Meditation and anguish are inseparable from a martial artist.
In every movement, one must always consider the principles, and to embrace that, one must constantly ponder.
Reaching out an arm, moving a leg. Controlling the inner energy flowing smoothly through the blood pathways.
And even teaching someone.
Seated alone, organizing her earlier realizations, Chaejin watched the man beyond the campfire, dancing in the moonlight as he practiced Taijiquan, contemplating how to teach him next.
Just like one can learn from a five-year-old, one can gain insight while teaching someone.
Look! Just today, she read that not-so-precious martial arts book and gained some enlightenment.
So, Yu Wol should be thinking about the next steps while watching that Taijiquan, seeking lessons to learn from.
If that’s what a martial artist does.
However, strangely, whenever she looks at him, that thought quickly transforms into something else.
When did it start?
When did she become unable to look away from him?
When did she begin to have thoughts other than martial arts while teaching him?
Ah, maybe it began around that time.
Chaejin cannot trust her abilities to become the grand disciple of Moonjeong.
A few years ago, her uncle, an elder of Moonjeong, brought up this topic during a meeting.
Chaejin has tremendous pride in her martial skills, but she can make serious mistakes.
Moreover, she hesitates to refine her scholarship, making it difficult to entrust her with the leadership of Moonjeong.
Even with that remark, Chaejin couldn’t retort. It was no surprise, as she somewhat agreed with the proposal he raised.
Chaejin is incompetent.
Those words were said by her cousin at that meeting. Similarly, Chaejin had to bow her head in agreement.
Of course, she was doing well in her own right, and on an average scale, she wasn’t doing poorly.
But what they expect from the grand disciple of Moonjeong isn’t average.
One must be the best.
To meet their expectations, it’s fair to say that Chaejin is indeed incompetent.
To become the leader of a faction, mere strength isn’t enough. True, Chaejin’s martial arts skills are far superior to those of other disciples.
But what about everything else?
She was sent to the Murim Alliance to gain experience, but she became infatuated with the grand disciple of Hongseong, clinging to him every time they met, insisting on sparring.
Even when discovering a secret technique, she recklessly takes risks, feeling confident in her abilities.
Of course, she claims she could handle it alone, but from the sidelines, it’s concerning.
So, it’s no wonder that her naturally cheerful and lively disposition doesn’t sit well with those in prominent positions within Moonjeong.
Especially since her younger sister, Chaeran, though still weak in martial arts, shows the qualities they desire in a leader, making it all the more understandable.
Yet, Chaejin did not step down from her position as the grand disciple of Moonjeong.
It wasn’t just because she wanted to stay.
The leader of Moonjeong and that illustrious Doje wouldn’t allow it.
It was because of that.
One day, Chaejin would realize her role and understand what she must do as the Grand Disciple of Moonjeong.
Thus,
Chaejin may have been more obsessed with defeating Hongryeon.
“…No. That must be it. She wants to prove herself.”
As she poked at the campfire, Chaejin murmured softly.
She recalled the conversation during the clan meeting, the elders speaking of her while pointing at her younger sister, Chaeran.
Her Simma, always thinking and contemplating.
Now, the chains that restrained her ankles still made her uncomfortable, hindering her progress.
Chaejin sighed.
Chains binding her.
Among them, the coldest and heaviest chain constantly dug into her consciousness as if to expose herself.
Compared to Chaejin,
Chaeran is capable.
As much as she held pride in being the Grand Disciple of Moonjeong, many people deemed her lacking, which only added to the burden she carried.
Thus, it was only natural that she sought to venture outside frequently.
It’s cold.
The looks she received at home.
It’s heavy.
The gaze of everyone watching her.
Yearning for capability, that look made her acutely aware of her own incompetence, which was unbearably burdensome.
That’s why Chaejin was bound to obsess over her competition with Hongryeon.
She just had to beat Hongryeon.
She just had to overcome Hongseong.
Then,
She could prove herself.
That was why she sought out Seomhwa Village to challenge Hongryeon, only to be ignored.
She thought Hongryeon would see her as a worthy rival, that she would rise to her provocation.
But Hongryeon prioritized her own duties above all else.
The disappointment only grew with impatience.
This wasn’t the time to be lazing around.
She shouldn’t waste her time here.
She needed to showcase her capabilities.
As the Grand Disciple of a prestigious sect like Moonjeong, she needed to defeat Hongryeon and earn their recognition.
But how?
Time was flowing by.
Hongryeon was holed up in Hongseong, neglecting to meet her.
The money she had brought for travel was running low.
The pressure of nervousness, the anxiety of feeling stuck with nothing to do.
The miserable realization that someone she thought was her equal valued something different than her.
And then,
The condescending looks from the people of Moonjeong as they deemed her an incompetent one unworthy of the Grand Disciple title.
Ultimately, this became yet another chain binding her uncomfortably.
So, despite the dwindling travel funds, she couldn’t leave.
Thus, she made a request to the innkeeper training Ogumhee.
She asked him to discount her lodging fees since the Moonjeong’s entry-level disciple would teach Tai Chi.
She knew it was an unreasonable request.
Seomhwa Village is a peaceful place.
Due to the presence of Mount Yeongsan, evil monsters rarely appeared, and the inhabitants made no special demands of the martial artists.
Because of that, opportunities for martial artists to showcase their power were scarce.
Even knowing this, Chaejin had no choice but to make that request.
Of course, she could venture a little beyond Seomhwa Village to Yangweseong and take quests to earn some money, but—
Considering she might get the chance to duel with Hongryeon, she couldn’t carelessly leave Seomhwa Village.
