Training
In the Murim Alliance, gaining a major reputation meant joining the military force.
No matter how peerless one's martial arts, if they stayed hidden and never showed themselves, no one would notice.
Just getting a name as a member of the military could fill their shoulders with pride, and if they handled a famous evil master during a mission, their fame would spread across the world.
This was the path most Murim people desired!
But.
Even though Namgung Yurin possessed outstanding sword skills, she had been eyeing the position of imperial guard in the clinic.
I want to stay near Yuseong-nim.
The farther you are from him, the farther your heart feels.
I had already decided to confess first and wait, but with the long separation, there was nothing good about it.
It wouldn't happen to me, but it would be troublesome if Yuseong forgot about me.
It was Harin noona who had said that.
My precious noona far away in the Sichuan lands.
Even though I couldn't promise when I would see her next, I had been committing every word of advice she had given me to memory.
Choosing to stay behind in the Namgung family and follow Yuseong was only natural.
If I had only known about the imperial guard test ending... it would have been troublesome.
Yuseong had taken care of it.
With the special hiring process resolved, she wanted to create more time with him.
So.
She had also prepared her words in advance.
Yuseong-nim, could you perhaps lend me a hand?
Of course I will help. What is it?
Eyes full of goodwill.
Yuseong was always kind, but since the confession, his care toward her had grown even clearer.
I... want to train, but I need your help.
Training?
Yes. If Yuseong-nim helps me, I want to try training while using the latter half of the Emperor's Sword Form. Of course it won't be every day since you are busy.
She had revealed the secret of the latter half of the Emperor's Sword Form. What kind of effect it would have.
I guessed, but this is a strange martial art. But the side effects look severe. Are you sure?
This time with worried eyes.
It could only be used for a moment and would kill her.
Because of that side effect, without Yuseong she could never use it.
Actually... if only the side effect is resolved, there will be many advantages.
The Sword King, the training opponent, must have felt the same. There was no way Namgung Yurin could not have felt it.
After the spar, she had felt that she had grown even stronger.
The forcibly obtained thing was almost gone now, but faint remnants remained, and once she claimed it as her own, Namgung Yurin's martial power had increased.
Her stances had grown sharper and she had gained small insights she could never have obtained before.
Every time she used the Emperor's Sword Form, her power visibly increased. She could not miss this good training opportunity!
That was the first reason she put forward to persuade Yuseong.
Mmm...
Watching him fall into thought, Namgung Yurin held her breath.
Knock knock.
Even though she had not lied, her heart was uneasy at the thought that she had hidden something.
Still... I want more time with Yuseong-nim.
That was Namgung Yurin's second hidden reason.
Recalling it in detail was a little embarrassing.
I would like it if you gave me acupuncture needles to help with training.
To stretch the latter half of the Emperor's Sword Form for a long time, she would have to receive acupuncture needles from Yuseong.
And to receive the needles, she would obviously have to remove a large part of her clothes.
That was why, when Yuseong had taken her from the Namgung family residence, she had not been able to accept the needles from outside.
Back then it had been hesitant and embarrassing... but since she had confirmed Yuseong-nim's feelings too, now it was fine. Yuseong-nim had looked embarrassed and had not shown unwillingness.
Namgung Yurin had eyes and ears too.
She often heard people praising her beauty. Thanks to that, she had excellent self-objectivity.
Yuseong had also said that she was originally pretty and that the mysterious atmosphere was nice.
If she just endured a little embarrassment, she could strongly imprint herself as an attractive woman in Yuseong-nim's mind.
It was not as if it would end after the acupuncture...
After the healing effect ended, she would have to treat her collapsing body. That would create more time together.
Of course she would avoid those times when Yuseong-nim was busy, but if she could have those times occasionally, it would be good.
Watching Namgung Yurin wait carefully for her answer, Yuseong nodded readily.
I had been about to make the same suggestion, but she had wanted to train first. How good!
Of course I will help.
Really?
Her face lit up with joy, and Yuseong felt pleased too.
If I make the first proposal, Yurin-nim's grateful feeling will decrease, won't it? Anyway, the process of stretching the latter half of the Emperor's Sword Form is the same, so the result of increasing holy power is better.
What is good is good.
Yeah, my guard is training hard, so I should help. That way she can protect me again.
Even if it's not that, I will protect my life with everything I have!
Because she had already protected herself while using the latter half of the Emperor's Sword Form against a demonic cult master, Yuseong did not doubt her sincerity.
But.
Even though it grated, he had to say this.
If you get hurt, I won't be able to bear it. So don't throw away your life lightly. Let's train hard for that reason. I will help as much as possible.
