Chapter 90: The Recluse of Geumgang Temple

After receiving the address of Oh Hee-kyung's studio from Cho Min-seong, I left for the studio the very next day.

After driving for about an hour beyond the outskirts of Seoul, the tall apartments and buildings disappeared, replaced by gently rolling hills, rice paddies, and fields, with lines of private houses stretching along the road.

The address I finally arrived at was the entrance to Cloud Mountain.

Stepping out of my jet-black Mercedes (a used 2021 E-Class), I slowly looked around.

Having driven on an unpaved road, the wheels and car’s surface were covered in dirt and dust.

I crouched down, rubbing at the grime on the car door with my finger, clicking my tongue.

“Ugh, it’s only the first test drive and it’s already filthy.”

I regretted not bringing my old Sonata instead of the new car.

Straightening up, I scanned the area.

In the distance, I could see a few houses, but near the mountain entrance, only a couple of ordinary hikers were visible; there was no building that looked like a writer’s studio.

Driving a black Mercedes into a remote area that seemed straight out of the movie ‘Let’s Play, Dalma’ made me feel like an unwelcome guest.

While I was staring at the map on my navigation app, a kind voice came from behind me.

“What brings you here?”

Turning around, I saw a Buddhist nun wearing a brown beanie and a rather thick winter monk’s robe, smiling at me serenely.

She must have been a monk living at the Geumgang Temple, which was marked on the map.

“Excuse me, Venerable. May I ask you something? Do you happen to know where Oh Hee-kyung’s studio is?”

“I do. But what business brings you all the way here?”

“Yes, I’ve come from Yeouido to seek some guidance from her.”

“That’s quite far. If you don’t know the way, shall I guide you?”

“Oh, yes, then please, let’s go in my car.”

But the nun gently shook her head.

“It’s best not to drive a car into Cloud Mountain if you can help it.”

At her words, I hesitated, but then grabbed the luggage I’d prepared from the car and locked the doors.

After confirming I had my things, the nun silently started walking into the snowy, white Cloud Mountain.

Unlike Seoul, there were few people; the crunch of snow underfoot and the occasional call of mountain birds were vividly audible.

The air was crisp and clear, so refreshing it felt as though my lungs were cleared out.

‘It’s not that far from Seoul, but the atmosphere is completely different.’

Before I knew it, about 30 minutes of hiking had passed, and even in winter, sweat began to bead on my forehead.

She looked so gentle in her monk’s robes that it was hard to guess her age, but surely she was over fifty. Just keeping up with her hiking pace left me breathless.

“Excuse me, Venerable. How much further is it?”

“We’re almost there.”

After climbing snow-covered Cloud Mountain for some time, we arrived at a modest temple gate with a wooden plaque reading “Geumgang Temple.”

“Isn’t this a temple, not the writer’s studio?”

“Yes. Oh Hee-kyung writes here.”

Inside the temple, there were finally quite a few people.

Most were Buddhists who had come to pray. The nun must have been here a long time, as everyone greeted her respectfully as she passed.

Beyond the main hall was a small pavilion with a spring of mountain water.

I took a sip of the clear spring water in a plastic ladle; it was so cold it made my teeth ache.

Seeing me finally catch my breath, the nun asked,

“Is this your first time at our temple? If you’d like, I could show you around.”

“Thank you, but I’m here to visit Writer Oh. If her studio is inside the temple, could you tell me where?”

The nun gazed at me silently for a few seconds, then smiled that same kind smile.

“You’ll only be able to see her after sunset. If you plan to stay a few days, I can arrange a place for you to sleep and meals as well.”

“Thank you, but…”

I trailed off, looking around the temple.

Come to think of it, the nearest place to stay was a motel more than thirty minutes away in town, and there didn’t seem to be any other options.

Even if I met Writer Oh, I’d likely need a few days to learn anything. Hearing I could only see her after sunset made me think she was probably nocturnal.

“Yes, then, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate your hospitality. If there’s a fee, where should I pay?”

“Haha, there’s no fee.”

“Still, I can’t just eat and sleep here for free.”

“If you insist, you could lend a hand.”

After resolving lodging and meals, the nun led me to the broad yard in front of the main hall.

She handed me a snow shovel and a big broom.

“I’m worried people might slip since a lot of snow fell this morning. This spot in front of the main hall is the busiest, so I’d appreciate your help clearing it.”

“Uh… by myself?”

“We can do it together.”

Even at a glance, the yard looked over a hundred meters around, but since I’d decided to stay and the nun was asking, it felt awkward to refuse.

‘It can’t be helped. If I work at it, she’ll probably tell me to stop soon enough.’

So for about two hours, I silently shoveled and swept snow.

