Why did she want to learn the sword from Seop Mugwang? Why was she asking him to take her as his disciple? Did she covet Seop Mugwang’s sword technique?
That wasn't it. She wanted to resemble his sword, but she had no desire to copy it.
Then why?
After briefly pondering the answer to that question, Seolhwa confidently lifted her gaze to meet Seop Mugwang's. "I want to walk my own path. Not a path paved by someone else, but my own."
"...!"
Seop Mugwang's eyes widened. As if he couldn't believe Seolhwa's words. It was natural for a true warrior to want to establish their own martial arts, pursue the pinnacle, and achieve great mastery.
However.
Children from martial families with well-established hereditary martial arts usually tried to walk the well-paved road, not seek out a new one. There was no need to endure the hardship of walking a difficult and uncertain path when an easy and certain one was available.
If they diligently practiced the family's martial arts in that time, they could become the Family Head if they were very good, and at worst, an elder of the family.
By doing so, they could naturally grasp the power and authority that came with the family's name, so it was better to learn the family's martial arts if they were going to learn any at all. But why on earth was this child?
"I'm asking you, please. Please teach me the sword."
A sense of desperation could be felt in the child's eyes. Since she was a child who did not know her own feelings, this emotion must be flowing from her subconscious. And being subconscious meant it was sincere.
"... I'm going crazy. Really."
Seop Mugwang wiped his face with a troubled expression.
Returning to the Family Head's Hall, Seop Mugwang scratched his head vigorously. A mere thirteen-year-old thinking of establishing her own martial arts. Did that even make sense?
'What was I doing when I was thirteen?' She was a truly covetable child. And that was why it couldn't happen.
Thus, he refused again. 'I'm sorry, but you should indeed learn the sword of Namgung. From what I can see, you seem to be the future of this Namgung family.
Not just anyone can learn the Namgung sword, even if they want to…' But the child's response was audacious. 'If Grandfather gives his permission, will you teach me?'
Who wouldn't look fondly upon a child who wanted to carry on their legacy? He was already tempted and felt it was a great waste, but at her persistent words, Seop Mugwang finally nodded as if he couldn't win. 'But, don't throw a tantrum or force the issue.
That would be invalid.'
"Aish, I should have just refused. How can I face my brother..."
It wasn't that she wouldn't learn the sword of Namgung, but her progress would naturally be slower than if she focused on one.
"He'll probably refuse appropriately."
The child's sparkling eyes flickered before him. Seop Mugwang was shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
"It's true, I tell you. They said she was a courtesan."
"Gasp, then the Young Lady..."
Overhearing the conversation, Seop Mugwang stopped his steps on the roof of the pavilion and looked toward where the voices came from. However, his gaze was directed at the path leading to the maidservants' quarters. Among the many maidservants, he couldn't tell who had said it.
After staring at the spot for a moment, Seop Mugwang turned his steps toward the Family Head's Hall.
As the sun began to set. Seolhwa went out to the streets with Ryeong. The sun setting behind Namgung was not clearly visible due to the cloudy sky, but it was revealing its presence from behind the clouds in a mysterious color.
"Young Lady."
Seolhwa looked at Ryeong approaching her side. She wore a black robe over her Black Dragon Unit martial arts uniform and a bamboo hat pressed low to hide her identity. Seolhwa was dressed no differently.
"Where on earth are you going, dressed like this?"
"I have to keep a promise."
"A promise?"
"I promised the squad members. That I would resolve everything. I have to get back the opportunity that was unfairly taken from them."
Ryeong let out a low sigh.
"Ah."
"Weren't you going to speak to the Family Head?"
"To Grandfather?"
"Isn't that the easiest way?"
"Mm."
That was probably true. It was a problem that could be easily solved by telling Namgung Mucheon about the Red Dragon Squad members' situation and asking for a chance. But if she did that, it would only solve the immediate problem, not the root cause.
"I will receive Grandfather's help."
Because in the end, there would be things the Family Head would have to step in for.
"But before that, I have something to prepare."
"Something to prepare?"
"Yes. A weakness."
"A weakness..."
She meant to prepare the evidence before reporting their situation to the Family Head. An argument without evidence becomes a tantrum, but an argument with evidence becomes an accusation.
'But...'
"Let's go. We'll be late."
Where on earth was she planning to find that weakness? Ryeong tilted her head and followed behind Seolhwa, who was walking ahead.
Drrrk— The door of the inn opened. The tinkling of a small bell announced the arrival of a customer. The murmuring conversations stopped for a brief moment, and those who were eating glanced toward the door.
"Welcome…! Huk…!"
