Chapter 55

The play ended with the excited audience erupting into loud cheers.

The martial artist’s chase scene, especially the poem dedicated to a lover at the end, was highly praised, reminiscent of the flirtatious and woman-loving Jeoseokcheon.

The guide, seemingly satisfied, not only gave the promised reward but also added some extra goodies.

However, the problem was that Sososo was upset due to an unplanned ad-lib.

“People were watching…! You teased me with that sly face… I’m really angry.”

Fortunately, judging by her tone and expression, it didn’t seem like she was genuinely angry.

And although she was trying to show her anger, Sososo’s slightly puffed cheeks and pouting face were incredibly cute as she walked a step ahead to hide it.

…But still, it was my fault for getting carried away and acting recklessly.

I shouldn’t brush it off and should properly apologize.

“Namgung Hyung, I have something to say.”

At Mantian’s serious yet gentle voice, Sososo’s steps halted.

Though she was startled when he suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, she wasn’t really upset or genuinely angry.

It’s just that, regardless of her true gender, she currently had to live as the young master of the Namgung Family, a man.

She couldn’t let others see her blushing or hear her heart racing.

Born a woman, she had to live as a man.

…So she shouldn’t blush at Sima Gongja’s mischievous pranks or feel the need to take care of his childish behavior.

Having resolved her feelings, Sososo hardened her expression and looked back at Mantian with a calm face, determined not to be swayed.

And then she saw his broad chest.

While Sososo was looking back, Mantian had taken a step closer, narrowing the distance.

“Please stay like this for a moment.”

Words failed her.

The sensation of a real man’s hand gently and affectionately stroking her head made her earlier resolve vanish, and her face turned red.

Her slender body, trapped within his long arms and broad chest, stiffened, and her ears burned.

After what felt like an eternity, Mantian’s hand left her head.

“It’s done. You can move now.”

Sososo cautiously reached back and touched something tied in her hair.

The familiar soft silk touch met her hand.

Pulling it slightly, she saw a red silk ribbon, flowing like a fish’s tail.

It was the hair ornament she wore during the fairy costume.

“Sima Gongja, this is…?”

Sososo looked up with a blank expression at the unexpected gift.

Mantian, with a serious face and a gentle smile, said, “I thought you’d like it, so I got it for less pay.”

“Such…! I appreciate the thought, but… such a pretty hair ornament doesn’t suit me. So, I should return it…”

Sososo’s rambling words trailed off.

“Mother praised your hair. Don’t mind others. It’s a waste.”

His beast-like amber eyes looked at the girl hidden behind a thin mask.

“Besides, it really suits you. Don’t worry unnecessarily.”

“……”

Turning her head slightly, Sososo fiddled with her hair, her face red.

Mantian clasped his hands and bowed his head towards her.

“Separately, I apologize for dragging you into my impromptu act today. Even though I got carried away with the role, it was wrong.”

Being too polite creates distance, but making a mistake and apologizing half-heartedly or brushing it off is just rude.

Moreover, Sososo might become my teacher, teaching me the Namgung Family’s secret martial arts. Of course, I should be polite.

“Please forgive this unworthy brother.”

Sososo, quietly watching Mantian, who was being unusually polite, let out a light, laughter-filled sigh.

The cool evening breeze blew, making her shimmering gray hair and red silk ribbon flutter beautifully.

“Sima Gongja, you’re a sly one.”

Her awkward yet warm smile showed she wasn’t used to such situations.

Thump-

Judging that Sososo’s anger had subsided, Mantian cautiously raised his head and winked lightly.

“That’s why I’m so charming. Thank you for forgiving me.”

Strike while the iron is hot.

Mantian picked up his cane and, to maintain the warm atmosphere, spoke in a bright voice.

“We didn’t eat properly because of the play. Let’s continue our conversation at the inn. I’ll treat you to dinner as an apology.”

“…Huh? But the gift…?”

Sososo unconsciously touched the hair ornament and tilted her head.

The beautiful red silk hair accessory. She thought it was definitely an apology gift prepared by Mantian to cheer her up.

But Mantian, as if laughing at her doubts, smiled refreshingly and answered plainly.

