The Black Cloud Sword Chronicles: The Demon Queen’s Path

Night had deepened.

Jin was inside his guesthouse room, polishing his sword, yet his gaze was fixed on a single point.

"Iseon… No, just what is this?"

The thought of one person refused to leave his mind.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Too different to be a man… But I can't be sure she's a woman either."

He recalled the events from earlier that day.

The hot spring, the moment when her clothes were torn, and the subtle, inexplicable atmosphere.

And—

The strange aura that radiated when she wielded her sword.

"Could it be… the Demonic Cult?"

His grip on the sword tightened.

If Iseon was truly from the Demonic Cult…

"Then… am I… falling for a demonic cultist?"

That thought made him shudder.

He had tried to deny it repeatedly, but he couldn't stop himself from watching her.

Jin stood from his seat and opened the window, staring up at the night sky.

Yet, the memories kept resurfacing.

Their first duel—when she had effortlessly defeated him.

The peculiar feeling he had sensed at the inn.

That fleeting moment at the hot spring.

The silhouette he had glimpsed by the river.

He clenched his teeth.

"No, Iseon is a man! But then why am I feeling this way?"

He covered his face with one hand.

"Could it be that I… like men?"

The thought made his stomach twist.

Yet, at the same time, he firmly denied it.

"No… she must be a woman. She must be."

As if casting a spell on himself, he repeated it.

"Unless she is a woman… these feelings don't make sense."

But—

"What if she isn't? Then what does that make me?"

The denial, the conflict within himself—

It only grew stronger.

At that moment—

"Why do you look so serious?"

The door creaked open, and Wiyun stepped inside.

He casually sat down, pulling out a bottle of wine.

"Something on your mind?"

Jin hesitated.

But Wiyun's lighthearted attitude strangely irritated him.

He spoke coldly.

"What do you think about Iseon?"

Wiyun took a sip from his bottle, a faint smile forming.

But he feigned ignorance.

"What do I think? Just a good companion."

"Do you really think that's all?"

Jin gritted his teeth.

At that, Wiyun chuckled.

"Seeing how troubled you are… this is getting interesting."

Jin's face stiffened.

"What do you mean by that?"

Wiyun downed another drink, his gaze turning sharp.

"Jin, could it be… that you have feelings for Iseon?"

Jin flinched.

"No, I… that's not…"

But the moment he hesitated—

Wiyun laughed.

"Then why are you so worked up?"

Jin fell silent.

He couldn't answer.

Because the fact that he was troubled at all…

meant he already knew the answer.

"Jin, you're already wavering."

Wiyun pretended not to care, but deep inside, he was entertained.

"Well, think it over."

He set his cup down and stood.

"But one thing is clear."

Jin narrowed his eyes.

"And what would that be?"

As Wiyun walked out, he turned back and spoke from the shadowy hallway.

"No matter how much you deny it… your feelings for Iseon won't just disappear."

And with that, he closed the door behind him.

Jin sat in silence.

"Iseon… just who are you?"

His emotions—

They were only growing deeper.

A Matter of Life and Death, An Unexpected Help

A dense fog covered the mountain path.

The trio moved swiftly, speaking little.

Iseon sensed something was off.

It wasn't mere intuition—she felt the presence of a hidden predator.

"Can you feel it?"

She whispered.

Jin and Wiyun gripped their swords.

"This isn't just some common bandits."

Jin's gaze sharpened.

"Yeah, this is…"

Wiyun pressed his lips together.

And then—

Whoosh!

A dark figure darted through the forest.

A gust of wind split the air as a shadow lunged at them.

Boom!

The trio instantly reacted, deflecting the first strike.

But—

"Ugh…!"

For the first time, Iseon staggered back.

Since their journey began, this was the first time she had been pushed back in a battle.

"Not bad."

A cold voice echoed from the darkness.

A man emerged, his eyes glowing red.

He wielded a sharp blade, smirking.

"What a surprise, running into you here."

"Who are you?"

Jin demanded.

The man didn't answer.

Instead—

Swish!

He lunged.

Iseon swung her sword instantly, but—

He was faster than expected.

Crash!

A powerful force traveled up her arm.

"This… isn't just internal energy."

She gritted her teeth.

This man wasn't just some martial artist.

A cold-blooded killer—

A warrior who had honed himself through countless battles.

Jin and Wiyun launched counterattacks,

but the enemy was predicting their every move.

"This is the end for you."

His blade slashed down mercilessly.

Swish!

A tear formed in Wiyun's clothing.

"Tch!"

Jin barely deflected a strike, but their techniques weren't working.

This opponent—

He was the strongest they had ever faced.

At that moment—

Whoosh!

