Book 18 Chapter 6
Men falling like pattering rain
—Patter! Patter!
When was that? Leaning against the railing of Wolhyangjeong, looking into the distance, Na Yerinn’s eyes went back in time, against the current of time. To that gray time when everything had lost its color.
* * *
The world as seen through the eyes of a young girl was a faded ash gray.
From a young age—even before the signs of womanhood began to appear on her body—Na Yerinn had been exposed to danger. Half the world was like a threat to her. That was because, unfortunately, half the world was male. This might seem natural and trivial, but to her, it was a very serious problem. For some reason, regardless of their profession or age, men would fall in love at first sight upon seeing this young girl. Not everyone, but most men lacking self-control did. It wasn't physical attraction, but some unknown charm that transcended the physical, capturing the souls of men in a fleeting moment. The unfortunate thing was that this girl had never once wanted such a power.
"She’s still young, what does it matter?" That would be an irresponsible remark that ignores reality. Reality is much colder and more perverse. If you thought she would be safe because she was young and innocent, you underestimated the wildness and perversion of the male race. This world was one of diversity, and just as there was positive diversity, there was ample negative diversity. For diversity is, by nature, a collection of different things.
Therefore, she was exposed to serious threats, and to protect her from the males who desired her—in various senses—her father, the leader of the Murim Alliance, Na Baekcheon, decided to send his daughter to become a disciple of Geomgak, a forbidden place for women only. The fact that this unlucky father, who doted on his daughter, decided to send her to a place where he couldn't even see her properly for years is enough to infer how serious her situation was. To add, when parting with his daughter, Na Baekcheon forgot his dignity and cried profusely, drawing the stern gaze of the Sword Empress. It is also said that after that incident, his visits to Geomgak on ‘business’ became frequent. The Sword Empress found him very annoying.
“Maintain your dignity, Alliance Leader!”
That was the Sword Empress’s constant refrain whenever she met Na Baekcheon.
However, even with such arrangements, the threat was not entirely gone. The physical threat had clearly diminished, but the mental danger remained.
Dragon’s Eye!
Even at this young age, an excessive ability unfitting for a young girl’s vessel was already gnawing at her mind. What happens to a tender mind that directly confronts the most corrupt thoughts that seek to defile it? It was no wonder she locked away her heart. That was a young girl’s almost instinctive defense mechanism for survival.
“…They say that’s her!”
“Ah, his father is the leader of the Murim Alliance…”
“But why did such a precious jewel from a noble family come to this secluded South Sea?”
“Who knows. I heard rumors that she was suffering from kidnapping threats and various other dangers. You know…”
“Oh my, that’s scandalous, dear! So, nothing happened?”
“They say nothing happened, but who knows. How can we tell if something happened or not?”
“That’s true. But isn’t her face too cold? For a kid, such an icy face… Is it because she’s pretty? Or is she saying she’s the daughter of the Murim Alliance Leader? Well, people like us would probably look pathetic to her. How arrogant.”
“I know, right? Special treatment just because her father is the Murim Alliance Leader! It’s an eyesore.”
Numerous negative thoughts, flowing from the deep darkness of human hearts, poured into the girl’s mind, corrupting her precarious sanity. She was still young and lacked the ability to control her powers. They might have thought they were whispering secretly among themselves, but their dark thoughts flowed into her world like a violent torrent.
It was no exaggeration to say that there was almost no time when malicious and envious gazes were not directed at her. The jealousy possessed by humans had a terrifying yin energy, and it was too much for a child like her to bear.
Adding insult to injury, the uncontrollable ability called Dragon’s Eye amplified that yin energy tenfold. The girl’s vessel was too small to contain that power. Excessive power that couldn’t be contained could easily break the vessel itself. Her mind, like a clay pot not yet dried by the sun, was on the verge of collapse due to the excessive influx of overly corrupted thoughts. It was then that the savior, Dokgo Ryeong, appeared.
“Oh my, you’re Yerinn? It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Dokgo Ryeong, your messenger from now on. Please take care of me.”
