10.A Village Stained with Blood, and Growing Suspicion

The trio was walking down the usual path.

However, off in the distance, dark red smoke was rising.

"...I sense something ominous," Jin muttered softly.

Wi-yeon also surveyed the surroundings and said, "That smoke... Is the village burning?"

Lee So-eun remained silent, gazing at the smoke. Her intuition was speaking to her.

This was no mere accident.

And when they arrived at the village, their suspicions were confirmed.

The town was already in chaos.

Buildings were engulfed in flames, and people were running away in fear.

In the center of the village,

A group of people dressed in black were trampling the villagers.

It was the demonic cult.

Wi-yeon gritted his teeth. "These bastards, massacring innocent people so blatantly..."

Jin also gripped his sword. "This isn't a conflict between martial factions—it's pure slaughter."

But,

Lee So-eun said nothing and stared coldly at them.

These people were from the demonic cult.

But to her, they were no longer 'her organization.'

She slowly drew her sword.

"...I'll deal with this."

Her voice was cold.

When the cultists saw the trio, they sneered and drew their swords.

"Hah! More of the righteous faction," one of them mocked.

Their attention was only on Jin and Wi-yeon.

However,

When Lee So-eun drew her sword, their expressions changed.

"...Your swordsmanship is unusual," one of them said with a wary gaze.

Before they could say more—

The battle began.

Jin and Wi-yeon quickly dispatched the cultists, using their righteous martial arts.

However,

The most striking thing was Lee So-eun's swordsmanship.

Her sword moved gracefully, as if dancing, with a strange flow that could only be seen in the demonic cult.

One of the cultists gasped in disbelief.

"That swordsmanship...!?"

But before he could finish his sentence,

Lee So-eun's sword stopped right in front of his throat.

"...No need for words."

She swiftly cut him down.

The cultists were quickly defeated.

And the villagers, seeing this, bowed their heads in gratitude.

"Thank you so much...!"

Jin and Wi-yeon smiled and reassured them.

But,

At that moment,

A group of righteous martial artists arrived from a distance.

They looked at the trio, stunned.

"Are you... the disciples of Mount Hua and Mount Kunlun? Did you save this village?"

Wi-yeon chuckled lightly. "We were just passing by and decided to help."

But,

Their gazes also turned to Lee So-eun.

The leader of the group spoke.

"...Are you a disciple of the righteous martial arts too?"

At that moment,

Lee So-eun's hand gripped her sword.

However,

She calmly responded, "No, I'm just a wandering martial artist."

But,

Their looks became more intense.

"That's hard to believe with such exceptional swordsmanship."

"Especially... the way you wield your sword isn't like the typical righteous sect style."

At that moment,

Jin quietly spoke, "We vouch for her abilities."

Wi-yeon added, "We're just traveling together, but Lee So-eun is undoubtedly a strong martial artist."

The righteous martial artists nodded.

"I see... In any case, this incident will definitely raise your reputation."

Their gaze was filled with approval and acknowledgment.

However,

The subtle shift in their reactions bothered Lee So-eun.

She muttered softly,

"...I've drawn unwanted attention."

The trio left the village.

However,

Two important changes had occurred because of this incident.

First,

The righteous martial artists had begun to take notice of Lee So-eun.

She was no longer just a wandering martial artist, but someone with the skill worthy of recognition from the righteous factions.

Second,

The demonic cult had started to notice her as well.

During the battle, they had clearly sensed a familiar energy in her swordsmanship.

And,

This fact would surely spread within the demonic cult.

Lee So-eun sensed this instinctively.

"...I must be more careful from now on."

However,

She could no longer quietly wander the martial world without drawing attention.

Finding a New Path

In the deep mountains,

The trio found a small cave and decided to rest there for a while.

Lee So-eun silently built a fire and lightly tapped her sword hilt with her fingertips.

Her mind was preoccupied with a single thought.

This cannot continue.

Both the demonic cult and the righteous sect were beginning to take notice of her.

She could no longer use her swordsmanship as she had before.

Jin glanced at her briefly from beside her.

"...You seem deep in thought."

Lee So-eun quietly replied, "A little."

Wi-yeon, polishing his sword on the side, spoke up. "Well, at least today the righteous martial artists recognized us, so that's a good thing, right?"

Jin smirked. "It's a good thing... but also a dangerous one."

Wi-yeon tilted his head in confusion. "Dangerous? How?"

Jin quietly looked at Lee So-eun and said, "Lee So-eun has already begun to draw attention. You know, don't you? Anyone who's skilled with a sword in this martial world always attracts attention."

Wi-yeon now understood and nodded.

"I see..."

However,

Lee So-eun had already reached her conclusion.

She would have to learn new swordsmanship.

She slowly closed her eyes.

After some time of contemplation, she suddenly remembered something.

Not long ago, she had discovered sword marks deep in the mountains.

They were not just simple marks.

They were a 'flow'—an ancient sword technique that cut through space.

She stood up.

Jin and Wi-yeon looked at her, surprised.

"Lee So-eun? Where are you going suddenly?" Wi-yeon asked.

Lee So-eun gently twirled her sword and answered, "I need to practice my swordplay for a bit."

Jin squinted as he watched her. "...You're going to practice your sword?"

However, she didn't explain further and walked out of the cave.

Wi-yeon, confused, said, "...Has Lee So-eun always been this impulsive?"

Jin quietly watched her and murmured, "She's trying to change."

In the darkness of the forest,

Lee So-eun walked deeper into the woods.

And there,

Was the huge rock she had seen earlier, marked with the sword traces.

She slowly drew her sword.

And, following the traces, she moved.

Swish—

Every time the sword followed the marks, her body naturally flowed with it.

'This isn't just a simple sword strike.'

She realized then.

This was a 'flow.'

It wasn't just about cutting, but about using space, creating momentum, and pressuring the opponent with the sword.

She became more and more absorbed in it.

But then,

Wi-yeon silently observed her.

He had followed her.

He watched from behind a tree, silently observing.

Her swordplay was changing.

'...This is something different.'

He instinctively knew that she wasn't just practicing swordplay.

Wi-yeon bit his lip.

'How far are you planning to go, Lee So-eun?'

He understood why she was learning this sword technique.

Lee So-eun had to become stronger.

And, she had to hide her true identity.

Wi-yeon sighed and turned away.

He mumbled to himself.

"Alright... Then, I'll just watch you."

He didn't approach her and quietly left the spot.

Lee So-eun practiced until dawn.

She followed the sword marks, shaping the technique in her own way.

It wasn't just any swordsmanship—it was a new flow.

It was as if the sword danced—smoothly moving, then suddenly striking with force.

She stopped her sword and whispered quietly.

"...It's like a 'dance.'"

She looked down at her sword.

And from that moment,

She began to create her own swordsmanship.

When she returned to the cave,

Jin and Wi-yeon silently looked at her.

Jin spoke first.

"...Is your practice over?"

Lee So-eun nodded.

"Yes."

However,

Jin's gaze remained skeptical.

"Your swordsmanship... It seems a bit different now."

She raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Does it seem different?"

Jin nodded.

"Definitely. But..."

He muttered quietly, "That change... it's not a bad thing."

Wi-yeon smiled lightly.

"If you refine your swordplay even more, you'll become much stronger."

Lee So-eun remained silent, staring at the fire.

But,

She was thinking to herself.

'From now on, I must walk an entirely new path.'