NOVEL NEXT There wasn’t much conversation. Yu Wol just worked while Sayoon sat and sipped tea.
“Hey, I’m back… Oh my. Sayoon. How was it?”
At that moment, the door swung open, and a beautiful woman with red hair entered. Hongryeon.
The dependable leader of Hongseong Clan, like an older sister to Sayoon.
Seeing her, Sayoon couldn’t help but break into a bright smile.
“Hehe. Yes. I just wanted to drink some tea here for a bit.”
“Really? I heard you visited three secret places this time. How was it?”
“Hmm. It was tough. But I got this!”
Sayoon showed a spatial mirror. As she explained how she obtained it by catching a glimpse of the secret, Hongryeon looked carefully and then asked Yu Wol.
“Isn’t this used for mastering spatial techniques?”
“Hmm? You know about it?”
“I read about a martial artist who got a mirror from catching a glimpse years ago.”
“Oh? So, Senior Sister… or should I say, the clan leader knows the techniques as well?”
“Yep. If you mess up an attack, it gets reflected back, right? There were records in the Murim Alliance. You did well to catch it!”
“Hahaha… It was Mister who taught me.”
“I see.”
Hongryeon nodded casually and ruffled Sayoon’s hair. Sayoon was delighted by the gesture and smiled broadly, while Hongryeon tilted her head in curiosity.
“But you seem to have grown a bit taller?”
“It’s a growing period, you know.”
Yu Wol replied tersely to Hongryeon. Sayoon had certainly grown well thanks to proper meals and diligent training.
The youthful innocence she had when they first met was mostly gone now.
But still, it seemed she had lost some weight, so they should make sure to feed her regularly at the inn.
“Maybe by next year, you’ll be able to journey into the Murim?”
“Eh? Next year? I was thinking more like this year.”
“Hahaha. If your skills allow it, this year could work too.”
After all, there were only a few months left in the year. Hongryeon teasingly pinched her cheeks and chuckled leisurely.
“But you should see the wedding before you go, right?”
“Hahaha…”
Reading the deep affection in Hongryeon’s eyes, Sayoon smiled brightly.
“Of course!”
When they returned to Hongseong Clan, it was around evening.
As they entered, with the smoke of cooking rice wafting through, Hyunhwi greeted her.
“Oh? You arrived now?”
“I got here a bit early and stayed at the inn.”
“Oh, I see. Did you eat dinner?”
“I didn’t.”
“Perfect. We’re having dinner now, so just wash your hands and come back.”
Hyunhwi, who welcomed her, smiled brightly and said,
“I’ll be right there!”
“Oh. And remember, there’s a sparring session this evening.”
“Yes!”
“I heard that the Doje Elder went to the secret realm with the Thunderbolt Sword King. You must have brought something back from there, right?”
The question was whether her skills had improved by watching the battles of the two superhumans. With anticipation in her voice, Sayoon nodded.
“A little bit.”
“I’m glad to hear you gained something. Then I’ll keep an eye on you today.”
“Yes!”
Sayoon, who smiled back at Hyunhwi, immediately washed her hands and headed to the dining hall. Her close senior disciple, Yoohee, offered her seat, and Hyunhwi served dishes onto the plates of the other disciples.
Watching this, Sayoon tilted her head.
“What about the Master?”
“The Master’s out. She went out with Senior Ryu-hyun.”
“Wow… The Master, huh?”
It’s rare for the Sword Saint, who hardly leaves Hongseongmun, to go out. Sayoon was surprised, and Hyunhwi shrugged her shoulders.
“They say she’s going to get a gift.”
“I see…”
Sayoon slightly nodded. Everyone’s getting happier.
Then there shouldn’t be any issues.
Hyunhwi piled a generous serving of food onto Sayoon’s plate and affectionately ruffled her hair.
“Our youngest. Eat well and grow up fast.”
“Hehe. They say I’ve been growing these days.”
“You certainly look it. Hmm. I’m proud as the one who cooks for you.”
Hyunhwi grinned and returned to her seat. Since the Sword Saint and Hongryeon were absent, she was the eldest in Hongseongmun, and everyone was waiting on her.
“Alright. Don’t forget today’s evening training. Enjoy your meal, everyone.”
“Yes! Thank you for the meal!”
A loud response that was all too familiar to her. Sayoon slowly surveyed her fellow disciples starting their meals and smiled brightly.
In Hongseongmun, evening training typically consists of individual practice.
They usually work on refining the introductory forms of Hongseong Divine Art or enhancing their basic attack and defense abilities through physical training.
Of course, Sayoon was no exception. Today, her training was on the sword form of Hongseong Divine Art, the Fire Star Sword.
Famous for its dazzling transformations, it was one of the more difficult introductory forms to master.
“The Fire Star Sword has many transformations. To perfectly master it, you need to memorize a total of 32 transformations and 10 basic forms and be able to use them freely. Do you remember them all?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Then let’s get started.”
