CDSC 03

Chapter 3 

Act 1: The Land of Dokkaebi (3)

The place Gong-ah led him to was a small meeting room off the main hall.

Mong Ryeon was already waiting for them, looking Yise over with an approving gleam in her eyes. “Eating well and cleansing yourself up really does make a difference. You look a lot more presentable now.”

“That’s thanks to your attention, Chief.”

“Remember this. A healthy body is a sturdy foundation, and you what you build on top of that is real strength. From now on, eat all three meals without skipping, and have snacks at least twice a day too.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Mong Ryeon clapped her hands a couple of times, then handed him a silver identification token.

“This will prove your identity here at Ghost Temple. Don’t lose it and keep it on you at all times.”

“Yes.”

“All right, let me explain what’s ahead of my job. You’re to help us get into Great Martial Path.”

“Great Martial Path?”

“That’s right. I’ll explain the details bit by bit. For now, just think of it as the biggest demon-hunting organization in existence.”

Yise listened closely, committing the name Great Martial Path to memory.

“To get into the Great Martial Path, you need the four Virtues of Wisdom, Martial Might, Valor, and Righteousness.”

Wisdom means having the base knowledge to hunt demons and the wisdom to seek enlightenment.

Martial Might demands a resilient body and overwhelming martial prowess.

Valor is the courage to face down death before your enemies.

And Righteousness is the discipline to stay true to the Dao and simply do what must be done.”

Hearing this, Yise tilted his head to the side. “It’s… a bit different from what I imagined.”

“I know. But let me make one thing clear now. The Great Martial Path isn’t some organization running around hunting demons out of blind revenge. If anything, the hunting is just a means to an end. That’s because it is, at its core, a cultivation sect.”

“I don’t really follow.”

“That’s a normal reaction. For now, let’s focus on two things that’ll take some time. First, your identification token will let you into the library at the far end of the main hall. Are plenty of books there detailing the history of the Ghostkin and all sorts of other knowledge, so start by working your way through the ones related to exorcism.”

The word library made Yise’s eyes light up.

He had learned to read incredibly early as a child, and one of his favorite pastimes had been sneaking over to Scholar Wi’s study just to beg for books to borrow.

“Second, building up your basic physical fitness. Exercise every single day, as much as your body can take. As for what kind of exercise is good, check out the Basic Guide to Physical Training in the library.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We’ll dedicate this first month entirely to getting your base fitness up for.”

“Understood, Chief.”

Mong Ryeon’s lips curled up, clearly pleased with how crisp and straightforward his answers were.

Fast forward a week from the day she gave him those simple directives.

Mong Ryeon had gone out on a covert mission some distance away and asked some of the Ghostkin at Ghost Temple to check up on the boy, partly to see how her human disciple was getting on with his homework.

But the message pigeon that came back only carried the reply, “We’re not sure.”

All they knew was that he ate lunch, worked out for a grueling six hours straight, dinner, and then shut himself away without setting foot outside.

‘What in the world is this kid up to?’

It wasn’t until Mong Ryeon returned to the Ghost Temple a few days later that she understood why the Dokkaebi had lost track of him.

This stubbornly principled boy did absolutely nothing aside from eating, exercising, and reading.

He would eat lunch, begin his workout, eat dinner, and then march straight into the library.

He then would spend his entire night reading until he fell asleep in the library for four hours before waking up to restart his day again.

Was he so needlessly diligent at that he even kept meticulous track of every book’s read in the checkout log, and the pace at which he getting through them was simply unmatched.

From the perspective of the Ghostkin who loathed reading, this kind of lifestyle is simply mind-boggling.

Mong Ryeon speechles after seeing all of this.

Yes, she’d told him to work hard.

But she never expected he’d take this far.

Mong Ryeon glanced back and forth between the cook and Yise, then let out a wry laugh. “Is reading really that fun? Look at him, he’s so focused that he probably couldn’t tell if you’re shoving that food into his mouth or his nose.”

“I had a feeling he was a sharp one. Did you know he’d be like this, Chief?”

If he’d been born into some high-ranking noble house, he’d have been practically fast-tracked to becoming a top scholar. Make sure he eats properly.”

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

“Tch, at least he’s good at listening.”

Mong Ryeon walked over to Yise, who was shoveling down his food in a hurry.

He clearly intended to finish eating fast and dive straight back into the library.

