The courtyard buzzed with firelight and warmth, the kind that only followed blood, sweat, and earned respect. Banners of Silent Edge flapped gently overhead as laughter echoed between the stone columns. Around one low table near the edge of the celebration, six young men sat close...legs crossed or sprawled, mugs half-full, voices rising and falling like waves. Jinhu and Hanjo were locked in their fifth arm-wrestling match of the evening, forearms trembling, jaws clenched. Jinhu's face was a storm of focus. Hanjo's was maddeningly calm.
"Just give up, monk," Jinhu growled. "Buddha's not gonna save you."
"Amitabha," Hanjo said serenely, despite the tremor in his arm. "Buddha says to meet force with peace."
"He's about to meet your elbow with the table," Ilho snorted, tossing a dried plum into his mouth. "Ten coins say Jinhu loses again."
"Are you insane?" Ryu grinned, stretching his arms overhead.
"Hanjo hasn't blinked in ten minutes."
Blue chuckled softly, his gaze shifting between them all. Even Ryul, usually reserved and distant, was smirking...nursing a mug of warmed wine, eyes soft.
It was loud, messy, and unguarded. No ranks. No missions. No walls. Just boys being boys. Jinhu slammed his fist down in frustration as Hanjo won again.
"That's it. I'm switching arms." "Already did," Hanjo said calmly, standing to bow.
Ilho leaned over to Blue. "I swear, that monk's secretly possessed."
"He's just balanced," Blue said, smiling faintly. "You could use some of that."
"Oh? You mean like you, Mister Mysterious Footwork?" Ilho elbowed him. "We still don't know where you learned that slick stuff. I've been watching."
Blue shrugged, letting the teasing roll off. "It's just instinct."
Ryu raised his cup. "To instinct, then. And to survival."
They all clinked mugs together...wood, ceramic, and steel ringing softly beneath the stars. Ryul looked around the group, his smile faltering just slightly. "I got an offer," he said quietly.
Everyone looked his way.
"What kind of offer?" Jinhu asked, still massaging his wrist.
Ryul hesitated. "From the Alliance Leader. He… wants me to join the Iron Order."
The fire popped. The warmth dulled slightly. Ilho was the first to speak. "Wait-what? You're seriously thinking about it?"
"It's a huge deal," Ryu said cautiously. "You'd be under the Alliance's direct command."
"And leave Wudang?" Jinhu asked, voice tight.
Blue didn't say anything. He simply stared at Ryul. "Do you want to go?" he asked.
Ryul didn't answer. Instead, his eyes shifted to a crimson figure approaching the pavilion.
So-Yeon. He stood quickly, muttering, "I'll be back," before hurrying toward her.
The others watched him go in silence. Hanjo sipped his tea. "It's strange," he murmured. "We've only known each other for a season. Yet it already feels like losing a brother."
Ilho leaned back, eyes on the stars. "Don't say that. We're just getting started." So-Yeon, Tang Matriarch, stepped through the entry arch, her crimson cloak fluttering behind her. She hadn't entered the main celebration yet. Instead, she paused just outside, as if watching from the edge of something she didn't trust. Ryul stood and hurried to her side.
"So-Yeon. Wait." She turned slightly, eyes softening. "Why did you help me?" he asked.
"In my match against Ryu. You interfered."
A rare smile touched her lips. "Because you're a Tang," she said gently. "You're still my brother. No matter where you go, or who you follow. It's my duty to protect you, and the others." She hesitated. "It's what Jiung would've done."
The name hung in the air like smoke. Ryul's mouth opened, but the words didn't come. Before he could speak, So-Yeon placed a hand briefly on his shoulder, then walked away-vanishing into the pavilion.
Within the pavilion, the elders of Silent Edge had already gathered. The air was cooler here, thicker with incense and politics. A large table stood in the center, surrounded by figures of tremendous presence—Wu Jin, Tang Yeol, Wu Cheng, the Sword Saint Gyeom, Sa Gwan, Mu Jang, and the Shaolin master.
The monk broke the silence. "First, let me offer my congratulations, Wu Jin. You've trained these boys well." Wu Jin gave a curt bow, arms still folded.
"That's high praise, coming from Shaolin." "Amitabha," the monk replied. "What I say next may surprise you more. Buddha has led Hanjo here. The boy wishes to remain in Silent Edge. He's found someone here to walk beside as a brother and rival." Sa Gwan muttered, "Ugh. Brutes." The monk smiled. "He believes this is his path. I will not oppose him."
