ch33
[Are You Losing?]
Luoyang was a large city, the next largest after Beijing and Chang'an in the vast Central Plains. With a population of millions bustling about, the spectrum of humanity was diverse. Sculptors were plentiful as well.
However, if one were to ask if there was a sculptor capable of re-carving the head of Vairocana Buddha at the Longmen Grottoes, the pride of Chang'an and the essence of Buddhist devotion, no one could readily answer.
The height of Vairocana Buddha easily exceeded five zhang. Even if eight robust men were stacked vertically, they wouldn't reach near its head.
Moreover, the material of the Longmen Grottoes was a hard and dense olivine, possessing a strength that made even a single strike of a blade difficult.
The interior was shrouded in darkness, requiring reliance on torches, and the vicinity of the ceiling was filled with moisture, making it difficult even to swing a chisel and hammer.
The most troublesome problem was carving out a lump of olivine the size of a man's torso and lifting it to that great height. If, after all that sweat and effort, it didn't fit, it would truly be a waste of time.
"A troublesome matter has arisen."
"Indeed. It seems it would take at least half a year even to start the work immediately."
It was said to be the tallest and most beautiful Pavilion Tower in Luoyang. The head of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild and the Prefect of Luoyang were conversing.
A meticulous and sharp-looking old man shook his head. He was the Luoyang Prefect.
His white hair was streaked with gray, and despite being a scholar, he exuded an aura no less imposing than that of a general.
He said,
"Didn't your guild say you're holding the Carving Arts Competition the day after tomorrow? How about having them create a Buddha statue? It would also serve to identify talent to repair Vairocana Buddha."
"I would do so if you wish, but if a stonemason capable of carving Vairocana Buddha had appeared in Luoyang, I would have known long ago, let alone a woodworker."
The head of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild shook his head.
He had already heard about the series of events that had occurred at the Longmen Grottoes. As his third son's subordinates were stationed there, he was able to receive news faster than anyone else.
In less than a day, rumors had spread throughout Luoyang. There were even ignorant people spreading the outrageous claim that such an incident had occurred due to the Emperor's lack of virtue.
They were strictly arrested, creating an atmosphere of secrecy, but it was clear that the people's hearts were wavering.
Luoyang was the root of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild and the heart of Henan. If the people's hearts here wavered, the impact would reach neighboring Shaanxi, and it would quickly spread to Beijing.
"Everyone works in groups, so there are no prominent stonemasons. Cases where an individual's name stands out are rare. At best, perhaps the disciples of the stonemasons who built the first Emperor's tomb. But they all have no intention of leaving Beijing, so there's nothing we can do."
It was natural for artists to flock to the capital. Because there were many nobles and wealthy people.
Of course, Luoyang was also among the top five wealthiest cities, but it couldn't compare to Beijing. Naturally, the skill level of the stonemasons was also inferior.
"If I were to petition the Emperor, it might be resolved, but doing so would only reveal my incompetence..."
The Prefect let out a deep sigh, uncharacteristically. It wasn't just a matter of a Buddha statue collapsing. The people's hearts were on the verge of collapse. If Beijing misunderstood, his life could be in danger.
Even now, the officials in Yunnan, Heilongjiang, and Qinghai, which were directly in contact with the front lines, were frequently beheaded.
This was Luoyang, a major city. If he failed to capture the hearts of the people of Luoyang, it wouldn't be surprising if his entire clan was exterminated.
Noticing his distress, Geum Jin-song, the head of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild, said,
"Don't worry too much. I sent people abroad long ago."
"Would it be any different abroad? I don't think they would be superior to the stonemasons of the Central Plains."
"They are not the same humans as us."
The Prefect's eyes widened. Geum Jin-song looked at his friend with a playful expression before adding,
"They are members of the Azure Wood Clan, who have ties with our family. The connection dates back to my great-grandfather's time."
"The Azure Wood Clan? Did they know how to sculpt?"
"Not usually. But that person is an oddity even among the Azure Wood Clan, and has been sculpting for a very long time."
Geum Jin-song said, gazing out the window.
Last year was a year of abundance. It had been a year of abundance for decades. The fact that the people's hearts were maintained despite the ongoing war was all thanks to that.
But this year, there was less rain than last year. It was clear that the harvest would be less. It wouldn't be a famine, but it was obvious that the people's hearts would worsen than they were now.
The Prefect slowly parted his lips.
"It would take at least a month to come from abroad to Luoyang. It's too late."
"It's a last resort. It would be better for both you and me to find an answer within that time."
Having been friends for decades, they knew what each other was trying to say just by looking at their eyes.
Geum Jin-song said,
"I will move the Carving Arts Competition to tomorrow. I will also secure all the olivine by today."
"Thank you. I will cover the costs. I will also spread the word widely so that many people will see it."
It was nearly impossible to obtain olivine for hundreds of people to use as prizes in a single day, and to post notices everywhere so that everyone in Luoyang would know.
But it was possible for these two.
Soon, the old men nodded and headed out to complete their respective tasks.
"The Carving Arts Competition has been moved to tomorrow."
It was Geum Jin-song. As he had done in the morning, he sought out Seo-yeon's residence under the pretext of delivering news. In fact, it was awkward to even call it a visit, as Seo-yeon was staying in Geum Jin-song's villa in the first place. How could anyone say anything about the owner of the house coming and going as he pleased?
He didn't barge in unceremoniously, but entered with all due courtesy. He also carried a teapot filled with Longjing tea in his hand.
It wouldn't be right to stand idly by and watch the young master of a wealthy family, the owner of the house no less, standing on the dirt floor holding a teapot.
That was how Seo-yeon, who had returned from the Longmen Grottoes, ended up sitting across from Geum Jin-song and drinking tea again.
