Chapter 239: The Situation Becomes Serious-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 239: The Situation Becomes Serious-2
"What did you just say!"
Un-jeok-ja shouted, glaring at the gathered crowd.
His face was flushed a deep crimson, as if he had just heard something utterly preposterous.
"I meant exactly what I said. I believe Young Master Jang should have operational control over the search party."
Bulheo Satae responded with a calm expression.
Beside her, Bulsok stared at her with eyes as wide as a startled rabbit's. This was the first she was hearing of this as well.
Bulsok felt a surge of irritation. How could Bulheo bring up such a critical matter in an official setting without a single word of prior consultation?
"Do you honestly think that makes any sense!"
His face burning with rage, Un-jeok-ja raised his voice to a roar.
"Lower your voice. What will others think if they hear you shouting like this?"
Despite Un-jeok-ja’s outburst, Bulheo continued in a composed manner.
"I’ve already set up a qi barrier! What is there to worry about!"
Un-jeok-ja retorted, his voice rising even higher.
"What on earth has caused this change of heart? To suddenly hand over operational control to Young Master Jang!"
Un-jeok-ja questioned her, unable to comprehend the situation. Only a few days ago, hadn't she been the one ostracizing the Tang Clan to seize control for herself? What could have possibly happened in the last few days to make her change her tune so drastically?
"Because I realized it is only right."
"What is 'only right' about it!" Un-jeok-ja barked back.
"In the first place, who paid for all the expenses for this journey to the North Sea? Was it not the Tang Clan? And was it just the expenses? Have they not provided every convenience to ease the burden on the disciples of Qingcheng and Emei? The Tang Clan has sacrificed much. I believe they have earned that right."
She looked at Un-jeok-ja and continued in a steady tone.
"Is that not simply what the Tang Clan should do, given their meager support personnel!"
"It is not meager. A single master is worth far more than dozens of riffraff."
"What! Are you calling the warriors of Qingcheng riffraff!?"
Incensed by Bulheo Satae’s scathing remark, Un-jeok-ja bellowed.
"I am saying you should not underestimate the Tang Clan. Their strength is by no means inferior to that of Qingcheng or Emei."
"How can a group consisting of a single Super-Peak master, one first-class master, and the rest second-class even be compared to Qingcheng and Emei!"
Un-jeok-ja shouted, finding the notion absurd. How could such a pitiful force compare to Qingcheng—which had him, the man hailed as the First Sword of Qingcheng—or the Emei Sect, which had dispatched two Super-Peak masters? It was nonsense.
"It is because Young Master Jang is there."
"What!?"
Un-jeok-ja looked at her with a bewildered expression. Since when had she held him in such high regard?
"With the martial prowess he possesses, they are more than comparable."
Bulheo Satae spoke with a face full of conviction.
"Hah... Hahahaha!"
Hearing her words, Un-jeok-ja burst into a hollow laugh. He couldn't tell if she was being serious or if this was some kind of joke. A wet-behind-the-ears brat who hadn't even reached the age of thirty possessing martial power equal to his own? What kind of bullshit was this?
"Are you serious?" Un-jeok-ja asked, his expression turning grim.
"Of course," she replied with a firm tone.
Un-jeok-ja slowly turned his gaze away from her. He looked toward Sun-woo, who was sitting in a corner.
"Is what she says truly the case?" he asked, his eyes flashing as he glared at Sun-woo.
Sun-woo looked troubled by the question.
*
Sun-woo was swept by a wave of embarrassment at Un-jeok-ja’s question. He had no idea how to respond.
This had never been discussed. He had never once asked her to hand over operational control, nor did he desire it. He believed that being strong in martial arts was entirely different from being tactically brilliant.
Furthermore, operational control was a heavy responsibility that placed the lives of dozens of people in one's hands; he wanted to decline it if possible. He didn't think he had the capacity for it, and he loathed being responsible for others.
And yet, she was suddenly trying to hand him the reins. What kind of nonsense was this?
Sun-woo glanced at Bulheo Satae with a bewildered look. Noticing his gaze, Bulheo Satae blinked at him, sending a signal—almost as if she were asking for praise.
Sun-woo felt a headache coming on. Why was she taking liberties with things he hadn't even asked for?
"Are you ignoring me? I asked if it was true!"
Un-jeok-ja glared at Sun-woo, his face flushed with anger.
"…It seems Bulheo Satae has given me a rather generous evaluation," Sun-woo replied calmly. He had no intention of revealing his full martial prowess just for the sake of operational control he didn't even want.
"Furthermore, I have no desire for operational control. Please, withdraw your suggestion."
Sun-woo looked at Bulheo and continued firmly. He didn't have the temperament to be responsible for dozens of lives. He felt far too fragile to bear the full weight of those lives.
"See! The man himself says so! Withdraw it immediately!"
"Even if he says that, my mind remains unchanged. I cannot accept anyone other than Young Master Jang holding operational control."
"What!?"
Hearing her words, Un-jeok-ja’s already red face turned even deeper crimson. Her words implied that he, the so-called First Sword of Qingcheng, was inferior to Jang Sun-woo.
Tremble.
Un-jeok-ja felt his entire body begin to shake. He was overcome by an immense sense of shame.
He had been called a genius his entire life in Qingcheng, where he was raised. After reaching his current realm, he was hailed as the First Sword of Qingcheng, receiving the admiration and respect of countless disciples. When had he ever been ignored like this? And to be compared to a fledgling who hadn't even reached thirty?
Rage boiled over.
"Bulheo Satae… are you saying that I am lacking compared to Young Master Jang?" he asked, his voice dripping with murderous aura.
"Yes. That is how it looks to me."
Despite his murderous tone, Bulheo continued calmly. She truly believed it. She was of the mind that anyone who could lead her or give her orders had to be stronger than her. Because of that, she had no desire to follow orders from anyone other than Sun-woo.
