My daily routine is pretty much repetitive.
I wake up in the morning, have some drinks with Ogumhee, do the morning business, then Chaejin gets her Tai Chi lessons. After a bit of work, I handle the lunch service, work some more, and have some tea with the Hongseong folks who come for patrol.
Then, it’s back to training, more work, dinner service, and then more work again.
Thinking about it, most of the day seems filled with work, but it’s not really burdensome.
And then, once or twice a week, after the dinner service, there are changes in that routine.
“Thank you, my lord. I feel a bit better talking to you.”
“Nothing to worry about. I understand your feelings. It should get better in the spring.”
“I hope so. Really.”
Just like today.
Once or twice a week, after the dinner service, people come looking for me.
Those who are exhausted and struggling in life.
People with a lot bottled up inside, but no place to let it out.
I share a drink here and there with them and listen to their stories.
It’s not a bad thing.
I can gather all sorts of information in this process too.
Stories they heard from relatives living elsewhere. Nearby legends.
Tales from those who’ve just arrived in Seomhwa Village about where they came from or new emerging evil monsters.
Or even the current state of the townsfolk.
All of these things could be useful for future moves, so it’s not bad for me either.
It’s helpful for me, and they get to share a drink and ease their troubled minds, so it’s a win-win.
But today, there are quite a few people around.
I stared at the guests sipping their drinks at the inn and smirked.
Maybe because Seomhwa Village is getting bigger and more people are streaming in, I feel like there are more workers and clerks than usual, worried that work might dwindle.
In the spring, I’ll have to talk to the local leader and see if we can start some business to make sure they have enough work.
As I finished chatting with a few workers or clerks, or those working the fields, a woman sat down in front of me.
“Next is me.”
Chaejin, my guard, long-term inn guest, my martial arts instructor, and someone who likes me, smiled brightly.
“Yes. Chae, do you have something difficult on your mind?”
“I’m just worried that the innkeeper seems busier these days.”
I smiled back at her cheerful face. It’s not like I’m busy to the point of disaster, but her worry seems excessive.
“Maybe I should take your worries and rest a bit.”
“Huh?! Really?!”
“Tomorrow, Chae will train in Tai Chi.”
“No, that’s not happening.”
She shot me a serious look, so I just laughed and raised my drink. Chaejin grinned, took a sip, and stood up.
With Chaejin as the last guest, the special night ritual came to an end, and as it was slowly closing time, I stood up from my seat.
I got up from my seat.
“Alright. Then have a good night, Lady Chaejin.”
“Yes, good night to you too, Innkeeper.”
After Chaejin yawned and headed up, I closed the inn’s door. Now that there were no more guests, it was time for me to head up, look over some documents, and then go to sleep…
“Whoa, you scared me! When did you arrive?”
“Hehe, just now.”
It was Hongryeon. She was standing in the backyard, staring at me and smiling as I stepped out.
“You seem a bit tipsy… did you drink too much?”
“This much is fine. But what are you doing here today?”
“I’m here to drive out some bad energy.”
Is it already that day? I wonder if she can really come out like this considering how busy she must be at Amifa today.
Seeing my worried look, Hongryeon chuckled.
“Don’t worry about me. Just hurry and take off your clothes. Oh, if you’re cold, there’s…”
Hongryeon’s face slightly flushed.
“Wanna go… to the room?”
“That sounds good.”
I took Hongryeon to my office. As she stepped into the room filled with the scent of paperwork and incense, she looked around and laughed.
“It’s been a while since I came in, but nothing has changed here.”
“I don’t change much either.”
“Hehe, that’s true. Well then.”
I immediately took off my top and sat down. Hongryeon, who had come up behind me, placed her hand on my back and said calmly, “Breathe slowly and let it in.”
The energy of the Hongseong Divine Art flowed through my meridians. As the tingling sensation ran through my body, she began to stroke my back—my shoulders, my waist, my back.
How long had it been since I started drawing out the bad energy? I finally expelled the accumulated energy.
-Ssss…
Watching the gray, slimy mass burning away in the brazier, I got dressed. In the meantime, Hongryeon sat in a chair, pondering for a moment before asking, “Looks like you still have many people consulting you these days?”
I guess seeing me a few times made her suspect that my drinking today was because of that.
I shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s not really a consultation. It’s just me having a drink and letting out the stories inside.”
“Is that possible?”
“It wouldn’t be easy to reveal my true feelings completely.”
After all, we weren’t alone in that kind of setting.
Plus, I wasn’t a priest, so it’s not like I could hear confessions.
It’s just using the power of alcohol to do what one can’t usually do.
“Still, I can at least listen a little. They say sharing difficult burdens makes them lighter.”
“Haha, I really wish that were true…”
“If you have something hard to deal with, I can take it on, so don’t worry.”
“…Seriously. Don’t talk about that kind of stuff in a place like this.”
Maybe it was the light of the brazier, but Hongryeon’s face turned slightly red. Sneaking a glance at her face peeking through her flowing red hair, I brewed some tea.
“But… how are things for you on your end?”
“Huu…”
She let out a deep sigh. Seems like something’s been bothering her.
As she drank the tea I made, Hongryeon slowly opened her mouth.
