Chapter 39

When I see someone, someone also sees me.

The moment Namgung Woo witnessed Han Gyeran, Han Gyeran also sensed his gaze.

*Step.*

Han Gyeran’s foot moved toward Namgung Woo’s direction.

Her steps were more akin to court etiquette than martial footwork.

But Namgung Woo could tell. The profound martial principles embedded in that single step. He instinctively understood just by watching.

A ruthlessly restrained footwork. Though distinctly different from Infinite Steps, its martial depth was by no means shallow.

The palm technique Han Gyeran just displayed, the extraordinary internal energy, and that refined footwork—nothing about her was anything short of astonishing. Yet, something else caught Namgung Woo’s attention.

‘Is that… a full Hanbok?’

As he had thought before, in this era, Hanbok dominated the fashion of the Central Plains. Well-off families all followed the Goryeo style, and even commoners with some wealth considered it customary to own Goryeo-style attire.

It’s common knowledge that the attire of the East is superior to that of the Central Plains, right? That’s the level.

But you can’t keep up with the original.

Goryeo-style attire couldn’t quite keep up with the latest trends of Joseon.

But Han Gyeran’s status was clearly that of a high-ranking figure in the Ming imperial family, yet she was dressed in a perfect Hanbok, which was puzzling.

That’s why Han Gyeran spoke before Namgung Woo.

“Young man, what brings you to the imperial family’s sacred mountain?”

Her voice carried an extraordinary weight.

It wasn’t just infused with internal energy. The gravity was different.

Though she never became an empress, her uncle ascended the throne, and she protected the current emperor, who had been deposed as the crown prince, from countless dangers. She wielded power stronger than any empress.

Pure martial prowess aside, her words, capable of influencing the policies of a great empire with a single breath or gesture, were heavier than gold.

But Han Gyeran wasn’t entirely at ease either.

In fact, she felt even more guarded and tense than when she had faced dozens of assassins to protect the deposed crown prince long ago.

As the saying goes, you see as much as you know.

A Supreme Peak Master.

Even among the rarefied echelons of martial artists, where fewer than a hundred could reach such heights, Han Gyeran stood at the very top.

Her combat strength was such that even a Peerless Master would have to be prepared to sacrifice an arm. But that also meant that, no matter how desperate the struggle, taking a single limb would be the best one could hope for.

The imperial family, more treacherous than the martial world’s most dangerous sects. And the era she lived through was one of extreme political strife, with two emperors vying for the throne, a time of unparalleled turmoil in history.

In such a perilous situation, bearing the label of being from the East, she protected the deposed crown prince from those who sought to eliminate him, enduring to the end.

Perhaps it was thanks to her martial prowess, ranked among the top in the imperial family. But her ability to grasp the flow of political strife and her cold, rational judgment surpassed even that martial strength.

Han Gyeran also saw at a glance how formidable the young man’s internal energy was and how hopelessly outmatched she was.

Drawing upon the imperial family’s secret martial art, Heavenly Primordial Qi, Han Gyeran sharpened her nerves to their utmost, ready to respond to any surprise attack.

Depending on his answer, her hand would immediately become the hand of the Grim Reaper, targeting the young man’s vital points.

Amid the tense atmosphere pressing down between them, Namgung Woo spoke.

“To eliminate the root of evil, Madam.”

“Do I have any reason to believe your words?”

“Yes.”

At Namgung Woo’s immediate response, a glint of interest flashed in Han Gyeran’s eyes.

“What is it?”

“You have entered my sword’s range, Madam.”

Han Gyeran knew this too. The battles of masters often hinge on measuring distances. Though Namgung Woo’s sword range was wider than she expected, it was still within her anticipated margin of error.

“Indeed. If you were an enemy, you would have already drawn your sword, no?”

“There’s no reason not to.”

From Namgung Woo’s answer, Han Gyeran could tell he had already assessed that his chances of winning were much higher.

‘What a bold lad.’

His martial prowess? She acknowledged it.

But if the outcome of battles were always determined by the level of martial prowess, all fights in the world would have disappeared long ago.

“Madam, we don’t have time.”

“Revealing your identity should suffice.”

Heavenly Primordial Qi is a martial art created for the emperor.

Han Gyeran learned it by earning the imperial family’s favor, but it is not disclosed to the concubines. This is because the abilities of Heavenly Primordial Qi are too immense.

Especially its ability to discern truth from falsehood, created to help the emperor distinguish the words of his subjects and govern correctly, explains why Heavenly Primordial Qi became the emperor’s internal energy technique.

Only a supreme master who has opened their Upper Dantian can possess such an ability, but Han Gyeran had acquired it early.

Unless the opponent has mastered special techniques or Upper Dantian martial arts, Han Gyeran can distinguish truth from lies.

Then, when Namgung Woo answered that he had come to Manse Mountain to eliminate the root of evil, Han Gyeran should have confirmed his sincerity and lowered her guard…

‘I can’t read him.’

She couldn’t discern the truth from Namgung Woo’s words.

This fueled her wariness.

“I ask again. Who are you?”

