Meanwhile, Ha Heun embraced and taught for another reason.

That child lost their family to violence and survived alone. Perhaps because of this, they matured too early, and even their innate temperament was gentle. They often became lost in thought, and from a young age knew that not just anyone could wield a sword.

Perhaps because of this, while they were fine practicing alone, when they first sparred, they found it difficult to even point the wooden sword at an opponent.

‘It’s not a temperament befitting a warrior.’

As a result, even knowing they had grown quite a bit, it was worrying to let them out of one’s arms.

Of course, regardless of innate temperament, unlike Ha Hyun, even without Yu Un, Ha Heun would not deviate from the basic line of morality.

Also, apart from their gentle nature, they had a firm side, and I knew they had the strength to overcome it alone even if they happened to get hurt.

Knowing this, I still did. I wondered if a child who had already suffered once should have to suffer again.

Yu Un was somewhat aware that he became particularly soft towards Ha Heun. Knowing but unable to help it, that’s just how it was.

As the sect leader said, if they were from a noble family they would be of age to start their own household by now, but to Yu Un, when he looked at Ha Heun, he still saw the overlapping image of the 12-year-old hiding in the corner of an empty warehouse not long after bringing them to Hwasan.

Moreover, for someone with such a temperament, Ha Heun’s talent was so outstanding that it was also a concern.

‘It was as if they grew wings after breaking the curse themselves.’

They may not be born with a warrior’s bones, but that talent is real. As a result, there were times when I wondered if I was keeping too confined a child who might become even more outstanding than myself, their master.

At the same time, I couldn’t be sure if it was right to raise a child who wasn’t warrior-like from the start as a warrior. Especially since Ha Heun themselves didn’t seem to have any particular goals like reaching enlightenment or becoming stronger.

‘Come to think of it, that’s the same for Ha Hyun as well.’

Yu Un smiled bitterly, almost like a sigh.

Whatever blessing it was, he had obtained two outstanding disciples, but teaching the two of them was truly not easy. He couldn’t even be sure which direction was right. Yu Un suddenly recalled something his master Jin Neung had said long ago.

‘He said I would understand his feelings when I took on disciples…’

He couldn’t remember the context, but that sentence stood out clearly. Though Yu Un’s way of teaching disciples now was almost the complete opposite, Jin Neung must have had his own concerns as well.

Yu Un felt like he could finally understand his master a little now.

After finishing morning cloud training, my complicated feelings subsided somewhat. After a simple meal, today I decided to spar with Ha Hyun for morning practice.

Of course, we wouldn’t use real swords but wooden ones, and without using internal energy.

‘I have to be careful.’

In fact, since there were only two people of matching age, we had sparred together so often that we were familiar with each other’s techniques and levels. So while the chances of an accident were low, it didn’t hurt to be careful.

Even a wooden sword is still a sword.

‘That’s why I really disliked sparring in the past.’

I still don’t like it, but now I definitely feel less averse than at first.

Standing at an appropriate distance and pointing our swords, I spoke lightly.

“Alright then, you first.”

“Understood.”

It’s just sparring, and there’s no need to provoke the opponent, so we don’t sharpen our words.

However, even the wooden swords that clash the next moment are not light.

Bang!

Taking a big step, I caught the sword swinging down. Already knowing I couldn’t overpower Ha Hyun, I deliberately clashed and then naturally deflected.

At the same time, I thrust forward as if diving into his embrace, taking a step forward. As if he had expected it, Ha Hyun stepped back and raised his sword vertically to block the approach. The swords clash briefly.

To prevent him from regaining his posture, I stepped half to the side, then swung my sword horizontally aiming for his exposed flank, closing the distance again.

The sword strikes repeat a few more times, with loud sounds echoing in all directions.

Our gazes met clearly over the swords. After exchanging several dozen more blows, I spotted a path that flashed brightly before my eyes.

A direction he couldn’t block, or even if he did, there would be no next chance. But thinking there’s no way Ha Hyun wouldn’t react, I swung my sword without losing focus.

Thwack!

“Ugh.”

As expected, he parried, but unable to withstand the clashing force, Ha Hyun’s wooden sword broke and flew away. At the same time, the blade of my sword stopped in front of his neck.

Ha Hyun sighed lightly and said:

“…I lost.”

I immediately withdrew my sword and stepped back. I still couldn’t get used to pointing a blade at someone’s vital point. Ha Hyun blinked a few times and added:

“I learned well.”

“As did I.”

