"J-Juran?"
"J-Juran?"
I'd come to the Namgung Family Estate with Paeng Ju-ran on the canal boat, but this was the first time I'd ever seen him take the lead like that while we were hanging out together.
"If you said you'd do it, then do it, right, So-hyeong?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah... right."
"Mind if I join too?"
"The more the merrier!"
At my cheerful words, Paeng Ju-ran let out a short sigh of relief. Geum Jongha, who'd been watching the whole thing, pouted with a face full of dissatisfaction.
"If you need a study buddy, I said I'd do it."
"Aw, come on, it'll be more fun with everyone."
Geum Jongha shot Ak So-hyeong a glare that screamed, 'Fun my foot!' While the two were locked in a childish staring contest, Paeng Ju-ran sidled up closer.
"Wasn't the Danmok Family a famed sword house? You know spear arts pretty well too, huh."
"Sword, spear—it's all just weapons in the end, so the big picture's the same, right? Besides, we don't only use swords. Seong here went with the saber."
I tugged lightly at Danmok Seong's arm as I spoke, and she straightened her nose proudly but didn't shake me off. Paeng Ju-ran glanced at her in mild surprise, then flicked his eyes down to the saber at her waist and nodded.
"I see... No one in the family gave you any grief about it?"
At Paeng Ju-ran's question, Danmok Seong replied in a stiff voice.
"Of course the elders can say whatever they want. But my path is mine to forge."
"...!"
It must've sounded awfully cool to the kids, because everyone fell silent for a beat before Geum Jongha clapped first, shouting, "That's awesome, Seong!" Then they all burst into cheers and applause—"Wooow!" Ryeon burst out laughing at the sight before joining in the clapping. Danmok Seong flushed red but didn't tell them to stop; she just whipped her head away.
"Juran, why'd you wanna do this studying thing anyway?"
Ak So-hyeong had gotten all fired up and declared he'd study too, but now that the heat had faded, worry crept in, and he asked Paeng Ju-ran. The latter had been wearing a subtle expression for a while now; he scratched the back of his head.
"That girl... she's kinda weird."
"Weird how?"
"More precisely..."
Paeng Ju-ran hesitated a moment before continuing.
"She saw your spear style for the first time, right? How'd she know it that well?"
"Huh?"
Ak So-hyeong blinked. Paeng Ju-ran waved it off like it was nothing.
"Just struck me as odd. Figured studying together might help me figure out what's up. Plus, that Danmok Seong uses a saber too, so I'm curious about that."
"Ohhh..."
"If one of them used a spear, you'd be curious too, right?"
"Well... yeah, but."
How does Danmok Ryeon know all that without even using a spear herself?
She knew it all, praised it all—so of course Ak So-hyeong had melted under her words. A prideful guy like him had apologized so readily because the one who truly got his spear was right there, easing his heart. In any other situation? No way. He'd have thrown a fit, insisting he wouldn't apologize to some branch family kid, win or lose.
I figured he'd mock So-hyeong when he froze up, saying he couldn't even do that much.
A few of the watching kids must've thought the same. And yet the whole thing resolved so smoothly, like watching some profound formation array activate that no one understood. Ak So-hyeong suddenly got excited and started gushing about his spear arts; the onlookers got drawn in like they'd been enchanted; he apologized all sheepish and embarrassed; and now they'd study together going forward.
What is this... some folktale?
That was why Paeng Ju-ran had decided to join in—to observe this bizarre phenomenon up close.
It was deep into the night. Lanterns hung from the front hall's eaves, glowing like the moon. Below them, the two old men had been trading drinks and debating swordsmanship at length when they sensed the growing bustle outside and set their cups down.
One of them, Namgung Hwan, furrowed his brow, clicked his tongue, and beckoned the chief steward.
"What's all the racket?"
The steward hesitated briefly before reporting what he'd learned. Namgung Hwan listened quietly, then raised his brows in surprise.
"The kids decided on self-directed training in the evenings?"
"Yes. It was Miss Ryeon of the Danmok Family who suggested it—Young Master Juran of the Haibei Paeng Family, Young Master So-hyeong of the Shandong Ak Family, and Young Master Jongha of the Geum Family too. They were studying together until just now, then headed back to their quarters."
