Namgoong Sein left. Of course, Seoyeon never learned his true identity. She could tell he was someone of high status from his self-description as “Namgoong Somebody” and his dignified demeanor, but that was the extent of it.

‘Clear waters above make clear waters below.’

Seoyeon murmured to herself.

It seemed the Namgoong Clan’s rise as a prestigious righteous faction was due to such upright leaders.

Of course, only Namgoong Sein had departed. Namgoong Seolhwa and Namgoong Cheonghae remained at the hut.

Seoyeon tilted her head, looking at the siblings standing formally before her.

‘Why did he leave his children behind?’

Surveillance? Protection?

But on second thought, if surveillance was the goal, he wouldn’t have left just his children. It felt more like a sign that it was safe enough to leave them.

Seoyeon nodded.

Truly, the Namgoong Clan. The more she saw, the more genuine they seemed. She understood why common folk praised righteous factions.

The siblings, who looked about high school age, seemed oddly endearing.

Of course, reality was far from Seoyeon’s assumptions.

– Stay here. She’s a peerless master like me, so there’s much to learn from her.

Namgoong Sein hadn’t bothered with instructions about proper etiquette or humility. Though the siblings bickered within the clan, they were renowned as prodigies outside it.

They knew how to conduct themselves.

The siblings exchanged secret transmissions.

– A peerless master?

– I had a hunch. I didn’t expect her to be on Father’s level, though.

– She seems Daoist, but I can’t pinpoint exactly where from.

– Behave yourself, foolish brother. I don’t want to miss this opportunity because of you.

– You behave.

Namgoong Cheonghae’s transmission was rough, but his eyes couldn’t hide his awe.

Though his insight and perception lagged behind his sister’s, his energy manipulation and strength were among the best in the world.

Thus, just reflecting on the sword intent in Seoyeon’s earlier movements left him no room to focus elsewhere.

Namgoong Seolhwa was different. Even while tossing out transmissions, she steadied her breathing inwardly.

In the vast world, only five.

A realm permitted to just five.

Hence, the Five Greats, hence peerless.

Yet here was an eccentric, not among the Five Greats, who had reached that peerless realm.

And a rare female master at that.

Was it the innate difference in strength and physique? Female masters who reached such heights were overwhelmingly fewer than men. The only renowned female masters were Huashan’s Sword Empress and the Demonic Cult’s White-Handed Witch. Even they hadn’t reached the peerless realm.

‘So this is why Father brought me.’

For Namgoong Seolhwa, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Merely acting humbly wasn’t enough. This woman held a status that could overshadow even the Namgoong name.

If she drew her sword, without another peerless master to oppose her, the Eight Great Families or Nine Sects could be annihilated overnight.

To even step onto the threshold of her teachings, one might need to serve as a sword-bearer, carrying luggage for wandering warriors.

Namgoong Seolhwa’s decision was swift.

No hesitation.

She immediately knelt respectfully before Seoyeon. A knee she’d only bent for the Patriarch. It was a gesture treating Seoyeon as equal to the Namgoong Patriarch.

“Please call me Seolhwa. I will serve you with all my heart.”

Though only temporary, she set aside the Namgoong name, humbling herself as if a mere servant.

“…….”

Seoyeon couldn’t respond. She stared, stunned, at the noble clan’s heir kneeling so abruptly. Her veil thankfully hid her shocked expression.

‘…Isn’t this a bit much?’

She was inwardly flustered. How strict must the clan’s discipline be for a high school-aged girl to kneel without hesitation?

She’d never seen the Namgoong Clan act so deferential to a commoner in any martial arts tale.

‘Is she doing this to buy all my sculptures?’

They must have really loved them for their father to instruct them so.

She was going to leave the sculptures behind anyway. If they offered money too, she had no reason to refuse.

The more she saw, the more she liked the Namgoong Clan.

“Have you eaten?”

“You can speak casually.”

“I’m more comfortable with formal speech.”

“…Yes.”

Surprised by the unexpected reply, Namgoong Seolhwa nodded with a wry expression.

“We ate before coming.”

“Hm.”

Seoyeon paused to think. A high school-aged girl was being so deferential, yet she couldn’t even offer a meal. Her pride as a Korean wouldn’t allow it.

An idea flashed.

“Wait here a moment.”

Seoyeon headed to the storage shed beside the hut. Unfinished sculptures and various carving materials were kept there.

There were models of creatures like stag beetles and dragonflies, as well as human figures or wood with painted designs.

‘Those would just be toys to martial artists.’

A grown girl would hardly be thrilled by stag beetle or dragonfly sculptures.

Though she’d distanced herself from the martial world, Seoyeon prided herself on knowing what martial artists liked.

‘Protective armor, peerless weapons…’

Namgoong Seolhwa, being a martial artist, would likely be similar.

Though she’d never done blacksmithing, she wasn’t entirely clueless about weapon-making. She could certainly carve a wooden sword.