“That was just because it suited you, and I wanted to give it to you.”

Once again, the cool evening breeze brushed past Sososo’s face.

Many people were still gathered at the festival stalls.

Only the shadows of two people were cast on the quiet road.

The carefree man’s words made the girl’s heart race.

***

Late evening, at Jeoseokhyeon’s inn.

Sososo, in a good mood, admired the hair ornament Mantian had gifted her through a hand mirror in her room.

…But soon, she sighed and put the mirror down.

A sticky killing intent, felt from outside the inn, crept into Sososo’s room.

It whispered that if she didn’t come out, everyone in the inn would be killed tonight.

Faced with this blatant provocation, Sososo stood up.

…And before her eyes was a sword with a magnificent red jade scabbard.

Though she hadn’t drawn it for security, it leaned against the wall as if urging her to pick it up and wear it at her waist.

It seemed upset because she had drawn another sword instead of it last time to perform the Emperor Sword Form.

For some reason, Mantian’s face, peacefully sleeping in the next room, came to mind.

The sword that turns prophecy into destiny, the sword that must not be drawn.

…But now, it was the power she needed.

Sososo lifted the arrogant yet pitifully calling sword.

A heavy, cool sensation.

It was time to return as Namgung Sososo, the Sword Dragon.

***

On the outskirts of the village, where an unpleasant wind blew.

A masked figure holding something wrapped in cloth faced Sososo, who held a sword with a magnificent scabbard.

“I am the Nameless Finger, one of the Six Fingers of the Killing Curtain. Impressive aura, but I doubt Jang Dal would abandon his mission and run.”

A simple introduction and provocation. But Sososo didn’t respond.

She simply closed the distance and freed the sword from its scabbard.

The Ten Thousand Swords.

Five legendary swords made by the great blacksmith Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period.

Zhan Lu, Ju Que, Sheng Xie, Yu Chang, Chun Gou.

Three legendary swords made by Ou Yezi and his disciple Gan Jiang.

Long Yuan, Gong Bu, Tai E.

Two legendary swords made by the blacksmith couple Gan Jiang and Mo Ye.

Gan Jiang, Mo Ye.

Swords that have entered the realm of demons, enchanting people.

Treasures desired by any martial artist, but among the ten, one must never be drawn or acknowledged as its master.

A sword that cannot be owned or drawn by anyone but a king, choosing its own master.

A troublesome sword that, by merely being drawn, denies the legitimacy of the current dynasty and brands its wielder a traitor.

…And now, that arrogant name resounded in the world.

“Reveal yourself, Zhan Lu.”

Ting-

The noble princess, who never shows herself to commoners, parts the air at the king’s command, revealing her naked, sword-blue form.

The moonlight itself is swallowed, overwhelmed by the sword-blue light of the blade. The assassin Nameless Finger let out a tense, expectant, and hollow laugh.

A stinging, tingling sensation spread throughout his body.

“This is definitely worth running from.”

To be precise, Jang Dal ran because he no longer wanted to be involved with the Sima Family, but that no longer mattered.

‘…There were rumors that the Namgung child drew Zhan Lu. I never thought it was true.’

Due to the restriction that only one destined by the king’s fate can draw it, some sword collectors considered seeing Zhan Lu’s blade a lifelong dream.

Moreover, Nameless Finger, before being an assassin, was a martial artist.

He was very interested in Zhan Lu, known as the strongest among the Ten Thousand Swords.

Nameless Finger tried to draw his beloved sword wrapped in cloth to face Zhan Lu, but he couldn’t.

Without realizing it, he had already fallen victim to Sososo’s Emperor Sword Form, losing control over his life and death, his head separated from his body.

To make excuses, Nameless Finger wasn’t weak.

It’s just that Sososo, wielding Zhan Lu, was overwhelmingly strong.

In any case, Sososo no longer paid attention to the now-dead enemy and carefully touched the red silk ribbon tied in her hair.

“Sima Gongja went through the trouble of giving this to me… It didn’t get blood on it, did it…?”

After the duel, corpses littered the grassland.

A worried, cute girl was reflected in the moonlight.