Novel The Cloud Dream of the Nine
Page Info
Writer AndyKim Hit 559 Hits Date 25-01-22 22:35Content
**1. The Farthest Mountain and the Great Master**
They say Mount Hyeong is the farthest mountain in all of China—a place where the mortal world drifts into the realm of the divine. During the ancient Qin Dynasty, Madame Wi made her home on this secluded peak, accompanied by her young disciples Seondong and Oknyeo. Centuries later, in the Tang Dynasty, the renowned Great Master Yukgwan arrived and erected a grand temple atop Lotus Peak, the mountain’s highest summit. There he devoted himself to teaching a band of gifted disciples, among whom he held Seongjin in especially high esteem.
With clear eyes and a mind sharp as a blade, Seongjin was the pride of the temple. One day, as an act of service, Great Master Yukgwan dispatched Seongjin on an errand to none other than the Dragon King of Dongting Lake. Little did Seongjin suspect that this journey would spark the adventure of a lifetime…
---
**2. The Eight Fairy Maidens Appear**
While Seongjin was away, Madame Wi sent her eight prized pupils—the Eight Fairy Maidens—to pay their respects at Lotus Peak. Delighted by the temple’s majesty, they lingered to admire its soaring roofs and tranquil courtyards. On their way down the mountain, they settled on a stone bridge to rest, laughing and whispering about the rumored “brilliant disciple” they had yet to meet.
Meanwhile, Seongjin was completing his task at the Dragon King’s palace. Though he tried to refuse, politeness demanded he accept the King’s lavish hospitality—and the three cups of exquisite wine that came with it. Flushed from the drink, he made his way home through a winding forest path. Pausing by a cool stream to splash water on his face, he caught a delicate, enticing fragrance carried on the breeze.
He followed it to a stone bridge—and there, perched like glittering birds, were the eight maidens. Their laughter resonated through the air. Seongjin asked politely for them to make way, but they merely teased him, insisting he find another route unless he was willing to pay a toll. Suspecting their game, Seongjin plucked fresh peach blossoms and, with nimble fingers, fashioned eight pairs of flowery beads. Each maiden accepted one, and in a blink they vanished into thin air, leaving Seongjin dazzled and newly haunted by their enchanting presence.
---
**3. A Master’s Anger, A Disciple’s Fall**
Seongjin returned to the temple disoriented, heart still pounding. When Great Master Yukgwan asked what had delayed him, Seongjin stammered about the Dragon King’s banquet and the enticing roads he had traveled. Yukgwan’s penetrating gaze spoke volumes: he already knew. He had seen Seongjin revel in wine and flirtation from afar.
“You have strayed from the path,” Yukgwan admonished, voice booming like a temple bell. “Cast aside your lingering desires, or face your downfall.”
Yet Seongjin, intoxicated by both wine and sudden longing, could not summon heartfelt remorse. Furious, the master banished him to Pungdo, summoning the Yellow-Turbaned Messenger to drag him before King Yama of the underworld. Moments later, the eight fairy maidens likewise found themselves in that nether realm, where King Yama delivered his decree: both Seongjin and the maidens must be reborn in the human world.
---
**4. Birth into the Mortal World**
Seongjin opened his mortal eyes as the newborn son of Yang Chosa in Tang Dynasty Suzhou. Yang Chosa, sensing a celestial aura in the child, named him **Yang Soyu**. Growing into a handsome youth with eyes that shone like stars, Soyu possessed an intellect so vast that no teacher could fully challenge him. Convinced he had fulfilled his duty by raising such a son, Yang Chosa declared himself an immortal from Mount Bongrae and, climbing atop a crane, ascended into the clouds.
By sixteen, the accomplished Soyu traveled to sit for the imperial examinations. Along the way, he crossed paths with a radiant maiden named **Jin Chaebong**, daughter of the respected Jin Eosa. Sparks flew as they exchanged verses of the poem “Yangryusa,” forging a subtle bond in mere moments. Fate, however, had other ideas. Rebellion struck without warning, forcing Soyu into exile on Mount Namjeon, where he met a mysterious Taoist hermit who prophesied that Soyu and Jin Chaebong’s union would not yet come to pass. The hermit gifted him with a **geomungo** and a **bamboo flute**, tools “destined for some future purpose.”