"And they all agreed to train just because she said so?"
"Yes. They made a bet with Miss Ryeon, and..."
Once he'd heard the details of the bet, Namgung Hwan nodded knowingly, dismissed the steward, and let out an incredulous chuckle.
"Even here, she gathers the kids for study sessions?"
Danmok Cheon-gi, sitting across from him, hid a sly smile behind his teacup. Namgung Hwan didn't miss it and shot him a glare.
"No wonder you came running when I invited you. Here to brag about your granddaughter, eh?"
"You invite me, then complain I'm here? Should I head back? Want me to?"
"And what am I supposed to do about the kids being so darn sharp on their own?"
The two bickered playfully as they drained a whole jar of liquor.
"The Moyong Family should arrive tomorrow, I hear."
"I figured they'd never show for something like this."
Danmok Cheon-gi swirled his empty cup as he spoke. The Moyong Family Estate was far up in Liaoning Province, well beyond the northern end of the Kyunghang Grand Canal, and they'd never attended these gatherings before.
"They're coming because you are."
"What, for this old mug of mine?"
"Playing dumb? You know what's beyond their northern borders."
"..."
Danmok Cheon-gi paused mid-motion. The Moyongs were far north already, but even farther, in the colder wilds...
He shook his head with a bitter expression.
"That's just wishful thinking on my part."
"Ugh, such a stubborn fool."
"Enough nonsense. Speaking of—your grandkids haven't joined Ryeon's little study group?"
"H-Hey, you were saying something nice for once, why attack out of nowhere?!"
"Not attacking, just asking."
"O-Our kids'll join too! You don't think your kids would leave mine out, right?"
"That's for the children to decide. If we meddle, it wouldn't be self-directed."
"Ugh, you picky old coot! We elders have a duty to guide the young ones right!"
The kids didn't seem thrilled about studying per se, but they hated being left out of the group in this unfamiliar place even more. That was why they'd all stuck together training until nightfall.
Hmm, or maybe it's less 'studying' and more a stage for everyone to show off to each other—that's what got them excited?
They trickled in one by one, boasting "I can do that too!" or "I know that one!" amid the lively chatter.
"You thinking of learning spear arts? N-No, just asking!"
Ak So-hyeong had blurted it out to me carelessly, only to catch Danmok Seong's sharp glare and flail his hands in panic. But it wasn't Seong or I who answered—Geum Jongha did, puffing up smugly.
"Our Lady Ryeon has dazzling talent with the sword—why spears all of a sudden?"
"Who does this nobody think he is?!"
"Oh, you're famous? Super famous?"
"I am famous! Shandong Divine Spear Ak So-hyeong! Never heard of me?"
"Slapping your hometown and weapon together for a nickname? Wasn't that a trend back in our past lives? Anyone could do that. Me? I wouldn't touch 'Zhejiang Divine Saber' if you paid me."
"...!"
Ak So-hyeong's face turned beet red in an instant. He seemed to cringe at his own nickname now that it was pointed out.
"Y-You... grrr..."
Just as I was about to step in and calm things down, my eyes caught a small boy peeking from near the guesthouse wall.
"...!"
The boy shrank back when our eyes met. That's when Geum Jongha spotted him.
"Namgung Seo-jin?"
"Seo-jin?"
"Younger brother of that Seo-geon guy, I think?"
The boy hesitated, then shuffled over at my beckoning.
"H-Hello... I'm Namgung Seo-jin..."
Unlike his fluent brother, he had a frail, timid air.
"Hi, I'm Danmok Ryeon. Watching from over there?"
"Y-Yes... It looked fun..."
"Should we let him join the studying?"
Danmok Seong murmured lowly. Her sharp tone made Namgung Seo-jin flinch. I smiled warmly at him.
"Wanna join us? It's nothing amazing."
It had been a scattered show-off fest so far, but to a kid's eyes, it must've seemed entertaining enough. Namgung Seo-jin nodded eagerly.
"Y-Yes, please. I brought a wooden sword too..."