After every meal, it’s time for self-defense training.
Once I’m done, I’m so exhausted that I fall right into bed, but I can definitely feel my skills improving day by day.
If only I had that kind of willpower in reality, eating dinner and hitting the gym right after work, I wouldn’t be sporting this belly.
But then again, maybe it’s because I don’t have a busty beauty personal trainer screaming at me every day.
“Yoon-ho, dodge!”
So-hee swung her sword as she spoke.
I mean, I should at least get a little leeway, right?
I immediately took a big step back to create some space. So-hee instantly adjusted the trajectory of her sword, aiming it at my neck.
How am I supposed to dodge this?
“Yoon-ho, I told you. If you move too big, you’ll get hit by the next attack.”
I mean, wouldn’t you dodge when the Heavenly Killing Star swings a real sword?
“If you move too small, you’ll get cut, won’t you?”
“Just gauge the distance and retreat by about the space of a palm.”
“Haha.”
I managed a weak laugh.
I learned how to gauge the distance, but the fear of getting cut made it hard to move freely.
You know, even in arcade shooting games where I can track missile trajectories and speeds, I’ve died countless times on stage one just because I misjudged the distance. And here I am, having to dodge a knife for my life.
“Is it really that hard?”
So-hee asked me, genuinely puzzled rather than mocking.
That’s why geniuses can be so frustrating.
“It’s tough because I can gauge the distance, but the fear of getting cut holds me back.”
I sighed softly, looking down. I think I’ve got a decent grasp on other self-defense techniques, but shaking off the fear of a blade? That’s a whole other level.
“Yoon-ho, give me your forearm.”
So-hee extended her palm toward me. I’ve never learned a martial arts move that involves launching my forearm like a rocket punch, so I obediently extended my forearm to place it on her palm.
Before I could even react, So-hee sliced at my forearm with the sword.
“Ugh! So-hee!”
Am I really about to use my one-time rocket punch?
“Don’t scream, just look.”
“Huh?”
My forearm wasn’t cut.
“You’ve learned the Jade Face Protective Technique. You won’t get hurt with clumsy sword moves. So, don’t be afraid to move.”
Whoa. It really doesn’t cut. No scratches on my arm at all. How is this possible? My skin seems exactly like before.
In an instant, all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind, and I felt lucky. I was worried I’d have to walk around saying I lost my arm and got a new one from the Heavenly Killing Star.
“Alright! So-hee, then this time, I’ll try dodging and slipping through like I learned.”
I can do this! I can do this! If my body is always in shield mode, it’s possible.
“Yeah. This time, I’m going to try a thrust. So dodge and come in.”
So-hee took up a clear thrusting stance.
I calculate the direction and timing while watching her shoulder and eyes. My body, enhanced by the Small Wheel Mental Image Technique, makes it possible.
Suddenly, So-hee’s shoulder made a deliberate, noticeable movement.
The direction is my left shoulder.
Let’s dodge.
I twist my shoulder…
“Ah!”
“Ah.”
A regrettable sigh escaped both our lips.
Before I could even dodge, she had already thrust. So-hee’s thrust felt twice as fast as usual.
“I thought Yoon-ho looked motivated, so I thrust a bit faster. Sorry.”
“It’s fine, So-hee. I’m not hurt, right? Look.”
Now that I’m not getting hurt, I should be able to be more aggressive with the thrusts.
I slightly pulled back the clothing on my left shoulder where So-hee had thrust to show I was fine.
“Ah.”
“Huh?”
There was a small but definite wound on my shoulder.
“…I got hurt.”
“Looks like you did. Ugh!”
Just like that, I collapsed onto the ground as the pain hit me.
Who would have thought the Heavenly Killing Star’s sword could pierce the Jade Face Protective Technique? Truly, it’s a perfect hierarchy in the Martial Arts World.
“Yoon-ho! I’ll bring some ointment!”
No, it’s just a little scratch.
Before I could even say a word, So-hee disappeared in a panic.
Next time, I should ask her to please tone it down to a third-rate level or something.
Those eyes.
“So-hee, let’s do it again.”
Cheon So-hee regarded Yoon-ho looking directly at her.
Who did you learn that Inner Martial Arts from?
She wanted to know about his past.
What kind of life had he lived? What near-death experiences had he gone through? Why was he someone significant to her?
Since she had never had a proper conversation to deepen their relationship, she considered asking about his Inner Martial Arts as a good start.
Cheon So-hee knew much more about martial arts than Kang Yoon-ho. Just like her teacher advised, she wanted to start the conversation with a common interest to learn more about him.
I learned it after helping a woman in distress a long time ago.
After hearing his answer, Cheon So-hee felt like she had been hit with a hammer.
He said it was to make my body healthy that he taught me this Tonae Technique.
Martial Arts aren’t just taught for such reasons. She barely kept herself from voicing that thought.
Yoon-ho seemed to clutch something precious in his lower belly. No, what you’ve learned probably isn’t that precious.
She wanted to belittle the martial arts he had learned, despite feeling like those words almost came out of her mouth.
Yoon-ho.
No, don’t do that. Stop there.
So-hee recalled her own actions, regretting them.
Can I take a quick look at that Tonae Technique?
What she felt from him was the rising Martial Arts. A technique never to be given to outsiders. Such techniques are never revealed lightly.
So-hee unconsciously bit her lower lip from behind Yoon-ho.
What kind of relationship were we supposed to have? I don’t really know either. After a short encounter, we decided to part ways.
