The moonlight was bright.

The two siblings lay in the hut with subtle expressions.

Seoyeon, insisting guests couldn’t sleep outside, had given up her bed and gone out.

Tonight, Namgoong Seolhwa would take the bed.

As siblings prone to squabbling, sharing a narrow bed was unthinkable.

“I can’t sleep.”

“Me neither.”

Namgoong Cheonghae spoke first.

Lying on the floor, he traced the wooden sword he’d received earlier with his fingertips.

He wanted to rush out and test his martial arts with it.

Only propriety held him back.

Namgoong Cheonghae was among the few direct heirs of the clan.

Though he had elder sisters, he was the eldest male.

He’d wielded countless treasure swords and handled blades crafted by master smiths.

Even the Changcheon Sword at his waist was such a weapon.

Forged from hundredfold refined iron by Anhui’s finest smith, it was second to none.

Yet it paled compared to the ebony wooden sword in his hand.

Made of wood, its edge was razor-sharp.

Without a hilt, it could pass for a real blade.

Had it taken a quarter-hour to carve?

He’d been so entranced watching that it might’ve been even less.

Anyone hearing this would scoff and call it nonsense.

It was that unbelievable.

Namgoong Cheonghae decided to borrow his sister’s keen insight.

“Any guesses about who she is?”

“Not at all.”

Namgoong Seolhwa shook her head immediately.

“At first, I thought she might be a half-blood of the Qingmu Tribe. Her ears are rounded.”

“The Ear Tribe, secluded in the Great Forest? I heard their hair comes in all colors, but don’t they only use bows?”

“Just a thought. No other tribe handles natural energy so naturally.”

“And now?”

“…I don’t know.”

Namgoong Seolhwa fell silent briefly.

“Even in the borderlands or the Western Regions, such hair color is rare.”

The rarest hair color she’d heard of was the iridescent hue of the North Sea Ice Palace warriors.

But pink—vivid as falling flower petals—was something she’d never seen.

The only plausible guess was one possibility:

Her innate martial arts had influenced her body.

It might not be a perfect example, but didn’t the Blood Cult’s minions have hair dyed crimson from overusing their deep arts?

Seoyeon could be the same—her divine arts manifesting physically.

‘Could she have mastered a celestial technique?’

Of course, it was mere speculation.

Namgoong Seolhwa raised her arm, slowly rotating her wooden sword.

The black blade gleamed coldly under the moonlight.

“Let me see your sword. I need to check something.”

“…”

“Hurry.”

Namgoong Cheonghae hesitated long before handing it to his sister.

He’d been taught since childhood that a sword was just a tool, yet he felt attached.

For the first time, he understood why martial artists staked their lives on priceless treasures.

“Look at this. Mine and yours have different balance points.”

Namgoong Seolhwa held the two wooden swords side by side.

They looked nearly identical, but the feel was distinctly different.

The flow and center of gravity were entirely unique.

Namgoong Seolhwa gazed at the swords with renewed awe.

Both siblings were right-handed swordsmen, but their grips differed slightly.

Their martial arts and goals were distinct.

Namgoong Cheonghae had mastered all forms of the Iron Sword Ten Styles and elevated the clan’s signature Boundless Sky Sword to a high realm.

Beyond that, he dabbled in palm techniques, finger techniques, even grappling arts—whatever piqued his interest.

Namgoong Seolhwa was different.

She’d also mastered the Boundless Sky Sword but had since immersed herself in esoteric formations.

Though outshone by the Zhuge Clan, the Namgoong Clan was also versed in strategic knowledge, making it possible.

“How did she know?”

Their histories were embedded in the swords.

Namgoong Cheonghae’s sword, suited for a domineering path, had a blade tilted slightly inward, its weight centered toward the waist.

This allowed faster swings and a tighter radius, ideal for continuous attacks or counters.

It was optimized for overpowering opponents unpredictably.

Conversely, Namgoong Seolhwa’s sword, designed for navigating formations, was like a compass piercing all directions.

