Protecting What Matters
"Is that... right? I get why you're going into that stance here."
"It suddenly feels like you're assuming a defense. I don't know why, though. Why?"
"To protect the person behind you."
"If you just kill the guy in front, you wouldn't need to, right?"
"Haha..."
I'm strong now! Remarks like that don't faze or shake me anymore!
Ryeon laughed boldly.
"There are situations where you can't. For example, if it's an enemy you can't beat, but you have to protect the person behind you..."
"Without running away?"
"You have to buy time for the others to escape."
"No, if you can't win, you should run first. How can you protect anyone if you can't even look after yourself?"
"The people weaker than me."
"Why?"
"Because I'm stronger than them."
Hwaryun's face was the picture of utter incomprehension.
Then, it hit Ryeon—she'd find it hard to tell Hwaryun now, "Don't run first; protect the others."
What family would want their loved one to die shielding strangers?
Her throat suddenly parched, Ryeon paused, then forced an awkward smile.
"But thinking about it, you're right too. It's foolish to step up for others when you can't even protect yourself. Right?"
"Not foolish. Just kinda dumb?"
Ryeon shot Hwaryun a mock glare, then pulled him close and gripped his hand tightly.
Hwaryun looked awkward but didn't pull away.
"Yeah, hurting yourself to help others is dumb. Just... help when you can, Ryeun-ah."
"Fool..."
"Why call me a fool out of nowhere?"
"I was just mumbling!"
"No, you were looking right at me."
The two bickered for a good while. When Hwaryun finally raised his hands in surrender, Ryeon steered back to the original topic.
"Ugh, anyway, got it? If it seems impossible, just... run. Okay?"
"...Why? Because I'm weak?"
"No. Because this big sis will protect you."
"...Me?"
"Yeah. You're my little brother."
"Even though I'm weak and useless?"
It was the same conversation they'd had countless times, yet Hwaryun asked as if it were brand new each time.
Ryeon gazed into his bright, sparkling eyes, then grabbed his cheeks and rubbed hard.
"Would you abandon me if I were weak and useless?"
"That's got nothing to do with it. And how could the eldest of the Danmok family be useless?"
'Cold kid...'
"Just say you won't abandon me, Ryeun-ah..."
"Of course you can't abandon a servant like me."
Ryeon licked her dry lips and changed the subject. Perspective-taking didn't work well with Hwaryun.
"Anyway, you're not weak, and people aren't protected based on usefulness. I protect you because you're precious to me."
"Me? To you?"
"If you weren't, would I be doing all this!"
Ryeon stretched his cheeks long.
Hwaryun yelped. "It hurts!"
"I teach you swordplay because you're precious, study letters together, share tasty food—yes? Even when you go 'But sis, you're wrong!' every time, I still think it's cute!"
"Euuung."
Hwaryun cradled his flushed cheeks, pouting.
"How'd I end up like this..."
Ryeon ruffled his hair wildly. She knew her words were half-deception.
He couldn't survive on naive ideals forever. Time would make him weigh usefulness—and even she had reached out because she knew his talent as the future young cult master of the Machun-gyo.
'Still, if Ryeun-ah could just...'
Talent meeting the times needed no self-proof. The world would come to him.
With the whole world on his side, if he could show a little generosity to those left behind...
'No, my Ryeun-ah is a good kid at heart!'
He always talked tough, but hadn't he fetched ice when she was heat-exhausted and listless?
"Anyway, that form I just did—you're saying I nailed it?"
"Yeah. Wanna try once more?"
"Sure."
With that, Hwaryun gripped his wooden sword and moved.
He'd always hated learning martial arts, but his face now glowed with joy at the new technique. Even the winter chill couldn't cool his enthusiasm.
The second time, after just one lesson, it flowed far more gracefully.
Ryeon wanted to hold up a mirror. 'Is this the face of someone who hates it?'
'Nothing left to teach? Maybe footwork next? Then mind arts?'
Pondering the curriculum, she glanced at her fan—and gasped.
Hwaryun Trait: Heavenly Demon's Innocence / Partial sync failed.
Falling Star Twelve Swords: 2 Stars (NEW) / Partial sync failed.
aptitude and five virtues / Partial sync failed.
worries / Partial sync failed.
'Ah, no way—less than an hour of teaching, and already 2 Stars? We just went over it!'
"What's wrong? Did I mess up?"
No way. Hwaryun muttered.
Ryeon squeezed her eyes shut.
'Right. The world's not fair. Some are born with talent, mastering 2 Stars at a glance... even boosting my luck by 3...'
Then she realized she hadn't checked her own status in a while. Too busy peeking at others'.
Tensing like she was reading a report card, Ryeon peered narrowly over the fan.
Nothing much changed. Her martial realm invisible, neigong unlearnable, aptitude errored.
'Huh? Spiritual Energy at 55, but no warning chime...'
Spotting the raised max, she felt a flicker of joy—then dizziness, eyes closing.
More capacity was good, but...
'I've felt it filling faster lately.'
No mountain herb trips, same Qinglian Water output. Alarms sometimes hit half-capacity.
She'd used it right away for elixirs, so no big deal.
'Muscles grow with use, so Spiritual Energy fills faster and holds more the more I use it!'
More capacity was a relief, but faster accumulation weighed heavy.
'How fast now? Been busy crafting...'
Unused, it meant time-limited life; used, it piled quicker.
As Ryeon blankly opened her eyes, Hwaryun—wooden sword tossed—loomed close.
"Sis, you okay?"
Her sudden daze had startled him.
Ryeon shook her head, beaming. "Yeah, fine. That last one was faster than before—how?"
"Call the physician? Or the pharmacy?"
Steering to Falling Star Twelve Swords, Hwaryun sidestepped anyway.
"Really, I'm good. No fever, no blood! I'd say if I were sick."
"Yeah..."
Convinced, Hwaryun stepped back, but his gaze stuck to her face.
"Why stare?"
"You'll tell someone if it hurts?"
"I said yes! Obviously. You haven't seen my whining."
Ryeon grinned. "Try saying it's a hassle then."
"Got it," Hwaryun replied, picking up the tossed sword and dusting it off.