195. Incurable Disease (4)
Incurable Disease (4)
195. Incurable Disease (4)
The Emei Sect was a sect forbidden to men. Because of that, as a man, I could not enter the Emei estate, and since discussing the matter without me would have meant excluding the party the marriage negotiations concerned, the conference between the two sects was ultimately held at our estate.
"You are very young, Yeongsan Sect Leader. You seem like the generation of my grand-disciples."
The old woman had piercing eyes. Even Venerable Hyesang and Venerable Hye-gwang, though the latter was a pure martial artist, had at least looked somewhat like monks. The Emei nun, however, pressed us with an intensely sharp blue glare. Why in the world had the Emei Sect Leader left Emei and come here? Had she been summoned as part of the response to the Blood Cult's jiangshi? Nor was it only that old woman. More than ten nuns stood behind her. As martial artists of Emei—the first sect among the Nine Great Sects that came to mind after Shaolin, Wudang, and Mount Hua—the pressure they gave off was no joke.
"Indeed. Sect Leader, you are like my grandmaster."
My master received them gently, regardless of the pressure they applied.
"I have wanted to meet you at least once. It is difficult to meet a female sect leader in the orthodox martial world. Outside of all-female sects like Emei and Sword Empress Pavilion, among sects where men and women gather together, I have never met a female sect leader other than you."
"It could not be helped. In the time when I became sect leader, there were only female disciples in our sect."
"But are you not splendidly leading the current Yeongsan Sect, which is renowned far and wide? As a fellow female sect leader, I wish to offer you my praise."
"Is that so? Thank you."
My master was pleased to be praised by a fellow female sect leader. However, as I watched, my blood began to boil. This was not praise; it was clearly belittling her. Young as she was, our master was the head of a sect, and that attitude of treating her like a granddaughter was something neither Murong Hyeok-jung nor Reverend Hyeon-gang would ever do.
"So. Are you saying you wish us to give over our Seo Ok?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"Do you not know, Sect Leader, what Seo Ok was to Emei?"
"I know. She is a precious disciple. And because your precious disciple has fallen into such deep despondency, Sect Leader, please generously release her. A disciple is like one's own child. A child must someday leave their parents' side and go out into the wide world."
Wow... Master. Smiling brightly and not yielding an inch?
"Hoo... As expected, it seems the Yeongsan Sect is ill-fated with our Emei Sect. Seo Ok is a child who could certainly become the strongest woman. And Emei's martial arts can be a sharp sword for her. It was due to my fleeting greed that I kept her as a lay disciple, and if that lay disciple insists on leaving, I have no way of stopping her. Yet it still deeply pains me to give away my disciple.
"I will set a few conditions."
"Name them."
"First. I will permit Seo Ok to use the Emei martial arts she has learned herself. But I request that you thoroughly forbid the other members of the Yeongsan Sect from learning them. If this is violated, I will fight Yeongsan to the bitter end, mobilizing all of Emei's power and connections."
"You speak justly."
"Second, destiny is a profound thing. In the Yeongsan Sect, there are descendants of the Moon-and-Medicine Twin Immortals. To you, they are benevolent forebears who granted a fortunate encounter, but Emei cannot forget those names. I know. I know that was an affair a hundred and fifty years ago, and that those young women bear no fault whatsoever. But our ancestors were humiliated, and Emei's Great Hero Hall was toppled.
"Descendants of Moon Immortal and Medicine Immortal. Will you apologize to Emei?"
The Emei Sect Leader spoke coldly while looking at Son Yeong and Lee Eun-ha. Both women were greatly flustered. They had heard from their teachers about the relationship between the Moon-and-Medicine Twin Immortals and Emei. Emei had been the victim in the end, but the fault had clearly lain with Emei. A single apology would not have been difficult, yet the honor of the teachers they revered was at stake, leaving them at a loss.