A white hand extended, a smile as bright as the sun. That smile became the dawn, bringing the first light to her gray world.
Dokgo Ryeong sincerely complimented her beauty. Her special ability since childhood allowed her to unintentionally discern the truth and falsehood in people’s words. Though numerous compliments were showered upon her, most of them hid venomous teeth of jealousy and desire behind them, the dark emotions of humanity.
However, Dokgo Ryeong’s words contained not a speck of self-interest. She genuinely thought she was beautiful deep down and was admiring and blessing her for it.
For the first time, Na Yerinn felt that being recognized as beautiful by others was not so bad. Moreover, she smiled at her sincerely. Filthy lies dared not approach that smile. When everyone denied her, only she affirmed her.
At that time, Dokgo Ryeong, who didn't need an eyepatch, shone with the light and vitality of life. Seeing that brilliant light of life, Na Yerinn envied someone else for the first time. She possessed something she lacked, and she felt that she might never possess it.
—Thus, I gained a precious person whom I can sincerely call an older sister.
Dokgo Ryeong protected the young girl and became a shield that protected her from countless envy and jealousy. She provided cool shade so that the girl’s damp vessel could dry safely without cracking. Without that shade, the tender vessel, rapidly dried by the scorching sun, would have cracked like a paddy field on a drought day. Expressing that gratitude in words was impossible. To Na Yerinn, Dokgo Ryeong was more precious than blood. Yet, that Dokgo Ryeong had disappeared, and now her life or death was unknown. It was impossible not to be anxious, impossible not to worry.
“Sister…”
Once again, a long sigh escaped her red lips. She felt foolish for being unable to do anything but stand there with her hands down.
And hateful.
* * *
Winter passed, and spring arrived. Life’s buds, gathered in the harsh winter cold, sprouted, and all things teemed with life. However, true spring had not yet arrived on one woman’s face. The sigh of a beauty possessed a special ability to shatter the hearts of countless men at once. Moreover, it held a magic that blurred even the sense of season. Though all things were being reborn around them, the cold of winter still dominated this garden. Even at this moment, irrefutable evidence of its effect was evident.
Then, a woman invaded the spring garden dominated by winter. White robes, a sword sheath that seemed to be carved from white jade, and a white hilt of the sword inserted into it, dark eyes filled with profound wisdom, and a confident posture. Men who insisted that the expression "presence that overwhelms all" should only be used for great heroes would have to retract their foolish claims the moment they met this woman. There are many extraordinary people and divine beings in the martial world, and statistically, almost half of them are women, but there is only one person who can exude such presence amidst beauty. Embroidered on that person’s chest was the Six-Winged Flying White Crane pattern, with six spread wings. The intruder was the Sword Empress, Yi Okshang, the foremost woman in the martial world and Na Yerinn's master.
As soon as Yi Okshang approached the garden where Na Yerinn was, she frowned. There were too many uninvited guests. Moreover, they were rudely avoiding her gaze, crouching and hiding like thieves, not even showing their faces. After all, they wouldn’t have the guts to show their faces.
“Twenty-three, no, twenty-five.”
The skills of the two who had deceived her gaze, even for a moment, were praiseworthy.
One of these two was the permanent honorary chairman of the 'Love Misses Society', 'Biyeontae', but it was unnecessary for someone of the Sword Empress’s caliber to be aware of such trivial martial world perversions.
They were all people who merely looked up at the moon in the sky. None of them seemed to have the courage to confront it directly. She detested such lukewarmness.
“Disgraceful!”
The Sword Empress exclaimed.
She was not so kind as to overlook a collective eyesore. Rather, her kindness was to prevent them from making a spectacle of themselves any longer.
The Sword Empress stamped her foot towards the ground.
Boom!
An invisible boundary spread outwards in concentric circles, like ripples on a lake. Soon, an invisible barrier in the shape of a hemisphere covering a radius of ten jang was completed. It was the sword barrier cast by the Sword Empress.
