Seolhwa took her sword and walked to the center of the sparring ground. It was a move made without any word, but Ryeong did not stop her. No, she could not stop her.
It was because she knew what Seolhwa intended to do. Standing in the center of the sparring stage, Seolhwa grasped her sword. She let out a long breath and took her stance.
Was it said that a swordsman speaks through their sword? Seolhwa was about to answer Ryeong’s question. Through the sword. ….
The eyes of Ryeong and the Red Dragon Squad members, who recognized the opening stance, wavered. The opening stance Seolhwa took was the first form of the Great Flame Sword Technique, a basic sword technique that could be called the foundation of all Namgung's sword techniques. In the silent training ground, a child's voice flowed out calmly.
“If you embrace the will of the heavenly net that covers heaven and earth, there is nothing you cannot cut.”
Seolhwa's sword moved.
“The Great Flame Sword Technique, of the first three forms, the First Form. Great Flame Single Slash.”
As if painting a sky that looks down upon the world, Seolhwa's sword cut through the world. The sword did not stop, but continued on.
“When Heaven and Earth are connected, what under the heavens cannot be split? The Great Flame Sword Technique, of the first three forms, the Second Form. Great Flame Single Cleave.”
Seolhwa swung her sword down. No, it was a sublime movement that connected heaven and earth. A movement that connected the heavens and earth to divide the world.
Ryeong felt a shiver run down her spine, a thrill that gave her goosebumps all over. It was the same sensation she had faintly felt when she first saw Seolhwa's sword in the training ground.
‘It wasn't the Three Talents Sword Technique.’
What the Young Lady performed that day. It wasn't such a low-class martial art made of simple movements. Seolhwa moved her sword for the last time.
“One who embraces the principles of the heavens shall pierce through anything under the heavens.”
Gripping her sword, she stepped her right foot back and stared straight ahead.
“The Great Flame Sword Technique, of the first three forms, the Third Form. Great Flame Single Pierce.”
Seolhwa thrust her sword. It was merely a simple thrust into the empty air, but those watching felt as if her sword had 'pierced' something. A faint wind stirred around her.
Seolhwa's clothes, which had been fluttering in the wind, slowly settled down. No one could easily open their mouths or move. A thrill from the enlightenment of heaven and earth felt in the simple movements caused their entire bodies to tense up.
A sword technique is made of forms, and forms are made of moves. Depending on the creator of the sword technique, the movements are varied, and the sword path is also divided into countless types. However, a sword technique is ultimately composed of simple movements like swinging and thrusting.
“This is how I fight back.”
Ryeong swallowed dryly. Seolhwa's sword was so perfect that one could say she had achieved the pinnacle of mastery in the Great Flame Sword Technique. So much so that even she, a Black Dragon Unit member, wasn't confident she could perform the Great Flame Sword Technique with such sublimity.
The important thing was.
“How… how did you do it? The Red Dragon Unit Leader didn't teach you anything, Young Lady.”
She was asking if it was possible to learn without being taught. Seolhwa looked at her sword calmly and replied.
“The Red Dragon Unit Leader had me practice the Three Talents Sword Technique while teaching the Great Flame Sword Technique on the side. The Three Talents Sword Technique may have simple movements, but it is ultimately the foundation of all swordsmanship.”
Those who first learn the sword start with swinging, cutting, and thrusting.
“The first three forms of the Great Flame Sword Technique are just those movements imbued with the enlightenment of the heavens. You could call it the foundation of Namgung. They are teaching the same sword, just in a different shape. Is there any reason I couldn't learn it?” …!
Ryeong was astonished. So, what she was saying was….
‘Did she master a sword technique just by watching from a distance?’
And not just the movements, but the enlightenment of Namgung contained within the Great Flame Sword Technique…? Is such a thing possible? However, to call it impossible, the proof was right before her eyes.
‘This, this person….’
This person is the real deal…! Ryeong recalled the words her father, a great senior of the Black Dragon 1st Unit, always said.
‘If you wish to walk the path of a warrior as someone's subordinate, then serve the strongest person as your lord. The strength of your lord will become your pride.’
From then on, Ryeong wished to meet a lord stronger than anyone else. To meet a strong lord, one must first become strong themselves. She had trained her martial arts for that purpose for twenty-five years.
