“This is the training hall.”

“Ah.”

Seolhwa, having arrived at the training hall with excitement, found herself struck speechless by deep disappointment.

There’s... no one here.

The training hall was empty.

No Shaolin monks in training, no caretakers of the facility, not even anyone passing by—utterly, completely vacant.

“I thought you said this was the seclusion period?”

“Ah, this training hall is not one used by formal Shaolin monks. It’s usually for pre-novices who’ve yet to receive a dharma name, or for outsiders.”

“I see.”

Of course. As if they’d show her the real training grounds.

I got my hopes up for nothing.

“If the benefactor wishes to train, please feel free to use this space. There are no incense-offering guests around, so you’ll have it all to yourself.”

“Thank you. May I use the weapons freely as well?”

“Yes, of course.”

Seolhwa walked over to the weapon rack at the edge of the training ground and selected a wooden sword.

While she began to train, Hyeon stood off to the side.

It was the seclusion period. Weren’t they supposed to be pressed for time in their training?

Having a Shaolin monk watching makes this awkward.

With an audience, she couldn’t demonstrate the Heavenly Thunder Divine Sword.

So she decided to practice the Namgoong Clan’s swordsmanship instead.

She chose one of the foundational techniques taught to the outer hall warriors—techniques that could safely be shown to outsiders.

Let’s go with what Master taught me.

She had performed the Namgoong sword style countless times.

In her previous life, not only had she mastered it, she had even devised counter-styles against it. How many swings must that have taken?

But just as Seop Mugwang once said—she had never taken the time to go through each movement slowly, feeling it out step by step.

Taking a long, deep breath, Seolhwa began slowly executing the Namgoong sword form.

Perhaps it was arrogance—believing I already knew it well—that blinded me and limited my thinking.

By slowing down, she might uncover new layers of profound intent hidden in the Namgoong blade.

So slowly, precisely, she moved.

First Form—Sky-Dancing Swallow.

The form she selected was the Azure Sky Swallow Sword—Changung Biyeon-geom.

It was typically taught to outer hall warriors after they’d mastered the main forms. Not particularly advanced, but—

It conveyed the very spirit of the Namgoong Clan with the greatest clarity.

Whoosh, swish—!

Her sword swept right, then suddenly soared skyward like it would pierce the heavens.

Lowering again, it drew a diagonal arc, cutting through an invisible enemy, then swept horizontally in a seamless flow.

Each phase of motion took a long time to complete.

Long enough for the sun to tilt a palm’s breadth across the sky.

Gulp.

Hyeon, who had been silently watching her the entire time, swallowed dryly.

He hadn’t intended to secretly observe her training.

He knew well that it was rude to watch someone’s martial practice without permission.

But the moment his eyes caught her first movement, he found himself unable to move, as if bound by something unseen.

Even as his mind told him he shouldn’t look, he simply could not turn away.

It’s... sacred.

That was the emotion Hyeon felt with each of her motions.

There was an ineffable sanctity in them.

Namgoong Seolhwa poured her entire being into every slash, every step, every breath.

He could feel the intensity of that commitment even from where he stood.

Have I ever seen someone devote themselves to martial arts with such utter sincerity?

What is martial arts?

Is it not simply a force that makes one stronger?

Like a butcher wields a blade, or a woodcutter swings an axe—was martial art not meant to be that kind of tool for the martial artist?

But anyone who saw that girl’s swordsmanship would never think so.

That movement... was sacred.

Her approach to martial arts was unlike anything he’d seen.

Hyeon was quietly astonished.

He had acknowledged that the Namgoong Clan had produced the Sword Emperor, but had never held much expectation for their martial arts.

After all, the prevailing opinion about the clans wasn’t favorable.

The martial arts of the sega existed only for political gain, they said—an empty shell. Their warriors, martial artists only in name.

Weren’t his seniors, his peers, even the elders of the temple all of the same opinion?

And yet... what was this?

That’s the Namgoong sword?

It was far more impressive than expected.

She wasn’t neglectful in her attitude toward martial arts. And she had real skill.

This is nothing like what I’ve heard.

Whoever claimed the sega’s martial arts were hollow—then many of Shaolin’s own techniques would be hollow as well.

“....”

Finishing her sword form, Seolhwa lowered her blade and looked up at the sky.

She had been so focused she didn’t realize how much time had passed, but the sun was clearly far lower than when she started.

Maybe I should rest a bit.

She turned.

