Authority Rises, the Government Calls

Among my clients, there are those who try to turn me into a sales target. I mean, we’ve only done a few readings—how do you have the nerve to show up several times, shamelessly insisting I sign up for a plan just because you “bought” a session from me? I was slightly on edge, but fortunately, the documents this woman handed me were definitely not insurance papers. They were far too colorful and professionally laminated for that.

“What is this?”

“Would you mind taking a look?”

I scanned the pamphlet the civil servant had given me. The year printed on it was from three years ago.

“This is from three years ago. Why would… oh.”

My confusion turned into realization as I spotted a familiar name on the flyer.

“’Special Guest Lecture by Master Myeong-seung’… Ah. So the Master did this.”

Looking at this promotional material, it seemed Master Myeong-seung had run a community lecture series at the local district office’s administrative welfare center about three years back.

“Yes. Your mentor, Master Myeong-seung, previously gave lectures for the community program organized by our district office.”

He really was a renowned figure, it seemed. Then again, between the framed photos behind me and the archived newspaper clippings, everything pointed to the Master’s extraordinary reputation.

“I see. So the Master did that.”

“You didn’t know?”

To be honest, I don’t really know what kind of man the Master was. To put it in martial arts novel terms, it feels like I was chosen as the protagonist of a chance encounter—someone with innate talent destined to inherit a secret manual. I feel like the head of a one-man sect waiting in the wings. But that kind of narrative doesn’t work on normal people. If I answered too honestly, they’d think some complete stranger was leeching off his fame, so I’ve been acting like we were close.

“I met him in the mountains, and he never mentioned his past reputation. By the way, was he lecturing on Saju?”

“Yes. It was the most popular course among all the community programs.”

He probably gave out free mini-readings, so of course it was popular.

“Community programs… you mean like those smartphone classes for the elderly?”

My own mother refused to use a smartphone, sticking to her folder phone until the very end because she thought “folding” was just a gimmick. It took ten years of nagging before she switched, and I remember seeing her attend those classes.

“Yes, smartphone education is still very popular.”

“But why are you giving this to me?” I couldn’t easily guess the reason for bringing this up now.

“Actually, Master Myeong-seung’s community lectures were cancelled three years ago.”

“I thought you said they were popular?”

“Well… it was due to civil complaints.”

“Ah, I see. Well, that makes sense. A program run by the district office uses government funds—taxpayer money. It is a bit controversial for a public office to host lectures on unverified theories.”

The civil servant’s eyes widened at my unexpected response.

“Oh, you think so too, Taoist?”

“I only know the phenomena exist; I can’t prove why they happen. So, while I don’t necessarily oppose the government providing space for these lectures, I understand the people who view it negatively.”

If Saju could be proven, it would be science and mainstream theory. I believe Saju Fortification has proof, but I don’t want to share something this good with just anyone. Even if I wanted to, I’d need the Master’s permission. It’s his secret manual; what right do I have to pass it around? I’m not a library for forbidden techniques.

“Well, that was part of it, but there were also many complaints from people demanding the course be maintained.”

“That sounds like an issue that would start and end with a two-line column in some obscure local paper. Why didn’t you just keep it running based on those requests?”

“We tried, but…”

“I assume someone in charge just axed it, using the loud complaints as a convenient excuse.”

“Ah, yes. That is exactly what happened.”

“And now, I suppose that person in charge, or the one who pushed for the cancellation, has lost power or moved on.”

Since the local elections had just passed, I took a shot in the dark. The civil servant woman covered her mouth in shock.

“Did you hear this from Yeon-ju?”

“She didn’t mention work specifically.”

Why else would she bring this up three years later? It’s because they’re going to restart the lectures. She probably wants me to find out where Master Myeong-seung is. Why restart now? Based on the timing of the elections, the person who killed the course either lost their seat or moved to a different department. There’s no other reason to do this.

