First Foray into Murim
"Ah, just one more time and I think I'll get it."
After slamming her head against the wall a few more times, that's what Namgoong Juhee muttered. Looked like her brain had finally gone haywire.
"...Miss. Is this new training method of yours self-harm?"
Seonan, watching from the side, was at her wits' end. How could she enjoy seeing the person who saved her life bashing her own head against the wall like that? She'd already tried desperately to stop her a few times, but Juhee hadn't even pretended to listen. It was so very her.
"Feels like my brain just can't keep up with my body yet. Hmm."
"Yeah, it does look that way. Maybe it's time to take a break..."
"Hold on. Let me try again."
"...Miss!"
BAM! Another thud against the wall kicked up a cloud of dust. And there in the middle of it was Juhee again, blood streaming down her face.
Even more ridiculous was that she was grinning through it all, like a kid who'd just gotten a shiny new toy.
"Whew... okay, okay. I really get it now."
Juhee nodded to herself. She'd figured out her issue, more or less.
Until just recently, her body had been at the low end of Peak realm. Joint flexibility, muscle strength, stamina—every metric matched a healthy twenty-something guy from modern Korea, no more, no less.
But after taking the Cheong Yong Dan and achieving a pseudo-body refinement, her body was truly transformed. Stamina hadn't improved, but her speed and strength were worlds apart from before.
So her brain couldn't keep up. A simple mental command to "speed up a bit" and her body was already sprinting full-tilt into the wall. That explained all the injuries.
The problem was clear, so the solution was too: get used to the body. Once she did, she could unleash swordsmanship on a whole new level from what she'd done before.
And so, thud! BAM! BOOM! Explosions echoed through the Namgoong family's training ground. A sound that would ring out for hours to come.
...
BOOM!
Another massive crash shook the Namgoong training ground. Seonan, now used to it, wrung out a towel and handed it to Juhee.
"Miss, wipe yourself down first."
"Uh... huh? Oh, right. Thanks."
"...Aren't you bleeding a bit too much?"
Juhee flashed a bright smile at the concern. If she'd known what Seonan really meant, she wouldn't have smiled like that.
The one who never dropped her weird lingo even staring death in the face is talking normally now? Guess she really is hurting. If only she spoke like this all the time. That was Seonan's thought.
"I'm almost there now. Just a bit more."
"It's already past nine."
"Nine already? Time flies."
"Isn't there any other way to get used to your body besides charging at walls?"
"Ah, well, there is a way, actually."
Juhee scratched her cheek.
"Sword arts are designed with someone blocking upfront. So if someone's just there to receive my strikes, I bet I'd get the feel quick."
"Then shall I ask some of the retainers?"
"Hmm... who?"
Seonan pondered Juhee's response. And... there really wasn't anyone who'd spar with her!
Of course not. Juhee was prickly by nature, ignored everyone, and had zero interest in making friends. Who'd volunteer for a duel?
Sure, now that public opinion had flipped, she could probably find someone if she looked. But finding one willing to spar in the dead of night? Like plucking stars from the sky.
"It's fine. Tomorrow I'll find a sparring partner. A 3rd Rate should do."
"A 3rd Rate is okay?"
"Yeah, sure. No need for sword qi or anything. They just have to block my sword."
Seonan let out a deep sigh. Then, as if resolving herself, she trotted to the corner of the training ground and picked up a wooden sword.
"Whoa, why'd you grab a sword?"
"To serve as the Family Head's direct heir, one must master various skills. Martial arts included."
"Uh... so?"
"I'll block for you."
"You sure you'll be okay?"
Worry slipped from Juhee's mouth. If she'd realized it, she'd have been shocked. Worrying about a mere data chunk? You've lost it from the strain.
"Yes, I've trained in martial arts to some degree."
"Alright, no holding back then."
With those words, Juhee's form blurred. And clang!
A sword with no qi or feint—just a simple swing. Yet its momentum was so sharp that Seonan was pushed back with one strike.
