Mistaken for a Fairy

[If it's this much, Shaolin wouldn't refuse, right?]

It was late. The full moon hanging high in the sky was proof enough. Normally, carving was not a task that could be completed in a day or two, so it would have been natural to rest in the lodgings prepared by the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild and then pick up the knife again.

However, not a single stonemason left their spot. They put down their chisels and hammers, and like the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader, they stood around Seo-yeon in a daze.

Not even a common exclamation was uttered. As if even breathing was sacrilegious, they all kept their lips tightly sealed.

They were all artisans who had reached their own level of mastery and made a name for themselves in their respective regions. Therefore, they knew better than anyone how magnificent the spectacle unfolding before their eyes was.

Unlike the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader, none of the artisans had watched Seo-yeon from the beginning. They were each pouring their souls into their own works.

But as human beings, there came a moment when their concentration broke. The exclamations of passersby, the commotion of the guild members gathering one by one, and the strange feeling of the artisans next to them staring at one place as if possessed made them turn their heads, and in that instant, they fell into a deep swamp from which they could not escape.

Olivine Stone was originally a hard rock, so there were limitations to delicate expressions. Wasn't that why the Vairocana Buddha statue in the Longmen Grottoes had an overall round and blunt feel? But Seo-yeon's carving was fearlessly breaking the limitations of the material.

Every curve that wrapped around the body, every pleat in the collar, even the contours of the flesh and blood vessels revealed through the clothes, seemed to writhe as if alive.

It was enough to be deluded into thinking that a living Buddha was sitting there.

An old stonemason, known as one of the best in Luoyang, let out a deep groan every time Seo-yeon's arm moved.

'It's as if a transparent cloth has been draped over the carving.'

She had only made the lower body so far. Originally, a work only revealed its true value after it was completed, but what level must one reach to amaze skilled sculptors with such a small fragment?

The winner had already been decided. Not a single stonemason was unaware of that fact. But that didn't mean anyone was wallowing in defeat or feeling sorry for themselves.

Instead, they watched Seo-yeon with all their might, as if trying to engrave every gesture and movement of Seo-yeon's into their hearts.

Clang-

Seo-yeon placed the chisel on the lower part of the Olivine Stone and hammered it. She was trying to make a lotus pedestal.

It wasn't just a pedestal modeled after a lotus. She was creating a thousand-petaled lotus platform, with layers upon layers of lotus petals blooming.

With each clear sound, mysterious lotuses bloomed one by one from the cracks in the Olivine Stone.

As the sun rose in the east after a whole night, the form of the Vairocana Buddha in the lotus position was fully revealed. The compassionate figure, with his left hand on his knee and his right hand lightly raised, inspired not a few monks to attain enlightenment and chant Buddhist scriptures.

Seo-yeon now moved to the other peak. It was impossible to count how many passersby came and went in the process.

There were constant cases of stonemasons, trying to capture even a little more of that miraculous skill, reaching their limits and collapsing, being carried away by doctors, and even refusing treatment and crawling back.

"Even if I die, I have to keep watching."

"But Master!"

"Don't stop me!"

There were also stonemasons who pushed away their disciples and frantically returned to the Carving Arts Competition.

When obsession gathers, it becomes madness. And the madness of an artist exudes an overwhelming atmosphere to those who watch it.

That was why the square, which should have been noisy, was filled with silence. The stonemasons' intense obsession and madness silenced all the passersby.

Martial artists were no exception.

On the fourth day, Seo-yeon finally created the Vairocana Buddha.

Was it possible for a person to pour their soul into carving alone without eating or drinking? No one was unaware that it was impossible. It was impossible even for a warrior famous throughout the world.

Unless they had reached the state of oneness with nature.

"...Is she really becoming a divine being?"

It was no wonder that the martial artists, who were watching Seo-yeon's movements as if possessed, lamented so.

Even those who did not know the way of carving felt the dazzling skill.

Passersby also felt the atmosphere. There were not a few unscrupulous people who bet on whether Seo-yeon would not eat, drink, or sleep.

But on the day that four days became five, and seven nights passed, those people disappeared completely.

They realized their own shame and left the place with their mouths shut.

At some point, the passersby all said in unison.

"She is a divine being."

"She is a fairy sent down by the Celestial Worthy."

"Celestial Worthy, Celestial Worthy."

The number of Taoists and monks who came after hearing the rumors was also countless.

Hwa-ryeon barely lifted her eyelids, which had reached their limit. Filling her hunger with snacks and chasing away her sleepiness with naps had also reached their limit.

It was already a miracle that she had endured for seven days and nights with the body of a child. Just as Hwa-ryeon's body was tilting and about to fall, someone grabbed her and steadied her.

• -You've worked hard. Go and rest now.

It was Yuheon. He shielded Hwa-ryeon from the eyes of the people around her, moved her to a safe place, and laid her down to sleep. Hwa-ryeon immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Yuheon watched over the sleeping Hwa-ryeon and then soared into the sky. If Baek-ho guarded his master from the ground, he had to protect her from the sky.

