Chapter 4 - River Mist

Son Bin suddenly felt an intense energy surrounding him. A peculiar scent wafted through the air, followed by a sharp sound that resonated.

Clank!

The young man with the sword faltered and retreated, taken aback. The fleeting pallor on his face indicated it wasn't just the blocked sword that had thrown him off.

As the young man stepped back, Son Bin experienced a sense of relief, as though a suffocating weight had been lifted from him.

"Wh-who are you?"

The young man attempted to regain his composure and demanded. His entourage, observing from a distance, displayed a mixture of reactions.

Inhale.

A delicate fragrance lingered once more, and a young woman's voice emerged from behind Son Bin.

"Nobody special, but…"

Exhale.

"I don't feel like sharing my name."

Her defiant response furrowed the young man's brow. The lady standing before Son Bin was a young woman dressed in modest martial arts attire. She was slightly shorter than Son Bin and had a face that appeared more mature than her age suggested. Her piercing, intense gaze left a lasting impression on him.

"Humph." The young man snorted, trying to contain his anger. "Are you not ashamed of hiding your identity? Tell us your name and martial arts school at once!"

The woman shielding Son Bin flashed a cunning smile. "Very well."

Swish.

With a graceful motion, her gleaming sword came into view.

"Only if you're worthy."

The straight sword, pointing skyward, shone brilliantly, mirroring her intense gaze. Her figure, adorned with a flowing cape, resembled a painting. Son Bin couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Schree.

The young man unsheathed his sword and held it with both hands.

"How dare you meddle in the affairs of the Namgung family? You'll regret this."

The lady smirked coldly. "By all means, try."

Despite the mention of the Namgung family's name, the lady seemed unfazed. The young man clenched his teeth in response to her blatant disdain and mockery.

Schree.

He recognized that her swordsmanship was not something to be underestimated. Nevertheless, he had been caught off guard by the unexpected interruption, which had forced him into a defensive position.

In a one-on-one duel, particularly with someone close to his age, he wouldn’t be easily outdone.

Huuu.

The young man steadied his breathing and prepared for the challenge.

Ung.

The sword in his hand began to emit a strained groan. Son Bin felt a sense of unease.

"I may not know much about swords or martial arts, but it was evident that the sound emanating from the young man's sword was far from ordinary."

Son Bin observed the woman standing before him. A faint smile graced her face, which only heightened his anxiety. He wondered if she was injured, but she appeared the same as before.

"I'll give you three seconds," the young man declared confidently.

"Declined," the woman responded. "I won't accept any excuses later, saying you lost because you granted me three seconds."

The young man's eyebrows twitched again. "Hmph. If you wish to tarnish your dignity, that's not my concern."

He swiftly raised his sword. Losing his composure, he yearned for the audacious woman to kneel before him as quickly as possible.

"Ha!"

His sword, brimming with sharp energy, followed the sword-style of the Namgung. Their family’s signature sword-style was dignified and magnificent, earning praise from the current Lord.

The young man had unwavering confidence in his own swordsmanship, which had also been commended by the Lord. His sword flashed through the air, seemingly capable of slicing through anything, but everything changed when the woman shifted her feet.

With a fluid movement, her simple attire rippled like waves, and the tip of her sword traced a luminous circle in the air. Then, a sharp metallic sound ensued.

"Clang!"

"Ack!" A groan escaped the young man's mouth.

He wasn't merely halted after blocking the woman's sword but was forced back by the power behind it. Moreover, the woman's sword continued its advance.

'Uh.'

The young man swiftly gathered his scattered focus and confronted the woman's sword. However, her sword methodically and relentlessly pushed him back, much like the river's waves.

He was anxious simply trying to withstand her overpowering offense.

The clashing of their swords grew faster, creating a harmonious rhythm. Each time the metallic sound resonated, the young man retreated a step, his complexion growing paler. And finally.

"Clang!"

With a sharp noise that assaulted his ears, the young man's sword soared through the air.

Thud.

The young man's sword embedded itself in the ground, quivering violently. The young man, clutching his shaking hand, nearly dropped to his knees.

"Ugh."

"A sword reflect its owner's character."

The woman gazed down at the young man with an icy stare. Her black sword, inches away from his face, emitted a chilling light.

"A dishonorable person wields a flimsy, frivolous sword."

Swish.

The woman twirled her hand and sheathed her sword, in a single fluid motion. There was no sound as the blade vanished into its scabbard.

