Chapter 4

Ji-hoon was on her way to her favorite boutique to buy the dress she would wear for her 14th birthday. Her excitement was palpable, and she could hardly contain her joy as she thought about the beautiful gown she would soon own. However, her coachman, taking an ill-advised shortcut through a notorious area frequented by bandits, unknowingly set in motion a chain of events that would change her life forever. With no escort or knight to protect her, Ji-hoon, the tenth child of King Yoon Byung-ho, was kidnapped.

The bandits took her to a squalid cage, where she found other children in similar plight. This was a human trafficking operation, and they were all destined to be sold as slaves in a foreign land. Days turned into weeks, and after a month of grueling travel, Ji-hoon's prayers for rescue were answered. A middle-aged man, with the bearing of a warrior, fought off the bandits with unparalleled skill and commanded his subordinates to return the children to their homes.

When it was Ji-hoon's turn to be sent back, she knelt before the man, tears streaming down her face. "Please don't take me home. Nobody loves me there. Please, take me with you. I don't want to go home," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.

The man, Hae Tae-kwon, the renowned martial arts leader of the Kwon-sect, looked at her with compassion and nodded. Ji-hoon followed him, her heart filled with a mix of relief and gratitude.

The Kwon-sect, unlike other martial arts sects that sought independence from the kingdoms they operated within, had always been autonomous. Hae Tae-kwon's name was known far and wide, respected and feared as a master of martial arts.

A year passed swiftly under Master Hae's tutelage. Ji-hoon learned martial arts, how to control her Ki, and how to wield a sword. She became his favorite student, and her admiration for him grew each day.

One peaceful spring day, as Ji-hoon lay with her head on Master Hae's lap, he stroked her hair affectionately. "Spring, I want you to do a favor for Father," he said gently.

"Anything for you, Father," Ji-hoon replied, her voice brimming with happiness.

"Return home, Spring. It's been a year and four months. Even if you do not wish to stay with them, think of your mother, who loves you dearly," Master Hae continued, his tone soft but firm.

"No, Father, anything but that," Ji-hoon protested, her heart sinking.

"If you do, Father will reward you. Father is always here for you; you should never forget that, my Spring," Master Hae said, stroking her hair soothingly.

Reluctantly, Ji-hoon agreed and prepared to leave. On the day of her departure, Master Hae gave her a precious gift: half of a green jade pendant, its other half hanging around his neck, symbolizing their eternal connection. This pendant was a family heirloom, given only to those they adopted or loved dearly, even if they were not blood relatives.

"Father will always be with you, okay?" he said, patting her back and hugging her tightly.

Ji-hoon began to cry, her tears soaking his robe as she knelt and bowed her head to his feet. "Thank you very much for everything, Father. I am forever indebted to you."

With a heavy heart, she left the sanctuary of the Kwon-sect. The journey back to Goryeo would take approximately two months, and Ji-hoon decided to use this time to do as much good as she could. She helped the poor, fought wars on the side of justice, aided the sick, and earned the nickname "Martial Arts Princess" among the commoners.

Upon arriving in Goryeo, she changed out of her martial arts attire and donned the outfit she had worn on the day she was kidnapped. Her return to the palace was met with indifference by most, but her mother welcomed her with tear-filled eyes, the only sign of warmth and love in a cold and distant family.

*******

Three years had passed since Ji-hoon had transformed herself into a successful entrepreneur, owning not just one, but two prominent guilds. The Adventurers Guild, a thriving enterprise on the surface, doubled as an intelligence network behind the scenes. Likewise, the Merchant's Guild, renowned for its commercial prowess, secretly functioned as a message relay service.

Desperate to still be able to keep in touch with 'Father', she created the guild and ensured her business was a success and it is.

Ji-hoon was busy planning an anniversary celebration to honor the day she first met Master Hae, the man she affectionately called Father, when she received an unexpected summons from her biological father, King Yoon Byung-ho.

Her initial reaction was one of indifference. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the perfect gift and heartfelt letter she would send to Master Hae. However, her curiosity piqued as she approached the Audience Room, a place fraught with tension and political machinations. Upon entering, she found herself in the presence of the king, his four queens, and her nine siblings, all assembled in a formal and intimidating tableau.

"King Yoon Byung-ho, how may I assist you today?" Ji-hoon inquired, her tone absentminded and detached, clearly uninterested in the family dynamics unfolding around her.

"I summoned you to discuss your kidnapping four years ago. How are you now?" the king asked, his voice tinged with concern, though his eyes betrayed a calculated coldness.

"Never been better, Your Majesty," Ji-hoon replied, her tone icy and distant.

The king's expression darkened. "Yoon Ji-hoon, since when did you refer to your father as 'Your Majesty'?" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the room.

"I have always referred to you as 'Your Majesty,' even before I was kidnapped, Your Majesty," she responded, her eyes fixed on the ground, avoiding his piercing gaze.

The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense, but Ji-hoon remained unperturbed, her thoughts drifting back to her plans for Master Hae's celebration. Suddenly, the king slammed his hand down on the table, jolting her from her reverie. She hissed softly, her annoyance evident.

"Please, Your Majesty, such actions are unbecoming. If word were to get out that you vent your anger on your children in such a manner, who knows what the consequences might be," she remarked, her tone laced with subtle defiance.

Her words only fueled the king's rage. He grabbed a pen and hurled it at her. Ji-hoon dodged effortlessly, still refusing to meet his eyes.

"Pens are sharp, Your Majesty. You need to be more careful," she added nonchalantly.

"Ji-hoon, do you have so little respect for me?" the king asked, his voice now calm but seething with barely contained fury.

It was then that Ji-hoon finally looked up, her expression one of cold determination. "Your Majesty, I have enough respect for you as a ruler. But as a father, I don't think my respect for you amounts to more than a pinch of salt," she answered, her voice unwavering.

The king's face turned a furious shade of red. "What did you say?"

"It seems, Your Majesty, that you might be running a fever. Because I can't fathom what kind of father asks his daughter about her kidnapping experience four years after the incident. Have you no shame, Your Majesty?" she retorted, her eyes flashing with contempt. "If you had so little regard for my mother, why allow her to bear a child you haven't even bothered to hold or acknowledge? If this conversation is over, I would like to take my leave."

As she turned to exit the room, the king's voice stopped her. "Ji-hoon, you will marry Ji-ho of the Arandal Kingdom. Prepare for your wedding," he declared with finality.

Ji-hoon left the room without another word. Her mind was already on other matters, but she knew this new development would need to be addressed. Despite the impending marriage, she celebrated the anniversary of meeting Master Hae, though she also had to deliver some distressing news to him.

Three months later, her wedding took place. Ji-hoon entrusted her guilds to her trusted assistant and entered into a marriage that was more a political alliance than a union of hearts. On her wedding night, her new husband was conspicuously absent, choosing instead to spend the night in the garden with his girlfriend.

A year passed, and on the anniversary of her meeting with Master Hae, Ji-hoon received devastating news of his death. The loss plunged her into a deep depression, stripping her of her will and her Ki, the life force that had driven her success. Her husband, far from being a source of support, continued to harass and mistreat her, compounding her misery.

The relentless torment and profound loss led Ji-hoon to the brink of despair, and eventually, she met her own tragic end.