Wherever people gather, problems are always bound to arise.
Is that why? Seomhwa Village, which had always been quiet, was starting to see some ruckus lately as it grew.
For example, the seat dispute.
With Seomhwa Village bustling, it was only natural for crowds to flock to the market.
Additionally, since it was winter and farming was out of the question, those without work sought to sell their homemade wares, clashing with the existing merchants.
Of course, such issues were usually handled by the authorities, so it wasn’t something to fuss over.
There were also problems concerning farmland, and issues that arose when the villagers had to cooperate with newcomers from other towns.
But those issues could also be resolved by the authorities.
And sometimes, there arose problems that the authorities couldn’t handle, the majority of which usually happened in my inn.
“I found you! Yangryu!”
“…Tch!!”
It was around evening when I was welcoming a flood of guests. Suddenly, a rough voice came from a corner.
Looking over, I saw a swordsman from the martial world openly radiating killing intent towards a diminutive woman sitting in the corner.
Confronted by this, the woman known as Yangryu ground her teeth and rose, drawing the sword she had at her waist.
What’s going on? Is he a bounty hunter?
While Seomhwa Village wasn’t a hotbed for martial artists, they did come by occasionally.
It was a common stop for those heading to Yangweseong or westward.
But most martial artists who came here were taciturn, doing their business and leaving quickly.
Honestly, that was a bit strange.
Isn’t an inn usually the center of brawls?
Anyway, it was a fascinating sight to see something like that after such a long time, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
“Wait a minute.”
“What is it?”
“I’m the owner of this inn. I don’t know what kind of enmity exists between you two, but please refrain from causing a ruckus here. If you want to fight, I can lend you the open space outside; please take it there.”
I pointed outside, and Yangryu, grinding her teeth, nodded.
“Come out, Jeokseong.”
“Don’t make me laugh!!”
Even when I set the stage for them, Jeokseong, the man, kicked the table next to him. Looks like he wanted to use the furniture to fight.
The table he kicked flew into the air, and catching it was a woman who had made her way to my side from the corner.
Chaejin.
“…What’s going on here!”
While Chaejin frowned, I examined the table.
“The table leg is broken. It can’t be used, so you owe me for the table. That will be one silver.”
“…Do you dare to interrupt the hunt of Ho Hyeolgyeom Jeokseong?”
Ho Hyeolgyeom Jeokseong?
Ah. I remembered.
He was one of those bounty hunters without any faction. His skills weren’t bad, but he was arrogant and cruel.
Particularly enjoying harassing the powerless using martial arts and showing off his abilities.
He wasn’t well-regarded even in the shady circles, as I heard from Hano while drinking.
“I’ll kill you!”
-BAM!!
Just as Jeokseong bared his teeth and charged, his body was flung back.
At that moment, his body was flung away.
It was Chaejin’s strike that sent me crashing to the ground.
“What the crazy bird… you dare to…!”
With a murder intent stronger than Jeokseong’s, Chaejin rushed outside. Jeokseong, spitting blood from Chaejin’s assault, pulled out a hidden weapon from his bosom and threw it.
An attack aimed at the head and chest.
It was an overtly lethal attack, but Chaejin simply deflected it with ease.
“…Isn’t that Moonjeong’s martial arts?”
“You recognize it.”
“How could I not? A bounty hunter who doesn’t recognize the sky…”
Pushed back by Chaejin’s continuous attacks, Jeokseong unsheathed his sword and charged like a roaring beast. But the fight didn’t last long.
Unable to dodge, let alone block, Chaejin’s Moonlight Sword strike pierced his chest, and seeing that, Yangryu let out a deep sigh.
“Well, he’s dead now.”
“Right. Anyway, did you enjoy your meal?”
“Yes, it was delicious. The cooking was really good.”
“Our chef is quite skilled. But… what kind of grudge do you have with that guy?”
“It’s nothing much. I just have a grudge over the spoils from clearing Cheongil-gong’s secret realm.”
Cheongil-gong was a hero known for slaying the giant evil monster Gon, boasting powerful and mysterious swordsmanship.
As a result, rumors spread that the secret realm he left behind might contain Cheongil-gong’s coveted techniques, attracting many martial artists seeking it out.
Of course, that was all nonsense.
I had searched through every secret related to Cheongil-gong, but there was no technique of any sort to be found.
“Are you also searching for Cheongil-gong’s secret realm?”
“Haha, I’m embarrassed to say… I am.”
“I see. I wish you good fortune.”
After she paid, she left.
Usually, martial artists who come to our inn quietly eat and depart like that.
“You’ve been exerting yourself after a long time. You’ve worked hard.”
“It was just something that needed to be done.”
Just like the murderous intent directed at Jeokseong was a lie, she smiled brightly and returned to her seat.
In the meantime, I instructed a servant to inform the authorities about this incident.
Although it was a conflict between martial artists and he tried to kill me, murder is still murder.
A little later, a familiar officer arrived with soldiers to collect the body.
After searching his belongings and pulling out a token for identification, the officer smirked.
“With more people coming to Seomhwa Village lately, it seems all sorts of folks are showing up. Innkeeper, are you alright?”
“The table is damaged, but did he have any valuables?”
“There’s some money here.”
“Please give me one nyang. He broke the table, after all.”
“Haha, yes. By the way, I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
“Thanks to the guards, I was fine.”
Chaejin, who had been sitting, smiled cheerfully. The officer, knowing just how much strength that beautiful woman possessed, nodded.
