Dark Mage - Volume 1 - Chapter 25

Son of the Sa-Pa Madu. (TLN: Sapa=evil sect, madu=demonic leader)
The various hardship he had endured was rooted in this fact. Of course his unbending upright personality and his ugly looks were also reasons, but it wouldn’t explain the long-term cold treatment he had endured. After thinking about all the facts, Dok-gosong’s gaze started to calm down. However, his rage against everyone who despised him grew steadily. The experience was so intense that he would never forget about it. After finishing his thoughts, Dok-gosong spoke in a low tone.

“So? Are you sure that I am the Bae-sect’s young sect leader?”

Do-wichung replied without any hesitation.

“It is the absolute truth. Kongzi-nim can return to our sect now. You will return as the heir of the Sa-pa’s absolute being. “

After hearing those words, Dok-gosong let out a long sigh. After finding out about his identity, Dok-gosong felt very bitter about the humiliations he had to endure everyday. Suddenly, a sound mixed with sadness escaped his lips.

“Too late. You are too late. If only you had come a little bit earlier…..”

As if he had expected this response, Do-wichung lowered his head.

“Please forgive us. We weren’t in a situation where we could help you. After the previous sect leader died, various faction within the sect revolted to aim for a promotion. If it wasn’t for Sa-joonhwan Chongsa-nim(TLN: Chongsa is a title, like the person who oversees a group), the internal strife would have already ruined the sect. Not only were we tied up, even if we were to bring Kongzi-nim, please understand that we could not guarantee your safety. We were able to excise out the malaise not too long ago, and we were able to restructure the organization. Therefore, we were able to come here to retrieve you, Kongzi-nim.”

After hearing Do-wichung’s explanation, Dok-gosong nodded his head as if it made sense.

“Currently, Sa-joonhwan Chongsa was able to unify the Bae-sect?”

“That is correct. That person is only filled with loyalty to the Dok-go family. To say it again, he made preparations to welcome back Kongzi-nim. After Kongzi-nim returns to your own sect, you will be able to learn an unsurpassed Moo-gong.(TL:similar to martial arts) Then in the future, you will be able to climb up to become the sect leader.”

After hearing Do-wichung’s words, Dok-gosong’s pulse became untangled.(TLN:when you have a lot of grievance, there is a phrase that says your pulse becomes clogged…this is in reverse.) With expectation that he could escape the Shaolin temple, he looked towards the heavens. This caused Dok-gosong to be unable to see through the uncertain expression that showed within Do-wichung’s eyes. Dok-gosong looked at the sky for a while. Unbeknownst to him, after seeing the sky, tears started flowing.

“My wish has come true.”

The goal he made when he was a child started coming back. He wanted to somehow learn Moo-gong, and give a bitter taste to those who had humiliated him. The amount of disdain he had received, because of his ugly looks was numerous.
Even the household workers, whom he worked with, shunned him. No one wanted to eat food with him. While he was in such a situation, he had suddenly met people who treated him with respect for the first time in his life. Moreover, they were his father’s underlings. It made him lose half of his reasons. He had a hard time facing reality and accepting it.
Right then Dok-gosong’s mind woke up. It was only then that he thought about the guardian monks, so he urgently went to Do-wichung.

“Near by, there are Shaolin monks monitoring me. If they find out about this then wouldn’t it be a disaster?”

Do-wichung smiled and waved his hand as if to say not to worry. Several masked people stood up, and put forth something. Dok-gosong’s eyes were filled with surprise. It was the severed had of the guardian monks that watched over him.

“These, these are?”

“We got rid of them. They had already sinned multiple times against young sect master, so I decided that they had no worth living. If my judgement was in error, then please discipline me in an appropriate manner.”

“No. No.”

