WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Xianxia Cultivation with a Dragon Heart ◈
Chapter 64: The Samsara Buddhahood Sect's Divine Sense Secret Art
──────
The group passed through the main gate without hindrance. Though they drew quite a bit of attention, considering their true identities, they went largely unnoticed as they followed the ordinary worshippers.
They passed through several gates of religious significance, paid respects before carefully crafted Buddhist statues, listened to sutras being chanted somewhere in the distance, and looked around at stone pagodas and other sights.
‘As expected, the monks here do not shave their heads.’
They simply tied their hair neatly atop their heads, which felt slightly unfamiliar to Han Yujin. Even so, they still gave off the unmistakable air of religious ascetics.
The others seemed curious why Han Yujin had suggested visiting the Samsara Buddhahood Temple. They apparently did not think he had come merely to worship.
They were right. Still, Han Yujin believed that even if they behaved like ordinary visitors, the Samsara Buddhahood Temple would recognize them soon enough. Until someone came to find them, he intended to enjoy the atmosphere here.
His prediction was correct.
Before long, a young monk approached Dok Junseong and spoke.
“Are you perhaps Hero Dok Junseong, the Flash Thunder Sword?”
“Yes.”
“Then would this benefactor be the Gold Lotus Martial Venerable...?”
“That is correct.”
As Dok Junseong nodded, the young monk pressed their palms together and bowed respectfully, their expression holding a trace of surprise and admiration.
“The abbot requests an audience with you.”
He meant Great Master Hyegak Baek Jidam, the Life and Death Realm master who held the foremost seat among the Ten Venerables of the Martial World.
“I will return shortly, so wait here.”
Han Yujin handed Muyong to Eun Miryeong as he spoke.
“Yes, Benefactor.”
“Yes, Senior.”
The young monk beside them seemed rather intrigued by that form of address, but rather than ask unnecessary questions, they focused on guiding Han Yujin.
The farther they entered the inner grounds, where ordinary worshippers were forbidden, the deeper the tranquil and reverent atmosphere became. Strangely, mountain animals such as deer and squirrels wandered freely through the temple grounds without showing much wariness.
‘It certainly has a distinctive atmosphere...’
Even the unintelligent wild animals seemed influenced by the mood of this place.
After walking for several more minutes, they finally arrived at their destination.
The residence where the abbot of the Samsara Buddhahood Temple lived was not small, yet it gave no impression of luxury or intimidation. Its size seemed to come solely from practical necessity rather than any desire for grandeur.
“Welcome.”
As the young monk who had guided him stepped back with their palms pressed together, an elderly monk waiting outside came forward to greet Han Yujin.
Despite his snow-white hair, brows, and beard, his straight posture and sturdy build made him seem extremely vigorous. Judging by his robes and the subtle yet weighty aura around him, his identity was obvious.
“I did not expect the Gold Lotus Martial Venerable to visit us. I hope I have not interrupted your worship.”
“Not at all.”
Sensing the respect in the other man's manner, Han Yujin answered politely as well.
“I came to meet the abbot, so you summoned me at exactly the right time.”
“May I ask what brings you here?”
“I came because I wish to know the secret of the Life and Death Realm. The power commonly called the Heart Sword.”
“Ah...”
He seemed somewhat puzzled, yet also troubled.
“Have you not already reached the Life and Death Realm, Gold Lotus Martial Venerable? If even half the rumors are true, your achievements should surpass this humble monk's...”
“If we are speaking only of combat ability, perhaps. Unfortunately, I am not at the Life and Death Realm.”
Still looking confused and troubled, he stroked his beard once before asking.
“How can you say that when you already wield the Heart Eye?”
“You mean this?”
Han Yujin asked as he moved his Divine Sense in an unusual way. Great Master Hyegak's eyes immediately followed it slightly, and he nodded.
“I call this Divine Sense. It is a very useful sense, and I use it well, but it cannot decide an opponent's life or death on its own. How could I call myself a Life and Death Realm master?”
“Mm...?”
