Late Winter in Kaifeng
The great city of Kaifeng was always overflowing with people, but the arrival of the New Year had drawn an even greater flood of humanity. As the headquarters of the Orthodox Murim Alliance, the city hosted countless events every year, or every few years. This time, the main occasion was the entrance ceremony for the Jeongmu Academy. More young martial artists than ever were knocking at the Alliance’s gates. Naturally, their parents, masters, and entire entourages had come with them. It was only to be expected that the streets could barely contain the crowd.
“Did you hear? Just last year, ten of the Top Hundred Masters Under Heaven vanished.”
“Is that true?”
“It is. Seven died, one retired, and two lost their reputations.”
“So many deaths?”
“The Hundred Li Sword Jeong Mun-gi, the Clear Water Swordsman Namgung Ha, the Iron Palm Fierce Tiger Jo Won-tak, the Blood Fiend Xue Wu-ming, the White Poison Hand Guo Yi-ming, the Night Demon Slayer Ma Hyeon-gwi. And the Gold-Greedy Monster Geum Man-deuk—they say he’s dead too.”
“I think I’ve heard some of those names.”
“The strange part is that the others all had clear reasons. Old age, chronic illness, honorable duels, life-or-death battles. But Geum Man-deuk’s death remains a mystery.”
“A mystery? The man was nearly eighty. Isn’t it natural for him to die?”
“No. He was guarding a merchant caravan on request when it happened. A peerless expert, perfectly healthy, died in a place with no other high-level fighters. Even more curious, his body was found some distance from where he should have been, and it bore clear wounds. He was murdered.”
“Perhaps an old grudge? The Gold-Greedy Monster certainly made plenty of enemies.”
“That’s what most people are saying. But there’s another theory. Most of the Top Hundred have held their positions for decades. It may be time for a major shift.”
“You mean an unknown expert might have defeated one of them!”
“Doesn’t it feel like things are about to get interesting?”
“It does indeed. I wonder… could that expert be attending this entrance ceremony?”
“Nonsense. These children are far too young. Although… if we consider their guardians, perhaps it’s not impossible.”
Wherever people gathered, all kinds of stories spilled forth.
“Sir, among the candidates entering the Academy this time, who are you watching most closely?”
“The ones with the potential to become dragons and phoenixes? Naturally, Namgung Jin of the Namgung Clan, Dang Ja-myeong of the Sichuan Tang Clan, and Si Yun of the Jeomchang Sect come to mind.”
“Come on, those three are from the most prominent clans. Isn’t it only natural they’re outstanding?”
“Heh heh. Then what about Jang Gyeong-su of the Cheongheo Gate and Son Gyeong-eon of the Nakyeong Valley? Both are certain to enter this time.”
“What kind of children are they?”
“The Cheongheo Gate is a traditional sect that builds power steadily through pure internal cultivation. Their progress is usually slow, yet Jang Gyeong-su has already reached the level of his peers.”
“If steady, upright progress is their strength, couldn’t he overtake the others later?”
“Exactly. As for the Nakyeong Valley, their specialty is stealth techniques as silent as shadows. I hear Son Gyeong-eon already possesses rich real-combat experience.”
“Ooh… I’m getting excited!”
“Ah, yes… there’s one more. Wi Won-ye, daughter of the Murim Alliance Leader Wi Mu-jin. Her skills haven’t been made public, but as the daughter of the Alliance Leader, she’s naturally the subject of great anticipation.”
“The Alliance Leader’s daughter! She must be incredibly beautiful, right?”
“You rascal!”
The young martial artists entering the Academy were, of course, the topic on everyone’s lips.
“Oh! Welcome, welcome!”
One of the first-class pavilions near the Murim Alliance headquarters. It was one of several places where Alliance members greeted guests who had come to Kaifeng.
“To think the Grand Supervisor of the Eunpa Merchant Group, whose name is on everyone’s lips, would visit us personally! Since you took charge, the rumors say the Eunpa Merchant Group has been swiftly regaining its former glory!”
“Hehe, I thank you for the warm reception.”