When Soyu emerged from the hermitage—thinking only a single night had passed—he found the season had shifted from spring to autumn. Worse, Jin Chaebong’s father had been executed for his role in the uprising, and Chaebong herself was taken to the capital, her fate unknown.
---
**5. The Scholar’s Rise and Romantic Tangles**
Arriving in Luoyang, Soyu encountered courtiers captivated by a famous gisaeng named **Gye Seom-wol**, rumored to possess both extraordinary beauty and an uncanny ability to predict imperial exam success. Intrigued, Soyu joined the gathering of scholars. After he composed a single poem, Seom-wol recognized his exceptional gift. The two shared a private evening of conversation and companionship, sealed by Seom-wol’s plea: “When you are victorious in the exams, do not forget me.”
Eventually, Soyu reached Chang’an and took the imperial examinations, but news of **Chancellor Jeong Sado’s** daughter—renowned for both her looks and her keen mind—distracted him. Curious, Soyu disguised himself as a woman to sneak into the ladies’ quarters and steal a glimpse of this remarkable maiden. Once discovered, a cat-and-mouse game ensued. After he won first place in the exam, Chancellor Jeong proclaimed him an ideal son-in-law. Soyu found himself ensnared in a tangled web of romantic alliances.
Late one night, he found himself in a dreamlike paradise—peach blossoms overhead, moonlight dancing on a quiet lake—where he spent a night of enchanting passion with a mysterious woman. But upon waking, he realized it was **Chun-woon**, Jeong So-jeo’s maid, who had disguised herself as a spectral beauty. Their deceptions laid bare, Soyu confronted Jeong Sado, who calmly countered that Soyu himself had disguised his identity to intrude upon the ladies’ quarters. “All is fair in love and trickery,” the chancellor declared, pressing the young scholar to marry his daughter.
---
**6. War and Wonders**
Before the wedding could occur, bandits from Tubo invaded the realm, splitting Hebei into chaotic factions. The Emperor summoned Soyu for his brilliant mind. Under Soyu’s pen, edicts flew, entire provinces surrendered, and a precarious peace was forged.
By chance, Soyu reunited with **Gye Seom-wol**, who had taken refuge in the mountains. They rejoiced in seeing each other again. Soon, he encountered the scholar **Jeok-saeng**, who traveled with him—and with whom Seom-wol seemed to share a fledgling romance. But as day blurred into night, Soyu fell under the spell of a woman he believed to be Seom-wol, only to discover it was the Yan court lady **Jeok-gyeonghong** in disguise. Captivated by Soyu’s reputation, she had followed him into battle, determined to claim her share of destiny. After a night of secret passion, both Seom-wol and Jeok-gyeonghong promised to join Soyu when the time for marriage was right.
Upon Soyu’s triumphant return, the Emperor honored him grandly and proposed another marriage—this time, to **Princess Nanyang**, the Empress Dowager’s daughter. Unbeknownst to Soyu, one of the palace maids was none other than **Jin Chaebong**, his first love. Recognizing him instantly, she tested him with a poem that hinted at their past. Yet Soyu, overwhelmed by courtly intrigues, failed to see her true identity. When the Emperor demanded he become a royal son-in-law, Soyu confessed he was already betrothed to Jeong So-jeo. Outraged, the Emperor imprisoned him.
But fate intervened yet again. Another Tubo threat forced the Emperor to release Soyu and send him to war. Along the way, a mysterious assassin infiltrated the camp—revealing herself instead as **Shim Yo-yeon**, a woman who claimed she was prophesied to share Soyu’s destiny. They spent a single, blazing night together before she vanished at dawn, leaving behind a cryptic message: “Should your soldiers thirst, dig into the earth for water.”
Her words proved prophetic when Soyu’s army nearly succumbed to thirst in a barren pass. Then, after drinking from a poisonous pond, the men’s skin turned blue, leaving them weak and vulnerable. As Soyu struggled for a solution, he sank into a sudden dream. There, he met **Baek Neung-pa**, daughter of the Dragon King of Dongting Lake. She confessed she was being forced into a marriage with the son of the South Sea Dragon King but believed she and Soyu were truly fated. Their shared night glowed with otherworldly tenderness—until it was shattered by the South Sea Prince’s jealous invasion. In the dream, Soyu’s forces crushed the prince, and the Dragon King bestowed his praise upon the valorous general.
