A Midnight Invitation
Across the vast stone floor of the training ground, the heavy footfalls of a single person rang out alone.
The Sect Leader of this place, Hyein Satae, walked slowly with her hands clasped behind her back among the newly arrived lay disciples.
Her loosely flowing hair, her languid stride, and that uniquely refined air of hers seemed to fill the entire open yard.
“Every one of this batch of lay disciples has clear eyes and a straight heart.”
Hands still folded behind her, she examined each of the lay disciples on the training ground one by one as she approached.
Hyein Satae’s voice was soft, yet it carried like an echo through the mountains, rolling gently into the distance.
“Most of you climbed this mountain in pursuit of martial arts, I am sure. Yet the path of Emei places greater weight on spiritual cultivation.”
She paused for a moment, gazing at the sea of clouds that wrapped Mount Emei, then continued with quiet weight.
“Remember this well: the Way is not a straight highway but a winding mountain path. Understand that, and you will achieve all the more.”
Someday they would come to understand those words, she seemed to say, freely sharing the fruits of her own enlightenment as their Sect Leader.
That was Hyein Satae—the woman every female martial artist of the Central Plains looked up to, the one called the Great Mother of the Emei Sect.
Every person on the training ground held even their breathing still as they listened to her.
Judging by her bearing and the profound weight in her words, she looked for all the world like a truly admirable person.
Of course, the way my Starfall Heart Method had reacted like a jolt of electricity the moment we met earlier was still suspicious.
“Hmm…?”
As she continued surveying the faces of the lay disciples in turn, Hyein Satae seemed to sense a peculiar aura and stopped right in front of me.
The corners of her eyes lifted slightly; a strange light entered her expression.
I had been tucking my bothersome black hair behind my ear when our eyes locked dead-on.
“……”
For an instant it felt as if my breath had stopped.
A flicker of genuine interest passed through the depths of her gaze.
“Child, what is your name?”
That archaic manner of speech suggested she was far older than her appearance of about thirty would indicate.
And for reasons I could not yet grasp, something about me had brought her steps to a halt.
“…This humble girl is called Seo Muhong.”
I softened my voice as much as I could manage. A desperate little struggle to keep my identity hidden.
Ilhong, who had just witnessed that ladylike performance, stared at me with pure horror in her eyes.
That one’s going to earn her another smack later.
“Muhong, is it. Clear vital energy flows from both your eyes, and a virtuous aura seeps out of its own accord. These are surely the marks of one who has accumulated great merit.”
Once you reached the level of a Daoist or Buddhist sect’s leader, could you see not only a person’s outer form but something of the inside as well?
Song Ryeong had been the same. Lately I seemed to keep meeting great personages who could vaguely sense the path my life had taken.
“I am curious. What work did you do out in the world before coming here?”
I forced down the growing pressure that rose with every step Hyein Satae took closer and opened my mouth with forced calm.
“I was simply born with more than enough, so I have spent my life giving what I had to those less fortunate around me.”
“…Ehhh.”
Ilhong, who had seen the real me—the money-crazed man who would investigate an affair as long as the pay was good—made another weird noise beside me.
I’m definitely giving that one a knuckle to the skull later.
“Splendid. To think a woman who is not even a formal disciple of this sect has lived embodying the spirit of Emei.”
When I told her that, though born the child of a merchant house that chased profit, I had cast aside greed and taken pity on the poor by offering relief, Hyein Satae smiled with genuine warmth, clearly delighted.
As the Sect Leader’s praise continued, envious glances shot toward me from every side.
Her compliments must have been rare; even the true disciples of the main mountain were looking at me as if they could hardly believe it.
“Unnie always is popular with the important people, huh.”
“……”
Ilhong’s whisper brought me no joy whatsoever.
I swallowed hard and focused on analyzing why this woman had chosen to speak to me at all.
“Now it makes sense. You have walked such a righteous path that even I can feel this virtuous aura radiating from you.”
Right there in front of everyone, words of blessing and praise kept pouring in one after another.
A righteous path, she said. Some people had gotten hurt along that path. Some had died.
“A virtuous path… You praise me too highly. There were times I pursued my own interests while offering relief, and I have made more than a few enemies as well.”
At my flustered answer, Hyein Satae offered a faint smile.
