289. Cheonghye’s Choice
Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, retreated. Cheonghye Satae bowed to Old Master and then turned to look at her injured master, Dharma Void Shinni.
However, sensing a strange presence, Cheonghye Satae turned her head. Immediately after, a small figure appeared before Old Master.
Rustle.
‘Hmm.’
Cheonghye Satae couldn’t help but feel tense. It was right after Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa’s intrusion, and the fact that the figure appeared as soon as she sensed it meant that the opponent was no ordinary person.
However, the voice that followed was enough to bewilder Cheonghye Satae.
“Grandfather Teacher!”
A child’s clear voice echoed through the mist.
‘A child?’
Cheonghye Satae was taken aback. The one who appeared was a small, frail child.
‘Could this be the spirit of Mt. Huang or some kind of mystical creature?’ As Cheonghye Satae pondered, the red-haired girl approached Old Master with light steps.
The swaying red hair was so beautiful and unique that it seemed unreal for a moment.
“Yes.”
Old Master replied with a gentle smile. The expression on Old Master’s face as he looked at the child was so benevolent and soft that his previous demeanor seemed like a lie.
“Should we follow that person?”
The red-haired girl, Hong-ah, looked up at Old Master and asked with sparkling eyes.
‘That person’ probably referred to Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, but there was no fear or hesitation in Hong-ah’s voice.
Old Master chuckled.
“No, it’s a bit dangerous right now.”
“It’s okay. I can follow him from afar! Brother Rin taught me!”
Hong-ah widened her eyes, ready to follow Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, at any moment. Old Master placed his large hand on Hong-ah’s head.
“You did very well.”
Old Master stroked Hong-ah’s hair.
“This is enough here. Good job.”
Hong-ah smiled with her head bowed. She seemed quite pleased to receive praise from Grandfather Teacher.
“Did you watch those people’s sparring?”
At Old Master’s words, Hong-ah’s eyes twinkled, and she nodded.
“Yes! It was amazing! A very, very big staff and so many swords went ‘쿵 [kung]’ and ‘콰앙 [kwang]’…”
Hong-ah couldn’t hide her excitement and explained with gestures.
It was just childish gibberish, but Cheonghye Satae couldn’t help but be surprised once again.
This meant that this child had the insight to recognize the martial arts of Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, and Dharma Void Shinni.
Moreover, if what she said was true, she had been hiding her presence until Old Master arrived?
“Heh heh.”
While Cheonghye Satae was amazed, Old Master seemed to enjoy watching Hong-ah and smiled contentedly with his hands behind his back.
“Now, go talk to Bin and get any messages he has to deliver.”
“Yes!”
Hong-ah answered energetically.
“Oh, and tell Silver Chopsticks and the others not to follow that woman either. There’s no point in messing with a woman who’s filled with annoyance to the brim. Got it?”
The Silver Chopsticks that Old Master mentioned had long been incorporated into the Moon Shadow Unit, not the Silver Sword Unit. But Old Master didn’t care about such things.
Hong-ah nodded. Then, as if lightly stepping, she disappeared into the mist in an instant.
‘Oh!’
Cheonghye Satae blinked. But Old Master didn’t take away his pleased smile as he looked in the direction Hong-ah had disappeared.
Dharma Void Shinni, who had been watching, was also surprised. But it wasn’t because of Hong-ah, but because of Old Master.
‘Huh, did Old Master have this side to him?’
Old Master’s appearance just now was exactly like a grandfather looking at his cute granddaughter. It was far from Old Master’s usual eccentric, unpredictable, and ruthless self.
Dharma Void Shinni, who knew him well, couldn’t help but stare at Old Master with a surprised expression for a while. But as Old Master inadvertently turned his head, he frowned as soon as he met Dharma Void Shinni’s eyes.
“Why? What?”
The gentle and benevolent grandfather from just now was nowhere to be seen, and a grumpy, stubborn old man was picking a fight with a vexed expression.