Only then did he seem to understand the situation.
“Could it be that you have merely opened your eyes?”
“Precisely.”
“That cannot be... It sounds as though you awakened and wielded Internal Energy without even a heart method.”
As he spoke, some realization prompted him to sigh in admiration.
“You truly are a genius bestowed by heaven. How in the world... Ah...”
Watching his reaction, Han Yujin learned one clear fact about the Divine Sense secret art of this world's Life and Death Realm.
‘It seems the Divine Sense secret art includes a way to awaken Divine Sense itself.’
He found this world even stranger for having created a secret art that awakened Divine Sense without even a Dharma Soul, then used it to face enemies.
Still, that also made things difficult.
“Could you tell me the secret of the Life and Death Realm?”
Great Master Hyegak briefly looked up at the sky as though sighing. Then he gave the answer Han Yujin had expected.
“I am truly sorry to say this to the Gold Lotus Martial Venerable, who has come here in person, but how could we carelessly reveal the inherited secret teachings of the Samsara Buddhahood Temple to an outsider?”
“I am not shamelessly asking you to tell me for free.”
Han Yujin did not give up. Instead, he took a book he had prepared in advance from his robes.
It was the Origin Power Heart Method he had passed on to Seogwang Gahu.
“Please have a look. It is a martial arts heart method I created recently.”
Great Master Hyegak received the book as it flew over through the Object Manipulation Art. He closed his eyes for a moment as though considering something, then carefully opened it.
He looked through the beginning, closed his eyes again to think, then opened them to read further. He repeated this two or three times.
At last, he closed the book and sighed.
“Origin power... Is this truly a martial art that can be cultivated?”
“Of course. I will give you the Origin Power Heart Method, so tell me the secret of the Life and Death Realm. I swear that I will not let it be leaked anywhere in this world, by any means.”
A lengthy silence followed.
‘It will not be easy for him to refuse.’
Han Yujin was fairly confident.
Origin power was clearly a higher power than spiritual energy. Since the beginning of the manual explained it in a way that made it easy to understand, Great Master Hyegak must have realized it was by no means less valuable than a Life and Death Realm secret art.
‘Even if he desires it, he cannot dare seize it from me by force.’
Han Yujin had not come to the Samsara Buddhahood Temple, where a Life and Death Realm master resided, without any preparations.
He had diligently refined the Dragon Heart and had gained some results.
A new divine ability had finally fully awakened.
He had not named it yet, but it was far more extraordinary than he had expected.
It could partially blend illusion and reality, substituting one for the other. Although it still had many limitations he could not overcome, it was particularly effective at saving his life.
Furthermore, as the Dragon Heart's Heart Stage refinement neared completion, his mental strength, including his Divine Sense, had grown stronger. He believed that even if a Life and Death Realm master's Heart Sword was dangerous, it could not take him down in a single strike.
In other words.
If Great Master Hyegak showed unreasonable greed, Han Yujin could resolve the situation with force if necessary.
After a while.
“Along with that oath, could you also swear that you will never be hostile to the Samsara Buddhahood Temple for the rest of your life, provided we do not harm you first?”
Great Master Hyegak asked quietly. Han Yujin happily nodded at once.
“That is not difficult. I have no intention of expanding a faction of my own, and I do not enjoy fighting.”
“Hoho... Is that so? Hmm...”
He closed and opened his eyes solemnly before speaking.
“Please give us one day. This matter is too weighty for this humble monk to decide alone.”
“Take as much time as you need.”
Great Master Hyegak returned the Origin Power Heart Method through remote object manipulation, then spoke again.
“Also, once a decision is made tomorrow, we can discuss the details further. But I would like to tell you in advance that the secret may not be as extraordinary as you expect. Its nature is so unusual that you may gain nothing at all.”
“Unusual in what way?”
“You will naturally understand when you hear the explanation tomorrow. Would you care to come in for a cup of tea?”
Knowing that the main discussion was over, Han Yujin smiled and declined.
