The Sword That Cuts Without Cutting
“Damn it, I’ll do it. You just watch and learn!”
The chicken met its end in Yu Sucheon’s hands.
Having lost so much time already, Yu Sucheon moved his hands with frantic speed.
Chicken porridge.
The kind wealthy households usually ate between lunch and dinner.
If it ran late, it would overlap with the evening meal.
If I’m late, Mother and Dan Hyunwoo won’t let me hear the end of it.
Pouring even his inner force into the task, Yu Sucheon finished the porridge in record time.
When he presented the hastily completed dish, cold sweat poured down his back.
The madam had been watching the sun’s position. She had clearly been ready to unleash a thunderous scolding if he delayed any longer.
And Moyong Sehui…
was still staring blankly at the spot where the chicken had been.
Was I too harsh on her?
She wore a mournful expression, as if she had grown attached to the bird in that short time.
“Now you understand how brutal the kitchen can be? You stick to cleaning from now on.”
“Yes…”
And stop staring at the pile of plucked feathers…
Yu Sucheon quickly pressed a broom into her hands.
That should keep her from thinking about the chicken.
In the end, under Yu Sucheon’s subtle insistence, Moyong Sehui began sweeping the grounds with slow, hesitant strokes.
As a guest who had never done chores before, her grip on the broom was painfully awkward.
Still, she made an effort to grow accustomed to it, gradually clearing the courtyard.
Then, suddenly, she noticed Dan Hyunwoo practicing his sword in a quiet corner of the manor.
Beneath a solitary tree.
He unfolded his forms as though dancing, slicing through the falling leaves.
Yet even though the leaves were cut, they continued drifting down gently, completely intact.
It was a profoundly strange yet astonishing sight.
Huh? Why are the leaves…?
What captivated her even more was how the leaves—ones that should have been scattered by the sword wind—simply continued their original descent to the ground.
They had been touched by the blade, yet it was as if they had never been touched at all.
Simple yet intricate, the forms flowed continuously, drawing in the soul.
Whoosh! Papapat!
They rose, then settled; they leaned left, then filled the right.
As if carving through the world itself, the sword scattered and unfolded.
Before she knew it, Moyong Sehui was utterly mesmerized by Dan Hyunwoo’s swordsmanship.
She forgot about cleaning entirely, not even thinking to sweep the accumulating leaves.
The sword extended without the slightest hesitation, yet she could not sense any inner force behind it.
No—the inner force was so pure that it had become one with the world itself.
It was not the realm of an immortal from the legendary Wuling Peach Garden, yet it felt just as transcendent.
Ah!
Moyong Sehui, mouth agape as she watched the sword forms, suddenly locked eyes with Dan Hyunwoo.
Her mind snapped back to reality. She instinctively covered her mouth with her hand.
What am I doing? Peering at someone else’s martial arts is strictly forbidden in the Murim!
In the gangho, there was no excuse for spying on another’s techniques—even if it cost you your life.
She had been so absorbed that she had forgotten this most basic taboo.
She quickly lowered her head, her voice trembling as the words spilled out.
“I’m sorry. I never intended to spy on your martial arts. While I was sweeping, I unconsciously… stared in a daze.”
“There’s no need to apologize so seriously. It’s no big deal.”
“How can you say that? In the Moyong Clan, stealing secret manuals warrants execution, and secretly watching training is treated as a grave offense. Every martial artist in the gangho follows the same rule, yet I forgot my family’s teachings and became completely lost in it…”
“Enough. I simply hadn’t held a sword in a long time, so I practiced some basic forms. It’s nothing remarkable.”
With only those words, Dan Hyunwoo turned and walked away at a leisurely pace.
As if he truly did not mind in the slightest.
Though she could not understand his attitude, Moyong Sehui let out a sigh of relief. At the same time, the sword forms he had displayed lingered in her mind.
Cut, yet not cut.
The leaves had fallen as if he had sliced through clouds.
She moved to the spot where Dan Hyunwoo had stood, broom still in hand.
Even now, she could see no cut marks on the fallen leaves.
Deciding she should clean them up, she swept the broom across the pile.
Rustle. Rustle.
The moment the broom touched them, the leaves began to split apart cleanly.
Her eyes widened. She clutched her trembling chest, shaken by the near-divine skill.
