Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 412

Chapter 412
With the atmosphere finally settled by Sister Seol and Hwa-eun, I turned to the necessary task at hand:
Making them understand.
Understand what?
A massive error in perception.
Yes, it was good that the tension with Podarlap Palace had eased, but being identified as the Buddha? That was a catastrophe waiting to happen if not corrected immediately.
Based on my experience—informed by years of live streams and binge-watching dramas—these sorts of mix-ups, if not addressed, inevitably explode down the line. I’d inevitably be hit with: “Why did you stay silent?”
More urgently, if I didn’t fix this now, I might lose my chance to wed Hwa-eun. What if they hauled me back to Podarlap Palace, sheared my hair, and confined me to a life of abstinence?
If they were convinced I was an embodiment of the Buddha, they would never simply allow me to leave.
They would undoubtedly attempt to bring me with them.
And I was so near to completing my bachelor’s path and truly becoming a man… only to be made a monk at the final hurdle?
Not a chance.
“My wedding night is within reach!”
“It appears there is some confusion.”
“Confusion? How so?”
“I am not the Heavenly Master. I am most definitely not the Buddha. I am just a regular young man.”
“That’s correct,” Sister Seol chimed in. “He is my younger brother. Just an odd boy with a fascination for spirit beasts and poisonous things.”
“Odd, is he?”
“So-ryong, ignore that comment.”
“Right, then…”
So, I firmly stated that I was not the Buddha—yet Dorje answered without a shred of uncertainty.
“That cannot be. It is utterly impossible.”
I realized I needed to be more precise in my explanation.
“I am serious. The serpent you refer to as Nаgarаja is actually a unique spirit beast known in the Central Plains as a Golden-Crowned King Serpent. It is not a divine entity like Nаgarаja.”
I attempted to dismantle his conviction by clarifying that Lady Cheong-yu was not the Nаgarаja, but rather an extraordinary—yet mortal—spirit beast. But my reasoning made no impact.
Everything aligned too perfectly.
“I observed earlier that the Nаgarаja commanded two other great serpents. Does that not imply she can command others as well?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“And in the Central Plains, she is named the Golden-Crowned King Serpent, correct? That title directly means the crowned ruler of all snakes.”
“That is… technically true…”
“So, she holds the name ‘King of Snakes,’ and she commands other serpents. That is the precise identity of the Nаgarаja—Mucalinda. When the Heavenly Master reached enlightenment, it was Mucalinda who sheltered him. It all corresponds.
You may call her the Golden-Crowned King Serpent, but that is merely a difference in language. The truth remains identical.”
As legend told, the Nаgarаja Mucalinda was the sovereign of serpents and held power over them. Cheong-yu was exactly that. Her name signified the same, her capabilities matched, and even her purpose echoed the myth.
She was Mucalinda. There was no disputing it.
“Ugh, this is infuriating.”
It was like trying to swallow a whole sweet potato. Then, a thought occurred to me.
I put on a smile and said,
“Ah! You mentioned we showed up here to aid you, correct, Master Dorje?”
“Yes, O Heavenly Master.”
“That is also a misconception. We did not journey here to assist you. We were merely traveling through.
We received word that a locust plague had emerged near Mount Mary and feared it might encroach into the Central Plains. We are following their trail to determine their direction.”
In short, we did not come to rescue Dorje’s group. Our paths simply intersected.
That was my argument. But Dorje released a heavy sigh and responded,
“Ahh… Just as one would expect from the Heavenly Master. My instructor, the Dalai Lama, once taught: Even if paradise awaits beyond death, how can we forsake the living to an existence of torment?
To think you would hunt the locusts to spare others from agony… Amitabha.
And truly, the method of the Heavenly Master is often veiled in sacred mystery—seeming accidental yet profoundly deliberate. That you rescued us during your journey is merely another wonder along your blessed way.”
“I… I think I’m losing my sanity.”
Just as I felt overwhelmed by the solidity of his rationale, Dorje went on,
“O Heavenly Master. At Podarlap Palace, we hold that awakened ones elect to be reborn to deliver all living beings. This is what we name a Tolku.”