“Though I have devoted myself to the Daoist path, I am well acquainted with the words of the Buddha as well. And He said: Jajeonggiui—purify one’s own intent.”
Purify one’s own intent. I had never heard the phrase.
“…What does that mean?”
“It means what matters is the motive of the heart. If what is within you is pure and clean, then it is good. Do not doubt yourself, child. You have walked the right path.”
Her tone seemed to soothe even the smallest doubt inside my heart.
Listening quietly, I almost felt she was nothing more than a benevolent and wise person—enough that, for a fleeting moment, I wondered whether Hye-yul Sinni’s words could possibly be true.
“I grow fonder of you by the moment. And from the look of your bones and sinews, your martial talent appears considerable as well… Child, it would be a waste to leave you as a mere lay disciple. Will you not enter the Emei Sect proper?”
“……!”
At that sudden proposal, every person present went blank-faced and looked back and forth between me and Hyein Satae.
An unprecedented situation—the Sect Leader herself publicly declaring she wished to take someone as her own disciple.
While everyone around me reeled in shock, I hauled up every scrap of composure I had and barely managed a reply.
“…I am truly grateful for your words, but as a lay disciple I have a place I must return to. I fear I cannot accept.”
I refused as courteously as I could, taking care not to scrape against the Emei Sect Leader’s temper.
At the same time a wave of shock rippled through the people around us. Some of the lay disciples stared at me as if I had gone mad for rejecting such a precious offer.
“I see. That is fair enough. What use would a thousand gold pieces be to one who already gives away what she has so willingly?”
Even after her rare proposal was declined, Hyein Satae only smiled with generous understanding.
Those nearby, already startled by my bold refusal, now found themselves moved once more by the breadth of her magnanimity.
If one looked only at this scene, she truly seemed so wise and good that Hye-yul Sinni’s claims might have been lies.
But just then, together with Salsung, I felt a single thread of murderous intent that squeezed my heart.
A killing aura so faint that only I, bearer of the Heavenly Killing Star, could have noticed it.
Kill her… before you die…
A palm burning crimson urged me to charge the Sect Leader right there in front of a hundred watching Emei martial artists—a pure act of suicide.
Even if I were going to go at her, it would have to be when we were alone if there was to be even a sliver of a chance. Getting dogpiled by the entire Emei Sect was not on my agenda.
“Still, there is counsel I wish to share with you personally and advice I would give. Once tonight’s training is finished, come to my quarters.”
Anyone watching would have thought she was simply calling a promising child so she could teach her a few secret techniques.
After sensing that killing intent, I began to wonder what might be hiding beneath that benevolent face.
“And this is not a request. There is something I truly wish to impart to you.”
“…Yes. I understand.”
Hyein Satae, clinging to me with stubborn persistence and refusing to let go.
I had planned to become an outstanding student and force a meeting precisely so I could uncover her true nature—yet somehow we had skipped that entire process.
With a wave and a promise to see me tonight, Hyein Satae finally walked away.
“Calling you to her quarters in the middle of the night… that seems awfully suspicious, Unnie.”
“Yeah.”
Even Ilhong, who had no sensory abilities whatsoever, seemed to feel something off and voiced a thought much like my own.
Three years with a village school dog and it learns to recite poetry, they say. Is she starting to develop a troubleshooter’s instincts? How precious.
“I heard from the client that this place is closed off, full of yin energy, and that sometimes the women form… improper relationships with each other. You don’t think that’s why she called you, do you…?”
Ilhong seized my arm in a death grip and muttered that if it was anything like that she would absolutely not let me go.
“……”
What on earth filled that head of hers?
Far from developing a troubleshooter’s instincts, my subordinate was wildly missing the mark.
By the time we finished training in the Emei Sect’s sword forms and polished off the evening meal, night had already fallen deep.
“Boss, you ate way too much.”
I emerged patting a belly that had finally filled out for the first time in ages, and Ilhong had a comment ready.
“Stuff like this you have to eat while they’re still offering it.”
Originally the people of the Emei Sect had insisted on harsh, strictly measured rations. But once I caught the Sect Leader’s eye and word got around that I might even become her disciple, hands started offering me extras from every direction.
I had refused for now, but the future was uncertain, so they were probably just trying to stay on my good side.
No matter where people live—even the Emei Sect—they’re all the same.