That boundary was within her mind, but the moment that space was contained within that mind, the area within the barrier became an absolute space that unfolded exactly as her mind willed it to be. Although it was only concerning swords, the significance of that fact was immense. That is, everyone within this sword circle was already as good as dead. The fact that they were still breathing was either a mistake or the whim of a woman, not their exceptional abilities. Within this barrier, there was no life she could not kill if she set her mind to it. She could control the life and death of all beings within it without moving a single step.
However, no one reacted. Only Na Yerinn flinched slightly. Their inability to react meant their abilities were too weak to reach that level. Otherwise, how could they remain so motionless when their necks were under another's blade?
She released a killing intent within the sword realm she had cast, a killing intent that was almost malicious.
Slash!
It was a killing intent born solely from her mind, but its power was terrifying. A formless sword intent spread in all directions. The next moment, her sword realm was under the dominion of death.
As her will was activated, the sword of the mind—the sword within the heart—pierced the mind.
“Gak!”
Then, the uninvited guests hiding among the trees were startled like a flock of sparrows struck by lightning, and with ungraceful screams, they fell from the trees with a patter.
The Sword Empress’s mind had indeed cut them. The only difference was that it was their minds, not their bodies, that were cut. Although their bodies were not even scratched, the effect was immense, and the results were clear. For a master like her, it didn't matter much whether the body was injured or not. Sometimes, mental wounds are more terrifying and fatal than physical ones. If the wound is severe, it can lead to idiocy or madness. It is said that sometimes even mental annihilation occurs. In such a case, the body would only breathe, and nothing more, turning into a wooden puppet that did not react to any stimulus.
However, this time it was just a light taste, so it ended with just a startled reaction.
The men who fell to the ground like pattering rain struggled with their limbs like overturned turtles, trying to move their paralyzed bodies. It was truly a pathetic sight.
"Should I pull out all the trees so there’s no place to hide?"
In the past, there were no trees in the royal palace. It was a drastic measure to prevent assassins from hiding. Protecting a peerless beauty is as important, if not more important, than protecting an emperor. If the emperor dies, the crown prince can still succeed him, but who will succeed a peerless beauty? Therefore, in terms of rarity, beauty is more important than an emperor.
“Wretches!”
The Sword Empress exclaimed again, looking at the men struggling on the ground.
“Begone! You are not worthy!”
At the Sword Empress’s command, the men, who had been wriggling on the ground like fish struck by lightning, hastily got up and disappeared with a swishing sound. There was no one there brazen enough to defy her words.
“Pathetic swarm of flies.”
The Sword Empress’s assessment, after swatting away the tangled swarm of flies with a single blow, was colder and more ruthless than a north wind in a snowstorm. But that was only until she looked at Na Yerinn.
“Rinn, were you here?”
The Sword Empress’s expression softened considerably, unlike when she was looking at the wriggling swarm of males.
“Disciple Na Yerinn pays her respects to Master.”
Hastily putting away her sadness, Na Yerinn greeted her. However, the sadness that had accumulated was too deep and thick to be shed in an instant.
“Tsk, tsk, where did you go, leaving only sadness behind? Having emotions is a good thing. It enriches life. But if you are swept away by those emotions, they will destroy you.”
The Sword Empress knew well that human emotions, which are usually like a calm lake, can suddenly turn into a colossal tsunami that engulfs everything.
“There is sorrow because there are people, not people because there is sorrow. Always strive not to lose yourself.”
“I will keep that in mind, Master.”
However, the disciple, still harboring distrust for the world and lacking self-love, had not even properly established her own identity. That’s why the Sword Empress always posed questions to help her disciple realize who she was. But now, her disciple was once again surrendering herself to the throes of unstable emotion. She didn’t know what she should do. And she hated herself for being so incompetent.
'Where did that guy go at such an important moment?'
Judging that it would be dangerous to leave her as she was,
“Who are you?”
asked the Sword Empress.
“I am the disciple of Master.”
Na Yerinn replied.
