Episode 41. Feast of the Gods
Perhaps because mealtime had not yet ended, the faces of the disciples reading sutras or presiding over the ritual were not visible.
This is a fortunate thing for Han E-bi.
The loud and colorful decorations caught my eye.
These are the tags that civilians hang on ropes while visiting their shrines.
Han Ibi dug through it and entered.
There was something like a statue placed there, and I hid behind it without even looking back.
Soon after, the sound of Seong Chun-don and his group was heard.
“Where did you go, you bastard! “Can’t you come out quickly?”
“I saw them all wearing Cheongseong uniforms.”
Shouting wildly, they began searching throughout Shangqing Palace.
A search also began where Han Ibi was hiding.
But fortunately, I did not look closely at the statue of a god.
Seong Chun-don and his party searched Shangqing Palace for a while longer, but found no results.
Hyun Jin-gi said.
“It looks like it got away somehow.”
Han Ibi slightly stuck her head out and looked at them.
Seong Chun-don said.
“okay.”
However, his appearance looked unnatural, as if he was performing a play.
It’s a ploy to trick you.
They rushed outside again.
Han Ibi was still holding her breath.
Has it been about a day or so?
Seong Chun-don and his group said as they came back in.
“damn. “It looks like he really ran away.”
“Who on earth could it have been?”
Seong Chun-don said.
“There is a suspicious person… But if it is him, there will be no problem… Now, let’s go back!”
I finally saw them for real.
‘Whew.’
Han Ibi came outside, taking a deep breath.
That lanky little rope I saw earlier.
They were all wishes for peace and wealth for the family.
Han Ibi thought.
‘I guess I’ll have to look around some more. ‘If you go down too early, you might get caught.’
Han Ibi momentarily looked back to see where she had been hiding.
Oh wow. A new portrait of an old man who seems like a good person.
‘This is Lao Tzu, the ultimate king of Taoism. I can’t believe people who call themselves Taoists are reluctant to enter the shrine. As expected, there must be something holding it back.
Next to me, I saw Gwanunjang (關雲長), who had a long beard and his eyes were wide open.
‘I wonder if Guan Yu was also learning martial arts. Could it be that he was an expert in foreign martial arts? Anyway, I’m curious about what other gods there are.’
At that moment, Han Ibi saw a figure holding something that looked like a gourd.
‘what? Could he be the god of wine like Bacchus?’
But when Han Ibi took a closer look, she was disappointed.
‘What… he wasn’t the god of alcohol, he was a doctor.’
Yes. It was a vial.
The statue was none other than Sun Sa-mak (孫思邈), a famous figure from the Sui Tang Dynasty who was later called the Medicine King (Medicine King).
‘Is there anything else fun?’
Han Ibi tried looking around more, but with her limited background knowledge of Chinese history, there was bound to be a limit to what she could find out.
‘Treating people as gods… It means that Chinese people have a unique arrogance.’
After wandering around for a bit, Shangqing Palace, a Taoist sacred place, soon began to feel trivial.
‘Hmm… I guess it’s time to go now. I guess it’s okay since it’s been this long… But what? ‘What is that?’
A unique scene caught the eye of Han Ibi.
A very ordinary looking room.
Han Ibi took a step towards that direction.
‘Is it for a waiting room or something?’
Statues of stars such as Taesangnogun or Gwanunjang were filled with labels with wishes attached.
But this place…
‘No, there is a new statue here too. No, I wonder if the identity is correct….’
It felt like people stopped coming for a long time.
‘Is it because it’s in the corner?’
Han Ibi got curious and walked a little closer to take a look at the statue.
‘Hya~! This is amazing. Are you saying there are all these gods? As expected, the world of Taoism is extremely mysterious.’
Yes.
A shape so bizarre that it can even be called a god.
Surprisingly, the statue was carrying a palanquin.
‘Besides, you’re carrying the palanquin by yourself, right?’
The green-haired old man with a long white beard, Shin, was holding a palanquin with a solemn but slightly strained expression.
Next to the statue, the writing was engraved: King Bo (步王) Hong Bang-nam (洪龐南).
‘Bowang? Does Bowang mean the king of steps? You’ve been doing it and now… you’re saying there’s also a god of walking?’
Han Ibi could not help but laugh inwardly.
If you think about it, these legendary figures who became gods were excellent people in their fields.
As of now, it is the top professional rank.
So, you can walk well and change into the body of a hermit.
Han Ibi suddenly looked at the face of the old man holding the palanquin alone.
Although the eyes were made of wood carvings with all the coloring removed, they somehow felt like they were alive and looking at Han Ibi.
Han Ibi approached the statue of King Bo as if possessed by something.
Then he said:
“Can I help you?”
Perhaps it is a reflection of compassion toward oneself who is an outcast both in the real world and in this world.
Han Ibi, half reverently and half playfully, went behind the statue and pretended to lift the palanquin.
At first, I just tried to pretend, but without realizing it, I ended up lifting the palanquin.
It was then.
Rattling!
