Chapter 242: Assessing the Situation-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 242: Assessing the Situation-1
"What exactly are you thinking?"
Sun-woo’s expression hardened as he glared at Bulheo Satae.
"I beg your pardon?"
At his question, Bulheo Satae tilted her head as if she didn't understand.
"I’m asking what on earth possessed you to say you’re handing operational control over to the Tang Clan!"
Sun-woo raised his voice, nearly shouting.
"Because it is the right thing to do."
Bulheo Satae replied with a matter-of-fact expression.
"Is it not only natural for the strongest among us to lead the search party?"
"What does that—!"
"I do not wish for the disciples of Emei to be harmed during this search. To ensure that, I judged it best for Young Master Jang to hold operational control."
She continued in a calm, steady tone while looking directly at Sun-woo.
Damn it.
Sun-woo cursed inwardly. He had been thrust into a completely unexpected situation. He never imagined Bulheo Satae would act like this.
"I... I don't have the capacity for such a role," Sun-woo stammered.
"Who here truly does? We are all people who have spent our lives secluded in the mountains, obsessed with martial arts, ignorant of the ways of the world. Rather than such people, I would prefer a talent like Young Master Jang—someone who can judge the trends of the world quickly and face reality head-on—to take charge of the search party."
Bulheo Satae’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. There was a deeply burdensome emotion contained in that gaze.
It was the light of pure respect.
I’m screwed.
Sun-woo could feel it. Something had gone very, very wrong.
At first, he thought Bulheo Satae was trying to trouble him as retaliation for what had happened earlier. He couldn't think of any other reason why she would suddenly offer him operational control.
But seeing the respectful glint in her eyes, Sun-woo realized the truth. She was being entirely sincere.
Thinking back, he had told her to keep the fact that he’d beaten the piss out of her a secret. He hadn't explicitly told her to hide his level of martial arts.
It seemed that oversight had led to this disaster.
Sun-woo’s brow furrowed deeply. He had no idea how to handle the current situation.
"What are you talking about? The strongest?"
Bulsok Satae, who had been standing nearby, asked Bulheo Satae in confusion. She couldn't understand it. Both Bulheo, who stood before her, and Un-jeok-ja, who had gone out for some fresh air, were masters standing at the very threshold of the Transcendent Realm.
How could she bypass such masters and claim that this incredibly young man was stronger? It made no sense.
"It is exactly as it sounds. Bulsok, Young Master Jang is stronger than anyone else in this search party."
Bulheo maintained her calm expression as she answered.
".........That’s impossible."
Bulsok Satae looked as if she’d heard the most absurd thing in the world. If he was stronger than Un-jeok-ja and Bulheo Satae, didn't that mean he had at least reached the level of eyeing the Transcendent Realm?
And at an age not even thirty? It was preposterous. How could someone so young reach such a sublime height?
"Why do you find it so impossible?" Bulheo Satae asked, tilting her head as if she genuinely didn't understand the skepticism.
"Do you think it makes sense to reach that realm before even the Age of Thirty? You, of all people, should know how difficult it is to reach that stage!" Bulsok snapped back.
Even though her cultivation was slightly lower than Bulheo Satae’s, she was still a martial artist. She knew better than anyone how grueling it was to break through one's limits. To suggest that someone not even thirty had not only surpassed those limits but was looking even higher... it was unbelievable.
"Bulsok," Bulheo Satae called out in a quiet voice. "The more I practice martial arts, the more I realize one thing."
She looked Bulsok straight in the eye.
"Enlightenment is never proportional to the years one has lived. Age is irrelevant to realization. There are those in this world called geniuses. The paths they take lie in a realm of the incomprehensible, a place that ordinary people like us can never hope to understand."
"................"
"Lee Jae-won, the Jeongmu Alliance Leader, was like that. So was the Sword Emperor, Yang Tae-san. They both reached sublime heights before they even hit thirty."
"..........."
"You must not reject or deny what you cannot understand. What they have achieved is by no means a lie."
Bulheo Satae spoke with conviction. Bulsok found herself unable to say a word in response. Not only was Bulheo’s logic sound, but she was also struggling to adjust to the usually hot-tempered nun speaking with such profound depth.
"And we have one in our own Emei Sect, do we not? An incomprehensible genius."
".........Seol-hyang."
"Are you going to deny that child’s achievements just because they don't make sense to you?" Bulheo asked softly.
Bulsok Satae slowly shook her head. She couldn't do that. She was the one who had watched Seol-hyang’s progress every single day for ten years. She could never deny the achievements Seol-hyang had built through such immense effort.
"Then the answer is clear."
Bulheo Satae settled the matter cleanly. Having finished, she turned her gaze back to Sun-woo. Her eyes began to blink rapidly, almost like a puppy begging for a compliment.
Seeing this, Sun-woo’s face crumpled. What did she think she had done so well to warrant that expression? He had tried so hard to hide his martial arts, yet here she was, explaining in exhaustive detail why he was a genius.
Sun-woo felt a headache coming on.
Sigh.
He let out a long internal breath. The milk was already spilled. Continuing to deny it would only make him look pathetic.
If it’s come to this, I might as well show a bit more of my strength.
He still needed to discuss the operational control further, but—
Twitch.
"Then... hm?"
Just as Sun-woo was about to speak, he felt it.
Twitch.
A massive surge of energy was fluctuating outside the tent. Sun-woo bolted upright, startled. Judging by how faintly the energy was spreading, there was some distance between them.
