The Youngest Martial Great-Aunt (1)
“Hey, cow girl.”
“…?”
Cheon Dohwa pointed to herself.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yeah, you. You're literally carrying around a pair of things as massive as a cow's, aren't you?”
Hyeonsongcheonnyeo scolded her immediately.
“Ju-seo! How can a Daoist speak such vulgar words!”
“….”
“….”
“….”
“Why... why is everyone looking at this poor Daoist with those eyes...?”
No one said out loud, 'Are you really the one to talk, Hyeonsong?' Out loud, at least. Their eyes said more than enough anyway.
Ju-seo glared sharply at Cheon Dohwa.
“I don't know what kind of trick you used to bewitch Martial Great-Aunt Hyeonsong, but if you're planning to pull anything funny, I won't just stand by and—”
Large tears welled up in Cheon Dohwa's eyes.
“Uwahhh... I'm sorry...!”
Huh?
“I don't know what I did wrong, but I'm so sorry... So please don't glare at me like that, it's scary... *sniff*, *sob*...”
“N-No, wait...”
Ju-seo panicked.
“Hey! Do you think crying solves everything?!”
“*Sniff*...”
Damn, she's ridiculously pretty!
For a split second, even Ju-seo almost fell into the illusion that she was the bad guy here.
“But... you were glaring at me, and it was scary...”
“You're not a child! Who cries just because they're scared?! Do you think this is a kindergarten where crying solves everything?!”
“*Sniff*... I'm sorry...”
“No—”
Ju-seo suddenly realized she sounded like an absolute old-school bully. A wave of existential dread washed over her, right here in the middle of the majestic, winding peaks of Mount Geumgang.
Ugh... seriously, what is up with her?!
What a bizarre woman. Did she think having a pretty face and big breasts was everything? She must have lived a real easy life, huh?
Wait, was it just her imagination? It looked like Martial Great-Aunt Hyeonsong was trembling while looking at Cheon Dohwa, as if she had seen something terrifying.
...Must be her imagination.
Anyway.
“Fine! Since the Great-Aunt says so, and you say so too, let's have a duel! But if you lose... shouldn't you pay some kind of price?”
Cheon Dohwa's eyes widened.
“Huh? Why me?”
“…?”
“In the first place, isn't this duel just for the Daoists of the Bongrae Sect to accept me...? It's not like you're doing this just to bully me.”
“Well, that's true, but...”
“And as for the penalty for losing, hasn't Master Hyeonsong already taken that burden upon herself? Why should I have to carry one too?”
“S-So you're saying you'll just sit back and do nothing while your master shoulders the burden?!”
“Then... what about you, Daoist Ju-seo? If you lose, you aren't risking anything either, are you...?”
“….”
Holy crap. This girl's mental strength is insane. She looked like the type who could walk into a store bare-faced, smile, and successfully refund a coat she's been wearing for two weeks.
“…Tsk, fine. If I lose, I'll call you 'Sister' for a year.”
Ju-seo was in her early thirties. Anyone could see she was much older than Cheon Dohwa.
“…And what benefit do I get from you calling me 'Sister'?”
“….”
Now, tears were welling up in Ju-seo's eyes. Seriously, what is wrong with this girl? Sect Leader, can I just go back to my room, cover my face with a blanket, and cry?
“Ahem.”
Unable to watch any longer, Hyeonmyeong finally stepped in.
“If that is how it is, very well. Watch closely.”
Hyeonmyeong swiftly demonstrated a total of five stances in front of them. His hands blurred in an instant—pushing forward, pulling back, drawing in, striking down, and snatching away.
With every single movement, an extraordinary martial force rippled through the air. If an ordinary person were to take a direct hit from this, their internal organs would rupture, killing them instantly.
And Hyeonmyeong saw it. The moment he began executing the martial art, Cheon Dohwa's eyes turned incredibly serious.
Hmm. It seems my junior sister had her reasons after all.
After completing the fifth stance, Hyeonmyeong crossed his arms.
“Up to here is the first wing of the Butterfly Dream Fist.”
It was a passing remark, but that single sentence was the absolute key to understanding the Butterfly Dream Fist.
“I will give you one week starting now. After that, you will each demonstrate the enlightenment you have gained from watching my stances.”
Ju-seo swallowed hard.
Within a week, those five movements...
It was no easy task. But she had absolutely no intention of giving up. She was the most recognized among the second-generation disciples. She couldn't afford to fall behind here.
Alright.
Ju-seo first calmed her mind and body, replaying Hyeonmyeong's movements in her mind as clearly as possible.
...I think I remember about sixty percent.
Given her current level, no matter how hard she watched, she wouldn't have been able to comprehend any more than that anyway. And if she succeeded in replicating half of what she remembered within a week... that would be thirty percent of the total. It was incomplete, but for a second-generation disciple, it would be an outstanding achievement.
Good. From now on, I'll train day and night without rest.
While Ju-seo was solemnly steeling her resolve...
...What on earth is she doing?
Cheon Dohwa was merely staring blankly ahead. Her eyes were completely unfocused. She had a totally blank, dazed expression. It was unbelievable how she still managed to look pretty like that.
Then, her expression became even dazier. With a soft "Ah," she let out a silly giggle.
“Pretty butterfly.”
“….”
Is she actually lacking in the head? Is she one of those people who reinforces the stereotype that well-endowed women are airheads?
Cheon Dohwa slowly, languidly moved her hands.
“Hehehe...”
Huh?
Ju-seo felt an odd, profound sensation from those hand movements.
Behind Ju-seo, a third-generation disciple whispered.
“Master, she seems a bit mentally unstable.”
