The most important issues were settled, and all that remained were the problems related to the Demonic Cult.
I didn’t have high hopes when I asked the Sword Saint, but just as I had heard from the Local Leader, she seemed to have no idea who the cultists that attacked her were.
“I used demonic arts, but I just slashed anyone I saw,” she said.
In other words, they weren’t a difficult opponent for the Sword Saint. So, they must not have been at the Elder level, after all.
“Weren’t they saying anything?” I asked.
“When I asked who they were, they just told me to die for Cheonma. They used some demonic arts, but I cut off their necks before they could use them properly… Tsk. Don’t worry; I’ll see what they do before I take any action.”
I wouldn’t even mind if it was just a pointless exchange. Why bother with lengthy explanations?
Anyway, asking the Sword Saint about this matter would just be a waste of time.
After taking a sip of tea, I lowered my head. There were two cups on the table where the Sword Saint and I were sitting, with sweet rice cakes only in front of me.
Those were the rice cakes she’d set aside for me after training a few days ago.
It seemed a bit embarrassing for Ryuhyun to treat me with something I had received from her.
But it looked like she felt even more embarrassed thinking that she should only serve Cheonilmaehwa tea to a guest.
Instead of eating the sweet rice cake meant for me, I handed it over.
A bright smile appeared on the Sword Saint’s face upon seeing that. But it was short-lived. She gulped and cut the rice cake in half with elegance.
Oh, as expected of the Sword Saint.
To slice it so neatly with a bamboo knife—impressive!
Then she pushed half of it toward Ryuhyun and Sayoon.
“I’m satisfied with what I had earlier, so you two go ahead.”
Even though she didn’t seem satisfied at all, her willingness to take care of her disciples showed that, although she lacked talent in management, her heart for her disciples and the sect was sincere.
As they exchanged refusal over the rice cakes, I stood up.
“Anyway, you need to come tomorrow to check the White Jade Token… so, see you tomorrow.”
“Indeed. And when you come tomorrow, come empty-handed. We’ve always received; this time we should properly host you. Ryuhyun, can you manage that?”
Ryuhyun looked surprised.
“Master, you’re speaking so normally…”
“Heh, this is nothing for your Master.”
“I’m not one to cry easily, but now I feel like tearing up…”
Listening to their conversation in disbelief, the Sword Saint laughed.
“It’s customary to repay what you receive. I’ll be out hunting today, so don’t worry about preparing plenty of meat…”
“Yes! Let’s definitely have lunch together!!”
“You don’t have to.”
“Please don’t be so modest. So… even if there’s a guardian spirit, I recommend you not linger too long, so go ahead. You’re a busy person, after all.”
The Sword Saint said casually, patting Sayoon on the head. How envious.
“Can I escort you to the inn?”
“Of course!”
Sayoon nodded brightly. After a short reply, the Sword Saint opened her mouth as I was about to leave.
“By the way, how’s Chaejin doing?”
Chaejin…
Is she referring to Chaejin?
Maybe Hongryeon mentioned her. After all, it wouldn’t make sense for a Master to not talk about her own rival.
It can’t be helped, really.
“Yeah, whatever.”
I imagine they must be downing drinks vigorously at the inn by now.
Probably as soon as I show up, they’ll start making a scene and calling for the innkeeper.
“I see. Please don’t stop, and keep moving forward. I’m sure you’ll grasp the ‘Enlightenment of Care.’ That’s all I can say.”
I stepped out from Hongseongsan. I wanted to watch my disciples train, but it would be rude to do so without permission from others.
Thus, I left the Hongseong Gate alongside Sayoon without a word.
The wind blew, and the petals of the Thousand-Day Plum Blossoms scattered, creating a fantastic scene. As I walked while admiring it, Sayoon opened her mouth.
“Um. Innkeeper.”
“Hm?”
“Please don’t think too much about what the Master said.”
“Huh? Why’s that?”
“Well, when you first met, you suddenly encouraged me to hang in there…”
Ah, that? I already knew the Sword Saint was that kind of person. She meant no harm.
“Still, it seems the Master took a liking to you.”
“Is that so?”
“The Master doesn’t even mention martial arts to those she isn’t interested in.”
While we walked slowly, Sayoon recounted past events.
When she became the Sword Saint’s disciple and traveled to Hongryeonsan, martial artists sought her out for guidance but the Sword Saint didn’t utter a single word about martial arts to them.
“I heard after entering the sect that she finds it a waste to say a word to those she isn’t pleased with. In that regard…”
Though Chaejin practiced Taijiquan, it seems I caught her eye?
Not bad at all.
Time is relative, and depending on the situation, it flows differently.
Enjoyable times always seem to fly by.
Of course, it dragged on a bit during training with Chaejin.
Chatting with Sayoon, getting to the inn felt like just a moment.
Of course, I didn’t let that moment slip away.
I managed to learn a bit about the current situation of Hongseongmun from her and some personal anecdotes from Sayoon as well.
When I heard her laugh while recounting her past, I nearly shed tears unknowingly.
She said there were some good times even while living in the muck, and when I asked what good times, she mentioned seeing beautiful flowers thrown from the manager’s carriage.
How could one endure that?
In this world…
Seeing a few flowers was regarded as a good thing…
What should I do with her?
Anyway, that time was quite enjoyable and beneficial.
I could tell she was very satisfied with the present and found great happiness in being with everyone.
Then, that must be something to protect.
Upon arriving at the inn, Sayoon politely bowed and left. What a pity. But what can be done?
I watched her go until she was out of sight, feeling an intense sense of regret before stepping back into the inn.
“Oh! You’re here?! We’ve been waiting! Now! Since it’s late, training…”
And back out I went.
Hahaha. I can’t believe I forgot to report to the local leader after finishing my work.
