A few days had passed since the Hongseong clan was attacked. The tension that had dominated Seomhwa Village had faded, and the day after Gi Noya and Wiyeol returned,
the messenger brought a box that would surely make them happy.
It was sent by Sayoon.
I opened the box to find a letter written in round, cute handwriting.
And a small sealed box.
I quickly unfolded the letter.
First of all, I should express my gratitude.
Thank you very much.
Thanks to you, Mister, Hongseong has safely overcome the crisis.
The Iron Blood Clan that attacked us not long ago was as terrifyingly strong as you worried it would be.
Even the senior sisters, who had experienced actual combat, said they broke into a cold sweat several times.
Naturally, I faced many dangers as well.
If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I would even be able to send this letter.
Honestly, not just me, but all the senior sisters want to convey their gratitude to you.
So we’re preparing to send you something as a gift, and I really hope you like it.
Of course, I’m helping with the preparations too.
Still, it’s not something that’s fancy or precious enough to truly meet your heart’s desires… so I would really appreciate it if you think of it as our sincere effort.
Ahaha. I actually want to give you truly precious and high-quality things… Once I grow up, take on missions, and earn a lot of money while exploring mysterious realms, I want to make it up to you with something expensive!
Speaking of the Iron Blood Clan, they are truly terrifying upon further reflection. The evil monsters summoned by the Cheolhyeol Master, along with their individual martial arts skills… The senior sisters gained insights amid life-and-death situations.
Unfortunately, I didn’t gain anything, but I did get the greatest treasure, didn’t I?
The safety of my Master and the senior sisters. Just the fact that everyone managed to get through this crisis without major injuries makes me genuinely satisfied.
Yesterday, Senior Sister Ryuhyun wondered if you might be the guardian deity of the Hongseong. To pray for your blessings and fortune, she sprinkled liquor in front of the newly built training hall. So, all of us disciples gathered to pray. Hehe. Maybe that’s why? I find myself missing you.
Although I’ve never even met you.
Since the assault ended, the Hongseong clan has been quite peaceful. I really hope this peace lasts.
I wish you peace, fortune, happiness, and tranquility as well!!
P.S.
What I sent along is the incense pouch I made for the first time.
I carefully selected the best Chihyang flowers and dried them with all my efforts, gathering the fragrance to create this.
And the embroidery in the pocket… Ugh. I’m embarrassed, but it’s something I did myself. It’s actually my first time embroidering, so it might be lacking.
But since it’s my very first creation, I hope you’ll be happy with it.
Hmm. Is that just my greed?
I’m worried it won’t meet your expectations.
I hope you’ll like this humble object made with my lacking skills.
Lacking and humble indeed.
I was filled with emotion.
I quickly opened the small box to find the incense pouch being carefully held inside, made from red-dyed fabric.
Although I said I couldn’t, it was adorned with rather delicate patterns.
It bore the emblem of the Hongseong clan, depicting celestial bodies and stars.
On the back, I recognized a familiar pattern.
The sun, moon, and star motif unique to Sayoon, which I saw in Heavenly Bright Moon, was painstakingly embroidered.
Confirming that, before even breaking the seal of the incense pouch, I brought it close to my nose.
Through the pouch, the wonderful fragrance of the Chihyang flowers wafted out, tickling my nostrils.
Ahh.
Nice…
Good…
I enjoyed the fragrance without even opening my pocket, and quickly sealed the pouch back in the box. Just in case the scent escapes.
If something gloomy happens, I should take it out and sniff it once in a while.
I placed the fragrance pouch and the letters inside the box, which I kept securely in the safe.
The more letters and items filled the box, the more my heart swelled with pride.
I took the box out and placed it on the desk. Then, sipping the plum blossom tea Sayoon gave me, I re-read the letters she had sent so far.
Just reading the letters alone makes me feel completely refreshed.
After finishing my tea, burning a cigarette, and reading the letters again, while soothing my troubled heart.
“Lady. I’ve come from Hongseong.”
“Oh. Really?”
It was the innkeeper calling.
Has it already been this long?
I returned everything I had taken out back to the safe and went downstairs.
Waiting for me was none other than Hongryeon.
Thank goodness. Chaejin is momentarily out.
But then again, wouldn’t it be fine to meet? After all, we’ve just passed the immediate crisis of the Blood Iron Gate’s attack.