Dharma Void Shinni let out a hollow laugh. Somehow, that appearance felt like a bluff to hide his embarrassment. A bluff that had no meaning now.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Despite her injuries, Dharma Void Shinni put her palms together towards Old Master.
“Thank you for your help.”
“I’ve already heard your thanks, so that’s enough.”
Old Master replied curtly.
“So, what are you going to do about Emei now?”
Dharma Void Shinni couldn’t answer and quietly chanted a Buddhist prayer. The fact that Emei had come to this state, and the sight of her master reunited in such a terrible form, tore at her heart.
“Master.”
Cheonghye Satae approached and supported Dharma Void Shinni. Dharma Void Shinni leaned on Cheonghye Satae and turned her gaze to Sect Leader Hyewol Satae.
Sect Leader Hyewol Satae’s complexion was pale. Realizing that things had already gone wrong, she bit her lip and couldn’t meet Dharma Void Shinni’s eyes.
“For the next three years.”
Dharma Void Shinni said quietly.
“Emei will not be involved in any affairs of the Jianghu [martial world] martial world.”
That was, in effect, a declaration of seclusion.
This was because it meant that they would not interfere in the affairs of the Martial Alliance, as well as the secular sects related to Emei.
If this fact became known, it was obvious that Emei’s position in the Jianghu martial world would plummet.
“Shinni!”
Sect Leader Hyewol Satae cried out as if in despair. But that wasn’t just because of the shock of the seclusion.
“That alone will not avoid the wrath of the Imperial Family. In order for Emei to survive…”
However, her voice trailed off.
“Sect Leader.”
Dharma Void Shinni said in a voice that didn’t waver in the slightest.
“Relinquish all your duties and enter the Repentance Cave. Your punishment will be decided after this matter is settled.”
Hyewol Satae lowered her head. No matter how much Dharma Void Shinni, she did not have the authority to depose Emei’s Sect Leader. However, as an elder of Emei, she had the authority to reprimand her.
Above all, if Dharma Void Shinni didn’t acknowledge her, who in Emei would follow Hyewol Satae as Sect Leader?
“Cheonghye.”
“Yes, Master.”
Dharma Void Shinni looked at her disciple, Cheonghye Satae, with warm and gentle eyes. She was proud and trustworthy of her disciple, who had realized her own Dao [path or way] and achieved new accomplishments.
“The Dharma is to show the way [道]. In the past, your teacher tried to teach that to the Lion, but in the end, the Lion rejected the Dharma and left.”
There was a mix of complexity and regret in Dharma Void Shinni’s expression as she spoke.
“But you have already realized the Dao, so there is nothing to bind or entangle you.”
Dharma Void Shinni said with a soft smile. Her slender and frail hand held Cheonghye Satae’s hand tightly.
“Live as you wish, as your heart leads you, and as you have realized.”
That meant that Cheonghye Satae was excluded from Emei’s seclusion. At the same time, it also meant the unconditional and unlimited trust given to Cheonghye Satae as an outer affairs expert of Emei.
Cheonghye Satae’s eyes welled up at the warm gaze of her master, Dharma Void Shinni. Dharma Void Shinni nodded with a pleased expression.
“So, Emei is withdrawing from here?”
Old Master’s blunt voice broke the heartwarming atmosphere between master and disciple. Cheonghye Satae frowned slightly, but Dharma Void Shinni nodded with a gentle expression.
“That’s right.”
“The Imperial Family will be furious, do you have any countermeasures?”
Dharma Void Shinni smiled.
“Isn’t there someone who walks the path of the Uncrowned King?”
“What?”
Old Master frowned, but Dharma Void Shinni said.
“If he doesn’t want it, no one can change the outer affairs. If the outer affairs don’t change, isn’t the Jianghu martial world the same? So, as long as Young Master Son is there, nothing to worry about will happen to Emei. Isn’t that so?”
Old Master groaned. As expected, Dharma Void Shinni was not an easy opponent. He wanted to say something, but Old Master also fully agreed, so he had nothing to say.
“Tch, you know it well.”
“How could I not know? Anyone who has seen the Celestial Four would know.”