On the eighth day, the Shakyamuni Buddha was finally completed.

In Buddhism, the number eight was an auspicious number. The number of auspicious symbols was also eight, and the Dharma wheel, which symbolized the truth of enlightenment, was octagonal for that reason.

At the same time, eight meant enlightenment.

Seo-yeon finally stopped carving. After taking a deep breath, she looked at the Three Sacred Buddhas that she had created with all her might.

She could be proud of it as a masterpiece. She vaguely remembered the last time she had poured all her soul into carving like this.

She couldn't even guess how many days had passed. She only knew that quite a long time had passed. However, she suddenly felt strange that the sun was still high in the sky.

Seo-yeon turned her head while thinking that. Only then did she realize that the eyes of the whole world were on her.

Even the stonemasons who had reached the realm of mastery were no exception.

They were looking at Seo-yeon with infinitely soft and respectful expressions.

"...Thank you."

It was an elderly stonemason who came forward as a representative. He considered it more than natural to treat Seo-yeon with respect.

He slowly turned his head and gazed at the stonemasons.

Soon, all the stonemasons who were standing around bowed to Seo-yeon as if they had promised to do so.

It was a greeting that would only be given to the founder who had opened a new horizon.

*****

Seo-yeon was finally able to leave the place after the evening twilight had settled. She had been extremely hungry since she had regained her senses after eight days, so she had a meal and had many questions and answers with the stonemasons.

The conversation with the excellent artisans was enjoyable in itself. It felt like her knowledge was expanding with every word.

If Hwa-ryeon, who had woken up later, hadn't come to talk to her, she would have stayed there for days and continued the conversation.

As she was about to leave, the passersby around her quietly followed Seo-yeon like shadows. The number was close to several hundred, so it was truly a spectacle.

Seo-yeon never dreamed that so many people would be following her. She just thought that it was evening and everyone was going to the main street.

When a crowd gathered like this, it was easy to be mistaken for a rebellion. If the prestigious Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader had not stepped forward to calm the passersby, something would have happened.

"I will escort you."

The Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader led Seo-yeon to the carriage with the most humble behavior.

Originally, the winner was as good as decided from the first day. But after two days, three days, and finally facing the completed version after eight days, the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader realized. This person's whereabouts were far beyond the scope that he could arbitrarily interfere with.

If this person was willing to repair the Vairocana Buddha, it would be great, but even if she refused due to personal reasons, he realized that there was nothing he could do.

The Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader was convinced that even if he brought any sculptor from the imperial family, they would not be able to match even a fragment of this person's skill. Even if he brought a sculptor from the Azure Wood Clan, which had a deep connection with his family.

He wanted a talented person, but this person was far beyond that level.

There were thousands of commoners who were saying that a fairy had descended from the sky.

He was worried about what would happen if this rumor reached Beijing.

The biggest problem was that even the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader himself secretly agreed with the rumor.

'It is a realm that can only be achieved after cultivating for a longer time than the Azure Wood Clan, who are said to live forever.'

What kind of courtesy should he take? As the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader was agonizing over it, Seo-yeon's low voice pierced his ears.

"I would be uncomfortable if you treat me too excessively as the winner. Please treat me comfortably."

Seo-yeon was just saying something that was obvious to her, but the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader felt his suppressed heart lighten.

'I'm just a newborn when it comes to years lived.'

Her consideration was as deep as the sea. Was that why his third son was also impressed by this consideration?

In the end, the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Leader, Geum Byeok-san, smiled faintly and nodded.

"I will. No, I will."

Only then did Seo-yeon nod as if she was comfortable. She was inwardly uncomfortable with the old man, who seemed to be well over sixty, using honorifics. But Geum Byeok-san accepted even that as humility.

"What are you going to do with the Three Sacred Buddhas?"

"Was I allowed to take them?"

Geum Byeok-san was once again impressed by Seo-yeon's words. Did she consider what was created in the mortal world to belong to the mortal world? Her mindset of not considering such a precious masterpiece as her own was truly boundless.

That was why Geum Byeok-san did not delay in using honorifics again.

"Of course. Shouldn't the owner decide what to do with their work?"

Seo-yeon pondered for a moment after hearing those words. Of course, it would be nice to take the Three Sacred Buddhas home, but she also wanted many people to see her work, which contained her soul.

Seo-yeon asked.

"Can I fix the Vairocana Buddha in the Longmen Grottoes?"

Geum Byeok-san's eyes widened, and then he began to laugh loudly.

"Haha, hahahaha!"

Seo-yeon did not understand the meaning of the laughter. She just tilted her head inwardly.

"I will truly, truly have a good time in my old age. Thank you."

She thought he was saying things in a pleasant way. At the same time, one memory flashed through Seo-yeon's mind.

It was the memory of when she had met Cheong-heo. Looking back, she clearly remembered that he also spoke very beautifully.

'I should give the Three Sacred Buddhas to Shaolin.'

If it's this much, Shaolin Temple would not refuse.