The Peach Blossom's Debut
“Hello~”
A bright, cheerful, and flowery feminine voice echoed through the air.
Turning around, the first thing that caught everyone's eye was her vibrant, peach-blossom colored hair.
A Daoist fairy.
The thought crossed their minds unbidden. In truth, the Sword Empress herself might have been the closest to a real fairy among them, but...
“Pant, pant... Hello! Whoops!”
She stumbled slightly, looking utterly adorable and fragile. It made one want to rush over and catch her right then and there. Even the Sword Empress, a fellow woman, felt the urge, so there was no need to mention the men.
“Ahem...”
“Cough...”
Whether they were from the Bongrae Sect or the Baekdu Sect, everyone instinctively moved to help her, only to awkwardly step back when she managed to regain her balance on her own.
Only Hyeonmyeong, the Sect Leader of the Bongrae Sect, remained unswayed.
“Who might you be?”
“Ah, hello!” The girl who had suddenly appeared bowed deeply. “My name is Cheon Dohwa, and I was recently accepted as a disciple by Hyeonsongcheonnyeo! It's a pleasure to meet you!”
“Hyeonsong? Accepted a disciple?” Hearing that his junior sister had acted on her own, the Sect Leader's eyebrows twitched.
“Oh, and you must be the Sword Empress!”
“…Indeed, I am.”
“Hello!”
She really was a polite child.
Cheon Dohwa... I see. So that's why she's the Peach Blossom Fairy.
The Sword Empress studied her closely.
She certainly looks refined.
And though it was just a brief glance, she seemed to possess a decent talent for martial arts.
“Are you, by any chance, Anon's...?”
“Ah, about that...” She leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Actually, Anon is my... twin sister.”
The Sword Empress smiled warmly. “I already knew.”
“…Ah, really?”
“Of course.”
“May I ask how you found out...?”
“Hmm.” The Sword Empress assumed a profound expression. “Once your cultivation reaches a certain realm, these things naturally become clear.”
“…Wow! That's amazing! You really are the Sect Leader of the Baekdu Sect for a reason...!!”
“A-hem.”
Ah, my. To think she would meet such a lovely child.
Anon's genius is undeniable, but she doesn't have this kind of charm.
It was obvious just from the way she posted on the forum. 'ㅇㅇ' (Anon) was a cheeky, arrogant genius. She knew she was talented, and she actively enjoyed and utilized the attention that came with it. Of course, a genius had the right to do so. Because they were a genius.
Even the Sword Empress herself had handed over the White Dragon Divine Art without hesitation, harboring no ill will toward Anon. In fact, she was practically begging her to join her sect. But putting that aside...
How can her twin sister look so incredibly sweet and innocent?
She was the kind of girl who made you want to adopt her as a younger sister or a daughter on the spot. It was truly fascinating how two sisters could be so captivating in such completely opposite ways.
“But, where is Anon...?”
“Well, my sister's name is Cheon Doyeon.”
“I figured as much.”
“What?! How did you know that too?!”
The Sword Empress assumed her profound expression once more. “When you reach this realm, many things reveal themselves to you.”
“You really are amazing...!!”
Just look at those pure, shining eyes.
“Ahem, cough... So, where is Doyeon?”
“Doyeon wants to have you as her master too, but... there's a bit of a problem.”
“What is it?”
“She says joining a sect is a bit too burdensome...”
“What?”
“Ehehe, I'm sorry. My sister can be a bit stubborn about those things.”
Cheon Dohwa scratched the back of her head awkwardly. Because she was so breathtakingly beautiful, even a simple gesture like that looked like a painting.
Ugh...
The Sword Empress groaned inwardly. Strictly inwardly, of course. She knew she had to maintain her dignity.
“Then where is Cheon Doyeon right now?”
“She's currently training in the White Dragon Divine Art, and she told me not to disturb her.”
It was flawless logic.
At least she seems to like the White Dragon Divine Art.
Well, of course she did. What kind of martial art was it, after all?
The Sword Empress gave a slight nod to Hyeonsong, whose eye level was now much lower than hers due to her youth-restoring rejuvenation.
“Mm. Hyeonsong. My apologies.”
“Ugh... Yes, my disciple is Cheon Dohwa... not Cheon Doyeon... Cheon Dohwa... Ugh... Since Cheon Doyeon went and learned the White Dragon Divine Art from you... Ugh... I am Cheon Dohwa's master...”
“…?”
Strange. Why did Hyeonsong look like she was suffering from a bizarre sense of defeat?
“Aigoo, Master, does your back still hurt from when you sprained it earlier?”
“When did this poor Taoist ever—ah! Stop massaging me! Ah, ahhh...”
What a deeply devoted disciple.
Hmm. She was envious.
