Starting with hair-pulling fights to swinging weapons.
There had been countless depictions of women fighting over a man in the numerous romance and springtime novels that Hongryeon had read.
But what to do in such a situation?
Hongryeon looked at the desolate spot set up in the garden—more dirt and stones than anything else—and gave a bitter smile.
The Sword Saint, whose hands weren’t that great, was preparing tea.
Normally, the Sword Saint would have let her disciples handle this, but with forced cheer, she said to Hongryeon,
“You must be tired from guarding yesterday… Um. Is there at least time for a short chat?”
As the Sword Saint glanced subtly, Hongryeon nodded. Sitting down, the Sword Saint took a moment to catch her breath and lifted the teapot.
“Oh, I’ll do it.”
“Uh-huh. No, I’ll handle it.”
With her clumsy hands, the Sword Saint brewed tea and placed it in front of both herself and Hongryeon, silently watching Hongryeon. What should she say?
“The, uh, weather is nice today, right?”
“Yeah. Yes.”
It was indeed a sunny day. The sky was blue, the breeze was cool.
The sweet scent of the thousand-day plum blossoms filled the air on this bright and lovely spring day.
“……”
“…..”
And that’s how it ended. The Sword Saint looked at Hongryeon with a confused expression as if unsure what to do next. Is it really her turn to start?
Just as Hongryeon inhaled lightly, the Sword Saint parted her lips first.
“…Yu Wol.”
“…Yes.”
“When did it… begin?”
When did it begin… It must have been quite a while ago. She started to take an interest in him from the first time he helped her, leaning on his greatness and developing feelings for Yu Wol.
As Hongryeon opened her mouth, the Sword Saint flinched. Ah, she was ahead of him on this. So, the Sword Saint just kept chewing her lip awkwardly.
“What about you, Master?”
“Uh…”
It’s embarrassing to tell her disciple about her first love. The Sword Saint, twisting her body, cautiously opened her mouth.
“You know the… stories about the Hongseong Clan from the past. And what my Master wished for…”
“Ah.”
The sister who the Sword Saint had no choice but to kill with her own hands, and the Senior Sister.
The Sword Saint’s Master had hoped she and the Sword Saint would work together to develop the Hongseong Clan and Seomhwa Village.
“…The moment I started to think of her as an equal and realized she was an immortal… that was when.”
The Sword Saint’s face flushed red as she bowed her head. She looked just like a girl who had just fallen in love, making Hongryeon give a bitter smile.
“I see…”
“…Uh-huh.”
Silence fell again.
The Sword Saint and Hongryeon both thought simultaneously. It had been over a decade since they last had a conversation like this, and it felt awkward for the first time.
But they couldn’t maintain this awkwardness forever.
Hongryeon tightly closed her eyes.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“I have no intention of giving up.”
She spat out a strong declaration. The Sword Saint felt admiration for Hongryeon’s confidence.
She liked that confidence and strength that Hongryeon had, unlike herself who could do almost nothing but martial arts. She admired the way Hongryeon believed she could succeed in anything and actually did.
That was why she wanted to make Hongryeon the next clan leader.
Because with her, Hongseong would thrive beautifully.
Yet, facing that confidence made her feel small.
“I see…”
The Sword Saint looked dejected.
Does that mean she has to give up?
In that moment, her heart stirred. The feelings that had been dormant since that day began to awaken.
The Simma inside her heart started to lift its head.
Quickly suppressing that, the Sword Saint took a deep breath and looked at Hongryeon with a wistful gaze.
“I… I can’t give up either…”
The Sword Saint and Hongryeon gazed at each other. If neither of them could give up, there was only one option left.
After thinking for a moment, Hongryeon opened her mouth.
“But then again, the decision ultimately lies with him.”
If the one who fell in love first loses, then she had already lost many times.
Thus, Hongryeon couldn’t help but smile bitterly as she looked at her apprehensive Master.
Hadn’t she already prepared herself?
Even if he turned his gaze to someone else.
For instance, even if he accepted Chaejin, she had no intention of giving him up.
But did the Sword Saint have that level of feeling, that level of determination as well?
