Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Sound Matriarch's Trial
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Yang-hui sorted through his thoughts.
'Master Yin Hou isn't entirely opposed to taking a disciple.'
Combining future knowledge with her current attitude made it clear.
That meant if he could just prove that Je-gal Seol-ha was disciple material, he could break through the current impasse.
'She won't accept anyone who isn't righteous as a disciple.'
The Breaking Heaven Sound Matriarch's Sacred Sound Jade Decree Sect was a mysterious untraceable lineage, yet if you asked a hundred people, all would call it an upright orthodox sect that prized chivalry above all.
This was because it pursued the immortal's path from the start, one branch of which extended toward saving the masses.
'Arguing good and evil with the Matriarch is pointless.'
Debates on virtue and vice, orthodoxy and unorthodoxy had raged since ancient times without resolution.
No matter what logic you pulled out, it could be refuted, or you could refute the other side.
Dragging that into this conversation would be like walking an endless road.
'So, all I need is logic that can't be refuted.'
Yang-hui grinned and offered a formal fist salute toward the Matriarch.
"I am Baek Yang-hui of the Baek Clan. May I humbly offer my opinion before Master Yin Hou?"
"Speak freely."
"My thanks for your permission. Allow me one question."
"Do you, who seek a child to grow into a righteous person as your disciple, consider yourself righteous, Matriarch?"
Yang-hui's words bordered on rudeness.
While Je-gal Seon froze in shock, the Matriarch merely pondered deeply.
"Reflecting on my life, not a single stain mars it. This one dares claim righteousness."
"My second question. If Seol-ha is a child who will grow righteous, would you take her as a disciple?"
The Matriarch nodded.
"I happen to be seeking a disciple myself, so there's no reason not to."
Yang-hui declared brightly.
"Then you must take Seol-ha as your disciple!"
"Young master? Are you trying to play word games with me?"
"Of course not."
As the Matriarch furrowed her delicate brows, Yang-hui chuckled and continued quickly.
"If you don't take her, Seol-ha will live in suffering forever. Tell me—is it righteous to ignore a child's pain?"
Her brows smoothed, but the Matriarch said nothing, simply gazing steadily at Yang-hui.
"Before becoming a son of the Baek Clan, I was a beggar sleeping under the open sky. The Baek Clan Lord, Peerless Righteous Helper Baek Mu-ryang—now my father—told me this."
To save you with my mercy,
I shall become your father.
"Of course, you said you want a child who'll grow righteous. But here's the thing. Raising them right isn't the child's responsibility."
'As the classics say, teacher and father are one, Matriarch!'
A proverb on the grace of fathers and masters.
It emphasized their solemn benevolence, but also spoke to the responsibility of those who teach children.
"If you're unsure whether a child of the Je-gal Clan will grow righteous, the solution is simple. Teach and guide Seol-ha without ever leaving her side."
In short, Yang-hui's point was this:
A master's duty is to raise their disciple well—so if you do it right, that's that!
"……."
Even after he finished, the Matriarch showed no reaction for a long while.
She simply stared at him with deep, profound eyes that didn't suit her girl's appearance.
Silence filled the inn at that moment.
"I've grown bored. I just want to end this."
The Matriarch's face went blank, as if washed clean.
Her finger extended toward Je-gal Seol-ha, still kneeling.
To outward eyes, it was just a girl flicking her finger at another girl.
But the result was worlds apart from that casual gesture.
Tiiing!
A clear, pure tone unbelievable from a mere finger snap.
"Damn it!"
A surge of mortal peril. Yang-hui moved on instinct.
Time slowed. He felt the sound wave bursting from her fingertip.
Beyond mere noise, it carried lethal energy enough to shatter a young girl.
He realized instantly.
'I can't block this with my current skill.'
Even so, Yang-hui threw himself in front of Je-gal Seol-ha, arms spread wide.
Chopsticks gripped in each hand.
Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, Third Form.
Eagle Wing Return.
Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, Fifth Form. Variation.
Eagle Feather Scatter.
The Heaven-Covering 108 Swords consisted of six forms based on the six harmonies, each with eight variations, totaling fifty-four techniques.
Among them, Eagle Wing Return was the best defense he could muster now.
Yang-hui executed Eagle Wing Return simultaneously with the chopsticks in both hands.
'Even this won't deflect it all...!'
Still, he couldn't let Je-gal Seol-ha die.
So, he would block it no matter what!
As he vowed this and brought the chopstick tips to the immense energy riding the sound wave—
Whooo!
A wind blew, whipping his hair.
The energy that had seemed ready to obliterate the two children transformed into a beautiful rhythm, filling the inn.
Chaarang, chaarang!
Yang-hui's head snapped toward the Matriarch.
No matter that her mind was thirty-eight, even he couldn't hide his dumbfounded look now.
"...What was that."
"After claiming to be righteous, did you think I'd kill an innocent child?"
Seeing her faint smile revealed the truth.
Je-gal Seon, frozen mid-lunge toward Seol-ha under her formless energy.
