Chapter 27
Among those known to be the strongest under the heavens, she was one of the ten: the Ten Sovereigns of the Martial World.
She had reached an exalted state where she could shake the very heavens with martial energy born from sound—thus, she was revered as the Pacheon Eumhu- The Heaven-Breaking Sound Queen.
The current head of a mysterious sect that passed down its teachings from one successor to the next, she was otherwise known as the Master of the Sacred Sound Jade Spirit Sect.
And now, that same legendary figure stood before him... in the form of a simple tavern girl.
‘There’s no way anyone would recognize her just by looking.’
She had reached a level of martial mastery so profound, so unfathomable, that she had reversed her aging—a transcendent being who had achieved the elusive state of rejuvenation.
There wasn’t even a trace of martial energy in her appearance. Truly, this was the pinnacle of returning to the ordinary—the art of hiding one’s power so completely it vanished from perception.
At that moment, Yang-hwi faced two choices.
To reveal that he had recognized her identity—or to pretend ignorance.
He wasn’t sure which would serve his goals better right now.
‘I can always choose to reveal it later if needed.’
With that thought, he made his decision.
“Turns out you’re not Hyung-nim Tavern Girl, but Noonim Tavern Girl! Please, just call me Yang-hwi.”
“I could never speak so casually to a guest. I shall address you as Young master.”
“Well, it’s true that names should be comfortable for the speaker too. In that case, Noonim, how about some dumplings and somyeon? Lay it out nice and full.”
He paid and waited briefly for the food to arrive.
The flavor was the same as yesterday’s—meaning the cook was the same.
‘Does the cook know she’s the Sound Empress?’
His thoughts grew more tangled. He didn’t even know why she had revealed herself now.
‘Was it because of all the effort we put in? Or is there another reason entirely?’
For now, it seemed best to feel her out through conversation.
Just then, Jegal Seon, who had been quietly eating, let out a sigh.
“Ha... I wonder if the Sound Empress is watching over us. We’ve done everything we can—serving the local people, climbing the mountain every day in devotion. But if she’s unaware... all our efforts are for nothing.”
No, Uncle. She knows. She’s right in front of us.
If Jegal Seon carelessly voiced even a hint of complaint about the Sound Empress, they’d be in serious trouble.
“I’m sure she knows. As one of the Ten Sovereigns of the Martial World, surely she can observe us from afar.”
“If she’s watching... then she must already know of Seolha’s cursed condition. Ah, but I cannot help but feel the Sound Empress is being rather cold-hearted.”
Please, no, Uncle!
Yang-hwi quickly stepped in to defend her.
“The Sound Empress is no doubt exercising great caution, precisely because each of her actions carries enormous consequences.”
“That may be so... but that makes her seem even more indifferent. Ten days is not a short time.”
Damn it. Uncle, please!
The girl posing as the tavern server—Jeom Soi—paused mid-wipe as she cleaned a distant counter.
Yang-hwi’s mind spun rapidly.
“U-Uncle! What if we try a different approach!”
“Oh? Have you thought of something?”
“Yes! It occurred to me that... from the Sound Empress’s perspective, everything we’ve done so far may seem a bit one-sided.”
“…That’s not wrong.”
“Exactly. So wouldn’t it be wise to consider another method of reaching out?”
Seeing Jeom Soi resume wiping the table, Yang-hwi finally let out a small sigh of relief.
“Uncle. How about we take a moment to speculate—what is it the Sound Empress truly wants?”
“What she wants, huh…”
“According to what you told me, the Sound Empress has chosen to live in seclusion here in Gokyeol Mountain.”
In that case, wouldn’t the key lie in discovering why she chose seclusion?
He shared this line of reasoning with Jegal Seon.
“You’re right. Her reason for going into seclusion…”
“If she no longer wishes to be involved in worldly affairs, then even if we do meet her, we might not be able to ask her to accept Seolha as a disciple.”
“That’s true.”