“Then who are you, if not the Sword Empress’s disciple?”
the Sword Empress asked again.
“I am a student of the Cheonmu Academy.”
The Sword Empress asked again.
“And who are you, if not a student of the Cheonmu Academy?”
After a moment’s thought, Na Yerinn replied.
“…I am the daughter of Na Baekcheon, the leader of the Murim Alliance.”
“That too is not yourself, but merely a relationship you are connected to. In that relationship, Na Baekcheon, the leader of the Murim Alliance, exists, but you, Na Yerinn, do not.”
The father had a name, but the daughter had none. The Sword Empress paused for a moment and then continued.
“Do not try to reflect yourself in others. How can you see yourself in a mirror before you exist? Who are you, not as a disciple of the Sword Empress, not as a disciple of Geomgak, not as a student of Cheonmu Academy, not as the daughter of Na Baekcheon, the leader of the Murim Alliance? If these relationships are absent, are you nothing? Does the reflection in the mirror exist after the mirror, or does the mirror’s reflection exist after you exist? Who are you?”
It was an intense question. Na Yerinn had to answer it.
‘What am I, really?’
For her, who had been trained to establish herself through relationships, excluding all those relationships was an arduous task.
‘Who am I? What am I? How did my existence come to be? No, how is ‘I’ defined? Can I exist as myself even without all the relationships connected to me?’
At that moment, a voice echoed in her ears. It was a voice brought by the resonance of memory.
“How can you be so confident about yourself? Well… it’s because you believe, isn’t it? Believe it or not, I trust myself quite a bit. Only you can decide who you are. In this relative world, the creative act of defining oneself as oneself is a right granted not to heaven nor to God, but solely to humans. Relationships are just a secondary ‘bonus’ that arises after I exist. They are nothing more and nothing less than a device for experiencing differences. Family, organizations, nations are all just fields of relationships, not things that exist prior to me. No matter how much others try to sculpt or define me, ultimately, only I decide who I am. Evading responsibility at this moment is not only abandoning one’s rights but also a foolish act of denying one’s very existence. For at that moment, humans are deprived of their freedom and reduced to puppets of others.”
“Then how can I find myself? What should I do if I’ve already lost myself…?”
“Forgetting about losing oneself is impossible. It’s just that we are forgetting who we truly are. Wouldn’t it be unpleasant to imagine looking around and seeing everyone with the same face? The same face here, the same face there. The same clothes, the same way of thinking, the same way of speaking, ugh~ I feel like I could puke just thinking about it. We are all born with a kind of ‘amnesia.’ So, aren’t you curious about who I was before I lost my memory?”
“Then how can I wake up from that dream? From that amnesia.”
“There are countless ways… but the easiest way is to set a true goal. First, you have to choose something. That’s the beginning.”
“A goal?”
“Yes, a goal. Not a trivial goal like joining a flashy organization and receiving a salary until you die without losing your head. The important thing about a goal is discovering what you truly want. Then a goal will naturally be set. Once a goal is set, you can decide what path to take to reach it. In this world, there are hundreds of millions, no, infinite mountains called possibilities. You have to decide which mountain to climb first for a concrete path to emerge towards it. Wouldn’t it be troublesome to climb a mountain aimlessly and only realize at the summit, ‘Huh, this isn’t the right mountain?!’ after pouring tens of years into climbing it?”
“That’s certainly true. Then, is Ryu Yeon’s obsession with money because his life goal is to accumulate wealth and become rich?”
“Who knows? What do you think? Certainly, there are quite a few people who climb mountains aiming for the maximum amount of money, so that mountain is a bit crowded. But most of them pretend otherwise. Well, not only those people, but most people climb the local hills, so there are plenty of unexplored areas. Deciding which mountain to climb, and then climbing towards that mountain, isn’t that the first step to finding your true self?”
“Eek, the first step? Does that mean there’s a next step too?”
“Of course. Naturally. That’s why I said it was the easiest way earlier. There are a few more steps after that, and I haven’t been through all of them yet. It feels like it goes on forever.”
