Chapter 45
Chapter 45
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: I Spent a Night with the Murim Alliance Leader's Youngest Daughter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Up until now, I had hardly ever told anyone about my master.
That was possible thanks to the unwritten rule of the murim world.
Asking about someone's master was rude in itself.
Only fools who relied solely on their sect's prestige would proudly shout, "I'm from the Wudang Sect!" or "I trained under the Azure Dragon Martial Hall!" while revealing their master.
So, even if the topic of one's sect came up, I could just show that I was reluctant to reveal it, and that was enough. No one would pry further.
The reason I'd kept it secret all this time was because of my master's order. "Don't casually mention your sect." My master had firmly demanded that I conceal the information.
"Disciple, there's no benefit in becoming famous."
I couldn't help but have questions about my master's words.
A sect's power comes from its reputation. Of course, the depth of the sect's martial arts was the top priority, but reputation was a factor that couldn't be ignored.
A sect's strength was usually judged by the number of experts it had. How many experts did it possess?
To cultivate many experts? It needed to be famous.
Think about it.
Even an expert on par with Namgoong Hyeok couldn't gather disciples without fame.
No matter how superior one's martial prowess was, starting a flashy-sounding sect like "Azure Dragon Martial Hall" or "Seven Stars Sect" wouldn't attract many students.
That's why the Nine Great Sects meticulously managed their reputations.
Even for a place like the Wudang Sect, there would be mountains of people prostrating themselves if they opened recruitment for disciples.
There was a reason I was the only disciple.
"Is there anything bad about becoming famous?"
"Plenty."
So, it was only natural that I had questions.
My master didn't scold me for not knowing, but gently explained it to me like a parent.
"What comes to mind when you think of the Huashan Sect?"
"Plum Blossom Swordsmanship."
"Right. Do you know what kind of martial art the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship is?"
"I've heard it's a fierce sword art that hides sharpness within the flashy elegance of scattering petals like plum blossoms."
"And the Wudang Sect?"
"Taiji Swordsmanship. It's a martial art that subdues hardness with softness, making it hard to rush in recklessly."
"Exactly, that's the problem."
"Ah."
In that brief exchange, I realized the reason.
The downside of a sect becoming famous.
It was the fame itself.
"Being famous means your martial arts information is widely exposed. Even storytellers on the streets, with no ties to the murim world, know the characteristics of the Huashan or Wudang Sects' techniques."
"……"
"Of course, that's just a rough impression, but it's common for the forms themselves to be revealed to the world. Knowing a martial art in advance versus not knowing it—the difference that makes in a fight between experts, you know well enough, right?"
I understood.
Once one surpassed a certain realm, victory or defeat was determined by how finely one could divide time.
The flow of time isn't equal. The more one polishes their martial arts, the smaller the unit of time they perceive becomes.
A single second granted to an ordinary person could become 10 or even 20 seconds for an expert.
In that time beyond ordinary perception, one predicts each move of the opponent stroke by stroke and ponders what form to use in attack. A battle between experts demands the optimal judgment in the minimal time.
Knowing about the opponent could be a huge advantage. Because you could judge and move faster than them.
"So, unless absolutely necessary, refrain from revealing your true martial arts."
"Yes, Master."
That's why I learned disguise martial arts separately.
Manuals available even in markets. Fake books with grandiose names like Lone Solitary Sword or Thousand Hands Divine Fist, up to common arts like the Three Disasters Swordsmanship. A patchwork of all of them.
Because my master had earnestly warned me, I had never once used our sect's martial arts.
Even when facing Namgoong Hyeok's test, I had only clashed with pure martial principles. Unless it was a life-or-death crisis, I strictly adhered to my master's command to hide them.
"Are you deliberately hiding your martial arts?"
So, when a question like this came, I couldn't help but feel awkward.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It was a question without any ulterior motive.
Just pure curiosity.
At Jegal Yeong's question, Yi Se-woong scratched his head awkwardly.
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm curious. I don't know what you can do or your weaknesses."
"Suddenly?"
"As your supervisor, I thought I should properly assess my junior's capabilities since I'll be entrusting my back to you."
It was a sudden question, so the reason had to be made up on the spot. But it was reasonable, just like her.
For now, as a newbie, he was just cleaning up after grabbing petty criminals, but eventually, he'd have to face experts. It was necessary to know in advance for that.
"Well, it's our sect's policy."
"Hard to even reveal the sect name?"
"Do I have to say it?"
She must have told Namgoong Yeonhui!
Jegal Yeong suppressed the unnecessary emotions rising within her and spoke.
"No. It would be rude to pry further. If you don't want to."
