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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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When you look at someone, they also look back at you.
The moment Namgung-Woo saw Han Gye-ran, she also sensed his gaze.
With a rustle of silk, she turned towards him.
Her steps were more akin to courtly etiquette than a martial arts footwork technique.
But he could see it.
The profound principles of martial arts woven into each graceful movement.
He understood it instinctively.
An incredibly restrained and controlled footwork style.
Different from his explosive Infinite Steps, yet no less profound.
Her spear technique, the sheer power of her internal energy, her elegant footwork—everything about her was impressive. But something else caught his eye.
‘That’s… authentic Hanbok.’
He’d noticed it before, but Hanbok was the dominant fashion in the Central Plains.
Wealthy families all wore clothes inspired by Goryeo styles, and even commoners with some means would own a set of Goryeo-style clothing.
It was common knowledge that Haedong fashion was superior.
But imitations could never match the original.
Goryeo-inspired clothing in the Central Plains often lagged behind the latest trends in Joseon.
Yet, this woman, clearly a high-ranking member of the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Court, was wearing a perfectly tailored Hanbok.
It was puzzling.
That’s why she spoke first.
“Young man, what brings you to the Imperial Hill?”
Her voice held an unmistakable authority.
It wasn’t just the infusion of internal energy. It was the weight of her words, the power she commanded.
Though she hadn’t become Empress, she’d protected the current emperor, who was once a deposed crown prince, from countless threats.
She held more power than any empress.
Not just martial power, but political influence as well. Her words carried the weight of an empire.
But even she wasn’t completely at ease.
In fact, she felt more apprehensive than she had when facing dozens of assassins to protect the young prince.
Knowledge brought clarity, and with clarity came fear.
She was a Transcendent Realm expert.
Among the less than one hundred martial artists who’d reached that level, she was among the strongest.
Even a Dao Lord would think twice before challenging her.
With her overwhelming strength, even the greatest martial artists would be forced to sacrifice a limb or two to defeat her.
The Imperial Court was more dangerous than any martial arts sect.
And the era she’d lived through had been particularly treacherous, with two emperors vying for the throne.
She, a woman from Dongyi, had protected the deposed prince, navigating the treacherous currents of court politics and surviving against all odds.
It wasn’t just her martial prowess. Her political acumen and sharp judgment were even more formidable.
She recognized instantly that the young man before her possessed an immense level of internal energy, a level she couldn’t hope to match.
Channeling the Heavenly Primordial Qi, the Imperial Family’s secret cultivation technique, she prepared for any sudden attack, her senses sharpened to their peak.
Depending on his answer, her hand would become the instrument of death, striking at his vital points.
A tense silence hung in the air.
Then he spoke.
“To eliminate the source of this chaos, Madam.”
“And what reason do I have to believe you?”
“You already do.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“Explain yourself.”
“You’re already within my sword’s reach.”
She knew that a fight between experts was often decided by distance. His range was greater than she’d anticipated, but still within her calculations.
“Indeed. If I were an enemy, you would have already attacked.”
His answer confirmed her suspicion. He was confident in his ability to defeat her.
‘A bold child.’
She acknowledged his skill.
But battles weren’t always decided by raw power.
“Madam, we don’t have time.”
“Tell me who you are, and this can all be resolved.”
The Heavenly Primordial Qi was a cultivation technique created for the emperor.
She’d earned the right to learn it, but it was typically forbidden to consorts.
Its power was too great.
Its ability to discern truth from falsehood, a crucial skill for an emperor navigating the treacherous waters of court politics, was the reason it was reserved for the ruler.
It was a skill usually only attainable by those who’d opened their upper dantian, but she’d mastered it long ago.
Unless her opponent cultivated a special technique that masked their intentions, she could see through their lies.
She should have been able to discern the truth in his words when he’d claimed to be here to eliminate the source of the chaos.
She should have lowered her guard.
But…
‘I can’t read him.’
His words were a blank slate.
It heightened her suspicion.
“I’ll ask again. Who are you?”
“My name is Nam Woo. I’m currently a guest of the Peng Family.”
He deliberately used the language of his previous life.
The maids attending her stirred at the unfamiliar sounds.
“He’s using incantations!”
“Protect the Elder! Shield her with your bodies!”
“Elder, be careful…!”
