At the foot of Mount Wudang, under the wind-blown moonlight,Son Heungmin sat cross-legged with his sword resting across his knees.At first glance, he appeared calm—yet the reflection in his blade held a depth of stillness rarely seen.
From a distance, a man in black approached.
His name—Neo.
Neo:"Son Heungmin of the Tottenham Sect, forgive my intrusion at this late hour.But I come with a question I must ask."
Son Heungmin:"You are not intruding.Polishing one's sword beneath the moon does grow dull at times.The arrival of a lost traveler brings welcome company.Ask what you will."
Neo:"You have wielded the sword for decades,fought hundreds of battles across Jianghu.And yet... why have you not claimed the title of 'Champion of the World'—the glory that comes with ultimate victory?"
Son Heungmin smiled faintly.It was the kind of smile that tastes like bitter tea—quiet and tinged with sorrow.
Son Heungmin:"You ask why I 'could not.'But I answer: I 'chose not to.'"
Neo:"You chose not to...?What do you mean?A swordsman of your level—why would you willingly sheath your blade?"
Son Heungmin:"In Jianghu, the law is simple.Victory demands a price.And that price is my freedom, my martial path, and the soul of my sword.Only by sacrificing all of these can one grasp the crown."
Neo:"Then... you laid down the title—for the freedom of your sword?"
Son Heungmin:"I did not lay it down.I saw the world beyond the title.While others seek to become the greatest under heaven,I have found contentment in being a sword remembered in someone's heart."
Neo:"But the path without victory is steep.Without history's recognition, can such a path endure?"
Son Heungmin:"You know this, too—Victory fades from memory,but emotion stays in the heart.Even if my sword cannot cleave the world,if it can stir the soul of even one person... that is enough."
Neo:"I shall not forget your words.Your path differs from mine,but the straightness of your sword has sent ripples through my own heart's cultivation."
Son Heungmin:"Paths are meant to differ.But those who walk the rivers and lakes come to recognize one another.May your path, too, be filled with the righteousness your sword aspires to."
Neo:"My thanks.This debt—I shall repay it beyond the Matrix."
Son Heungmin:"There is no need to repay.Just as the sword rests quietly in its sheath,a shared spirit may rest quietly in one's heart.Go now—follow the wind.Your journey is about to begin."