It was not only Choryeon who failed to recognize the other person immediately.

Her hair was tied simply at the nape of her neck, her attire was plain, her face bore no powder, nor did she wear any extravagant ornaments—she carried an unadorned, modest appearance.

Faced with a version of Choryeon so entirely different from what she once knew, Seolhwa, too, found herself staring at the unfamiliar woman for a moment.

“...Oh my...?”

Thunk.

The sound of the basket falling accompanied Seolhwa’s slight widening of her eyes.

‘Choryeon...?’

That woman ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ was Choryeon?

Truly?

“Young... miss...?”

The voice was unmistakable—Choryeon, without a doubt.

Which made it all the more surprising.

Even in her previous life, Seolhwa had never once seen Choryeon in such humble attire.

‘So Choryeon had this side to her as well.’

Where had that venomous air gone?

Yet, Seolhwa did not dislike this change in Choryeon.

It felt as though it symbolized the peace that now filled her life, so unlike before, and that pleased her to see.

“It has been a while.”

When Seolhwa lightly waved her hand with a faint smile, Choryeon’s mouth opened wide in shock.

“Oh my, young miss!”

Choryeon approached in small, hurried steps.

“It really is you, young miss! Oh dear, oh my! How could that tiny kitten have grown so much...!”

Her face brimmed with a mixture of astonishment and emotion.

“I truly could not recognize you! How could this be....”

Choryeon’s gaze repeatedly swept over Seolhwa.

It seemed she found her astonishing, even admirable, for how much she had grown in these past four years.

Then, suddenly recalling something, Choryeon spoke, her expression shifting.

“How did you find this place, young miss...? It must have been the clan head, yes?”

“You know Grandfather’s nature.”

His chivalrous spirit that compelled him to care for his people to the very end.

Without that, he would not be the Sword Emperor.

Choryeon nodded, understanding fully.

Though she had left the Namgoong Clan, she had always anticipated that escaping entirely would not be possible.

“Come inside first, young miss.”

Led by Choryeon’s hand, Seolhwa entered the house.

It was a small dwelling, consisting only of two rooms facing each other.

As Seolhwa stepped into the room Choryeon guided her to, her gaze drifted toward the opposite room.

Following Seolhwa’s line of sight, Choryeon explained.

“Ah, that is Seop Mugwang’s quarters. This is mine.”

“You use separate quarters?”

“Of course, we do. Naturally.”

Seolhwa came to a stop, looking at Choryeon with a puzzled expression.

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? Naturally, they should be separate.”

“Are you not married?”

“No, we are not.”

“Why not?”

“Pardon?”

“....”

“....”

“This is complicated....”

Tilting her head slightly, Seolhwa entered Choryeon’s room.

After waiting inside, Choryeon soon returned, carrying tea steeped to a cool temperature.

“I regret that I have nothing proper to serve you. I feel terrible.”

“This is more than enough. I was thirsty, as it happens. Thank you.”

Seolhwa downed the tea in a single motion.

A dull aftertaste lingered, the tea leaves evidently not of high quality.

Lowering the cup, Seolhwa looked around the room.

She recalled how the Medical Hall had been adorned with extravagant decorations back when Choryeon served as its head within the Namgoong Clan.

Yet this room bore no such ornamentation, containing only what was strictly necessary.

‘Their life must not be easy.’

Surely the family had not sent them away with nothing?

As if reading Seolhwa’s thoughts, Choryeon pushed her untouched teacup toward her and spoke.

“We did not accept any money from the Namgoong Clan.”

“Why? You looked so different, I nearly failed to recognize you.”

“It was the same for me, was it not?”

“You know that is not what I meant.”

Seolhwa had changed because she grew older, whereas Choryeon was now living an entirely different life.

Living in such a remote mountain village, severing ties with her clan’s support.

Refusing even the money the family provided.

Everything pointed to a deliberate effort to avoid entanglement.

“Is there a reason you distance yourself from the family?”

It almost seemed like she was intentionally avoiding them.

Choryeon smiled faintly.

“This life is sufficient. I cannot continue relying on the Namgoong Clan forever.”

“That is not reliance. It is your right. You were the Medical Hall’s head. Master was Commander of the Bipung Division.”

“And even now, I gather herbs and sell them to make a living.”

Choryeon gently tapped the teacup she had placed in front of Seolhwa.

“This tea was also brewed from leaves I harvested in the mountains.”

A fleeting stiffness appeared on Seolhwa’s expression.

It seemed like a natural conversation, yet Choryeon skillfully avoided truly answering her.

What had her life been like these past four years?

Why did she go to such lengths to avoid all association with the family?

Why live secluded in a mountain valley, hidden from the world?

There were many things Seolhwa wished to ask, much she was curious about.

They had not seen each other for so long; there was so much to share.

But now did not seem to be the time for answers.