The energy flow had been slow enough for even his current level to handle.
'I got played.'
"A test?"
"I wanted to know the character of the clever young master who saw through my identity."
Just moments ago, Yang-hui had jumped in front of Seol-ha the instant the Matriarch snapped her fingers.
Without a moment's hesitation, throwing himself into death's jaws.
"Young master—no, young hero. You proved yourself righteous."
"I really thought I was dead."
"It had to be that real to draw out your true heart."
"...You're devious."
"Devious" wasn't language to use toward one of the Heavenly Martial Ten Lords, but he couldn't hold it back. Fortunately, the Matriarch just laughed aloud.
"I was surprised, though. I only meant to see how you'd act, but you even tried to counter it. Your talent is peerless, young hero."
Yang-hui grumbled.
"Glad you're satisfied. But I don't see how testing my character relates to taking Seol-ha as a disciple."
"Because I plan to take you as a disciple too."
"...Pardon?"
Yang-hui's eyes went wide.
'Me, suddenly?'
Not just a casual lesson, but as a full secular disciple?
In his past life, he hadn't even gotten pointers from the top hundred masters, let alone the Heavenly Martial Ten Lords?
'What is this? Do good deeds bring heavenly rewards?'
Seeing the bewilderment on his face, the Matriarch answered before he could ask.
"It's an old habit of mine—when I see exceptional talent, I want to claim it for myself."
In other words, his displayed talent was so outstanding she wanted to forge a bond.
'In the end, it's because I'm that good.'
Still, hearing that from a fifteen-looking girl felt a bit off.
As Yang-hui thought this, the Matriarch flicked her hand, releasing the formless energy holding Je-gal Seon.
He immediately dropped back to his knees.
"Thank you! Thank you, Matriarch! This grace is etched in my bones forever."
Je-gal Seon's face brimmed with joy.
"Child of the Je-gal Clan, father of Seol-ha, who will be my disciple. It's too soon for thanks. I said I'd take her, but only after proving her aptitude."
Before Je-gal Seon could reply, Je-gal Seol-ha sprang up.
"Matriarch—no, Master. What must this disciple do?"
"My sect verifies a disciple's aptitude through an initiation rite: the Correct Sound Five Pavilions."
The Sacred Sound Jade Decree Sect's initiation rite. From the name Correct Sound Five Pavilions, it seemed to involve passing five trials.
"Originally, the Correct Sound Five Pavilions are rigged with safeguards even a child without martial arts can pass. It's purely to test aptitude. However..."
Trailing off, the Matriarch approached Je-gal Seol-ha and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I wasn't planning to take a disciple, so preparations are incomplete. It's quite dangerous now—you could lose your life. Still want to try?"
She might have hesitated not long ago.
But now, Je-gal Seol-ha had shed her shell.
"If you give me the chance, I want to, Master."
Her resolute answer carried firm will. The Matriarch smiled faintly in satisfaction.
"I can't throw a potential disciple into danger unprepared."
The Matriarch's gaze turned to Yang-hui.
"As you said, young hero, guiding the child right is the adult's duty. Isn't it?"
Yang-hui felt a twinge of unease but answered.
"Yes, Matriarch."
"I said I'd take you as a secular disciple. Secular disciples can't call me Master, so address me as Teacher."
"Understood, Teacher."
"Then, I command you—the third secular disciple in my sect's history. Protect the child who will become my direct disciple. Young hero."
In other words, instead of sending Seol-ha into the unrigged Correct Sound Five Pavilions alone, he'd serve as her safeguard.
'Not hard at all. And it might even earn a debt from the Je-gal Clan.'
So why this nagging anxiety?
He learned why moments later.
"Now, to confess: your sharp tongue put me in quite a bind, young hero. Now that I'm your teacher, a little mischief toward my disciple is allowed, yes?"
The same peril as when she'd flicked her finger surged.
"Teacher, before that, I have something to—"
"Shh."
Formless energy seized Yang-hui and Je-gal Seol-ha, drawing them to her hands.
Paaaang!
In a flash, heaven and earth flipped and churned.
When his senses returned, the inn was gone, surrounded only by mountains.
Yang-hui, qi sense on high alert, realized one thing immediately.
'The ambient qi is distorted. Especially strong around that cliff.'
"Where is this...?"
"The entrance to the Correct Sound Five Pavilions I set up in Mount Gokyeol."
"Entrance meaning..."
The Matriarch's eyes turned to the cliff.
Yang-hui had a bad feeling about her next words.
"No way."
"I did say the safeguards aren't complete."
With that, the Matriarch hurled Je-gal Seol-ha and Yang-hui toward the cliff.
"I hope you succeed, Seol-ha. Take good care of her, young hero."
Whooo!
Yang-hui and Je-gal Seol-ha plummeted toward the cliff base.
"Kyaaaaaaa!"
"You crazy bi-!"
Hearing their scream and shout, the Matriarch smiled softly.
"When they return, I should correct that mouth of his."