Flashing Blossom Sword
From the moment they left Nanyang that morning, Geukseon and Harin had been on the road until noon, when they finally sat down by a river to rest for a while.
Truthfully, Geukseon had no reason to be tired.
For someone like her, walking this much would never be enough to make her weary—not even if she spent several nights in a row on her feet.
She had stopped for another reason entirely.
More precisely, it was because of the one thing that had filled her mind ever since they left the Jegal Clan Manor.
"Child."
"Yes, senior sister."
"Do you know what kind of sword style I use?"
"I’m sorry. I don’t know much, so I’m afraid I don’t."
"Is that so? Well, no matter. You can learn from now on."
Even as she said that, the corners of Geukseon’s mouth twitched upward.
"I’ll recite the formula for you. Will you listen?"
"Yes, senior sister."
"Good. Then listen well. The martial art I’m going to teach you is called the Yuyu Mugyeom Sword Art. It was originally a sword style of Zhongnan, but I’ve put my own hand to it."
And so Geukseon quietly began reciting the formula for the Yuyu Mugyeom Sword Art.
It may have been a Zhongnan technique, but the formula she was reciting now was practically a refined and improved version she herself had polished.
Which meant this was the first time Geukseon had ever taught these verses to anyone.
Her voice trembled just a little, but she told herself not to be ridiculous and calmly continued the recitation.
Seated there, I listened quietly as she taught me.
Geukseon had a very pleasant voice.
How should I put it? Just listening to her made me wonder whether she was really as sharp-tongued as she acted.
In any case, once Geukseon had finished reciting the formula, a message window appeared without fail.
[You have learned the Yuyu Mugyeom Sword Art - Midtier.]
"Senior sister."
"What is it?"
"You said this was the Yuyu Mugyeom Sword Art, correct?"
"Indeed."
"Then... is this sword art related to heavy swordsmanship?"
At my words, Geukseon’s eyes widened, and then she smiled so brightly she could practically be called radiant.
"You figured that out just from hearing the formula!?"
"I just... had a feeling."
In truth, I’d noticed because the word heavy was written right there in the name, but still...
Yeah, this misunderstanding is going to get even deeper.
"That’s right! It is! This sword contains the principles of heavy swordsmanship!"
Geukseon looked genuinely thrilled. Then, looking at me, she went on.
"Then, would you be able to draw your sword and try it?"
"I’m not very skilled, but I’ll give it a try."
With that, I drew my sword and began to perform the form.
The movements were not as complicated as I expected.
Probably because it was a slow sword style. Heavy sword techniques were usually swung slowly, after all.
To reproduce the exact movements, I deliberately moved even more slowly.
And when I made it from the first form all the way to the last, I could see a star rising as expected.
Geukseon, unable to hide her overwhelmed expression, was there too.
"Did I perform it properly, senior sister?"
"Ahem. Hm. Yes. Not bad."
Honestly, that woman was incredibly easy to read.
She couldn’t even hide how delighted she was, and yet she was trying to act indifferent.
"But... senior sister."
"Hm-hm. Yes. Go on. Do you have some question?"
"You said this sword was something you had worked on, didn’t you?"
"Yes. That I did."
"Then... could you also teach me the original Zhongnan Yuyu Mugyeom Sword Art formula?"
Geukseon’s cheeks lifted higher and higher.
Then the corners of her mouth twitched, and she answered at once.
"Of course. What difficulty could there be? Now then, I’ll recite it, so listen carefully."
And once again she recited the formula, after which the original Yuyu Mugyeom Sword Art appeared in my skill window as well.
The moment I tried the plain original version, I could immediately feel the difference from the version she had revised.
Even someone as much of a beginner as me could tell.
"The original Yuyu Mugyeom Sword Art doesn’t have such broad movements. It feels more like force than weight. Like each strike is snapped off cleanly. But the version you worked on feels like it presses down heavily."
"Ahahaha!"
At my words, Geukseon laughed like a real man.
It was so boisterous it could only be called hearty.
That was not the sound of an ordinary woman laughing.
Was this what they meant by a heroic woman? Though she looked so delicate on the outside?
"You can tell what I spent such a long time agonizing over after only trying each one once!? Ahahaha."
Geukseon laughed so hard tears nearly welled up in her eyes.
But watching her like that, I felt something strangely warm in my chest. Why was that?
Anyway, after learning both versions of the Yuyu Mugyeom Sword Art, Geukseon and I set off again.
But now she seemed far gentler toward me.
Affectionate? Something like that, maybe?
Geukseon really liked Baek Harin.
No, “liked” didn’t even begin to cover it.
If she didn’t restrain herself, she might end up obsessing over the child walking beside her.
That wouldn’t do. Not after she had finally found this girl.
So Geukseon began earnestly thinking about how she might capture this unbelievably lovable child’s heart.
They walked for a long while after that, and before sunset they reached a city.
Geukseon glanced around a few times, then headed straight for one side of town, where there was an inn connected to the Murim Alliance.
Apparently planning to eat dinner first, she took a seat immediately at a table on the first floor.
I sat across from her and ordered some simple dishes—my usual fare—from the waiter.
We were waiting for the food when a man came in through the entrance, spotted Geukseon, and widened his eyes before walking over toward us.
