As soon as Lee Dohyeon appeared at the training grounds of Heukwoon-gwan (Black Cloud Hall), the trainees swarmed around him, their excitement barely contained. Still buzzing from the earlier duel between Baek Wolhui and Kang Junho, they eagerly began recounting every detail.
"Master! You should've seen it—it was incredible!""Master Baek Wolhui defeated the Cold Scholar, Kang Junho!""To think we'd actually see Kang Junho falter like that! She's amazing!"
Their eyes gleamed with awe and pride. Some clenched their fists and declared with confidence, "With a martial hall like this, we'll surely rise to the top of Kangho!"
Dohyeon smiled at their enthusiasm but sensed the fine line between pride and arrogance. Lifting his hand gently, he calmed them.
"Yes, it was an impressive victory, and I understand your excitement. But don't let it cloud your judgment. In Kangho, no one can afford to be careless."
The trainees nodded, their expressions sobering. Dohyeon added, still smiling warmly, "Indeed, it was a moment to remember. But instead of being satisfied as onlookers, take it as motivation. Strive to stand shoulder to shoulder with those like Master Baek Wolhui."
Then, he turned toward Baek Wolhui, who greeted him with her usual confident smile.
"Well done, Wolhui," Dohyeon said, patting her shoulder lightly. "That was a victory worth praising. You've brought honor to Heukwoon-gwan."
Wolhui, clearly used to such compliments, smirked teasingly.
"Well of course. Was there ever any doubt?" she said playfully. "But tell me, Master Dohyeon—did you enjoy watching Kang Junho get rattled? Or are you more impressed that I can handle a man like him with ease?"
Dohyeon chuckled and shook his head.
"You've never changed. But your confidence is... admirable."
Laughing, Wolhui turned back to the trainees. "You heard that? Even the master recognizes my skills. So the rest of you better work harder!" she said, waving casually as she strolled off.
Watching her leave, Dohyeon's gaze shifted to Han Soyeon, who was standing quietly at the edge of the grounds. She had been unusually silent since witnessing the duel, her expression clouded. Dohyeon approached her and took a seat beside her.
"You've done well, Soyeon. Looking after the trainees couldn't have been easy."
She turned to him with a soft smile, though it carried a subtle melancholy.
"Now that you're back, maybe I can finally take a breather," she replied, her tone slightly awkward. Despite wanting to talk to him casually, her thoughts were tangled after seeing Baek Wolhui's overwhelming presence.
"Heukwoon-gwan is growing stronger," she continued. "The trainees learned a lot from the duel earlier. I think it left quite an impression."
Dohyeon nodded, sensing the quiet storm of emotions behind her words.
"Yes, growth takes time. As long as we keep moving steadily, Heukwoon-gwan will only become stronger."
Hearing his calm, steady voice, the tangle of jealousy and insecurity within Soyeon began to loosen. His genuine warmth brought her peace, and she didn't want him to notice her vulnerability.
After hesitating for a moment, she spoke, this time with more clarity.
"Master... I truly value the time I spend here with everyone. I want to do even more to support you and Heukwoon-gwan."
Dohyeon smiled gently. "You already do more than enough. Just keep being you. We'll all grow stronger—together."
Moved by his words, a wave of warmth surged through her. That short exchange helped her shake off her self-doubt and reminded her of the important place she held within Heukwoon-gwan and beside Dohyeon.
Meanwhile, Cheong Unjin watched from a distance, quietly shaking his head. He looked on as the complex web of relationships within the hall continued to evolve.
"That kid... Dohyeon really draws people in," he mused with a wry smile. "He may be my junior, but seeing how so many people are drawn to his side… I'm proud."
Still, Unjin knew not everything could remain peaceful. The more people gathered around Dohyeon, the more delicate the balance would become.
*****
The Shadow of Chunhyang
Lee Dohyeon walked along a quiet path, far from the training grounds of Heukwoon-gwan (Black Cloud Hall), trying to unwind after a complicated day. The hall was slowly taking on a life of its own, no longer dependent on his every move. The trainees were growing stronger, encouraging each other. The dedication of comrades like Baek Wolhui and Han Soyeon was becoming more apparent with each passing day.
As he took a deep breath, letting the silence of the evening wash over him, his mind remained restless—still tangled in thoughts and unresolved questions.
"How strange… Back then, I was just trying to survive each day. And now, I'm thinking about the future—not just mine, but that of Heukwoon-gwan as well."
He reflected on how much had changed—how much he had changed.
One story, recently overheard, floated back to him. Tales of tributes sent to the Yuan capital—alongside goods from Goryeo—often included women. Whispers spoke of the cruel treatment those women endured, surviving in shadows, stripped of dignity.
And in that moment, the image of Chunhyang resurfaced in his mind. Her grace, her fierce will, and her unwavering desire to protect others—all of it came flooding back.
"Could she… have a past like that?"He wondered whether Chunhyang's devotion to helping the vulnerable—especially women—stemmed from experiences she herself had endured.
He remembered the first time he met her. The inexplicable familiarity she showed him, the way she said he reminded her of a brother she had lost—those words now felt heavier.
"I remember feeling something familiar about her too… And now I think I understand why. Maybe… she came from the same place I did."
Her language, her accent, her mannerisms—each subtly different from the people of this land. It had always lingered in the back of his mind.
"Could Chunhyang be from Goryeo as well…?"He murmured the question aloud. Chunhyang had never spoken directly of how she came to Yuan as a gisaeng, but her actions—the way she protected the women of Yeonhwa-ru, how fiercely she stood for the powerless—hinted at a past not easily told.
Dohyeon thought of how she used everything she had to shield others, hiding her own scars in the process. And the realization struck him hard.
"If that's true… the pain she carries must be unimaginable. And yet, she endures it—never for herself, but always for those around her."
He felt a deep respect for her. If there was any way he could help ease her burdens—if he could offer her freedom and peace—he would do so without hesitation.
With that thought, he walked forward, step by steady step, carrying a newfound resolution.
"I want Heukwoon-gwan to become a sanctuary—not just a place that teaches martial arts, but one that protects the vulnerable. A place that gives them a voice and defends their right to live free from harm."
He engraved this vow deep into his heart, silently waiting for a chance to speak to Chunhyang. He wanted to understand her past, to share in her unspoken sorrows. And perhaps, in doing so, he could grow a little closer to her—not just in action, but in soul.