Chapter 298 |
Flow
“???”
Mu-jin looked puzzled as he confirmed their appearances.
All three were female monks with appearances that naturally invoked the term “old woman.”
However, they weren’t old women of a similar age to Geumsun Shinni.
While Geumsun Shinni felt like she had just become a grandmother, these three seemed barely able to move, with faces and hands full of liver spots and wrinkles.
They appeared to be either contemporaries of Tang-gak, who was ninety years old, or even older.
Yet, those who were more surprised than Mu-jin were elsewhere.
“What brings you here, Sasooks?”
Thanks to that question, Mu-jin could identify who the old women were.
‘They must be the retired elders of the Emei Sect.’
It seemed that these women were the former elders who had retired when the new generation, including Geumsun Shinni, took over as the head and elders of the Emei Sect.
In most sects, when the head passes away, those of the same generation naturally retire.
Sometimes, they continue their activities under the title of “elder,” as was the case with the Mount Hua Sect.
While Mu-jin was observing the old women, they ignored the question from the head and instead addressed Mu-jin first.
“Hohoho. You must be the famous Shaolin Dragon.”
“Your reputation reached even our ears in seclusion, making us very curious. Seeing you now, it is truly astonishing.”
“Indeed. Makes one wonder what we were doing at your age, doesn’t it? Hohoho.”
While Mu-jin wore a puzzled expression at their relaxed demeanor, as if they had come for a leisurely visit, Jegal Muhwan asked them.
“It’s been a while, venerable seniors.”
“Hohoho. Indeed, it’s been a while, strategist.”
“So, does your presence here mean you have come out of retirement to join the fight?”
Despite their age, if they had continued to cultivate their inner strength until now, they would be formidable masters.
Especially if they were from the prestigious Emei Sect.
Naturally, the atmosphere on the battlefield grew tense, but the old women’s response was far from what anyone expected.
“We have not come to fight.”
“We are here to represent the Emei Sect, to apologize to you and seek your forgiveness.”
Saying this, the old monks knelt down, bowing their heads to the ground as if they were praying to a Buddha statue.
Considering their rank, these old monks were above Geumsun Shinni, the head of the Emei Sect.
It was akin to the highest elders of the Tang Clan, like Tang-gak, humiliatingly kneeling and bowing.
“Why are you doing this?” Geumsun Shinni exclaimed in horror, but the old monks responded sternly.
“Head, just watch quietly.”
“All disciples, do not move a single step.”
Saying this, the old monks, still kneeling, lifted their upper bodies and looked towards the Shaolin side.
In the peculiar scene unfolding from the Emei Sect, Jegal Muhwan spoke with his fan covering his mouth.
“May I ask what you are doing now?”
“Just as we said, strategist.”
“We are here to repent for the sins committed by the Emei Sect.”
“Do you know how many members of the Tang Clan died because the Emei Sect attacked them?”
Someone from the Emei Sect seemed ready to speak, probably to mention that they also lost many lives in that war, but ultimately no one opened their mouth.
One of the three old women was looking back at the Emei Sect disciples.
Mu-jin could only see the back of that old woman’s head, but the nuns who seemed ready to speak all fell silent under her gaze.
Then, the old women, having prevented their disciples from speaking unnecessarily, calmly spoke again.
“We are not simply asking for forgiveness.”
“The Emei Sect will close its doors for thirty years.”
“This is not just an empty declaration. We will announce the closure to the world, and for thirty years, we will not accept any disciples or involve ourselves in any matters of the world.”
“Are you saying you will sever ties with your secular disciples as well?”
“Indeed.”
Sealing the Sect.
It might seem like nothing significant, but having spent nearly ten years in the martial world, Mu-jin knew the weight of those words.
Not accepting disciples meant that the lineage of the sect would be cut off.
While it wouldn’t completely end the lineage in just thirty years, the subsequent implications were the issue.
No longer involving themselves in worldly affairs meant the Emei Sect would no longer be able to earn any money.
Additionally, they would have to refuse any requests for help with the reason of being a sealed sect.
Gradually, their name would be forgotten, and the nuns of the Emei Sect would have to survive on just the herbs and animals from Mount Emei.