—What are you doing, Reverend? Tell them to apologize quickly.—
—Huh? Is that all right?—
—What does it matter? It was over a hundred years ago. Yeong-i needs a sparring partner now. If we can win that woman over with a single insincere word, isn't it a profitable deal?—
—Come to think of it, destroying the Great Hero Hall was a bit too much of me, wasn't it?—
Moon Immortal and Medicine Immortal urged an apology, surprisingly lightly. When I conveyed their teachers' will to them via voice transmission, they offered their apologies respectfully to the Emei Sect Leader.
"We apologize for the past matter."
"We apologize."
Insincere apologies. Yet, at that single phrase, as if a hundred years of resentment had been resolved, the Emei Sect Leader closed her eyes and bowed her head to them.
"Thank you. I well know that you are without fault. However, I shall never forget that you bowed your heads for the sake of Emei's honor.
"Then, the third condition. Yeongsan Sect Leader, though you are also very young, you must have raised your disciples like daughters. I am no different. Seo Ok is a child I raised as dearly as if she were my own granddaughter. Had the match not been that Daoist, I would never have permitted such an absurd story that she should enter as a concubine.
"However, Ok, Did you truly decide to become a concubine knowing who that Daoist is?"
"I do not know. But regardless of who that person is, even if he has not trained in martial arts and is weaker than I, I will simply serve my husband as though he were heaven, as a concubine."
Seo Ok answered with a bright face, as if she thought matters were progressing smoothly now. She had said she remained confined to her quarters after going bald, but she genuinely did not know who I was. As if she had expected that, the Emei Sect Leader smiled quietly.
"I will give over Seo Ok, but Emei is the maiden home where Seo Ok grew up. From now on, Emei is no different from Daoist Yeongmok's wife's family. If Emei ever encounters difficulties someday, would the Yeongsan Sect be able to send Daoist Yeongmok and offer assistance?"
"I promise. Emei is a truly remarkable sect, so I cannot imagine you facing difficulties, but if you truly need help, I shall certainly send Yeongmok."
Practical benefit and honor. She had given away just one Seo Ok and was skillfully extracting all of this in return. That grandmother was truly not ordinary.
"Then, lastly. The female sect leaders of the orthodox faction are you, Sect Leader, myself, and the Sword Empress alone. As my relationship with the Sword Empress is not good, I wish to interact with you from time to time. The long ill-fated bond with the Moon-and-Medicine Twin Immortals has been washed clean by the magnanimity of the Yeongsan Sect disciples. Now, I wish to advance anew into a good connection with the Yeongsan Sect."
"Oh my. That is something I should be asking of you. Honestly, as a deficient sect leader, I truly have many shortcomings. But since dealing with men is so very difficult for me, I too wished to converse with a senior sect leader of the Emei Sect."
My master was truly delighted. Our master, joyful to have met a senior female sect leader with whom she could share the unspoken troubles that had weighed on her. But, Master. Right now, we were being subtly pressured into a friendly relationship with Emei. Growing close to Emei meant growing uncomfortable with the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Having finished speaking, the Emei Sect Leader rose from her seat and strode out of the reception hall. The Emei martial artists filed out after her in perfect order, and the middle-aged Buddhist nun who remained last looked at Seo Ok and spoke.
"The Yeongsan Sect is a Daoist sect, but do not forget that you are a Buddhist disciple."
"Yes. I will engrave it in my heart, Master."
"And what kind of bitches were they? What kind of bitches were they who pulled that nasty prank and ruined the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?"
"Master, I am now an outsider. The senior sisters who played pranks on me are precious disciples of the Emei Sect. Since I am now leaving, please forget those matters and care preciously for all your Senior and Junior Sisters."
"Yes. You are right. What use is it to blame those bitches? The fault lies with this deficient one who could not teach them properly. Listen well to your new master's words, and try to receive ample love from your senior sisters this time. It seems they will not feel jealousy, since they are all peerless beauties like you. Ok. You have descended the mountain, not been expelled, so come visit Emei whenever you wish, so I am not left longing."
