CHAPTER 66: SWORD FLOWER OR SWORD DEMON (2)

Han Soyeon’s POV [Still Flashback]

"Your bone structure, and if anything’s wrong. You need to know these things before proper training."

"Oh! Yes!"

I’d stumbled into a legitimate opportunity to touch him as much as I wanted. I’d tossed out the excuse on a whim, not expecting such an easy opening. If I let my guard down, I might end up with a nosebleed. My hands twitched before I’d even touched Yuseong, and I quickly hid them behind my back. Good thing, too—if he’d seen, even his innocent nature might’ve sensed something off, and he’d have fled. Not that I’d let him escape so easily.

"...Eut."

"What’s wrong?!"

"Oh, no... just a sudden chill..."

Even after feeling that shiver, he didn’t run and entrusted himself to me. I wrapped my arms around him from behind.

This level of contact should be safe...

Five years—just five years of patience. After that, people might whisper, but legally, it’d be fine.

"Haa... haa..."

"Why are you breathing so hard?"

"Oh, uh... it’s... a breathing technique."

"Oh..."

And he believed it. If I dragged this out, I’d run out of excuses, so I began moving my hands.

Rustle—

"Ah..."

"Stay still..."

I focused all my senses on him, extending my awareness to check for others nearby. If anyone was around, I’d genuinely just examine him and stop, but...

No one.

If not...

Slurp—

A little "play" wouldn’t hurt.

"Hngh..."

My hand slipped under his clothes, brushing his stomach. I couldn’t see it, but the texture under my fingertips painted a vivid picture—soft, smooth skin. When I grazed his navel, he flinched adorably.

"What’s wrong? Was my hand cold?"

"N-no..."

Was he truly oblivious, or pretending? If he showed even a hint of suspicion, I could stop at a reasonable point, but his reactions made it hard to gauge how far he’d let me go.

No, what am I thinking?

I was here to help a fellow Hwasan disciple with his bone structure. Any physical contact was incidental, and I had no impure intentions. Even after rationalizing, I wondered if this was really me—

It’s because I love him.

Love is noble, beautiful. In its name, any sin could be forgiven. And I hadn’t sinned yet—just indulged a little.

"Uh, um... Are we almost done...?"

"It takes time to check your whole body..."

"I-it’s kind of ticklish..."

One hand rested on his thigh, the other near his heart. If our genders were reversed, this would be scandalous, but as it was, it was just a senior examining a junior’s physique, right?

"Hngh..."

His soft whimpers from the tickling drew my gaze to his reddened nape, tempting me to lick it. His flushed earlobes begged to be nibbled, and I yearned to slide my hands deeper—

Calm down.

This was still defensible. Those thoughts crossed the line. Even if he wasn’t resisting, going further would make him realize something was wrong. We’d only just met today. If I took it slow, grew closer gradually, and made him dependent on me, he could be mine—

"Haa... haa..."

He turned, his ragged breathing, flushed face, and teary eyes forming the most beautiful expression I’d ever seen.

"Are we... still not done...?"

"H-huh?"

"I feel weird... If it’s not done, can we rest a bit...?"

"Oh, no! We’re done! It’s fine!"

I yanked my hands away and stepped back, quickly covering my nose. I’d thought about making him dependent, but now I felt like I was the one at risk.

Hoo... Calm down, Han Soyeon...

Touching him now would be a crime.

Tap, tap—

Barely steadying my racing heart, I turned to see Yuseong on the ground, propped up on his hands, panting.

"Ah... Sorry... My stamina’s always been bad... I don’t know why my body’s not cooperating after so little..."

"No... It’s okay."

"S-so... Did you find anything?"

His flushed face held a glimmer of hope, as if he wished there was something special about him. But...

"...Sorry."

"...Oh."

I couldn’t lie.

"Honestly... your body isn’t suited for martial arts. Your bone structure is too weak. Building even a little muscle would take several times the effort of others."

He was too frail. Even accounting for his youth, this was extreme. No matter how much a martial art emphasized softness (yu), there were limits—feathers couldn’t stop boulders. A baseline of strength was essential.

I genuinely wondered how he’d passed Hwasan’s entrance exam. Did he have exceptional intellect? His practice suggested otherwise, deepening my curiosity.

"...Even so, I’ll still learn it."

His determined voice cut through my thoughts.

"No matter how long it takes... I want to master Hwasan’s martial arts."

His resolve, stark against his fragile frame, made him seem almost reliable.

"Won’t it be tough?"

"...It’s fine if it’s tough. I came here prepared for that."

"Hmm..."

I’d thought him merely delicate, but he had conviction.

"Alright. I’ll help you."

"...Really?"

"I said I’d help earlier, didn’t I?"

This was my chance—not only to aid him and earn his favor but also to justify physical contact. Even if he was young, he was a boy. If I imprinted myself on him now, then later...

Hehe...

