It’s already been a week since I started learning martial arts.
Honestly, it was more like physical training than anything else, but still, I did my best squeezed in among the little brats. Even if other people secretly laughed at me, there was nothing I could do about it. With this trash body, if I didn’t do even this, I wouldn’t be able to pick up the basics of swordsmanship at all!
Now I’d gotten pretty used to doing push-ups, but the brats were starting to sneak looks at my back again, trying to climb on.
“Get off while I’m saying it nicely.”
I growled fiercely, but somehow that only made them more excited. Why do they get happier when I swear at them?
In the end, a few of the kids clung to me like cicadas sticking to a tree.
“Not letting go? Want me to beat you until you shit yourself?”
“Kyaaa!”
These kids are all weird. They react to poop, farts, and curses. Back then, kids would start sobbing just from seeing my shadow.
At that moment, Sa-whatever, who’d been nervously pacing outside the training ground, came running over to try and stop me.
“Ah, um, miss… you might hurt yourself if you keep going like this…”
Like that would stop these wild colts. I let out a sigh and stood up with an “heave-ho,” shaking the kids off.
“I’m going to see His Young Lordship. You all scatter.”
“That’s a lie! Why would His Young Lordship call you every day? Did you commit a crime?”
“Yeah. The crime of being too pretty a little sister.”
I answered without thinking, straight from my mouth, and somehow the kids’ expressions turned sour. I played with them with my whole body, and they pull faces at words like that? Ungrateful little shits.
“No more snacks for you. Got it.”
Complaints poured out. I ignored them all and pushed Sa-whatever ahead of me to start walking.
The sharper kids criticized me for lying, but this time, it wasn’t actually a lie. I was on my way because we were supposed to discuss which of the two elders would take charge of my training.
Anyway, they probably didn’t really plan to teach me seriously. They’d expect it wouldn’t help their reputation much.
So I’d just pick someone who seemed a little clueless, squeeze all the martial arts I could out of them, and be done with it.
I asked Sa-whatever, who was shuffling awkwardly like he was carrying a bomb.
“Do you know anything about the elders I’ll be meeting today?”
He flinched, looked back, and shook his head.
“Ah, no. I mostly serve the eldest young master — um, His Young Lordship — so I don’t actually know the elders well. They usually have separate residences and sometimes stay shut in, never coming out…”
Yeah, I didn’t really expect him to know. With how timid he always looked, he probably couldn’t even meet the elders’ eyes.
Moyong Muhyeok was having tea with the two elders.
Both old men gave off the feeling of dried-up squids — strict and cranky. Of course, the aura they gave off was intense… but looks-wise, they were just that. If they had grandkids, they’d probably have made them cry a hundred times over.
“Ahwa, have you finished your training?”
Moyong Muhyeok welcomed me with a gentle smile. The elders glanced at me with looks that clearly didn’t approve, and didn’t even bother with greetings.
“When they heard you wished to learn martial arts, these two elders graciously offered to come forward. This is Elder Moyong Pae and Elder Moyong Jegeom. They even held you a few times when you were little — I wonder if you remember?”
As if I would. Even if I were the real Moyong Yeonhwa, there’s no way I’d remember that.
As soon as the introductions were done, the elder called Moyong Pae cleared his throat with an uncomfortable expression, like he was sitting on shit.
“Khm. It seems His Young Lordship is under some misapprehension. I did not come here to take on a disciple. Martial arts are best started from the moment one learns to walk if one hopes to reach any true height. I came merely to inform you that it is too late. Besides, as a woman, it would be far more fitting to master household affairs and refined lady’s skills to—”
Yep. You’re out.
I’d heard this exact same crap back when I was Seoldanhae. It’s not even new, so it didn’t even make me mad. Whether righteous or demonic, old geezers all have zero creativity.
Moyong Muhyeok’s face hardened and he tried to say something, but the elder didn’t budge, determined to spit out every word he’d prepared. Well, no matter how much of a Young Lord he was, to an elder he was still just a young whippersnapper. No need to tread lightly.
I dug in my ear, blew out the dust, sniffled a few times, and checked under my nails.
My blatant disregard thankfully came across loud and clear. Moyong Pae’s wrinkled face turned bright red.
“Y-you insolent…!”
Well, no matter how annoyed I was, I didn’t particularly want to cause a scene here. It was better to calmly get my point across.
“If a few words like that would change my mind, do you think I’d have come all the way here? What joy do you think I get from sitting across from old dried jujubes like you? Just tell me if you’re going to teach me, and how you’re going to teach me if you are. Keep your musty opinions for when you’re alone in your room talking to the wall.”
