First Encounter with the Sword Seal
Their first meeting with her took place in Xiaoshan, a county in Hangzhou located near the coast, bustling with people thanks to its port.
In one of Xiaoshan's inns—a fairly large establishment called the Wind Harmony Inn, its sign proudly displayed on the second floor—sat a group of one man and three women.
One was a handsome young man who turned heads wherever he went. Another was a bearish brute of a fellow exuding raw intimidation. And then there were the three women, their faces veiled with thin silk cloth.
It wasn't the strangest combination, but it was certainly uncommon. Naturally, they were Bang So-un and his entourage.
"I've lived in Hangzhou for ages, but this is my first time in Xiaoshan," Jang Il remarked, breaking the silence.
"No reason to come here unless you're boarding a ship, right?" Bang So-un chuckled softly.
"Heh heh, true enough."
Jang Il nodded vigorously before continuing. "But this time, we'll finally get to ride one."
Indeed. Their destination this time was an island—Haenam Island, far to the south. In the martial world, it was renowned as the home of the Haenam Sect.
Eun Hwa-yeong had brought them intelligence: the Peak Expert known as Muyeong Bido, the Shadowless Flying Knife, had been in seclusion on Haenam Island for over a decade.
The moment Bang So-un saw that report, he knew. She was the perfect target.
First, she had no faction backing her. Second, the island was ideal for the job—remote, with few prying eyes. And third, they had a flawless cover story to use openly.
"Haha, yeah. Time to head to Haenam Island and pay our respects in person," Bang So-un said with a laugh.
The young master of Golden Dragon Battlefield personally recruiting a hidden master. What could be more convincing? It was the perfect pretext—a heartwarming tale to spread through the jianghu, showcasing how dearly he valued talent.
Of course, that was just the facade. Inside, things would be business as usual.
"Ah, but Young Master... the Haenam Sect won't cause us any trouble, will they?" Jang Il asked suddenly, a note of concern creeping in.
The Haenam Sect. Famous for their swift swords, they were a prestigious orthodox sect that had once held a seat among the Nine Great Sects and One Gang. Even now, ousted from that elite circle, they fiercely competed with the Hwasan Sect for their old spot, ever watchful for a chance to return.
Given their power and influence, Jang Il's worry wasn't unfounded.
But.
"Why would they? We're not stirring up trouble in their territory, so they've got no reason to bother us." Bang So-un remained utterly relaxed.
He might be a big name in Hangzhou, but on Haenam Island? They'd barely know his face. As long as they kept a low profile, there'd be no reason for any interaction at all.
"Heh heh, you're right."
Reassured by Bang So-un's confidence, Jang Il's face broke into a grin once more.
It was right then.
Someone climbed the stairs to the inn's second floor. Two men, their bodies clearly honed through rigorous training—martial artists at a glance.
And moreover.
The crest on their martial robes: a cresting wave.
Bang So-un's expression shifted the instant he spotted it. It was the emblem of the Haenam Sect.
Interesting. Speak of the tiger, and it appears.
Bang So-un finger-wrote the words "Haenam Sect" on the table to alert Jang Il.
"Gasp? Hae—!"
Jang Il nearly blurted it out but clamped his mouth shut just in time, eyes wide with shock. His instincts had sharpened considerably since their early days.
The Haenam Sect men didn't seem to sense anything amiss. They took seats by the opposite window and soon began chatting.
"Hangzhou really is something else. So different from the main island—it's hard to adjust."
"Haha, they say 'Heaven above, Hangzhou below; Suzhou and Hangzhou are unmatched ports.' It's not just empty talk."
"Yes, truly living up to the reputation, senior brother."
They appeared to be senior and junior brothers. Bang So-un and Jang Il perked up their ears, listening intently.
The senior brother spoke again. "And the women here... they're something special, aren't they? They say Hangzhou and Suzhou have the finest beauties, and it looks like that's no exaggeration either, haha."
"S-Senior brother, not here..."
The junior seemed embarrassed, but the senior didn't care a bit.
"Just stating facts. And it's a compliment at that."
"St-Still..."
"Should've stopped by that famous Red Flower Pavilion then. Might've strained the budget a little."
"R-Red Flower Pavilion? If you're saying that on the way back..."
The name Red Flower Pavilion slipped from their lips. Unbidden, a smirk tugged at Bang So-un's mouth.
