62 - Martial Might, Foundation (5) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

"Baekgeomdae, you say?!" In the Sect Leader's chamber, Mok Riwon burst from his seat, exclaiming with a beaming smile. While such excitement wasn't unusual, this time was different. The news Dang Hwa-Seo brought was indeed thrilling—a scheduled sparring session with Baekgeomdae, one of the representative factions of the Martial Alliance. This was news that peaked the interest of the other members present. "How coincidental, indeed. We were just discussing matters related to Mokau and Geumgeom Daehyeop," Jegal San remarked. "Yes, Geumgeom Daehyeop has graciously agreed to the duel," Dang Hwa-Seo smiled, responding to Jegal San's comment. Mok Riwon looked at Dang Hwa-Seo with eyes full of admiration. Gratitude surfaced within him for she had arranged the long-awaited duel with a high-ranking member of the Martial Alliance. "Truly, only Miss has such capability! You’re remarkable!" His clenched fist and shimmering eyes conveyed a compliment that filled Dang Hwa-Seo with joy. It was as if all her fatigue melted away, though it was only a feeling. "...Anyways, since the inauguration ceremony will be held in a week, I gathered everyone here to say we should start preparing for the duel. That's all I had to say, you may now go about your duties." Namgung Jincheon was the first to stand up. With an indifferent expression, he headed towards the training grounds. Following him, Il Woon and Hye Woon rose, thanking Dang Hwa-Seo before heading out to pay respects, with Il Woon leading the slightly reluctant Hye Woon. That left Jegal San and Mok Riwon. Dang Hwa-Seo asked, "Aren't you two leaving?" "Us? Should we also leave?" "Yes, I have other matters to attend to." Dang Hwa-Seo offered a smile, though it lacked its usual strength. Mok Riwon noticed this. 'Miss must be going through a lot...' Reflecting on it, Mok Riwon realized there hadn't been moments of shared time since Dang Hwa-Seo took the position of Sect Leader. Most of her time was spent away or busy working, and it seemed to be taking its toll on her. "Is there anything I can help with?" "Mm... Not at the moment." "How about errands, then?" "No, there are no outbound tasks right now." Dang Hwa-Seo cocked her head. "Why do you ask?" "Oh, it's nothing...!" With an awkward laugh, Mok Riwon stood up and, after offering his support, left the Sect Leader's chamber before asking Jegal San. "Jegal Hyung!" "What's the matter?" "Miss looks really exhausted! She won’t accept help either! What if she collapses from overworking?" Jegal San couldn't bring himself to say that it was because Mok Riwon's assistance was not needed. "If she's really struggling, she will ask for help. Miss always took on responsibilities by herself, wanting to prove she can manage alone. Just offer your support." "Is that so...?" Though Jegal San wasn’t overly concerned, aware of the strong-willed nature of Dang Hwa-Seo and her ability to find time for rest when needed. "Mok younger brother, why not focus on your training? Miss went through the trouble of arranging this opportunity; show her a splendid performance." "Um, that’s a good point…" Despite Jegal San’s reassurance, Mok Riwon's gaze lingered towards the Sect Leader's chamber, worried. With no way to assist directly, he felt helpless but had no choice but to turn away. * Days later, Mok Riwon's face bore the shadow of unresolved concern. Observing Dang Hwa-Seo closely since realizing her overexertion, the results were disheartening. 'She hardly takes a moment to rest.' Dang Hwa-Seo's routine was monotonously dedicated to work, sleep, and rise. Mok Riwon had never seen her take a moment for herself amidst it all. Reflecting on this, Mok Riwon concluded Dang Hwa-Seo's busyness must be due to her sacrificing personal time for the sake of her sect members. 'Even if I can’t be of help…' He still wanted to offer support. Thus, Mok Riwon knocked gently on the Sect Leader's chamber door. "Miss, are you there?" -Oh, come in. Peeking inside, Mok Riwon saw Dang Hwa-Seo looking visibly drained but managing to smile faintly. "What brings you here? Hope it's not trouble." "No, not at all!" Taken aback, Mok Riwon entered the room, saying, "I’ve been worried you might be overexerting yourself. Oh, would you like some tea? I asked the cook to prepare it. It’s good for fatigue." Offering a steaming cup of tea, Mok Riwon watched as Dang Hwa-Seo accepted it, her eyes widening slightly. "Thank you. This is unnecessary…" "You’re working hard! I wanted to offer at least this much support." As Dang Hwa-Seo toyed with the teacup, she thought, 'Was it that obvious?' Could she have been receiving guests with a face marked by fatigue? Even in this moment, Dang Hwa-Seo's thoughts drifted back to her endless ‘work’. She had become entirely submerged in it. Mok Riwon sighed at the sight of her losing herself in thoughts again and approached her. "This won't do. Miss, please allow me a moment with your shoulder!" Thud. Mok Riwon moved behind Dang Hwa-Seo and placed his hands on her shoulders. At his touch, her body momentarily stiffened. "What are you…!" "I shall give you a massage!" Mok Riwon spoke with vigor, his voice laced with confidence. "Ever since I was young, I have been complimented by our master for my skillful massages! Miss, if you allow me, I guarantee