Following Hyunhwi’s instructions, Sayoon unfurled the sword forms. Now, it was completely natural for light to emanate from the sword.
The sword radiated light. Now, it was completely natural for it to shine.
Is that why?
In the dim training hall, Sayoon wielding her shining sword was enough to leave the other Senior Sisters in awe.
“Whoo…”
“The transition from the initial stance to the real strike feels awkward.”
But Hyunhwi was not satisfied, and with her blunt remark, Sayoon nodded. So, they practiced again. More training.
Mastering martial arts is like accumulating points. Sayoon knew that it took a bucketful of sweat to gain even a single drop of success.
“Hmm.”
Hyunhwi patted her head before going elsewhere.
After she left, Sayoon, who was continuing her training alone, tilted her head while practicing the initial stance.
“Huh?”
Wait a minute.
Something suddenly occurred to her.
The void attack that the Doje had shown back at the inn.
Using formless sword energy to launch a surprise attack at distant enemies was the technique that came to mind.
Could she incorporate that into the initial stance?
If so, the initial stance itself could become a real strike to capture the enemy.
Even if the power isn’t that strong, mixing the initial stance with the void attack…
Sayoon took out the spatial mirror from her pocket.
Yoo Wol said she could use this to master the void attack… but could it really be possible?
She gently infused her energy into the mirror, and at the same time, the energy that had entered the mirror returned, creating a movement.
Sayoon calmly followed that movement with her sword.
But nothing changed.
Even though she used quite a bit of energy, that alone wasn’t enough to realize the void attack.
Her own level wasn’t sufficient to master the void technique.
“…This is tough.”
The Doje made it sound easy, but that was only for superhumans; manifesting formless sword energy couldn’t be that simple.
Sayoon lightly brushed her face.
If it can’t happen now, she can only continue to strive.
For Sayoon, waiting and putting in effort were things she could cheerfully embrace.
When her training ended, the moon had risen high in the sky. Most of the other Senior Sisters had gone to rest, leaving only Hyunhwi and Yoohee.
They spoke to the visibly exhausted Sayoon.
“That’s enough.”
“You’ll collapse at this rate.”
“Haha… yeah.”
“Start with some breathing exercises. Look at all that sweat. Overdoing it isn’t good.”
“Haha. I got a glimpse of a new technique this time… the void attack…”
“Oh, that? I know about that too. They say if you get a spatial mirror, you can learn it, but it won’t be easy, right?”
“Once I master the void attack, can I borrow that mirror too?”
“Hehe. Sure, Yoohee. Ah, Hyunhwi, do you want to borrow it too?”
“Do you want to borrow it?”
“Once you master it all, you can lend it to me. I’ll also ask the others if they want to learn.”
“Sure!”
Sharing what one has gained is never a waste. That’s why Sayoon smiled casually as she tucked the mirror into her arms.
“Then let’s wash up and go to bed.”
“Okay~!”
Seeing Sayoon and Yoohee respond, Hyunhwi headed toward the well. The two followed her, and after washing off their sweat-drenched bodies, they returned to their lodgings and lay down.
“Goodnight~. Have sweet dreams~.”
“Yes, and have sweet dreams too, Sayoon.”
Replying to Yoohee’s lively words, Sayoon lay down on her bed.
Had she done laundry yesterday? Thanks to the pleasant smell of the sun-dried blankets, her eyes comfortably fluttered closed.
Today was yet another blissfully ordinary day, she thought as she gently closed her eyes.
“…Ah.”
Sayoon shot up from her spot. She opened the drawer and checked the mirror inside.
Heart Mirror.
It shows the Simma within and can help you rise a level if you overcome it.
As Sayoon gazed intently at the Heart Mirror and the Space Mirror, she smiled faintly.
‘I should ask the Master when they come if it’s okay to use this.’
With a heart much lighter, she lay back on the bed.
*
Bringing Sayoon along for the Doje and Namgoong Cheon’s secret breakthrough seemed like the right decision.
According to Hongryeon, Sayoon’s skills had improved quite a bit since they left.
“I think I can really propose a trip to the martial arts world for Sayoon next year.”
The martial arts world, huh?
Well, it wouldn’t be bad to experience it. Diverse experiences would help her grow, and there’d be plenty for her to learn through it.
Plus, if Chaeran goes along, there wouldn’t be anything to particularly worry about.
“But it seems like there’s still a lot to teach?”
“Of course. Hehe. It’s going to be fun from now on.”
Hongryeon lightly grasped my arm and smiled leisurely.
“You’ll have a lot to teach, too?”
“What do I know? I just respond to whatever questions Sayoon has. I only know what I know.”
“And you have a lot of knowledge, so that’s why, right? Hehe. But that’s reassuring.”
“Mm?”
“Because you’re by my side.”
With a gentle smile, Hongryeon softly pulled me into an embrace.