Waryong Manor was the largest martial arts family in Wasa, east of Luoyang. The master of Waryong Manor was a chivalrous man named Yeon Mu-ryong.
Yeon Mu-ryong's nickname, known throughout the martial world, was the Crescent Moon Swordsman.
The nickname was given to him after he defeated the infamous witch Wolha Seonja.
As the name of Crescent Moon Swordsman started gaining recognition in the martial world, he suddenly returned to his hometown, established Waryong Manor, and retired from public life.
He was thirty-four years old at the time.
Despite opposition from his family, Yeon Mu-ryong never returned to the martial world. Soon after, his name faded from people's memories.
On the first day of the fifth month, the usually quiet Waryong Manor became noisy.
This was because Baek Mi-joo, the mistress of Waryong Manor, was standing in the middle of the yard, giving non-stop orders to the servants.
"You, sweep the yard once more. And Chief Steward?"
"Yes."
Chief Steward Yeon Mu-dok quickly stepped forward in front of Baek Mi-joo.
"Please find the children immediately and send them to the inner house."
Although he was the Chief Steward, Baek Mi-joo asked him politely. Not only was he older than her, but he was also her husband Yeon Mu-ryong's cousin, making it difficult for her to treat him casually.
"All of them?"
Yeon Mu-dok looked at Baek Mi-joo with a meaningful gaze.
Yeon Mu-ryong had three sons and one daughter. Among them, the eldest three were born of Baek Mi-joo.
However, the youngest, Yeon Jeok-ha, who was only six years old, was the child of a concubine, a maidservant of Baek Mi-joo.
Yeon Mu-dok needed to confirm this because Baek Mi-joo usually didn't take care of the maidservant's child.
Baek Mi-joo nodded calmly.
"Yes, we must. If word gets out that Waryong Manor despises children of concubines, it would damage his reputation."
"Understood, sister-in-law."
Yeon Mu-dok made a slight bow and withdrew.
Baek Mi-joo bit her lip as she watched Yeon Mu-dok's retreating figure.
She didn't want to call Yeon Jeok-ha on a day like today, either.
However, she didn't want to hear people whispering behind her back that she was narrow-minded.
"Sigh!"
A thin sigh escaped from Baek Mi-joo's lips.
Today, more than any other day, she wanted to keep Yeon Jeok-ha away.
It was the day when the Sword King Namgung Byeok, the head of the Namgung Family, was visiting Waryong Manor with his family.
The Namgung Family was the most revered and prestigious among the five great martial families known as the Five Great Clans in the martial world.
Just their name alone could resolve most disputes.
Baek Mi-joo looked around the manor.
The modest Waryong Manor came into view.
It's small.
Currently, Waryong Manor was just one of many martial families.
'Not yet...'
Baek Mi-joo wanted to make Waryong Manor one of the great martial families.
The first person to dream that dream was Yeon Mu-ryong.
But that dream was shattered.
The person who shattered that dream was her maidservant, Yeon Jeok-ha's mother, Lee Bu-yong.
During his brief time in the martial world, Yeon Mu-ryong was fortunate enough to form a relationship with Namgung Byeok, the Sword King.
Namgung Byeok discovered Yeon Mu-ryong while he was struggling alone against the evil cult known as the Lunar Demonic Cult.
With Namgung Byeok's help, Yeon Mu-ryong defeated the Lunar Demonic Cult and earned the nickname Crescent Moon Swordsman.
Afterward, Yeon Mu-ryong and Namgung Byeok developed a sworn brotherhood.
That was six years ago. That was as far as it went.
While treating his internal and external injuries at home, Yeon Mu-ryong fell for his maidservant Lee Bu-yong.
Pathetically, he abandoned his grand dream of establishing a great martial family for a woman.
He even took Lee Bu-yong as a concubine and, despite opposition from the Yeon clan, announced his retirement from the martial world.
'Ungrateful people...'