Its center of gravity was perfectly balanced, excelling in fluid combat within formations.

It could even sense and adjust the flow of arrays, acting as a compass.

These were weapons tailored to their wielders’ training paths.

In the entire world, only Namgoong Cheonghae and Namgoong Seolhwa could fully wield these swords.

“A fortuitous encounter.”

“A true blessing.”

Their gazes turned to the window.

They hadn’t realized how much they’d regret their short stay.

In her past life, Seoyeon was the sort to sleep in religiously on weekends.

It was fair to say she lived far from a disciplined life.

But after reincarnating, her body felt strangely refreshed.

When the sun rose, her eyes opened without a trace of fatigue, forcing her into a diligent routine.

Today, however, was different.

Upon waking, a subtle fragrance tickled her nose.

Turning her gaze, she saw dozens of dishes neatly arranged on a low table—

And before it, the Namgoong siblings knelt respectfully.

Namgoong Seolhwa, head bowed, spoke calmly.

“We prepared this carefully with ingredients brought from the main house at dawn.

We couldn’t discern your preferences, so we included both meat and vegetables.

If there’s anything you don’t like, please feel free to say so.”

Seoyeon blinked in place.

‘What is this?’

A fairy tale like the snail bride?

No, even the snail bride didn’t prepare such a lavish feast so openly.

It was excessive and overwhelming.

That was Seoyeon’s innate nature.

But perhaps her silence caused a misunderstanding, as Namgoong Seolhwa cautiously asked.

“…Could it be, do you only eat raw foods?”

Seoyeon swallowed a deep sigh inwardly.

Even if Anhui was nearby, the distance to the Namgoong Clan was at least twenty li.

They must have rushed that distance without pausing to bring these ingredients.

Refusing this would make her the worst kind of person.

“Shall we eat together?”

“It’s fine. We’ve already eaten.”

A lie. Seoyeon had enough sense to tell.

“Let’s eat together.”

“…Yes.”

At her short, firm words, Namgoong Seolhwa bowed slightly and sat.

Food touched by a noble clan should be exquisite.

Yet the oddly heavy, awkward atmosphere made it hard to taste anything, let alone know if it went in her mouth or nose.

The only sound was the occasional clink of spoons against bowls.

Unable to bear it, Seoyeon spoke.

“Is Namgoong Young Master usually so reserved?”

A random remark to break the awkwardness.

But at those words, Namgoong Cheonghae flinched and coughed lightly.

‘Is she scolding me?’

When apart, it was different, but when together, Namgoong Seolhwa typically took the lead in conversation.

There were three reasons.

First, his sister was sharper.

Second, he believed a reserved demeanor would suit him as a future patriarch.

Third, he stepped back to let his sister shine.

Those reasons flashed through Namgoong Cheonghae’s mind.

Of course, his behavior these past few days had been slightly different.

Meeting such a female master for the first time, he’d kept silent, fearing a misstep.

As he pondered how to respond, Seoyeon spoke gently.

“You don’t have to answer. Just eat comfortably.”

Seoyeon swallowed her food, muttering inwardly.

What an uncharacteristic thing to do. It only made things more awkward.

As she thought this, Namgoong Cheonghae suddenly spoke.

“I’m usually quite talkative.”

“I’m a bit playful, often bickering with my sisters over childish things and getting scolded by Mother.

I restrained myself, fearing I’d seem foolish, but it seems I’ve caused you unnecessary concern.”

“…”

“Please forgive my brief rudeness.”

Rustle.

“Gulp!”

The water glass tilted.

Namgoong Cheonghae gulped down cold water and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

Namgoong Seolhwa stared at him like he was insane, but he paid no mind.

‘She’s from another world.’

The cold water cleared his mind.

She saw through false facades with her wisdom yet worried about troubling a junior martial artist during a meal.

Making his decision, Namgoong Cheonghae spoke earnestly.

“I’ll eat comfortably now, as usual. I’ll talk more too. I’m sorry for causing you concern.”

