Pursuit (2)
Everyone at the Cheonmu Academy, including the other instructors and higher-ups, had known White-Faced Flying Blade Son Seak as a man, so the shock hit even harder.
The upper class at Cheonmu Academy only admitted men to begin with, so no one had ever suspected he might be a woman.
From her actions and unique personality, it's clear she's a woman.
You might wonder how she could mingle with everyone without anyone noticing her female body, but that's nonsense. If she'd mastered advanced techniques like the Disguise Art or Harmonious Face Skill, it was entirely possible.
There were peculiar martial arts that altered the body and face. Mastering one allowed her to conceal her gender to a significant degree.
"Let's summarize again."
The target of my commission was a woman. She'd posed as a male martial artist from some unheard-of sect called the Flying Blade Sect, going by the name White-Faced Flying Blade Son Seak. Under that guise, she'd entered Cheonmu Academy and apparently loved every minute of it. She'd achieved top honors and was on the verge of graduating into the jianghu, only to vanish suddenly. And the very next day, men from Baek Geom Dang had appeared.
Putting it all together!
Who could this young, skilled female swordswoman wielding flying blades, tied to Baek Geom Dang, be?
The answer came easily.
White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong!
This White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong was the only daughter of Cloud Crane Divine Lord Gong Son Mun, who served the Invincible Wind Cloud Sword Baek Taeryeong of Baek Geom Dang with fanatical devotion.
Gong Son Mun had been close friends with Baek Taeryeong since their youth, but his loyalty bordered on obsession. He'd even declared that if he had a son reaching marriageable age, he'd send him to serve under Baek Muhon, and if a daughter, he'd offer her as a maid or concubine.
In the original story, Gong Son Se Jeong disliked it but served Baek Muhon anyway, out of duty to her father and the Gong Son family.
She wielded palm-sized flying blades with masterful skill, reaching the superhuman ranks despite her delicate frame—a martial artist far too talented to waste as a mere servant. That's why my maternal uncle had written her as someone who tried desperately to escape her fated path but ultimately failed, ending up as just another of Baek Muhon's women.
"Heh, hehehe!"
I couldn't believe the White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong was White-Faced Flying Blade Son Seak. I was still reeling.
Come to think of it, the name Son Seak is taken straight from Gong Son Se Jeong!
I had no hard evidence yet—just strong suspicions—but my reasoning was close to the truth. If Son Seak really was Gong Son Se Jeong, it made perfect sense why Baek Geom Dang's men had shown up.
"Alright, let's sort this out."
As I'd deduced, White-Faced Flying Blade Son Seak was a fake persona created by White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong. So why had she gone to such lengths, risking exposure, to enter Cheonmu Academy? As the only daughter of the Gong Son family, her path was already paved with glory, and Baek Geom Dang was full of masters who could teach her.
There was no reason for her to brave those dangers.
Nine times out of ten, it was her final request.
In the original story, Gong Son Se Jeong yearned to forge her own path as a martial artist and future head of the Gong Son family, rather than spend her life as some man's maid. But Gong Son Mun's fanaticism had reached cult-like levels. Once she hit twenty, she'd be bound to serve under Heavenly Dragon Sovereign Sword Baek Muhon.
So before turning twenty, she must have made one last plea to her father and Baek Geom Dang.
To enter Cheonmu Academy under a secret identity, mingle freely with her peers, and savor that life one final time.
And it wasn't just speculation—the Murim Alliance leadership had vouched for her fake sect and even offered guarantees. That screamed influence from Baek Geom Dang's high connections in the Alliance.
"Yeah. Now it all fits."
She couldn't risk mingling with the students lest her gender be exposed, and knowing she'd never have this freedom after twenty, she'd cherished her academy days. But that sweet, fleeting happiness had an expiration date. Upon graduation, she'd have to honor her father's promise and join Baek Muhon.
So her disappearance wasn't a vanishing act—she'd either returned to the Gong Son family or slipped quietly into Baek Muhon's service as agreed.
That explained how she'd vanished without a trace.
"No. Wait. The errand boy said she left in the dead of night, and Baek Geom Dang's men arrived the next day."
Normally, you'd sleep through the night and leave at dawn. If she'd accepted her graduation and fate, she wouldn't have fled late at night, and no one would have spotted Baek Geom Dang's men.
Which meant...
White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong had broken her promise and fled!
That tied up the loose ends. After graduating, she'd agonized: honor the promise or seize her freedom? Clearly, she'd chosen the latter.
She bolted under cover of night, and when they couldn't find her, Baek Geom Dang sent investigators.
Everything clicked perfectly.
But one question lingered.
"So where the hell is White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong, who fled from her father and Baek Geom Dang?"
Back to square one.