Thinking of the two, Baek Mi-joo ground her teeth inwardly.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
His lips no longer whispered love to her.
Although she didn't want to admit it, he established this small Waryong Manor for Lee Bu-yong. To avoid the nagging of the Yeon clan, he set up the manor in a secluded place and moved out.
The Yeon clan, knowing the inside story, said Yeon Mu-ryong was cursed by the Lunar Demonic Cult. Otherwise, how could a man who aspired to establish a great martial family retire just for a maidservant?
But the love play between Yeon Mu-ryong and the witch Lee Bu-yong didn't last long. Lee Bu-yong died during childbirth, giving birth to Yeon Jeok-ha.
At that time, everyone thought Yeon Mu-ryong would return to the martial world.
But it didn't take long to realize that Yeon Mu-ryong's heart died along with Lee Bu-yong.
Yeon Mu-ryong lost interest in everything.
At some point, he never took a step outside Waryong Manor.
In the meantime, he received a visit from his sworn brother Namgung Byeok.
Namgung Byeok, who hadn't visited even when Yeon Mu-ryong retired six years ago, was now coming to this remote Wasa.
Baek Mi-joo murmured as she slowly walked towards the inner house.
"Is this a chance given to me by heaven...?"
Namgung Byeok's eldest son, Namgung Cheon, was eighteen years old and already a remarkable martial artist known as the Blue Cloud Sword. In contrast, his second daughter was only eight years old.
"Should I suggest matching Seolju with Namgung Cheon?"
But the age difference is too large.
Seolju, the third child, is only nine years old, so it would be absurd to suggest this to Namgung Byeok.
The remaining option is to pair her own sons with Namgung Yeon.
The eldest, Mubak, is fourteen years old, and the second, Seungbak, is eleven years old, making them a perfect age match with Namgung Yeon, who is now eight.
The problem is that she doesn't know how close her husband, Yeon Mu-ryong, is with the Sword King Namgung Byeok.
Namgungbyeok's final destination was not Waryong Manor. He said he was stopping by on his way to the Wudang Sect. Moreover, he hadn't contacted them once until now.
"Hm!"
Baek Mi-joo, who was agonizing alone, clenched her teeth.
"Somehow, I must match my sons with Namgungyeon."
If that doesn't work?
In that case, she plans to ask Namgungbyeok to guide her eldest son, Yeon Mubak.
Anyway, Yeon Mu-ryong has no interest in establishing a great martial family.
Therefore, she must achieve it through Mubak.
Someday, she plans to mock Yeon Mu-ryong, who will grow old and pitiful.
While you were lost in the skirts of a seductive woman, I accomplished the dream you abandoned.
Inside a four-horse carriage, two men and two women were seated.
They were the Sword King Namgungbyeok, the head of the Namgung Family, his wife Jang Ha-eun, their son Namgung Cheon, and their daughter Namgung Yeon.
Twelve swordsmen on brown horses were escorting the carriage from the front and rear.
With their prominently bulging temples, they swept their sharp gazes around continuously.
Judging by the words "Changcheon (苍天)" engraved on the windscreen, they were likely the Changcheon Corps, the strongest martial group boasted by the Namgung Family.
Under the protection of the Changcheon Corps, the four-horse carriage appeared peaceful.
Namgung Cheon, who was looking out the window with a bored expression, cautiously asked.
"Father, why did Uncle Yeon retire? He's still in his prime."
At his son's words, Namgungbyeok burst into hearty laughter.
"Ha ha! You rascal, you're the one in your prime. Uncle Yeon is now at the age of forty."
"But Father, you're older than Uncle Yeon and still active in the martial world."
"Well, that's because your mother is with me."
Namgung Byeok, known for his affection for his wife, often travelled with her.
"Really? Doesn't Uncle Yeon also have a wife?"
Namgungbyeok looked at his son with a troubled expression.