And with a far more relaxed expression, he began eating, maintaining flawless etiquette all the while.

– Are you actually crazy?

Namgoong Seolhwa hurriedly sent a transmission, but no reply came.

Namgoong Cheonghae simply ate calmly with a composed expression.

Namgoong Seolhwa felt a headache coming on, dumbfounded.

She hadn’t expected her lunatic brother to actually do it.

Gulping water in front of a peerless master?

Not elegantly, but chugging it like a brute?

And why suddenly spill family matters?

Was he boasting about how foolish he was?

If he was going to act out, why wait until the last day?

Namgoong Seolhwa forced a smile, stealing glances at Seoyeon.

‘What if she gets angry? What if she asks for the swords back?’

Cold sweat ran down her spine.

Of course, returning them would be proper, but giving up peerless weapons without even using them felt too unjust.

Then Seoyeon’s lips parted.

“Young Master Namgoong.”

Namgoong Seolhwa’s breath caught.

Her hand, holding chopsticks, froze in midair.

And then—

“You’d do well even in the military.”

A brief silence.

‘Huh?’

Namgoong Seolhwa stared at Seoyeon, bewildered.

The military, out of nowhere?

Was she generously overlooking a junior’s antics, hinting at her own background?

Or was it a veiled rebuke?

The sudden, out-of-place remark left even Namgoong Seolhwa unable to read her intent.

Of course, Seoyeon, as always, spoke without much thought.

‘He’d do well in the military with that attitude.’

Seoyeon thought Namgoong Cheonghae had diffused the awkwardness by exposing his own flaws.

Even now, he was eating heartily to ease her concerns.

‘He’s a sharp kid.’

Only then could Seoyeon focus on the meal.

As expected, food served by others was delicious.

The day to leave came quickly.

Seoyeon disposed of everything to the Namgoong Clan, leaving only a bundle slung over her shoulder.

After over a decade, she had little luggage.

If she were an ordinary commoner, she might’ve taken everything with help, but Seoyeon didn’t need that.

Beds, desks—if needed, she’d make them again.

Her money pouch was ample.

She’d never seen so much gold in her life, all thanks to the Namgoong Clan’s generous payment.

‘With this, I can buy any material.’

She’d heard mulberry wood from India was excellent.

With this money, it wouldn’t be hard to get.

Only the Namgoong siblings saw her off.

Namgoong Sein didn’t come.

Instead, he sent a message through his son.

“Father asked me to give you this.”

“What is it?”

Namgoong Cheonghae carefully presented a plaque carved from blue jade.

The word “Namgoong” was etched in its center with unwavering precision.

“It’s a plaque for the clan’s honored guests.

He said we couldn’t dare put a price on the grace and treasures received, so he offers this as a small token of apology.”

Blue jade was no ordinary item.

A gem used in noble stationery or clan seals, it was priceless.

All the gold she’d received couldn’t compare to this single plaque.

As Seoyeon stared at the plaque, speechless, Namgoong Cheonghae bowed deeply.

“If you refuse, my sister and I will face reprimand.

Please, accept it.”

Seoyeon’s eyebrows trembled slightly.

They were sincere.

From what she’d seen of the Namgoong Clan, they’d genuinely face consequences.

And those consequences would far exceed a modern person’s imagination.

She didn’t want to entangle with such treasures, but she wasn’t the sort to let young heirs suffer for her sake.

Seoyeon nodded quietly and tucked the jade plaque into her robes.

“If we meet again someday, I’ll return it then.”

At those words, Namgoong Cheonghae’s face visibly brightened.

“T-Thank you!”

A master saying they’d meet again meant she didn’t see them as mere passersby.

That alone made his heart swell.

Namgoong Cheonghae bowed deeply with respect.

Namgoong Seolhwa beside him quietly lowered her head as well.

Seoyeon watched the siblings briefly before turning to leave.

The bundle on her shoulder felt unusually light.

Her destination was Henan.

The land of the Shaolin Temple.