Chapter 7
"Hoo...."
A long breath slipped from Moyong Yehwa’s lips, a breath she’d been holding in all this time.
Swish—
Her eyelids, which had remained closed while she organized her insight, slowly lifted.
"....."
With her eyes open, Moyong Yehwa began circulating her inner energy.
Following the verses of her clan’s secret mental technique, Essence-Star Linkage, the true energy drawn from her dantian flowed toward the palm of her right hand.
Wooooong—!
The sword is me.
The moment she poured the energy gathered in her palm into the blade, sword qi rose.
This really is different.
Moyong Yehwa’s eyes gleamed.
The sword qi circulating between her hand and the sword was far clearer and steadier than before.
There was no excess left in it now.
It’s not just that.
With the insight she’d gained this time, not only her sword qi but also her ability to control inner energy had improved.
She had risen from the early threshold of the Peak realm to the fully matured Peak realm.
Insight that erased the boundary between hand and sword.
That insight would become the first seed that someday would lead her to complete unity.
Delighted by her rise in cultivation, Moyong Yehwa withdrew the sword qi.
"So, are you feeling a bit more sane now?"
When Geom Mujin spoke, confirming that she had finished organizing her insight, Moyong Yehwa clasped her hands in salute.
"Moyong Yehwa, daughter of Moyong Bujun, the head of the Great Moyong Clan, offers her thanks to Sir Geom Mujin."
As if all her ridiculous antics had been a lie, the dignity of a great aristocratic clan now radiated from her.
"Well, damn."
Geom Mujin, whose honorific had somehow been upgraded to Sir by now, looked utterly baffled.
So much for all that “pure love” and “swooning” nonsense from before.
"Is it really okay for the Moyong Clan’s precious jewel to bow her head to a black-haired barbarian like me?"
I asked in a teasing tone, but Moyong Yehwa didn’t lift her head.
"Since Sir Geom granted this junior enlightenment, something like this is only proper."
For a martial artist, enlightenment was a chance for a rare treasure greater than a spirit elixir or a divine sword.
After all, spirit elixirs and divine swords were sometimes traded for huge sums, but had anyone ever seen enlightenment bought with money?
By nature, intangible things were more precious than tangible ones.
"And while you were organizing your insight, you kept guard over me as well, so you’re also my savior."
When a martial artist organized insight or circulated qi, they became extremely vulnerable to outside interference.
At times like that, rank meant nothing.
If someone so much as brushed against you, you could fall into qi deviation and end up dead at best—or half-paralyzed at worst.
That was why, in those moments, you had to entrust your life to a guardian you trusted completely.
For her, surrounded by enemies and alone, Geom Mujin’s protection was the same as owing him her life.
She wasn’t the sort of person who would insult her savior.
"Ahem. As expected of Liaoning’s Greatest Beauty. All you’re saying is perfectly reasonable."
Since helping people usually only got me grief because of where I came from, I coughed awkwardly.
Jolt—
At the words “Liaoning’s Greatest Beauty,” her ears twitched faintly.
"...Please accept this. It’s only a small token, but it’s my way of repaying your kindness."
Moyong Yehwa took something from her robes and held it out.
It was a palm-sized plaque engraved with the Moyong Clan’s crest.
"What’s this?"
"This is a Star Grace Plaque bestowed by our Moyong Clan upon a benefactor of the family."
"Ohhh."
A cry of admiration escaped Geom Mujin.
That kind of token of gratitude was basically a high-pass ticket that got you treated like a VIP if you took it to the sect or clan in question.
As a veteran transmigrator with twenty years under his belt, this was the first time he’d ever been handed one.
Honestly, it was a little inferior to the House of Tang’s version, which also had poison-neutralizing functions, but the Moyong Clan was still—
"Sir Geom? Might I ask if you’re currently thinking something rather rude?"
"What are you talking about? I was just thinking that the Star Grace Plaque is really pretty."