"All the commoners you requested have finished their treatment. Our guild's clinic is taking responsibility, so they will recover without any problems."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Seo-yeon bowed her head. She was sincere. She was willing to bow her head to someone who readily offered their money without any ulterior motives.
A brief, awkward silence flowed. Only the sound of Longjing tea being sipped occasionally echoed. Unable to bear the awkwardness, Geum Jin-song spoke first.
"Actually, olivine will be used in tomorrow's Carving Arts Competition. Ah, this is a fact that has been revealed to others as well, so please don't misunderstand."
"Olivine, you say?"
"I don't know much about carving, but I know that olivine is a difficult material to handle. I happen to have olivine in my warehouse, would you like to use it?"
"Really?"
Geum Jin-song felt even better at Seo-yeon's excited voice. He thought he had done well to pester his father to get a lump of olivine.
Soon, Seo-yeon moved to the warehouse. There were four or five lumps of olivine, slightly smaller than a torso, placed in the warehouse.
Seo-yeon recalled the Vairocana Buddha she had seen at the Longmen Grottoes. Although she had been hastily rushed out by the officials, the impression she had felt at that time was still vivid.
'They're trying to find someone to carve a new Vairocana Buddha.'
Although she didn't know the details, she could roughly guess the reason for moving the Carving Arts Competition forward. Why would they specifically change the material, which was originally free, to olivine?
'If possible, I want to do it.'
Seo-yeon was also a sculptor by nature. Although she had only sold her sculptures to small merchants, she thought that her skills were second to none.
She also wanted to compete with the best sculptors in the world on this occasion.
"May I use it?"
"I brought it here so that you would do so in the first place. Please consider it an apology for what happened on the boat the other day."
"Thank you so much."
Seo-yeon said, grabbing Geum Jin-song's hand. It was a handshake.
However, Geum Jin-song was flustered by the sudden situation, and stammered with a flushed face.
'S, she grabbed my hand.'
He felt so dizzy that he almost fainted. He couldn't bear the dizziness for a moment and staggered. If Gyo-gyo, who was standing behind him, hadn't caught him, he would have made a sorry sight.
Geum Jin-song barely managed to catch his breath and said. His face was already flushed.
"I, I'll be going now."
Geum Jin-song hurriedly left. Gyo-gyo looked back and forth between Geum Jin-song and Seo-yeon.
'She's a scary woman.'
To be able to seduce a man who is several levels below her without batting an eye. She even felt fear that she had to be that thick-skinned to survive as a female expert in the Central Plains Martial Arts World.
'Did I do well to retire early?'
Would she have become such a monster if she had stayed in the Martial Arts World for a long time? She didn't know. She didn't want to know.
Gyo-gyo trembled slightly, then led the dazed Geum Jin-song outside.
'I have to protect Young Master.'
No matter how much of a benefactor she was, this didn't seem right.
Seo-yeon was quick with her hands. When she made wooden swords for the Namgung siblings the other day, it didn't even take an hour. But if the material was stone, especially olivine, which was on the harder side, the story was a little different.
Left alone, Seo-yeon touched the surface of the olivine in front of her and thought.
'It's hard. At this rate, it will take a few days.'
If she used the Pseudo Mind Sword, it would be much shorter than that, but she couldn't show it in front of others, so she said this.
Of course, even this would have made other stonemasons shout at her not to talk nonsense. Originally, stone carving was a task that took weeks at the shortest, and years at the longest.
Although the olivine to be used in the Carving Arts Competition was small in size, it would still take at least a few weeks.
It wasn't for nothing that the head of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild and the Prefect were trying to start the Carving Arts Competition as soon as possible.
Of course, this was possible because Seo-yeon's strength itself was extraordinary. In the first place, which Martial artist would take up carving, which takes a long time, as a hobby? Bonsai trimming, maybe.
Seo-yeon took out a hammer and chisel from her bosom. After roughly sketching the framework in her head, she estimated the position and struck the hammer.
Soon, Seo-yeon quickly carved the olivine into a round shape. Hwa-ryeon, who was watching from behind with a respectful posture, admired the sight.
"How can you do it so quickly, Master?"
"Well, come here."
Seo-yeon took out a small hammer and chisel from her bosom. She had made it a long time ago to give to Hwa-ryeon.
Seo-yeon grabbed Hwa-ryeon's hands, which were holding the chisel and hammer, and adjusted her strength to strike the olivine lightly. After a few taps, one side of the hard olivine fell off with a thud. It was a display of power control that was nothing short of miraculous.
'Wow.'
Hwa-ryeon was purely amazed. She felt like her hands could move like this. She knew how difficult it was because her master was directly moving her arms.
'It's the same as swordsmanship. Maybe even more difficult.'
With swordsmanship, you can just practice again if the sword path is wrong. But carving is different. Once you make a mistake, you can't undo it. It means that you have to put confidence in all your movements, as well as your skills.
"Try to follow the shape I made next to you."
Seo-yeon took a step back. Hwa-ryeon looked back and forth between her master and the olivine, then nodded with a slightly nervous face.
"Ugh."
"It's okay, keep going. You can make mistakes."
Seo-yeon watched Hwa-ryeon's back as she groaned and smiled faintly.
She was truly admirable for trying to do it somehow while groaning. Hwa-ryeon definitely had talent. Even though she had cut out all the difficult parts, she was still following the flow, albeit clumsily.
'She must have been practicing little by little all the time.'
She could easily guess just by looking at her calloused hands.
How easy is carving? It takes a lot of strength, and you can easily hurt your hands if you're not careful.
'I have to become a better person too.'
When teaching a child with that much talent, how can the master be an ordinary person?
Seo-yeon decided to win the Carving Arts Competition tomorrow.
Soon, the master and disciple stood side by side and began to carve.