Dharma Void quietly chanted a Buddhist prayer.
Anyone who has seen the Celestial Four would know.
What the ‘one who walks the path of the Uncrowned King’ means, and what weight that existence carries.
Right now, they are just pretending to ignore it, or are half-doubting it. Just like Dharma Void or Cheonghye before experiencing this.
Dharma Void Shinni put her palms together towards Old Master.
“Please tell the one who walks the path of the Uncrowned King. Emei will withdraw from Mt. Huang, and this Dharma Void will never forget the grace bestowed today.”
Her words were full of sincerity, but Old Master frowned as if displeased.
“Then what about you?”
Old Master pointed at Cheonghye Satae with his chin. Cheonghye Satae paused for a moment, then raised her head and looked straight at Old Master. Her eyes were clear and without hesitation, so Old Master was inwardly impressed.
‘It’s only a matter of time before she surpasses Dharma Void.’
While Old Master was thinking that he shouldn’t show Son Bin’s sparring or training to her, Cheonghye Satae said quietly.
“Is Princess Gyeonghui involved in this matter?”
That question was just for confirmation.
The moment Sect Leader Hyewol Satae said, ‘The secret support of the Celestial Four is the Imperial Family supporting Emei,’ it was obvious that the Imperial Family was behind all of this, and that simultaneously meant that Princess Gyeonghui was involved in some way.
“Yes.”
Old Master’s answer confirmed it again. Cheonghye Satae bit her lip. But her silence didn’t last long.
“First, we need to evacuate Emei’s disciples and the Ja Hye Moon’s followers to a safe place.”
There would be some resistance, but with Dharma Void Shinni and Cheonghye Satae’s orders, it wouldn’t be a problem to make them retreat. Now that it has been proven that this place is dangerous, Cheonghye Satae must also accompany them until they get out.
“Sword Master Wi of the Azure Wave Sword will choose for himself.”
Wi Gajin of the Azure Wave Sword is Princess Gyeonghui’s confidant. Knowing that things have turned out like this, he will also choose his own path. Maybe he’s already gone.
“It won’t take long. And after evacuating the disciples to a safe place…”
Cheonghye Satae said with a determined look.
“According to the will of the one who walks the path of the Uncrowned King, I will join him as well.”
That meant that she would join Son Bin’s camp.
According to her master Dharma Void Shinni, that was the way to help Emei. And at the same time, this was her own apology and repayment.
An outer affairs expert’s declaration to help was enough to be called an apology and repayment, but Old Master’s reaction was lukewarm.
“Do you know where Bin is?”
“Yes?”
Old Master said to the flustered Cheonghye Satae.
“You said you’d join him, right? Then that means you’re going to where Bin is, right? But I’m busy too, so I don’t have time to take you to Bin. I have to move as soon as Hong-ah brings news.”
Old Master continued bluntly.
“And there’s no room next to Bin. There are a lot of people waiting besides you. If you want to get even a little attention, it has to be something like ‘I even broke the rules to be by your side’ or…”
“T, that’s not what I mean!”
Cheonghye Satae, who finally understood Old Master’s words, shouted in embarrassment. She was still a young lady, and she had no experience or resistance to such things.
“A, anyway, I will follow Young Master Son’s will. If I follow you, I will eventually meet him.”
Cheonghye Satae called Old Master ‘you.’ Originally, she should have respected him as an elder, but she forgot her manners in responding to Old Master’s blunt and sudden attitude.
“You’re going to be with me?”
Old Master didn’t care about such things either. He frowned.
“That’s a bit difficult too? If the Spirit Medium finds out that I’m traveling alone with a young woman, she might try to break my neck.”
Old Master stroked his neck as if it wasn’t a joke. Cheonghye Satae was dumbfounded.
“I am a disciple of Buddhism. I am already ordained, a disciple of Buddhism.”
The sound of grinding teeth in the middle of her voice was proof that she was exercising patience.
“Don’t Buddhist disciples date? The Mount Hua Sect seems to do it well.”
“Those are Taoists!”
“Buddhism or Taoism.”