“My name is Nam Woo. Currently, I am a guest of the Hapbuk Paeng Family.”

Namgung Woo deliberately used the language of his past life when speaking.

The appearance of an unfamiliar language caused a stir among the palace maids attending Han Gyeran.

“That man is using a spell!”

“Protect Her Ladyship! Everyone, shield her with your bodies!”

“Your Ladyship, please be careful…!”

If it were a spell, no matter how profound one’s martial arts, ignorance would lead to certain defeat.

But Han Gyeran, though surprised, didn’t panic like the maids.

“Enough. It’s not a spell.”

The fierce tone she used when executing traitors was gone, replaced by a gentle hand as she calmed the maids and looked at Namgung Woo with slightly softened eyes.

“Joseon language, is it?”

“…Yes.”

Whether it’s Korean or Joseon language, by the late Joseon period, it wouldn’t be much different from modern Korean. It’s practically the same.

“Joseon! Meeting someone of the same blood in this distant land brings me joy. But your Joseon speech is awkward, so one of your parents must be from Joseon. Yes. Many Joseon women came to Ming, so your mother must be from Joseon, right?”

In truth, Namgung Woo could say both his parents were descendants of Joseon, but he was a man who had lived in society.

No matter how you looked at her, she was a high-ranking person. Though she appeared to be a middle-aged beauty, her speech and the reactions of those around her suggested she was quite advanced in age.

Martial arts can maintain physical youth and slow aging, but they don’t significantly affect mental aging.

In fact, mastering Upper Dantian martial arts accelerates mental aging. The time and focus spent on contemplation make the mental passage of time faster compared to those living ordinary lives.

With her status and martial arts, it was only natural for this beauty to have her own stubbornness.

Instead of pointing out inaccuracies, Namgung Woo actively emphasized the correct parts of her words.

“Yes, my mother is from the East. Your insight is truly remarkable.”

“Of course. That must be it. Yes, where is your mother from? If your mother is from Joseon, she must have missed her homeland. You must have heard something.”

“My mother is from Cheonan, descended from Jeon Nak, a founding contributor of Goryeo.”

Namgung Woo recalled the memory of his maternal grandfather explaining the family genealogy during a visit.

“Cheonan Jeon Clan! How could I not know them? Their loyalty, alongside Shin Sung-gyeom, who died for Goryeo’s founder, is renowned even in Joseon. I happen to be from Qingzhou, right next to Cheonan, so in this distant land, we could be considered fellow townsfolk.”

By this point, Han Gyeran’s wariness had almost disappeared.

How delightful it must be to meet someone from your homeland in a foreign land, especially from the neighboring town.

Though Han Gyeran was one of the imperial family’s supreme masters, there were at least three others stronger than her.

There was no reason for someone to learn Joseon language and prepare a family and hometown background just to deal with her.

Han Gyeran asked in a caring tone, like an elder relative addressing a younger family member.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-six.”

“Right. At that time, I was too busy assisting the emperor to pay attention to Joseon. Yet, you’ve kept your mother’s language. Truly commendable. And… twenty-six with such martial prowess.”

Han Gyeran quickly ran through the imperial family’s genealogy in her sharp mind.

Coincidentally, there was just one suitable candidate left.

“Very good. That age, that status, that martial prowess… there’s no lack in making you a member of the imperial family.”

Namgung Woo narrowed his eyes, sensing something was off.

Unaware of Namgung Woo’s feelings, Han Gyeran smiled contentedly and said,

“Among the emperor’s sisters, there is exactly one princess who has not yet married. The emperor’s youngest sister. She lost her mother at a young age, and I raised her like my own granddaughter.”

The emperor’s daughters were too young to marry, but the emperor’s youngest sister was close in age to Namgung Woo. By the standards of the time, of course.

“How about it? If you agree, I will recommend you to the emperor as a son-in-law.”

In this era, it was common to marry without even seeing the other’s face, but for Namgung Woo, who had memories of the modern world, this was an unappealing method.

Namgung Woo felt awkward as the atmosphere turned into a matchmaking scene. This wasn’t the time for this.

“Madam, I apologize, but isn’t there something more urgent at hand?”

“The Ghost Gate of Manse Mountain? Don’t worry about that. Why do you think I’m not in a hurry? I’ve already sent someone.”

Namgung Woo turned his Azure Tranquility Eyes back to the summit of Manse Mountain, which he had momentarily neglected to focus on Han Gyeran.

Indeed.

A terrifying energy wave had just appeared there.

“The Commander of the Imperial Guards is there. No need to worry. Unless it’s one of the so-called Three Extremes of the martial world, no one can defeat him.”

The head of the swords that protect the imperial family.

The emperor’s first sword.

That man is the pinnacle of the Imperial Guards, the Commander of the Imperial Guards.

His martial prowess goes without saying.

If it’s not the Three Extremes, no one can defeat him, meaning he is undoubtedly the top among the Twelve Honored Masters.

However.

“It’s not enough.”

The level of threat Namgung Woo sensed was beyond what that man alone could handle.

“I must go too.”