I politely told him to shut up.
Moyong Pae’s mouth dropped open. His Young Lordship rubbed his temples, like he was getting a headache. Then the other elder, Moyong Jegeom, who’d been silent, slowly opened his mouth.
“The young lady’s tongue is sharp.”
A deep, weighty voice. I stared right back at him, telling him to go ahead.
But the more I looked at him, the more familiar he seemed. I was pretty sure he was one of the elders who gave us a hard time when the Moyong family was wiped out back then. Or maybe not?
Honestly, I’ve never been good at telling old men’s faces apart. Maybe because everyone around me used to die young, I never got to see them age.
“I’d like to see if your sword is just as sharp.”
“That’s up to you, Elder, isn’t it?”
When I shot back, the old man Moyong Jegeom narrowed his eyes and stared at me.
“All of my disciples call me master. You will be no exception.”
Alright. I can give you that much.
Nothing more to discuss — decided. Of the two, one was worse than dog shit, so there weren’t any real options.
His Young Lordship visibly let out a sigh of relief. Moyong Pae, who’d come all this way only to get an earful, looked quite sour as he shot up from his seat, furiously flinging his sleeve as he stormed out.
Whatever. My new master, Moyong Jegeom, simply savored his tea quietly.
“Come to the Choje Pavilion at the hour of the hare. I’ll first check how much foundation you’ve built up, then we’ll discuss further.”
“That’s awfully early, Elder.”
“Since you’re starting late, you’ll have to work several times harder. I know how dearly you’re cherished, but once you’re my disciple, His Young Lordship should refrain from interfering.”
Moyong Muhyeok looked worried, but eventually nodded. For me, this was obviously welcome. If I wanted to get out of here in one piece, I needed intense training.
Time to say goodbye to getting mobbed by brats. They’d probably miss the snacks and games, but that was none of my business!
As soon as the talk was over, Master Moyong Jegeom quietly stood and left, his long white robe billowing behind him. He did look pretty cool, like some old master.
Stupid old man. I’ll suck up as much martial arts as I can in the shortest time possible and then toss you aside. Ha.
Having no clue what I was really thinking, Moyong Muhyeok sipped his tea with a sigh.
“Ahwa. Do you know how much I was on edge? Of course, I didn’t agree with what Elder Pae said either, but even so, to an elder—”
Exactly the nagging I expected. I quickly pulled out my impenetrable shield.
“I thought you’d take my side.”
I pouted on purpose. Moyong Muhyeok looked flustered, shaking his head in a panic.
“Your brother is always on your side! It’s just… whenever the family makes a decision, we need the elders’ approval, so I was worried it might come back to bite you later. I’ll personally go talk to Elder Pae about his inappropriate remarks. So please, don’t be too upset, alright?”
“Ah, so everything you said was a lie. How could you scold me after hearing such things said to your only sister? My heart is so torn to shreds, I can’t even swallow rice. Ah, so. bitter. and. tragic.”
I learned something in my week or so of staying here.
The Moyong lot — especially the three idiots — seem to think I’ll drop dead if I miss a single meal. So how could they not fall for my brilliant acting?
Sure enough, Moyong Muhyeok’s face went pale, like he was watching someone about to kill themselves.
“How could you say you won’t eat? You’re already so weak! What should I do to soothe your feelings so you’ll eat again, huh?”
Honestly, I didn’t want anything in particular, but I couldn’t exactly say I’d just said it to mess with him.
I glanced around and spotted Sa-whatever poking at the dirt with his toe way off in the distance.
Ah, right. That guy.
“I want to take him as my personal servant.”
“Huh? You mean Sahyeon?”
“Yeah, that one.”
Moyong Muhyeok looked at me with a complicated expression, then lowered his voice.
“Well, that’s not difficult, but that child… sometimes gets lost. He’s been learning to work here since he was very young, but he’s never quite improved. Are you sure?”
So basically, he’s saying the kid’s dumb and incompetent. Why whisper it like that? Sahyeon probably knows.
“I know. I’ve seen other servants yelling at him all the time. Honestly, it’s obvious just from looking.”
“You know? Then why would you want to take him?”
Moyong Muhyeok looked at me curiously. It felt like he was about to spout more nonsense, so despite finding it annoying, I gave him my reasons.
“He… that kid helped me out several times when I was being mobbed by children. And.”
“And?”
“He’s always been by your side. So I thought I’d try having him by mine once.”
Moyong Muhyeok tilted his head. Then he smiled like he finally understood, looking annoyingly satisfied.