The middle-aged Buddhist nun embraced Seo Ok tightly once and then departed.
"...Thus, I will permit Seo Ok's entry. However, since So-wol came first, the official initiation ceremony will be held upon our return to Yeongsan. Now, I have been asked by Wudang for talismans, so I shall be making them in my room. Let's make sure the new senior and junior sect siblings get along well, shall we?"
"Yes, Master."
My master, who had not yielded an inch against the Emei Sect Leader, returned to her room with a remark like a kindergarten teacher's.
"I offer my greetings once more. I am Seo Ok. Senior Sisters, Senior Brother. I beg you to look kindly upon me."
Seo Ok's solemn greeting was so stiff and earnest that she seemed somehow different from us.
"I introduced myself earlier, right? I'm head disciple Jeong-hyang. Please be well, Junior Sister."
"I'm second disciple Son Yeong."
"To be a descendant of Moon Immortal... it is truly astonishing. Although Moon Immortal's name has been forgotten in the martial world, Emei has not forgotten that name. Senior Sister, though it may sound impertinent, please grant me the opportunity to witness Moon Immortal's sword one day."
It was likely not intentional, but Seo Ok's challenging gaze splendidly pierced Son Yeong's heart. Until now, Son Yeong had been the only truly serious martial artist type in the Yeongsan Sect; now she would not be lonely.
"I'm the third disciple and the Medicine Immortal Hall Master, Lee Eun-ha. I came from Joseon."
"For the renowned Medicine Immortal to be my senior sister... it is truly a story like a dream."
"First, Seo Junior Sister. We must get you fitted for a martial uniform."
At Lee Eun-ha's kind words, Seo Ok's face reddened. She hastily lowered her head and spoke to Lee Eun-ha.
"I apologize. I received special treatment at Emei and did not learn sewing. If you will only tell me how, I will do my best to make one."
"It is fine. Housekeeping is my job. Lift your head, and shouldn't you greet our Cho Junior Sister too?"
Cho-ryeong had been waiting for her turn, practically bursting with impatience, since earlier. Lee Eun-ha appropriately passed the baton and went off to make the martial uniform.
"I am Cho-ryeong. I am the fourth disciple."
"Please be well, Cho Senior Sister."
At the words "Senior Sister," Cho-ryeong overflowed with happiness as if she had ascended to heaven.
"Senior Brother. Did you hear? She called me Senior Sister! I have a junior sister now too!"
"Our Cho Junior Sister must be happy, isn't she?
"Seo Junior Sister. You have to stay in Cho Junior Sister's good graces. Our Cho Junior Sister is the only one who has trained in the Vajra Art you desire."
At Jeong-hyang's additional explanation, Cho-ryeong puffed out her chest and swaggered. I was dying at how adorable she was.
"Senior Sister! I earnestly beg you. Please teach me the Vajra Art! I will do anything you ask, Senior Sister!"
Seo Ok spoke urgently, clutching Cho-ryeong's hands tightly.
"Hehe. I will teach it to you. Now that I think of it, is it just you, Junior Sister, and I who have trained in Buddhist martial arts?"
Cho-ryeong said with a shy smile. But suddenly, Seo Ok bent her waist ninety degrees before the small Cho-ryeong and apologized.
"I am sorry, Senior Sister. I have hurt your feelings."
In that instant, question marks appeared on everyone's faces. What was this? What now?
"Ju... Junior Sister. Why are you doing this?"
"I am sorry, Senior Sister. Please forgive me."
Seo Ok threw cold water on Cho-ryeong's joy, which had finally been blooming. It was only much later that we learned the reason why.
In the Emei Sect where she had been, it was said that the term "junior sister" was a sarcastic expression used to browbeat juniors. Our Yeongsan Sect, accustomed to the expression "junior sect sibling," was flustered by it, but thinking about it, I belatedly realized it was the same as how, in the military of my previous life, seniors would sometimes call someone "Private So-and-so, sir" or "Junior So-and-so, sir," and such.