The Name of the Sword
#037 Jin Seo-ah.
No sooner had the Clan Leader finished speaking than a dozen people, all dissatisfied with the Sword Holy Sovereign taking on a disciple, rose from their seats. The Clan Leader spoke in a flat, weary tone.
"My, my... there are far too many of you. Speak one at a time. Just one. The reasons all seem the same anyway..."
As the Clan Leader had noted, those who had risen in protest shared the same underlying grievances:
'Why isn't the disciple you chose my own child?'
'Even if we set that aside, is it right to pass on your true teachings to a child who came from who knows where?'
These were the thoughts plaguing them. Of course, the former was likely the stronger sentiment. Yet, there was no squabbling over who would speak first. The sect leaders and elders who had sprung to their feet scanned one another's faces, and one by one, they began to sit back down. It was because, even with just a glance, it was easy to tell who held the most authority. It was one of the advantages of the Demonic Cult, which followed the law of the strong.
Thus, the only one left standing was the Sect Leader of the Swift Sword Sect. He was also the father of the young master who, unfortunately, had lost to the Illusion Sword Sect's successor in the last competition due to a lack of age and experience. In other words, excluding the Tyrant Sword Sect—the sect of the Clan Leader and the Supreme Elder—it meant his sect was the most powerful, second only to the Illusion Sword Sect.
The Swift Sword Sect Leader spoke.
"May I have the floor?"
As everyone in the Clan Leader's Hall maintained a heavy silence and gave a slight nod, the Sword Holy Sovereign alone asked with a look of pure displeasure.
"Fine. I am the one choosing my own disciple. What exactly are you so dissatisfied about?"
At the Sword Holy Sovereign's words, the hall seemed to freeze over. Even those who had risen boldly before now carefully gauged his mood. The Swift Sword Sect Leader’s Adam's apple bobbed. Though he wasn't showing it on the surface, he was clearly under immense pressure. Even to Seo-ah’s eyes, his nervousness was painfully obvious.
The Swift Sword Sect Leader opened his mouth, trying to sound as neutral as possible.
"Then, I shall offer a word. To start with the conclusion... I do not oppose the Sword Holy Sovereign taking that child as a disciple."
"Ho-oh... is that so? Then what is the source of your dissatisfaction?"
"As far as I am aware, until just last year, that child was an outsider with no ties to our Sacred Cult. Am I correct?"
"And so?"
The Sword Holy Sovereign frowned at the word 'outsider' and glanced sideways at Seo-ah. He didn't know the full details, but knowing that Seo-ah had been sold by her parents, he was worried his disciple might feel uncomfortable. If Seo-ah’s expression had hardened or if she had burst into tears... the Swift Sword Sect Leader might not have known it, but he would likely have had to face the full brunt of the Sword Holy Sovereign’s roar. Of course, the man himself was completely unaware of this.
"That is to say, our Cult has no means to keep that child here. She has no parents... what if, when she grows older, she falls victim to homesickness and turns her back on the Sacred Cult?"
The Sword Holy Sovereign stared at the Swift Sword Sect Leader in silence, as if telling him to keep blathering. It was only possible because Seo-ah didn't seem to care. Everyone noticed that the Sword Holy Sovereign’s mood had soured, but no one dared to stop the Swift Sword Sect Leader. It was because everyone present shared similar concerns. Her humble origins weren't the problem. Well, a stuffy, authoritarian person might take issue with it, but that wasn't the main point. They were simply too terrified of the Sword Holy Sovereign’s wrath to speak up. As the Swift Sword Sect Leader said, wasn't that child someone with absolutely no ties to the Cult? If she set her mind to it... she could turn her back on the Cult more easily than anyone else.
Everyone here, save for Seo-ah and No-ya, was secretly supporting the Swift Sword Sect Leader. Sensing the momentum shifting in his favor, the Swift Sword Sect Leader hid his trembling hands and continued.
"Ahem. I understand the Sword Holy Sovereign’s indignation. However, your insights are not entirely your own. At their root, are they not based on the 'Extreme Demonic Sword Family'?"
"Your tongue grows longer by the second. So, what is it you want to say?"
"I believe we must ensure that child develops an attachment to this place, so that she cannot easily leave."
"Hmm?"
"I humbly request that you arrange a marriage between your disciple and a child of our family, or if that is impossible... I ask that you appoint a joint successor for the sake of security."
The Sword Holy Sovereign’s expression shifted subtly. A heavy, suffocating silence pressed down upon the hall.
