Episode 6
From the very next day, Sama Ryun began training Yeon‑hwa in the pavilion near the flower garden.
“Run around the garden twenty times.”
“Okay!”
Yeon‑hwa answered brightly without a second thought, then started running.
Her little legs made more of a “thud‑thud‑thud” than a smooth run, but she didn’t stop.
An hour later, she came back, breathing hard.
“Run again.”
“Yay~!”
Even at Sama Ryun’s unreasonable command, she didn’t complain and kept running around the garden over and over.
Watching her, Sama Ryun felt something new in his chest—pride.
It wasn’t an easy routine.
Even just running, if repeated dozens or hundreds of times, would make most kids collapse or throw up.
But Yeon‑hwa, covered in dust and gasping for air, still smiled brightly.
“I finished, Master!”
While she was training, Sama Ryun sat at the top of the pavilion, meditating and focusing his inner energy.
When he didn’t answer, Yeon‑hwa looked up at him curiously.
What’s Master doing up there?
She knew he had promised to teach her everything, but watching him now—sitting still, gathering energy—it felt strange and mysterious.
The energy of nature seemed to gather around him and swirl, as if being absorbed.
He was a strange person to Yeon‑hwa.
He could order Madam So to excuse her chores; he had the authority to let her pass the scary guards at the gate, and now he was sitting there like some kind of mage.
Am I going to learn magic, too? Or… is this that “martial arts” I’ve only heard about?
Catching her breath, she studied Sama Ryun’s face from different angles.
A young man’s face—no signs of age at all.
Unlike his old‑fashioned way of speaking, he was much younger than her father… and honestly, very handsome.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes.
“…Do you have something you want to say?”
“Nope!”
She quickly answered, her eyes sparkling as if hoping for praise.
He patted her head and asked again:
“Then why were you staring?”
“Because you look super cool, Master!”
He gathers energy like a wizard! He meditates like a hero!
Yeon‑hwa chattered excitedly, her eyes shining like little stars.
For a second, Sama Ryun felt as if those bright eyes bounced off his cheek like starlight.
…He suddenly felt like he’d just adopted a puppy.
After about two weeks of basic stamina training, Yeon‑hwa began real sword training.
“We’ll start with this.”
He handed her a long wooden sword.
“Is this… a wooden sword?”
“It is.”
“Wow, it’s heavy! What happens if I swing it?”
“You’ll become as strong as me.”
“Huh?”
“This is the first step.”
He sensed her lack of excitement, so he drew his sword and showed her.
Whoosh!
The air split apart with a loud vibration.
“Wow!”
He swung again, and a sharp red energy wrapped around his blade, swirling like a storm.
“…Did you see that?”
It was a display of sword energy (검기).
He could have shown her even greater skills, but for a beginner who had been a common girl until recently, this was enough to start.
Yeon‑hwa hugged her wooden sword tightly, her eyes sparkling.
“Yes, I saw it!”
“That was sword energy. When you pour your inner power into a blade, it becomes like that.
One day, you’ll be able to do it too.”
“Hmm… when?”
“If you train hard, in a few years.”
“A few years?! Will I be your age by then?”
“Earlier than that. I mastered it when I was your age.”
He had no special talent himself, but his harsh upbringing forced him to learn fast.
For someone with Yeon‑hwa’s gifted body, it would be even easier.
He looked at her, tilting his head.
“Any questions?”
“What’s inner power?”
“It’s the natural energy you feel around you.
If you keep breathing and storing it in your body, you can use it—that’s inner power.”
“Wow…”
“You already have a little of it. Have you ever learned breathing techniques before?”
“No! I’ve never learned anything like that, Master.”
“…But you understand what I’m saying so well.”
For a regular child, these words were too complicated.
Even children of great families struggled with such training.
“That’s because I’m smart! My mom said so!”
Yeon‑hwa proudly pointed to herself.
To Sama Ryun, it sounded like she wanted praise, so he smiled faintly and ruffled her hair again.
Later, after more running, they moved to the training yard.
Yeon‑hwa’s running had left the path a mess, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“Watch what I do and repeat it a hundred times.”
He drew his sword and swung lightly.
A gust of wind followed.
“Yes, starting now!”
Then she stood there… and did nothing.
“……”
“……”
“……”
After a long moment, Sama Ryun raised an eyebrow.
“Why aren’t you moving?”
“I am doing it! I’m copying you!”
“……”
What?
“You were just standing still, Master!”
“……”
Maybe his swing had been too fast for her to see.
He sighed. He was an unmatched swordsman, but teaching was new to him.
“Shall I show you again?”
“Yes, please! I saw the wind go whoosh, but I can’t copy that!”
“……”
This time, he drew his sword very slowly—so slow that no wind stirred.
“Ah‑ha!”
“Did you see?”
Yeon‑hwa nodded eagerly.
“So I’m supposed to swing it!”
“Now do that a hundred times.”
“Yes! Starting now!”
She began swinging the heavy wooden sword again and again, full of energy.
Sama Ryun watched quietly, then closed his eyes and focused on the flow of energy around him.
It was a peaceful afternoon, not a breath of wind in the air.
Life for Yeon‑hwa began to change.
“Yeon‑hwa, where do you work these days? I never see you anymore.”
“Ryeon‑ah, I wish I could tell you, but Madam So said it’s a secret.”
“Not even to me?”
“Sorry… I can’t.”
Her friends were curious, but the ones who used to bully her—like Hye‑jin—didn’t like it at all.
She’s acting different… It’s making me nervous.
Hye‑jin chewed her nails, waiting near the path Yeon‑hwa usually took back.
It was about the time she should return, usually covered in dust.
But lately, Yeon‑hwa had been coming back late, even at night.
She didn’t… catch the eye of someone important, did she?
No way… Hye‑jin thought, but then she saw Yeon‑hwa running toward her.
Time to push her shoulder like always—
Thud!
“Ow!”
Hye‑jin herself stumbled to the ground.
Her old trick didn’t work anymore.
Yeon‑hwa wasn’t the weak girl she used to be.
“Oh, big sister, did you trip?”
“Shut up!”
“Are you hurt? Should I blow on it to make it better?”
“You annoying little—!”
Hye‑jin glared at her, furious.
Another servant girl rushed to help her up.
“Hye‑jin, let’s just go. Madam So will be here soon!”
“……”
“Come on, don’t stare like that! Let’s go!”
It was no secret now that Madam So favored Yeon‑hwa.
Yeon‑hwa herself didn’t even seem to realize it.
As Hye‑jin’s friend helped her up, Hye‑jin shot Yeon‑hwa a cold, hateful look.
That brat came later than I, and now she’s stealing all the attention? Smiling so sweetly… I can’t stand it.
But let’s see how long that smile lasts.
Her eyes gleamed with a sharp, dangerous plan.
(To be continued…)