Even the most skilled martial artist was vulnerable to sorcery if they didn’t understand it.
But Han Gye-ran, though surprised, remained calm.
“It’s alright. It’s not an incantation.”
The fierce demeanor from when she killed the Vermilion Bird Guard was gone.
Instead, Han Gye-ran, with a gentle touch, carefully removed the palace maids and looked at Namgung-woo with softened eyes.
“You speak Joseon’s tongue.”
“…I do.”
Whether it was called “Korean” or “Joseon,” the language of late Joseon was practically identical to modern Korean.
“Joseon! It warms my heart to meet someone from my homeland in this distant land. But your accent is strange. One of your parents must be from Joseon. Your mother, perhaps? There are many Joseon women who came to Ming, just like me.”
While both his parents were of Korean descent, he knew how to navigate social situations.
This woman was clearly someone of high status.
While she appeared to be a middle-aged lady, her speech and the deference shown to her suggested she was much older.
While martial arts could slow the aging process, it couldn’t stop it completely, especially mental aging.
In fact, cultivating the upper dantian often accelerated mental maturity, due to the intense focus and contemplation it required.
Given her status and martial skill, it’s natural for someone like her to be stubborn.
Instead of pointing out what was wrong, Namgung-Woo chose to actively highlight only the correct parts of what she said.
“Indeed. My mother is from Haedong. Your insight is remarkable, Madam.”
“I see. Where is she from? Surely she must have missed her homeland. You must have heard her speak of it.”
“My mother is from Cheonan. Our ancestor is Jeon Nak, a founding contributor to the Goryeo Dynasty.”
He recalled his maternal grandfather proudly showing him the family genealogy.
“The Jeon Clan of Cheonan! I know of them. General Jeon Nak, who died alongside Shin Sung-gyeom protecting Taejo of Goryeo. His loyalty is still remembered, even in Joseon. I myself am from Cheongju, near Cheonan. We are practically neighbors in this foreign land.”
Her suspicion had almost completely vanished.
Meeting someone from her homeland, someone from a neighboring town, in this distant land, was a heartwarming experience.
She was one of the Imperial Court’s strongest martial artists, but there were at least three others stronger than her.
There was no reason for him to learn Joseon and fabricate a backstory just to get close to her.
She spoke kindly, like an elder addressing a distant relative.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-six.”
“I see. I was too busy serving the Emperor to pay much attention to Joseon at that time. It’s commendable that you’ve retained your mother tongue. And… twenty-six, with such skill.”
She quickly reviewed the Imperial Family’s lineage in her mind.
There was one suitable candidate.
“Excellent. Your age, your background, your skill… you would be a worthy addition to the Imperial Family.”
Namgung-Woo narrowed his eyes.
This wasn’t going as he’d expected.
Oblivious to his unease, she continued, a pleased smile on her face.
“The Emperor has one younger sister who hasn’t married yet. She lost her mother at a young age, so I raised her like my own granddaughter.”
While the Emperor’s daughters were too young for marriage, his youngest sister was close to Namgung-Woo’s age, at least by the standards of this era.
“What do you say? If you agree, I will recommend you to the Emperor as a suitable husband for his sister.”
Arranged marriages were common in this era, but the idea felt unsettling to him, given his modern sensibilities.
The sudden shift to a matchmaking conversation left Namgung-woo with a strange unease, as if someone were saying, ‘Our granddaughter is quite beautiful,’ and this clearly wasn’t the time for such matters.
“Madam, with all due respect, shouldn’t we be focusing on more pressing matters?”
“You mean the Ghost Gate on Longevity Hill? There’s no need to worry. I’ve already sent someone.”
He refocused his Ever-Clear Vision on the summit of Longevity Hill, which he’d momentarily neglected.
Indeed.
Another, even more powerful aura had appeared.
“The Commander of the Imperial Guards is there. There’s no cause for concern. Unless they’re one of those so-called Three Extremes or Twelve Lords the martial world talks about, no one can defeat him.”
The leader of the Emperor’s Blades.
The Emperor’s first sword.
The Commander of the Imperial Guards.
His skill was undoubtedly exceptional.
The fact that no one but the Three Extremes could defeat him meant he was the strongest among the Twelve Lords.
But…
“It’s not enough.”
The threat he sensed was far greater than any single person could handle.
“I have to go as well.”
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Thanks Chaos!