It was about time to head to Yangweseong. There had been a request from the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild, but I needed to bring a new train as well.
Of course, I could send someone instead of going myself, but I wanted to meet Cheonilhwa, and if possible, have Gi Noya or Wiyeol accompany me just in case.
No matter how you slice it, I did something significant this time… They should at least send one person instead of two like last time, right?
It seemed likely that Gi Noya might come. Last time, Chaejin had met Gi Noya and told her about Yohwan.
If Gi Noya, who loves drinks and food, gets invited, she’ll probably come pretending she can’t refuse.
“So, when are you planning to go?”
As I mentioned before, this time Chaejin and Hongryeon both decided to go. Therefore, while we were having a meal together, I told Chaejin, and she nodded nonchalantly.
“I’m thinking of leaving tomorrow. I sent someone to inquire at Hongseong yesterday, and Hongryeon said she’s free for a few days starting then.”
“I see. Right. They must be busy too. It’s strange how dedicated they are, isn’t it?”
“It’s not strange dedication; it’s just what’s expected. It’s about doing what you’re supposed to.”
“Hmm. Then I guess I should do what I need to do as well. I should train right after lunch? I plan to focus on practicing Geumnasu today, so you can look forward to it.”
“Oh dear. Please go easy on me.”
“That’s me going easy?!”
As Chaejin shouted brightly, Yohwan came out from inside. She was holding a plate.
“What is it?”
“I made something simple. Give it a taste.”
What Yohwan offered was one of the medicinal dishes. It was called Bulhuham, a dish that slightly boosts stamina when consumed. Since it was a dish made only with vegetables like bamboo shoots and lotus roots, Chaejin didn’t seem too thrilled, but it’s still one of the more efficient dishes in Heavenly Bright Moon.
“Bulhuham, huh.”
“Oh, you know it! That’s right. It’s really good for the body…”
I immediately took a bite of Bulhuham. The texture of the bamboo shoots and lotus roots was quite nice. After finishing it, Chaejin asked eagerly.
“How is it?”
“You can trust Yohwan’s skills.”
“Hehe. It’s a dish that supplements vitality and increases stamina. So eat it often while you can. And… you said you’re going to Yangweseong, right? I’d like you to gather some ingredients.”
“Are there ingredients that can’t be found here?”
“Oh, these are ingredients that only grow there. I need Palhongcho and Giugak. Make sure to bring plenty. I think the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild might sell them. They’re commonly used in medicinal dishes, so buy a lot.”
Should I set up a regular supply of goods from the store then?
When I go to the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild this time, I should add more items to the list of goods that Cheonilhwa is providing.
“If there are any other regular supplies needed, please let me know. We can arrange for regular deliveries.”
“Oh. Aside from what’s near Yangweseong? Then I’ll write them down for you.”
“Well, let’s prepare for the journey, shall we?”
If Yohwan could easily gather materials, it would make creating medicinal dishes a breeze.
Since things have turned out this way, should I take over the material supply for Changju as well?
I pondered while sipping my tea, and Chaejin tilted her head before getting up.
“Alright then. Since we’re full, let’s start wrapping things up.”
“Sounds good.”
After finishing training with Chaejin, I met Changju. She also seemed to have certain materials she wanted on a regular supply. I heard that Hyeonryeong intended to assign material supply to me, so I sought her out and established a new contract for iron and other supplies.
“Is it because Seomhwa Village is prospering a bit more? The workload is gradually increasing.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better to properly establish a merchant guild?”
“Not at the moment, I don’t think.”
“Why not?”
“If we need to establish a guild, I’d rather pull in the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild here.”
If the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild was just a regular merchant guild or a martial arts sect, I might feel a bit hesitant. But their true identity is the Imperial Army. In other words, even if we become friendly, they are definitely not the sort to expand their influence in Seomhwa Village.
Rather, if we joined forces, it would help in fulfilling my objectives and completing our plans.
I concluded that, even though there’s a lot to do, there’s no need to operate a guild just yet.
If we were to operate one, it would be better to wait until next year to see how the situation unfolds.
“Well, they are affiliated with the government after all…”
“Exactly.”
It seemed Chaejin agreed with my explanation. She slightly nodded and stretched out her long legs as she walked.
“Then you’ll be visiting Yangweseong often?”
“Looks like it for the time being. Chaejin, you’ll have a tough time.”
“Hehe. That’s what I was hoping for.”
The next morning.
While preparing the cart, I felt a gentle poke on my shoulder. Turning my head in that direction, something brushed against my cheek.
It was a long finger.
“Good morning!”
Brightly smiling was the red-haired beauty, Hongryeon, garbed in Hongseong’s sect uniform. I nodded at her as she waved a small bundle in her hand.
“Welcome. Thank you for joining me amidst the busyness.”
“Oh, it’s all part of Hongseong’s work, right? But… there seems to be one person missing? Aren’t they coming?”
“Who would be not coming?”
At that voice from inside, Hongryeon turned her head slightly. Chaejin came out, placing a load onto the cart.
“I thought you wouldn’t come because you were busy.”
“Hehe. Of course I’d come. It’s our job, isn’t it?”
“Our?”
“Yes, ours. It’s the job of both the Hongseong sect and the Innkeeper. Naturally, the representative should be on the move, right? Plus, I think Master’s mood has lightened up a bit lately, so I should visit even more.”
The Sword Saint’s mood lightened up? I looked at Hongryeon, who shrugged her shoulders.