If such a life continued for thirty years, it would take an immense amount of time to restore the reputation of the Emei Sect to its current level, even if they reopened.
Naturally, Geumsun Shinni, given the gravity of the situation, shouted with a shocked face.
“Sasooks! What are you saying!”
“Shut up!!”
Before she could finish her words, the old women roared in unison.
Indeed, their bodies had become small and frail, but the Buddhist inner strength accumulated over long years was immensely profound.
The roar instantly silenced Geumsun Shinni, and the old women, in contrast to their previous scolding tone, spoke softly to her.
“We are not just asking for forgiveness with the closure.”
“If you demand it, we can offer our lives along with the closure.”
“All of this is our fault, so it should end with our lives.”
“It was our foolishness that led to this.”
“We should have stopped when we were tempted to expand our influence, seeing the Tang Clan growing in wealth and power.”
“But we couldn’t do that. We were already retired, so how could retired individuals discuss the affairs of the sect with the head and elders?”
“We know this is also an excuse. It was too late when we realized it, after too much blood had been shed in the martial world.”
“That is why we shamelessly kneel and ask for this favor.”
“Our lives may not have much time left, but can you not end this enmity with our three lives and the Emei Sect’s thirty years of closure?”
Having finished their words, the old monks once again bowed their heads to the ground.
“……”
Mu-jin looked at them with a speechless face.
Attacking such pitiful old women would not be an easy task for Mu-jin, even if they were vindictive or eccentric elders.
Once the anger that had flared up due to Geumsun Shinni’s arrogance subsided, Mu-jin calmly collected his thoughts.
‘Yes. If closing the sect works out, it’s better than fighting.’
After all, Mu-jin and the Shaolin Alliance’s main enemy was Shinchun. The Emei Sect had merely been used by them.
Of course, they had suffered damage because of those who were used.
‘If we reject this proposal and fight, we will undoubtedly incur losses even if we win.’
It seemed disadvantageous in many ways to lose strength bit by bit while fighting those who were merely pawns of Shinchun.
There were still plenty of enemies to fight in the future.
Jegal Muhwan was having similar thoughts.
It wasn’t because he felt sorry for the old monks. Jegal Muhwan was not someone who would be swayed by such sentiments.
Like Mu-jin, he thought it was more advantageous to close the Emei Sect without fighting than to kill all the disciples in a battle.
However, Jegal Muhwan concealed his true intentions and spoke.
“I can’t speak for Shaolin and Wudang, but can the Tang Clan truly forgive the tyranny of the Emei Sect now? To seek forgiveness, you must offer appropriate compensation.”
In other words, he was demanding war reparations.
“We are willing to do so.”
“What use is wealth to us, who will now live a life of Buddhist asceticism, cut off from the world?”
“Offer all the treasures that were dedicated to honor Buddha.”
At the instruction of the three old monks, the disciples of the Emei Sect, unable to act, looked to Geumsun Shinni for guidance.
After a moment of deep contemplation, Geumsun Shinni sighed softly and spoke.
“Follow the instructions of the Sasooks.”
What followed was swift.
The disciples of the Emei Sect began to bring out various treasures from the mountain gate.
As gold and silver treasures started piling up in front of the mountain gate, Jegal Muhwan hid his satisfied expression behind his fan.
It wasn’t just because he extorted money.
Now, with even their remaining wealth gone, they wouldn’t have a foundation to resume their activities in Jianghu thirty years later when the closure ended.
They would have to train in martial arts and perform Buddhist rituals in conditions worse than those of most mid-sized sects.
Thirty years later, it was likely that only those with a genuine dedication to Buddhism would remain in the Emei Sect.
Indeed, only those like the old monks currently confessing their sins would remain.
After handing over all the war reparations, one of the old monks spoke.
“Now, please cut off our heads and conclude this matter.”
Mu-jin was the one who responded to her words.
“There is no need to offer your lives, venerable seniors.”
Mu-jin felt a strange sense of respect towards their attitude.
‘After all, a prestigious sect is still a prestigious sect.’
Even if they had fallen into corruption under Shinchun’s schemes, there were still upright individuals among them.