‘This should be enough to save face, right?’

Seoyeon took out a piece of ebony from a corner of the shed.

It was a material she’d received from a merchant in exchange for a mid-grade sculpture. Its grain shimmered subtly, its deep, heavy black hue radiating depth. It was distinctly different from wood merely painted black.

The downside was its density and hardness, making it difficult to work with. But for Seoyeon, that was no issue.

A wooden sword made from this would withstand most sparring sessions.

Seoyeon stepped out of the shed with the ebony. The siblings were still waiting respectfully.

Thinking how rigid noble clan heirs were, Seoyeon spoke.

“There’s a pond nearby. I’d like to show you something there. Will you come with me?”

The siblings nodded without question, their faces almost entranced.

‘What kind of stepping technique is that?’

‘Unbelievable!’

Wherever Seoyeon stepped, grass perked up, and flower petals bloomed as if kissed by sunlight.

‘Her energy flow is completely invisible. Is she drawing it from outside? No, can natural energy even be used so freely?’

‘I’m definitely learning this. Definitely!’

Namgoong Cheonghae marveled inwardly, while Namgoong Seolhwa couldn’t suppress her excitement, feeling almost unlike herself.

Meanwhile, the person in question furrowed her brow, thinking her druid-like abilities had surfaced again.

Seoyeon soon reached the pond. A serene, beautiful place where pink lotuses bloomed in full.

She headed to a small pavilion she’d carved herself. Though not large, it was spacious enough for three.

“Sit comfortably. It won’t take long.”

The siblings sat at one side of the pavilion, faces full of questions. Their gazes were fixed on the ebony in Seoyeon’s hands. It seemed she was about to carve.

‘Ebony with bare hands?’

‘Is she testing our patience?’

Knowing carving wasn’t a one- or two-day task, it was a natural thought.

It wasn’t incomprehensible. Renowned masters were famously eccentric in their hobbies.

Though none had seen it, wasn’t it said that Wudang’s Sword Immortal enjoyed wandering as a beggar in disguise?

It wouldn’t be strange for a peerless master like Seoyeon to have an odd hobby.

‘It’s definitely a test.’

Namgoong Seolhwa adjusted her demeanor further. She straightened her posture. Her knees’ angle, hand placement, and breathing remained flawless.

Namgoong Cheonghae was different. Perhaps because he was mentally replaying her earlier sword forms dozens of times, he seemed slightly dazed.

Of course, his outward composure held. His eyes were clear, fixed on Seoyeon’s fingertips. Only a part of his mind was elsewhere.

His nickname didn’t include “mad” for nothing.

Namgoong Cheonghae’s passion for the sword rivaled his father’s. Thus, he knew his place well.

‘I don’t know what teachings she’ll impart, but aiming for both is reckless. It’s right to yield this to my sister.’

That was why his posture was less rigid.

It was then that Seoyeon’s fingertips moved.

The start was so sudden that even Namgoong Seolhwa’s insight couldn’t catch it. A seamless motion flowed from Seoyeon’s shoulder.

A faint pink glow shimmered in her eyes beyond the veil, and the ebony she held was cleanly cut.

Mind Sword.

The legendary transcendent realm revealed itself before the Namgoong siblings. But they didn’t realize it. Their level was too low. Even with Seolhwa’s insight, she could only guess it was a refined technique.

Swish—

From her mind to her shoulder, shoulder to arm, arm to fingertips, and fingertips to the ebony, the pink glow danced mystically.

It wasn’t energy leaking from poor control.

Nature itself was swaying, startled by her auspicious vibrations.

“This, this is…”

“It’s just a distracting trick. It started happening at some point.”

Seoyeon replied calmly, as if it were trivial.

But her thoughts continued inwardly.

‘Maybe I really am a druid.’

Even the Namgoong Clan, unlike the exaggerated depictions in martial arts tales, proved to be a noble faction that valued righteousness. So, she couldn’t assume this world was just like typical martial arts stories.

For all she knew, this world might be mixed with fantasy.

‘Could it be? Then is the Blood Cult Leader a vampire?’

In martial arts, vampires would be considered heretical. Even if real, they’d be called blood demons.

‘Then what about elves? Big ears, so… Ear Clan?’

At that point, Seoyeon shook off her thoughts. She had no intention of keeping the noble heirs waiting long.

Swish—

Her fingertips began to move faster.

No hesitation. Her fingers, extending in straight lines, carried the mystery of a single flash.

Sunlight fractured along the trajectory.

Seoyeon placed two completed wooden swords before the siblings.

Deep black in hue, the blades were smoothly refined, their weight perfectly balanced.

As if she’d measured their bodies, the length and thickness differed subtly.

“A small gift from me.”

Her voice remained calm.

“You’ll be staying in an uncomfortable place for two days, so please accept it without burden.”

“W-What…”

“T-Thank you…”

The siblings were overwhelmed, at a loss for words.