Then a hushed voice reached my [N O V E L I G H T] ear—via mental transmission.
[You know that you are one who has been reincarnated, do you not?]
Confronted with that, I had no further rebuttals.
Even if I wasn’t the Buddha, I was a reincarnated individual. And Lady Cheong-yu was a perfect fit for the Nаgarаja. Denying it now was pointless.
There was no use in protesting further. Nothing I could say would pierce his impeccable reasoning.
“Why is this argument so unassailable!?”
I recalled an old friend—a reporter who specialized in investigating cults.
He once spoke of a sect whose leader insisted they were immune to snake venom. When I described it as incremental immunity from antivenom, he agreed.
But I never forgot what he told me that day:
“I simply can’t comprehend it. Why do people get ensnared by cults?”
“You should never be so sure. Even top university students can be trapped after hearing the teachings three times.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. That’s why I never listen beyond two repetitions during my research.”
“So how does one free someone from a cult?”
“You begin by fracturing their logic—expose the flaws. One by one. It’s gradual. It’s difficult. But it’s the sole method.”
“So this is that gradual, difficult process.”
I had tried every angle to break this “cult” logic, and nothing succeeded.
I sent another internal message through voice transmission.
[So, you’re saying a Tolku is a reincarnated soul who returns to save others. And I am such a person, protected by Mucalinda, meaning I must be the Buddha reborn?]
[Precisely! Your wisdom shines through! Your comprehension affirms you as the Heavenly Master!]
“…I surrender.”
At this stage, I decided to cease resisting.
Buddha, whatever—it didn’t matter. Let everything else fall apart.
“Fine. But whether I am the Heavenly Master or not… what changes?”
To this, Dorje reacted with a look of deep remorse.
“I… I have offended you. I beg your forgiveness. I would not presume to request anything from you. It seems you are already striving to aid others in your own manner, even unaware of your previous existence. How could we, humble creatures, ever dare to impose or make claims upon you?”
“Wait, truly? That’s it?”
Ah. Now I understood. The reason they weren’t making demands… was that I was too exalted in their view.
They did not have the audacity.
The Buddha is occupied. His followers would not dream of directing him.
They would be honored by a visit—but forcing me to come? That would be blasphemy.
Just as I began to unwind, thinking I might have panicked unnecessarily, a voice tentatively asked:
“H-however… if it is not too great an imposition… might you consider visiting Podarlap Palace just one time? It would be an immense honor.”
“You wish for me to visit? Well, that’s somewhat…”
I instantly sought to decline. I could already imagine being pulled into a tonsured monastic existence the instant I arrived.
When I refused, Dorje’s face fell with obvious disappointment.
Then one of the monks kneeling behind him quietly drew near and began to whisper into his ear.
“Master Dorje, a moment of your time?”
“How bold! To act so in the presence of the Heavenly Master—”
“It is urgent.”
“Urgent, you say? Very well, let us hear it… Hm? What? Truly? Oho! Oh-ho, I understand! Yes, indeed!”
A short time later—
Whatever was shared with him clearly lifted Master Dorje’s spirits. He now gazed at me with a radiant expression, eagerly rubbing his hands together.
“O Heavenly Master, I have just learned from your sister in this life that you have a deep interest in spirit beasts and toxic creatures?”
Interest?
That was an understatement—ask me a third time and I might lose my composure. It was beyond mere interest.
It was passion. Yes. Passion.
“Well… you could describe it that way.”
“Splendid. Then fortune smiles upon us. Within the core of Podarlap Palace stands a lifeless tree. On it hangs a desiccated, shriveled fruit.”
“And?”
“That tree has been there since before Podarlap Palace was established. As per the tales handed down from our forebears, the fruit once radiated an immensely poisonous energy in its prime.”
“So?”
“And there are those who claim… it may not be entirely deceased.”
I thought it was just another strange tale—until Hwa-eun’s voice arrived through a private channel.