With grand plans in mind, I taught him suitable training methods that day before we parted. That night, I boasted to my master about our first conversation, my heart full of satisfaction and anticipation for tomorrow.

+

"By the way, Yuseong, why do you want to learn Hwasan’s martial arts?"

Swish—

I dodged his punch, sparking a conversation.

Swish—

We were in the midst of a playful bet: if he could graze my clothes with the Plum Blossom Fist I’d taught him, I’d grant a request. If I won, I’d have control of his body for half a shichen (an hour). He still seemed oblivious to my ulterior motives, likely chalking up my desire to "mess with him" as sisterly teasing. His innocence was utterly charming.

Just four years and 350 days to go...

I hadn’t asked his birthday yet. Shaving off about 100 days would leave me with no regrets.

Swish—

"Why I want to learn Hwasan’s martial arts?"

"Yeah. Being a martial artist comes with restrictions, and if you just wanted to learn martial arts, you didn’t need to come to Hwasan."

For instance, even the Three Powers Mind Method, common on the streets, would suffice for basic martial arts. But for higher-tier techniques, joining a sect made sense—though prestigious ones like Hwasan had steep barriers. The entrance exam couldn’t have been easy, so I was curious why he was so set on Hwasan.

"I want to make plum blossoms bloom."

Swish—

"Plum blossoms?"

If that was his reason, Hwasan was indeed the right choice.

"Why plum blossoms?"

"It was my grandfather’s dying wish. He wanted to smell Hwasan’s plum blossom fragrance."

"...Oh."

The mood turned heavy. I hadn’t known...

"...Sorry."

"No, it’s fine. He’s already gone to a better place."

Swish—

The air grew awkward.

Why did I bring up something so heavy?

I’d have to ask eventually, but this wasn’t the moment.

What do I do with this vibe?

His punches lacked their earlier vigor.

"Y-Yuseong...? How about we stop for tod—"

Just as I tried to break the tension—

Trip—

"?!"

He stumbled over his own foot, heading for a hard fall.

Grab—

"Are you okay?!"

I yanked him up by the arm. In that instant—

Hug—

"Gotcha."

Yuseong’s arms wrapped around my waist.

"This counts as a win, right?"

"T-this is cheating!"

"Aw, come on. A martial artist shouldn’t lie."

"...Sigh."

He’d outsmarted me. I hadn’t expected this cunning side.

"Fine. What’s your request?"

"Can I really say it?"

"As long as it’s reasonable—nothing too tough. Maybe I could fetch an elixir?"

"Then... let me call you ’big sister.’"

"...Huh?"

My mind blanked. Did I hear that right?

"Yuseong, what did you—"

"I said, let me call you ’big sister.’"

"..."

I hadn’t misheard.

Thump, thump—

"B-big sister?"

"Yeah. I was an orphan, with only my grandfather as family... Asking you to be family might be too much, so just let me call you ’big sister.’"

"..."

Family?

"Uh..."

My voice caught, my mind reeling, unsure if this was real.

"Was that too bold...? A lowly secular disciple suggesting such a presumptuous title..."

"N-no! It’s fine! Call me that! Please call me that!"

I needed to hear it again—that word, "big sister," from his lips.

"R-really, it’s okay?"

"Yes, it’s fine, so hurry!"

He beamed, his smile radiant, and spoke.

"Looking forward to it, big sister."

Tremble—

Clinging to my fraying rationality, I wondered: Could I really wait five years?

Even the beautiful or handsome rarely boast about their looks. Humility exists for a reason, so they often laugh off compliments awkwardly, downplaying their appeal. But they’re aware of their beauty, having heard it praised since childhood. They know its power—especially those who’ve struggled, not been pampered.

"Hmm~ hmm~"

Humming, I headed to where Yuseong would be waiting. I’d feared my clumsy question might cost me the chance to see him, but instead, we’d grown closer.

Family...

My lips curved into a smile. Sure, Yuseong’s "family" wasn’t the same as mine, but these things progressed slowly. Who knows? Maybe "big sister" would one day become "honey."

"Hehe..."

His voice calling me "big sister" echoed in my mind, keeping me awake at night. My heart raced dangerously. At this rate, I was in trouble.

What if I neglect my training?

I was already consumed by thoughts of Yuseong. If this continued, I might abandon martial arts entirely. A life spent lost in love with him didn’t sound bad...

Master...

Would she stand by if I fell that far? The master I knew would reprimand me harshly. Love is beautiful, meant to foster mutual growth, not obsession that leads to neglect. She wouldn’t let that slide. She might even try to separate me from Yuseong.

Clench—

That wouldn’t do. Even if it was my master, I couldn’t forgive anyone taking him away—

Wait.

What was I thinking? Such insolent thoughts toward my master...

Let’s just go to Yuseong.

My mindset was shifting lately, unsettling me. I hurried to where he’d be waiting. In the distance, I saw his figure.