As Hongryeon sipped her tea, she slowly opened her mouth.
“After reading the records from Amifa, Master’s expression soured a bit.”
It seemed she had retreated after receiving the documents and reading them for a while.
The monks and disciples from Amifa were looking at her with concern.
Though she had improved a lot, it looked like the Sword Saint still hadn’t escaped the curse from that day.
“…Master told me she was sorry. And she bowed her head while holding Sayoon’s hand… Now, the other disciples are taking care of her.”
“Well, she could have just come later.”
“Master insisted I keep going, saying promises must be kept…”
Hongryeon, clutching her teacup tightly, hung her head. I shrugged in response.
“It’ll be fine.”
“…Hehe. Now that you say it, it really feels like it will.”
I smiled at Hongryeon.
It will happen.
*
Recently, I had almost forgotten.
I hadn’t had nightmares lately, so I felt at ease.
Thus, I thought everything would be okay.
But I soon discovered otherwise.
The Sword Saint grabbed her throbbing head and sighed.
“Master, are you… okay?”
I checked the records of the non-sword technique brought from Amifa. It was distinctly different from what was in Hongseong, yet it unmistakably had Master in it.
The one who taught her, guided her, and had entrusted the future to her.
It was only natural for memories of the past to surface upon seeing those traces.
I thought everything would be fine.
To prepare, I reviewed everything about Master, the private school, the senior sisters, and the junior sisters in Hongseong, and now it didn’t seem to matter.
I thought it would be fine…
But the moment I saw something I didn’t know, I became shaken.
Wasn’t I just a burden to Hongseong?
If someone threatening Hongseong brought what they left behind…
Could I really protect the disciples and Hongseong?
As these thoughts spiraled, the Sword Saint forced a smile at Sayoon, who was looking at her with worry.
“I’m really okay.”
Despite saying that, she tightly held onto Sayoon’s small hand.
That hand, which trembled not at any enemy’s appearance, held Sayoon’s like it was a lifeline.
“I’m really okay.”
Even though it was clear she wasn’t, the Sword Saint insisted she was fine.
As I was watching this, Hongryeon returned from outside.
“Master.”
“Huh? Hehe. Our Ryun is here?”
Seeing the Sword Saint greet Hongryeon with a faint smile made her pause and then speak.
“Yes. I just got back after helping the innkeeper. How are you, Master?”
It was her who had sent Hongryeon, who had hesitated to go. And, weren’t there others beside her?
With a gentle smile, the Sword Saint replied to her.
“I’m okay. Yes, promises must be kept. Now, you all should rest. We need to start training in earnest from tomorrow.”
Even if she couldn’t bear to read it all, all the other disciples, including Hongryeon, had to read the records brought from Amipa.
And based on that, they had to further refine the Hongseong Divine Art.
Seeing her with pity, Hongryeon spoke to the sitting Sword Saint.
“Hey, Innkeeper…”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Are you aware that he sometimes talks with people at the inn?”
“Yeah, I know.”
She recalled the last time she visited the market, where people thanked him, mentioning how his advice helped them feel at ease.
“How about you, Master, try talking to him too? It might lighten your heart…”
“I don’t know… Hehe. I’ll think about it.”
As Hongryeon and Sayoon returned to their room with worry, the Sword Saint remained alone, leg crossed.
But the wounds still visible lurked ominously in her heart, revealing her trace.
It was calling back memories.
“…Huuuh…”
Memories she wanted to forget.
Memories she couldn’t forget.
Chains she could never escape.
Feeling it, the Sword Saint tightly shut her eyes.
Then…
“Sword Saint, are you okay?”
“Oh, it’s you, Yujeong. What brings you here at this hour?”
“Well… The clan leader asked me to deliver something to you.”
“What is it?”
The clan leader of Amipa was someone who had a close relationship with her master, someone she also knew, so the Sword Saint smiled gently as Yujeong pulled a small pouch from her robe.
“What is this…?”
“This is called the Heart Syncing Mirror. It can only be used once more… but if you seem troubled, he asked me to give it to you.”
The Heart Syncing Mirror.
A precious item that could turn one’s inner world into a realm, allowing one to face their Simma.
Many in Amipa struggled with overcoming their Simma, and to think they would pass this precious item to her with only one chance left.
The Sword Saint gazed at it silently, then slowly extended her hand.
She needed to be prepared for any scenario.
Although Sayoon had obtained a Heart Syncing Mirror from Cheongho last time, she couldn’t reach out to her for help.
If things went south, Sayoon might feel guilty.
So, to conquer this Simma, she couldn’t rely on her disciples’ strength.
“Our Amipa has long had ties with the Hongseong Clan. We hope you rise again.”
Yujeong bowed slightly and walked away.
Left alone, the Sword Saint brushed her face.
Too many people were worried about this foolish self of hers.
…And he must surely be concerned too.
So, she couldn’t just stay like this.
Then what should she do first?
Closing her eyes and pondering, the Sword Saint finally stood up.
For starters, she had to create the Hongseong Clan’s sacred artifact, the Hyeonwoon Armor.
Then, Hongryeon had to complete the Yuseong Rock, and the other disciples needed to become even stronger.
Only after setting all that in place could she face her Simma.
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