Over the past few days, I had requested Hao-mun to gauge the situation, confirming that things were progressing as we had predicted.
Of course, there were a few variables, but this was within the margin of error, so it posed no major issue.
So it would be prudent to arrange the duel between Hongryeon and Chaejin soon…
Chaejin herself said she was weaker than Hongryeon, so I wondered when I should mediate this match…
“…Why are you staring blankly?”
“Oh, dear. How rude of me.”
Lost in thought about future matters, I shook my head as I came downstairs.
I turned to face Hongryeon, who was waiting for me.
Today, Hongryeon wasn’t wearing the old Hongseong uniform she typically donned.
What she wore today was a formal outfit given as a reward to those who performed well in the Murim Alliance, suitable even for official occasions.
The most fitting description of this outfit would be a cheongsam adorned with the Hongseong emblem, indicating her affiliation.
There was a rather deep slit on one side, and it fitted closely to her body, accentuating her elegant figure and revealing her long, toned legs.
Just looking at what Hongryeon wore highlighted her voluptuous chest against her slim waist, and her long, fair legs were clearly visible through the slit.
Thus, those who saw this outfit for the first time couldn’t help but gasp.
Why on earth is there such an outfit that can be worn in formal settings?
Later, after seeing similar outfits given by other factions or sects to women as tokens of gratitude, people would remark:
“The formal attire of the Murim Alliance is truly modest and graceful, no different from what a first daughter-in-law of a prestigious family should wear.”
The contrast effect is truly frightening.
Draped in a long cape down to her ankles and with her naturally flowing long red hair neatly arranged, Hongryeon’s face seemed to redden, perhaps due to my unwavering gaze.
“…Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all.”
Thinking about it, there was nothing strange about her appearing in formal attire.
After all, the same thing happened when I met the Sword Saint.
When we first met, it was different, but when we met in a more formal setting, the Sword Saint, who was superior to me in both status and martial arts, dressed in a long robe that she rarely wore.
That was because our meeting was not just a casual encounter but rather meant for business.
And now, Hongryeon was not merely the Grandmaster of Hongseong but had come to represent Hongseong on behalf of the Sword Saint.
In other words, it was indeed an important meeting for business purposes.
It was a place for the delivery of the fragrance bags that had started being made in Hongseongmun.
Right over there by the inn entrance, the boxes and Ryuhyun, who was talking to the innkeeper, weren’t wearing her usual messy training outfit but instead donned the formal attire of Hongseongmun.
No matter how good my relationship with Hongseongmun is, it seems she wanted to make it clear that work is work.
It’s truly admirable to be able to distinguish between public and private matters.
“Excuse me. Now, let’s talk business. How many fragrance bags have you made?”
“As promised, one hundred.”
“How long does the scent last?”
“If stored in a cool place, in a box, it will last quite a while. At least a few years. But if you keep taking it out to use or carry it around regularly, about three to four months? No matter how special the Hongseongmun method is with the Thousand Day Plum Blossom, nothing is permanent.”
Oh really? That’s a relief. I can keep what Sayoon sent me well.
“That should be fine as a consumable.”
And I don’t even expect anything permanent. If it can be consumed, I can keep selling it consistently.
“Hehe. Want to take a whiff?”
Saying that, Hongryeon presented a small box. When I opened it, I found the red fabric bag I had seen before and earlier.
The pattern engraved on the bag was quite elaborate and beautiful. The celestial symbols and stars representing Hongseongmun.
And finally, a lotus flower.
…Huh? A lotus flower?
“Wasn’t the original design just the Hongseongmun pattern?”
“…That’s right.”
With a slightly flushed face, Hongryeon nodded. Then, after tapping the fragrance bag, she averted her gaze and casually said,
“Since I’ve received a lot of help here and there… I made this especially for you. Let me know when you’ve used up the scent. I’ll refill it for you anytime. Oh, and it’s not just for you.”
With that, she pulled out other boxes from below. Inside were similar fragrance bags.
“Everyone asked for their own designs to be made separately. With this, it could be considered a special order, right? Hehe. Ordinary goods don’t have personal designs.”
That’s certainly true.
Among them was Sayoon’s unique pattern, depicting the sun, moon, and stars.
“This isn’t what I was hoping for.”