Clack.

The woman turned and walked towards Son Bin. Her graceful footsteps were as light as a dancer's.

"Let's go."

She spoke to Son Bin and began descending the Yellow Crane Tower. Son Bin quickly trailed behind her. From behind, he heard the voice of a young man with a disheveled appearance.

"This isn't over yet!"

Whether the woman walking ahead of him heard the young man's voice or not, she let out a light sigh. "Well, I can agree with at least one thing."

Despite her smiling lips, her tone was cold. "Ignorant words always bring trouble."

Clack, clack.

She continued to descend the Yellow Crane Tower. But Son Bin, who followed her, couldn't shake the feeling that her words held truth. Unconsciously, he raised his hand and covered his mouth.

∴

"Cough."

After descending from the Yellow Crane Tower, Son Bin straightened his clothes and posture. Then, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply to the woman, expressing his gratitude.

"Thank you for your help."

The woman, initially showing surprise, soon covered her mouth with her hand and offered a slight smile.

"You don't need to be so formal."

"No, I must." Son Bin lowered his head. "If you hadn't been there, I wouldn't have been able to avoid trouble today. It's only natural to express my gratitude."

The woman gave a wry smile. "That's not true. I simply mistook you for someone else." She shrugged slightly and sighed. 

"Nevertheless, it's a fact that you showed me kindness." Son Bin insisted earnestly. 

The woman responded with a somewhat awkward smile. "No, if you thank me any further, I might feel insulted."

As Son Bin finally had the chance to take a closer look at her face, he noticed that despite her youth, she had deep-set eyes and a sharp gaze that made her appear wise and mature. As Son Bin studied her, she also examined him.

"Are you, by any chance...?" As the woman spoke, she lowered her head slightly. "No, how could it be him?"

She gave a small laugh at her own whimsical thoughts. "He's the last person in the world..."

She looked up and saw Son Bin's awkward expression.

"Be careful," she cautioned. "The martial arts world is a place dominated by swords and schemes rather than law and doctrine. So it's best to avoid getting involved with them if possible, whether it's for grace or grudge."

Her voice was heavy, and her gaze serious.

"I can't guarantee that you'll be this lucky next time."

Her words were a clear warning, and Son Bin wholeheartedly agreed with her advice.

'Yes, I was reckless.'

Son Bin didn't know who the martial artist wielding the sword was. He couldn't have imagined someone actually drawing their sword in such a public place.

'If it weren't for her...' Son Bin shuddered, realizing that the young man might have carried out his threat. 

"I will keep your words in mind." Son Bin spoke politely, and his serious demeanor seemed to please her as she smiled.

"Well, then..." The woman stood up and offered a slight bow.

"Ah, there!"

"Yes?" The woman turned around.

"I'm Son Bin. Um, may I have the honor of knowing your name?"

The phrase he used typically represented a lovely young lady's name, but for Son Bin, a naive servant, it was his first time using the expression. Furthermore, he couldn't help but blush, as she was indeed a beautiful woman.

"You don't need to worry about my name; I haven't done anything noteworthy." The woman said with a faint smile.

"No, still..." 

Son Bin insisted, and the woman, appearing a bit hesitant, glanced up at the Yellow Crane Tower for a moment before saying,

"Well, then... My name is Kang Ha Su Yeon."

Kang Ha Su Yeon. (江下水煙) It means "mist of the river." And like the river mist, she disappeared.

As the sunset gave way to darkness, Son Bin walked back to the inn, feeling both hungry and weary from the ordeal he had just experienced. Upon arriving, he quickly retreated into the shadows to conceal himself. Despite the inn's noise and grime, Son Bin was so exhausted that he fell asleep almost immediately.

Upon waking, Son Bin headed to the inn's restaurant and ordered a simple meal. It took an unusually long time to arrive, and when it finally did, it was barely edible. After finishing his disappointing meal, he stood up to leave. Just then, the inn's door swung open, and in walked six young men dressed in flashy martial arts attire, each carrying a sword, accompanied by a shabbily dressed middle-aged man in plain clothes.

The young men questioned the shabby man if they had arrived at the correct location, and he confirmed it, proceeding to point at Son Bin, accusing him of causing trouble for a nobleman at the Yellow Crane Tower. Son Bin denied the allegations, but with the young men hailing from the martial arts world, the situation appeared dire. The once-noisy inn fell silent as the young men menacingly approached Son Bin.