Chapter 18
“For the time being, I’ve been assigned to be the young lady’s martial arts teacher. You’ll be coming with me.”
When Master Geum Cheongsan brought it up, Bang Gijin thought he’d misheard.
It was strange enough that the young lady—known to be frail and sickly—wanted to learn martial arts.
“Do I really have to go? I don’t understand why I’m needed.”
Geum Cheongsan was like a father to him. But he couldn’t help the sharpness in his tone.
Bang Gijin wasn’t originally from Hongan County.
He’d wandered as an orphan before drifting into the village, where he caught Geum Cheongsan’s eye and was brought into the Seol Clan estate.
Everyone praised the Seol Clan, but Bang Gijin didn’t feel much attachment to it. To him, his benefactor was Geum Cheongsan, not the clan.
In fact, his feelings toward the Seol Clan were rather negative.
The main reason was Seol Dopyung, who constantly sought him out to hurl insults.
— Hey, you! I heard you’ve learned some martial arts? At best, you’re third-rate. Wanna spar? Come on, let’s go!
Seol Dopyung would swing a wooden sword at him and jeer.
— Hold back, but let him win.
Bang Gijin didn’t want to go easy, especially when his master always taught him to give his all with the sword. But when he saw Geum Cheongsan’s sad expression, he had no choice but to yield.
He was beaten senseless by Seol Dopyung’s wild wooden sword swings.
As he rolled on the ground, he made a firm decision—to leave the Seol Clan when he was old enough.
“It seems the young lady had a change of heart after her illness. Since she says she wants to learn martial arts, it’s my duty as head of the Hoga Unit to support her.”
Geum Cheongsan was a highly respected martial artist and a warm-hearted man. But when it came to the Seol Clan, he always seemed overly lenient.
“Yes, I’ll follow.”
If he couldn’t change his master’s mind, then there was no other choice but to obey.
It would be rough for a while, but he’d just have to endure it…
From a distance, a tall and handsome man was approaching.
It was Sojangju (Young Lord) Seol Jadan.
As they met up close, Bang Gijin froze. Though the man had a soft, refined face, there was an overwhelming aura around him that kept others at bay.
Still inexperienced, Bang Gijin’s martial senses were telling him so.
“I entrust Young Lady Yeong-ah to you, Chief Geum.”
“Oh no, Sojangju-nim. There’s no need to say that.”
The young lord turned his gaze to Bang Gijin and spoke kindly.
“Your name is Gijin, right? I hope you’ll help Unyeong with her training.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
“Thank you.”
When Seol Jadan smiled, the whole world seemed to brighten.
“Well, let’s go. Yeong-ah must be waiting.”
“Yes, Sojangju-nim.”
Seol Jadan turned and crossed the Winter Gate into Yeonhongwon.
Master Geum followed him, and Bang Gijin trailed hesitantly behind.
It was Bang Gijin’s first time inside Yeonhongwon. As the rumors said—it was truly beautiful. And vast.
The entire Seol estate had a refined, antique charm due to its age, but this place had an entirely different atmosphere.
All he had done was cross the Winter Gate, yet it felt like he’d entered another world.
‘Didn’t they say the young lady never leaves her residence? But… in a place like this, I wouldn’t feel cooped up either. I guess noble girls aren’t expected to go out much anyway.’
He spotted the young lady running toward Seol Jadan.
And he was stunned.
The Seol Clan’s young lady, Seol Unyeong, was truly striking.
He’d heard she was ten years old, but due to her frailty, her frame was quite small. Yet that only made her appear more ethereal—like a little fairy from the heavens.
Even those who gossiped about her said nothing about her appearance—and now he understood why.
‘What kind of child is that beautiful?’
Watching Seol Jadan hold her, Bang Gijin nodded in understanding.
‘Like father, like daughter, huh?’
Bang Gijin was lost in thought for many reasons—until Unyeong turned toward him with a bright smile and greeted him.
“And nice to meet you, Warrior Bang. I look forward to working with you.”
“Pardon?”
She called him Warrior Bang… It was clearly directed at him, yet it felt surreal.
