In the lush green forest.

At the end of a naturally formed narrow mountain path, where people passed by occasionally, three men and women were walking. It was Master Cheonghwi and the Nangong siblings.

The three of them were walking earnestly, sweating profusely.

The mountain path was rough and steep, not well-maintained, with branches and grass reaching out, requiring them to push through. It was an uncomfortable path no matter how you looked at it.

Namgoong Seung-ah burst out in frustration.

“Why didn’t we just walk on the main road? Why did we have to choose such a rough path?”

“…Internal strength, without using internal strength, gasp, I realize… the lack of external strength…”

Namgoong Myeong’s wheezing, exhausted voice indirectly added another sentence.

However, Master Cheonghwi firmly said,

“This is the right way.”

“…So what exactly is right about it?”

“It’s not befitting for a great hero to explain such things.”

“Perhaps, the poison hasn’t been fully detoxified yet?”

Master Cheonghwi pressed his lips into a straight line and walked silently. Namgoong Seung-ah glared at his back sullenly but had no choice but to continue walking while supporting Namgoong Myeong.

If only we had rented a carriage, we would have arrived by now…

“Hmm.”

But Cheonghwi had his reasons.

It was to guard against any possible attacks. Having declared that he would restore Namgoong Myeong’s energy center, the villains would surely reach out their filthy hands once more.

Taking the obvious path would lead to a second chase. So he turned onto an unknown mountain path, mixing up the route to prevent being followed.

And that wasn’t all.

After settling matters with Namgoong Chaegong, Cheonghwi had returned to the academy once time permitted. The first thing he did upon waking was to rush to the girls’ dormitory and knock on the door.

“Enbus, have you lost your mind in the middle of the night…?”

And when he called, Selvier, who did come out, was bombarded with requests for scrolls, and Cheonghwi received various pieces of advice.

Having attended a lecture on practical compressed tracking evasion theory by a competent Red Tower mage (with the tracking master Niore as a friend), Cheonghwi devised a travel route that neither the demonic cult nor anyone else could follow.

That was the mountain path they were on now.

As they passed, Cheonghwi used scrolls to erase traces and decoy scrolls, creating a safe path. If there had been any pursuers, they would have fallen behind by now.

Cheonghwi looked at Namgoong Myeong, whose eyes were spinning, and thought. The reason he complicated the travel route and kept it a secret was out of concern for the boy.

It was still just a suspicion, but if Cheonghwi’s worst fear turned out to be true, the boy might be deeply hurt.

Thud. Cheonghwi stopped walking and declared,

“Let’s rest here for a moment.”

“Huaaah…!!”

“Ughkkk.”

Namgoong Myeong collapsed, and Namgoong Seung-ah stretched and made a strange noise.

Enbus hastily took out the camping gear. He gathered stones and branches to make a fire, drew flames with an artifact, and tore a water-creating scroll over an iron pot.

Witnessing the scene, the Namgung siblings’ eyes sparkled in unison. How could it not be fascinating? Every time a talisman was torn, something bizarre happened.

Namgung Myeong exclaimed in amazement,

“If everyone in the world had talents like Master Cheonghwi, there would be no strife!”

“Wouldn’t it be the opposite? It seems like there would be even more fights.”

“If we could create water out of thin air, wouldn’t that eliminate disputes among farmers over water channels, sister?”

“Instead, they’d fight over who gets more land to sprinkle that water on.”

While Namgung Myeong pondered the proper use of such powers, Namgung Seung-ah was certain that it would only lead to conflict. Cheonghwi found their differing views fascinating and, while tearing mushrooms into the pot, said,

“To think you’re so different, yet from the same womb.”

“It’s because we’re from different wombs. I was adopted.”

“⋯⋯Even with faces so alike?”

“We’re not alike at all?!”

Namgung Seung-ah yelled out loud. Namgung Myeong felt slightly deflated, wondering if being told they looked alike was so disagreeable.

But in truth, Namgung Seung-ah and Namgung Myeong didn’t resemble each other.

At a glance, one could tell their mothers were surely different, given the distinct shapes of their faces. Master Cheonghwi, with his foreign nose, couldn’t distinguish Asian faces well. Cheonghwi wore an awkward expression.

“⋯⋯Adopted, you say.”

“I was taken in by the head of the household for my talents. If we’re talking bloodlines, I have no connection to the Namgung family.”

“Still, you are my sister! And we are the Namgung family.”

“Yes, Myeong, you are my brother too. No doubt about it.”