How is this possible? They were sliced so sharply it’s as if the leaves were cut and then rejoined.
In her stunned disbelief, she felt as though she were witnessing the legendary void-grasping technique—something only those at the pinnacle of the martial world could achieve.
How could someone so young so easily surpass even the most seasoned masters of the Murim?
Dan Hyunwoo. Just who is he, really?
She wanted to ask, but she could not.
Even if she did, he would not answer.
Like the piling leaves, her questions only continued to accumulate.
In the Murim Alliance headquarters in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.
A single teacup was placed before Alliance Leader Moyong Seryong after his duties had ended.
It had been brought by the strategist Jegal Ryong.
Looking at Moyong Seryong—who had held the position of leader for twenty years now—Jegal Ryong wore a slightly worried expression.
“We had to move in secret, so I sent your daughter, but I can’t help feeling uneasy about dispatching her to Hangzhou with no clues whatsoever.”
“Sehui is sharp and quick-witted. She’ll manage on her own.
Still, sending her alone does weigh on me.
Her martial arts haven’t fully matured yet.”
“She won the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, where all the young talents of the gangho gathered, yet you call her martial arts immature?”
“To be honest, I’m already regretting sending Sehui. The Six-Horse Golden Plaque… Could it truly exist? It’s an item only the Emperor should possess, yet now there’s talk of another one.”
“The words came from the mouth of the second-rank prince’s third son, Jin Hwigwang. Though it sounded like drunken nonsense, the anxiety etched on his face was anything but ordinary.”
Jegal Ryong’s expression was one of near certainty.
Recalling that the strategist’s convictions were almost always correct, Moyong Seryong set down his teacup.
“You still maintain close ties with high officials, I see.”
“A kite with only one string snaps and falls quickly. That’s why I decided to attach many strings to mine.”
“And those strings are the high officials?”
“While sharing drinks with them, one can pick up a surprising amount of useful information. Sometimes those strands become vital connections.”
“The Six-Horse Golden Plaque, the Six-Horse Golden Plaque… We don’t even know if it’s real or fake, yet we’ve entrusted everything to Sehui… It worries me. If it truly exists, what then?”
“You already know the answer better than I do, Alliance Leader.”
To his daughter, he had only said that the appearance of the Six-Horse Golden Plaque would tilt the balance of power.
That was all.
But it was far more than that.
The owner of the Six-Horse Golden Plaque wielded absolute authority equal to the Emperor himself.
What that truly meant was clear.
The problem is that the plaque’s owner belongs to neither the government nor the Murim. The pinnacle of the common people is the Emperor, and whether officials or martial artists, high or low in status, their foundation is ultimately that of commoners.
He stood at the apex of both the court and the martial world.
That was the owner of the Six-Horse Golden Plaque.
If such a person sided with one faction—be it the Heavenly Demon Cult or the Saheol Alliance.
Or if he lost his mind and supported the Blood Cult.
The horrifying conclusions that could follow were obvious without needing to dwell on them.
Moyong Seryong spoke.
“Let us wait for good news from Sehui. Rather than that, what brings you to see me at this late hour?”
“It appears impure forces are stirring within the Murim Alliance these days.”
“Such forces have always existed, both in the past and now. They will likely continue to exist in the future as well. My decisions cannot satisfy everyone.”
“That is true, but ever since the death of the world’s strongest, the Demonic Martial Emperor Blood Night Heavenly Demon Ma Heukpung, there have been those inside the Alliance attempting to make contact with outside groups. We have yet to identify which faction they serve…”
“What is your evidence?”
“The Yangtze River Waterway Bandits. They recently attempted to establish a foothold in Hangzhou. Naturally, they failed, but there are traces of contact between the Murim Alliance and those bandits.”
“Hmm… A force you could not identify? Then it must not be a major one. It doesn’t seem worth worrying over.”
“This time, I believe the opposite is true. Just as one cannot take in the entire world with a single glance, the largest forces often remain invisible. What if it is a power so vast that even if it were in plain sight, one would simply overlook it? What if they learned that the bearer of the Six-Horse Golden Plaque is in Hangzhou and moved the Yangtze River bandits accordingly?”
Moyong Seryong nearly dropped the teacup he was holding.
