1194 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The Sanseo Do Family. Located in Sanseo, it is one of the minor noble families, not quite reaching the status of the renowned clans. The family estate lies slightly north of the current prefecture, but they are not known to run any distinct commercial or martial operations. With scarce martial artists and no backing from a merchant guild, the family sustains itself just enough to keep the surname alive, barely holding on to their existence. A so-called fallen noble family. Few recognize their name, even fewer seek them out, and with their weak influence, not even the merchant guilds lend them support. Moreover, they don't operate any martial division, rendering them ineligible for any grants from military expeditions. They have no source of income whatsoever. A family that wouldn't be surprising if it vanished at any moment. Such was the information I uncovered. ‘I’m not oblivious to this.’ A place that could disappear at any time. Had it vanished when I was born, it wouldn’t have been strange. Which is why. ‘Which makes it all the more peculiar.’ The mere existence of the Do family was a mystery. ‘Especially the head of the family. And his son, Do Yoon.’ They weren't weak. Compared to the later-stage warriors of the current era, Do Yoon held a dominant position. It's just that his father surpassed all levels. Excluding his father, he was arguably the strongest among them. With such a being... ‘It’s strange not to know of him in the future.’ He should have been a renowned warrior in the era I came from. ‘I don’t even know his name.’ I never heard of anyone named Do Yoon. I have no idea who he is. ‘Did he die?’ The most logical assumption would be death. Perhaps an event led to his demise. That seems the most plausible, but. ‘...It's just conjecture.’ It's merely an assumption. The existence of Do Yoon and the Do family itself is an anomaly to me. When I first saw him, I was curious about who he was. ‘I feel like I’m more intricately involved than I thought.’ It's too complex to think lightly about. It seemed deeply tied with Gu Ga somehow. ‘And with Taecheon as well.’ What events transpired in the past that I am unaware of? Furthermore, what exactly is my role here? ‘I feel I’m grasping at the clues now.’ Could Do Yoon be the lead? Could he be the key to the questions I’ve always held? Such thoughts crossed my mind. That's why. That's why, despite the risks, I'm stepping forward in my current battered condition. “...Hmm.” I looked up at the sky. The sun had set, and it had become night. Thud, thud. I shook off my body. Not wanting to just sit idle all day, I had been training, though unable to use my inner energy, it was merely external martial training. ‘Phew.’ Even still, using my body a bit made me feel refreshed. I tidied up the broken metal rod I had mangled. When will Do Yoon arrive? Since he said he'd come to get me, it seems I just have to wait. ‘...Hmm.’ Should I try one more thing? Just as I was pondering that. “...” My gaze met someone else's. Ah, right. “...Hello?” “...” A woman appeared as soon as she saw me. It was Sword Peak Soi. Appearing to have come for training as well, she was dressed comfortably. “...What are you doing?” “As you can see, I’m training.” “That?” She pointed at the broken metal in my hand. I awkwardly put away the piece of iron. “It seems the equipment here is a bit fragile.” Even without inner energy, with my well-built body, I could manage this much. “...” Soi, watching me, suddenly scrunched up her nose. “Senior. What’s with that expression?” “Baek Yangcheon.” “Yes.” “...You’re strong, right?” “...Pardon?” What kind of question is that? I couldn’t comprehend it for a moment. Strong, you say? “...What do you mean by that?” Why would she suddenly ask that? “You’re not weak, are you?” “...” Thunk. Soi, who had been silent at my words, suddenly picked up her sword. “What-” “...Do you have some time?” “...Well, I don’t have a lot, but... What is it? Are you suggesting a spar?” “Yes.” “...Just like that?” Out of the blue, suggesting a match? What is going on? I wondered why she was doing this, but her expression was more determined than I had anticipated. If I refused, she seemed ready to force it upon me. “Hmm.” I pondered as I looked up at the sky again. Do Yoon would probably arrive soon... ‘There should be some time left.’ Shall we give it a go in the meantime? Seeking to make sure, I spoke to Soi. “I don’t have much time. Will that be alright?” “...Of course.” “Understood.” The agreement was made. * * * Soi grasped her sword and looked at me. Gu Ga’s training ground was spacious. It was larger than the training grounds I was used to. Why would they reduce its size if it was this big? It puzzled me. Did my father lack funds? ‘...That shouldn’t be the case.’ Even with the funds from the Baekhwa Merchant Guild, I couldn’t understand the reason to deliberately make the training ground smaller. ‘I hadn’t really thought about it because it wasn’t used much before.’ But comparing it now, it did feel strangely different. ‘Anyway.’ As I warmed up my neck, I gazed ahead. Soi was looking at me with a tense expression. “Hoooo.” Taking a deep breath, I adjusted my focus. And then. “...Here I go.” “Ah, yes.” A warning came. At that moment. Whoosh-!! Soi’s sword came flying in. It was fast. I turned my head. Just narrowly avoiding the sword, I ducked my upper body. Despite the missed attack, her body flexibly followed through with a light arc. In her movements, traces of plum blossoms quickly followed. I narrowed my eyes at the plum blossom-like aura in my view. ‘Colorful.’ A barrage of sword strikes followed, akin to plum leaves. I braced my legs and dodged the sword path. Colorful. That's the perfect description. The vigor imbued in her fluidity made the attack look intricate. ‘I believe this level was reached at her peak.’ A thoroughly matured peak. Just shy of reaching that place, perhaps? Such was Soi’s level, but her swordsmanship was beyond that. To have a sword finer than one’s skill level. Such instances do exist. ‘Certainly.’ The seed that would one day become the Sword Queen had an exceptional beginning. In stark contrast to a certain imbecile who earned the title of Sword King by mere reputation. Ah, originally not to that extent, but in recent times, having been around him, I've realized. ‘Namgung Jin is indeed an idiot.’ I don’t know how he turned out in his older years, but currently, Namgung Jin is a fool. Such thoughts stung profoundly today. Swish-!! I dodged a strike. Even if I dodged once, a multitude of strikes followed. The Plum Blossom Sword Technique. Without any intuitive insight, I had to evade it all. ‘This is tight.’ Barely dodging, I swallowed hard internally. ‘How can I be so incompetent with my energy drained?’ Even though I still had some vitality within me, handling this was feasible. Yet, the feeling of struggle was unmistakable. Swoosh-!! As petals fell like a blooming cascade. I darted my eyes around. ‘Left above.’ Heo Cho. I disregarded it and charged forward. ‘Then right.’ Indeed. I evaded. I stepped closer. Noticing an opening and closing in, I caught a glimpse of surprise in Soi's eyes. Thud-! Soi didn’t retreat even as I drew nearer. Instead, she tried to advance. The determination is commendable. From my perspective, her decision was correct. However. ‘Nonetheless.’ Even though I lack inner energy. ‘I have experience.’ Whack-! “Ugh!” I struck her wrist, twisting the trajectory. Her sword veered diagonally, hitting the ground. And then. Bam. “...Ugh!” Despite Soi closing in, my fist was already embedded in her abdomen. “Cough!” Soi's knees buckled on the spot. “Cough... Cough...” “Are you alright?” I shook my hand. I tried to control my strength, but I’m not sure if she's okay. With my body weakened, there wasn’t much room for strength control. Soi bit her lip, her gaze towards me turning quite fierce. “...Why the look?” “Are you mocking me?” “Pardon?” “Why didn’t you use your power?” “...Ah.” I didn’t use it because I couldn’t, but it seems she misunderstood. “Well... It wasn't like I intentionally avoided using it.” “You mean you didn’t need to use it.” “No... Um.” What should I say to this? I awkwardly scratched my cheek. That wasn’t the intention, but it seems her pride is hurt quite a bit. But then again. “Senior.” “...” No response. “Why do you dislike me so much?” I asked, feeling slightly wronged. She had no reason to dislike me. Why does this era's Soi constantly dislike me? After all... ‘I feel like the Sword Queen thought well of me.’ The fact that Sword Peak doesn't seem to approve of me feels oddly curious. Inquiring why out of curiosity, she responded. “...Do I need to explain that?” “So you admit you dislike me?” “...” Soi made a face as if she hadn’t meant to reveal that. I’d sensed it before, but this person was quite earnest. “Have I done something? I don’t recall doing anything to bother you.” “...” No answer comes. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to... But wouldn’t it be fair to at least explain since we sparred?” “Ugh...” Her expression indicated I was coercing her. ...What is it? Is this something to be so upset about? “Seriously, what's the matter with you?” By now, I was genuinely curious. As I awaited her response. “I...” It wasn’t long before Soi thankfully started to speak to me. “I just can’t understand you.” “Does it come across that way?” “...” “Ah, my apologies. I didn’t mean to be sarcastic. It just slipped out...” It's sort of a habit to irritate others a bit. I quickly apologized. “...Having power but choosing not to act, why is that?” “What do you mean?” “Back at Anhui.” “Ah.” I wondered what she meant. Now I understood. During the crisis with the beast tide. “I was trying my best back then.” “You could have done more. You could have saved people.” “No one died in the end, right?” I was involved in quite a lot back then, to be honest. ‘Though no one would have noticed.’ While wearing a mask and acting as the Heavenly Demon, the embodied shell I created with powers probably pretended to be somewhat useful. “...And you’re satisfied with that?” Soi frowned, her expression contorted. Hmm... ‘I see.’ I think I understood why the current Soi was subtly uncomfortable. “What’s your reason?” “For what?” “There were no issues or unresolved matters because I didn’t step in. So why would you dislike that I didn’t act?” I laughed. Recalling someone at that moment. ‘Why do you live that way?’ I remembered someone once known as the Sword Sage, who harbored a pathological obsession with saving others. “Interfering in troublesome affairs and the responsibilities that come with it fall to those who diligently involve themselves. Whether outcomes are good or bad, it’s their fate. Just because I have power, am I obliged to shoulder it all? It’s ridiculous.” I masked my earlier expression. The woman suffocated under the weight, her expressions faded over time. “That’s—” “Place petty righteousness within your own capacities. I don’t need it. If you’re going to bother with such things, at least be strong.” I remarked as I passed by Soi. “No one in the Central Plains listens to the feeble’s trivial anger, Senior.” “...” “Seriously annoying.” I passed her, departing from the training ground. I couldn’t hear Soi’s words that followed. Ruffling my hair as I left, I found Do Yoon waiting at the entrance. “Were you waiting?” “...No, I just got here.” Do Yoon glanced into the training ground. “Let’s go. It’s late.” I slightly tugged at his arm. Not so much out of consideration for Soi... ‘...What did I just say to the kid?’ It was more because I felt embarrassingly immature, unable to hold back emotions when speaking to young Soi.