“For three years, we’ve conducted surveys, and Master Myeong-seung’s Saju Myungri lecture has been the #1 most requested course every single year. However…”

She went on a passionate explanation. Just as I guessed, a few elected city council members had continuously nitpicked and audited the Saju course. That’s why the Master’s popular class was shut down, and for three years, nothing has come close to matching its popularity.

“Some of our staff members even caught their cancer early thanks to the Master. There are employees who really want this back.”

He was respected even by the officials. Honestly, civil servants don’t lose their jobs just because a course is cancelled; they just get moved from a “sweet” assignment to a different one. Whether there are complaints or not, there’s no reason to put in the effort to revive a cancelled course unless the higher-ups are pressuring them with things like, ‘Our lecture performance is down; why don’t we bring back that popular one from before?’

I think I know what this “noona” official is going to ask next. Find Myeong-seung! Right?

“So, I think I know where this is going. You want to know where the Master is?”

“Yes!”

“The problem is, the Master has entered a period of ascetic training, so inviting him would be… difficult.”

The real problem was that I didn’t have his contact info either. The lady upstairs said she had the number for his “representative,” but I have no idea what that’s about. However, the official didn’t seem too disappointed.

“Is that so?”

“The district office should still have the contact info he used to use. If you have it, please give it to me. I haven’t been able to reach him either.”

“Hmm… by the way, Taoist, did you learn a lot from Master Myeong-seung?”

“I am his top disciple.”

“Wow, his top disciple!”

I’d made the claim as a joke, but she didn’t seem to get the humor. She took it so seriously that it made me flustered. I don’t know if there are other disciples, but in a way, it’s true. Inheriting the secret manual and the branch office makes me the top disciple by default. Embarrassed by the awkward silence after my joke fell flat, I took a sip of water and tried to think of what to say next. The official spoke first.

“In that case, we were wondering if we could invite you to be the lecturer in Master Myeong-seung’s place.”

“What? Me?”

“Yes. All the staff in the Culture and Arts Department have heard good things. And seeing you now, you seem very capable.”

Whoa… I didn’t see that coming. I’ve only been in business for a few months!

“Hmm…”

“We’re looking at twice a week, one to two hours per session. Please take a look at the details.”

She handed me a lecturer recruitment notice. It offered a very appropriate fee for two sessions a week. It wasn’t a burdensome schedule, and the pay was right. I supposed with my “Career Luck” rising and my Saju Fortification points for Gwan-seong-un ticking up, it makes sense that the government would come knocking.

“It is not aesthetically pleasing to lecture on private studies in a public forum.”

“Pardon?”

I had switched to a more archaic, high-class tone. Maybe it was too much. It was a habit from writing martial arts novels—restricting loanwords—but it sounds weird in daily life. I only use it when I’m playing the “Saju Reader” character.

“Those who lecture in public places gather crowds easily, but they also gather enemies just as easily. However…”

“Yes.”

“The study of Saju and destiny has too many enemies in this world. It is not an industry suitable for feeding off taxpayer money.”

We live in an age of reason and logic. As long as Saju isn’t within the orbit of established science and rationality, it can’t escape its image of superstition and outdatedness. For a public institution to support such things?

“But sovereignty lies with the people, and the community center exists for the citizens. If the citizens want it, isn’t that enough?”

This civil servant noona has such clear, sparkling eyes. How innocent.

“Doesn’t the fact that it was cancelled for the last three years, despite the citizens wanting it, prove that those words are merely theoretical?”

Even in the Joseon Dynasty, the censors would have made a fuss over this. What is the justification? As a citizen myself, I don’t see one. I wouldn’t protest it, but I’d probably click my tongue and think, ‘What a waste of money.’

“Will it be difficult then?”

“A lecture on Saju fails to meet the standard of public interest, so I have much to consider.”

“We are actually concerned about that too. That’s why we were specifically looking for Master Myeong-seung or someone from his school—someone with a great reputation who has already proven themselves here.”

“You recruit experts for sports or IT classes through open calls, right? But the Saju world isn’t like that. There aren’t even any credible certification bodies.”

“True.”

“There should be a verification process at the very least. Even if it isn’t perfectly transparent, it should at least look transparent. But why pick me? I’ve only been in business for two months.”