“I didn’t realize how much you loved your big brother, Ahwa. I thought maybe you’d just developed some strange fondness for Sahyeon…”
“I have eyes, too.”
And of course, he still ended up saying something stupid. I sprang up in disgust.
“Anyway, I’m taking that guy.”
***
After dinner, Sahyeon moved over to my residence. Hyangah looked very obviously displeased.
“Miss, did I perhaps do something to make you uncomfortable?”
She hurried into the room after me, looking like she was on the verge of strategic tears again, so I quickly grabbed her shoulders. Weirdly, unlike the other Moyong idiots, she was hard to deal with. Her crying was downright scary.
“He’s your subordinate.”
“…Huh?”
“Use him as your underling. Isn’t it good to have a loyal one around?”
“An underling…”
Hyangah repeated it like she’d heard a totally foreign word, then broke into a wide grin.
“You mean he’s my underling? So I can boss him around?”
“Yeah, exactly. I brought him here to help you.”
“Yes! Thank you, Miss!”
The way Hyangah smiled felt strangely familiar, almost nostalgic… must’ve been my imagination. As I always thought — if Hyangah had been born a martial artist, she’d have made a huge name for herself even in the demonic sects. Maybe she could’ve stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Seoldanhae…
That might’ve been nice, actually. Even if we’d met as enemies, there’d at least have been someone who understood me.
Anyway. Though it started as a way to soothe Hyangah, I definitely planned to use Sahyeon for my own purposes too.
Night deepened.
About half an hour after Hyangah wished me goodnight and left, the Moyong family’s patrol probably just passed by this area.
I carefully peeked out through the window to make sure it was quiet, then rose from bed. I’d long since changed out of the nightclothes Hyangah dressed me in and into black clothes.
I moved with care so the door wouldn’t make a sound as I slipped outside.
A cool breeze brushed my cheek. It was unbelievably calm and peaceful. For a moment, I thought I’d like to live like this quietly. Just for a short while, as a kind of vacation — couldn’t I have that?
The moon was especially bright.
I trailed my hand along the wall as I looked up. It wasn’t a low wall by any means. I wandered slowly around the pavilions for a bit.
After a while—
“You’re here.”
Clatter.
A very faint sound caught my ear. Roof tiles shifting. Most people wouldn’t even be able to hear it, but it was sharp to me.
Before long, someone leapt over the wall and landed. So quick and quiet — other than that slight tile bump earlier, there hadn’t been a peep.
People who scale walls generally aren’t up to anything good.
I immediately held my breath and closed in fast, grabbing the back of their neck. The person twisted instantly, gripping my wrist hard.
Our eyes met under the moonlight, and I smiled brightly at Sahyeon as I asked,
“You bastard, caught you red-handed. What are you up to?”
Sahyeon looked extremely flustered, his eyes darting all over before he dropped my wrist like he’d been burned.
“A-ah, Miss… W-why are you out here at this hour…?”
Oh, look at this guy. I snorted.
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?”
“T-that is… I, I left something behind when I moved rooms suddenly, so I just went back to my old quarters for a moment…”
“Oh, by climbing over the wall?”
“Eh? Ah, t-that, it was late so I thought I might cause a stir otherwise…”
He probably hadn’t expected to be caught like this. I pinned him against the wall so he couldn’t run. The shadow of the wall fell up to his nose, leaving only his mouth visible.
“I hate saying things twice.”
“…Eh? Ah… yes.”
“And I hate saying them three times even more, got it? So answer properly. What are you?”
“S-sahyeon… Sahyeon, ma’am. I already… answered properly! Please spare me!”
His lips twisted, and he really did look scared. Most people probably would’ve let it go at that, but not me.
“Most people would assume scaling a wall would cause more of a stir. Out with it. Were you plotting to harm His Young Lordship?”
Sahyeon’s mouth clamped shut. After a moment, he spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
“P-please… at least let me go. Or take this somewhere else… If anyone sees me like this with you, I’m dead.”
“What bullshit. Why would I move just because I don’t know what you’re planning?”
I pressed harder on his collarbone with my left arm and growled low. He stared stiffly down at me, then, as if he’d resigned himself, dropped his head.
A moment later, Sahyeon’s hunched shoulders quivered.
He was laughing.
He chuckled like that, then raised his head again and lightly pushed me off, stepping back into the moonlight. His sharply curved eyes gleamed.
“I’ve got way too many questions, myself.”
“….”
“What happened to the real Moyong Yeonhwa?”
With my breath caught in my throat, there was only one thing I could say.
“…Let’s take this somewhere else.”
