After sending off Hongryeon, I was thrown into evening service as well. Though Yohwan was absent, it was still a busy day, perhaps because we didn’t have a significant drop in customers.
“It seems like the soup is selling well. Must be the cold weather,” I remarked.
“That’s true,” came the reply.
After finishing the evening service and as the drunken customers began to leave, Chaejin sat down in front of me with some documents to brief me on yesterday’s happenings.
I glanced at Jeomsoi and the servants bustling around before looking over the papers she handed me.
Sales numbers and inventory depletion rates, the usual stuff.
Turns out, she did a better job than I expected.
“With this level, wouldn’t it be easy for Moonjeong as well?”
“Ahaha… It’s not that simple.”
I suppose managing a massive force like Moonjeong would come with its own set of challenges. It might be better for someone like Chaejin, who wasn’t used to such tasks, to stick with the inn for now.
“Just take your time and improve your skills gradually. You can’t fill your belly with the first drink,” I advised.
“Can’t you just help me out, Innkeeper?”
Chaejin’s eyes sparkled, and I smiled at her.
“Of course, I’ll help where I can. But there are things you’ll need to take care of too. The owner of a force has many responsibilities.”
“Hmm… That’s true,” she conceded.
“So? Did anything unusual happen while I was gone?”
To cheer up the hardworking Chaejin, I suggested we have a drink together. The servants and Jeomsoi seemed to have finished cleaning, so I sent them off and made my way to the kitchen for some snacks and drinks.
Beaming, Chaejin received the drink I poured. She took a sip and nodded shortly.
“Really?”
“Did you get into a fight or something?”
“Not exactly… Um… How should I put this?”
With her slender fingers resting on her pointed chin, Chaejin started organizing her thoughts.
How much time passed? By the time I finished two cups, she finally nodded.
“So…”
*
I wasn’t pleased.
Isn’t that natural? The person you like, going out alone with a rival!
But I couldn’t exactly throw a tantrum and follow him.
His trust was at stake.
I was happy that he told me I could take care of the inn.
Imagining Hongryeon’s face made my fists clench involuntarily.
“…Ugh. That sly little fox.”
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was planning something mischievous at night. My mind was flooded with all sorts of imaginations, poking at Chaejin’s thoughts.
But it didn’t last long.
Chaejin shook her head.
If Yu Wol was the type to get swept up in such things, he would have already fallen for it.
His composure and self-control were far superior to that of even the best masters.
Sometimes, I even wondered if he had reached a state of enlightenment.
I assured myself that nothing would go wrong.
There shouldn’t be any problems.
Thinking that to herself and trembling with anxiety, Chaejin sat in the corner of the inn, glancing around.
It hadn’t been long—just about two days—so it wasn’t like she needed to interfere in the inn’s operations.
Moreover, the people working at the inn had been following Yu Wol for a long time, so they wouldn’t do anything strange.
So, the only time she would need to step in would be when problems arose.
Like when martial artists cause trouble or when someone tries to complain about the food’s taste.
In that case, it was better to just sit here and watch without stepping into the spotlight.
Thus, Chaejin quietly sat in the corner, observing the situation.
Just as she thought, there were no major issues with the inn’s business.
The problem arose the day after Yu Wol left.
It was around lunchtime. The servants and Jeomsois were busy preparing for the lunch service, and guests started coming in.
Even without Yohwan, the diners seemed satisfied with their meals, leaving with smiles.
Then, among them, an old man fidgeting about caught Chaejin’s eye.
He was an old man in a worn-out robe, slowly slurping on a bowl of noodles.
Seeing him rummaging through an old bag and starting to panic, one Jeomsoi furrowed her brow.
“Who is that…?”
“Who knows?”
“Oh, I remember.”
He was a wanderer who had come by a couple of times before.
Each time, he claimed he forgot his money and had managed to eat for free, even getting cash from Yu Wol.
Listening to the Jeomsoi’s story, Chaejin stood up.
“Is there a problem?”
“Oh, Amitabha… I was wondering if the innkeeper was here…”
The old man’s face was pale and frightened. Facing him, Chaejin shrugged her shoulders.
“He’s not here right now because of some work…”
“Oh, I see.”
The old man couldn’t hide his embarrassment and let out a small sigh. In response, Chaejin smiled brightly.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Yes, um… I clearly left my money pouch in my bag…”
She recalled what the Jeomsoi had said earlier. He had come in and talked about how he didn’t have his money, then eaten for free.
Chaejin smiled wide.
What would Yu Wol have done in this situation?
Having watched him for a long time, Chaejin quickly came to her answer.
“I am Chaejin, the great disciple of Moonjeong who runs this inn now. You can call me the innkeeper.”
Saying this, Chaejin felt her heart tighten for a moment.
Wait a minute. Hold on.
That makes me sound like the actual landlady, right?
Feeling unexpectedly pleased, Chaejin flashed a soft smile at the old man.
“Please, allow me to take care of it. And it seems like one bowl of noodles won’t be enough for you… how about having a bit more?”
“Uh… Amitabha, that’s not necessary…”
“No, it’s perfectly fine. I’m sure the innkeeper would have done the same.”
“…Thank you.”
The Daoist shook his head awkwardly and bowed. As he entered, Jeomsoi, feeling flustered, spoke to Chaerin.
