Baek Yeong-seon sat quietly in one of the guest rooms of Heukwoon-gwan.Outside, the wind howled, cutting through the usual stillness of the martial world. It rattled the windows and tugged gently at the hem of her robe.Today, as ever, the various factions of the murim were vying for greater power. And to someone like Baek Yeong-seon, who had long survived the chaos with cold calculation, neutrality seemed nothing more than a temporary survival tactic.
Across the table sat Do-hyeon, So-yeon, and Wol-hee.They were each deep in thought about their future paths.Baek Yeong-seon, gathering her thoughts, finally broke the heavy silence with a deep breath.
She had already anticipated that Do-hyeon might lean toward neutrality.But today, she felt it necessary to spell out clearly what such a choice would truly mean.
When she spoke, her voice was calm but firm, and the room fell utterly silent.
"Neutrality sounds noble enough. But in truth… it only works when one has overwhelming strength—or when a buffer zone is carved out between greater powers."Her voice grew colder."If it's nothing but an attempt to avoid conflict, it becomes a glaring weakness."
Do-hyeon, Wol-hee, and So-yeon exchanged glances, absorbing the weight of her words.It wasn't the reaction they had expected.Baek Yeong-seon had seen firsthand, through decades in the murim, what became of those who clung to neutrality without the strength to defend it.
"Neutrality," she continued, "is often nothing more than standing in the middle, waiting to be crushed by both sides. If you don't have the power to enforce your stance, you become nothing but a burdensome relic—too valuable to discard, too dangerous to trust. And such people… they are always the first to vanish."
She sipped her tea quietly, letting her words sink in.
"During my years among the Dark Faction, I saw it time and again. Those who refused to choose a side were eventually forced to. And when that happened, it was often already too late."
Do-hyeon frowned slightly, troubled.He had thought neutrality was a way to protect himself and those around him—a safe path through a dangerous world.But Baek Yeong-seon made it clear: neutrality without strength was merely an illusion.
Finally, he spoke."Then... what should we choose?"
Baek Yeong-seon studied him for a long moment before answering.
"The choice is yours. Always has been. I won't tell you to join the Dark Faction, nor will I forbid it."Her tone was steady, unyielding."But whatever you choose—you must be prepared to bear the consequences."
Her words were not harsh, but they carried undeniable weight.She wasn't warning them out of fear, but out of experience.
"Most who walked the path of darkness paid for it with regret... or with sacrifice," she said."If you intend to walk that road, then be ready to pay the price."
Do-hyeon nodded slowly, realization dawning.He had thought remaining neutral would protect them.But neutrality, in this brutal world, would paint a target on their backs.If they didn't choose a side, they would be seen as a threat by both.
Baek Yeong-seon continued, her voice soft yet implacable.
"If you cling to neutrality, you'll find yourselves surrounded by enemies. But no matter what path you walk—the responsibility for that decision will be yours alone."
Her gaze was unflinching as she looked at the three seated before her.
"I chose my path in the Dark Faction long ago. And I lived with the consequences, no matter how heavy they became."
So-yeon lowered her eyes, lost in thought.She knew now: joining the Dark Faction wasn't a guaranteed defeat—but it would require strength, sacrifice, and a resolve forged in hardship.
Baek Yeong-seon, sensing her hesitation, added quietly,"Choosing the Dark Faction doesn't mean surrendering.But it does mean walking into the darkness, with no guarantee you'll ever find your way back."
Her words, heavy with meaning, hung in the air.
Do-hyeon, Wol-hee, and So-yeon sat in silence, each grappling with the true weight of choice—and the heavy burden of responsibility that would come with it.
***
The Clash of Beliefs — Han Euimyeong and Baek Yeong-seon
Inside the quiet guest hall of Heukwoon-gwan, Baek Yeong-seon sat silently, sipping her tea.Outside, the wind howled violently, its force rattling the windows and tugging at the hem of her robe.It was amid this tense stillness that Han Euimyeong and his son, Cheong Unjin, arrived at Heukwoon-gwan.Baek Yeong-seon rose to greet them, her mind sharpening in quiet contemplation.
