Chapter 15: Seorin. Sowol.

In front of the main hall of the Murimmaeng, I slowly ascended the old stone steps.

A slight frown creased my face.

Ah, to return here again.

A short, quiet click of my tongue escaped my mouth.

If it weren’t for Zhangmun Sa-hyeong, I would have never come back here.

My pace was leisurely, but the gazes around me weren’t.

The same training robes, the same martial artists moving about.

But even among them, I could clearly feel eyes drawn to me.

The first person I locked eyes with slightly furrowed their brow and turned away.

The second glanced at me, then nudged their companion’s arm and whispered.

“Isn’t that Jin Un?”

“Is he still around…?”

Each word was crystal clear.

It wasn’t like they were deliberately speaking loudly, but their words rang in my ears sharply.

Without saying anything, I slowly turned my gaze to them.

One of them, with a startled expression, quickly lowered their head and moved away.

It wasn’t even funny.

They muttered behind my back, but when it came time to face me, they avoided me.

The corner of my mouth lifted slightly.

Yes, this was Murimmaeng.

A place I’d spent decades in, yet it always felt like this.

The reason my steps toward this place were never light.

…Among those gazes, there was also a familiar face.

At the foot of the stairs, the elders from the Namgung family were about to enter the main hall.

The moment they saw me, the atmosphere subtly chilled.

One of them raised an eyebrow, scanning me, then sighed lightly and turned away.

I tried to ignore it, but one of them stopped and walked toward me.

Namgungheon, an elder of the Namgung family.

Stubborn, love for fighting, and never hesitant to show his emotions.

He lowered his sharp gaze and spoke.

“Jin Un. What brings you crawling back here?”

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“I walked in. I was invited.”

“Invited? It seems Wudang is still lacking people. I can’t believe they still have someone like you as an elder.”

At those words, several pairs of eyes turned toward us, and some whispered with a sly grin.

I didn’t respond.

I just looked at Namgungheon with a blank expression, then lightly shrugged and continued walking.

“Running away, are we?”

I stopped in my tracks at those words.

Slowly, I turned my head and looked at him with a smirk.

“A dog barking, huh.”

Namgungheon’s face twisted in anger.

“What did you say?! You little—!”

His hand reached for his sword hilt.

I shifted my stance slightly, loosening my footing.

“Want to see who’s louder?”

The words came out short and cool.

Namgungheon’s eyes gleamed with hostility.

“I’ll shut that mouth of yours myself.”

Just as he took a step forward.

“Elder Heon.”

A low, composed voice called out to him.

A familiar face.

Yes, he’d come to Mount Wudang once before.

Namgunghwi, the eldest son of the Namgung family.

The one who would eventually inherit the family headship.

He approached and placed a hand on Namgungheon’s shoulder.

“Now is not the time. If something unpleasant happens before the council meeting, Father will not be pleased.”

Namgungheon gritted his teeth and glared at me.

But in the end, he let go of his sword and turned away.

“Just wait… I’ll make sure you regret it.”

I smiled lightly and replied.

“Anytime.”

Then I turned again and walked into the main hall.

I could still feel the burning gaze on my back, but I was used to that by now.

I wondered when the disciples would arrive.

It had taken me roughly seven days and nights to get here.

If they were quick, they might arrive in ten days.

Fifteen, if they were slow.

Strangely, I found myself wanting to see their faces.

I knew the moment they arrived, something chaotic would happen, and trouble would follow.

But still, I was looking forward to it.

On the gently swaying boat,

Seorin sat by the window, gazing out at the sea.

The ocean breeze lightly tousled her hair.

Just a few days ago, her cheeks had been sunken and pale.

Now, color was slowly returning, and her expression looked much softer than before.

With a quiet exhale, Seorin glanced around the ship.

Behind her stood three men, straight as poles in perfect attention.

Their torn clothes had been awkwardly stitched, and bruises still lingered across their faces.

Yet their backs were straight, and their expressions were dead serious.

Thugs.

No—at this point, companions might be the better word.

Seorin slowly shifted her gaze away, thinking.

—It was thanks to them that she even got on this boat.

They had paid the fare.

Even though it wasn’t their money, the way they had trembled while handing it over was still enough to make her want to laugh now.

But Seorin didn’t laugh.

“I dragged you out of town before you caused more trouble. So it’s probably a good thing for your lives too.”

At her words, one of the three bowed deeply again, looking like he was about to cry.

Seeing that, Seorin quietly closed her eyes.

“I hope this is a peaceful voyage.”

But of course, life rarely goes as planned.

