”
Truth.
The man had walked this difficult path all this way just to make sure the Buddha’s teachings were passed on correctly. In a way, his purpose seemed analogous to the pursuit of martial arts.
It's incredibly hard for later generations to perfectly grasp the skills left behind by their predecessor. And that’s when they speak the same language. Imagine trying to do it with a translation.
And yet, he had embraced this difficult task as his calling.
And it wasn't even for his own sake.
What makes a man live such a selfless life?
And...
...what strange connection has brought him and me together?
***
After walking for a while longer, the two of them found a spot to take a break.
Yu Gyeongseong pulled out his water pouch and took a sip while sneaking a glance at Beopjin. The monk set down his pack and pulled out an unusual-looking water bottle.
After wetting his throat, Beopjin took something out and offered it over.
“Have some of this.”
Yu Gyeongseong looked at what he was holding and it turned out to be food.
Out here in the desert, water and food were life itself. And this man was sharing his precious supplies without a second thought.
That's exactly why Yu Gyeongseong couldn't just accept it right away.
"Don't you need to ration your food?"
Since he must carry everything his own on his back, I don’t think he could carry an excess supply.
“Still, I think I’m doing better than you are, so take it.”
"...Aren't you worried you'll run out?"
“I have enough. And if I run low, I’ll just go hungry for a meal or two.”
He said it so casually like it was no big deal at all.
Beopjin waved his hand, insisting that Yu Gyeongseong just take it already.
Yu Gyeongseong quietly took the food. He knew the monk wasn’t lying.
“Make sure you eat this. It’s salt. You can live without food for a while, but you can’t live without salt.”
"Thank you."
Maybe the monk liked his grateful attitude? Because after that, Beopjin started handing over meat, vegetables, and even fruit.
He mentioned that he'd passed through dozens of kingdoms on his way here from Tianzhu and these were things he'd received along the way.
“This fruit is called Bannapo
(半娜婆/Jackfruit). In the Central Plains, it's sometimes called the Paramita Fruit. They even put ‘honey’ in its name, so you can guess how sweet it is. You've probably never tasted anything like this before. Give it a try."
Yu Gyeongseong didn't refuse and took a bite.
A powerful aroma hit him before he even took a bite. When he chewed, his mouth was filled with a thick sweetness that was almost creamy.
“So? How do you like it?”
"It's good."
"It's even better when you eat it fresh instead of dried like this. When you get the chance, you should go out and see the world sometime."
Yu Gyeongseong actually thought about it.
Why not? It’s not like I have any other plans.
Besides, getting a treat like this in the middle of nowhere was something to be thankful for.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, my palate has enjoyed a rare luxury.”
“I enjoyed it just as much.”
Beopjin's face lit up with a bright smile. His long journey had left him looking worn out and exhausted, but his smile was as fresh as a morning dew.
***
Even though they'd grown a bit closer, there was still more silence between them than conversation.
And so the day continued with the two of them walking side by side, mostly in quiet companionship.
"It's gotten pretty late. Shall we get some rest now?"
Yu Gyeongseong stopped walking as soon as the monk spoke.
It was getting pretty chilly. Cold enough that they'd probably need a fire.
'I'm fine, but what about this monk?'
Beopjin pulled a thick blanket from his pack and spread it on the ground. Then he lay down on it and said, "Wherever I lie down becomes my home and my roof."
He looked so comfortable, as if he didn't have a care in the world.
Yu Gyeongseong took a page from his book, shrugging off his own cloak to use as a mat and lying down just like him.
A cool breeze brushed past his cheek.
Whether the sky was thick with clouds or hazy with sand, it was a pitch-black night with not a single star in sight. The desolate sound of the wind blowing through the desert valleys.
Along with it came Beopjin's voice.
"It's no wonder people say demons and ghosts live in this desert."
Yu Gyeongseong thought about all the nights the monk must have spent out here by himself. Yet his voice was calm and unshaken.
"Weren't you afraid?"
“There are times when I am scared. Especially when my spirit weakens and my body is exhausted."
Yu Gyeongseong turned his head to look at him. He hadn't expected that answer.
Even after all that training, he still felt fear?
Whether he noticed the look or not, Beopjin kept his eyes on the sky as he spoke.
“But it’s in those moments that I can truly see myself. And once I do that, I know the right way to move forward.”
Humans are weak. It’s in our nature to feel anxious in the dark and to be afraid of things we don’t understand.
‘So, it's an endless cycle of pushing past the impossible, almost like you’re fighting against a curse from heaven itself?’
For the first time, he felt like he was starting to understand why someone would choose to suffer like this.
Just then, a cool wind blew through, and the sky cleared. Suddenly, thousands of stars were glittering above them, as if they’d been hiding there the whole time.
“You know how they say if you see a shooting star and make a wish, it’ll come true?”
Yu Gyeongseong thought he’d heard that somewhere before.
“But shooting stars are gone in the blink of an eye. Even if you’re lucky enough to spot one, it disappears instantly. So, if you want to make a wish in that tiny window of time, what do you have to do?”
Without waiting for an answer, the monk answered his own question.
