As the morning arrived, it was Ryuhyun who showed up. After sharing what happened yesterday, she nodded.
“I understand. Senior Sister.”
“Um. And…”
With a glance, Hongryeon turned to Chaejin. Honestly, she didn’t like it, but there were things she needed to say.
She approached Chaejin lightly and spoke in a soft voice.
“You know you always have to stay close, right?”
“I know. It’s fine. Since Father is around, they won’t act recklessly. Still…”
Pausing for a moment, Chaejin smiled.
“We’ll be together whether it’s day or night.”
At the challenging gaze, Hongryeon flinched. It definitely meant she would be guarding him, but irritation was building for no reason.
“…How about we skip the night part?”
“Oh? Isn’t night the perfect time for ambush?”
With a glare aimed at the grinning Chaejin, Hongryeon sighed.
Then, pointing at Ryuhyun, she spoke in a small voice.
“Don’t forget that Ryuhyun is in the room next to the office.”
“Got it. Got it.”
Chaejin replied gruffly.
Yet, Hongryeon kept glancing back, as if still not reassured, while Chaejin waved at her with a smile.
When they returned to Hongseong, training had already begun. As Hongryeon watched the Sword Saint teaching her disciples, the Sword Saint quickly approached her.
“Did anything happen?”
“Uh? Yes.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
Exhaling a sigh of relief, the Sword Saint smiled faintly. Hongryeon responded with a bright smile.
“With the Doje around, there shouldn’t be any dangerous situations, right?”
“That’s true, but you know ambushes or kidnappings aren’t always stopped just because you have strong people around. The Shaolin Temple was attacked once, remember?”
Mentioning the incident when the Sukhothai stole the divine martial arts, Hongryeon shrugged.
Isn’t that why she and Chaejin stayed late in his room until she confirmed he was asleep before leaving?
“Don’t worry.”
“Hmm. Still, I’m a bit worried.”
While gazing at the Sword Saint, Hongryeon tilted her head. Unlike before when she was indifferent to everything, it was fascinating how the Sword Saint seemed quite interested in her now.
But it wasn’t exactly surprising.
‘Yu Wol has been doing a lot for Hongseong, and she’s also helped Master.’
Hongryeon knew better than anyone that the Sword Saint wasn’t the kind of villain who would disregard someone who had helped her.
She felt grateful to Yu Wol, so wouldn’t she also support using the name of Hongseong?
“Anyway, if you’re not too tired, could you watch over the disciples’ training a bit?”
“Hey, if you’re not tired, could you take a look at the disciples’ training?”
“Of course! Oh, and I had a spar with Doje yesterday.”
“Oh? Really? Then let’s see it later. If you’ve gained something, I’ll help you fully internalize it.”
Since completing the meteor strike last time, Hongryeon was rapidly growing.
If things go well, she would soon stand right before the threshold of becoming a superhuman.
She could face that wall that most strong warriors encounter.
Whether she breaks through that wall will determine if she becomes a superhuman, but considering that getting to that point is an achievement reached by only a handful among countless martial artists, it was definitely something to celebrate.
Then shouldn’t she lead the way for those who have already crossed that wall?
With the Sword Saint’s serious expression, Hongryeon smiled brightly.
“Thank you always, Master.”
“Haha, no need to mention it.”
The Sword Saint reached the realm of superhumans at a young age, thanks to her high talent.
However, that could sometimes hinder her ability to teach her disciples.
After all, there were times when her disciples couldn’t do things that she found easy.
That’s why, at Hongseong Clan, the teaching method involved the Sword Saint first demonstrating the fundamental stances perfectly, allowing her disciples to get familiar with them, and then upper disciples like Hongryeon, Ryuhyun, and Hyunhwi would help the other disciples practice and acquire those stances.
It seemed she had already shown her disciples everything they needed for the next stage while she was out yesterday.
That being the case, it was fine for the Sword Saint to have some time alone today.
As she left the training ground to meditate, Hongryeon began to teach her fellow disciples in turn.
“Hmm…”
“Ah… how’s it going?”
“Want to try expanding the Gwiseongkwon again?”
One of the subjects, Sayoon, nodded at Hongryeon in front of her.
After returning from Amifa, she had reached a higher level, and her execution of Hongseong Divine Art was strong and destructive.
Watching closely, as Sayoon extended her punch, Hongryeon reached out with her own fist.
At the moment when the red energies collided, Sayoon stumbled backward while Hongryeon re-extended her fist.
“The key to expanding Gwiseongkwon is about transformation. Gwiseongkwon has many variations. Rather than just simple martial arts, it’s easier to think of it as unfolding the golden flowing technique.”
The punch aimed at her head changed direction to strike her shoulder. After blocking it, Sayoon attempted a counterattack, but her skill level was still too low to perfectly realize the variations of Gwiseongkwon.
As a result, Hongryeon easily caught Sayoon’s fist in her hand and gently twisted it, sending her sprawling to the ground.
In an instant, Hongryeon had Sayoon’s fist caught in her hand, twisting it lightly, and Sayoon found herself rolling on the floor.
