There’s a saying: “People plan, and heaven makes it happen.”
If the creators of the Heavenly Bright Moon world are to be called heaven, then it seems that by heavenly will, the Hongseong clan has already fallen once.
But back then, no one was scheming.
So now,
if people—countless people—are scheming, how will heaven respond?
“Good work, everyone.”
“Not at all. Those guys were so cocky, shaking hands with the Hyeonryeong, and then breaking. Seriously, martial artists are all like that, right?”
While I was going about my usual tasks, a subordinate of the Hyeonryeong came to report.
The Gouhwa Corps had shown up during training, acting very arrogantly toward the Hyeonryeong, even attempting to bribe him. In the end, following the Hyeonryeong’s orders, they killed them all.
It seemed the Hyeonryeong wasn’t the kind to speak with a forked tongue, and on top of that, he kept his promise to me—now, that’s truly appreciated.
“I’ll need to thank the Hyeonryeong separately for this. That troop was meant to fight the Mage cult, after all…”
“Well, they’re currently under the Hyeonryeong’s command. I might hear some complaints later, but who would dare complain when the management is doing their job?”
Of course, there are people like that.
So I should probably tell Cheonilhwa later to go easy on them. After all, the elite troops are part of the military.
“Understood. You’ve really worked hard.”
“Uh, well, it’s just doing what needs to be done. They could have pretended to be friendly with Hongseong and then attacked Seomhwa Village. No fatalities, and only a few injuries, but not many.”
“I see. We should prepare a pig for those who worked hard. And I’ll supply the medicine for treatment.”
“Ah, really, Innkeeper, you’re like a bodhisattva… Anyway, thank you. I’ll take my leave now.”
The officer, bowing politely, left with a satisfied smile, which made me reflect and imagine, just as I had before entering this world, the discussions of the Sayoon Corps.
The eleventh Hongseong clan notes: The best way to deal with the Iron Blood Clan and their leftovers is to borrow the power of the military. Instead of doing a butt dance trying to stop them, let’s befriend the Hyeonryeong and notify him immediately whenever something happens. Immune to military authority? Do we look like we care about that?
I didn’t remember every detail perfectly.
But I got the gist—this was certainly the consensus.
While we could handle the Iron Blood Clan somehow, the interference of other foes could also be managed differently.
Thus, the military was brought in.
Research indicated that the two Maehwep troops currently couldn’t defeat the force led by the Hyeonryeong. Of course, if they transitioned to using the martial arts of the Iron Blood Clan around the second or third division, they might be able to defeat the soldiers trained to the level indicated by the military.
With heavy armor, long spears, and thick shields, all equipped with new gear, and facing the Mage cult with elite troops, the judgment was made that they could annihilate them.
And that judgment was undoubtedly correct.
In the end, the Gouhwa Corps didn’t kill a single soldier and were completely wiped out.
“Innkeeper! We’re here! Ha! Do you know what happened earlier?”
The two men burst in with wide smiles—Gichajo of the Heavenly Path of the Earth and Wiyeol of the Seomhwa Spear.
Unlike the taciturn Wiyeol, Gi Noya seemed quite cheerful as they spoke.
The story was about how they went on patrol and annihilated all the bandits they encountered.
What a delightful tale.
Wiyeol grimaced as if they didn’t want to hear it, however.
“…So I said this: ‘Here’s my advice. Be cautious of women, children, and the elderly in the martial world!'”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Haha, not much of a deal. Those guys had no idea what respect for elders meant; they were just like rogues. If they got into Seomhwa Village through that path, it would’ve been a headache, right?”
“Anyway, since you’ve worked hard, you deserve a good meal. I must treat you both.”
“Haha, not that we expected it… Slurp. Should I look forward to it?”
“Of course!”
With a whistle, Gi Noya stepped out, and Wiyeol subtly nodded before following him. As they left, I recalled the opinion of one of the Sayoon Corps members.
[User ㅇㅇ(113.63): Wiyeol and Gichajo are exceptional fighters. If one of them battles in the forest, they could fend off groups like the Gohwa Clan or Jugeongdae, right? Didn’t they do that in Yura’s main story? They were there when Hongseong faced annihilation and stopped those guys, saving Hongseong from being wiped out, which meant Cheonilhwa wouldn’t have died.]
Therefore, I connected with the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild, and as a result, I could summon not just one but two of them.
Surely, they would be able to fend off external forces coming from another direction.
And they actually did.
[User Yura응디빵빵*: So, are you saying the one using the Shadowless Divine Method prevents the poison from being spread in the food storage? That sounds even more dangerous! The Iron Blood Clan isn’t made up of fools… It would be better to act like things are fine and lure them in while we secretly transport other food supplies.]
Following the widely agreed opinion, I proposed a method when sending a letter to the Wallrock Clan.
We had numerous research ideas, hypotheses, and scenarios beyond these.
Transforming the revenue structure of Hongseong, which seemed designed to fail.
