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Chapter : 13
“Why is it so noisy outside?”
Moyong Yunhwan, who had been reviewing documents in his office, frowned irritably.
Then, as if something occurred to him, he set down what he was holding on the desk and turned toward the door.
Right on cue—
Bang!
The door burst open without restraint, and just as expected, someone appeared with a bright, sun-like smile.
“Yo—holed up in your office again today, reading boring paperwork, huh?”
There were only two people in the world who could behave so freely here, and only one of them would make such a loud entrance. There was no mistaking who it was.
Yang Euijun strode in confidently and leaned over the desk opposite his friend Moyong Yunhwan.
All that could be seen were documents and reports crammed with dense writing and numbers.
“Still full of boring stuff in here.”
He clicked his tongue and winked playfully—exactly the same as when he used to pull pranks in their youth.
“Now that you’re here, I suppose the peace and quiet is over.”
At Moyong Yunhwan’s greeting, Yang Euijun nodded vigorously.
“Of course!”
Thumping his chest proudly as he replied, he finally managed to draw a smile even from Moyong Yunhwan.
Yang Euijun puffed up with pride, boasting that he had made his picky friend laugh.
The warm atmosphere in Munryeong Pavilion continued even after Tak Museong joined them.
When word spread that the Three Spirits had gathered together again after a long time, Yeonhwa was at the private training ground reserved exclusively for the leader of the Divine Messenger Corps.
Standing in the center of the training field with her sword held upright, she remained motionless for a long time.
There wasn’t any problem.
She was simply pouring all her concentration into reviewing the Namgung clan’s sword in her mind while gripping the sword tightly in her hand.
‘The principle of Namgung’s sword… presses down upon the earth with the heavy sword and supports the sky overhead with the domineering sword—then crushes the opponent with overwhelming force.’
Yeonhwa’s sword began to move.
Yet it was so heavy and deliberate that it hardly seemed different from when she had been standing still.
The momentum of the blade, which had moved slowly as if tightening a noose, changed explosively the moment its arc rose upward into the air.
Yeonhwa imagined an enemy standing before her.
She could not define exactly who it was… but it didn’t matter.
‘If an enemy stands before me, I will never hesitate! If my foe comes at me, I will never retreat!’
She raised her sword high toward the sky and then slammed it down sharply toward her invisible opponent.
Swaaaash!
The sword’s path split the air and tore through space as it roared savagely toward the ground.
If the heavy sword constricted one’s breath, the domineering sword crushed it until it burst.
The proper harmony and application of these two principles heightened the power of the technique and embodied the true essence of the Namgung family’s martial arts.
KWAANG!
The force released from Yeonhwa’s sword carved a long line across the training ground floor.
Straightening her blade, Yeonhwa steadied her breathing and examined the result she had created.
It was not a mere trace.
Nor was it a reckless rampage born from losing control.
It was not a fake imitation forged while bound by shackles—but a structured, dignified, and overwhelming path of domination that Yeonhwa herself had arranged as she sought freedom.
Clap, clap!
Jiwonhyeong, who had been standing at the edge of the training ground, applauded in admiration.
“Even from that distance, it gave me chills.”
Yeonhwa accepted the towel he offered and nodded.
“I learned a lot from Commander Gu… and I gained quite a bit from fighting many enemies who used different martial arts.”
She had finally fully grasped what she had only just realized.
Noticing the faint satisfaction on her face, Jiwonhyeong’s eyes lit up.
He began asking questions about her sword.
Indeed, Yeonhwa answered with interest while reflecting on her own techniques.
As they chatted in that rare peaceful moment, Yeonhwa suddenly let out a small chuckle.
Seeing Jiwonhyeong’s curious expression, she said,
“When I first learned the sword from Lord Muryeong, he once told me that the Namgung family’s sword didn’t suit me and that I should learn another martial art.”
“…What?”
He looked stunned. How could the legitimate daughter of the Namgung family be told not to learn the Namgung martial arts?
“He said that if I truly wanted to grow strong, I should choose not the right path—but the path that fits me.”
He had said that the heavy and domineering sword principles of the Namgung family didn’t suit Yeonhwa’s slender frame and small build.
But Yeonhwa, like her older brother Seonyu, believed that as a child of Namgung she had to learn the Namgung sword…
Because of her introverted personality as a child, she couldn’t outright refuse—but she showed her resistance by lowering her head and avoiding eye contact.
