Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Descending the Mountain
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There was something she had forgotten.
The reason So-hyang had been hiding in these nameless mountains was that she was a wanted criminal for assassinating a member of the imperial family, with a massive bounty on her head.
Nevertheless, she had decided to face the newcomers from the Murim Alliance head-on instead of hiding or fleeing—to gather information.
She had already planned to leave the mountain now that her hideout was exposed anyway. But if she was going out into the world, it was better to do so with some knowledge of current events.
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After the meal, So-hyang served the three a roasted barley tea, a sort of coffee substitute.
"Hm, it has a unique flavor."
"Oh, is it not to your taste?"
"No, not at all. It's just new to me, but it's got a nice nutty depth."
"Barley tea...? Though the taste is a bit unusual for that..."
Sharpening and maintaining swords was So-hyang's essence, her lifelong aspiration. But that didn't mean she had no hobbies.
"It's tea made by roasting barley evenly. I'm glad you like it."
Her two greatest were cooking and the tea ceremony.
It felt pretty good to know her skills pleased not just herself, but others too.
So-hyang's lips curved into a smile, her eyes crescent moons in a gentle grin.
Is that really a human face?
"Huh, they call me a flower in society sometimes, but I can't compare to you, young lady..."
"Ahaha, is that so?"
The three forgot even their tea for a moment, staring blankly at So-hyang's face.
After a brief silence, So-hyang spoke up.
"A sudden question, but have any of you ever lost someone dear to you?"
"Pardon? Me...? No."
"...Recently, my second uncle passed away."
"Me? I've been through all sorts of things, so yeah, quite a bit of experience there."
Hearing their answers, So-hyang smiled faintly and continued.
"Is it right to seek revenge against those who harmed someone precious?"
Namgung Su and Tang Hwaryeon thought of the koans from their clan's elders, while Wind Path Beggar recalled the playful riddles from his sect leader seniors.
She's trying to teach us something profound!
"We martial artists must value favors and grudges. To repay grace, it's only right to settle resentments first."
"...But if revenge keeps cycling, won't the chain of hatred never end? Blindly chasing vengeance—isn't that just harming yourself?"
"Deciding on revenge in the heat of rage is something you'll regret. I've lived long enough to know that."
Answers colored by their personal views. But So-hyang wasn't here for a philosophical debate.
"When I turned eleven, I had a reason to seek revenge."
"Eh? What?"
"They burned my hometown to the ground and slaughtered the people mercilessly."
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean revenge is wrong...!"
Tang Hwaryeon, who had offered the idealistic view, flinched as the senior's dark tale emerged and trailed off.
"Tragically, the culprit who did that was of imperial blood."
"Ah..."
The mood grew solemn.
No matter how separate the official martial world was, it didn't mean they had extraterritorial rights. They just didn't meddle in each other's affairs.
A child from back then couldn't have dreamed of revenge—not like the transcendent senior before them now.
Namgung Su asked So-hyang with a troubled expression.
"Did you... ever get your revenge later?"
"Of course. Not 'later' though—I slit that bastard's throat the very next day."
"...Eh? Huh?"
So her hometown burned and people died when she was eleven... and the next day she killed an Imperial Scion...?
Wind Path Beggar's mind flashed with something as he processed that far.
So-hyang, speaking softly, turned her gaze to him.
Her chilling stare made his heart go cold. He quickly averted his eyes and thought. Damn, why's she looking at me all of a sudden?
"Do you know about the imperial assassination at Bright Mystery Pavilion in Qingyun County two years ago?"
"Uh... yeah, I do. It was such a big stir around there—"
At this point, all three men's pupils shook violently, cold sweat beading on their brows.
They'd thought it was the usual scholarly martial discourse with an elder master. But the mood had turned weird.
"I was the perpetrator of that incident."
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Chilling.
A dagger flew straight into Wind Path Beggar's chest.
Is this another of her jokes, senior?
No way she'd joke about this.
So what she said is true?
The rejuvenated senior executed an Imperial Scion...? No, the wanted posters didn't specify age or origin, did they?
The name matches: So-hyang.
And those rare silvery-white eyes, her stunning beauty. Picturing the published sketches, it was an exact match for the face before them.
"Then... how old are you, senior?"
"Thirteen this year. I've told you, I'm not your senior. I've never done any rejuvenation either."
Senior... isn't a senior...?
She looks the age...?
That doesn't even make sense—no, more than that—
"Why tell us this?"
Formality was out the window now.
Wind Path Beggar's face had gone pale as death.
Why reveal her identity when they never would have known otherwise—
"Worried I'll kill you all to silence you?"
