“We will help you!” the monk said eagerly. “We will destroy the blue dragon for you. We are yours to command!”
Kira shook her head. “I can’t risk that. He might kill the prince. I must go alone. But I was told that I should wake the old one who guards the jade belt.”
The monks looked at one another with great trepidation. “The old one has said that the next time he is awakened, the mountain will collapse,” the female monk said. “But he would be strong enough to defeat Fulang. However, he may also kill you.”
“If the mountain collapses, then the temple will be destroyed,” Kira said, looking over all the monks. There were at least two hundred of them, now standing in front of her. They ranged from the very young to the very old. How could she destroy their home? What would they do without the temple mountain?
An old monk came forward and bowed deeply. “My lady, do not worry about us. You are both our VagDeva and the Dragon Musado. Only in our VagDeva would we entrust the care of the jade belt, and only to the Dragon Musado would the old one bear to part with it. You fulfill our purpose. There is no need for us to remain in this temple any longer. We will begin a new pilgrimage. But you must command us. What do you wish us to do?”
His words relieved her mind. She remembered that the mountain was unnatural. It would be good for the monks to start fresh.
“How do I summon the old dragon?” Kira asked.
“If you are the Dragon Musado, then you bear the tidal stone and the jeweled dagger. Hold both in your hands and strike the heart of the temple with the dagger. It will awaken him.”
It was exactly as Nara had said. Kira spoke: “Then I urge you all to leave now and find a new home for your order. Go in peace.”
The monks rose and chanted “Great VagDeva!” They all bowed in unison to her one last time before exiting the room. The only ones left were the three warrior monks she had fought.
“You must go with the others,” Kira said.
“We want to help you,” the sword master monk said, his head bowed down. “We must protect our lady.”
Kira smiled. “Thank you, I appreciate your sentiment. But I must do this myself. It is my fate.”
The three looked up at her, wonder in their eyes.
“You are truly our lady,” the spear monk said. They bowed deeply.
Kira bowed in return. “And the three of you are the finest warriors I’ve ever fought. Go in peace.”
With that, Kira headed for the wooden door. It led to a narrow stairway that spiraled up. She climbed for a long time, until she finally reached the top of the temple and walked out onto an open platform built into the side of the mountain. There were no walls except the mountain itself. Within the mountain, there was a small cave blocked by a metal barred door. She heard Gom grunting and squealing in greeting as soon as he saw her. Kira ran over to the door and peered into the cave. Taejo lay dozing in the corner.
“Taejo! Are you all right?”
“Noona!” Taejo’s gaunt face looked painfully happy to see her. Both Taejo and Gom looked thin and hungry and were both grimy with dirt. Taejo was using his winter coat as a blanket. His blue silk pants were nearly black with dirt and his feet were bare. Gom’s jacket and pants were filthy.
Kira held tightly to the thin hand that poked out between the bars of the door. The relief she felt to see him alive rushed into her head, making her feel dizzy.
“What happened to your boots?” she asked.
“They were too small,” he said. “My feet hurt too much.”
“I’ll get you out of here. I promise,” she said.
A low, insidious laugh echoed behind her. It gave her chills. She turned around slowly.
In the middle of the platform the blue dragon lay waiting.
10
“So you have finally come,” Fulang said. “And you have fought your way through the tiger monks. You are an amazing human girl.”
Kira didn’t answer, watching the dragon warily.
“Well then, if you have made it this far, then you must truly be the Musado. Now give me my treasure and I will not kill the infant.”
Taking the jeweled dagger out of her belt, Kira held it carefully in her right hand, close to the wall. “I will release my cousin and my dokkaebi first,” she said.
Fulang let out a puff of steam. “I will burn you all to ashes if you disobey me,” he thundered.
“I think not,” she said. “Even you don’t know what would happen to the treasure if you burned it.” She smirked. “Otherwise you would have destroyed me the first chance you got.”
Kira went to unbolt the cave door when a massive blue tail slammed inches from her face.
“Give me my treasure!” the dragon bellowed.
“You want it?” Kira yelled. “Here it is!”