Yoon-ho, why are you making that expression?
The kind of nostalgic expression he always had when talking about memories with her. But now, the heart behind that expression was someone else, not her.
That expression belongs to her.
An emotion she had never felt toward another person in her life. The inexplicable feeling twisted her insides.
What should I do?
Murder was the easiest solution she had come up with, but she couldn’t kill Yoon-ho. She couldn’t find a way to resolve this tumultuous and twisting emotion.
She thought it was just a fleeting connection. But did that woman think so too? No, is it right that Yoon-ho thinks so?
He said he wanted to learn martial arts. But she couldn’t reveal the techniques from the Assassin Group. Unless it’s her master’s technique.
Her master’s martial arts?
The Heavenly Killing Star recalled a conversation her master had before she left the Assassin Group.
“You’re the last.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m done teaching these disciples that drop like flies. I don’t intend to teach anymore.”
“The Instilling Techniques and Hwan-young Miribo are too precious to disappear.”
“If they’re so precious, then teach them yourself. I’m done with them.”
“Me?”
“If you find a suitable kid, teach him. That’ll lessen the thought of dying.”
“I don’t have the talent to teach others.”
“Do you think I was somebody from the start? It doesn’t even have to be a kid. A guy would be fine too. Just teach however you want.”
“I’ll think about it.”
She had permission. But truly, would it be okay to teach him martial arts?
She wanted to stand by him to protect him, but is it right to teach him martial arts? Is it correct to make him a person of the Martial Arts World?
Her worries shattered by his few words laced with longing.
“Oppa understands. You’ve just treated me specially.”
Let’s teach him.
She must regain that expression.
If he remembers her because of the martial arts, then she could make him forget through those arts.
Thus, the Heavenly Killing Star began teaching Yoon-ho martial arts.
“So-hee?”
Yoon-ho called out to So-hee, lost in thought.
“Yeah.”
“About that footwork used in self-defense, I can follow along with everything else, but I just can’t grasp the part where you gather energy at Yongcheon-hyeol and leap out.”
He was talking about one of the footwork moves from the Hwan-young Miribo. The Heavenly Killing Star had taught Yoon-ho this move while instructing him in self-defense.
“I’ll show you. And with your two years of Inner Skills, if you use that once, you’ll lose half your power. Use it only when you absolutely have to escape or get close.”
“Thanks.”
Yoon-ho smiled at So-hee.
It was a good idea to teach him martial arts.
Now, he was looking at her, not as a passerby.
So-hee walked along the footprints she had made in the yard, practicing footwork while secretly smiling at Yoon-ho’s efforts.
She had recovered his gaze and expression.
Although she had taught him a bit of her master’s martial arts, no one would ever find out.
Instead… if I teach him martial arts, later bring him to me.
“Would you just not teach him?”
So-hee tried to erase the memory of her master’s last words when she granted permission to teach martial arts and continued watching Yoon-ho train.
—————-
Back to Kang Yoon-ho’s storytelling as a raconteur.
“That storyteller always tells the same tale.”
“Hey, why complain when it’s entertaining?”
“It’s just that you’ve been here for such a short time, but I’m already getting tired of hearing that guy’s story.”
The first return was a tremendous success, but unfortunately, the second return didn’t all receive positive reactions.
“Hamurin Prince!”
“I snuck out after hearing the rumors!”
“There are a lot of girls and kids here. Let them listen, and if they’ve heard, let’s leave.”
“Let’s go grab a drink or something.”
As the negative reactions and audience dwindled, Yoon-ho’s shoulders began to feel heavier.
After finishing his storytelling for the day, he returned to the inn.
“What story should I tell now?”
Yoon-ho sighed, pondering what to say next.
“Can’t you just say any story?”
So-hee spoke to lighten his heavy shoulders. With his storytelling skills, any story would be entertaining.
But her words couldn’t lift his solemn mood.
So-hee had no choice but to keep watching Yoon-ho as he paced in the room, contemplating what story to tell next.
“Yoon-ho.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll go get us some food.”
She couldn’t solve his troubles, but she could at least bring back some delicious food.
So-hee headed toward a guesthouse renowned for its tasty dishes, quite a distance from the inn.
——-
“How do I ask about Yoon-ho’s past?”
So-hee pondered secretly as she walked toward the guesthouse.
Just as her master advised, they started with a common interest. Yet, she had ended up having an experience she didn’t want to relive.
If she asked about a different past and saw him making that longing face, could she handle it?
“I don’t want to.”
She didn’t want to experience something like that again by asking too hastily.
“I have plenty of time.”
If she stayed by his side, her murderous intentions would fade away.
If she spent time next to him, she could learn about his past naturally without getting hurt.
There was no need to rush.
Just like she walked slowly to this guesthouse, she only needed to take the same path alongside him.
The Heavenly Killing Star thought this as she made her way to the guesthouse in front of her.
Or at least tried to.
[Die…]
In that moment, she came to a halt.
[…You too.]
Something boiled up from her chest.
An unburned flame.
A fire that would burn everything.
‘No, don’t.’
The Heavenly Killing Star hurriedly turned toward an alley between shops.
Calm down. It’s not the first time. It’s just been a while.
So-hee struggled to suppress her will, which was filling her brain from the top down. She thought while holding her startled heart.
‘Is the killing intent… rising again?’
The embers of the Heavenly Killing Star threatened to ignite once more.
To burn the life of Cheon So-hee, which had barely been held back.
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