And the unforgettable final question.
“Yerinn, what kind of mountain do you want to climb?”
“I…”
These were the words she had shared with Bi Ryu Yeon once. What did she answer then?
She remembered.
“My name is Na Yerinn. I am a swordswoman who pursues the way of the sword as a martial artist. And I am a woman.”
The Sword Empress was surprised by her disciple’s clear answer. It wasn’t the content, but the attitude with which she spoke that showed a hint of self-confidence she hadn’t seen before. However, whether “a woman” meant acknowledging her womanhood without regret, or being a woman to one man, was ambiguous. But the Sword Empress didn’t probe further.
‘Let’s leave that for later amusement.’
“Then, does that mean you agree to live as a swordswoman in this martial world?”
“Yes, Master. I dislike blood, but I enjoy pursuing the reason contained within the sword. I seem to like the sword more than I thought. It seems difficult to imagine myself apart from the sword now, or not practicing swordsmanship.”
Na Yerinn’s answer had the effect of touching her master’s heart and bringing tears to her eyes. However, the Sword Empress did not outwardly show her emotion.
“Then, what can you do now? Besides falling into sadness, there are things you can do as a swordswoman.”
There was only one thing a swordswoman who pursued the way of the sword could do.
“Would you like to try it after a long time?”
The Sword Empress smiled and tapped her beloved sword.
“M-Master, are you talking about sparring?”
“Yes. I want to see your achievement after a long time. I couldn’t properly see it at Hwasan because of that guy.”
As a master, she wanted to witness firsthand the achievement of her disciple who had shed a layer of herself. She thought this level of camaraderie was acceptable.
“Then I won’t refuse.”
“Of course. At this moment, here, I completely refuse any thoughts of hesitation.”
Na Yerinn quietly drew her sword. The Sword Empress’s sword remained at her waist. However, it was equally daunting and terrifying. Whether the sword was in its sheath, drawn, or not present at all, it had no impact on a master of the Sword Empress’s caliber. Na Yerinn knew better than anyone how swift the Sword Empress’s sword-drawing technique was.
“Come in!”
Despite the Sword Empress’s words, Na Yerinn stood still, holding her sword at the mid-level. She knew that rashly pointing her sword at a master like the Sword Empress was akin to suicide. Impatience was poison in this match. Na Yerinn gazed at the Sword Empress with calm eyes.
Now, both of them were swordswomen. There was no need to hesitate.
They simply had to clash with all their might and prove their existence.
‘Indeed…’
A glint appeared in the Sword Empress’s eyes. Had she regained some of her lost self? The sword of her disciple, standing quietly, seemed much more stable than in the past. It was always a pleasure for a master to see her disciple’s progress.
However, no change occurs in a perfectly drawn, taut balance. The Sword Empress slightly created a vulnerability in her body.
“……!”
A clear provocation, saying, ‘If you have the ability to stab, then stab.’ And it was also a test.
A disciple of the Sword Empress should know how to fall for such provocations. If one becomes too complacent about self-preservation, ruthless punishment from the Sword Empress is sure to follow. However, she couldn’t help but hesitate.
For an ultimate master like the Sword Empress, the vulnerability she displayed became like the moon. That is, it was visible but unattainable. Nevertheless, it was visible and thus tempted the viewer. Whether she knew that or not was irrelevant. Having a target is much better than having none. Na Yerinn also stretched out her hand with all her might to grasp the moon. It was the first move of the Bihong Sword, ‘Bihong Yakpa’. It wasn’t flashy, but it was fast, accurate, and easy to follow up if it failed. Her opponent was the foremost woman in the martial world. She didn’t expect to be satisfied with a single move. But her expectations were far off the mark.
Thwack!
Na Yerinn’s sword, thrust with great speed, pierced the Sword Empress’s heart. Na Yerinn’s eyes widened in shock. She naturally expected her to dodge, and she had already planned the next five moves. But how could this happen… Even with her Dragon’s Eye, she couldn’t predict such a situation.
