Chapter 211: Secular Disciple Seol-hyang-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 211: Secular Disciple Seol-hyang-1
"I will join this search party."
Un-jeok-ja continued speaking as he looked at the grieving Elder.
He could no longer stand by and watch the man’s heartache.
Having had Jeokheoja—who had passed away early from Hwabyung—as his master, Un-jeok-ja viewed the Sect Leader, Unsongja, as more than just a superior; he was like a second master to him.
He did not want to see the Sect Leader blaming himself any longer.
"No! How can I possibly send you to such a distant place?"
Jeok Song-ja reacted with a start, immediately refusing the offer.
Who was Un-jeok-ja?
Was he not the sword that represented Qingcheng, the sole disciple left behind by the previous Sect Leader?
He did not want to send such a man to the North Sea, where unknown dangers lurked.
"Then have you decided whom to send?"
"That... has not been decided yet."
"Do you have someone in mind?" Un-jeok-ja asked, looking directly at Jeok Song-ja.
"..........."
Jeok Song-ja could not find the words to answer.
In truth, his heart’s desire was to send no one at all.
To Jeok Song-ja, every disciple in the sect was like his own child. How could he send his children on such a perilous journey?
Yet, the disciples who had gone missing were also like his children.
He was trapped in a contradiction. He didn't want to send anyone, yet he felt he had to. It was a conflict born entirely from his deep affection for his disciples.
"See? In the end, Sect Leader, you won't be able to choose anyone."
"..........."
"That is why I am volunteering. I will go to the North Sea myself and rescue our disciples."
"How can I let you go?"
Jeok Song-ja looked at Un-jeok-ja with eyes full of affection. He could feel it—Un-jeok-ja was volunteering first out of consideration for his grieving master.
"I must go regardless. The Main Sect Disciple who went missing was already at the Peak Mid-Stage. Someone stronger than that must step forward."
"It is too dangerous. The North Sea is crawling with demons, and the weather is cold enough to freeze the very air."
"Even so, I must go. As an Elder, how can I turn my back on the disciples of Qingcheng?"
"It doesn't have to be you."
"No, it must be me. Precisely because we don't know what dangers lie ahead, it has to be me. Only I can ensure a safe return."
Un-jeok-ja spoke with a face full of conviction. He was certain that he was the only one capable of going to the North Sea and returning unharmed.
"............"
Hearing his confident words, Jeok Song-ja fell silent. He realized that Un-jeok-ja’s mind was already made up.
"Do not worry too much. Once word spreads that I am moving, the Emei Sect and the Tang Clan will surely send appropriate support as well."
"Does the Tang Clan even have anyone to send?" Jeok Song-ja asked, sounding skeptical.
In the Tang Clan, the only master comparable to Un-jeok-ja was Tang Seo-yunjeong. However, as the sole remaining direct-line descendant of the Tang Clan, the probability of her being sent to the North Sea was extremely low.
"Then they will at least provide supplies or travel expenses, won't they?"
Un-jeok-ja continued with a nonchalant expression. Like Jeok Song-ja, he didn't expect a direct-line member of the Tang Clan to step forward. However, to save face, they would likely send a significant number of collateral bloodline members.
That would be enough. After all, he would be the strongest master on this expedition to the North Sea anyway.
"I am still afraid. I am so afraid of losing more disciples," Jeok Song-ja confessed his true feelings in a somber voice.
"Don't worry, Sect Leader. Who am I? Am I not the greatest swordsman of Qingcheng? Just you wait. By the time I return from the North Sea, I'll have added the title of 'The North Sea's Number One' to my name."
Un-jeok-ja spoke playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
"Heh... pfft."
Jeok Song-ja let out a soft chuckle, seemingly pleased by the banter.
Un-jeok-ja smiled, satisfied. It seemed the Sect Leader’s heart had eased a little.
Don't worry, Sect Leader. I will make sure to bring the disciples back.
