Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 5: Baek Ri-seol (1)
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Baek Ri-seol appeared in the training ground, planting both fists on her hips and lifting her chin.
"Instructor Chu?"
"Yes, my lady."
"I, who was raised so specially and preciously, don't learn martial arts from just anyone."
Crunch.
Chu Un-hwi checked the pouch in his bosom and nodded vigorously.
"Fine. Then I'll ask. What makes you special, Instructor?"
"My good looks?"
"......"
"Don't look at me like that. It'd be trouble if you fell for me."
"Hah."
Baek Ri-seol elegantly pinched the bridge of her nose and chose her next words.
"Alright. I'll be direct. I'm cultivating a special martial art. One permitted only to me by my family."
"Ho. That's impressive."
"More than impressive. It's truly amazing. And not just because I'm the treasure of Infinite Pavilion. The fact that my family allowed only me to learn this art means..."
Baek Ri-seol pointed to her chest with her fingertip and shouted.
"I'm a genius!"
Clap clap clap clap.
Ryeong-ryeong clapped like a seal from the side.
Chu Un-hwi followed with dry applause.
"Amazing. Incredible. A genius. Cool."
"Hee hee. Glad you get it."
Baek Ri-seol spun around giddily, her mood soaring as she continued.
"So, what can you teach someone as special as me? The treasure of the Baek Family?"
"Hmm? Pretty much anything. I know it all."
"Arrogant. But I like it. Because you're special too."
Her face blooming with delight, Baek Ri-seol pressed again.
"What's your specialty, Instructor? Sword?"
"I handle the sword well."
"Do you know other weapons too?"
"Blades too."
"Sword and blade? What about other weapons?"
"Of course."
Chu Un-hwi answered confidently.
"I especially excel with sword, blade, spear, staff, and bow."
Baek Ri-seol's face darkened.
It was only natural.
For a martial artist, mastering even one weapon was difficult, let alone excelling in sword, blade, spear, staff, and bow.
Only the ignorant boasted of hundred-day spear, thousand-day blade, or ten-thousand-day sword. True experts said reaching mastery in one weapon took decades.
In short, claiming skill in many weapons proved mediocrity.
Baek Ri-seol's face flushed red.
"Are you mocking me right now?"
"No way. I can't lie."
"You just lied about being handsome!"
"That wasn't a lie."
He slightly lifted his bangs, and Baek Ri-seol froze, index finger extended.
"Miss?"
Only after Ryeong-ryeong called did she cough and clear her throat before continuing.
Her face still red, Baek Ri-seol shrieked.
"F-Fine. I'll believe you."
"That's grateful."
"But if you don't help my training, I'll fire you without mercy!"
"Oh dear. This employer's quite picky."
"Answer me!"
"Yes, my lady!"
Training finally began, barely.
Lying on a rock watching the training, Nangong Yun-ho approached.
His face was sour after witnessing the farce.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Fine."
"Won't you get fired? Taking advantage of a student like this is illegal."
"No need to worry, Ghost of Bronze Hall. You got nothing to fleece anyway."
"The Baek Family isn't easy. If you fall out of favor while earning pocket money, it won't end with just paying back the cash."
Nangong Yun-ho was deeply worried.
Honestly, his personality wasn't great, but he liked this capable, surprisingly attentive instructor.
He was grateful for the rescue.
He even wanted to repay the life debt someday.
For these reasons, his advice came from the heart.
But Chu Un-hwi wore his usual smile.
"Nothing for you to worry about."
I hope so.
Nangong Yun-ho wished to stick with this dubious instructor longer, grueling as it was.
The first day passed without incident.
Baek Ri-seol ranted about how amazing her swordsmanship was and how great a decision the Baek Family made entrusting it to her, then explained it.
"The martial art I'm learning is Peerless Supreme Swordsmanship!"
A name full of bravado.
Baek Ri-seol proudly thrust out her chest, unashamed.
"It's an incredibly great sword art, but with my genius intuition, it's incomplete. Especially the transition from the third form to the fourth, and sixth to seventh—those need fixing."
"Didn't you say it's special? A special art that's unfinished?"
Baek Ri-seol faltered briefly.
Then she asserted louder.
"Because I'm special!"
"Fine. Show me. Your Peerless Supreme Whatever Swordsmanship."
"Peerless Supreme Swordsmanship!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Watch closely!"
Chu Un-hwi asked as she awkwardly assumed her stance.
"But is it okay to show this Peerless Whatever Swordsmanship?"
"Urgh. Peerless Supreme Swordsmanship."
She stomped the ground with her right foot, correcting him.
Then she said.
"It's fine. Necessary for perfecting the art. I'll understand with my vast heart like the Yellow Sea."
"Alright. Give it a go."
