The duel between Hwangbo Hyeji and Namgung Su-a began with Namgung Su-a taking the initiative.

“Hup…!”

Crackle! A faint electric current lingered on the ground where Namgung Su-a stepped.

She was standing at the crossroads to the Absolute Peak. Now, even the smallest of her movements carried a faint manifestation of her intent.

Namgung Su-a approached like a bolt of lightning. Hwangbo Hyeji inhaled sharply, feeling as though a thunderstorm was barreling toward her.

“Ugh…!”

Hwangbo Hyeji quickly bent backward. Swoosh! The greatsword grazed the tip of her nose.

‘This won’t do….’

Consciously, she pushed all other thoughts aside.

At this moment, she even forgot her mother’s words. There was only one thing left—to move forward, as heavy as a great mountain.

Thud!

She took a large step forward, using the momentum to spring her bent waist back upright. At the same time, she dove into Namgung Su-a’s space, pulling back her fist.

Crunch! A slender frame. But the strength within it was anything but.

Holding her breath tightly, Hwangbo Hyeji threw her fist with all her might.

Boom────────!!

Her fist struck the side of the greatsword. Hum…, the greatsword vibrated.

However, Namgung Su-a, a master of control, expertly redirected the shock through a circular motion of her sword, using that very momentum to swing it even more powerfully.

Crackle!

A streak of blue lightning. Hwangbo Hyeji quickly raised both arms to defend.

Slash! Following the arc of the greatsword, drops of blood scattered.

Although her internal energy protected her arms from severe injuries, the fact that she had taken damage at all was a problem.

The battle of wits had already been lost.

“Phew…”

Hwangbo Hyeji quickly retreated to steady her breathing.

‘If I win this time….’

Would her mother finally praise her?

She quickly shook off the thought. It wasn’t something to dwell on during a duel.

But one thought led to another, spiraling into more distractions.

‘Did Namgung Sohyeop say he was cheering for me?’

Encouragement. A gesture to help her muster strength. To do her best in the duel. Ultimately, wasn’t that just a way of saying she should win?

‘No.’

He said not to worry about victory or defeat. To simply give her best in the duel.

Then what? If she gave her best and still lost, what meaning would there be in that loss?

Of course, against an opponent like Namgung Su-a, winning was impossible without giving her best. She had to give her all. But even so…

Her chest felt tight, as though something unknown was pressing down on it.

Clenching her lips tightly, Hwangbo Hyeji looked at Namgung Su-a. She was waiting patiently. That kindness—was it a trait of the Namgung family? Just like Namgung Sohyeop…

“Are you okay?”

“…Pardon?”

“It might sound strange, but overthinking isn’t always a good thing.”

“Yes…”

“Just follow your heart. Sometimes living like that isn’t so bad.”

Of course, I’m not very good at practicing that myself.

Namgung Su-a chuckled softly, a sight so beautiful that Hwangbo Hyeji found herself staring blankly—until she suddenly slapped her own cheek.

Slap!

“Oh my…”

“Thank you. I’ll do it properly now.”

“Hehe, losing after saying that would be embarrassing.”

Namgung Su-a smiled and dragged her greatsword across the ground.

“Hoo…!”

Hwangbo Hyeji exhaled deeply, exploding all her internal energy in one powerful burst.

Mountain Thunder Fist. The secret martial art of the Hwangbo family. Its overwhelming power now imbued Hwangbo Hyeji’s fist.

She looked at her fist, wrapped in golden-brown energy.

Like a mighty rock. Like Mount Tai, which withstands all storms. She moved forward.

Thud!

Her heavy steps belied a body as swift as a bird in motion.

Namgung Su-a immediately pivoted on her lead foot, spinning her greatsword in a massive arc that rose toward the sky.

“Hup─!”

Hwangbo Hyeji twisted her body to avoid it. The blade brushed past her shoulder, barely missing by the width of a sheet of paper.

Crackle. Residual currents in the air sparked. Hwangbo Hyeji’s eyes gleamed as she stomped down hard.

Boom──!!

The arena shook, and Namgung Su-a’s stance faltered slightly.

Rooted like a tree, Hwangbo Hyeji twisted her entire body, using her planted foot as a pivot.

‘Heavily. And solidly.’

Her body, twisted to the limit, unwound in an instant. Her foot, firmly rooted, transferred power through her waist to her fist, which unleashed it.

Boom──────────!!!

Hwangbo Hyeji’s punch roared through the air like a thunderclap.

But Namgung Su-a had already leaped into the air like a butterfly clinging to her greatsword.

“Ah…!”

Watching her, Hwangbo Hyeji couldn’t help but marvel.

The upward swing of the greatsword had been a setup for this. Namgung Su-a, lifted by the force of her own blade, now floated in midair. Rumble! Lightning momentarily engulfed her body.

Hwangbo Hyeji witnessed it clearly.

Time seemed to slow, and every movement was etched into her eyes.

Namgung Su-a’s next strike, the rumbling thunder, the marks their duel left on the arena, and the roaring spectators.

She saw her mother’s gaze in the crowd.

What emotions were reflected in her eyes?