The Sword Saint chuckled. "At least Ryu won't be the only newcomer then." All heads turned briefly toward the window, where the boys were still gathered in laughter. Wu Jin frowned.
"Wait… Ryu is staying here too? Who made that decision?"
Wu Cheng shrugged. "Welcome to being a sect leader." "Ryu will train with Blue," he continued. "And Hanjo will give Jinhu someone to chase." So-Yeon's voice cut through the air. "Since we're on the topic of brothers…"
She stepped into the room, eyes sharp. "Ryul told me the Alliance Leader offered him a spot in the Iron Order. I believe he plans to accept."
Wu Jin shifted. Yeol's brow furrowed. "I can't protect him openly. Not anymore," So-Yeon continued. "But you all can. Bring him to Silent Edge. Keep him here." Her eyes narrowed. "And considering my dear uncle has ignored his elder duties for months and helped himself to ginseng from my vault, I think it's only fair you do this one thing for me."
Yeol exhaled through his nose. "I suppose we can do that."
He glanced at her. "You know, So-Yeon… if you ever need anything, I'm here. Always have been." She turned to him, gaze unreadable.
"Anything?"
"Of course. Would I lie to you?"
Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Then let me ask you something. Now."
Gyeom shifted in his seat. "So-Yeon…" She ignored him.
Her eyes were locked on Yeol and Cheng. "One word," she said. "Blue." Wu Cheng blinked. "What… do you mean?"
The Sword Saint rose, expression hardening. "I told you during the tournament...what you think you saw was wrong."
So-Yeon's qi twitched in the air like a whip. "You called me Delusional." she echoed. "You all sit here and lie to me about this boy. Wu Cheng threw his match during the tryouts to hide him. He uses my grandfather's footwork. The same footwork my uncle taught me. The one I mastered before I was ever the matriarch."
The qi around her surged. Purple and green swirls of thick smoke surrounded her body, twisted and woven together. "And you dare call me delusional?"
Outside, Blue stiffened. A familiar pressure pressed against his skin. "That's…" he muttered. Ryul met eyes with Blue, They both knew instinctively what they felt. They nodded to each other then, Ryul jumped up and dashed toward to pavilion. Blue followed.
Inside, So-Yeon took a step forward. The other boys looked at each other confused.
Jinhu got up "We can't let them get into trouble by themselves. Let's go boys."
"Every time I ask about that boy, I'm fed lies. You point fingers at me, while he walks in our robes and uses our techniques." Her voice broke for a moment. "I won't be mocked. Not by strangers. Not by you. You are no better than the Alliance Leader. Lies and manipulation to satiate your need for power."
Another wave of venomous qi spilled from her like a tide.
Yeol raised his hands. "So-Yeon, please...this isn't what you think."
The Sword Saint's voice was calm but firm. "Let's not escalate this. There's truth in your pain, but this is not the way. We won't tolerate you anger and disrespect much longer."
"Tolerate?" So-Yeon laughed bitterly. "You've all tolerated lies. So now you'll tolerate the truth." She lunged. In a flash, her blade appeared...aimed straight for the Sword Saint.
And in that same instant, Blue appeared between them. His robes fluttered in the qi storm. His arms spread wide. His head bowed. He was choking on her energy...but he didn't move. He could only think to say one thing.
"Stop…" he whispered, voice cracking.
"Please… Stop, Little Sister."
The world stopped. So-Yeon's blade hovered, trembling. Her eyes widened. Her knees almost gave. For a heartbeat, the world spun sideways.
"Little… sister?" she whispered.
Blue looked up, tears in the corners of his eyes.
She staggered back. "You dare…" she choked out. "You dare call me that?! My brother is dead!" Her qi coiled tighter.
"ENOUGH! If you want to play games," she hissed, "then play in hell."
Around them, the elders moved. Weapons drawn. Stances widened. The air thick with murder. At the edge of the pavilion, Jinhu, Ilho, Ryu, and Hanjo stood frozen in the archway.
The laughter outside had stopped. And Ryul… Ryul stepped forward, slow and shaking.
He reached So-Yeon. Placed a trembling hand on her shoulder. And whispered. "It's true...he...he is Jiung."
The entire world held its breath.