"Miss. You know, right?"
"Yeah. If you hadn't blocked, my head would've hit the wall again. Thanks."
And once more. Juhee bent her knees, lowering her stance. Then whoosh! Like a wild boar charging its target. If Seonan hadn't blocked, it'd have been straight into the wall.
BOOM!
Seonan barely managed it. Maybe because it was her benefactor—superhuman strength welled up.
A few more massive crashes echoed through the training ground. But this time, not wall-thuds, but sword clashes. Thanks to Seonan's help, the disconnect between brain and body was easing.
About fifteen minutes in, Juhee wiped sweat from her brow with her sleeve and spoke.
"Whew! You're pretty good."
"Huff... huff... Really?"
"Yeah. Guess you're the high-combat-potential type of NPC."
"You must be feeling better too, Miss. Back to the weird talk."
"Yeah, much better."
Juhee laughed brightly. Her sweat-drenched smile was stunningly beautiful.
Worth helping. That was Seonan's thought—
"Then, looking forward to tomorrow too."
"...?"
Seonan paused mid-breath and stared at Juhee.
"You're joking, right?"
"Nope? Why hunt for a new NPC when you're blocking so well?"
"..."
Seonan shut her mouth.
This might be paying my life debt with my life. Shouldn't have stepped up.
...
"So Juhee's been headbutting walls in the training ground all day."
"Yes. Quite ferocious, from what I saw."
"...Sigh."
An anxious father's sigh echoed from the Heavenly Sword Hall.
"She'll be fine. She's so clever, after all. Injuries like that are nothing to a Peak body."
And the Division Leader's comforting words. Business as usual in the hall.
"My daughter is smart, yes. If she can just control that power properly, I could send her into the murim world worry-free. Especially with you there."
"I'll do my best."
"Sigh... Right, you will. If those Hwangbo bastards pick a fight, pull my girl out immediately. Got it?"
"Oh, speaking of the Hwangbo family."
"Hm? Something else to report?"
Namgoong Sihoon furrowed his brow—the face he made when things got complicated.
"They're dead serious about taking Wuhu. The dispatched forces aren't ordinary."
"Who's coming? Don't tell me Gang himself?"
Sihoon nodded.
"Not just Hwangbo Gang. Word is the Little Fist King is coming too."
"Little Fist King? Hwangbo Un? The Hwangbo young master in person?"
The "king" in a title usually meant the best in that field. Fist King would be the top fist user. "Little" meant no later-generation disciple outdid him in fists.
"Yes, and Hwangbo Rin too."
"The sword she carries is Noksu, right? The one Park Yongtaek forged himself."
"Yes. Things are getting thorny."
"Mm... But with you going personally..."
"Frankly, Gang and I are equals. With the Little Fist King and Hwangbo Rin added, we won't outperform Hwangbo in Wuhu."
"Heh..."
Normally, one Peak expert led a combat unit. But Hwangbo had sent two. A sign of how seriously they were taking this—which deepened the Family Head's sigh.
"What do you suggest?"
"How about abandoning Wuhu altogether?"
"Abandon Wuhu?"
"Focus on building Miss Juhee's experience without overextending. Once she grows, opportunities will come."
"Mm..."
Wuhu was Anhui Province's premier commercial hub, second only to Hefei. Bringing it under Namgoong control would mean explosive growth.
But could the current Namgoong family handle it? Most thought greed could cost them their existing turf.
In other words, dominating Wuhu was tough even without Hwangbo. With them there? Forget it. The Family Head nodded gravely.
"Mm... Actually, good timing. No overreaching in Wuhu then. Just build Juhee's experience and pull back."
"Understood."
"And with Hwangbo... mm. At least don't lose the staring contest. Got it?"
"Have to, right? I'll do my utmost."
The two made a rational call for the family. Wuhu was big, but sinking heavy forces into a hopeless fight was unwise.
Whether Namgoong Juhee would accept that was another matter entirely.