Unable to just watch, Mong Ryeon set a bowl of water down in front of him.

“Slow down before you choke.”

“Chief.”

“How much sleep are you getting?”

“I sleep from eleven at night until three in the morning.”

Four hours.

Nowhere near enough sleep for a growing boy. And even that was made up of uncomfortable naps taken haphazardly on the library floor.

“Sleep more.”

“How much more should I sleep?”

“Double it.”

“???”

“Did you forget what I told you? You need to eat well and sleep well to grow tall.”

“But the time… I need to increase my training time too, now.”

“You cheeky brat. Talking back now, are you?”

“I’ll increase it.”

“And sleep in an actual bed. The floor is terrible for your back.”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Just as Mong Ryeon told him, Yise began sleeping longer and started sleeping in his own quarters.

Of course, the fact that his meals got even shorter as a result was a problem, if you could call that.

It had been a month since Yise joined Ghost Temple.

Mong Ryeon realized her worries had been entirely groundless.

Yise had stopped going to the library altogether.

Instead, he’d drastically increased the time he spent on basic exercise.

At this point, it seemed like his whole day was eaten up by eating, sleeping, and exercising.

Mong Ryeon called him over. “Why haven’t you been going to the library lately?”

“I’ve memorized every book there. I think I will only need to go occasionally to check if I have forgotten anything.”

Mong Ryeon couldn’t believe it. He definitely wasn’t the type to lie, but it was on a level that simply defied common sense.

“How well do you remember it?”

“I can’t recite every single page verbatim, but I remember all the core concepts.”

“I’ll have to test that. Tell me about Sinchul from the Classic of Mountains and Rivers.”

“It’s a High-Grade Demon of Danger Level Two. It has a human face and a monkey’s body, with only one arm and one leg each. It uses a sound technique through what sounds like a mournful wail, and its weakness is water-based attacks.”

Mong Ryeon dug through her own memory to test him with everything she knew, but the boy rattled it off without a moment’s hesitation like he was reciting scripture.

If anything, he seemed to have surpassed her even when it came to sheer knowledge.

“I really didn’t want to believe it. Reading speed is one thing, but your comprehension and memory are downright terrifying. Well done. But even if you think you’ve memorized it all, keep dropping by from time to time to turn it into long-term memory. That’s what they call making it second nature. Though, knowing you, you probably already understand that.”

“Yes.”

“And never forget this. Exorcism isn’t brute breath strength. Like a tiger hunting its prey, you create a situation where you’re guaranteed to win safely.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Then she looked Yise up and down. “Looks like you’ve been keeping up with your training too.”

He’d put on a reasonable amount of muscle without interfering with his growth, and his frame and build were developing splendidly.

Whoever had birthed this kid deserved an award, he was so competent could just pinch his cheeks.

This was all happening way ahead of schedule, but if he had genuinely absorbed the entire library, it was time to start peeling back the curtain on the real truths of the world.

Only by setting a precise goal before beginning his training in earnest would he be able to aim for higher realms.

“What is a Demon?”

“…”

“I’ll give you the credit for the nerve to call a Demon wicked right to his face. A bit more detail, though.”

Yise thought it over for a moment to organize his thoughts, then answered calmly.

“They’re beings that once strove to become Divine Beasts or Immortals, but lost their way and were corrupted by Demonic Qi, or beings that died and became vengeful Evil Spirits driven by lingering regrets from this world.”

“That’s right. That’s the general explanation for what a Demon is. Of course, there are exceptions too, like us Ghostkin, who are born already adapted to Demonic Qi. So, what is Demonic Qi?”

“I saw it described as corrupted Divine Qi, but I don’t really understand what that meant.”

“That’s roughly correct. Divine Qi-which is usually called Spirit Qi down in the Human Realm-is a mysterious force that decides fate and balances the Yin, the Yang, and the Five Elements. You could call it the very foundation of this world.”

Mong Ryeon paused for a breath, then went on with her explanation.

“Whether you’re human, animal, or plant, if something triggers the awakening of your innate Spirit Roots, or if you somehow manage to acquire them later in life, you can shatter the limits of your natural lifespan. Can you defy the Will of Heaven itself and become a being that transcends humanity. How old do you think I am?”

“You look like you’re in your early twenties.”

“Don’t flatter me.”