Supplying them with the lacking medicine.
Allowing the weaker disciples to train more effectively.
And so much more.
Everyone was troubled; everyone was pondering; everyone was fighting.
And now, it was time to see the results.
I stood up.
As I headed outside, hearing Gi Noya’s song coming from the inn below.
“Innkeeper! Did you hear the news?”
“What news might that be?”
The urgent voice of Chaejin, who had just returned from patrol, caught my attention. She seemed quite tense as she spoke.
“Hongseong has been attacked!”
“Any injuries? Are there any casualties?”
I felt a cold sweat trickling down my back.
What if we had miscalculated?
What if I made a mistake?
What if we overlooked something crucial at Hongseong?
My voice sank in tension. Chaejin gazed at me with concern before shaking her head.
“…Seriously? They have a Sword Saint with them. Apparently, no one got hurt. I went to check, and everyone looked fine… And it was nice to see Hongryeon after a long time; she seems stronger now.”
Despite her complaints, Chaejin couldn’t hide her relief. Pretending otherwise, she likely had her worries when she first heard about Hongseong’s attack.
“Anyway, stay here and don’t go out. I’ve heard there are crazy people attacking the guards… There might be more attacks, so I’ll wash up quickly, and we can train together today. Sounds good? Sounds good?”
She didn’t wait for my response and ran inside with a bright smile.
I headed to the backyard and sat down.
And with my eyes closed, I savored my happiness alone.
Ahh.
My effort.
Our effort.
Was rewarded.
Thus, the only words I could utter were one simple phrase.
“Well, that’s just great.”
I briefly wanted to visit Hongseong, but both Chaejin and Gi Noya lit up like fireworks, preventing me from going.
I thought about suggesting going together, but considering that Hongseong must be chaotic now, I figured it was better to simply wait for things to settle down, so I decided to get some work done instead.
Hence, I got caught up with Chaejin in training, locked myself in a room, and worked all day. By the time the sun began setting, I finally stepped outside.
When I emerged, I spotted a few military officers standing by the inn, grinning widely.
“Oh. Good day, Innkeeper Yura. We came to buy some liquor.”
“I suppose I can spare some liquor.”
“Come on, how can you say that? You sent over not just a pig but also an old cow.”
I recalled sending a servant earlier. They mentioned there was an old cow for sale at the market, and I thought I might as well buy something decent.
“I’m worried about whether the old cow is still good enough to eat.”
“That’s like a health tonic! Hey, Innkeeper, how about you join us? Everyone will be thrilled.”
“Is that so? Everyone will be happy.”
As I smiled and welcomed them, I shook my head. Of course, I could go with them, but I had to take care of the evening business and wait for someone who still hadn’t arrived. Well, they might not come today anyway.
A little while later, I turned away when I saw the barrels of alcohol being loaded onto the cart pulled by the soldiers.
Seeing everyone so happy made me feel good, but…
“Ah! Innkeeper!”
That’s when I heard a clear voice by my ear.
I turned my head to find Sayoon, a face that had become quite familiar to me.
And Hongryeon was there too.
“Hello! Have you been well?”
It had been quite a while since I last saw Sayoon because she had to undergo direct training with the Sword Saint.
I couldn’t hide my delight and smiled back at her.
“I heard the news. There was an attack on Hongseong, right?”
“Ahahaha… You heard? Yes, but we managed to hold them off.”
“That’s a relief.”
“It’s all thanks to Master and the others! And the Innkeeper… Hehehe…”
Sayoon’s smiling face showed no trace of pain.
For her, who had been an orphan, Hongseong was like a new family.
If she hadn’t had that happiness from the beginning, it would be a different story, but she had grasped the fringes of happiness only to have it snatched away cruelly by fate.
That’s why the pain of loss must have weighed heavily on her, but I couldn’t find any trace of that sorrow in the current Sayoon.
“That’s really a relief. But what did you come to buy?”
“Oh. Well, because of the attackers, there are many broken places in the sect… Here.”
Sayoon rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper listing materials needed for repairs.
“Please wait a moment.”
It looked like we had enough in stock. I called over the servants to bring the materials and said to Sayoon:
“If it’s not for the Wall-dissolving Sect, I’d hand over some to you…”
“That’s okay! And it’s helping the Innkeeper too, isn’t it?”
“That’s true.”
“Then we have to work hard.”
Seeing her lively demeanor, I shrugged my shoulders. A little while later, as the servants began carrying the goods, I turned to Hongryeon, who hadn’t said a word.
“If there are many places in the sect that need repairs, it seems there has been quite a lot of damage. Are there any injuries?”
“…No, there aren’t…”
“Then why do you look so pale? Your face is red; you don’t seem to have a fever?”
I took a step closer to her, and Hongryeon flinched and trembled. Uh… Please don’t tell me she’s poisoned? Or did Cheolhyeol Master give her a hard time?
