41 Forty

Iksoon.

One day before Daeboreum.

Gakhwangsa Temple.

Iksoon sent one of his students to get him the updates from the doctors. Iksoon couldn't do anything that day; he was walking back and forth in the temple trying to remember something. He felt like his mind was blocked for some reason. He knew that he was at Donggun's place and that something unusual happened, something that made him feel terrified yet when he woke up the next day; he couldn't remember anything.

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.

A memory was stolen from him and the only thing left was the agonizing feeling aching his brain. An older monk walked toward him with a small smile and a fatherly attitude. "Are you okay?" he said, standing in front of him.

"I'm worried about Donggun," Iksoon said. "He's getting worse; I don't think he'll be able to get through it." he looked at the elder monk who kept his small smile laying over his bright face.

"I disagree with you; he will get through it and he will be much better." the elder monk was known for his optimistic personality. "Yet… I could see through your eyes that something else is troubling you… want to share? I might help you."

"I don't know"— he rubbed his face with both of his hands, looking at his feet— "I feel agonized… scared… something happened yesterday but… I don't remember… my mind won't let me remember."

The elder monk smiled widely at him and said, "I will help you, come with me." the elder monk led the way to a quieter room where it was at the other side of the temple. It was semi-empty with few pillows on the ground. The elder monk told Iksoon to sit and to try to relax while he prepared some tea for them to drink.

The elder monk began to move inside the room; he placed a small table was at the right corner in front of him then put two cups and a teapot on it. He sat down across Iksoon who kept looking at his hands trying again to remember. Iksoon didn't seem to notice that the elder monk was already finished making the tea till he looked up and saw him smiling at him while slightly nudging the cup toward him.

Iksoon thanked him politely and took a small sip of the tea; it was warm and delicious. He put his cup on the table and kept both of his hands around it. "I am worried about Donggun's health… but… something else is scaring me… I don't remember what it was or even why I would forget?!"

The elder monk nodded his head, he moved one of his hands further and held one of Iksoon's hands. "Open your heart… all memories are engraved inside man's heart." Iksoon looked at his hand and then at the elder monk smiling face. He closed his eyes, hoping he could remember anything.

After a few moments.

Whispers broke the quietness of the room; very low and almost unheard whispers came out Iksoon's slightly opened mouth. The elder monk watched him intensely, his smile was long gone with every word crawling through Iksoon's mouth. His eyes widened; he couldn't believe Iksoon would say such things.

It was a surreal moment, passed very slowly shaken the elder monk to his core. Iksoon wasn't aware of what he was saying, his body was frozen in its place and the words seemed foreign to his peaceful nature. He stopped vaguely and opened his eyes, he looked at his hand then at the elder monk who seemed pale and stricken with agitation.

"What happened?" Iksoon said, eyeing the elder monk who seemed frozen. Iksoon frowned, he waved his hand right across the monk's face. He blinked several times before moving his head and smiling back at Iksoon.

"Donggun will be fine… actually, his sickness reminded me of an old friend," the elder monk said. "The mystery traveler monk."

"Traveler monk… I remember his story, the elders told us about him years ago, he was real?"

"Of course, he was." the elder monk smiled again and continued, "he traveled the world to reach the truth… I will give you something to calm your curiosity." the elder monk told Iksoon to wait for him. He went inside for two minutes and came back holding a group of old papers covered with black leather and gave it to him. "those papers were written by him; it will help you to understand what is happening to your friend."

Before Iksoon replied; the elder monk left and walked away. He couldn't wait to read the papers. The student came back and told him that Donggun's health wasn't getting any better; he looked at the papers between his hands and sighed.

Hours later.

Iksoon finished reading the papers with an unblinking gaze on his face. He went running all over the temple looking for the elder monk. He found him beside the temple gates welcoming people. "Did it really happen?!" he said, catching his breath.

"Yes, it did." the elder monk smiled at Iksoon and looked back again at the people entering the temple politely welcoming them. Iksoon had many questions burning inside his head but didn't say anything when the elder monk told him to wait for Donggun to come back.

The morning of Daeboreum.

From early morning Iksoon had sent his student to Donggun's place while he was reading the papers for the fifth time. The student came back anxiously running and out of breath, he stood in front of Iksoon who eyed his nervous body and said, "What happened?!" Iksoon's voice was extremely loud that caught everyone's attention in the temple.

"He's gone!" the student said terrified.

"DEAD!!" Iksoon felt his heart dropped.

"Maybe… I don't know! I went to his place and everyone was outside talking but suddenly a scream came from his room, we went running to him, but he was gone! He disappeared!" Iksoon held the papers mightily looking completely terrified.