Dok-gosong had a dazed expression. The guardian monks, who kept watch over him, were considered to be experts amongst the Shaolin temple’s fighting monks. They were dispatched once they decided that the Bae-sect’s only son deserved close watching. Those guardian monks were dispatched so easily……
Still it was true that they despised him, so he felt a sense of release. Moreover, he became extremely fond of the Bae-sect. They had sent experts, who could easily get rid of the Shaolin guardian monks. This was the sect that was dominated by his father, whom he couldn’t even remember what he looked like. He didn’t have to think over it any longer. He stepped towards Do-wichung.

“Then let’s leave for Bae-sect without any delay. I don’t have any possessions to pack. I’ll just leave as it is.”

However, Do-wichung didn’t easily nod his head in assent. Instead, he made a sorrowful face, while shaking his head from side to side.

“I’m very sorry, but we can’t leave like this.”

Dok-gosong’s eyes widened rapidly .

“Why? What, what is the reason?”

“Even though we got rid of those guarding Kongzinim, it’ll be impossible for us to escape. There is an absolute expert living nearby, and not even we could handle him.”

“Who, who is this person?”

Do-wichung continued speaking, while staring into Dok-gosong’s eyes.

“It is the person, who had brutally murdered Kongzi-nim’s honored father. Have you heard of a Shaolin holy monk named Hae-jung?”

At those words, Dok-gosong was struck dumb. Of course, he knew about the Shaolin holy monk.

Dok-gosong had a reputation of being mistreated in the Shaolin temple. However, there was one person who showed interest in him, and that person was the Shaolin holy monk Hae-jung. Of course he was the person who applied the Seven Sect’s Beating Gold Technique on him, but he was also the only one that had recognized Dok-gosong’s exceptional talent. Dok-gosong had excellent talent when it came to Mu-gong. The Shaolin holy monk was the first to realize this, and when he did, he sighed as if the sky was falling.

“Huh. He really has excellent talent. This child has qualities that isn’t inferior to the current Shaolin’s genius child(Young-ho-myung). It is very unfortunate that this child is from the Sa-pa.”

Of course, he couldn’t teach Mu-gong to the son of a Sa-pa’s leader even if he had excellent talent. That is why the Shaolin holy monk decided to teach him the law of Buddha. He arranged Dok-gosong to visit him once a day to learn the law of Buddha. This was why Dok-gosong was somewhat close to the Shaolin holy monk. However, that was the reason why he was able to learn the law of Buddha.
The law of Buddha taught to a person to live with mercy as the first virtue. Dok-gosong’s bones were seeped with hatred caused by numerous people despising him, so such words didn’t register with him. However, the Shaolin holy monk never gave up, and put aside some time daily to guide Dok-gosong. Even though he had become the Shaolin temple’s household worker, he still received lessons. Therefore, the shock caused to Dok-gosong was unimaginable.

“That, that person killed my father?”

“That is correct. Even if they kept it a secret, this truth have been already been spread to the corner of Murim.”

After hearing those words, Dok-gosong became seriously agonized. The Shaolin holy monk was the only person who had treated him like a human. He had been despised since his childhood, so Dok-gosong’s personality was very crooked. There weren’t anyone that he felt good feelings toward. Instead, it would be fortunate if he refrained from despising and spitting on others. Amongst these people, there was one exception and that was the Shaolin high monk. He was the only person to show interest in him and he always treated him with unwavering consistency. He always looked over him with unending benevolence.
This was the cause of Dok-gosong’s inner conflict.

‘The person who sired me was Dok-gomoogi, but I don’t even know what my father looks like. Even though he was my father’s enemy, he was the only one in this Shaolin temple that treated me like a human.’

Do-wichung’s voice continued coming into his ears while he was deep in thought.

“If he blocks our path, then neither Kongzi-nim or us could escape this mountain. We do not have the ability to go against him. Therefore, if Kongzi-nim wants to return to our sect with us then you have to get rid of the Shaolin holy monk first.”

Dok-gosong’s face reacted as if surprised.

“So, so I have to kill him.” (TLN: he stutters/repeats the word)

Do-wichung put his head down with a distressed expression when he heard Dok-gosong’s reply.
Dok-gosong viewed it as guilt for not having the ability to rescue him.

