Chapter vv15c7

The Sword Clan, usually quiet and secluded, was bustling with activity. Disciples were rushing about, their voices echoing through the halls. Dokgo Ryeong, her curiosity piqued, eavesdropped on their conversations. Piecing together the fragments of information, she realized that the commotion was due to the impending arrival of a distinguished guest.

Who could be important enough to cause such a stir in the Sword Clan? Was it the Emperor himself? Her curiosity only deepened. She couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Senior Sister Yoo, who’s coming?”

She approached Yoo Soo-gyeong, who was busy with preparations, and asked.

“Can’t you see I’m busy? You’re such a nuisance!”

Yoo Soo-gyeong grumbled, but she answered her question.

“The Lord of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion is coming.”

Dokgo Ryeong’s eyes widened in surprise.

“The Lord of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion? That’s a big deal!”

He was certainly important enough to warrant such a fuss.

“But… why?”

She couldn’t believe that someone of his stature would travel all the way to this remote corner of the world for no reason.

“I don’t know the details… But I heard he wants to send some of his disciples here for training.”

To be trained by the Sword Empress.

It was a tempting offer for any swordswoman, regardless of her affiliation. Every woman who practiced martial arts admired the Sword Empress.

“He has good taste. Master is amazing!”

Dokgo Ryeong felt a surge of pride.

“Senior Sister Yoo, what can I do to help?”

Everyone else was busy preparing for the guest’s arrival, but Dokgo Ryeong had nothing to do. That’s why she had the time to be a nuisance.

But she didn’t like being idle. It felt like she was being excluded, like she wasn’t considered responsible enough to be given a task. She wasn’t the type to relax and enjoy her free time. Her diligence was what had made her who she was.

“Well, there’s not much left to do.”

The tasks had already been assigned. There was nothing left for Dokgo Ryeong to do. But she persisted.

“I don’t like sitting around doing nothing. I’ll do anything. Just give me a task. I swear on my honor and my life that I’ll complete it!”

She declared, her voice filled with determination.

“Don’t be so dramatic…”

Yoo Soo-gyeong chuckled.

“Hehe.”

Dokgo Ryeong stuck out her tongue playfully. She was so eager to help that Yoo Soo-gyeong felt obligated to find something for her to do, even if it was meaningless.

“You’re such a hard worker! I don’t understand you.”

She racked her brains, trying to come up with a task.

“Hmm… I know!”

She had a brilliant idea. It was perfect. It would satisfy Dokgo Ryeong and free her from further interruptions.

“Why don’t you patrol the island? How about that?”

She suggested.

“Patrol?”

“Yes, just in case there are any suspicious characters lurking about. It’s very important, so you have to be diligent.”

The chances of that happening were slim to none, but she knew that Dokgo Ryeong wouldn’t question the details.

“Yes, Senior Sister!”

As expected, Dokgo Ryeong agreed without hesitation. She was just happy to have something to do.

“I Dokgo Ryeong, I’ll patrol the island and report back.”

She said, her voice as crisp and clear as a soldier’s.

Yoo Soo-gyeong shook her head, amused by her enthusiasm.

“Alright…”

‘Why does she work so hard…?’

She couldn’t understand it. She preferred to relax and enjoy her free time.

“First, I’ll patrol the beach!”

Patrolling the island usually meant patrolling the beach. Due to the island’s geography, any unwanted visitors would have to arrive by sea. But the sea was open and exposed, making it easy to spot intruders. That’s why they rarely came during the day, when the sun was high in the sky. And today, the weather was clear, the visibility excellent.

Dokgo Ryeong strolled along the beach, enjoying the scenery. Or rather, she patrolled! The beach was dotted with large boulders, their surfaces smooth and polished by the wind and waves.

She noticed a young girl, dressed in white, sitting on a rock near the water’s edge. She looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. Her eyes, deep and quiet, were fixed on the horizon. The sea breeze ruffled her clothes, making them billow like white wings.

Dokgo Ryeong stopped behind her, and the girl turned to look at her.

“Sister Ryeong?”

Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion. It was an unnatural voice for a girl with such a beautiful face.

“Oh, Yerin!”

Dokgo Ryeong replied cheerfully.

The young girl in white was Na Yerin, her junior sister, who had joined the clan three years ago. Despite her young age, her ethereal beauty was undeniable.

“What are you doing…?”

Na Yerin asked, her words short and clipped.

“Patrolling!”