It was heartwarming to see the siblings get along so well. Cheonghwi threw dried meat into the pot and boiled it. A stew was bound to be made by throwing in this and that and applying heat, even if it wasn’t to die for.

“Master Cheonghwi, I found these mushrooms on the road… Should we try adding them?”

“Red with spots? Aren’t those poisonous?”

“Master Cheonghwi! These leaves smell wonderful! Last time, we couldn’t get rid of the gamey taste, so if we boil these leaves with it, maybe it will become a more palatable stew!”

“It’s a stew.”

When three culinary novices gathered, cooking each evening turned into an alchemical experiment. Once, they threw in a spiky fruit whole, and the broth developed a sour taste.

“Then let’s save the mushrooms for next time, and just add a couple of these leaves today⋯⋯.”

“I brought ten leaves!”

“If we add a lot, it will surely eliminate the gamey taste!”

“⋯⋯Won’t it just taste like grass then?”

Bubble, bubble, bubble.

Into the boiling water went various freshly gathered ingredients. The color of the stew began to change mysteriously as it started to boil! It seemed to take on a purplish hue⋯⋯.

Cheonghwi sensed that tonight’s dinner menu was a disaster and quietly closed the lid. Nangong Seung-ah also sighed and got up, picking up her sword.

Nangong Myeong raised a question mark over his head as he watched the two getting ready. “What’s going on? Was the cooking that bad? Are you going out to catch a wild rabbit or something?”

“Where are you going, Master Cheonghwi? And you, sister?”

“Guests before hosts, hosts before guests. An unwelcome visitor is approaching.”

“It’s ‘fire,’ not ‘guest,’ Master Cheonghwi.”

“……..”

A bitter taste crossed Nangong Myeong’s expression. To not sense it alone. Perhaps the absence of a core energy center is indeed fatal for a warrior.

Reading his expression, Cheonghwi quietly stroked Nangong Myeong’s head.

“It will heal.”

“……..Yes.”

Rustle. Rustle.

Breaking the silence, the sound of bushes being brushed aside followed, and out came the bearded brutes, brandishing all sorts of weapons!

Their mismatched, shabby attire and roughly tanned animal hides for clothes. They were bandits, no matter how you looked at them, about six in number.

The leading brute, with a large broadsword slung over his shoulder, shouted.

“This is the territory of the Green Forest! Who dares to light a fire and frolic here!”

“They’ll make good practice partners.”

“……..Eh?”

The young ones not showing fear, the Green Forest bandits hesitated for a moment. Those who meet bandits on a deserted mountainside and remain calm are either ignorant of the ways of the world or they are masters.

“Miss Nangong Seung-ah, let’s leave one alive for Myeong’s training.”

“……..I, I’ve never killed a person before, Master Cheonghwi.”

“Oh, this… I’m sorry. I was trained as an assassin when I was young, so it wouldn’t do to show blood in front of a child. Let’s just subdue them.”

“You were trained as an assassin, Master?!”

It was a question filled with emotion, asking for the story to be unfolded. Cheonghwi broke off a suitable branch, sharpened the end, and held it lightly.

With a change of heart comes a change of stance.

From noble mtl dot come

The assassination techniques and various skills learned from his family, buried along with painful memories. Cheonghwi finally decided to draw upon them.

The use of a tool is determined by the person holding it. Even if it was a technique for the vile schemes of the Redburn Duke, in Cheonghwi’s hands, it would be different, wouldn’t it?

Rapier.

Memories of past training flashed through his mind. His brother had been quite skilled with the rapier, and had taught Cheonghwi quite a few tricks.

“Move lightly and flexibly, but when you thrust, be rigid.”

If that’s the case, isn’t there a good technique?

Whirrr!

The tips of the branches shook wildly, mesmerizing, and like lightning, it pierced through the gaps in consciousness, along with the meticulously used Explosive Dispersal Technique.

Whoosh. Shashashashashash!

“Cough!”

“Ugh…! A master!”

“Damn it, agh!”

Stabs flew in from all directions, boring holes in shoulders, wrists, knees, and then were withdrawn. The movements were as fast as lightning, creating two or three afterimages at once.

“Incredible-!!”

Boom!

Seizing the moment of attack, a green forest swordsman swung his sword mightily. Cheonghwi’s body slid smoothly across the ground without any warning, as if an invisible giant hand had moved him.

The watching mad wizard stood up abruptly, thinking, ‘Did a bug just glitch out?’ It was an unnaturally swift movement.

