Four Years Ago.

Shaolin had received a secret proposition from Nomun, known as the First Sword of Mount Hua and praised as one of the Ten Masters Under Heaven.

He had offered to retrieve something Shaolin had lost—in exchange for a Great Restoration Pill.

The Great Restoration Pill was a precious elixir, so rare that even Shaolin possessed only a few.

Monks central to the leadership of Shaolin gathered at once to deliberate on Nomun’s proposal.

“He didn’t even guarantee he could return it, nor is there any assurance he’ll keep his word. The Great Restoration Pill is one of our temple’s most precious treasures. We must not give it up under any circumstance.”

“And how would the Mount Hua Sect know of our internal affairs? That is what I find suspicious.”

“It is not Mount Hua that knows our situation—only the Plum Blossom Divine Sword is aware. She claimed to have seen it by coincidence.”

As stated, the one who made the proposal was not Mount Hua but Nomun as an individual.

He approached Shaolin, swearing he would not inform Mount Hua of the monastery’s affairs—and instead, pleaded on behalf of Mount Hua’s.

Specifically, he claimed that the life of Mount Hua’s Sect Leader, the Jade Plum Sword No Un, was in critical danger.

“However precious the Great Restoration Pill may be, it cannot be compared to what our Shaolin must recover. Giving up the Great Restoration Pill would be a loss we could endure. But if our current predicament were to become known, the entire world would laugh at Shaolin.”

“Agreed. And it is not just anyone saying this, but the Plum Blossom Divine Sword, whose reputation commands respect. He would never make light of a promise that could tarnish Mount Hua’s honor.”

Shaolin accepted Nomun’s offer for three reasons:

First, because retrieving what had been lost was more important than the value of the Great Restoration Pill.

Second, because they trusted Nomun’s strength and character as one of the Ten Masters Under Heaven.

And third, because it was to save the leader of the Mount Hua Sect.

“A life hangs in the balance. There’s nothing more precious than that. Even if it weren’t our own matter, if Mount Hua had asked for the Great Restoration Pill, I would have handed it over.”

Thus spoke Abbot Beopgong of Shaolin Temple—and that became the temple’s unified stance.

They gave up the Great Restoration Pill on the condition that the situation remained confidential and unspoken.

But—

“To think such a precious item was taken by black-path sects! From someone hailed as one of the Ten Masters Under Heaven, no less! How does this make any sense?!”

“Rather than taken, wasn’t it said to have been lost during combat?”

“Same difference! Someone who knows the value of a Great Restoration Pill—!”

It was an outrageous report.

That the Great Restoration Pill had been lost in an ambush by the Black Path Factions.

Even if Mount Hua’s Sect Leader’s life was on the line—was it truly necessary to hand over another one?

The core monks and elders of Shaolin rose in protest.

The dominant opinion was that retrieving the lost Great Restoration Pill from Mount Hua should come first.

“It’s their loss to deal with. We’ve already given it to them. Now it’s time to receive what was promised!”

But when they sent letters requesting Nomun to fulfill his promise, all they received in return were requests for more time.

They could understand.

In a life-or-death crisis for Mount Hua’s Sect Leader, of course things would be chaotic.

Perhaps knowing this, Nomun occasionally sent updates.

[I am pursuing the one who took the Great Restoration Pill. It was in the hands of a child at a place called Hwaoru in the Yunnan region. The child has apparently taken the pill to the Namgoong Clan, so I intend to go there myself.

Once I recover the pill, I promise I will find what Shaolin seeks. Please wait just a little longer.]

They believed him completely when he said he would move in person to retrieve it.

Questions continued to build—why was the Great Restoration Pill in the hands of a child? Who was this child? And why had the Namgoong Clan suddenly become involved?

But still, they chose to believe in the Plum Blossom Divine Sword and waited.

Until one day, a devastating message arrived.

“They say the Plum Blossom Divine Sword has disappeared.”

“How can someone simply vanish overnight? What in the world happened?”

“There are rumors that something occurred after the Namgoong Clan visited Mount Hua. They say several disciples of Mount Hua and warriors of the Namgoong Clan died.”

“Good heavens... what is going on? And what of the promise made by the Plum Blossom Divine Sword?”

They had no means of recourse.

Mount Hua knew nothing of Shaolin’s situation, and there was no way Shaolin could expose its vulnerability and demand restitution.

“We placed too much trust in the Plum Blossom Divine Sword.”

“To think someone reputed to stand above the world harbored ulterior motives... How lamentable.”

“Amitabha...”

Yet, even if they had not received what was promised, Shaolin could not remain passive.

From that day forward, Shaolin began investigating the Hwaoru mentioned in Nomun’s letter—and Namgoong Seolhwa.

Over several years of discreet inquiry, they uncovered two truths.

First, that a hidden force operated behind Hwaoru.

