The Weeping Sword Flower
Moyong Juhee’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Rage and shame boiled up inside her until they reached her throat, so hot she feared that if she opened her mouth, only scalding water would pour out. All she could do was swallow the burning lump in her chest and fight not to let even a single sob escape.
“Y-you… hngh… how dare… hngh…”
Not only was the Moyong girl small, but her elder sister was petite as well, her frame slender and delicate. With such a tiny face and those unusually large eyes, the teardrops hanging from her lashes looked ready to spill at any moment. The sight tugged at Cheong’s conscience. Perhaps she had gone too far.
But insulting the Sinnyeo Sect’s robes was a clear line crossed. The uniform had been sewn by her master herself for a disciple with limbs longer and a torso thicker than most women. More importantly, every Sinnyeo Sect disciple wore the same design. Calling it the sort of rag even a beggar would refuse was no different from spitting on the entire sect.
“You would do well to mind your tongue, Lady Moyong. The Sinnyeo Sect may not be one of the Nine Great Sects, but even among them, no one would dare speak so to one of our disciples.”
It was not the sect’s prestige that commanded respect, but the existence of Seomun Su-rin, the foremost woman in the murim. Cheong was respected because she was Seomun Su-rin’s disciple, not because the Sinnyeo Sect itself was held in high regard. In the hierarchy of Taoist sects, the Sinnyeo Sect ranked far below the Four Sword Sects that included the Mount Heng Sect, or even the Mount Mao and Mount Qingcheng Sects. It was known only as a mysterious all-female sect; remove that distinction and nothing remained.
“Isn’t that too harsh?!”
“That’s right, it’s too much!”
Moyong Juhee’s companions rushed to her defense, unable to bear the sight of their leader’s trembling shoulders. In truth, Cheong’s words had struck them as well; they felt the same anger and sorrow, and the way they clustered around her, hugging and comforting her, made for a rather touching display of sisterly solidarity.
“Juhee, it’s all right. We’re here.”
“Look at the character of those older girls. They don’t even see us as women. We only have each other, right?”
“Hngh… hngh…”
Under their warm comfort, Moyong Juhee finally burst into tears. Offering comfort at such a moment was little different from slapping someone and telling them to cry; it was pouring dry leaves onto a spark. Cheong scratched her head. Ah, she’s crying now.
From her observations before leaving the sect, Cheong had concluded that women’s battles for dominance were scored in two categories. First: who could deliver the most roundabout insults. The key to verbal warfare among women was never to attack directly. One had to speak as though one were offering advice out of concern, so that if the target grew angry, she would be the one who looked unreasonable. According to some unwritten law, in such roundabout duels, the first to lose her temper was the loser.
Second: who was the more pitiful one. Or, more precisely, who was the greater victim.
The first type of duel was as ordinary as breathing in women’s society. Greetings and attacks were indistinguishable, something like this:
“Moyamoya, hello? Oh, what’s that? New clothes? You look really pretty today. Are you going to that emotional bar again? I don’t really like those places. Men keep trying to talk to you and all.”
It was the opening move of war—gathering allies by declaring enmity and identifying the enemy. One had to choose sides carefully; if one was not cautious, one risked being branded a fence-sitter and attacked by both sides before the real battle even began. The true total war, however, was the second category: the contest of who could claim the greater victimhood.
This was a competition of who could appear more pitiful. The critical moment was knowing exactly when to burst into tears. Cry too abruptly and one would be accused of forcing it—“What are you crying for when you’re in the wrong?”—and defeat would be instant. One had to wait for the precise instant when everyone thought, “That really was too much,” and then—snap!—the tears would flow. But according to that same unwritten law, the moment one side began to cry, a strict panel of judges would render their verdict. Just like now.
“She’s always the one picking fights, and now she’s crying? What’s she got to cry about?”
“Hah, I knew that girl would eventually mess with the wrong person and get what was coming to her.”
“She’s always going around calling people vulgar and saying they’re obsessed with men and acting lewd, but the moment the Jade Qilin shows up she’s the first to start fawning.”
This was precisely why one had to maintain an especially kind appearance before the judges prior to the all-out war. Any sudden tonic of sympathy might be the opening salvo of battle. If one cried and received no sympathy, one would only be branded a ridiculous woman.
Cheong, a master of walking the tightrope, read the air.
“Oh dear, Lady Moyong, I am truly sorry. Master herself sewed this robe for me, so it is very precious. When you called it a filthy rag that even a beggar would refuse, a worthless scrap that ruined fine cloth, I lost my temper for a moment. Please forgive me.”
Jin Seol felt a chill run down her spine. Goodness, she had not said anything nearly that harsh. Moyong Juhee’s mind cleared instantly. It was the “My mother made it for me” attack. If she did not handle this carefully, she would become the wicked girl who had insulted someone else’s family.
“That… that is, um. I wasn’t insulting it, I just…”
The moment the words left her mouth, the situation became hopeless. If she claimed she had not spoken so harshly, she would be admitting she had spoken harshly nonetheless.
“Now that I look closely, the fabric really is high quality, hngh, and the care that went into it makes it a truly excellent robe, hup. I made a mistake by not seeing it properly.”
“Ah. A mistake. Anyone can make a mistake. I am truly sorry. I did not realize. I apologize. Since we have both made mistakes, why don’t we pretend this never happened?”
“Yes…”
“Everyone heard that, did you not? You all heard nothing as well, correct?”