At times, waiting was also part of the conversation.

Seolhwa emptied the second cup of tea in one swift motion.

“So this is where the bitterness comes from.”

“Bitter things are often good for the body.”

Seolhwa placed the teacup down and nodded.

“Where is Master?”

“He went to the mountain to gather herbs.”

“He is gathering herbs?”

Seop Mugwang? Personally?

“Does he know how to distinguish them?”

“In the beginning, he only brought back strange weeds.”

Choryeon’s expression softened with amusement at the memory.

“But after I scolded him a few times, he learned. Nowadays, he is practically a seasoned herb gatherer.”

“I cannot picture that.”

The image of Seop Mugwang combing the mountains for herbs felt implausible.

“It is true.”

Indeed, she could not imagine it.

Whenever she thought of him traversing the mountains, she could only picture him sprinting with the Thunder and Wind Divine Art, befitting the Pungroe Singong.

“I would like to see that. Him gathering herbs.”

“Would you like to go find him?”

“Would I be able to?”

“Fortunately, he mentioned heading toward the rocky mountain today. The terrain there is not too wide, so it should be easy to locate him. I can come with—”

“No.”

Seolhwa stopped Choryeon as she began to rise.

“I will go alone. Just tell me where.”

“Oh my, will you be alright?”

“Yes.”

****

Following Choryeon’s directions, Seolhwa ascended the mountain.

The rugged terrain posed no difficulty for her.

The deep mountain air was clear, and aside from the sounds of nature, it was utterly still.

Here and there, the rustling of leaves reached her ears, but nothing posed a threat.

How long had it been since she experienced such peace?

Though they had come here as if fleeing from the family, it was not such a bad place.

Ssshhh....

“?”

Walking in the direction Choryeon indicated, Seolhwa suddenly stopped.

The presence she sensed came from the opposite direction of the rocky mountain.

Though it felt like someone manipulating internal energy, it lacked the sharpness of a true master. Perhaps for that reason, the Imoogi remained dormant.

After a moment’s hesitation, Seolhwa turned her steps toward the source.

Even if they were no master, anyone dwelling deep in these mountains, near where Seop Mugwang and Choryeon lived, was worth knowing.

****

Sssshhhh....

Following the pathways of the Ren and Toxin Meridians, internal energy circulated along the pressure points before returning to the dantian.

The amount of energy gathered through the Daechun cycle was considerable.

Seop Mugwang maneuvered the energy gathered in his dantian slowly, carefully, as though handling a fragile egg that might shatter at the slightest pressure.

Beads of sweat from his forehead trickled down his jaw.

But the moment his energy attempted to settle into his dantian—

Crack—!

Like an egg breaking apart, the energy dispersed in an instant.

Even when he tried to reclaim the dissipating energy, it scattered completely, like water slipping through his fingers.

“....”

Seop Mugwang opened his eyes.

His expression, as he looked down at his empty hands, held neither frustration nor despair.

Failure had become too familiar, too routine, after countless repetitions.

“Tsk.”

Seop Mugwang rose and picked up his sword.

As if by instinct, he settled into his stance.

Rustle.

“?”

The sound from behind made Seop Mugwang turn.

But only a cool breeze swept past; there was no detectable presence.

Dismissively, Seop Mugwang turned back, resuming his stance, and soon began practicing his martial forms.

Though no internal energy accompanied them, his training was methodical repetition of technique alone.

Tap-tap—! Whoosh—! Shhk!

Even without energy, his sword carried weight.

The sound of air being split was sharp, his footwork swift, and his strikes powerful.

Though the force behind them was diminished, his swordsmanship remained flawless.

Shhk—! Shh-shhk! Shhk!

Sword of Wind and Thunder.

Thunder and Wind Divine Art.

Flowing Thunder Heaven-Wind Sword.

Skyborne Galloping Thunder Sword.

Seop Mugwang’s training continued.

Even with his internal energy crippled, he could not allow the martial techniques he had perfected to fade.

Thus, Seop Mugwang trained his swordsmanship, again and again, engraving it into his body.

****

Choryeon turned at the sound of footsteps as she sorted drying medicinal herbs in the front yard.

Seolhwa was approaching.

But the person who should have been with her was absent.

“Oh my, you did not find him?”

“No. I could not find him.”

“Did he not head to the rocky mountain...?”

“Perhaps I lost my way. I never even reached the rocky mountain.”

“I should have gone with you after all.”

“It is fine. I said I would go alone.”

“Please, rest in the room for a while. The sun will set soon, he should return before long.”

“I will stay here.”

Seolhwa leaned her sword against one side and sat on the edge of the veranda.

“Shall I bring you tea?”

“No need. Do your work.”

Choryeon smiled faintly and returned to sorting the herbs.

Beyond her, the red glow of the setting sun stretched across the yard.