The current Cheonma Sect had as many as two to three thousand members. Compared to its glory in the past, it was a trivial number. However, the current state of Cheonma Sect could also be said as a testament of the ability of the new lord since she was able to achieve it even though it hasn’t been that long since Cheonma Sect was completely destroyed.
“We heard Supreme Cheonma has returned.”
At the words of Han So-ran, Baek So-hwi, the current lord of Cheonma Sect, nodded with excitement. She was not the only one, as all the women who were above the elder level who had gathered on the steepest and sharpest Cheonma Cliff in Mt. Hundae had the same expression.
Seol Jungyeon, the former lord of the Cheonma Sect, was an idol for all female warriors in Murim. She had made a name for herself in history. Although many women had also marked their name in history, the number was very small and it was difficult to find high-quality women warriors in the present generation.
“Didn’t you say she was coming here now?”
Baek So-hwi, a woman with dark hair and black eyes, who had a ferocious expression, said so, and all the elders’ eyes trembled. When they entered the Cheonma Sect, they thought that the existence of Seol Jungyeon had already disappeared into history and could never be met.
However, the legend had come to see them in person. That fact alone seemed to melt their body away from happiness.
Baek So-hwi also struggled to calm her excited heart. Although she had been expelled from the Cheonma Sect by Seol Jungyeon, she never knew that she was also protecting Baek So-hwi by doing it. Not only that, she had saved her, taught martial arts to her, who was a beggar, to protect herself and gave her wings so that she could pursue her dream like this. She would not be able to repay all of her favours in the lifetime.
‘Finally, we will meet again.’
Baek So-hwi closed her eyes.
She remembered just how devastated she was when she heard Cheonma Sect had been destroyed immediately after she left it. Although she had no close friends since most of the members were men, she couldn’t help but despair even more when she heard that Seol Jungyeon, the woman she admired and loved the most had also disappeared without a trace.
From the moment she first learned martial arts, Baek So-hwi’s goal was to be with her master, Seol Jungyeon, whom she admired. She wanted to stand next to her after establishing herself as a proud Murim warrior. However, that dream was shattered before it could come true, and her goal had become ‘revenge’.
But unfortunately for her, even the target for her revenge had completely disappeared from this Murim. They had returned to their hometown, Earth.
Baek So-hwi, who lost her goal, did not let go of herself. She would rather re-establish the Cheonma Sect and carry the will of Seol Jungyeon. She was ready to once again fight against the Kunlun Sect and the whole Murim Alliance, who had constantly tormented her sect, and plant the banner of Cheonma Sect in the world once again.
So Baek So-hwi continued to devote himself to the development of the Cheonma Sect.
In a way, it was only natural that the Cheonma Sect became a place only for women under her rule since Baek So-hwi had the experience of being terrified by men when she was young and had constantly hated men in general. No, to be honest… She was still afraid of men. They were so frightening and disgusting that she did not accept them.
‘Still, it’s fine. Master will understand.’
When she opened her eyes again, an aura that only one person in this world could radiate vividly enveloped Baek So-hwi. She felt a dizzying thrill, and slowly lowered her gaze. At the place she rested her gaze at, a woman with hair resembling a snowy mountain under the sunset was looking at her with her eyes which looked like the most beautiful lotus flowers in the world.
Baek So-hwi never forgot about it. She had lived her insignificant life solely to carry her will. The thought of days she dreamt about finally awoke her from her reminiscences.
Her master walked towards the dangerous cliff edge, she was still as beautiful as she remembered, so Baek So-hwi forgets to control her own expression and almost sheds tears.
“Master…”
To her call, Seol Jungyeon responded with a soft smile.
“You have grown a lot,” she said. “More than the last time we met.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Master.”
Unlike Seol Jungyeon who was barely 160cm, Baek So-hwi’s height was over 170cm, that was why she had to look down on her now. However, she was still a being that she had to look up at. Engraving that fact on her chest, Baek So-hwi slowly approached Seol Jungyeon before wrapping her arms around her body.
Baek So-hwi hummed as she closed her eyes. The warmth, the cozy warmth, how wonderful it would be if this moment could last forever
‘Huh?’
She belatedly found 2 people who were coming with Seol Jungyeon. On one side was a beautiful woman with short silver hair braided in a round braid, and on the other side was a man.
A man.
Surprised by the fact that such existence had entered the realm of the Cheonma sect, Baek So-hwi retreated from Seol Jungyeon’s arms and unsheathe the swords on her hips.
“Who are you to dare to step your filthy foot on the realm of our Sect!”
Then, as if expecting the reaction, the man sighed deeply and simply stepped back. Rather, it was Seol Jungyeon who was embarrassed by Baek So-hwi’s coldness.
“Calm down, So-hwi. That man is the man I love with my life. He can be trusted, so there is no need for you to be hostile towards him.”
Seol Jungyeon said so to relieve Baek So-hwi’s vigilance. Even though Baek So-hwi was afraid of men, she knew she would open up her heart to a certain extent if she knew that the man was someone she loved.
But. That was her mistake.
“Did you say he is the man you loved?”
At So-hwi’s question, Seol Jungyeon glanced at Taylor, who was listening behind her, and smiled softly.
