chapter 13
“Whether you’ll become my disciple will be decided by the results of the martial arts tournament two months from now… but it’s better not to talk about that just yet.”
If he mentioned it now, the little cat might feel pressured.
However, he had to let her know that she wouldn’t be able to learn martial arts from him right away.
“Hana, the one who will teach you martial arts right now is not me.”
“Huh?”
“I would like to personally teach you, Seora… but for the time being, it will be Changcheon Grandmaster Namgung Euigyeol who teaches you.”
“Huhhh?”
Namgungho had clearly emphasized the word “for the time being,” yet Hongseol’s face had already gone pale.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Euigyeol also teaches White, Black, and Red, and I’ll give him a few special pointers, so he’ll teach you well.”
Hongseol shook her head, looking miserable.
“It’s not that I’m worried about your skill, Grandfather…”
She would have to meet a new beastkin and learn martial arts from him on top of that!
Her little heart thumped anxiously.
Creak.
The door to the training hall opened just a hand’s width. Through the gap, Hongseol peered out with a tense face, dressed in her blue training uniform.
Had she come too early?
The training hall, with its luxurious blue jade floor, was empty—except for one person.
Whoosh.
A cool breeze brushed across Hongseol’s forehead.
The source of the breeze was a boy’s sword.
“Changcheon Grandmaster… no, it’s not him?”
She had been told that training would be one-on-one.
“Who is that?”
He seemed three or four years older than Hongseol.
The boy’s fine silver hair fluttered with each swing of the sword.
His blue eyes, staring straight ahead, were steady and unwavering.
“It’s like he’s in a completely different world.”
Hongseol was mesmerized by the boy, forgetting even that it was impolite to spy on someone else’s training.
“He’s beautiful…”
His appearance was striking, but what captivated her most was his sword.
It flowed like a dance, curving gracefully, yet he would strike decisively when needed.
A state of complete selflessness.
The boy seemed to have become one with his sword, losing awareness of himself entirely.
Watching this, Hongseol’s chest thumped.
“So this… is Namgung’s sword.”
His footwork was light, and the tip of his sword carried weight.
It changed constantly, so fast that it was hard even to follow with the eyes.
“It’s like the wind leaping freely through the blue sky.”
Then a bright blue aura began swirling around the tip of his sword.
“Just a little more…!”
Hongseol unconsciously clenched her hands in excitement.
Even without knowing martial arts, she could tell the boy was on the verge of reaching a new level.
Then suddenly, he stopped and lowered his sword.
“Was that… on purpose?”
Stopping just before enlightenment. Hongseol couldn’t understand it.
The boy’s blue eyes were now empty, and his arms hung limply. It was hard to believe he had been moving the sword so lively just moments ago.
A pang of sadness hit her.
“Why…?”
She blurted out instinctively.
The boy’s cool eyes lifted to look at her.
“Who are you?”
“Ah, I-I’m…”
Flustered, Hongseol looked around for a place to hide.
The wide training hall only had smooth blue jade flooring, not a single proper wooden pillar to hide behind.
In an instant, the boy closed the distance.
“Ah!”
Hongseol cried out in surprise.
One more step and she could almost smell the cologne on his clothes.
“It is impolite to spy on someone else’s training.”
The boy’s calm voice carried through.
“I-I’m sorry!”
Hongseol’s face turned bright red, and she bowed repeatedly in apology.
“Your swordsmanship was so beautiful that I couldn’t help myself…”
Even her apologetic compliment didn’t elicit much of a reaction. He just looked down at her with those blue eyes.
Hongseol went blank again.
“His eyes… are like jewels from an old story.”
She was brought back to reality by his voice.
“Come to think of it, this is strange. This training hall is only for the Namgung family’s direct descendants; no one else can enter.”
At that moment, they recognized each other.
“Ah, so you’re the kid from Changcheon Hall.”
Hongseol’s mouth fell open, blinking, unable to speak properly.
She could barely manage to utter his three-character name.
“I-I’m Namgung Baek…”
At the sound of his name, Namgung Baek, eldest son of the Namgung family, scanned her.
Most who first recognized him reacted similarly—either jealous of his background and talent, or eager to get close.
Which one would this little one be?
While he was pondering that,
“Oh, mother!”
“What?”
The little one, shocked, dashed to hide behind a chair at the edge of the hall.
Yet, curiosity peeked out—her head stuck out just enough to look around.
“Unbelievable.”
First she was captivated by his swordsmanship, now she was scared.
Finding it amusing, Namgung Baek turned to leave.
“…”
Then he paused, thinking it over, and looked down at the small child again.
Since she was going to stay with the Namgung family, she needed to know who he was.
If she didn’t, trouble would follow.
“You know who I am, right? I’m from the Namgung family—”
Before he could finish, Hongseol blurted out.
“I know! Namgung Baek…”
Yet again, she didn’t attach the proper honorific.
A small crease appeared on Namgung Baek’s forehead.
Had she not yet learned formal etiquette from her grandfather, the Grandmaster Namgungho?
He was about to speak when she added,
“…brother.”
“What?”
“In martial arts, when sharing the same teacher, you call them ‘brother.’”
Hongseol was full of worry.
Not only had she accidentally spied on his training, but she also called him just by name, without the proper title…
She feared Namgung Baek would think she was impolite.
“I only said your name at first because I was surprised!”
“Since Changcheon Grandmaster will teach both of us, I should properly call you Namgung Baek, brother.”
Though clearly terrified, the child tried her best to explain etiquette.
“So, um, I’ll bow nine times!”
Her words were odd and misplaced.
After a moment of silence, Namgung Baek spoke.
“The nine-bow ceremony is only between a teacher and a disciple.”
“Huh?”
Hongseol froze in mid-air, unsure what to do with her hands.
Suddenly, a loud clatter resounded as the training hall doors burst open.
“First brother! You’re here?”
“Too bad, brother! Were you having all the fun with the little kid alone?”
Black and Red had arrived.
Even seeing his younger siblings excitedly running, Namgung Baek’s expression remained unchanged.
“Ah!”
Hongseol instinctively stepped back at the sight of Black and Red rushing forward.
“I went to Changcheon Hall, but the little one wasn’t there. I came running when I heard you were at the training hall.”
“Sis! I’ll read the storybook to you!”
A storybook?
Indeed, Red had been holding a book by his side today.
Seeing that, Hongseol’s face instantly clouded.
“I can’t read…”
“This is a really fun book! There’s even a ghost story!”
“So, let’s read it together… huh?”
The stubborn siblings, noticing something odd in Hongseol’s expression, paused.
“What is this commotion in the sacred training hall!”
A thunderous voice echoed.
Black and Red froze as if struck by lightning.
“Ch-Changcheon Grandmaster!”
Hongseol looked up toward the door.
A large, burly man was walking into the hall.