Great Master Hyegak then offered to personally guide him to lodging for the day, and Han Yujin did not refuse.
* * *
After a quiet night at the temple, matters fortunately worked out well.
The Samsara Buddhahood Temple had agreed to the exchange.
When Han Yujin faced Abbot Hyegak again, he was invited into the building at once and served tea.
However, before he could enjoy its fragrance, he heard something unexpected.
“You are saying that the secret is contained within a painting?”
“That is correct.”
Great Master Hyegak silently nodded and continued.
“It is called the Six Paths of Samsara Painting. Any monk of the Samsara Buddhahood Temple who reaches the Profound Realm has the opportunity to contemplate it and seek enlightenment. However, very few actually attain enlightenment from it.”
“Hmm.”
It could not be a lie. Looking at their history, the Samsara Buddhahood Temple had not always had a Life and Death Realm master.
‘A painting...’
He felt slightly concerned, but Han Yujin trusted his transcendent comprehension.
“That is fine.”
As he answered, he once again took the Origin Power Heart Method he had prepared from his robes and offered it over.
“You should also know that every eminent predecessor who attained enlightenment from the Six Paths of Samsara Painting consistently said it had a deep connection to the teachings of the Samsara Buddhahood Sect. This humble monk shares that view.”
“...Is that so?”
Han Yujin realized something.
‘So that is why they agreed to the exchange so readily. They must think I will gain nothing from it.’
He did not know how it was connected to their doctrine, but it was unlikely to be complete nonsense.
“That is why we intend to give you ample time to study the Buddhist Dharma.”
Great Master Hyegak took a sip of tea with neat, composed movements before continuing.
“During that time, we will examine the martial arts heart method the Gold Lotus Martial Venerable has given us. If you change your mind while studying the Buddhist Dharma, we will compensate you by another means.”
After speaking, he suddenly smiled at Muyong, who sat in Han Yujin's arms and stared fixedly at the refreshments beside the teacup.
“I am curious what this little Dao companion is called.”
A Dao companion was, roughly speaking, a friend who walked the path of cultivation together with another.
“Her name is Muyong.”
“Muyong...?”
“It means I hope she has at least enough martial valor to protect herself.”
“Hoho, I see.”
He could hardly explain that the name Muyong also meant useless. Han Yujin stroked the creature, who was continuing to show her gluttony, then gave her some of the refreshments meant for him.
The way Muyong somehow held it in both paws and began nibbling away was adorable enough to invite a great deal of petting.
Yet as Han Yujin watched her, a faintly troubled expression appeared on his face.
‘So it was not merely my imagination.’
Recently, he had felt as though he was gradually becoming numb to emotions. Looking again today, he knew it was absolutely not his imagination.
‘The Heartless Tribulation... Has it finally come?’
The first of cultivation's Three Tribulations, which all cultivators inevitably had to face and overcome.
No one knew when or how it would come. Its solution and the time required to resolve it differed for everyone. Regardless of cultivation talent, some overcame it with ease, while others were ultimately broken by it.
A great disaster and trial that could only be called a tribulation had arrived.
It seemed to have been triggered by the rapid growth of his mental strength through refining the Dragon Heart.
It was a serious problem, but not something he should dwell on deeply in his current situation.
He stroked Muyong once more and focused on his conversation with Great Master Hyegak.
“I will accept your proposal. However, how much time do you mean by ample time?”
“You may stay as long as the Gold Lotus Martial Venerable wishes. However, you may not contemplate the Six Paths of Samsara Painting for three months or longer. That rule applies to the monks of the Samsara Buddhahood Temple as well, because there is a risk of falling into a heart demon.”
He then explained how certain people had fallen into heart demons. It could be considered a shameful secret of the Samsara Buddhahood Temple, but precisely because of that, Han Yujin could sense their sincerity in honoring the exchange.
It was clearly no ordinary painting.
With that thought, Han Yujin nodded in acceptance.
Footnotes:
Muyong is a homophone that can mean either “martial valor” or “uselessness.” Han Yujin gives the more flattering explanation.
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