The jade-like voice that flowed from beneath the veil made the young Alliance elder, Im Won-do, swallow hard. When he had first been given this duty, he had complained bitterly about being too young for the role. Now he thought he had been truly fortunate.
“Is the young lady beside you the one you are recommending? She does not appear to have reached the proper age for the Academy yet…”
“Despite how I look, I am sixteen years old.”
“Sixteen? Oh dear, my mistake. I apologize, miss.”
“I-it’s quite all right…”
“She is a child I cherish especially.”
“H-hello… I am Jegal So-yeon…”
“Ohh, Jegal… could it be?”
“As you have guessed.”
“Incredible. I had heard rumors that the clan leader kept one youngest daughter hidden from the world, but I never imagined she truly existed. No wonder he kept such beauty under lock and key. Once she enters the Academy and time passes, many young men will lose sleep at night.”
Im Won-do wisely chose not to point out that So-yeon did not share the generational character with her other siblings. It was already rare for a direct descendant to enter under the Jegal name; there was surely a story behind it.
“However… while we would gladly welcome a lady of the Jegal Clan with open arms, we cannot completely ignore procedure—”
Im Won-do carefully broached the subject. Although the woman before him had revived the Eunpa Merchant Group, Bing Ok-yeon was only recently becoming known. As an elder of the Murim Alliance, he needed to verify the candidate’s qualifications. Of course, in the process, he might receive a suitable reward.
“Pavilion Master?”
Ok-yeon suddenly called out. Im Won-do flinched in surprise. He had been hoping for a small bribe; now he wondered if he had offended her. But instead, a woman entered the room carrying a small wine table.
“I am Seol-hwa, Master of Hwahongru.”
“Ooh… Have you already established ties with this pavilion’s master, Supervisor? We were the ones who chose Hwahongru as the reception venue…”
“There is nothing in this world that money cannot accomplish, is there? Here, Pavilion Master.”
Seol-hwa flashed a warm, welcoming smile that only So-yeon could see, then offered the wine table to Im Won-do. His expression finally relaxed.
“No, ahem… I really shouldn’t accept this…”
“Oh dear, you misunderstand. This is simply a gesture so that you might speak with an easy heart, Elder.”
“I-is that so?”
“So-yeon?”
“Y-yes…!”
So-yeon, who had been beaming at Seol-hwa and drooling over the lavish snacks, sprang to her feet. She walked into the garden located deeper inside the splendid room.
“Then… I will begin…”
So-yeon drew her fan. The slight awkwardness of inexperience was visible. The folding fan was thin and caught the light beautifully. Her preparatory posture looked quite credible, and Im Won-do nodded in approval.
The girl’s wrist moved lightly. The trajectory still carried traces of hesitation, as though she were recalling memorized forms. Swish— The fan sliced through the air. The sound was thin and unsteady rather than sharp.
“Huu…”
Yet the girl’s expression remained calm. She steadied her breathing and continued the movements. Her footwork was half a beat late, her shoulders tense. Nevertheless, when the fan swept again, its tip finally traced the correct path.
Tap—
A single fallen leaf that had been drifting according to her motion split neatly in two and fluttered down. So-yeon’s eyes widened. She could not hide her surprise at the accidental success.
“…Wow.”
She quickly composed herself and continued the form as though she had intended it all along. This time she relaxed her strength and slowed her speed. Only then did the fan grow docile, flowing as if following the rhythm of the girl’s own breath.
One full circle. Half a circle. The fan drew smooth arcs. The motion was not yet flawless, but one could feel a growing stability within the flow. She knew exactly what she needed to do. A clear image existed in her mind. It was palpable.
On the final movement, the tip of the fan dulled slightly. Her stamina had finally run out. The instant her balance began to collapse, she quickly shifted her feet and steadied her stance.
“Hmm… how should I describe this…”
So-yeon stuck her tongue out a little and smiled bashfully, then offered a polite fist-and-palm salute toward the elder. Im Won-do wore an expression that said he did not know how to respond.
“I worry that I may have simply dazzled your eyes.”
“Goodness, not at all! What remarkable talent!”
“It has only been half a year since she first took up the fan.”
“…Truly?”