That day, training consisted entirely of her bizarre sword forms.
The next day.
Baek Ri-seol diligently practiced her swordsmanship.
No improvement from yesterday.
Today, she even tripped over her own foot mid-form and fell spectacularly.
"Evasion technique!"
Blood trickled from her nose, but she dove back in.
Chu Un-hwi, watching, clapped.
"Mouth's getting dry."
He demanded snacks from Ryeong-ryeong, who was clapping and spectating.
The third day.
Baek Ri-seol's training began again.
Chu Un-hwi still showed no intent to teach.
To Nangong Yun-ho, he seemed distracted elsewhere.
"Ooh. What's this?"
"Snacks from Infinite Pavilion."
The lacquered wooden box held artisan pastries and treats.
Munching crisps, Chu Un-hwi marveled.
"These are famous sweets. Nothing like street candy."
He ate and commented endlessly.
"Ah, this has walnuts."
"Ooh, sweet. Super sweet."
"This shop's a gem."
Nangong Yun-ho shot him a look as he devoured them.
"Want some?"
"...No thanks."
What the hell?
He wasn't the only worrier.
"Instructor, is our miss okay?"
Maid Ryeong-ryeong looked pitifully at Baek Ri-seol.
Chu Un-hwi replied shortly.
"She's fine."
No guidance today either.
The fifth day.
Tired of watching idly, Nangong Yun-ho stepped up.
"Instructor. This isn't right."
"Why now?"
"Just watching her train all day?"
"Observing growth is an educator's duty."
Can't keep your mouth shut.
But Nangong Yun-ho had reason.
"That swordsmanship isn't just useless. Swinging wildly like that will ruin her meridians and qi flow first."
Exactly.
Baek Ri-seol's art wasn't a supreme technique—it barely qualified as martial arts.
"The mind technique and sword forms don't match."
"True."
Experts paired similar sword arts and mind techniques for stability.
Fast swords with short breaths; slow swords with long breaths.
Prestigious families valued this balance.
"Plus, full-power wild swings regardless of form risk tearing ligaments or muscles."
"You know your stuff."
Yet her swordsmanship was off-spec.
Mind technique wandered; forms unpredictable.
Like slow sleep breathing while sprinting full tilt.
One mistake, and the body breaks.
"Still just watching?"
"Yep."
Nangong Yun-ho deflated.
Then Chu Un-hwi grinned.
"As you said, it's brutally taxing. But she's holding up pretty well."
He patted his shoulder, eyeing Baek Ri-seol.
"Tough one, huh?"
"I agree she's a hard worker, but stubbornly sticking to that method is just dumb."
Smack.
Chu Un-hwi tapped his head.
"Nangong. Quit fixating on flaws. To survive long in the jianghu, spot strengths first."
"...Noted."
"Good."
Then he lounged back under the tree.
Another day gone.
The sixth day.
Finally, Baek Ri-seol exploded after solo training.
"Instructor!"
Messy from practice, she yelled.
"What good is just watching?!"
"Nom. Nom."
"Argh!"
Stomping over furiously, she loomed over him.
"Teach. Me. Properly."
"I am."
Chu Un-hwi protested, but ten days of neglect had even her loyal maid riled.
"Confiscating the snacks."
"No iced honey water needed."
"Miss. Tomorrow, back to Instructor Yeo."
As they gathered things, Chu Un-hwi fist-palmed.
"Ah!"
"Too late to regret."
"Pity. I just figured out the third form's secret..."
"What?"
Startled, Baek Ri-seol said coldly.
"Don't think lies will save you. Fooling the Baek Family's Forbidden Jade Leaf, Infinite Pavilion's treasure, brings consequences..."
"Try dual swords."
"Pardon?"
"The third form isn't meant for one sword. Hold swords in both hands, dual-wield style."
"B-But the blades will clash mid-form!"
"Nangong."
"Yes!"
Nangong Yun-ho handed over a sword.
"Try dual swords."
Hesitant under his stern gaze, she assumed stance again.
"Blade tips to the ground."
"Stand on one leg during the form."
"The rotation starts at the blade tips, spreads to your toes—that's the key."
Dazed by the first real guidance, she moved her swords.
The third form she'd failed countless times.
Shiiik.
As she swung like dancing.
Rotation added to the bird-like flaps stabilized her further.
The clash issue...
Kaang!
"Huh?"
"Gasp!"
Swords sparked on clash, repelling by recoil.
Like wings spreading.
Shiiik.
"Success..."
Arms wide, balanced on one foot, her eyes shook.
The form succeeded on first try.
As her trembling gaze met his.
"Like a crane's wingbeat ascending. White Crane Soaring to Heaven. That's what I'd name it."
Chu Un-hwi grinned.