“We have no confidence that we can prevail over the Shaolin holy monk. The Shaolin holy monk’s mu-gong is very profound. Moreover, no one in our group can approach the Shaolin holy monk without arousing suspicion. Only Kongzi-nim can do this. Please discipline us, who is asking for such a difficult request.”

After he heard those words, Dok-gosong realized that the Bae-sect had meticulously researched him.

“In the end, they want me to kill the Shaolin holy monk. However, I don’t know any mu-gong, so how…”

Do-wichun, while having his head down, took something out from inside his sleeve. It was a paper pouch that was carefully folded. (TLN: doctors used to fold a single dose of medicine/powder into paper- similar to origami)

“You have to somehow administer this to the Shaolin holy monk. That is the only solution for us to safely leave the mountain with Kongzi-nim.”

After receiving the paper bag, Dok-gosong’s face was filled with distress. It
is a matter of course for him to revenge his father, who was unfairly murdered. However, why did it have to be the Shaolin holy monk, who was the only person that had treated him well…..
There was one essential rule he had followed since his childhood. It was to return as much as you have received. If he was ridiculed and humiliated, then he’ll use the same method to get back at them. Although he didn’t have the strength yet, Dok-gosong had imprinted in his brain who held him in contempt and the content of their scorn.
At the same time, he won’t forget the kindness he had received. The people who had shown him kindness was almost non-existent, but the only exception was the Shaolin holy monk.
However, he had to face the reality that he had to betray the holy monk…..

‘It is something I cannot do.’

As if Dok-gosong had decided on something, a light of determination rose up on his face. While forming a distressed expression, he pushed the paper bag toward Do-wichung.

“I am sorry, but I cannot kill him. Even though he is the mortal enemy, who had killed my father, he was the only one who had treated me humanely. There is no way I can betray him.”

The person who was surprised by Dok-gosong’s response was Do-wichung. He stumbled on his words as if he couldn’t believe it.

“He, he is the mortal enemy, who killed your father. How can you…..”

“Even if I have to spend all my life in the Shaolin temple, I don’t care. I don’t even know what my father looks like. However, I can never forget the benevolence shown to me by the Shaolin holy monk.”

Dok-gosong turned his body away from Do-wichung, who was endlessly shocked. He walked towards his hut that was close to falling over. Although the desire to escape the Shaolin temple was through the roof, Dok-gosong could not betray the Shaolin holy monk.

‘What the hell.’

Do-wichung stared at Dok-gosong with an expression that indicated he could not understand it. This caused him to grit his teeth.
He had received a secret order that had led him into the jaws of death, but his mission was delayed by an unexpected reason. The target he came to rescue was being outrageously stubborn in this situation…..
However, he had to carry out his mission in any way possible even if it cost him his life.
In a moment, he hit upon an idea.  Do-wichung hurriedly called after Dok-gosong.

“Kongzi-nim. I think you have misunderstood my intentions. Please wait.”

Dok-gosong came to a stop.

“What is it?”

Do-wichung approached in a grave manner towards Dok-gosong.

“I think you might have misunderstood something. You had decided that the medicine in here is a poison, but in the end, it is not a poison. If a person was to take this, it doesn’t necessarily lead to death.”

“……….”

“The identity of this medicine is a strong sedative. If taken, it is strong enough to knock a person out for a minimum of 4 days.”

“If, if that is so.”

Dok-gosong’s eyes were filled with certain expectation. He had a chance to escape without betraying the kindness of the Shaolin holy monk. As if he guessed his intentions, Do-wichung nodded his head.

“If Kongzi-nim succeeds, then the odd is ten to one that the Shaolin holy monk will fall into a deep sleep. Around the time we successfully arrive at the Bae-sect, he’ll safely awake in exactly 4 days.”

“Are, are you certain about that?”

“It is the absolute truth. I guarantee it on my honor.”

After hearing Do-wichung’s answer, Dok-gosong’s face had a light of happiness. He had already resigned to live here, but now he had a way to escape this horrible Shaolin temple. He took the paper bag without any hesitation.