Chapter 3 :

Chapter 3. The Land of the Dokkaebi (3)

 

***

 

Gonga led Yise to a small conference room within the Central Main Hall.

 

Mong Ryeon was already there, watching Yise with satisfaction.

 

“You look much better now that you’ve eaten and put on clean clothes.”

 

“It is thanks to your consideration.”

 

“Remember this. A healthy body is a sturdy foundation, and great strength is built upon it. From now on, eat three full meals every day and have snacks at least twice.”

 

“Yes, Chief.”

 

Mong Ryeon clapped her hands a couple of times before handing him a silver identification plaque.

 

“This proves your identity within Spirit-Guarding Temple. Don’t lose it, and make sure you always carry it.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Now I’ll explain what you must do from this point forward. I intend to help you gain admission to Grand Martial Path.”

 

“Grand Martial Path?”

 

“Yes. I’ll explain the details gradually. For now, you can think of it as the largest, most organized, and most powerful demon-hunting organization currently in existence.”

 

Yise engraved the name Grand Martial Path into his memory and listened attentively.

 

“To enter Grand Martial Path, you need four qualities: knowledge, martial prowess, courage, and righteousness.”

 

Knowledge meant the wisdom required to acquire the fundamental information and understanding needed to hunt demons.

 

Martial prowess meant possessing a healthy body and formidable combat ability.

 

Courage meant the fearlessness to face an enemy without being afraid of death.

 

Righteousness meant maintaining one’s moral center and possessing the resolve to do what must be done.

 

After hearing the explanation, Yise tilted his head.

 

“This feels... somewhat different from what I imagined.”

 

“I’m sure it does. I’ll tell you this in advance: Grand Martial Path isn’t an organization whose members burn with vengeance and roam the world hunting demons. Demon hunting is closer to a means of achieving their true purpose. After all, it is a Daoist temple.”

 

“I don’t quite understand.”

 

“That’s a normal reaction. For now, let’s focus on the two things that require time. First, your identification plaque will grant you access to the library at the far end of the main hall. It contains many books recording all kinds of knowledge accumulated throughout the history of the Spirit Kin. Begin by carefully studying the books related to demon extermination.”

 

Yise’s eyes lit up at the mention of a library.

 

He had learned to read at an early age and enjoyed visiting Teacher Wisaeng’s study to beg for books to read.

 

“Second, you need to build your basic physical fitness. Exercise every day for as long as your body can withstand it. Refer to the Basic Physical Training Guide in the library to determine which exercises you should perform.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Let’s focus on your basic physical fitness for about a month.”

 

“Understood, Chief.”

 

Pleased by his prompt answer, Mong Ryeon raised the corners of her mouth.

 

***

 

One week passed after she gave him those simple instructions.

 

While traveling incognito a considerable distance away, Mong Ryeon asked the Spirit Kin of Spirit-Guarding Temple how the boy was doing, intending to check the progress of the task she had assigned her human disciple.

 

However, the message delivered by carrier pigeon contained only the answer, “We aren’t sure.”

 

Apparently, he ate lunch, exercised for three double-hours, ate dinner, and then secluded himself from everyone.

 

“What is that boy doing?”

 

When Mong Ryeon returned to Spirit-Guarding Temple several days later, she discovered why the Dokkaebi had been unable to keep track of Yise.

 

The overly rigid boy did absolutely nothing except eat, exercise, and read.

 

He ate lunch, began exercising, ate dinner, and then entered the library.

 

He spent the entire night reading, slept on the library floor for approximately two double-hours—four hours—and then ate the rice balls he had brought with him before resuming his reading until lunchtime.

 

He was unnecessarily diligent as well, meticulously recording every book he finished in the borrowing ledger.

 

The speed at which he read was unrivaled.

 

To the Spirit Kin, who disliked reading, it was enough to make even a Dokkaebi weep in disbelief.

 

Gonga sometimes found the sight fascinating and came to watch him, but she soon grew bored, yawned widely, and dozed against his shoulder for quite some time before leaving.

 

She grumbled that he remained so motionless that he made an exceptionally comfortable support.

 

Mong Ryeon had told him to work hard, but she had never expected him to take it this far.

 

She alternated her gaze between the kitchen matron and Yise before chuckling.

 

“Can he truly enjoy reading that much? He doesn’t even seem to know whether the food is entering his mouth or his nose.”

 

“I thought he seemed unusually intelligent. You knew as well, didn’t you, Chief?”

 

“If he had been born into an influential family, he would have become a scholar. He isn’t merely clever. Make sure he eats properly.”

 

“Yes. Don’t worry. As you can see, he eats his fill.”

 

“Tsk. He certainly follows instructions.”

 

Mong Ryeon approached Yise, who was hurriedly shoveling food into his mouth.

