A peculiar tension permeated the training grounds of Heukwoon-gwan. Baek Wol-hee stood at the center, wearing her characteristic relaxed smile. Her form-fitting martial attire accentuated her flawless figure, and a subtle fragrance wafted among the trainees.
The trainees swallowed nervously as they gazed at her. Some tried to divert their eyes, but the more they attempted, the more their attention was drawn to her. Baek Wol-hee was well aware of their reactions. With confident poise, she grasped her sword and spoke.
"Now, who wants to step forward first? Today, we'll test not only your skills but also your concentration." Her voice was soft yet carried an oddly seductive undertone.
One trainee mustered the courage to step forward—it was Park Sung-jin. His face slightly flushed, he held his sword firmly. "Instructor Baek, I will go first!"
Baek Wol-hee acknowledged his determination with a nod. "Very well, Sung-jin. When facing me, you must focus entirely. If you're careless, this will end quickly."
Park Sung-jin assumed his stance and swung his sword toward her. His attacks were swift and powerful, but Baek Wol-hee evaded them gracefully, as if dancing. She parried his strikes effortlessly, simultaneously tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Even that small gesture was enough to shatter the trainees' concentration.
"Focus, Sung-jin. I can sense your wavering gaze." She gently pushed him back as she spoke. Park Sung-jin, flustered, turned his head away, but sweat was already forming on his face.
"You need to pull yourself together. If you falter in situations like this, it'll be even worse in real combat." Baek Wol-hee twisted her sword to completely neutralize his movements, whispering softly. Her voice seemed to caress his ears—gentle and alluring.
The other trainees watched the scene, holding their breaths. Some were so overwhelmed by her demeanor and movements that their throats felt parched. "She's truly incredible... Is that even humanly possible?" One trainee murmured, unable to tear his eyes away from Baek Wol-hee's elegant form.
As Park Sung-jin lunged again, Baek Wol-hee deftly deflected his attack and countered. She flicked his sword aside and subtly twisted her body, causing her attire to ripple slightly. The trainees' gazes fixated instantly, and Park Sung-jin, his face reddening, hesitated.
"Sung-jin, you're too easily swayed." Baek Wol-hee teased with a playful smile. "Perhaps I'm standing too close?" She lowered her sword slightly and looked directly into his eyes, her gaze penetrating as if seeing through his soul.
Park Sung-jin, speechless, stepped back. Sweat-drenched, he bowed his head, while the surrounding trainees, empathizing with his plight, felt their own faces flush.
As she subdued Park Sung-jin, Baek Wol-hee mused internally. 'Someone like Lee Do-hyun wouldn't be shaken so easily...' She smiled briefly, contemplating that his steadfastness and calmness might be what she most desired to rely on.
Now, two other trainees stepped forward simultaneously. They exchanged glances, striving to concentrate, but Baek Wol-hee had already ensnared them in her rhythm. She effortlessly parried one trainee's attack while casting a glance at the other.
"You're revealing your inner thoughts." She countered their moves while speaking. "I can see your hesitation in your eyes. With such vulnerability, opponents will inevitably exploit you."
She then maneuvered her sword to target the gaps in their defenses precisely. "In real combat, failing to focus like this means immediate defeat." She let her sword's tip graze lightly along one trainee's neck, causing cold sweat to break out.
Addressing all the trainees, she sheathed her sword. "In the martial world, temptations and distractions are commonplace. Opponents will aim for your weaknesses to bring you down. So don't take training lightly."
She lifted her head, tucking her hair back with a playful smile. "Of course, facing an opponent as charming as myself makes it a bit tougher. But that's just how it is, isn't it?" Leaving those words behind, she walked away gracefully.
After Baek Wol-hee departed, the trainees swallowed hard, recalling the intensity of the confrontation and her overwhelming presence. They admired her skill but felt ashamed of how easily they had been unsettled by her seductive demeanor.
"Seriously... Is it even possible to fight someone like her?" One trainee sighed.
Another nodded in agreement. "That's why we need to become stronger. If we get shaken this easily, we're doomed in the martial world."
They resolved to learn the true way of survival in the martial world, inspired by Baek Wol-hee's lethal charm and prowess. In their hearts, a determination grew to become as unwavering as Lee Do-hyun.
****
Baek Wol-hee vs. the Cold Scholar, Kang Jun-ho
The moment Kang Jun-ho stepped through the gates of Heukwoon-gwan, the air seemed to grow colder. Known as a master of the orthodox schools and nicknamed "the Cold Scholar," his piercing gaze and stoic expression drew everyone's attention. His chilling presence made it feel as if he were claiming the place as his own.