"...I don’t think that’s it."
He denied it without so much as a change in expression, but Moyong Yehwa’s eyes narrowed slightly.
What a terrifying bastard.
"Ahem."
Moyong Yehwa gently placed a finger against her chest.
"I don’t intend to settle enlightenment and the debt of saving my life with just that. If there’s anything you want from me, please say the word."
"Anything?"
Anything? Did she mean anything anything?
A strange light flickered in Geom Mujin’s eyes.
Flinch—!
"Eek...!"
As Geom Mujin rolled his eyes over her from top to bottom, she unconsciously stepped back.
"You’re really... really saying I can ask for anything?"
"W-well, th-that is..."
As he drew closer, looking as if he might devour her on the spot, Moyong Yehwa trailed off.
She hadn’t expected him to make a demand immediately.
Do-does he mean... pure love!?
The young lady Moyong Yehwa inside her rushed to retreat, but the martial artist Moyong Yehwa stopped her.
F-first, we should back off—
The men of the Moyong Clan do not speak twice.
But I have Young Master Yeon...!
And you intend to lie to your savior?
"Ughhh...."
The two halves of her identity were locked in a tug-of-war, and her eyes started spinning.
In the end, the victorious Moyong Yehwa opened her mouth.
"O-of course! Anything... please, go ahead and say it!"
Girl and martial artist.
The winner was the martial artist Moyong Yehwa.
* * *
"Seriously... is this really enough?"
Moyong Yehwa asked as she twisted awkwardly in place.
The way she fidgeted and fretted hardly suited her usual self-assured image, but there was no helping it.
Nod—
"......"
When a master of the Seven Martial Stars stared at you without saying a word, with all the sternness, gravity, and seriousness in the world, anybody would be rattled.
Welp. No getting out of this now.
This was the disaster she’d called down upon herself.
Best to get it over with quickly.
Her lips parted and a faint, nervous cough escaped.
"Th-then... I’ll begin."
"......"
Again, Geom Mujin gave a silent nod.
Step—! Puff—!
She spread her legs shoulder-width apart and crossed both arms, bracing her chest.
"Hmph!"
With a proud snort, she snapped her head aside, and the sky-blue twin tails tied on both sides of her head swayed lightly.
"It’s not like I’m giving this to you because I’m grateful or anything!"
She shouted in a maddeningly prim voice and shoved the Star Grace Plaque toward him as if handing off something troublesome.
"I’m only giving it to you because I hate owing people! Don’t get the wrong idea!"
Woohoo...!!
Compared to earlier, it may have seemed disrespectful, but that was nonsense.
This was none other than the venerable etiquette known as Springtime Courtesy, filled with the fresh innocence of a spring day.
A noble young lady’s Springtime Courtesy. Now that’s rare.
Personally, I preferred the etiquette that felt like a cool beauty blooming with plum blossoms—Plum-Enhanced Courtesy—but the classics had their own charm!
"Ughhh....!"
Unlike the moved Geom Mujin, Moyong Yehwa’s face had turned red as if it were burning.
When she’d first heard his request, she’d thought, compared to what she feared, this wasn’t a big deal at all.
But somehow this is insanely embarrassing!
She often acted like a spoiled young lady, but for some reason today she felt acute shame.
Her body, which hadn’t trembled even in the bitter winter of her homeland, now shook uncontrollably, and the warm pouch she used to keep heat stored for wintertime swayed against her side.
As expected of someone from Liaoning, a land of harsh cold, that pouch boasted impressive capacity.
She silently praised her ancestors, who had spent generation after generation developing the warm pouch.
You were pioneers. You were prophets.
"H-how much longer do I have to do this...?"
Moyong Yehwa asked in a voice that sounded faintly damp.
He said she could stop, because if he made her keep going any longer, she really might start crying.
"Phew..."
Moyong Yehwa let out a sigh as she let her hair fall back down.