There seemed no need to kill such individuals. Perhaps it was also due to a sense of moral revulsion.
When they descended Mount Emei, expecting a battle, the disciples of Shaolin and Wudang carried various treasures instead of wounded or dead bodies.
Jegal Muhwan approached Mu-jin as they descended Mount Emei and spoke.
“Hahaha. It was a wise decision, Shaolin Dragon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Letting the old women live. If you had killed the venerable seniors in the end, the surviving disciples of the Emei Sect would have sought revenge thirty years later. Even though their foundation is mostly gone, revenge is a powerful motivation. But as long as the venerable seniors are alive, they will guide the Emei Sect.”
Mu-jin gave a hollow laugh at Jegal Muhwan’s praise, as he hadn’t calculated that far.
“So, what are your plans now?”
Jegal Muhwan grinned slyly at Mu-jin’s question.
“Hahaha. Now that we have successfully closed the Emei Sect without significant losses, we have more options. Originally, I planned to close the Wudang Sect and then send reinforcements to the Southern Barbarians. But it might be better to split the forces and send reinforcements to the Southern Barbarians immediately.”
“Then, I will join the Southern Barbarian forces.”
“Hmm. I will have to think about how to organize the troops.”
Ignoring Jegal Muhwan, who began to fan himself as if deep in thought, Mu-jin turned his head towards the direction of the Southern Barbarians.
‘If I can stretch my body on the way to the Southern Barbarians, I can recover.’
It would take at least ten days to reach Ou-yang Pae’s location, even at a master’s speed.
For Mu-jin, who fought the leader Wi Ji-hak and engaged in another battle before fully recovering, it would be time to recuperate.
Though, another war would likely await upon arrival.
‘It won’t be as hard as fighting Wi Ji-hak.’
With these positive thoughts, Mu-jin was optimistic.
* * *
A few days earlier.
In the depths of the Ten-thousand Great Mountains, considered the current headquarters of the Demon Sect in Xinjiang.
An old man was bowing deeply towards a young man.
If any of the Demon Sect’s followers saw this, they would have found it strange.
The old man bowing was the Bright Left Envoy, who held almost unparalleled power in the Demon Sect.
In truth, he could be considered the top figure in the Demon Sect, as the Heavenly Demon had been reclusive for over a decade.
“What brings you here, So-cheon-ju-nim?”
The young man replied to the Bright Left Envoy’s question.
“As the future ruler of the world, is there any place in the world I cannot go?”
The Bright Left Envoy sighed internally.
There were many arguments he could make, but he kept his mouth shut, fearing the consequences of unnecessary words.
It wasn’t just the rank of So-cheon-ju that he feared.
Although he hadn’t completed his martial arts like the Heavenly Demon, So-cheon-ju’s martial arts were already beyond his own.
That was what made it even more terrifying. To think that ‘that martial art’ could reach such heights without being complete.
After looking down at the Bright Left Envoy without saying anything for a moment, the young man called So-cheon-ju spoke again with a disinterested expression.
“I heard that you are sending troops to the Southern Barbarians to deal with the traitors.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Good. I will join the forces.”
“???”
When the Bright Left Envoy looked up with an expression of disbelief, So-cheon-ju answered his unspoken question with a sinister smile.
“Due to recent setbacks in Inju, there have been issues with the supply of miraculous elixirs. If I were still a child, I would wait patiently, but now that I am grown, I should lend a hand rather than just wait.”
“……Are you saying you intend to secure miraculous elixirs in the Southern Barbarians?”
“That’s right. My personal investigations revealed that although the Fifth Envoy died foolishly, he conducted thorough investigations. He had identified several valuable miraculous elixirs in the Southern Barbarians.”
The Fifth Envoy, known as Hwang Gon, had prepared many things while traveling between Yunnan and the Southern Barbarians for years before being killed by Shaolin Dragon.
Among those preparations were tasks related to the miraculous elixirs that So-cheon-ju referred to.
“So, since I’m going to secure miraculous elixirs, I might as well assist the Second Envoy. Hahaha.”
So-cheon-ju laughed with a scent of blood in the air.