Awakening, Soyu found that every commander in his camp had experienced the same dream. They searched the battlefield of their visions and found water tinted red with the prince’s blood. Letting the poisoned soldiers drink from this crimson water miraculously cured them. Frightened by such divine power, the enemy surrendered on the spot, carrying Soyu to another magnificent triumph.
---
**7. A Tapestry of Wives and Concubines**
With victory secured, the Emperor’s anger cooled. At the Empress Dowager’s urging, **Jeong So-jeo** was formally adopted as **Princess Yeongyang**, matching Princess Nanyang in status. Both princesses wed Yang Soyu. The Emperor also decreed that **Jin Chaebong** join Soyu’s household as a concubine.
Returning to Luoyang to fetch his grandmother, Soyu discovered **Gye Seom-wol** and **Jeok-gyeonghong** patiently awaiting him, eager to formalize the romantic bonds they had forged. Rejoicing in their reunion, Soyu led them home. From there, he proceeded to the capital with an entourage that included his grandmother, his new brides, and his devoted concubines. Word spread of the young Grand Chancellor’s triumph: he was a hero and a scholar, revered by the court and beloved by many women.
Then came an invitation from the **King of Yue**, who wished to honor the celebrated Grand Chancellor. Amid lavish feasts and performances, Soyu was joined by **Shim Yo-yeon** and **Baek Neung-pa**—the assassin and the dragon princess—completing his extraordinary retinue. When they all returned to bow before Soyu’s grandmother, she marveled at her grandson’s glittering destiny: two wives, six concubines, and the admiration of an entire empire.
---
**8. Revelry and Revelation**
For years, Soyu lived in unparalleled splendor, blessed with **six sons and two daughters** who were scattered like shining jewels across his grand estates. When he retired from the chancellor’s seat, the Emperor granted him **Chimigung Palace** as a reward. There, he and his eight consorts reveled in all the pleasures life could offer.
Yet, on a bright autumn day, a hush fell over the palace gardens. Soyu played a mournful tune on a jade flute, its notes drifting through the air like solitary tears. His wives and concubines gathered around him, perplexed. One of them, Princess Yeongyang, spoke gently: “Husband, why does your melody weep so?”
Setting aside the flute, Soyu gazed into the distance. “I have soared to heights of wealth and privilege. I have tasted every earthly delight. Yet my heart is restless. These riches feel empty, like a beautiful dream poised to vanish.” He sighed deeply. “I yearn to seek the Buddha’s path, to free myself from the chains of birth and death. But how can I bear to leave you all behind?”
Touched by his sincerity, the eight women vowed to remain behind, devoting themselves to prayer and study until Soyu found enlightenment. Overcome, Soyu embraced them, tears in his eyes.
---
**9. The Sudden Mist, The Dream Unraveled**
Just then, an old monk in tattered robes appeared at the gate, tapping his staff upon the threshold. “Seongjin,” he called, “do you not remember me?” His voice echoed like a temple bell.
Before Soyu could reply, the monk struck the railing with his staff. A dazzling white mist rolled in from all sides. In moments, everything vanished—the glittering palace, the sumptuous gardens, the assembled wives and concubines—lost within a swirling sea of cloud.
When the haze lifted, Soyu was gone. In his place, **Seongjin the monk** sat alone in a modest hermitage, his robes threadbare, his hair prickly against his scalp. Prayer beads hung around his neck, and the silence of the temple enveloped him. At last, he remembered the truth: he was no worldly lord but a disciple who had lost his way.
---
**10. Return to the True Path**
Humbled to his core, Seongjin rose and went to find Great Master Yukgwan. Falling to his knees, he confessed every failing—his indulgence in wine, his endless craving for sensual delights, the vanity of success and renown. The master’s compassionate eyes acknowledged the lesson Seongjin had learned through this grand illusion.
In that moment, the eight fairy maidens also appeared, equally awakened from their dreams of mortal pleasure and glory. They, too, sought the master’s guidance, wishing to join Seongjin on the path of Buddhist practice and enlightenment.
Great Master Yukgwan spread the Great Dharma before them. Side by side, Seongjin and the Eight Fairy Maidens devoted themselves to meditation and study, understanding at last how fleeting are the riches and romances of the human world—and how profound is the liberation found in the emptiness beyond all dreams.