“I must send the Grand Disciple and the youngest to the tournament at Cheonhwa Palace. So, Sayoon, you and I can consider ourselves participating in the tournament.”
“Is that so?”
“Also, Cheonhwa Divine Art has a lot of variations. Even the youngest must have learned at least up to the Five Stars level in it. That much variation should be…”
Hongryeon took a step back and unfolded the Gwisungkwon. In an instant, it looked as if dozens of fists were striking the air.
“This should be sufficient.”
Sayoon’s expression was serious. Filled with a desire to grow, she gazed at Hongryeon, who nodded with pride.
“Pay close attention to the variations while sparring with Hyunhwi.”
“Okay!”
“Hehe. You’ve really grown a lot. To think you’re already mastering Gwisungkwon.”
It was a point of pride for Hongryeon that Sayoon, who had barely started learning the latter part of Hongseong Divine Art last year, had progressed this far. She gently ruffled Sayoon’s hair.
“Hehe. It’s thanks to everyone else.”
“Still, we can’t overlook your efforts. Now, go see Hyunhwi.”
“Yes!!”
As Sayoon hurried off to see Hyunhwi, Hongryeon stretched lightly.
She checked if any of her junior sisters needed help, but everyone was concentrating well on their training.
After the training session ended and lunch was over, Hongryeon addressed her junior sisters.
“Alright. Let’s take a break in the afternoon.”
Even a rock can break if heated constantly. Balanced training and proper rest are essential paths to growth. As her junior sisters smiled brightly and went to rest, Hongryon headed to her room.
“Ah… Should I take a break and read some books for the first time in a while…”
Though it was still far away, she could see the wall.
Every step forward was tough and painful.
But didn’t she have two people guiding her?
The Sword Saint and Yu Wol.
And considering the support from her junior sisters, reaching that wall wouldn’t be too far off.
Yes, that wall.
If she stood before that wall, the number of people who would fear her would greatly decrease.
Perhaps by then, she’d be able to speak to him.
Hongryeon gently cupped her flushed face.
“Ugh…”
So she had to prepare for that time.
Hongryeon stood up and headed to Ryuhyun’s room.
After the last renovation, all the bookshelves had been moved to Ryuhyun’s room, and her carefully collected books were now stored there.
Of course, Ryuhyun had protested about it, but Hongryeon knew.
She was actually enjoying it, deep down.
Not very honest, huh? Snickering to herself, Hongryeon entered Ryuhyun’s room and scanned through the shelves filled with romance novels and spring writings. Of course, not everything in the world would turn out like a story, but wouldn’t some parts be similar enough?
Hongryeon, stifling a giggle, entered her room and scanned the shelves filled with romance novels and spring writings. Sure, not everything in the world unfolds like a novel, but isn’t there some resemblance?
To avoid panicking later, she thought it best to fill her mind with knowledge.
As she browsed the shelves, Hongryeon tilted her head.
“…Huh?”
There was something strange in one section of the shelf.
A three-volume romance novel, “Tale of Love Under the Moon.”
A sweet romance between the leader of a sect and a brilliant scholar.
Not exactly spring writing, but the latter half had some surprisingly steamy content.
The volume she had enjoyed quite a bit was missing its middle part.
“Ryuhyun couldn’t have taken it…”
In the Hongseong clan, it’s hard to imagine Ryuhyun sneaking away to read it in a crowded inn while on a bodyguard mission.
Then could it be Hyunhwi? But Hyunhwi wouldn’t read this kind of book…
Then it must be the other younger sisters.
“Haha. Those rascals.”
She had never explicitly said they shouldn’t read such books. Plus, she had told her sisters they could come and take a look anytime.
Thinking of her sisters, Hongryeon snickered. What kind of faces would they make while reading it?
As she gathered a couple of interesting books to take with her, she noticed someone.
“Hmm? Master?”
She spotted the Sword Saint, who she thought would be meditating alone in the garden, walking around instead.
The Sword Saint seemed quite startled to see her.
“Weren’t you meditating?”
“Uh… Ah, no, not really.”
“But why are you here…?”
Of course, it wasn’t strange for her to be in the Hongseong clan’s premises, but it was quite a distance from the garden where she usually stayed.
At Hongryeon’s question, the Sword Saint hurriedly replied.
“Uh, I was just! Just taking a walk to think about some things!”
Hongryeon, staring intently at the strangely flustered Sword Saint, smiled brightly.
Well, it had been a hectic time lately. The Sword Saint must have a lot on her mind too.
She glanced at the book in her hands.
It’s nice to rest while looking at a book, but talking and walking with the Master once in a while wouldn’t be too bad.
“Shall we walk together then?”
“Y-Yeah! Let’s do that! But… uh, Ryun, what’s that book?”
As the Sword Saint tilted her head in curiosity, Hongryeon held up the book.
“Oh, this? It’s a book called ‘Record of Moon Walker’… It’s a bit steamy, but it’s a masterpiece.”
“…Is that so?”
The Sword Saint smiled gently, and Hongryeon returned the smile.
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