“We didn’t get to know you just to expect things from you either. And for some, it’s not their first time sending you things, so don’t feel too pressured.”
I can’t handle this.
When I accepted it without hesitation, Hongryeon finally beamed with a grin.
“And about the herbs, I hope you can wait a bit longer. Is that alright?”
“Of course, that’s fine. But…”
I picked one of the fragrance bags.
Raising the beautifully embroidered bag that looked a bit more special than the others, Hongryeon quickly turned her head away.
“Who made this one?”
With my lacking aesthetic sense, it seemed worse than the first embroidery done by Sayoon…
“…Master.”
So it wasn’t my aesthetic sense that was the issue; it was the level of martial arts.
“…It seems to contain precious martial principles that I wouldn’t even dare to look at. They say high-level practitioners imbue their essence into simple things, right?”
Just like how a regular person can’t understand a Picasso painting.
I should show it to a master when one arrives. Or should I show it to the Doje when I visit Moonjeong in Cheongho?
“…Thank you for seeing it that way.”
She muttered, looking a bit awkward, and I shrugged my shoulders.
No need to mention it.
We continued discussing various topics. Payment for goods, sales routes, exclusive supply agreements, and such.
It’s clear that compared to Sword Saint or Ryuhyun, Hongryeon organizes things much more coolly and neatly.
Hongryeon organized things more coolly and neatly than either Seong or Ryuhyun.
“Isn’t Hongseong gaining too much from this?”
I guess so. I’m not doing this to gain from Hongseong, anyway.
There are plenty of places to gain from.
Still, Hongryeon was feeling pleased but awkward about the unexpectedly large sum of money.
“What if a problem like Iron Blood Clan occurs again? So shouldn’t you think about reducing outside matters and just accept it with a smile?”
“Umm… Still, it’s a bit hard to let go of the Murim Alliance inspector position right now.”
“I’m not saying to let it go immediately. We should consider Hongseong’s position within the Murim Alliance too. Isn’t it better to put weight on the Hongseong side for now?”
After thinking for a while, she nodded. Looks like she thinks my opinion is right.
In the end, the inspector position in the Murim Alliance was probably worn for Hongseong’s sake.
As she agreed, I organized the papers and stood up.
“Even though it’s a bit late, if you haven’t eaten, shall we—”
Just then, a military officer rushed into the inn.
“Innkeeper! The local leader urgently wants to see you!”
At his call, Hongryeon made a wry smile and stood up.
“Unfortunately, it seems dining must wait. Besides, I just had lunch, and we’re all meeting for dinner later, right? Let’s eat then.”
Now that I think about it, I had invited them for dinner to celebrate the end of the Hongseong sect’s test.
“Then let’s meet tonight. Ah, and…”
I called out to her as she was about to leave. When she paused, Hongryeon turned her head slightly, and I locked eyes with her.
When people converse, they typically look each other in the eye. So, while I was gazing into her slightly trembling big eyes, I never looked away.
“That outfit suits you very well.”
“…..Ugh!!”
Hongryeon, who had been standing blankly, let out a short sound and then swiftly turned to run away.
Wow, she’s fast.
“Innkeeper! Let’s hurry!”
“Understood.”
I instructed the servants to properly store the fragrance sacks we had received. I planned to sell them at a good price.
The quality was surprisingly good, and I was considering selling them in the capital in conjunction with the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild. After all, they love premium, limited-edition handmade specialty items like these.
When the military officer and I arrived at the government office, the local leader was waiting for me, slightly anxious. As soon as he saw me, he asked urgently.
“Mr. Innkeeper, I have one favor to ask… Would you hear me out?”
“If it’s your request, I will do my best. What is it?”
“I would like you to visit Cheongho.”
“I was actually planning to go to Cheongho tomorrow morning for some business. But what’s the issue?”
Only then did he let out a sigh of relief.
“Ah… That’s great. The thing is, I have an old colleague over there. I would appreciate it if you could persuade him to come back with you.”
Old colleague, huh? I remember the local leader mentioned he used to work in the military front.
But who could it be…?
“He’s a skilled talisman master. However, he’s quite eccentric… so there’s no one else I can entrust this to except you, Innkeeper.”
Ah. A skilled talisman master, huh?
Then I have to go.
To craft good equipment, solid talismans are essential, so I need to prepare in advance.
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