“However, even in that case, we could still ask whether she might be willing to help treat Seolha’s condition. The Sound Empress is not someone who would ignore righteousness or compassion. She may grant us her grace.”
Subtly, he relayed their true purpose—to heal Jegal Seolha of her congenital affliction—and closely watched Jeom Soi for a reaction.
‘Nothing… No visible response.’
While not exactly promising, at least it didn’t seem to have offended her.
Which meant it was safe to continue.
“The second possibility. Perhaps the Sound Empress is forced to remain in seclusion.”
“She could have enemies. Or suffered serious injuries, perhaps.”
Yang-hwi internally screamed the moment he saw the girl Jeom Soi flinch.
“Haha! There’s no way the mighty Sound Empress would be in such a situation! Hahaha! Actually, Uncle, there’s a third possibility!”
Without giving Jegal Seon a chance to speak, Yang-hwi quickly shifted to the idea he had originally intended to share.
“The Sound Empress bears the responsibility of passing down a martial legacy that has been handed down to only one successor at a time. What if… she went into seclusion in order to train a disciple?”
Jegal Seon’s eyes lit up with interest.
“If that’s the case... then as long as Seolha proves her talent, there’s a real chance of achieving our goal.”
“From what little I understand, I believe the third possibility is the most likely one.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“You mentioned how hard it was to find even a trace of her, Uncle. But the fact that any trace remained at all… doesn’t it feel intentional? As if she wanted to be found?”
After all, they were talking about none other than the Pacheon Eumhu—one of the Ten Sovereigns of the Martial World.
Leaving clues behind wouldn’t have been carelessness. It was far more plausible that she had deliberately left a trail.
Yang-hwi had suspected as much ever since he first heard about the clues from Jegal Seon.
Though he couldn’t say it aloud, there was one more reason behind his confidence:
‘In the future, the next generation’s heir of the Sacred Sound Jade Spirit Sect—in other words, the Sound Empress’s disciple—will appear.’
That meant one thing for sure: Pacheon Eunhu was going to pass on her teachings.
Just then, Jeom Soi moved closer to their table and began wiping a nearby side table.
‘That’s a positive sign, right?’
Emboldened, Yang-hwi turned to look at Jegal Seolha.
“Uncle. Assuming the Sound Empress is already aware of everything and watching us… what if, instead of you, it’s Seolha who offers her prayers to her?”
Jegal Seon didn’t ask what he meant.
He already understood where Yang-hwi was going with this.
“You’re right. I’ve been the one trying to reach her all this time. Not our Seolha.”
Whether it was to become her disciple or to be healed by her hands, it was Jegal Seolha who needed the Sound Empress’s help.
Yet until now, Seolha had done nothing—except cling silently to her father’s side.
“But... Seolha is…”
Yang-hwi glanced toward Jeom Soi, who had paused mid-cleaning again—evidently curious about the conversation.
‘So far, the approach seems to be working.’
“Uncle. Before we can win over the Sound Empress’s heart, I believe Seolha must first open her own.”
Peach Blossom Constitution—a cursed gift that naturally drew in men, that seduced them by presence alone.
Most likely, Seolha had been forced to face emotions and experiences well beyond her years from a very young age.
Had she not been the cherished daughter of the Jegal Clan, she might have suffered something far worse.
‘Even if it’s because of her constitution, hiding her face behind a veil and never once speaking, always curled up in her father’s arms... it’s gone too far.’
Maybe she feared the world beyond the safety of her father’s embrace.
And then came Jegal Seon’s answer—confirming that Yang-hwi’s instincts had been correct.
“...Nephew, you are truly wise. Truly... wise.”
Yang-hwi bowed his head quietly as Jegal Seon sighed and gently stroked Seolha’s hair.
“You’re right. Seolha has shut herself off completely. Her cursed fate has ruined so much…”
“But Uncle, you won’t be able to shield her forever.”
Every fledgling must one day leave the safety of the nest.
Even if it stumbles, even if it hurts—it must learn how to fly.
“Seolha.”