It was embarrassing.
Not something a Grand Disciple of Moonjeong should be saying.
It’s not much of a story.
Still, he accepted it with indifference.
Even though he didn’t seem particularly interested in martial arts, I couldn’t help but be a little conscious of him accepting my proposal.
And from that moment on, I began to observe him.
Only then did I realize.
I was able to tell he was someone similar to Chaeran.
Someone who knew exactly what they had to do and executed it flawlessly.
A person who possesses the ‘competence’ that the elders of Moonjeong speak of.
Is that why? I focused even more on teaching him Tai Chi.
To prove my worth as a martial artist by teaching Yu Wol Tai Chi.
And there you were, showing off.
Goodness.
How long has it been since Chaeran learned Tai Chi, and yet she extinguishes the fire of Hwa Ho?
In such a short time to grow that much, it’s something no other martial artists from Moonjeong could dare to achieve.
You rescued me by demonstrating your competence.
But the light of that salvation was dimmed by stories of Hongryeon making greater contributions by fighting against the Demon Cult.
Ah.
You’re making me miserable again.
But me,
Me, revealing my incompetence.
“You’ve worked hard too.”
You casually affirmed it.
Yeah.
I couldn’t take my eyes off you, who was just a level of consciousness before.
The room, with a simple bed, a small table, and a brazier, showing me the red plum blossoms blooming chaotically outside the window, became comfortable.
That small, shabby room, much narrower and cruder than my room in the Murim Alliance or Moonjeong, became familiar and relaxing.
And from that window, instead of Hongseong Mountain, I would sneak a glance at you in the backyard.
I couldn’t help but focus my gaze on you, and when I looked at you, when I was by your side, the chains that had bound my heart loosened, and I no longer worried about them.
All of it began that day.
-Tap!
The sparks from the campfire broke my reverie. Chaejin turned her gaze from the past to the present.
Now, the first thing that entered her reality was a man.
The only thing that felt comfortable in this now awkward campsite.
Seeing Yu Wol practicing Tai Chi as usual brought a subtle smile to her lips.
Calm and peace flooded into her heart, which had been chained.
Was it because of the familiar movements that had become so natural for her?
Her mind was convincing itself that this place was comfortable.
What she saw through the room’s window was the inn’s backyard.
In the corner was the spot she’d once used while sleeping outside in Hongseong, and beside it was a large space set up for training.
Just knowing that he was always training at the same time there made the surroundings feel like that comfortable place.
So, she was staring at him, naturally feeling at ease.
Yes. Being next to him felt comfortable.
Even more than when I was in Moonjeong, looking up at competence and down on incompetence.
That’s why I didn’t feel like leaving.
I didn’t feel burdened by staying.
So just a little bit more, just a tiny bit more.
That’s why I accepted your proposal to go to Yangwi Star with a smile.
It was a laughable acceptance of your suggestion to go to Yangweseong.
And even there, you were capable.
The Empire’s draft department, huh.
Even the generals of the Empire called you ‘teacher.’
And then you just naturally solve the problems they couldn’t figure out.
Such a competent, and widely recognized person like you.
Unlike me, you, the “capable” one.
You have no idea how my heart swelled when you said you believed in me.
So,
Just like your father and mother couldn’t start the fire using the two cigarettes as if kissing them together, it’s just a courtesy.
The cough was just from the scent of the first cigarette.
My face got hot from being overwhelmed.
My heart was racing because I was shocked by the scent of that first cigarette.
And I couldn’t look at you because…
Yeah. It was just that I wasn’t quite comfortable yet.
So,
No.
That’s not it…
“It’s not! You little rookie!!”
Wait, is that Yuhun Kwon performing over there?!
I taught him that yesterday, and he’s making mistakes again.
“Ah, there’s no helping it.”
Yeah. You’re capable.
But sometimes you show this awkward side, huh?
If that’s the case, then you need someone to watch over you, right?
In that case, it’s gotta be Moonjeong’s top disciple, renowned in the martial world.
And someone you trust, of course.
This Moonlight Sword Chaejin might be the only one who can handle it.
Chaejin sprang up from her seat, her long legs propelling her towards him.
Just like he had come to her.
And as always, she wore her signature cheerful smile.
“Alright! Let’s try again!”
Chaejin burst out with her unique blend of confidence and arrogance.
“Hey, relax your strength. Remember, what I said is, the most important thing in Tai Chi is flow, right? To grasp the subtlety of the flowing connection, unnecessary strength isn’t needed. Utilize the strength of others, like this.”
Naturally, Chaejin grabbed his hand and pulled him. As he was gently pulled, he turned, pushing his back against her chest.
The Tai Chi of Chae is like water. Thus, instead of bouncing away, Chaejin wrapped around him softly and pushed his hand away, and the spinning Yu Wol took a few steps back, using that to pull himself.
Yu Wol, staring straight ahead, was closing his mouth tightly and sweating as he strained.
Seeing that, Chaejin felt as if holding hands and moving smoothly was like dancing.
The sound of crickets became the musicians’ performance.
The moonlight graced the banquet hall.
The fragrant grass and dirt made up the floor of this campsite.
In this wide banquet hall where only the two of them were, the sight of Chae sharing Tai Chi felt like they were dancing together; was that really a wrong thought of hers, just her own imagination?
Chaejin smiled.
To the person who welcomed her into what she now considered her home.
To the one who affirmed and trusted her.
To the one who was exquisitely executing Tai Chi for her.
And to Yu Wol, who had become more comfortable than before.
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