In the land of Korea, there was a famous martial arts master by the name of Seong Han-myeong. His prowess in combat was widely known and respected throughout his country. He became the master of a dojang martial arts training hall, where he instructed students in the ways of his fighting style with the Korean bladed pole weapon, the Guan Dao.
Han-myeong had one daughter and one son, but his son and wife died of sickness, leaving only his daughter, Seong Mi-na, to continue his lineage. Wishing to never experience such loss again, he became very protective of his daughter, worrying for her safety every day.
It was through his desire to protect his daughter that Han-myeong insisted in teaching Mi-na the ways of martial arts and weapon combat. From her early childhood to adolescence, Mi-na underwent almost excessive amounts of training, eventually becoming even more skilled with the Guan Dao than even her father was.
One day, an adolescent boy arrived at the dojang, wishing to learn self-defense. Han-myeong initially refused the boy's request, but then learned that the young man was an orphan who had no home or way to protect himself from the dangers of the world. Han-myeong took in the boy, and just as soon, took a particular interest to him. The young man's name was Hwang.
Hwang proved himself to be a quick learner with exceptional determination. Han-myeong was impressed, and saw much potential in Hwang. He saw this as an opportunity to have a son once again, and considered adopting him. However, before a fitting opportunity could arise, Hwang left the dojang to join the Koran military's Coastal Forces.
Han-myeong regretted not asking Hwang to stay and become his family, and decided that if Hwang ever returned, he would make his offer. Hwang returned sooner than expected, but it was only to ready himself for an important mission on behalf of the leader of the Coastal Forces, Admiral Yi Sun Shin, who was a childhood friend of Han-myeong.
Hwang's important mission as to seek out a "Sword of Salvation" known by the name of Soul Edge.
Han-myeong knew that he could not ask Hwang to be his son now, when such an important mission was at hand. Instead, Han-myeong offered to give Hwang his most prized sword, Mountain Breaker. Hwang politely declined the offer, refusing to take Han-myeong's favorite weapon away from him. Hwang instead accepted a different weapon, the Blue Storm, one of the Seong's Family heirlooms.
As Mi-na listened to Hwang speak of his life in the military, she regarded him with envy and a sense of injustice. Mi-na had previously tried to join the Coastal Forces, but was rejected on account of her gender. Mi-na decided to find this 'Soul Edge' weapon on her own before the oh-so-perfect Hwang could, so she could prove her worth.
As Mi-na was sneaking out of the house, she was caught by her father. He stopped her and asked where she was off to, and she did not lie to him. He admonished her and ordered her to stay home, but she refused to obey him, and ran off.
Around this time, news began to spread that the Japanese were planning to invade Korea. Most of Han-myeong's pupils left to join the Coastal Defense immediately. Upon hearing of the invasion, Hwang cut his search short and returned home, dragging someone home with him - Mi-na, whom he had found during his travels. Han-myeong scolded her and made her endure an even stricter training regimen than before.
Thanking Hwang for his help, Han-myeong finally gathered the courage to ask the young man to be his son. The offer was politely declined. Han-myeong did not give up, and began to plot a way to make Hwang his son - a marriage between Hwang and Mi-na.
Mi-na grew very angry with her father upon hearing his plan, and ran away soon afterward. Han-myeong was stricken with grief, having wound up with no children instead of two. Ruminating over these matters, Han-myeong started to think rationally again, and conceded that her had been overprotective of Mi-na, and should not have thought of using her as a tool. He decided to give her freedom to do as she wished with her life once she returned.
However, months passed, and Mi-na never returned. Han-myeong began to become extremely worried, even requesting the aid of Yi Sun Shin, who could not help him, being busy with the invading Japanese forces. However, he could spare one man...
---
Freedom at last!
...But...what am I supposed to do now?
Mi-na ticked off her options on her fingers, limited as they were. I want to volunteer for the Coastal Defense Force, but they've flatly denied me every time I've asked. Dad's best friend is a member of the Force, so the instant I go there, they'll just make me go back home. Maybe I should just go back home, then...argh, but it's like a prison, and there's nothing to do but train!
...Oh! I've got it! Why don't I begin the quest for the Sword of Salvation again? Yeah, that seems like a good idea! If I get the sword, both father AND the Force will accept me! Hwang stopped me before, but I shouldn't have to worry about him this time!