Her warrior's intuition was telling her. This person is a true martial talent, the great fortune of Namgung!
‘This person is the one…!’
A thud was heard. Seolhwa turned her head and looked at Ryeong. Having thrown aside the broken wooden sword, Ryeong was kneeling on one knee, cupping her fist.
“Namgung Ryeong of the Black Dragon 1st Sword Unit! From this moment on, I will serve Young Lady Namgung Seolhwa as my lord!” ….
“Please punish me for my rude behavior, for failing to recognize the one who would be my lord due to a hasty judgment!”
It was a declaration of her will to prioritize Seolhwa's orders over Namgung's. She had only shown her sword because Ryeong seemed to value skill, but she had gained excessive loyalty. As she stood there blankly, a little bewildered, Namgung Jipyeong shouted from below the sparring stage.
“That was truly amazing! Young Lady! Since joining Namgung, I have never seen the Great Flame Sword Technique performed like that! It is an honor to witness your sword!”
The voices of the Red Dragon Squad members followed.
“That was incredible! You're so cool, Young Lady!”
“I respect you! That was the best!”
Seolhwa looked at them. From their bright smiles, she could even feel a sense of pride for the person they served. Their burst of laughter held a joy that made them forget, if only for a moment, what was to come.
She hadn't shown her sword wanting this kind of reaction, but.
‘…Is this a good thing.’
It didn't feel bad. Seolhwa gave a faint smile. In any case, the training seemed to have been a success.
It was when they were nearing the pavilion after finishing their training.
“Take that back! Take it back!”
“Let go of me! Let gooo!”
“Aaaah! This crazy thing!”
A commotion could be heard near the pavilion. Recognizing the familiar voice, Seolhwa and Ryeong immediately ran towards it. Sure enough, Yeoyul was rolling on the ground, grabbing the hair of several maidservants.
“Get off her right now!”
Ryeong stepped in front of Seolhwa and bellowed. The tangled group of fighting maidservants saw Ryeong in her martial arts uniforms symbolizing the Black Dragon Unit, and startled, they stood up and lined up in a row. Yeoyul, who had been at the bottom of the pile, also got up, panting, and glared at the maidservants.
“What is the meaning of this? How dare you brawl in a place like this!”
“Th-that is….”
While the maidservants hesitated, Yeoyul flared up and shouted.
“Master warrior! You're the Young Lady's escort, so you have the authority, right? Please punish all of them severely!”
Ryeong frowned.
“First, explain what happened. The punishment comes after.”
“If you hear what they said about our Young Lady, you will definitely be angry too, Master warrior!”
“What…? About the Young Lady?”
Ryeong thought, oh no. Yeoyul was agitated, in a state of fury. She was standing in front of Seolhwa, blocking the view. It was clear Yeoyul hadn't seen the Young Lady.
“Yeoyul, before you speak, just a moment….”
“Huh? You know my name? No! That’s not what’s important!”
“Wait a momen….”
“These wenches! They said our Young Lady was from a tavern!” …!
“And not just any tavern, a courtesan's house!”
Yeoyul glared at the maidservants, and the maidservants, their faces pale, bowed their heads. Ryeong felt her mind go blank. She had tried to stop her quickly because it seemed to be about the Young Lady, but she couldn't shut Yeoyul's mouth in time.
No, what was more shocking was.
‘What did I just hear?’
What?
The Young Lady was from a tavern? And a courtesan's house at that? The moment she fully understood those words, a blue Energy began to surge from Ryeong's body.
“How dare these wenches, to whom….”
“Now you're all dead!”
Yeoyul shouted triumphantly. A small hand grabbed Ryeong's arm as she was about to draw her sword. Startled, Ryeong turned around.
“Ah, Young Lady….”
“Yes! The Young Lady is here too, so now you all are…! Aack! Y-Young Lady…?”
Seolhwa moved past Ryeong and stood before the maidservants. Seeing Seolhwa, the maidservants, their faces now drained of all color, began to tremble.
“Tell me in detail. What was I?”
However, the maidservants only lowered their heads, and not one of them could open her mouth. Seolhwa approached one of the maidservants.
“I'll ask one more time.”
Seolhwa grabbed the maidservant's chin and made her lift her head. The child’s eyes, staring into the maidservant’s wildly trembling pupils, were utterly calm.
“What, was I?”