The third-generation disciple hoped to score some points with her master. But all she got in return from Ju-seo was a cold snap.
“Wait. Be quiet.”
Ju-seo didn't even look back at her disciple. The third-generation disciple hadn't noticed a thing, but the second-generation disciple had realized something was off.
What is that? Wait. I need to look closer.
The first-generation disciples quickly blinked, focusing their vision. And finally, those of the Sect Leader's generation...
“…!”
“….”
...forgot to breathe, completely captivated by the movements of Cheon Dohwa's fingertips and toes.
Even then, Cheon Dohwa continued to slowly move her hands.
“Mhm, right, like this.”
Murmuring strange things to herself, she performed movements that resembled a graceful dance. They were movements that seemed to have nothing to do with the Butterfly Dream Fist. Yet, for some reason, Ju-seo couldn't tear her eyes away.
No. Surely not. It can't be. That's impossible. No way. There's no way.
But. In reality.
“Yah.”
From Cheon Dohwa's fingertips, the exact same stance Hyeonmyeong had just demonstrated unfolded. The 1st stance of the Butterfly Dream Fist: Wandering Waves.
“!!!”
Ju-seo couldn't believe her eyes. The Sect Leader had only shown it once, and she was copying it after just a single glance? What's more, the level of replication was far superior to anything Ju-seo could achieve even if she spent a week, no, a whole month practicing.
A complete defeat.
There was no need to wait a week. Ju-seo had been utterly defeated by that single movement alone.
Ugh...
“Hehehe... Hup!”
But the unbelievable display didn't stop there. Cheon Dohwa didn't stop at the first stance; she proceeded to execute the remaining four stances in perfect order.
2nd stance: Plum Blossoms in the Mist.
3rd stance: Frozen Auspicious Lake.
4th stance: Fragrant Autumn Leaves.
And finally, the 5th stance: Painted Lute, where she stretched her hand forward and drew it back.
Every single stance Hyeonmyeong had just demonstrated bloomed anew from Cheon Dohwa's fingertips. Of course, the raw power was far inferior to Hyeonmyeong's. His realm was vastly higher, and his internal energy was incomparably greater.
But even the Sect Leader, Hyeonmyeong himself, had taken three whole years to fully master these stances when his master first passed them down to him. Cheon Dohwa had caught up to his three years of effort in a single minute. The scale was entirely different. By several orders of magnitude.
How is this possible...!
Though he maintained a calm exterior, Hyeonmyeong couldn't suppress the wild pounding of his heart.
Yes, I admit it. I have no choice but to admit it. This child is a genius. She is indeed the kind of genius that would make Hyeonsong react like that.
Hyeonmyeong was about to open his hands to give a grand round of applause. But right then, something even more absurd, something truly impossible, unfolded before their eyes.
“Hehehe~”
Cheon Dohwa's hands reached out into the next movement. The 6th stance of the Butterfly Dream Fist: Summoning the Transcendent Maiden.
“Wait!!!”
Ju-seo shrieked, pointing her finger directly at Cheon Dohwa.
“Martial Great-Aunt Hyeonsong, isn't this going too far? If you had already taught her the Butterfly Dream Fist beforehand, you should have told us!”
Ju-seo expected Hyeonsong to reply with something like, 'Haha! That's your fault for not checking beforehand!' But the actual response was completely different.
“…This poor Daoist has never taught her.”
“That makes no—”
Ju-seo cut herself off. Because Hyeonsongcheonnyeo was staring at Cheon Dohwa blankly, as if possessed.
“I truly... have not...”
“Th-Then...”
How on earth is she executing those stances right now?
“Hehe~ Hehehe~”
Lost in a state of self-absorption, Cheon Dohwa began executing the subsequent stances as well. The 7th stance, striking with both hands spread wide: Sorrowful Cliff's Call. The 8th stance, thrusting her hands in opposite directions: Heaven-Shattering Melody. And the 9th stance...
“…Hmm?”
Cheon Dohwa tilted her head.
“…Hmmmm...?”
She tilted it to the other side.
“That's weird.”
“You're the one who's weird!!”
Ju-seo couldn't take it anymore and screamed.
“Ah! You startled me...”
“We're the ones who are startled here! H-How on earth did you do that?!”
“…?”
“Don't just look at me like that! How did you do it?! Where did you learn this martial art?!”
Cheon Dohwa looked at her with a bewildered expression, as if she was genuinely worried that Ju-seo might be a bit slow in the head.
“…Just now?”
“The Sect Leader only showed you five stances, from the first to the fifth! Where did the other five come from? Did a butterfly tell you?!”
“…Yeah, actually?”
“Argh...!!”
Ju-seo felt like she was going to die of sheer frustration.
“Ju-seo. Stop.”
“Sect Leader!”
Yes, the Sect Leader needs to handle this!
“Fellow Daoist Cheon Dohwa.”
Hyeonmyeong's tone was markedly different from before.
“How did you comprehend this?”
“Ah, it's thanks to you. You said the part you showed us was one of the butterfly's wings.”
“And since wings always come in a pair?”
“Yes.”
To Ju-seo, this sounded like absolute gibberish. Sure, the Butterfly Dream Fist was characterized by gentle, fluttering movements like a butterfly's wings. But how on earth did that translate to...
“…Hmm.”
A strange light gleamed in Hyeonmyeong's eyes.
“Fellow Daoist Cheon Dohwa.”
“Yes.”
“The current first-generation disciples share the generation name 'Yeon'—meaning their names start with 'Yeon'.”
“Oh, really? That's pretty!”
“So, how would you like the Daoist name 'Yeonhwa'?”
“Pardon?”