But that was premature shock. The next moment, the Sword Empress’s figure dispersed and vanished before her eyes, like white snowflakes scattering in a north wind.
“Where are you looking?”
The Sword Empress’s gentle voice was heard in her ear. She had already positioned herself behind her disciple and was whispering in her ear. Na Yerinn, startled, turned around. She was too surprised to speak.
The Sword Empress was very satisfied to see a bewildered expression appear on her disciple’s always icy face.
“It’s called Biseolbo (Flying Snow Step). It got its name because its appearance when cast resembles scattering snow. Actually, I named it. Since I created it, I should name it.”
“Biseolbo…”
Na Yerinn quietly uttered the name in her mouth. It felt good.
“Yes, don’t you think it’s much more elegant than ghost steps? It maximizes the afterimage effect. You know the difference between a clone and an afterimage, right?”
“Yes, Master. However, it doesn’t seem like such a phenomenon would occur with the afterimage effect alone.”
At her disciple’s observation, the Sword Empress smirked.
“As expected, your eyes are sharp. I was going to keep it a trade secret, but I can’t help it now. This is actually a clone with the afterimage effect maximized. It creates afterimages to the left and right simultaneously, causing confusion in the visual nerves, making it appear to disappear like a mirage. This is a technique that even your messenger hasn’t learned yet.”
“A technique that Dokgo Messenger hasn’t learned…”
She was about to pass it on to her first. Na Yerinn looked directly at the Sword Empress and said,
“Then I cannot learn it either. If the Messenger hasn’t learned it, how can I learn it first?”
“You are fully qualified to learn this technique. That is why I intend to pass this secret art on to you. Of course, Ryeong-i is also fully qualified to learn it. But that child is not here right now, is she?”
“B-but…”
The Sword Empress raised her hand and cut off her words.
“For a large ship to float, it needs a deep body of water, and for the Roc to fly across the ninety thousand li of the vast sky, it needs wind accumulated to the thickness of ninety thousand li. If the water is not deep, there is no power to carry a large ship, and if the wind is not deep, there is no power to carry the Roc. Without accumulated merit, you will be powerless. If you truly want to save Ryeong, build up your own strength so that you can respond when that child needs your abilities. Wouldn’t you want to avoid the pathetic sight of being unable to fly when you need to fly?”
The Sword Empress’s voice was quiet, but it carried a weight of a thousand pounds. Moreover, her words were part of a long tradition passed down for a thousand years since ancient times.
“Learn it. There will be no downside to learning it. Besides, who knows when it will be needed? You must always be prepared. Time does not wait. Only those who are prepared can seize the time that flashes by like an arrow. It will also be useful to help Ryeong. If that child falls into danger and cannot escape with her own abilities, you will need even greater abilities to rescue her from there, won’t you? So, learn it and master it. Humility isn’t always a good thing.”
“My thoughts were shallow. Please, bestow your teachings upon this unworthy disciple.”
Na Yerinn said with a humble bow. The Sword Empress smiled benevolently at her disciple’s willingness to admit her mistake and quickly change.
“On that note, this Master has one thing she is curious about.”
“Please ask.”
Na Yerinn replied in a polite tone.
“That… child. I believe her name was Bi Ryu Yeon?”
“…!”
Na Yerinn’s body visibly stirred for a moment. The Sword Empress found it amusing.
‘To make this child so agitated with just a name… something even I couldn’t do…’
She was the only human to achieve a feat that made an ice sculpture smile, something no one else had accomplished.
The more she learned, the more her curiosity about the unknown human, Bi Ryu Yeon, grew.
“Do you know anything about that child’s background?”
Na Yerinn shook her head.
“No. I only know that she is from Sichuan.”
‘Sichuan…’
That alone was too broad a scope. How many sects are there in Sichuan?
“If there is a large difference in status, it will be difficult later, doesn’t that bother you?”
“L-later, what are you talking about?”
Na Yerinn was flustered by the sudden implication of a future she hadn’t imagined.