Watching the scene unfold, Seo-ah turned her head to look at No-ya. No-ya’s expression didn't look particularly bright. On the other hand, Seo-ah thought the Swift Sword Sect Leader’s words weren't entirely wrong. He wasn't nitpicking over nonsense... wasn't it a quite reasonable and legitimate concern? If it were her, she would have stopped No-ya herself. Besides, he hadn't treated her with any overt aggression, and in the end, he had even offered a compromise.
'But... marriage is a bit much.'
No matter how much Seo-ah had recently been enjoying her prettier face in the mirror, or realizing that dressing up wasn't so bad... it didn't mean her identity was that of a woman. Of course, it was hard to see her as a man, either. Somewhere in between, perhaps...
Honestly, if the Swift Sword Sect Leader had only spoken of marriage, Seo-ah would have been foaming at the mouth in protest, even if No-ya had agreed. It was physiologically impossible. It was a matter of instinct.
However...
'A joint successor doesn't sound too bad, does it?'
That was Seo-ah’s honest thought. Even if one more person joined her in receiving No-ya’s teachings, Seo-ah wouldn't lose anything. No, if anything, there would be benefits. Seo-ah was going to participate in the Divine Maiden competition anyway. If... in the distant future, everything worked out well, and she sadly had to let No-ya go, she would be the only one to have inherited his true teachings. Would the Sword Family just give up gracefully then? Absolutely not. They would come to find her every single day, pestering her, saying things like, 'Please take our child as your disciple...' It would be nothing but a nuisance.
But if there were another successor in the Sword Family, she could avoid such a fate.
Just as Seo-ah was about to say to No-ya, 'A joint successor seems fine to me,' No-ya covered her mouth.
"Shh. This master will handle it."
No-ya spoke tenderly, then looked back at the Swift Sword Sect Leader. Unlike his cold demeanor from before, his expression was quite satisfied. The Swift Sword Sect Leader was gripped by an inexplicable sense of unease at that sight.
Seo-ah considered the Swift Sword Sect Leader’s objection to be reasonable and fair, but in reality, there were several calculations buried beneath it.
The Swift Sword Sect Leader had one son and one daughter. If the Sword Holy Sovereign chose marriage, the current young master—who should have been the first priority—was already grown and married. As for Jin Geuk, the young master of the Tyrant Sword Sect who should have been second in line, he was out of the question, having become a half-cripple after the incident at the Gyomaguan.
If so... the next priority would be his own son. What if they decided to have a joint successor? His daughter, the young master of the Swift Sword Sect, had followed the Sword Holy Sovereign around since she was young. Her bones and muscles were excellent, and her talent was by no means inferior to the young master of the Sword Family. Unfortunately, due to her young age, she had lost the competition for the young master position. Furthermore, when she was a child, the Sword Holy Sovereign had been close enough to her to demonstrate his sword techniques right in front of her for months.
In other words... the possibility of a joint successor coming from the Swift Sword Sect was very high. No matter what the Sword Holy Sovereign chose, it would be a situation where the Swift Sword Sect could inherit his true teachings. Although it was a sect far removed from the Tyrant Sword, even if the sword styles were contradictory, the insights of a master in the Transcendent Realm were treasures worth trading anything for.
Finally, the Sword Holy Sovereign opened his mouth.
"Shh. This master will handle it."
The Sword Holy Sovereign suddenly covered his disciple's mouth and looked back at the Swift Sword Sect Leader. The Swift Sword Sect Leader was flustered.
'What is this... why does he look so satisfied?'
You’ve woven a trap well. And you dare pull such petty tricks in front of me? You’re annoying.
Contrary to the Swift Sword Sect Leader’s expectation that he would be rebuked or met with a roar, the Sword Holy Sovereign looked extremely pleased.
"So... the Swift Sword Sect Leader is worried that my disciple has no attachment to the Cult, that my insights might leak to the outside, and that they won't be passed down to the Sword Family?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"Haha. I have a good idea. A very good idea that can solve both problems the Sect Leader mentioned at once."
"...?"
"Why don't we just bring this child into the main family?"
For a moment, everyone in the Clan Leader's Hall failed to understand the Sword Holy Sovereign’s words. So... he wanted to adopt his own disciple into the Sword Family? If she took the Jin surname, she would develop an attachment to the family, and the insights would be passed down to the family as well?
The Swift Sword Sect Leader stammered in confusion.
"No... that is!"
"It even sounds good! Jin Seo-ah... Jin Seo-ah... Haha. Doesn't she sound like a child who was meant to be part of the main family from the start? Come here, my daughter. Or is it granddaughter? What does it matter! Hahahaha!"
Everyone’s jaws dropped at the Sword Holy Sovereign’s sudden declaration. Of course, Seo-ah was no exception.
"Eh... eh?"