"What's the big deal about my sect? As long as I swing the sword well."
"Right, you're correct."
Even if he didn't want to show it, his hurt feelings were obvious. Yi Se-woong wondered if he should cheer her up.
"If you insist, how about a spar?"
"Why?"
"I can't tell you verbally due to my circumstances, but you could see how I move."
"No need. I've seen plenty of that already. And a spar during work hours? After work, maybe."
"Aw, you're so strict. Well, if the senior doesn't want to, nothing I can do."
No.
She said after work would be fine.
Why skip over that part?
Is being with me at Baekyangdan enough?
'I'm crazy!'
She had asked casually, and Yi Se-woong had answered offhandedly. If she really wanted a spar, she should have said so clearly. Feeling disappointed because he didn't pick up on it or suggest it first meant she wasn't in her right mind.
'I've been getting drawn in since then.'
Ever since the day Namgoong Yeonhui visited Baekyangdan, something had gotten tangled.
When she finally realized the identity of the emotion floating in her heart. That sticky feeling shook her.
After that, she couldn't properly meet Yi Se-woong's eyes. Just being near him made her heart pound. Jegal Yeong found Yi Se-woong exasperating for treating her calmly without knowing her feelings.
'I'm just a senior to him.'
In truth, Yi Se-woong was normal, and she was the weird one.
She and Yi Se-woong were Baekyangdan colleagues, senior and junior.
Plain and simple, that was their relationship.
'Get a grip!'
She must not confuse work and personal matters. It was Jegal Yeong's ironclad rule. Even if she couldn't cut away the slight disappointment, she shouldn't trouble him with her emotions.
She barely managed to steady her mind that way.
"By the way, it's noisier than usual today?"
"Yeah. Probably because the seniors who returned are making a fuss."
The bustling Baekyangdan building.
She had heard that Senior Hwangbo Seyul returned this morning.
Celebratory cheers from her long-awaited return reached even this distant place.
"Do they usually welcome people back that much?"
"She took care of a headache. A guy calling himself the Shadowless Divine Thief."
Shadowless Divine Thief.
He was once a legendary thief who stirred up the world.
Rumored to have even robbed the imperial palace's secret stables.
That was why thieves proud of their skills often claimed to be the Shadowless Divine Thief.
'He was an underwear thief.'
The one caught this time had vulgar tastes unworthy of his skills. A level of prowess to escape Baekyangdan's elites, disguise techniques even the Secret Shadow Unit struggled to match. He wasted that talent stealing women's undergarments.
"What a worthless guy."
"Tell me about it."
"Is there really a need to steal women's underwear? What for?"
Yi Se-woong's casual remark.
She knew it was just disdain for the Shadowless Divine Thief.
But perhaps influenced by the novel she read last night.
Those words sparked imaginations in Jegal Yeong's mind.
Yi Se-woong tossing her onto the bed like discarding trash. His gaze looking down at her was utterly indifferent. With an air of annoyance, he says.
-Is there really a need to steal women's underwear? Just tell her to take it off.
-…….
-Didn't you hear? Take it off quickly.
Authoritative command.
Tone like ordering a servant.
But she couldn't resist.
Under Yi Se-woong's stern gaze, in that decadent atmosphere, she flails only to avoid displeasing him. Her hands move busily like fawning...
"Senior. Are you okay?"
"Kyaa!"
Yi Se-woong approaching right up to her face snapped Jegal Yeong out of her fantasy.
"What. Why are you so startled."
"W-wait. I was thinking. Don't come so close suddenly."
"?"
Yi Se-woong was just worried about her.
She was wrong for fantasizing right in front of him. But trying to hide her embarrassment, she yelled loudly.
"J-junior! You're full of energy today?"
As Jegal Yeong barely calmed her racing heart.
A visitor arrived at the training ground where they were alone.
"Long time no see, Senior."
"Yeah. I should never take thief-hunting missions again. I prefer straightforward fights."
"Must have been tough."
"After so long, no 'good to see you'?"
"Good to see you after so long."
"Prostrate and receive my bow!"
The visitor shouted in exaggerated pose.
Just her appearance made the surroundings feel rowdy.
Her petite build suited calling her a girl rather than a woman. With her side hair in twin braids, her name was Hwangbo Seyul.
A senior she didn't particularly want to run into.
"This must be the famous..."
After greetings, she approached Yi Se-woong. Circling him round and round like he was some exotic animal, Hwangbo Seyul looked him over.
"Heard you knocked out a senior right after joining?"
Hwangbo Seyul asked Yi Se-woong with a bright smile.
'Here we go again.'
Seeing her playful expression full of mischief, Jegal Yeong sighed inwardly.