Old Master grumbled. In reality, Buddhism and Taoism had many similarities in appearance. This was because Taoism had adopted many of Buddhism’s concepts. But it was a ridiculous statement for Cheonghye Satae.
Grind.
“I am a disciple of Emei.”
This time, the sound of grinding teeth was clearly heard. And Cheonghye Satae realized that she shouldn’t be swept away by Old Master like this.
“And I’m not interested in old men either?”
That was Cheonghye Satae’s own decisive blow. But it didn’t work on Old Master.
“Then what kind of man do you like?”
“Of course, young and dashing…”
Cheonghye Satae’s face turned red. It was nothing to Old Master, but for Cheonghye Satae, it was a shameful thing that she couldn’t dare to say.
“Then that’s good. I’ll be sure to tell the Spirit Medium later… Why are you like this?”
Old Master frowned at Cheonghye Satae, who was turning red and blue.
“A, anyway, I’m going to follow you. So I’m going to meet Young Master Son!”
It sounded a bit strange, but Cheonghye Satae didn’t have time to worry about that. Old Master clicked his tongue and said to Dharma Void Shinni.
“Tch, she said she realized the Dao, but isn’t she just stubborn?”
Dharma Void Shinni smiled instead of answering. Old Master didn’t know, but she was rather pleased with this change in her disciple, who was usually insecure and weak.
“Don’t tease young people too much. What if you earn their resentment?”
Dharma Void Shinni said in a gentle voice as if scolding him. But Old Master looked rather wronged.
“What did I do?”
“Cheonghye.”
Dharma Void Shinni said in a soft voice. Cheonghye Satae hesitated and turned her head towards her master. She felt embarrassed to think that she had shown her master her disgraceful behavior.
“Follow what your heart tells you.”
Her master, Dharma Void Shinni, said in a gentle and soft voice.
“Because that is your path.”
Cheonghye Satae’s eyes lit up. The warm warmth conveyed in her master’s words erased her embarrassment and bewilderment.
“Yes, Master.”
Dharma Void Shinni looked at her answering disciple with warm eyes. And she turned her head to Old Master.
“It must be boring to be here alone, would you like to go with us? It doesn’t seem difficult for that child to find Old Master wherever he is.”
“I will.”
Old Master’s decision was quick. Cheonghye Satae asked Old Master with a little hesitation.
“That child from before…”
“Ah, Hong-ah?”
Old Master shrugged.
“I’m just going to show her around. Children need to have various experiences to grow up well.”
But that wasn’t what Cheonghye Satae wanted to ask. Old Master noticed Cheonghye Satae’s hesitant appearance.
“Things like stealth and infiltration.”
Old Master chuckled and said.
“Even outer affairs experts can easily miss it if they don’t know it well. Well, once you know the method, it’s nothing special, so there’s no need to be so surprised.”
Cheonghye Satae nodded. And she asked again carefully.
“She seemed like a girl from before…”
“Yes. She’s very cute.”
A smile naturally appeared on Old Master’s face. It was the same warm expression as the kind grandfather from before.
“Her words and actions are so clear, and do you know how pretty she is when she smiles? Her red hair is surprisingly very soft. And there’s also that Jang-ah guy… Ahem.”
Old Master cleared his throat. He felt like he had become a doting grandfather bragging about his grandchildren.
“What are you doing? Let’s go quickly.”
Old Master took the lead and strode away. Perhaps it was to hide his embarrassed face.
“Let’s go, Master.”
Cheonghye Satae tried to support her master, Dharma Void Shinni, but Dharma Void Shinni shook her head and moved on her own.
Sect Leader Hyewol Satae followed Dharma Void Shinni with her head bowed, and Cheonghye Satae turned her head and looked back at the direction where Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, had disappeared.
Saaaah.
Mt. Huang was still not clearly visible, hidden in a deep mist.
But Cheonghye Satae was no longer afraid of that sight.
Because a clear path had already emerged in her heart.
Cheonghye Satae turned her head. And she followed her master, Dharma Void Shinni.