Jegal Seolha’s gaze turned to Yang-hwi.
Beneath the sheer white veil, what kind of expression did she wear?
‘In truth… you’re a wild card.’
In his past life, she had become the Soul-Enchanting Demon Queen—a name that drenched the martial world of Hubei in blood.
If her life diverged from that path… then the future he remembered might begin to unravel.
Perhaps the danger posed by this unpredictable variable—Jegal Seolha—was greater than the value of securing Jegal Seon as a steadfast ally to the main house.
But even so—
Yang-hwi felt no hesitation.
That heartfelt compassion for the weak and the unfortunate—what one might call righteous empathy—was the most important value he had inherited from his father.
And that’s why Jegal Seolha had to take her own first step.
—Jegal Seolha.
Yang-hwi activated Heavenly Harmony Art, drawing forth the energy of Harmony Qi and transmitting his voice directly to her core.
—Whatever happens, don’t hide behind others.
The moment his voice—sharp and penetrating—reached her ears, Jegal Seolha shuddered.
Unlike the gentle warmth of her father’s protective qi, Yang-hwi’s tone was firm, cold even.
No—solid was the more accurate word.
So unshakable, so grounded, it seemed as though no storm could ever weather it down.
‘I want to… I want to…’
She reached out instinctively.
But like a flower wilting under a cold breeze, her outstretched hand curled inward again.
As expected of the daughter of the Jegal Clan, Jegal Seolha was bright—more than enough to understand that this very moment… was a turning point.
One that could change the life she had known, and the life yet to come.
But even brilliance dims under the weight of trauma.
Jegal Seolha had suffered a past so painful, so dark, that it made her insight seem like a burden.
‘’m scared… I…’
And then—
‘You can do it. I’ll help you.’
A soft voice—unlike the cutting transmission earlier—warm, sincere.
The Harmony Qi, capable of embracing all energies under the heavens, gently unraveled and wrapped around Jegal Seolha.
Warm and safe, like the wings of a mother bird shielding her chick.
Because her Peach Blossom Constitution had already opened her upper dantian, Seolha could feel it clearly.
She could even sense the newly awakened trait within the Harmony Qi—the residual traces of what Yang-hwi called Celestial Core.
‘It’s like... taking a deep breath in an open field.’
To Jegal Seolha, the Peach Blossom Qi had always been a crushing weight.
A shackle she could never escape, a curse that bound her existence.
And yet—
In this moment, she felt… free.
She didn’t know why, but she was sure—it was the energy radiating from that boy.
“Yang-hwi, it’s no use. Seolha still needs more time—hm? Seolha!”
Jegal Seon broke off mid-sentence, eyes going wide.
His daughter, who had always buried herself in his arms, was moving—on her own.
Yang-hwi’s gaze followed her like one watching a baby bird trying to break free from its shell.
Her feet touched the ground—and trembled, fragile as a spring leaf.
How long had it been since she last walked on her own?
“Seolha… how…?”
The veiled face briefly turned toward her father.
She squeezed his hand tightly—once—then slowly pulled herself away from the safety of his embrace.
Her steps were unstable, swaying slightly, but she walked.
Until she stood in front of Yang-hwi.
The veiled face met his.
With only a thin cloth between them, their gazes locked.
Thank you.
Her lips moved silently.
Though hidden beneath the veil, Yang-hwi understood exactly what she wanted to say.
And so, he replied:
“No need for thanks.”
Then Jegal Seolha walked past him, taking several more steps forward.
Yang-hwi watched her back, eyes glinting with emotion.
Her unstable gait led her to the one standing just ahead—
The girl known as Jeom Soi.
“Young lady, is there something you wish to say?”
Jeom Soi, calm as ever, met her gaze and asked with a composed voice.
Jegal Seolha stared at her for a moment, then knelt respectfully.
It was an act no noble daughter of a great martial family would ever perform before a mere tavern girl.
“……”
Jeom Soi, the girl hiding her true identity—the Sound Empress—silently stared back at her.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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