 

He clearly intended to finish eating as quickly as possible and shut himself inside the library again.

 

Unable to continue watching, Mong Ryeon placed a bowl of water in front of him.

 

“Eat slowly, or you’ll give yourself indigestion.”

 

“Chief.”

 

“How much do you sleep?”

 

“I sleep from the Hour of the Rat (11:00 PM to 1:00 AM) until the Hour of the Ox (1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m).”

 

Two double-hours.

 

Four hours.

 

It was nowhere near enough sleep, especially when he spent even those few hours napping carelessly on the library floor.

 

“Sleep longer.”

 

“How much longer should I sleep?”

 

“Double it.”

 

“......?”

 

“Have you forgotten what I told you? You need to eat and sleep well if you want to grow.”

 

“But I don’t have enough time... I need to increase the time I spend on physical training now.”

 

“It seems you’ve grown comfortable here. You’re even talking back to me now.”

 

“...I’ll increase it.”

 

“Sleep in your room. The floor isn’t suitable for proper rest.”

 

“.......”

 

“Answer me.”

 

“Yes.”

 

As Mong Ryeon instructed, Yise increased the amount of time he slept and began sleeping in his room.

 

The only problem was that he shortened his mealtimes even further.

 

***

 

One month had passed since Yise joined Spirit-Guarding Temple.

 

Mong Ryeon’s concerns proved unfounded.

 

Yise stopped visiting the library.

 

Instead, he drastically increased the amount of time he spent on basic physical training.

 

It now seemed as though he spent his entire day eating, sleeping, and exercising.

 

Mong Ryeon summoned him.

 

“Why haven’t you been visiting the library lately?”

 

“I have memorized every book there. I believe I only need to visit occasionally to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything.”

 

Mong Ryeon found that difficult to believe.

 

He certainly wasn’t the sort of child who would lie, but his claim exceeded the bounds of common sense.

 

“How much did you memorize?”

 

“I cannot recite every single word perfectly, but I remember nearly all the essential information.”

 

“I’ll have to verify that. Tell me about the Sinchoe recorded in the Records of Mountains and Rivers.”

 

“It is a high-ranking demon classified as Risk Level Two. It has a human face and a monkey’s body, with only one arm and one leg. It employs a sonic art through cries resembling mournful sighs, and it is vulnerable to water attacks.”

 

Mong Ryeon searched her memory and tested him on as much of her knowledge as she could, but the boy recited every answer without the slightest hesitation, as though chanting a scripture.

 

In terms of information alone, he now seemed even more knowledgeable than Mong Ryeon, a veteran of countless battles.

 

“I had my suspicions, but... Setting aside the speed at which you read, your comprehension and memory are truly extraordinary. Excellent. Even if you believe you’ve memorized everything, visit the library occasionally and turn that knowledge into long-term memory. That is what it means to internalize something, though you seem to understand that already.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Never forget this. Demon extermination isn’t accomplished through strength alone. Like a tiger hunting its prey, you must create circumstances in which victory is assured and then fight safely.”

 

“I’ll remember that.”

 

She then looked Yise up and down.

 

“It seems you’ve trained diligently as well.”

 

He had developed a reasonable amount of muscle without impeding his physical growth, and both his frame and physique were developing splendidly.

 

What a thoroughly satisfying disciple.

 

Whoever had brought him here had clearly made an excellent choice.

 

This was earlier than she had anticipated, but if he had already read every book in the library, it was about time she told him the deeper truths of this world.

 

Only after establishing a precise goal and beginning serious training could he aspire to reach greater heights.

 

“What is a demon?”

 

“An impure being.”

 

“I commend your courage in openly calling one impure to her face. Be more specific.”

 

Yise considered the question briefly, seemingly organizing his thoughts before answering calmly.

 

“They are beings that once strove to become divine beasts or immortals but lost their way, became corrupted by demonic energy, and fell from grace. They can also be beings who died bearing resentment toward the mortal world and became vengeful or malevolent spirits.”

 

“Correct. That describes ordinary demons. Of course, there are also exceptions, such as the Spirit Kin, who are naturally adapted to demonic energy from birth. Then what is demonic energy?”

 

“I read that it is corrupted divine energy, but I did not understand the explanation.”

 

“That is roughly correct. Divine energy—called spiritual energy in the mortal realm—is a mystical power forming the foundation of this world. It determines destiny and maintains the balance between opposing and complementary forces and the five elements.”

 

Mong Ryeon paused to take a breath before continuing.

 

“Whether human, animal, or plant, if a being awakens the spiritual root it possesses from birth—or acquires one later in life—it can overcome the limitations of its lifespan, defy the laws of heaven, and transcend its original existence. How old do I look?”

 

“You appear to be in your early twenties.”

