Episode 5
There were very few people in the world who could truly put Sama Ryun—the strongest man in the dark sects, maybe even in all history—into a difficult position.
Maybe his old strategist, who nagged him about training a successor…or his senior master, the Great Elder.
In the righteous world, only the head of Shaolin or the master of Wudang could match him.
(There’s an old saying: “North honors Shaolin, South respects Wudang,” meaning both sects are great and highly respected.)
So, of course, he wouldn’t normally be shaken just because a little girl was crying.
Then why… why is this girl making me feel so unsettled?
His emotions wavered.
His sword hand, which had never trembled even when killing, shook slightly now.
He’d seen countless children in his life.
Weak, crying kids had always annoyed him.
He hated seeing them whimper.
But this time… something was different.
For just a moment, her crying made him stop and look at himself—covered in blood—and focus on her.
Is it because she reminds me of my daughter?
No… that didn’t feel like the whole reason.
Then it hit him.
…Is it because she warned me?
That little servant girl had warned him about assassins.
Those words stuck in his mind.
Because of her warning, he had strengthened the guards and slept in a different room than usual.
Thanks to that, the assassins were delayed, and he was able to take them down one by one in the dark.
His body, still strained from fighting the Heavenly Demon, dripped with other people’s blood as he walked through the night.
The killers from the Demon Sect’s “Palace of Assassins,” huh…
Their appearance so soon after his battle with the Heavenly Demon was a sign.
The Demon Sword King was finally paying attention to him.
It was like a declaration of war.
But what does this little girl have to do with them?
Only Sama Ryun knew she had warned him.
He’d called her here to ask about her connection to those killers.
But looking at her now, crying so pitifully on the floor…she didn’t look like an assassin at all.
He had been overly suspicious.
Even his spies confirmed she wasn’t a killer.
She was just an ordinary village girl.
Sama Ryun sighed and reached out his hand to her.
“Take my hand.”
“H‑huh? sniff…”
Her face was still wet with tears.
She wiped her nose with her sleeve—something completely unthinkable in front of the most feared man in the dark sects.
Her hair was tied in two little buns, her red servant’s outfit messy from crying.
When he had tested her earlier by sending energy into her body, he had felt no hidden skills—just an ordinary servant girl.
“Don’t cry anymore.”
“Waaah…”
“…And don’t wipe your nose on your sleeve.”
She shook her head stubbornly, still sniffling into her sleeve.
What do I even say to that?
Sama Ryun, who could command thousands without blinking, suddenly felt awkward in front of one little girl.
Her teary eyes looked up at him.
Their gazes met.
“I survived because of you.”
She froze.
“Even a beast knows not to harm its savior.
And I’m a man, not a beast.
Why would I ever hurt you? You can stop being afraid.”
“…Really?”
“I swear on my sword.”
The blade that reflected the moonlight was the same one he would someday pass down to his successor.
His eyes were serious now, more than ever before.
“Tell me your name.”
The girl calmed down a little and looked at her reflection in the sword.
“…Yeon‑hwa.”
Sama Ryun knelt on one knee to meet her eyes.
He took a breath and said the words he’d been thinking for days:
“I have a request.”
“What is it?”
He held her small hands gently but firmly.
“Let me teach you.”
It wasn’t only because she reminded him of his daughter.
He was curious about her now.
She had a sharp mind, a rare gift for sensing danger, and a body that he knew was perfect for martial arts—the legendary Cheon‑mu‑ji‑che.
“You were born with talent beyond anyone else.
I want to pass down everything I know to you.”
His eyes burned with a light they hadn’t held in years.
He had sworn never to take a student… but this girl was special.
She could become more than just a servant.
If he trained her carefully, she could become a great power for Heukmunbang.
Yeon‑hwa… not just a flower (hwa 花)… I’ll make you into fire (hwa 火).
That was the promise he silently made in his heart.
“Come to that hall tomorrow.
I’ll tell the guards to let you in.”
He smoothed her messy hair and straightened her collar.
But Yeon‑hwa’s answer was unexpected:
“I don’t think I can…”
“…What?”
She’s… rejecting me?
He stared, surprised, as she gave a small, apologetic smile.
“Madam So gave me chores, Uncle.
And… I need to earn money too.”
Relief crossed his face.
He thought there was some bigger problem.
“If Madam So’s chores are the issue, I’ll tell her not to give you any tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“Of course. And if you need money… I can give you as much as you want.”
Yeon‑hwa thought for a moment, then spoke carefully, almost shyly:
“Oh… that would help.
Mom once told me that martial arts training is super fun.
She said someday I’d get to learn, and when that time comes, I should ask how much the teacher will pay me.”
“…Your mother said that?”
“Yes!
She said when normal people start learning martial arts, they should be paid something—because stepping into the martial world is dangerous.”
Sama Ryun went quiet.
According to his spies, Yeon‑hwa’s mother had once been a martial artist from Saparyeon, his junior from the same master.
She had been kind-hearted and left the sect to live a normal life.
And now… her foster daughter had come back here.
What a strange twist of fate.
Sama Ryun met Yeon‑hwa’s bright eyes and asked softly:
“…And what would you do with that money?”
“I’d buy yummy food for my little brothers!”
Sama Ryun’s face twisted slightly.
He already knew she had siblings to care for, but hearing her say it so innocently made his chest ache.
“How much do you need?”
“Hmm… at least as much as my usual pay, Uncle.”
No one had ever offered money to take a student, but Sama Ryun was willing to do it for her.
Looking into her bright eyes reminded him of happy memories long gone.
He cleared his throat and spoke:
“Then how about this:
If you become my student, I’ll pay you twice your usual pay as an allowance.”
“Really? But… Mom said I shouldn’t take too much money…”
“It won’t be easy, though.
You’ll train every day, swing your sword until your arms ache.
Are you ready for that?”
Yeon‑hwa hesitated for a moment, then looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
She seemed to realize how important he was and bowed slightly, more polite than before.
“…You’re not lying, right?
I’d have to get permission from the Great Madam, and Madam So too…
And I’ve never trained before, so I might not be the kind of amazing student you expect…”
Her voice was gentle and careful, but the way she spoke up despite being scared…it made Sama Ryun smile inside.
She was a good pick.
Her eyes were so clear, so innocent—not the eyes of someone destined to follow a dark path.
“You can do it.
You’re my chosen student now.”
To him, meeting his old master had been the first great event of his life.
Meeting this girl… felt like the second.
(To be continued…)