The secret was the combination of the “Ice Rink” scroll, which reduced the friction coefficient of the ground, and the Explosive Dispersal Technique. A solid center of gravity from lower body training also played a part.

“It’s, it’s sorcery──!!”

“Well, it does seem like sorcery, Cheonghwi the Taoist!”

“Urk!”

Namgung Seung-ah and Cheonghwi successfully dealt with the green forest bandits, leaving only one. The remaining one trembled and cursed.

“You, you brats! This is the territory of the green forest…! Aren’t you afraid of the consequences!!”

“Namgung Myeong, what we’re going to try today is an extension of Insightful Gaze, which I call dance. Luna… that is, a technique taught by someone called Moon.”

“Aren’t you afraid of the consequences!!”

“In my view, the essence of dance is not being limited by the number of movements… but I lack the brainpower to come up with more on my own. I’ll teach you a few moves I learned from Luna. You should be able to adapt them.”

Cheonghwi demonstrated several inhuman evasion maneuvers to the green forest swordsman and gave Namgung Myeong a valuable practical experience before finally letting them go.

Later, the green forest bandits who returned to their base testified like this.

Some crazy sword-wielding guy, using a technique only assassins or the vicious would use, moved not like a human but more like an insect, used sorcery, and toyed with them for a long while before letting them go.

—

A few days later, Cheonghwi and the Namgung siblings arrived at the city gates looking like beggars. This was Jeobuseong, said to be near Cheongyeongho, a bustling place teeming with people.

All sorts of people were coming and going through the city gates. Watching the carriages smoothly enter the main road, the Namgung siblings grumbled.

“…If we hadn’t wandered through the mountains, one day on the main road would have been enough.”

“If we had taken a carriage, half a day might have sufficed…”

Jeobuseong was very close to the Namgung clan. Therefore, Cheonghwi intentionally twisted the route to arrive late. Naturally, it was assumed they had gone far away.

“Shall we start with a meal, or would you prefer to wash up first?”

“I long for a meal fit for humans…”

“We must clean up first; how can one look so unhuman?”

As the siblings disagreed, Namgung Myeong and Namgung Seung-ah locked eyes, readying themselves for a showdown. Rock-paper-scissors would guide them to their desired outcome.

“Rock… Paper… Scissors!”

“Ha!”

“……!!”

A cunning application of insight, predicting the opponent’s next move from their gaze, a strategic preemptive strike!

“It’s a cheat…!!”

“Where is there cheating in a fair match, sister.”

Namgung Myeong, victorious with rock, raised his arms high, basking in the joy of victory.

“Let’s head to the inn, Master Cheonghwi! I know of a fine place in Jebuseong, frequented often. It’s called Seomyeonru…”

“What kind of dishes do they serve?”

“Carbona── ack.”

“?”

Namgung Myeong seemed to bite his tongue, groaning in pain, then after a brief pause, he replied again.

“I’ve heard their buckwheat noodles with bamboo leaf extract are exceptionally good!”

“Listening alone doesn’t give me a clear picture.”

“The broth is truly profound; Master Cheonghwi, you’ll surely enjoy it!”

Chatting away, they reached the city gates, where the gatekeeper thumped the ground with his spear, blocking their path.

“?”

“For the time being, beggars are not allowed entry.”

“We are not beggars, you see…?!”

“With that appearance, what else! Anyway, you can’t enter, so off you go!”

Namgung Seung-ah seemed on the verge of tears. She wanted to declare their noble status to the world right then, to make the rude gatekeeper kneel and let them pass for a much-needed bath.

Namgung Myeong, on the other hand, looked puzzled.

“Excuse me, sir. Weren’t beggars also welcomed before? Has something happened inside? I must know!”

“Inside, there have been frequent disappearances, so there’s an order not to let suspicious people in. You might get arrested if you enter without cause, so if you’re looking to beg, best look elsewhere.”

“Oh no, such trouble…”

“Hmm. Still, we are not the suspicious ones. I am actually a Taoist who has cultivated the way, and I can even show you a fireball if I burn a talisman…”

As Cheonghwi posed as a fake Taoist, trying to figure out how to slip through the city gates,

“…What are you doing there, Taoist? Leading the young masters of the Nangong family.”

“…Miss Heeyeonghyeon? What brings you here?”

“I’m here on business. And stop calling me ‘miss.'”

Their eyes met, Heeyeonghyeon disguised as a country village woman.