---
**End.**
They say Mount Hyeong is the farthest mountain in all of China—a place where the mortal world drifts into the realm of the divine. During the ancient Qin Dynasty, Madame Wi made her home on this secluded peak, accompanied by her young disciples Seondong and Oknyeo. Centuries later, in the Tang Dynasty, the renowned Great Master Yukgwan arrived and erected a grand temple atop Lotus Peak, the mountain’s highest summit. There he devoted himself to teaching a band of gifted disciples, among whom he held Seongjin in especially high esteem.
With clear eyes and a mind sharp as a blade, Seongjin was the pride of the temple. One day, as an act of service, Great Master Yukgwan dispatched Seongjin on an errand to none other than the Dragon King of Dongting Lake. Little did Seongjin suspect that this journey would spark the adventure of a lifetime…
---
**2. The Eight Fairy Maidens Appear**
While Seongjin was away, Madame Wi sent her eight prized pupils—the Eight Fairy Maidens—to pay their respects at Lotus Peak. Delighted by the temple’s majesty, they lingered to admire its soaring roofs and tranquil courtyards. On their way down the mountain, they settled on a stone bridge to rest, laughing and whispering about the rumored “brilliant disciple” they had yet to meet.
Meanwhile, Seongjin was completing his task at the Dragon King’s palace. Though he tried to refuse, politeness demanded he accept the King’s lavish hospitality—and the three cups of exquisite wine that came with it. Flushed from the drink, he made his way home through a winding forest path. Pausing by a cool stream to splash water on his face, he caught a delicate, enticing fragrance carried on the breeze.
He followed it to a stone bridge—and there, perched like glittering birds, were the eight maidens. Their laughter resonated through the air. Seongjin asked politely for them to make way, but they merely teased him, insisting he find another route unless he was willing to pay a toll. Suspecting their game, Seongjin plucked fresh peach blossoms and, with nimble fingers, fashioned eight pairs of flowery beads. Each maiden accepted one, and in a blink they vanished into thin air, leaving Seongjin dazzled and newly haunted by their enchanting presence.
---
**3. A Master’s Anger, A Disciple’s Fall**
Seongjin returned to the temple disoriented, heart still pounding. When Great Master Yukgwan asked what had delayed him, Seongjin stammered about the Dragon King’s banquet and the enticing roads he had traveled. Yukgwan’s penetrating gaze spoke volumes: he already knew. He had seen Seongjin revel in wine and flirtation from afar.
“You have strayed from the path,” Yukgwan admonished, voice booming like a temple bell. “Cast aside your lingering desires, or face your downfall.”
Yet Seongjin, intoxicated by both wine and sudden longing, could not summon heartfelt remorse. Furious, the master banished him to Pungdo, summoning the Yellow-Turbaned Messenger to drag him before King Yama of the underworld. Moments later, the eight fairy maidens likewise found themselves in that nether realm, where King Yama delivered his decree: both Seongjin and the maidens must be reborn in the human world.
---
**4. Birth into the Mortal World**
Seongjin opened his mortal eyes as the newborn son of Yang Chosa in Tang Dynasty Suzhou. Yang Chosa, sensing a celestial aura in the child, named him **Yang Soyu**. Growing into a handsome youth with eyes that shone like stars, Soyu possessed an intellect so vast that no teacher could fully challenge him. Convinced he had fulfilled his duty by raising such a son, Yang Chosa declared himself an immortal from Mount Bongrae and, climbing atop a crane, ascended into the clouds.
By sixteen, the accomplished Soyu traveled to sit for the imperial examinations. Along the way, he crossed paths with a radiant maiden named **Jin Chaebong**, daughter of the respected Jin Eosa. Sparks flew as they exchanged verses of the poem “Yangryusa,” forging a subtle bond in mere moments. Fate, however, had other ideas. Rebellion struck without warning, forcing Soyu into exile on Mount Namjeon, where he met a mysterious Taoist hermit who prophesied that Soyu and Jin Chaebong’s union would not yet come to pass. The hermit gifted him with a **geomungo** and a **bamboo flute**, tools “destined for some future purpose.”