“Are you certain?”
“I am roughly ninety percent confident.”
“Hmm…”
It was an awkward, unforeseen situation.
Deep wrinkles creased his brow.
Sending additional personnel to Hangzhou while maintaining secrecy was not feasible.
If the Alliance Leader dispatched another trusted individual there, the other factions would naturally keep a close watch.
And…
if information could leak even from the strictly guarded imperial palace, who could truly be trusted?
Letting out a heavy sigh, Moyong Seryong gave voice to his burdened heart.
“Then let us place our faith in that child who is enduring hardship in Hangzhou. Though we have placed a heavy burden on her shoulders, Sehui will see it through.”
That evening.
Moyong Sehui finally learned the identity of the pork boiling in the kitchen.
It was a reward for Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan, who had successfully contained the fire that had broken out in Hangzhou.
Cheon Ilseong, who had done nothing but sleep, glanced around nervously before taking a seat.
Moyong Sehui had also been invited to the gathering.
It was because of the Heavenly Heart Herb.
After all, Dan Hyunwoo had promised to prepare fine liquor as an apology.
Dan Hyunwoo and Hwa Yuhwa took their seats.
When the Fragrant Snow Wine was poured by her hand, the three former villains’ noses twitched sharply at the fragrant aroma.
This is properly aged Fragrant Snow Wine. He really brought the expensive stuff. Dozens of bottles, too!
Dan Hyunwoo had been remarkably generous.
The three villains immediately calculated the value of the liquor.
Roughly two gold ingots’ worth.
Even during their days as villains, it was not something they could have enjoyed freely.
Now that they were slaves, it was something they could not even dream of.
Krr, this is why one becomes a slave… As expected, you have to live the slave life for a long time to… Wait! That’s not it! I’ve completely internalized the slave mindset now.
Even with fine liquor before him, the taste in his mouth was bitter.
But that thought vanished the moment the beautiful Hwa Yuhwa poured the first cup.
“I normally only pour drinks for the captain, but since today is a special occasion, I’ll fill your cup just this once.”
“Aigoo! To think our doctor would do this for us!”
Yu Sucheon’s gaze followed Hwa Yuhwa’s long, slender fingers.
No matter how many times he saw them, they were captivating.
Ah, damn it. Why did she have to fall for Dan Hyunwoo?
Anyway, the instant he drank the liquor she had poured, an exclamation burst from his lips.
“Kraa! This is good. Really good.”
The liquor tingled pleasantly across his tongue.
Combined with a bite of perfectly boiled pork.
“This is paradise. Krr, this is exactly it!”
The ten geun of boiled pork began disappearing at an astonishing rate.
With liquor in their bellies and food in their stomachs, stories of their heroism during the fire began to flow.
Thanks to the fire suppression, Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan’s names had become even more well-known throughout Hangzhou.
Their reputations as heroes had risen considerably.
Now, whenever they went to the market, they were routinely surrounded by crowds.
At this point, the goosebumps that once rose whenever they were called heroes had finally begun to fade.
The heroic tales continued.
“So! At that time, I smashed down a house to stop the flames from spreading, and the people were so happy about it. Huh? So I smashed down another house!”
Perhaps because of the alcohol, his speech had subtly slipped into a more casual tone.
Even so, Dan Hyunwoo did not particularly rebuke Yu Sucheon.
However, toward the end of Yu Sucheon’s story, Dan Hyunwoo—who had been quietly drinking the cups Hwa Yuhwa poured—finally spoke.
“By the way, there’s a strange rumor circulating in the market these days.”
“What rumor?”
“That the hero Yu Sucheon only put out the fire because someone ordered him to.”
“Uh…”
“And that the hero Yu Sucheon referred to that someone like this, apparently?”
“Um…”
Cold sweat broke out across Yu Sucheon’s body. The sudden sobering sensation was not his imagination.
Dan Hyunwoo let out a small chuckle.
“That guy?”
As expected, Yu Sucheon had a real talent for making him laugh.
Dan Hyunwoo’s wrist flicked lightly.
The liquor cup he had been holding flew through the air.
Whoosh! Thud!
“Ouch!”
Today as well, the Dan Manor—filled with the scent of blood and nosebleeds—was peaceful.
Extremely so.