After a few months, Mi-na finally reached western soil, where the Sword of Salvation was said to reside. One day while in a town, Mi-na heard a rumor about a woman who was searching for the same sword as she. Mi-na tracked down the woman in the town to discuss the sword with her.
The woman was tall, with hair of platinum and eyes of cyan. At least, she seemed like the kind of haughty woman who would be enamored with such cliché and romantic terms. She carried herself with an air of obvious superiority, as if she was daring anyone to convince her otherwise. She wore provocative clothing as if to elicit all the attention and stares she could, but behaved like a distinguished aristocrat, not a whore. She was demure and bold, refined and vulgar, alluring and repulsive. Mi-na hated her already.
Mi-na swallowed her distaste for the unpleasant woman, introduced herself by announcing that she was looking for Soul Edge, the Sword of Salvation, and asked for help. The woman responded with a tone so condescending she could not have been more patronizing if she had tried, calmly yet rudely telling Mi-na that she was pitifully mistaken about the nature of the sword, and to cease searching for the 'demonic blade'.
Mi-na was not the sort of person who would go looking for trouble, but she was also not the sort of person who could ignore rude words easily. She tried arguing with the woman, saying she was more than capable of protecting herself. Spotting a possible weak point, the woman gave Mi-na a reason to stay away from Soul Edge - it was nothing for a frail little girl to get involved with. The way that Mi-na responded to this remark confirmed that she was sensitive about her youth, and the woman amused herself by goading Mi-na further on the grounds of her age. Mi-na retaliated by insulting the woman's own age, calling her an old lady because of her white hair. They continued to trade invectives.
While the woman was not phased by Mi-na's feeble attempts to taunt her, the sensitive Mi-na was growing more angry by the moment. Upon realizing that the woman had a weapon at her side, Mi-na challenged the white-haired bitch to a fight right there in the middle of the street. The woman eagerly agreed, drawing her weapon enthusiastically - it seemed that she enjoyed physical fights as much as verbal ones.
And, just as the woman had devastated Mi-na with her words, she did so again using her weapon. Although Mi-na was not overpowered, she was overwhelmed by her opponent's blade, some kind of mysterious wriggling sword. She fought her best against the woman, but she knew what the final result would be.
When it was obvious that the fight was over, the mysterious woman left without a word, the crowd that had gathered around to stare broke up, and Mi-na was left standing alone in a dimly lit street.
I couldn't beat her. Does this mean that my blade is useless? Does this mean I have neglected my training? Mi-na had never felt so inadequate and crushed in her life, not even during her times at her father's dojang. The art of the Guan Dao was her only confidence in this journey. She stood in shock as her mind was denied everything by this one defeat.
"Interesting duel!" Bellowed a voice.
The voice snapped Mi-na out of her funk, and she regained her focus. As she looked around, she saw an Asian man standing on the side of the street where the crowd once was. The man looked in his thirties or forties, perhaps Chinese. He seemed very, very drunk. A long rod in the man's hands drew Mi-na's attention. At a slight glance, it looked like a long walking stick, but the scars and nicks in the rod made it obvious that it was a combat staff, and showed signs that it had been in use for many years.
"That lady's sword was a rare thing." The man said inbetween hiccups, his speech slurred. "Indeed, it was a good lesson for you to learn - not to challenge people so boldly."
Mi-na sighed. What was it about alcohol that made people feel so entitled to lecture people about every little thing? She prepared to leave.
"You're lucky you're so young! You have time to become stronger, right, 'little girl'?" The man asked.
The man was only trying to console her by suggesting that her youth was a trait with useful potential- but Mi-na misunderstood the man's words, taking them to be yet another insult, and after being treated like a child for the second time today, she attacked the drunk without even thinking.
However, her Guan Dao never reached him. He didn't parry it or guard himself with his staff - but instead, he simply stopped the blade by grabbing the Guan Dao by the rod.
"It is unwise to attack your enemy before knowing their abilities." The man said with a wry smile.