"Hm, it's better to tell you in advance. Cheon and Yeon, listen carefully and make sure not to make any careless remarks at Waryong Manor. Understood?"
"Yes."
"..."
The lively Namgung Cheon answered loudly, while the usually quiet Namgungyeon only nodded.
Unlike Namgung Cheon, who was full of curiosity, Namgung Yeon's expression remained indifferent. However, her clear, black-and-white eyes stayed fixed on Namgung Byeok's face.
"Uncle Yeon had two wives. The one who is there now is the first wife, and the other was the second wife. Uncle Yeon was deeply affectionate towards the second wife. He retired because her health was poor."
"Oh! Is the second wife healthy now?"
The warm-hearted Namgung Cheon asked urgently.
In contrast, the eight-year-old Namgung Yeon still showed no emotion.
'Tsk tsk!'
Namgungbyeok shook his head at the very different expressions of his two children.
The grown-up son chatted like a young girl, while the young daughter remained silent like an old sage.
Imagining how different it would be if their personalities were switched, Namgungbyeok sighed deeply.
"Hah! The second wife died six years ago while giving birth. Since then, Uncle Yeon has lost interest in life."
Namgungbyeok turned his gaze out the window.
That was all the story written in the letter sent by Yeon Mu-ryong long ago.
"So, when you go to Waryong Manor, don't mention the second wife. For the sake of Uncle Yeon and the first wife, it's better to pretend you don't know. Understood?"
"Yes, I will be careful."
"..."
Namgung Cheon, sensitive like a young girl, answered with a sad face, while Namgung Yeon just nodded with an old man's eyes.
Namgung Byeok gently stroked the head of his young daughter, Namgung Yeon.
This child resembled himself in his youth.
Now, he lives so aggressively that people call him eccentric, but he lived with a closed heart until he was over twenty.
If he hadn't wielded a sword and clashed with people, he might still be like his daughter.
However, through learning martial arts and reaching the pinnacle of mastery, he broke himself countless times.
The new personality formed during that process is his current confident self.
'You too will have a day when you break out of your shell.'
Namgung Byeok felt only pity for his prematurely mature daughter, Namgung Yeon.
Meanwhile, his wife Jang Ha-eun, sitting opposite, looked amused.
Her husband, who roamed the world with the nickname "Sword King," was advising caution at Waryong Manor.
That meant he genuinely respected Yeon Mu-ryong.
Why hadn't he visited such an important person in the past six years?
"I find it amazing that someone as picky as you formed a sworn brotherhood with Master Yeon."
"Am I picky?"
"Hehe, aren't you? You met with the head of the Seonu Family so often but never formed a brotherhood. But with Master Yeon, you became sworn brothers after just one meeting?"
"Just one meeting? Who said that..."
"You argued with the head of the Seonu Family about it several times, don't you remember?"
"That's a story made up by the head of the Seonu Family. I spent seven days with Brother Yeon."
Jang Ha-eun chuckled and said.
"But you've known the head of the Seonu Family for over twenty years. Yet, you always call each other 'Master' and keep a distance."
"Knowing someone and connecting with them are different."
"Oh my, I think you get along well with the head of the Seonu Family too."
"The connection with Brother Yeon is qualitatively different from that with the head of the Seonu Family."
"How so?"
The whole family's eyes focused on Namgung Byeok.
Feeling awkward under their gaze, Namgung Byeok cleared his throat.
"Ahem, to put it simply, the bond with Brother Yeon involves sharing life and death... whereas with the head of the Seonu Family, it's more about sharing joys and sorrows."
"Goodness! That's why the head of the Seonu Family is unhappy with you."
"Huh! Unhappy? There are other things to be greedy about."
Namgungbyeok seemed to think it was ridiculous.
A bond involving life and death is not something one side can demand. It's a connection bestowed by heaven. Namgung Byeok was confident that he and Yeon Mu-ryong shared such a bond.