After all, he was the true owner of that infamous establishment.
Just then, a waiter came up and set down their order in front of the Haenam Sect men: thin noodles. Despite the sect's name, they seemed stingy with coin—which explained skipping the Red Flower Pavilion.
Slurp.
As they ate, another topic emerged.
"About that matter, though."
"That matter?"
"The pigeon message from a few days ago..."
"Ah, that one."
"Yes. Senior brother must be confident to push it forward, but I'm a bit worried..."
"Hahaha."
The senior set down his chopsticks and laughed. "Looks like you don't truly grasp our eldest senior brother's prowess."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
"He mastered the South Sea Thirty-Six Swords to the tenth stage over a year ago."
"Whaaat?!"
The junior's shock was genuine. What was the South Sea Thirty-Six Swords? The pinnacle of the Haenam Sect, their symbol and essence.
To reach the tenth stage in that supreme art? It transcended even the realm of Young Expert.
"Even the elders haven't fully mastered it, and our eldest senior brother already...?!"
"That's why he's a genius. One who appears once every few decades."
The senior brimmed with pride in his senior brother's feats.
Hoo, looks like the Haenam Sect has a hidden dragon after all.
Bang So-un mused. The Nine Great Sects and One Gang would eventually become enemies. Better to note any noteworthy figures.
Especially if they were men.
"So no matter how formidable the Sword Seal is, she can't beat our eldest senior brother. No way."
Bang So-un's ears pricked up at the senior's follow-up.
Sword Seal?
He'd heard the name twice recently. First from Hwa-seon, who revealed the Soul-Chasing Death Ghost's crippler was none other than the Sword Seal. Back then, he'd dismissed her as untouchable prey—for now.
And now the moniker cropped up again here? It piqued his interest.
The Haenam Sect's top disciple fighting the Sword Seal? What's going on?
As if answering his question, the junior spoke up.
"Ah, if our eldest senior brother has reached the tenth stage, then yes, absolutely. Could it be... the Sword Seal's joining our sect?"
"Hahaha! Might have to start calling her 'senior sister-in-law' ahead of time."
Wait, what? Is this a marriage duel or something?
Bang So-un's guess hit the mark.
The rumor traced back to a gathering of young female experts, where the Sword Seal had said:
—"Marriage...? You all discuss such dull topics with such relish. Me? I'm not interested at all. Nothing but boring men everywhere. Who knows, though. If a man stronger than me actually existed, he might catch my eye."
Her words, passed from mouth to mouth, twisted into "The Sword Seal declared she'll marry a man stronger than her." The tale spread through the jianghu like wildfire, becoming near-gospel.
Yet the Sword Seal never bothered correcting it. Perhaps out of laziness, or deeming it unworthy. Or maybe harboring a faint hope of clashing with a stronger foe.
Either way, her current movements clearly tied into it.
That was when footsteps echoed up to the second floor again. A single set.
"Boring."
A low mutter.
Naturally, eyes from the second floor turned toward the sound.
And then.
"Hup?!"
"H-Huh?!"
"Cough, cough, cough!"
The men's eyes bulged. One choked on his food.
A peerless beauty. An overwhelming, transcendent beauty stood there.
Even Bang So-un and Jang Il, whose standards had skyrocketed, couldn't tear their stunned gazes away.
For them, a woman of such caliber was only the second they'd encountered. After Hwang Bo-seol, the Number One Beauty of Jiangnan—now his wife.
The only other comparable was Eun Hwa-yeong, the Red-Eyed Fox.
...Who the hell is she?
It had been ages since Bang So-un felt such burning curiosity about someone's identity.
At that moment.
"You're from the Haenam Sect, right?"
The peerless beauty fixed her gaze squarely on the Haenam Sect men and spoke.
"Y-Yes, that's right."
The senior brother stammered in reply, flustered. Both he and his junior were flushed beet red.
It was surely their first time beholding such a beauty— a natural reaction. Any man would react the same.
"Escort me."
"P-Pardon? Who might you be to say such a thing...?"
"Yu Seol-young."
"Ah... so you're Miss Yu. But..."
"I don't particularly like it, but I go by the moniker Sword Seal. Does that answer your question?"
In that instant.
"H-Huh?!"
"Uh, uh buh buh..."
The senior and junior brothers froze, eyes wide in horror.
She's the Sword Seal...?!
Bang So-un's eyes widened in shock as well.