"Why, if it isn’t Senior Sister Geukseon! What brings you all the way to a place like this?"
The man clasped his hands together and greeted her half-jokingly.
He wore a friendly smile. At first glance he looked to be in his late twenties, but somehow he didn’t seem to be that young at all.
He wore white martial robes, and the character Hua was embroidered on his chest.
He was probably a disciple of Mount Hua. If I had to guess, his seniority was about one level below Geukseon’s.
"Is it Hyeongjin? And what brings you here?"
"Haha. Mind if I sit with you?"
"Would you still sit if I told you not to?"
"And why wouldn’t I?"
With that, he naturally took a seat.
Then, after giving me a brief look, he turned back to Geukseon.
"Senior sister. Aren’t you going to introduce this young lady?"
"What would you be planning to do with that information?"
"Now, that’s a bit much. Even so, I do have eyes and ears, you know. Is this perhaps the girl who came from the Ice Palace? I heard Senior Sister was helping her at the Alliance’s request."
"Tsk. You’re late. Very late. That was ages ago. And this child is not from the Ice Palace. So stop being curious."
"Ha. You’re telling me this white-haired, blue-eyed girl isn’t from the Ice Palace? So even the great Geukseon senior sister has learned how to joke?"
Then the man looked at me, and I offered a calm introduction.
"I’m Baek Harin. It’s a pleasure to meet a senior of Mount Hua."
"Hoho. And she even bears the surname Baek?"
"Did I not just say she isn’t?"
"Very well, very well. If you say she isn’t, then I’ll accept that she isn’t."
All the while, the man kept staring at me.
It was better than being glanced at here and there, but still... this felt a bit like being studied.
"So. Are you not going to answer my question?"
"What did you ask? Ah! You mean why I’m here?"
The man waved over the waiter and ordered food for himself as well.
Then he took a sip of tea and spoke.
"Goodness, what a nuisance. They say Song Muyeol has shown up here in the Hubei region."
At the name Song Muyeol, Geukseon’s brow creased slightly.
"You mean the Rippling Wave Sword Fiend?"
"Who else would I mean by Song Muyeol? I’ve never heard of any other. Have you?"
"He’s still alive?"
"So they say. And it sounds like he still has the Rippling Wave Sword too."
"The vermin will be swarming everywhere."
"That’s why I came."
As they spoke, the food arrived, and Geukseon lifted her chopsticks and began to eat gracefully.
"Ah, perhaps you were waiting because I was here? My, how considerate. Don’t worry, go ahead and eat. My food isn’t here yet—ah, there it comes now."
Sure enough, the man’s own food arrived, and once he picked up his chopsticks, I started eating too.
"Anyway, there are quite a few eyewitness reports this time, so everything and anything is going to come flocking. Where are you headed, senior sister? Ah, right. You never speak while eating, do you?"
"We’re going to Kaifeng."
"Kaifeng? Hm. That might get rather troublesome. Well, if it’s with Senior Sister Geukseon, there shouldn’t be any real issue. Come to think of it..."
He turned to me again.
"Child."
"Yes, sir."
"Right, I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? I’m Tian Hyeongjin of Mount Hua. People call me the Flashing Flower Sword."
"Flashing Flower Sword Tian Hyeongjin, sir. I’ll remember that."
"Haha! You speak so prettily. In any case, do you know anything about the Rippling Wave Sword Fiend?"
"This is the first I’ve heard of it."
"I suppose that makes sense. Anyway, there’s a sword called the Rippling Wave Sword. It’s a truly remarkable divine blade. I don’t know where Song Muyeol got it, but it is certainly a rare sword. If you can believe it, the reason he’s called the Rippling Wave Sword Fiend is because the man does nothing but pathetic, disgraceful things despite wielding such an excellent sword. No, no—you can keep eating while you listen. Go on and eat. No need to be overly proper."
At that, I took small bites of my food, chewing quietly, and Tian Hyeongjin looked at me with a grin before continuing.
"The problem is that, compared to the Rippling Wave Sword, the Rippling Wave Sword Fiend’s own skill isn’t all that impressive. So whenever word gets out that he’s appeared, all sorts of trash come rushing in. Orthodox or unorthodox, it doesn’t matter."
"It doesn’t look like you came for that divine blade, sir."
"Haha! Of course not. I came on behalf of the Alliance. We have to catch the bastard soon, before this whole mess gets any worse. That’s why I came."
That made sense.
In short, he was saying the road to Kaifeng was going to become a pain in the neck.
After slurping down his noodles and dumplings, Tian Hyeongjin put down his chopsticks and spoke to me.
"Child."
"Yes, sir."
"If you’re going to Kaifeng, you should bring an extra set of martial robes."
"Why is that?"
"Aren’t you traveling with Senior Sister Geukseon? You’ll probably end up drenched in blood every so often. Wouldn’t it be wise to prepare in advance?"
Quite the gruesome joke.
But somehow it didn’t feel like a joke at all. I might need to stop by a cloth shop tomorrow.
"Haha. In that case, Senior Sister Geukseon. This one will take his leave. May your path be full of mercy."
With a laugh, Tian Hyeongjin rose from his seat and went upstairs.
Geukseon gave him a sideways glare, and then we, too, got up and headed for the guest rooms.
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