"...!!"
Her piercing silver-white eyes seemed to read his mind, sending chills down his spine.
"If that were my plan, I wouldn't have bothered feeding you."
So-hyang wasn't so battle-mad she'd slaughter innocent young martial artists like Wind Path Beggar just to cover her tracks.
Besides, they were a pursuit squad on a mission—traces of their travel would remain, so killing them wouldn't help anyway.
"I just thought knowing my situation would make it easier for you to recall the info I want."
What could they even do, knowing she was the wanted criminal?
So-hyang never planned to completely hide after descending the mountain anyway.
It was just a matter of sooner or later before she was found—no point hiding from them.
"You think we Murim Alliance members would try to arrest a rebel...? Ah."
So-hyang's expression was soft, but clear emotion radiated from her.
You all, against me?
If they tried anything, she'd just crush them with raw power.
What could they do after being subdued without spilling a drop of blood?
"Ha... so you're wondering if the authorities are still chasing you, senior—or young lady?"
"To sum it up: no need to worry about what you're thinking."
"Hm?"
Not the answer So-hyang expected.
In a premodern empire, they let an Imperial Scion's killer go free?
"It's... complicated in the imperial family right now."
Prince of Affection Ju Yeong-in, the emperor's seventeenth son—not a top contender, but with meaningful succession rights—was uninterested in the throne. The wastrel had handed his claim to his second brother from the same mother and received a princely title instead.
"After the Prince of Affection's death, the opposing faction's Third Imperial Princess exposed his crimes."
To nullify the succession rights transferred to the second prince, she waged political war, tanking Ju Yeong-in's prestige.
"Rather than carry the infamy, the emperor chose to erase his title entirely. So the Prince of Affection lost his Imperial Scion status, making the warrant invalid."
"Hm... so that's possible? They don't care about imperial dignity or anything?"
As Wind Path Beggar explained, current Imperial Scions were obsessed with boosting specific heirs' influence over the family's overall prestige ahead of succession—
"More than anything, the Prince of Affection's crimes were just too heinous."
He abused and killed every woman he took, massacred an entire brothel over a single refusal—a total lunatic.
And that was just the tip. It was tame by his standards; he'd done mad things threatening the empire too.
Slaughtering an envoy delegation, sexually harassing a friendly kingdom's princess—such was his record.
Ju Yeong-in was a mad dog even "dragon's blood" couldn't excuse.
"No wonder the second prince chose to abandon the rights rather than defend him."
In short: she could descend the mountain today with no rebel hunts coming her way.
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Truthfully, So-hyang had assumed a massive warrant was still active across the empire, just varying in intensity.
Her plan? Break through any pursuing troops with force and flee to another country.
She still had growth potential, but her physical abilities had surpassed human limits, and her skills were decently recovered.
In this premodern era without conventional firearms, not even an army could match her—she was confident.
The wildcard was superhuman martial artists, making it a gamble at heart.
But success odds were solid enough: just charge ahead and let the chips fall.
"...You're really thirteen?"
"Of course. You have my confession—won't you believe me?"
No, it had to make some sense for belief or disbelief to matter.
Peerless mental fortitude enduring a demon weapon's erosion.
Overwhelming peak masters, first-rate assassins, and poison experts—without drawing blood even.
"Mental strength aside, your martial arts don't make sense...?"
"I've never trained in martial arts."
So-hyang had studied martial methods her whole life, but not the internal arts they meant.
"Pardon?"
Checking her offered wrist pulse, Wind Path Beggar confirmed no trace of inner power. His focus blurred.
It couldn't be realm-concealment; a full pulse read showed zero inner energy.
"A true mortal?"
A pure mortal beating peak masters with raw physicality and skill? Where?
She's ridiculously extraordinary—how's she a mortal?
Yet it happened, undeniable.
"Whoa... fuck..."
Wind Path Beggar stopped thinking altogether.
Regardless, So-hyang glanced at the sunset sky, then fetched several tanned hides from the shed.
"It's late—why not rest? I'll set up bedding."
"..."
"Pfft, Wind Path Beggar senior...? How about sleeping as I said? You look exhausted."
"Y-Yeah. Whatever—just sleep and think tomorrow."
"...Got it."
The hides laid on the floor were strangely fluffy and soft.
Exhausted physically and mentally, they collapsed into deep sleep.
So-hyang watched the three with a grandfatherly fondness, stacked ample firewood by the hearth, then lay down.
Tomorrow, at dawn, she'd descend the mountain.
"Finally, stepping into the martial world."
With excited anticipation, So-hyang closed her eyes.