A look of grim determination began to settle in Un-jeok-ja’s eyes.
*
A large group of women sat around a massive conference table.
They had cleanly shaven heads and wore grey kashaya robes; their appearance made it easy to guess their identity. They were the nuns of Emei.
They sat around the wide table with exceptionally somber expressions. The atmosphere was so heavy that no one dared to speak.
"Welcome, everyone."
Finally, Guwol Shin-ni, the Sect Leader of Emei who sat at the head of the table, spoke.
"I believe you all know why we have gathered today. However, in case anyone is unaware, I shall state it again."
She looked around at everyone with a benevolent expression.
"We have lost contact with the disciples who were sent to transport goods to the North Sea. There were three Main Sect Disciples and twelve Secular Disciples. A total of fifteen disciples are missing."
Guwol Shin-ni’s benevolent expression began to cloud over.
"The biggest problem here is that we have no idea why they disappeared. We don't know if they were kidnapped, attacked, or if they were simply stranded by a blizzard. We know nothing."
Her brow furrowed even deeper.
"Consequently, the Sichuan Alliance—consisting of our Emei Sect, Qingcheng, and the Tang Clan—has concluded that we cannot overlook this situation. we have agreed to dispatch a search party."
Guwol Shin-ni looked around the room.
"Who do you think would be best to send?" she asked.
"What about Bulsok Satae? She is fleet of foot," one Elder suggested, raising her hand.
"Bulsok Satae?" Guwol Shin-ni asked, sounding uncertain.
"Since it is a search party, I believe the fastest person would be most suitable."
"I will take that into consideration. Are there any other opinions?"
As soon as Guwol Shin-ni finished speaking, someone else raised their hand.
"I recommend myself."
The one who spoke was Bulheo Satae. She pointed to herself as she spoke.
At her words, the Elders sitting at the table pressed their hands to their foreheads. They thought she was starting another one of her nonsensical antics.
"Do you have a reason?" Guwol Shin-ni asked calmly.
"Among the missing disciples was Bulhwa Satae, who has already reached the Peak Realm. If they were attacked or kidnapped, I believe I, as the strongest in martial arts, would be of the most help."
Bulheo Satae looked at Guwol Shin-ni with a serious expression, devoid of any playfulness.
"I object."
Someone else raised their hand in opposition. Guwol Shin-ni turned to look. It was Bulsok Satae, who had just been recommended.
"Bulheo Satae is very close friends with Bulhwa Satae. She is currently biased by personal feelings. It is inappropriate to send someone in such a state on a search mission."
Bulsok Satae spoke with a composed face. Hearing this, Bulheo Satae scowled.
"I won't deny that I have personal feelings, but that's not all. If they are being held by a martial force, who is going to rescue them? Bulsok, who is only fast? I think not. More likely, she would just end up getting captured herself."
Bulheo Satae looked at Bulsok Satae with a mocking expression.
Several Elders nodded at her words. It seemed like a fairly logical point. Seeing their reaction, Bulsok Satae’s face darkened. She had been insulted out of nowhere.
"I don't believe the search party needs a fool who only has strength. For a search that requires meticulous clue-finding and analysis, an emotional person like Bulheo Satae is ill-suited."
Bulsok Satae glared at Bulheo Satae with cold eyes.
Again, several Elders nodded. Her point also seemed valid. Bulheo Satae’s expression, however, turned sour.
"Bulsok Satae, you're going too far! A fool who only has strength?"
Bulheo Satae glared back, her face twisted in anger.
"And what about you, Bulheo Satae? 'Only fast'? 'Getting captured'? How dare you look down on me like that!"
Bulsok Satae’s voice naturally rose. The two glared at each other, gnashing their teeth.
SLAM!
It happened then.
Vrrrrm—
The table shook, sending a vibration through everyone seated. Turning their heads, they saw the Sect Leader, Guwol Shin-ni, looking at them with a look of pure fury.
"What do you think you are doing in my presence?"
