Mistaken for a Fairy
ch3

It didn't take long to walk.

A small hut was visible not far away.

Its exterior was ordinary, like something you could see anywhere. But Namgung Se-In's eyes, upon closer inspection, shone subtly. Though the exterior was shabby, the foundation was solid enough to withstand any wind or rain.

Beside the hut was a modest vegetable garden. Traces of growing vegetables remained here and there.

"Father... here?"

Namgung Cheonghae asked cautiously. Although his intelligence was inferior to his twin sister Seolhwa, he was known as a prodigy second to none in Anhui Province.

He realized how vast the energy contained within this seemingly ordinary land was.

"Look at that, it hasn't even fully grown yet, but it holds that much energy."

"Could it be a secret elixir field passed down only to the direct line of the family?"

A hushed whisper followed, trying to keep their voices down. Although Namgung Se-In had previously told them to refrain from private conversations, the chatter peculiar to their age group did not easily subside.

"Surely it's under the jurisdiction of the Medicine Hall Lord? I've treated him with such respect all this time, and he's been hiding something like this."

"He saw through your sinister intentions from the start."

"Shut up."

"You started the conversation first. You stupid brother."

"Brother? I was born later than you."

A light argument ensued, as always.

Until Namgung Se-In stopped them.

"Both of you, look over there. And stop being so noisy."

Namgung Se-In's telepathic message flowed into their ears. They both flinched at the thunderous voice.

Namgung Seolhwa reacted first. She immediately turned her gaze in the direction Namgung Se-In had indicated.

A woman with hair like peach blossoms was sweeping the dirt yard filled with fallen leaves.

Her features were not visible because her face was covered with a veil, but her beauty could not be hidden by a single piece of cloth.

One could tell just by looking at her clumsy brother's slightly open mouth.

'How rude...'

Namgung Seolhwa clicked her tongue inwardly. No matter how outstanding her appearance, how could he act like that in front of a woman?

Heaven is unkind. That such a person is the next family head.

'Anyway, it wasn't under the jurisdiction of the Medicine Hall Lord. It's a face I've never seen before.'

Seolhwa quickly scanned the list of names in her head. She had exchanged with the Murim Alliance seniors and knew information about most martial artists, but she could say with certainty that there was no such woman.

In the first place, if she had such striking crimson hair, rumors would have spread in some way, but her father would not have entrusted it to just anyone, so she must have had something special about her, but the energy she possessed did not seem any different from ordinary people.

'Could she be from the Southern Savage Beast Palace?'

It was the moment she recalled the white tiger she had seen before.

The woman's fingertips moved gently.

The broom swept the yard in a beautiful curve.

Perhaps because it was in the mountains, dust and fallen leaves scattered here and there even with a small breeze. At first glance, it seemed like a meaningless act. Fallen leaves and dirt fell back into every swept spot.

Saaah—

But the woman didn't care. Even the scattering seemed as orderly as if it were part of nature. In the meantime, the broom had no shaking at all.

Even when sweeping a flat wooden floor, there might be slight vibrations, but it was incomprehensible.

Namgung Seolhwa raised her eyesight. She was trying to use an eye technique.

Only then could she see it.

Internal energy was flowing along the broom and onto the ground.

Adjusting the flow according to the undulations of the ground to maintain balance. By doing so, the sunken areas would be slowly filled, and the protruding parts would be gently shaved off.

It wouldn't take long for the rough dirt floor to transform into a smooth and even land like glass.

Namgung Seolhwa soon realized.

'That's...'

Mind Skill.

Moreover, a Mind Skill that was worthy of being called a Divine Skill.

Her level was too low to grasp the profound meaning contained within, but she could easily infer that this woman was a very great master.

Usually, Mind Skill is done in a seated position. When one reaches a certain level, one can use Mind Skill without being limited by posture, but very few people do it. It is because the seated position is the most stable.