In fact, though we sparred often and were familiar with each other, I usually ended up the winner. Seeing how my body found answers even when it was me in my head, I couldn’t help but realize that ‘Ha Heun’s’ innate talent was at a fraudulent level.

However, even with such talent, it was impossible to overwhelmingly defeat Ha Hyun.

‘That’s why he’s the protagonist, I suppose.’

This is precisely why it doesn’t hurt to be careful. If one person was exceptionally talented and could teach the other, it would be fine to use internal energy, but that’s not possible.

If Master were here, we could spar using internal energy and he would stop us before anyone got hurt, but when it’s just us like now, no joke, one wrong move could risk disabling someone.

‘Knowing that, I’m not confident I wouldn’t hesitate either.’

Honestly, I’m still sometimes scared of sharpened swords. Apart from ‘Ha Heun’s’ talent, I occasionally wonder if too great a weapon has been placed in the hands of a mere individual… thoughts that don’t fit this world.

I approached Ha Hyun and asked:

“Your hand?”

“It’s fine. Seems okay.”

Ha Hyun answered nonchalantly after rotating his wrist a few times and clenching and unclenching his fist. From what I could see, other than some redness there didn’t seem to be any major issues, so I slowly nodded.

After tidying up the surroundings a bit, we reviewed the recent sparring session as we always did.

“Just now, it would have been better to step this way.”

“But if you had, I would have thrust straight in.”

“Hmm.”

I watched Ha Hyun for a moment as he pondered my response.

As I often feel not only during sparring but also in everyday situations, Ha Hyun is quite cool-headed about such wins and losses. He evaluates his own level incredibly accurately and objectively, you could say.

‘He’s always sincere, but he doesn’t particularly get frustrated even when he loses…’

Thinking back, Ha Hyun has been like that since he was young. In some sense, he’s certainly not an ordinary person.

After some more time passed and we finished reviewing, I stood up and suddenly paused, noticing a shadow cast over me, blocked by Ha Hyun who also stood up beside me.

“Senior disciple?”

No… the shadow is this long?

Though he was tall even as a child, Ha Hyun, who didn’t stop there, has now grown to almost the same height as Master. Thanks to that, when Master walks in front with Ha Hyun and me following, I end up moving in shadows cast from both front and side.

‘How much difference is there?’

Roughly a handspan? Maybe a bit more?

Realizing the height difference with my counterpart, the regret I often felt flashed through my mind again. After all, I’ve directly experienced that the taller you are, the greater the reach of your sword.

“…I still wish I could grow just a bit taller.”

“Pardon?”

Ha Hyun laughed incredulously at my muttering.

“You’re that disappointed with your height? You’re already a bit taller than the other senior disciples.”

That may be true, but.

When I first came to Hwasan as a child, I was on the smaller side even among peers, but from two years ago to last year I suddenly shot up in height, to the point where the senior disciples are still amazed, saying “When did our junior sister get so tall?”

I grew so suddenly that I was even worried about adjusting my sense of distance, but thankfully it didn’t take long to adapt thanks to ‘Ha Heun’s’ innate talent.

That’s right. I grew that much, so why am I always dissatisfied with my height…

Blinking a few times, I easily realized the reason. The culprit was right in front of me.

“It’s because of you.”

“What did I do?”

“I may be taller than the senior disciples, but the one I spend the most time with is you.”

This is what they call having the wrong comparison target.

No, comparing in the first place was wrong. I sighed and shook my head. I know it’s meaningless to keep lingering over something that can’t be changed.

But then Ha Hyun spoke in a leisurely tone:

“Because you’re with me? Then there’s even less to worry about, isn’t there?”

“Huh?”

I turned to look as he said with a smirk:

“I still couldn’t beat you today, Senior.”

I narrowed my eyes and was silent for a moment. It felt like a statement tinged with the generosity of one who has, but I must be overthinking it.

“Right, you’re well aware of your shortcomings. You’ll just have to work harder from now on.”

“I said something nice and this is how you respond.”

Though he grumbled, his expression truly seemed unbothered. I rolled my eyes without answering.

A normal person would have been offended by my response. At the very least, they would have felt provoked. But I knew even as I spoke that Ha Hyun wasn’t that type of person. As objective as he is towards himself, his boiling point is incomparably higher than others.

I suddenly wondered how he came to have such a personality. Was he like that from birth, or did he become tougher due to something he experienced before entering the sect?

It was just then.

“Hey, our youngest ones!”

A voice calling out to Ha Hyun and me came from behind. When I turned my head, I saw a familiar person walking over.

“Senior disciple.”

I brightened and turned my body. It was Senior Ha Jung.