A sound was heard from behind the chair inside the kiln.
Han Ibi tilted her head, relaxed her shoulder carrying the palanquin, and walked toward that side.
The back of the kiln was slightly open.
It was slightly larger than a mouse hole.
‘How did this happen?’
Han Ibi thought strangely, but reached out her hand toward the hole.
Tiriring!
For the first time in a very long time, I heard a sound effect in my head.
Nice to meet you, crazy girl!
[This is a search result from the Institute’s DB system.]
Name: Bagua Bobeop (八卦步法)
Classification: 4th level
Series: Bobeop
Characteristics: Hong Bang-nam, nicknamed King Bobeop, was a person who used walking as the source of his practice. He came from a poor farming family and had no education, so he took long-term lectures on the Book of Changes under a palanquin by Seo Jong-ae, a Confucian scholar who often rode in his palanquin. Of course, it was not to teach palanquin workers, but to study on their own. At first, he only paid it with one ear, but he was sufficiently intelligent, and after three years, he overcame the principles of the Book of Changes and applied them to his own occupation, walking. He spreads the principles of the Bagua, which are simple but encompass all the principles of the world, and rises to the rank of master of walking where there is no place he cannot reach and no obstacle he cannot avoid. Although this is a step to master the rough road, if you apply it to the principles of martial arts…]
That was then.
Muttering human voices were heard from the entrance to Shangqing Palace.
Lunch time is over.
It was clear that Qingcheng’s disciples were returning.
Han Ibi quickly grabbed what looked like a book wrapped in greaseproof paper through the hole.
He quickly put it in his arms and walked towards the exit of Shangqing Palace as if nothing had happened.
Two young Taoist monks were talking loudly, but when they saw Han Ibi suddenly appear, they fell silent.
The two disciples looked with suspicion as to why this food-consuming foreigner was leaving Shangqing Palace at this hour.
The more it happened, the more naturally Han Ibi acted.
“aha. This is what Shangqing Palace on Qingcheng Mountain, a treasure of the central plains and the most sacred site of Taoism, looks like. It is truly the most famous place among famous places, and its auspicious energy seems to extend all the way to the sky!”
When one of the disciples heard this, he was proud and said,
“joy! Do you finally know that? No matter how excellent Mt. Wudang or Mt. Jeyun are, they cannot dare to compare with our Qingcheng Mountain. “Mt. Wudang is full of monks who are only good at fighting, and Mt. Jeun is full of writers who only know how to perform ancestral rites.”
Han Ibi said with a smile on her face.
“It was only today that I realized the reason. Wow! It’s a really great place. Shangqing Palace! “The name is cool too, Shangqing Palace!”
Then another student, who was watching with a dissatisfied expression, blurted out.
“Now is not the time to open Shangqing Palace to outsiders. It is against the rules of culture to wander around carelessly like this. “I came in today because I didn’t know, but if you go around carelessly like this again, we will report it to Master.”
Han Ibi quickly said while pretending to bow her head.
“oh my. sorry. But aren’t we all sharing a meal anyway? “Today I made a mistake because I didn’t know, but next time I won’t.”
Only then did the Taoist nod his head in satisfaction.
Han Ibi thought.
‘Hey Shay. He’s not that old, so he acts like an old man… Anyway, these stiffs from the Cheongseong faction got away with it. I’m sorry…’
He quickly passed the Daedomuwi’s plaque and started walking towards the Qingcheng Sect.
Still, I felt good.
I made a fortune in an unexpected place.
As befits the Gyeonggong of the Murim family that dominated the power of the youth, Jong-ri’s pyopyohaeng was not lacking in speed and efficiency.
However, in combat situations, the lack of detail and meticulousness was causing difficulties.
‘If you look at martial arts novels, martial arts are usually like bonus abilities given to the main characters. You can’t miss it!’
Han Ibi decided that she must secretly learn this skill.
‘Ah… but who on earth hid such a secret item in the palanquin of that nameless god? The man named Bowang must have been dead a long time ago, so he couldn’t have hidden it himself… I wonder if he had a secret disciple or something like that…’ But then it became tiresome to think about it
.
‘Oh. I don’t know. What kind of probability do you expect from a martial arts novel? Just cook it and use it well. Anyway, King Bo! You may not know it, but you will hear it because you say it is God. I will write well. I won’t let you boss me around and I will take good care of you. haha.’
Han Ibi decided to be careful not to run into the Seongchundon group again.
They might still be there, so it would be better to head towards the top first.
* * *
The next day, Han Ibi woke up at dawn.
I tried to be diligent for the first time in a while with the intention of going to a quiet place and secretly studying the newly acquired walking technique.
But it turns out that the day I go is market day.
Just like that, I met Bok Yeon-hwa, who was walking with So Eun-ri.
When on earth did this old lady arrive?
The pressure of feeling like I have to pretend to know something.
“ah! Elder. “Have a nice trip…”
But Bok Yeon-hwa glanced at him and went on her way without any reaction.
(Continued in the next part)