But this woman is walking, moving, and using internal energy that is so delicate that it cannot be expressed in words — freely unfolding a Divine Skill with only a broom in her hand.

Without a single flaw.

Namgung Seolhwa gasped.

'There are many hidden hermits in Murim...'

That such a master was staying at the doorstep of the Namgung family, of all places.

-

Father, who is that person?

-

I don't know.

“……?”

Namgung Seolhwa blinked once. She stared blankly at her father.

Namgung Se-In did not answer. He quietly ignored his daughter, who, like her mother, was trying to read his inner thoughts.

His heart as a martial artist took precedence over his heart as a father.

His gaze was fixed on the woman with crimson hair all day long.

It was a very profound orthodox martial art. Buddhist. No, on second thought, it seemed like the energy of Taoism. The fact that he couldn't clearly identify it aroused Namgung Se-In's interest.

He was called a peerless master because he could read the flow of the opponent's blood vessels without touching their body, and read the path of the sword without crossing swords.

But this woman could not be read completely.

Peerless.

It meant that she had reached that supreme realm as well.

And that was the minimum.

Namgung Seolhwa had not been able to read it, but Namgung Se-In could clearly see it. The energy condensed within the woman's body was comparable to that of the old monster of Wudang Mountain.

Her body was completely united with the broom. The trampled fallen leaves stood firm without breaking while supporting her weight. It was the harmony of a greatly accomplished Body Protection Skill.

Internal and external energy harmoniously intersected, completely binding energy and blood, skeleton and support.

Not only that, but there was a faint but clear natural energy dwelling in her delicate fingertips. The fact that the atmosphere began to dance together in response to her sweeping was proof of that.

Wind, dirt, fallen leaves, and energy drew a graceful orbit around her.

The rotation contained a harmony comparable to Wudang's Tai Chi, and the straight lines contained a solidity comparable to Shaolin's Indestructible Skill.

Harmony and strength, softness and sharpness coexisted in perfect balance.

Any martial artist with even a little discernment would not be able to dismiss it as a simple sweeping.

Every movement was a peerless move, a sharply honed embodiment of martial arts.

There was no way that such a master would not have read their energy. If so, it meant that she was showing it knowingly.

It was said that even parents and children hid their ultimate moves, but this was the demeanor of a true great person.

Soon, the woman's movements stopped. And then, she slowly turned her head and looked at Namgung Se-In.

"Are you from the Namgung family?"

Namgung Se-In politely clasped his hands and replied.

"I am Namgung Mo. These are my children."

In response, Namgung Cheonghae and Namgung Seolhwa also carefully bowed their heads.

"I am Namgung Cheonghae."

"My name is Namgung Seolhwa."

Seo-yeon nodded calmly. She had been holed up in the mountains for over a decade, so she had not yet learned the names of the direct line of the Namgung family.

Of course, she knew the weight that the name Namgung carried. She also knew that not just anyone could bear the name Namgung, whether it was a collateral or direct line.

"My name is Seo-yeon."

Seo-yeon's lips parted slightly.

"You have come a long way. But I have nothing to offer my guests, so I am truly sorry."

"We have already received more than enough. It feels like our eyes have been opened. I want to repay your kindness in any way, so please tell me if there is anything you want."

Seo-yeon's eyelashes fluttered gently. She closed her eyes and then opened them.

A valuable experience?

Did she see the sculptures displayed in the corner? She couldn't think of any other explanation.

'Was my skill that good?'

Of course, she knew she had skills, but she didn't know it was to the extent that the Namgung family would praise her. Of course, she had to take into account that the words of the righteous sects were glib, but she couldn't help but feel proud.

"To think that you would see my lacking skills so highly, I should be the one thanking you."

"Too much humility can be poisonous."

The Namgung family were truly great people.

Seo-yeon thought so as she politely paid her respects.

'I want to continue living here, but that's impossible.'

She realized the gravity of the situation from the fact that a member of the Namgung family, whether collateral or direct, had come all the way here.