“—Somewhere between your thirties and forties, I’d say.”

“Well, aren’t you generous. It’s been a good while since I last bothered counting my own age, but I’m over three hundred and forty years old.”

Yise did the math in his head.

Ghostkin live about twice as long as humans, so her natural lifespan would be somewhere around two hundred years.

“The process of cultivating the dao like this and becoming an immortal is called Immortal Cultivation, and those who pursue it are called Cultivators.”

“That sounds like something out of a novel. Does that make you a Cultivator, too?”

“We Ghostkin don’t cultivate the Dao. But we accumulate Demonic Qi to raise our realm and surpass our limits, so the underlying concept is exactly the same.”

Since Yise was young enough that this was brand new to him, his stint of Cultivators rowining the world were incredibly common.

Especially for those whose livelihood revolved around Demons, it was practically common knowledge.

“You’ll learn about Spirit Qi in detail once you get into the Great Martial Path, say no to it then. Nothing’s more ridiculous than a Demon trying to discuss the Dao, after all.”

“That doesn’t seem to suit me.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. The ability to pursue vengeance without ever losing your mind is the trait of a Cultivator.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course, there are other cultivation sects out there. You could join some random martial arts dojo or mercenary guild and still get stronger… But aside from a handful of cultivation sects and a few cultivation clans, most of them are just half-baked amateurs. And out of those, the Great Martial Path alone can be called the true and rightful heir of the entire cultivation world.”

Yise just listened quietly to Mong Ryeon’s explanation.

Her words were as fascinating as an old folktale told by a grandmother.

“If you don’t have Spirit Roots and can’t handle Spirit Qi, exorcism is basically impossible. Even just a Mid-Grade Demon would tear your limbs off the moment you ran into it. You don’t see Spirit Roots, but don’t worry. Once you’ve grown to get the Great Martial Path, they’ll make some for you.”

“So when can I actually join Great Martial Path?”

“The age range for taking Great Martial Path’s entrance exam is sixteen to nineteen. They only hold it once a year, which means you get exactly four shots at this in your entire life.”

“Is there a reason for the age limit?”

“If you’re too young, your body hasn’t finished developing and isn’t suited for training, and if you’re too old, they can’t make Spirit Roots for you.”

“I understand.”

“Since Spirit Roots are outside of my domain of expertise and since you are so extraordinarily bright that you seem to have the wisdom aspect completely covered… For the next six years, I’m going to teach you how to turn your body into a weapon. Come with me.”

Mong Ryeon led Yise to the storehouse.

The Ghostkin were famous for their hand-to-hand and weapon combat skills, just as much as their Demonic Power.

Thanks to their freakish innate strength, their weapon of choice was usually the massive spiked iron mace known as the Dokkaebi’s Club. That said, there wasn’t a weapon they couldn’t master. In fact, they could subdue Low-Grade Demons with nothing but their bare hands.

Yise had occasionally tested his strength against Ghostkin boys his age, and he keenly felt the gap between their races every time he did.

“Is there a weapon you want?”

“Not particularly, but-“

If he had to pick one, it would probably be a hatchet. It was the only tool he had real muscle memory with from his childhood.

After a moment, Yise picked out a small hatchet and a shield.

“A hatchet. Huh. The reach is a bit short when you swing it, but it has strong potential against Demons, that hardly matters. Most of them will have a longer range than you anyway. So why the shield?”

“I read that protecting yourself first and attacking the enemy is the second principle of hunting.”

“Smart. Make that your default gear. But remember, when you’re practicing a specific Demon, you need to keep a specialized secondary weapon ready in your shield hand. Like how you had the presence of mind to grab bamboo salt spear when you fought the Snail-Headed Scholar. Whether you realize it or not, you already have killer instincts when it comes to countering these things.”

“I understand.”

“Stick with those weapons for the time being. I’ll get you something much better soon enough. Let’s start with how to move your body. Once you’ve mastered the basic striking techniques, I’ll teach you the Ghostkin’s signature skills, the Dokkaebi Step and Dokkaebi Senses, which you can use even without Spirit Qi.”

Yise nodded with a face full of anticipation.

“Just so you know, my teaching is brutal.”

“Then please go at it with the mindset that it’s fine even if I end up dead.”

“Cheeky little brat.”

Despite the words, the wide smirk on her face made it glaringly obvious just how much she loved that answer.