‘Even if I had learned the Moyong sword or martial arts from elsewhere, it wouldn’t have made me any less Namgung… so why did I resist so strongly? I used to wonder that myself.’
Looking back now, she realized that for her, the right path had ultimately been the path that fit her.
Since she had been born as the legitimate daughter of Namgung, wouldn’t she have been incomplete if she hadn’t learned and mastered Namgung’s ways?
‘If I had become only half-complete, I wouldn’t even have been able to begin the new plan I just established.’
After all, it made no sense for the head of the Namgung family not to practice the Namgung martial arts.
As she reflected, a faint bitterness crossed her face.
Not missing it, Jiwonhyeong deliberately joked,
“So… did Lord Muryeong say he reached his current position by always choosing only the path that suited him?”
“No.”
“Then…?”
“He said he was already strong from the beginning, so he never needed to worry about such things.”
“…Ah.”
Jiwonhyeong couldn’t hide his displeased expression.
“Well… I suppose that’s only natural for someone hailed as the greatest martial genius in history.”
He shook his head in exaggerated complaint, making Yeonhwa laugh again.
As they continued talking, the two of them soon reached the exit of the training ground.
Yeonhwa was the first to notice several people beyond the gate staring persistently toward the training field.
“They’re increasing day by day.”
Following her gaze, Jiwonhyeong replied,
“It seems the Namgung family keeps stirring things up everywhere as if trying to drive up your reputation. Should we take action from our side?”
“No. Rather than that, it’s time to make a decision. If we don’t leave them any room, what can they do?”
Jiwonhyeong swallowed nervously.
“Have you made your choice?”
Yeonhwa answered with silent affirmation.
* * *
Yu Geonmyeong, a member of the White Tiger Squad and the young deputy leader of the Daejeong Merchant Guild, often enjoyed walking alone late at night.
Especially these days—troubled by countless issues—he wandered almost every night near the abandoned pavilion beside the academy to calm his mind.
Tonight as well, he quietly left his quarters, carrying a bottle of liquor to drink at the pavilion while strolling leisurely.
Upon reaching his destination, he stretched widely and began searching for a place to sit—then suddenly froze.
He had belatedly noticed someone sitting on one side of the half-collapsed pavilion.
He didn’t need to ask who it was.
Even the faint outline revealed in the darkness was enough for him to guess.
“Isn’t that the Commander of the Black Tortoise Squad?”
The figure slowly rose and stepped fully into the moonlight.
As expected—it was her.
Yu Geonmyeong wasn’t foolish. Someone of her stature appearing at such a remote place at this late hour couldn’t possibly be a coincidence.
“Did you need something from me?”
When he asked, she replied,
“I looked into it, and it seems there are quite a few problems with the Daejeong Merchant Guild, where you come from. I thought I might be able to help.”
“…Could it be…”
“Yes?”
Since she hadn’t quite heard him, Yeonhwa asked again. Yu Geonmyeong hesitated before speaking.
“Do… you perhaps… have feelings for me?”
“Ah.”
What a misunderstanding.
Yeonhwa let out a short sigh and said nothing, leaving Yu Geonmyeong flustered.
If he had thought the darkness would hide his face, he might have turned around and run away immediately.
What he didn’t realize was that under such bright moonlight, Yeonhwa could clearly recognize him even in the dark.
And what Yeonhwa realized was that the young man standing before her—with his face and ears flushed red—was someone her own age.
Most of the people around her were elders from the Three Spirits or the Namgung family, and she had no close peers or classmates at the academy. The closest in age was Jiwonhyeong, who was three years older.
So meeting someone her own age who reacted with such honest and youthful sincerity was a first for her.
The tension between them eased, and as they looked at each other, both unconsciously relaxed their shoulders.
“Hahaha! This is a bit embarrassing.”
Scratching his head, Yu Geonmyeong lightly shook the bottle of liquor in his hand.
“Care for a drink?”
“No.”
Declining politely, Yeonhwa took a breath and looked straight at him.
“More importantly, I want to ask whether you’re willing to hear the reason I came to see you.”
After a moment of silence, Yu Geonmyeong asked,
“Is there anything I could possibly give in return for the help I’d receive from the Commander of the Black Tortoise Squad?”
Why had he made such an absurd misunderstanding earlier?
Because he believed there was absolutely nothing he could offer her in return.
But then—
“There is. Something that only you can give at this moment.”
Hearing Yeonhwa’s confident answer, Yu Geonmyeong blinked repeatedly in disbelief.