Of course, the Sword Empress had plenty of disciples. There were thirty first-generation disciples in the Baekdu Sect alone, and counting the second and third generations, the number exceeded a hundred. If she included lay disciples and those in subordinate sects, it would easily surpass a thousand.
Yet, among those thousand disciples, not a single one was this affectionate and sweet.
If I could have my way, I would take both sisters as my disciples.
“Sword Empress.”
Swish. Cheon Dohwa suddenly appeared right in front of her face.
“Don't worry. From what I can see...” She whispered in her ear. “Doyeon seems quite drawn to you, Sword Empress.”
“Is that true?!”
“Kyaah...!”
“M-my apologies. I raised my voice without thinking.”
“Ehehe... It's fine.”
Ah, so cute.
“Hmm... Very well. Hyeonmyeong, Hyeonsong, I shall take my leave.”
“…Did you truly come all this way just for a single disciple?”
“I did.” The Sword Empress turned around. “I shall see you next time.”
“That would be at the Murim Alliance meeting in autumn.”
“Assuming nothing happens between now and then.”
And just as she had arrived, the Sword Empress vanished like the wind.
She's a cool person.
...She's only cool on the outside.
Or is she actually cool, but only acts like this toward me?
“Hyeonsong.” Sect Leader Hyeonmyeong turned to his junior sister, making no effort to hide his displeasure. “What is the meaning of this? You took in a disciple without permission?”
“Ah, Sect Leader Hyeonmyeong! I've heard so much about—”
“Do not come any closer.”
My charm offensive failed?!
“Senior Brother.” Hyeonsong did not back down in the slightest, meeting the Sect Leader's gaze head-on. “Once you see this child's talent, you will understand why your junior sister had no choice but to do this.”
“Just how great could her talent be for you to speak like this?”
“Anything will do. Have this child learn something. Whether it is the most difficult martial art you know, or a high-level technique, anything is fine. If you let her learn it, you will understand.”
“Even if her talent is peerless, what does that have to do with you violating the sect rules?”
“You will know once you teach her.”
“...”
Hyeonmyeong looked at Cheon Dohwa. A beautiful woman smiling brightly. To be honest, she did not look like she had any aptitude for martial arts.
“…If we are to do this, we need a point of comparison to be certain. Yeonji.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Go and bring Ju-seo.”
The one summoned was a female disciple in her early thirties.
“Did you call for me, Sect Leader?”
“Yes. Ju-seo, I shall impart the martial art known as the Butterfly Dream Fist to you here.”
“The Butterfly Dream Fist!”
“However, the woman over there will also learn the Butterfly Dream Fist alongside you. Whichever of you shows promise faster, I shall bestow upon them a single Golden Flower Pill, a precious spiritual medicine of our sect.”
“Senior Brother,” Hyeonsong intervened. “Ju-seo is a talented child with a bright future. It is not right to bring her here and use her like this.”
“What do you mean by that, Junior Sister?”
“How painful will it be for Ju-seo when she is reduced to a mere point of comparison and forced to witness her own shortcomings? If you truly wish to compare, bring a second or third-generation disciple of average skill.”
Ju-seo's eyebrows twitched.
“Great-Aunt Hyeonsong, aren't your words a bit too harsh? In the end, all I have to do is prove that I am superior to that... pink-haired woman over there, correct?”
“I am saying that is an impossibility.”
“Great-Aunt Hyeonsong.” Ju-seo's voice grew even more displeased. “I have trained day and night for ten years since entering the Bongrae Sect. How long has she been here?”
“…About three or four days.”
“Three or four days?” Ju-seo frowned. “Great-Aunt, even for a joke, this is going too far. Are you saying that I, who have trained for a decade, will lose in a contest of martial arts comprehension to someone who has barely been here for three or four days?”
Hyeonmyeong also shook his head. “This is the first I've heard of this 'three or four days' business. Junior Sister, I assumed she was at least a child who had trained in another sect for a few years.”
“Sigh...” Hyeonsong covered her face with her hand. “Very well.”
“Good. Then this foolish talk of taking in a disciple without permission—”
“Impart the Butterfly Dream Fist to both Ju-seo and Cheon Dohwa at the same time.”
Hyeonmyeong's eyes widened. “…You would go that far?”
“If Cheon Dohwa's proficiency is lower than Ju-seo's, I will personally tutor Ju-seo for a year. Furthermore, I will address you as 'Dearest Brother' for the same duration.”
“Why on earth would you go to such lengths...?”
“Great-Aunt, forgive my presumption, but I worry your judgment has been clouded.”
“…Do not blame this poor Taoist later.”
Ju-seo narrowed her eyes and glared at Cheon Dohwa.
“Hey, cow girl.”