Between people who liked each other, Yuseong never wanted her to get hurt either.
Namgung Yurin's eyes grew moist.
Really... Yuseong-nim... I will train hard.
Her tearful eyes held back tears as she spoke.
In that way, the two had promised to train.
With heavenly meteorite stones turned into needles, when there were few patients at the clinic, there would be a lot of leftover holy power. Making only holy water would have been too little. A new source of holy power consumption had appeared.
For now, it seemed that Namgung Yurin's scheme of spending more time with Yuseong had succeeded.
***
There had been a small problem in deciding where to train.
The first place that came to mind was Yuseong's residence.
He had received support from other sects many times as a Murim Alliance member.
Depending on his achievements, his residence had changed.
Previously it had been a small courtyard behind a low wall where he could only train in the morning.
But now he had been assigned a new residence.
A high wall had been erected so that the inside could not be seen unless one deliberately peeked.
Still, sometimes for work it would be necessary to go there. If he took Yurin-nim there often, the gazes of others would be bothersome...
Training in a public place was also a problem.
Officially, the peak master Namgung Yurin could not keep spewing sword qi and revealing the secret martial art to everyone.
Fortunately, Namgung Yurin had suggested a solution.
I will apply for a private training ground.
A private training ground? Such a thing exists?
I heard it from senior clinic members. It is popular during work hours but empty after work.
The two soon received one private training ground.
A private training ground was much smaller than the large training ground where warriors trained in groups.
Instead, it was hidden behind a high wall, making it perfect for secret training.
T-Then shall we prepare?
Namgung Yurin gently loosened the knot of her martial robe.
Even though it was surrounded by walls on all sides, it was still outdoors.
Even though it was not her first time, exposing bare skin in this place was not easy, so she was taking a deep breath.
Ah, no need for acupuncture needles. I need to train too.
...
Yuseong had intended to train without relying on needles so he could use them quickly in real combat and instead apply a balanced sustained healing technique.
There would be no spare room to insert needles in each part, so he wanted to unify the places where he would insert holy power.
Namgung Yurin's second scheme had gone wrong from the start.
Practice would be necessary, but once she mastered it, it would be much easier on this side. She could even help when people were present.
...Then you won't remove your clothes?
Yeah, lucky right? Sit here.
...
Soothed by the embarrassment, Namgung Yurin sat cross-legged.
Yuseong's palm touched her famous bloodline.
It was normally a place where qi was inserted, but Yuseong used that passage as a channel to insert holy power.
Umm...
Yuseong let out a groan, as if something was not working right.
Just as she was about to carefully bring up the words that maybe she should simply receive acupuncture needles.
Haa... for now this is the limit.
He pulled his hand away with an unsatisfied expression.
For now, let's test how long you can endure compared to last time.
Again, blue sword qi infused with thunder rose from Namgung Yurin's sword.
***
While working in the Murim Alliance, the times Jegal Yeong-yeong visited the clinic were the most exciting.
Of course, the headaches that tormented her all day would disappear, but that was not the biggest reason.
But lately it was not the same as before.
Upon entering the clinic and heading to Yuseong's treatment room, she was guarded by the female warrior Namgung Yurin.
...
When she looked that way, Namgung Yurin lowered her head in greeting.
Even her expressionless face could not hide her beauty.
Receiving greetings from others because of her high position as chief strategist of the Murim Alliance was good...
Why had the chief clinic master personally requested that they hire Namgung Yurin?
Her guess was clear, but she did not want to admit it.
It should not be.
No matter how she tried to deduce, it would not become certain until she heard it from the parties.
Jang Chil opened the door while sensing their glances.
As Jegal Yeong-yeong entered the treatment room and looked back, Namgung Yurin's eyes following her from over her shoulder were curved with joy.
Haa... even her eyes are pretty.
The door of the treatment room closed with a bang.
Until then, her gaze had stayed fixed on Jegal Yeong-yeong's shoulder.
It had not been like this before... since they had gone together to the Namgung family, it was not ordinary. Had she refused the Sword King's request somehow?
The elite soldiers sent by the Namgung family were clearly a great help.
The warriors from the Sichuan Tang Clan who had promised full support still had not arrived due to some reason, but the missing feeling was enough to be filled by the help they had given.
As chief strategist of the Murim Alliance she should be happy, yet her private feelings had accepted the request for help from the Namgung family and now she regretted it, making her heart heavy.
***
Several days later, Jegal Yeong-yeong's father came to see her.
What is the matter, bringing you all the way here?
Yeong-yeong, you should marry before it's too late, shouldn't you? There's a suitable person.