Chapter 240: Un-jeok-ja Draws His Sword-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 240: Un-jeok-ja Draws His Sword-1
Un-jeok-ja swiftly threw himself toward the central clearing.
Thump.
Landing right in the middle, he spun around. There, he saw numerous disciples of the Qingcheng Sect with their heads pressed firmly against the ground.
"Raise your heads this instant!"
Un-jeok-ja’s roar, saturated with fury, exploded as he glared at them. He was currently consumed by an indescribable, searing rage.
Qingcheng was a prestigious sect, proudly holding its place as a member of the Nine Sects. It was a sect that boasted hundreds of years of tradition, one that lived as nobly as a crane, never stooping to corruption even in the face of dire financial hardship.
Yet here were the disciples of that very Qingcheng, all prostrating themselves on the dirt.
He rubbed his eyes and looked again, hoping it was someone else, but they were undoubtedly Qingcheng disciples. They wore the sect’s indigo robes, embroidered with the image of a crane.
He was angry. Beyond measure.
These men represented Qingcheng. How could such men prostrate themselves so easily?
"Did you not hear me?! I told you to raise your heads at once!"
He barked the command again. At his wrathful shout, the disciples who had been prostrating began to lift their heads one by one—all except for two.
"Do you truly intend to drag Qingcheng’s name through the mud?!"
Un-jeok-ja shouted at Cheongsong and Cheonggil, who remained with their foreheads to the earth. Despite his cry, they remained silent.
Wuuuuuuuuung.
Un-jeok-ja began to circulate his internal energy. If they wouldn't listen to reason, he intended to force them to comply. A massive surge of energy began to envelop his body.
"I forgive you. You may raise your heads now."
At that moment, a woman’s voice drifted from behind him. As soon as her permission was granted, the remaining disciples began to lift their heads.
Seeing this, Un-jeok-ja’s fury reached its boiling point. How could they ignore his words entirely, yet obey that woman so readily? Where was the respect for seniority? This was nothing short of betraying the master and the sect’s lineage.
Having raised his head, Cheongsong looked up at Un-jeok-ja. The elder was looking down at him with eyes brimming with murderous aura.
Gulp.
Cheongsong reflexively swallowed hard. He felt a primal fear. This was the greatest master of their sect, the man titled the First Sword of Qingcheng. How could he not be terrified when such a master was looking down at him as if he wanted to kill him?
"I believe an explanation is in order," Un-jeok-ja said, his voice dripping with lethal intent.
"I am sorry."
Cheongsong could only offer an apology. What excuse could he possibly give for bringing such shame upon Qingcheng’s name? He could only beg for forgiveness with a heart full of remorse.
"The answer I want is not an apology. I told you to explain this entire situation!"
"I will explain."
It was Cheonggil, standing beside him, who spoke up with a calm expression.
"Oho... Very well."
Un-jeok-ja’s eyes flashed as he turned to Cheonggil.
"However, if you fail to convince me, I shall punish you all severely for the crime of betraying the master."
He glared at the disciple threateningly, his eyes glinting with malice.
Tremble, tremble.
Exposed to that murderous aura, Cheonggil’s entire body began to shake. The killing intent of a man standing at the threshold of the Transcendent Realm was not something a mere Peak Realm martial artist like Cheonggil could withstand.
"Huu... Huu... Huu..."
Only after taking several deep breaths was Cheonggil finally able to steady his trembling body. Once composed, he slowly looked at Un-jeok-ja and opened his mouth.
"A disciple of Qingcheng committed a grave wrong against them."
"What kind of wrong could it be to make every member of Qingcheng apologize like this?!"
"He insulted Lady Seol-hyang, a disciple of Emei, and the entire Emei Sect."
"What!?"
Un-jeok-ja asked back in shock. How could those supposed to be the pillars of the Orthodox Faction commit such a foul act? Moreover, to insult Seol-hyang? Was she not the disciple of Guwol Shin-ni, the Sect Leader of Emei? What could they have been thinking to provoke her?