In a flash, the man turned his weapon upon Mi-na - wielding the rod not as a bo staff, but with the same technique one would use to wield a Guan Dao. Mi-na defended herself against the man, but he struck her with several blows that would have been fatal, if his staff had possessed a blade. When she adapted her strategy to counter an opponent wielding a Guan Dao, the man suddenly began to wield his rod as a combat staff. Again, he struck her with many 'killing' blows, but he showed no intent to harm her - he was smiling and laughing - just having fun.
When she could take it no longer, Mi-na screamed in frustration. "ENOUGH! Stop toying with me!"
"...So you'd like to get serious now?" The man said with an ambiguous grin. Mi-na was afraid - was that a threat? "As I said, you are young, and still have time to become stronger. If you wish...I will teach you how to fight."
Mi-na was shocked by this sudden proposal from a stranger she hardly knew. ...However, whatever his character, she could not deny his mastery of the Guan Dao...
And so it came to pass that Mi-na returned to a life of diligent training, this time under the guidance of a mysterious and perpetually drunken man.
Mi-na knew after her encounter with the white-haired bitch that she would continue to run across strong fighters like that woman in her quest for the Soul Edge. If she sought the blade, she would need to become stronger.
This was her sole motivation to continue to push herself. The man paid little attention to Mi-na's purpose, and instead taught her genuinely because of her strong convictions. Day by day, her skill grew. Even though the man was almost always intoxicated, and his appearance was a terrible mess, his fighting style and mastery of the staff had something very noble and traditional about it.
A full year had passed in Mi-na's training. Her drunken master taught her lessons she had never learned about the Guan Dao, and also taught her how to fight in the style of the bo staff. And then, one day, the man went out to buy some alcohol...and never returned. A saddened Mi-na found a note that the man had left behind.
Under my guidance, your skill has grown in ways it never could have before, but your abilities have grown so much that I am no longer worthy to teach you the way of the Guan Dao. But with your talent, you need not master it fully, but simply combine what I have taught you with your knowledge of the long blade. There is nothing more for me to teach you. Go forth and complete your quest.
- Kong
---
"At least, that's what I remember about her. She reminded me of a girl from my past...they were both the same age, I guess. I taught her the art of the rod for no real reason, but I found myself surprised at how quickly she mastered it. She needed merely a year to master the basic techniques. She was an honest girl, so honest that she couldn't keep her thoughts to herself and always said whatever came to mind. I think you should consider becoming more frank as well...don't you agree, Chief Commander Hwang?"
Drunk as usual, Kong was speaking to none other than Hwang. A group of bandits had hassled the drunken man, and Hwang had prepared to save him, when the alcoholic suddenly defended himself with expert skill. Hwang took an interest in the curious man and began speaking to him, and before long, Hwang had mentioned that he was looking for a girl - a girl whose description matched that of Kong's former apprentice.
It was three years until Hwang finally tracked down Mi-na. Mi-na's search for Soul Edge, predictably, had been as unyielding as her previous search. When Hwang finally caught up with her, she grudgingly agreed to return home to her father.
Han-myeong was overjoyed to finally see his only loved ones return home, and profusely apologized to Mi-na for being too overprotective of her during all those years, and promised to treat her as an adult from that day forward.
---
As the warring states of Japan became unified, tensions began to mount in the neighboring country of Korea. When a country in disarray comes together as one, it often can mean only one thing: The country seeks to expand overseas.
Because Korea was adjacent to Japan, they fortified their defenses in order to be ready for a Japanese invasion at any moment. The coastguard force, under the command of Navy Admiral Lee Sun Shin, was a part of that defense. With a distinguished admiral at the helm, many promising youths joined the coastguard. The country had high expectations for its maritime defenses.
Desiring the ability to defend themselves if Japanese forces invaded their land, many young men wished to gain some degree of mastery over martial arts. Dojangs like Seong Han-myeong's were highly valued, as were renowned martial arts masters such as Han-myeong himself.
Every so often, there is a martial artist who shows almost supernatural excellence in his field of combat. Seong Han-myeong thought he would only see one such man in his lifetime - Hwang - but before his days were over, he would see yet another prodigy in his dojang.
The boy's name was Hong Yun-seong. Yun-seong entered Han-myeong's dojang, hoping to gain the skills of Hwang, who by now was a famous and renowned coastguardsman who served under Admiral Lee. After Yun-seong witnessed Hwang's abilities with his own eyes, Hwang became his hero, and Yun-seong sought to become as much like him as possible; and the first step was to train at the same dojang Hwang had trained at.