“Because you’re Master Myeong-seung’s disciple?”

“I doubt the Master had any official certifications either.”

“Master Myeong-seung actually published research and educational books on Saju. In our region, someone like that…”

Ah, so it was just because he wrote books and appeared in the papers and on TV? If a public institution leaves the verification process to private publishers and media outlets, what then? That means any “Fairy Bodhisattva” who self-publishes a book could qualify.

“Anyway, I will think about it. If you truly can’t find a suitable person, I will apply once the recruitment notice is posted to avoid any controversy.”

It’s not that I’m not tempted. Teaching is a massive project that could raise all the levels specified in Saju Fortification. Conquest, reforming others, charity, study, travel, matchmaking, training, and parenting are key activities for massive point gains. Education is a comprehensive indicator that includes reforming, parenting, and training. If Saju Fortification points were potions, education would be the “All-in-One” potion that restores HP, MP, and Stamina while granting a stat boost.

But I want to be cautious. I only have two months of experience, and I’m not getting things right because of deep academic knowledge. It’s mostly the intuition I developed while reading the “room” under pressure. Plus, even though I have the “Disciple of Myeong-seung” title, Saju Fortification differs vastly from the general theories of Saju Myungri that I know. The “waste of taxpayer money” thing was just a convenient excuse.

“The thing is… as you said, there’s no verification system, so an open recruitment is hard. If we post the notice on our website or WorkNet, the project might sink before it even starts.”

“Hmm.”

“And even if we do an open call, it’s hard to find an authority to judge who’s qualified. That’s why I’m asking you personally.”

“Then shouldn’t you just not do it in the first place?”

A public institution shouldn’t start a project that can’t guarantee public integrity.

“Our local government was selected for a Traditional Culture Support Project, and this is part of that. Within my power…”

“Ah, if it’s a directive from the central government, I understand.”

If the nation gave money specifically for that, then it’s perfectly fine. I had heard the news on local TV—this area had been chosen as a pilot city for traditional culture restoration and was receiving national funds. They were building more Hanok houses, investing in Hanji paper crafts, increasing support for intangible cultural assets, and setting up factories for retort bibimbap to sell overseas. This was likely one of the smaller projects. The pay for the lecturer was around 500,000 to 600,000 won—hardly enough to be a scandal. My doubts were resolved. This was a state-authorized project. The government was the insurance—or at least the co-conspirator.

Still… being chosen just because I’m someone’s disciple? Being a “pre-selected” candidate felt wrong.

“I am still lacking. I’m sorry.”

Jeonju has Gyeryongsan within an hour’s drive to the north and Jirisan within an hour’s drive to the south. It’s a hub where you can find dozens of “Taoists” in training. I haven’t studied nearly as much as they have. If studying in a military unit in the mountains counts as experience, sure, but that’s a stretch.

“Well, we still have some time. Please contact me if you change your mind.”

The official left looking very disappointed, but I felt pretty good. It’s a form of recognition, isn’t it?

<Modesty>

Sometimes, a justified refusal enhances one’s dignity and authority.

You refused a government proposal, but because your reason was righteous, your reputation spreads. Career Luck increases.

Career Luck (Gwan-seong-un) points have increased. You can now raise levels related to Earth Luck/Career Luck.

Wait, it actually went up? Why does refusing raise my stats? This system is so unpredictable. If I refuse three times and then accept, will I get some special achievement like a Cheon-eul-gwi-in (Heavenly Noble)? I was about to check my Career Luck stats when I noticed something else.

<Hong-yeom-sal (Passionate Attraction) LV 5> +2 Event Boost

<Do-hwa-sal (Peach Blossom Luck/Charisma) LV 7> +1 Event Boost

The “Sal” (Spiritual Burdens/Energies) were rising. Not that kind of burden, but the ones related to romantic and physical attraction. What is this? Is someone out there secretly in love with me? Usually, if someone like me with low “Women Luck” has high levels of attraction-related energies, it means some… unconventional types of women will start hovering around.