¹While Sangjenim remained in Daeheung-ri Village conducting works of renewal beginning in June of that year, Gim Gwang-chan, who was in Guritgol Village during that time, disdained Cha Gyeong-seok’s participation in Sangjenim’s work and aired his discontent.²“Gyeong-seok, who was once an Eastern Learning adherent, joined the Iljin Association and committed many unrighteous acts in their company. Our teacher is imprudent to accept him as a disciple.³All of our efforts in cultivating and purifying our minds have now become meaningless.” Gwang-chan expressed his resentment toward Sangjenim in this manner for days on end.

⁴Hyeong-ryeol sought to appease Gwang-chan, suggesting, “Let us approach our Teacher and ask him about this matter.” Hyeong-ryeol and Gwang-chan journeyed together to Jeongeup County and met with Sangjenim.⁵However, they were reluctant to broach the matter, even when evening arrived, and they eventually prepared to leave.

⁶Sangjenim finally told Gwang-chan, “Hyeong-ryeol is a good host. Return to Guritgol Village.”⁷Sangjenim then quietly took Hyeong-ryeol aside and urged him, “Take Gwang-chan home and pacify him.”

⁸In the subsequent months as Sangjenim continued to conduct works of renewal with Gyeong-seok, he sojourned for a period at Choe Gun-suk’s house in Dunsan-ri Village in Geumgu County. Afterward, he traveled directly to Taein County, bypassing Guritgol Village.⁹Consequently, Gwang-chan complained all the more bitterly, “We are all useless to him.” Filled with deep resentment, he spewed diatribes against Sangjenim.

¹⁰In dismay, Hyeong-ryeol visited Sangjenim in Taein County and, after describing Gwang-chan’s discontent, asked Sangjenim, “Why did you accept a man of such temperament as a follower?”

¹¹Sangjenim replied, “When a dragon seeks water, it does not avoid a thorny bush standing in the way. Return and allay the situation.”