"What exactly was this scandalous rumor?!"
"It was a rumor regarding a scandal between Lady Seol and Young Master Jang."
"That is not enough! Do all the disciples of Qingcheng prostrate themselves over a mere rumor?! Does the name of Qingcheng feel so light to you?!"
Un-jeok-ja shouted back in protest. It wasn't that he condoned the rumor itself; he understood it was shameful and insulting. But rumors naturally spread when young men and women were together. How could such a trivial matter cause every Qingcheng disciple to hit the dirt? It made no sense.
"The rumor was not the end of it. It went further, claiming that the two of them snuck out in the middle of the night to engage in lewd acts."
"..........Wh-What!?"
Hearing those words, Un-jeok-ja felt his mind go blank. How could they involve a disciple of Emei in such a scandal? And with the son-in-law of the Tang Clan, who already had a betrothed? This was a direct attack on the successors of both the Emei Sect and the Sichuan Tang Clan.
In the Central Plains, a woman’s chastity was valued above all else. It was to the point where they would even check the cinnabar mark to verify virginity. Therefore, rumors regarding a woman’s virtue had to be handled with extreme caution. A single mistake could bring dishonor not only to the individual but to their sect and family as well.
It was madness. To link Seol-hyang, the top rising star of Emei and the Sect Leader's disciple, with Jang Sun-woo, the successor of the Poison King and the Tang Clan’s son-in-law... It was practically a declaration of war.
"Is that truly the reason?" Un-jeok-ja asked, staring at Cheonggil.
"It is."
"..................."
Un-jeok-ja remained silent for a long time. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind.
"Where is Cheongsu?" Un-jeok-ja asked in a hollow voice.
"Over here."
At his question, Cheonggil pointed toward a corner. Un-jeok-ja slowly turned his gaze in that direction. There, he saw Cheongsu. The skin on both his cheeks had been torn away, revealing the raw flesh beneath. His arm was also bent at a grotesque, unnatural angle, clearly broken.
The word 'pitiful' was an understatement for his condition.
".............."
Un-jeok-ja stared at him silently.
"Who turned Cheongsu into that?"
"It was Lady Seol-hyang."
"I see."
Having finished his inquiry, Un-jeok-ja slowly turned his body. He fixed his gaze on Seol-hyang, who stood directly in front of him.
Bow.
"I offer my deepest apologies to the young lady."
Un-jeok-ja bent at the waist and offered her words of apology. The Qingcheng disciples were aghast at the sight. The man called the pillar of Qingcheng, the man known as the First Sword of Qingcheng, was bowing to a girl who hadn't even lived half as long as he had. It was an unbelievable sight. He had cast aside his immense, towering pride.
"............."
Seol-hyang was equally flustered. She had never imagined that Un-jeok-ja would bow to her. How could she? The idea of Qingcheng’s greatest master bowing to her was unthinkable.
"........That is enough. Please, straighten your back."
She spoke while looking at Un-jeok-ja. Hearing her, he slowly stood upright and gazed at her again with steady eyes.
"The fault of the disciple is the fault of the sect for failing to teach him properly. I apologize sincerely."
He spoke with a calm expression.
"..........."
Seol-hyang nodded slightly, accepting the stoic apology. However, she felt a slight sense of unease. Given Un-jeok-ja’s volatile reputation, she had expected him to draw his sword and cause an uproar. Contrary to her expectations, he had bowed and apologized deeply. And he had meant it. It was bound to feel suspicious.
Screeeeee.
Suddenly, a grating sound reached her ears. Startled, her eyes widened as she looked forward. There, Un-jeok-ja had already drawn his sword.
"What is the meaning of this?" she asked, bewildered. What on earth was he doing?
