35 – 03# The dagger in the bag (6)

An awl in a pocket, even if it does nothing, its sharpness will eventually pierce the fabric and reveal itself. From that perspective, Su-ah was an excellent awl.

Thanks to the enlightenment I gained a few days ago, the depth of my martial arts had deepened overall. What’s more, I was finally able to execute a secret technique that I hadn’t been able to use before.

It was definitely a tremendous achievement for someone her age, so it wouldn’t be strange if she walked around with her shoulders puffed out. But for some reason, Su-ah always maintained a humble attitude.

‘Indeed, that’s what a martial artist should be like. In the first place, in this harsh world of martial arts, one would have to have reached at least the Flower Gazing realm to strut around with pride. In that sense, both Su-ah and I still have a long and arduous road ahead.’

“I’ve never seen anyone achieve so much at such a young age. And to be so humble….”

Before I knew it, after finishing all the chores, Namgoong Yeon watched the secret technique Su-ah was unfolding from the sidelines and spoke with astonishment. But I was more amazed by Namgoong Yeon’s skills than Su-ah’s.

Praises for Su-ah’s talent were so commonplace that I was already at the level of taking them for granted. But I hadn’t expected Namgoong Yeon to be so skilled at housework.

Although its size was very small compared to the Sunmu Academy. This place was still one that the Unorthodox Faction had tried to use as an academy, so it was quite large for a private residence.

Before Namgoong Yeon came, everyone shared the housework, but even then, cleaning alone took half a day. But she finished it all in just three *shichen*? (approx. 6 hours)

‘Could it be that a master above the Flower Gazing realm has undergone rejuvenation and returned as a child….’

For a brief moment, I even considered that, but there was no reason for a master above the Flower Gazing realm to be mopping floors in a place like this. So, I had to abandon that thought.

“Do you have time to be slacking off like that? Is all the laundry done?”

“Yes! It’s all done!”

“The cleaning… is all done. Then go and start cooking rice.”

“Understood!”

Even Su-ah could no longer scold Namgoong Yeon for her skill, and she trailed off her words. It has been about half a month since Namgoong Yeon came here, wasn’t it about time to tell her?

She was not some ordinary person, but came from the Namgoong Clan, one of the Five Great Families. Of course, she may be from an unimportant collateral line, but seeing that she was in Henan province, there must be a reason.

In any case, it meant that the Namgoong Clan had supported her enough to enter the Sunmu Academy. If so, it was highly unlikely that she was from a collateral line. Unless, perhaps, she was extraordinarily talented for someone from a collateral line.

“Um… all the rice is gone?”

“Then you should go out and buy it right away, shouldn’t you?”

“It’s just, I’m a little… hesitant to go alone.”

“Su-ah, you go with Namgoong Yeon.”

“Understood, Master.”

For reasons unknown, Namgung Yeon seemed incredibly reluctant to venture outside. Conjecture led me to believe he was perhaps being hunted. Hence, Sooah had been assigned to him.

Originally, I intended to accompany him myself, but Sooah would strongly object. She even opposed my helping with household chores, and her reasoning was valid.

“To take in one who doesn’t even reveal their purpose, and to provide them with food, is already more than generous. Shouldn’t they at least earn their keep?”

Indeed, she wasn’t wrong, and Sooah didn’t torment Namgung Yeon beyond reason. Thus, I had no choice but to entrust all matters concerning Namgung Yeon to her.

Namgung Yeon didn’t seem to consider it unfair treatment either. He displayed a slight fear, but generally obeyed Sooah’s commands without complaint.

“Then, I shall depart immediately.”

“I…I will be back soon, Grand Protector.”

“Be careful on your journey.”

Having prepared everything, Sooah departed with Namgung Yeon for the marketplace, intending to purchase supplies. Left alone, Seolhwa illuminated her crimson eyes, fixing me with a gaze thick with anticipation.

“Now it’s just the two of us, Master.”

“Yes.”

“Then surely there’s only one thing we must do?”

“Practice, of course.”

I could think of nothing else. Seolhwa, in particular, could amass considerable inner strength at an astonishing rate due to her Sword-Heart Method and unique toxicity. However, her comprehension of martial techniques…

In other words, her understanding was severely lacking. This was somewhat unavoidable; she had been unable to learn from a young age, having been kept confined. But I couldn’t simply ignore it.

“You still have many deficiencies. And there is much to learn, so there is no time to waste.”

