The Chivalrous Hero
Cheongwol made her way toward Chengdu in Sichuan at a pace neither hurried nor leisurely, forgoing the use of her lightness skill.
The crushing weight of the vengeance she had sworn to exact for the Im Clan; the parting from those who, though not of her blood, had become as family; and the tender yearning that her mother's jade, nestled against her breast, still whispered to her—all these tangled emotions swirled together, clouding her thoughts.
Yet perhaps her reverie had stretched too long. Before she knew it, the sun was sinking low, and Cheongwol still lingered upon the mountain path.
I don't want to camp out in the open...
As she debated whether to unleash her lightness skill and press on until a village appeared, several burly men emerged not far ahead.
"She's a woman, but seeing the sword at her side, she seems a martial artist. There's also a notice from headquarters, and with the sun setting, perhaps we should just let her pass?"
"...Even so, she's a guest who has come all this way. Should we not at least offer a greeting?"
They glanced at Cheongwol, murmured a few words among themselves, then strode forward with purpose.
"Halt. This is the domain of the Green Forest. Young lady, please state your identity and purpose."
A neatly dressed man who identified himself as a Green Forest bandit approached Cheongwol and carefully extended a hand.
"...?"
Cheongwol stood blankly for a moment, unable to grasp their actions, then her face brightened as if she had just recalled something.
"Ah! Green Forest heroes! Right?"
At her unexpected reaction, the bandits exchanged glances.
"Yes, that is correct, but..."
A lone woman meeting mountain bandits in the wilderness, yet reacting so brightly?
In truth, she was simply glad to meet those she had only heard of from Unhak, but the seasoned Green Forest bandits instantly sensed something was going terribly wrong.
To ply their trade in the domain of the orthodox sects—especially in Sichuan, notorious for its ruthless methods—one needed a keen eye for choosing targets.
Yet here was a beautiful young woman who looked barely more than a girl, strolling the mountain path alone until sunset, and reacting with delight upon seeing bandits.
We've really picked the wrong one this time. Completely wrong.
The massive man who appeared to be the chief scowled, his already fierce face twisting even more viciously.
Headquarters had even sent a notice warning them to be careful, as several promising disciples of the orthodox sects were roaming the area lately—yet they had still acted rashly and caused this mess.
Moreover, he felt no hostility from the woman toward them at all. It was the kind of composure that could only come from not regarding them as worth her notice.
...To walk with open eyes and still fail to gauge an opponent's martial prowess—we're no better than blind men.
Feeling the heavy weight of responsibility, the chief let out a low groan, and the faces of the surrounding bandits darkened as one.
But Cheongwol, oblivious to all this, could not hide her excitement as she reached into her robes for the toll.
"Just a moment. I prepared for just such a situation in advance, you see."
Prepared for just such a situation?
Prepared what, exactly?
Sensing a clearer warning from his instincts than ever before, the chief began to sweat coldly.
The martial artists of the Sichuan Dang Clan wore green robes and hid poisons and hidden weapons in their wide sleeves. By contrast, the woman before him wore ordinary martial attire, her sleeves not particularly wide.
And yet, why...
Why did he feel that if he allowed her to withdraw her hand from her robes, they would face an irreversible outcome?
Swallowing dryly with a parched throat, the chief finally steeled his resolve.
"Ch-Chief!"
"Stand back. The one who must take responsibility is I alone."
Even mere bandits had their sense of loyalty, it seemed. After sending his subordinates back, the chief stepped before Cheongwol with a grim face and pleaded earnestly.
"Lady Hero! Please, for the crime of failing to recognize a master, punish this one alone!"
"Huh...? What do you mean..."
But before the chief could even kneel, someone shouted in a clear, ringing voice and came racing toward them.
"How dare mere bandits attempt to molest a woman in the domain of the orthodox sects!"
Wondering what this was about, the chief turned his head—and found himself facing a small dragon plummeting from the sky with the sunset at its back.
The dragon's aura was so ferocious that he could only squeeze his eyes shut.
—Bang!
A moment later, a thunderous roar that shook the entire mountain resounded.
Even if they were bandits, she had no intention of killing them—but only after leaping vigorously into the sky by stepping on a tree did Ak Seo-a realize.
I put too much force into it. What do I do?
Yet once the energy had been unleashed, there was no reeling it back in now. Doing so might spare the bandits' lives, but the reckless circulation of internal energy would surely reverse her qi and blood.
If she herself collapsed, who would save that woman being molested by the bandits?