Already seated at the table were Do-hyeon, So-yeon, and Wol-hee—each grappling with the weight of their future paths.As Han Euimyeong took his seat across from her, their eyes briefly locked.They had once crossed paths in their youth, but whatever history they shared was little more than a forgotten breeze—meaningless now.
Unlike Han Euimyeong, whose conviction burned unwaveringly, Baek Yeong-seon had spent her life honing a cold, unflinching view of the murim.What mattered now was not old memories, but the stark reality: what choices would they make, and what path would they force upon their children?
She set her teacup down and broke the silence.
"Neutrality," she said, voice cool and cutting. "It sounds noble enough. But without the might to enforce it, it's nothing more than a glaring weakness."
Han Euimyeong didn't immediately reply.Instead, he listened, allowing her words to settle heavily over the room.
"Neutral parties become little more than leftovers," Baek Yeong-seon continued. "Too troublesome to consume, too valuable to discard. Without overwhelming power, neutrality is simply another target waiting to be crushed."
Do-hyeon shifted uncomfortably, exchanging a glance with Wol-hee.He realized now just how sharp the clash between Baek Yeong-seon and Han Euimyeong had become.Yet Han Euimyeong merely smiled faintly—acknowledging her warning, but not yielding.
"I understand neutrality is not an easy path," Han Euimyeong said calmly."But survival itself is a strategy.Given the state of the murim, maintaining neutrality is still the best option—for now."
Do-hyeon's heart wavered.He had long believed neutrality would protect them, shield them from choosing sides.But as he listened, he began to realize that neutrality might be nothing more than another way of standing unguarded between two armies.
"Maybe neutrality really does expose us..." Do-hyeon murmured."But even now, I hesitate.Choosing a side… it's not something I can do lightly. But perhaps... it's time I made a decision."
The weight of inevitability pressed down on him.
So-yeon looked conflicted, her thoughts swirling.Though born and raised within the righteous factions, she no longer fully trusted their claim to justice.Part of her had always believed that walking a middle path was possible.But now, hearing Baek Yeong-seon's blunt assessment, doubt gnawed at her.
"You're right," So-yeon said quietly. "Neutrality might be more dangerous than I realized."
She took a breath, steadying herself.
"I grew up believing the righteous sects were truly righteous... but now, I see the flaws.I respect the ideals of the dark factions too.Yet no matter which side we choose... we must own the consequences."
Her voice grew stronger with each word.
Wol-hee, too, reflected deeply.She had survived the harsh world of the dark factions, learned to understand the ruthlessness and the betrayals.She had tried to find balance—tried to see the good in both light and shadow.But now, she knew.Neutrality was a fantasy she could no longer afford.
"I agree with Lady Baek," Wol-hee said, her voice firm."Neutrality is nothing but an invitation to be crushed between forces stronger than oneself."
She clenched her fists beneath the table.
"I chose the path of the dark faction long ago, knowing it would never be easy.Sacrifice and hardship are part of that life.But if that's the path I've chosen, then I must bear the weight of it with my own hands."
Her gaze was steady—unyielding.
Meanwhile, Cheong Unjin, ever the free spirit, observed the heated exchange with a faint smile.He had never been one to agonize over loyalty or allegiance.He would carve his own path, as he always had.
"In the end," he said lightly, "everyone has to choose for themselves.Whether it's neutrality, light, or darkness—it doesn't matter.Whatever road you walk, you carry the burden yourself."
He shrugged, relaxed and carefree.
"I'll find my own way.As long as I trust myself, that's enough."
At his words, a heavy silence fell again over the room.Each of them—Do-hyeon, Wol-hee, So-yeon—sat with their own swirling thoughts.Choice and responsibility: the twin blades they could no longer avoid.
And in that quiet hall of Heukwoon-gwan, a new chapter of their fates slowly, inevitably, began to take shape.