Inside the Seol Clan, Bang Gijin was just a trainee and low-ranking warrior—recognized only because he was Geum Cheongsan’s disciple.
The warriors of the Hoga Unit didn’t treat him as one of them, and even the servants saw him as little more than a tagalong.
But now, hearing the noble young lady call him a warrior—it flustered him.
Realizing his delay, he quickly bowed.
“Y-Yes. I look forward to serving you as well, my lady.”
She just smiled sweetly—but Bang Gijin could tell. She was very different from Seol Dopyung.
Unlike when he’d first entered Yeonhongwon, his heart now felt at ease.
However, that didn’t last long—for a different kind of tension took hold.
The martial arts lesson began in the inner courtyard of Yeonhongwon and, at first, seemed peaceful.
Unyeong was eager to learn, and Geum Cheongsan was a skilled and passionate teacher.
As head of the Hoga Unit, he had seen many martial artists, and after taking Bang Gijin as a disciple, had become a dedicated mentor.
“Ahem. Since you’ve only recently recovered, let’s begin with light exercises to build stamina, and some basic breathing techniques to help you sense your energy.”
“Yes, Master. What should I do first?”
“First, sit down. That’s right—cross your legs like this…”
Geum Cheongsan began with the absolute basics.
He recited the formula for the Three Elements Breathing Technique and had her memorize it.
“I’ve memorized it, Master.”
Unyeong nodded confidently and flawlessly recited the entire formula.
She was clearly very smart.
Come to think of it, he had heard she was gifted.
“Now, recite the formula quietly in your mind, and try to sense the energy around you.”
“Yes, I’ll try.”
Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she nodded, but Bang Gijin remained skeptical.
She looked far too small and fragile.
Not everyone could begin martial arts training—not everyone could even sense energy. At best, learning basic breathing techniques might improve her health a little.
Building stamina, too—it all seemed like a thorny path for his master.
“…Yes. Just as you described, I can feel it. It’s warm. Feels like sunlight. Oh, now it’s cold… like wind or rain… and now…”
Bang Gijin didn’t believe a word she said.
His master had once told him he was born with martial talent. And yet, it had taken him nearly a month to sense external energy.
To claim she felt it immediately—what a childish lie.
‘Even if she pretends to be mature, she’s still just a kid. Is she trying to get attention?’
He’d heard of children like that—those who lied to gain their parents’ attention.
Not that he could relate, being an orphan himself.
But then.
But then—
As Unyeong sat quietly, breathing in meditation, her body slowly began to rise.
Bang Gijin rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating—but the scene didn’t change.
Still seated cross-legged, Unyeong was floating in the air. And now, he could clearly feel the energy surging around her.
“M-Master…”
He stammered, turning toward Geum Cheongsan.
His master stood there, mouth agape, eyes wide.
So did Young Lord Seol Jadan and the young lady’s nursemaid.
Clearly, this wasn’t surprising only to him.
‘Seeing everyone this shocked makes me feel like I should be more shocked too… Weirdly disappointed, somehow.’
The higher one’s martial cultivation, the more they can see—and understand.
Bang Gijin was simply stunned. But Geum Cheongsan must be sensing something far greater.
‘Wait… does the Young Lord know something too?’
As he tilted his head, Seol Jadan spoke.
“Ch-Chief Geum.”
“Y-Yes, Sojangju-nim?”
“Form the Protection Seal.”
“Y-Yes, I’ll do that.”
Geum Cheongsan straightened his posture and began guarding the surroundings.
This was no ordinary event. For martial artists, such moments were of utmost importance.
No interference could be allowed.
Bang Gijin also heightened his senses and focused on Unyeong.
The swirling energy around her eventually began to calm, then slowly subsided.
Her body descended gently.
Still seated in her original posture, Unyeong opened her eyes.
“Wow… That was amazing.”
She spoke in awe.
“So this is what a dantian is? It feels like there’s a little bean inside me… Oh, no, maybe smaller than a bean… A grain of rice? No—millet?”
Everyone was speechless.
Eyes wide beyond what seemed possible, they could only stare at her.
Unyeong just smiled sweetly with her lovely face.
