Shaanxi Province.
The Taewon Jin Clan.
A group of one man and three women, wearing not particularly clean clothes, entered an abandoned mansion.
The ownerless mansion, the Taewon Jin Clan.
A true master now enters the Taewon Jin Clan, which had been languidly flowing like water without direction.
Accompanied by one bodyguard, one old rival, and one elder.
“Master! You’ve returned!”
“Where have you been all this time!? I was so worried!”
“Haha, have you all been well?”
While the head of the household was missing, the Taewon Jin Clan, surprisingly, continued to function without much upheaval.
Of course, without a central figure, it was impossible to resolve cases or expand the business.
However, due to the previous head and his intimates having thoroughly ‘purged’ the clan, there was no one who dared to covet the vacant power of the Taewon Jin Clan.
Perhaps in time, things could have changed.
“White Blade Wanderer! As I suspected, you were with the Master!”
“It’s been a while, Chief.”
“You disappearing with him gave me peace of mind. Hmm, your hair has grown a bit, hasn’t it? It’s about time you tie it back into a topknot!”
Greeting them warmly, Byul Rak faintly smiled.
Upon seeing the two figures behind Byul Rak and Gayoung Jin, the chief of the Taewon Jin Clan initially looked puzzled, then was instantly struck with astonishment when he recognized Jade Flower, the paramount master of Kunlun and the first female warrior of the martial world.
“Oh, oh, Miss Jade Flower, to what do we owe this honor…”
Despite its prominence, the Taewon Jin Clan was still far from the five great families or the nine sects and one temple. Kunlun, on the other hand, was a venerable institution that had long been one of the nine sects.
It was undoubtedly a great honor for the Taewon Jin Clan that the head of Kunlun, Jade Flower, had graced them with her presence.
‘I didn’t come here to visit the main house, but to follow Uncle around… but this is something I don’t need to share, right?’
As Gayoung Jin amusedly daydreamed and chuckled, the chief summoned the clan members with a shout. Emerging leisurely at first, they were first surprised to see Gayoung Jin and White Blade Wanderer, and their jaws dropped even further upon spotting Jade Flower.
‘How cute. Just because the leader of Kunlun is here, they’re making such a ruckus… I wonder how they’d react if they knew who I really am?’
Perhaps an unfortunate incident would occur if all the Shaanxi sects gathered upon discovering Hong Ryun’s true identity. She indulged in a self-absorbed daydream.
Noticing her thoughts and realizing that this imagination wasn’t entirely impossible—after all, two of the greatest warriors in the current martial world were indeed in this small sect—Byul Rak quietly closed his mouth.
‘This is why life is unpredictable, I suppose.’
– Son-in-law, since you are already exiled from the Namgung family, why not just establish another martial power? With you, that kid, and perhaps a few others, even if the entire martial alliance came, it would be light work, no?
‘Why go through such trouble? It would only cause meaningless squabbles.’
– Ho ho ho, and after you wiped out what was supposedly the second-largest bandit group just a few days ago, what an odd thing to say.
‘…Even you, Elder, should refrain from joking about that incident. Children were sacrificed, weren’t they?’
As Byul Rak turned serious in his thoughts, Woo-yong Jin suppressed the laughter that had been lurking on his lips. He cautiously probed further.
– Hmm, does that incident still weigh heavily on you?
‘They were the age of my daughter. How could I possibly take it lightly?’
– Well said by one whose name is erased in the registry. Does your daughter even think of you as a father? For the past three years, except when she saved you from near death, she has never even called you ‘father,’ correct?
‘…While children may abandon their parents, parents cannot abandon their children. You know this well as a parent with descendants.’
– Tsk, you are sharp-tongued.
After clicking his tongue, Woo-yong Jin averted his gaze. He then briefly recalled an incident in the Nine Evil Caves.
The flames fed by departed souls, the mountain glowing under the cover of night, with Byul Rak wandering through them with a mournful expression.
Woo-yong Jin, though somewhat unruly, was a true martial artist at heart. The moment he saw the bandits’ actions, he instinctively shivered.
Simultaneously, he felt worried. What would this brutal son-in-law do next?
– Strangely… your methods are becoming increasingly ruthless.
‘…They were worth it.’
The natural cycle of life and death is an inherent law. A certain number of lives eternally circulate in this world, a decree established by heaven.
But recently, Byul Rak had taken steps that violated even this cycle, ever since his encounter with his father in the Mucheon Valley.
It was against the natural order to reverse time, a wrongful act in itself, but consistently defying the laws set by heaven was certainly not something to be taken lightly.
– Tch… Now that I think about it, you were already known as the Demon Sword during wartime… I forgot that you were originally a ruthless man.
‘What exactly are you implying?’
– As your personality gradually reverts to its original state, it seems your methods are becoming increasingly cruel as well. It’s like you’re returning to the old days. No matter what, don’t become indifferent to killing. There’s nothing more dangerous than a high-level master turning into a bloodthirsty fiend.
An unexpected but sincere piece of advice from Woo-yong Jin. Byul Rak initially tried to rebut but ultimately nodded in agreement.
‘I will bear it in mind.’
Because it wasn’t a wrong statement. Byul Rak himself acknowledged that he had been unsteady lately. Yet, despite his retrospection, he had no regrets.
“May I inquire why the distinguished young lady there has come to our humble household?”
“Hm? Did you just address me directly?”
In the midst of the commotion surrounding Jade Flower and Gayoung Jin, one of the Taewon Jin Clan members turned their attention to Hong Ryun, standing like a wall in the back.