The innkeeper, who had rushed out from the kitchen, couldn't finish his greeting. Not long ago, Namgung had paid with a hefty coin pouch on behalf of the Namgung warriors who had dined and dashed. Since the tyrannical Namgung warriors hadn't visited the inn since that day, he thought they had been severely reprimanded by the Namgung family, but...!
"What are you doing? No empty seats? You gonna keep a customer standing? Huh?"
"Ah, no sir! Th-this way...!"
The innkeeper glanced at the three rough-looking Namgung warriors and guided them to an empty table. The other customers who spotted them also kept glancing over and whispering amongst themselves.
"Nine plates of dumplings, six bowls of noodles!"
"Y-yes...! I'll bring them right...!"
At that moment, with a loud bang, the table shook.
"Heek!"
The innkeeper, guessing that the three were retaliating for the previous incident, was startled and defensively raised his arms. However, contrary to his expectation, a blunt pain did not follow.
Instead.
"Here's the money for the food!"
At the unbelievable shout, the innkeeper lowered his arms and looked at the tabletop. To his surprise, there were indeed silver coins on the table. The innkeeper quickly and discreetly collected the silver coins and bowed his head.
"I'll bring it out right away!"
Watching the innkeeper disappear into the kitchen, Ilryong snorted with a "Hmph." Sambong, sitting diagonally across from him, shook his head.
"You should have just gone to another place. Why cause a misunderstanding by making him tremble like that?"
"What am I supposed to do when the dumplings and noodles here are the best on this street!"
"What if you run into that guy again?"
"Who cares! I paid for the food properly! Because of that damned Gu-something or Go-dan, this is the first time in my life I've lived so honestly!"
Sambong, startled, whispered.
"It's Gu Poison...! And don't say such things so carelessly! It's our weakness!"
Ilryong looked around, slightly surprised. Imwoe, sitting opposite him, nodded his head as if agreeing with Sambong's words.
"Tsk, what a mess because of that thing! Can't we just run for it? Nothing much has happened since then, shouldn't it be fine?"
"I'm telling you! Do it if you want to die. If you want to die! Ignorance is bliss! You have no sense of caution because you don't know what it is!"
"What? This punk..."
It was then. Tat, tat, tak! Ilryong, Imwoe, and Sambong felt a familiar sensation, and a chill ran down their spines.
At the same time, the three of them were unable to move from their seats at the table.
"Long time no see."
Sambong looked at the person in a bamboo hat who had suddenly appeared in the seat in front of him. No, a little kid wearing a bamboo hat.
'Wh-what...
Who is this kid?' The bamboo hat was slightly lifted, and his eyes met the child's. She smiled, and another chill ran down his spine. He knew in an instant.
This child was the master from that time who held their lives in her hands.
"Your food is here—!"
The innkeeper, carrying a large amount of food, placed the dishes on the table with a cheerful face.
"Oh, you have a new companion who wasn't here a moment ago?"
Seolhwa lifted her bamboo hat and spoke to the innkeeper in a bright voice.
"My uncles said they'd buy me something delicious."
"Wow, you have good uncles—."
The innkeeper looked at the three men with a surprised expression. The three could only scream for help inwardly, their eyes darting around frantically, but they could not react at all.
"Well then, enjoy your meal!"
The innkeeper left. Ilryong, Imwoe, and Sambong wanted to cry. Seolhwa brought a plate of dumplings, placed it in front of herself, and hummed as she picked one up to eat.
"The dumplings from this place are the best. Right?"
The three men could only watch as she finished the entire plate of dumplings. After finishing the plate of dumplings, Seolhwa neatly drank a cup of water. She clasped her hands, rested her chin on them, and looked at Sambong across from her. —I'll release you if you promise not to cause a scene.
Sambong's eyes widened. —Answer by blinking. Sambong blinked his eyes like crazy. After conveying the same message to Ilryong and Imwoe, Seolhwa finally released the sealed acupoints of the three men.
Only then did the three let out a sigh of relief and loosen their bodies. Seolhwa personally placed a plate of dumplings in front of each of them.
"Go on, eat. It'll get cold."
Sambong glanced at her cautiously and opened the lid of the dumpling basket.
Clack.
The moment he opened the lid, Sambong briefly thought about throwing it at the child's face. But at that moment, an unknown sensation slithered up his body like a large serpent and tightened around his neck. His breath caught in his throat, his body trembled, and he couldn't move.
It was the same for Ilryong and Imwoe. Even though their acupoints weren't sealed, the three men were frozen stiff. A chillingly clear child's voice entered their ears.
"I sealed your mute acupoints and paralyzing acupoints. Do you think I can't seal your death points?"