“No, you haven’t even thought about that? It’s because you’re still a martial artist, but other girls would have already started families…”
Something heavy landed in Na Yerinn’s chest.
“I have never even thought that far. And I have no intention of doing so for the time being. Marriage? Absolutely not.”
Marriage… It was the word that seemed most unrelated to her life and future. Marriage to someone, an act she had never imagined. Those two words did not exist in her life, in her existence.
“Then it would be good to start thinking about it from now on. There’s a saying, ‘If you are prepared, you will not suffer misfortune.’”
Although the application seemed slightly different, she did not argue. She was a disciple who knew etiquette.
“A person’s life can change anytime, anywhere, and in any way, so it’s not strange. It’s that imprecise, and because of that, it’s diverse. So, the time will come when you have to think about that problem. And regarding his status…”
The Sword Empress returned to her question after delivering a significant mental shock to her disciple.
“Ryu Yeon is not the type of person to care about such things,”
Na Yerinn replied decisively. The Sword Empress was surprised twice by that answer. Once by its firmness, and again by its phrasing.
‘To think this child mentions a man’s name so naturally…’
Knowing her past, the surprise was even greater. It was just meant to be a tease, but perhaps an unprecedented event was unfolding. What stance should she take then? The Sword Empress thought about it seriously.
“Even if he doesn’t care, won’t your father care?”
“Even if Father cares, he won’t care. That’s the kind of person Ryu Yeon is.”
“Ho ho, does he have enough ability? Enough to not be shaken by the opposition of the great leader of the Murim Alliance?”
“That’s the kind of person he is. Ryu Yeon is not someone who clings to status.”
The Sword Empress let out a light sigh at her disciple’s repetitive answer.
“Whether it’s blind trust or resignation, this Master cannot distinguish. It might become quite troublesome later. Your father might not say anything, but your mother certainly will.”
Na Yerinn’s mother was very sensitive to such matters. Even if the two of them didn’t care, the social norms, already solidified like fossils, would not leave them alone.
“Although I unintentionally bore witness to the union between you two at Hwasan, my witness might not be accepted by your father, but I cannot be sure if it will be accepted by your mother.”
The rumor that she had witnessed the union would, in all likelihood, spread throughout the martial world faster than the wind, and probably soon reach the ears of Na Baekcheon and his wife. Then, Na Baekcheon would have to brace himself against his wife’s fiery anger.
“Your unlucky father might not object out of respect for my face. But your mother won’t. That child was never the type to care about such things. Moreover, she is your parent. I believe she has every right to participate in her child’s future. Even though I am your master, I cannot take away that position, can I?”
If it were Bi Ryu Yeon, he would surely have said something at this point. To not trust a child’s decision and arbitrarily judge their future is not to make them happy, but to push them into a pit of misfortune. If you stop a baby bird from leaving its nest, that baby bird loses the opportunity to strengthen its wings, and its weakened wings will eventually break in a strong wind and fall to the ground. However, Na Yerinn had not yet gone that far.
“That is a story for too far in the future, Master.”
“Who knows. We’ll see. The arrow of time has the advantage and disadvantage of not stopping. Moreover, it approaches us silently and threatens us. By the way, what is that guy doing these days? I haven’t seen him around. I wanted to have a chat with him, but I haven’t had the chance.”
As she said this, she consciously or unconsciously touched her beloved sword. It seemed that the white object hanging from her waist, which was unusually elastic and slender for her age, was related to the ‘conversation’ she was having.
“Well. I heard that he is busy because of his disciples. He is undergoing short-term intensive training.”
“Disciples? How old is he to have disciples?”
“He said there was something like that. Like playing house.”
The truth was, she didn’t know any more details. Even if she had questions, she wasn’t the type to pry into them. After all, she herself was a person with extremely little interest in others. That’s why she received the reputation of a cold, ice-like blade, wasn’t it? A beautiful but extremely cold sword light.
“Playing house? Did he pick up some kids somewhere?”
If Bi Ryu Yeon had heard this, he might have answered, ‘Something like that.’