Everyone’s gaze then shifted to Hong Ryun’s lips. She appeared nonchalant, but the truth was that their interest in her was the greatest among everyone present.
Uncommon enough to never have been seen in a lifetime: her pink hair. Her full figure, accentuated even through martial robes. A combination that simply couldn’t avoid attracting attention.
However, more striking than all that was…
“Y-you addressed me as… ‘My Lady’?”
“Well, I did, didn’t I?”
“Ah! Then… forgive me! I shall be more careful from now on!”
“? What did you do?”
Her naturally familiar tone, despite meeting for the first time.
And a unique dignity that made those addressed familiarly still defer to her with respect.
The notion that she was someone who had ruled over others flickered through the minds of the Taewon Jin Clan members.
The martial world is vast, with numerous oddities. A hermit in the mountains could be the greatest warrior of ancient and modern times or a solitary sage developing unprecedented martial arts.
And most of them are eccentric. Small matters can easily disrupt their temperament, given their long absence from social interaction.
“Hmm… how should I respond to your question about why I came to such a small martial sect…”
After pondering briefly with her chin resting on her hand, Hong Ryun smiled wryly as if finding an answer.
“For love. Is that sufficient?”
“…!”
Of course, a house like this, with strict security measures, could not let a person of unknown identity pass for such an absurd reason.
However, Hong Ryun’s words carried an undeniable sense of authority. Moreover, as part of the entourage that accompanied the clan head, Gayoung Jin, no one dared to obstruct her.
‘Oh no…’
Unaware that their actions were making their clan head uncomfortable,
‘S..so she claims…! What nonsense is that wolf spouting now…!’
“Ahem, ahem… Ryun, that remark was too obscene.”
“Wasn’t it just the truth? You wouldn’t know whom I’m referring to, would you?”
“…”
Jealousy surged in Gayoung Jin’s eyes as she stared at Hong Ryun. The more perceptive members of Taewon Jin were quick to notice this.
‘The young miss has loved White Blade Wanderer since long ago… is this lady also interested in him? Ay, this will surely become tiresome.’
And, they despaired.
A supervisor’s sensitivity often translates into trouble for their subordinates, and this is true even within martial sects. While the return of their clan head was a pleasant surprise, the prospect of future hardships made their vision blur.
Just then, one of the clan’s senior members addressed Byul Rak, proffering an official letter wrapped in a sealed envelope.
“Oh, White Blade Wanderer. Two days ago, an officer delivered this. Have you any connections with the magistrate’s office?”
“Hm? An officer, you say?”
Byul Rak’s eyes widened sharply as he took the letter.
“Aunt, what is this about the magistrate?”
“…Could it be that this bastard Guan Zun still hasn’t given up?”
“Byul Rak, what does it say? Would you not show it to me?”
While Hong Ryun muttered cryptically behind him, Byul Rak opened the envelope and perused the contents.
His expression stiffened.
*
—
“Mom, where are you going?”
In front of a grand building, as a woman was about to board a carriage, Namgung Su-a asked her.
Thinking for a moment, her mother, So-eun Yu, smiled gently and replied,
“Yes, I have something to attend to outside. I’ll be gone for a few days.”
“Is that so? What is it? You’re leaving home for days, yet you said nothing to me?”
Namgung Su-a remarked curtly, her small lips pouting.
Yu So-eun understood her daughter’s psychology.
‘She’s never been apart from me, unlike from her father… so being away for a few days will surely be difficult for her.’
“I’m sorry, but this is something I must do. I’ll tell you all about it when I return.”
‘By the time I return, news of the trial results concerning him will have spread.’
“Once the time is right, I’ll explain everything. Can my daughter wait patiently without me?”
Yu So-eun cherished and loved her husband Namgung Cheolbin more than anyone, but she also loved one other person just as much.
Namgung Su-a, born from her union with Namgung Cheolbin. The one and only treasure priceless enough to exchange for the world.
Namgung Su-a was a kind and pure child. At least, that’s how Yu So-eun saw her.
Since her severance from Namgung Cheolbin, Namgung Su-a had been increasingly deteriorating. Though not evident at first glance, she began manifesting inner fragmentation through erratic outbursts—like suddenly spacing out during training or mumbling strange things in her sleep.
She didn’t think Namgung Su-a would remain ignorant of the truth about Namgung Cheolbin forever. She was fully aware that she couldn’t hide it indefinitely.
But not now. She couldn’t expose her already fragile Namgung Su-a to the sorrow and despair she herself endured.
At the very least, she wanted to ensure that Namgung Su-a received enough forgiveness from her father. If he embraced her before she could feel the despair and guilt, it would prevent her from descending into a troubling state.
This was what Yu So-eun believed.
“…Do you really have to go? Leaving me alone?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll buy lots of delicious things on my way back.”
“Tch, saying that makes it hard to cling on.”
Namgung Su-a loosely dropped Yu So-eun’s sleeve she had been holding.
The fluttering sleeve was swallowed into the carriage.
Namgung Su-a stood there, her head bowed, looking somewhat dejected. Watching her daughter in silence, Yu So-eun briefly leaned out and embraced her.
The small, frail body was enveloped within Yu So-eun’s arms.
“…Please come back in one piece.”
“Yes, my daughter. Thank you for worrying about me.”
With this final exchange, Yu So-eun completely distanced herself from Namgung Su-a. The carriage, carrying the matriarch of the Namgung family, departed without looking back.
Namgung Su-a watched the carriage’s retreating figure for a moment. Then, turning her steps, she returned to the Namgung estate.
Awaiting her was the solitary loneliness of home.