When Soyu emerged from the hermitage—thinking only a single night had passed—he found the season had shifted from spring to autumn. Worse, Jin Chaebong’s father had been executed for his role in the uprising, and Chaebong herself was taken to the capital, her fate unknown.
---
**5. The Scholar’s Rise and Romantic Tangles**
Arriving in Luoyang, Soyu encountered courtiers captivated by a famous gisaeng named **Gye Seom-wol**, rumored to possess both extraordinary beauty and an uncanny ability to predict imperial exam success. Intrigued, Soyu joined the gathering of scholars. After he composed a single poem, Seom-wol recognized his exceptional gift. The two shared a private evening of conversation and companionship, sealed by Seom-wol’s plea: “When you are victorious in the exams, do not forget me.”
Eventually, Soyu reached Chang’an and took the imperial examinations, but news of **Chancellor Jeong Sado’s** daughter—renowned for both her looks and her keen mind—distracted him. Curious, Soyu disguised himself as a woman to sneak into the ladies’ quarters and steal a glimpse of this remarkable maiden. Once discovered, a cat-and-mouse game ensued. After he won first place in the exam, Chancellor Jeong proclaimed him an ideal son-in-law. Soyu found himself ensnared in a tangled web of romantic alliances.
Late one night, he found himself in a dreamlike paradise—peach blossoms overhead, moonlight dancing on a quiet lake—where he spent a night of enchanting passion with a mysterious woman. But upon waking, he realized it was **Chun-woon**, Jeong So-jeo’s maid, who had disguised herself as a spectral beauty. Their deceptions laid bare, Soyu confronted Jeong Sado, who calmly countered that Soyu himself had disguised his identity to intrude upon the ladies’ quarters. “All is fair in love and trickery,” the chancellor declared, pressing the young scholar to marry his daughter.
---
**6. War and Wonders**
Before the wedding could occur, bandits from Tubo invaded the realm, splitting Hebei into chaotic factions. The Emperor summoned Soyu for his brilliant mind. Under Soyu’s pen, edicts flew, entire provinces surrendered, and a precarious peace was forged.
By chance, Soyu reunited with **Gye Seom-wol**, who had taken refuge in the mountains. They rejoiced in seeing each other again. Soon, he encountered the scholar **Jeok-saeng**, who traveled with him—and with whom Seom-wol seemed to share a fledgling romance. But as day blurred into night, Soyu fell under the spell of a woman he believed to be Seom-wol, only to discover it was the Yan court lady **Jeok-gyeonghong** in disguise. Captivated by Soyu’s reputation, she had followed him into battle, determined to claim her share of destiny. After a night of secret passion, both Seom-wol and Jeok-gyeonghong promised to join Soyu when the time for marriage was right.
Upon Soyu’s triumphant return, the Emperor honored him grandly and proposed another marriage—this time, to **Princess Nanyang**, the Empress Dowager’s daughter. Unbeknownst to Soyu, one of the palace maids was none other than **Jin Chaebong**, his first love. Recognizing him instantly, she tested him with a poem that hinted at their past. Yet Soyu, overwhelmed by courtly intrigues, failed to see her true identity. When the Emperor demanded he become a royal son-in-law, Soyu confessed he was already betrothed to Jeong So-jeo. Outraged, the Emperor imprisoned him.
But fate intervened yet again. Another Tubo threat forced the Emperor to release Soyu and send him to war. Along the way, a mysterious assassin infiltrated the camp—revealing herself instead as **Shim Yo-yeon**, a woman who claimed she was prophesied to share Soyu’s destiny. They spent a single, blazing night together before she vanished at dawn, leaving behind a cryptic message: “Should your soldiers thirst, dig into the earth for water.”
Her words proved prophetic when Soyu’s army nearly succumbed to thirst in a barren pass. Then, after drinking from a poisonous pond, the men’s skin turned blue, leaving them weak and vulnerable. As Soyu struggled for a solution, he sank into a sudden dream. There, he met **Baek Neung-pa**, daughter of the Dragon King of Dongting Lake. She confessed she was being forced into a marriage with the son of the South Sea Dragon King but believed she and Soyu were truly fated. Their shared night glowed with otherworldly tenderness—until it was shattered by the South Sea Prince’s jealous invasion. In the dream, Soyu’s forces crushed the prince, and the Dragon King bestowed his praise upon the valorous general.
