Near Pungwolru, in a neighboring village, there was a man known across Kangho—Jang Ho-Baek (張虎白).

Nicknamed "Iron Mountain Sword (Cheolsan-Geom, 鐵山劍)", he was a giant of a man, feared for his brutal swordsmanship. His tyranny extended even to the women of Pungwolru, who had long endured his oppression.

One evening, Chun-Hyang approached Lee Do-Hyun, worry etched across her face.

"Do-Hyun, it's time for you to step in."

Her voice was steady, but the concern in her eyes was evident.

"Someone like Jang Ho-Baek… we can't fight him. We've endured long enough, but we can't hold out any longer. Not with force alone."

Do-Hyun hesitated before speaking.

"Honestly, how am I supposed to take down that giant? I've only just started learning how to hold a sword…"

Chun-Hyang smiled and patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"He's only fought those who meet strength with strength. But the skills you've learned… they exist to challenge such brute force. Trust in them."

The village square.

Standing before the towering figure of Jang Ho-Baek, Lee Do-Hyun spoke with quiet confidence.

"Hey, Iron Mountain Sword. It's one thing to bully the villagers, but harassing the women of Pungwolru? That ends today."

Jang Ho-Baek scoffed, sizing him up with obvious disdain.

"Hah! And who the hell do you think you are? You plan to fight me using some techniques you learned from women? Ridiculous!"

Do-Hyun smiled, unbothered.

"That's right. The techniques I learned were from women. And today, they're going to humble you."

With a laugh, Jang Ho-Baek unsheathed his massive sword.

"A sword's strength is in its sheer power. Let's see if your little tricks can stand against it!"

With a thunderous swing, his blade came crashing down.

Do-Hyun, however, sidestepped with ease, recalling one of Chun-Hyang's lessons:

"No matter how big a body or a sword may be, if you break its balance, it will fall all the same."

Jang Ho-Baek's sword whistled through empty air, missing its mark.

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Seizing the moment, Do-Hyun gripped his opponent's wrist and twisted it sharply. The sheer force of Jang Ho-Baek's own strength worked against him, causing his stance to falter.

With expert precision, Do-Hyun applied a technique meant to dismantle balance, effectively locking Jang Ho-Baek in place.

A cry of frustration escaped from the giant's lips.

"You think you can beat me with some cheap tricks?!"

Do-Hyun smirked.

"You know, a simple slingshot once brought down Goliath. Today, I'll be that David."

Jang Ho-Baek struggled to regain his footing, but before he could stabilize, Do-Hyun struck again—exploiting a weak point and disrupting his balance further.

With a resounding crash, Jang Ho-Baek fell to his knees.

The entire square fell silent.

"That giant… fell?"

"And with such a simple technique?"

Jang Ho-Baek, his pride wounded, pounded his fist against the ground.

"I… lost to a technique like this?"

Do-Hyun lowered his sword, speaking calmly.

"Kangho isn't ruled by brute strength alone. Your defeat today wasn't because of my skill—it was because of your arrogance."

For the first time, Jang Ho-Baek had no response. The mix of humiliation and shock in his eyes solidified his defeat.

After this battle, the people of the village began to see Do-Hyun differently.

The men, who had once mocked his techniques, started to reevaluate their own arrogance.

The women of Pungwolru, who had long been dismissed, realized the true potential of their martial arts.

Chun-Hyang approached, smiling.

"Now, people will begin to see the value of what we've created. What you've shown them today isn't just a victory—it's a new way to fight."

Do-Hyun looked at the sword in his hand and made a silent vow.

"I won't just use these techniques to survive. I'll use them to change this world."

This was his first victory—small, but significant.

The first step in breaking the rigid traditions of Kangho.

The Bond of Loyalty

Word of Jang Ho-Baek's defeat spread like wildfire through Kangho.

Many saw it as a victory for Pungwolru and the oppressed.

But in the shadows, a greater threat was emerging.

Jang Ho-Baek was not just an individual—he was connected to a powerful faction that had now set their sights on Do-Hyun.

"Find this man called the Black Cloud Sword. He humiliated us with those pathetic techniques of his. He must be dealt with."

Soon, warriors from Kangho's underworld began gathering in the village.

Sensing the growing hostility, Do-Hyun moved cautiously, staying hidden.

That night, in the back alleys of Pungwolru, he met Chun-Hyang.

Her eyes were unwavering, filled with determination.

"Do-Hyun, the people after you… they don't just want revenge. They'll destroy everything associated with you. That includes us."

Do-Hyun hesitated.

"Then leave me. I can't let you all suffer because of me."

But Chun-Hyang's voice was firm.

"You don't understand. Because of you, for the first time, we had a voice in Kangho. If you disappear now, so will everything we've fought for."

The next day.

The warriors of Kangho arrived at Pungwolru.

Their leader, a grim-faced martial artist, spoke coldly.

"We know the man called Lee Do-Hyun is here. Hand him over."

The women of Pungwolru remained calm.

With a smile, Chun-Hyang stepped forward.

"Oh? Such powerful men visiting us so late? Are you here to see us, or do you have other intentions?"

Their charm and wit were not just for show.

The women distracted their foes, forcing them to let their guard down.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, Do-Hyun was being led to safety.

Some women engaged in subtle tactics—disrupting movements, stealing weapons, and causing confusion—while others blocked the path leading to Do-Hyun's hiding spot.

Eventually, the warriors realized they had been played.

"You dare call this honorable combat?! You use tricks and deception—this is disgraceful!"

Chun-Hyang, standing with the others, remained unfazed.

"Disgraceful? We simply survive with the tools we have. If Kangho's laws are so noble, then why do they leave no room for the weak?"

Her words rang true.

Behind her, the women of Pungwolru stood united.

"If we hadn't learned to stand together, we would've disappeared long ago. And we won't let that happen now."

In the end, Do-Hyun escaped safely—but not without cost.

Some of the women suffered injuries, but they never wavered.

Later, as they tended to their wounds, Do-Hyun bowed deeply before them.

"If it weren't for you, I'd be dead. I don't know how I can ever repay this debt."

Chun-Hyang simply smiled.

"Repayment? That's a luxury for the strong. But for us… we only ask one thing."

She met his gaze.

"Promise us, Do-Hyun—if you ever gain the power to protect, don't let people like us disappear."

Do-Hyun clenched his fists.

"I swear it. I will make sure no one like you ever has to hide again."

Thus, his path became clear.

This wasn't just about survival anymore.

It was about changing Kangho itself.