Hongryeon looked at the Master she respected.
Despite her title of Sword Saint and being among the strongest, she was experiencing love for the first time, and it was bewilderingly difficult.
“Master.”
“…Yes?”
“It won’t be easy.”
“…….”
With Hongryeon’s calm words, the Sword Saint tilted her head in confusion.
What? Is she saying it’s hard to surpass her?
But it didn’t feel like provocation; Hongryeon’s gaze was too warm. Looking at that, the Sword Saint lightly bit her lip.
“…I’m not an easy person either.”
He found amusement in his own joke, felt that she always regarded him as an equal, and never rejected being with him.
“Well, you see…”
The Sword Saint hesitated, while Hongryeon tilted her head, curious.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“I was just… thinking. It’s not that I doubt your intentions, but… being in this situation is a bit… complicated, don’t you think?”
“Complicated? Please, I thought we were here talking about how much I adore you!”
“Right, well, it’s just that… what if things get awkward? Like, what if we accidentally end up fighting over Yu Wol or something?”
Hongryeon’s laughter echoed in the air, “Fight over Yu Wol? Oh please, the only thing I’d take from you is your lunch money!”
The Sword Saint blinked, momentarily stunned. “You wouldn’t do that!”
“Watch me! I’ll have a strong avenger strategy for that!”
“Okay, okay! No lunch money! Just promise me one thing…”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s not turn this into a dramatic soap opera. I’m not ready for the love triangle plot twist!”
Hongryeon rolled her eyes playfully, “No dramas here, just warriors of love!”
“Warriors, huh? Do I get a sword too?”
“Only if you learn how to wield it without hurting yourself!”
“Hey, I’ve got sharp wit! Isn’t that enough?”
“Sharp wit won’t cut through love, my dear apprentice!”
They both erupted in laughter, leaving the heavy air behind.
“He… how is he?”
“Um… Well, he’s the same as always.”
Even after receiving her confession, and despite receiving the Sword Saint’s confession, he remained as composed as ever.
It was enough to leave her a little puzzled.
“He’s as calm as usual.”
She tried to shake him up a bit by getting physically close or showing some enthusiasm, but he just wore his usual serene face without any sign of panic.
I mean, this is the guy who doesn’t change his expression even when his life is in danger.
Hoping for a change from someone like him is just asking for trouble.
“Could it be someone…?”
The Sword Saint seemed curious about that too. After hesitating for a moment, she cautiously spoke, while Hongryeon shook her head.
“I wouldn’t know. He’s just so hard to read, right?”
“That’s true…”
“Anyway, it doesn’t seem like anything’s changed about what needs to be done. I’m going to keep getting closer to him.”
If the Sword Saint had planned to give up just because she liked him, she wouldn’t have liked him in the first place.
She stated that firmly, and the Sword Saint smiled at her confidence.
“…You’ve gotten stronger.”
Putting romantic feelings aside, as a Master, it filled her with pride.
They say people in love grow stronger. It looks like her resolve has grown even stronger than before.
Could it be thanks to him?
He’s definitely not someone to be taken lightly.
Giving a tender smile to the now stronger woman, the Sword Saint nodded.
Seeing a disciple grow is a source of pride.
But that’s that, and this is this, right?
If he hasn’t made a decision yet, then all she had to do was help him make one.
Even though she said she’d wait, getting a little closer to make his choice easier couldn’t be that wrong, could it?
– That’s probably okay.
Simma agreed. No, it was her own desires that agreed.
Rather than doing nothing and ending up with empty hands, she thought she should do something.
So, she clenched her fist tightly.
“Of course… I’m not planning to give up either.”
There’s no way she’d let go of the person who saved her and sees her as an equal.
Even if that person happens to be her disciple.
That’s why the Sword Saint said with a proud expression,
“Then, how about you genuinely congratulate your Master on her wedding later?”
At her strong words, Hongryeon laughed.
“Hehe. Of course. Oh, but naturally, I hope you’ll bless my disciple to be by his side forever.”
Neither side willing to back down, the Master and disciple exchanged glances before turning away.
It was almost like a declaration of war, yet their relationship didn’t seem to sour at all.
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