As I looked at her with concern, Hongryeon took a deep breath like she was trying to calm herself before speaking in her usual tone.
“I’m really fine. And… um, thanks.”
“Hmm? For what?”
“Just… for everything. For the Wall-dissolving Sect and the medicine… everything else… If it weren’t for you, things could have been quite difficult.”
With an embarrassed smile, Hongryeon averted her gaze.
“Is that so? I’m glad to have been of help.”
“…Yes. I really don’t know how to repay you… Hehe. Just wait. I’ll definitely pay you back.”
“I didn’t do it with the thought of getting repaid.”
“But still. Oh, and can I see the sweets?”
“Of course. Follow me.”
I wanted to bring Sayoon along, but she stayed behind to check if the materials were being loaded properly.
As Hongryeon entered the store, she took a look at the high-end sweets I had brought when I visited Hongseong earlier and asked.
“These must be expensive, right?”
“Well, they are high-end. But why do you ask?”
“My Master has been a bit down, so I wanted to cheer her up.”
“Then once the Wall-dissolving Sect exam is over, I’ll make you some even fancier ones.”
“Huh?”
“When you’re feeling down, you need something sweet. Think of it as a gift.”
“No. I feel bad always just receiving. I was actually planning to buy some! I can afford that much!”
“Don’t feel burdened; it’s a gift. When the attacker succeeded in ambushing Hongseong, do you really think they only targeted Hongseong?”
“Uh…”
“I’ve given gifts to others besides Hongseong, so please don’t refuse my sincerity.”
Right.
I genuinely want to express my gratitude to the Sword Saint.
If it weren’t for her, Hongseong would have faced annihilation or at least taken an irreparable blow.
So, this is just me repaying a debt, like I did for the constabulary, Gi Noya, and Wiyeol—no strings attached.
“…I really can’t keep up with you.”
Sticking out her tongue playfully, Hongryeon smiled shyly. At that moment, Sayoon waved as if all the cargo had been loaded onto the cart.
“Then off you go. By the way, isn’t the Baekgokdan test coming up soon? Once it’s over, everyone should come down. I’ll treat you all to a grand feast.”
“Hahaha. Got it. Thanks. I’ll be going now.”
She cheerfully laughed and stepped outside. I followed her out for a send-off, and she started walking with the cart, lifting it lightly. Sayoon, walking beside her, discreetly turned her head to look at me, and Hongryeon subtly glanced my way too.
When our eyes met, Hongryeon was taken aback and froze, laughing awkwardly.
So did Sayoon.
But unlike Hongryeon, she simply beamed a bright smile.
On their faces.
There was no sadness.
Ah, I wanted to see that.
I stood until they looked distant, then headed to the backyard.
Sitting on a chair, I lit a cigarette. Inhaling the smoke that jolted my senses, I savored the feeling.
Ah… the high.
This feeling—truly exhilarating…
But I can’t rest yet.
There’s still a long way to go.
Stopping the annihilation of Hongseong was merely the first hurdle.
The Iron Blood Clan’s goal is to unleash the spirit of Hongseong Mountain and cause chaos in the world.
They won’t ever give up, and there are plenty of other problems as well.
But.
“…We haven’t given up either.”
What we desire isn’t just to fend off this ambush.
As the smoky haze surrounded me, I recalled the discussions among the Sayoon Corps.
Stopping the annihilation of Hongseong and thinking that happiness begins there simply isn’t true; we all knew that.
Thus, even after establishing the optimal scenario to thwart the ambush, we conducted extensive research and drafted numerous possibilities.
And among those many scenarios, the most likely one struck me.
“…We need to stop Seomhwa Village from being set ablaze.”
First and foremost, we need to prevent the attack on Seomhwa Village that was mentioned in the main story of Sayoon’s Chapter 1.
We must protect Seomhwa Village, which will support Hongseong and Sayoon, and ensure its growth.
For that, what we need to do is…
“Looks like I have to go to Cheongho.”
It’s a city approximately a week’s cart ride away.
It has a large lake, fertile land, and mines.
As I muttered this while imagining it, I heard a presence behind me.
“Huh? Cheongho?”
That voice came through.
I turned my head and saw Chaejin grinning widely.
“Do you know there’s Moonjeong in Cheongho?”
She winked at me, and I shrugged my shoulders.
Of course, I know.
“I thought you wouldn’t go, but I’ll ask just in case. Do you want to come with?”
“Yes.”
Her answer was so refreshingly spontaneous that I was at a loss for words.
“Huh… why?”
Weren’t you saying you wouldn’t go until you deal with Hongryeon?
“Anyway, if I engage with Hongryeon now, I’ll lose. I have to prepare for that and…”
Grinning with that overconfident smile of hers, she firmly grasped my shoulder.
“We need to ensure her safety, and since I’m the Innkeeper’s master… it’s only natural we stick together. Why even ask?”
Well, that sounds reassuring.
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