She could not rule out the possibility that an excellent elixir that even the family coveted had been discovered, or that something like a treasure map had been revealed.

If that was the case, it was wise to leave quickly. If she stayed still, she might be suspected of being a martial artist disguised as a commoner.

'But I should check.'

She had no intention of jumping to conclusions. Seo-yeon tried to judge rationally and reasonably.

They said they would repay her kindness. If it was a story that ordinary people could know, they would tell her, and if it was a story that she shouldn't know, they would be reluctant to tell her.

That would be enough.

"I heard a story from a person of the Namgung family yesterday. I heard that the area was being incorporated into Namgung's land, but could you tell me the reason?"

Namgung Se-In's eyes narrowed subtly for a moment.

The reason was clear. It was because high-quality elixirs and Spiritual Creatures had been discovered.

But Namgung Se-In could not answer rashly.

Having witnessed Seo-yeon's martial prowess, he realized where the elixirs and Spiritual Creatures came from.

If one honed an orthodox Divine Skill to the level of peerlessness, it would become as good as a sacred ley line. Her mere existence meant that the mountain range was breathing, elixirs were blooming, and beasts were turning into Spiritual Creatures.

There was no reason to hide it, nor did he intend to.

"Elixirs and Spiritual Creatures have increased rapidly in the area, so we took that measure. But if you wish, you may stay here as long as you like. This Namgung Mo will guarantee it."

In fact, it was Namgung Se-In who should be asking for a favor. Although there were no supreme elixirs such as Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng or Ten-Thousand-Year Flowering Pear, elixirs two or three levels below that could be easily found in the mountain range. That alone was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“……”

Seo-yeon did not answer immediately.

Although it was not a treasure map, she sensed that it was a situation equivalent to it.

Even if they declared the area as the Namgung family's territory, how many martial artists were not blinded by the desire to improve their cultivation?

In martial arts novels, even the Heavenly Net was often breached. How much more so would it be for the Namgung family?

Any master who made a name for themselves would somehow cross the border and arrive inside the mountain range.

In the end, those words were no different from politely telling her to leave. They would allow it, but they did not guarantee her safety.

'So it's going to be like this after all.'

Seo-yeon swallowed her disappointment deep inside.

Still, there was a big difference between knowing the situation and leaving and not knowing it. Seo-yeon politely expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you. But, I think I should leave before a storm I can't handle comes."

Namgung Se-In could not hide his regret. From the moment he met her, he had somewhat foreseen that this would happen.

If that woman had wanted wealth and worldly power, she would have shown herself in the Jianghu in some form.

With those swordsmanship and martial arts, it wouldn't have taken long for her to seize one wing of the world.

But she didn't. Even after reaching the realm of peerlessness, she had lived only honing her own path.

What a noble mindset.

She was truly worthy of being called a fairy.

Knowing that, he couldn't hold her back. He couldn't ask her to become a guest of the family.

Namgung Se-In quietly muttered to himself.

'I was blinded by immediate gains and ruined things.'

If Seo-yeon left this mountain, the Spiritual Energy that had dwelled in the mountain would soon dissipate as well. The mountain range would soon be reduced to a famous place with only rumors.

"May I ask where you plan to go?"

"I plan to go to Henan."

"……Do you have any connection with Shaolin?"

"I don't have any particular connection. I just thought it would be suitable because the mountains are rugged and people don't visit often."

Her tone was calm. But Namgung Se-In was not a person who could not read the meaning contained within it.

Would a woman who had reached the realm of peerlessness have said such a thing without any thought?

She would tell him the destination, but she meant not to look for her.

That calm tone contained the words to show the dignity of a prestigious family.

He was being tested in reverse.

Namgung Se-In raised the corners of his mouth. Then, he

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Burst out laughing.

Namgung Se-In nodded and said.

"You don't have to worry. I swear on the name of the family. What happened today will not leak out."