“Someone of your insight, Elder, must have sensed it already, no?”
In truth, he had. The girl’s movements still carried the unmistakable air of a beginner. Yet within that inexperience lay clear fragments of talent.
“Astonishing.”
In the martial world, it was common to shorten the length of one’s training period. It was purely to show off one’s own talent—to boast that one had achieved this much in such a short time. But in So-yeon’s case, even accounting for that, the truth was evident. Jegal So-yeon had been clumsy in every respect. Yet within that clumsiness, unmistakable glimmers of talent shone through.
“I understand your intention, Supervisor. Even without the name of the Eunpa Merchant Group, Miss Jegal will surely pass the entrance examination on her own merit.”
The instructors in charge of evaluation could not fail to recognize it. Even if they worried about her current level, once the length of her training was made clear, everyone would understand. Her shortcomings were obvious, but so was her potential.
“However, if this is a fan technique from the Jegal Clan, they usually employ the feather fan rather than the folding fan. Did you teach her, Supervisor?”
“The girl is merely a commoner who knows no martial arts. I simply watched over her and offered guidance where I could.”
“I see. Truly remarkable. It reminds me once again that flowers can bloom even outside the greenhouse.”
To sit beside a woman whose voice alone brought joy, and to witness talent in bloom—such pleasure was rare even for an elder of the Orthodox faction. Ok-yeon picked up the wine bottle from the table and filled the elder’s cup to the brim. Im Won-do’s mouth stretched into a grin so wide it seemed it might split his ears. There could be no greater delight. If only she would remove that much-rumored veil.
At Ok-yeon’s sound transmission, So-yeon rose from her seat. She bowed politely and left the room, then hurried with quick steps to greet Seol-hwa, whom she had not seen in a long time.
“There are limits to shamelessness. Do you even know where you are?”
So-yeon flinched. She had been greeting the former staff of the Maehyang Pavilion, including Seol-hwa, and strolling through the Kaifeng branch when the venomous voice reached her from the side of the road. It was so vicious it nearly dragged up memories from the far side of her worn-out past. But it was not the same voice. It was younger. Almost like someone her own age.
“Why don’t you say something? Do you even have a conscience?”
Her feet refused to move.
“Do you think keeping your mouth shut will solve everything? Go on, talk back like you used to.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Did you just say sorry? Are you kidding me? Are you mocking us right now?”
Something inside her was hard to endure. The sense of kinship was impossible to ignore.
“U-um…”
It was something she would never have done half a year ago. So-yeon stepped into the alley.
“What?”
“Ack, you scared me.”
There were more people than she expected. As suspected, several girls were ganging up on one. So-yeon was instantly filled with regret. But if she backed out now, she would have no face left to show her sister.
“S-stop it, please…”
So-yeon spoke and immediately squeezed her eyes shut. She was terrified of what they might do to her. Would they slap her? Spit on her? Maybe kick her in the knee.
“Hah… Now we look like the bad guys. Let’s go.”
The one who had spoken possessed a face so beautiful it was startling. It was the kind of face that made it impossible to imagine her leading a group in ostracizing someone. Yet she was also the owner of the voice that had been relentlessly driving the attack.
“Just wait until you enter the Academy.”
“We’ll be watching you closely, so behave yourself. The moment you enter, you’re finished.”
The beautiful girl seemed to be the leader. Once she left, the rest of the group scattered after her. From their appearance, they were all young female martial artists who had come to enter the same Academy as So-yeon.
“Are you all right…?”
“…”
The one left behind did not seem pleased to have So-yeon approach her. So-yeon understood. Until she had met Ok-yeon, she too had wished that no one would come near her. She hadn’t wanted to be hit. Hadn’t wanted to be scolded. So she had simply smiled and laughed at everything.
This girl was also truly beautiful. If the one who had told the others to leave had seemed harmless, this one carried a gloomy, shadowed air.
“Are you hurt anywhere…”
“Don’t talk to me.”
But her voice was ice-cold. The girl slapped So-yeon’s hand away and walked off with quick steps.
“She looks like my sister…”
For some reason, that was the feeling she got.