"I apologize deeply for what the Qingcheng disciple has done. I intend to report this to the sect and ensure official punishment is handed down," Un-jeok-ja replied, his face devoid of emotion. "But separate from that, there is still a matter that must be resolved, is there not?"
"A matter that must be resolved?"
"The restoration of Qingcheng’s honor."
He spoke in a level tone.
"What are you talking about?!"
"Exactly what I said. Qingcheng has suffered dishonor because of you, and I intend to reclaim that honor."
"And how do you plan to do that?"
"First, I must leave you in the same state as Cheongsu. Then, I must see every disciple of Emei press their heads into the dirt."
Un-jeok-ja’s cold gaze swept over the Emei disciples as he spoke.
"Do you think that makes any sense?!" Seol-hyang shouted, her temper flaring. What kind of nonsense was this? All those events were actions taken by Qingcheng to seek Emei’s forgiveness. How could he demand the same in return?
"Why would it not make sense? It is exactly what you did to Qingcheng."
"Was that not the process for Qingcheng to be forgiven for its wrongdoing?"
"And who are you to decide that?"
"What!?"
"If such a thing occurred, it should have been reported to the sect so that a formal apology could be received. By what right did you judge as you pleased, cripple a disciple of Qingcheng as you pleased, and force the disciples of Qingcheng to their knees as you pleased?!"
Un-jeok-ja spat out the words he had been holding back. He knew that Cheongsu had committed a grave crime—a crime serious enough to turn both Emei and the Tang Clan into enemies. He could understand why she had demanded such an apology and why she had left Cheongsu in shambles.
But understanding was different from accepting. His mind understood, but his heart could not accept it. A massive surge of resentment was erupting within him.
Even if a Qingcheng disciple had done wrong, it was a matter to be protested directly to the sect. It was not something she should have taken upon herself to punish unilaterally. By what authority did she punish a disciple of Qingcheng? By what authority did she inflict such indelible disgrace upon them?
The disciples sent with the search party were all renowned as the most promising talents of Qingcheng. They were the scholars and warriors who would lead the sect in the next generation. And those very people had suffered an unforgettable humiliation. Even after decades, the shame of this day would remain in their hearts.
Un-jeok-ja could not bear to see that. He did not want the talents who would lead the future of Qingcheng to remember the disgrace of swallowing their pride, kneeling, and grinding their heads into the dirt.
That was why he drew his sword. At the very least, he had to negate this shame.
"Are you saying you want a war?" Seol-hyang asked, her eyes turning cold as she looked at him.
"I am not asking for much. I am simply returning what was given."
Un-jeok-ja replied calmly.
Screeee.
Hearing his response, Seol-hyang drew her sword from the scabbard at her waist. She realized that words would no longer work.
"From Emei's perspective, that is an infinitely grave matter."
She spoke with a cold smile. Her forcing a humiliating apology from Qingcheng had been the only way to settle the situation. Most of the disciples already knew about the scandal involving her and Sun-woo. If she had let it slide without a proper apology, the sect’s prestige would have hit rock bottom.
In the world of Murim, honor was more precious than life. A martial artist was someone who could throw away their life like a piece of straw for the sake of honor. The Emei Sect was no different. If it became known that they had let such an insult pass, Emei would prepare for war, regardless of Seol-hyang’s personal wishes, just to restore their fallen prestige.
That was why she had tried to end everything by accepting Qingcheng’s shameful apology. She believed this level of restitution would be enough for Emei to let the matter go.
But her plan had been ruined by Un-jeok-ja’s sudden appearance. He had drawn his sword without hesitation, claiming he would restore his sect's honor. Seol-hyang felt a headache coming on. It seemed war was now unavoidable.
"My sword will be fierce."
Un-jeok-ja spoke as he looked at her. The sword in his hand gleamed with an ominous light. Seol-hyang frowned deeply and slowly raised her own blade. She couldn't just stand there and take it.
Wuuuuuuuuung.
Before long, golden energy began to shimmer around her, starting to blanket the central clearing.