Guwol Shin-ni pressured them with an incredibly overbearing aura. Immediately, Bulheo Satae and Bulsok Satae shut their mouths like mutes. They realized they had let their emotions get the better of them and had been disrespectful to the Sect Leader.
"Time is of the essence! We should be gathering search personnel as quickly as possible, and yet you are fighting? How can you be so short-sighted!"
Guwol Shin-ni roared at the two of them.
"We apologize, Sect Leader."
"Our apologies."
Cowed by her shout, Bulheo Satae and Bulsok Satae quickly apologized. It was clearly their fault.
"Sigh... restrain yourselves from now on."
Guwol Shin-ni spoke coldly and soon regained her composure. She acted as if even the time spent scolding them was a waste.
"Looking at it, both Bulheo Satae and Bulsok Satae have a point. Since we don't know why the disciples went missing, sending only the fast Bulsok Satae or only the strong Bulheo Satae is equally unsettling."
Guwol Shin-ni looked around the assembly and continued slowly.
"Therefore, I intend to send both Bulheo Satae and Bulsok Satae to the North Sea."
"Sect Leader!"
"You cannot! How can you send two Elders?"
"It is a waste of strength!"
"Sending both is too great a loss for the sect."
As soon as Guwol Shin-ni finished, protests erupted from all sides. While they agreed the search had to be done properly, they felt sending two Elder-level powerhouses to the distant North Sea was excessive.
SLAM!
The table shook again as the vibration spread. Guwol Shin-ni had struck the table once more.
"Silence."
She spoke with a voice infused with dense internal energy, and the rowdy Elders were instantly silenced.
"Fifteen disciples are missing. How can you be so stingy? Of course, if two Elder-level powerhouses are absent for nearly half a year, the sect will suffer a loss. An Elder’s position is not one of idle play. However, I believe this is a cause worth that loss."
Guwol Shin-ni scanned the room with cold eyes.
"Money can be earned at any time. But the missing disciples are unique individuals, the only ones of their kind in this world. How can you calculate 'loss' when it comes to saving them? How can you weigh human lives against money!"
Guwol Shin-ni roared at the Elders, the veins in her neck bulging.
Life is precious; how could they talk of profit in front of her? Especially as disciples of Buddha. She couldn't help but be enraged.
"My decision remains unchanged. I will have both Bulheo and Bulsok join the search party. Furthermore, I will also have Seol-hyang join them."
"That's absurd!"
"Seol-hyang?!"
"You can't!"
"She has only just turned twenty!"
"Exactly! She is far too young!"
Violent reactions erupted from everywhere. It was even more intense than when she had suggested sending both Bulheo and Bulsok.
"Sect Leader! Seol-hyang is a Secular Disciple!" one Elder shouted, looking at her.
The North Sea was a place where even Main Sect Disciples risked their lives. How could she send a Secular Disciple who hadn't even officially left the monastic life yet?
"Even if she hasn't officially returned to secular life, it remains a fact that she is a disciple of Emei. And you all know better than anyone that her abilities are more suited for a search than anyone else's, do you not?"
Guwol Shin-ni replied calmly to the Elder’s protest.
"But..."
The Elder’s voice trailed off. She recognized, as the Sect Leader said, that Seol-hyang’s abilities were indeed the most suitable for a search.
However, she still felt skeptical about sending her. Though she was called the greatest genius in Emei’s history, she was still young to be out in the Murim, and she was still mentally immature. How could they send such a girl all the way to the North Sea?
Because Seol-hyang was the "Future of Emei" and the darling of all the Elders, Guwol Shin-ni’s declaration came as a massive shock to them.
"My mind is made up. I will send Seol-hyang."
Guwol Shin-ni spoke with a determined expression. She felt there was no method more certain than sending Seol-hyang.
Seeing her like that, many Elders let out sighs of lament. They could feel that Guwol Shin-ni’s heart was already set in stone.