At that moment, her eyes met Hyeon’s—he’d been staring blankly at her the whole time.

Startled as though caught red-handed, Hyeon flailed his hands in panic.

Are you saying you weren’t watching?

Then what were you doing?

Eventually, Hyeon gave an awkward chuckle and scratched the back of his neck.

She had sensed it since he brought her food—Seolhwa still didn’t understand why Shaolin had assigned Hyeon as her minder.

No matter how I look at it, he seems clueless.

Maybe it was just because it was the seclusion period and no one else was available.

Seolhwa approached him. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

And Hyeon, in turn, quickly shuffled over.

“Ah, I apologize. I didn’t mean to spy on your training...”

“I assumed you stayed in the training hall to watch me train.”

“There’s no way I’d do that! I only stayed to avoid disturbing your practice... haha, I suppose that’s where I went wrong.”

It didn’t matter.

She’d practiced a form she was fine showing others anyway.

Seolhwa gave him a once-over.

Though his monk’s robe concealed it, his physique was clearly well-tempered and firm.

“Are you planning to keep waiting here?”

“Ah, I’ll step outside and wait.”

“No, I meant—if you’re going to keep standing around, would you like to spar with me?”

“I’d be gla— Spar?”

The word nearly shot out of his mouth before he caught himself.

Suppressing his initial impulse, Hyeon asked again, steadying his tone.

“You wish to spar... with me, Benefactor?”

“Yes. Since we’ve met like this, I thought it might be good for both of us to broaden our horizons. Besides, wouldn’t you find it boring to just stand around all day?”

“Well...”

Could he?

Could he really spar with Lady Namgoong?

The Abbot did say to look after her well...

But from the moment she said “spar,” his body had been itching for it.

He was already jittery with excitement at the thought of facing off against the Namgoong sword.

“Would it be improper to spar with me?”

“That’s not it...”

The hesitation didn’t last long.

“Does the Benefactor require a partner for training?”

If she needed a partner, then he’d just be helping her practice—not violating orders to attend her.

That’s what I’m telling myself, anyway.

Before he knew it, Hyeon had stepped in close to Seolhwa.

What an honest man.

As she met his sparkling eyes, Seolhwa smiled.

“Having a training partner is always a blessing.”

“Then I, though lacking, shall gladly serve as your partner.”

The reply came instantly, without pause.

Hyeon rolled up his sleeves and headed for the sparring platform.

Watching him practically bounce with excitement, Seolhwa also gripped her sword and made her way over.

****

Far from the training ground where Seolhwa stood—on the rooftop of the Disciplinary Hall.

Two figures were watching the training field.

One, standing tall with arms crossed, was Beopseon, the Head of the Disciplinary Hall.

The other, standing with one hand folded behind his back, was Beopgong, the Abbot of Shaolin Temple.

Beopseon’s thick brows twitched.

As expected of the one who oversaw the strictest codes of Shaolin, an air of stern authority radiated from him.

“Hmph. So not all the sega brats are maggots, I see.”

“Beopseon, one should not refer to people as maggots. Who’s to say the very ones you curse weren’t once like us?”

“I’m just saying that girl’s quite decent. Better than expected, no?”

“High praise, coming from you.”

“She really is the granddaughter of the Sword Emperor.”

Beopseon scratched his jaw roughly, then furrowed his eyes as he continued to study the Namgoong girl.

“Do you see it, Abbot?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I’d like to observe her a bit more. Is there a way?”

“Beopseon, I’ve told you time and again—testing and judging people rashly is not the Way.”

“And yet you were the one who threw her into that cramped cell and bound her hands and feet, were you not?”

Beopseon looked toward Beopgong as if to say, wasn’t it you?

But Beopgong merely wore a benevolent smile, feigning complete ignorance.

“You sly bald rat.”

“Hoho. I’ve just been too busy to make time. You know how many affairs arise during the seclusion period? Even Zhi Ke Hall is under renovation.”

“Busy, huh? Then why are you here now? And changing the bedsheets is hardly a renovation.”

Beopseon muttered complaints and narrowed his eyes.

Namgoong Seolhwa and Hyeon were talking about something.

“The Buddha once said—life itself is the most difficult of all tests.”

Abbot Beopgong stepped closer to Beopseon and stood beside him.

“Doesn’t it make you curious?”

“About what?”

“That girl... who until «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» just five years ago belonged to them... What could’ve made her choose to live quietly now as a child of the Namgoong Clan?”