It had been ages since I cleared such a wide area, not since my military days.

As my back started to ache and my fingers went numb with cold, I wanted nothing more than to throw down the broom and give up.

But seeing the much smaller and older nun quietly working away made me grit my teeth and persevere.

Being in the mountains, it wasn’t long before dusk fell and the cold intensified.

Only as the sun set did the nun, who had been clearing snow on the far side, return to me.

“Thanks to you, the area in front of the main hall is clean. Thank you.”

“*Pant*… Yes, Venerable. Is there anything else you need help with?”

“Hahaha, you must be very tired.”

She, too, seemed exhausted, lightly thumping her own shoulders with her fists.

“Oh, my old bones… I need to prepare dinner soon. How will I get all that done…”

Honestly, I wanted to pretend not to notice and sneak off to rest, but since I’d said I’d repay her kindness with work, I bit my lip and replied with a smile.

“Haha… So you also prepare dinner?”

“Yes, it’s all right. We have more mouths to feed today, so there’s more work, but it must be done.”

“No, since I’ve agreed to help, I’ll assist with dinner as well.”

“Haha, are you sure?”

“…Yes.”

Satisfied with my answer, the nun, now as sprightly as ever, strode ahead, urging me along.

“We’re late because of the snow. Let’s hurry.”

The red brick building behind the main hall was the kitchen.

In front of the modest kitchen, reminiscent of a rural community center, were at least twenty boxes of vegetables and sacks of rice.

“What a relief. Today happens to be the day our food supplies arrived. If not for you, this old woman would’ve been in trouble.”

I paused and tilted my head in curiosity.

“How did you know I was a writer, Venerable?”

“You said you’d come to see Writer Oh Hee-kyung, didn’t you? I also heard another writer might visit soon.”

“Oh, you were told in advance. Then, do you know when I can see Writer Oh…?”

“She’ll come when it’s time. Let’s move these first.”

Rolling up her sleeves, the nun bent to lift a box of cabbages without hesitation.

“You might hurt yourself. Please, let me.”

It was obvious the boxes weighed more than 20kg, so I rushed over and took them from her.

“Thank you. My, you’re quite strong for a writer.”

“I should move all these supplies into the kitchen, right?”

“Yes, that would be very helpful.”

Hauling the vegetable boxes and rice sacks made my back burn and my muscles scream.

After I finished, the nun came over, gently patted my shoulder as I sat on the ground, and spoke quietly.

“Well done. Please rest here a bit.”

But everyone, even the young novice monks, was helping to prepare dinner inside the kitchen, so I couldn’t rest long and soon went in as well.

Seeing me enter, the nun, washing rice in a huge metal bowl, smiled at me.

“You could have rested longer. Why come back so soon?”

“I feel better finishing what I started.”

Without another word, I put on rubber gloves and washed carrots and radishes from the boxes I’d moved.

Even though I’d only worked for half a day, my body was exhausted. The thought that monks lived like this, working all day, made me feel humble.

Up to now, I’d blamed a slump for not leaving my studio, subsisting on instant food. It made me feel childish.

‘Maybe that’s why I was told to come to Oh Hee-kyung’s studio?’

Perhaps Director Cho Min-seong, knowing Oh Hee-kyung’s studio was inside a temple, sent me here to cure my lazy ways.

With such thoughts, I washed and peeled vegetables for an hour, sending scraps down the drain.

“Well done. Dinner will start soon, so take a break.”

“Yes, Venerable. Thank you for your hard work.”

By now, it was completely dark outside.

I sat atop a pile of plastic boxes in a corner of the kitchen, stretching and rolling my neck.

‘I’m tired, but moving my body has cleared my head.’

At that moment, a large male monk entered, his head shaven, wearing a gray robe with a crimson kasa (袈裟) draped over it.

From the way everyone greeted him, he seemed to be the head monk of Geumgang Temple.

The head monk looked at me—a stranger—and asked,

“You’re a new face. What brings you to our temple, helping with all this work?”

“I came from Seoul looking for someone named Oh Hee-kyung.”

“Oh Hee-kyung, you say?”

“Yes, but she hasn’t shown up at all. I heard she only comes out after dark. Do you happen to know where she is?”

Hearing my words, the head monk burst out laughing.

The other Buddhists and young novice monks helping with dinner laughed as if they’d heard a great joke.

Bewildered, I asked the head monk,

“Excuse me, why is everyone laughing?”

“If you’re looking for Oh Hee-kyung, she’s right here.”

The head monk pointed to the Buddhist nun who’d spent the whole day with me—shoveling snow, hauling supplies, and preparing dinner.

The nun I’d thought was just a monk took off her beanie, revealing a short, wavy bob of hair.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Oh Hee-kyung.”