Episode 4
I didn’t understand why he reacted like that.
“Cheon‑mu‑ji‑che? What… does that mean?”
I repeated the strange words to myself, but they made no sense.
It was something from the martial arts world—something ordinary people like me had never heard of.
When he turned his back to me, the terrifying pressure around him faded.
I could finally move my body again.
I staggered and tried to follow, but my short legs couldn’t catch up.
So I shouted with all my strength:
“Uncle!”
He didn’t look back.
“At least tell me what that means before you go!”
He stopped walking, as if my shout had caught him.
Still, he didn’t turn around.
Instead, he spoke slowly:
“Cheon‑mu‑ji‑che means… a body that is perfect for learning martial arts.”
His voice was calm and deep, like some unchanging law of nature.
“It’s too great a gift for a mere servant girl.
It means you are destined to live as a martial artist.”
…What was he talking about?
I was just an ordinary girl.
Even though I was working as a servant here, I’d never once imagined I would become a martial artist.
I must have looked confused, because he looked at me with a strange expression and added:
“I’ll be watching you.”
Hearing that reminded me why I’d come in the first place—to warn him.
I’d seen it in my dream.
I gathered all my courage and shouted again:
“Wait! I came to warn you!”
He froze in place, like his feet were stuck to the ground.
When he turned around, that frightening aura pressed down on me again.
“Warn me?”
That one heavy word made me want to cry.
But I couldn’t back down now.
“Y‑yes. I… I saw in a dream that you’d be attacked by assassins…”
He looked at me without a word, as if deciding whether to listen.
I quickly added:
“My dreams… they almost always come true, so please don’t ignore them!”
Most adults wouldn’t take a warning from a child seriously.
But I’d already said it.
I had to at least try to save him.
I looked up at him stubbornly.
He stared down at me with such overwhelming presence that I finally noticed how big and imposing he was.
After a long silence, he finally spoke:
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
I nodded.
Then I stood there, frozen, watching as he walked away.
That night, I woke up in the middle of my sleep.
“…Madam So?”
I was startled—she, the head of the servants, was standing over my bed.
“Shh. Don’t wake the others. Come with me.”
Still half asleep, I got up and followed her quietly out of the servants’ quarters.
“Madam, what’s going on…?”
She looked at me with serious eyes and sighed.
“…How did you catch his attention?”
“Huh? Whose attention?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Just follow me. Oh dear…”
“Wait—shouldn’t I change into something nicer before meeting someone important?”
“He ordered me to bring you immediately. I don’t know more than that.”
Great… what am I supposed to do then, Madam…
I sighed to myself and hurried after her.
Keeping up with Madam So’s fast pace was hard even on normal days.
We passed through walls and courtyards until we reached an unfamiliar building.
“Madam, what is this place?”
“That’s not important right now. Go in.”
She only cared about delivering me to “that person.”
Of course… no one would spend much time worrying about a mere servant.
…Even Madam So has no choice in this, huh.
I tried not to feel hurt, but a little sadness bubbled up anyway.
In front of me stood a massive red‑themed building.
I couldn’t read the three characters on the signboard.
“I’m the head of the servants. This child is with me.”
Madam So spoke to the guard.
He wore black clothes with red trim, just like the others.
“You may enter.”
He nodded and let us in.
Inside, the air felt heavy—dangerous.
I hurried to keep up.
It feels like something serious has happened… or is about to happen.
We passed halls and ponds and went deeper in…until the place started to look familiar.
Wait… isn’t this… from my dream?
Outside, I hadn’t recognized it.
But now, deep inside the building, the scenery matched perfectly with last night’s dream.
And then, a foul smell drifted by.
“From here, you go alone.”
Madam So stopped at the inner hall’s entrance.
Just up a few steps was a huge door.
“Madam…?”
Suddenly, fear gripped me.
I didn’t want to name it, but the question burst out anyway:
“Why won’t you come with me?”
“Because he ordered it.”
That was all she said.
Everything was because of him.
Who exactly is this person…?
Could it be… that uncle?
But why call me at midnight?
Had the assassins already come?
I swallowed hard, gathered my courage, and pushed the door open.
“Ugh…”
A sickening stench hit me.
I immediately knew what it was.
Blood.
At first, I didn’t notice because of all the red decorations.
But looking closer, I saw blood splattered everywhere.
The golden throne was empty.
A battle had taken place here.
Why bring me to a place like this?
It couldn’t be… that uncle lost, could he?
Then I heard a familiar voice.
“Child.”
“…Uncle?”
I turned toward the sound.
He was standing right behind me.
“Huh—!”
I gasped and collapsed where I stood.
He was covered in thick, wet blood.
A scream rose in my chest, but before I could let it out, he spoke first:
“…Just like your dream said.”
“M‑my… my dream?”
“Yes. You warned me I’d be attacked, didn’t you?”
“I… I did, but…”
I swallowed hard.
He took a step closer, and the smell of blood grew stronger.
But then another thought hit me.
“…Uncle, are you hurt?”
“Hurt?”
He looked surprised, then answered:
“I killed them all. On the spot.”
“…”
“This isn’t my blood. Don’t worry.”
My hands—no, my whole body—trembled.
I had never seen someone who’d just slaughtered so many people up close before.
I had heard stories about how brutal the dark martial world was, but hearing about it and seeing it were completely different.
Tears welled up.
“…Are you… going to kill me too?”
He didn’t answer.
“Am I… next…?”
My words dissolved into sobs.
“I… Waaaahh!”
I couldn’t stop crying.
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
I’m done for… he’s going to kill me…!
My brain screamed at me to run, but my body was frozen in fear.
I sat on the floor, crying loudly, unable to move.
When I finally wiped my eyes and looked up, his usually cold face looked…almost confused.
Like he didn’t know what to do.
(To be continued…)