Just as they were nearing Nanyang.

A ship began to approach from a distance, as dark as the night itself.

Its hull was painted entirely black.

No flags, no insignias.

Like a shadow floating over the waves, it drew nearer in silence, cold and eerie.…?

Seorin narrowed her eyes, peering through the window.

Up on deck, the sailors began moving frantically.

Some rushed to lower the sails, others gripped ropes and shouted urgently to one another.

“That ship… don’t tell me it’s a Blackblade.”

Someone muttered the words under their breath.

And as they spread, the passengers began slipping into the cabins one by one.

Pale-faced, clutching their belongings as they ran.
Mothers cradling children and curling into corners.

And.

The three men standing behind Seorin exchanged nervous glances, whispering in low voices.

“S-Shouldn’t we head below deck?”

“Let’s hide for now! Those guys really might be out to raid us!”

The three began backing away with muttered panic, but Seorin rose quietly and looked back at them.

“Sit down.”

One short word.

The three men froze instantly, then dropped into their seats like puppets with cut strings.

Seorin turned back to the black ship outside the window.

In her eyes shimmered the cold glint of the sea.

Sowol suddenly turned her head toward the man awkwardly trailing behind her.

“You. What’s your name?”

“M-Me?! Uh… I, well…”

“Never mind. From now on, you’re Changpal.”

“…Sorry, what?”

Sowol stepped up and lightly patted his shoulder.

“Changpal. Nice name, right? Even if you don’t like it, I do.”

“…Y-Yes! Changpal it is!”

“Good. Changpal, from today on, you’re my errand boy. Make yourself useful.”

And with that, Sowol started walking forward.

Changpal glanced around nervously, then hurried to follow behind her.

“Oh, right.”

Sowol suddenly stopped and looked back.

“If you run away…”

She grinned and pointed at the beggar whose nose she had smashed in earlier.

“…You might end up like that.”

Changpal immediately snapped to attention and bowed deeply.

“I’ll never run! I swear my loyalty!”

“Good.”

Sowol resumed walking at a steady pace.

“Now then, time to head to Kaifeng. You know the way, right?”

“Yes! I-I do!”

Changpal quickly answered.

“If we pass through Hankou and follow the river north, we’ll get to Kaifeng quickly!”

Sowol nodded.

“Great. Then we go to Hankou. Guide us properly. If you mess around—”

“I won’t! I’ll do my absolute best!”

“Good. Let’s go, Changpal.”

Sowol raised her hand, pointing forward, and began walking again.

Behind her, Changpal followed with all the energy he could muster.

“Um… are we really just… walking the whole way?”

Changpal asked cautiously.

“Yup. Why?”

Sowol shrugged and glanced back.

“What about supplies…?”

“Do we need any?”

“I-I mean… food, clothes, stuff like that…”

Sowol stopped, turned toward him, then looked up at the sky and said.

“Food is everywhere, isn’t it?”

“…Sorry, what?”

“There are fruits on trees, greens on the ground, birds in the sky. See? The world’s so generous to you.”

“Y-Yeah, but… not all of it’s edible, right…?”

“Everything’s edible, Changpal.”

Sowol said with a cheerful grin.

“If you’re that dissatisfied, just say so. I’ll make sure you eat nothing from now on.”

Changpal’s face went pale.

“I was joking, joking.”

Sowol laughed and started walking again.

Only then did Changpal let out a sigh and follow.

Sowol hummed a light tune as they walked.

Before they knew it, they had left Hyeongju behind, crossed a field, and distant mountains began to appear.

The weather was nice, Changpal was doing his best to lead the way, and Sowol, in high spirits, even began to hum more brightly.

But the peaceful journey didn’t last.

Soon, a strange tension settled in.

From beyond the bend in the road, through the trees, she felt the presence of others.

Men on horseback.

Wearing ragged armor, faces hidden beneath wide-brimmed hats, backs hunched low, gripping their reins lazily.

And there weren’t just one or two.

A group of bandits.

Changpal hesitated and gently tugged on the edge of Sowol’s sleeve.

“Um… I think… over there…”

But Sowol had already seen them.

Without raising an eyebrow, she simply tilted her head slightly.

“Hm. Looks like they think we’re easy prey.”

Changpal had already taken a step back.

Sowol lowered her head slightly, and chuckled.

“So there are days like this.”

One of the bandits dismounted and shouted.

“Hey! You two! Let’s have a look at what you’ve got in those pockets!”

Sowol slowly raised her head.

A smile still lingered on her lips.

“This might be fun.”