"Haah..."
I sighed too, regretting it a little.
"......"
To be honest, after the insight and the protection, Moyong Yehwa had started to feel genuine respect for Geom Mujin as a swordsman.
If she kept walking the path of the sword, that sprout would have grown beautifully.
But Geom Mujin hadn’t just uprooted that sprout—he’d pretty much annihilated it.
If this had been the original novel, an alert like [Moyong Yehwa’s affection has decreased] might have popped up, but unfortunately Geom Mujin had no system window that told him affection values.
"Come to think of it, what happened to those escorts from earlier?"
Remembering what she’d forgotten amid the relentless pace of events, Moyong Yehwa asked.
"Those guys? I already dealt with all of them."
I jerked my chin toward the back.
There, the corpses of the escorts were stacked neatly in a pile.
"By now they’ve probably all crossed the River Styx."
"Uh, um. ...Right."
She swallowed back something rising into her throat.
Trying to rob the Seven Martial Stars, no less.
It was something even the madmen with heart demons gnawing at their marrow wouldn’t do, so the result was only natural.
To be fair, the escorts from Baekmun Escort Agency had only been trying to reclaim their cargo—contraband, in truth—but to her, who didn’t know the truth, they were nothing more than bandits.
"I’m planning to cremate them properly in a bit."
"How considerate."
Cremation was a generous word for what was really just incineration, but Moyong Yehwa nodded readily enough.
Considering she came from an orthodox and respected clan, that might have seemed surprising, but it was only natural.
Whatever their reasons, these people had tried to take her life.
If you gave such people a proper funeral, you weren’t orthodox—you were just a sucker.
"Then the White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle must’ve run off in the chaos."
Moyong Yehwa looked disappointed as she glanced at the empty space on his shoulder.
She’d gained an unexpected bonus, but the reason she’d come here in the first place had been the White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle.
"No, that guy... wait a minute."
I closed my eyes briefly and focused, and my spiritual senses responded.
Come back.
......
......
Kyaaaak—!!
After a while, a shrill cry split the sky.
Parting the clouds, the White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle appeared and flew straight onto my shoulder.
Thump—!
"You little brat. Your master was out there fighting his ass off, and you just bailed to the sky on your own?"
"Kue."
The White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle was indignant.
Its master had been ganged up on, so it had flown up to help—but what did it find?
He was slaughtering them all by himself.
This was the Seven Martial Stars! The Seven Martial Stars!
Its master was too strong, so what was a baby spirit beast like it supposed to do?
"You should’ve helped better."
"Kuu..."
But those circumstances never reached the White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle.
A spirit beast that couldn’t speak human words could only be sad.
"...Sir Geom. Did you perhaps just call the White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle back?"
"Ah, I was slow to mention it. This White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle has already acknowledged me as its master."
"What!?"
Moyong Yehwa’s eyes went wide.
"Sorry about that. I snatched the ingredients for your husband’s nourishing meal."
"W-what!? Young Master Yeon and I aren’t that kind of relationship yet! No, wait—your master is a spirit beast now!?"
Her face flushed as she flailed her arms, then she seemed to come to herself in a daze and asked, "What exactly do you mean?"
"Well, as you can see?"
Geom Mujin shrugged.
Though the White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle pecked at his sleeve in protest at being treated like soup ingredients, it never left his side.
The whole thing looked exactly like a master and a pet.
"Haah..."
Another sigh, probably her fifth or sixth by now, escaped Moyong Yehwa’s lips.
Not only had he obtained a spirit beast—he’d become its master.
If it had only been the former, there might have been room for negotiation, but like this it was a total dead end.
And on top of that, he was one of the Seven Martial Stars and her savior.
There was nothing she could do.
"It’s awkward to say this, but you should head back now."
Stroking the White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle’s soft head feathers, Geom Mujin said, "He doesn’t need nourishing food anymore anyway, does he?"
"......"