“But Boss, do you really have to go see Hyein Satae? It looks dangerous.”
Ilhong’s gaze swept toward the direction of the Sect Leader’s quarters as she fretted over me.
“Looks like I’ve already been marked. Running won’t do any good.”
To catch a tiger, you have to enter the tiger’s den.
Her reasons for summoning me were dubious, but everyone knew I was going there tonight—which meant, paradoxically, that she would not be able to harm me lightly either.
“I’m coming too.”
“Hey. Don’t talk nonsense.”
“But we don’t know what might happen, right? I came fully prepared, you know.”
Ilhong gave a couple of taps through her robe to the thunder bombs she was carrying—weapons that could, if things went well, drop even a master in a single blast since they could not be blocked with a blade.
I appreciated the sentiment, but the moment those noisy things went off it would be the same as declaring war on the entire Emei Sect.
So I was walking along scolding her budding bomb-maniac tendencies when someone suddenly spoke up from behind us.
“You. You’re heading to the Sect Leader’s quarters right now, aren’t you? Then take me with you.”
It was the voice of the woman who had tapped me on the back at the entrance. Sensing that this was about to become a nuisance, I picked up the pace with Ilhong.
“Hey! Stop ignoring me for real!”
Looking thoroughly exasperated, she let out a piercing “Aaagh!” and then, with ghostly footwork, planted herself squarely in front of us.
Her movement split the empty air like a single gust of wind.
“People keep… ignoring what I say…! You’re just plain bad people, aren’t you?”
She huffed through her nose and jabbed a finger at us. We stopped and looked her up and down.
Sharp eyes and a body as flexible as a cat’s. Her long hair fell to her shoulders, the ends curling slightly, giving her a wild edge as well.
Judging by the faint clinking I had heard when she moved earlier, she was some unidentified female expert who, like Ilhong, had stuffed all sorts of things into her clothes.
“Who are you?”
At my curt question she snorted as if amused that I had asked so quickly.
“Seo Muhong, right? I’ve got business at the Sect Leader’s quarters too. So take me along while I’m still asking nicely.”
She wanted me to add one more companion besides Ilhong.
A complete stranger who had suddenly appeared and made an absurd demand.
“While you’re still asking nicely? And if we don’t?”
“I don’t want to either, but someone will probably get hurt.”
See? The moment you start talking, it becomes a hassle.
I always feel this way, but my instincts are right about half the time. The problem is that the other half tends to explode into major trouble.
“I think we at least need to know what your business is.”
When I answered readily, she seemed to think I had been cowed and smirked as she opened her mouth.
“The Heaven-Interceptive Sword. I’m looking for it. I’ve already searched everywhere else, so the only place left is the Sect Leader’s quarters.”
The Heaven-Interceptive Sword. Hadn’t Hye-yul Sinni taken that with her when she left the Emei Sect?
Then again, who goes around advertising the disappearance of a sacred relic? Word clearly had not reached this woman yet.
“Are you a ‘gentleman of the beam,’ by any chance?”
A classical euphemism for a thief—the gentleman who crouches on the roof beam.
I had reached that conclusion from footwork so elusive it put even Whirlwind Steps to shame, and from the soft clinking of whatever she had stashed inside her clothes.
“Heh. That sword is useless to you people anyway, isn’t it? Why not take me along before you end up in pain?”
Even if it killed her, she was not going to deny it.
I wondered what she planned to do with the Emei Sect’s sacred relic—the one said to sense evil and demonic energy—that she was so eager to steal it.
“Hmm.”
I stroked my chin and studied her carefully.
She had shown movement that could startle even someone at the Transcendental Peak Realm like me, so she clearly knew how to handle herself in a fight.
We were not going for a friendly chat; we were walking straight into a tiger’s mouth.
And here was a master of that caliber volunteering to come along just in case things went wrong.
From my perspective, is there any reason to refuse?
The Heaven-Interceptive Sword she wanted to steal was not even here. Having reached that conclusion, I nodded as if to say fine.
“Well then, shall we go together?”
I had meant to go alone, but I was not particularly interested in making a good impression anyway.
If the three of us showed up, we would just get scolded a little more, that was all.
“Hmph. You should have just done that from the start.”
Only then did our gentleman of the beam look satisfied, snorting through her nose.