 

“Don’t flatter me.”

 

“...You appear to be somewhere between your thirties and forties.”

 

“You’ve still taken quite a lot off. I stopped keeping an exact count some time ago, but I am more than three hundred and forty years old.”

 

Yise calculated silently.

 

Spirit Kin lived twice as long as humans, which meant their natural lifespan should be approximately two hundred years.

 

“The process of cultivating the Way and becoming an immortal is called immortal cultivation, and those who pursue it are called cultivators.”

 

“It sounds like something from a novel. Does that mean you are also a cultivator, Chief?”

 

“We don’t pursue the Way, but we are similar in that we accumulate demonic energy, advance to higher realms, and transcend our limitations.”

 

Yise was still young, so this was likely the first time he had heard of such things.

 

However, stories of cultivators active throughout the world were already widespread.

 

For those whose profession involved dealing with demons, it was practically common knowledge.

 

“You will learn about spiritual energy in detail once you enter Grand Martial Path. A demon lecturing someone about the Way would be rather ridiculous.”

 

“You previously said that Grand Martial Path wasn’t an organization whose members hunted demons out of vengeance. You said demon hunting was merely a means employed by a Daoist temple. Does that mean its members are cultivators?”

 

“Yes. Grand Martial Path is a group that seeks to accumulate spiritual energy and attain immortality through a cultivation method based on hunting demons and purifying spirits.”

 

“I don’t believe that suits me.”

 

“You speak from ignorance. Maintaining your center even while pursuing revenge is precisely the disposition required of the most uncompromising cultivators.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Of course, there are other Daoist temples, and you could also develop your strength by joining a martial academy or another organization. However... aside from a tiny number of cultivation sects and a few cultivation clans, most of them are incomplete imitations. Grand Martial Path alone can be considered the rightful heir of the orthodox immortal-cultivation world.”

 

Yise quietly listened to Mong Ryeon’s explanation.

 

Her words were as fascinating as the old stories told by a grandmother.

 

“Without a spiritual root, you cannot manipulate spiritual energy, making demon extermination nearly impossible. The moment you encountered even a mid-ranking demon, it would tear you limb from limb. You don’t appear to possess a spiritual root, but don’t worry. Once you reach the Grand Martial Path, they will ‘create’ one for you.”

 

“Then when can I enter the Grand Martial Path?”

 

“You must be between sixteen and nineteen years old to take the Grand Martial Path’s entrance examination. It is held once a year, so you will have only four opportunities in your lifetime.”

 

“Is there a reason for the age restriction?”

 

“If you are too young, your body won’t be fully developed and therefore won’t be suitable for training. If you are too old, it will no longer be possible to create a spiritual root.”

 

“I understand.”

 

“Creating a spiritual root is beyond my abilities... You are intelligent enough to handle the scholarly requirements yourself, so I will spend the next six years teaching you how to use your body properly. Follow me.”

 

Mong Ryeon took Yise to the armory.

 

The Spirit-Kin Race was as renowned for its hand-to-hand combat and weapon techniques as it was for its demonic power.

 

Because of their immense natural strength, their primary weapon was an iron-studded club known as a Dokkaebi Club.

 

However, they were proficient with every kind of weapon, including swords, sabers, and spears.

 

They could even subdue low-ranking demons with nothing but their bare hands.

 

Yise had occasionally tested his strength against Spirit Kin boys his age, and each time he had keenly felt the difference between their races.

 

“Is there a weapon you want?”

 

“Nothing in particular...”

 

If he had to choose, perhaps a hand axe would be best, since he had been accustomed to handling one from an early age.

 

Yise selected a small hand axe and a shield.

 

At first, he wanted to wield an axe in each hand, but protecting his body seemed more important.

 

“A small axe. Its reach is rather short, but that won’t matter much when fighting demons. Most of them will outrange you regardless. Why did you choose a shield?”

 

“I read that the second principle of hunting is to protect yourself before attacking your opponent.”

 

“Good. Use that equipment under normal circumstances, but when hunting a particular demon, prepare an appropriate secondary weapon for your shield hand. For example, when you fought the Snail-Headed Scholar, you held a spear filled with bamboo salt in one hand. In other words, you instinctively understood how to hunt demons.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Use those for now. I’ll obtain far better weapons for you soon. We’ll begin by teaching you how to use your body. Once you master all the basic striking and kicking techniques, I’ll teach you two secret arts of the Spirit Kin that can be used without spiritual energy: Dokkaebi Steps and Dokkaebi Senses.”

 

Yise nodded with an expectant expression.

 

“For the record, my instruction is harsh.”

 

“Please train me with the resolve that it cannot be helped even if I die in the process.”

 

“Impudent brat.”

 

Despite her words, Mong Ryeon looked extremely pleased.