Hurry up and report back!
“Turning your body the moment you see a person, which village does that etiquette belong to?!”
“Let’s get to work. Just some work.”
Chaejin spoke to me as I headed toward the government office, but I actually had things to do.
Once I entered the government office, I noticed it was quite busy inside.
Soldiers were sweating buckets as they trained vigorously in the drill ground.
“Oh. Isn’t that the Innkeeper?”
One of the officers spotted me and approached. I smiled at him and glanced back at the soldiers engrossed in training.
Hmm. They look dependable.
Thinking they would be the ones to fight against the Iron Blood Clan later, I felt a bit uneasy just standing there.
“Everyone’s working hard despite the dust. I’ll send some pork and alcohol to oil your throats and relieve your fatigue.”
“Oh? You really don’t have to do that!”
“I’m doing this because I’m grateful for those who always work hard for Seomhwa Village. Please don’t refuse.”
“Goodness…”
It’s usually in the exchanges that bonds are formed. The officer shouted to the training soldiers.
“The Innkeeper is responsible for today’s feast! Train hard!!”
“Yes!!”
Having uplifted the morale of the soldiers, I went to find the local leader. When I reported about what happened in Hongseong, he seemed quite satisfied.
Then, stepping outside with me, he pointed toward the soldiers training in the barracks and calmly said.
“Since you’re trying so hard to keep your promise with me, I should do the same.”
Ah. So that’s why they’re training like this? Because he doesn’t know when I might call them?
Not bad.
Really.
If Sayoon can properly manage the second hidden mystery of Hongseong, that would be even better.
*
Two rabbits and one deer.
It was the catch brought back by the Sword Saint.
We set aside the tastiest cuts and had dinner with the remaining meat.
It was a joyous day for the disciples. They ate delicious sweets during the day, and for dinner, meat too.
“Ryuhyun, that was delicious!”
“Well, it’s just this much.”
Although the Sword Saint brought back the game, it was Ryuhyun who prepared and cooked it. Originally, Hongryeon was supposed to handle it, but I couldn’t leave that to her since she had to focus on training until dinner.
After the enjoyable meal among the sisters ended and they finished their nighttime training, when everyone was about to head into their rooms…
Sayoon approached Ryuhyun, holding a large box.
“It’s from the post office.”
“Oh really? Then I’ll take care of the sorting, so you all go ahead and sleep.”
After letting the other sisters go to bed, I received the box from Sayoon. At that moment, the small box on top tumbled down.
“Uh…”
As soon as she saw the name, Sayoon’s expression brightened. It was no wonder.
It was the box from ‘Mister’.
“Oh. Let me see. I wonder what he sent this time?”
I headed to the room with Ryuhyun, carrying the box. Just as we were about to open it…
“Hmm. Is that what ‘Mister’ sent?”
“Whoa! No, Master. Could you make some noise when you come?”
A voice was heard from behind them. At the Sword Saint’s words, the two could only calm their racing hearts.
Hongseongsan is Mount Yeongsan, and that’s why spirits and corpses frequently appear.
Of course, those practicing Hongseong Divine Art could not be harmed by such trifles, yet surprise was still surprise.
The Sword Saint said nothing, as if questioning why they were so alarmed.
“Ah… Yes. This is what your ‘Mister’ sent to Sayoon.”
Interest flickered across the Sword Saint’s face. The map contained in the letter he had sent not long ago. The secrets of the Hongseong Clan had reached the Sword Saint’s ears as well.
Na Yerin hadn’t officially become the head of Hongseong Clan.
Her senior sister, who had been designated as the next head, fell into a deep meditation and turned corrupt, resulting in the deaths of her master and fellow disciples.
It was unavoidable that she, who had no interest beyond martial arts, had not learned the secret known only in whispers among the leaders of the Hongseong Clan.
But was there someone who might know of the secret that could be related to this hidden site?
There had been interest since then, and with another letter arriving, it was only natural that she would want to see it.
“Can I take a look too?”
“Of course.”
Sayoon had no doubt that the Mister had sent something strange. Thus, she opened the box immediately, finding as usual a silver coin and a thick letter inside.
As she stared at it, Sayoon recalled the last letter she had sent.
Please let this one contain what the Mister wishes for.
With tense hands, Sayoon tore the seal of the letter. And when she slowly unfolded it…
Not just Sayoon, but Ryuhyun and the Sword Saint’s eyes widened.
It was a map again.
However, what shocked them wasn’t just that.
It was the fact that the map was all too familiar to them.
It was a map of the inside of the Hongseong Clan.
“…Here…”
“Isn’t that the well near the training hall? The one that’s no longer in use?”
The three exchanged glances and rushed outside. Upon arriving at the well behind the training hall, they all leaned in, eager to see what lay within.
But all they saw was the shimmering water.
“It might be better to go in.”
The Sword Saint raised her hand. At the same time, an immense internal energy created a phenomenon that reversed the flow of the water.
The locked water ascended like a dragon.
-Splash! Splash!!
The deep well’s water surged forth, revealing the floor. Even while showcasing such a marvel with mere energy, the Sword Saint took no pride in it.
As if it were the most natural thing, she led Ryuhyun and Sayoon inside to find a wall that seemed artificially blocked at the spot where the water flowed in from the opposite side of the deep well.
-Bam!!
The Sword Saint’s hand moved as if brushing away dust. With just that, the wall crumbled, revealing a passage whose destination was unknown.
“Let’s go.”
They traveled through the passage, and after what felt like a fair distance, when they thought they had arrived behind the Hongseong Clan’s gate…
They halted in their tracks.
“…I can’t believe a place like this exists.”
A hidden site.
The second hidden site of the Hongseong Clan awaited them.
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