Episode 119

Mount Emei was the highest and most renowned mountain in Sichuan Province, boasting dozens of large and small temples.

The peak, occupied by the Emei Sect, consisted solely of bhikkhunis, while the other areas housed temples unrelated to Murim sects.

One such temple was the Golden Pavilion Temple.

Midnight. Approximately 300 children arrived at the usually deserted temple.

The monks, taken aback, huddled together, unsure of what to do.

“Amitabha. What is going on? Why are there so many children…?”

“They are being pursued and seek refuge with us.”

“Though I am unaware of their circumstances, they are Murim children. If we shelter them carelessly, our temple may face grave consequences.”

“So, should we feign ignorance?”

“The head monk is approaching; let us seek his counsel.”

As the monks deliberated, an elderly man holding prayer beads approached.

Seemingly grasping the situation, he spoke boldly.

“Are you fearful of risking your lives to aid these children?”

“Th-that’s not it…”

“Explain to me the worth of the lives you save by forsaking these unfortunate ones.”

The monks, feeling ashamed, bowed their heads.

“…we have been narrow-minded.”

The head monk spoke compassionately.

“If it is the will of the Buddha to perish while performing good deeds, then we should embrace that path joyfully. However, I doubt that will be our fate.”

Unlike the Emei Sect, renowned for martial arts, these monks were uninvolved in the martial world.

The monks ceased their objections.

“But where can we conceal these children?”

“Do we not have the Main Hall?”

The Main Hall, the temple’s largest shrine housing the primary Buddha statue, was a sacred space.

While it was feasible to bring them inside, finding a hiding spot seemed impossible.

“If a search is conducted, won’t they be discovered?”

“We just have to do what we can. Let’s see what the Buddha’s will is.”

There was no longer any need for hesitation, as the decision had already been made.

The monks, joining hands with the chief monk, began to guide the children.

“Hurry and go in there.”

“Hurry up. Hurry!”

Expressing their gratitude, the children started to take refuge in the main hall.

“Thank you so much, monk.”

“Thank you.”

But was there truly any guarantee of their safety in hiding there?

Yu Jinsan surveyed the surroundings and urgently addressed the monk.

“Please turn off all the lights in the temple. Hurry, please!”

“R-right. Okay.”

If the fire continued to burn at night in the dark mountains, it would surely attract unwanted attention.

Once all the lights were extinguished, the temple was plunged into darkness, and silence ensued.

For the moment, it provided a brief respite, yet a sense of unease lingered.

The children, huddled together, had their eyes tightly shut.

Despite likely having much to say, their discipline prevented any rash actions.

In the darkness, Yu Jinsan was the only one pondering their next steps.

‘We cannot remain hidden here indefinitely. We must make our move just before dawn.’

By now, all the entrances to Mount Emei were probably sealed. The strategy was to break through at the moment when the encirclement was most lax.

But was it as straightforward as he had hoped? The issue with Do Hye was a significant complication, and it was possible that even the warden had returned.

No matter how much he deliberated, it seemed impossible to proceed without some form of sacrifice.

‘First, I should inquire if there are any alternative mountain paths.’

He was acutely aware that this might be in vain. If there were other routes, the Emei Sect would certainly be aware of them.

Nevertheless, they had to attempt whatever seemed possible, even if it felt like clutching at straws.

Yu Jinsan, on the verge of leaving the Main Hall, suddenly halted and tensed up. There was a light visible beyond the window.

Given its flickering nature, it had to be a torch.

It wasn’t just one or two. Soon, it escalated to dozens. The children noticed this and tried to keep their presence as minimal as possible, straining to overhear the conversations.

“What are the bhikkhunis of the peak doing at this hour?”

“Have you, by any chance, seen children?”

“I am not sure what you are talking about.”

After all, the bhikkhunis had come for a visit.

One fortunate aspect was that Do Hye didn’t seem to be among them. If she had been there, she would have immediately noticed them all hiding in the Main Hall.

It didn’t seem difficult to eliminate the bhikkhunis who had come here, but the location would be compromised as soon as a battle erupted.

“Can we conduct a search?”

“It is alright to look around, but you will have to leave your weapons behind.”

“We cannot agree to that.”

“Under no circumstances can one enter the temple with weapons. If you insist on proceeding, we will have to lodge a protest with the Emei Sect in the name of the Golden Pavilion Temple.”

Since the Emei Sect was also a Buddhist sect, the bhikkhunis had to pause and consider.

If a single negative rumor spread, who would take responsibility? As members of a prestigious sect, they had to be concerned about their reputation.

Soon, the bhikkhunis appeared to be deliberating among themselves.

“Sajo. They say these aren’t ordinary children; it’s too dangerous for us to enter without weapons.”

“Hmm. It isn’t something I can decide alone, so I will have to seek the master’s permission and return.”

“Yes. There is no rush. Even if they are hiding on Mount Emei, it’s only a matter of time before they are discovered.”

After a while, the bhikkhunis left, and the children exhaled in relief.

But they had only overcome one obstacle.

“137. They say they will return. What do we do?”

“Should we wait and fight?”