The bandits' lives or the woman's life. Which to prioritize was self-evident.
Thus Ak Seo-a, far from withdrawing her energy, drew up even more internal power and wrapped it around her entire body. Her form was like a dragon plummeting from the heavens with jaws agape.
The secret spear art of the Shandong Ak Clan.
The moment the secret spear art of the Shandong Ak Clan was unleashed.
But just before the spear tip reached the bandits, an utterly unexpected heavy impact traveled up the shaft into her hands.
"Ugh...!"
Ak Seo-a nearly lost her balance in midair, but hastily twisted her body and managed to avoid tumbling to the ground.
Which of those bandits possessed such profound martial arts as to casually deflect her spear tip?
As the dust raised by the impact settled somewhat, Ak Seo-a's face, taut with tension, gradually came into view.
"What on earth is this, all of a sudden?"
"...?"
Yet contrary to her tension, the one who had blocked her was not a bandit, but the very woman she had thought was being molested until moments ago.
Ak Seo-a looked in bewilderment at the bandits collapsed nearby, but they too only shook their heads with expressions similar to her own.
"You nearly hurt people badly."
The woman frowned slightly and brushed the dust from her shoulders. Then, pointing at the bandits, she began to lecture Ak Seo-a.
"The heroes of the Green Forest clear and guard the mountain paths, even providing escort—and you did this over a mere pittance of toll money?"
At the woman's scolding, Ak Seo-a involuntarily hunched her shoulders and stammered in a shrinking voice.
"I-I swear it wasn't because I begrudged the money..."
The bandits listening quietly nearby grew even more frightened, thinking Cheongwol was mocking them. But Cheongwol, unaware of this, continued.
"Then why did you do it?"
"That's..."
She had only meant to help a woman in distress—why was she being treated as the villain?
Unable to suppress the surging emotion, Ak Seo-a raised her spear and slammed it fiercely into the ground so that all could hear. As everyone's gazes focused, she drew a deep breath, puffed out her chest, and declared proudly.
"I am Ak Seo-a, eldest daughter of the Shandong Ak Clan! I revere the chivalrous heroes who uphold righteousness and chivalry, and though this humble body is lacking, I pursue their path!"
At Ak Seo-a's bold and unrestrained words, the chief and the bandits clearly realized.
That as of today, banditry in Sichuan had come to an end.
"Are you really just going to leave? My senior brother told me to give it if possible..."
As Cheongwol, looking reluctant, reached into her robes again, the chief carefully waved both hands to stop her.
"No. Saving our lives alone is already a grace beyond our station. Isn't that so?"
At the chief's question, the bandits behind nodded.
"Yes! That's right!"
"Indeed!"
Apparently satisfied with the robust replies, the chief looked at Cheongwol with an awkward smile.
"Then... if you permit it, we shall take our leave."
Cheongwol tilted her head with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Why are you asking my permission for that?"
As if the bandits' ears heard her words as I have no more interest in you, so stop bothering me and get lost, they ran off without looking back.
"...Do they have urgent business?"
Watching their figures already become distant dots, Cheongwol turned her gaze to Ak Seo-a.
Her back hair was tied high in an attempt at neatness, yet her bangs were messily tousled as they pleased. Though she claimed to revere chivalrous heroes, her eyes and the smile tugging at her lips looked ready to cause trouble at any moment. And the curves that proved she was a woman naturally drew Cheongwol's gaze.
What am I doing right now.
Before the flustered Cheongwol could say anything, Ak Seo-a approached with sparkling eyes.
"Oh, ohhh... Hero! You too are a chivalrous hero!"
"...What?"
"No need to be shy! This humble one saw it clearly with both eyes!"
Ak Seo-a firmly clasped the hands of the bewildered Cheongwol.
"Despite being strong, you were about to pay the toll to the bandits without fuss! Not flaunting one's power recklessly—that is the basic virtue of a chivalrous hero!"
She seemed to be under some firm misconception, but before Cheongwol could speak, Ak Seo-a continued excitedly.
"Moreover, you threw yourself to save the bandits' lives, and even let them go without any reward! If this is not a chivalrous hero, then what is!"
"..."
"Seeing you, I am so ashamed of having tried to harm even the lives of mere bandits."
When she had listened to her grandfather speak of the heroes of the Central Plains, had her own eyes sparkled like this?
At the sight of Ak Seo-a, who reminded her of her younger self, Cheongwol smiled wryly as if she couldn't help it.
"...One who claims to be a chivalrous hero cannot be called a true one."