“She returned from an outing a few days ago, and she seems much better now. She’s not having nightmares anymore.”
“It seems like you’ve gotten much better since you came back. You don’t seem to have nightmares as much anymore.”
“That’s a relief. Anyway, if our strongest power is shaken, it must be quite unsettling.”
“But we can’t just sit back and relax; we need to keep looking for ways to help her.”
“This time when we go to the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild, there’s a lot to do. I’d like for you to have some rest, but that might be difficult. Of course, I’ll cover the expenses. Is everyone alright with that?”
“Of course.”
Hongryeon and Chaejin answered at the same time while gazing at each other.
That works for me.
I immediately climbed into the driver’s seat of the cart and took the reins.
“Then let’s depart.”
The road from Seomhwa Village to Yangweseong isn’t too complicated, but I wouldn’t say it’s completely safe.
In Heavenly Bright Moon, it’s not unusual to encounter evil monsters or bandits during travel.
“Whooo.”
Chaejin let out a deep breath and lightly swung her sword. The black blood on the blade stained the ground, and I could see a pack of corpses of Shilang (Corpse Wolves) that had been lurking around the road collapsing down.
Having quickly dispatched five Shilang, she casually walked over and climbed onto the back of the cart, saying, “I didn’t expect to run into monsters right after leaving Seomhwa Village. It wasn’t like this last time.”
Well, we didn’t meet any monsters when I went with Chaejin last time. I nodded and took out a dagger. Then I started collecting teeth and claws from the Shilang corpses.
One of the materials that Changju requested was indeed the teeth and claws of Shilang. Processing these would allow us to use them for talismans, reducing unnecessary expenses.
“Thanks to you, I managed to get some good materials that Changju asked for.”
“Last time, we didn’t meet any monsters, did we? Hehe. So, we’re lucky this time, huh?”
Hongryeon added while following me and helping. I have to admit, it is quite lucky.
I never expected Shilang to show up here.
After we finished collecting and tossed the bodies across the road, we climbed back onto the cart.
“It seems there has been an increase in evil monsters lately. I read about it in a letter from the Murim Alliance.”
The reason for the rise in monsters is simple.
It’s because the Iron Blood Clan has started to operate more fully, causing chaos everywhere.
Of course, they haven’t made a full-scale appearance except when it was against Hongseong, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore their underhanded maneuvers causing disruption.
“It seems the Murim Alliance is also investigating the Iron Blood Clan…”
“What did they say?”
Chaejin, curious as she didn’t know, asked. Hongryeon nodded gravely and shared the contents of the letter from the Murim Alliance that had arrived not long ago.
“Besides Hongseongsan, there are other places where spirits gather, right? I heard there were incidents of attacks in that area. Although they mostly managed to repel them, some places…”
“Tsk. What on earth are those guys doing? If they have that much strength, they should just enlist.”
“Haha. General Cheon would love to hear that. So? Which places were attacked?”
“Sounds like something you’d like. So? Where did it happen?”
“They say it’s the Toilgwan shrine that worships the land deity of Toyanghyeon and the rock hermitage of Cheongsehyeon. It seems it was destroyed because there wasn’t a lot of protection over there…”
“I see.”
“So, I heard the Murim Alliance is sending fighters to guard the places where the spiritual energy is gathering.”
“Aren’t you going?”
At Chaejin’s question, Hongryeon smiled.
“One of the places where spiritual energy gathers is Hongseongsan, so where would I go? The Murim Alliance even told me to stay here for a while. But what about you? Isn’t Cheongho also one of the places where spiritual energy gathers?”
“That’s because Moonjeong is there. Nothing would happen just because I’m not around, right? And we need to protect the Innkeeper too, right?”
“Oh my. You can leave that to me.”
“Oh come on~. You must be busy too, how can I leave it to you? You take care of the Innkeeper while I guard Hongseongsan, the great disciple of Hongseong.”
Hearing the conversation between Hongryeon and Chaejin, I shook the reins. The fact that they were attacking the places where spiritual energy gathers and destroying them means the Iron Blood Clan hasn’t given up on Hongseongsan and other locations yet.
Tsk. If they were at least a bunch hiding out somewhere, they’d gather strong fighters and raid.
But the Iron Blood Clan moves around without a fixed place, so that won’t work…
“Looks like it’s mole catching after all.”
“Well, it can’t be helped.”
At Hongryeon’s dry voice, I shrugged.
If it’s mole catching… I guess I’ll just have to catch them diligently.
By the time we arrived at Yangweseong, the sun was setting. Passing through the Yangweseong illuminated by the red sunset, I moved along the familiar path until I reached Cheonghoeru and discovered a man standing in front of it.
“Oh~! Have you been well?”
It was Hano.
Approaching with a wine bottle in hand and a grin on his face, he tilted his head when he saw the two women sitting in the cart.
“The great disciple of Moonjeong, Wolgwang, and the great disciple of Hongseong, Nakilgyeom Hongryeon. What brings two masters all the way here? Are you, by any chance, planning to take over Yangweseong?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Ha, just kidding. This is perfect. I was about to send a letter.”
“Is there something to talk about?”
He nodded.
“Soon, the new Black Lotus will be on the move. And…”
“……”
“One of their targeted locations is Seomhwa Village, part of the Black Lotus’ route. It’s better to be prepared, just in case.”
Nodding at Hano’s unusually serious statement, I realized we were approaching the end of Chapter 1.
“I’d like to hear more details.”
“Then let’s meet at our usual spot.”
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