“What was that…?”

“Did you say something?”

“Ah, no. It was nothing! Master.”

◇

At first, Sooah had wanted to monopolize her Master’s attention, but she soon realized this was impossible. Like an awl in a sack, talent will inevitably reveal itself.

What choice did she have, as a disciple, but to trust and follow her Master? She had no idea what he aimed to achieve, but that was inconsequential.

If her Master said the moon was the sun, then from that moment on, the moon was the sun. If he declared night was day, then night became day. Sooah’s faith bordered on fanaticism.

“…Ten, no, eleven individuals, perhaps.”

“Pardon?”

“The number of people clinging to our heels.”

Thanks to her elevation to first-rate status, Sooah’s keenly honed senses easily detected the number of martial artists trailing them. Upon hearing this, Namgung Yeon’s face turned ashen.

“We-we must escape quickly! Otherwise, I’ll be taken back to that place…!!”

“It’s already too late. We’re surrounded, front and back. They seemed to be waiting for us to enter this alleyway.”

To reach the market, one was inevitably forced to traverse this alley. It seemed they had anticipated this, ambushing us here. Irritatingly meticulous…

If only I could relinquish Namgung Yeon to them without so much as a whimper. Alas, such a thing was impossible. Because I bore a direct order from Master.

They seemed to believe that merely blocking our escape constituted victory, these fellows. Approaching with smug grins, their attire was a mismatched assortment.

Even the weapons they wielded – swords, spears, sabers, bows – boasted a similar chaotic variety. A truly heterogeneous collection. Su-ah readily grasped the reasoning behind it.

“Ha! Did someone from the Seonmu Academy send these lackeys? Assembling this motley crew from various righteous sects, a pinch from each, so no one can be held fully accountable?”

With individuals hailing from multiple factions mingling together, assigning blame in the event of trouble would become exceedingly difficult. After all, one wouldn’t be confronting a single sect, but the entire righteous alliance.

Undoubtedly, the mastermind hadn’t even revealed their name to these pawns. Their identity leaking out would be… problematic. All this Su-ah discerned with a glance.

Which only amplified her revulsion at the staggering duplicity of the righteous factions. The lackeys, taken aback by having their paltry scheme deciphered so swiftly, shifted uneasily. One among them stepped forward, declaring,

“We desire no conflict. We have simply come to escort young lady Namgung of the Namgung clan.”

“W-what nonsense are you spouting? Besides, I’m a man…”

“An admirable disguise, but would there be a single soul amongst us who wouldn’t recognize the young lady’s face?”

“Have these b*stards collectively ingested poison? Who authorized them to blather on about taking someone anywhere?”

Su-ah felt her temper flare at the young lackey’s words, spoken as if her abduction were a foregone conclusion. Nonetheless, they responded with a dismissive air.

“So, what are you going to do about it? Honestly think you can defeat us all?”

“Careless actions could mar that pretty face of yours, you know.”

“Knowing when to retreat is never a shameful thing, young lady.”

“…….”

Ah. So this is how Master felt when he looked upon the me of old.

Undeniably, they held a significant numerical advantage. They numbered over ten, while we were burdened with a… liability to protect. Still, that didn’t mean I was destined to lose.

Flash Cloud Severing Sword閃光分雲劍, Second Form第二式: Lightning Descent電光七下!

In a single fluid motion, she drew the wooden sword from her waist, unleashing seven lightning-fast strikes that simultaneously hammered the heads of the overconfident young warriors.

The technique, already lauded in the Mo Yong clan for its sheer velocity, had become a veritable blur at the threshold of mastery. The opponents were not weaklings, either.

Rotten though they might be, they were still lackeys who had gained entry to the Seonmu Academy; each and every one had achieved Second-Rate martial status. But that paltry degree of skill wouldn’t close the gap.

“I-impossible… seven men defeated with a single technique?!”

“What manner of warrior… could she have reached the realm of First-Rate at such a young age?!”

“At first, I couldn’t comprehend it. Why Master insisted on journeying all the way to this distant Henan province.”

He could have simply gone to the Mo Yong clan, without the need to come to Henan. The emotions I felt at the time were half curiosity, half anxiety that he would be snatched away.

But experiencing this firsthand…

I understand the reason with absolute clarity.

My master sought to change this rotten world of martial arts through his teachings.

Just as he helped me shed my arrogance, thanks to his guidance.