Before they realized it, everyone was looking to Yu Jinsan for guidance.

His expression was grave as he sat down, arms crossed.

“I need to think about this for a moment, so please, everyone, wait.”

If they chose to stay and fight, they would all be killed.

The most realistic strategy for now was to split into groups, divert the enemies’ attention, and allow at least some of them to escape.

But how many children would die in the process?

He needed to make a decision, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

“…”

Everyone remained silent, their attention fixed on 137.

Even after some time, Yu Jinsan couldn’t find the words to say. They all just waited.

‘What? I think I just heard something.’

It felt like an auditory illusion.

A small voice, sounding oddly familiar, was getting closer. Soon, the other children began to hear it too.

That’s when it happened.

Suddenly, the ground shook, and the temple trembled as if it were about to collapse.

Kukuukung!!

“Wh-what?!”

“What’s happening?”

As the children looked around in confusion, a fierce roar that seemed to tear through the air echoed from somewhere.

[Grandpa!!!]

It was a voice filled with enough courage to cause a landslide. Yet, they couldn’t pinpoint its source.

It was so powerful that they wondered if it was really made by a human.

While everyone was bewildered, Yu Jinsan leaped up.

“Seol is here!”

It was unmistakably his granddaughter’s voice.

The children just stared, wide-eyed, unsure of what was happening.

“Uh?”

“Who’s Seol?”

Yu Jinsan ran off without responding.

Kwang!

Standing tall in the Main Hall, he took a deep breath.

Then, with all his might, he released his internal qi.

“Child, grandpa is here!!!”

His voice boomed, echoing all the way to the end of Mount Emei.

The children, who were hiding, were taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

“137! What’s gotten into you?”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Why would you expose our location?”

The children’s confusion was understandable. His actions seemed tantamount to inviting their enemies to come and kill them.

However, Yu Jinsan’s face showed not even a trace of anxiety.

He suddenly appeared serious as he stepped back.

“You’ve all put in a lot of effort. You can relax now and prepare to descend with me, Grandpa.”

What is this nonsense now?

Everyone grew uneasy due to the sudden shift in the atmosphere and 137’s demeanor.

As expected.

“You people!!”

A group of individuals started to emerge at the entrance of the Golden Pavilion Temple.

Do Hye Satae clutched her back with her left hand, and the warden stood side by side.

Behind them, instructors and elderly members of the Emei Sect could be spotted.

The children, overwhelmed and intimidated, were frozen in fear. Except for Yu Jinsan…

“This cannot be happening…”

“The warden has arrived as well.”

This was just the beginning. Even now, the bhikkhunis who had been searching nearby are gradually joining in.

Do Hye Satae took the lead in approaching the distressed children.

She scowled, fixing her gaze on one individual.

“137, why don’t you come here? Understand that you won’t meet your end peacefully today.”

Yu Jinsan still stood with his back turned, wearing a confident expression. His demeanor, out of place in the current situation, was unsettling.

“How can you order an adult to approach a fallen bhikkhuni? Perhaps you’ll only comprehend if you’re struck.”

“This is madness. Let’s see if you maintain that tone shortly.”

Do Hye Satae advanced, twisting her sword.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

Although she seemed to flinch at something, she endeavored to stand tall.

At that moment, an eerie chill swept through the temple grounds.

Wheing!

It was unusual on a calm day with no wind.

-Why are you hesitating? You said you would deal with 137 yourself.

The warden inquired of his companion, Do Hye Satae.

However, she halted, unable to move due to the cold enveloping her.

“…?”

Everyone was shocked and turned to look at Do Hye Satae. It was indeed odd to see her hesitate in such an awkward manner.

Suddenly, a clear voice cut through the tension.

“Is it them?”

It was Yu Seol’s voice, ringing out refreshingly.

Although soft, her voice carried a sense of authority, as if she stood right beside them.

Surprisingly, the source of the sound was beneath a cliff about 30 miles away.

There, Yu Seol marched alone, spear in hand. Her brows furrowed, giving her an angry appearance.

Witnessing her close the distance of three meters with each step left everyone astonished.

Amidst the shock, tears welled up in Yu Jinsan’s eyes.

It was undeniably his granddaughter, albeit with hair now flowing down to her waist, swaying in the wind.

“Yes, that’s her. The one who tormented my grandfather so much…”

“And who is that now?”

Seeing his granddaughter after a long time brought back a wave of sadness.

Yu Jinsan’s eyes glistened with moisture.

He pointed at the instructors, starting with the leader.

“Do you see this man and his lackeys? And those four bhikkhunis over there, heads held high? They were causing me trouble.”

Before he could finish, Yu Seol had drawn closer, her approach almost ghostly.

In no time, over a hundred people had gathered, yet silence prevailed, an unknown sense of intimidation hanging heavy in the air.

Swish!!

The Dragon Flower Spear plunged deep into the ground.

It signified her readiness to confront those singled out by her grandfather.

Even the two warriors lowered their weapons. She embodied the spirit of the Martial God.

At that moment, Yu Seol’s gaze was fixed on Do Hye Satae, who was clutching her back with her left hand.

“Hunchback, come here.”