"I heard Master Lee Do-hyun is away," he said in a calm, measured voice that echoed through the training ground. Though polite on the surface, his words carried an edge of provocation.
That's when Baek Wol-hee stepped forward with her usual elegance. Smiling with ease, she met Kang Jun-ho's eyes and replied,"What a shame the master isn't here. But don't be too disappointed. After all, I'm here." She added playfully, "Cold Scholar, huh? Mind if I try warming up that frozen heart of yours?"
The trainees held their breath, sensing an extraordinary match was about to unfold. Kang Jun-ho tilted his head slightly and replied icily,"I won't be swayed. Cheap tricks have no place in combat. Prove your skills with your sword."
Baek Wol-hee smiled and unsheathed her blade. "Very well, let the sword do the talking. But as I said—remaining unshaken is harder than you think."
Kang Jun-ho struck first. His sword was fast and precise, each move targeting a weak point. Baek Wol-hee deflected his attacks with graceful, almost dance-like movements. Her elegance concealed deadly skill.
"Still not shaken? Then how about this?"She parried his blade, intentionally sweeping her hair back to reveal her neckline and shoulders. The motion was fluid, almost sensual. The onlooking trainees audibly gulped, unable to look away.
Though his expression remained cold, Kang Jun-ho's blade wavered ever so slightly."Pointless theatrics," he said. "Such temptations won't work on me."
But Baek Wol-hee noticed the slight hesitation. As the duel continued, a sudden misstep by Kang Jun-ho caused his blade to graze her garment, tearing it slightly and revealing part of her chest. The trainees froze in shock. Even Kang Jun-ho hesitated and turned his eyes away.
Unfazed, Baek Wol-hee calmly adjusted her clothing, owning the moment."Oops. Didn't see that coming. But… you hesitated, didn't you? Or was that just my imagination?"
With gritted teeth, Kang Jun-ho swung again—but his rhythm had already been broken. Baek Wol-hee seized the opportunity, evading and countering with swift precision."You said you wouldn't be shaken," she whispered. "But no one can hide their emotions forever."
In a final exchange, Kang Jun-ho launched one last powerful strike, but Baek Wol-hee dodged it gracefully and aimed for his wrist. Her blade brushed just beneath his hand, sending his sword clattering to the ground. They stood still, catching their breath, eyes locked.
"You're stronger than I expected," he admitted. Though his tone was still cold, a hint of respect crept in.
With a serene smile, Baek Wol-hee sheathed her sword."Thought I'd be easy to beat because I'm from the unorthodox side? Guess you'll think twice next time."
"I lost," Kang Jun-ho said quietly. "If psychological warfare counts as skill, then you're a step ahead."
Turning to the trainees, Baek Wol-hee added with a smirk,"As you saw, survival in Kangho isn't just about martial arts. It's about using your mind, your surroundings... and, well, sometimes your charm. Especially against opponents like me."
She walked off gracefully, leaving behind a stunned silence.
The trainees stood frozen, overwhelmed by her presence and performance."She's incredible," one whispered, and others nodded in agreement.What they had witnessed wasn't just a duel—it was a masterclass in control, strategy, and composure.
Han So-yeon watched from a distance, conflicted. Baek Wol-hee's confident, provocative style was the complete opposite of her own. While So-yeon preferred sincerity and quiet devotion, Baek Wol-hee weaponized allure without hesitation—and it worked. So-yeon couldn't help but wonder: Does Do-hyun feel the pull too?
Meanwhile, Mi-ryeong narrowed her eyes. Baek Wol-hee didn't just use martial strength—she manipulated emotions with precision. Mi-ryeong understood elegance, but this was a different kind of game.She treats combat like a dance of the mind. I'll need to find my own way to stand by Do-hyun.
Off to the side, Cheong Un-jin watched silently. He considered Do-hyun like a younger brother, someone he'd always protected. But now, that brother was navigating the treacherous waters of Kangho on his own.He won't falter. Not even against this.
When Baek Wol-hee delivered her final playful remark and walked away, Cheong Un-jin chuckled softly."So very Baek Wol-hee. Shaking an opponent like that—it's an art." He glanced at the dazed trainees. "But Do-hyun won't fall for it. He's stronger than that."
Whispers about Baek Wol-hee's skill and impact lingered in the training hall.Each person walked away with a new lesson—not just about combat, but about surviving in a world where charm and strategy were as sharp as any blade.