“It’s quite convenient for us that the Moonlight Sword maiden is staying here.”
“Haha, but please don’t neglect your duties. The safety of Seomhwa Village is the responsibility of the authorities.”
“That’s my duty.”
“Ha ha ha. Understood. Then we’ll take our leave.”
“Before you go, take this with you.”
It’s late, so I should at least give you something. I brought out some meat and a bottle of alcohol from the kitchen.
“Oh my. What’s all this?”
“After work, have a drink or two, will you?”
The soldiers left happily, and since there was some commotion, I decided to give the customers a complimentary dish each.
Watching them satisfied, I moved in front of Cha Jin and sat down. She rested her chin on her arm on the table and looked at me before speaking.
“I think you’re really impressive, Innkeeper.”
“Suddenly?”
“Not suddenly. You’re always so calm no matter what happens. Just like earlier.”
“I get surprised often too.”
“…Is that so?”
Cha Jin smiled brightly while gazing up at me from her position, resting on the table.
“By the way, we’re going tonight, right?”
I nodded at her question.
We should go.
*
It’s not the first time I’ve gone somewhere alone with Yu Wol.
We had gone together to Yangweseong and even the first time to Cheongho, we definitely went together.
But I’ve never felt this nervous before.
After all, I am now conscious that Yu Wol might know how I feel.
‘What if he really does?’
Honestly, I should have asked yesterday, but I was too nervous about him going to the Secret Realm to say anything.
Plus, Chaeran was right beside us.
But things are different now, right?
Should I ask?
Or what should I do?
But… what if I’m right?
Ahh. What should I really do?
My head is a mess.
I can’t clear my mind due to worry and fear.
“Cha Sojeo.”
“Y-yes?!”
I answered in fluster, and it came out sounding odd. Embarrassed, Cha Jin shrunk her shoulders while Yu Wol spoke calmly as always.
“Don’t be too nervous. The Secret Realm we need to go to isn’t as difficult as you think.”
“Oh…”
Right. I need to get it together.
Cha Jin bit her lip.
The Secret Realm to the southwest of Seomhwa Village is supposed to be easier to find and pass through than the one we visited yesterday, according to Yu Wol.
So there’s no need to be overly nervous, but still, we had to be cautious because it was a Secret Realm.
“B-but what kind of Secret Realm are we heading to?”
“One of the Scent of the Phoenix Secret Realms.”
Scent of the Phoenix. I remember that.
It was the performance I saw with him at Cheongho.
Well, can I really say I saw it?
I was far too nervous about going out just the two of us that I couldn’t sleep a wink all night.
And when I sat next to him, the pleasant scent and atmosphere he radiated made me lean on him and fall asleep right there.
Remembering that comfort now, my heart is inexplicably racing.
No, it’s not just a random flutter.
I always felt this way when I was beside him.
“The Scent of the Phoenix hasn’t lost its pride and will even after becoming human. It has traveled many places, accumulating strength and defeating evil monsters… The place we’re going is one of them.”
“We’ve defeated the creatures… but is where we’re going one of those places?”
“I see… how did you know this?”
“I’ve known about the Hwajopung for a long time and have been investigating it steadily. Ah, excuse me.”
The place where the galloping horse stopped was a small abandoned shrine.
Seeing him enter the shrine, Chaejin hurriedly followed.
Inside the shrine, it was quiet and cozy.
It felt almost like a secret meeting place for lovers.
A corner of her heart was fluttering.
-Creeeak.
When he touched a small ornament in one corner of the shrine, a sound came from below. Chaejin firmly gripped her sword, but he simply looked at the decorations calmly.
“The Hwajopung needed to gain strength to battle the ferocious evil monsters. And, there was someone who helped him gain that strength. That person is the Daoist Eumyangseon.”
“Eumyangseon… I know about her. She was said to have taught the world how to harness the power of the Taeguk by understanding the principles of Yin and Yang. They say she was quite a beautiful woman.”
“Hmm? How do you know?”
“The story about Eumyangseon has been passed down in Moonjeong.”
“That’s right. And there’s also a legend that the Hwajopung and Eumyangseon were lovers.”
“…Ah, I see…”
This was a secret related to those who were once lovers.
Her heart began to race.
“Anyway… the Taeguk represents circulation and reversal, leading to union. The secret we can find in this shrine must also utilize that.”
Calmly, Yu Wol began to rotate the decorations in the shrine in sequence.
Reversal.
Yin and Yang circulate, so even if their positions change, it doesn’t cause any problems.
In fact, it harnesses that change to unleash even greater power.
To prove this, Yu Wol confidently began changing the decorations without hesitation.
-Koooom…!!
With a low rumbling sound, the floor of the shrine opened. Chaejin, watching in shock, saw Yu Wol extend his hand.
“I’ll need Lady Chaejin’s assistance from now on.”
“Anything you say.”
As Chaejin’s eyes sparkled, Yu Wol spoke seriously.
“According to the records, this secret requires synchronizing our breaths.”
“…Our breaths?”
“Yes. Just like when we set up the Divine Treasure before.”
She remembered. It was quite a delightful memory. Their movements in Taeguk were harmonizing, feeling almost like a dance.
But would that be possible now?
“…Can we do it?”
Just being together like this already made her nervous.
Despite Chaejin’s wistful gaze and the anxiety contained within it, he was resolute.
“We can do it.”
With that trust.
Chaejin blinked a few times and nodded.
If he believes in me…
“…Then I’ll give it a try.”
She would accomplish it.
It was something she had to achieve to stay by his side.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