[So-ryong, it might be the Fruit of the Flora-Toxin lineage among the Twenty-Four Venoms!]
By the heavens—!
The Flora-Toxin fruit from the Twenty-Four Venoms.
Her words triggered a recollection—a passage I’d seen in the Secret Compendium of Venomous Creatures.
A fruit resembling a withered corpse dangling from a branch, yet overflowing with toxic power.
“It truly might be that…”
A mummified fruit… still leaking venom… Exactly as Hwa-eun suggested, it could indeed be the one.
I moved forward, placed a hand on Dorje’s shoulder, and announced:
“Upon reconsideration, maybe I should pay a visit to Podarlap Palace after all—to foster goodwill between the Central Plains and the Western Regions.”
Definitely not because I desired that poisonous fruit. No, certainly not. My only wish is to promote unity throughout the martial world.
Because, ultimately, is not Buddhism centered on peace?
Yes. That is my sole motivation. Absolutely.
And instantly—a downpour of veneration.
The monks started bowing once more in harmony.
“Ooooooh! We thank you, Heavenly Master!”
“Our gratitude!”
“Tolku! We thank you!”
As they expressed their thanks for my upcoming visit, my mind was elsewhere.
Remembering that reporter friend from my former life—he warned never to listen to cult devotees more than three times.
So I planned to remain in Podarlap for only two days, verify if the dried fruit was indeed the Flora-Toxin Fruit—and then depart without delay.
***
Due to the rapport I’d built with Master Dorje, I finally managed to clarify our original purpose for traversing the Western Regions.
We were hunting the scoundrels from the Five Venoms Sect and managing the fallout from their plots.
Even if I were to go to Podarlap Palace, we had to address those Five Venoms villains first.
Truthfully, I’d rather head to Podarlap Palace immediately, but I had given my word to Changcheon—and if we diverted to Podarlap first, the Five Venoms might unleash another locust outbreak in our absence.
With Changcheon no longer guarding the area, those rogues could readily invade the Central Plains.
Dorje became clearly disturbed as I detailed this.
“There exist individuals in this world requiring nirvana!?”
“Hold on, isn’t nirvana supposed to be positive?”
“It typically signifies the complete elimination of craving and the achievement of enlightenment, yes. But for wicked men, it simply means elimination.”
“Ohh… I can accept that. Nirvana. I like the term.”
I resolved to adopt that phrasing as well—‘nirvana’ for garbage.
Then I added,
“Still, I have one worry.”
“A worry? But… why would the Heavenly Master be concerned?”
Dorje tilted his head, confused. Did he believe I was too supreme for concerns?
So I elaborated.
“Well, since you crossed the frontier with the sacred texts, there might be unrest near the border. We must also pass through that territory, and I am uncertain if we will be safe.”
“Ah… I see. Because of those accursed Muslims, correct?”
“Yes. With their persecution of monks… we are from Shaolin, so I am unsure how to proceed. If they spot anyone with a shaved head, I suspect they will not allow us free passage.”
Dorje smiled and designated a member of his party to aid us.
“Set your mind at ease, Heavenly Master. Those who were chasing us have likely withdrawn by now. This man is an ordained monk of Podarlap Palace—he is named Tenzin, what we call a Gelong. He will journey with you and provide support.”
I assumed Tenzin would act as a guide—but the instant we crossed the border and reached the first village under his direction…
He proclaimed loudly, with Cheong-yu, the Golden-Crowned King Serpent, leading our procession:
“Nаga has come! Come out and greet them!” (translated from Hindi)
And abruptly—villagers streamed from their houses, exclaiming in awe, bowing with respect, and covering us in flower petals as if in a cinematic scene.
All that dread I had about Muslim persecution?
Totally unfounded.
Just as Dorje had indicated, there was no sign of the Islamic followers.
It turned out that while the ruling class was Muslim, the majority of the local inhabitants were still Hindu, and in these rural hamlets, they revered Lady Cheong-yu as a genuine god.
“Incredible… this might proceed without any effort.”
If this continued, we would be received as nobility and track down those Five Venoms scoundrels in record time.