Another shadow shot out from the darkness.

"What?!"

Jin instinctively reacted.

A sudden flash of steel intercepted the enemy's blade.

"Hmph. Didn't expect to see you here."

A new group appeared—

Dressed in black, eyes sharp as daggers.

Wiyun murmured,

"…The Unorthodox Sect?"

Opposed to the righteous sects,

Yet now standing between them and their enemy.

"Who are you people?"

Jin asked, frowning.

The enemy warrior took a step back, glaring.

"Tch, so you lot are getting involved too?"

One of the unorthodox warriors stepped forward, scoffing.

"We don't kill without reason."

And—

They clashed.

As the battle raged on,

the enemy was finally forced to retreat.

The unorthodox warriors turned away, preparing to leave.

But—

Iseon stepped forward.

"Why did you help us?"

Her voice was calm, but her question carried weight.

One of the warriors glanced back.

"Just because they call us evil…"

His voice was quiet.

"Doesn't mean we actually are."

With that, they vanished into the night.

Yet, their words remained.

Wiyun crossed his arms.

"I think we need to reconsider what we know about this world."

Jin stared at his sword.

"Justice, evil… do those labels really mean anything?"

Iseon gazed into the depths of the forest.

For the first time—

She felt the lines between good and evil blur.

She had been raised in the Demonic Cult,

watching the endless conflict between the righteous and the unorthodox sects.

But now—

For the first time,

She questioned if those boundaries had ever truly existed.

Conviction and Confrontation

Deep within the forest, as the evening settled in, the trio found a quiet clearing where they decided to set up camp for the night.

Iseon had stepped away, saying she needed a short walk, leaving Jin and Wiyun alone by the campfire, finishing their meal.

Tonight, however, Jin was unusually quiet.

He sat by the fire, sharpening his sword without a word.

Wiyun took a sip of his wine and chuckled.

"You're acting strange these days."

Jin didn't stop his movements.

"In what way?"

Wiyun smirked.

"You seem a little too concerned about Iseon."

Jin didn't respond.

But—

His hand, for just a brief second, hesitated.

And Wiyun caught that moment instantly.

"Iseon's been on your mind a lot, hasn't he?"

Jin slowly raised his head.

His eyes were filled with conflict.

"Wiyun."

His voice was low, but firm.

"You already know, don't you?"

Wiyun tilted his head, pretending not to understand.

"Know what?"

"Iseon."

Jin exhaled, staring at the fire.

"She… is not a man."

Wiyun's expression barely shifted. He maintained his usual, relaxed demeanor, yet there was a subtle tension in his gaze.

"You're sure?"

"I am."

Jin's voice was unwavering.

"I can't deny it anymore."

He clenched his fist.

"At first, I just thought something was off. But little by little, the signs became too clear to ignore."

He recalled every moment.

"She refused to bathe in the hot spring, hesitated when her clothes were torn, displayed small but distinct behaviors… She's hiding it, but now I know for certain."

Wiyun took a deep breath, then let out a slow sigh.

He finally placed his wine bottle down and spoke.

"So, what do you plan to do with this knowledge?"

Jin turned his gaze toward him.

"You knew from the beginning, didn't you?"

Wiyun smirked but didn't deny it.

"Yeah."

Jin's eyes narrowed.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

Wiyun let out a short chuckle.

"Did I need to?"

Jin clenched his jaw.

"Are you trying to protect her?"

At those words, Wiyun's expression finally changed.

He set his cup down and slowly rose to his feet.

"Jin."

His voice turned lower.

"Now that you know… what are you going to do about it?"

Jin remained silent.

Wiyun clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"Have you ever stopped to think about why she's disguising herself as a man?"

Jin blinked.

"What?"

Wiyun crossed his arms.

"It's one thing to know she's a woman. But it's another thing entirely to understand why she's keeping it a secret."

His gaze sharpened.

"And if you expose that secret, she may never be safe again."

Jin gritted his teeth.

A storm of thoughts raged inside his mind.

"Then… why?"

"Why what?"

"Why is she hiding it?"

Wiyun sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"That's something she has to tell you herself."

Jin clenched his fists.

The more he got to know her, the more conflicted he became.

The more he watched her, the more his emotions swayed.

Wiyun gave him one last glance before picking up his cup again.

"If you care about her, you won't push her on this."

He took a slow sip and spoke lightly.

"Besides, I'm curious to see how long it takes you to figure things out on your own."

Jin sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I still… don't know."

Wiyun grinned.

"I figured as much."

He turned, walking away into the night.

Jin was left alone with the crackling flames, staring at his sword.

Iseon… who are you?

Doubt and curiosity—

Those feelings had long since evolved into something else.