Affection? Perhaps. No, certainly. Her mother loved her; she knew that.

Displeasure? Likely. Anyone could see she was being outclassed by Namgung Su-a. Satisfaction was out of the question.

And then?

Impatience. Envy. Jealousy. And perhaps a fervor for martial arts. What was her mother seeing right now?

Her mother. Yes. The desire to fulfill her expectations, the weight of those expectations crushing her shoulders, and the thrill of exchanging moves in a duel.

Her scattered thoughts surged back together as time resumed its flow.

The descending greatsword loomed. Yet, to her, it still seemed slow.

Hwangbo Hyeji’s eyes searched for someone.

Namgung Myung. He was shouting something.

She couldn’t hear it over the slowed time, the roaring crowd, and the rumbling thunder, but she knew—it was encouragement meant for her.

‘I don’t care anymore.’

Hwangbo Hyeji let everything go. She emptied her mind and embraced the flowing time.

Rumble!

The greatsword descended. Hwangbo Hyeji didn’t avoid it.

Crunch!

The taste of steel and blood. Namgung Su-a’s eyes widened in shock.

Hwangbo Hyeji had bitten the greatsword to block it, her fierce eyes glaring.

Blood poured freely. Her teeth trembled. Yet, her torn lips curved into a smile.

Hwangbo Hyeji laughed maniacally, throwing punch after punch.

Bang! Boom!

Thunder echoed across the arena.

Namgung Su-a’s greatsword and Hwangbo Hyeji’s fists clashed repeatedly, each strike reverberating like a different kind of thunder.

The spectators erupted in cheers at the fiery duel. Every time Hwangbo Hyeji’s blood splattered, the crowd’s roars grew louder.

Namgung Myung watched nervously, his palms sweaty.

‘She’s overdoing it….’

There’s a difference between doing one’s best and being reckless.

If she could find satisfaction at the end, it would be fine. If not, she would be broken.

Boom!

After countless exchanges, Hwangbo Hyeji instinctively knew.

‘This will be the last one.’

Win or lose. No, she would almost certainly lose. But this final punch would be her last.

The greatsword aimed for her shoulder. She let it hit.

Slash! The long greatsword pierced her shoulder.

There was no pain. Forcing her impaled arm to move, she grabbed the greatsword. Thud! Stamping her foot, she threw her punch.

“…Ah.”

Namgung Su-a’s body shifted smoothly.

The greatsword skewered Hwangbo Hyeji’s left shoulder. Namgung Su-a pushed it aside with her palm, moving to Hwangbo Hyeji’s left flank.

The greatsword blocked Hwangbo Hyeji from turning her body. She hastily threw a punch, but it didn’t connect.

Boom──────────!!!

Her fist swung through empty air. Namgung Su-a placed her hand on Hwangbo Hyeji’s abdomen and spoke.

“Well done.”

Crackle!

Lightning burst forth, and Hwangbo Hyeji’s vision turned blue.

When she regained consciousness, she was in Namgung Su-a’s arms.

“The winner is… Namgung Su-a of the Namgung family!”

She had lost.

Hwangbo Hyeji let out a long sigh.

“…I’ve learned a lot.”

+++++

 

As soon as the duel ended, Hwangbo Hyeji was hurriedly attended to by medics who had rushed over.

Her wounds were treated with herbs and goldsore medicine, and layers of bandages were wrapped around her. The pristine white bandages quickly turned red as blood seeped through.

Hwangbo Hyeji limped forward, each step heavy.

‘Still, for what it’s worth…’

She felt she had done well. Anyone who saw her fight would agree she had given her all. She simply hadn’t been able to reach Namgung Su-a.

Amid the slight sense of relief in her chest, a glimmer of confidence began to surface.

Her aching teeth and torn lips throbbed painfully, but she swallowed the blood-tinged saliva as she searched for her mother.

“Mother.”

Hwangbo Hyeji called out and smiled awkwardly.

“I’m sorry.”

Even as she apologized, she couldn’t help but feel a tiny spark of hope.

You did well. You gave it your all.

—or perhaps—
Are you okay? Does it hurt much? How are your injuries?

Her mother loved her, after all.

Whether it was praise or concern, even a short word would make this pain feel insignificant.

“I’m very disappointed.”

“…Pardon?”

“What was that duel? You fought so disgracefully and didn’t even win. You fought like some common thug in the streets, and you’ve gained nothing from it.”

Hwangbo Hyeji’s lips pressed together tightly.

“Enough. Go and rest. Once your injuries heal, I’ll find someone to oversee your training.”

+++++

 

“Brother, please help me just this once.”

At Namgung Myung’s request, Seo-jun nodded without hesitation.

Seo-jun, too, had overheard the conversation between Hwangbo Hyeji and her mother. He had a good idea of what Namgung Myung wanted to ask.

“Should I just hurl a Mixed Origin Sun and Moon Art at the Hwangbo family villa?”

That much wouldn’t be difficult.

“Ah, no… That’s not what I mean—would you come with me to the Hwangbo family’s villa? I don’t think we can leave things as they are.”

“Of course. You can count on me.”

Seo-jun was someone who treated men and women with equal consideration.