Hearing those words, spoken with a blade-like gaze, Moyong Yehwa slowly nodded.
She’d come all the way here to make her presence known to him, but he was right.
After being defeated by Geom Mujin, he’d been focused on reviewing that insight and that loss while recovering in bed.
...He knew.
Though they had clearly never met before, he spoke as if he knew her very well.
"More than that, showing him the insight you gained today would probably be more effective."
".....!"
A set of punctuation marks from beyond the era floated above her head.
That... makes sense!
If it was the Geom Mujin she knew, he’d do exactly that and then some.
"Sir Geom, I apologize for my rudeness today, and thank you again for your kindness."
"Mm-hm."
"I’d like to repay you a bit more, but the sun is already setting little by little. Since I was young, my parents taught me that young ladies shouldn’t be wandering around late at night, and I’m a dutiful daughter who listens well to her parents..."
"Heh. Right. Off you go, off you go."
Amused as her rambling went on and on, I waved a hand.
It was a little disappointing that I couldn’t watch a pair of young lovers getting all cozy, but—well, no, scratch that. Let’s go with “disappointing,” sure. My conscience was the issue here.
In any case, I had no intention of playing the meddler.
At that, Moyong Yehwa’s face brightened before she could stop herself.
"Yes! Then if the opportunity comes, let’s meet again sometime!"
"Sounds good."
With that, she unleashed her light-body movement technique and descended the mountain.
It was a little disappointing that she left the moment I told her to, but whatever.
I could be satisfied with the fact that I’d left a good impression on one of the original heroines.
"...She’s gone."
Once her presence had drifted beyond the range of my sensory perception, Geom Mujin moved again.
"Hehe~"
Humming a tune, he started walking.
Rustle, rustle—
His steps, treading over the grass, stopped in front of the pile of corpses he’d stacked up.
Flash—!
A blade’s gleam flashed from the scabbard at his waist, and the nearby trees were cut down into firewood-sized pieces.
Wooooong—!
He stacked those logs neatly around the corpses.
"Fire and justice~ Fire and justice~"
After finishing the job to the accompaniment of a cheerful labor song, I stretched and said aloud, as if to make sure anyone listening could hear.
"Once I light this up, the bodies’ll go up in flames. And it won’t just be any fire—it’ll be Samadhi True Fire, so not even bone fragments will be left."
But there was still no answer.
Crackle—!
Red flames rose in my palm.
"If nobody comes out even after that, there’s nothing to be done. Maybe I should burn it on three. Three—"
Geom Mujin began counting.
"Two—"
He was already more than halfway down, but nothing happened.
"One—"
At last the count ended, and he flicked his fingers, sending the ember flying.
"Ashes to ashes."
Whoosh—!!
The spark that leaped onto the pile of logs quickly swelled in size.
Proving it was no ordinary fire, the corpses burned fiercely and fast.
"Now that’s making me crave marshmallows."
About three minutes after Geom Mujin had been enjoying the flames with the White-Headed Heavenly Awakening Eagle...
"S-s-stop! Save me!"
The corpse pile heaved, and from inside it some sort of pig—no, something pig-like—burst out.
It was none other than the young sect lord of Baekmun Escort Agency.
"Agh! Hot, hot! It’s burning...!?"
The young sect lord rolled across the ground, patting out the flames clinging to his clothes.
"If you’re going to play dead and hide next time, at least lower your heartbeat. It was pounding so hard I thought I was going to die from the noise alone."
Crunch—!
"W-what...? Ghk!"
I stomped down hard on the middle of the bastard’s back as he wriggled on the ground.
"Kyaaaagh!! S-save me...! My body’s about to burst!"
"Hey."
Right in front of the guy’s eyes, as he shrieked in agony, I tossed something down.
It was the medicinal pill U Haseok had pulled out right before he died.
"Where did you get this?"
Geom Mujin’s pupils gleamed with a sharp, slicing light.