"Did you feel that?"
Bulheo Satae looked at Sun-woo with a grave expression.
"I think we should go."
Sun-woo turned and immediately headed out of the tent. Bulheo Satae watched his back for a moment before following, and Bulsok followed close behind her.
*
Once outside, Sun-woo turned his gaze toward the source of the fluctuating energy. It was coming from the direction of the central clearing.
A sense of unease washed over him. The thought that they might be under enemy attack crossed his mind. Sun-woo concentrated his internal energy and let it explode.
BOOM!
With a thunderous sound, Sun-woo’s figure shot forward like a bolt of light.
Swoooooosh!
The sound of rending air followed as he accelerated even further. He was utilizing the profound principles of the Wind-Dust Step, which he had mastered to a high degree.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
He ran for a short while before pausing.
Huh?
Sun-woo felt a sudden sense of confusion. The massive energies clashing in the central clearing felt incredibly familiar. He had encountered both of them before.
One was Seol-hyang’s Peerless Golden Light Qi, and the other was Un-jeok-ja’s Ten Thousand Manifestations Return to One Qi.
The two energies were colliding violently, creating powerful shockwaves. Sun-woo’s expression turned to one of bewilderment. No matter how he looked at it, allies were fighting each other.
He increased his speed. He didn't know what was happening, but he had to see the situation for himself.
.
.
.
CRASH!
BOOM!
As he drew closer, the deafening sounds of impact began to ring in his ears. The central clearing finally came into view. Sun-woo focused his eyesight to look ahead, and he couldn't hide his shock.
CRASH!
BANG!
In the middle of the clearing, Seol-hyang—the disciple of Guwol Shin-ni and the greatest genius in the history of the Emei Sect—and Un-jeok-ja—the top master of the Qingcheng Sect known as the First Sword of Qingcheng—were clashing blades.
And they were doing so with terrifying intensity.
What the fuck?
Sun-woo cursed under his breath. What on earth was going on? What had gotten into them that they were suddenly trying to kill each other?
Sun-woo looked around. Everyone nearby had expressions of extreme gravity. He couldn't begin to guess the cause.
CRASH!
BOOM!
CLANG!
Meanwhile, the duel between the two grew even more violent, as if they had encountered their sworn mortal enemies.
Sun-woo scanned the crowd for someone to ask about the situation. He couldn't just jump in and stop them without knowing the context. In the Murim, where everything moved according to justification, even stopping a fight required a proper reason.
If it was a personal grudge, interfering recklessly would only invite criticism.
Soon, Sun-woo spotted his coachman, Tang Pan, standing in a corner. He hurried over to him.
"Tang Pan."
"Ye—Yes?!" Tang Pan jumped, startled by Sun-woo’s call.
"Can you tell me what’s going on here?" Sun-woo asked with a serious face.
"Ah... well... that is..."
Tang Pan stammered, looking flustered. He had no idea where to even begin. If he told the truth about the whole situation, there was no way Sun-woo would stay still. In the worst-case scenario, he might jump into the fray himself.
Cold sweat began to pour down Tang Pan’s face. The fear that a single wrong word might escalate the situation even further gripped him.
What do I do... what do I do... what do I do?!
He agonized internally, unable to let out a single word. His silence only frustrated Sun-woo more.
CRASH!
BOOM!
The sounds alone told him the fight was intensifying. He needed to know the context to settle things, but the man’s tightly shut lips were maddening.
"May I be the one to explain?"
A man’s voice came from behind. Sun-woo quickly turned at the familiar voice. There stood a man with blood trickling down his forehead.
"No, please, let me tell you, Young Master Jang."
The man was Cheongsong.
"Wait, your forehead... you’re bleeding!" Sun-woo cried out in shock. What had happened to him?
"This is nothing, Young Master." Cheongsong shook his head. "More importantly, I believe explaining this situation is the priority."
He looked at Sun-woo with calm eyes.
"Then please, tell me. Why are Lady Seol and Un-jeok-ja fighting?" Sun-woo asked, his face full of questions.
"Sigh."
Cheongsong let out a heavy sigh. Now that he had to confess their shame to the person involved, a wave of embarrassment washed over him.
"First, before I speak, I wish to offer my sincerest apologies to Young Master Jang."
Cheongsong bowed deeply to Sun-woo.
"Wait... what on earth happened that you’re apologizing to me?!"
Sun-woo waved his hands in flustered confusion. For a third-generation disciple of a prestigious sect to bow like this was unthinkable. Martial artists valued honor more than life itself, and those at the top of the prestigious sects were the pinnacle of that pride. They possessed far more self-respect than the average martial artist—enough to throw their lives away like blades of grass for the sake of their honor.
Yet, a disciple of such a sect was bowing. And to him, who was merely a son-in-law of the Tang Clan. Sun-woo had a premonition that something truly bizarre had occurred.
"I am... truly... truly sorry."
Cheongsong apologized again with his head bowed low. Sun-woo could only stare at him, completely lost.
"The reason Lady Seol and my Martial Uncle Un-jeok-ja are fighting... is all because of me."
"What?"
"If only I hadn't mentioned that Lady Seol and Young Master Jang were away together late at night... this disaster would never have happened."
Cheongsong spoke in a sorrowful tone, filled with immense regret.
As he listened, Sun-woo’s expression began to turn incredibly grim.
What kind of bullshit is this?