It was the time when the morning star was out. In the usually quiet area around Yangwui-seong, people had gathered.
Their faces were filled with relief. And who could blame them?
The soldiers led by Yangwui-seongju, who were actually Cheonilhwa’s subordinates. They had resolved the missing person case they were after.
Of course, they weren’t the only ones celebrating. The faces of others, who seemed completely out of place among the soldiers, were also blooming with smiles.
“Daddy!!”
The giant who rushed in with tears streaming down his face was crying just as much as the girl he held. It looked like he was hugging her so tightly that she might break, but surely he wouldn’t do that, no matter what.
Other families and relatives of the failed experiment subjects were also bursting into tears of relief.
After all, becoming a failed experiment subject meant losing your mind and being controlled by others. Leaving someone in that state wouldn’t do anyone any good. Often, if the failed subject state lasted too long, the body would become a wreck.
The good news was that the failed subjects under Yangmyung had only become a bit worn out, and there hadn’t been any major damage.
Yes, they had their lifeforce drained, but the failed subject states were all lifted, and a good health tonic would help them recover.
“Thank you!”
“Really, thank you!”
Those who had escaped the failed subject state and their families were bowing repeatedly in gratitude to me and Chaejin. It wasn’t like I took on this task for gratitude, so I just nodded absentmindedly.
Besides, Chaejin was the one who worked the hardest. She was the one who caught Yangmyung and knocked down most of the failed subjects.
“As a righteous person of the right faction, I merely did what I had to do! Hohoho!”
“Ahem. Ahem. Still, if you could at least tell me your name…”
“It’s not a name worth revealing. Hehe.”
It was obvious she wanted to brag, but maybe it was a bit embarrassing for her to sing her own praises.
But with that tight outfit and the patterns on it, didn’t everyone already know who she was?
I stepped in to save her from her awkwardness.
“The great disciple of Moonjeong, the Moonlight Sword, is Miss Chaejin!”
“Oh, ohhh!!”
“Moonjeong! Is that the school of that Doje?!”
“Wow! Amazing! Thank you! Thank you!”
As soon as I revealed it, people immediately began cheering Chaejin’s name. Though she looked flustered by the praise, it was clear she was quite pleased.
Her expression management had failed.
“Ah, oh dear. I wasn’t planning on revealing it. What have I even done?”
“Ohhh! How humble you are!”
They were loving it! When I glanced at her, she was squirming, her lips almost curling into a smile.
Then, a burly man approached me. He had a rather intimidating look.
“Did you save my daughter?”
The same man who had just been crying, holding O-Yuna tightly.
He was Ochil, the owner of the back alleys of Yangwui-seong. His eyes were so puffed up from crying that he couldn’t hide his choked voice.
They didn’t hide their voices.
“It has turned out like that.”
“…I will never forget this grace.”
“I didn’t do this to receive thanks.”
Right. What I want is just to gather points and use them to catch the Iron Blood Clan.
Of course, Ochil is quite skilled, but I couldn’t involve them in the fight against the Iron Blood Clan. They needed to be stationed at Yangwi-sung right now, after all.
“Still, I can’t just let it go. Even though I live by the sword, I’m not a beast that doesn’t know grace.”
“If you think so, then please grant me a favor later.”
“Anything.”
He bowed, lowered his head in respect once more, and approached Chaejin. The righteous and the wicked. In the martial world, they are sworn enemies.
Still, Ochil bowed their head.
Because they saved their daughter.
“I owe a debt to Moonjeong.”
“You better remember that I will definitely collect this debt.”
“Of course, it should be that way. Well then, I’ll see you again.”
Once again, Ochil shouldered a bow to her and looked at me. They seemed to have something else they wanted to say…
“You want to know how I got the information about Yangmyung, right? I asked Hao-mun.”
“…Hao-mun. Huh. I see. Thank you.”
Ochil’s expression hardened at the mention of Hao-mun. I couldn’t tell what they were thinking, but I felt I should say a word to them here.
“This is my personal request, so you can ignore it, but if possible, I would appreciate it. Please refrain from involving Hao-mun as much as possible at Yangwi-sung. It can be quite troublesome.”
This isn’t really asking for a favor. I received information from Hao-mun; it’s not like I’m indebted to them from the Jingwon Gang.
Still, saying not to provoke Hao-mun is entirely for my own sake. Since there are no Hao-mun members in Seomhwa Village, I’d have to use the Yangwi-sung branch to contact them.
Otherwise, I’d have to go much further, and that would be too hard.
“…I’ll think positively about it.”
Of course, how each sect handles their affairs is up to them. There’s nothing I can do about it. Still, I’m glad that Ochil thinks positively.
With Ochil leaving and soldiers tidying up around us, I rose from my seat.
“Alright. Let’s head back.”
“To Seomhwa Village?”
“No.”
Now that the request has been resolved, I must report back. Of course, Cheonilhwa would have heard that the issue here was settled, but I still need to check if I have anything to ask in person, so it’s better to report directly.
When Chaejin and I returned to Yangwi-sung, it was quite late, but the Cheonghwa Building was still noisy and bustling. The sounds of drunken revelry, the clinking of cups being served here and there. The sounds of courtesans plucking strings or singing a tune.
As we climbed the Cheonghwa Building, unaware of what had happened outside, the revelry faded away completely.
At the end of the hallway, two masters greeted us.
“Welcome, Yu Seonsaeng. Truly, a teacher indeed.”
Gichajo chuckled and waved a hand. Next to him, Wiyeol slightly twitched an eyebrow, but that was all. They simply opened the door without a word.