And second, that Namgoong Seolhwa had served as the small-tower mistress of Hwaoru before the Great Restoration Pill was smuggled away.

****

“Amitabha. Did you rest well last night?”

As Seolhwa stepped out of her quarters for early morning training, she found Hyeon already waiting outside her door.

She hadn’t expected him to be there so early, and stood still for a moment, lips slightly parted in surprise.

“Did you not sleep...?”

“I slept well.”

“Then why are you here so early...?”

“Ah, I arrived just a little while ago. I thought perhaps the benefactor might go to train at dawn...”

“I can find my way to the training hall by myself now.”

“That’s fortunate to hear.”

“...”

“The temple grounds are complex, and it’s easy to lose your way.”

“I’m not allowed to go many places anyway. So there’s not much chance of getting lost.”

“Ah.”

As if remembering something, Hyeon raised a finger.

His expression brightened slightly.

“I mentioned to the Head of the Disciplinary Hall that the benefactor has taken great interest in the temple.”

That wretched Disciplinary Head.

Wasn’t he the very monk who had thrown her into such a cramped room and kept citing temple regulations to restrict her movement?

“I see.”

Seolhwa didn’t expect much.

But the response was unexpected.

“The Head asked whether you might wish to observe the temple’s internal training.”

“...Excuse me?”

Had she misheard?

Seolhwa blinked.

If they meant internal training, then surely that referred to the core regimen currently undertaken at Shaolin?

Surely... they weren’t going to show that?

“Ordinarily, the temple never allows outsiders to witness internal training. However, as an honored guest, you have been permitted to observe for half a sijin.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You will be able to see a portion of the external martial training, excluding the main strengthening techniques.”

A glimmer of life returned to Seolhwa’s gaze.

To witness Shaolin’s external martial training firsthand!

Even if only for half a sijin—an hour—that alone was incredible.

‘Does Shaolin have some ulterior motive?’

Why were they suddenly being so accommodating?

‘What if I get to the training hall and there’s no one there again?’

‘Just some training dummies sitting around.’

It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. It had already happened before.

Still, even though she tried to rein in her expectations, her heart thudded with excitement.

Northern Peak Shaolin!

If she could finally see their prestige for herself—then whatever scheming they had in mind, she would gladly face it.

****

“Lady Namgoong.”

While waiting for Hyeon to return after asking for permission, a familiar face approached.

It was Yu Pyo—whom she hadn’t seen since arriving at Shaolin.

“You seem in good spirits. Things must be going better than expected?”

“Better than expected doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Meals served on time, a room to sleep in, a spacious private training yard.

She lacked nothing. Life was surprisingly comfortable.

“Feels like it’s been a while since we last spoke.”

It had only been a day, but given that he was part of the party that had come with her to Shaolin, it did feel like a while.

“I’ve been busy visiting monks with ties to Mount Hua, asking them to look after you.”

“Me?”

“Wouldn’t it be a shame to come all the way to Shaolin and not even catch a glimpse of the Abbot? I had to do what I could.”

Seolhwa was taken aback.

She had assumed he was indifferent, seeing as he hadn’t shown himself.

If this were four years ago, he’d probably be off somewhere slandering her to Shaolin monks—but apparently, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» he was doing his part.

Was he more responsible than she thought?

“Thank you for going out of your way.”

“I didn’t go out of my way.”

“...”

Right. No more thank-yous.

“But what are you doing here?”

“Waiting for Monk Hyeon.”

“Hyeon? The second-generation disciple of Shaolin?”

“Yes.”

Yu Pyo was Mount Hua’s First-Generation Disciple, while Hyeon was Shaolin’s Second-Generation.

In terms of seniority, Yu Pyo was one level above. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Just then, Hyeon returned from requesting permission.

Seeing Yu Pyo, he gave a polite bow and spoke first.

“Greetings to Daoist Yu Pyo of Mount Hua.”

“It’s been a while. You’ve bulked up quite a bit since I last saw you.”

“I haven’t neglected my training.”

The two exchanged words with a familiarity that suggested they’d met before.

Even Yu Pyo—who didn’t seem particularly fond of Shaolin monks—showed no discomfort.

If they hadn’t gotten along, this might have been awkward. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

“So, what were you about to do?”

“We were on our way to observe the internal training of the second-generation disciples with Lady Namgoong.”

“The Abbot granted permission?”

“Yes. I just came back after securing it.”

Yu Pyo looked at Seolhwa with a slightly surprised expression.

He, too, seemed baffled by Shaolin’s sudden shift in attitude.

“Would it be possible for me to accompany you?”

At that, Seolhwa laughed inwardly.

‘They barely agreed to let me go after all that. You think they’ll let someone just tag along because they want to?’

This was still Shaolin’s training, after all.

“Of course. Let’s go together.”

“...”