Time passed, and Yun-seong developed from a determined and brave boy into a hot-blooded, reckless young man. He became well known in the dojo, even by his seniors, though his reputation was more notorious than it was honorable. But although he was temperamental and emotional, Yun-seong's seniors knew that there was no evil in his heart - he was childish, but not cruel. Recognizing his potential, Master Seong Han-myeong took him under his wing and taught him directly.
By this time, Hwang, was no longer Yun-seong's hero - but a man who Yun-seong vowed to surpass. In order to prove his skills, the brash and overenthusiastic Yun-seong wished to fight Hwang. One day, news reached the Han-myeong dojang that Hwang was returning from his long journey. Yun-seong saw this as an opportunity. He was in top condition, in both body and mind. Yun-seong was convinced that he could make Hwang acknowledge his fighting skills. Not only that, he might also prove that he was actually stronger than Hwang.
Wiser from his long journey around the world, Hwang ignored the challenge. Disappointed that his mission to find the Sword of Salvation had failed, Hwang rejoined the military to defend his country from the impending Japanese invasion.
Yun-seong was dissatisfied that Hwang ignored his challenge. Mi-na saw the brooding Yun-seong, and tried to turn him around. "How long are you going to sulk like that?" She asked him. "You're being a child." Unexpectedly, Mi-na drew a sword - and handed it to Yun-seong. "Take a good look at your reflection in this sword, and think things through."
The weapon that Mi-na handed to Yun-seong was a Seong family heirloom. According to legend, it possessed the ability to reflect the deepest thoughts of those who held the blade.
That night, Yun-seong studied the image of himself in the sword, and thought about what he should do. An array of thoughts and feelings entered his mind.
He realized it was foolish to challenge someone for personal reasons when the country was in such peril. But what could Yun-seong do to make Hwang acknowledge him? Yun-seong mulled over his options. He then realized that if he could obtain the Sword of Salvation that Hwang had failed to find, Hwang would be forced to recognize Yun-seong's talents and respect him. A challenge against Hwang would have to wait until after the country was saved...and perhaps Yun-seong could do that using the sword of supposed salvation!
Save his motherland and prove his strength - Soul Edge would allow him to achieve two goals in one fell swoop. He was quite pleased with his plan.
Once Yun-seong made his decision, he could not stay put for long. He immediately packed his belongings, wrote a farewell letter to his master, and left the dojang. In his characteristic haste, he did not return the family heirloom that Mi-na had lent him.
During his journey, Yun-seong learned of the true abominable nature of the Sword of Salvation, and became tormented as to what to do. Nevertheless, he continued his search; Yun-seong did not care if Soul Edge was evil, as long as he could make Hwang respect his skills and defeat the Japanese invaders. The message that Japan had finally invaded Korea was what solidified his resolve.
Yun-seong did not care if Soul Edge was evil...as long as he could make Hwang respect his skills and defeat the Japanese invaders.
---
Because Seong Mi-na had been the one to hand over a prized family heirloom to a reckless man like Yun-seong, she felt the most responsible for his sudden departure, not to mention the loss of a keepsake that held strong sentimental value. Mi-na felt obliged to retrieve the weapon, and offered to track Yun-seong down. Han-myeong did not want his daughter to leave him again, but he knew in his heart that even if he protested, she would simply run away again, so he reluctantly gave her his blessing to retrieve it.
Of course, Yun-seong was not the only pupil of Han-myeong who was too headstrong for their own good. By the time Han-myeong realized his daughter's ulterior motive for embarking on a journey - to find and destroy the demon sword herself - she was already gone.
---
As Seong Mi-na traveled throughout the lands of Asia searching for Yun-seong, a man who witnessed her defeat a bandit casually remarked that she performed the Ling-Sheng Su style impressively.
Mi-na realized that the drunken man who had taught her how to fight more effectively had never told her the name of the style. This fighting art was a solid part of her now, but she didn't know where it had originated from. Having no leads with which to follow Yun-seong, and seeing no harm in a detour, Mi-na decided to visit the famous Ling-Sheng Su temple. She had no idea who she would meet once she arrived.