Dokgo Ryeong replied with a smile. Na Yerin nodded silently, as if she understood. Her movements were doll-like.

After a long silence, she spoke again.

“Sister…”

“Yes?”

Their eyes met. Na Yerin’s eyes were as deep and mysterious as the night sky, but sometimes, they seemed to see through her, to pierce the walls around her heart. It was unsettling. Many of the other disciples avoided her for this reason. Dokgo Ryeong was one of the few who could tolerate her.

“…Be careful.”

Her voice was flat, monotone. It was a strange warning.

“What do you mean? You’re being weird…”

Dokgo Ryeong said, confused. She knew it wasn’t a warning about the patrol itself. There was something else, something she couldn’t quite grasp.

What was it?

Her junior sister often said things that were difficult to understand.

“Just…”

Dokgo Ryeong shook her head. She couldn’t figure her out. But she couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She was so young, yet she seemed so old, so weary.

“Sister… careful… man… love… pain…”

Na Yerin’s last words were lost on the wind. Where were her eyes looking? Perhaps even she didn’t know.

“Did you say something?”

Na Yerin shook her head silently. Dokgo Ryeong gave up.

“You’re so cold, Yerin. You’re like a block of ice! You need to be more cheerful! You’re a young girl!”

She chided her gently, but her words were filled with concern. She was worried about her. But she was much better than she used to be. There was a time when she wouldn’t speak for days on end.

At her age, most girls were full of energy and curiosity, their mouths running nonstop… What kind of pain was she hiding in her heart? Dokgo Ryeong couldn’t imagine.

‘It’s been three years since she arrived…’

Dokgo Ryeong remembered the day Na Yerin had joined the clan as vividly as the day she herself had joined. (It was a memory that would stay with her forever.)

“This is your new junior sister. Her name is Yerin. She’s the daughter of Jin Cheon-roe, the Divine Sword of Heavenly Thunder, the leader of the Martial Alliance.”

Her master had said, gesturing towards the young girl.

“Hello, Yerin! I’m Dokgo Ryeong. Nice to meet you. You can call me Sister Ryeong!”

Dokgo Ryeong had greeted her cheerfully, but there was no response.

The young girl, dressed in white, stood behind her master, trembling like a bird caught in the rain.

“Oh dear… She’s still in shock. She’s so resistant to human contact…”

The Sword Empress had said, her voice filled with pity. Dokgo Ryeong had been struck by her words. But she hadn’t dared to ask what had caused the girl’s trauma.

It was embarrassing for an adult to act like a child, but it was tragic for a child to act like an adult. It was clear that the young girl was terrified of something. What could it be?

Her eyes, wide with fear, were as clear and deep as the night sky. They were mesmerizing, unforgettable.

Dokgo Ryeong knew that in situations like this, someone had to make the first move. So she reached out, her hand outstretched. There was no room for pretense. She had to be sincere.

She knelt down in front of Na Yerin, her hand gently stroking the girl’s hair.

“To become sworn sisters, to bow to each other and perform the ritual of entry, means to be bound by a bond deeper than blood. Blood sisters share only blood, but sworn sisters share their souls. So no matter what happens, you don’t have to be afraid. You’re not alone. If anyone dares to bully my little sister, I’ll crush them! So don’t worry!”

It was a rather violent declaration.

When Dokgo Ryeong’s hand had first touched her head, Na Yerin had flinched, her eyes squeezed shut, like a frightened cat. Dokgo Ryeong could feel her trembling. But she continued stroking her hair.

Gradually, the trembling subsided. It seemed that Na Yerin liked the feeling of her sister’s hand on her head.

“So, once again, nice to meet you, little sister!”

Dokgo Ryeong said, smiling brightly. And this time, there was a response.

“Yes… Sister…”

It was a whisper, barely audible, but Dokgo Ryeong’s ears, trained by the Sword Clan’s Guanyin Sound Amplification Technique, didn’t miss it. Overwhelmed with emotion, she hugged Na Yerin tightly.

She heard a faint squeak of surprise.

“My, how wonderful! I was worried because she’s been avoiding everyone!”

A crack had appeared in Na Yerin’s tightly closed heart. The Sword Empress smiled, her eyes filled with approval.

“We have a new family member…”

She watched her two disciples, their arms wrapped around each other, her gaze as benevolent as Guanyin’s.

“…Perhaps we should have a welcoming feast tonight?”

It wasn’t a bad idea.