Awakening, Soyu found that every commander in his camp had experienced the same dream. They searched the battlefield of their visions and found water tinted red with the prince’s blood. Letting the poisoned soldiers drink from this crimson water miraculously cured them. Frightened by such divine power, the enemy surrendered on the spot, carrying Soyu to another magnificent triumph.
---
**7. A Tapestry of Wives and Concubines**
With victory secured, the Emperor’s anger cooled. At the Empress Dowager’s urging, **Jeong So-jeo** was formally adopted as **Princess Yeongyang**, matching Princess Nanyang in status. Both princesses wed Yang Soyu. The Emperor also decreed that **Jin Chaebong** join Soyu’s household as a concubine.
Returning to Luoyang to fetch his grandmother, Soyu discovered **Gye Seom-wol** and **Jeok-gyeonghong** patiently awaiting him, eager to formalize the romantic bonds they had forged. Rejoicing in their reunion, Soyu led them home. From there, he proceeded to the capital with an entourage that included his grandmother, his new brides, and his devoted concubines. Word spread of the young Grand Chancellor’s triumph: he was a hero and a scholar, revered by the court and beloved by many women.
Then came an invitation from the **King of Yue**, who wished to honor the celebrated Grand Chancellor. Amid lavish feasts and performances, Soyu was joined by **Shim Yo-yeon** and **Baek Neung-pa**—the assassin and the dragon princess—completing his extraordinary retinue. When they all returned to bow before Soyu’s grandmother, she marveled at her grandson’s glittering destiny: two wives, six concubines, and the admiration of an entire empire.
---
**8. Revelry and Revelation**
For years, Soyu lived in unparalleled splendor, blessed with **six sons and two daughters** who were scattered like shining jewels across his grand estates. When he retired from the chancellor’s seat, the Emperor granted him **Chimigung Palace** as a reward. There, he and his eight consorts reveled in all the pleasures life could offer.
Yet, on a bright autumn day, a hush fell over the palace gardens. Soyu played a mournful tune on a jade flute, its notes drifting through the air like solitary tears. His wives and concubines gathered around him, perplexed. One of them, Princess Yeongyang, spoke gently: “Husband, why does your melody weep so?”
Setting aside the flute, Soyu gazed into the distance. “I have soared to heights of wealth and privilege. I have tasted every earthly delight. Yet my heart is restless. These riches feel empty, like a beautiful dream poised to vanish.” He sighed deeply. “I yearn to seek the Buddha’s path, to free myself from the chains of birth and death. But how can I bear to leave you all behind?”
Touched by his sincerity, the eight women vowed to remain behind, devoting themselves to prayer and study until Soyu found enlightenment. Overcome, Soyu embraced them, tears in his eyes.
---
**9. The Sudden Mist, The Dream Unraveled**
Just then, an old monk in tattered robes appeared at the gate, tapping his staff upon the threshold. “Seongjin,” he called, “do you not remember me?” His voice echoed like a temple bell.
Before Soyu could reply, the monk struck the railing with his staff. A dazzling white mist rolled in from all sides. In moments, everything vanished—the glittering palace, the sumptuous gardens, the assembled wives and concubines—lost within a swirling sea of cloud.
When the haze lifted, Soyu was gone. In his place, **Seongjin the monk** sat alone in a modest hermitage, his robes threadbare, his hair prickly against his scalp. Prayer beads hung around his neck, and the silence of the temple enveloped him. At last, he remembered the truth: he was no worldly lord but a disciple who had lost his way.
---
**10. Return to the True Path**
Humbled to his core, Seongjin rose and went to find Great Master Yukgwan. Falling to his knees, he confessed every failing—his indulgence in wine, his endless craving for sensual delights, the vanity of success and renown. The master’s compassionate eyes acknowledged the lesson Seongjin had learned through this grand illusion.
In that moment, the eight fairy maidens also appeared, equally awakened from their dreams of mortal pleasure and glory. They, too, sought the master’s guidance, wishing to join Seongjin on the path of Buddhist practice and enlightenment.
Great Master Yukgwan spread the Great Dharma before them. Side by side, Seongjin and the Eight Fairy Maidens devoted themselves to meditation and study, understanding at last how fleeting are the riches and romances of the human world—and how profound is the liberation found in the emptiness beyond all dreams.
---
**End.**
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