"You just have to keep your wish in your heart. So that whenever you see a shooting star, you can immediately recite it like a spell. That's the only way not to miss your chance."
Do wishes really come true if you make them on a shooting star? Even if a god were listening, would they grant wishes for no reason at all?
"Everything depends on your heart and the life you live because of it. Making a wish on a shooting star isn't what matters. What matters is constantly thinking about it and acting in line with it. If you truly want something that badly, if you pray for it earnestly in every moment, then eventually it will come to pass. That's the real wisdom this story is trying to convey."
How much effort does it take to make a wish come true?
Or rather, does something obtained without that effort have no meaning?
I gained power easily through the Great Law.
Though I lost my memories in the process...
The Great Law… and the power I gained from it… what do they mean to me?
Did I even wish for this power?
Beopjin turned his head to look at Yu Gyeongseong.
"What is your wish?"
"......"
He couldn't answer.
Because he himself did not know what his wish was.
“One of those stars up there belongs to you Try putting your dream into that star. Then that dream will watch over you without fail. It’ll still be there, even in the split second a shooting star streaks by.”
"......"
With those words, silence fell between the two once more.
And then, a short while later, Yu Gyeongseong sensed a small change.
'Is he asleep?'
While keeping his gaze fixed upon the heavens, Yu Gyeongseong focused his senses on Beopjin.
What a strange old monk.
How could there be so little difference between when he was awake and when he was asleep?
His thoughts returned to himself.
So... what is my wish now?
I left the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Does that mean I already got what I wanted?
Or… is my new wish just to keep fighting so no one can take this freedom away from me?
Should I try to find my old self?
But what if those memories just take me back to the Tianshan Mountain Range?
'...'
He felt lost, not knowing which path to take.
Though there was still a long while to go before the sky would brighten, Beopjin, who had been as still as a block of wood, suddenly spoke.
“It seems sleep will not come to you.”
"I guess not.”
And that's all thanks to the zen-like question you gave me to chew on, by the way.
(TL Note: Yu Gyeongseong actually said Koan here, but I don’t think many readers know this concept so I simplified it to that)
“You must have a lot of energy. Anyone else would be exhausted, but a desert like this doesn't seem to faze you at all."
"......"
And now he's saying something completely different.
So this is what they call a Zen conversation.
From what followed, it didn't seem like he'd brought up Yu Gyeongseong's level out of simple curiosity.
"When you're stuck thinking about something until your head spins, what do you usually do?"
"When that happens, I move."
“Well then, shall we get moving?"
As if he were not the least bit tired from his brief rest, Beopjin rose lightly and set out on the path once more. Yu Gyeongseong fell in step behind him.
The monk's steps showed no hesitation.
What is his wish?
Is it because he always holds that wish in his heart and acts upon it that he can walk with no hesitation in his stride?
"How do you know the way so well?"
Beopjin stopped walking. Then he looked up at the southern sky.
"The breath of God flows within all the movements between heaven and earth."
His gaze fell from the sky and turned to Yu Gyeongseong.
"The only reason we don't know this is because of human greed and ignorance."
***
Dawn was just beginning to break.
It was then that a sign of another living creature appeared before the two who had walked through the night.
It emerged after the retreating darkness. Something blooming like a dot in the western sky behind them.
Beopjin stopped walking and turned around.
"Looks like we have some unwelcome guests coming."
Following his gaze, Yu Gyeongseong looked silently in the same direction.
He could clearly see what that tiny thing was.
It was a single falcon, flying high in the distant sky.
Obviously not a wild falcon.
He could be certain because he'd sensed where it had taken flight from.
A group of about a dozen people had popped up on his radar a while back. He just hadn't paid much attention to them since they'd been too far away to pinpoint the two of them anyway.
Still, using a falcon was a surprise.
It piqued his curiosity.
He was less curious about the dozen guys out there and more curious about the old monk.
He’d been wondering just how long it would take for him to notice them.
But as soon as the falcon took off—no, as soon as the falcon's head turned this way—Beopjin turned his head as if he'd known all along but only mentioned it now that their paths couldn't help but cross.
Beopjin spoke, as if making sure Yu Gyeongseong could hear.
“The desert has a way of wiping away all tracks. It’s the perfect place for bandits to do as they please, wouldn’t you say?”
A few seconds later, a cloud of dust kicked up in the distance.
They weren't in sight yet, but Yu Gyeongseong could see them clearly.
'Horse bandits?'
Ah, they're riding camels, so I guess they'd be camel bandits.
But more than the bandits charging toward them, his attention was focused on Beopjin. The monk just stood there calmly, showing no fear.
Then again, there is no particular reason why a man like him would fear and avoid such a rabble.
As the bandits drew closer, Beopjin suddenly turned to look at Gyeongseong.
And what he said was unexpected.
"Don't get involved."
He knew full well that they were not approaching with good intentions. And yet he was saying this.
"...No matter what happens?"
The monk’s lips curved into a slight smile, as if he knew exactly what Yu Gyeongseong was thinking.
"If I need help, I'll say so."
"Alright then."
Yu Gyeongseong's presence faded away to almost nothing. It became so faint that while one might still perceive that someone was there, they would find him too weak to merit even a second glance.