That was all. We simply opened the door in silence.
Beyond the open door, Cheonilhwa was welcoming us…
“Great work, Yu Seonsaeng! Haha! I’m really curious about how you managed to resolve this so quickly.”
“Nothing much. I just made a request to Hao-mun. They had the information.”
Cheonilhwa, who was pouring us tea with a satisfied smile, suddenly paused. But it was only for a moment. He returned to his relaxed self. Then he handed a teacup to Chaejin, whom he had initially excluded from this matter.
“I see. Hao-mun, huh…”
“You know about it, General. What happened between Hao-mun and the authorities.”
“Of course. It’s hard to build trust, but breaking it is very easy. Who wouldn’t know about those foolish enough to do something for their own benefit?”
Cheonilhwa openly ridiculed him, and Chaejin, who had been quietly listening, nodded in agreement.
I was on the same page. Promises exist to be kept, not broken.
“They are the weak. The weak are fearful and very cautious. To ease that caution… it might take years.”
It does get resolved eventually, though.
But there was no need to discuss that, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Anyway, you’ve all done a great job. I don’t know how to repay you for this… Is there anything you want? A position? Or maybe money? If not, some goods…”
“I’m fine with a position… but please don’t forget to help me out when I need it later.”
I’m not particularly interested in a position, and money is just something to collect, while goods can be bought easily. But asking help from a master isn’t that simple, so I had to make this request.
They probably wouldn’t give me the elixir since the military would be short on supplies as it is.
Cheonilhwa nodded slightly.
“I promise you that.”
“Oh, and could you take a look at this for me?”
I handed over a piece of paper I pulled from my pocket. It was basically a business proposal asking for an introduction to manage the sale of Hongseong’s medicinal herbs and incense pouches.
“Hmm. This seems like it’ll sell for sure. It will depend on how it’s packaged, though. Please show it to me when the samples are ready.”
“Thank you.”
Chaejin didn’t seem too interested. Well, as a heavenly martial artist, she probably wouldn’t care about such matters.
Moonjeong was different from Hongseong, with plenty of land and buildings, receiving donations and accepting disciples, plus they made a lot of money with entrance fees.
With money multiplying just by sitting still, would she even be interested in business?
After the report was done, we were suggested to grab a bite to eat and headed down to the first floor of Cheonghoeru. They had offered us the fourth floor, but I wasn’t keen on eating up there.
Chaejin seemed to share a similar thought, descending to the first floor without any complaints, and settled into a seat outside Cheonghoeru.
I got what I wanted, and the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild—or rather, the Empire’s conscription department—decided to accept my proposal positively.
Perhaps that’s why? With the tension lifted, I suddenly felt like I wanted to bloom in the new year.
As I stood up to take a little break, I noticed Chaejin smirk.
“Just smoke here. It’s fine.”
If that’s the case.
Well then.
With her permission, I took out the tobacco pouch from my bosom. I hadn’t noticed earlier, but now I see that the wooden pouch is cracked here and there. Looks like it got broken in the fight with Shin-hon-In.
Good thing I didn’t bring the bamboo mat that Hongryeon gave me. It would’ve broken during the fight.
“Did you know? There’s a sect that uses tobacco to perform rituals?”
“I’ve heard of it. It’s a clan founded by the successors of Mosan Sect, wasn’t it? Chungkajang or something? They say they utilize the awakening effects of the tobacco.”
“Oh. Surprisingly, you know a lot about the martial world?”
“Better than someone who doesn’t know how to deal with Shin-hon-In.”
Chaejin shot me a glare with her pouty face, and I turned my head to avoid it. I was about to put the tobacco in my mouth and take out the lighter, but…
The lighter went out just like that.
I can’t exactly use Hwae’s style either… I guess I have no choice.
“Excuse me.”
Surely, Gilu should have a lighter. As I tried to get up, Chaejin smiled and reached out her hand.
-Hwaryeok.
What she conjured in her fingertips was a flame. She lit it using her internal energy.
“Thank you. But didn’t you also use a fair amount of internal energy, Chaejin?”
I needed to secure Yangmyung quickly and incapacitate Shin-hon-In. After that, there was no time to breathe, let alone focus.
But is it alright to use internal energy like this?
I heard that creating fire purely with internal energy, without the aid of properties from something like Ogumhee or any other martial arts, is quite inefficient.
“This is nothing. By the way, Innkeeper. Can I try this?”
“I don’t mind… but it’s your first time, right? I wouldn’t particularly recommend it.”
I wasn’t going to say, ‘don’t touch this,’ but I didn’t want to particularly encourage someone who’s trying it for the first time. Yet, Chaejin shook her head and just reached out her hand.
“My father smokes often, so I’m familiar with the scent. Anyway, I’ll take one~.”
She pulled out a tobacco stick and put it in her mouth. Then, like I did earlier, she stared intently at the tobacco in my mouth, trying to conjure a flame with her internal energy.
“What are you staring at?”
“Uh, can I, um… No, it’s nothing.”
She seemed like she wanted to say something, but after a heavy sigh, lightly lit the tobacco and smoothly took a drag.
And then.
“Cough! Cough!”
I knew this would happen.
There’s a big difference between being familiar with something and actually smoking…
“Why are you smoking that?”
There are many reasons.
You can focus using the awakening effect to perform rituals like the auditory wave I mentioned earlier, or some experts even gain enlightenment in that awakened state.
But what can I say to someone who’s turning her head, continuously coughing, and has a red neck without even being able to look at me?
I just crushed the tobacco and laughed.
“You’re right.”
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