Two possibilities remained. First, she'd been caught by Baek Geom Dang and forcibly returned. Second, she was still hiding her identity, evading their pursuit.
Hold on—powder scent?
Thinking it over again, something nagged at me. Gong Son Se Jeong was a master of Disguise Art and Harmonious Face Skill. Would such perfect camouflage carry a woman's powder scent?
Consider it differently.
What if she applied heavy powder right before leaving, strong enough for the errand boy to notice?
And Gong Son Se Jeong was renowned for her skill with the geomungo and flute. Piecing it together!
"Errand boy! One more question. Any famous courtesans lately known for their beauty and talents?"
Gong Son Se Jeong had fooled Cheonmu Academy as a man. Now, hiding from Baek Geom Dang, why not disguise herself as a courtesan instead?
"Huh? What day is it today?"
"What?"
"You're the second young hero to ask about White-Faced Flying Blade Son Seak and exceptional courtesans."
Second? That meant someone else was on the same trail!
I bolted in a panic, my form blurring into motion.
Whoosh!
* * *
Finding Hebei Province's most famous courtesan was easier than expected.
-Of course it's Hebei Moon Flower Hwa Un Wol!
-The legendary courtesan who sells her talents and laughter but nothing more!
-Even superhuman martial masters and high officials couldn't spend the night with her!
I headed straight for Hebei Moon Flower Hwa Un Wol.
If my hunch is right, she's White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong.
Facing the reality of becoming Baek Muhon's servant after her happy academy days, she'd fled under a new identity: a legendary courtesan no one from her upright sects would suspect.
From what the errand boy said, Baek Geom Dang has caught on too!
But a long tail gets stepped on eventually. Just as I'd pieced it together, their sharp minds must have too.
Whoosh!
I raced toward the brothel.
Moon Shadow Tower, Hebei's grandest and most lavish pleasure house. Its stunning exterior and towering height made it perfect for moon-gazing. It offered everything from pure talent-selling blue houses to red houses with more, drawing crowds day and night.
Such places always had underworld or unorthodox sects backing them, but—
"Urgh."
"Damn it!"
The entrance to Moon Shadow Tower was in ruins, its guards and underworld experts bleeding out.
Did I arrive too late?
Stunned, I questioned those still conscious.
"What the hell happened?"
These usually fierce underworld thugs were too dazed to hold back.
"W-white-robed martial artists... just a few of them... took us all down."
He trembled uncontrollably, terror-stricken.
Baek Geom Dang for sure!
They favored white robes. No doubt.
This confirmed it: Baek Geom Dang had come for Hebei Moon Flower Hwa Un Wol—no, White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong.
Hurry!
The higher the floors, the rarer and more exquisite the offerings. Gong Son Se Jeong would be at the top.
Squeezing every ounce of strength, I leaped to the summit. Sure enough—
"Please, just leave me alone!"
A commotion had already unfolded; musicians and guards lay scattered. As I arrived, a stunning courtesan in silk faced off against four white-robed warriors.
Those must be the Heavenly Dragon Four Friends!
Baek Muhon's basic lackeys and bodyguards, collectively called the Heavenly Dragon Four Friends. They looked unassuming but each had peak mastery, loyal to Baek Muhon and Baek Taeryeong above all.
"Regrettably, Lady Gong Son has no choice."
"We serve only the Invincible Wind Cloud Sword senior and Young Master Baek Muhon."
"Will you take the easy path, or the hard one?"
The silver lining: her father, Cloud Crane Divine Lord Gong Son Mun, wasn't there.
If he were, I'd be in real trouble alone.
Gong Son Mun rivaled the Ten Great Warriors of the world—far tougher than these four. They were tricky, but with Gong Son Se Jeong's help, I could take them.
"I... I just want to live my own life, not Father's will."
The breathtaking Gong Son Se Jeong sobbed, her makeup smearing. Their standoff was so intense, they didn't notice me slipping in.
"We have one thing to say: come with us."
"Is 'living freely' just playing courtesan?"
That set Gong Son Se Jeong off.
"Whether courtesan here or maid under Baek Muhon, isn't it the same?"
Her slip enraged the Heavenly Dragon Four Friends.
"You've crossed the line, Lady Gong Son."
"Choosing the hard path, I see."
They drew weapons, slowly closing in like a heavenly net.
One-on-one, she outmatched any; they needed numbers.
Damn.
Knowing the original story, I pitied her. Eventually, White Crane Beauty Maid Gong Son Se Jeong would give up everything, becoming Baek Muhon's faithful limb.
This chain of events broke her completely.
I had to stop it, rewrite it. I, protagonist Cheon Myeong, was transmigrated to remake Seven Falls, Eight Rises: The Invincible Fist King, wasn't I? Time to fulfill my role.
"Hold on."