your fatigue will vanish, and energy will surge through you!" Realizing Mok Riwon's intentions, Dang Hwa-Seo relaxed a bit, though the large hands encompassing her shoulders inevitably made her heart flutter uncontrollably. "Um… Could I then trouble you for a moment?" Her duties were indeed mountainous, yet refusing him seemed impolite given his enthusiastic offer. Mok Riwon nodded, his beautiful smile accompanying the gesture. "Then, let's begin!" Press. Mok Riwon applied pressure; not too much, but enough. His hands skillfully massaged her shoulders, proving his claims of expertise. "How is it? Feels good, right?" "Yes... You truly have a knack for this." Dang Hwa-Seo was surprised. Without employing any internal energy, her tense muscles began to melt, and lethargy seeped into her limbs as she sank deeper into the chair. "I’ve never felt such comfort before." "My master used to say if I had not become a martial artist, I might have been a royal masseur." "I can’t deny that." "If you ever feel the need, ask me! I could do this a hundred times for Miss!" Dang Hwa-Seo chuckled at his words, though her response gradually waned as a drowsy haze enveloped her. Her eyelids grew heavy. 'I still have so much left to do…' She shouldn’t be falling asleep, but the drowsiness was overpowering. The pressure of Mok Riwon's hands, his soothing voice by her ear, and the silence of the room all lured her deeper into slumber. "Miss, I may not know much in this world, but there is one thing I understand well." "Yes..." "It's that comrades entrust their backs to each other. And we are comrades, are we not?" "..." "So, please don’t overexert yourself alone. Seeing Miss struggle makes my heart tighten painfully." "..." Watching Dang Hwa-Seo, now barely responsive with half-closed eyes, Mok Riwon smiled. Seeing her so peacefully asleep, he finally felt at ease. "…I shall move you to your bedroom." Carefully lifting Dang Hwa-Seo, he began walking down the corridor. Half-asleep, Dang Hwa-Seo leaned on Mok Riwon, unaware of where she was being taken, but finding solace in the warmth and comfort of his embrace. It didn’t take long for her to fall completely asleep. 'She’s asleep.' Mok Riwon chuckled lightly at the sight of Dang Hwa-Seo, curled up like a small bug in his arms, as he reached her quarters. Opening the door revealed a room with bedding on each side. It wasn't hard to identify Dang Hwa-Seo’s bedding—neatly arranged and with a book placed beside it, characteristic of her. Mok Riwon laid her down, covering her with a blanket and chuckling at how it was just like her to have such sleeping arrangements. "See you in the evening." He spoke softly, then carefully exited the room. The only sound left was Dang Hwa-Seo’s gentle breathing. * Dang Hwa-Seo awoke to the dimming light of sunset, blinking about three times before jolting up in alarm. 'Oh no!' Regret filled her, her heart sinking at the realization she had fallen asleep amid towering tasks. She rushed out of her room to the Sect Leader's chamber, her disheveled hair the least of her concerns. Thud! Opening the door, she startled. "…Namgung Jincheon?" Namgung Jincheon was seated at the Sect Leader's desk. Not just him—Jegal San was perusing documents in a corner, and Il Woon greeted her with a smile. "Ah, you’ve awakened." "What is all this…?" "We were handling your duties. Miss Sect Leader, it’s concerning that you’ve been overburdening yourself alone." Il Woon rose, apologizing with a hint of guilt. "I’m sorry for not identifying this sooner. Today's tasks are all completed, so please, go back to resting. And next time, do ask for help. After all, am I not the Deputy Leader?" Dang Hwa-Seo was still in a daze, unable to fully grasp the situation. It was then that Mok Riwon returned. "Ah, Miss! Have you had your meal?" "Mok Sosyeop…" "I felt bad for waking you, Miss, so I asked the others for help! Although we couldn't finish everything, we managed to tidy up what we could, so there's no need to worry!" Seeing Mok Riwon’s thumbs-up, Dang Hwa-Seo finally grasped the situation. "Ah..." Slowly, her initial shock subsided. Her breath returned to normal, and an inexplicable warmth began to swell within her. It was then that she realized she hadn't even considered asking for help. '...I haven’t been trusting them enough.' Her desire to excel had prevented her from placing trust in her comrades. Driven by the desire to be perfect, she had only pushed herself harder. Surrounded by such good people, she had been blinded by burden, seeing them only as liabilities. "Miss, how about we go for a meal first? I've asked the cook to prepare your favorite Spicy Fragrant Pork!" Dang Hwa-Seo, feeling a ticklish sensation in her stomach, bit her lip and eventually nodded. "...Yes." Seeing her agreement, Mok Riwon smiled brightly, reaching out to gently brush Dang Hwa-Seo's hair. "Your hair has gotten tangled!" "Ah!" Dang Hwa-Seo's face flushed. She reached to fix her hair, but Mok Riwon spoke first. "Let me do it!" Mok Riwon softly brushed Dang Hwa-Seo's hair, while Il Woon and Jegal San looked on with fondness. Dang Hwa-Seo felt an inexplicable embarrassment, her shoulders regrettably shrinking. "Thank you..." Her heart, for some reason, beat erratically. Amidst her embarrassment, Dang Hwa-Seo laughed at her own reactions. It was two days before the inauguration ceremony.