Jin Seol felt a twinge of regret. So she was letting her off here. She could have banned the entire Yongbongjihoe group from setting foot in the assembly for the duration of the Martial Arts Tournament. But Cheong thought there was no point in making more enemies, and considering her younger sister’s face, this was enough.
“Oh my, it seems I have ruined the atmosphere because of me. I think I should step aside for a while. Lady Jin Seol, I will see you next time?”
“Ah! Yes! Please take care on your way.”
She was even yielding the spot first. Without securing the narrative or worrying about what rumors might spread afterward, she simply chose to leave. It was the magnanimity of a generous victor.
On the stair landing below, Dang Nan-a spoke.
“Still, she looked rather pitiful. Wasn’t that too much? She’s your enemy now, you know.”
“I thought she just didn’t get along with Lady Jin Seol, but from the way she acted toward me, it seems she picks fights with anyone who has a large chest. If she’s going to keep needling me in the future, I figured I should establish some discipline in advance.”
That was why Cheong had poured out such harsh words and beaten her down so thoroughly. People of that type, if left alone, would grow increasingly arrogant and cross more and more lines. They were the sort who, upon seeing something they lacked in someone else, felt it lodge in their heart like a thorn and fester into hatred. It was a lesson Cheong had learned from experience.
Before leaving for the murim, Cheong had driven the best-selling domestic mid-to-large vehicle in her hometown. When her uncle, whose land value had risen, bought a foreign car, her cousins had thrown a fit, refusing to ride even the older model, and the car had ended up with Cheong instead. It had been wonderful. However, quite a few people had seizures at the sight of a young factory worker driving a mid-to-large vehicle. Among them was a particularly severe Uncle Park.
“Making good money, are you? Young people these days don’t save, they just live for today? Must be nice, getting a good car so you can pick up girls.”
Cheong had endured it because he was an elder. But when it only grew worse, every time he made such sarcastic remarks she would launch into a ten-paragraph-long boast about the car.
“Oh yes, it really is nice. You wouldn’t know unless you drove it yourself. You should get one sometime. It’s a quasi-large vehicle, so the ride is completely different. Other cars shake so much I can’t drive them anymore. Haha, it’s called reverse body feel, you know? If you ever want to test drive one, don’t. The reverse body feel is really strong.”
Eventually, when he exploded with “You little brat—”, Cheong immediately reported him to the personnel manager and the matter was settled. After that, no one dared to pick a fight with her again.
““Elder, you have arrived.””
When they returned to the fifth floor, the Taoist youths rose awkwardly to offer their respects. Cheong spoke with an embarrassed expression.
“There is no need to be so formal. I am still just a young girl, so please treat me comfortably.”
The Taoist martial artists’ expressions relaxed at once. After all, there was nothing more unpleasant than a young brat throwing their seniority around, so it was common to treat them as difficult younger siblings whose seniority had been reversed. However, since the lower-ranking party could not say “You’re young, so let’s just be friends,” if Cheong did not bring it up, they had no choice but to treat her as an elder.
“Hmm, Sword-friend. Seeing you like this, you really are a Taoist. Brother Changbin couldn’t tell whether he found it difficult because Sword-friend is a woman or because of seniority.”
“It’s probably both for Changbin. Changbin, what do you think?”
“Ahem, I consider the young lady an elder. As for women being difficult, I wouldn’t know.”
Still, traveling together must have made things a little easier. In truth, it was less the travel and more Cheong’s thoroughly masculine demeanor that had put them at ease, but Cheong had no way of knowing what Changbin was thinking.
Cheong grinned wickedly and introduced Gongson Yoye.
“Ah, this is Lady Gongson. This is Changbin, the Mount Hua Plum Blossom Sword.”
“So you are the Intoxicated Demon Sword, Sir Changbin. I have long heard of your fame. It is truly an honor to meet another swordsman like this. Might I ask for a bout sometime so that you may impart your valuable teachings?”
“……”
At Gongson Yoye’s courteous praise, Changbin’s face turned bright red and he could only nod.
“Oho! The young lady’s words are truly excellent. Indeed, if one is a swordsman, one ought to exchange greetings through a bout and hone one’s skills! As expected of Sword-friend, even her companions are extraordinary!”
“That is because she is my sword-friend.”
Cheong tilted her head. Ignoring Dang Nan-a’s muttering of “Then what am I?”, Cheong made another introduction.
“Yes, this is the Young Sword King, Namgung Sinjae. His realm is a bit lacking for a Young Sword King, but when it comes to passion for the sword, there is no one in the Central Plains who can match him. Yes, he is truly a hot-blooded swordsman.”
“Hot-blooded swordsman! What a beautiful title! From today onward I must change my epithet. It is far sweeter than Young Sword King! How is it that every word from Sword-friend’s mouth strikes straight to the heart!”
“Hmm.”
Namgung Sinjae’s sudden shout made Gongson Yoye miss her chance to speak.
“I took a look around, but the Yongbongjihoe is not to my taste. I would rather move my body. Sword-friend, shall we have a spar after so long?”
“I was about to suggest the same. I found it difficult to bring up because Sword-friend was acting like a woman, but as expected of Sword-friend, our bond through the sword is like this! Come, let us go! I have many newly carved wooden swords.”
“You brought wooden swords?”
“Of course. It is only proper. I left them with the servants. They should be resting at the teahouse up ahead, so I will fetch them right away.”
With an excited expression, he dashed off and disappeared down the stairs in a flash.