“Yes. I love him with all my heart and body.”
(T/N I swear to god if Yoo Seodam keep spouting nonsense about ‘Why did she act like that?’ after this… I’ll stop pulling all nighter to TL.)
(E/N: looks like no all-nighters any more XD)
Baek So-hwi clenched her mouth as Seol Jungyeon gently caressed her head.
“Just like you, I was once tormented by a man. Every day was hell, and I lived thinking that I would rather die. However, you can overcome it. If you too meet a man you love, if you meet someone whom you can give you your heart to, you will surely be able to heal the wounds that have engulfed your heart.”
“I… Understand.”
Seol Jungyeon hugged the current Lord once again, and Baek So-hwi, even on her hug, kept staring dagger at Yoo Seodam.
She couldn’t hear a single word from Seol Jungyeon already.
* * *
After arriving at the realm of Cheonma Sect, Seol Jungyeon’s first destination wasn’t the reconstructed Palace of Cheonma, but was the ‘tomb’. It was said that Baek So-hwi was the one in charge of building the tombstone of the believers, which Seol Jungyeon originally intended to do.
Seol Jungyeon’s face darkened as she looked at the tombstones that were spacious enough to reach the end of the horizon, in the distance. She struggled to shake off her sadness. She had decided since she was still on Earth that she wouldn’t come here to mourn but to let go of the souls she had cherished in her heart.
“…I’m back, and yet you guys can’t even say a word.”
Mumbling with a bitter tone, Seol Jungyeon carved every single tombstone into her eyes one by one. Unfortunately, Baek So-hwi, who could not tell who was who when the bodies were retrieved, did not have their names engraved on their tombstones.
So, to tell them apart, Baek So-hwi’s simply put the weapons and uniforms lying on the body next to the gravestone. When she emotionally told that to Seol Jungyeon, Seol Jungyeon simply patted her.
“It’s okay. I remember all of them.”
Having said that, she took out a small dagger and approached the tombstone right in front of her. There was only one rusty and broken sword hilt on the side of it, but Seol Jungyeon knew at a glance who it belonged to.
Jang Seo-young, the Emperor of Heaven.
As soon as names were engraved on the tombstone, the elders who were watching from behind opened their eyes wide. Even if at glance it looks like Seol Jungyeon had simply written letters, but in the eyes of an Expert, the dagger technique she did contained the secrets of swordsmanship that had reached the realm of Hyunkyung. (Reminder: Hyunkyung = SSS rank)
After that Seol Jungyeon continued to engrave names on every single tombstone while remembering their faces and bid them farewell.
‘May you be happy there. I hope you will enjoy the happiness that you could not have enjoyed here.’
Baek So-hwi watched Seol Jungyeon from behind as numerous questions popped out in her head. Just how much did she love the Cheonma Sect? How deeply she cherished them in her heart? How could she do that? Will she be able to become a great lord just like her Master?
Feeling a sense of skepticism creeping in, Baek So-hwi shook his head. No matter how much she thought about it, she wouldn’t find any answer. After all, Seol Jungyeon was more perfect in every aspect than her.
Seol Jungyeon’s ‘farewell’ took three days, and during that time, she did not rest at all. Baek So-hwi and all the Elders also watched Seol Jungyeon from behind until the end.
But now it’s time to rise. After saying her goodbye to the last tombstone, Seol Jungyeon looked back. Her eyes looked tired, but her face brightened as if all the heavy burdens on her chest had been lifted.
“Master, are you happy now?”
“That is so. I am happy to be able to finally say goodbye.”
“If so…”
Baek So-hwi swallowed her saliva before opening her mouth with determined eyes.
“Please become the lord of the Cheonma Sect and lead us once again! In our Cheonma Sect, Master is absolutely necessary.”
Whoosh!!
The wind blew past, making Seol Jungyeon’s hair dance to the tune of it. She smiled bitterly and made eye contact with Baek So-hwi for a while before shaking her head.
“I’m sorry. I have to go back home again.”
Why? Baek So-hwi couldn’t understand. She had taken care of all of the members of the Cheonma Sect one by one, and why did Seol Jungyeon, who was so happy, rejected her offer to become the Lord once again? Is she afraid of losing them again? Is she afraid of repeating her mistakes again?
“No… no. That is not the reason.”
“Then, then…”
The moment Baek So-hwi was about to ask why, she suddenly remembered a certain man she had met three days ago. He was an ordinary man with insignificant skills but nevertheless Seol Jungyeon said that she loved him with all her body and mind.
And, he was an Earthling. If the purpose of coming here is resolved, he would surely return to Earth. Master… she would never be able to part with that man.
In order not to be heard by Seol Jungyeon, Baek So-hwi clenched her teeth. Her eyes were bloodshot as she thought of that man.
‘Curse you, man who defiled my Master…’
The man who had dyed the white fresh snow, the snow that no one has stepped on. Recalling him, Baek So-hwi’s eyes were filled with anger, hatred, and despair.
‘I can’t bring back my Master who has already been soaked in impurities……’
If so, at least she could make sure that she wouldn’t be stained anymore and make sure to thoroughly put an end to her lust for him so she would settle down in the Cheonma Sect again.
‘The only choice is to kill that man.’