“There’s really no need for you to do that, Lady Chaerin…”
“But if it’s someone the Innkeeper is treating, isn’t it only natural for me to treat them too? Besides, if I’m not mistaken, the Innkeeper has benefited from that gentleman as well. Bring some duck and wine. I’ll cover the cost.”
“Yes.”
In the end, Jeomsoi followed Chaerin’s instructions. After the meal, the Daoist approached Chaerin.
“Venerable One, I’ve received a favor from Lady Moonlight Sword.”
“Hehe. It was just a meal, really.”
“Even so… in this world, everything has its price. I never left without a parting gift when I benefited from the Innkeeper…”
The Daoist rummaged through his bag and pulled out a book.
“…this is…”
“I got it a little while ago. It’s nothing spectacular…”
“The Three Calamity Arts.”
Not particularly impressive.
Chaerin, who had received the secret techniques of the three-bit martial artists in the marketplace, broke into a smile as she looked at the thin book.
Yeah, I wasn’t expecting anything like this.
“Thank you for your kind consideration.”
“Oh dear, no, not at all.”
Maybe he felt regretful about being able to give only this much.
But what could he do? You can’t give what you don’t have.
The Daoist smiled awkwardly and then pointed to Chaerin’s sword hilt.
“I see you have the Yin piece. But don’t you have the Yang piece? They are originally a pair.”
“…Excuse me?”
At the Daoist’s words, Chaerin tilted her head. The Yang piece? Of course, if there was a Yin piece, there should obviously be a Yang piece, but Yu Wol hadn’t said a word about it.
The Daoist smiled brightly at Chaerin’s confusion.
“Yin and Yang are opposites, but extremes connect. There is land because there is sky, and there is light because there is darkness. That’s why Yin and Yang pieces are meant to be a pair.”
“Oh, I see…”
Even Chaerin, who was very interested in artifacts, wasn’t exactly sure what the Yang piece was.
Yet this Daoist instantly grasped it and explained it.
Chaerin thought he was certainly no ordinary person and straightened up to listen to his story.
“If you wish to obtain the Yang piece… I could offer some advice in exchange for the meal’s grace…”
A pair of pieces.
Someday they would merge.
What if she and Yu Wol each possessed one?
As Chaerin’s anticipation grew, the Daoist said calmly.
“In the past, Hwa Joong and the Eumyangseon achieved many feats together. And to commemorate that, two mystical realms were created. One of them is said to exist on Gocheonsan, to the northeast of the Yangwei Star.”
Gocheonsan… that’s definitely where Yu Wol invested in a mine.
There’s a mystical realm there where one can obtain the Yang piece?
Chaerin looked at the Daoist seriously, and in the meantime, the Daoist handed her another book.
She looked up, and in the meantime, Nodo handed over a book.
“This book contains secrets related to Hwa Joong Pung and other mysteries and artifacts. I hope you gain something good from it and achieve what you desire.”
*
“…So, this happened.”
Returning to the room, she handed over the book she had received. Hwa Joong Pung’s Complete History. It was a story similar to the Hwa Joong Pung performance I had seen before in Cheong-ho, just more detailed.
“Hmm…”
The secret of Gocheonsan mentioned in this book was a place I knew well. Gocheonsan was currently under mining development, and I planned to visit once the development was completed. I never expected to gain this information.
“Um… Innkeeper.”
Chaejin subtly gauged my reaction. Then, gripping a piece of the yang artifact hanging on the wall, she asked:
“Do you know what kind of effects the yang artifact has?”
“I’ve heard that owning it increases stamina and vitality. Since yang can also mean life…”
“Don’t you want it?”
Definitely, it would be great to have. Stamina is my fuel for movement.
“Then, how about we go together later?”
“They’re currently developing a mine at Gocheonsan. Once that’s done, let’s go together.”
“Uh… If they’re developing the mine, won’t they find it first?”
Chaejin’s face reflected worry. What if someone discovers it before us?
But to find it, they would need to prepare a few things, so I doubted they would discover it first.
“That won’t happen. Secrets aren’t easily found.”
“Haha, but you find them easily.”
Well, that’s because I know where to look. Instead of answering, I shrugged, and Chaejin giggled and nodded.
“Got it. I’ll look forward to that.”
Then I should prepare a bit, too.
“And was there any other news?”
“Well, it’s not exactly other news… It’s information from Moonjeong. They say the Murim Alliance accomplished something big.”
“What kind of big thing?”
“Remember the previous fight with the Demonic Sect and that unidentified group… Was it the Iron Blood Clan? Anyway, they fought.”
“Right.”
“The Iron Blood Clan won that battle, and it seems the Murim Alliance and the Black Blood Alliance ambushed them.”
“Oh…”
What a delightful turn of events.
“So? What was the result?”
“They beheaded their leader, um… what was it? Cheolhyeoltoje? With the Murim Alliance’s combat unit and the Black Blood Alliance’s Blood Demon Unit… and with Namgoonghwa leading the new experts of the Murim Alliance, along with that girl Yura who’s been standing out lately, combined their strengths. So, the Murim Alliance is considering rewards or something related.”
This is excellent information.
Goodness. To think we could eliminate one of the enemies without lifting a finger.
Not bad at all.
Really.
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.