He might be the First Sword of Qingcheng, but he was a master on the same level as her. What right did someone like that have to give her orders? It was unthinkable.
Vrooooooom!
Suddenly, a massive surge of energy began to radiate throughout the tent.
"Bulheo Satae!"
The source of this energy was the fury-filled Un-jeok-ja.
"What is it?"
"Did you think I would just let such an insult slide!" Un-jeok-ja spat out his words, his voice thick with rage.
"And what will you do if I don't?"
Hearing his threat, Bulheo also began to circulate her internal energy.
Vrooooooom!
The energies of the two masters began to fill the entire tent.
"Stop! Stop it right now!"
Bulsok shouted at them. She realized the atmosphere had gone beyond heated and was on the verge of exploding.
"Both of you, withdraw your energy immediately! What is this disgraceful behavior!"
Bulheo Satae began to scold them with an incredibly stern expression.
"We are a search party sent to find our missing disciples! Instead of helping one another, how can you be at odds over a power struggle? Did we not promise? That we would surely rescue our missing disciples. How can you try to start a feud before we've even reached the North Sea!"
"……."
"……."
Hearing her scolding, Un-jeok-ja and Bulheo withdrew their energy in silence. They realized there was no fault in her words.
"Phew… I’m going to get some air."
Un-jeok-ja, having withdrawn his energy, slowly stood up. He felt that if he looked at Bulheo Satae’s face any longer, he would only get angrier. He intended to cool his heated emotions in the cold night air.
Step, step.
Un-jeok-ja turned around and walked out of the tent. Those remaining inside simply watched his retreating back in silence.
*
Step, step.
Once outside the tent, Un-jeok-ja began to walk aimlessly. He wanted to get as far away from Bulheo Satae as possible.
"Dammit."
Un-jeok-ja spat out a curse. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't calm down.
Thirty years had passed since he first picked up a sword. He was a man who had lived only for the sword, thinking only of the sword. And yet, he had been treated as inferior to a brat who hadn't even reached thirty. It wasn't something he could easily get over.
Of course, he had no intention of belittling the talent of someone who had reached the Super-Peak Realm at such a young age. He inwardly acknowledged that it was a magnificent talent.
But wasn't there a world of difference between someone who had just reached the Super-Peak Realm and himself, who was already looking toward the Transcendent Realm? Bulheo Satae must have been well aware of this fact.
And yet, she had spewed such nonsense. What could that possibly mean? It was clearly an attempt to humiliate him openly. Or perhaps she had secretly joined hands with the Tang Clan to steal the initiative.
Deep furrows formed on Un-jeok-ja’s brow. No matter how much he thought about it, his anger showed no signs of subsiding.
'Bulheo!'
Un-jeok-ja’s mind was filled with nothing but rage toward Bulheo. He had never liked that woman, but this time she had crossed the line completely. It was an act of utter disrespect.
Un-jeok-ja simply walked on, chewing over her Buddhist name, thinking of how to repay this humiliation.
Step, step.
How long had he been walking? Suddenly, the sound of a commotion began to reach his ears.
'What is that?'
Un-jeok-ja felt a sense of curiosity. The night was already deep; what were they all doing instead of sleeping?
Intrigued, Un-jeok-ja looked toward the source of the noise. Judging by the direction, it seemed to be the clearing in the center of the camp.
"Hmm."
He tilted his head and began to walk toward it.
Step, step.
Buzz, buzz.
As he drew closer to the central clearing, the voices became clearer.
[How could you!!]
[Please, get up!]
[Stand up! What is this disgraceful display!]
[Sajae, you are the future of Qingcheng! What is the meaning of this!]
The commotion grew louder, and as Un-jeok-ja heard the contents, his brow furrowed deeply.
'What kind of nonsense is this? Suddenly bringing up Qingcheng?!'
He focused his hearing even further, concentrating on the voices.
[Please… please… get up.]
[Sajae… don't kneel… in a place like this.]
[Sajae… Sajae!]
As he sharpened his hearing, he began to hear the sobbing voices of Qingcheng disciples. Un-jeok-ja’s eyes widened. Who on earth was kneeling? And a disciple of the great Qingcheng Sect, no less?
Infuriated, Un-jeok-ja used his movement technique and began to dash toward the central clearing. It was unthinkable. He intended to rush out immediately and punish the disciple who had dared to tarnish the sect's honor by kneeling.
Swish!
Un-jeok-ja’s figure flew like a bolt of light. Before long, he arrived at the central clearing and was met with a shocking sight.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
It was a staggering scene: numerous disciples of Qingcheng were collectively slamming their heads against the ground.
"That… that…"
Un-jeok-ja could only stand there with his mouth agape at the unexpected situation.
Qingcheng was a prestigious sect belonging to the Nine Sects. Therefore, those under the banner of Qingcheng possessed immense pride, whether they were main sect disciples or secular disciples.
And yet, all of them were slamming their heads on the ground. And to the disciples of Emei, no less.
Un-jeok-ja racked his brain to make sense of the impossible scene before him. What could have possibly happened to make the proud disciples of Qingcheng prostrate themselves like this? He couldn't understand it. It seemed to be beyond his comprehension.
"Please forgive Qingcheng!"
The words that followed completely shattered his train of thought. The situation finally made sense.
The disciples of Qingcheng were begging for forgiveness. From the disciples of Emei.
His bewilderment began to turn into explosive rage. How could Qingcheng… how could they bow their heads to the likes of Emei!
Whirrrrrrrr!
A terrifying murderous aura erupted from his body, instantly enveloping the entire central clearing.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!!!"
He let out a thunderous roar that shook the clearing. His shout was laced with extreme, unbridled fury.